bust

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

bust, n. [F. buste, fr. It. busto; cf. LL. busta, bustula, box, of the same origin as E. box a case; cf., for the change of meaning, E. chest. See Bushel.].

•  A piece of sculpture representing the upper part of the human figure, including the head, shoulders, and breast.  [1913 Webster]

  "Ambition sighed: she found it vain to trust
  The faithless column, and the crumbling bust."  [1913 Webster]
•  The portion of the human figure included between the head and waist, whether in statuary or in the person; the chest or thorax; the upper part of the trunk of the body.  [1913 Webster]
•  A woman's bosom{2}.  [PJC]

bust, v. t. 

 To arrest, for committing a crime; -- often used in the passive; as, the whole gang got busted.  [PJC]

bust, v. i. 

•  To break or burst.  [PJC]
•  In blackjack, to draw a card that causes one's total to exceed twenty-one.  [PJC]
•  To go bankrupt.  [PJC]

to go bust to go bankrupt. or bust or collapse from the effort; -- used in phrases expressing determination to do something; as, Oregon or bust, meaning “We will get to Oregon or die trying.”

OXFORD DICTIONARY

bust, n.
1 a the human chest, esp. that of a woman; the bosom. b the circumference of the body at bust level (a 36-inch bust).
2 a sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and chest.

bust, v., n., & adj.
--v. (past and past part. busted or bust) colloq.
1 tr. & intr. burst, break.
2 tr. esp. US reduce (a soldier etc.) to a lower rank; dismiss.
3 tr. esp. US a raid, search. b arrest.
--n.
1 a sudden failure; a bankruptcy.
2 a police raid.
3 a drinking-bout.
4 esp. US a punch; a hit.
5 a worthless thing.
6 a bad hand at cards.
--adj. (also busted)
1 broken, burst, collapsed.
2 bankrupt.

Idiom

bust up 1 bring or come to collapse; explode.
2 (of esp. a married couple) separate.
bust-up n.
1 a quarrel.
2 a collapse; an explosion. go bust become bankrupt; fail.

Etymology

orig. a (dial.) pronunc. of BURST

THESAURUS

bust

abase, abasement, ado, apprehend, apprehension, arch, arrest, arrestation, arrestment, bacchanal, bacchanalia, bacchanalian, backfire, bad times, bag, bang, bankrupt, bankruptcy, barrow, bat, be ruined, become insolvent, bender, binge, blast, blow out, blow up, bomb, boobs, boom, boot, booze, bosom, bottoming out, bounce, bouncing check, boundary stone, bout, box, brannigan, brass, breach, break, break in, break to harness, breast, breasts, brisket, bum, bump, burst, business cycle, business fluctuations, bustle, cairn, can, capture, carousal, carouse, carving, cashier, casting down, celebration, cenotaph, check, chest, chip, chop, clamor, clap, clash, clout, collapse, collar, column, compotation, cooling off, crack, crash, crisis, cromlech, crop, cross, crump, cup, cyclolith, debase, debasement, debauch, deconsecrate, defrock, degradation, degrade, degrading, dement, demerit, demote, demotion, deplume, depluming, depose, depression, deprive, detain, dethrone, detonate, disbar, discharge, discrown, disemploy, disenthrone, disgrade, disgrading, dismiss, displace, displume, displuming, doll, dolly, dolmen, domesticate, downgrade, downgrading, downturn, drinking bout, drum out, drunk, drunken carousal, dud, dug, dull thud, dummy, economic cycle, economic expansion, economic growth, economic stagnation, escapade, evil day, excommunicate, exfoliate, expanding economy, expansion, expel, explode, fail, failure, fantoccini, figure, figurehead, figurine, fire, fissure, fizzle, flap, flat failure, fling, flop, floperoo, flunk, flunk out, flurry, fold, fold up, footstone, fracture, frost, fulminate, furlough, furore, fuss, gentle, gingerbread man, give the ax, give the gate, go bankrupt, go into receivership, go off, go to pot, go to ruin, go under, go up, grave, gravestone, growth, guzzle, hard times, hassle, haymaker, headstone, heavy weather, high growth rate, hoarstone, housebreak, hubbub, humble, humbling, hurly-burly, impoverish, inscription, insolvency, insufficient funds, jag, kick, kick upstairs, kited check, knock, knockers, lark, lay figure, lay off, lemon, let go, let off, let out, liquidate, loser, low, lower, make a pinch, make redundant, mama, mamelon, mamelonation, mammary gland, mammilla, mammillation, man of straw, manikin, mannequin, marionette, marker, market expansion, mausoleum, megalith, memento, memorial, memorial arch, memorial column, memorial statue, memorial stone, menhir, model, monolith, monument, mound, nab, necrology, nenes, netting, nipple, obelisk, obituary, orgy, oust, overdraft, overdrawn account, overthrow, pap, papilla, paste, pauper, pauperize, peak, peaking, pension, pension off, pick up, pigeon breast, pillar, pinch, plaque, ploy, poke, portrait bust, potation, pother, prize, prosperity, pub-crawl, pull in, punch, puppet, purge, pyramid, rainy day, randan, randy, rap, read out of, receivership, recession, recovery, reduce, reduction, release, reliquary, remembrance, remove, remove from office, replace, report, retire, revel, ribbon, rostral column, ruin, run in, rupture, sack, sad times, scale, scarecrow, sculpture, scuttle, seizure, separate forcibly, set off, shaft, shoot, shrine, shut down, sink, slam, slap, slat, slowdown, slump, smack, snap, snowman, sock, splat, split, spree, statuary, statue, statuette, stela, stone, stormy weather, strip, strip of office, strip of rank, stripping of rank, stupa, superannuate, surplus, suspend, swap, symposium, tablet, tame, tap, tear, teat, testimonial, thorax, thwack, tit, tits, titties, titty, to-do, tomb, tombstone, toot, tope, total loss, touch off, trophy, tumult, turkey, turmoil, turn off, turn out, udder, unchurch, unfrock, unsaddle, unseat, unthrone, uproar, upturn, wash out, washout, wassail, wax figure, waxwork, whack, wham, whap, whirl, whirlpool, whirlwind, whomp, whop, wingding, wood carving

ROGET THESAURUS

bust

Amusement

N amusement, entertainment, recreation, fun, game, fun and games, diversion, divertissement, reaction, solace, pastime, passetemps, sport, labor of love, pleasure, relaxation, leisure, fun, frolic, merriment, jollity, joviality, jovialness, heyday, laughter, jocosity, jocoseness, drollery, buffoonery, tomfoolery, mummery, pleasantry, wit, quip, quirk, giggle, titter, snigger, snicker, crow, cheer, chuckle, shout, horse laugh, belly laugh, hearty laugh, guffaw, burst of laughter, fit of laughter, shout of laughter, roar of laughter, peal of laughter, cachinnation, Kentish fire, tiger, play, game, game at romps, gambol, romp, prank, antic, rig, lark, spree, skylarking, vagary, monkey trick, gambade, fredaine, escapade, echappee, bout, espieglerie, practical joke, dance, hop, reel, rigadoon, saraband, hornpipe, bolero, ballroom dance, minuet, waltz, polka, fox trot, tango, samba, rhumba, twist, stroll, hustle, cha-cha, fandango, cancan, bayadere, breakdown, cake-walk, cornwallis, break dancing, nautch-girl, shindig, skirtdance, stag dance, Virginia reel, square dance, galop, galopade, jig, Irish jig, fling, strathspey, allemande, gavot, gavotte, tarantella, mazurka, morisco, morris dance, quadrille, country dance, folk dance, cotillon, Sir Roger de Coverley, ballet, ball, bal, bal masque, bal costume, masquerade, Terpsichore, festivity, merrymaking, party, blowout, hullabaloo, hoedown, bat, bum, bust, clambake, donation party, fish fry, jamboree, kantikoy, nautch, randy, squantum, tear, Turnerfest, yule log, fete, festival, gala, ridotto, revels, revelry, reveling, carnival, brawl, saturnalia, high jinks, feast, banquet, regale, symposium, wassail, carouse, carousal, jollification, junket, wake, Irish wake, picnic, fete champetre, regatta, field day, treat, round of pleasures, dissipation, a short life and a merry one, racketing, holiday making, rejoicing, jubilee, bonfire, fireworks, feu-de-joie, firecracker, holiday, gala day, red letter day, play day, high days and holidays, high holiday, Bank holiday, May day, Derby day, Saint Monday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Bairam, wayz-goos, bean feast, Arbor Day, Declaration Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, Mardi gras, mi-careme, feria, fiesta, place of amusement, theater, hall, concert room, ballroom, assemblyroom, music hall, park, plaisance, national park, national forest, state park, county park, city park, vest-pocket park, public park (public), arbor, garden, pleasure ground, playground, cricketground, croquet ground, archery ground, hunting ground, tennis court, racket court, bowling alley, green alley, croquet lawn, rink, glaciarum, skating rink, roundabout, merry-go-round, swing, montagne Russe, game of chance, game of skill, athletic sports, gymnastics, archery, rifle shooting, tournament, pugilism, sports, horse racing, the turf, aquatics, skating, sliding, cricket, tennis, lawn tennis, hockey, football, baseball, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, rackets, fives, trap bat and ball, battledore and shuttlecock, la grace, pall- mall, tipcat, croquet, golf, curling, pallone, polo, water polo, tent pegging, tilting at the ring, quintain, greasy pole, quoits, horseshoes, discus, rounders, lacrosse, tobogganing, water polo, knurr and spell, leapfrog, hop skip and jump, mother may I, French and English, tug of war, blindman's bluff, hunt the slopper, hide and seek, kiss in the ring, snapdragon, cross questions and crooked answers, crisscross, hopscotch, jacks, jackstones, marbles, mumblety-peg, mumble-the-peg, pushball, shinney, shinny, tag, billiards, pool, pingpong, pyramids, bagatelle, bowls, skittles, ninepins, kain, American bowls, tenpins, tivoli, cards, card games, whist, rubber, round game, loo, cribbage, besique, euchre, drole, ecarte, picquet, allfours, quadrille, omber, reverse, Pope Joan, commit, boston, boaston, blackjack, twenty- one, vingtun, quinze, thirty-one, put, speculation, connections, brag, cassino, lottery, commerce, snip-snap-snoren, lift smoke, blind hookey, Polish bank, Earl of Coventry, Napoleon, patience, pairs, banker, blind poker, draw poker, straight poker, stud poker, bluff, bridge, bridge whist, lotto, monte, three-card monte, nap, penny-ante, poker, reversis, squeezers, old maid, fright, beggar-my- neighbor, baccarat, ace, king, queen, knave, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, trey, deuce, joker, trump, wild card, spades, hearts, clubs, diamonds, major suit, minor suit, bower, right bower, left bower, dummy, jackpot, deck, pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full-house, four of a kind, royal flush, misere chess, draughts, checkers, checquers, backgammon, dominos, merelles, nine men's morris, go bang, solitaire, game of fox and goose, monopoly, loto, scrabble, scribbage, boggle, crossword puzzle, hangman, morra, gambling, toy, plaything, bauble, doll, teetotum, knickknack, magic lantern, peep show, puppet show, raree show, gallanty show, toy shop, quips and cranks and wanton wiles, nods and becks and wreathed smiles, entertainer, showman, showgirl, dancer, tap dancer, song-and-dance man, vaudeville act, singer, musician, sportsman, gamester, reveler, master of ceremonies, master of revels, pompom girl, arbiter elegantiarum, arbiter bibendi, archer, fan, toxophilite, turfman, amusing, entertaining, diverting, recreational, recreative, lusory, pleasant, laughable, witty, fun, festive, festal, jovial, jolly, jocund, roguish, rompish, playful, playful as a kitten, sportive, ludibrious, funny, very funny, hilarious, uproarious, side-splitting, amused, pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw, laughing, risible, ready to burst, ready to split, ready to die with laughter, convulsed with laughter, rolling in the aisles, on the light fantastic toe, at play, in sport, Int, vive la bagatelle!, vogue la galere!, deus nobis haec otia fecit, dum vivimus vivamus, dulce est desipere in loco, (every room) hath blazed with lights and brayed wi, misce stullitiam consiliis brevem.

Representation

N representation, representment, imitation, illustration, delineation, depictment, imagery, portraiture, iconography, design, designing, art, fine arts, painting, sculpture, engraving, photography, cinematography, radiography, autoradiography, fluorography, sciagraphy, personation, personification, impersonation, drama, picture, photo, photograph, daguerreotype, snapshot, X-ray photo, movie film, movie, tracing, scan, TV image, video image, image file, graphics, computer graphics, televideo, closed-circuit TV, copy, drawing, sketch, drought, draft, plot, chart, figure, scheme, image, likeness, icon, portrait, striking likeness, speaking likeness, very image, effigy, facsimile, figure, figure head, puppet, doll, figurine, aglet, manikin, lay- figure, model, mammet, marionette, fantoccini, waxwork, bust, statue, statuette, ideograph, hieroglyphic, anaglyph, kanji, diagram, monogram, map, plan, chart, ground plan, projection, elevation (plan), ichnography, cartography, atlas, outline, scheme, view, radiograph, scotograph, sciagraph, spectrogram, heliogram, represent, representing, representative, illustrative, represented, imitative, figurative, iconic, like, graphic, cinquecento quattrocento, trecento.

VB copy, drawing, sketch, drought, draft, plot, chart, figure, scheme, image, likeness, icon, portrait, striking likeness, speaking likeness, very image, effigy, facsimile, figure, figure head, puppet, doll, figurine, aglet, manikin, lay- figure, model, mammet, marionette, fantoccini, waxwork, bust, statue, statuette, ideograph, hieroglyphic, anaglyph, kanji, diagram, monogram, map, plan, chart, ground plan, projection, elevation (plan), ichnography, cartography, atlas, outline, scheme, view, radiograph, scotograph, sciagraph, spectrogram, heliogram, V, represent, delineate, depict, depicture, portray, take a likeness, catch a likeness, hit off, photograph, daguerreotype, snapshot, figure, shadow forth, shadow out, adumbrate, body forth, describe, trace, copy, mold, dress up, illustrate, symbolize, paint, carve, engrave, personate, personify, impersonate, assume a character, pose as, act, play, mimic, hold the mirror up to nature.