Book

Pronunciation plural

• enPR: bo͝ok, IPA: /bÊŠk/
• Rhymes: -ÊŠk

From Middle English book, from Old English bōc ("a book, a document, register, catalog, a legal document, a bill of divorce, a charter, a title deed, conveyance, a volume, literary work, pages, main division of a work"), from Proto-Germanic *bōks ("beech, book"), from Proto-Indo-European *bheh₁g̑ós ("beech"), *bʰeh₂ǵos.

The sense development of beech to book is explained by the fact that smooth gray beech bark was commonly used as bookfell.

J.P. Mallory, Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture, s.v. "beech" (London: Fitroy-Dearborn, 1997), 58.

Noun

1. A collection of sheets of paper bound together to hinge at one edge, containing printed or written material, pictures, etc.She opened the book to page 37 and began to read aloud.He was frustrated because he couldn't find anything about dinosaurs in the book.
2. A long work fit for publication, typically prose, such as a novel or textbook, and typically published as such a bound collection of sheets.I have three copies of his first book.
3. A major division of a long work.Genesis is the first book of the Bible.Many readers find the first book of A Tale of Two Cities to be confusing.
4. A record of betting (from the use of a notebook to record what each person has bet).I'm running a book on who is going to win the race.
5. A convenient collection, in a form resembling a book, of small paper items for individual use.a book of stampsa book of raffle tickets
6. The script of a musical.
7. (usually in the plural) Records of the accounts of a business.
8. A long document stored (as data) that is or will become a book; an e-book.
9. (legal) A colloquial reference to a book award, a recognition for receiving the highest grade in a class (traditionally an actual book, but recently more likely a letter or certificate acknowledging the achievement).
10. (whist) Six tricks taken by one side.
11. (poker slang) four of a kind

1. (sports) A document, held by the referee, of the incidents happened in the game.
2. (sports, by extension) A list of all players who have been booked (received a warning) in a game.
• 2011, March 2, Andy Campbell, Celtic 1 - 0 Rangers, Celtic captain Scott Brown joined team-mate Majstorovic in the book and Rangers' John Fleck was also shown a yellow card as an ill-tempered half drew to a close.

Synonyms

• (collection of sheets of paper bound together containing printed or written material) tome especially a large book
• (convenient collection of small paper items, such as stamps) booklet
• (major division of a published work, larger than a chapter) tome, volume
• (script of a musical) libretto
• (records of the accounts of a business) accounts, records

Derived terms

Full definition of book

Verb

1. (transitive) To reserve (something) for future use.I want to book a hotel room for tomorrow nightI can book tickets for the concert next week.
2. (transitive) To write down, to register or record in a book or as in a book.They booked that message from the hill
3. (law enforcement, transitive) To record the name and other details of a suspected offender and the offence for later judicial action.The police booked him for driving too fast.
4. (sports) To issue with a caution, usually a yellow card, or a red card if a yellow card has already been issued.
5. (intransitive, slang) To travel very fast.He was really booking, until he passed the speed trap.
6. To record bets as bookmaker.
7. (transitive, law student slang) To receive the highest grade in a class.The top three students had a bet on which one was going to book their intellectual property class.
8. (intransitive, slang) To leave.He was here earlier, but he booked.

Synonyms

• (to reserve) reserve
• (to write down) make a note of, note down, record, write down
• (to travel very fast) bomb slang, hurtle, rocket informal, speed, shoot, whiz informal

Derived terms

From Middle English book, from Old English bōc, first and third person singular preterite of bacan ("to bake"). Cognate with Scots beuk ("baked"), German buk ("baked") and probably Albanian bukë ("bread, baked dough"). More at bake

Verb

1. (UK dialectal, Northern England)

   book

   (simple past of bake)

Anagrams

• boko
• kobo