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boy

Pronunciation: /bɔɪ/

Translate boy | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of boy

noun

  • 1a male child or youth: a four-year-old boy the survey showed that both boys and girls smoked regularly
  • a person’s son:she put her little boy to bed
  • [with modifier] a male child or young man who does a specified job:a delivery boy
  • 2 [usually with adjective] a man, especially a young or relatively young one:I was the new boy at the office
  • (boys) informal men who mix socially or who belong to a particular group, team, or profession:he wants to stay one of the boys our boys have finished bombing
  • dated a friendly form of address from one man to another, especially from an older man to a young man:my dear boy, don’t say another word!
  • dated, offensive (often used as a form of address) a black male servant or worker.
  • a form of address to a male dog:down boy!

exclamation

informal
  • used to express strong feelings, especially of excitement or admiration:oh boy, that’s wonderful!

Phrases

boys in blue

informal policemen; the police: two dozen boys in blue arrive in full riot gear

boys will be boys

used to express the view that mischievous or childish behaviour is typical of boys or young men and should not cause surprise when it occurs.

the big boys

the most powerful and successful men or organizations: smaller supermarket chains are ganging together to beat the big boys at their own game

that's my boy (or girl)!

used as an expression of encouragement or admiration:Papa beamed, "That’s my boy!" Thorn gave me an approving look. "That’s my girl!"

Origin:

Middle English (denoting a male servant): of unknown origin

boy in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of boy in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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