book

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   physical object consisting of a number of pages bound together

   We used a large book as a doorstop.

2. 2
   noun

   a number of sheets such as tickets or stamps bound together on one edge

   They bought a book of stamps.

3. 3
   noun

   a major division of a long written composition

   The minister read from the book of Isaiah.

4. 4
   noun

   a written work or composition that has been published in the form of pages bound together

   I am reading a good book on economics.

5. 5
   noun

   a compilation of the known facts regarding something or someone

   I made sure to read the book on my business rival before the meeting.

6. 6
   noun

   a written version of a play or other dramatic composition

   The actors were given their books before the first rehearsal.

7. 7
   noun

   a collection of rules or prescribed standards on the basis of which decisions are made

   They run things by the book around here.

8. 8
   noun

   a collection of playing cards satisfying the rules of a card game

   They drew cards to make up a book while playing canasta.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂ǵosder.? Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂g-der.? Proto-Germanic *bōks Proto-West Germanic *bōk Old English bōc Middle English bok English book From Middle English bok, book, from Old English bōc, from Proto-West Germanic *bōk, from Proto-Germanic *bōks. Bookmaker sense by clipping. Cognates Cognate with Scots beuk, buik, buke (“book”), Yola buke (“book”), North Frisian Bok, buk, bök (“book”), Saterland Frisian Bouk (“book”), West Frisian, Dutch boek (“book”), Alemannic German Buech (“book”), Bavarian Buach (“book”), Central Franconian Booch, Buch (“book”), Ge…