bug
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈbəg 
1
a
: any of an order (Hemiptera and especially its suborder Heteroptera) of insects (such as an assassin bug or chinch bug) that have sucking mouthparts, forewings thickened at the base, and incomplete metamorphosis and are often economic pests
called also true bug
b
: any of various small arthropods (such as a beetle or spider) resembling the true bugs
c
: any of several insects (such as a head louse) commonly considered obnoxious
2
: an unexpected defect, fault, flaw, or imperfection
the software was full of bugs
3
a
: a microorganism (such as a bacterium or virus) especially when causing illness or disease
b
: an often unspecified or nonspecific sickness presumed to be caused by such a microorganism
a stomach bug
4
: a concealed listening device
5
: a sudden enthusiasm
6
: enthusiast
a camera bug
7
: a prominent person
8
: a crazy person
9
[from its designation by an asterisk on race programs] : a weight allowance given apprentice jockeys
bug
2 of 4verb (1)
bugged; bugging
transitive verb
1
: bother, annoy
don't bug me with petty details
2
: to plant a concealed microphone in
intransitive verb
: to lose one's composure : freak —often used with out
bug
3 of 4verb (2)
bugged; bugging
intransitive verb
of the eyes : protrude, bulge —often used with out
transitive verb
of the eyes : to cause to bug
his eyes were bugged with horror
bug
4 of 4noun (2)
obsolete
: bogey, bugbear
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- addict
- aficionado
- afficionado
- buff
- devotee
- enthusiast
- fan
- fanatic
- fancier
- fiend
- fool
- freak
- habitué
- habitue
- head
- hound
- junkie
- junky
- lover
- maniac
- maven
- mavin
- nut
- sucker
Verb (1)
- aggravate
- annoy
- bother
- burn (up)
- chafe
- eat
- exasperate
- frost
- gall
- get
- grate
- gripe
- hack (off)
- irk
- irritate
- itch
- nark [British]
- nettle
- peeve
- persecute
- pique
- put out
- rasp
- rile
- ruffle
- spite
- vex
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
origin unknown
Verb (2)
probably from bug entry 1
Noun (2)
Middle English bugge hobgoblin; probably akin to Low German bögge goblin
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Verb (1)
1935, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Verb (2)
1865, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun (2)
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing bug
Kids Definition
bug 1 of 2
noun
ˈbəg
1
: any of a large group of insects that have four wings, suck liquid food (as plant juices or blood), and have young which resemble the adults but lack wings
2
: an insect or other small creeping or crawling animal
3
: flaw
a bug in the computer system
bug
2 of 2verb
bugged; bugging
1
: bother entry 1 sense 1, annoy
2
: to stick out —often used with out
It was a grisly sight, and Mary Alice's eyes bugged.
Richard Peck, A Long Way from Chicago
Richard Peck, A Long Way from Chicago Medical Definition
bug
noun
ˈbəg
1
a
: an insect or other creeping or crawling invertebrate animal (as a spider) —not used technically
b
: any of various insects (as the bedbug or cockroach) commonly considered obnoxious
c
: any of the order Hemiptera and especially of its suborder Heteroptera of insects that have sucking mouthparts, forewings thickened at the base, and that lack a pupal stage between the immature stages and the adult
called also true bug
2
a
: a microorganism (such as a bacterium or virus) especially when causing illness or disease
Enterococcus faecium, an especially nasty bug, often shrugs off even vancomycin, a last-resort antibiotic. Avery Comarow, U.S. News & World Report
Avery Comarow, U.S. News & World Report b
: an often unspecified or nonspecific sickness presumed to be caused by such a microorganism
a stomach bug
suffering from the flu bug
Legal Definition
bug
transitive verb
bugged; bugging
: to plant a concealed microphone in compare eavesdrop, wiretap
Geographical Definition
Bug
geographical name
ˈbüg
1
river over 450 miles (720 kilometers) long in central Europe rising in western Ukraine, forming part of Ukraine–Poland and Poland–Belarus borders, and flowing into the Vistula River in Poland
2
river over 500 miles (805 kilometers) long in southwestern Ukraine flowing southeast to the estuary of the Dnieper River
bug 1 of 2
noun
1
as in sucker
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something a camera bug who loves taking candid shots at fairs and festivals Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sucker
- lover
- fan
- buff
- freak
- maniac
- enthusiast
- fanatic
- addict
- junkie
- junky
- fiend
- maven
- collector
- hound
- nut
- fool
- fancier
- aficionado
- devotee
- supporter
- friend
- admirer
- expert
- proponent
- afficionado
- habitue
- head
- groupie
- mavin
- habitué
- connoisseur
- amateur
- cultist
- authority
- champion
- dilettante
- advocate
- zealot
- exponent
- booster
- evangelist
- promoter
- patron
- convert
- follower
- apostle
- partisan
- adherent
- disciple
- backer
- hanger-on
- faddist
- rooter
- partizan
- votary
- well-wisher
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonfan
- belittler
- carper
- nonadmirer
- detractor
- critic
2
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning I can't go to work today because I've caught some bug that's going around Synonyms & Similar Words
- disease
- ailment
- illness
- fever
- ill
- sickness
- condition
- disorder
- attack
- infection
- malady
- plague
- complication
- complaint
- trouble
- ail
- distemper
- distemperature
- infirmity
- contagious disease
- contagion
- affection
- epidemic
- pest
- spell
- weakness
- pestilence
- malaise
- lameness
- bout
- pip
- contagium
- unsoundness
- fit
- sickliness
- matter
- unhealthiness
- debility
- feebleness
- unwellness
- decrepitude
- frailness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- health
- wellness
- robustness
- fitness
- soundness
- shape
- wholeness
- wholesomeness
- healthiness
- heartiness
- fettle
3
as in lunatic
a person having or showing a severely disordered or abnormal state of mind a bug with a fascination for committing arson Synonyms & Similar Words
- lunatic
- psychopath
- maniac
- fool
- psycho
- crazy
- wacko
- crackbrain
- schizo
- loony
- sicko
- head case
- loon
- nutcase
- nutter
- whacko
- nut
- crack
- abnormal
- psychotic
- sickie
- character
- fruitcake
- paranoid
- case
- oddity
- obsessive
- deviant
- patient
- madman
- monomaniac
- weirdo
- flake
- madwoman
- neurotic
- oddball
- fantastic
- schizoid
- schizophrenic
- original
- psychoneurotic
- sociopath
- schizophrene
- crackpot
- screwball
- quiz
- kook
- eccentric
- obsessive-compulsive
- zany
- codger
- crank
- mythomaniac
- tike
- tyke
- manic-depressive
bug
2 of 2verb
1
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts these incessant phone calls are really starting to bug me Synonyms & Similar Words
- annoy
- bother
- irritate
- get
- plague
- itch
- persecute
- aggravate
- frost
- eat
- peeve
- worry
- spite
- gripe
- vex
- irk
- get to
- put out
- anger
- grate
- exasperate
- wear on
- tease
- ruffle
- rub the wrong way
- nettle
- gall
- stick in one's craw
- rile
- nag
- infuriate
- pique
- rasp
- hack (off)
- insult
- chafe
- get one's goat
- nark
- set one's teeth on edge
- provoke
- get on one's nerves
- badger
- devil
- upset
- burn (up)
- hassle
- harry
- enrage
- harass
- bait
- pester
- rouse
- discomfort
- outrage
- distress
- bullyrag
- offend
- ballyrag
- heckle
- disquiet
- inflame
- affront
- miff
- exercise
- undo
- hagride
- unsettle
- madden
- perturb
- agitate
- antagonize
- rankle
- roil
- fret
- incense
- unhinge
- enflame
- discompose
- freak (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- please
- placate
- delight
- appease
- pacify
- satisfy
- oblige
- gratify
- content
- console
- conciliate
- assure
- mollify
- comfort
- cheer
- reassure
- soothe
- propitiate
- quiet
- gladden
- solace
2
as in to bother
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation I hate to bug you, but could you help me move this table? Synonyms & Similar Words
- bother
- worry
- trouble
- disturb
- pester
- annoy
- plague
- torment
- harass
- devil
- provoke
- inconvenience
- intrude (upon)
- irritate
- dog
- peeve
- gnaw
- anger
- chivy
- aggravate
- vex
- irk
- distress
- chivvy
- put out
- dun
- hassle
- bedevil
- beset
- get
- exasperate
- fret
- nettle
- grate
- invade
- gall
- afflict
- outrage
- rile
- pique
- rankle
- roil
- rasp
- chafe
- enrage
- persecute
- trespass
- butt in
- infuriate
- perturb
- madden
- besiege
- antagonize
- inflame
- incense
- infringe
- agitate
- cut in (on)
- encroach
- beleaguer
- obtrude
- enflame
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignore
- forget
- slight
- leave
- disregard
- please
- delight
- satisfy
- placate
- appease
- disarm
- oblige
- content
- console
- gratify
- comfort
- mollify
- conciliate
- gladden