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1

bust

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

Other Anatomy Terms

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

2

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
6 informal : to execute or perform (a difficult, elaborate, or acrobatic movement, as when dancing)
  • bust a dance move
  • Hot Hot Heat's jittery, caffeinated rhythms and disco grooves are helping persuade punk kids to bust a move …
  • —Christian Hoard
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

  1. He busted his watch when he fell.

  2. I think the camera is busted.

  3. Police busted 12 gang members on weapons charges.

  4. She got busted for drug possession.

  5. Two students got busted by the teacher for smoking in the bathroom.

Origin and Etymology of bust

alteration of burst

bust Synonyms

Synonyms

apprehend, arrest, collar, nab, nail, pick up, pinch, pull in, restrain, run in, seize;

Antonyms

discharge;

Near Antonyms

emancipate, free, liberate, loose, loosen, release, spring;

unbind, unchain;

Related Words

bag, capture, catch, get, grab, grapple, hook, land, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap;

commit, confine, detain, hold, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, lock (up);

bind, enchain, fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel;

rearrest;

remand;

3

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 2)
  • 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

4

bust

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

Phrases Related to BUST

Related Phrases

BUST Defined for Kids

1

bust

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
2

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

Learn More about bust

  1. 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

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