Buck (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

noun
  1. the male of the deer, antelope, rabbit, hare, sheep, or goat.
  2. the male of certain other animals, as the shad.
  3. an impetuous, dashing, or spirited man or youth.
  4. a contemptuous term used to refer to an American Indian male or an African American male.
  5. buckskin.
  6. casual oxford shoes made of buckskin, often in white or a neutral color.
adjective
  1. of the lowest of several ranks involving the same principal designation, hence subject to promotion within the rank: buck private; buck sergeant.
verb (used without object)
  1. (of a saddle or pack animal) to leap with arched back and come down with head low and forelegs stiff, in order to dislodge a rider or pack.
  2. to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly: The mayor bucked at the school board's suggestion.
  3. (of a vehicle, motor, or the like) to operate unevenly; move by jerks and bounces.
verb (used with object)
  1. to throw or attempt to throw (a rider or pack) by bucking.
  2. to force a way through or proceed against (an obstacle): The plane bucked a strong headwind.
  3. to strike with the head; butt.
  4. to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly to.
  5. (of a ball-carrier) to charge into (the opponent's line).
  6. to gamble, play, or take a risk against: He was bucking the odds when he bought that failing business.
  7. to press a reinforcing device against (the force of a rivet) in order to absorb vibration and increase expansion.
noun
  1. an act of bucking.
Verb Phrases
  1. to strive for a promotion or some other advantage: to buck for a raise.
  2. to make or become more cheerful, vigorous, etc.: She knew that with a change of scene she would soon buck up.
noun
  1. a sawbuck; sawhorse.
  2. a cylindrical, leather-covered block mounted in a horizontal position on a single vertical post set in a steel frame, for use chiefly in vaulting.
  3. any of various heavy frames, racks, or jigs used to support materials or partially assembled items during manufacture, as in airplane assembly plants.
  4. a doorframe of wood or metal set in a partition, especially one of light masonry, to support door hinges, hardware, finish work, etc.
verb (used with object)
  1. to split or saw (logs, felled trees, etc.).
Verb Phrases
  1. to set up an instrument in line with two marks.
noun
  1. any object in the pot that reminds the winner of some privilege or obligation when their turn to deal next comes.
verb (used with object)
  1. to pass (something) along to another, especially as a means of avoiding responsibility or blame: He bucked the letter on to the assistant vice president to answer.
Idioms
  1. to shift responsibility or blame to another person: Never one to admit error, he passed the buck to his subordinates.
adverb Informal.
  1. completely; stark: buck naked.
noun Slang.
  1. a dollar.
verb (used without object), noun Indian English.
  1. bukh.
noun
  1. lye used for washing clothes.
  2. clothes washed in lye.
verb (used with object)
  1. to wash or bleach (clothes) in lye.
noun
  1. U.S. novelist: Nobel Prize 1938.
  2. a male given name.
noun
    • the male of various animals including the goat, hare, kangaroo, rabbit, and reindeer
    • (as modifier)
  1. an antelope or deer of either sex
  2. a young man
  3. a robust spirited young man
  4. a dandy; fop
  5. the act of bucking
verb
  1. (of a horse or other animal) to jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched
  2. (of a horse, etc) to throw (its rider) by bucking
  3. to resist or oppose obstinately
  4. to cheer or encourage
  5. (esp of a car) to move forward jerkily; jolt
  6. to charge against (something) with the head down; butt
noun
  1. a dollar
  2. a rand
  3. easily gained money
  4. bang for one's buck See bang 1 (def. 15)
noun
  1. a type of vaulting horse
  2. a stand for timber during sawing
verb
  1. to cut (a felled or fallen tree) into lengths
noun
  1. a marker in the jackpot to remind the winner of some obligation when his turn comes to deal
  2. to shift blame or responsibility onto another
  3. the ultimate responsibility lies here
noun
  1. Pearl S (ydenstricker). 1892–1973, US novelist, noted particularly for her novel of Chinese life The Good Earth (1931): Nobel prize for literature 1938
Buck (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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