a written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers.
a number of sheets of blank or ruled paper bound together for writing, recording business transactions, etc.
a division of a literary work, esp. one of the larger divisions.
Biblethe Book, the Bible.
Music and Dancethe text or libretto of an opera, operetta, or musical.
Businessbooks. See book of account.
Music and Dance[Jazz.]the total repertoire of a band.
Show Businessa script or story for a play.
Sporta record of bets, as on a horse race.
Games[Cards.]the number of basic tricks or cards that must be taken before any trick or card counts in the score.
a set or packet of tickets, checks, stamps, matches, etc., bound together like a book.
anything that serves for the recording of facts or events:The petrified tree was a book of Nature.
Sporta collection of facts and information about the usual playing habits, weaknesses, methods, etc., of an opposing team or player, esp. in baseball:The White Sox book on Mickey Mantle cautioned pitchers to keep the ball fast and high.
Stock Exchange, Business
the customers served by each registered representative in a brokerage house.
a loose-leaf binder kept by a specialist to record orders to buy and sell stock at specified prices.
a pile or package of leaves, as of tobacco.
Mineralogya thick block or crystal of mica.
a magazine: used esp. in magazine publishing.
BusinessSee book value.
Slang Termsbookmaker (def. 1).
Idiomsbring to book, to call to account; bring to justice:Someday he will be brought to book for his misdeeds.
Idiomsby the book, according to the correct or established form; in the usual manner:an unimaginative individual who does everything by the book.
Businessclose the books, to balance accounts at the end of an accounting period; settle accounts.
Idioms, Informal Termscook the books, [Informal.]See cook (def. 10).
Idiomsin one's bad books, out of favor; disliked by someone:He's in the boss's bad books.
Idiomsin one's book, in one's personal judgment or opinion:In my book, he's not to be trusted.
Idiomsin one's good books, in favor; liked by someone.
Idiomslike a book, completely; thoroughly:She knew the area like a book.
Business, Idiomsmake book:
to accept or place the bets of others, as on horse races, esp. as a business.
to wager; bet:You can make book on it that he won't arrive in time.
Business, Idiomsoff the books, done or performed for cash or without keeping full business records: esp. as a way to avoid paying income tax, employment benefits, etc.:Much of his work as a night watchman is done off the books.
Idiomsone for the book or books, a noteworthy incident; something extraordinary:The daring rescue was one for the book.
Businesson the books, entered in a list or record:He claims to have graduated from Harvard, but his name is not on the books.
the book:
a set of rules, conventions, or standards:The solution was not according to the book but it served the purpose.
the telephone book:I've looked him up, but he's not in the book.
Informal Terms, Idioms, Lawthrow the book at:
to sentence (an offender, lawbreaker, etc.) to the maximum penalties for all charges against that person.
to punish or chide severely.
Idiomswithout book:
from memory.
without authority:to punish without book.
Idiomswrite the book, to be the prototype, originator, leader, etc., of:So far as investment banking is concerned, they wrote the book.
v.t.
to enter in a book or list; record; register.
to reserve or make a reservation for (a hotel room, passage on a ship, etc.):We booked a table at our favorite restaurant.
to register or list (a person) for a place, transportation, appointment, etc.:The travel agent booked us for next week's cruise.
Show Businessto engage for one or more performances.
Lawto enter an official charge against (an arrested suspect) on a police register.
Businessto act as a bookmaker for (a bettor, bet, or sum of money):The Philadelphia syndicate books 25 million dollars a year on horse racing.
v.i.
to register one's name.
to engage a place, services, etc.
Slang Terms
to study hard, as a student before an exam:He left the party early to book.
to leave; depart:I'm bored with this party, let's book.
to work as a bookmaker:He started a restaurant with money he got from booking.
book in, to sign in, as at a job.
book out, to sign out, as at a job.
book up, to sell out in advance:The hotel is booked up for the Christmas holidays.
adj.
of or pertaining to a book or books:the book department; a book salesman.
derived or learned from or based on books:a book knowledge of sailing.
Businessshown by a book of account:The firm's book profit was $53,680.
bef. 900; Middle English, Old English bōc; cognate with Dutch boek, Old Norse bōk, German Buch; akin to Gothic boka letter (of the alphabet) and not of known relation to beech, as is often assumed
a number of printed or written pages bound together along one edge and usually protected by thick paper or stiff pasteboard coversSee alsohardback, paperback
a written work or composition, such as a novel, technical manual, or dictionary
(as modifier): the book trade, book reviews
(in combination): bookseller, bookshop, bookshelf, bookrack
a number of blank or ruled sheets of paper bound together, used to record lessons, keep accounts, etc
(plural) a record of the transactions of a business or society
the script of a play or the libretto of an opera, musical, etc
a major division of a written composition, as of a long novel or of the Bible
a number of tickets, sheets, stamps, etc, fastened together along one edge
a record of the bets made on a horse race or other event
(in card games) the number of tricks that must be taken by a side or player before any trick has a scoring value
strict or rigid regulations, rules, or standards (esp in the phrases according to the book, by the book)
a source of knowledge or authority: the book of life
an open book ⇒ a person or subject that is thoroughly understood
a closed book ⇒ a person or subject that is unknown or beyond comprehension: chemistry is a closed book to him
bring to book ⇒ to reprimand or require (someone) to give an explanation of his conduct
close the books ⇒ to balance accounts in order to prepare a statement or report
in someone's bad books ⇒ regarded by someone with disfavour
in someone's good books ⇒ regarded by someone with favour
keep the books ⇒ to keep written records of the finances of a business or other enterprise
on the books ⇒ enrolled as a member
throw the book at ⇒
to charge with every relevant offence
to inflict the most severe punishment on
vb
to reserve (a place, passage, etc) or engage the services of (a performer, driver, etc) in advance
(transitive) to take the name and address of (a person guilty of a minor offence) with a view to bringing a prosecution
(transitive) (of a football referee) to take the name of (a player) who grossly infringes the rules while playing, two such acts resulting in the player's dismissal from the field
(transitive) archaicto record in a book
Etymology: Old English bōc; related to Old Norse bōk, Old High German buoh book, Gothic bōka letter; see beech (the bark of which was used as a writing surface)
Forum discussions with the word(s) "toy book" in the title: