bull|doze /bʊ ldoʊz/ (bulldozes , bulldozing , bulldozed )
1 VERB If people bulldoze something such as a building, they knock it down using a bulldozer. □ [V n] She defeated developers who wanted to bulldoze her home to build a supermarket.
2 VERB If people bulldoze earth, stone, or other heavy material, they move it using a bulldozer. □ [V n] He bulldozed 450 acres of woodland for his vineyard.
3 VERB If someone bulldozes a plan through or bulldozes another person into doing something, they get what they want in an unpleasantly forceful way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n with through ] The party in power planned to bulldoze through a full socialist programme. □ [V n + through ] The coalition bulldozed the resolution through the plenary session. □ [V n + into ] My parents tried to bulldoze me into going to college. [Also V n]
bull|doz|er /bʊ ldoʊzə r / (bulldozers ) N‑COUNT A bulldozer is a large vehicle with a broad metal blade at the front, which is used for knocking down buildings or moving large amounts of earth.
bul|let /bʊ l I t/ (bullets )
1 N‑COUNT A bullet is a small piece of metal with a pointed or rounded end, which is fired out of a gun.
2 → see also plastic bullet , rubber bullet
3 PHRASE If someone bites the bullet , they accept that they have to do something unpleasant but necessary. [JOURNALISM ] □ Tour operators may be forced to bite the bullet and cut prices.
bul|letin ◆◇◇ /bʊ l I t I n/ (bulletins )
1 N‑COUNT A bulletin is a short news report on the radio or television. □ …the early morning news bulletin.
2 N‑COUNT A bulletin is a short official announcement made publicly to inform people about an important matter. □ At 3.30 p.m. a bulletin was released announcing that the president was out of immediate danger.
3 N‑COUNT A bulletin is a regular newspaper or leaflet that is produced by an organization or group such as a school or church.
bu l|letin board (bulletin boards )
1 N‑COUNT A bulletin board is a board which is usually attached to a wall in order to display notices giving information about something. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, use noticeboard 2 N‑COUNT In computing, a bulletin board is a system that enables users to send and receive messages of general interest. [COMPUTING ] □ The bulletin board provided a forum for investors to exchange news.
bu l|let point (bullet points ) N‑COUNT A bullet point is one of a series of important items for discussion or action in a document, usually marked by a square or round symbol. □ [+ for ] Use bold type for headings and bullet points for noteworthy achievements.
bu llet-proof also bulletproof ADJ Something that is bullet-proof is made of a strong material that bullets cannot pass through. □ …bullet-proof glass. □ …a bullet-proof vest.
bull|fight /bʊ lfa I t/ (bullfights ) N‑COUNT A bullfight is a form of public entertainment in which people fight and kill bulls. Bullfights take place in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America.
bull|fighter /bʊ lfa I tə r / (bullfighters ) N‑COUNT A bullfighter is the person who tries to injure or kill the bull in a bullfight.
bull|fighting /bʊ lfa I t I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Bullfighting is the form of public entertainment in which people try to kill bulls in bullfights.
bull|finch /bʊ lf I ntʃ/ (bullfinches ) N‑COUNT A bullfinch is a type of small European bird. The male has a black head and a pinkish-red breast.
bull|frog /bʊ lfrɒg, [AM ] -frɔːg/ (bullfrogs ) N‑COUNT A bullfrog is a type of large frog which makes a very loud noise.
bull|horn /bʊ lhɔː r n/ (bullhorns ) N‑COUNT A bullhorn is a device for making your voice sound louder in the open air. [AM ] in BRIT, use loudhailer , megaphone
bul|lion /bʊ liən/ N‑UNCOUNT Bullion is gold or silver, usually in the form of bars.
bull|ish /bʊ l I ʃ/
1 ADJ On the stock market, if there is a bullish mood, prices are expected to rise. Compare bearish . [BUSINESS ] □ The market opened in a bullish mood.
2 ADJ If someone is bullish about something, they are cheerful and optimistic about it. □ [+ about ] Even now, he is bullish about the company's future. [Also + on ]
bu ll mar|ket (bull markets ) N‑COUNT A bull market is a situation on the stock market when people are buying a lot of shares because they expect that the shares will increase in value and that they will be able to make a profit by selling them again after a short time. Compare bear market . [BUSINESS ]
bull|ock /bʊ lək/ (bullocks ) N‑COUNT A bullock is a young bull that has been castrated.
bull|ring /bʊ lr I ŋ/ (bullrings ) N‑COUNT A bullring is a circular area of ground surrounded by rows of seats where bullfights take place.
bu ll's-eye (bull's-eyes )
1 N‑COUNT The bull's-eye is the small circular area at the centre of a target. □ Five of his bullets had hit the bull's-eye.
2 N‑COUNT In shooting or the game of darts, a bull's-eye is a shot or throw of a dart that hits the bull's-eye.
3 N‑COUNT If something that you do or say hits the bull's-eye , it has exactly the effect that you intended it to have. [INFORMAL ]
bull|shit /bʊ lʃ I t/ (bullshits , bullshitting , bullshitted )
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that something is bullshit , you are saying that it is nonsense or completely untrue. [INFORMAL , RUDE , DISAPPROVAL ] □ All the rest I said, all that was bullshit.