book

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bōc; akin to Old High German buoh book, Gothic boka letter Date: before 12th century 1. a. a set of written sheets of skin or paper or tablets of wood or ivory b. a set of written, printed, or blank sheets bound together into a volume c. a long written or printed literary composition d. a major division of a treatise or literary work e. a record of a business's financial transactions or financial condition — often used in plural <

the books show a profit

> f. magazine 4a g. e-book 2. capitalized bible 1 3. something that yields knowledge or understanding <

the great book of nature

> <

her face was an open book

> 4. a. (1) the total available knowledge and experience that can be brought to bear on a task or problem <

tried every trick in the book

> (2) inside information or analysis <

the book on him is that he can't hit a curveball

> b. the standards or authority relevant in a situation <

run by the book

> 5. a. all the charges that can be made against an accused person <

threw the book at him

> b. a position from which one must answer for certain acts ; account <

bring criminals to book

> 6. a. libretto b. the script of a play c. a book of arrangements for a musician or dance orchestra ; musical repertory 7. a packet of items bound together like a book <

a book of stamps

> <

a book of matches

> 8. a. bookmaker b. the bets registered by a bookmaker; also the business or activity of giving odds and taking bets 9. the number of tricks a cardplayer or side must win before any trick can have scoring value • bookful noun II. adjective Date: 13th century 1. derived from books and not from practical experience <

book learning

> 2. shown by books of account <

book assets

> III. verb Date: 1807 transitive verb 1. a. to register (as a name) for some future activity or condition (as to engage transportation or reserve lodgings) <

he was booked to sail on Monday

> b. to schedule engagements for <

book the band for a week

> c. to set aside time for d. to reserve in advance <

book two seats at the theater

> <

were all booked up

> 2. a. to enter charges against in a police register b. of a referee to note the name or number of (as a soccer player) for a serious infraction of the rules intransitive verb 1. to make a reservation <

book through your travel agent

> 2. chiefly British to register in a hotel — usually used with in 3. slang leave, go; especially to depart quickly • bookable adjective, chiefly British • booker noun