Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » bug

bug

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

A bug is an insect or a defect in something. (noun)

An example of bug is a beetle.
An example of bug is something that keeps a computer program from working correctly.

Bug is slang meaning to annoy someone. (verb)

An example of bug is a child asking their parent if they're there yet over and over again during a long road trip.

See bug in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

any of an order (Hemiptera) of insects with sucking mouthparts and with forewings thickened toward the base, as a water bug or squash bug
also called true bug
any small arthropod, esp. if regarded as a pest, as a louse, cockroach, or centipede
☆ a defect or imperfection, as in a machine or computer program: somewhat informal when used outside of a computer context
Informal any microscopic organism, esp. one causing disease; germ or virus
☆ Informal a tiny microphone hidden to record conversation secretly
☆ Slang
1. an enthusiast or devotee: often used in combination: a shutterbug pursues photography as a hobby
2. a particular enthusiasm or obsession
☆ Slang a small, compact automobile
Slang the weight allowance (5 pounds, or 2.3 kg) granted to an apprentice jockey for one year after the riding of five winners

transitive verb bugged, bugging

Informal to hide a microphone in (a room, etc.), as for recording a conversation secretly
Slang
1. to annoy, bother, anger, etc.
2. to confuse or puzzle

intransitive verb

Slang to bulge or open wide, as in amazement: said of the eyes

noun

Obsolete a bugbear; hobgoblin

river in S Ukraine, flowing southeastward into the Black Sea: 530 mi (853 km)
also called Southern Bug
river in W Ukraine, flowing northwestward into the Vistula near Warsaw and forming part of the border with Poland: 500 mi (805 km)
also called Western Bug

See bug in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(bŭg)

noun

A true bug.
An insect or similar organism, such as a centipede or an earwig. See Regional Note at lightning bug.
a. A disease-producing microorganism: a flu bug.
b. The illness or disease so produced: “stomach flu, a cold, or just some bug going around” (David Smollar).
a. A defect or difficulty, as in a system or design.
b. Computer Science A defect in the code or routine of a program.
An enthusiasm or obsession: got bitten by the writing bug.
An enthusiast or devotee; a buff: a model train bug.
An electronic listening device, such as a hidden microphone or wiretap, used in surveillance: planted a bug in the suspect's room.

verb bugged bugged, bug·ging, bugs

verb, intransitive

To grow large; bulge: My eyes bugged when I saw the mess.

verb, transitive

a. To annoy; pester.
b. To prey on; worry: a memory that bugged me for years.
To equip (a room or telephone circuit, for example) with a concealed electronic listening device.
To make (the eyes) bulge or grow large.

Phrasal Verbs: bug off Slang To leave someone alone; go away. bug out Slang To leave or quit, usually in a hurry. To avoid a responsibility or duty. Often used with on or of: bugged out on his partners at the first sign of trouble.

Related Forms:

bugˈger noun

(bo͞og, bo͞ok)

also Western Bug A river of eastern Europe rising in southwest Ukraine and flowing about 772 km (480 mi) through Poland to the Vistula River near Warsaw.
also Southern Bug A river of southern Ukraine rising in the southwest part and flowing about 853 km (530 mi) generally southeast to the Black Sea.

Learn more about bug

» bug synonyms

» BUG abbreviations & acronyms

» bug computer definition

» bug Culture

» bug medical definition

» bug phrase meanings

» bug science

» bug sentence examples

» bug images

Related Articles

» How to Get Rid of Stinkbugs