n., adj., & v.
n. 1 a an uncastrated male bovine animal. b a male of the whale, elephant, and other large animals. 2 (the Bull) the zodiacal sign or constellation Taurus. 3 Brit. the bull's-eye of a target. 4 Stock Exch. a person who buys shares hoping to sell them at a higher price later (cf. BEAR(2)).
adj. like that of a bull (bull neck).
v. 1 tr. & intr. act or treat violently. 2 Stock Exch. a intr. speculate for a rise. b tr. raise price of (stocks, etc.). bull ant Austral. = bulldog ant. bull at a gate a hasty or rash person. bull-fiddle US colloq. a double-bass. bull-horn a megaphone. bull in a china shop a reckless or clumsy person. bull market a market with shares rising in price. bull-nose (or -nosed) with rounded end. bull session US an informal group discussion. bull's-eye 1 the centre of a target. 2 a large hard peppermint-flavoured sweet. 3 a hemisphere or thick disc of glass in a ship's deck or side to admit light. 4 a small circular window. 5 a a hemispherical lens. b a lantern fitted with this. 6 a boss of glass at the centre of a blown glass sheet. bull-terrier 1 a short-haired dog of a breed that is a cross between a bulldog and a terrier. 2 this breed. take the bull by the horns face danger or challenge boldly. bullish adj.
[ ME f. ON boli = MLG, MDu bulle ]