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Synonyms

bummer, catastrophe, debacle, dud, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, lemon, loser, turkey, washout—more at FAILURE

1bustle verb bus·tled; bus·tling : to move or work in a brisk busy manner

2bustle noun : briskly energetic activity

Synonyms

commotion, disturbance, hubbub, hullabaloo, pandemonium, tumult, turmoil—more at COMMOTION

3bustle noun : a pad or frame worn to support the fullness at the back of a woman's skirt

1busy adjective busi·er; -est 1 : engaged in action : not idle

2 : being in use <~ telephones>

3 : full of activity <~ streets>

4 : MEDDLING

Synonyms

[1] active, assiduous, diligent, engaged, laborious, occupied, sedulous, working; also absorbed, concentrating, focused, engrossed, immersed, intent, preoccupied

[3] alive, animated, astir, lively, vibrant—more at ALIVE

2busy verb bus·ied; busy·ing : to make or keep busy : OCCUPY

Synonyms

absorb, engage, engross, enthrall, fascinate, grip, immerse, interest, intrigue, involve, occupy—more at ENGAGE

busy·body noun : an officious or inquisitive person : MEDDLER

Synonyms

interloper, intruder, kibitzer, meddler; also peeper, peeping Tom, snoop, spy

busy·work noun : work that appears productive but only keeps one occupied

1but conjunction 1 : except for the fact

2 : THAT

3 : without the certainty that

4 : on the contrary

5 : YET

6 : with the exception of

Synonyms

except, only, yet—more at EXCEPT

2but preposition : other than : EXCEPT ; also : with the exception of

Synonyms

aside from, bar, barring, besides, except, outside, save—more at EXCEPT

3but adverb 1 : being nothing more than

2 : to the contrary

Synonyms

[1] just, merely, only, simply—more at JUST

[2] howbeit, however, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, still, though, withal, yet—more at HOWEVER

bu·tane noun : either of two gaseous hydrocarbons used as a fuel

butch adjective : notably masculine in appearance or manner

1butcher noun [ORIGIN: ME bocher, fr. AF, fr. buc he-goat]

1 : one who slaughters animals or dresses their flesh; also : a dealer in meat

2 : one that kills brutally or needlessly

3 : one that botches

2butcher verb 1 : to slaughter and dress for meat <~ hogs>

2 : to kill barbarously

3 : to foul up hopelessly : BOTCH

Synonyms

[2] massacre, slaughter—more at MASSACRE

[3] bobble, botch, bungle, flub, foul up, fumble, mangle, mess, muff, murder—more at BOTCH

butch·ery noun 1 : the preparation of meat for sale

2 : cruel and ruthless slaughter of human beings

Synonyms

carnage, massacre, slaughter—more at MASSACRE

but·ler noun [ORIGIN: ME buteler, fr. AF butiller, fr. OF botele bottle]

: the chief male servant of a household

1butt verb : to strike with the head or horns

2butt noun : a blow or thrust with the head or horns

3butt noun : a large cask

4butt noun 1 : TARGET

2 : an object of abuse or ridicule

Synonyms

laughingstock, mark, mock, mockery, target—more at LAUGHINGSTOCK

5butt noun 1 : a large, thicker, or bottom end of something

2 : BUTTOCKS

6butt verb 1 : ABUT

2 : to place or join edge to edge without overlapping

butte noun : an isolated steep hill

1butter noun [ORIGIN: ME, fr. OE butere, fr. L butyrum butter, fr. Gk boutyron, fr. bous cow + tyros cheese]

1 : a solid edible emulsion of fat obtained from cream by churning

2 : a substance resembling butter

— but·tery adjective

2butter verb : to spread with or as if with butter

but·ter–and–eggs noun singular or plural : a common perennial herb related to the snapdragon that has showy yellow and orange flowers

butter bean noun 1 : LIMA BEAN

2 : WAX BEAN

3 : a green shell bean

butter cream noun : a sweet butter-based mixture used esp. as a filling or frosting

but·ter·cup noun : any of a genus of herbs