book
/bʊk
/noun
1A written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers: a book of selected poems...
- After some serious research he wrote a book on the subject, Ancient Mosaics in Bulgaria.
- Rosie bought me the DVD along with a book on philosophy.
- I sat there a while longer, staring down at the vellum pages of the book on the low desk before me.
Synonyms
volume, tome, work, printed work, publication, title, opus, treatise;
novel, storybook;
manual, handbook, guide, companion, reference book;
paperback, hardback, softback
historical yellowback
1.1A literary composition that is published or intended for publication as a book: he’s writing a book about his experiences...
- Henry Miller had published seventeen books when he sent out an appeal to all his friends to help him out.
- Merely getting books published serves little purpose if no one reads them.
- Another, working on a novel for young adults, already has books published in that field.
1.2A main division of a literary work or of the Bible: the Book of Genesis...
- The book of Esther is the only book of the Bible that does not contain the name of God.
- Of course, and that truth is preserved in the 66 books of the Bible, Old and New Testaments.
- Esther is one of the most neglected books of the Old Testament, certainly as far as commentaries are concerned.
1.3 (also book of words) The libretto of a musical or opera, or the script of a play.Keira took out the script book that she hadn't yet returned to the handbag.
1.4 (one's books) Used to refer to studying: he was so deep in his books he would forget to eat...
- But he never wallowed in self pity, and rather spent every available moment with his nose stuck deep in his books.
- And there is naturally also a limit to how many hours they can be poring over their books after many hours at school and three hours of homework.
- The campus has plenty of spots for students tired of slaving over their books in the library or dorms to get some fresh air.
1.5 (the book) The telephone directory for the area in which someone lives: is your name in the book?...
- Apart from in 2006/7, we are members of the Offa's Dyke Association, find us in the book, or the online entry they have for us.
- We are not a secret organisation, but out of necessity you will not find us in the book.
- And if you have fond memories of a special teacher, why not look them up in the book and say ‘thanks’ one more time?
1.6 informal or dated A magazine: women’s books like Cosmopolitan and Ladies' Home Journal Charlotte’s mother always called magazines ‘books’...
- Money meant that no one laughed behind her back when she called magazines books.
- 'I read it in a book.' 'What book?' 'Vogue, that's what book.'
- Their readers nearly always referred to these magazines as 'books'.
1.7An imaginary record or list (often used to emphasize the comprehensiveness of someone’s actions or experience): she felt every emotion in the book of love...
- Whether or not ‘long distance’ relationships can work is one of those age-old questions in the book of love.
- There is a little known secret in the book of relationships, filed under the chapter on breaking up and I am here to share it.
- The way he receives his partner in his hotel room wouldn't count among ‘nice and friendly’ in the book of etiquette.
2 [with modifier] A bound set of blank sheets for writing in: an accounts book...
- She leaned back against her pillows and tapped her pen against the leather bound book.
- She reached into one of her few bags, and pulled out a leather bound book, and began to read.
- She spotted Joel propped up against the wall, reading a thick, leather bound book.
Synonyms
notepad, notebook, pad, memo pad, exercise book, binder;
ledger, record book, log, logbook, chronicle, journal, diary, daybook;
British jotter, pocketbook;
North American scratch pad;
French cahier
2.1 (books) A set of records or accounts: a bid to balance the books...
- They balance the books by selling places to students from developing countries.
- What's more, balance the books properly and you can avoid the perils of going deeper and deeper into debt.
- They need to be able to balance the books to continue to provide it.
Synonyms
accounts, records, archives;
account book, record book, ledger, log, balance sheet, financial statement
2.2A bookmaker’s record of bets accepted and money paid out.According to both the bookmakers and the form book it's a two-horse race.
2.3 Soccer The notebook in which a referee writes the names of players who are cautioned for foul play: his name went into the book for a foul on Smyth...
- Newsome's name was soon added to referee's book when he deliberately tripped an opponent.
- It was the 11 th of the season for a man who is no stranger to the referee's book.
3A set of tickets, stamps, matches, samples of cloth, etc., bound together: a pattern book...
- Perry specialised in making books of matches (advertising bars or restaurants, for example).
- They have books of pictures and samples that you can look through there, and they can do it all.
- It was then that he remembered the book of matches in his pocket, and drew it out.
4 (the book) The first six tricks taken by the declarer in a hand of bridge, after which further tricks count towards fulfilling the contract.The person who plays the highest card of the suit led, or who plays the highest trump, wins the book....
- If no one plays a trump, then the highest ranking card to the suit led wins the book.
verb [with object]
1Reserve (accommodation, a place, etc.); buy (a ticket) in advance: I have booked a table at the Swan [no object]: book early to avoid disappointment...
- Much coastal and Dales accommodation is already booked up in advance, and Scarborough had to print 10,000 extra holiday brochures to satisfy demand.
- The auditorium was packed and places were booked well in advance for this eagerly anticipated show.
- Similar to one week packages in the Canary Islands, all places were booked well in advance.
Synonyms
reserve, make a reservation for, arrange in advance, prearrange, arrange for, order;
charter, hire
informal bag
dated engage, bespeak
arrange, programme, schedule, timetable, line up, secure, fix up, lay on;
North American slate
1.1Reserve accommodation for (someone): his secretary had booked him into the Howard Hotel [with two objects]: book me a single room at my usual hotel...
- My boyfriend brought me to London and surprised me by booking us in at the Met Hotel, absolutely stunning and funky place to stay, I loved it!
- Even booking you both into one of the most luxurious hotels in Moncton, Canada.
- We have taken the liberty at booking you at Collelungo, an agriturismo near Castellina.
1.2 [no object] (book in/into) Register one’s arrival at a hotel: he booked in at a hotel...
- On arrival we booked into the hotel and then the festivities began with our annual pre-dive get-together.
- We booked into our fleapit hotels and checked out, we got on our buses and got off them again, we signed up on lists and then found that a new list was being drawn up which we were not on.
- Imagine booking into this hotel, with its romantic associations, and being faced with this brute of a building
Synonyms
register, check in, enrol, record/log one's arrival
1.3Engage (a performer or guest) for an event: the promoter booked him for another appearance...
- Work got underway booking performers as far back as last September and work on the parade for concepts and ideas got underway in March.
- The singer was originally booked for a small concert in Hangzhou on June 12, sponsored by an ice tea company.
- A promoter who booked them to play in Ripley, Derbyshire, suggested he change his name to Cliff Richard.
1.4 (be booked up) Have all places reserved; be full: at weekends we’re usually booked up...
- People can come on the night but it may be booked up so they should book in advance.
- The Evening Press made a call to the centre to ask what accommodation was available and was told by that most hotels were booked up this weekend.
- All places have been booked up this weekend, but the sessions will also be available next Saturday.
2Make an official note of the personal details of (a person who has broken a law or rule): the cop booked me and took me down to the station...
- Officers took the inebriated tourists to the Pattaya police station and booked them on charges of physical assault and drunk and disorderly behavior.
- Eventually you'll get booked by the cops and handed a fine.
- Clients who do stop in these areas are often harassed by police by flashing their lights or booking them for traffic offences.
2.1 Soccer (Of a referee) note down the name of (a player) who is cautioned for foul play: McMahon was booked for a foul...
- That is important now, because referees are liable to book players for trivial things.
- The referee books him for a poorly concealed piece of play-acting.
- He says players over here are booked for minor offences by referees who operate by the letter of the law and claimed the same offences would go unpunished in all other major European leagues.
3 [no object] US informal Leave suddenly: they just ate your pizza and drank your soda and booked...
- We gotta book—fast.
- You gotta book, Officer. I gotta stay.
- Look, I gotta book. I'll see you guys later.
3.1Move quickly; hurry: my sister and I booked to the playground I didn’t hear the verdict because I had to book it to work...
- She waved bye-bye and booked out of there.
- He's booking through that park.
- Book, man! Can't you run? Something wrong with your legs?
Phrases
bring someone to book
by the book
close the books
in someone's bad (or good) books
in my book
make (or open) a book
on the books
People of the Book
suit someone's book
take a leaf out of someone's book
throw the book at
write the book
you can't judge a book by its cover
Origin
Old English bōc (originally also 'a document or charter'), bōcian 'to grant by charter', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boek and German Buch, and probably to beech (on which runes were carved).
The forerunners of the modern book would have been scrolls of papyrus or parchment, or engraved tablets—the first example of what we might recognize as a book came in Roman times. The word book goes back to Old English and has related forms in most of the other northern European languages of the time. Their ancestor was probably a word related to beech (Old English), which would have been a wood that people used for engraving inscriptions. A bookmaker is someone who ‘makes a book’. Bookmakers keep a record of bets made with different people, which was originally done in a memorandum book.