• Bum

    Pronunciation

    • Rhymes: -ÊŒm

    Origin 1

    1387, Unknown, but possibly Old Irish, Scottish Gaelic bun ("base, bottom")

    Full definition of bum

    Noun

    bum

    (plural bums)
    1. The buttocks.Okay, everyone sit on your bum and try and touch your toes.
    2. (UK, Irish, AU, New Zealand, informal, rare, Canada, US) The anus.
    3. (by metonymy, informal) A person.

    Usage notes

    In the United States and Canada, bum is considered the most appropriate term when speaking to young children, as in Everyone please sit on your bum and we'll read a story. For older children and teenagers, especially males, as well as adults, the term butt is the most common term except in professional contexts such as medical, legal, and scientific where buttocks is generally used or gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, etc. for the muscles specifically. Glutes is often used in sports medicine and bodybuilding. Ass (US derivation of Old English arse) is considered somewhat vulgar in North America, while backside, behind, and bottom are considered to be old-fashioned and non-specific terms.

    Synonyms

    Verb

    1. (UK, transitive, colloquial) To sodomize; to engage in anal sex.

    Derived terms

    Terms derived from senses associated with etymology 1

    Origin 2

    1864, Back-formation from {{3}}, from German Bummler ("loafer"), from bummeln ("loaf")

    Noun

    bum

    (plural bums)
    1. (North America, colloquial) A hobo; a homeless person, usually a man.
    2. (North America, Australia, colloquial) A lazy, incompetent, or annoying person, usually a man.''Fred is becoming a bum - he's not even bothering to work more than once a month.That mechanic's a bum - he couldn't fix a yo-yo.That guy keeps interrupting the concert. Throw the bum out!
    3. (North America, Australia, colloquial, sports) A player or racer who often performs poorly.Trade him to another team, he's a bum!
    4. (colloquial) A drinking spree.

    Synonyms

    Verb

    1. (transitive, colloquial) (with, after the object, off or, nonstandardly, off of) To ask someone to give one (something) for free; to beg for something.Can I bum a cigarette off you?
    2. (intransitive, colloquial) To behave like a hobo or vagabond; to loiter.I think I'll just bum around downtown for awhile until dinner.
    3. (transitive, slang, British) To wet the end of a marijuana cigarette (spliff).

    Synonyms

    Adjective

    bum

    1. Of poor quality or highly undesirable. This should be another meaning of Noun: a failed attempt? I union reps gave us a bum deal. The defensive line made a bum rush on the quarterback.bum note
    2. Unfair.bum deal
    3. Injured and without the possibility of full repair, defective.I can't play football anymore on account of my bum knee.
    4. Unpleasant.He had a bum trip on that mescaline.

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    Terms derived from senses associated with etymology 2

    Origin 3

    Back-formation from {{3}}

    Verb

    1. To depress; to make unhappy.

    Origin 4

    See boom.

    Noun

    bum

    (plural bums)
    1. (dated) A humming noise.

    Verb

    1. (intransitive) To make a murmuring or humming sound.

    Origin 5

    Abbreviations.

    Noun

    bum

    (plural bums)
    1. (obsolete) A bumbailiff.
      • 1705, Bernard Mandeville, The Fable of the Bees:About her Chariot, and behind,
        Were Sergeants, Bums of every kind,
        Tip-staffs, and all those Officers,
        That squeeze a Living out of Tears.

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