Job /(jŏb)/

Job

A sudden thrust or stab; a jab.
A piece of chance or occasional work; any definite work undertaken in gross for a fixed price; as, he did the job for a thousand dollars.
A public transaction done for private profit; something performed ostensibly as a part of official duty, but really for private gain; a corrupt official business.
Any affair or event which affects one, whether fortunately or unfortunately. [Colloq.]
A situation or opportunity of work; as, he lost his job. [Colloq.]
A task, or the execution of a task; as, Michelangelo did a great job on the David statue.
A task or coordinated set of tasks for a multitasking computer, submitted for processing as a single unit, usually for execution in background. See job control language. (Computers)

By the job: at a stipulated sum for the work, or for each piece of work done; -- distinguished from time work; as, the house was built by the job.
Job lot: a quantity of goods, usually miscellaneous, sold out of the regular course of trade, at a certain price for the whole; as, these articles were included in a job lot.
Job master: one who lest out horses and carriages for hire, as for family use.
Job printer: one who does miscellaneous printing, esp. circulars, cards, billheads, etc.
Odd job: miscellaneous work of a petty kind; occasional work, of various kinds, or for various people.
to do a job on: to harm badly or destroy.
on the job: alert; performing a responsibility well.

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Jobbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Jobbing

To strike or stab with a pointed instrument.
To thrust in, as a pointed instrument.
To do or cause to be done by separate portions or lots; to sublet (work); as, to job a contract.
To buy and sell, as a broker; to purchase of importers or manufacturers for the purpose of selling to retailers; as, to job goods. (Com.)
To hire or let by the job or for a period of service; as, to job a carriage.

v. i.

To do chance work for hire; to work by the piece; to do petty work.
Authors of all work, to job for the season.
— Moore.
To seek private gain under pretense of public service; to turn public matters to private advantage.
And judges job, and bishops bite the town.
— Pope.
To carry on the business of a jobber in merchandise or stocks.

The hero of the book of that name in the Old Testament; the prototypical patient man.

Job's comforter: A false friend; a tactless or malicious person who, under pretense of sympathy, insinuates rebukes.
Job's news: bad news.
Job's tears: a kind of grass (Coix Lacryma), with hard, shining, pearly grains.