I. ˈbəst noun
Etymology: French buste, from Italian busto, from Latin bustum tomb
Date: 1645
1. : a sculptured representation of the upper part of the human figure including the head and neck and usually part of the shoulders and breast
2. : the upper part of the human torso between neck and waist ; especially : the breasts of a woman
II. verb
( bust·ed also bust ; bust·ing )
Etymology: alteration of burst
Date: 1806
transitive verb
1.
a. : to break or smash especially with force ; also : to make inoperative
bust ed my watch
b. : to bring an end to : break up
helped bust trusts — Newsweek
— often used with up
better not try to bust up his happy marriage — Forbes
c. : to ruin financially
d. : exhaust , wear out — used in phrases like bust one's butt to describe making a strenuous effort
e. : to give a hard time to — often used in phrases like bust one's chops
2. : tame
bronco bust ing
3. : demote
4. slang
a. : arrest
bust ed for carrying guns — Saul Gottlieb
b. : raid
bust ed the apartment
5. : hit , slug
intransitive verb
1. : to go broke
2.
a. : burst
laughing fit to bust
b. : break down
3.
a. : to lose at cards by exceeding a limit (as the count of 21 in blackjack)
b. : to fail to complete a straight or flush in poker
III. noun
Date: 1840
1.
a. : spree
b. : a hearty drinking session
a beer bust
2.
a. : a complete failure : flop
b. : a business depression
3. : punch , sock
4. slang
a. : a police raid
b. : arrest 2
IV. adjective
or bust·ed ˈbəs-təd
Date: 1837
: bankrupt , broke
go bust