boss

1. noun /bɒs,bɑs,bɔs/

a) A swelling, lump or protuberance in an animal, person or object.

All were waiting : uncle Charles, who sat far away in the shadow of the window, Dante and Mr Casey, who sat in the easy chairs at either side of the hearth, Stephen, seated on a chair between them, his feet resting on a toasting boss.

b) A lump-like mass of rock, especially one projecting through a strata of different rock.

Chat turned to whisper when the boss entered the conference room.

2. verb /bɒs,bɑs,bɔs/

a) To decorate with bosses; to emboss.

His sisters bossed him and spoiled him. All their lives he was to go on being their little brother, who could do no wrong, because he was the baby; [...]

b) To exercise authoritative control over; to lord over; to boss around; to tell (someone) what to do, often repeatedly.

She bossed him, and hes never gotten over it. She still orders him around, and instead of telling her to go soak her head, he just says Yes, maam as weak as a newborn jellyfish [...]

Syn: employer, line manager, manager, supervisor, head, leader, gov, guv, guvnor, mate

3. adjective /bɒs,bɑs,bɔs/

Of excellent quality, first-rate.