(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Note: The form '~' is used as the present tense of the verb, and can also be used as the past tense and past participle.
1.
If you ~ something, you break it or damage it so badly that it cannot be used. (INFORMAL)
They will have to ~ the door to get him out.
VERB: V n
2.
If someone is ~ed, the police arrest them. (INFORMAL)
They were ~ed for possession of cannabis.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed
3.
If police ~ a place, they go to it in order to arrest people who are doing something illegal. (INFORMAL)
...police success in ~ing UK-based drug factories.
VERB: V n
•
Bust is also a noun.
Six tons of cocaine were seized last week in Panama’s biggest drug ~.
N-COUNT
4.
A company or fund that is ~ has no money left and has been forced to close down. (INFORMAL BUSINESS)
It is taxpayers who will pay most of the bill for bailing out ~ banks.
ADJ
5.
If a company goes ~, it loses so much money that it is forced to close down. (INFORMAL BUSINESS)
...a Swiss company which went ~ last May.
PHRASE: V inflects
6.
A ~ is a statue of the head and shoulders of a person.
...a bronze ~ of the Queen.
N-COUNT: oft N of n
7.
You can use ~ to refer to a woman’s breasts, especially when you are describing their size.
Good posture also helps your ~ look bigger.
N-COUNT