bull

bull

bull¹ [bool]

n.

[ME bole < OE bula, a steer; akin to ON boli, Ger bulle < IE base * bhel-: see BALL¹]

1. the adult male of any bovine animal, as the ox, buffalo, etc.

2. the adult male of certain other large animals, as the elephant, elk, moose, walrus, whale, etc.

3. a person who buys stocks or securities in the expectation that their prices will rise, or who seeks to bring about such a rise, in order to sell them at a profit: opposed to BEAR² (sense 3)

4. a person regarded as like a bull in size, strength, etc.

5. a bulldog

☆ 6. Slang a policeman or detective

☆ 7. short for Slang BULLSHIT

vt.

☆ 1. to make (one's way) with driving force

☆ 2. Slang to bluff, as with insincere talk

vi.

Slang to talk foolishly, insincerely, etc.

adj.

1. male

2. like a bull in size, strength, etc.

3. rising in price [a bull market]

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☆ shoot the bull

Slang to talk idly

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take the bull by the horns

to deal boldly with a danger or difficulty

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the Bull

Taurus, the constellation and second sign of the zodiac

bull² [bool]

n.

[ME & OFr bulle < LL bulla, a seal < L, anything round, knob, bubble: for IE base see BIG]

1. BULLA (sense 1)

2. an official document, edict, or decree, esp. one from the pope

bull³ [bool]

n.

[< ? ME bul, trickery, lie]

a ludicrously illogical or incongruous mistake in statement (Ex.: I'm glad I hate onions because if I liked onions, I'd eat them, and I can't stand onions)

bull⁴

abbrev.

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