bug

¹

[ buhg ]

noun

1. Also called true bug, hemipteran,. a hemipterous insect.
2. (loosely) any insect or insectlike invertebrate.
3. Informal. any microorganism, especially a virus:

   He was laid up for a week by an intestinal bug.

4. Informal. a defect or imperfection, as in a mechanical device, computer program, or plan; glitch:

   The test flight discovered the bugs in the new plane.

5. Informal.
   1. a person who has a great enthusiasm for something; fan or hobbyist:

      My wife is a real adventure bug, so we had a pretty thrilling, action-packed holiday.

   2. a craze or obsession:

      He's got the sports-car bug.

6. Informal.
   1. a hidden microphone or other electronic eavesdropping device.
   2. any of various small mechanical or electrical gadgets, as one to influence a gambling device, give warning of an intruder, or indicate location.
7. a mark, as an asterisk, that indicates a particular item, level, etc.
8. Horse Racing. the five-pound weight allowance that can be claimed by an apprentice jockey.
9. a telegraph key that automatically transmits a series of dots when moved to one side and one dash when moved to the other.
10. Poker Slang. a joker that can be used only as an ace or as a wild card to fill a straight or a flush.
11. Printing. a label printed on certain matter to indicate that it was produced by a union shop.
12. any of various fishing plugs resembling an insect.
13. Chiefly British. a bedbug.

verb (used with object)

, Informal.

, bugged, bug·ging.

1. to install a secret listening device in (a room, building, etc.) or on (a telephone or other device):

   The phone had been bugged.

2. to bother; annoy; pester:

   She's bugging him to get her into show business.

   Synonyms: bait, plague, harass, badger, nag

verb phrase

1. Slang. to leave or depart, especially rapidly:

   I can't help you, so bug off.

2. Slang. to flee in panic; show panic or alarm.

bug

²

[ buhg ]

noun

, Obsolete.

1. a bogy; hobgoblin.

Bug

³

[ buhg; Polish, Russian book ]

noun

1. Also called Western Bug. a river in E central Europe, rising in W Ukraine and forming part of the boundary between Poland and Ukraine, flowing NW to the Vistula River in Poland. 450 miles (725 km) long.
2. Also called Southern Bug. a river in SW Ukraine flowing SE to the Dnieper estuary. About 530 miles (850 km) long.

bug

¹

/ bʌɡ /

verb

1. a past tense and past participle of big 2

Bug

²

/ buk /

noun

1. Also calledSouthern Bug a river in E Europe, rising in W Ukraine and flowing southeast to the Dnieper estuary and the Black Sea. Length: 853 km (530 miles)
2. Also calledWestern Bug a river in E Europe, rising in SW Ukraine and flowing northwest to the River Vistula in Poland, forming part of the border between Poland and Ukraine. Length: 724 km (450 miles)

bug

³

/ bʌɡ /

noun

1. any insect of the order Hemiptera , esp any of the suborder Heteroptera , having piercing and sucking mouthparts specialized as a beak (rostrum) See also assassin bug bedbug chinch bug
2. any insect, such as the June bug or the Croton bug
3. informal.
   1. a microorganism, esp a bacterium, that produces disease
   2. a disease, esp a stomach infection, caused by a microorganism
4. informal.
   an obsessive idea, hobby, etc; craze (esp in the phrases get the bug, be bitten by the bug, the bug bites, etc)
5. informal.
   a person having such a craze; enthusiast
6. informal.
   often plural an error or fault, as in a machine or system, esp in a computer or computer program
7. informal.
   a concealed microphone used for recording conversations, as in spying
8. (in poker) a joker used as an ace or wild card to complete a straight or flush

verb

1. tr to irritate; bother
2. tr to conceal a microphone in (a room, etc)
3. intr (of eyes) to protrude

bug

⁴

/ bʌɡ /

noun

1. obsolete.
   an evil spirit or spectre; hobgoblin

bug

/ bŭg /

1. An insect belonging to the suborder Heteroptera.
2. See more at true bug
3. An insect, spider, or similar organism. Not in scientific use.

bug

1. A generic term that describes a malfunction of undetermined origin in a computer or other electronic device.

Notes

The term originated in the 1940s when the examination of a large computer revealed that an actual insect had landed on one of the circuits, shorting it out and shutting the machine down.

Other Words From

• un·bugged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bug¹

First recorded in 1615–25; 1885–90 bug ¹fordef 4; 1910–15 bug ¹fordef 5a; 1915–20 bug ¹fordef 14; 1945–50 bug ¹fordef 15; earlier bugge “beetle,” apparently alteration of Middle English budde, Old English -budda “beetle”; the sense “leave” (in bug off ) is obscurely related to other senses and perhaps is of distinct origin

Origin of bug²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bugge “scarecrow, demon, hobgoblin”; further origin unknown

Word History and Origins

Origin of bug¹

C16: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to Old English budda beetle

Origin of bug²

C14 bugge , perhaps from Middle Welsh bwg ghost. See also bugbear , bugaboo

Usage

The word bug is often used to refer to tiny creatures that crawl along, such as insects and even small animals that are not insects, such as spiders and millipedes. But for scientists the word has a much narrower meaning. In the strictest terms bugs are those insects that have mouthparts adapted for piercing and sucking. The mouthparts of these bugs are contained in a beak-shaped structure. Thus scientists would classify a louse but not a beetle or a cockroach as a bug. In fact, scientists often call lice and their relatives true bugs to distinguish them better from what everyone else calls “bugs.”

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. put a bug in someone's ear, to give someone a subtle suggestion; hint:

   We put a bug in his ear about a new gymnasium.

More idioms and phrases containing bug

• cute as a button (bug's ear)
• put a bug in someone's ear
• snug as a bug in a rug
• what's eating (bugging) you

Example Sentences

This week, we learned there are 16 bugs in the system right now.

From BBC

Problems with the stomach bug had been going on for weeks, according to passengers on previous sailings.

From BBC

This sense of competition and the tendency to discredit and shut out other women might be a feature in Hollywood and not a bug, Sweeney said.

From Los Angeles Times

But I think the way they don’t like her is maybe an annoying family member that you’re like, “OK, you bug me, but you’re ours.”

From Los Angeles Times

It is understood there is no cause for alarm - and her plans are being adjusted to avoid any setback after recovering from a bug.

From BBC

Related Words

• annoy
• bother
• irk
• irritate
• pester

More About Bug

What is a basic definition of bug?

The word bug is used loosely to mean an insect or creature that resembles an insect. Bug is also used to mean a glitch or imperfection, as in a computer program. Bug is used as a verb to mean to bother or annoy someone. Bug has many other uses as a noun and verb.

The word bug is used as a catch-all term for small, creepy pests. In general usage, it is used interchangeably with the word insect to refer to things like ants, bees, beetles, and even spiders.

Scientists, though, use the words bug and insect to mean slightly different things. Insect refers to organisms that belong to Insecta, a very large class of animals whose members have a three-part body, six legs, and usually two pairs of wings. Scientists use bug (or true bug) to refer to the members of the order Hemiptera, which is within the Insecta class. Hemiptera members include cicadas, aphids, and stink bugs.

• Used in a sentence: He sat in the tent to try and avoid the bugs outside. 

Bug is used informally to refer to glitches or defects, especially when discussing electronics.

• Used in a sentence: The company didn’t release the new laptop until it had fixed all of the bugs. 

As a verb, bug means to annoy or to bother someone.

• Used in a sentence: Tom was bugged by his son jumping up and down while begging for ice cream.

Where does bug come from?

The first records of bug come from around 1590. Its origin is unknown. It may be related to an earlier bug, meaning “bogeyman,” whose first records come from around 1425. The origin of this bug is also unknown.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to bug?

• unbugged (adjective)
• buggy (adjective)

What are some synonyms for bug?

• insect
• glitch
• defect
• annoy
• pester

What are some words that share a root or word element with bug? 

• buggy
• bug-eyed
• bug light
• bug off

What are some words that often get used in discussing bug?

• ant
• fly
• bee
• spray
• zapper
• bite
• gross
• disgust

How is bug used in real life?

Bug is a very common word used loosely to refer to insects or similar creatures that very few people are fond of.

Can I please just sit outside without a bug buzzing by my ear or getting all up in my face?! I hate bugs! #gross 🐞🐜🐝

— Kaleigh (@kaleighnobles) May 20, 2013

Sure wish Apple would fix the bugs in the IOS 8 update. My battery suddenly dies so fast now. Ugh.

— daveontv (@daveontv) October 10, 2014

Sorry my bad grammar was really bugging me… 🤣

— Ranj Singh (@DrRanj) March 14, 2020

Try using bug!

Which of the following creatures is least likely to be called a bug?

A. wasp
B. mouse
C. mosquito
D. dragonfly