Definition

Noun 1. The thick or blunt end of a tool or object: The part of something, like a rifle or a cue stick, that is held or that is opposite the working end. 2. A remaining unsmoked portion: The small, leftover end of a cigar or cigarette after smoking. 3. A target or object of ridicule: A person or thing that is frequently mocked, criticized, or made fun of. 4. A large cask for liquids: A large barrel, especially one used for storing wine, beer, or water. 5. The buttocks: (Informal) The part of the body on which a person sits. 6. A push or blow with the head: An act of striking something with the head, like an animal does.

Verb 1. To strike or push with the head: To hit or shove something using the head, as a goat or ram does. 2. To place end-to-end: To join two objects by placing their ends squarely together without overlapping. 3. To adjoin or border: To share a common boundary; to be positioned next to something else.

Usage Examples

• Noun (End of an object):
  • He held the rifle by the butt.
  • The butt of the fishing rod broke.
• Noun (Cigarette remnant):
  • The ashtray was filled with cigarette butts.
• Noun (Target of ridicule):
  • He became the butt of all their jokes.
• Noun (Buttocks - Informal):
  • He fell right on his butt.
• Verb (To strike with head):
  • The goat butted the fence post.
  • He butted me with his shoulder to get past.
• Verb (To adjoin):
  • Our property butts against the national forest.

Advanced Usage

• "The butt of a joke": The person who is the target or subject of a joke.
  • She was tired of being the butt of a joke in the office.
• "Butt heads": To argue or clash strongly with someone.
  • The two managers constantly butt heads over the budget.

Variants and Related Words

• Butt-end (n): The thicker or blunt end of something.
• Butt joint (n): A joint where two parts are fastened together end-to-end.
• Buttinsky (n, informal): A person who habitually interrupts or intrudes (from "butt in").

Synonyms

• (Noun - End): End, base, stub, stump.
• (Noun - Target): Target, victim, laughingstock.
• (Noun - Buttocks): Rear, behind, backside, bottom.
• (Verb - Strike): Ram, bump, shove, jab.
• (Verb - Adjoin): Border, abut, neighbor, meet.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Butt in: To interrupt a conversation or activity intrusively.
  • Please don't butt in while I'm speaking.
• Butt out: To stop interfering or involving oneself in something.
  • This is my problem, so just butt out.

Related Idioms

• Kick the butt: To defeat soundly or to reprimand severely.
  • Our team really kicked their butts in the final game.
• Work one's butt off: To work extremely hard.
  • I worked my butt off to finish that project on time.

Noun

1. the small unused part of something (especially the end of a cigarette that is left after smoking)
2. a large cask (especially one holding a volume equivalent to 2 hogsheads or 126 gallons)
3. a joint made by fastening ends together without overlapping
4. finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
5. sports equipment consisting of an object set up for a marksman or archer to aim at
6. the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
   • he deserves a good kick in the butt
   • are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?
7. a victim of ridicule or pranks
8. the part of a plant from which the roots spring or the part of a stalk or trunk nearest the roots
9. thick end of the handle

Verb

1. place end to end without overlapping
   • The frames must be butted at the joints
2. to strike, thrust or shove against
   • He butted his sister out of the way
   • The goat butted the hiker with his horns
3. lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
   • Canada adjoins the U.S.
   • England marches with Scotland