I. ˈbu̇k noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bōc; akin to Old High German buoh book, Gothic boka letter
Date: before 12th century
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 plural
the book s show a profit
f. : magazine 4a
g. : e-book
2. capitalized : bible 1
3. : something that yields knowledge or understanding
the great book of nature
her face was an open book
4.
a.
(1) : the total available knowledge and experience that can be brought to bear on a task or problem
tried every trick in the book
(2) : inside information or analysis
the book on him is that he can't hit a curveball
b. : the standards or authority relevant in a situation
run by the book
5.
a. : all the charges that can be made against an accused person
threw the book at him
b. : a position from which one must answer for certain acts : account
bring criminals to book
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 book of stamps
a book 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·ful ˈbu̇k-ˌfu̇l noun
•
- in one's book
- in one's good books
- one for the book
- on the books
II. adjective
Date: 13th century
1. : derived from books and not from practical experience
book learning
2. : shown by books of account
book assets
III. verb
Date: 1807
transitive verb
1.
a. : to register (as a name) for some future activity or condition (as to engage transportation or reserve lodgings)
he was book ed to sail on Monday
b. : to schedule engagements for
book the band for a week
c. : to set aside time for
d. : to reserve in advance
book two seats at the theater
were all book ed up
2.
a. : to enter charges against in a police register
b. of a referee : to note the name or number of (as a soccer player) for a serious infraction of the rules
intransitive verb
1. : to make a reservation
book through your travel agent
2. chiefly British : to register in a hotel — usually used with in
3. slang : leave , go ; especially : to depart quickly
• book·able ˈbu̇-kə-bəl adjective , chiefly British
• book·er noun