Search results for 'book':

book noun 1 a number of printed pages bound together along one edge and protected by covers. 2 a piece of written work intended for publication, eg a novel, reference work, instruction manual, etc. 3 a number of sheets of blank paper bound together. Often in compounds • exercise book • autograph book. 4 (usually the books) a record or formal accounts of the business done by a company, society, etc. 5 a record of bets made with different people • kept a book on whether it would snow. 6 (the book) colloq the current telephone directory. 7 (usually Book) a major division of a long literary work • Book IX of Paradise Lost. 8 a number of stamps, matches or cheques, etc bound together. 9 (the book) an authoritative definitive source of information, instruction or accepted wisdom, etc on a given subject • tried every trick in the book to get the car started. 10 (usually the Book) the Bible. 11 the words of an opera or musical. verb (booked, booking) 1 tr & intr to reserve (a ticket, seat, etc), or engage (a person's services) in advance • Have you booked, sir? 2 said of a police officer, traffic warden, etc: to record the details of (a person who is being charged with an offence). 3 football said of a referee: to enter (a player's name) in a notebook as a record of an offence or serious violation of the rules. 4 to enter (a person's name, etc) in a book or list. be in someone's good or bad books to be in or out of favour with them. be booked up to have no more places or tickets available. bring someone to book to punish them or make them account for their behaviour. by the book strictly according to the rules • I played it by the book and didn't take any chances. in my book in my opinion • That amounts to cheating, in my book. on the books officially listed as a member, customer, etc. suit someone's book to be what they want or like. take a leaf out of someone's book to benefit from their example. throw the book at someone see under throw.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon boc.