[book] n [ME, fr. OE boc; akin to OHG buoh book, Goth boka letter] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a set of written sheets of skin or paper or tablets of wood or ivory b: a set of written, printed, or blank sheets bound together into a volume c: a long written or printed literary composition d: a major division of a treatise or literary work e: a record of a business's financial transactions or financial condition--often used in pl. "the ~s show a profit"
2. cap: bible 1
3: something that yields knowledge or understanding "the great ~ of nature" "her face was an open ~"
4. a: the total available knowledge and experience that can be brought to bear on a task or problem "tried every trick in the ~" "the ~ on him is that he can't hit a curveball" b: the standards or authority relevant in a situation "run by the ~"
5. a: all the charges that can be made against an accused person "threw the ~ at him" b: a position from which one must answer for certain acts: account "bring criminals to ~"
6. a: libretto b: the script of a play c: a book of arrangements for a musician or dance orchestra: musical repertory 7: a packet of items bound together like a book "a ~ of stamps" "a ~ of matches"
8. a: bookmaker b: the bets registered by a bookmaker; also: the business or activity of giving odds and taking bets 9: the number of tricks a cardplayer or side must win before any trick can have scoring value -- book.able adj -- book.ful n -- in one's book : in one's own opinion -- in one's good books : in favor with one -- one for the book : an act or occurrence worth noting -- on the books : on the records
[2]book adj (13c) 1: derived from books and not from practical experience "~ learning"
2: shown by books of account "~ assets" [3]book vt (1807) 1 a: to register (as a name) for some future activity or condition (as to engage transportation or reserve lodgings) "~ed to sail on Monday" b: to schedule engagements for "~ the band for a week" c: to set aside time for d: to reserve in advance "~ two seats at the theater" "were all ~ed up"
2. a: to enter charges against in a police register b chiefly Brit: to charge (as a soccer player) with an infraction of the rules ~ vi 1: to make a reservation "~ through your travel agent"
2. chiefly Brit: to register in a hotel--usu. used with in -- book.er n