bucket

bucket Definition

bucket (buk′it)

noun

a deep, round container with a flat bottom and a curved handle, used to hold or carry water, coal, etc.; pail
the amount held by a bucket
a thing like a bucket, as a scoop on a steam shovel, any of the cups on a water wheel, or any of the curved vanes in the rotor of a turbine
Slang the rump; buttocks

Etymology: ME boket < Anglo-Fr buket, dim. of OE buc, pitcher, bulging vessel, orig., belly < IE *bhou-, var. of base *bheu-: see big

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to carry, draw, or lift (water, etc.) in a bucket or buckets
to speculate (with) dishonestly as in a bucket shop
Brit.
1. to ride (a horse) at a fast pace
2. to move or drive rapidly or recklessly

bucket Idioms

kick the bucket

Etymology: ? < obs. bucket, beam on which a slaughtered pig was hung

Slang to die

bucket Synonyms

pail, canister, can, basin, cask, scuttle, kettle, hod; see also can 1, container, pot 1.

expire, lose one's life, pass away; see die 1.

bucket Usage Examples

Converse of object

mop: Tony had arrived and I began the day borrowing mop, bucket and chamois and cleaning my car, which was filthy.
galvanize: Item 630 - Price £ 1.75 Bucket Wedding Favor These small galvanized buckets are absolutely great for something different.
upturn: The wall shape, being similar to an upturned bucket, promotes improved paste release.
sweat: Legs feel like lead and I'm sweating buckets in the 25 degree heat.
weep: I found it as moving as Highland Twins and I wept buckets.
pour: You get the impression Lee would come up grinning if you poured a bucket of three-year-old lard over his blond head.

Adjective modifier

bowl-shaped: Missiles were launched from a bowl-shaped bucket at the end of the arm.
leaky: A leaky bucket holds no water, and the universe therefore doesn't pour energy in!
lidded: Storing Diapers Wet diapers and rinsed soiled ones can be placed in a dry lidded bucket while waiting to be washed.
diaper: Consider swapping to using lavender oil in your diaper bucket.
rust: The American classic Airstream is a design icon and the series follows the renovation of one from rust bucket to a glorious chrome trailer.

Modifies a noun

schip: Al uncovering the bucket understanding schip retention program must pay.
dredger: She was built as a bucket dredger to keep the port of Greenock clear.
elevator: Elevation by the bucketful Published: 07 October, 2004 Food conveyor manufacturer Cox & Plant Products has launched a new bucket elevator.
load: The Web Page is very nice too, with a bucket load of online retro games.

Noun used with modifier

slop: Spilling the contents of our slops bucket on my Monsoon skirt.
gallon: Fill a 5 gallon bucket with water add a large minced onion and minced garlic clove, some Tabasco sauce and cayenne pepper.

Preposition: of

popcorn: With buckets of popcorn at the ready we've tested 5.1 systems from four leading manufacturers; JVC, Panasonic, Pioneer and Sony.
slime: They hold me down and gag me with one hand, while pouring buckets of slime over me with the other.

Preposition: with

bucket Quotes

And 'twould be a cruel thing, When her black eyes have raised desire, Should she not her bucket bring And kindly help to quench the fire.

—Prior, Matthew

I tell you the past is a bucket of ashes.

—Sandburg, Carl

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