Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and chest: A three-dimensional artistic representation, often made of stone, metal, or clay.
   • The human chest, especially a woman's breasts: Refers to the measurement or physical form of the upper torso.
   • A period of wild celebration or excessive drinking: A slang term for a spree or binge.
   • A complete failure or collapse: Something that is unsuccessful or breaks down.

2. Verb:

   • To break or smash something: To cause something to separate into pieces, often violently or suddenly.
   • To raid or search a place suddenly: Often used in law enforcement contexts for a surprise inspection or arrest.
   • To reduce in rank or demote: To break someone's position or status, especially in a military or organizational context.
   • To become broken or inoperative: For a machine or system to stop working.

3. Adjective (Informal):

   • Broken or not functioning: Describing something that is damaged or out of order.
   • Bankrupt or out of money: Having no funds; financially ruined.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The museum has a beautiful marble bust of Julius Caesar. (A sculpture)
  • She measured her bust for the dress. (The chest/breast measurement)
  • After the exam, they went on a real bust. (A spree)
  • The new product launch was a total bust. (A failure)

• Verb:

  • He bust the door open when the key wouldn't work. (To break)
  • The police will bust the illegal gambling den tonight. (To raid)
  • The sergeant was busted to private for insubordination. (To demote)
  • My computer busted right before I saved the document. (To break down)

• Adjective:

  • Don't buy that bust television. (Broken)
  • I'm bust until payday. (Out of money)

Advanced Usage

• "to bust a move": To start dancing or to make a decisive action.

  • When the music started, he busted a move on the dance floor.

• "to bust someone's chops": To criticize or nag someone.

  • My boss is always busting my chops about being late.

• "boom or bust": Referring to a situation of either great success or complete failure.

  • The tech industry is known for its boom or bust cycles.

Variants and Related Words

• Buster (noun): A person or thing that breaks something up (e.g., ).
• Busty (adjective): Having a large bust (informal).
• Bust-up (noun): A serious quarrel or fight.

Synonyms

• Noun (sculpture): Statue, sculpture.
• Noun (failure): Flop, disaster, fiasco.
• Verb (break): Smash, shatter, fracture.
• Verb (raid): Raid, search.
• Adjective (broken): Broken, damaged, defective.
• Adjective (bankrupt): Bankrupt, broke, penniless.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Bust out: To escape from a place, or to suddenly appear or begin.

  • The prisoners tried to bust out of jail.
  • He busted out laughing.

• Bust up: To end a relationship violently or to cause a disruption.

  • The scandal busted up their partnership.

Related Idioms

• Go bust: To become bankrupt.

  • Several small businesses went bust during the recession.

• Bust your gut/butt: To try extremely hard; to exert maximum effort.

  • I busted my gut to finish the project on time.

Adjective

1. lacking funds
   • `skint' is a British slang term

Noun

1. an occasion for excessive eating or drinking
   • they went on a bust that lasted three days
2. a sculpture of the head and shoulders of a person
3. the chest of a woman
4. a complete failure
   • the play was a dismal flop

Verb

1. break open or apart suddenly and forcefully
   • The dam burst
2. go to pieces
   • The lawn mower finally broke
   • The gears wore out
   • The old chair finally fell apart completely
3. separate or cause to separate abruptly
   • The rope snapped
   • tear the paper
4. search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on
   • The police raided the crack house
5. ruin completely
   • He busted my radio!