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

At the wedding reception, agents attempting to murder Julie—for not murdering Kayla—wipe out 21 guests in a storm of bullets, decimating the tiny Greek village.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Instead, the Housatonic’s crew fired their rifles and shotguns, only to see their bullets bounce harmlessly off the Hunley’s iron sides.

Read more on Literature

"A bullet entered his right leg from the outside, passed through, and hit his left thigh."

Read more on Barron's

A draft text issued by the Brazilian presidency on Tuesday -- seen as paving the way for the final outcome text -- listed trade as the second of its four top bullet points.

Read more on Barron's

Her death, which had been ruled a homicide by the coroner’s report, was caused by a bullet wound that had entered through her shoulder.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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