n., adj., & v.
—n.
1 a an uncastrated male bovine animal. b a male of the whale, elephant, and other large animals.
2 (the Bull) the zodiacal sign or constellation Taurus.
3 Brit. the bull's-eye of a target.
4 Stock Exch. a person who buys shares hoping to sell them at a higher price later (cf. BEAR(2)).
—adj. like that of a bull (bull neck).
—v.
1 tr. & intr. act or treat violently.
2 Stock Exch. a intr. speculate for a rise. b tr. raise price of (stocks, etc.).
Phrases and idioms:
bull ant Austral. = bulldog ant. bull at a gate a hasty or rash person. bull-fiddle US colloq. a double-bass. bull-horn a megaphone. bull in a china shop a reckless or clumsy person. bull market a market with shares rising in price. bull-nose (or -nosed) with rounded end. bull session US an informal group discussion. bull's-eye
1 the centre of a target.
2 a large hard peppermint-flavoured sweet.
3 a hemisphere or thick disc of glass in a ship's deck or side to admit light.
4 a small circular window.
5 a a hemispherical lens. b a lantern fitted with this.
6 a boss of glass at the centre of a blown glass sheet.
bull-terrier
1 a short-haired dog of a breed that is a cross between a bulldog and a terrier.
2 this breed. take the bull by the horns face danger or challenge boldly.
Derivatives:
bullish adj.
Etymology: ME f. ON boli = MLG, MDu bulle
2.
n. a papal edict.
Etymology: ME f. OF bulle f. L bulla rounded object, in med.L 'seal'
3.
n.
1 (also Irish bull) an expression containing a contradiction in terms or implying ludicrous inconsistency.
2 sl. a unnecessary routine tasks or discipline. b nonsense. c trivial or insincere talk or writing. d US a bad blunder (cf. BULLSHIT).
Etymology: 17th c.: orig. unkn.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.