/ buː; NAmE / exclamation , noun , verb
■ exclamation , noun
1.
a sound that people make to show that they do not like an actor, speaker, etc. :
'Boo!' they shouted, 'Get off!'.
The speech was greeted with loud boos from the audience.
2.
people shout Boo! when they want to surprise or frighten sb
•
IDIOMS
see say verb
■ verb
to show that you do not like a person, performance, idea, etc. by shouting 'boo' :
[ v ]
The audience booed as she started her speech.
[ vn ]
He was booed off the stage .
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 19th cent.: imitative of the lowing of oxen (the sound was considered to be derisive); compare with hiss and hoot .