bust1 verbbust2 nounbust3 adjective
bustbust1 /bʌst/ ●●○ verb (past tense and past participle bust British English, busted especially American English) [transitive] 
WORD ORIGINbust1
Origin:
1700-1800 burstVERB TABLE
bust
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | bust |
| he, she, it | busts | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | busted, bust |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have busted, bust |
| he, she, it | has busted, bust | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had busted, bust |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will bust |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have busted, bust |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am busting |
| he, she, it | is busting | |
| you, we, they | are busting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was busting |
| you, we, they | were busting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been busting |
| he, she, it | has been busting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been busting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be busting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been busting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Dean got really drunk and started busting up the bar.
- He busted the side window with a bat.
- His suitcase busted open, and everything went all over the floor in the hotel lobby.
- Jones was busted down to the rank of private.
- Karl fell off his skateboard and busted his arm.
- She fell and busted her knee.
- The ball hit him in the face and bust his glasses.
- The police had to bust down the door.
- The toy is made of a balloon in a cloth sack that can be hit without busting.
- The window busted when the ball hit it.
- By 1974 the boom had bust.
- Dallas busted the game open when Irvin slipped past cornerback Terrell Buckley, who is still waiting for help from his safeties.
- Every time you hear about a rave being busted, it's always E that the ravers were taking.
- So the bizzies come round here and bust me for possession.
- They stamp out graffiti, quash drug deals, bust carjacking rings, rescue drug overdose victims, even prevent suicides.
Longman Language Activatorto break something into pieces
to break something, either accidentally or deliberately: · She fell off her bike and broke her glasses.· If you break it you'll have to pay for it out of your allowance.· I broke one of her platters once, and I swear she's never forgiven me.· He once broke a window of his grandfather's greenhouse with a football.
spoken informal to break something: · The ball hit him in the face and bust his glasses.· He busted the side window with a bat.bust something up/bust up something: · Dean got really drunk and started busting up the bar.bust something down/bust down something: · The police had to bust down the door.
to break or damage something so that cracks appear in its surface: · A stone hit the windshield and cracked it.· I cracked one of the wine glasses when I was washing it.· The earthquake cracked walls and driveways and knocked out electricity and communications.
to break into pieces · She dropped a plate and it broke.· My watchband has broken.· The ice broke and they both fell through.· The cam belt broke and ruined the engine.
if something gets broken , someone breaks it accidentally: · If you leave your toys on the floor, they'll get broken.· A few of the cups got broken while we were moving house.· When her grandchildren visit, she puts away anything she doesn't want to get broken.
if something cracks , it breaks slightly so that lines appear in its surface: · The bell cracked after many years of use.· A few windows cracked from the heat during the fire.· The pipeline had cracked a long time before the oil spill occurred.
if something such as a floor, wall, or bridge gives way , it finally breaks because there is a lot of pressure or weight on it: · He was changing a light bulb when the ladder gave way.· The crowd surged forward and the fence gave way.· The whole side of the hill gave way after a week of heavy rain.
informal if something busts , it breaks: · The toy is made of a balloon in a cloth sack that can be hit without busting.bust open (=break in such a way that what is inside can come out): · His suitcase busted open, and everything went all over the floor in the hotel lobby.
to break a bone in your body · I broke my leg last time I went skiing.· She slipped on the floor, it'd just been washed, and broke her hip.· They thought he'd broken his back, but the X-ray showed it was okay.
to partly break a bone : · She slipped and cracked a rib.· Freeman cracked his skull in the accident.
to break or partly break a bone in your body - used especially by doctors: · My grandmother fell down the stairs and fractured her ankle.· He fractured both his legs in the car accident.
to break a bone in someone's body into a lot of small pieces, especially by shooting or hitting them: · The nine-year-old boy was hit by a car and shattered his skull on the pavement.· The bullet shattered a bone in her left forearm.
especially American, informal to break one of the bones in your body: · She fell and busted her knee.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Davis got busted for drugs.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Davis got busted for drugs. (=change from doing very well economically to doing very badly)· The Mexican economy went from boom to bust very quickly.
informal (=goes bankrupt)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Like they say, June is busting out all over!
· She said Gloria was always trying to bust up their conversations.· On the next, Black busted up the middle for a 24-yard touchdown run and the Cougars had a 7-6 lead.
NOUN· These were the boom and bust years, for which Major has conveniently disclaimed all responsibility.· Unfortunately, boom gave way to bust, and funds were never raised to replace most of the razed landmarks.· By 1974 the boom had bust.· Perennial boom and bust cycles have always winnowed out weak farmers.
· This team has really taken to both of us out there busting our butts.
· She tells me that Jamie has been caught in a drugs bust at the Cross Keys pub.· They stamp out graffiti, quash drug deals, bust carjacking rings, rescue drug overdose victims, even prevent suicides.· Nobody had ever survived a drugs bust in Hollywood.· School drug bust: Boy had cough drops Belle, W.. Va.
VERB· A couple of years before, I got my jaw busted in a fight.· They congregate off campus before and after school and during lunch, hoping not to get busted by passing teachers and administrators.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► bust something ↔ up► bust something ↔ up► crime-busting/union-busting/budget-busting etc► ... or bust!
1break informal to break something: - The movie was hilarious. I just about busted a gut.
- We busted a gut trying to get home on time.
I bust my watch this morning. Tony busted the door down.2police a)if the police bust someone, they charge them with a crime: He was busted by US inspectors at the border.bust somebody for something Davis got busted for drugs. b) informal if the police bust a place, they go into it to look for something illegal: Federal agents busted several money-exchange businesses.3try hard bust a gut (also bust your butt/ass American English spoken) informal to try extremely hard to do something: I bust a gut trying to finish that work on time.4money American English informal to use too much money, so that a business etc must stop operating: The trip to Spain will probably bust our budget.5crime-busting/union-busting/budget-busting etc informal used with nouns to show that a situation is being ended or an activity is being stopped: crime-busting laws6... or bust! informal used to say that you will try very hard to go somewhere or do something: Idaho or bust!7military especially American English to give someone a lower military rank as a punishment SYN demotebust out phrasal verb informal to escape from a place, especially prisonbust up phrasal verb informal1 British English if people bust up, they end their relationship or friendship SYN break up: They bust up after six years of marriage. → bust-up(1)2bust something ↔ up to prevent an illegal activity or bad situation from continuing SYN break up: A couple of teachers stepped in to bust up the fight.3bust something ↔ up American English to damage or break something: A bunch of bikers busted up the bar.4American English to start laughing a lot SYN crack up: Elaine busted up laughing at the sight of him.bust1 verbbust2 nounbust3 adjective
bustbust2 ●○○ noun [countable] WORD ORIGINbust2
Origin:
1-3 1600-1700 French buste, from Italian busto, from Latin bustum ‘place where a body is buried, statue put by such a place’4 1900-2000 ➔ BUST1EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a 30-inch bust
- a drug bust
- High-tech stocks have always been highly volatile, partly because of their past booms and busts.
- Hopefully, some of the more level-headed members of the council can prevail and make the Boom Town fiasco a bust.
- On the tables are busts of Lincoln.
- There was a bust of Miguel de Unamuno at the bottom of the staircase, and it seemed to have been defaced.
WORD SETS
accessory, nounalter, verbappliqué, nounarmband, nounarmhole, nounbag, nounbejewelled, adjectivebillfold, nounboater, nounbow, nounbowler, nounbow tie, nounbraid, nounbraid, verbbreast-pocket, nounbrim, nounbum bag, nounbust, nounbutton, nounbutton-down, adjectivebuttonhole, nouncape, nounchecked, adjectivecivvies, nounclasp, nouncleat, nounclingy, adjectiveclothes brush, nounclothes hanger, nounclutch bag, nouncoat check, nouncoat hanger, nouncoatroom, nouncobbler, nouncockade, nouncocktail dress, nouncodpiece, nouncollar, nouncollar stud, nouncolour-coordinated, adjectivecolourfast, adjectivecorsage, nouncostume, nouncoveralls, nouncravat, nouncrinkly, adjectivecut, noundark glasses, noundarn, verbdarn, noundart, noundécolletage, noundetailing, noundiadem, noundiaphanous, adjectivedishevelled, adjectivedowdy, adjectivedown-at-heel, adjectivedress, noundress, verbdressed, adjectivedressmaker, noundress sense, noundressy, adjectiveepaulette, nounfacing, nounfancy dress, nounfinery, nounfleecy, adjectivefop, noungarb, noungather, verbgingham, noungold-rimmed, adjectivegranny, adjectivegroom, verbhabit, nounhandbag, nounherringbone, nounknit, verbknitwear, nounline, verblined, adjectiveliner, nounlingerie, nounlining, nounlivery, nounlocker room, nounmade-to-measure, adjectivemade-to-order, adjectivemakeover, nounmodel, nounmodel, verbmodelling, nounmohair, nounname tag, nounnatty, adjectiveneckline, nounout, adverbpack, nounparasol, nounpinstripe, nounplaid, nounpleat, nounpleated, adjectiveplume, nounplumed, adjectiveplunging neckline, nounpocket, nounpocketbook, nounpocket handkerchief, nounpolka dot, nounpompom, nounpopper, nounpouch, nounpower dressing, nounpress, verbproof, verbpurse, nounraffish, adjectiveragged, adjectiverail, nounretro, adjectivesalon, nounsensible, adjectivesequin, nounset, verbshoeshine, nounshoulder bag, nounshoulder pad, nounshoulder strap, nounsingle-breasted, adjectivesize, nounsleeve, nounsleeveless, adjectivesling, nounsmocking, nounsoigné, adjectivespangle, nounsportswear, nounstarch, verbstitch, nounstud, nounstudded, adjectivetack, verbtail, nountailor, nountailored, adjectivetailoring, nountapered, adjectivetartan, nountatters, nounthread, nounthread, verbtie-dye, verbtie-pin, nountoe, nountoecap, nountoggle, nountongue, nountoupée, nountrainer, nountrimmings, nountrouser press, nounturn-up, nountweedy, adjectiveunbecoming, adjectiveundress, noununmentionables, nounvalet, nounwallet, nounwear, verbwearer, nounweatherproof, adjectivewell-dressed, adjectivewell-groomed, adjectivewristband, nounzip, nounzipper, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a drug bustCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1a model of someone’s head, shoulders, and upper chest, usually made of stone or metalbust of a drug bust (=change from doing very well economically to doing very badly)· The Mexican economy went from boom to bust very quickly.
informal (=goes bankrupt)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· She'd got a big bust.· Could this game be one of the biggest busts in Super Bowl history?· But it was too big in the bust and too long.· Linda, although by no means particularly attractive, had a big bust.
NOUN· Just before airtime, a story had come in on a drug bust: space was hastily made for this.· All the charges stem from Conoline's refusal to cooperate with an investigation into a botched Dec. 7 drug bust.· Naturally, the drug bust was a bust, as dealers heard about it on the radio and disappeared.
· The dining room possessed a huge marble bust of Stalin, but little succulent to eat.· A generous pile of cushions, or a treasured marble bust can add the required decorative touch.· High bookcases lined the library walls and stood between the windows, each topped with a marble bust.
VERB· Braniff Airlines went bust for the third time. 18.· Unfortunately, both clubs went bust just as we were starting to draw a decent audience!· Bank lending to the property market dried up, some property firms have gone bust and land prices have begun to slip.· At least two stations went bust, and others, such as Invicta Radio in Kent, had to relaunch before getting firmly established.· Read in studio Michael Heseltine is being blamed for thousands of people losing their holidays when a travel firm went bust.· Then, within two months of receiving it, his £30 million firm went bust in the Spring of 1991.· He'd been at the wrong end when a small company went bust in the city.· But when the Thatcher boom went bust Sugar's business declined with it - and so did Amstrad's market rating.
a bust of Beethoven2a woman’s breasts, or the part of her clothes that covers her breasts3a measurement around a woman’s breast and back: a 36-inch bust4informal a situation in which the police go into a place in order to catch people doing something illegal: a drug bust → boom to bust at boom1(1)bust1 verbbust2 nounbust3 adjective
bustbust3 adjective [not before noun] 1go bust informal a business that goes bust cannot continue operating2 British English informal broken: The television’s bust again.