bust

¹

[buhst]

noun

1. a sculptured, painted, drawn, or engraved representation of the upper part of the human figure, especially a portrait sculpture showing only the head and shoulders of the subject.

2. the chest or breast, especially a woman's bosom.

bust

²

[buhst]

verb (used without object)

1. Informal.

   1. to burst.

   2. to go bankrupt.

   3. to collapse from the strain of making a supreme effort.

      She was determined to make straight A's or bust.

2. Cards.

   1. Draw Poker.,  to fail to make a flush or straight by one card.

   2. Blackjack.,  to draw cards exceeding the count of 21.

verb (used with object)

1. Informal.

   1. to burst.

   2. to bankrupt; ruin financially.

2. to demote, especially in military rank or grade.

   He was busted from sergeant to private three times.

3. to tame; break.

   to bust a bronco.

4. Slang.

   1. to place under arrest.

      The gang was busted and put away on narcotics charges.

   2. to subject to a police raid.

      The bar has been busted three times for selling drinks to minors.

5. Informal.

   1. to hit.

   2. to break; fracture.

      She fell and busted her arm.

noun

1. a failure.

2. Informal.,  a hit; sock; punch.

   He got a bust in the nose before he could put up his hands.

3. a sudden decline in the economic conditions of a country, marked by an extreme drop in stock-market prices, business activity, and employment; depression.

4. Slang.

   1. an arrest.

   2. a police raid.

5. Informal.,  a drinking spree; binge.

6. Cards.

   1. a very weak hand.

   2. Bridge.,  a hand lacking the potential to take a single trick.

adjective

1. Informal.,  bankrupt; broke.

verb phrase

1. bust up

   1. to break up; separate.

      Sam and his wife busted up a year ago.

   2. to damage or destroy.

      Soldiers got in a fight and busted up the bar.

bust

¹

/ bʌst /

verb

1. to burst or break

2. to make or become bankrupt

3. (tr) (of the police) to raid, search, or arrest

   the girl was busted for drugs

4. (tr) to demote, esp in military rank

5. (tr) to break or tame (a horse, etc)

6. (tr) to punch; hit

7. See gut

noun

1. a raid, search, or arrest by the police

2. a punch; hit

3. a failure, esp a financial one; bankruptcy

4. a drunken party

adjective

1. broken

2. bankrupt

3. to become bankrupt

bust

²

/ bʌst /

noun

1. the chest of a human being, esp a woman's bosom

2. a sculpture of the head, shoulders, and upper chest of a person

Word History and Origins

Origin of bust¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from French buste, from Italian busto, probably from Latin bustum “funeral pyre, ashes, grave mound, tomb,” presumably by association with the busts erected over graves

Origin of bust²

First recorded in 1755–65; variant of burst, by loss of r before s, as in ass ², bass ², passel, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bust¹

C19: from a dialect pronunciation of _burst

Origin of bust²

C17: from French buste , from Italian busto a sculpture, of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bust ass, to fight with the fists; strike or thrash another.

2. bust on,

   1. to attack physically; beat up.

   2. to criticize or reprimand harshly.

   3. to make fun of or laugh at; mock.

   4. to inform on.

3. bust one's ass, to make an extreme effort; exert oneself.

More idioms and phrases containing bust

• break (bust) one's ass
• go broke (bust)

Example Sentences

Even if an oil bust occurs, the program should be able to operate long-term by spending only the interest from the fund, according to the state.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Skepticism about AI’s real potential returns are mounting, talk of a bubble and potential bust has increased, and investors have been punishing big spenders like Meta Platforms.

Read more on Barron's

Self-feeding, no extra cooking, your baby gets introduced to a wide variety of healthy foods, gains desirable independence, and you won’t bust your budget.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Alphabet’s CEO launched a new AI model while warning of potential industry overinvestment, stating no company is immune to a bust.

Read more on Barron's

The last time Wall Street went all-in on an industry was the fracking boom—then bust—over a decade ago.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• apprehend 
• detain 
• pinch 

When To Use

What does or bust mean?

The phrase or bust is used when someone is pursuing an end no matter what, even if they fail trying. Saying New York City or bust, for example, means someone is doing absolutely everything to go there.How is or bust pronounced?[ awr buhst ]