book
a handwritten or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers.
a work of fiction or nonfiction in an electronic format: Your child can listen to or read the book online.: See also e-book (def. 1).
a number of sheets of blank or ruled paper bound together for writing, recording business transactions, etc.
a division of a literary work, especially one of the larger divisions.
the Book, the Bible.
Music. the text or libretto of an opera, operetta, or musical.
books. books of account.
Jazz. the total repertoire of a band.
a script or story for a play.
a record of bets, as on a horse race.
Cards. the number of basic tricks or cards that must be taken before any trick or card counts in the score.
a set or packet of tickets, checks, stamps, matches, etc., bound together like a book.
anything that serves for the recording of facts or events: The petrified tree was a book of Nature.
Sports. a collection of facts and information about the usual playing habits, weaknesses, methods, etc., of an opposing team or player, especially in baseball: The White Sox book on Mickey Mantle cautioned pitchers to keep the ball fast and high.
Stock Exchange.
the customers served by each registered representative in a brokerage house.
a loose-leaf binder kept by a specialist to record orders to buy and sell stock at specified prices.
a pile or package of leaves, as of tobacco.
Mineralogy. a thick block or crystal of mica.
a magazine: used especially in magazine publishing.
Slang. bookmaker (def. 1).
the book,
a set of rules, conventions, or standards: The solution was not according to the book but it served the purpose.
the telephone book: I've looked him up, but he's not in the book.
to enter in a book or list; record; register.
to reserve or make a reservation for (a hotel room, passage on a ship, etc.): We booked a table at our favorite restaurant.
to register or list (a person) for a place, transportation, appointment, etc.: The travel agent booked us for next week's cruise.
to engage for one or more performances.
to enter an official charge against (an arrested suspect) on a police register.
to act as a bookmaker for (a bettor, bet, or sum of money): The Philadelphia syndicate books 25 million dollars a year on horse racing.
to register one's name.
to engage a place, services, etc.
Slang.
to study hard, as a student before an exam: He left the party early to book.
to leave; depart: I'm bored with this party, let's book.
to work as a bookmaker: He started a restaurant with money he got from booking.
of or relating to a book or books: the book department;a book salesman.
derived or learned from or based on books: a book knowledge of sailing.
shown by a book of account: The firm's book profit was $53,680.
book in, to sign in, as at a job.
book out, to sign out, as at a job.
book up, to sell out in advance: The hotel is booked up for the Christmas holidays.
Idioms about book
book it, Slang. See entry at book it.
bring to book, to call to account; bring to justice: Someday he will be brought to book for his misdeeds.
by the book, according to the correct or established form; in the usual manner: an unimaginative individual who does everything by the book.
close the books, to balance accounts at the end of an accounting period; settle accounts.
cook the books, Informal. cook1 (def. 13)
in one's bad books, out of favor; disliked by someone: He's in the boss's bad books.
in one's book, in one's personal judgment or opinion: In my book, he's not to be trusted.
in one's good books, in favor; liked by someone.
like a book, completely; thoroughly: She knew the area like a book.
make book,
to accept or place the bets of others, as on horse races, especially as a business.
to wager; bet: You can make book on it that he won't arrive in time.
off the books, done or performed for cash or without keeping full business records: especially as a way to avoid paying income tax, employment benefits, etc.: Much of his work as a night watchman is done off the books.
one for the book / books, a noteworthy incident; something extraordinary: The daring rescue was one for the book.
on the books, entered in a list or record: He claims to have graduated from Harvard, but his name is not on the books.
throw the book at, Informal.
to sentence (an offender, lawbreaker, etc.) to the maximum penalties for all charges against that person.
to punish or chide severely.
without book,
from memory.
without authority: to punish without book.
write the book, to be the prototype, originator, leader, etc., of: So far as investment banking is concerned, they wrote the book.
Origin of book
1Other words for book
Opposites for book
Other words from book
- book·less, adjective
- book·like, adjective
- pre·book, verb
- re·book, verb
- un·booked, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use book in a sentence
Each step of the way, Booker has thrived on the philosophy that your actions matter more than what you preach.
Fire-fighting, hunger-striking, snow-shoveling U.S. Senator Cory Booker is up to something new this holiday season: veganism.
Booker plans to spend his Thanksgiving dinner with CBS correspondent Gayle King and their families.
In the fall of 1992, Booker became a vegetarian “as an experiment,” he said, “and I was surprised by how much my body took to it.”
“I want to try to live my own values as consciously and purposefully as I can,” Booker told me in a phone interview.
This Booker had much good fortune in detecting thefts, and was not less an adept in resolving love-questions.
Witch, Warlock, and Magician | William Henry Davenport AdamsUpon this point we are in entire agreement with Mr. Booker T. Washington.
And yet Mr. Booker was an honest man, and had set his face persistently against many literary malpractices.
The Way We Live Now | Anthony TrollopeMr. Booker's "Literary Chronicle" did not presume to entertain any special political opinions.
The Way We Live Now | Anthony TrollopeThe composition of the review, together with the reading of the book, consumed altogether perhaps an hour of Mr. Booker's time.
The Way We Live Now | Anthony Trollope
British Dictionary definitions for book
/ (bʊk) /
a written work or composition, such as a novel, technical manual, or dictionary
(as modifier): the book trade; book reviews
(in combination): bookseller; bookshop; bookshelf; bookrack
a number of blank or ruled sheets of paper bound together, used to record lessons, keep accounts, etc
(plural) a record of the transactions of a business or society
the script of a play or the libretto of an opera, musical, etc
a major division of a written composition, as of a long novel or of the Bible
a number of tickets, sheets, stamps, etc, fastened together along one edge
bookmaking a record of the bets made on a horse race or other event
(in card games) the number of tricks that must be taken by a side or player before any trick has a scoring value: in bridge, six of the 13 tricks form the book
strict or rigid regulations, rules, or standards (esp in the phrases according to the book, by the book)
a source of knowledge or authority: the book of life
a telephone directory (in the phrase in the book)
the book (sometimes capital) the Bible
an open book a person or subject that is thoroughly understood
a closed book a person or subject that is unknown or beyond comprehension: chemistry is a closed book to him
bring to book to reprimand or require (someone) to give an explanation of his conduct
close the book on to bring to a definite end: we have closed the book on apartheid
close the books accounting to balance accounts in order to prepare a statement or report
cook the books informal to make fraudulent alterations to business or other accounts
in my book according to my view of things
in someone's bad books regarded by someone with disfavour
in someone's good books regarded by someone with favour
keep the books to keep written records of the finances of a business or other enterprise
on the books
enrolled as a member
registered or recorded
read someone like a book to understand a person, or his motives, character, etc, thoroughly and clearly
throw the book at
to charge with every relevant offence
to inflict the most severe punishment on
to reserve (a place, passage, etc) or engage the services of (a performer, driver, etc) in advance: to book a flight; to book a band
(tr) to take the name and address of (a person guilty of a minor offence) with a view to bringing a prosecution: he was booked for ignoring a traffic signal
(tr) (of a football referee) to take the name of (a player) who grossly infringes the rules while playing, two such acts resulting in the player's dismissal from the field
(tr) archaic to record in a book
Origin of book
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with book
see balance the books; black book; bring to book; by the book; closed book; close the books; cook the books; crack a book; hit the books; in one's book; in someone's bad graces (books); judge a book by its cover; know like a book; make book; nose in a book; one for the books; open book; take a leaf out of someone's book; throw the book at; wrote the book on.
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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