Definition of "jab"

jab

/d͡ʒæb/

noun
plural jabs
1. A quick stab or blow; a poking or thrusting motion.
  Quotations
  He tore in for the ball, make a running jab for it and held it.
  1952, Bernard Malamud, The Natural, Chapter 9
2. (boxing) A short straight punch.
  Quotations
  American Ward was too quick and too slick for his British rival, landing at will with razor sharp jabs and hooks and even bullying Froch at times.
  2011 December 18, Ben Dirs, “Carl Froch outclassed by dazzling Andre Ward”, in BBC Sport‎
3. (Britain) A medical hypodermic injection (vaccination or inoculation)
4. (Britain, Australia, New Zealand) A vaccination, whether or not delivered via conventional injection.
  Quotations
  A 'painless' sticking plaster flu jab that delivers vaccine into the skin has passed important safety tests in the first trial in people.
  2017 June 28, Michelle Roberts, “Painless flu jab patch for people scared of injections”, in BBC News‎
5. (US, figurative) A mild verbal insult.
verb
third-person singular simple present jabs, present participle jabbing, simple past and past participle jabbed
1. To poke or thrust abruptly, or to make such a motion.
2. To deliver a quick punch.
3. (slang, UK) To give someone an injection.
4. (slang) To vaccinate or inoculate someone.