bullet

[ bool-it ]

noun

1. a small metal projectile, part of a cartridge, for firing from small arms.
2. a cartridge.
3. a small ball.
4. Printing. a heavy dot for marking paragraphs or otherwise calling attention to or itemizing particular sections of text, especially in display advertising.
5. Cards. an ace.

verb (used without object)

, bul·let·ed, bul·let·ing.

1. to move swiftly.

bullet

/ ˈbʊlɪt /

noun

1. 1. a small metallic missile enclosed in a cartridge, used as the projectile of a gun, rifle, etc
   2. the entire cartridge
2. something resembling a bullet, esp in shape or effect
3. stock exchange a fixed interest security with a single maturity date
4. commerce a security that offers a fixed interest and matures on a fixed date
5. commerce
   1. the final repayment of a loan that repays the whole of the sum borrowed, as interim payments have been for interest only
   2. ( as modifier )

      a bullet loan

6. slang.
   dismissal, sometimes without notice (esp in the phrases get or give the bullet )
7. printing See centred dot
8. bite the bullet
   See bite

Derived Forms

• ˈbullet-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• bullet·less adjective
• bullet·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bullet¹

1550–60; < Middle French boullette, equivalent to boulle ball ( bowl ² ) + -ette -ette

Word History and Origins

Origin of bullet¹

C16: from French boulette , diminutive of boule ball; see bowl ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bite the bullet, to force oneself to perform a painful, difficult task or to endure an unpleasant situation:

   We'll just have to bite the bullet and pay higher taxes.

More idioms and phrases containing bullet

see bite the bullet ; sweat bullets .

Example Sentences

Gutierrez-Reed loaded a live bullet into Baldwin’s gun that killed Hutchins.

From Salon

How a live bullet got into the gun remains a mystery.

From BBC

Within minutes, the mother of seven and grandmother of 14 lay dying in the dust of the olive grove, with a bullet wound in her chest - she’d been shot by an Israeli soldier.

From BBC

But he moved toward them, and all four deputies opened fire, killing him with a barrage of at least a dozen bullets.

From Los Angeles Times

He said he still has the bullet in him and isn’t yet sure what to expect next.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ammunition
• ball
• cartridge
• pellet
• projectile
• rocket
• round
• shot
• slug