bus

¹

[buhs]

noun

plural

buses, busses 

1. a large motor vehicle, having a long body, equipped with seats or benches for passengers, usually operating as part of a scheduled service; omnibus.

2. (formerly) a similar horse-drawn vehicle.

3. a passenger automobile or airplane used in a manner resembling that of a bus.

4. any vehicle operated to transport children to school.

5. a low, movable filing cabinet.

6. Also called busbar. Also called bus bar,. Electricity.,  a heavy conductor, often made of copper in the shape of a bar, used to collect, carry, and distribute powerful electric currents, as those produced by generators.

7. Computers.,  a circuit that connects the CPU with other devices in a computer.

verb (used with object)

bused, bussed, busing, bussing. 

1. to convey or transport by bus.

   to bus the tourists to another hotel.

2. to transport (pupils) to school by bus, especially as a means of achieving socioeconomic or racial diversity among students in a public school.

verb (used without object)

bused, bussed, busing, bussing. 

1. to travel on or by means of a bus.

   We bused to New York on a theater trip.

bus

²

[buhs]

verb (used with or without object)

bused, bussed, busing, bussing. 

1. to work or act as a busboy or busgirl.

   She bused for her meals during her student days.

bus.

³

abbreviation

1. business.

bus

/ bʌs /

noun

1. Sometimes called: motorbus. More formal name: omnibus. a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers between stopping places along a regular route

2. short for trolleybus

3. (modifier) of or relating to a bus or buses

   a bus driver

   a bus station

4. informal,  a car or aircraft, esp one that is old and shaky

5. electronics computing short for busbar

6. the part of a MIRV missile payload containing the re-entry vehicles and guidance and thrust devices

7. astronautics a platform in a space vehicle used for various experiments and processes

8. to miss an opportunity; be too late

verb

1. to travel or transport by bus

2. to transport (children) by bus from one area to a school in another in order to create racially integrated classes

Word History and Origins

Origin of bus¹

First recorded in 1825–35; short for omnibus; bus ¹ def. 6 short for omnibus bar

Origin of bus²

First recorded in 1830–40; back formation from busboy

Word History and Origins

Origin of bus¹

C19: short for _omnibus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. throw (someone or something) under the bus, to abandon or sacrifice to an imminent negative outcome for expedience or profit, or to protect oneself and one's interests.

   The accused was asked to testify against Tony, but he refused to save himself by throwing his pal under the bus.

Example Sentences

Cooper had left the original manuscript on a London bus, and it had taken her a decade to rewrite it - but it became an international bestseller.

From BBC

Russell Martin leaves the Falkirk Stadium separately after Rangers team bus is held up by fans.

From BBC

Angry Rangers fans tried to prevent the team bus leaving the Falkirk Stadium following the 1-1 draw on Sunday, with a large police presence required to allow players and staff to exit.

From BBC

Alabama’s landmark Montgomery Bus Boycott forced a bus company to see that segregation was bad for business.

From Salon

Queues snaked around street corners and card payments failed, forcing people to queue for cash and cram on to buses as other transport systems were not running.

From BBC