plural buses also busses
often attributive
1
a
: a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers usually along a fixed route according to a schedule
took the bus to work
double-decker buses
waiting at the bus stop
b
2
: a small hand truck
3
a
electrical engineering
: bus bar
b
computers
: a set of parallel conductors (see conductor sense d(1)) in a computer system that forms a main transmission path
4
: a spacecraft or missile that carries one or more detachable devices (such as warheads)
bused also bussed; busing also bussing
1
: to travel by a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers usually along a fixed route according to a schedule : to travel by bus
2
: to work as a busboy
1
: to transport by bus
busing kids to school
Students were bused in for the game.
2
a
: clear sense 4d
bus dishes
b
: to remove dirty dishes from
bus tables
business
Phrases
throw (someone) under the bus
informal
: to criticize, blame, or punish (someone in a vulnerable position) especially in order to avoid blame or gain an advantage
… we will not throw any student under the bus for instant restoration of our image or our reputation.—
Donna Shalala
Donna ShalalaBut he went out of his way to make clear that this one wasn't really on him. The problem lay with underlings, whom he quickly threw under the bus.—Rem Rieder
Rem Rieder
Did you know?
The History of Bus
In 1661, mathematician Blaise Pascal conceived the world’s first bus service, proposing that a number of coaches should “circulate along predetermined routes in Paris at regular intervals regardless of the number of people,” and pick up passengers for a small fixed fare. The word bus is short for omnibus, which means “for everyone.” Bus was first used in this sense in the 1830s, its "everyone" meaning referencing the fact that anyone could join the coach along its route, unlike with stagecoaches, which had to be pre-booked.
Synonyms
Examples of bus in a Sentence
Noun
She boarded a bus in Nashville.
Are you traveling by train or by bus?
Verb
He buses tables at the local diner.
Recent Examples on the Web
Esha Mitra, CNN, 30 Nov. 2024
However, a specific itinerary is pre-arranged for the day, including stops at the brand’s facilities, and the train is only utilized in one direction (a bus is used for the other leg of the journey).
—Will McGough, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Liam Rappleye, Detroit Free Press, 30 Nov. 2024
The result is that, for months now, Mexican authorities have rounded up migrants, busing and flying them to the southern cities of Villahermosa and Tapachula, far from the U.S. border.
—Mabinty Quarshie, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bus 
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Noun
In 2012 when a woman was raped and murdered on a bus, the nation was outraged and after a massive wave of protests there were some amendments to rape laws.
—Esha Mitra, CNN, 30 Nov. 2024
However, a specific itinerary is pre-arranged for the day, including stops at the brand’s facilities, and the train is only utilized in one direction (a bus is used for the other leg of the journey).
—Will McGough, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Verb
Amid a slew of holiday travel, Amtrak's Wolverine Train lines have seen hours-long delays and power outages, with some passengers' travel plans changing from train to bus as several trains have been halted completely.
—Liam Rappleye, Detroit Free Press, 30 Nov. 2024
The result is that, for months now, Mexican authorities have rounded up migrants, busing and flying them to the southern cities of Villahermosa and Tapachula, far from the U.S. border.
—Mabinty Quarshie, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bus
Dictionary Entries Near bus
Cite this Entry
“Bus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bus. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bus
1 of 2 noun
plural buses also busses
1
: a large motor vehicle for carrying passengers
2
: a conductor or group of conductors for collecting electric currents and sending them to outgoing wires
bus
2 of 2 verb
bused also bussed; busing also bussing
: to travel or transport by bus
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