Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • William S. Burroughs: An American writer, primarily known for his novels and essays that graphically depict the experiences of drug addiction, unconventional sexuality, and the exploration of control systems. He is a major figure of the Beat Generation and postmodern literature.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The novel Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs was the subject of an obscenity trial.
  • Many avant-garde artists were influenced by the cut-up technique pioneered by William S. Burroughs.
  • The course on 20th-century American literature includes a module on William S. Burroughs.

Advanced Usage

• "Burroughsian" (adjective): Pertaining to or characteristic of the style, themes, or atmosphere found in the works of William S. Burroughs.
  • The film had a distinctly Burroughsian sense of paranoia and fragmentation.

Variants and Related Words

• William Seward Burroughs: The writer's full name.
• Burroughs: A common shorthand reference to the author.
• W.S.B.: An initialism sometimes used.
• The Beats / Beat Generation: The literary movement with which he is associated.

Synonyms

• Author
• Novelist
• Beat writer

Related Phrases

• The Nova Trilogy: A series of novels by Burroughs ().
• The cut-up method: A literary technique he famously employed.

Related Idioms/Concepts

• "The algebra of need": A phrase coined by Burroughs in to describe the compulsive logic of drug addiction.
• "The Interzone": A fictional, liminal setting used in his work, representing a state of psychological and social dislocation.

Noun

1. United States writer noted for his works portraying the life of drug addicts (1914-1997)