• Bounce

    Pronunciation

    • enPR: bouns, IPA: /baÊŠns/
    • Rhymes: -aÊŠns

    Full definition of bounce

    Verb

    1. (intransitive) To change the direction of motion after hitting an obstacle.The tennis ball bounced off the wall before coming to rest in the ditch.
    2. (intransitive) To move quickly up and then down, or vice versa, once or repeatedly.He bounces nervously on his chair.
      • 2012, May 13, Alistair Magowan, Sunderland 0-1 Man Utd, The Black Cats contributed to their own downfall for the only goal when Titus Bramble, making his first appearance since Boxing Day, and Michael Turner, let Phil Jones' cross bounce across the six-yard box as Rooney tucked in at the back post.
    3. (transitive) To cause to move quickly up and then down, or vice versa, once or repeatedly.He bounced the child on his knee.
    4. To leap or spring suddenly or unceremoniously; to bound.She bounced into the room.
    5. (intransitive, informal, of a cheque/check) To be refused by a bank because it is drawn on insufficient funds.We can’t accept further checks from you, as your last one bounced.
    6. (transitive, informal) To fail to cover (have sufficient funds for) (a draft presented against one's account).He tends to bounce a check or two toward the end of each month, before his payday.
    7. (intransitive, slang) To leave.Let’s wrap this up, I gotta bounce.
    8. (US, slang, dated) To eject violently, as from a room; to discharge unceremoniously, as from employment.
    9. (intransitive, slang, African American Vernacular English) (sometimes employing the preposition with) To have sexual intercourse.
    10. (transitive, air combat) To attack unexpectedly.The squadron was bounced north of the town.
    11. (intransitive, electronics) To turn power off and back on; to resetSee if it helps to bounce the router.
    12. (intransitive, Internet, of an e-mail message or address) To return undelivered.What’s your new email address – the old one bounces.The girl in the bar told me her address is thirsty@example.com, but my mail to that address bounced back to me.
    13. (intransitive, aviation) To land hard and lift off again due to excess momentum.The student pilot bounced several times during his landing.
    14. (slang, dated) To bully; to scold.
    15. (archaic) To strike or thump, so as to rebound, or to make a sudden noise; to knock loudly.
      • Jonathan SwiftAnother bounces as hard as he can knock.
      • Jonathan SwiftOut bounced the mastiff.
    16. (archaic) To boast; to bluster.

    Synonyms

    • (change direction of motion after hitting an obstacle) bounce back, rebound
    • (move quickly up and down) bob

    Noun

    bounce

    (plural bounces)
    1. A change of direction of motion after hitting the ground or an obstacle.
      • 2012, June 9, Owen Phillips, Euro 2012: Netherlands 0-1 Denmark, Krohn-Dehli took advantage of a lucky bounce of the ball after a battling run on the left flank by Simon Poulsen, dummied two defenders and shot low through goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg's legs after 24 minutes.
    2. A movement up and then down (or vice versa), once or repeatedly.
    3. An email return with any error.
    4. The sack, licensing.
    5. A bang, boom.
    6. A drink based on brandy
    W.
      • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 6, He had one hand on the bounce bottle—and he'd never let go of that since he got back to the table—but he had a handkerchief in the other and was swabbing his deadlights with it.
    1. A heavy, sudden, and often noisy, blow or thump.
      • DrydenThe bounce burst open the door.
    2. Bluster; brag; untruthful boasting; audacious exaggeration; an impudent lie; a bouncer.
    3. Scyllium catulus, a European dogfish.
    4. A genre of New Orleans music.
    5. (slang, African American Vernacular English) Drugs.
    6. (slang, African American Vernacular English) Swagger.
    7. (slang, African American Vernacular English) A 'good' beat.
    8. (slang, African American Vernacular English) A talent for leaping.
      Them pro-baller

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

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