BUST

v., n., & adj. --v. (past and past part. busted or bust) colloq. 1 tr. & intr. burst, break. 2 tr. esp. US reduce (a soldier etc.) to a lower rank; dismiss. 3 tr. esp. US a raid, search. b arrest. --n. 1 a sudden failure; a bankruptcy. 2 a police raid. 3 a drinking-bout. 4 esp. US a punch; a hit. 5 a worthless thing. 6 a bad hand at cards. --adj. (also busted) 1 broken, burst, collapsed. 2 bankrupt. øbust up 1 bring or come to collapse; explode. 2 (of esp. a married couple) separate. bust-up n. 1 a quarrel. 2 a collapse; an explosion. go bust become bankrupt; fail. [orig. a (dial.) pronunc. of BURST]