1book 
/ˈbʊk/ noun
plural books /ˈbʊk/ noun 1 [count] a : a set of printed sheets of paper that are held together inside a cover : a long written work
▪ The shelves in his office are filled with books. ▪ That's one of the best books I've read in a long time. ▪ a novelist who has written some wonderful books ▪ a book about plumbing ▪ The library has many dictionaries and other reference books. ▪ a hardcover/paperback book — sometimes used figuratively ▪ You can learn many things by studying the great book of nature. [=by studying nature]
b : a long written work that can be read on a computer : e-book
▪ an electronic book 2 [count] : a set of sheets of paper that are inside a cover and that you can write information on
▪ an appointment book ▪ an address book — see also notebook 3 [count] : a major section of a long written work (such as the Bible)
▪ the books of the Bible ▪ a story that is told in the Book of Job — see also good book 4 [count] : a set of things held together inside a cover like the pages of a book
▪ a book of stamps ▪ a book of matches [=a matchbook] — see also checkbook 5 books [plural] a : the financial records of a business
▪ The company's books [=accounts] show a profit.
b : the official records of a business or organization
▪ I'm sorry, but your name does not appear in/on our books. 6 the book US, informal : the knowledge or information that relates to a particular subject, person, etc.
▪ The book on him is that he can't hit a curveball. [=people have seen and reported that he can't hit a curveball] 7 the book informal : phone book
▪ Give me a call if you need to. I'm in the book. [=my telephone number is listed in the telephone book]
▪ The shelves in his office are filled with books. ▪ That's one of the best books I've read in a long time. ▪ a novelist who has written some wonderful books ▪ a book about plumbing ▪ The library has many dictionaries and other reference books. ▪ a hardcover/paperback book — sometimes used figuratively ▪ You can learn many things by studying the great book of nature. [=by studying nature]
b : a long written work that can be read on a computer : e-book
▪ an electronic book
▪ an appointment book ▪ an address book — see also notebook
▪ the books of the Bible ▪ a story that is told in the Book of Job — see also good book
▪ a book of stamps ▪ a book of matches [=a matchbook] — see also checkbook
▪ The company's books [=accounts] show a profit.
b : the official records of a business or organization
▪ I'm sorry, but your name does not appear in/on our books.
▪ The book on him is that he can't hit a curveball. [=people have seen and reported that he can't hit a curveball]
▪ Give me a call if you need to. I'm in the book. [=my telephone number is listed in the telephone book]
a closed book
: a person or thing that is difficult to understand
▪ Even to his closest friends, he was always something of a closed book. — compare an open book (below)
▪ Even to his closest friends, he was always something of a closed book. — compare an open book (below)
an open book
: a person or thing that is easy to learn about and understand
▪ My life is an open book. I have nothing to hide.
▪ My life is an open book. I have nothing to hide.
bring (someone) to book
chiefly Brit, formal : to require (someone) to explain and accept punishment or criticism for bad or wrong behavior
▪ The people responsible for these crimes must be brought to book. [=brought to account]
▪ The people responsible for these crimes must be brought to book. [=brought to account]
by the book
: by following the official rules very strictly
▪ My boss insists on doing everything by the book. ▪ They ran all the investigations by the book.
▪ My boss insists on doing everything by the book. ▪ They ran all the investigations by the book.
cook the books — see 2cook
every trick in the book — see 1trick
hit the books
informal : to study or begin studying very intensely
▪ I've got to hit the books all weekend if I'm going to pass this test.
▪ I've got to hit the books all weekend if I'm going to pass this test.
in my book
informal : in my opinion
▪ She deserves credit, in my book, for much of the company's recent success. ▪ He isn't even a good boss, at least not in my book.
▪ She deserves credit, in my book, for much of the company's recent success. ▪ He isn't even a good boss, at least not in my book.
in someone's bad books
chiefly Brit, informal : in a state in which you are not liked or treated nicely by someone
▪ He remains in her bad books. [=she is still displeased with him]
▪ He remains in her bad books. [=she is still displeased with him]
in someone's good books
chiefly Brit, informal : in a state in which you are liked or are treated nicely by someone
▪ He's trying to get back in his boss's good books by offering to work overtime.
▪ He's trying to get back in his boss's good books by offering to work overtime.
one for the books
: a very unusual, important, or surprising situation, statement, event, etc.
▪ There have been a lot of scandals in local politics over the years, but this is one for the books.
▪ There have been a lot of scandals in local politics over the years, but this is one for the books.
on the books
: part of the set of official laws
▪ It's an outdated law that's still on the books.
▪ It's an outdated law that's still on the books.
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
▪ The judge threatened to throw the book at him if he committed another offense. ▪ I thought I would get off with just a warning, but they threw the book at me.
▪ The judge threatened to throw the book at him if he committed another offense. ▪ I thought I would get off with just a warning, but they threw the book at me.
write the book on — see write
