Collins Dictionaries - Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus Essential

bubble n

1a small globule of air or a gas in a liquid or a solid ◇ SYNONYMS: air ball, drop, bead, blister, blob, droplet, globule 2a thin film of liquid forming a ball around air or a gas: a soap bubble 3a dome, esp. a transparent glass or plastic one 4an unreliable scheme or enterprise ▸ vb -bling, -bled 5to form bubbles ◇ SYNONYMS: foam, fizz, froth, percolate, effervesce 6to move or flow with a gurgling sound ◇ SYNONYMS: gurgle, splash, murmur, trickle, ripple, babble, burble, lap 7 bubble overto express an emotion freely: she was bubbling over with excitementbubbly adj -blier, -bliest 1lively; animated; excited ◇ SYNONYMS: lively, happy, excited, animated, merry, bouncy, elated, sparky 2full of or resembling bubbles ◇ SYNONYMS: frothy, sparkling, fizzy, effervescent, carbonated, foamy ▸ n 3(informal) champagnebubonic plague n an acute infectious disease characterized by the formation of buboesbuccaneer n a pirate, esp. in the Caribbean in the 17th and 18th centuriesbuck1 n 1the male of the goat, hare, kangaroo, rabbit, and reindeer 2(archaic) a spirited young man 3the act of bucking ▸ vb 4(of a horse or other animal) to jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched 5(of a horse, etc.) to throw (its rider) by bucking 6(informal) to resist or oppose obstinately: bucking the system ▸ See also buck up buck2 n (US & Canad & Austral & NZ informal) a dollarbuck3 n pass the buck(informal) to shift blame or responsibility onto anotherbucket n 1an open-topped cylindrical container with a handle 2the amount a bucket will hold 3a bucket-like part of a machine, such as the scoop on a mechanical shovel 4 kick the bucket(slang) to die ▸ vb -eting, -eted 5(often foll. by down) (of rain) to fall very heavilybucket list n (informal) a list of things one wants to experience before one diesbuckle n 1a clasp for fastening together two loose ends, esp. of a belt or strap ◇ SYNONYMS: fastener, catch, clip, clasp, hasp ▸ vb -ling, -led 2to fasten or be fastened with a buckle ◇ SYNONYMS: fasten, close, secure, hook, clasp 3to bend or cause to bend out of shape, esp. as a result of pressure or heat ◇ SYNONYMS: distort, bend, warp, crumple, contortbuckle down vb to apply oneself with determinationbuckshee adj (Brit slang) without charge; freebuckteeth pl n projecting upper front teeth > buck-toothed adjbuck up vb (informal) 1to make or become more cheerful or confident 2to make hastebuckwheat n 1a type of small black seed used as animal fodder and in making flour 2the flour obtained from such seedsbucolic (byew- koll-ik) adj 1of the countryside or country life; rustic 2of or relating to shepherds; pastoral ▸ n 3a pastoral poembud n 1a swelling on the stem of a plant that develops into a flower or leaf ◇ SYNONYMS: shoot, branch, sprout, sprig, offshoot 2a partially opened flower: rosebud 3any small budlike outgrowth: taste buds 4 nip something in the budto put an end to something in its initial stages ▸ vb budding, budded 5(of plants and some animals) to produce buds ◇ SYNONYMS: shoot, branch, sprout, sprig, offshoot 6(horticulture) to graft (a bud) from one plant onto anotherBuddhism n a religion founded by the Buddha that teaches that all suffering can be brought to an end by overcoming greed, hatred, and delusion > Buddhist n, adjbudding adj beginning to develop or grow: a budding actor ◇ SYNONYMS: developing, beginning, growing, promising, potential, burgeoning, fledgling, embryonicbuddleia n a shrub which has long spikes of purple flowersbuddy n, pl -dies 1(chiefly US & Canad informal) a friend 2a volunteer who helps and supports a person with a chronic illness ▸ vb -dies, -dying, -died 3to act as a buddy to (a person with a chronic illness)budge vb budging, budged 1to move slightly: he refuses to budge off that chair ◇ SYNONYMS: move, stir 2to change or cause to change opinions: nothing would budge her from this ideabudgerigar n a small cage bird bred in many different-coloured varietiesbudget n 1a plan of expected income and expenditure over a specified period 2the total amount of money allocated for a specific purpose during a specified period ◇ SYNONYMS: allowance, means, funds, income, finances, resources, allocation ▸ adj 3inexpensive: a budget hotel ▸ vb -eting, -eted 4to enter or provide for in a budget 5to plan the expenditure of (money or time) ◇ SYNONYMS: plan, estimate, allocate, cost, ration, apportion > budgetary adjbudgie n (informal) same as budgerigar buff1 n 1a soft thick flexible undyed leather 2a cloth or pad of material used for polishing 3 in the buff(informal) completely naked ▸ adj 4dull yellowish-brown ◇ SYNONYMS: fawn, tan, beige, yellowish, straw-coloured, sand-coloured, yellowish-brown 5(informal) physically fit and attractive ▸ vb 6to clean or polish (a metal, floor, shoes, etc.) with a buff ◇ SYNONYMS: polish, smooth, brush, shine, rub, wax, brighten, burnishbuff2 n (informal) an expert on or devotee of a given subject: an opera buff ◇ SYNONYMS: expert, fan, addict, enthusiast, admirer, devotee, connoisseur, aficionado, fundi (S African)buffalo n, pl -loesor -lo 1a type of cattle with upward-curving horns 2same as water buffalo 3(US & Canad) a bisonbuffer n 1one of a pair of spring-loaded steel pads at the ends of railway vehicles and railway tracks that reduces shock on impact 2a person or thing that lessens shock or protects from damaging impact, circumstances, etc. ◇ SYNONYMS: safeguard, screen, shield, cushion, intermediary, bulwark 3(chem) Aa substance added to a solution to resist changes in its acidity or alkalinity BAlso called: buffer solutiona solution containing such a substance 4(computers) a memory device for temporarily storing data ▸ vb 5to cushion; provide a buffer for 6(computers) to store (data) temporarily in a bufferbuffet1 ( boof-fay, buff-ay) n 1a counter where light refreshments are served ◇ SYNONYMS: snack bar, café, cafeteria, brasserie, refreshment counter 2a meal at which guests help themselves from a number of dishes ◇ SYNONYMS: smorgasbordbuffet2 ( buff-it) vb -feting, -feted 1to knock against or about; batter: the ship was buffeted by strong winds 2to hit, esp. with the fist ▸ n 3a blow, esp. with the fistbuffoon n a person who amuses others by silly behaviour > buffoonery nbug n 1any of various insects having piercing and sucking mouthparts 2(chiefly US & Canad) any insect 3(informal) a minor illness caused by a germ or virus ◇ SYNONYMS: illness, disease, virus, infection, disorder, sickness, ailment, affliction 4(informal) a small error, esp. in a computer or computer program 5(informal) an obsessive idea or hobby 6(informal) a concealed microphone used for recording conversations in spying 7(Austral) a flattish edible shellfish ▸ vb bugging, bugged(informal) 8to irritate or upset (someone) ◇ SYNONYMS: annoy, bother, disturb, irritate, hassle (informal), pester, vex, get on your nerves (informal) 9to conceal a microphone in (a room or telephone) ◇ SYNONYMS: tap, eavesdrop, listen in onbugbear n a thing that causes obsessive anxietybugger n 1(slang) a person or thing considered to be unpleasant or difficult 2(slang) a humorous or affectionate term for someone: a friendly little bugger 3(offensive) a person who practises anal intercourse ▸ vb 4(slang) to tire; weary 5(offensive) to practise anal intercourse with ▸ interj 6(slang) an exclamation of annoyance or disappointmentbuggery n anal intercoursebugle (music) n 1a brass instrument used chiefly for military calls ▸ vb -gling, -gled 2to play or sound (on) a bugle > bugler nbuild vb building, built 1to make or construct by joining parts or materials: more than 100 bypasses have been built in the past decade ◇ SYNONYMS: construct, make, raise, put up, assemble, erect, fabricate, form 2to establish and develop: it took ten years to build the business 3to make in a particular way or for a particular purpose: she's built for speed, not stamina 4(often foll. by up) to increase in intensity ▸ n 5physical form, figure, or proportions: he has an athletic build ◇ SYNONYMS: physique, form, body, figure, shape, structure, framebuilder n a person who constructs houses and other buildingsbuilding n 1a structure, such as a house, with a roof and walls ◇ SYNONYMS: structure, house, construction, dwelling (formal, literary), erection, edifice, domicile 2the business of building houses, etc.building society n (in the UK) a cooperative banking enterprise where money can be invested and mortgage loans made available. Since 1986 they have been empowered to offer banking servicesbuilt vb the past of build built-up adj 1having many buildings: a built-up area 2increased by the addition of parts: built-up heelsbulb n 1same as light bulb 2the onion-shaped base of the stem of some plants, which sends down roots 3a plant, such as a daffodil, which grows from a bulb 4any bulb-shaped thing > bulbous adjbulge n 1a swelling or an outward curve on a normally flat surface ◇ SYNONYMS: lump, swelling, bump, projection, hump, protuberance, protrusion 2a sudden increase in number, esp. of population ◇ SYNONYMS: increase, rise, boost, surge, intensification ▸ vb bulging, bulged 3to swell outwards ◇ SYNONYMS: swell out, project, expand, stick out, protrude, puff out, distend > bulging adjbulimia or bulimia nervosa n a mental health condition characterized by a compulsion to purge oneself of the food one has eaten > bulimic adj, nbulk n 1volume or size, esp. when great ◇ SYNONYMS: size, volume, dimensions, magnitude, substance, immensity, largeness 2the main part: he spends the bulk of his time abroad ◇ SYNONYMS: majority, mass, most, body, best part, lion's share, better part, preponderance 3a large body, esp. of a person 4the part of food which passes unabsorbed through the digestive system 5 in bulkin large quantities: how frequently do you buy food in bulk for your family? ▸ vb 6 bulk largeto be or seem important or prominentbulkhead n any upright partition in a ship or aeroplanebulky adj bulkier, bulkiestvery large and massive, esp. so as to be unwieldy > bulkiness nbull1 n 1a male of domestic cattle, esp. one that is sexually mature 2the male of various other animals including the elephant and whale 3a very large, strong, or aggressive person 4(Stock Exchange) a speculator who buys in anticipation of rising prices in order to make a profit on resale 5(chiefly Brit) same as bull's-eye 6 like a bull in a china shopclumsy 7 take the bull by the hornsto face and tackle a difficulty without shirkingbull2 n a ludicrously self-contradictory or nonsensical statementbull3 n a formal document issued by the popebulldog n a thickset dog with a broad head and a muscular bodybulldoze vb -dozing, -dozed 1to move, demolish, or flatten with a bulldozer 2(informal) to coerce (someone) into doing something by intimidationbulldozer n a powerful tractor fitted with caterpillar tracks and a blade at the front, used for moving earthbullet n a small metallic missile used as the projectile of a gun or rifle ◇ SYNONYMS: projectile, ball, shot, missile, slug, pelletbulletin n 1a broadcast summary of the news ◇ SYNONYMS: report, account, statement, message, communication, announcement, dispatch, communiqué 2an official statement on a matter of public interest ◇ SYNONYMS: report, account, statement, message, communication, announcement, dispatch, communiqué 3a periodical published by an organization for its membersbullet point n one of a series of important items for discussion or action in a document, usually marked by a square or round symbolbullfight n a public show, popular in Spain, in which a matador baits and usually kills a bull in an arena > bullfighter n > bullfighting nbullion n gold or silver in the form of bars and ingotsbullock n a gelded bull; steerbull's-eye n 1the small central disc of a target or a dartboard 2a shot hitting this 3(informal) something that exactly achieves its aim 4a peppermint-flavoured boiled sweet 5a small circular window 6a thick disc of glass set into a ship's deck, etc. to admit light 7the glass boss at the centre of a sheet of blown glass 8 Aa convex lens used as a condenser Ba lamp or lantern containing such a lensbully n, pl -lies 1a person who repeatedly hurts, persecutes, or intimidates other people ◇ SYNONYMS: persecutor, tough, oppressor, tormentor, bully boy, browbeater, coercer, ruffian ▸ vb -lies, -lying, -lied 2to hurt, intimidate, or persecute (another person) ◇ SYNONYMS: persecute, intimidate, torment, oppress, pick on, victimize, terrorize, push around (slang) ▸ interj 3 bully for you(informal) well done! bravo!: now usually used sarcasticallybulrush n 1a tall reedlike marsh plant with brown spiky flowers 2(Bible) same as papyrusbulwark n 1a wall or similar structure used as a fortification; rampart 2a person or thing acting as a defencebum1 n (Brit & Austral & NZ slang) the buttocks or anusbum2 (informal) n 1a disreputable loafer or idler 2a tramp; hobo ▸ vb bumming, bummed 3to get by begging; cadge: to bum a lift 4 bum aroundto spend time to no good purpose; loaf ▸ adj 5of poor quality; useless: he hit a bum notebumble vb -bling, -bled 1to speak or do in a clumsy, muddled, or inefficient way 2to move in a clumsy or unsteady way > bumbling adj, nbumblebee n a large hairy beebumf or bumph n (Brit & Austral & NZ) 1(informal) official documents or forms 2(slang) toilet paperbump vb 1to knock or strike (someone or something) with a jolt 2to travel or proceed in jerks and jolts ◇ SYNONYMS: jerk, shake, bounce, rattle, jog, lurch, jolt 3to hurt by knocking ▸ n 4an impact; knock; jolt; collision ◇ SYNONYMS: knock, blow, impact, collision, thump 5a dull thud from an impact or collision 6a lump on the body caused by a blow ◇ SYNONYMS: lump, swelling, bulge, hump, nodule, protuberance, contusion (formal) 7a raised uneven part, such as on a road surface ▸ See also bump off > bumpy adjbumper1 n a horizontal bar attached to the front and rear of a vehicle to protect against damage from impactbumper2 n 1a glass or tankard, filled to the brim, esp. as a toast 2an unusually large or fine example of something ▸ adj 3unusually large, fine, or abundant: a bumper crop ◇ SYNONYMS: exceptional, excellent, exo (Austral slang), massive, jumbo (informal), abundant, whopping (informal), bountifulbumph n same as bumf bumpkin n an awkward simple rustic person: a country bumpkinbump off vb (slang) to murder (someone)bumptious adj offensively self-assertive or conceitedbun n 1a small sweetened bread roll, often containing currants or spices 2a small round cake 3a hairstyle in which long hair is gathered into a bun shape at the back of the headbunch n 1a number of things growing, fastened, or grouped together: a bunch of grapes; a bunch of keys ◇ SYNONYMS: bouquet, sheaf 2a collection; group: a bunch of queries 3a group or company: a bunch of cowards ◇ SYNONYMS: group, band, crowd, party, team, gathering, gang, flock ▸ vb 4(sometimes foll. by together or up) to group or be grouped into a bunch ◇ SYNONYMS bunch together or up: group, mass, collect, assemble, cluster, huddlebundle n 1a number of things or a quantity of material gathered or loosely bound together: a bundle of sticks ◇ SYNONYMS: bunch, group, collection, mass, pile, stack, heap, batch 2something wrapped or tied for carrying; package 3a number of different items sold as a single package 4(biol) a collection of strands of specialized tissue such as nerve fibres 5(botany) a strand of conducting tissue within plants ▸ vb -dling, -dled 6(foll. by out or off or into etc) to cause (someone) to go, esp. roughly or unceremoniously: she bundled them unceremoniously out into the garden ◇ SYNONYMS: push, thrust, shove, throw, rush, hurry, jostle, hustle 7to push or throw (something), esp. in a quick untidy way: the soiled items were bundled into a black plastic bag 8to sell (different items) together as a single packagebundle up vb to make (something) into a bundle or bundlesbung n 1a stopper, esp. of cork or rubber, used to close something such as a cask or flask ▸ vb 2(foll. by up) (informal) to close or seal (something) with or as if with a bung 3(Brit & Austral & NZ slang) to throw (something) somewhere in a careless manner; slingbungalow n a one-storey housebungee jumping or bungy jumping n a sport in which a person jumps from a high bridge, tower, etc., to which he or she is connected by a rubber ropebungle vb -gling, -gled 1to spoil (an operation) through clumsiness or incompetence; botch ◇ SYNONYMS: mess up, blow (slang), ruin, spoil, blunder, botch, make a mess of, muff, crool or cruel (Austral slang) ▸ n 2a clumsy or unsuccessful performance; blunder > bungler n > bungling adj, nbunion n an inflamed swelling of the first joint of the big toebunk1 n 1a narrow shelflike bed fixed along a wall, esp. in a caravan or ship 2same as bunk bed bunk2 n (informal) same as bunkum bunk3 n do a bunk 1(Brit & Austral & NZ slang) to make a hurried and secret departure 2(chiefly NZ & S African) to be absent without permissionbunk bed n one of a pair of beds constructed one above the other to save spacebunker n 1an obstacle on a golf course, usually a sand-filled hollow bordered by a ridge 2an underground shelter 3a large storage container for coal, etc.bunkum n empty talk; nonsensebunny n, pl -niesa child's word for rabbitBunsen burner n a gas burner consisting of a metal tube with an adjustable air valve at the basebunting n decorative flags, pennants, and streamersbunya n a tall dome-shaped Australian coniferous treebunyip n (Austral) a legendary monster said to live in swamps and lakesbuoy n 1a brightly coloured floating object anchored to the sea bed for marking moorings, navigable channels, or obstructions in the water ◇ SYNONYMS: float, guide, signal, marker, beacon ▸ vb 2(foll. by up) to prevent from sinking: the life belt buoyed him up 3to raise the spirits of; hearten: exports are on the increase, buoyed by a weak dollar 4(naut) to mark (a channel or obstruction) with a buoy or buoysbuoyant adj 1able to float in or rise to the surface of a liquid ◇ SYNONYMS: floating, light 2(of a liquid or gas) able to keep a body afloat 3thriving: a buoyant economy 4cheerful or resilient ◇ SYNONYMS: cheerful, happy, upbeat (informal), carefree, jaunty, chirpy (informal), light-hearted > buoyancy nbur or burr n 1a seed case or flower head with hooks or prickles 2any plant that produces bursburble vb -bling, -bled 1to make or utter with a bubbling sound; gurgle 2to talk quickly and excitedlyburden1 n 1something that is carried; load ◇ SYNONYMS: load, weight, cargo, freight, consignment, encumbrance 2something that is difficult to bear ◇ SYNONYMS: trouble, worry, weight, responsibility, strain, affliction, onus, millstone RELATED ADJECTIVE: onerous▸ vb 3to put or impose a burden on; load ◇ SYNONYMS: weigh down, worry, load, tax, bother, handicap, oppress, inconvenience 4to weigh down; oppress ◇ SYNONYMS: weigh down, worry, load, tax, bother, handicap, oppress, inconvenience > burdensome adjburden2 n 1a line of words recurring at the end of each verse of a song 2the theme of a speech, book, etc.bureau ( byew-roe) n, pl -reausor -reaux(-rose) 1an office or agency, esp. one providing services for the public ◇ SYNONYMS: office, department, section, branch, station, unit, division, subdivision 2(US) a government department 3(chiefly Brit) a writing desk with pigeonholes and drawers against which the writing surface can be closed when not in use ◇ SYNONYMS: desk, writing desk 4(US) a chest of drawersbureaucracy n, pl -cies 1a rigid system of administration based upon organization into bureaus, division of labour, a hierarchy of authority, etc. ◇ SYNONYMS: government, officials, authorities, administration, the system, civil service, corridors of power 2government by such a system ◇ SYNONYMS: government, officials, authorities, administration, the system, civil service, corridors of power 3government officials collectively ◇ SYNONYMS: government, officials, authorities, administration, the system, civil service, corridors of power 4any administration in which action is impeded by unnecessary official procedures ◇ SYNONYMS: red tape, regulations, officialdombureaucrat n 1an official in a bureaucracy ◇ SYNONYMS: official, officer, administrator, civil servant, public servant, functionary, mandarin 2an official who adheres rigidly to bureaucracy > bureaucratic adjbureau de change n a place where foreign currencies can be exchangedburgeon vb to develop or grow rapidly; flourishburgh n (in Scotland until 1975) a town with a degree of self-governmentburglar n a person who illegally enters a property to commit a crime ◇ SYNONYMS: housebreaker, thief, robber, pilferer, filcher, cat burglar, sneak thiefburglary n, pl -riesthe crime of entering a building as a trespasser to commit theft or another offence ◇ SYNONYMS: breaking and entering, housebreaking, break-in, home invasion (Austral & NZ)burgle vb -gling, -gledto break into (a house, shop, etc.)Burgundy n 1a red or white wine produced in the Burgundy region, around Dijon in France ▸ adj burgundy 2dark purplish-redburial n the burying of a dead body ◇ SYNONYMS: funeral, interment, obsequies, entombment, exequiesburlesque n 1an artistic work, esp. literary or dramatic, satirizing a subject by caricaturing it 2(US & Canad, theatre) a bawdy comedy show of the late 19th and early 20th centuries ▸ adj 3of or characteristic of a burlesqueburly adj -lier, -liestlarge and thick of build; sturdyburn1 vb burning, burntor burned 1to be or set on fire ◇ SYNONYMS: be on fire, blaze, be ablaze, smoke, flame, glow, flare, go up in flames 2to destroy or be destroyed by fire ◇ SYNONYMS: set on fire, light, ignite, kindle, incinerate 3to damage, injure, or mark by heat: he burnt his hand 4to die or put to death by fire 5to be or feel hot: my forehead is burning 6to smart or cause to smart: brandy burns your throat 7to feel strong emotion, esp. anger or passion ◇ SYNONYMS: be passionate, be aroused, be inflamed 8to use for the purposes of light, heat, or power: to burn coal 9to form by or as if by fire: to burn a hole 10to char or become charred: the toast is burning ◇ SYNONYMS: scorch, toast, sear, char, singe 11to copy information onto (a compact disc) 12 burn one's bridges or boatsto commit oneself to a particular course of action with no possibility of turning back 13 burn one's fingersto suffer from having meddled or interfered ▸ n 14an injury caused by exposure to heat, electrical, chemical, or radioactive agents 15a mark caused by burningburn2 n (Scot & N English) a small streamburning adj 1intense; passionate ◇ SYNONYMS: intense, passionate, eager, ardent, fervent, impassioned, vehement 2urgent; crucial: a burning problem ◇ SYNONYMS: crucial (informal), important, pressing, significant, essential, vital, critical, acuteburnish vb to make or become shiny or smooth by friction; polishburp n 1(informal) a belch ▸ vb 2(informal) to belch 3to cause (a baby) to belchburr n 1the soft trilling sound given to the letter (r) in some English dialects 2a whirring or humming sound 3a rough edge left on metal or paper after cutting 4a small hand-operated drillburrawang n an Australian plant with fern-like flowers and an edible nutburrow n 1a hole dug in the ground by a rabbit or other small animal ◇ SYNONYMS: hole, shelter, tunnel, den, lair, retreat ▸ vb 2to dig (a tunnel or hole) in, through, or under ground ◇ SYNONYMS: dig, tunnel, excavate 3to move through a place by or as if by digging 4to delve deeply: he burrowed into his coat pocket ◇ SYNONYMS: delve, search, probe, ferret, rummage, forage, fossick (Austral & NZ) 5to live in or as if in a burrowbursar n a treasurer of a school, college, or universitybursary n, pl -ries 1a scholarship or grant awarded esp. in Scottish and New Zealand schools and universities 2(NZ) a state examination for senior pupils at secondary schoolburst vb bursting, burst 1to break or cause to break open or apart suddenly and noisily; explode ◇ SYNONYMS: explode, blow up, break, split, crack, shatter, puncture, rupture 2to come or go suddenly and forcibly: he burst into the room ◇ SYNONYMS: rush, run, break, break out, erupt, spout, gush forth 3to be full to the point of breaking open: bursting at the seams 4(foll. by into) to give vent to (something) suddenly or loudly: she burst into song ▸ n 5an instance of breaking open suddenly; explosion ◇ SYNONYMS: explosion, crack, blast, bang, discharge 6a break; breach: there was a burst in the pipe 7a sudden increase of effort; spurt: a burst of speed ◇ SYNONYMS: rush, surge, outbreak, outburst, spate, gush, torrent, spurt 8a sudden and violent occurrence or outbreak: a burst of applausebury vb buries, burying, buried 1to place (a corpse) in a grave ◇ SYNONYMS: inter, lay to rest, entomb, consign to the grave, inhume 2to place (something) in the earth and cover it with soil 3to cover (something) from sight; hide ◇ SYNONYMS: hide, cover, conceal, stash (informal), secrete, stow away 4to occupy (oneself) with deep concentration: he buried himself in his work 5to dismiss (a feeling) from the mind: they decided to bury any hard feelings ◇ SYNONYMS: forgetbus n 1a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers between stopping places along a regular route 2(informal) a car or aircraft that is old and shaky 3(electronics, computers) an electrical conductor used to make a common connection between several circuits ▸ vb bussing, bussedor busing, bused 4to travel or transport by bus 5(chiefly US & Canad) to transport (children) by bus from one area to another in order to create racially integrated schoolsbusby n, pl -biesa tall fur helmet worn by certain British soldiersbush n 1a dense woody plant, smaller than a tree, with many branches; shrub ◇ SYNONYMS: shrub, plant, hedge, thicket, shrubbery 2a dense cluster of such shrubs; thicket ◇ SYNONYMS: shrub, plant, hedge, thicket, shrubbery 3something resembling a bush, esp. in density: a bush of hair 4 the bushan uncultivated area covered with trees or shrubs in Australia, Africa, New Zealand, and Canada ◇ SYNONYMS the bush: the wilds, brush, scrub, woodland, backwoods, scrubland 5(Canad) an area on a farm on which timber is grown and cut 6 beat about the bushto avoid the point at issuebushbaby n, pl -babiesa small agile tree-living mammal with large eyes and a long tailbushel n (Brit) an obsolete unit of dry or liquid measure equal to 8 gallons (36.4 litres)bushfire n an uncontrolled scrub or forest firebushy adj bushier, bushiest 1(of hair) thick and shaggy 2covered or overgrown with bushesbusiness n 1the purchase and sale of goods and services ◇ SYNONYMS: trade, selling, industry, manufacturing, commerce, dealings 2a commercial or industrial establishment ◇ SYNONYMS: establishment, company, firm, concern, organization, corporation, venture, enterprise 3a trade or profession ◇ SYNONYMS: profession, work, job, line, trade, career, function, employment 4commercial activity: the two countries should do business with each other ◇ SYNONYMS: trade, selling, industry, manufacturing, commerce, dealings 5proper or rightful concern or responsibility: mind your own business ◇ SYNONYMS: concern, affair 6an affair; matter: it's a dreadful business ◇ SYNONYMS: concern, affair 7serious work or activity: get down to business 8a difficult or complicated matter: it's a business trying to see him 9 mean businessto be in earnestbusinesslike adj efficient and methodicalbusinessman or (fem) businesswoman n, pl -menor -womena person engaged in commercial or industrial business, usually an owner or executive ◇ SYNONYMS: executive, director, manager, merchant, capitalist, administrator, entrepreneur, tycoonbusker n a person who entertains for money in streets, stations, etc. > busk vbbust1 n 1a woman's bosom ◇ SYNONYMS: bosom, breasts, chest, front 2a sculpture of the head, shoulders, and upper chest of a personbust2 (informal) vb busting, bustedor bust 1to burst or break ◇ SYNONYMS: break, smash, split, burst, shatter, fracture, rupture 2(of the police) to raid or search (a place) or arrest (someone) ◇ SYNONYMS: arrest, catch, raid 3(US & Canad) to demote in military rank ▸ adj 4broken 5 go bustto become bankrupt ◇ SYNONYMS go bust: go bankrupt, fail, be ruined, become insolventbustard n a bird with a long strong legs, a heavy body, a long neck, and speckled plumagebustle1 vb -tling, -tled 1(often foll. by about) to hurry with a great show of energy or activity ◇ SYNONYMS: hurry, rush, fuss, hasten, scuttle, scurry, scamper ▸ n 2energetic and noisy activity ◇ SYNONYMS: activity, to-do, stir, excitement, fuss, flurry, commotion, ado > bustling adjbustle2 n a cushion or framework worn by women in the late 19th century at the back in order to expand the skirtbusy adj busier, busiest 1actively or fully engaged; occupied ◇ SYNONYMS: active, industrious, rushed off your feet 2crowded with or characterized by activity ◇ SYNONYMS: hectic, full, exacting, energetic 3(of a telephone line) in use; engaged ▸ vb busies, busying, busied 4to make or keep (someone, esp. oneself) busy; occupy ◇ SYNONYMS busy yourself: occupy yourself, be engrossed, immerse yourself, involve yourself, absorb yourself, employ yourself, engage yourself > busily advbusybody n, pl -bodiesa meddlesome, prying, or officious personbut conj 1contrary to expectation: he cut his hand but didn't cry 2in contrast; on the contrary: I like seafood but my husband doesn't ◇ SYNONYMS: however, still, yet, nevertheless 3other than: we can't do anything but wait 4without it happening: we never go out but it rains ▸ prep 5except: they saved all but one ◇ SYNONYMS: except (for), save, bar, barring, excepting, excluding, with the exception of 6 but forwere it not for: but for you, we couldn't have managed ▸ adv 7only: I can but try; he was but a child ◇ SYNONYMS: only, just, simply, merely ▸ n 8an objection: ifs and butsbutane ( byew-tane) n a colourless gas used in the manufacture of rubber and fuelsbutch adj (slang) (of a woman or man) markedly or aggressively masculinebutcher n 1a person who sells meat 2a person who kills animals for meat 3a brutal murderer ◇ SYNONYMS: murderer, killer, slaughterer, slayer, destroyer, executioner, cut-throat, exterminator ▸ vb 4to kill and prepare (animals) for meat ◇ SYNONYMS: slaughter, prepare, carve, cut up, dress, cut, clean, joint 5to kill (people) at random or brutally ◇ SYNONYMS: kill, slaughter, massacre, destroy, cut down, assassinate, slay (archaic, literary), liquidate 6to make a mess of; botchbutcherbird n an Australian magpie that impales its prey on thornsbutchery n, pl -eries 1senseless slaughter 2the business of a butcherbutler n the head manservant of a household, in charge of the wines, table, etc.butt1 n 1the thicker or blunt end of something, such as the stock of a rifle ◇ SYNONYMS: end, handle, shaft, stock, shank, hilt, haft 2the unused end of a cigarette or cigar; stub ◇ SYNONYMS: stub, tip, leftover, fag end (informal) 3(chiefly US & Canad slang) the buttocksbutt2 n 1a person or thing that is the target of ridicule or teasing ◇ SYNONYMS: target, victim, dupe, laughing stock, Aunt Sally 2(shooting, archery) Aa mound of earth behind the target B buttsthe target rangebutt3 vb 1to strike (something or someone) with the head or horns ◇ SYNONYMS: knock, push, bump, thrust, ram, shove, poke, prod 2(foll. by in or into) to intrude, esp. into a conversation; interfere ◇ SYNONYMS butt in: interrupt, cut in, break in, chip in (informal) ▸ n 3a blow with the head or hornsbutt4 n a large cask for collecting or storing liquids ◇ SYNONYMS: cask, barrelbutter n 1an edible fatty yellow solid made from cream by churning 2any substance with a butter-like consistency, such as peanut butter ▸ vb 3to put butter on or in (something) ▸ See also butter up > buttery adjbutter bean n a large pale flat edible beanbuttercup n a small bright yellow flowerbutterfingers n (informal) a person who drops things by mistake or fails to catch thingsbutterfly n, pl -flies 1an insect with a slender body and brightly coloured wings 2a swimming stroke in which the arms are plunged forward together in large circular movements 3a person who never settles with one interest or occupation for longbuttermilk n the sourish liquid remaining after the butter has been separated from milkbutterscotch n a hard brittle toffee made with butter, brown sugar, etc.butter up vb to flatterbuttery n, pl -teries(Brit) (in some universities) a room in which food and drink are sold to studentsbuttock n 1either of the two large fleshy masses that form the human rump 2the corresponding part in some mammalsbutton n 1a disc or knob of plastic, wood, etc., attached to a garment, which fastens two surfaces together by passing through a buttonhole 2a small disc that operates a door bell or machine when pressed 3a small round object, such as a sweet or badge ▸ vb 4to fasten (a garment) with a button or buttonsbuttonhole n 1a slit in a garment through which a button is passed to fasten two surfaces together 2a flower worn pinned to the lapel or in the buttonhole ▸ vb -holing, -holed 3to detain (a person) in conversationbuttress n 1a construction, usually of brick or stone, built to support a wall 2any support or prop ▸ vb 3to support (a wall) with a buttress 4to support or sustain: his observations are buttressed by the most recent scholarly researchbuxom adj (of a woman) healthily plump, attractive, and full-bosomedbuy vb buying, bought 1to acquire (something) by paying a sum of money for it; purchase ◇ SYNONYMS: purchase, get, pay for, obtain, acquire, invest in, shop for, procure 2to be capable of purchasing: money can't buy love 3to acquire by any exchange or sacrifice: the rise in interest rates was just to buy time until the weekend 4to bribe (someone) 5(slang) to accept (something) as true 6(foll. by into) to purchase shares of (a company) ▸ n 7a purchase: a good buy ◇ SYNONYMS: purchase, deal (informal), bargain, acquisition, steal (informal), snip (informal), giveawaybuyer n 1a person who buys; customer 2a person employed to buy merchandise for a shop or factorybuzz n 1a rapidly vibrating humming sound, such as of a bee 2a low sound, such as of many voices in conversation 3(informal) a telephone call 4(informal) a sense of excitement ▸ vb 5to make a vibrating sound like that of a prolonged z 6(of a place) to be filled with an air of excitement: the city buzzed with the news 7to summon (someone) with a buzzer 8(informal) to fly an aircraft very low over (people, buildings, or another aircraft) 9 buzz about or aroundto move around quickly and busilybuzzard n a bird of prey with broad wings and tail and a soaring flightbuzzer n an electronic device that produces a buzzing sound as a signalbuzz word n (informal) a word, originally from a particular jargon, which becomes a popular vogue wordby prep 1used to indicate the performer of the action of a passive verb: seeds eaten by the birds ◇ SYNONYMS: through, through the agency of 2used to indicate the person responsible for a creative work: three songs by Britten ◇ SYNONYMS: through, through the agency of 3via; through: enter by the back door ◇ SYNONYMS: via, over, by way of 4used to indicate a means used: he frightened her by hiding behind the door 5beside; next to; near: a tree by the stream ◇ SYNONYMS: near, past, along, close to, closest to, neighbouring, next to, beside 6passing the position of; past: I drove by the place where she works ◇ SYNONYMS: near, past, along, close to, closest to, neighbouring, next to, beside 7not later than; before: return the books by Tuesday 8used to indicate extent: it is hotter by five degrees 9multiplied by: four by three equals twelve 10during the passing of: by night 11placed between measurements of the various dimensions of something: a plank fourteen inches by seven ▸ adv 12near: the house is close by ◇ SYNONYMS: nearby, close, handy, at hand, within reach 13away; aside: he put some money by each week 14passing a point near something; past: he drove bybye or bye-bye interj (informal) goodbyeby-election or bye-election n an election held during the life of a parliament to fill a vacant seatbygone adj past; former: a bygone agebylaw or bye-law n a rule made by a local authorityBYO or BYOG n (Austral & NZ) an unlicensed restaurant at which diners may bring their own alcoholic drinkbypass n 1a main road built to avoid a city 2a secondary pipe, channel, or appliance through which the flow of a substance, such as gas or electricity, is redirected 3a surgical operation in which the blood flow is redirected away from a diseased or blocked part of the heart ▸ vb 4to go around or avoid (a city, obstruction, problem, etc.) ◇ SYNONYMS: get round, avoid 5to proceed without reference to (regulations or a superior); get round; avoid ◇ SYNONYMS: go round, circumvent, depart from, deviate from, pass round, detour roundby-product n 1a secondary or incidental product of a manufacturing process 2a side effectbyre n (Brit) a shelter for cowsbystander n a person present but not involved; onlooker; spectatorbyte n (computers) a group of bits processed as one unit of databyway n a secondary or side road, esp. in the countrybyword n 1a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of something: their name is a byword for quality 2a common saying; proverb