bullet

noun, often attributive

bul·let | \ ˈbu̇-lət also ˈbə-

Definition of bullet

1 : a round or elongated missile (as of lead) to be fired from a firearm broadly : cartridge sense 1a

2a : something resembling a bullet (as in curved form)

b : a large dot placed in printed matter to call attention to a particular passage

3 : a very fast and accurately thrown or hit object (such as a ball or puck)

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Examples of bullet in a Sentence

He was killed by an assassin's bullet. Bullets were used to separate each item. The quarterback threw a bullet to the receiver.

Recent Examples on the Web

The chic tubes are completely customizable and reusable—plus, the brand will send you an automatic replacement bullet of your choice after purchase. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "5 Easy Ways to Jump-Start Your Fitness Goals in 2019," 12 Jan. 2019 This is a gun that can shoot five bullets in a second. — Kathleen Joyce, Fox News, "Tom Selleck steps down from NRA's board of directors: report," 19 Sep. 2018 Three vehicles were damaged by flying bullets during an early Tuesday morning incident on the city’s east side, Fox59 reported. — Indianapolis Star, "Gunfire damages vehicles on I-465 on northeast side," 3 July 2018 Detective Benton believed the gun could hold only 12 bullets. — Erin Moriarty, CBS News, "Was alleged rape and shooting death investigation influenced by reality TV cameras?," 30 June 2018 However, for those hit by falling bullets, death is more likely than injuries. — Deasia Paige, Detroit Free Press, "Macomb Township mom: Celebratory gunfire killed my daughter," 29 June 2018 And what could have been more cosmically appropriate—and more blackly comic—than the Man in Black taking his first-ever actual bullet from a host and instantly dying on the spot? — Scott Meslow, GQ, "Westworld Season 2 Episode 9 Recap: Here Comes the Man in Black," 18 June 2018 Police retrieved bullets of different calibers from the victims, according to media reports. — Anita Chabria, sacbee, "Who killed this Sacramento family three decades ago? Police offer $50,000 for clues," 16 June 2018 Within 60 seconds of hearing something, ShotSpotter's sensors can report the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the shot, how many shots there were, and the direction and speed of the bullet's travel. — Dan Rosenbaum, Ars Technica, "All hail the AI overlord: Smart cities and the AI Internet of Things," 7 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bullet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near bullet

Statistics for bullet

Last Updated

4 Mar 2019

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Time Traveler for bullet

The first known use of bullet was in 1579

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More Definitions for bullet

bullet

noun

Financial Definition of bullet

What It Is

Bullet is usually short for bullet payment, which is typically a large payment made near the end of a loan that does not amortize over time.

How It Works

Unlike a loan whose total cost (interest and principal) is amortized – that is, paid incrementally during the life of the loan -- a bullet loan's principal is paid in one sum at the end of the term. That sum is called the bullet. Sometimes the interest is collected as part of the bullet payment as well, though in many cases the loan is interest-only during the term of the loan with only the outstanding principal due at the end.

Suppose someone takes out a loan for $1,000 that must be repaid in one year at an interest rate of 10% compounded annually. If the loan has a bullet, this person would have to pay $1,100 ($1,000 in principal plus $100 in interest) in one payment at the end of one year.

Why It Matters

Loans with bullets have the advantage of not having to immediately begin paying back the loan. This can be preferable for companies that do not anticipate having enough cash flow in the near future. The borrower must, however, be prepared to repay the principal and interest in its entirety at the end of the term.

Source: Investing Answers

bullet

noun