Collins English-English Dictionary

bug [b^g]

1. 1. n 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. 2. n [chiefly US and Canadian] any insect, such as the June bug or the Croton bug

3. 3. n [informal] a microorganism, esp a bacterium, that produces disease

4. 4. n a disease, esp a stomach infection, caused by a microorganism

5. 5. n [informal] an obsessive idea, hobby, etc; craze (esp in the phrases get the bug, be bitten by the bug, the bug bites, etc)

6. 6. n [informal] a person having such a craze; enthusiast

7. 7. n [often plural] [informal] an error or fault, as in a machine or system, esp in a computer or computer program

8. 8. n [informal] a concealed microphone used for recording conversations, as in spying

9. 9. n [US] (in poker) a joker used as an ace or wild card to complete a straight or flush

10. 10. vt. [informal] [tr] to irritate; bother

11. 11. vt. [tr] to conceal a microphone in (a room, etc)

12. 12. vi. [intr] [US] (of eyes) to protrude

13. 13. vi. See also bug out

14. 14. vi. [Etymology] C16: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to Old English budda beetle

bug [b^g]

1. 1. n [obsolete] an evil spirit or spectre; hobgoblin

2. 2. n [Etymology] C14 bugge, perhaps from Middle Welsh bwg ghost. See also bugbear, bugaboo

bug [b^g]

1. 1. vb a past tense and past participle of big