book

BUUK/bʊk/

Pluralbooks

Verbbooks, booking, booked

27 meanings of book

Practice

1
written worknouncountable
A long written work like a novel or textbook, printed on paper or read on a screen.
Like a movie you can watch on a big screen or your phone: it's the same story either way.
She wrote a book about her travels in Asia.
His new book is selling well in shops.
UsageSay a book about something.
Similarwork, title, volume, tome
Note
2
nouncountable
A set of sheets of paper joined along one side, with words or pictures on them or blank pages to write in.
Like a stack of papers joined along one side so you can turn the pages.
She pulled a heavy book down from the shelf.
The book had a torn cover and yellowed pages.
Similarvolume, tome
3
arrange aheadverbtransitive
To arrange ahead of time for a room, ticket, or table, or for a person to come and perform.
Like saving a spot in line so no one else can take it.
We need to book a hotel room before the trip.
She booked two seats for the evening show.
UsageSay book a table or book a room. Fully booked means nothing is left.
Similarreserve, schedule, engage
Oppositecancel
Note
4
part of a worknouncountable
One of the main parts that a long written work is split into.
Like a big section of a long story, each one made up of many chapters.
The first book of the poem describes the long journey.
The story is divided into three books.
UsageOften Book One, Book Two.
Similarvolume
Note
5
accountsnouncountable
The written records of all the money a business takes in and spends.
Like a diary where a business writes down all the money it gets and spends.
My aunt does the books for her husband's plumbing business.
At year's end they check the books for mistakes.
UsageUsually do the books or balance the books.
Similarrecords, accounts
Note

Less common meanings

6
police recordverbtransitive
To officially write down a suspect's name and crime so the police can deal with it later.
Like a teacher writing down the name of a student who broke the rules.
The police booked him for shoplifting.
Officers will book anyone caught breaking the law.
UsageSay someone was booked for a crime.
Similarprocess
Note
7
small packnouncountable
A small set of paper items, like stamps or matches, joined together like a tiny book.
Like a tiny notebook, but the pages are stamps or matches you can pull out.
She bought a book of stamps at the post office.
He tore a single match from the book.
UsageOften a book of stamps.
Similarbooklet
8
warn (sport)verbtransitive
In sports, to give a player an official warning, shown with a yellow card.
Like a teacher giving a warning note to a student who keeps breaking the rules.
The referee booked the striker for a hard tackle.
Officials can book a player for arguing too much.
UsageOften was booked for a foul.
Similarcaution
Note
9
script (musical)nouncountable
The spoken words and story of a musical, apart from the songs, or the words of an opera.
Like the story and spoken lines of a play, separate from the songs.
She wrote the book for the new musical.
The songs were great, but the book was weak.
Similarlibretto
Note
10
nounfigurativelycountable
Anything that teaches you something, the way a book does.
She said nature was her only book.
For him, the busy streets were a book full of lessons.
11
verbtransitive
To write or enter information in a record.
Like writing a note so you don't forget it later.
The clerk will book your order in the ledger.
The shop booked the sale as soon as the money came in.
UsageOften book a profit: record it in the accounts.
Similarrecord, register, log, enter
12
speed alongverbslangintransitive
To go very fast, or to leave quickly.
Like a runner racing as fast as they can.
That car was really booking down the highway.
We need to book it if we want to catch the last bus.
UsageOften book it: go fast.
Similarrace, speed, zoom, fly
Oppositecrawl, dawdle
Note
13
bet takernouncolloquialcountable
A person who takes bets on games and races.
Like the person at a game who holds the bets and pays the winners.
He placed his bet with the local book.
The book paid out quickly after the race.
Similarbookie, bookmaker
Note
14
list of betsnouncountable
A written record of all the bets people have made.
Like a list that shows who bet on what and how much.
The book showed heavy betting on the favorite.
He kept a careful book of every wager.
UsageSay run a book on a race: take bets on it.
Note
15
referee's notebooknouncountable
The referee's small notebook where warnings to players are written down.
Like a teacher's list of students who broke the rules.
The referee's book already had three names in it before halftime.
His name went into the book for another late tackle.
UsageIn the book means given a yellow card.
Note
16
portfolionouncolloquialcountable
A collection that shows examples of the work someone has done in their job.
Like a photo album, but it shows your work instead of your pictures.
Before the interview, the young model handed the agency her book of past photo shoots.
Young designers slowly build up their books over time.
UsageOutside ads and modeling, say portfolio.
Similarportfolio
Note
17
chess theorynoununcountable
All the known best moves for the opening and ending of a chess game.
Like knowing all the best chess openings by heart.
Her opening stayed in book for the first fifteen moves.
Once they left book, both players had to think on their own.
UsageSay in book or out of book.
Similartheory
Note
18
four (poker)nounslangcountable
Four cards that are all the same number or face.
Note
19
six tricksnouncountable
Six rounds, or tricks, won by one side in a card game.
Like the first six points you must win before others count.
No points count until your side takes its book of six tricks.
Our partnership finally completed its book midway through the hand.
20
nouncolloquial
A prize for getting the best grade in a class, often a certificate today.
21
verbslang
To get the best grade in a class.
22
noun
A list of the female horses a stallion will mate with in one season.
23
noun
A list of the races a rider is set to ride in.
24
noun
The twenty-sixth card in a Lenormand fortune-telling deck.
25
noun
The shared knowledge passed down among Black pimps over the years.
26
noun
A bundle or package of silk.
27
verbdialectalNorthern EnglandUK
An old local way of saying baked.

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

This word comes from Old English bōc, meaning book.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The word book comes from Old English bōc. en.wikipedia.org
Old English bōc meant book. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 3, 6, 8, 11–12

This verb comes from Old English bōcian, made from the noun "book."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The verb book derives from Old English bōcian. en.wiktionary.org
The verb was formed from the noun book. en.wiktionary.org