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bill¹ Definition

bill (bil)

noun

  1. a statement, usually itemized, of charges for goods or services; invoice
  2. a statement or list, as a menu, theater program, ship's roster, etc.
  3. a poster or handbill, esp. one announcing a circus, show, etc.
  4. the entertainment offered in a theater
  5. a draft of a law proposed to a lawmaking body
  6. a bill of exchange
  7. any promissory note
  8. ☆
    1. a bank note or piece of paper money
    2. Slang a hundred dollars or a hundred-dollar bill
  9. Obsolete a written document, esp. one with a seal
  10. Law a written declaration of charges or complaints filed in a legal action

Etymology: ME bille < Anglo-L billa, altered < ML bulla, sealed document < L, knob, bubble: see boil

transitive verb

  1. to make out a bill of (items); list
  2. to present a statement of charges to
    1. to advertise by bills or posters
    2. to book or engage (a performer or performance)
  4. to post bills or placards throughout (a town, etc.)
  5. to book for shipping

bill¹ Related Forms
bill′·able adjective
bill¹ Idioms

fill the bill

☆

Informal to meet the requirements

bill² Definition

bill (bil)

noun

  1. the horny jaws of a bird, usually projecting to a point; beak
  2. a beaklike mouth part, as of a turtle
  3. the point of an anchor fluke
  4. ☆ the peak, or visor, of a cap

Etymology: ME & OE bile < IE base *bhei-, to strike

intransitive verb

  1. to touch bills together
  2. to caress someone lovingly: now only in the phrase bill and coo, to kiss, talk softly, etc. in a loving way

bill³ Definition

bill (bil)

noun

  1. a medieval weapon having a hook-shaped blade with a spike at the back, mounted on a long staff
  2. billhook

Etymology: ME bil < OE bill: for IE base see bill

Bill Definition

Bill (bil)

noun

a masculine name

bill Synonyms

bill

n.

  1. A statement of account

    invoice, itemized account, request for payment, check, tab*; see also statement 3.

  2. A piece of paper money

    bank note, note, Federal Reserve note, currency, paper money, gold certificate, silver certificate, dollar bill, long green*, greenback*, folding money*, skin*, one-spot*, fiver*, five-spot*, tenner*, ten-spot*, sawbuck*, C-note*; see also dollar, money 1.

  3. A statement prepared for enactment into law

    draft, measure, proposal, act, proposed act, piece of legislation; see also law 3.

  4. A handbill

    poster, circular, folder; see advertisement 1, 2.

  5. A formal statement, usually legal

    charge, allegation, indictment; see declaration 2.

  6. A beak

    nib, mandible, projection; see beak.

fill the bill*

meet requirements, be satisfactory, serve the purpose; see satisfy 3.

bill Synonyms

bill

v.

  1. To request payment

    dun, solicit, charge, render or send account of indebtedness, draw upon, send a statement, invoice.

  2. To advertise, especially a coming attraction

    announce, book, give advance notice of; see advertise 1.

bill Law Definition

n

A draft of a proposed statute submitted to a legislature by one of its members for consideration and possible enactment.
appropriation bill
A bill that, if enacted, would authorize the expenditure of government funds.
engrossed bill
The draft of a bill as it is adopted by one house of a legislature and before it is sent to the other house for consideration. See also enrolled bill.
enrolled bill
The final draft of a bill after it is adopted by both houses of a legislature, printed, checked for errors, and signed by the presiding officers of both houses before it is sent to the president or a governor for approval or rejection. See also engrossed bill.
omnibus bill
  1. A bill that contains proposals on a variety of subjects. Usually, such a bill will have one major provision dealing with one topic and several minor provisions regarding matters unrelated to the major subject.
  2. A bill that contains all proposals on a single (usually broad) subject, such as an omnibus education bill that includes all proposals regarding, however tangentially, the subject of education.
private bill
A bill concerning the interests, or affecting, only one or a small number of individuals, entities, or localities.
public bill
A bill concerning the general interests of, or affecting, the whole community, state, or country.
no bill or no true bill
The words used in a grand jury’s notation on a bill of indictment indicating that insufficient evidence exists to support a criminal charge set forth in the proposed indictment. Such a decision by the grand jury prevents the prosecution from pursuing a criminal action against the defendant based on those charges until a new grand jury is selected.
revenue bill
A piece of legislation for the purpose of levying taxes. By the United States Constitution, all federal revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives. A similar provision constraining the origin of revenue bills to one particular house of the state legislature is part of many of the various state constitutions.
true bill
The words used in a grand jury’s notation on a bill of indictment indicating that sufficient evidence exists to support a criminal charge set forth in the proposed indictment that, if proved, would result in the defendant’s conviction. Once the bill of indictment is indorsed as a true bill and filed with the court, the prosecution must pursue a criminal action against the defendant based on those charges unless the court approves a dismissal.
bill Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • fit: In their current format long term fixed rates do not fit the bill.
  • pay: His day job was simply a way of paying the bills!
  • foot: After all, it is the taxpayer who foots the bill.
  • itemize: Check to see how the bill is worked out - ask for the firm's hourly rate and an itemized bill.
  • amend: Conservatives are playing a constructive part in seeking to amend this Bill.

Adjective modifier

  • ingrossed: An ingrossed Bill for improvement of Tillage was read a Third time.
  • triple: Nobody knows how to make a triple bill now.
  • unpaid: It covers your current fuel use and also pays off a certain amount of your unpaid bill each week.
  • monthly: Which monthly bills will I need to send in?
  • hefty: The breakdown of the chain left Lin with a hefty bill.

Modifies a noun

  • payer: You must be over 18 with the bill payers permission before you call.
  • clinton: Like never before to serve me calls bill clinton.

Noun used with modifier

  • draft: The draft Bill, with notes, is set out at Annex 2.
  • utility: These include a passport, utility bill or driving license.
  • electricity: What you pay for in electricity bills is ENERGY.
  • dollar: You know, like it says on dollar bills?
  • fuel: Mrs Green's fuel bills are £ 12.50 per week.
  • tax: Less than 10 % of your council tax bill is actually used to fund South Norfolk Council services.

Possessives

  • vet: All vets ' bills will paid by the league.

Preposition: of

  • lading: Further, under the Hamburg Rules, which were in force in Chile, this constituted good delivery under the bills of lading.
bill Quotes

This monstrous mixture of imbecility, extravagance and political hysteria, better known as the Bill for the future government of Irelandöthis farrago of superlative nonsense, is to be put in motion for this reason and no other: to gratify the ambition of an old man in a hurry.

—Churchill, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer

He showed me his bill of fare to tempt me to dine with him; poh, said I, I value not your bill of fare, give me your bill of company.

—Swift,Jonathan

A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse or rest on inference.

—Jefferson,Thomas

   A Bill of Rites, A Bill of Wrongs, A Bill of Goods.

—Morris,Wright Marion

Death comes along like a gas bill one can't payöand that's all one can sayabout it.

—Wilson

Alas, alas, who's injured by my love? What merchant's ships have my sighs drowned? Who says my tears have overflowed his ground? When did my colds a forward spring remove? When did the heats which my veins fill Add one more to the plaguey bill? Soldiers find wars, and lawyers find out still Litigious men, which quarrels move, Though she and I do love.

—Donne,John

Applause is a receipt, not a bill.

—Schnabel, Artur

From his childhood onward this boy will be surrounded by sycophants and flatterers by the score, and will be taught to believe himself as of a superior creation. A line will be drawn between him and the people whom he is to be called upon some day to reign over. In due course, following the precedent which has already been set, he will be sent on a tour round the world, and probably rumours of a morganatic alliancewill follow, and the end of it all will bethattheCountry will be calledupontopay the bill.

—Hardie, (James) Keir

We said to the Chinese,'You have behaved very ill; we have had to teach you better manners; it has cost us something to do it, but we will send our bill in, and you must pay our charges.' That was done, and they have certainly profited by the lesson. They have become free traders too.

—Palmerston, HenryJohnTemple, 3rd Viscount