noun

1. 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
2. any small arthropod, esp. if regarded as a pest, as a louse, cockroach, or centipede
3. ☆ a defect or imperfection, as in a machine or computer program: somewhat informal when used outside of a computer context
4. Informal any microscopic organism, esp. one causing disease; germ or virus
5. ☆ Informal a tiny microphone hidden to record conversation secretly
6. ☆ Slang
   1. an enthusiast or devotee: often used in combination a shutterbug pursues photography as a hobby
   2. a particular enthusiasm or obsession
7. ☆ Slang a small, compact automobile
8. Slang the weight allowance (5 pounds, or 2.3 kg) granted to an apprentice jockey for one year after the riding of five winners

Etymology: prob. < bug

transitive verb bugged, bugging bug′·ging

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

intransitive verb

noun

Etymology: ME bugge, akin to Norw dial. bugge: see big