busy ◆◇◇ /b I zi/ (busier , busiest , busies , busying , busied )
1 ADJ [oft ADJ v-ing] When you are busy , you are working hard or concentrating on a task, so that you are not free to do anything else. □ What is it? I'm busy. □ They are busy preparing for a hectic day's activity on Saturday. □ Rachel said she would be too busy to come. □ Phil Martin is an exceptionally busy man.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A busy time is a period of time during which you have a lot of things to do. □ It'll have to wait. This is our busiest time. □ Even with her busy schedule she finds time to watch TV. □ I had a busy day and was rather tired.
3 ADJ [v-link ADJ , oft ADJ -ing] If you say that someone is busy thinking or worrying about something, you mean that it is taking all their attention, often to such an extent that they are unable to think about anything else. □ I'm so busy worrying about all the wrong things that I'm not focusing on the right ones. □ [+ with ] Most people are too busy with their own troubles to give much help.
4 VERB If you busy yourself with something, you occupy yourself by dealing with it. □ [V pron-refl + with ] He busied himself with the camera. □ [V pron-refl v-ing] She busied herself getting towels ready. □ [V pron-refl] For a while Kathryn busied herself in the kitchen.
5 ADJ A busy place is full of people who are doing things or moving about. □ The Strand is one of London's busiest and most affluent streets. □ The ward was busy and Amy hardly had time to talk.
6 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] When a telephone line is busy , you cannot make your call because the line is already being used by someone else. [mainly AM ] □ I tried to reach him, but the line was busy.
7 → see also busily
busy|body /b I zibɒdi/ (busybodies ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a busybody , you are criticizing the way they interfere in other people's affairs. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ This government is full of interfering busybodies.
but ◆◆◆ /bət, STRONG bʌt/
1 CONJ You use but to introduce something which contrasts with what you have just said, or to introduce something which adds to what you have just said. □ 'You said you'd stay till tomorrow.'—'I know, Bel, but I think I would rather go back.' □ Place the saucepan over moderate heat until the cider is very hot but not boiling. □ He not only wants to be taken seriously as a musician, but as a poet too.
2 CONJ You use but when you are about to add something further in a discussion or to change the subject. □ They need to recruit more people into the prison service. But another point I'd like to make is that many prisons were built in the nineteenth century.
3 CONJ You use but after you have made an excuse or apologized for what you are just about to say. □ Please excuse me, but there is something I must say. □ I'm sorry, but it's nothing to do with you. □ Forgive my asking, but you're not very happy, are you?
4 CONJ You use but to introduce a reply to someone when you want to indicate surprise, disbelief, refusal, or protest. [FEELINGS ] □ 'I don't think I should stay in this house.'—'But why?' □ 'Somebody wants you on the telephone'—'But no one knows I'm here!'
5 PREP But is used to mean 'except'. □ Europe will be represented in all but two of the seven races. □ He didn't speak anything but Greek. □ The crew of the ship gave them nothing but bread to eat.
6 ADV [ADV n] But is used to mean 'only'. [FORMAL ] □ Orbit is but one of the sculptor's striking creations. □ Lots of interesting different flavours combine - mixed spice and wild berries to name but two.
7 N‑PLURAL You use buts in expressions like ' no buts ' and ' ifs and buts ' to refer to reasons someone gives for not doing something, especially when you do not think that they are good reasons. □ 'B-b-b-b-but' I stuttered.—'Never mind the buts,' she ranted. □ He committed a crime, no ifs or buts about it.
8 PHRASE You use cannot but , could not but , and cannot help but when you want to emphasize that you believe something must be true and that there is no possibility of anything else being the case. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ The pistol was positioned where I couldn't help but see it. □ She could not but congratulate him.
9 PHRASE You use but for to introduce the only factor that causes a particular thing not to happen or not to be completely true. □ …the small square below, empty but for a delivery van and a clump of palm trees.
10 PHRASE You use but then or but then again before a remark which slightly contradicts what you have just said. □ Rob spends hours in the bathroom, but then again so do I.
11 PHRASE You use but then before a remark which suggests that what you have just said should not be regarded as surprising. □ He was a fine young man, but then so had his father been. □ Sonia might not speak the English language well, but then who did?
12 all but → see all
13 anything but → see anything
bu|tane /bjuː te I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Butane is a gas that is obtained from petroleum and is used as a fuel.
butch /bʊ tʃ/
1 ADJ If you describe a woman as butch , you mean that she behaves or dresses in a masculine way. This use could cause offence. [INFORMAL ]
2 ADJ If you describe a man as butch , you mean that he behaves in an extremely masculine way. [INFORMAL ]
butch|er /bʊ tʃə r / (butchers , butchering , butchered )