Bust

bʌst

Meaning & Definition

noun
A sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest.
The museum showcased a stunning bust of the ancient philosopher.
The human torso or a person's chest.
She wore a dress that accentuated her bust.
A failure or collapse, especially in business.
The startup was a bust, losing all its investors' money.
verb
To break or damage something.
He accidentally bust his phone when he dropped it.
To arrest someone.
The police decided to bust the gang they had been monitoring.

Etymology

Originated from Middle English, possibly from the Old French 'bustre' or Latin 'bustum', meaning a place of burial.

Common Phrases and Expressions

bust a move
To dance or perform energetically.
bust someone's chops
To tease or criticize someone.
bust your hump
To work very hard.

Related Words

bustle
To move in a busy, energetic manner.
bustier
A form-fitting garment often worn by women.

Slang Meanings

To arrest someone.
The cops came to bust him for possession.
To fail at something.
The event was a total bust.
To break apart or crash.
My plans totally busted when the rain started.