I. ˈbəg noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English bugge scarecrow; akin to German dialect bögge piece of dried nasal mucus, hobgoblin, Norwegian dialect bugge important man — more at boast
obsolete : bogey , bugbear
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1.
a. : an insect or other creeping or crawling invertebrate (as a spider or small crustacean) — not used technically
b. : any of certain insects commonly considered especially obnoxious: as
(1) : bedbug
(2) : cockroach
(3) : head louse
c. : an insect of the order Hemiptera ; especially : a member of the suborder Heteroptera
2. : an unexpected defect, fault, flaw, or imperfection (as in a plan, a mechanism, or a piece of legislation) — used especially of such items as are regarded as capable of alteration or ready improvement
there are still some bugs to iron out but the new motor will do the job
— compare joker
3.
a. : a disease-producing germ or other microorganism
b. : a disease caused by such bugs
probably caused by a bug … as yet unknown — Horace Sutton
especially : any of various respiratory conditions of virus origin (as influenza or grippe)
stricken with a virus bug
4.
a. : fad , craze , hobby
bitten by the miniature-golf bug
got the trailer bug on a vacation trip
b. : enthusiasm, concern, or deep interest especially in respect to some particular matter or objective
I have rather a bug about learning in class — Jean Nison
c. : a person notably concerned with, enthusiastic about, or efficient at a specified interest or activity
he's a bug on proper training of young shooters
she was a bug at languages — Newsweek
a perfect bug for detail
d. : hobbyist
camera bugs
ski bugs
e. : a crazy person ; especially : firebug
5.
a. archaic : a vain or self-important person
b. : a person of prominence or high social standing
we'll have all the bugs to lunch
— see big bug
6. poker : the joker when considered wild only for the purpose of filling straights or flushes or of acting as an ace
7.
a. : an alarm system (as a burglar alarm)
b. : a concealed microphone
c. : a device for wiretapping
d. : a high-speed telegrapher's key that makes repeated dots or dashes automatically and saves motion of the operator's hand
8.
[so called from its designation by an asterisk on race programs]
: the weight allowance given apprentice jockeys
9. slang : numbers game
10. : a light usually two-seater stripped-down automobile
11. : a fishing plug felt to resemble a large insect
III. verb
( bugged ; bugged ; bugging ; bugs )
transitive verb
1. : to rid (as plants) of insects
we'll have to bug the potatoes again next week
2. : bother , annoy , irritate ; sometimes : to drive (a person) crazy
3.
a. : to equip with a burglar alarm
b. : to plant a concealed microphone in : wiretap
bug a meeting
intransitive verb
: to hunt for or collect bugs
IV. noun
also bug light
( -s )
Etymology: probably from ( lightning ) bug
1. : a small channel or harbor light with intermittent flash
2. : flashlight b
V. ˈbəg, ˈbu̇g adjective
Etymology: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian bugge important man
dialect England : conceited , stuck-up
VI. ˈbəg verb
( bugged ; bugged ; bugging ; bugs )
Etymology: probably alteration (influenced by bug ) (I) of bulge
intransitive verb
of the eyes : protrude , bulge — often used with out
transitive verb
: bulge , protrude
his eyes were bugged with horror