[boo
k] 
| 1. | a written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers. |
| 2. | a number of sheets of blank or ruled paper bound together for writing, recording business transactions, etc. |
| 3. | a division of a literary work, esp. one of the larger divisions. |
| 4. | the Book, the Bible. |
| 5. | Music. the text or libretto of an opera, operetta, or musical. |
| 6. | books. book of account. |
| 7. | Jazz. the total repertoire of a band. |
| 8. | a script or story for a play. |
| 9. | a record of bets, as on a horse race. |
| 10. | Cards. the number of basic tricks or cards that must be taken before any trick or card counts in the score. |
| 11. | a set or packet of tickets, checks, stamps, matches, etc., bound together like a book. |
| 12. | anything that serves for the recording of facts or events: The petrified tree was a book of Nature. |
| 13. | Sports. a collection of facts and information about the usual playing habits, weaknesses, methods, etc., of an opposing team or player, esp. in baseball: The White Sox book on Mickey Mantle cautioned pitchers to keep the ball fast and high. |
| 14. | Stock Exchange.
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| 15. | a pile or package of leaves, as of tobacco. |
| 16. | Mineralogy. a thick block or crystal of mica. |
| 17. | a magazine: used esp. in magazine publishing. |
| 18. | book value. |
| 19. | Slang. bookmaker (def. 1). |
| 20. | the book,
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| 21. | to enter in a book or list; record; register. |
| 22. | to reserve or make a reservation for (a hotel room, passage on a ship, etc.): We booked a table at our favorite restaurant. |
| 23. | to register or list (a person) for a place, transportation, appointment, etc.: The travel agent booked us for next week's cruise. |
| 24. | to engage for one or more performances. |
| 25. | to enter an official charge against (an arrested suspect) on a police register. |
| 26. | 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. |
| 27. | to register one's name. |
| 28. | to engage a place, services, etc. |
| 29. | Slang.
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| 30. | of or pertaining to a book or books: the book department; a book salesman. |
| 31. | derived or learned from or based on books: a book knowledge of sailing. |
| 32. | shown by a book of account: The firm's book profit was $53,680. |
| 33. | book in, to sign in, as at a job. |
| 34. | book out, to sign out, as at a job. |
| 35. | book up, to sell out in advance: The hotel is booked up for the Christmas holidays. |
| 36. | bring to book, to call to account; bring to justice: Someday he will be brought to book for his misdeeds. |
| 37. | by the book, according to the correct or established form; in the usual manner: an unimaginative individual who does everything by the book. |
| 38. | close the books, to balance accounts at the end of an accounting period; settle accounts. |
| 39. | cook the books, Informal. cook (def. 10). |
| 40. | in one's bad books, out of favor; disliked by someone: He's in the boss's bad books. |
| 41. | in one's book, in one's personal judgment or opinion: In my book, he's not to be trusted. |
| 42. | in one's good books, in favor; liked by someone. |
| 43. | like a book, completely; thoroughly: She knew the area like a book. |
| 44. | make book,
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| 45. | off the books, done or performed for cash or without keeping full business records: esp. as a way to avoid paying income tax, employment benefits, etc.: Much of his work as a night watchman is done off the books. |
| 46. | one for the book or books, a noteworthy incident; something extraordinary: The daring rescue was one for the book. |
| 47. | on the books, entered in a list or record: He claims to have graduated from Harvard, but his name is not on the books. |
| 48. | throw the book at, Informal.
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| 49. | without book,
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| 50. | write the book, to be the prototype, originator, leader, etc., of: So far as investment banking is concerned, they wrote the book. |
According to established rules: “The inspector will be visiting the factory today, so let's make sure we do everything by the book.”
book
by the book
Strictly according to the rules, as in Our trip leader is going by the book, allowing us to wander off only for short periods. Shakespeare already used the term figuratively in Romeo and Juliet (1:5): "You kiss by the book." Also see by the numbers.