1 bust
/ˈbʌst/
noun
plural
busts
1 bust
/ˈbʌst/
noun
plural
busts
Britannica Dictionary definition of BUST
[count]
1
:
a sculpture of a person's head and neck and usually a part of the shoulders and chest
-
a marble/bronze bust
-
a bust of Albert Einstein
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2
a
:
a woman's breasts
-
The neckline of the dress is meant to accentuate the bust.
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b
:
a measurement taken around a woman's chest and back
-
bust size
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— compare 3bust
2 bust
/ˈbʌst/
verb
busts;
busted
also British
bust;
busting
2 bust
/ˈbʌst/
verb
busts;
busted
also British
bust;
busting
Britannica Dictionary definition of BUST
[+ object]
informal
1
:
to break (something): such as
a
:
to cause (something) to stop working by damaging it
-
He busted his watch when he fell.
-
I think the camera is busted.
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b
:
to cause (something) to separate into parts or pieces
-
bust a window
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2
a
:
to arrest (someone)
-
Police busted 12 gang members on weapons charges.
-
She got/was busted for drug possession.
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b
:
to catch (someone) doing something wrong
-
Two students got busted by the teacher for smoking in the bathroom.
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3
US, impolite
— used in phrases like bust your butt/ass to describe working very hard
-
She's been busting her butt to finish the project on time.
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4
US
:
to hit or punch (someone)
-
I felt like busting him in the nose.
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bust a/your gut
— see 1gut
bust out
[phrasal verb]
informal
1
bust out (doing something)
:
to begin (doing something) suddenly
:
to burst out (doing something)
-
She just busted out laughing.
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2
bust out (something)
or
bust (something) out
:
to take (something) from the place where it is stored so that it can be used
-
He busted out [=broke out] the champagne.
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3
:
to escape from a prison, jail, etc.
-
Two prisoners busted out of jail.
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bust up
[phrasal verb]
informal
1
:
to end your relationship with someone
-
Their marriage busted up after three years.
-
Didn't you hear? They busted up. [=(more commonly) broke up, separated]
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2
bust up (something)
or
bust (something) up
:
to cause (something) to end
-
His gambling problem busted up their marriage.
-
Police hope to bust up the crime ring for good.
-
The police busted the party up.
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or bust
informal
— used to say that you will do everything possible to get somewhere
-
The sign on the car said “New Orleans or bust!”
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3 bust
/ˈbʌst/
noun
plural
busts
3 bust
/ˈbʌst/
noun
plural
busts
Britannica Dictionary definition of BUST
[count]
informal
1
US
:
a complete failure
:
flop
— usually singular
-
The new product was a bust.
-
Although critically acclaimed, the play has been a bust.
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2
:
an occurrence in which the police catch and arrest people committing a crime
-
a big drug bust
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— compare 1bust
4 bust
/ˈbʌst/
adjective
4 bust
/ˈbʌst/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of BUST
go bust
informal
:
to spend or lose all of your money
:
to go broke
-
The company has gone bust.
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