hobs

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableBritish

   The flat top part of a stove where you put pans to cook.

   Grammar: Countable noun; use 'a hob' for one, 'hobs' for more than one.

   Patterns

   • on the hob
   • a gas hob
   • an electric hob

   She left the soup simmering on the hob.

   The new kitchen has a gas hob and an electric oven.

   Clean the hob after cooking to avoid grease buildup.

2. 2nouncountableliteraryold-fashioned

   A small imaginary creature that plays tricks on people in old stories.

   Grammar: Countable noun; often used in fairy tales and folklore.

   Patterns

   • a hob
   • hobs and goblins

   In the story, a hob lived under the hearth and helped with chores.

   Villagers blamed the mischievous hobs for missing tools.

3. 3nouncountabletechnical

   A tool used for cutting gear teeth or similar metalwork.

   Grammar: Technical countable noun; usually used by machinists.

   Patterns

   • a gear hob
   • hobbing machine

   The machinist replaced the worn hob before cutting the new gears.

   Hobs are used in hobbing machines to produce gear teeth.

Word forms

Common combinations

on the hob

Put the kettle on the hob.

gas hob

A gas hob gives instant heat control.

electric hob

Electric hobs take longer to cool down.

ceramic hob

A ceramic hob is easy to wipe clean.

Synonyms and how they differ

stovetop

American English; refers to the same cooking surface but is more common in the US.

burner

Often refers to a single ring or gas burner, not the whole flat surface.

Word family

hob noun

Singular form; also a verb meaning to cut gear teeth.

Commonly confused: hobs or hop? hobs or hub?

Practice

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