Pronunciation: /bʌst/

Definitions of bust

noun a failure or collapse

Example Sentences

A1 I heard a loud bust when the balloon popped.

A2 The robber tried to steal the safe, but it was too heavy and he couldn't bust it open.

B1 The detective made a bust in the drug trafficking case.

B2 The museum displayed a beautiful marble bust of a famous historical figure.

C1 The company made a bust in profits this quarter due to the economic downturn.

C2 The artist's latest sculpture is a stunning bust of a Greek goddess.

verb to catch someone in the act of doing something wrong

Example Sentences

A1 I bust my balloon by accident.

A2 She busts out laughing whenever she hears a joke.

B1 The police busted the drug ring after months of investigation.

B2 The company's profits are expected to bust all previous records this year.

C1 The government's plan to bust the corruption in the department was successful.

C2 The detective managed to bust the criminal organization and bring them to justice.

Examples of bust in a Sentence

formal The police conducted a raid and managed to bust the illegal gambling operation.

informal I heard the cops are going to bust the party tonight.

slang I can't believe you got busted for sneaking into the concert!

figurative She worked so hard to build her business, only to see it all go bust in the end.

Grammatical Forms of bust

past tense

busted

plural

busts

comparative

more bust

superlative

most bust

present tense

bust

future tense

will bust

perfect tense

have busted

continuous tense

is busting

singular

bust

positive degree

bust

infinitive

bust

gerund

busting

participle

busting

Origin and Evolution of bust

First Known Use: 1700 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'bust' originated from the Latin word 'bustum' which referred to a funeral pyre or tomb. It later evolved to mean a sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and chest.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'bust' expanded to also refer to a woman's chest area, as well as to describe a police raid or arrest. The usage of the word has continued to evolve to encompass various meanings related to breaking or failing, such as 'bust a myth' or 'bust a move'.