/bodh"euhr/ , v.t.
1. to give trouble to; annoy; pester; worry: His baby sister bothered him for candy.
2. to bewilder; confuse: His inability to understand the joke bothered him.
v.i.
3. to take the trouble; trouble or inconvenience oneself: Don't bother to call. He has no time to bother with trifles.
n.
4. something troublesome, burdensome, or annoying: Doing the laundry every week can be a terrible bother.
5. effort, work, or worry: Gardening takes more bother than it's worth.
6. a worried or perplexed state: Don't get into such a bother about small matters.
7. someone or something that bothers or annoys: My cousin is a perpetual bother to me.
interj.
8. Chiefly Brit. (used to express mild irritation.)
[ 1710-20; orig. Hiberno-E; prob. by hypercorrection from bodder, an alternate early form; orig. obscure ]
Syn. 1. harass, vex, irritate; molest, disturb. BOTHER, ANNOY, PLAGUE, TEASE imply persistent interference with one's comfort or peace of mind. BOTHER suggests causing trouble or weariness or repeatedly interrupting in the midst of pressing duties. TO ANNOY is to vex or irritate by bothering. PLAGUE is a strong word, connoting unremitting annoyance and harassment. TO TEASE is to pester, as by long-continued whining and begging.