Adjacent Words

Bug definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

BUG, n. In common language, the name of a vast multitude of insects, which infest houses and plants. In zoology, this word is applied to the insects arranged under the genus Cimex, of which several hundred species are described. Bugs belong to the order of hemipters. They are furnished with a rostrum or beak, with antennae longer than the thorax, and the winds are folded together crosswise. The back is flat, the throat margined, and the feet are formed for running. Some species have no wings. The house-bug, or bed-bug, is a troublesome and disgusting insect.
BUG, or BUG'BEAR, n. A frightful object; a walking specter; any thing imaginary that is considered as frightful.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: general term for any insect or similar creeping or crawling invertebrate
2: a fault or defect in a computer program, system, or machine [syn: bug, glitch]
3: a small hidden microphone; for listening secretly
4: insects with sucking mouthparts and forewings thickened and leathery at the base; usually show incomplete metamorphosis [syn: hemipterous insect, bug, hemipteran, hemipteron]
5: a minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use [syn: microbe, bug, germ] v
1: annoy persistently; "The children teased the boy because of his stammer" [syn: tease, badger, pester, bug, beleaguer]
2: tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information; "The FBI was tapping the phone line of the suspected spy"; "Is this hotel room bugged?" [syn: wiretap, tap, intercept, bug]

Merriam Webster's

geographical name 1. river over 450 miles (720 kilometers) central Europe rising in W Ukraine, forming part of Ukraine-Poland and Poland-Belarus borders, & flowing into the Vistula in Poland 2. river over 500 miles (805 kilometers) SW Ukraine flowing SE to the Dnieper estuary

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English bugge hobgoblin; probably akin to Low German bögge goblin Date: 14th century obsolete bogey, bugbear II. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1622 1. a. an insect or other creeping or crawling invertebrate (as a spider or centipede) b. any of several insects (as the bedbug or cockroach) commonly considered obnoxious c. any of an order (Hemiptera and especially its suborder Heteroptera) of insects that have sucking mouthparts, forewings thickened at the base, and incomplete metamorphosis and are often economic pests — called also true bug 2. an unexpected defect, fault, flaw, or imperfection <the software was full of bugs> 3. a. a germ or microorganism especially when causing disease b. an unspecified or nonspecific sickness usually presumed due to a bug 4. a sudden enthusiasm 5. enthusiast <a camera bug> 6. a prominent person 7. a crazy person 8. a concealed listening device 9. [from its designation by an asterisk on race programs] a weight allowance given apprentice jockeys III. verb (bugged; bugging) Date: 1935 transitive verb 1. to plant a concealed microphone in 2. bother, annoy <don't bug me with petty details> intransitive verb to lose one's composure ; freak — often used with out IV. verb (bugged; bugging) Etymology: probably from ²bug Date: 1865 intransitive verb of the eyes protrude, bulge — often used with out transitive verb to cause to bug <his eyes were bugged with horror>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a any of various hemipterous insects with oval flattened bodies and mouthparts modified for piercing and sucking. b US any small insect. 2 sl. a micro-organism, esp. a bacterium, or a disease caused by it. 3 a concealed microphone. 4 sl. an error in a computer program or system etc. 5 sl. an obsession, enthusiasm, etc. --v. (bugged, bugging) 1 tr. sl. conceal a microphone in (esp. a building or room). 2 tr. sl. annoy, bother. 3 intr. (often foll. by out) US sl. leave quickly. Phrases and idioms: bug-eyed with bulging eyes. Etymology: 17th c.: orig. unkn.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Bug Bug, n. [OE. bugge, fr. W. bwg, bwgan, hobgoblin, scarecrow, bugbear. Cf. Bogey, Boggle.] 1. A bugbear; anything which terrifies. [Obs.] Sir, spare your threats: The bug which you would fright me with I seek. --Shak. 2. (Zo["o]l.) A general name applied to various insects belonging to the Hemiptera; as, the squash bug; the chinch bug, etc. 3. (Zo["o]l.) An insect of the genus Cimex, especially the bedbug (C. lectularius). See Bedbug. 4. (Zo["o]l.) One of various species of Coleoptera; as, the ladybug; potato bug, etc.; loosely, any beetle. 5. (Zo["o]l.) One of certain kinds of Crustacea; as, the sow bug; pill bug; bait bug; salve bug, etc. Note: According to present popular usage in England, and among housekeepers in America, bug, when not joined with some qualifying word, is used specifically for bedbug. As a general term it is used very loosely in America, and was formerly used still more loosely in England. ``God's rare workmanship in the ant, the poorest bug that creeps.'' --Rogers (--Naaman). ``This bug with gilded wings.'' --Pope. Bait bug. See under Bait. Bug word, swaggering or threatening language. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(bugs, bugging, bugged) 1. A bug is an insect or similar small creature. (INFORMAL) We noticed tiny bugs that were all over the walls. N-COUNT: usu pl 2. A bug is an illness which is caused by small organisms such as bacteria. (INFORMAL) I think I've got a bit of a stomach bug... ...the killer brain bug meningitis. N-COUNT 3. If there is a bug in a computer program, there is a mistake in it. (COMPUTING) There is a bug in the software. N-COUNT 4. A bug is a tiny hidden microphone which transmits what people are saying. There was a bug on the phone. N-COUNT 5. If someone bugs a place, they hide tiny microphones in it which transmit what people are saying. He heard that they were planning to bug his office... VERB: V n • bugging ...an electronic bugging device. 6. You can say that someone has been bitten by a particular bug when they suddenly become very enthusiastic about something. (INFORMAL) I've definitely been bitten by the gardening bug... Roundhay Park in Leeds was the place I first got the fishing bug. N-SING: oft n N 7. If someone or something bugs you, they worry or annoy you. (INFORMAL) I only did it to bug my parents. VERB: V n

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

A nick name given by the Irish to Englishmen; bugs having, as it is said, been introduced into Ireland by the English.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

A cant word among journeymen hatters, signifying the exchanging some of the dearest materials of which a hat is made for others of less value. Hats are composed of the furs and wool of divers animals among which is a small portion of beavers' fur. Bugging, is stealing the beaver, and substituting in lieu thereof an equal weight of some cheaper ingredient.--Bailiffs who take money to postpone or refrain the serving of a writ, are said to bug the writ.

Moby Thesaurus

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