stab
verb uk/stæb/ us/stæb/ -bb-
B2 [ T ]（用刀等锐器）戳，捅，刺
to injure someone with a sharp pointed object such as a knife
She was stabbed several times in the chest. 她胸口被捅了几刀。
He was jailed for 15 years for stabbing his wife to death. 他因捅死妻子被判入狱15年。
[ I or T ]（用指头或细长物）戳，捅
to make a short, forceful pushing movement with a finger or a long, thin object
As she spoke she stabbed the air with her finger. 她一边说一边用手指在空中比划着。
He stabbed at the meat with his fork. 他用叉子戳着那块肉。
- More examples
- He pulled a knife and stabbed her.
- Mercutio, fatally stabbed, staggers round the stage in his death throes.
- In a fit of insane jealousy he tried to stab her.
- She was stabbed twelve times and left for dead.
- He'd been stabbed several times and his throat cut.
Idiom
stab someone in the backidiom 在（某人）背后捅刀子（指伤害信任自己的人）
to do something harmful to someone who trusted you
He had been lied to and stabbed in the back by people that he thought were his friends. 他曾经被一些他视为朋友的人欺骗过，在背后被捅过刀子。
See also: backstabber
stab
noun [ C ] uk/stæb/ us/stæb/
（用刀）戳，刺，捅;戳（或刺、捅）的伤口
the act of pushing a knife into someone, or an injury caused by stabbing
He was admitted to hospital with stab wounds. 他因刀伤被送进了医院。
突发的一阵感觉;（尤指）一阵难受，一阵刺痛
a sudden feeling, especially an unpleasant one such as pain
She felt a stab of envy when she saw all the expensive presents Zoe had been given for Christmas. 她看到佐伊圣诞节收到的那些贵重礼物，顿生妒意。
中伤，诽谤
an action or remark that attacks someone's reputation
Her criticism of the company's plans was a stab at the chairman himself. 她对公司计划的批评是对董事长本人的中伤。
Idiom
have/make a stab at somethingidiom informal 试图做，尝试（成功希望不大的事）
to attempt to do something although you are not likely to be very successful
I'd never tried snorkelling before but I had a stab at it while I was in Greece. 我以前从未潜过水，但在希腊时试过一次。