Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


bust

bust

(bŭst)
,
Noun.
[F.
buste
, fr. It.
busto
; cf. LL.
busta
,
bustula
, box, of the same origin as E.
box
a case; cf., for the change of meaning, E.
chest
. See
Bushel
.]
1.
A piece of sculpture representing the upper part of the human figure, including the head, shoulders, and breast.
Ambition sighed: she found it vain to trust
The faithless column, and the crumbling
bust
.
Pope.
2.
The portion of the human figure included between the head and waist, whether in statuary or in the person; the chest or thorax; the upper part of the trunk of the body.

Webster 1828 Edition


Bust

BUST

,
Noun.
[L. bustum.] In sculpture, the figure of a person in relief, showing only the head, shoulders and stomach; ordinarily placed on a pedestal or console. In speaking of an antique, we say the head is marble and the bust porphyry or bronze; that is, the shoulders and stomach. The Italians use the word for the trunk of the body from the neck to the hips.

Definition 2024


bust

bust

See also: büst

English

Noun

bust (plural busts)

  1. A sculptural portrayal of a person's head and shoulders.
  2. The breasts and upper thorax of a woman.
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 2

From a variant of burst. Compare German Low German basten and barsten (to burst).

Verb

bust (third-person singular simple present busts, present participle busting, simple past and past participle busted)

  1. To break something.
  2. (slang) To arrest for a crime.
  3. (slang) To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong, socially and morally inappropriate, or illegal, especially when being done in a sneaky or secretive state.
  4. (snowboarding) An emphatic synonym of do or get.
    He busted huge air off that jump!
  5. (US, informal) To reduce in rank.
    He busted him down to patrolman for insubordination.
    • 1962, The Manchurian Candidate, 01:56:35
      If Steinkamp doesn't take off that hat and stop messing around, I'm gonna bust him into a PFC.
  6. (poker) To lose all of one's chips.
  7. (blackjack) To exceed a score of 21.
Synonyms
  • (to arrest for a crime): nick
Derived terms
Translations

Noun

bust (plural busts)

  1. (slang) The act of arresting someone for a crime, or raiding a suspected criminal operation.
    a narcotics bust
  2. (slang) A failed enterprise; a bomb.
  3. (sports, derogatory) A player who fails to meet expectations.
  4. (chess, informal) A refutation of an opening, or of previously published analysis.
Translations

Adjective

bust (not comparable)

  1. (slang) Without any money, broke.

Derived terms

Anagrams


Dutch

Pronunciation

Verb

bust

  1. second- and third-person singular present indicative of bussen
  2. (archaic) plural imperative of bussen