I. bounce 1 S3 /baʊns/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: bounce 'to hit' (13-19 centuries) , probably from the sound ]
1 . BALL/OBJECT [intransitive and transitive] if a ball or other object bounces, or you bounce it, it immediately moves up or away from a surface after hitting it
bounce off
The ball bounced off the post and into the goal.
bounce something on/against etc something
The kids were bouncing a ball against the wall.
2 . JUMP UP AND DOWN [intransitive] to move up and down, especially because you are hitting a surface that is made of rubber, has springs etc
bounce on
Lyn was bouncing on the trampoline.
Stop bouncing up and down on the sofa.
3 . CHEQUE [intransitive and transitive] if a cheque bounces, or if a bank bounces a cheque, the bank will not pay any money because there is not enough money in the account of the person who wrote it
4 . WALK [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to walk quickly and with a lot of energy:
Olivia came bouncing into the room.
5 . SOMETHING MOVES UP AND DOWN [intransitive] if something bounces, it moves quickly up and down as you move:
Her hair bounced when she walked.
6 . LIGHT/SOUND [intransitive and transitive] if light or sound bounces, it hits a surface and then moves quickly away from it
bounce (something) off something
The radio signals are bounced off a satellite.
7 . EMAIL ( also bounce back ) [intransitive and transitive] if an email that you send bounces or is bounced, it is returned to you and the other person does not receive it because of a technical problem
8 . bounce ideas off somebody to talk about your ideas with someone in order to get their opinion:
When you work in a team you can bounce your ideas off each other.
9 . FORCE SOMEBODY TO LEAVE [transitive] informal to force someone to leave a place, job, or organization, especially because they have done something wrong
bounce somebody from something
Taylor was bounced from the team for assaulting another player.
bounce something ↔ around phrasal verb informal
to discuss ideas with other people:
I wanted to have a meeting so that we could bounce a few ideas around.
bounce back phrasal verb
1 . to feel better quickly after being ill, or to become successful again after failing or having been defeated SYN recover :
The company’s had a lot of problems in the past, but it’s always managed to bounce back.
2 . if an email that you send bounces back or is bounced back, it is returned to you and the other person does not receive it because of a technical problem
bounce somebody into something phrasal verb British English
to force someone to decide to do something, especially without giving them time to consider it carefully
bounce somebody into doing something
Party members feel that they were bounced into accepting the policy.
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THESAURUS
▪ jump verb [intransitive and transitive] to push yourself up into the air, over something etc, using your legs:
The cat jumped up onto the table.
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He jumped over the stream.
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His horse jumped the fence successfully.
▪ skip verb [intransitive] to move forwards with little jumps between your steps, especially because you are feeling happy:
The little girl was skipping down the street.
▪ hop verb [intransitive] to jump or move around on one leg:
He was hopping around because he’d injured his foot.
▪ leap verb [intransitive and transitive] especially written to suddenly jump up high or a long way:
The deer leapt over the fence.
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Tina leapt onto the boat as it was moving away.
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Fish were leaping out of the water.
▪ bounce verb [intransitive] to jump up and down several times, especially on something that has springs in it:
Children love bouncing on beds.
▪ dive verb [intransitive] to jump into water with your head and arms first:
Zoë dived into the swimming pool.
▪ vault /vɔːlt $ vɒːlt/ verb [intransitive and transitive] especially written to jump over something in one movement, using your hands or a pole to help you:
He vaulted the ticket barrier and ran for the exit.
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Ben tried to vault over the bar.
II. bounce 2 BrE AmE noun
1 . [countable] the action of moving up and down on a surface:
Try to catch the ball on the second bounce.
2 . [uncountable] the ability to move up and down on a surface, or that surface’s ability to make something move up and down:
The ball had completely lost its bounce.
a basketball court with good bounce
3 . [singular, uncountable] a lot of energy that someone has:
Exercise is great. I feel like there’s a new bounce in my step.
4 . [uncountable] hair that has bounce is in very good condition and goes back to its shape if you press it:
a brand-new styling spray that gives your hair body and bounce