bus

¹

[ buhs ]

noun

, plural bus·es, bus·ses.

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. Electricity. Also called bus bar, 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 or bussed, bus·ing or bus·sing.

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 or bussed, bus·ing or bus·sing.

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 or bussed, bus·ing or bus·sing.

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

   She bused for her meals during her student days.

bus.

³

abbreviation for

1. business.

bus

/ bʌs /

noun

1. a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers between stopping places along a regular route More formal nameomnibus Sometimes calledmotorbus
2. See trolleybus
   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. See busbar
   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. miss the bus
   miss the bus 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 ¹def 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, Informal. 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

A county spokesperson in Texas said that only 15 to 20 people were being placed on buses rather than the usual 50, and there were concerns about having large numbers of people sheltering in one place.

From Popular-Science

A school bus driver, Gladden was out of work for the summer.

From ProPublica

Officers employed by the Metropolitan Transit System, which runs many of the region’s buses and trolleys, cited a man last year for failing to comply with their orders.

From Voice of San Diego

Last week, the agency responsible in San Diego for the buses and trolleys decided to pull back on a program to catch more people who ride without paying.

From Voice of San Diego

Together they form teams that patrol stations, buses and trolleys.

From Voice of San Diego

Occasionally a pamphlet for a salsa class might be tossed on a doorstop or stuck on a pole near a bus stop.

From The Daily Beast

The detectives learned early on that Brinsley had arrived by bus in Manhattan.

From The Daily Beast

At the music studio, Brinsley would arrive by train or bus to break into the music scene.

From The Daily Beast

In the video, the bus is getting searched by a cop with a German shepherd.

From The Daily Beast

A few children, settler children, congregate near what appears to have been the bus station.

From The Daily Beast

Passengers are requested not to stand on top of the Bus back seats for smoking.

From Project Gutenberg

And the same goes for any other common carrier—the railroads, bus service, and airlines.

From Project Gutenberg

Buying an evening paper—wearing a waistcoat again—running after a bus—anything—it's all holiday.

From Project Gutenberg

Henri crawled under the bus, though the policeman was extremely anxious to keep him out.

From Project Gutenberg

Coming up she had sat on top of the bus and watched with wide curious, eyes the strange traffic of London.

From Project Gutenberg