— bookless , adj. — booklike , adj.
/book/ , n.
1. a written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers.
2. a number of sheets of blank or ruled paper bound together for writing, recording business transactions, etc.
3. a division of a literary work, esp. one of the larger divisions.
4. the Book , the Bible.
5. Music. the text or libretto of an opera, operetta, or musical.
6. books . See book of account .
7. Jazz. the total repertoire of a band.
8. a script or story for a play.
9. a record of bets, as on a horse race.
10. Cards. the number of basic tricks or cards that must be taken before any trick or card counts in the score.
11. a set or packet of tickets, checks, stamps, matches, etc., bound together like a book.
12. anything that serves for the recording of facts or events: The petrified tree was a book of Nature.
13. Sports. a collection of facts and information about the usual playing habits, weaknesses, methods, etc., of an opposing team or player, esp. in baseball: The White Sox book on Mickey Mantle cautioned pitchers to keep the ball fast and high.
14. Stock Exchange.
a. the customers served by each registered representative in a brokerage house.
b. a loose-leaf binder kept by a specialist to record orders to buy and sell stock at specified prices.
15. a pile or package of leaves, as of tobacco.
16. Mineral. a thick block or crystal of mica.
17. a magazine: used esp. in magazine publishing.
18. See book value .
19. Slang. bookmaker (def. 1).
20. bring to book , to call to account; bring to justice: Someday he will be brought to book for his misdeeds.
21. by the book , according to the correct or established form; in the usual manner: an unimaginative individual who does everything by the book.
22. close the books , to balance accounts at the end of an accounting period; settle accounts.
23. cook the books , Informal. See cook (def. 10).
24. in one's bad books , out of favor; disliked by someone: He's in the boss's bad books.
25. in one's book , in one's personal judgment or opinion: In my book, he's not to be trusted.
26. in one's good books , in favor; liked by someone.
27. like a book , completely; thoroughly: She knew the area like a book.
28. make book ,
a. to accept or place the bets of others, as on horse races, esp. as a business.
b. to wager; bet: You can make book on it that he won't arrive in time.
29. off the books , done or performed for cash or without keeping full business records: esp. as a way to avoid paying income tax, employment benefits, etc.: Much of his work as a night watchman is done off the books.
30. one for the book or books , a noteworthy incident; something extraordinary: The daring rescue was one for the book.
31. on the books , entered in a list or record: He claims to have graduated from Harvard, but his name is not on the books.
32. the book ,
a. a set of rules, conventions, or standards: The solution was not according to the book but it served the purpose.
b. the telephone book: I've looked him up, but he's not in the book.
33. throw the book at , Informal.
a. to sentence (an offender, lawbreaker, etc.) to the maximum penalties for all charges against that person.
b. to punish or chide severely.
34. without book ,
a. from memory.
b. without authority: to punish without book.
35. write the book , to be the prototype, originator, leader, etc., of: So far as investment banking is concerned, they wrote the book.
v.t.
36. to enter in a book or list; record; register.
37. to reserve or make a reservation for (a hotel room, passage on a ship, etc.): We booked a table at our favorite restaurant.
38. to register or list (a person) for a place, transportation, appointment, etc.: The travel agent booked us for next week's cruise.
39. to engage for one or more performances.
40. to enter an official charge against (an arrested suspect) on a police register.
41. to act as a bookmaker for (a bettor, bet, or sum of money): The Philadelphia syndicate books 25 million dollars a year on horse racing.
v.i.
42. to register one's name.
43. to engage a place, services, etc.
44. Slang.
a. to study hard, as a student before an exam: He left the party early to book.
b. to leave; depart: I'm bored with this party, let's book.
c. to work as a bookmaker: He started a restaurant with money he got from booking.
45. book in , to sign in, as at a job.
46. book out , to sign out, as at a job.
47. book up , to sell out in advance: The hotel is booked up for the Christmas holidays.
adj.
48. of or pertaining to a book or books: the book department; a book salesman.
49. derived or learned from or based on books: a book knowledge of sailing.
50. shown by a book of account: The firm's book profit was $53,680.
[ bef. 900; ME, OE boc; c. D boek, ON bok, G Buch; akin to Goth boka letter (of the alphabet) and not of known relation to BEECH, as is often assumed ]
Syn. 39. reserve, schedule, bill, slate, program.
Ant. 39. cancel.