boss

boss¹ W3S2 [bɔs US bo:s] n

[Sense: 1-3; Date: 1800-1900; : Dutch; Origin: baas 'man in charge']

[Sense: 4; Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: boce, from Vulgar Latin bottia]

1.) the person who employs you or who is in charge of you at work

→↑employer, manager ↑manager, supervisor ↑supervisor

▪ I'll have to ask my boss for a day off.

▪ Since I'm my own boss (=I work for myself, rather than for an employer) , my hours are flexible.

2.) informal someone with an important position in a company or other organization

▪ the new boss at Paramount Pictures

▪ union bosses

▪ An alleged Mafia boss was acquitted last night.

3.) the person who is the strongest in a relationship, who controls a situation etc

▪ Remember, you're the parent. You're the boss.

▪ When you first start training a dog, it's important to let him see that you're the boss.

▪ You've got to show the kids who's boss .

4.) a round decoration on the surface of something, for example on the ceiling of an old building

boss ²

boss² v [T]

to tell people to do things, give them orders etc, especially when you have no authority to do it

boss sb about

BrE /around

▪ Five-year-old girls love to boss people around.

boss ³

boss³ adj informal

very good, attractive, or fashionable

▪ a boss car