bug 1
/bug/ , n. , v. , bugged, bugging .
n.
1. Also called true bug, hemipteran, hemipteron . a hemipterous insect.
2. (loosely) any insect or insectlike invertebrate.
3. Informal. any microorganism, esp. a virus: He was laid up for a week by an intestinal bug.
4. Informal. a defect or imperfection, as in a mechanical device, computer program, or plan; glitch: The test flight discovered the bugs in the new plane.
5. Informal.
a. a person who has a great enthusiasm for something; fan or hobbyist: a hi-fi bug.
b. a craze or obsession: He's got the sports-car bug.
6. Informal.
a. a hidden microphone or other electronic eavesdropping device.
b. any of various small mechanical or electrical gadgets, as one to influence a gambling device, give warning of an intruder, or indicate location.
7. a mark, as an asterisk, that indicates a particular item, level, etc.
8. Horse Racing. the five-pound weight allowance that can be claimed by an apprentice jockey.
9. a telegraph key that automatically transmits a series of dots when moved to one side and one dash when moved to the other.
10. Poker Slang. a joker that can be used only as an ace or as a wild card to fill a straight or a flush.
11. Print. a label printed on certain matter to indicate that it was produced by a union shop.
12. any of various fishing plugs resembling an insect.
13. Chiefly Brit. a bedbug.
14. put a bug in someone's ear , to give someone a subtle suggestion; hint: We put a bug in his ear about a new gymnasium.
v.t. Informal.
15. to install a secret listening device in (a room, building, etc.) or on (a telephone or other device): The phone had been bugged.
16. to bother; annoy; pester: She's bugging him to get her into show business.
17. bug off , Slang. to leave or depart, esp. rapidly: I can't help you, so bug off.
18. bug out , Slang. to flee in panic; show panic or alarm.
[ 1615-25; 1885-90 for def. 4; 1910-15 for def. 5a; 1915-20 for def. 15; 1945-50 for def. 16; earlier bugge beetle, appar. alter. of ME budde, OE -budda beetle; sense "leave" obscurely related to other senses and perh. of distinct orig. ]
Syn. 16. nag, badger, harass, plague, needle.
bug 2
/bug/ , n. Obs.
a bogy; hobgoblin.
[ 1350-1400; ME bugge scarecrow, demon, perh. bwg ghost ]