bounce

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to hit something so that it bounces

   They bounced the ball against the wall annoyingly.

2. 2
   verb

   to eject from the premises

   The ex-boxer's job was to bounce people who wanted to enter this private club.

3. 3
   verb

   to spring back

   The yo-yo bounced at the end of its string.

4. 4
   verb

   to move up and down repeatedly

   I bounced on the bed like a child.

5. 5
   verb

   to leap suddenly

   You bounced to your feet upon hearing the good news.

6. 6
   verb

   to refuse to accept and send back

   The bank bounced my check.

7. 7
   verb

   to come back after being refused

   The check bounced.

8. 8
   verb

   To change the direction of motion after hitting an obstacle.

   The tennis ball bounced off the wall before coming to rest in the ditch.

Etymology

From Middle English bounsen, bunsen (“to beat, thump”), cognate with Scots bunce, bonce (“to bounce”). Of uncertain origin. Perhaps imitative, related to bump, or related to Middle English bonchen (“to pound, beat”) and Dutch bonken (“to bump”). Compare Saterland Frisian bumzje (“to pound, bang, bounce”), West Frisian bûnzje (“to throb, bounce, pulsate”), Dutch bonzen (“to thump, knock, throb, bounce”), German Low German bunsen, bumsen (“to beat, bounce”), German bumsen (“to thud, bang, pound”).