From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbobbob1 /bɒb $ bɑːb/ verb (bobbed, bobbing) 1 move on waterMOVE IN WATER [intransitive]TTWON/ON TOP OF to move up and down when floating on the surface of water The boat bobbed gently up and down on the water.2 move somewhereMOVE SOMEWHERE [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]MOVE/CHANGE POSITION to move quickly in a particular direction Mrs Foster bobbed about, gathering up her things.3 → bob your head4 cut hairHAIR [transitive]DCB to cut someone’s, especially a woman’s, hair in a bob her neatly bobbed hair→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
bob• She wondered whether they were anchored; they seemed fixed; they did not bob.• We could see ruddy ducks bobbing about up close and kayakers.• When the indicator bobs and dips, you set the hook.• Amelia was very hesitant about bobbing her hair.• Here seals may be seen bobbing in the calm waters.• He bobbed like happy flotsam on the warm sea of life.• The floor was bobbing up and down as on a ship.• I noticed that the plastic Seayak bobbed up, over and down rather than cutting through the swell.bobbed ... up and down• The rest bobbed up and down at chin height, or remained by the bathing-machine steps.• A light bobbed up and down further along the corridor, accompanied by the sound of running footsteps.bobbob2 noun [countable] 1 DCBa way of cutting hair so that it hangs to the level of your chin and is the same length all the way round your head2 MOVE/CHANGE POSITIONa quick up and down movement of your head or body, to show respect, agreement, greeting etc The maid gave a little bob and left the room.3 (plural bob) informalPEC a shilling (=coin used in the past in Britain) At last I’m making a few bob (=a reasonable amount of money). → bits and bobs at bit2(7)Examples from the Corpus
bob• In fact he'd let me have a few bob to see me clear.• Some one up there must have wagered a few bob on them for another Grand Slam.• The classic, one-length bob 1.• a little girl with a short bob• The sleek bob fell straight to her shoulders and then curled under.• She did the bob they were taught at school, the deep version.BobBob /bɒb $ bɑːb/ noun → Bob’s your uncle!Origin bob1 1. (1300-1400) Perhaps from bob “to hit, punch” ((13-19 centuries)), from the sound. 2. (1900-2000) → BOB21 bob2 1. (1900-2000) bob “bunch (of hair)” ((14-20 centuries)), perhaps from Scottish Gaelic baban2. (1800-1900) → BOB13. (1700-1800) Perhaps from Bob, an informal name for someone called Robert 