1 bus | Definition of bus

bus

noun, often attributive
\ ˈbəs How to pronounce bus (audio) \
plural buses also busses

Definition of bus

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1a : a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers usually along a fixed route according to a schedule took the bus to work double-decker buses waiting at the bus stop
2 : a small hand truck
3a electrical engineering : bus bar
b computers : a set of parallel conductors (see conductor sense d(1)) in a computer system that forms a main transmission path
4 : a spacecraft or missile that carries one or more detachable devices (such as warheads)
throw (someone) under the bus
informal
: to criticize, blame, or punish (someone in a vulnerable position) especially in order to avoid blame or gain an advantage … we will not throw any student under the bus for instant restoration of our image or our reputation.— Donna Shalala But he went out of his way to make clear that this one wasn't really on him. The problem lay with underlings, whom he quickly threw under the bus.— Rem Rieder

bus

verb
bused also bussed; busing also bussing

Definition of bus (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

1 : to travel by a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers usually along a fixed route according to a schedule : to travel by bus
2 : to work as a busboy

transitive verb

1 : to transport by bus busing kids to school Students were bused in for the game.
2a : clear sense 4d bus dishes
b : to remove dirty dishes from bus tables

Definition of bus (Entry 3 of 3)

business

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The History of Bus

Noun

For nearly three centuries, French mathematician Blaise Pascal was credited with building the first mechanical calculator. Then, in 1935, historian Franz Hammer discovered papers proving that German mathematician Wilhelm Schickard had beaten Pascal to it by 18 years. But in 1661 Pascal initiated a world first that has not been discredited: he conceived the world’s first bus service, proposing that a number of coaches should “circulate along predetermined routes in Paris at regular intervals regardless of the number of people,” and pick up passengers for a small fixed fare. The word bus is short for omnibus, which means “for everyone.” It was first used in this sense circa 1823, and referred to the fact that anyone could join the coach along its route, unlike stagecoaches, which had to be pre-booked.

Examples of bus in a Sentence

Noun

She boarded a bus in Nashville. Are you traveling by train or by bus?

Verb

He buses tables at the local diner.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The garden is topped with a giant orange octopus figurine perched on a Shedd Aquarium sign that was once used as a bus stop promotion — as Nye put it, everything is recycled. Marie Fazio, chicagotribune.com, "Shedd Aquarium horticulturalist-beekeeper to retire after 25 years, leaving legacy of sustainability," 6 Sep. 2019 The latter is defined as bus stops served by two or more routes at least every 15 minutes during peak periods. David Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, "National City, Imperial Beach object to proposed housing quotas," 28 Aug. 2019 Boaz Kukia, the father of Ron Kukia, an off-duty soldier who at 19 was stabbed to death in 2017 at a bus stop in southern Israel, signed the letter to HBO. New York Times, "HBO Drama Revives a National Trauma for Israel," 27 Aug. 2019 The car avoided hitting a gas pump but demolished the bus stop. Fox News, "Woman in wheelchair narrowly escapes danger as car slams into Phoenix bus stop," 25 Aug. 2019 For four years during the elementary school phase, chock full of evening sports and scouts commitments, three other families of five at my bus stop formed a weeknight meal swap. Jennifer Folsom, NBC News, "The busy mom's guide to meal planning," 21 Aug. 2019 The deputy ran from the scene to the METRO bus stop, where he was aided by a man who contacted authorities, Gaw said. Michelle Iracheta, Houston Chronicle, "Houston deputy shot multiple times during routine traffic stop, rushed to hospital," 21 Aug. 2019 Suspicious person: Wilson Mills Road A drunken woman was reported at Chipotle Aug. 15 and subsequently given a ride to a bus stop. cleveland.com, "A feline affair continues behind Burgers 2 Beer: Highland Heights Police Blotter," 21 Aug. 2019 Be alert and watch for children near schools, bus stops and in school parking lots. Saja Hindi, The Denver Post, "As 95,000 students get ready to start school in Denver, police remind drivers, students to follow safety tips," 18 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

His agency set up kiosks at a stadium in the capital and reached out to migrants in shelters, busing several hundred back to Central America. Los Angeles Times, "The U.N. is flying and busing migrants through Mexico back to Central America," 30 Aug. 2019 School officials said many children already are bused to schools outside their neighborhoods, in part because of overcrowding. New York Times, "A Suburb Believed in Liberal Ideals. Then Came a New Busing Plan.," 30 Aug. 2019 One of the biggest problems with the program — as Sanders noted — was that African-American children were being bused at great lengths to attend white schools. NBC News, "Busing becomes focal point of Democratic primary after Biden-Harris debate exchange," 30 June 2019 Black students would be bused up to the white schools in the hills during kindergarten through third grade, and white students went down to schools in the flatlands for grades 4 through 6. Casey Tolan, The Mercury News, "How Kamala Harris’ experience in Berkeley’s busing program shaped her life — and changed the presidential race," 28 June 2019 Boston Public Schools faced a crisis in busing inefficiency and expense. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "How an Algorithm Made the Buses in Boston Better," 13 Aug. 2019 No community needs drug addicts from all over the county bused in and dumped in their lap. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, "Letter: Fremont homeless navigation center site needs more thought," 10 Aug. 2019 Police officers from all over New York were bused into the city to respond, and Salidor’s bus headed to ground zero. Olivia Lloyd, sun-sentinel.com, "‘All you could see was smoke’: 9/11 first responder honored at John Knox Village," 8 Aug. 2019 As a high school senior that year, Ms. Lewis was exempt from being bused from her predominantly black neighborhood of Smoketown in central Louisville. John Eligon, New York Times, "Busing Worked in Louisville. So Why Are Its Schools Becoming More Segregated?," 28 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of bus

Noun

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1909, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

History and Etymology for bus

Noun and Verb

short for omnibus

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More Definitions for bus

bus

noun
How to pronounce                    
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