Bust - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A bust is a sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest. It can also mean a failure or collapse, as in a business going bust. The word is used in both art and informal contexts.
Definition:
To break or burst, or a sculpture of a person's head and shoulders.
Synonyms:
break, burst, fracture, shatter, rupture
Part of Speech:
verb, noun
Antonyms:
repair, mend
Common Collocations:
bust a move, bust a gut, bust the myth, bust the budget
Derivatives:
buster, busted
Usage Tips:
Use "bust" as a verb for breaking or as a noun for a sculpture; informal for arrest or failure.
Common Phrases:
boom or bust, bust one's chops, go bust
Etymology:
From Old French "buster," meaning to break; later influenced by Italian "busto," meaning torso sculpture.
Examples:
- 1. The police will bust the illegal operation soon.
- 2. She admired the marble bust of the famous poet.
- 3. Don’t bust the vase while cleaning!
- 4. The company went bust after poor sales.