gig
gig Lexical Profile
gig Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A live musical, comedic, or theatrical performance, especially a single engagement.
"The band loaded their equipment into the van after playing a lively gig at the local venue."
A temporary job or assignment, especially one undertaken by a freelancer or independent contractor.
"She picked up a side gig as a graphic designer to supplement her income."
A light, two-wheeled carriage pulled by a single horse.
"In the nineteenth century, the doctor would often travel between country estates in a horse-drawn gig."
• verb
To work as a freelancer or undertake a series of short-term, independent jobs.
"He spent the summer gigging for various tech startups before securing a full-time position."
To perform at a musical or entertainment engagement.
"The jazz quartet has been gigging around the city for over a decade."
To catch or spear fish or frogs using a pronged spear.
"They spent the warm summer evening gigging for frogs along the muddy banks of the creek."
Word Nuance & Usage
In modern business contexts, 'gig' frequently refers to short-term, freelance, or independent contract work, giving rise to the term 'gig economy'.
• Rhymes for gig
Word Origin & Etymology
The origins of 'gig' are diverse and largely obscure. The sense of a 'live performance' originated in 1920s American jazz slang. The sense of a 'light carriage' derives from Middle English 'gigge' (something that spins or whirls).