bust

I. noun Etymology: French buste, from Italian busto, from Latin bustum tomb Date: 1645 1. a sculptured representation of the upper part of the human figure including the head and neck and usually part of the shoulders and breast 2. the upper part of the human torso between neck and waist; especially the breasts of a woman II. verb (busted; also bust; busting) Etymology: alteration of burst Date: 1806 transitive verb 1. a. to break or smash especially with force; also to make inoperative <

busted my watch

> b. to bring an end to ; break up <

helped bust trusts — Newsweek

> — often used with up <

better not try to bust up his happy marriage — Forbes

> c. to ruin financially d. exhaust, wear out — used in phrases like bust one's butt to describe making a strenuous effort e. to give a hard time to — often used in phrases like bust one's chops 2. tame <

bronco busting

> 3. demote 4. slang a. arrest <

busted for carrying guns — Saul Gottlieb

> b. raid <

busted the apartment

> 5. hit, slug intransitive verb 1. to go broke 2. a. burst <

laughing fit to bust

> b. break down 3. a. to lose at cards by exceeding a limit (as the count of 21 in blackjack) b. to fail to complete a straight or flush in poker III. noun Date: 1840 1. a. spree b. a hearty drinking session <

a beer bust

> 2. a. a complete failure ; flop b. a business depression 3. punch, sock 4. slang a. a police raid b. arrest 2 IV. adjective or busted Date: 1837 bankrupt, broke <

go bust

>