bus

¹

[ buhs ]

noun

plural buses, busses.

1. a large motor vehicle, having a long body, equipped with seats or benches for passengers, usually operating as part of a scheduled service; omnibus.
2. (formerly) a similar horse-drawn vehicle.
3. a passenger automobile or airplane used in a manner resembling that of a bus.
4. any vehicle operated to transport children to school.
5. a low, movable filing cabinet.
6. Electricity. Also called bus bar, a heavy conductor, often made of copper in the shape of a bar, used to collect, carry, and distribute powerful electric currents, as those produced by generators.
7. Computers. a circuit that connects the CPU with other devices in a computer.

verb (used with object)

bused or bussed, busing or bussing.

1. to convey or transport by bus:

   to bus the tourists to another hotel.

2. to transport (pupils) to school by bus, especially as a means of achieving socioeconomic or racial diversity among students in a public school.

verb (used without object)

bused or bussed, busing or bussing.

1. to travel on or by means of a bus:

   We bused to New York on a theater trip.

bus

²

[ buhs ]

verb (used with or without object)

bused or bussed, busing or bussing.

1. to work or act as a busboy or busgirl:

   She bused for her meals during her student days.

bus.

³

abbreviation for

1. business.

bus

/ bʌs /

noun

1. a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers between stopping places along a regular route More formal nameomnibus Sometimes calledmotorbus
2. short for trolleybus
3. modifier of or relating to a bus or buses

   a bus driver

   a bus station

4. informal.
   a car or aircraft, esp one that is old and shaky
5. electronics computing short for busbar
6. the part of a MIRV missile payload containing the re-entry vehicles and guidance and thrust devices
7. astronautics a platform in a space vehicle used for various experiments and processes
8. miss the bus
   to miss an opportunity; be too late

verb

1. to travel or transport by bus
2. to transport (children) by bus from one area to a school in another in order to create racially integrated classes

Word History and Origins

Origin of bus¹

First recorded in 1825–35; short for omnibus; bus ¹def 6 short for omnibus bar

Origin of bus²

First recorded in 1830–40; back formation from busboy

Word History and Origins

Origin of bus¹

C19: short for omnibus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. throw (someone or something) under the bus, Informal. to abandon or sacrifice to an imminent negative outcome for expedience or profit, or to protect oneself and one's interests:

   The accused was asked to testify against Tony, but he refused to save himself by throwing his pal under the bus.

Example Sentences

The suspect fled by foot, bike and taxi to a bus station near the George Washington Bridge.

From BBC

He told the Old Bailey that when he saw a bus from Croydon he decided to stop it, to see if any passengers matched the description of the assailant.

From BBC

In addition to working in construction, her husband has worked as a bus driver for the school district and recently started his own snow removal business.

From Los Angeles Times

He was traveling on a Greyhound bus and stopped at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he was recognized by a witness from the photos circulated by police, law enforcement sources told ABC.

From Salon

Law enforcement sources told the BBC's US partner, CBS News, that officers have been despatched to the southern state and to stops along the bus route.

From BBC