I. buck ‧ et 1 S2 /ˈbʌkət, ˈbʌkɪt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Anglo-French ; Origin: buket , from Old English buc 'container for pouring liquid, belly' ]
1 . an open container with a handle, used for carrying and holding things, especially liquids SYN pail
2 . ( also bucketful ) the quantity of liquid that a bucket can hold
bucket of
a bucket of water
3 . a part of a machine shaped like a large bucket and used for moving earth, water etc
4 . informal a large amount of something:
They were drinking beer by the bucket.
bucket of
They made buckets of cash on the deal.
5 . weep buckets informal to cry a lot
6 . in buckets informal if rain comes down in buckets, it is raining very hard
⇨ kick the bucket at ↑ kick 1 (20), ⇨ a drop in the bucket at ↑ drop 2 (8)
II. bucket 2 BrE AmE verb
bucket down phrasal verb British English informal
to rain very hard SYN pour :
It’s been bucketing down all day.