Definition of bust
1 art : a sculptured representation of the upper part of the human figure including the head and neck and usually part of the shoulders and breast has a bust of Abraham Lincoln in his office
2 : the upper part of the human torso between neck and waist; especially : the breasts of a woman her bust size
Read the Latest from M-W
Origin and Etymology of bust
French buste, from Italian busto, from Latin bustum tomb
First Known Use: 1645
Other Anatomy Terms
bust
Definition of bust
busted
alsobust
;busting
transitive verb
1a : to break or smash especially with force bust a window; also : to make inoperative busted my watchb : to bring an end to : break up helped bust trusts — Newsweek —often used with up better not try to bust up his happy marriage — Forbesc : to ruin financially the game of cheaters, which has busted more men than blackjack — Arthur Maysed : exhaust, wear out —used in phrases like bust one's butt to describe making a strenuous efforte : to tease or give a hard time to —often used in phrases like bust one's chops I'm just busting your chops.
2 : tame bronco busting
3 : demote busted them to the bottom of the seniority list — Time
4 slang a : arrest busted for carrying guns — Saul Gottliebb : raid busted the apartment
intransitive verb
1 : to go broke
2a : burst laughing fit to bustb : break down Her camera busted.
3a card games : to lose at cards by exceeding a limit (such as the count of 21 in blackjack)b poker : to fail to complete a straight (see 4straight 3) or flush
Examples of bust in a Sentence
He busted his watch when he fell.
I think the camera is busted.
Police busted 12 gang members on weapons charges.
She got busted for drug possession.
Two students got busted by the teacher for smoking in the bathroom.
Origin and Etymology of bust
alteration of burst
First Known Use: 1639
bust
Definition of bust
1a : spreeb : a hearty drinking session a beer bust
2a : a complete failure : flopb economics : a business depression (see depression 5) boom and bust
4 slang, law enforcement a : a police raid (see 1raid 2b)b : arrest 1 made a couple of drug busts
Origin and Etymology of bust
see 2bust
First Known Use: 1834
busted
Definition of bust
Origin and Etymology of bust
see 2bust
First Known Use: 1836
BUST Defined for Kids
Definition of bust for Students
1 : a piece of sculpture representing the upper part of the human figure including the head and neck
2 : a woman's bosom
Learn More about bust
-
See words that rhyme with bust Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bust Spanish Central: Translation of bust Nglish: Translation of bust for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bust for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up bust? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!