book
Other forms: books; booked; booking
For a lot of kids, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was their first experience of really falling in love with a book, or a collection of printed words or illustrations bound together.
Book is a widely-known word with a whole lot of less well-known meanings. The noun book can refer to a bunch of pages bound together, as in a book you read, but also a book of tickets or stamps, a section of a larger work of literature (like a book of the Bible), or the written script of a stage play. Book can also be a verb meaning "to record information about a criminal suspect" or "to reserve," which you could use to say, "Let's book a room at the nicest hotel in Maui this winter."
Definitions of book
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physical objects consisting of a number of pages bound together“he used a large book as a doorstop”synonyms: volumetypes:albuma book of blank pages with pockets or envelopes; for organizing photographs or stamp collections etccoffee-table bookan elaborate oversize book suitable for displaying on a coffee tablefolioa book (or manuscript) consisting of large sheets of paper folded in the middle to make two leaves or four pagesjournala record book as a physical objectnovela printed and bound book that is an extended work of fictionorder booka book in which customers' orders are entered; usually makes multiple copies of the orderpaper-back book, paperback, paperback book, soft-cover, soft-cover book, softback, softback booka book with paper coverspicture booka book consisting chiefly of picturessketch block, sketch pad, sketchbooka book containing sheets of paper on which sketches can be drawnnotebooka book with blank pages for recording notes or memorandaautograph albuman album for autographscoloring booka picture book with line drawings intended to be colored with crayons by childrendiarya personal journal (as a physical object)photograph albuman album for photographsscrapbookan album into which clippings or notes or pictures can be pastedstamp albuman album for stampscommonplace booka notebook in which you enter memorabiliajottera small notebook for rough notesplaybooka notebook containing descriptions and diagrams of the plays that a team has practiced (especially an American football team)type of:
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a number of sheets (ticket or stamps etc.) bound together on one edge
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a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)“I am reading a good book on economics”examples:Das Kapitala book written by Karl Marx (1867) describing his economic theoriesErewhona satirical novel written by Samuel Butler (1872) describing a fictitious landUtopiaa book written by Sir Thomas More (1516) describing the perfect society on an imaginary islandtypes:authorityan authoritative written workcuriosabooks on strange or unusual subjects (especially erotica)formulary, pharmacopeia(pharmacology) a book containing a compilation of pharmaceutical products with their formulas and methods of preparationbestiarya medieval book (usually illustrated) with allegorical and amusing descriptions of real and fabled animalscatechisman elementary book summarizing the principles of a Christian religion; written as questions and answerspop-up, pop-up booka book (usually for children) that contains one or more pages such that a three-dimensional structure rises up when a page is openedstorybooka book containing a collection of stories (usually for children)tomea (usually) large and scholarly bookschool text, schoolbook, text, text edition, textbooka book prepared for use in schools or collegesworkbooka student's book or booklet containing problems with spaces for solving themcopybooka book containing models of good penmanship; used in teaching penmanshipappointment book, appointment calendara book containing a calendar and space to keep a record of appointmentsphrase booka book containing common expressions in a foreign language along with their translationsplaybooka book containing the scripts of one or more dramatic playsbook of facts, reference, reference book, reference worka book to which you can refer for authoritative factsreview copya copy of a newly published book that is sent for review to a writer or periodicalsongbooka book containing a collection of songsyearbooka book published annually by the graduating class of a high school or college usually containing photographs of faculty and graduating studentslast wordan authoritative statementinstruction booka book of directions for using or operating some piece of equipmentblue booka blue booklet used in universities for writing examinationsticket booka book of tickets that can be torn out and usedcrammera textbook designed for crammingintroductiona basic or elementary instructional textprimeran introductory textbookreaderone of a series of texts for students learning to readbreviary(Roman Catholic Church) a book of prayers to be recited daily certain priests and members of religious ordersmissal(Roman Catholic Church) a book containing all the prayers and responses needed to celebrate Mass throughout the yearsource booka collection of historically important documents published together as a bookwordbooka reference book containing words (usually with their meanings)enchiridion, handbook, vade mecuma concise reference book providing specific information about a subject or locationdirectoryan alphabetical list of names and addressescyclopaedia, cyclopedia, encyclopaedia, encyclopediaa reference work (often in several volumes) containing articles on various topics (often arranged in alphabetical order) dealing with the entire range of human knowledge or with some particular specialtycourse catalog, course catalogue, prospectusa catalog listing the courses offered by a college or universitytype of:publicationa copy of a printed work offered for distribution
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a major division of a long written composition“the book of Isaiah”examples:Book of Genesisthe first book of the Old Testament: tells of Creation; Adam and Eve; the Fall of Man; Cain and Abel; Noah and the flood; God's covenant with Abraham; Abraham and Isaac; Jacob and Esau; Joseph and his brothersBook of Exodusthe second book of the Old Testament: tells of the departure of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt led by Moses; God gave them the Ten Commandments and the rest of Mosaic law on Mount Sinai during the ExodusBook of Leviticusthe third book of the Old Testament; contains Levitical law and ritual precedentsBook of Numbersthe fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of EgyptBook of Deuteronomythe fifth book of the Old Testament; contains a second statement of Mosaic lawBook of Joshuaa book in the Old Testament describing how Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan (the Promised Land) after the death of MosesBook of Judgesa book of the Old Testament that tells the history of Israel under the leaders known as judgesBook of Rutha book of the Old Testament that tells the story of Ruth who was not an Israelite but who married an Israelite and who stayed with her mother-in-law Naomi after her husband died1 Samuelthe first of two books in the Old Testament that tell of Saul and DavidII Samuelthe second of two books of the Old Testament that tell of Saul and David1 Kingsthe first of two Old Testament books telling the histories of the kings of Judah and IsraelII Kingsthe second of two Old Testament books telling the histories of the kings of Judah and Israel1 Chroniclesthe first of two Old Testament books telling the history of Judah and Israel until the return from the Babylonian Captivity in 536 BCII Chroniclesthe second of two Old Testament books telling the history of Judah and Israel until the return from the Babylonian Captivity in 536 BCBook of Ezraan Old Testament book telling of a rabbi's efforts in the 5th century BC to reconstitute Jewish law and worship in Jerusalem after the Babylonian CaptivityBook of Nehemiahan Old Testament book telling how a Jewish official at the court of Artaxerxes I in 444 BC became a leader in rebuilding Jerusalem after the Babylonian CaptivityBook of Estheran Old Testament book telling of a beautiful Jewess who became queen of Persia and saved her people from massacreBook of Joba book in the Old Testament containing Job's pleas to God about his afflictions and God's replyBook of Psalmsan Old Testament book consisting of a collection of 150 PsalmsBook of Proverbsan Old Testament book consisting of proverbs from various Israeli sages (including Solomon)Book of Ecclesiastesan Old Testament book consisting of reflections on the vanity of human life; is traditionally attributed to Solomon but probably was written about 250 BCCanticle of Canticlesan Old Testament book consisting of a collection of love poems traditionally attributed to Solomon but actually written much laterBook of Isaiahan Old Testament book consisting of Isaiah's propheciesBook of Jeremiaha book in the Old Testament containing the oracles of the prophet JeremiahBook of Lamentationsan Old Testament book lamenting the desolation of Judah after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC; traditionally attributed to the prophet JeremiahBook of Ezekielan Old Testament book containing Ezekiel's prophecies of the downfall of Jerusalem and Judah and their subsequent restorationBook of the Prophet Danielan Old Testament book that tells of the apocalyptic visions and the experiences of Daniel in the court of NebuchadnezzarBook of Hoseaan Old Testament book telling Hosea's propheciesBook of Joelan Old Testament book telling Joel's propheciesBook of Amosan Old Testament book telling Amos's propheciesBook of Obadiahan Old Testament book telling Obadiah's prophecies; the shortest book in the Christian BibleBook of Jonaha book in the Old Testament that tells the story of Jonah and the whaleBook of Micahan Old Testament book telling the prophecies of Micah foretelling the destruction of JerusalemBook of Nahuman Old Testament book telling Nahum's prophecy of the fall of NinevehBook of Habakkukan Old Testament book telling Habakkuk's propheciesBook of Zephaniahan Old Testament book telling the prophecies of Zephaniah which are concerned mainly with the approaching judgment by God upon the sinners of JudahBook of Haggaian Old Testament book telling the prophecies of Haggai which are concerned mainly with rebuilding the temples after the Babylonian CaptivityBook of Zachariahan Old Testament book telling the prophecies of Zechariah which are concerned mainly with the renewal of Israel after the Babylonian CaptivityBook of Malachian Old Testament book containing the prophecies of MalachiGospel According to Matthewone of the Gospels in the New Testament; includes the Sermon on the MountGospel According to Markthe shortest of the four Gospels in the New TestamentGospel According to Lukeone of the four Gospels in the New Testament; contains details of Jesus's birth and early lifeGospel According to Johnthe last of the four Gospels in the New TestamentActs of the Apostlesa New Testament book describing the development of the early church from Christ's Ascension to Paul's sojourn at RomeRevelation of Saint John the Divinethe last book of the New Testament; contains visionary descriptions of heaven and of conflicts between good and evil and of the end of the world; attributed to Saint John the ApostleAdditions to Estheran Apocryphal book consisting of text added to the Book of EstherPrayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Childrenan Apocryphal book consisting of text added to the Book of DanielBook of Susannaan Apocryphal book consisting of text added to the Book of DanielBel and the Dragonan Apocryphal book consisting of text added to the Book of DanielBook of Baruchan Apocryphal book ascribed to BaruchEpistle of Jeremiahan Apocryphal book consisting of a letter ascribed to Jeremiah to the Jews in exile in Babylon warning them against idolatryBook of Tobitan Apocryphal book that was a popular novel for several centuriesBook of Judithan Apocryphal book telling how Judith saved her people1 Esdrasan Apocryphal book consisting of a compilation from I Chronicles and II Chronicles and Ezra and NehemiahII Esdrasan Apocryphal book of angelic revelationsWisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirachan Apocryphal book mainly of maxims (resembling Proverbs in that respect)Wisdom of Solomonan Apocryphal book consisting mainly of a meditation on wisdom; although ascribed to Solomon it was probably written in the first century BC1 Maccabeesan Apocryphal book describing the life of Judas MaccabaeusII Maccabeesan Apocryphal book describing the life of Judas Maccabaeustypes:Epistlea book of the New Testament written in the form of a letter from an Apostletype of:
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a compilation of the known facts regarding something or someone“his name is in all the record books”synonyms: record, record booktypes:logbooka book in which the log is writtenwon-lost record(sports) a record of win versus lossesbell booka logbook in which all orders concerning the main engines of a ship are recordedtype of:facta statement or assertion of verified information about something that is the case or has happened
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a collection of rules or prescribed standards on the basis of which decisions are made“they run things by the book around here”synonyms: rule booktype of:accumulation, aggregation, assemblage, collectionseveral things grouped together or considered as a whole
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a written version of a play or other dramatic composition; used in preparing for a performancesynonyms: playscript, scripttypes:continuitya detailed script used in making a film in order to avoid discontinuities from shot to shotlibrettothe words of an opera or musical playscenarioan outline or synopsis of a play (or, by extension, of a literary work)screenplaya script for a film including dialogue and descriptions of characters and setsshooting scriptthe final detailed script for making a movie or TV programteleplaya script adapted or written for televisionduologuea part of the script in which the speaking roles are limited to two actorstype of:dramatic composition, dramatic worka play for performance on the stage or television or in a movie etc.
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a record in which commercial accounts are recorded“they got a subpoena to examine our books”synonyms: account book, book of account, ledger, legertypes:cost ledgerledger showing the accumulated costs classified in various waysgeneral ledgerthe ledger that contains all of the financial accounts of a business; contains offsetting debit and credit accounts (including control accounts)subsidiary ledgerdetails of an account supporting the amount stated in the general ledgertype of:recorda document that can serve as legal evidence of a transaction
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arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance
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engage for a performance“Her agent had booked her for several concerts in Tokyo”type of:scheduleplan for an activity or event
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register in a hotel bookertype of:registerrecord in writing; enter into a book of names or events or transactions
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record a charge in a police register
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a collection of playing cards satisfying the rules of a card gametype of:accumulation, aggregation, assemblage, collectionseveral things grouped together or considered as a whole
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Vocabulary lists containing book
Book Words for Book Worms
From amanuensis to author, foreword to frontispiece, there's more to books than just reading them. Here are some of the words we use to talk about books, book parts, and book people.
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