book
/bʊk/ (bre, ipa) · [bˈʊk] /bʊk/ (ame, ipa) · [bˈʊk] /ˈbu̇k/ (ame, mw)
book — noun
- booksingular
- booksplural
1. a long piece of writing that is published for people to read, either on paper or
a long piece of writing that is published for people to read, either on paper or on a screen.
Felix bought a history book about ancient Egypt at the museum shop.
a book about + topic
The author spent five years writing a book on life in the Arctic.
write a book on + topic
Noa downloaded the book to her tablet before the overnight flight.
Our class discussed the first book in the series after lunch.
- work
broader and slightly more formal; also used for music, film, and art
- title
used when referring to a book as one item in a list or catalogue
- publication
formal term that covers books and other published material
文法句型
read a book
write a book
a book about + topic
用法筆記
Use this sense for the work or content itself. The same book can exist as a printed copy, an e-book, or an audiobook adaptation.
常見錯誤
2. an object made of pages fixed inside a cover, used for reading or for writing th
an object made of pages fixed inside a cover, used for reading or for writing things down.
Paloma left her math book open on the kitchen table before school.
leave a book open
The child hugged the picture book and carried it to bed.
picture book as a physical object
The nurse wrote the appointment time in a small black book.
A heavy book fell from the shelf and landed beside my chair.
文法句型
open a book
close a book
write in a book
用法筆記
This sense is about the physical item you can hold, open, drop, or put on a shelf. Distinguish from sense 1, which is the written work itself.
3. one large section of a very long work, especially a religious text or an epic po
one large section of a very long work, especially a religious text or an epic poem.
Our study group starts with Book Three of the history series next week.
Book + number
The priest read a passage from the Book of Psalms during the wedding.
the Book of + name
Book Two ends with the army crossing the mountains in winter.
The poem is divided into twelve books, each telling one stage of the journey.
文法句型
Book + number
the Book of + name
用法筆記
Used for very large works that are formally split into big parts. Ordinary novels and school textbooks usually use chapter instead.
常見錯誤
4. a set of the same flat items joined together along one side, such as stamps, tic
a set of the same flat items joined together along one side, such as stamps, tickets, or coupons.
Jude tore a meal ticket from the book before boarding the ferry.
a book of tickets
The cashier gave Lakshmi a book of stamps at the post office.
a book of stamps
My grandmother kept a book of coupons in the kitchen drawer.
The usher counted the unused raffle tickets still left in the book.
文法句型
a book of + plural noun
用法筆記
The items are usually thin and all of the same type. This sense is common with tickets, stamps, checks, and coupons rather than ordinary reading books.
常見錯誤
5. the records that show a business's money coming in, money going out, and other f
the records that show a business's money coming in, money going out, and other financial details.
The restaurant owner checks the books every Sunday night before closing.
check the books
Adaeze found an error in the books while preparing the tax report.
error in the books
A new accountant was hired to keep the company's books in order.
The auditor asked to see the books for the last three years.
- accounts
the most direct business synonym
- ledger
one accounting book or record system, often more technical
- financial records
broader phrase covering all business money documents
文法句型
keep the books
check the books
the books for + period
用法筆記
Usually used in the plural, especially in phrases like keep the books and cook the books. It refers to accounting records, not books for reading.
常見錯誤
6. the business of taking bets on results and paying out money to the people who wi
the business of taking bets on results and paying out money to the people who win.
Large races bring more money into the book than weekday matches do.
money in the book
The gambler said poor weather had hurt the book all afternoon.
hurt the book
By halftime, most bets in the book were on the home team.
A surprise result can damage the book if too many people chose the winner.
- bookmaking business
a fuller and more transparent phrase
- betting operation
focuses on the business activity rather than the records
文法句型
money in the book
damage the book
用法筆記
This sense refers to the bookmaker's operation as a whole, including the risk of balancing payouts against incoming bets. Distinguish from sense 7, which is the actual list or total of accepted bets.
7. the list or total amount of bets that a bookmaker has accepted on a race, game,
the list or total amount of bets that a bookmaker has accepted on a race, game, or other event.
The favorite dominated the book before the race began at noon.
dominate the book
The manager checked the book to see how much money was on each team.
check the book
Late bets changed the book just before the boxing match started.
Her win left the book badly unbalanced for the bookmaker.
- bet ledger
a descriptive term emphasizing the written record
- bet record
broader and less idiomatic than book in gambling use
文法句型
check the book
the book on + event
用法筆記
This sense points to the record or total of bets on a specific event. Distinguish from sense 6, which is the whole betting business and its profit risk more generally.
book — verb
- bookpresent simple I / you / we / they
- books3rd person singular
- booking-ing form
- bookedpast simple
1. to make plans ahead of time so that a place, service, or entertainer will be ava
to make plans ahead of time so that a place, service, or entertainer will be available when you need it.
Dario booked a table for six at the Korean restaurant on Saturday.
book a table for + number
Our office booked a local band for the summer festival in June.
book a performer
Élise booked two aisle seats on the early train to Kaohsiung.
If you want the sea-view room, book early before the holiday weekend.
- cancel
the opposite of making the arrangement
文法句型
book + noun
book + noun + for + time
book early
用法筆記
The object is usually something you want to use later, such as a room, table, ticket, or entertainer. The verb can also be intransitive in travel and hotel contexts: book early, book online.
常見錯誤
2. to officially note that someone has broken a rule or the law by adding their det
to officially note that someone has broken a rule or the law by adding their details to the authority's list.
The referee booked Zayd for pulling an opponent's shirt near the goal.
book + person + for + offence
Police booked the driver for dangerous driving after the crash.
police booked + person
A second late tackle got the defender booked in the final minutes.
Security staff booked two fans for throwing bottles onto the court.
文法句型
book + person + for + offence
be booked for + offence
用法筆記
Common with police, referees, and other authorities. In sports writing, getting booked often means receiving an official warning; in police use, it means your offence is formally recorded.
常見錯誤
book — adjective
- bookpositive
- bookercomparative
- bookestsuperlative
1. coming from study and reading rather than from direct practical experience.
coming from study and reading rather than from direct practical experience.
Aiko's book knowledge of horses disappeared when the animal kicked the gate.
book knowledge
The hospital needed nurses with bedside skill, not just book learning.
book learning
His book answer sounded correct, but it would fail in a real kitchen.
The mechanic dismissed the student's book ideas and showed her the actual repair.
- theoretical
broader and more academic; not always tied to reading
- academic
can describe school-based knowledge more generally
- textbook
similar when a response sounds correct in theory but not in practice
文法句型
book knowledge
book learning
book answer
用法筆記
Usually appears before nouns like knowledge, learning, answer, and ideas. It often contrasts with practical, hands-on, or real-world experience.
常見錯誤
2. existing in accounting records rather than as actual cash or physical value in h
existing in accounting records rather than as actual cash or physical value in hand.
The company reported a book loss after revaluing its overseas assets.
book loss
These shares still show a book profit, even though no one has sold them.
book profit
The merger increased the firm's book value on paper overnight.
An accountant explained that the gain was book income, not cash in the bank.
- accounting
broader and more technical; applies to methods and records generally
- paper
informal in finance, as in paper profit or paper loss
文法句型
book profit
book loss
book value
book income
用法筆記
Used mainly in business and finance before nouns like profit, loss, value, and income. It emphasizes that the amount exists on paper in the accounts, not as money already received.