HOBBY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hobby mean? 

• HOBBY (noun)
  The noun HOBBY has 3 senses:

1. an auxiliary activity

2. a child's plaything consisting of an imitation horse mounted on rockers; the child straddles it and pretends to ride

3. small Old World falcon formerly trained and flown at small birds

  Familiarity information: HOBBY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HOBBY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An auxiliary activity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

avocation; by-line; hobby; pursuit; sideline; spare-time activity

Hypernyms ("hobby" is a kind of...):

interest; pastime; pursuit (a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "hobby"):

spelaeology; speleology (the pastime of exploring caves)

Derivation:

hobbyist (a person who pursues an activity in their spare time for pleasure)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A child's plaything consisting of an imitation horse mounted on rockers; the child straddles it and pretends to ride

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

hobby; hobbyhorse; rocking horse

Hypernyms ("hobby" is a kind of...):

plaything; toy (an artifact designed to be played with)

Meronyms (parts of "hobby"):

rocker (a curved support that permits the supported object to rock to and fro)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Small Old World falcon formerly trained and flown at small birds

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

Falco subbuteo; hobby

Hypernyms ("hobby" is a kind of...):

falcon (diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings adapted for swift flight)

Holonyms ("hobby" is a member of...):

Falco; genus Falco (a genus of Falconidae)

 Context examples 

This instrument contains 6 areas which include memory, orientation, judgment and problem solving, community affairs, home and hobbies, and personal care.

(Clinical Dementia Rating Questionnaire, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about whether an individual limits or was limited in pursuing their hobbies or leisure time activities.

(Limited in Pursuing Hobbies or Leisure Activities, NCI Thesaurus)

The Movement Disorder Society version of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Over the past week, have you usually had trouble doing your hobbies or other things that you like to do?

(MDS-UPDRS - Doing Hobbies and Other Activities, NCI Thesaurus)

The second and third had been patiently occupied upon a subject which he had recently made his hobby—the music of the Middle Ages.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My own hobby has always been nervous disease.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Home and hobbies.

(CDR - Home and Hobbies, NCI Thesaurus)

‘Photography is one of my hobbies,’ said he. ‘I have made my dark room up there.’

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Functional Activities Questionnaire-NACC - Playing a game of skill such as bridge or chess, working on a hobby.

(FAQ-NACC Version - Play Game of Skill, Work on Hobby, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Just now his hobby is catching flies.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) Depressed mood; loss of interest, lack of pleasure in hobbies, depression, early waking, diurnal swing.

(HAMA - Depressed Mood, NCI Thesaurus)