bullet en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈbɵlɪt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
- /ˈbʊlət/ (New-Zealand)
- (US) audio
- /ˈbʊlɪt/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈbʉlɪt/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
Etymology
From Middle English bullet (“an official tag or badge of registration or identification”), from Old French bullete, diminutive of boule (“ball”). Later influenced by Middle French boulette and French boulet.
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) A projectile, usually of metal, shot from a gun at high speed.
- (countable, informal, uncountable) An entire round of unfired ammunition for a firearm, including the projectile, the cartridge casing, the propellant charge, etc.
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(countable, uncountable) Ammunition for a sling or slingshot which has been manufactured for such use.
Then when our powers in points of ſwords are ioin’d / And cloſde in compaſſe of the killing bullet, / Though ſtraite the paſſage and the port be made, / That leads to Pallace of my brothers life, / Proud is his fortune if we pierce it not.
c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene i:
- (countable, uncountable) A printed symbol in the form of a solid circle ⟨•⟩, often used to mark items in a list.
- (countable, uncountable) A large scheduled repayment of the principal of a loan; a balloon payment.
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(countable, uncountable) A rejection letter, as for employment, admission to a school or a competition.
John's not going to any of his top schools; he got a bullet from the last of them yesterday.
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(countable, slang, uncountable) One year of prison time.
G.T.A. I got sentenced to a bullet, did six months at fire camp and got a modification.
1986, James Ellroy, Suicide Hill:
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(countable, slang, uncountable) An ace (the playing card).
The miser, a-seeking lost gelt, / The doughboy, awaiting the battle, / May possibly know how I felt / While the long years dragged by as the dealer / As slow as the slowest of dubs, / Stuck out the last helping of tickets / 'Till I lifted—the Bullet of Clubs!
1969, Robert L. Vann, The Competitor, volumes 2-3, page 135:
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(countable, figuratively, uncountable) Anything that is projected extremely fast.
Just as it appeared Arsenal had taken the sting out of the tie, Johnson produced a moment of outrageous quality, thundering a bullet of a left foot shot out of the blue and into the top left-hand corner of Wojciech Szczesny's net with the Pole grasping at thin air.
2011 January 19, Jonathan Stevenson, “Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal”, in BBC:
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(attributive, countable, uncountable) Very fast (speedy).
bullet chess
bullet train
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(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of bullet chess.
alt of bullet chess
Carlsen also has been engaging in online marathons of "bullet chess," exactly the kind of attention-disrupting, energy-draining stunt contenders are supposed to avoid. In a bullet game, each player has only one minute for all the moves. The pace is so rapid the games are hard to watch, much less play.
2021 November 24, Tyler Cowen, “Chess Is an Esport Now. Get Used to It.”, in The Washington Post:Even today, when they're home, the siblings indulge in a friendly game or two. "We love playing bullet games. It's a format where we make really quick moves," he says, pausing to add, "Think of it like a super over in cricket."
2022 July 27, Srinivasa Ramanujam, “'Feels like a festival': Praggnanandhaa on Chess Olympiad and meeting Rajinikanth”, in The Hindu:Nakamura is a different animal at 15-minute rapid and five-minute blitz and even more so at one-minute bullet, and in this match he adopted a psychological approach which paid off brilliantly.
2020 August 21, Leonard Barden, “Chess: Carlsen fights back from brink to overcome Nakamura in 38-game epic”, in The Guardian:
- (countable, uncountable) A plumb or sinker.
- (Ireland, countable, qualifier:particularly Northern Ireland, uncountable) The heavy projectile thrown in a game of road bowling.
- (Australia, countable, uncountable) A roughly bullet-shaped sweet consisting of a cylinder of liquorice covered in chocolate.
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(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A small ball.
Would you not suppose these persons had been whispered, by the Master of the Ceremonies, the promise of some momentous destiny? and that this lukewarm bullet on which they play their farces was the bull's-eye and centrepoint of all the universe?
1881, Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginibus Puerisque:
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(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A cannonball.
A ship before Greenwich […] shot off her ordinance, one piece being charged with a bullet of stone.
1592, John Stow, The Annales of England:
- (countable, obsolete, uncountable) The fetlock of a horse.
- (Canada, US, countable, uncountable) The best workout time at a track on a given day at a specific distance, traditionally marked by a printer's bullet.
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(countable, uncountable) A notation used on pop music charts to indicate that a song is climbing in the rankings.
Her third release hit number one in record time — “number one with a bullet” as they said in the industry — and after that, there seemed to be no stopping her.
2013, Hallee Bridgeman, A Melody for James:I'm eighteen with a bullet / Got my finger on the trigger, I'm gonna pull it / […] / I'm high on the chart / I'm tip for the top
1975, Pete Wingfield, “Eighteen with a Bullet”:
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(abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of bullet vibrator.
alt of bullet vibrator
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| bullets | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
microbullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · dodge a bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · stray bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · ghost bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet vote (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet hole (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet journal (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · put a band-aid on a bullet wound (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullets and beans (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · tracer bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · muck and bullets (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · subbullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet voting (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bumper bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · plastic bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · long bullets (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet climb (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bulletfest (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bulletless (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bulletproof (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet chess (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · percussion bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet payment (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · Markowitz bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet bra (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet-headed (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet fee (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet list (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bulletwood (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · antibullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullety (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet-nose (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet-proof (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet-head (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet time (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · with a bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · sweat bullets (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet trade (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet money (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet point (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet-shooting crossbow (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bulletmaker (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bulletmaking (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet hell (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet sponge (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · picket bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet journaling (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet tree (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bite the bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet ballot (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · hook-and-bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · get the bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet ant (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet dwarf (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet-pointed (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullethole (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · take a bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · hyperbullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · Bulletmore (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet with someone's name on it (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bulletlike (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet catch (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · number one with a bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet wood (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet loan (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet vibrator (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet-screen game (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · nanobullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · magic bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · ultrabullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · stop a bullet (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bulletize (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bulletin (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet train (Terms derived from bullet (noun)) · bullet graph (Terms derived from bullet (noun))
Descendants
Hyponyms
dum dum bullet (Hyponyms of bullet (etymology 1, noun sense 1)) · double-action bullet (Hyponyms of bullet (etymology 1, noun sense 1)) · dum-dum bullet (Hyponyms of bullet (etymology 1, noun sense 1)) · rubber-tipped bullet (Hyponyms of bullet (etymology 1, noun sense 1)) · silver bullet (Hyponyms of bullet (etymology 1, noun sense 1)) · brass-tipped bullet (Hyponyms of bullet (etymology 1, noun sense 1)) · dumdum bullet (Hyponyms of bullet (etymology 1, noun sense 1)) · blank bullet (Hyponyms of bullet (etymology 1, noun sense 1)) · expanding bullet (Hyponyms of bullet (etymology 1, noun sense 1)) · rubber bullet (Hyponyms of bullet (etymology 1, noun sense 1))
Synonyms
cap · slug · pill · bullet point
Translations (203)
ne गोली (projectile) · ht bal (projectile) · tr mermi (projectile) · hu díszpont (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · ru снаря́д (projectile) · ko 탄알 (projectile) · ast bala (projectile) · zdj risasi (projectile) · ar رَصَاص (projectile) · jv ꦥ꧀ꦭꦸꦫꦸ (projectile) · sk guľka (projectile) · gl bala (projectile) · my ယမ်းတောင့် (projectile) · dng чёнзыр (projectile) · ja 弾 (projectile) · kmr telqe (projectile) · ru масли́на (projectile) · te తూటా (projectile) · as গুলী (projectile) · ro alică (projectile) · km គ្រាប់កាំភ្លើង (projectile) · mr गोळी (projectile) · mi pokepoke (projectile) · ja 弾丸 (projectile) · vo glöb (projectile) · es proyectil (projectile) · pa ਗੋਲੀ (projectile) · ms bullet (projectile) · cs odrážka (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · ug ئوق (projectile) · mn сум (projectile) · da kugle (projectile) · cy bwled (projectile) · sh kùršum (projectile) · ti ዓረር (projectile) · fa-ira تیر (projectile) · scn badda (projectile) · uz oʻq (projectile) · nl kogel (projectile) · ka ტყვია (projectile) · gl proxectil (projectile) · lt kulka (projectile) · az qurşun (projectile) · ru ма́ркер спи́ска (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · it proiettile (projectile) · sh ку̀ршум (projectile) · be ку́ля (projectile) · dng позыр (projectile) · de Aufzählungszeichen (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · eo kuglo (projectile) · sv kula (projectile) · pl pocisk (projectile) · cmn 子彈 /子弹 (projectile) · ro glonte (projectile) · nb kule (projectile) · tab гюлле (projectile) · hu lövedék (projectile) · yue 子彈 /子弹 (projectile) · ca bala (projectile) · unm aluns (projectile) · ga urchar (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · lv lode (projectile) · fi kuula (projectile) · fi pati (informal: round of unfired ammunition) · ms peluru (projectile) · tg тир (projectile) · ln lisási (projectile) · gu ગોળી (projectile) · da bullet (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · eve нюр (projectile) · ga piléar (projectile) · fa-cls گُلُولَه (projectile) · de Projektil (projectile) · de Flugkörper (projectile) · bg куршу́м (projectile) · xal сумн (projectile) · pl punktor (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · fi bumerangi (rejection letter) · kk оқ (projectile) · sh ку́гла (projectile) · ky ок (projectile) · mk куршум (projectile) · fi pallura (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · cmn 槍子 /枪子 (projectile) · uk ку́ля (projectile) · da punkttegn (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · iu ᓱᓇᒐᖅ (projectile) · ja ビュレット (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · id peluru (projectile) · kmr fîşek (projectile) · fi kertaerä (banking: large scheduled payment) · gd peilear (projectile) · tg гулӯла (projectile) · ru бу́ллит (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · es topo (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · ko 총알 (projectile) · ru патро́н (informal: round of unfired ammunition) · izh looti (projectile) · av гулла (projectile) · oc projectil (projectile) · tk seçme (projectile) · ko 총탄 (projectile) · vi đạn (projectile) · he קָלִיעַ (projectile) · is skot (projectile) · ota قورشون (projectile) · fi luettelopallo (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · mk фишек (projectile) · ms pelor (projectile) · hy գնդակ (projectile) · es bala (projectile) · sh kúgla (projectile) · mt balla (projectile) · sq plumb (projectile) · yi קויל (projectile) · kmr gulle (projectile) · af koeël (projectile) · sw risasi (projectile) · el σφαίρα (projectile) · fr projectile (projectile) · eo bulmarko (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · ar رَصَاصَة (projectile) · lv punkts (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · sh ме̏так (projectile) · hu golyó (projectile) · bn গুলি (projectile) · ru пу́ля (projectile) · br boled (projectile) · haw pōkā pū (projectile) · fi luetelmamerkki (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · la glans (projectile) · ja 銃弾 (projectile) · is kúla (projectile) · syl ꠉꠥꠟ꠆ꠟꠤ (projectile) · de Kugel (projectile) · nv kʼaaʼ (projectile) · my ကျည်ဖူး (projectile) · mi matā (projectile) · haw pōkā (projectile) · ota مرمی (projectile) · tr kurşun (projectile) · fr balle (projectile) · gv bullad (projectile) · lo ກະສຸນ (projectile) · ab ахы (projectile) · fi kuti (informal: round of unfired ammunition) · cjs оқ (projectile) · fi kertamaksu (banking: large scheduled payment) · fo skot (projectile) · mk зрно (projectile) · ca projectil (projectile) · cmn 子彈 /子弹 (informal: round of unfired ammunition) · nrf balle (projectile) · et kuul (projectile) · my ကျည် (projectile) · pt projéctil (projectile) · az qurğuşun (projectile) · is byssukúla (projectile) · rup pljiumbu (projectile) · ta தோட்டா (projectile) · da projektil (projectile) · ps ګولۍ (projectile) · bn বুলেট (projectile) · fa-ira گُلولِه (projectile) · ccc wala (projectile) · os нӕмыг (projectile) · pt bala (projectile) · fa-cls تِیر (projectile) · pl kula (projectile) · ckb گولە (projectile) · alt ок (projectile) · az güllə (projectile) · ko 탄환 (projectile) · cs kulka (projectile) · sh tȁne (projectile) · es bolo (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · cmn 槍子兒 /枪子儿 (projectile) · ml വെടിയുണ്ട (projectile) · fy kûgel (projectile) · fi luoti (projectile) · de Ball (projectile) · kn ಗುಂಡು (projectile) · am ጥይት (projectile) · fo kúla (projectile) · oc bala (projectile) · ro glonț (projectile) · sh mȅtak (projectile) · nah temitl (projectile) · hi गोली (projectile) · ce даьндарг (projectile) · el βούλα (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · ur گولی (projectile) · fi ammus (ammunition for a sling) · sl krogla (projectile) · mn ᠰᠤᠮᠤ (projectile) · cmn 彈頭 /弹头 (projectile) · he כַּדּוּר (projectile) · th กระสุน (projectile) · fr puce (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · mt dott (typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle) · bo མདེའུ (projectile) · rup plumbu (projectile) · sh та̏не (projectile)