BOOK, book, _n._ a collection of sheets of paper bound together, either
printed, written on, or blank: a literary composition: a division of a
volume or subject: the Bible: a betting-book, or record of bets made with
different people: (_fig._) any source of instruction: the libretto of an
opera, &c.: (_pl._) formal accounts of transactions, as minutes of
meetings, records kept of his business by a merchant.--_v.t._ to write in a
book.--_ns._ BOOK'-ACCOUNT', an account of debt or credit in a book;
BOOK'BINDER, one who binds books; BOOK'BINDING, the art or practice of
binding or putting the boards on books; BOOK'-CASE, a case with shelves for
books; BOOK'-CLUB, an association of persons who buy new books for
circulation among themselves; BOOK'-DEBT, a debt for articles charged by
the seller in his book-account.--_adj._ BOOK'FUL, full of information
gathered from books.--_ns._ BOOK'-HOLD'ER, one who holds the book of the
play and prompts the actor in the theatre; BOOK'-HUNT'ER, one who rejoices
in discovering _rare_ books; BOOK'ING-OF'FICE, an office where names are
booked or tickets are taken.--_adj._ BOOK'ISH, fond of books: acquainted
only with books.--_ns._ BOOK'ISHNESS; BOOK'-KEEP'ING, the art of keeping
accounts in a regular and systematic manner; BOOK'-LAND, land taken from
the _folcland_ or common land, and granted by _bóc_ or written charter to a
private owner; BOOK'-LEARN'ING, learning got from books, as opposed to
practical knowledge.--_adj._ BOOK'LESS, without books, unlearned.--_ns._
BOOK'LET, a small book; BOOK'-MAK'ER, one who makes up books from the
writings of others, a compiler: one who makes a system of bets in such a
way that the gains must exceed the losses, entering them in a memorandum
book; BOOK'-MAK'ING, the art or practice of compiling books from the
writings of others: compilation: systematic betting; BOOK'-MAN, a scholar,
student; BOOK'-MARK, something placed in a book to mark a particular page
or passage; BOOK'-MATE (_Shak._), a mate or companion in the study of
books: a schoolfellow; BOOK'-MUS'LIN, muslin used in bookbinding;
BOOK'-OATH (_Shak._), an oath made on the Book or Bible; BOOK'PLATE, a
label usually pasted inside the cover of a book, bearing the owner's name,
crest, coat-of-arms, or peculiar device; BOOK'-POST, the department in the
Post-office for the transmission of books; BOOK'SELLER, one who sells
books; BOOK'SELLING; BOOK'SHELF, a shelf on which books are placed;
BOOK'SHOP, a shop where books are sold; BOOK'-STALL, a stall or stand,
generally in the open air, where books are sold; BOOK'-STAND, a book-stall:
a stand or support for holding up a book when reading; BOOK'-TRADE, the
trade of dealing in books; BOOK'WORM, a worm or mite that eats holes in
books: a hard reader: one who reads without discrimination or profit.--TO
BE UPON THE BOOKS, to have one's name in an official list; TO BRING TO
BOOK, to bring to account; TO TAKE A LEAF OUT OF ANOTHER'S BOOK, to follow
the example of some one; TO TALK LIKE A BOOK, to talk pedantically, or in a
preternaturally well-informed manner. [A.S. _bóc_, a book, the beech; Ger.
_buche_, the beech, _buch_, a book, because the Teutons first wrote on
beechen boards.]
BOOM, b[=oo]m, _n._ a pole by which a sail is stretched: a chain or bar
stretched across a harbour. [Dut. _boom_, a beam, a tree.]
BOOM, b[=oo]m, _v.i._ to make a hollow sound or roar: to go on with a rush,
to become suddenly prosperous.--_v.t._ to push anything into sudden
prominence:--_pa.p._ boomed (b[=oo]md); _pr.p._ boom'ing.--_n._ a hollow
roar, as of the sea, the cry of the bittern, &c.: a sudden increase of
activity in business, or the like--often the direct consequence of puffing
advertisements or less legitimate intrigues.--_p.adj._ BOOM'ING, rushing
with violence. [From a Low Ger. root found in A.S. _byme_, a trumpet, Dut.
_bommen_, to drum; like BOMB, of imit. origin.]
[Illustration]
BOOMERANG, b[=oo]m'e-rang, _n._ a hard-wood missile used by the natives of
Australia, shaped like the segment of a circle, and so balanced that when
thrown to a distance it returns towards the thrower. [Australian.]
BOON, b[=oo]n, _n._ a petition: a gift or favour. [Ice. _bôn_, a prayer;
A.S. _ben_.]