/ 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.