bust
bust¹
Definition
bust (bust)
noun
- a piece of sculpture representing the head, shoulders, and upper chest of a human body
- the human bosom; esp., the breasts of a woman
Etymology: Fr buste < It busto
bust²
Definition
bust (bust)
transitive verb
- to burst or break
- to make penniless or bankrupt
- ☆ to demote in rank
- ☆ to tame (esp. broncos)
- ☆ to hit
- ☆ to arrest
- to make a raid () on
Etymology: orig., dial. var. of burst
intransitive verb
- to burst or break
- to become penniless or bankrupt
noun
- ☆ a person or thing that is a total failure
- ☆ a financial collapse; economic crash
- ☆ a punch
- ☆ a spree
- ☆ an arrest
bust′ed adjective
bust
Synonyms
bust
n.
bust*
Synonyms
bust
Usage Examples
Object
- gut: Without busting a gut we quite quickly closed up on the van.
- myth: And just for good measure, it's included some unique recipes and busted some long-standing myths.
- bomb: This includes the on going debate as to the mystery heavy metal used in bunker busting bombs in Afghanistan.
- rise: Remember Thatcher giving what the Sun laughingly called an " inflation busting pay rise " to nurses?
Converse of object
- go: The ' wrong ' firms would then go bust.
- dot: Second, the dot com bust took some of the wind out of inflated domain name prices.
- sculpture: This included sculptured busts of Lucy Stone, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Frances Willard, Harriet Martineau, Mary Livermore and William Lloyd Garrison.
Preposition: at
- seam: A seven piece rhythm orchestra busting at the seams with music to kick your feet to.
Modifies a noun
- darts: Gorgeous tailoring and fit with bust darts for shape, pointed collars, matching domed plastic buttons to fasten and matching acetate lining.
- economics: Don't forget the mess we inherited in 1997: Boom bust economics.
- cycle: Blair and Brown claim they can get rid of the boom bust cycle.
- measurement: Example: Under bust measurement = 29 Over bust measurement = 38.
Adjective complement
- flush: A busted flush ( was RE: Why can I never think of concise, relevant subject lines?
Noun used with modifier
- dotcom: The other interesting thing about it is that in many ways the dotcom bust gave people the impression that innovation had lost.
- marble: In the church there is a marble bust of the hero above his father's tomb.
- bronze: The bronze bust is now displayed in the study of Mr Townsend's home.
- portrait: In Room 14 is a Greek portrait bust of Socrates.
- plaster: Limited edition Special Souvenirs We have limited supplies of hand crafted white plaster busts of Karl Marx at £ 40 plus postage.
- boom: Don't forget the mess we inherited in 1997: Boom bust economics.
Possessives
- cycle: Gordon Brown says mortgages running for such lifelong terms will help avoid the dreaded ' boom and bust ' economy cycle.
bust Quotes
Can storied urn or animated bust Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath? Can Honour's voice provoke the silent dust, Or Flattery soothe the dull cold ear of Death?
Uncorseted, her friendly bust Gives promise of pneumatic bliss.
Browse dictionary entries near bust
- busses
- buss
- Busoni
- busman's holiday
- busman
- buskin
- busk
- busing
- businesswoman
- businessperson
- bustard
- busted convertible security
- buster
- -buster
- bustic
- bustier
- bustle
- busty
- busy
- busy/DA call forwarding
