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

Last year Badenoch said leaving the treaty would not be a "silver bullet" for tackling immigration, but on Friday argued the move was necessary to "protect our borders, our veterans, and our citizens".

From BBC

Three other people were injured, including one also believed to have been struck by a police bullet.

From BBC

He said the bullet grazed his shoulder, struck his face "and exited through my nose".

From BBC

Mr Mahon said he was struck and fell – at first believing he was hit by a rubber bullet.

From BBC

You might have been forgiven for not realizing from such a statement that the three people punctured by a gunman’s bullets were immigrants.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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