Joseph

[ joh-zuh f, -suh f ]
/ ˈdʒoʊ zəf, -səf /

noun

Jacob's eleventh son, the first of Jacob and his second wife, Rachel: sold into slavery by his brothers. Gen. 30:22–24; 37.
the husband of Mary who was the mother of Jesus. Matt. 1:16–25.
Hinmaton-yalaktit,c1840–1904, leader of the Nez Percé: led 1000-mile (1600-km) retreat from U.S. forces in an attempt to reach Canada 1877.
(lowercase) a long coat buttoning in the front, worn especially by women as part of their riding habit in colonial America.
a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “increaser.”

Definition for joseph (2 of 3)

Joseph I

noun

1678–1711, king of Hungary 1687–1711; king of Germany 1690–1711; emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 1705–11 (son of Leopold I).

Definition for joseph (3 of 3)

Joseph II

noun

1741–90, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 1765–90 (son of Francis I; brother of Leopold II and Marie Antoinette).

Example sentences from the Web for joseph

British Dictionary definitions for joseph (1 of 3)

joseph
/ (ˈdʒəʊzɪf) /

noun

a woman's floor-length riding coat with a small cape, worn esp in the 18th century

Word Origin for joseph

perhaps from the story of Joseph and his long coat (Genesis 37:3)

British Dictionary definitions for joseph (2 of 3)

Joseph
/ (ˈdʒəʊzɪf) /

noun

Old Testament
  1. the eleventh son of Jacob and one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel (Genesis 30:2–24)
  2. either or both of two tribes descended from his sons Ephraim and Manasseh
Saint Joseph New Testament the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:16–25). Feast day: Mar 19

British Dictionary definitions for joseph (3 of 3)

Joseph II

noun

1741–90, Holy Roman emperor (1765–90); son of Francis I. He ruled Austria jointly with his mother, Maria Theresa, until her death (1780). He reorganized taxation, abolished serfdom, curtailed the feudal power of the nobles, and asserted his independence from the pope