Finesentence

Hob Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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hob

hob

🇺🇸 /ˈhɑb/ · 🇬🇧 /hˈɒb/

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

household

A small shelf, table, or cupboard used for storing items in a kitchen.

Synonyms

burner, cooktop, stovetop.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hob

Used primarily in British English to refer to the flat top part of a stove that contains heating elements or burners. Commonly used in homes and kitchens.

  • Place the pan on the hob and turn on the heat.
  • The electric hob is easy to clean.
stovetop

Commonly used in American English to refer to the cooking surface on top of a stove. It encompasses the burners and any other heating elements.

  • I left a pot on the stovetop.
  • Clean the stovetop regularly to prevent food build-up.
cooktop

An American English term used to describe the flat surface on which cooking is done, especially in modern kitchens with built-in cooking surfaces.

  • We installed a new induction cooktop last week.
  • The cooktop has four burners.
burner

Refers to any device that creates a flame or heat for cooking. It can be found on stoves and portable camping equipment. Common in both American and British English.

  • Turn off the burner when you're done cooking.
  • The gas burner heats up quickly.

Examples of usage

  • She placed the spices on the hob while cooking.
  • The kettle sat on the hob, ready to boil water.
Context #2 | Noun

British

The flat metal top of a cooker, on which pans are placed for cooking.

Synonyms

cooktop, range, stove.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hob

This term is commonly used in British English to refer to a cooking surface that is part of a larger cooking appliance. It usually has multiple burners or electric heating elements.

  • She placed the pot on the hob to start boiling water.
  • The new kitchen has a sleek, modern hob with touch controls.
stove

This word is broadly used in both American and British English to describe a kitchen appliance that typically consists of an oven and a cooktop. It can also refer to any appliance designed to generate heat for cooking or heating a room.

  • She baked the cake in the oven while cooking pasta on the stove.
  • They installed a wood-burning stove in the cabin to stay warm.
range

In American English, 'range' refers to a combination of an oven and a cooktop in a single appliance. It is often used in general contexts to describe the main cooking appliance in a kitchen.

  • They bought a new stainless steel range for their home.
  • The range includes both a gas oven and a gas cooktop.
cooktop

This term is more frequently used in American English and refers to a flat cooking surface with burners. It can be part of a range or a separate built-in feature.

  • The kitchen renovation included installing a new gas cooktop.
  • An induction cooktop is energy-efficient and easy to clean.

Examples of usage

  • She boiled water on the hob.
  • The saucepan rattled on the hob as it heated up.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “hob”

Hob is a 1-syllable noun. It is pronounced /ˈhɑb/ in American English and /hˈɒb/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 6 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #27,107 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'hob'

The word 'hob' originated from Middle English 'hobbe' which meant a shelf or table. Over time, it evolved to refer to a small shelf or tabletop used for storage in a kitchen. In British English, 'hob' also refers to the flat metal top of a cooker used for cooking. The word has been in use for centuries and is commonly used in kitchen terminology.

Rhymes

Hob rhymes with bob, job, mob, rob, knob, sob, throb and cob.

See all rhymes →

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,107, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.