buck

1. the male of the deer, antelope, rabbit, hare, sheep, or goat.
2. the male of certain other animals, as the shad.
3. an impetuous, dashing, or spirited man or youth.
4. Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to an American Indian male or an African American male.
5. buckskin.
6. bucks, casual oxford shoes made of buckskin, often in white or a neutral color.

1. Military. of the lowest of several ranks involving the same principal designation, hence subject to promotion within the rank:

   buck private; buck sergeant.

1. (of a saddle or pack animal) to leap with arched back and come down with head low and forelegs stiff, in order to dislodge a rider or pack.
2. Informal. to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly:

   The mayor bucked at the school board's suggestion.

3. (of a vehicle, motor, or the like) to operate unevenly; move by jerks and bounces.

1. to throw or attempt to throw (a rider or pack) by bucking.
2. to force a way through or proceed against (an obstacle):

   The plane bucked a strong headwind.

3. to strike with the head; butt.
4. to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly to.
5. Football. (of a ball-carrier) to charge into (the opponent's line).
6. to gamble, play, or take a risk against:

   He was bucking the odds when he bought that failing business.

7. to press a reinforcing device against (the force of a rivet) in order to absorb vibration and increase expansion.

1. an act of bucking.

verb phrase

1. to strive for a promotion or some other advantage:

   to buck for a raise.

2. to make or become more cheerful, vigorous, etc.:

   She knew that with a change of scene she would soon buck up.

1. a sawbuck; sawhorse.
2. Gymnastics. a cylindrical, leather-covered block mounted in a horizontal position on a single vertical post set in a steel frame, for use chiefly in vaulting.
3. any of various heavy frames, racks, or jigs used to support materials or partially assembled items during manufacture, as in airplane assembly plants.
4. Also called door buck. a doorframe of wood or metal set in a partition, especially one of light masonry, to support door hinges, hardware, finish work, etc.

1. U.S. and Canadian to split or saw (logs, felled trees, etc.).

verb phrase

1. Surveying, Optical Tooling. to set up an instrument in line with two marks.

1. Poker. any object in the pot that reminds the winner of some privilege or obligation when their turn to deal next comes.

1. to pass (something) along to another, especially as a means of avoiding responsibility or blame:

   He bucked the letter on to the assistant vice president to answer.

1. completely; stark:

   buck naked.

1. a dollar.

1. bukh.

1. lye used for washing clothes.
2. clothes washed in lye.

1. to wash or bleach (clothes) in lye.

1. Pearl (Sy·den·strick·er) [sahyd, -n-strik-er], 1892–1973, U.S. novelist: Nobel Prize 1938.
2. a male given name.