bust

noun (1)

\ ˈbəst

Definition of bust

(Entry 1 of 4)

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

bust

verb

busted also bust; busting

Definition of bust (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

1a : 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

2a : burst laughing fit to bust

b : 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 straight entry 4 sense 3) or flush

bust

noun (2)

Definition of bust (Entry 3 of 4)

1a : spree

b : a hearty drinking session a beer bust

2a : a complete failure : flop

b economics : a business depression (see depression sense 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 raid entry 1 sense 2b)

b : arrest sense 1 made a couple of drug busts

bust

adjective

variants: or busted \ ˈbə-stəd

Definition of bust (Entry 4 of 4)

economics : bankrupt, broke go bust

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about bust

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Synonyms & Antonyms for bust

Synonyms: Verb

break, degrade, demote, disrate, downgrade, reduce

Antonyms: Verb

advance, elevate, promote, raise

Examples of bust in a Sentence

Verb

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.