book
Pronunciation: /bʊk/
noun
- 1a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers: a book of selected poems
- a literary composition that is published or intended for publication as a book: he’s writing a book about his experiences
- a main division of a literary work or of the Bible: the Book of Genesis
- (also book of words) the libretto of a musical or opera, or the script of a play.
- (one's books) used to refer to studying: he was so deep in his books he would forget to eat
- (the book) the telephone directory for the area in which someone lives: is your name in the book?
- informal a magazine:
- an imaginary record or list (often used to emphasize the comprehensiveness of someone’s actions or experience): she felt every emotion in the book of love
- 2
- (books) a set of records or accounts: a bid to balance the books
- a bookmaker’s record of bets accepted and money paid out.
- Soccer the notebook in which a referee writes the names of players who are cautioned for foul play: his name went into the book for a foul on Smyth
verb
- 1reserve (accommodation, a place, etc.); buy (a ticket) in advance: I have booked a table at the Swan
- reserve accommodation for (someone): his secretary had booked him into the Howard Hotel
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- engage (a performer or guest) for an event: the promoter booked him for another appearance
- (be booked up) have all places reserved; be full: at weekends we’re usually booked up
Phrases
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bring someone to book
- chiefly British officially punish someone or call them to account for their behaviour: the murderer will be found and brought to book
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by the book
- strictly according to the rules: a cop who doesn’t exactly play it by the book
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close the books
- make no further entries at the end of an accounting period; cease trading: branches will be asked to close their books at the end of December
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in someone's bad (or good) books
- in disfavour (or favour) with someone: you could say he is in my bad books
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in my book
- in my opinion: that counts as a lie in my book
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make (or open) a book
(US make book) - take bets and pay out winnings on the outcome of a race or other contest or event: the bookies opened a book on his successor
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on the books
- contained in a list of members, employees, or clients: the club have six top foreign players on their books
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People of the Book
- Jews and Christians as regarded by Muslims.
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suit someone's book
- British be convenient for someone: it didn’t suit her book at all to be moved
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take a leaf out of someone's book
- imitate or emulate someone in a particular way: worm-watchers should take a leaf out of Darwin’s fieldcraft book and sit still to observe the action
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throw the book at
- informal charge or punish (someone) as severely as possible: get this lot down to the station and throw the book at them
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you can't judge a book by its cover
- proverb outward appearances are not a reliable indication of the true character of someone or something.
Origin:
Old English bōc (originally also 'a document or charter'), bōcian 'to grant by charter', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boek and German Buch, and probably to beech (on which runes were carved)