Oxford Essential Dictionary
book
verb (books, booking, booked )
to arrange to have or do something later:
We booked a table for six at the restaurant.
The hotel is fully booked (= all the rooms are full).
noun
a thing that you read or write in, that has a lot of pieces of paper joined together inside a cover:
I'm reading a book by George Orwell.
an exercise book (= a book that you write in at school)
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
book
I. book1 S1 W1 /bʊk/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: boc]
1. PRINTED PAGES [countable] a set of printed pages that are held together in a cover so that you can read them:
I’ve just started reading a book by Graham Greene.
a cookery book
book about/on
a book about cats
2. TO WRITE IN [countable] a set of sheets of paper held together in a cover so that you can write on them:
a black address book
a notebook
3. SET OF THINGS [countable] a set of things such as stamps, matches, or tickets, held together inside a paper cover:
a cheque book
4. books [plural]
a) ACCOUNTS written records of the financial accounts of a business:
An accountant will examine the company’s books.
a small firm that is having problems balancing the books (=keeping its profits and spending equal)
on the books
They have £50 billion worth of orders on the books. ⇨ cook the books at cook1(3)
b) JOBS the names of people who use a company’s services, or who are sent by a company to work for other people
on sb’s books
an agent with a lot of popular actors on his books
5. by the book exactly according to rules or instructions:
She feels she has to go by the book and can’t use her creativity.
do/play something by the book
The police were careful to do everything by the book.
6. a closed book a subject that you do not understand or know anything about:
Chemistry is a closed book to me.
7. be in sb’s good/bad books informal used to say that someone is pleased or annoyed with you
8. LAW be on the books if a law is on the books, it is part of the set of laws in a country, town, area etc
9. PART OF A BOOK [countable] one of the parts that a very large book such as the Bible is divided into
book of
the Book of Isaiah
10. in my book spoken said when giving your opinion:
In my book, nothing is more important than football.
11. bring somebody to book to punish someone for breaking laws or rules, especially when you have been trying to punish them for a long time:
War criminals must be brought to book.
⇨ statute book, ⇨ take a leaf out of sb’s book at leaf1(2), ⇨ read somebody like a book at read1(16), ⇨ suit sb’s book at suit2(5), ⇨ a turn-up for the book at turn-up(2), ⇨ throw the book at somebody at throw1(26)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ read a book What book are you reading at the moment?
▪ look through a book (=look at the pages quickly) I looked through the book until I found the right section.
▪ write a book He’s written several interesting travel books.
▪ publish a book The book is published by Penguin.
▪ a book comes out (=it is published for the first time) Everyone was waiting for the new Harry Potter book to come out.
▪ borrow a book (also take out a book British English) (=from a library) You can borrow up to six books from the library.
▪ return a book (=to a library) Please return all your books before the end of term.
▪ renew a book (=arrange to continue borrowing it from a library) If you need to renew a book, you can do it by phone.
■ book + NOUN
▪ a book shop (also book store American English) I got it from that little book shop in the village.
▪ a book seller (=a person, shop, or company selling books) High street book sellers are experiencing a drop in sales.
▪ a book token British English (=a ticket that you can use to pay for a book) She always bought me book tokens for my birthday.
▪ a book review (=an article giving critical opinions of a book) She had a book review published in the student magazine.
▪ a book fair (=an event at which publishers and authors show new books)
▪ the introduction/preface/foreword to a book In the introduction to this book I referred to a conversation between myself and a young student.
▪ a section of a book The most useful section of the book is the list of suppliers of artists’ materials.
■ phrases
▪ the cover of a book His picture is on the cover of the book.
▪ a chapter of a book The first chapter of the book is about his childhood.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ types of book
▪ novel noun [countable] a book about imaginary people and events: The film is based on Nick Hornby’s best-selling novel. | a historical novel
▪ fiction noun [uncountable] books that describe imaginary people and events: She reads a lot of romantic fiction.
▪ literature noun [uncountable] novels and plays that are considered to be important works of art: I’m studying American literature at university.
▪ non-fiction noun [uncountable] books that describe real people and events: Men tend to prefer non-fiction.
▪ science fiction noun [uncountable] books about imaginary events in the future or space travel
▪ reference book noun [countable] a book such as a dictionary or encyclopedia, which you look at to find information
▪ textbook noun [countable] a book about a particular subject that you use in a classroom
▪ set book British English, course book British English noun [countable] a book that you have to study as part of your course
▪ guidebook noun [countable] a book telling visitors about a city or country
▪ picture book noun [countable] a book for children with many pictures in it
▪ hardcover/hardback noun [countable] a book that has a hard stiff cover
▪ paperback noun [countable] a book that has a paper cover
▪ biography noun [countable] a book about a real person’s life, written by another person
▪ autobiography noun [countable] a book that someone has written about their own life
▪ recipe book/cookery book British English (also cookbook American English) noun [countable] a book that tells you how to cook different meals
II. book2 S2 BrE AmE verb
1. [intransitive and transitive] to make arrangements to stay in a place, eat in a restaurant, go to a theatre etc at a particular time in the future ⇨ reserve:
Have you booked a holiday this year?
The flight was already fully booked (=no more seats were available).
To get tickets, you have to book in advance.
The show’s booked solid (=all the tickets have been sold) until February.
2. [transitive] to arrange for someone such as a singer to perform on a particular date:
The band was booked for a benefit show in Los Angeles.
3. be booked up
a) if a hotel, restaurant etc is booked up, there are no more rooms, places, seats etc still available:
The courses quickly get booked up.
b) if someone is booked up, they are extremely busy and have arranged a lot of things they must do:
I’m all booked up this week – can we get together next Friday?
4. [transitive] to arrange for someone to go to a hotel, fly on a plane etc:
I’ve booked you a flight on Saturday.
book somebody on/in etc
I’ll book you in at the Hilton.
5. [transitive] to put someone’s name officially in police records, along with the charge made against them:
Smith was booked on suspicion of attempted murder.
6. [transitive] British English when a ↑referee in a sports game books a player who has broken the rules, he or she officially writes down the player’s name in a book as a punishment
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ book + NOUN
▪ book a holiday People often book their holidays in January.
▪ book a trip I booked the whole trip on the Internet.
▪ book a flight He picked up the phone and booked a flight to Barcelona.
▪ book a ticket It’s cheaper if you book your train ticket in advance.
▪ book a table (=in a restaurant) I’ll book a table for 7.30 tomorrow evening.
▪ book a room/hotel Ross found a good hotel and booked a room.
▪ book a seat She booked me a seat on the 9 am flight.
▪ book a place on something Students are advised to book a place on the course early.
■ adverbs
▪ book early We recommend you book early to avoid disappointment.
▪ book (well) in advance There are only 20 places, so it is essential to book well in advance.
▪ book online (=on the Internet) It’s much easier to book tickets online.
▪ be fully booked (=all the seats, tickets etc are sold) I’m afraid that show is fully booked.
▪ be booked solid (=all the seats, tickets etc are sold for a long period) The restaurant’s booked solid for the whole of the Christmas period.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to arrange to do something
▪ arrange to organize or make plans for something such as a meeting, party, or trip: He had arranged to meet Marcia outside the restaurant. | The company arranges skiing trips.
▪ fix/fix up especially British English spoken to arrange something, especially for someone else: John had fixed up for me to give a talk. | I’ve fixed an appointment for you at the doctor’s.
▪ organize (also -ise British English) to make the arrangements for an event, especially a big public event: They had organized a protest against the war.
▪ set a time/date (also fix a time/date British English) to arrange for something to happen at a particular time or on a particular day: Have you set a date for the wedding yet? | We fixed a time for me to visit.
▪ reserve/book to arrange to stay in a place, go to a theatre, travel on a plane etc: I’ve booked the flight to Zurich. | He had reserved a table at the restaurant.
▪ take care of/make the arrangements to arrange all the details of an event: Uncle James is making all the funeral arrangements.
book in (also book into something) phrasal verb
British English to arrive at a hotel and say who you are etc SYN check in:
Several tourists were booking in.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
book
book [book books booked booking] noun, verb [bʊk] [bʊk]
noun
PRINTED WORK
1. countable a set of printed pages that are fastened inside a cover so that you can turn them and read them
• a pile of books
• hardback/paperback books
2. countable a written work published in printed or electronic form
• a book by Stephen King
• a book about/on wildlife
• reference/children's/library books
FOR WRITING IN
3. countable a set of sheets of paper that are fastened together inside a cover and used for writing in
• an exercise book
• a notebook
see also address book
OF STAMPS/TICKETS/MATCHES, ETC.
4. countable a set of things that are fastened together like a book
• a book of stamps/tickets/matches
• a chequebook
ACCOUNTS
5. the books plural the written records of the financial affairs of a business
Syn: accounts
• to do the books (= to check the accounts)
• You need to go over the books again; there's a mistake somewhere.
SECTION OF BIBLE, ETC.
6. countable a section of a large written work
• the books of the Bible
FOR BETTING
7. countable (BrE) a record of bets made on whether sth will happen, sb will win a race, etc
• They've opened a book on who'll win the Championship.
more at close the book on sth at close1 v., a closed book at closed, cook the books at cook v., the history books at history, don't judge a book by its cover at judge v., take a leaf out of sb's book at leaf n., an open book at open adj., read sb like a book at read v., suit your/sb's book at suit v., every trick in the book at trick n.
Word Origin:
Old English bōc (originally also ‘a document or charter’), bōcian ‘to grant by charter’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boek and German Buch, and probably to beech (on which runes were carved).
Thesaurus:
book noun C
• I'm reading a book by Robert Shea.
work • • title • • publication • • novel • • textbook • |AmE text • |formal volume •
a book/work/publication/novel/textbook/text/volume about sb/sth
read/write a book/work/publication/novel/textbook/text/volume
publish a book/work/title/novel/textbook/volume
Collocations:
Literature
Being a writer
write/publish literature/poetry/fiction/a book/a story/a poem/a novel/a review/an autobiography
become a writer/novelist/playwright
find/have a publisher/an agent
have a new book out
edit/revise/proofread a book/text/manuscript
dedicate a book/poem to…
Plot, character and atmosphere
construct/create/weave/weave sth into a complex narrative
advance/drive the plot
introduce/present the protagonist/a character
describe/depict/portray a character (as…)/(sb as) a hero/villain
create an exciting/a tense atmosphere
build/heighten the suspense/tension
evoke/capture the pathos of the situation
convey emotion/an idea/an impression/a sense of…
engage the reader
seize/capture/grip the (reader's) imagination
arouse/elicit emotion/sympathy (in the reader)
lack imagination/emotion/structure/rhythm
Language, style and imagery
use/employ language/imagery/humour/(especially US) humor/an image/a symbol/a metaphor/a device
use/adopt/develop a style/technique
be rich in/be full of symbolism
evoke images of…/a sense of…/a feeling of…
create/achieve an effect
maintain/lighten the tone
introduce/develop an idea/a theme
inspire a novel/a poet/sb's work/sb's imagination
Reading and criticism
read an author/sb's work/fiction/poetry/a text/a poem/a novel/a chapter/a passage
review a book/a novel/sb's work
give sth/get/have/receive a good/bad review
be hailed (as)/be recognized as a masterpiece
quote a phrase/line/stanza/passage/author
provoke/spark discussion/criticism
study/interpret/understand a text/passage
translate sb's work/a text/a passage/a novel/a poem
Example Bank:
• Do you want to renew any of your library books?
• Her name was inscribed in the book.
• His latest book will appear in December.
• How many books can I borrow?
• How many books have you got out?
• How many copies of the book did you order?
• I couldn't put the book down.
• She does the books for us.
• She looked up from her book and smiled at him.
• She's busy writing a book on astrology.
• Someone was cooking the books.
• The book is dedicated to his mother.
• The collector had many books inscribed to him by famous authors.
• There's nothing like curling up with a mug of tea and a good book.
• These issues are discussed in his latest book.
• We have fifty people on the books.
• a book by Robert Grout
• a book for new parents
• a book of walks in London
• a controversial book about the royal family
• a new book from the publishing company, Bookworm
• a survey to find the nation's favourite children's book
• one of the earliest printed books
• His desk was covered with piles of books.
• I'm reading a book by Robert Shea.
• The book has received some terrible reviews.
• a library/hardback book
Idioms: bring somebody to book ▪ by the book ▪ in my book ▪ in somebody's bad books ▪ on somebody's books ▪ throw the book at somebody
Derived: book in something ▪ book somebody in something
verb
1. intransitive, transitive to arrange to have or use sth on a particular date in the future; to buy a ticket in advance
• Book early to avoid disappointment.
• ~ sth She booked a flight to Chicago.
• The performance is booked up (= there are no more tickets available).
• I'm sorry— we're fully booked.
• (BrE) I'd like to book a table for two for 8 o'clock tonight. In American English book is not used if you do not have to pay in advance; instead use make a reservation: NAmE
• I'd like to make a reservation for 8 o'clock tonight.
compare reserve
2. transitive to arrange for sb to have a seat on a plane, etc
• ~ sb + adv./prep. I've booked you on the 10 o'clock flight.
• ~ sb sth (+ adv./prep.) I've booked you a room at the Park Hotel.
3. transitive ~ sb/sth (for sth) to arrange for a singer, etc. to perform on a particular date
• We've booked a band for the wedding reception.
4. transitive ~ sb (for sth) (informal) to write down sb's name and address because they have committed a crime or an offence
• He was booked for possession of cocaine.
5. transitive ~ sb (BrE, informal) (of a referee) to write down in an official book the name of a player who has broken the rules of the game
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
Old English bōc (originally also ‘a document or charter’), bōcian ‘to grant by charter’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boek and German Buch, and probably to beech (on which runes were carved).
Thesaurus:
book verb T, I (especially BrE)
• I've booked seats on the 9.30 flight.
reserve • • order • • charter • |especially AmE rent • |BrE hire •
book/reserve a place/seat/table/ticket
book/reserve/rent/hire a room/hall
book/reserve/order sth for eight o' clock/midday/this evening, etc.
Book or reserve? If you book sth you usually pay at the same time; if you reserve sth you usually pay later, unless it is for a seat on a train.
Example Bank:
• Book with Suntours and kids go free!
• I've booked a table for two at a nice Italian restaurant.
• Seats go quickly, so it is essential to book in advance.
• There are few places on the course, so it is essential to book in advance.
• Have you booked the band for the party yet?
• He's booked to appear on 3 November at Central Hall.
• I've booked you on the 9.30 flight.
• Several well-known authors have been booked to speak at the event.
• The hotel is fully booked that weekend.
• The seminars get quickly booked up.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
book / bʊk / noun (TEXT)
A1 [ C ] a written text that can be published in printed or electronic form:
Have you read any good books recently?
He's got a new book out (= published) .
She wrote a book on car maintenance.
A1 [ C ] a set of pages that have been fastened together inside a cover to be read or written in:
a hardback / paperback book
I took a book with me to read on the train.
He writes all his expenses in a little book he carries with him.
[ C ] one of the parts that a very long book, such as the Bible, is divided into:
the book of Job
C2 [ C ] a number of one type of thing fastened together flat inside a cover:
a book of stamps/tickets/matches
book / bʊk / noun (MONEY RECORD)
books [ plural ] the written records of money that a business has spent or received:
At the end of the year, the accountant goes over (= checks) the books.
Running a school is much more of a business than it used to be, - by law we have to balance our books.
[ S ] the situation in which a bookmaker accepts and pays out amounts of money that are risked on a particular result:
They've already opened/started a book on the result of the next World Cup.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
book
[b'ʊk]
♦
books, booking, booked
1) N-COUNT A book is a number of pieces of paper, usually with words printed on them, which are fastened together and fixed inside a cover of stronger paper or cardboard. Books contain information, stories, or poetry, for example.
His eighth book came out earlier this year and was an instant best-seller...
`Robinson Crusoe' is one of the most famous books in the world.
...the author of a book on politics.
...a book about witches.
...a new book by Rosella Brown.
...reference books.
2) N-COUNT: usu N of n A book of something such as stamps, matches, or tickets is a small number of them fastened together between thin cardboard covers.
Can I have a book of first class stamps please?
3) VERB When you book something such as a hotel room or a ticket, you arrange to have it or use it at a particular time.
[V n] British officials have booked hotel rooms for the women and children...
[V n n] Laurie revealed she had booked herself a flight home last night.
[V-ed] ...three-star restaurants that are normally booked for months in advance.
Syn:
reserve
4) N-PLURAL A company's or organization's books are its records of money that has been spent and earned or of the names of people who belong to it.
For the most part he left the books to his managers and accountants...
Around 12 per cent of the people on our books are in the computing industry.
Syn:
accounts
5) VERB When a referee books a soccer player who has seriously broken the rules of the game, he or she officially writes down the player's name.
[V n] League referee Keith Cooper booked him in the first half for a tussle with the goalie.
6) VERB When a police officer books someone, he or she officially records their name and the offence that they may be charged with.
[V n] They took him to the station and booked him for assault with a deadly weapon.
Syn:
charge
7) N-COUNT In a very long written work such as the Bible, a book is one of the sections into which it is divided.
8) → See also booking, cheque book, phone book
9) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you are in someone's bad books, they are annoyed with you. If you are in their good books, they are pleased with you.
Sir John was definitely in the Treasury's bad books for incorrect thinking on economic prospects...
Right from my very first day I seemed to be in everyone's good books.
10) PHRASE: V inflects If you bring someone to book, you punish them for an offence or make them explain their behaviour officially.
Police should be asked to investigate so that the guilty can be brought to book soon.
11) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you say that someone or something is a closed book, you mean that you do not know anything about them.
Frank Spriggs was a very able man but something of a closed book...
Economics was a closed book to him.
12) PHRASE: v-link PHR If a hotel, restaurant, theatre, or transport service is fully booked, or booked solid, it is booked up.
The car ferries from the mainland are often fully booked by February.
13) PHRASE: PHR with cl In my book means `in my opinion' or `according to my beliefs'.
The greatest manager there has ever been, or ever will be in my book, is retiring.
Syn:
to my mind
14) PHRASE: V inflects If someone in authority throws the book at someone who has committed an offence, they give the offender the greatest punishment that they are allowed to.
15) to cook the books → see cook
to take a leaf out of someone's book → see leaf
Phrasal Verbs:
- book in
- book into
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1book /ˈbʊk/ noun, pl books
1 [count]
a : a set of printed sheets of paper that are held together inside a cover : a long written work
• The shelves in his office are filled with books.
• That's one of the best books I've read in a long time.
• a novelist who has written some wonderful books
• a book about plumbing
• The library has many dictionaries and other reference books.
• a hardcover/paperback book
- sometimes used figuratively
• You can learn many things by studying the great book of nature. [=by studying nature]
b : a long written work that can be read on a computer : e-book
• an electronic book
2 [count] : a set of sheets of paper that are inside a cover and that you can write information on
• an appointment book
• an address book
- see also notebook
3 [count] : a major section of a long written work (such as the Bible)
• the books of the Bible
• a story that is told in the Book of Job
- see also good book
4 [count] : a set of things held together inside a cover like the pages of a book
• a book of stamps
• a book of matches [=a matchbook]
- see also checkbook
5 books [plural]
a : the financial records of a business
• The company's books [=accounts] show a profit.
b : the official records of a business or organization
• I'm sorry, but your name does not appear in/on our books.
6 the book US informal : the knowledge or information that relates to a particular subject, person, etc.
• The book on him is that he can't hit a curveball. [=people have seen and reported that he can't hit a curveball]
7 the book informal : phone book
• Give me a call if you need to. I'm in the book. [=my telephone number is listed in the telephone book]
a closed book : a person or thing that is difficult to understand
• Even to his closest friends, he was always something of a closed book.
- compare an open book (below)
an open book : a person or thing that is easy to learn about and understand
• My life is an open book. I have nothing to hide.
bring (someone) to book chiefly Brit formal : to require (someone) to explain and accept punishment or criticism for bad or wrong behavior
• The people responsible for these crimes must be brought to book. [=brought to account]
by the book : by following the official rules very strictly
• My boss insists on doing everything by the book.
• They ran all the investigations by the book.
cook the books
- see 2cook
every trick in the book
- see 1trick
hit the books informal : to study or begin studying very intensely
• I've got to hit the books all weekend if I'm going to pass this test.
in my book informal : in my opinion
• She deserves credit, in my book, for much of the company's recent success.
• He isn't even a good boss, at least not in my book.
in someone's bad books chiefly Brit informal : in a state in which you are not liked or treated nicely by someone
• He remains in her bad books. [=she is still displeased with him]
in someone's good books chiefly Brit informal : in a state in which you are liked or are treated nicely by someone
• He's trying to get back in his boss's good books by offering to work overtime.
one for the books : a very unusual, important, or surprising situation, statement, event, etc.
• There have been a lot of scandals in local politics over the years, but this is one for the books.
on the books : part of the set of official laws
• It's an outdated law that's still on the books.
read someone like a book
- see 1read
suit someone's book
- see 2suit
throw the book at informal : to punish (someone) as severely as possible
• The judge threatened to throw the book at him if he committed another offense.
• I thought I would get off with just a warning, but they threw the book at me.
write the book on
- see write