hob

/hɒb/ (bre, ipa) · /hɑːb/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhäb/ (ame, mw)

hob — noun

1. the flat top part of a cooker, fitted with gas burners or electric rings, that y

1.名詞B1
釋義

the flat top part of a cooker, fitted with gas burners or electric rings, that you put pans on when you cook

例句

Nadia wiped the glass hob clean after cooking the pasta sauce.

collocation: glass hob / ceramic hob

The new kitchen has a four-burner gas hob and a separate oven underneath.

collocation: gas hob / electric hob / induction hob

同義詞
  • stovetop

    American English equivalent; less common in Britain

  • cooktop

    formal or technical term for the surface alone, without the oven

  • burner

    refers to one heating ring, not the whole surface

用法筆記

Standard in British English for the cooking surface. In American English the same thing is called a 'stovetop' or 'cooktop'.

常見錯誤

❌I put the pot on the hob of the stove.
✅I put the pot on the hob.
💡'hob' already refers to the top of the cooker; repeating 'stove' is redundant in British English.

2. a metal shelf built at the side or front of an old open fireplace, used in the p

2.名詞B2
釋義

a metal shelf built at the side or front of an old open fireplace, used in the past for keeping pans warm or for heating food and water

例句

Yuki placed the kettle on the hob beside the fire to keep it warm.

historical context: beside an open fire

The iron hob was blackened by years of smoke and heat from the fireplace.

同義詞
  • trivet

    a portable stand, not a built-in shelf

  • hob grate

    a combined grate and hob in a fireplace

用法筆記

Mainly encountered in descriptions of historical houses or traditional cottages. Modern fireplaces do not have hobs.

3. a small, mischievous creature in British folk tales, similar to an elf or goblin

3.名詞C1
釋義

a small, mischievous creature in British folk tales, similar to an elf or goblin, that is said to play tricks on people or help with household chores in exchange for food

例句

A hob lived in the barn and braided the horses' manes at night.

folklore context: hob as household spirit

Farmers would leave a bowl of milk out for the hob to keep it friendly.

同義詞
  • hobgoblin

    the full form; slightly more formal or literary

  • puck

    a specific hob character in English folklore, popularised by Shakespeare

  • brownie

    a similar helpful household spirit in Scottish and Northern English folklore

用法筆記

Shortened from 'hobgoblin'. In many stories the hob is not evil but enjoys harmless pranks such as hiding tools or making noise. The most famous hob is Robin Goodfellow (also called Puck) in English folklore.

hob — verb