buck
1the male of the deer, antelope, rabbit, hare, sheep, or goat.
the male of certain other animals, as the shad.
an impetuous, dashing, or spirited man or youth.
Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to an American Indian male or an African American male.
bucks, casual oxford shoes made of buckskin, often in white or a neutral color.
Military. of the lowest of several ranks involving the same principal designation, hence subject to promotion within the rank: buck private; buck sergeant.
Origin of buck
1Words Nearby buck
Other definitions for buck (2 of 9)
(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.
Informal. to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly: The mayor bucked at the school board's suggestion.
(of a vehicle, motor, or the like) to operate unevenly; move by jerks and bounces.
to throw or attempt to throw (a rider or pack) by bucking.
to force a way through or proceed against (an obstacle): The plane bucked a strong headwind.
to strike with the head; butt.
to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly to.
Football. (of a ball-carrier) to charge into (the opponent's line).
to gamble, play, or take a risk against: He was bucking the odds when he bought that failing business.
to press a reinforcing device against (the force of a rivet) in order to absorb vibration and increase expansion.
an act of bucking.
buck for, to strive for a promotion or some other advantage: to buck for a raise.
buck up, to make or become more cheerful, vigorous, etc.: She knew that with a change of scene she would soon buck up.
Origin of buck
2Other definitions for buck (3 of 9)
a sawbuck; sawhorse.
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.
any of various heavy frames, racks, or jigs used to support materials or partially assembled items during manufacture, as in airplane assembly plants.
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.
U.S. and Canadian to split or saw (logs, felled trees, etc.).
buck in, Surveying, Optical Tooling. to set up an instrument in line with two marks.
Origin of buck
3Other definitions for buck (4 of 9)
Poker. any object in the pot that reminds the winner of some privilege or obligation when their turn to deal next comes.
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.
Origin of buck
4Other definitions for buck (5 of 9)
Origin of buck
5Other definitions for buck (6 of 9)
a dollar.
Origin of buck
6Other definitions for buck (7 of 9)
Other definitions for buck (8 of 9)
lye used for washing clothes.
clothes washed in lye.
to wash or bleach (clothes) in lye.
Origin of buck
8Other definitions for Buck (9 of 9)
Pearl (Sy·den·strick·er) [sahyd-n-strik-er], /ˈsaɪd nˌstrɪk ər/, 1892–1973, U.S. novelist: Nobel Prize 1938.
a male given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use buck in a sentence
Sure, some topflight models can set you back thousands if you go for as many premium features as possible, but you can definitely get a decent cheap adjustable desk for no more than a couple hundred bucks.
Best adjustable desks: Stand or sit with double-duty office furniture | PopSci Commerce Team | February 26, 2021 | Popular-ScienceThis cheap ergonomic keyboard packs a major bang for its buck.
Best ergonomic keyboards for hand and wrist pain | PopSci Commerce Team | February 26, 2021 | Popular-ScienceMercenary CEOs know all too well that this is about the most bang you can get for your buck.
TechCrunch Early Stage is the startup bootcamp you’ve always needed | Jordan Crook | February 26, 2021 | TechCrunchIn particular, a recurrent “cold blob” has been observed in the ocean to the south of Greenland — a large region that is bucking the overall global warming trend and instead showing a marked cooling pattern.
Scientists see stronger evidence of slowing Atlantic Ocean circulation, an ‘Achilles’ heel’ of the climate | Chris Mooney, Andrew Freedman | February 25, 2021 | Washington PostThat means whatever they’re doing—streaming a Netflix movie in ultrahigh definition, updating their operating system, watching endless hours of TikTok—they’re doing on your buck.
How to create a Wi-Fi hotspot on your phone or computer | Sandra Gutierrez G. | February 24, 2021 | Popular-Science
Congress is attempting to pass the buck on federal funding for education.
The ‘No Child’ Rewrite Threatens Your Kids’ Future | Jonah Edelman | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTPresident Harry Truman kept a sign on his desk that read: “The buck Stops Here.”
The ‘No Child’ Rewrite Threatens Your Kids’ Future | Jonah Edelman | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTJamming Netanyahu at the UN will buck him up among the right.
Why We Should Delay The Israel-Palestinian Peace Process | Aaron David Miller | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSome things have changed a lot since 1984 when the errant Father buck wrote to his young love interest.
So often enough, those urchins are buck-naked and streaming wet.
Kailash Satyarthi, Malala's Nobel Peace Prize Co-Winner, Is Fighting India's Child Slavery Epidemic | Dilip D’Souza | October 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTG was a gamester, who had but ill-luck; H was a Hunter, who hunted a buck.
We squatted in the long grass and buck-brush, listening, and a few seconds later heard a horse snort distinctly.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. SinclairThe buck had been passed, let the boys sitting on their backsides down on Earth handle it.
The Stars, My Brothers | Edmond HamiltonIt was a huge buck, with wide-spreading antlers, rising out of the bushes where it stood.
Love's Pilgrimage | Upton SinclairThe bread is made of wheat meal, but in some cottages consisted of thin cakes without leven, and made of buck-wheat.
British Dictionary definitions for buck (1 of 5)
/ (bʌk) /
the male of various animals including the goat, hare, kangaroo, rabbit, and reindeer
(as modifier): a buck antelope
Southern African an antelope or deer of either sex
US informal a young man
archaic a robust spirited young man
archaic a dandy; fop
the act of bucking
(intr) (of a horse or other animal) to jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched
(tr) (of a horse, etc) to throw (its rider) by bucking
(when intr , often foll by against) informal, mainly US and Canadian to resist or oppose obstinately: to buck against change; to buck change
(tr; usually passive) informal to cheer or encourage: I was very bucked at passing the exam
US and Canadian informal (esp of a car) to move forward jerkily; jolt
US and Canadian to charge against (something) with the head down; butt
Origin of buck
1- See also buck up
Derived forms of buck
- bucker, noun
British Dictionary definitions for buck (2 of 5)
/ (bʌk) /
US, Canadian and Australian informal a dollar
Southern African informal a rand
a fast buck easily gained money
bang for one's buck See bang 1 (def. 15)
Origin of buck
2British Dictionary definitions for buck (3 of 5)
/ (bʌk) /
gymnastics a type of vaulting horse
US and Canadian a stand for timber during sawing: Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): sawhorse
(tr) US and Canadian to cut (a felled or fallen tree) into lengths
Origin of buck
3British Dictionary definitions for buck (4 of 5)
/ (bʌk) /
poker a marker in the jackpot to remind the winner of some obligation when his turn comes to deal
pass the buck informal to shift blame or responsibility onto another
the buck stops here informal the ultimate responsibility lies here
Origin of buck
4British Dictionary definitions for Buck (5 of 5)
/ (bʌk) /
Pearl S (ydenstricker). 1892–1973, US novelist, noted particularly for her novel of Chinese life The Good Earth (1931): Nobel prize for literature 1938
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with buck
In addition to the idioms beginning with buck
- buck for
- buckle down
- buckle under
- buckle up
- buck stops here, the
- buck up
also see:
- big bucks
- fast buck
- more bang for the buck
- pass the buck
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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