noun
1.
a handwritten or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers.
2.
a work of fiction or nonfiction in an electronic format: Your child can listen to or read the book online. See also e-book ( def 2 ).
3.
a number of sheets of blank or ruled paper bound together for writing, recording business transactions, etc.
4.
a division of a literary work, especially one of the larger divisions.
5.
the Book, the Bible.
6.
Music. the text or libretto of an opera, operetta, or musical.
7.
books, book of account.
8.
Jazz. the total repertoire of a band.
9.
a script or story for a play.
10.
a record of bets, as on a horse race.
11.
Cards. the number of basic tricks or cards that must be taken before any trick or card counts in the score.
12.
a set or packet of tickets, checks, stamps, matches, etc., bound together like a book.
13.
anything that serves for the recording of facts or events: The petrified tree was a book of nature.
14.
Sports. a collection of facts and information about the usual playing habits, weaknesses, methods, etc., of an opposing team or player, especially in baseball: The White Sox book on Mickey Mantle cautioned pitchers to keep the ball fast and high.
15.
Stock Exchange.
a.
the customers served by each registered representative in a brokerage house.
b.
a loose-leaf binder kept by a specialist to record orders to buy and sell stock at specified prices.
16.
a pile or package of leaves, as of tobacco.
17.
Mineralogy. a thick block or crystal of mica.
18.
a magazine: used especially in magazine publishing.
19.
20.
21.
the book.
a.
a set of rules, conventions, or standards: The solution was not according to the book but it served the purpose.
b.
the telephone book: I've looked him up, but he's not in the book.
verb (used with object)
22.
to enter in a book or list; record; register.
23.
to reserve or make a reservation for (a hotel room, passage on a ship, etc.): We booked a table at our favorite restaurant.
24.
to register or list (a person) for a place, transportation, appointment, etc.: The travel agent booked us for next week's cruise.
25.
to engage for one or more performances.
26.
to enter an official charge against (an arrested suspect) on a police register.
27.
to act as a bookmaker for (a bettor, bet, or sum of money): The Philadelphia syndicate books 25 million dollars a year on horse racing.
00:10
Book
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
| to bark; yelp. |
| chat, to converse |
verb (used without object)
28.
to register one's name.
29.
to engage a place, services, etc.
30.
Slang.
a.
to study hard, as a student before an exam: He left the party early to book.
b.
to leave; depart: I'm bored with this party, let's book.
c.
to work as a bookmaker: He started a restaurant with money he got from booking.
adjective
Verb phrases 31.
of or pertaining to a book or books: the book department; a book salesman.
32.
derived or learned from or based on books: a book knowledge of sailing.
33.
shown by a book of account: The firm's book profit was $53,680.
34.
book in, to sign in, as at a job.
35.
book out, to sign out, as at a job.
36.
Idioms book up, to sell out in advance: The hotel is booked up for the Christmas holidays.
37.
38.
by the book, according to the correct or established form; in the usual manner: an unimaginative individual who does everything by the book.
39.
close the books, to balance accounts at the end of an accounting period; settle accounts.
40.
41.
in one's bad books, out of favor; disliked by someone: He's in the boss's bad books.
42.
in one's book, in one's personal judgment or opinion: In my book, he's not to be trusted.
43.
in one's good books, in favor; liked by someone.
44.
like a book, completely; thoroughly: She knew the area like a book.
45.
make book,
a.
to accept or place the bets of others, as on horse races, especially as a business.
b.
to wager; bet: You can make book on it that he won't arrive in time.
46.
off the books, done or performed for cash or without keeping full business records: especially as a way to avoid paying income tax, employment benefits, etc.: Much of his work as a night watchman is done off the books.
47.
one for the book/books, a noteworthy incident; something extraordinary: The daring rescue was one for the book.
48.
on the books, entered in a list or record: He claims to have graduated from Harvard, but his name is not on the books.
49.
throw the book at, Informal.
a.
to sentence (an offender, lawbreaker, etc.) to the maximum penalties for all charges against that person.
b.
to punish or chide severely.
50.
without book,
a.
from memory.
b.
without authority: to punish without book.
51.
write the book, to be the prototype, originator, leader, etc., of: So far as investment banking is concerned, they wrote the book.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English, Old English bōc; cognate with Dutch boek, Old Norse bōk, German Buch; akin to Gothic boka letter (of the alphabet) and not of known relation to beech, as is often assumed
before 900; Middle English, Old English bōc; cognate with Dutch boek, Old Norse bōk, German Buch; akin to Gothic boka letter (of the alphabet) and not of known relation to beech, as is often assumed
Related forms
book·less, adjective
book·like, adjective
pre·book, verb
re·book, verb
un·booked, adjective
Synonyms
25. reserve, schedule, bill, slate, program.
25. reserve, schedule, bill, slate, program.
Antonyms
25. cancel.
25. cancel.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To book
Collins
World English Dictionary
book (bʊk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | hardback See also paperback a number of printed or written pages bound together along one edge and usually protected by thick paper or stiff pasteboard covers |
| 2. | a. a written work or composition, such as a novel, technical manual, or dictionary |
| b. (as modifier): the book trade; book reviews | |
| c. (in combination): bookseller; bookshop; bookshelf; bookrack | |
| 3. | a number of blank or ruled sheets of paper bound together, used to record lessons, keep accounts, etc |
| 4. | (plural) a record of the transactions of a business or society |
| 5. | the script of a play or the libretto of an opera, musical, etc |
| 6. | a major division of a written composition, as of a long novel or of the Bible |
| 7. | a number of tickets, sheets, stamps, etc, fastened together along one edge |
| 8. | bookmaking a record of the bets made on a horse race or other event |
| 9. | (in card games) the number of tricks that must be taken by a side or player before any trick has a scoring value: in bridge, six of the 13 tricks form the book |
| 10. | strict or rigid regulations, rules, or standards (esp in the phrases according to the book, by the book) |
| 11. | a source of knowledge or authority: the book of life |
| 12. | a telephone directory (in the phrase in the book) |
| 13. | (sometimes capital) the book the Bible |
| 14. | an open book a person or subject that is thoroughly understood |
| 15. | a closed book a person or subject that is unknown or beyond comprehension: chemistry is a closed book to him |
| 16. | bring to book to reprimand or require (someone) to give an explanation of his conduct |
| 17. | close the book on to bring to a definite end: we have closed the book on apartheid |
| 18. | accounting close the books to balance accounts in order to prepare a statement or report |
| 19. | informal cook the books to make fraudulent alterations to business or other accounts |
| 20. | in my book according to my view of things |
| 21. | in someone's bad books regarded by someone with disfavour |
| 22. | in someone's good books regarded by someone with favour |
| 23. | keep the books to keep written records of the finances of a business or other enterprise |
| 24. | on the books |
| a. enrolled as a member | |
| b. registered or recorded | |
| 25. | read someone like a book to understand a person, or his motives, character, etc, thoroughly and clearly |
| 26. | throw the book at |
| a. to charge with every relevant offence | |
| b. to inflict the most severe punishment on | |
| —vb | |
| 27. | to reserve (a place, passage, etc) or engage the services of (a performer, driver, etc) in advance: to book a flight; to book a band |
| 28. | (tr) to take the name and address of (a person guilty of a minor offence) with a view to bringing a prosecution: he was booked for ignoring a traffic signal |
| 29. | (tr) (of a football referee) to take the name of (a player) who grossly infringes the rules while playing, two such acts resulting in the player's dismissal from the field |
| 30. | archaic (tr) to record in a book |
| [Old English bōc; related to Old Norse bōk, Old High German buoh book, Gothic bōka letter; see | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
book
O.E. boc "book, writing, written document," traditionally from P.Gmc. *bokiz "beech" (cf. Ger. Buch "book" Buche "beech;" see beech), the notion being of beechwood tablets on which runes were inscribed, but it may be from the tree itself (people still carve initials in them).
The O.E. originally meant any written document. Latin and Sanskrit also have words for "writing" that are based on tree names ("birch" and "ash," respectively). Meaning "libretto of an opera" is from 1768. Verb meaning "to enter for a seat or place, issue (railway) tickets" is from 1841; "to engage a performer as a guest" is from 1872. A betting book is from 1856; bookmaker in the wagering sense is from 1862.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
book definition
1.
2. book titles.
3.
4. O'Reilly and Associates.
Easton
Bible Dictionary
Book definition
This word has a comprehensive meaning in Scripture. In the Old Testament it is the rendering of the Hebrew word _sepher_, which properly means a "writing," and then a "volume" (Ex. 17:14; Deut. 28:58; 29:20; Job 19:23) or "roll of a book" (Jer. 36:2, 4). Books were originally written on skins, on linen or cotton cloth, and on Egyptian papyrus, whence our word "paper." The leaves of the book were generally written in columns, designated by a Hebrew word properly meaning "doors" and "valves" (Jer. 36:23, R.V., marg. "columns"). Among the Hebrews books were generally rolled up like our maps, or if very long they were rolled from both ends, forming two rolls (Luke 4:17-20). Thus they were arranged when the writing was on flexible materials; but if the writing was on tablets of wood or brass or lead, then the several tablets were bound together by rings through which a rod was passed. A sealed book is one whose contents are secret (Isa. 29:11; Rev. 5:1-3). To "eat" a book (Jer. 15:16; Ezek. 2:8-10; 3:1-3; Rev. 10:9) is to study its contents carefully. The book of judgment (Dan. 7:10) refers to the method of human courts of justice as illustrating the proceedings which will take place at the day of God's final judgment. The book of the wars of the Lord (Num. 21:14), the book of Jasher (Josh. 10:13), and the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah and Israel (2 Chr. 25:26), were probably ancient documents known to the Hebrews, but not forming a part of the canon. The book of life (Ps. 69:28) suggests the idea that as the redeemed form a community or citizenship (Phil. 3:20; 4:3), a catalogue of the citizens' names is preserved (Luke 10:20; Rev. 20:15). Their names are registered in heaven (Luke 10:20; Rev. 3:5). The book of the covenant (Ex. 24:7), containing Ex. 20:22-23:33, is the first book actually mentioned as a part of the written word. It contains a series of laws, civil, social, and religious, given to Moses at Sinai immediately after the delivery of the decalogue. These were written in this "book."
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
book
see balance the books; black book; bring to book; by the book; closed book; close the books; cook the books; crack a book; hit the books; in one's book; in someone's bad graces (books); judge a book by its cover; know like a book; make book; nose in a book; one for the books; open book; take a leaf out of someone's book; throw the book at; wrote the book on.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Take an antique leather-bound book, open it up, and inhale deeply.
He wrote a book on how being a nerd can make your life better.
The book is interesting and lucid as it examines the errors and exaggerations in the national self-image.
Eventually, someone had to come along and invent a digital book better than the hardcover.
Slang
Idioms & Phrases
Image for book
Nearby Words
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