book (bʊk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) |
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| —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 |
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| —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 |
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| [Old English bōc; related to Old Norse bōk, Old High German buoh book, Gothic bōka letter; see beech (the bark of which was used as a writing surface)] |