bull

[ bool ]

/ bʊl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for bull on Thesaurus.com

noun

the male of a bovine animal, especially of the genus Bos, with sexual organs intact and capable of reproduction.

the male of certain other mammals, as elephants and moose.

a large, solidly built person.

a person who believes that market prices, especially of stocks, will increase (opposed to bear).

Bull, Astronomy, Astrology. the constellation or sign of Taurus.

a bulldog.

Slang. a police officer.

adjective

male.

of, relating to, or resembling a bull, as in strength.

having to do with or marked by a continuous trend of rising prices, as of stocks: a bull market.

verb (used with object)

Stock Exchange. to attempt to raise the price of.

to speculate in, in expectation of a rise in price.

to force; shove: to bull one's way through a crowd.

Nautical. to ram (a buoy).

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about bull

bull in a china shop,

an awkward or clumsy person.
an inconsiderate or tactless person.
a troublemaker; dangerous person.

take the bull by the horns, to attack a difficult or risky problem fearlessly.

Origin of bull

First 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, adjective

Other definitions for bull (2 of 5)

bull²

[ bool ]

/ bʊl /

noun Slang.

exaggeration, lies, or nonsense.

Origin of bull

First 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 (3 of 5)

bull³

[ bool ]

/ bʊl /

noun

a bulla or seal.

Roman Catholic Church. a formal papal document having a bulla attached.

Origin of bull

First 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 (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. 2023

How to use bull in a sentence

Yes, the minor-league baseball player memorably portrayed by Kevin Costner in Bull Durham.
All The Wrong Reasons to Ban Gay Unions|Jay Michaelson|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He also said police intend to put their beloved family pet, a Staffordshire bull terrier named Excalibur, to sleep.
Ebola in Europe: What Went Wrong|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Biden made many visits to Baghdad and no doubt get fed a load of bull about inclusion on each one.
Exposed: The White House’s Professor-in-Chief|Jonathan Alter|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like at Bull Run, when I am in the presence of those old family letters, I am transported.
How Gettysburg Did Not Unlock the Past|Laird Hunt|September 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

A stoic figure in a white floor length dress and razor-tailored bodice was accessorized with a giant bull skull as a mask.
Gareth Pugh's Fashion Show Lacked Fashion, But Not Passion|Justin Jones|September 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The well-known "cock and bull" stories of small children are inspired by this love of strong effect.
Children's Ways|James Sully
I thought this young man was going to read us some of his poetry; it's too tiresome of him to stop to tell us about his bull-dog.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various
And I, for one, absolutely decline to believe in this preposterous story of his about a bull-dog.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various
Tom leaped on one side; the buffalo-bull turned short round and made another dash at him.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne
Some who would face a mad bull coolly enough spring with disgust from a cockroach or a centipede.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for bull (1 of 5)

bull¹

/ (bʊl) /

noun

any male bovine animal, esp one that is sexually matureRelated adjective: taurine

the uncastrated adult male of any breed of domestic cattle

the male of various other animals including the elephant and whale

a very large, strong, or aggressive person

stock exchange

a speculator who buys in anticipation of rising prices in order to make a profit on resale
(as modifier)a bull market Compare bear 1 (def. 5)

mainly British short for bull's-eye (def. 1), bull's-eye (def. 2)

slang short for bullshit

short for bulldog, bull terrier

a bull in a china shop a clumsy person

shoot the bull US and Canadian slang

to pass time talking lightly
to boast or exaggerate

take the bull by the horns to face and tackle a difficulty without shirking

adjective

male; masculinea bull elephant

large; strong

bull in a china shop
bull session

also see:

cock and bull story
hit the bull's-eye
shoot the breeze (bull)
take the bull by the horns

bull

Idioms about bull

Origin of bull

OTHER WORDS FROM bull

Other definitions for bull (2 of 5)

Origin of bull

Other definitions for bull (3 of 5)

Origin of bull

Other definitions for bull (4 of 5)

Other definitions for bull (5 of 5)

Words related to bull

How to use bull in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bull (1 of 5)

Word Origin for bull

British Dictionary definitions for bull (2 of 5)

Word Origin for bull

British Dictionary definitions for bull (3 of 5)

Word Origin for bull

British Dictionary definitions for bull (4 of 5)

British Dictionary definitions for bull (5 of 5)

Other Idioms and Phrases with bull