Bull Definition

bo͝ol
bulled, bulling, bulls
noun
bulls
The adult male of any bovine animal, as the ox, buffalo, etc.
Webster's New World
The uncastrated adult male of domestic cattle.
American Heritage
The adult male of certain other large animals, as the elephant, elk, moose, walrus, whale, etc.
Webster's New World
A person regarded as like a bull in size, strength, etc.
Webster's New World
An exceptionally large, strong, and aggressive person.
American Heritage
Antonyms:
verb
bulled, bulling
To make (one's way) with driving force.
Webster's New World
To push; force.
American Heritage
To talk foolishly, insincerely, etc.
Webster's New World
To bluff, as with insincere talk.
Webster's New World
To push ahead or through forcefully.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
adjective
Male.
Webster's New World
Like a bull in size, strength, etc.
Webster's New World
Rising in price.
A bull market.
Webster's New World
abbreviation
Bulletin.
Webster's New World
affix
Of a bull or bulls.
Bullfight.
Webster's New World
Like a bull or bull's.
Bullhead.
Webster's New World
Large or male.
Bullfrog.
Webster's New World
pronoun

A botanical plant name author abbreviation for botanist Jean Baptiste François Bulliard (1752-1793).

Wiktionary
idiom
grab
  • To deal with a problem directly and resolutely.
American Heritage
shoot the bull
  • to talk idly
Webster's New World
take the bull by the horns
  • to deal boldly with a danger or difficulty
Webster's New World
the Bull
  • Taurus, the constellation and second sign of the zodiac
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Bull

Noun

Singular:
bull
Plural:
bulls

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Bull

Origin of Bull

  • From Middle English bul, bule, from Old English bula (“bull, steer”), from Proto-Germanic *bulô ("bull"; compare West Frisian bolle, Dutch bul, German Bulle, Old Norse boli), from Proto-Indo-European *bhl̥no (compare Old Irish ball (“limb”), Latin follis (“bellows, leather bag”), Thracian βόλινθος (bólinthos, “wild bull”), Albanian "buall" (bull) or related bolle (“testicles”), Ancient Greek φαλλός (phallós, “penis”)), from Proto-Indo-European *bhel (“to blow”). More at blow.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle English bull (“falsehood”), of unknown origin. Possibly related to Old French boul, boule, fraud, deceit, trickery. Popularly associated with bullshit.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Old French boule (“ball”), from Latin bulla (“round swelling”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhel (“to blow, to swell”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English bule from Old English bula probably from Old Norse boli bhel-2 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English bulle from Old French from Medieval Latin bulla bulla

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English bulle, from Old French bulle, from Low Latin bulla

    From Wiktionary

  • Origin unknown

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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