/ bʊk; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
PRINTED WORK
1.
[ C ] a set of printed pages that are fastened inside a cover so that you can turn them and read them :
a pile of books
hardback / paperback books
2.
[ C ] a written work published in printed or electronic form :
a book by Stephen King
a book about / on wildlife
reference / children's / library books
FOR WRITING IN
3.
[ C ] a set of sheets of paper that are fastened together inside a cover and used for writing in :
an exercise book
a notebook
—see also address book
OF STAMPS / TICKETS / MATCHES, etc.
4.
[ C ] a set of things that are fastened together like a book :
a book of stamps / tickets / matches
a chequebook
ACCOUNTS
5.
books [ pl. ] the written records of the financial affairs of a business
SYN accounts :
to do the books (= to check the accounts)
SECTION OF BIBLE, etc.
6.
[ C ] a section of a large written work :
the books of the Bible
FOR BETTING
7.
[ C ] ( BrE ) a record of bets made on whether sth will happen, sb will win a race, etc.
•
IDIOMS
- be in sb's good / bad books
- bring sb to book (for sth)
- by the book
- in my book
- (be) on sb's books
- throw the book at sb
—more at close (I) verb , closed , cook verb , history , judge verb , leaf noun , open adjective , read verb , suit verb , trick noun
■ verb
1.
( especially BrE ) to arrange with a hotel, restaurant, theatre, etc. to have a room, table, seat, etc. on a particular date :
[ v ]
Book early to avoid disappointment.
[ vn ]
I'd like to book a table for two for 8 o'clock tonight.
The performance is booked up (= there are no more tickets available) .
I'm sorry—we're fully booked .
—compare reserve
2.
[ vn ] to arrange for sb to have a seat on a plane, etc. :
I've booked you on the 10 o'clock flight.
3.
[ vn ] to arrange for a singer, etc. to perform on a particular date :
We've booked a band for the wedding reception.
4.
[ vn ] ( informal ) to write down sb's name and address because they have committed a crime or an offence :
He was booked for possession of cocaine.
5.
[ vn ] ( BrE , informal ) ( of a referee ) to write down in an official book the name of a player who has broken the rules of the game
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- book in / into sth
- book sb in / into sth
••
WORD 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).