/ ˈbʊli; NAmE / noun , verb , exclamation
■ noun
( pl. -ies ) a person who uses their strength or power to frighten or hurt weaker people :
the school bully
■ verb
( bul·lies , bully·ing , bul·lied , bul·lied ) [ vn ] bully sb (into sth / into doing sth) to frighten or hurt a weaker person; to use your strength or power to make sb do sth :
My son is being bullied at school.
I won't be bullied into signing anything.
► bully·ing noun [ U ]:
Bullying is a problem in many schools.
He refused to give in to bullying and threats.
bullying behaviour / tactics
■ exclamation
•
IDIOMS
- bully for you, etc.
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: probably from Middle Dutch boele lover. Original use was as a term of endearment applied to either sex; it later became a familiar form of address to a male friend. The current sense dates from the late 17th cent.