I. ˈbau̇n(t)s verb
( bounced ; bounc·ing )
Etymology: Middle English bounsen
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1. obsolete : beat , bump
2. : to cause to rebound or be reflected
bounce a ball
bounce a light ray off a reflector
3.
a. : dismiss , fire
b. : to expel precipitately from a place
c. : to eliminate from a competition by defeating
was bounced from the tournament in the first round
4. : to issue (a check) drawn on an account with insufficient funds
5. : to present (as an idea) to another person to elicit comments or to gain approval — usually used with off
intransitive verb
1. : to rebound or reflect after striking a surface (as the ground)
2. : to recover from a blow or a defeat quickly — usually used with back
3. : to be returned by a bank because of insufficient funds in a checking account
his checks bounce
4.
a. : to leap suddenly : bound
b. : to walk with springing steps
5. : to hit a baseball so that it hits the ground before it reaches an infielder
II. noun
Date: 1523
1.
a. : a sudden leap or bound
b. : rebound
2. : bluster
3. : verve , liveliness