Do you know the definition of COB? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the abbreviation COB, including its definition, usage, and more!
Your writing, at its best
Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant
According to Hub Spot, the term COB stands for close of business. This refers to the end of financial markets in EST, which define the US business hours. This is used in business communications to communicate deadlines and refers to the time 5:00PM EST. Using COB is different from EOD because COB specifically refers to an eastern time zone. If a company has an LA office and an NY office, an employee needs to know if it is the end of their day or the end of the day on the other side of the country. This is similar to the terms EOB (end of business), end of day (EOD), end of play (EOP), and close of play (COP). If a colleague said they needed something by COB Friday, this would mean 5PM Eastern Standard Time on Friday, at the end of the business day.
Per Dictionary, the word cob can also be simply used as a word. This word has a variety of different meanings, including a corncob of kernels of maize, male swan, or a thick-set, short-legged stout horse that has a high gait and is used for driving. In the British English Midlands, it is used to refer to a rounded mass or lump, or some building material that is a mixture of clay and straw. A cob is also a Spanish-American coin from the 16th-18th centuries. It was made of crude silver or gold, had a characteristically irregular shape and bore only a partial impression of the dies from which it was struck. A cob is also a black-backed gull, Larus marinus, and an adobe cottage.
A cob loaf can also refer to a round loaf of bread, and the word cob is informal British meaning a punishment consisting of blows to the buttocks, as well an an archaic slang term for a spider. This likely comes from the Icelandic kobbi seal, but is ultimately of uncertain origin and may have alternative etymologies like the cognate of Icelandic kubba or German kübel meaning large container. We may never know the exact origins of cob. This is not to be confused with cobb, which is a type of salad as is a chop. The pronunciation of cob is kɒb.
According to The Free Dictionary, the term COB can stand for much more than close of business. This term has a plethora of other potential definitions and shorthand meanings. However, these are less common. If you do decide to use one of these alternate definitions, make sure that you provide the proper context so the other person is not confused.
Current on Board
Combined Operations Building (Canada)
Cash on the Barrelhead
Chairman of the Board
Continuously Overwhelmed with Blessings
Conan O’Brien (TV personality)
California-Oregon Border
City of Beaverton (Oregon)
Commencement of Business
Continent Ocean Boundary
Cobol Source Code
Civilians on the Battlefield
Colegio Oficial de Biólogos (Spanish: Association of Biologists)
Coordination Of Benefits (health insurance plans and health insurance policies, i.e. COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 per CMS), Medicare, insurance company, Medicaid services and coverage)
Côte d’Opale Basket (French basketball club)
Commission on Biotechnology (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)
Cavalcade of Bands (sanctioning body)
Commission des Operations de Bourse (French stock market regulator)
City of Berkeley (California)
Continuous Open Bidding (sorority/fraternity recruitment)
Carry on Business (license; India)
Company of Biologists (Canada)
Chamber Orchestra of Boston (Massachusetts)
Collocated Operating Base
Chief of the Boat (US Navy)
Copy of Bill
Cost of Borrowing (loan financing)
Contractors on the Battlefield
Chrome Over Brass (snare drums)
Call Out Bonus
Case of Beer
College of the Bahamas
Comitê Olímpico Brasileiro (Brazilian Olympic Committee)
Council of Bureaux (International Association of National Motor Insurers’ Bureaux)
Crude Oil Boiler (petrochemicals manufacturing)
Crip or Blood
Circle of Bosses
Church of the Brethren
Change of Beneficiary
Close of Business
Council Of Brothers (gaming clan)
Church Office Building (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Crotchety Old Bitch
Certificate in Online Business
Concluding Observation (United Nations)
Center of Balance (measurement)
City of Baltimore (Baltimore, MD)
Children of Bodom (band; Finland)
Class of Business
Come on Baby (game)
Change of Basis (linear algebra, changing vectors from one basis to another)
Center for Oral Biology (Karolinska Institute; Huddinge, Sweden)
Conformity Assessment Body
Conduct of Business
College of Business
City of Bellingham (Washington)
Command Operating Budget
Combined Order of Battle
Communications Office Building (NASA)
Cut Out Background (digital photo manipulation)
California Orange Bud (marijuana)
Chris O’Brien (musician)
City of Bones (novel)
Country of Birth
Contingency Operating Base
City of Brownsville (Texas)
Center of Battery (US DoD)
Commercial Online Banking
Crazy Old Bastard
Citizen Oversight Board
Crew-Overboard
Career Opportunities Bulletin (various organizations)
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Kevin
July 14, 2021
Common Questions
