bust

play

noun \ ˈbəst \

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

Origin and Etymology of bust

French buste, from Italian busto, from Latin bustum tomb

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1645

See Words from the same year

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

bust

verb

Definition of bust

busted also bust; busting

transitive verb

1 a :to break or smash especially with force

bust a window

; also :to make inoperative

busted my watch

b :to bring an end to :break up

helped bust trusts
—Newsweek

—often used with up

better not try to bust up his happy marriage
—Forbes

c :to ruin financially

the game of cheaters, which has busted more men than blackjack
—Arthur Mayse

d :exhaust, wear out —used in phrases like bust one's butt to describe making a strenuous effort

e :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 Gottlieb

b :raid

busted the apartment

5 :hit, slug

felt like busting him in the face

intransitive verb

1 :to go broke

2 a :burst

laughing fit to bust

b :break down

Her camera busted.

3 a 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

See bust defined for English-language learners

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1639

See Words from the same year

bust Synonyms

Synonyms

break, demote, degrade, disrate, downgrade, reduce

Antonyms

advance, elevate, promote, raise

Related Words

can, cashier, dismiss, downsize, fire, lay off, sack; abase, debase, demean, humble, humiliate, lower

Near Antonyms

hire

bust

noun

Definition of bust

1 a :spree

b :a hearty drinking session

a beer bust

2 a :a complete failure :flop

b economics :a business depression (see depression 5)

boom and bust

3 :punch, sock

a good bust on the nose
—J. T. Farrell

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1834

See Words from the same year

bust

play

adjective \ ˈbəs-təd \

variants: or busted

Definition of bust

economics :bankrupt, broke

go bust

See bust defined for English-language learners

Origin and Etymology of bust

see ²bust

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1836

See Words from the same year

BUST Defined for Kids

bust

play

noun \ ˈbəst \

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

bust

verb

Definition of bust for Students

busted; busting

1 :to hit with the fist

I'm sorry I busted your nose.
—Carl Hiaasen, Hoot

2 :¹break 1

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