bum Hear it!

bum¹ Definition

bum (bum)

noun

  1. a vagrant, hobo, tramp, or beggar; specif., a shabby, often drunken derelict
  2. any shiftless or irresponsible person, loafer, idler, etc.
  3. a devotee, as of golf or skiing, who devotes so much time to the sport as to disrupt family life, career, etc.
  4. an incompetent person, esp. an athlete

Etymology: < bummer, prob. < Ger bummler, loafer, habitually tardy person < bummeln, to go slowly, waste time

intransitive verb bummed, bum·ming

  1. to live as a bum or vagrant
  2. to live by begging or sponging on people

transitive verb

Slang to get by begging or sponging; cadge to bum a cigarette

adjective bum·mer, bum·mest

  1. poor in quality bum cooking
  2. false, erroneous, or invalid a bum steer, a bum rap
  3. lame or ailing a bum leg

bum¹ Idioms

bum someone out

Slang to upset, distress, annoy, depress, bore, etc. someone

give (or get) the bum's rush

Slang to eject (or be ejected) forcibly

on the bum

Informal
  1. living as a vagrant
  2. out of repair; broken
bum² Definition

bum (bum)

noun

Brit., Slang the buttocks

Etymology: ME bom < ? botem, bottom, as Du dial. boem < bodem, & obs. E bummery for bottomry

bum* Synonyms

bum*

n.

tramp, hobo, vagrant, derelict; see beggar 1, 2, tramp 1. See syn. study at tramp.

bum Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • pew: This will keep the music exciting for both organists and clergy and get toes tapping with bums on pews.
  • seat: Every bum on every seat out there has given money to charity.

Converse of object

  • put: In the end, what puts bums on seats is a hit.

Adjective modifier

  • numb: There are five main problems with this chair: I get a numb bum.
  • yer: How sore would the firework up yer bum be?
  • sore: Josie has a sore bum again, poor little soul.
  • drunken: You know, if you think that Satan's man is a drunken bum, you've got it wrong.
  • lazy: I finally got tired of the open windows in Opera so I got off my lazy bum and posted them.
  • bare: I nearly died wen i saw this guys bare bum!

Modifies a noun

  • mlynedd: Cawsom bum mlynedd i roi prawf ar y gweithdrefnau sydd gennym yn awr, ac nid ydynt wedi gweithio'n dda.
  • rap: I hate for them to get a bum rap like this.
  • bag: The start comes all too soon with Margaret still trying to stuff her jacket into an already bulging bum bag.
  • fur: Abdul the camel seemed happy enough tho, despite his smoking bum fur.
  • note: A chap called Phil was playing lead guitar, never hit a bum note, played a perfect set.
  • look: A friend asks: " Does my bum look big in this?

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: So the prospect of bumming around on a beach has no appeal, and culture isn't your thing; you want adventure.

Possessives

  • rush: Let's hope the British public gives her the bum's rush she so richly deserves.

Noun used with modifier

  • surf: Views: 405 Posted By indy surf bum welcome aboard. nice to have you.... welcome aboard. nice to have you... .
  • beach: Surfing - Are you a bit of a beach bum?
  • smoking: Abdul the camel seemed happy enough tho, despite his smoking bum fur.
bum Quotes

The madman bum and angel beat inTime, unknown, yet putting down here what might be left to say in time come after death.

—Ginsberg, Allen

Youdon't understand.Icould havehad class.Icould have been a contender. I could have been somebodyö instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it.

—Schulberg, Budd Wilson

Browse dictionary entries near bum

  1. Bulwer-Lytton
  2. bulwark
  3. Bultmann
  4. bulrush
  5. bullyrag
  6. bully tree
  7. bully pulpit
  8. bully boy
  9. bully
  10. bullwhip
  1. bumbailiff
  2. bumbershoot
  3. bumble
  4. bumblebee
  5. bumboat
  6. bumf
  7. bummed
  8. bummer
  9. bump
  10. bump into