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bull1

Syllabification: (bull)
Pronunciation: /bo͝ol/
Translate bull | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of bull

noun

  • 1an uncastrated male bovine animal: [as modifier]:bull calves
  • a large male animal, especially a whale or elephant.
  • (the Bull) the zodiacal sign or constellation Taurus.
  • 2 Stock Market a person who buys shares hoping to sell them at a higher price later. Often contrasted with bear2.

adjective

[attributive]
  • (of a part of the body, especially the neck) resembling the corresponding part of a male bovine animal in build and strength:his bull neck and broad shoulders

verb

  • 1 [with object] push or drive powerfully or violently:he bulled the motorcycle clear of the tunnel [no object]:he was bulling his way through a mob of admirers
  • 2 [no object] (be bulling) (of a cow) behave in a manner characteristic of being in heat.

Phrases

like a bull in a china shop

behaving recklessly and clumsily in a place or situation where one is likely to cause damage or injury.

(like) a red rag to a bull

see red.

take the bull by the horns

deal bravely and decisively with a difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant situation.

Origin:

late Old English bula (recorded in place names), from Old Norse boli. Compare with bullock

bull in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of bull in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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