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APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

bull

/bʊl/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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What does bull mean?

noun

  1. Specifically, one that is uncastrated.
  2. Any bovine of an aggressive or long-horned breed regardless of age and sex.
  3. A male of domesticated cattle or oxen of any age.
More meanings (34)

noun

  1. Any adult male bovine.
  2. An adult male of certain large mammals, such as whales, elephants, camels and seals.
  3. (slang) Beef.
  4. A large, strong man.
  5. An investor who buys (commodities or securities) in anticipation of a rise in prices.
  6. (slang) A policeman; a detective; a railroad security guard.
  7. (slang) An elderly lesbian.
  8. A man who has sex with someone else's partner.
  9. (slang) A man or boy.
  10. Clipping of bullseye.
  11. The central portion of a target, inside the inner and magpie.
  12. (informal, slang) Clipping of bullshit.
  13. A papal bull, an official document or edict from the Pope.
  14. A seal affixed to a document, especially a document from the Pope.
  15. A lie.
  16. (informal) Nonsense.
  17. (historical, obsolete, slang) A crown coin; its value, 5 shillings.
  18. (obsolete) A drink made by pouring water into a cask that previously held liquor.
  19. (obsolete) A bubble.

adjective

  1. Large and strong, like a bull.
  2. Of large mammals, adult male.
  3. Characterized by rising prices or belief that prices will rise.
  4. Stupid.

verb

  1. To force oneself (in a particular direction); to move aggressively.
  2. To be in heat; to be ready for mating with a bull.
  3. To mate with (a cow or heifer).
  4. To endeavour to raise the market price of.
  5. To endeavour to raise prices in.
  6. To mock; to cheat.
  7. To lie, to tell untruths.
  8. To polish (boots) to a high shine.
  9. (dated) To publish in a papal bull.

proper noun

  1. The constellation and zodiacal sign Taurus.
  2. A surname transferred from the nickname derived from the name of the animal.
Wiktionary contributors Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/bʊl/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

“I’m going to buy a new drum, and a sure’nough sword, and a red necktie and a bull pup, and get married.”
Mark TwainThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer, CompleteProject Gutenberg ebook #74
But just as he finished he heard a great roar, and out of the forest came a mighty bull, snorting and running.
Sara Cone BryantHow to Tell Stories to Children, and Some Stories to TellProject Gutenberg ebook #474
More book examples (3)
In the latter case the mental sufferings which are portrayed are frequently more harrowing than the details of any bull- or cockfight.
Tingfang WuAmerica, Through the Spectacles of an Oriental DiplomatProject Gutenberg ebook #609
He unfurls the umbrella in the face of the bull or dog, and the brute turns round quite scared, and runs away.
George BorrowWild Wales: Its People, Language and SceneryProject Gutenberg ebook #648
I am afraid, after all, I shall have to take the bull by the horns and have an egg with my breakfast.
Arthur Sullivan; W. S. (William Schwenck) GilbertThe Complete Plays of Gilbert and SullivanProject Gutenberg ebook #808