bug
1Also called true bug, hemipteran, hemipteron . a hemipterous insect.
(loosely) any insect or insectlike invertebrate.
Informal. any microorganism, especially a virus: He was laid up for a week by an intestinal bug.
Informal. a defect or imperfection, as in a mechanical device, computer program, or plan; glitch: The test flight discovered the bugs in the new plane.
Informal.
a person who has a great enthusiasm for something; fan or hobbyist: My wife is a real adventure bug, so we had a pretty thrilling, action-packed holiday.
a craze or obsession: He's got the sports-car bug.
Informal.
a hidden microphone or other electronic eavesdropping device.
any of various small mechanical or electrical gadgets, as one to influence a gambling device, give warning of an intruder, or indicate location.
a mark, as an asterisk, that indicates a particular item, level, etc.
Horse Racing. the five-pound weight allowance that can be claimed by an apprentice jockey.
a telegraph key that automatically transmits a series of dots when moved to one side and one dash when moved to the other.
Poker Slang. a joker that can be used only as an ace or as a wild card to fill a straight or a flush.
Printing. a label printed on certain matter to indicate that it was produced by a union shop.
any of various fishing plugs resembling an insect.
Chiefly British. a bedbug.
bug off, Slang. to leave or depart, especially rapidly: I can't help you, so bug off.
bug out, Slang. to flee in panic; show panic or alarm.
Idioms about bug
put a bug in someone's ear, to give someone a subtle suggestion; hint: We put a bug in his ear about a new gymnasium.
Origin of bug
1Other words for bug
Other words from bug
- un·bugged, adjective
Other definitions for bug (2 of 3)
a bogy; hobgoblin.
Origin of bug
2Other definitions for Bug (3 of 3)
Also called Western Bug . a river in E central Europe, rising in W Ukraine and forming part of the boundary between Poland and Ukraine, flowing NW to the Vistula River in Poland. 450 miles (725 km) long.
Also called Southern Bug . a river in SW Ukraine flowing SE to the Dnieper estuary. About 530 miles (850 km) long.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for bug (1 of 4)
/ (bʌɡ) /
any insect of the order Hemiptera, esp any of the suborder Heteroptera, having piercing and sucking mouthparts specialized as a beak (rostrum): See also assassin bug, bedbug, chinch bug
mainly US and Canadian any insect, such as the June bug or the Croton bug
informal
a microorganism, esp a bacterium, that produces disease
a disease, esp a stomach infection, caused by a microorganism
informal an obsessive idea, hobby, etc; craze (esp in the phrases get the bug, be bitten by the bug, the bug bites, etc)
informal a person having such a craze; enthusiast
(often plural) informal an error or fault, as in a machine or system, esp in a computer or computer program
informal a concealed microphone used for recording conversations, as in spying
US (in poker) a joker used as an ace or wild card to complete a straight or flush
(tr) to irritate; bother
(tr) to conceal a microphone in (a room, etc)
(intr) US (of eyes) to protrude
Origin of bug
1- See also bug out
British Dictionary definitions for bug (2 of 4)
/ (bʌɡ) /
obsolete an evil spirit or spectre; hobgoblin
Origin of bug
2British Dictionary definitions for bug (3 of 4)
/ (bʌɡ) /
a past tense and past participle of big 2
British Dictionary definitions for Bug (4 of 4)
/ (Russian buk) /
Also called: Southern Bug a river in E Europe, rising in W Ukraine and flowing southeast to the Dnieper estuary and the Black Sea. Length: 853 km (530 miles)
Also called: Western Bug a river in E Europe, rising in SW Ukraine and flowing northwest to the River Vistula in Poland, forming part of the border between Poland and Ukraine. Length: 724 km (450 miles)
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
Scientific definitions for bug
[ bŭg ]
An insect belonging to the suborder Heteroptera. See more at true bug.
An insect, spider, or similar organism. Not in scientific use.
usage For bug
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for bug
A generic term that describes a malfunction of undetermined origin in a computer or other electronic device.
Notes for bug
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with bug
In addition to the idioms beginning with bug
- bug off
- bug out
also see:
- cute as a button (bug's ear)
- put a bug in someone's ear
- snug as a bug in a rug
- what's eating (bugging) you
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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