BILL


Meaning of BILL in English

/ bɪl; NAmE / noun , verb

■ noun

FOR PAYMENT

1.

a piece of paper that shows how much you owe sb for goods or services :

the telephone / electricity / gas bill

We ran up a massive hotel bill .

She always pays her bills on time.

The bills are piling up (= there are more and more that have still not been paid) .

2.

( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually check ) a piece of paper that shows how much you have to pay for the food and drinks that you have had in a restaurant :

Let's ask for the bill.

MONEY

3.

( NAmE ) = note (6):

a ten-dollar bill

IN PARLIAMENT

4.

a written suggestion for a new law that is presented to a country's parliament so that its members can discuss it :

to introduce / approve / reject a bill

the Education Reform Bill

AT THEATRE, etc.

5.

a programme of entertainment at a theatre, etc. :

a horror double bill (= two horror films / movies shown one after the other)

Topping the bill (= the most important performer) is Robbie Williams.

ADVERTISEMENT

6.

a notice in a public place to advertise an event

SYN poster

—see also handbill

OF BIRDS

7.

the hard pointed or curved outer part of a bird's mouth

SYN beak —picture at bird

8.

-billed (in adjectives) having the type of bill mentioned :

long-billed waders

ON HAT

9.

( NAmE ) = peak (4)

—see also the Old Bill

IDIOMS

- fill / fit the bill

—more at clean adjective , foot verb

■ verb

ASK FOR PAYMENT

1.

[ vn ] bill sb (for sth) to send sb a bill for sth :

Please bill me for the books.

ADVERTISE

2.

[ vn ] [ usually passive ] bill sb/sth as sth to advertise or describe sb/sth in a particular way :

He was billed as the new Tom Cruise.

3.

[ vn to inf ] [ usually passive ] to advertise that sb/sth will do sth :

She was billed to speak on 'China—Yesterday and Today'.

IDIOMS

- bill and coo

••

SYNONYMS

bill

statement ♦ account ♦ invoice ♦ tab ♦ check

These are all words for a record of how much you owe for goods or services you have bought or used.

bill

a list of goods that you have bought or services that you have used, showing how much you owe; the price or cost of sth:

the gas bill

statement

a printed record of money spent, received, etc.:

the company's annual financial statement

a bank statement (= a record of money paid into and out of a bank account) .

a credit card statement

account

an arrangement with a shop / store or business to pay bills for goods or services at a later time, for example in regular amounts every month:

Put it on my account please.

NOTE

In British English this can also be called a credit account . In North American English it can be called a charge account .

invoice

( rather formal ) a bill for goods that sb has bought or work that has been done for sb:

The builders sent an invoice for £250.

bill or invoice?

You would get a bill in a restaurant, bar or hotel; from a company that supplies you with gas, electricity, etc.; or from sb whose property you have damaged. An invoice is for goods supplied or work done as agreed between a customer and supplier, and is usually sent after the goods have been delivered or the work finished.

tab

( rather informal ) a bill for goods you receive but pay for later, especially for food or drinks in a restaurant or bar; the price or cost of sth:

a bar tab

Can I put it on my tab?

check

( NAmE ) a piece of paper that shows how much you have to pay for the food and drinks that you have had in a restaurant:

Can I have the check, please?

NOTE

In British English the usual word for this is bill .

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :

the bill / invoice / tab / check for sth

to pay / settle a(n) bill / account / invoice / tab / check

to pick up (= pay) the bill / tab / check

to put sth on the / sb's bill / account / invoice / tab / check

to send / submit a(n) bill / invoice to a customer

to ask for / get the bill / check (= especially in a restaurant or bar)

She asked the waiter if she could have the bill / check. For more information see the Cultural Guide

••

WORD ORIGIN

noun senses 1 to 6 and verb Middle English (denoting a written list or catalogue): from Anglo-Norman French bille , probably based on medieval Latin bulla seal, sealed document.

noun senses 7 to 9 Old English bile , of unknown origin.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.