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bull
1[ bool ]
/ bʊl /
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noun
adjective
verb (used with object)
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Idioms about bull
- an awkward or clumsy person.
- an inconsiderate or tactless person.
- a troublemaker; dangerous person.
bull in a china shop,
take the bull by the horns, to attack a difficult or risky problem fearlessly.
Origin of bull
1First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English bule, Old English bula; akin to Old Norse boli; Greek phallós “penis,” from a root meaning “to swell”; see bullock
OTHER WORDS FROM bull
bull-like, adjectiveWords nearby bull
bulking, bulk mail, bulk modulus, bulk up, bulky, bull, bulla, bullace, Bullamakanka, bull ant, bullarium
Other definitions for bull (2 of 5)
bull2
[ bool ]
/ bʊl /
noun
a bulla or seal.
Roman Catholic Church. a formal papal document having a bulla attached.
Origin of bull
2First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bull(e) “a (lead) seal affixed to a papal edict, papal edict; official sealed document,” from Medieval Latin bulla “seal, sealed document,” from Latin ; see origin at bulla
Other definitions for bull (3 of 5)
bull3
[ bool ]
/ bʊl /
noun Slang.
exaggeration, lies, or nonsense.
Origin of bull
3First recorded in 1620–30; from Medieval Latin bulla “play, game, jest,” perhaps special use of Latin bulla “bubble”; now generally taken as a euphemistic shortening of bullshit
Other definitions for bull (4 of 5)
Bull
[ bool ]
/ bul /
noun
O·le (Bor·ne·mann) [oh-luh -bor-nuh-mahn], /ˈoʊ lə ˈbɒr nəˌmɑn/, 1810–80, Norwegian violinist and composer.
Other definitions for bull (5 of 5)
bull.
abbreviation
bulletin.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use bull in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for bull (1 of 5)
bull1
/ (bʊl) /
noun
adjective
male; masculinea bull elephant
large; strong
verb
Word Origin for bull
Old English bula, from Old Norse boli; related to Middle Low German bulle, Middle Dutch bolle
British Dictionary definitions for bull (2 of 5)
bull2
/ (bʊl) /
noun
a ludicrously self-contradictory or inconsistent statementAlso called: Irish bull
Word Origin for bull
C17: of uncertain origin
British Dictionary definitions for bull (3 of 5)
bull3
/ (bʊl) /
noun
a formal document issued by the pope, written in antiquated characters and often sealed with a leaden bulla
Word Origin for bull
C13: from Medieval Latin bulla seal attached to a bull, from Latin: round object
British Dictionary definitions for bull (4 of 5)
Bull1
/ (bʊl) /
noun
the Bull the constellation Taurus, the second sign of the zodiac
British Dictionary definitions for bull (5 of 5)
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with bull
bull
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.