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View synonyms for bum

bum

1

[ buhm ]

noun

  1. a person who avoids work and sponges on others; loafer; idler.
  2. a tramp, hobo, or derelict.

    Synonyms: vagrant, vagabond

  3. Informal. an enthusiast of a specific sport or recreational activity, especially one who gives it priority over work, family life, etc.:

    a ski bum; a tennis bum.

  4. Informal. an incompetent person.
  5. a drunken orgy; debauch.


verb (used with object)

, bummed, bum·ming.
  1. Informal. to borrow without expectation of returning; get for nothing; cadge:

    He's always bumming cigarettes from me.

  2. Slang. to ruin or spoil:

    The weather bummed our whole weekend.

verb (used without object)

, bummed, bum·ming.
  1. to sponge on others for a living; lead an idle or dissolute life.
  2. to live as a hobo.

adjective

, bum·mer, bum·mest.
  1. Slang. of poor, wretched, or miserable quality; unsatisfactory:

    I figured $300 was a bum deal for a minor repair, but I paid it anyway.

  2. Slang. fraudulent or fake:

    He was accused of issuing a bum check for $2920.

  3. Slang. erroneous or ill-advised; misleading:

    I think the gauge is giving me a bum readout.

  4. Slang. physically disabled, impaired, or injured:

    a bum leg.

verb phrase

  1. Informal. to travel, wander, or spend one's time aimlessly:

    We bummed around for a couple of hours after work.

bum

2

[ buhm ]

noun

, Chiefly British Slang.
  1. the buttocks; rump.

bum

1

/ bʌm /

noun

  1. slang.
    the buttocks or anus
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


bum

2

/ bʌm /

noun

  1. a disreputable loafer or idler
  2. a tramp; hobo
  3. an irresponsible, unpleasant, or mean person
  4. a person who spends a great deal of time on a specified sport

    baseball bum

  5. on the bum
    1. living as a loafer or vagrant
    2. out of repair; broken
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to get by begging; cadge

    to bum a lift

  2. introften foll byaround to live by begging or as a vagrant or loafer
  3. intrusually foll byaround to spend time to no good purpose; loaf; idle
  4. bum someone off slang.
    to disappoint, annoy, or upset someone
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. prenominal of poor quality; useless
  2. wrong or inappropriate

    a bum note

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bum1

An Americanism first recorded in 1860–65; perhaps a shortening of or back formation from bummer 1; adjective senses of unclear relation to sense “loafer” and perhaps of distinct origin

Origin of bum2

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bom; of uncertain origin
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bum1

C14: of uncertain origin

Origin of bum2

C19: probably shortened from earlier bummer a loafer, probably from German bummeln to loaf
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. bum (someone) out, Slang. to disappoint, upset, or annoy:

    It really bummed me out that she could have helped and didn't.

  2. on the bum, Informal.
    1. living or traveling as or in a manner suggesting that of a hobo or tramp.
    2. in a state of disrepair or disorder:

      The oven is on the bum again.

More idioms and phrases containing bum

  • on the blink (bum)
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Example Sentences

Rumours that Lego are producing a new clip-on Pippa Bum are unfounded.

Bum-boats selling goods before sunrising and after sunsetting are very hardly dealt with.

So Jack gave the cow to the man and took the Bum-clock himself, and started for home.

And when the man lifted the Bum-clock and put it in his pocket, everybody stopped jigging and dancing and everyone laughed loud.

An intelligent correspondent suggests that brandy would be about the thing, but that it should be labelled "Bay Bum."

They served us desserts made with Bum Berry goo As we danced to the tune of the didgeridoo.

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Bulwer-Lyttonbum around