An Encylopedia Britannica Company

book

1 book /ˈbʊk/ noun
plural books
1 book
/ˈbʊk/
noun
plural books
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOOK
[count]
: a set of printed sheets of paper that are held together inside a cover : a long written work
sometimes used figuratively
: a long written work that can be read on a computer : e-book
[count] : a set of sheets of paper that are inside a cover and that you can write information on see also notebook
[count] : a major section of a long written work (such as the Bible)
see also good book
[count] : a set of things held together inside a cover like the pages of a book see also checkbook
books [plural]
: the financial records of a business
: the official records of a business or organization
the book US, informal : the knowledge or information that relates to a particular subject, person, etc.
the book informal : phone book

a closed book

: a person or thing that is difficult to understand
compare an open book (below)

an open book

: a person or thing that is easy to learn about and understand

bring (someone) to book

chiefly British, formal
: to require (someone) to explain and accept punishment or criticism for bad or wrong behavior

by the book

: by following the official rules very strictly

cook the books

see 2cook

every trick in the book

see 1trick

hit the books

informal
: to study or begin studying very intensely

in my book

informal
: in my opinion

in someone's bad books

chiefly British, informal
: in a state in which you are not liked or treated nicely by someone

in someone's good books

chiefly British, informal
: in a state in which you are liked or are treated nicely by someone

one for the books

: a very unusual, important, or surprising situation, statement, event, etc.

on the books

: part of the set of official laws

read someone like a book

see 1read

suit someone's book

see 2suit

throw the book at

informal
: to punish (someone) as severely as possible

write the book on

see write
2 book /ˈbʊk/ verb
books; booked; booking
2 book
/ˈbʊk/
verb
books; booked; booking
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOOK
: to make arrangements so that you will be able to use or have (something, such as a room, table, or seat) at a later time
[+ object]
[no object]
◊ This sense is used in U.S. English, but it is more common in British English. In U.S. English, reserve or make a reservation for is more commonly used.
◊ When a hotel, restaurant, etc., is booked (up), booked solid, or fully booked, there are no more rooms, tables, etc., available. These forms are commonly used in both U.S. and British English.
[+ object] : to make arrangements for (someone) to do, use, or have something at a later time
[+ object] : to schedule a performance or appearance by (someone, such as a musician)
[+ object] law : to write down in an official police record the name of (a person who is being charged with a crime) usually used as (be) booked
[+ object] British, of a soccer referee : to write down in an official book the name of (a player who has broken the rules in a game) usually used as (be) booked

book in/into

[phrasal verb]
book in or book into (something) British
: to arrive at and be given a room in a hotel, an inn, etc.

— bookable

/ˈbʊkəbəɫ/ adjective, chiefly British
3 book /ˈbʊk/ adjective
3 book
/ˈbʊk/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOOK
always used before a noun
: learned from reading books and not from experience