bullet

[bool-it]

noun

1. a small metal projectile, part of a cartridge, for firing from small arms.

2. a cartridge.

3. a small ball.

4. Printing.,  a heavy dot for marking paragraphs or otherwise calling attention to or itemizing particular sections of text, especially in display advertising.

5. Cards.,  an ace.

verb (used without object)

bulleted, bulleting 

1. to move swiftly.

bullet

/ ˈbʊlɪt /

noun

1. 1. a small metallic missile enclosed in a cartridge, used as the projectile of a gun, rifle, etc

   2. the entire cartridge

2. something resembling a bullet, esp in shape or effect

3. stock exchange a fixed interest security with a single maturity date

4. commerce a security that offers a fixed interest and matures on a fixed date

5. commerce

   1. the final repayment of a loan that repays the whole of the sum borrowed, as interim payments have been for interest only

   2. ( as modifier )

      a bullet loan

6. slang,  dismissal, sometimes without notice (esp in the phrases get or give the bullet )

7. printing See centred dot

8. See bite

Other Word Forms

• bulletless adjective
• bulletlike adjective
• bullet-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bullet¹

1550–60; < Middle French boullette, equivalent to boulle ball ( bowl ² ) + -ette -ette

Word History and Origins

Origin of bullet¹

C16: from French boulette , diminutive of boule ball; see _bowl ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bite the bullet, to force oneself to perform a painful, difficult task or to endure an unpleasant situation.

   We'll just have to bite the bullet and pay higher taxes.

see bite the bullet; sweat bullets.

Example Sentences

In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan was struck by a bullet while walking to his limousine.

From BBC

“Less-lethal munitions like sponge rounds, rubber bullets, and pepper balls have no place on a college campus, much less to be deployed against students and faculty exercising their right to free expression.”

From Los Angeles Times

Science Secretary Liz Kendall told BBC Breakfast that scheme was not intended as a "silver bullet" and this single ruling would "not stop this really important deal from going ahead".

From BBC

The bullet struck Kirk in the neck and he immediately slumped to the ground.

From BBC

As a young man, Roy was going to be the “best there ever was,” but life and a bullet got in the way.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ammunition 
• ball 
• cartridge 
• pellet 
• projectile 
• rocket 
• round 
• shot 
• slug