hab
Hab (noun) means informal shorthand for a habitation module or living structure, especially in space travel or off-grid settings. Example: “The astronauts sealed the airlock and retreated to the hab before the dust storm hit.”
How to use hab
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short, casual word — either a basic living shelter, or (capitalized, usually plural "Habs") a Montreal Canadiens player/fan term.
Very informal; "hab" for housing shows up mostly in sci-fi, survivalist, and space-exploration contexts, while "Habs" is standard hockey slang in Canada.
Word forms
habs plural, Habs plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The astronauts sealed the airlock and retreated to the _____ before the dust storm hit.
Etymology
A clipped form of "habitation" (for the housing sense) and of "Habitants," an old nickname for French-Canadian settlers, later shortened to "Habs" for the Montreal Canadiens.
Frequently asked questions
What does “hab” mean?
The word “hab” means informal shorthand for a habitation module or living structure, especially in space travel or off-grid settings. In plain terms, a short, casual word — either a basic living shelter, or (capitalized, usually plural "Habs") a Montreal Canadiens player/fan term.
How do you use “hab” in a sentence?
Here is “hab” used in a sentence: “The astronauts sealed the airlock and retreated to the hab before the dust storm hit.”
What part of speech is “hab”?
“Hab” is a noun.
Where does the word “hab” come from?
The word “hab” comes from French. A clipped form of "habitation" (for the housing sense) and of "Habitants," an old nickname for French-Canadian settlers, later shortened to "Habs" for the Montreal Canadiens.
How many meanings does “hab” have?
“Hab” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal shorthand for a habitation module or living structure, especially in space travel or off-grid settings.
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