DictionaryAI

book

BUUK/bʊk/

Pluralbooks

Verbbooks, booking, booked

27 meanings of book

Practice

  1. 1
    written worknouncountable
    A long written work suitable for publication, usually in prose, such as a novel or textbook, issued either as bound pages or as an e-book.

    The author spent five years writing a book on medieval history.

    Her debut book appeared both in print and in digital form.

    UsageA book about or on a subject; you write, read or publish a book.

    Similarwork, title, volume, tome

    Note

    Here the word names the text, not the object. You can own three copies of someone's first book, and one book can exist both in print and as an e-book. When the difference matters, the sentence usually settles it: writing a book means composing the work, while a cracked or heavy book is the physical volume.

  2. 2
    nouncountable
    A set of paper sheets bound together along one edge, holding printed or written material or pictures, or left blank for writing or drawing in.

    He flipped through the book, searching for the right page.

    The old book's spine had cracked from years of use.

    Similarvolume, tome

  3. 3
    arrange aheadverbtransitive
    To arrange in advance to have or use something, such as a room, ticket, or appointment, or for a performer or speaker to appear.

    I'll book a table for four at the new restaurant.

    They booked the conference hall months in advance.

    UsageYou book a table, room or ticket; when nothing is left, it is fully booked or booked up.

    Similarreserve, schedule, engage

    Oppositecancel

    Note

    The verb is old in its own right, from Old English bōcian, which was formed from the noun. Its usual pattern takes an object: you book a hotel room or concert tickets. It also works without one, as when Paul Bigland writes in Rail (2020) that he hasn't booked, meaning he has made no reservation.

    Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

    • The verb descends from Old English bōcian and was formed from the noun. en.wiktionary.org
    • Paul Bigland wrote in Rail in 2020 that he had not booked, referring to having made no reservation. en.wiktionary.org
  4. 4
    part of a worknouncountable
    One of the major divisions of a long written work.

    The epic's final book resolves the long conflict.

    Scholars debate whether the last two books of the epic were written by the same poet as the rest.

    UsageUsually with a number or ordinal: Book Two, the first book of the Bible.

    Similarvolume

    Note

    Here a book is a part of a larger whole. Genesis is the first book of the Bible, and A Tale of Two Cities is divided into books of its own. Tome and volume overlap with it, but they suggest a separately bound piece rather than a section of the text.

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  5. 5
    accountsnouncountable
    The records of a business's financial accounts.

    A clean set of books reassured the potential investors.

    The accountant balanced the books at the end of the quarter.

    UsageMostly the books: keep the books, balance the books, and cook the books (falsify them).

    Similarrecords, accounts

    Note

    Account and record are close synonyms, but the books suggests the whole set of a firm's financial records taken together.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of book apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–2, 4–5, 7, 9–10, 13–19

Proto-Germanic *bōks and Proto-West Germanic *bōk gave Old English bōc, which became Middle English bok, book. Related words meaning "book" include Dutch boek, German Buch, and Swedish bok.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

  • Old English bōc descends from Proto-Germanic *bōks through Proto-West Germanic *bōk and became Middle English bok, book. en.wiktionary.org
  • Dutch boek means book and is related to English book. en.wiktionary.org
  • German Buch means book and is related to English book. en.wiktionary.org
  • Swedish bok means book and is related to English book. en.wiktionary.org
Meanings 3, 6, 8, 11–12

This verb comes from Middle English booken, from Old English bōcian, which was formed from the noun "book."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts