bug

noun (1)

\ ˈbəg

Definition of bug

(Entry 1 of 5)

1a : any of an order (Hemiptera and especially its suborder Heteroptera) of insects (such as an assassin bug or chinch bug) that have sucking mouthparts, forewings thickened at the base, and incomplete metamorphosis and are often economic pests

— called also true bug

b : any of various small arthropods (such as a beetle or spider) resembling the true bugs

c : any of several insects (such as a head louse) commonly considered obnoxious

2 : an unexpected defect, fault, flaw, or imperfection the software was full of bugs

3a : a microorganism (such as a bacterium or virus) especially when causing illness or disease

b : an often unspecified or nonspecific sickness presumed to be caused by such a microorganism a stomach bug

4 : a concealed listening device

5 : a sudden enthusiasm

6 : enthusiast a camera bug

7 : a prominent person

8 : a crazy person

9 [from its designation by an asterisk on race programs] : a weight allowance given apprentice jockeys

bug

verb (1)

bugged; bugging

Definition of bug (Entry 2 of 5)

transitive verb

1 : bother, annoy don't bug me with petty details

2 : to plant a concealed microphone in

intransitive verb

: to lose one's composure : freak —often used with out

bug

verb (2)

bugged; bugging

Definition of bug (Entry 3 of 5)

intransitive verb

of the eyes : protrude, bulge —often used with out

transitive verb

of the eyes : to cause to bug his eyes were bugged with horror

bug

noun (2)

Definition of bug (Entry 4 of 5)

obsolete

: bogey, bugbear

Bug

geographical name

\ ˈbüg

Definition of Bug (Entry 5 of 5)

1 river over 450 miles (720 kilometers) long in central Europe rising in western Ukraine, forming part of Ukraine–Poland and Poland–Belarus borders, and flowing into the Vistula River in Poland

2 river over 500 miles (805 kilometers) long in southwestern Ukraine flowing southeast to the estuary of the Dnieper River

Synonyms & Antonyms for bug

Synonyms: Noun (1)

Synonyms: Verb (1)

Antonyms: Noun (1)

nonfan

First Known Use of bug

Noun (1)

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb (1)

1935, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Verb (2)

1865, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for bug

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Verb (2)

probably from bug entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English bugge hobgoblin; probably akin to Low German bögge goblin

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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster

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Cite this Entry

“Bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bug. Accessed 22 Oct. 2021.

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More Definitions for bug

bug

noun

\ ˈbəg

Kids Definition of bug

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : any of a large group of insects that have four wings, suck liquid food (as plant juices or blood), and have young which resemble the adults but lack wings

2 : an insect or other small creeping or crawling animal

3 : flaw a bug in the computer system

bug

verb

bugged; bugging

Kids Definition of bug (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : bother entry 1 sense 1, annoy

2 : to stick out —often used with out It was a grisly sight, and Mary Alice's eyes bugged.— Richard Peck, A Long Way from Chicago

bug

noun

\ ˈbəg

Medical Definition of bug

1a : an insect or other creeping or crawling invertebrate animal (as a spider) —not used technically

b : any of various insects (as the bedbug or cockroach) commonly considered obnoxious

c : any of the order Hemiptera and especially of its suborder Heteroptera of insects that have sucking mouthparts, forewings thickened at the base, and that lack a pupal stage between the immature stages and the adult

— called also true bug

2a : a microorganism (such as a bacterium or virus) especially when causing illness or disease Enterococcus faecium, an especially nasty bug, often shrugs off even vancomycin, a last-resort antibiotic.— Avery Comarow, U.S. News & World Report, 4 Oct. 1999

b : an often unspecified or nonspecific sickness presumed to be caused by such a microorganism a stomach bug suffering from the flu bug

bug

transitive verb

bugged; bugging