job
UK[dʒɒb]US[dʒɑːb]
n
A paid position of regular employment.
n
A task or piece of work, especially one that is paid.
n
A responsibility or duty.
n
A difficult task.
Etymology
The word 'job' first appeared in English in the mid-16th century, referring to a 'piece of work' or a 'lump'. Its origin is obscure but is thought to be of imitative origin, perhaps related to the Middle English word 'jobbe', meaning a 'lump' or a 'piece', which may have been used to denote a discrete unit of work. This etymological uncertainty highlights how common, foundational words can emerge from colloquial or onomatopoeic roots. The semantic evolution from a physical 'piece' or 'lump' to an abstract unit of paid work or a specific task is a classic example of meaning generalization, reflecting the word's journey into the core vocabulary of commerce and daily life.
Analysis
The word 'job' is a simplex word of uncertain, likely imitative origin. It functions as a complete lexical unit.
Examples
She started her new job at the software company last week.
I have a few small jobs to do around the house this weekend.
It was a real job to convince the committee to approve the funding.