Definitions for: Bug


[n] a minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use
[n] general term for any insect or similar creeping or crawling invertebrate
[n] insects with sucking mouthparts and forewings thickened and leathery at the base; usually show incomplete metamorphosis
[n] a small hidden microphone; for listening secretly
[n] a fault or defect in a system or machine
[v] annoy persistently; "The children teased the boy because of his stammer"
[v] tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information; "The FBI was tapping the phone line of the suspected spy"; "Is this hotel room bugged?"



Webster (1913) Definition: Bug, n. [OE. bugge, fr. W. bwg, bwgan, hobgoblin,
scarecrow, bugbear. Cf. Bogey, Boggle.]
1. A bugbear; anything which terrifies. [Obs.]

Sir, spare your threats: The bug which you would
fright me with I seek. --Shak.

2. (Zo["o]l.) A general name applied to various insects
belonging to the Hemiptera; as, the squash bug; the chinch
bug, etc.

3. (Zo["o]l.) An insect of the genus Cimex, especially the
bedbug (C. lectularius). See Bedbug.

4. (Zo["o]l.) One of various species of Coleoptera; as, the
ladybug; potato bug, etc.; loosely, any beetle.

5. (Zo["o]l.) One of certain kinds of Crustacea; as, the sow
bug; pill bug; bait bug; salve bug, etc.

Note: According to present popular usage in England, and
among housekeepers in America, bug, when not joined
with some qualifying word, is used specifically for
bedbug. As a general term it is used very loosely in
America, and was formerly used still more loosely in
England. ``God's rare workmanship in the ant, the
poorest bug that creeps.'' --Rogers (--Naaman). ``This
bug with gilded wings.'' --Pope.

Bait bug. See under Bait.

Bug word, swaggering or threatening language. [Obs.]
--Beau. & Fl.

Synonyms: badger, beleaguer, germ, glitch, harass, hemipteran, hemipteron, hemipterous insect, intercept, microbe, pester, tap, tease, wiretap

See Also: backswimmer, bed bug, bedbug, bedevil, chinch, Cimex lectularius, coreid, coreid bug, crucify, defect, dun, eavesdrop, fault, flaw, frustrate, Hemiptera, insect, leaf bug, listen in, lygaeid, lygaeid bug, microorganism, microphone, mike, Notonecta undulata, order Hemiptera, plant bug, rag, torment, true bug

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