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bust
bust1 / bəst/ • n. 1. a woman's chest as measured around her breasts: a 36-inch bust. ∎ a woman's breasts, esp. considered in terms of their size: selecting clothes that would minimize her large bust. 2. a sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and chest. bust2 inf. • v. (past and past part. bust·ed or bust ) [tr.] 1. break, split, or burst (something): they bust the tunnel wide open. ∎ [intr.] come apart or split open. ∎ cause to collapse; defeat utterly: he promised to bust the mafia. ∎ (bust something up) cause (something) to break up: men hired to bust up union rallies. ∎ strike violently: they wanted to bust me on the mouth. ∎ [intr.] (bust out) break out; escape: she busted out of prison. ∎ [intr.] (in blackjack and similar card games) exceed the score of 21, losing one's stake. 2. raid or search (premises where illegal activity is suspected): their house got busted. ∎ arrest: he was busted for drugs. ∎ reduce (a soldier) to a lower rank; demote: he was busted to private. • n. 1. a period of economic difficulty or depression: the boom was followed by the present bust. 2. a police raid: a drug bust. 3. a worthless thing: as a show it was a bust. • adj. bankrupt: firms will go bust. |
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Cite this article
"bust." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "bust." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-bust.html "bust." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-bust.html |
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bust
bust. A piece of sculpture representing the head and upper part of the body of a human figure, usually a portrait of a specific individual. The term entails no precise limits as to how much of the body is included; some busts show little more than the neck, and at the opposite extreme they include arms and even hands. More typically, however, they include the shoulders and the chest. Such parts of the body as are shown may serve simply as a base for the portrait head, or they may be draped to serve a decorative purpose or dressed in garments indicating the sitter's status. The form is particularly associated with the ancient Romans.
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IAN CHILVERS. "bust." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. IAN CHILVERS. "bust." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-bust.html IAN CHILVERS. "bust." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-bust.html |
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bust
bust1 sculpture representing head, shoulders, and breast XVII; female bosom XVIII. — F. buste — It. busto; the Rom. word is of unkn. orig.
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T. F. HOAD. "bust." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "bust." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bust.html T. F. HOAD. "bust." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bust.html |
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bust
bust2 vulgar and dial. pronunc. of BURST. XVIII.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "bust." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "bust." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bust1.html T. F. HOAD. "bust." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bust1.html |
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bust
bust
•adjust, august, bust, combust, crust, dust, encrust, entrust, gust, just, lust, mistrust, must, robust, rust, thrust, trust, undiscussed
•stardust • sawdust • angel dust
•bloodlust • wanderlust • upthrust
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Cite this article
"bust." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "bust." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-bust.html "bust." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-bust.html |
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