books
[bˈʊks] /ˈbu̇k How to pronounce book (audio)/ (ame, mw)
books — noun
1. objects made from pages of paper joined along one edge inside a cover, used for
objects made from pages of paper joined along one edge inside a cover, used for reading or writing things down
Eshe carried three heavy books home from the library on Friday.
plural countable: a specific number of books
The shelf above Lucía's desk holds her favourite books about birds.
books about + topic
Romi spent the rainy afternoon reading old books in the attic.
Many children in the village had no books or pencils at school.
Hao stacked the maths books neatly beside the kitchen window.
文法句型
books about/on [topic]
books by [author]
用法筆記
The plural form is the natural way to talk about a group, collection, or any unspecified number. Singular 'a book' is used for one specific item.
常見錯誤
2. long written works that have been printed and shared with the public, considered
long written works that have been printed and shared with the public, considered as the writings of a particular author or in a particular subject
Asher loves the detective books by Agatha Christie more than any film.
books by + author
Anong's grandmother has read all the books of Haruki Murakami in Thai.
Most of Jamie Oliver's cooking books are now also available as e-books.
Modern history books in Berlin often disagree about what caused the war.
Christopher writes children's books that have been translated into ten languages.
- works
broader; covers any published creative output, not just books
- novels
narrower; only fiction in story form
- publications
very formal; includes magazines and journals too
文法句型
books by [author]
the books of [writer]
用法筆記
Refers to the written content as published works, not the physical objects (compare sense 1). Often qualified by author, genre, or subject.
3. the named sections that a very long literary work, especially the Bible or a cla
the named sections that a very long literary work, especially the Bible or a classical epic, is divided into
Yara studied the early books of the Old Testament in Sunday school.
the books of + larger work
The first six books of the Iliad describe the anger of Achilles.
Ritu's professor assigned the later books of Paradise Lost for the essay.
Each of the twelve books of the Aeneid opens with an invocation.
文法句型
the books of [larger work]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: here each 'book' is part of one larger work; in sense 2 each book is a separate published title.
4. the written or computer records that show all the money a company has received a
the written or computer records that show all the money a company has received and spent
Élise spends every Friday morning balancing the books for her bakery.
balance the books
The new accountant noticed at the Lagos office that the books had been kept very carelessly.
keep the books
Inspectors arrived and asked to see the company's books going back five years.
James was fired after his manager caught him cooking the books.
文法句型
keep / balance / cook the books
用法筆記
Almost always plural and used with 'the'. Common verbs: keep, balance, audit, cook (informal for falsify).
常見錯誤
5. the whole body of written learning about a particular subject, especially when c
the whole body of written learning about a particular subject, especially when compared with what people learn from doing the activity themselves
Harper reads all the books on parenting but still feels unsure at night.
the books on + subject
Ife claims to have read the books on negotiation but loses every argument.
Coach Tamás insists that the books on training cannot replace experience.
The new manager threw out the books on management and trusted her own instincts.
- literature
more academic; the published research on a subject
- theory
narrower; the principles only, not the full body of writing
- experience
the practical contrast to book-learning
文法句型
the books on [subject]
用法筆記
Figurative — refers to the body of knowledge a topic has produced, not literally physical books. Often contrasted with practical experience.
6. the written official rules or correct procedures that decide what counts as acce
the written official rules or correct procedures that decide what counts as acceptable in a particular job or organisation
Bilal does everything by the books, even when the rules seem silly.
by the books
The young inspector goes strictly by the books and never makes exceptions.
Nikos warned the team that this trade was not by the books.
The hospital expects every nurse to follow the books on patient safety.
- rules
plainer; everyday word for the same idea
- regulations
more formal; usually written by an authority
- protocol
narrower; refers to official procedure rather than full rule set
文法句型
by the books
go by the books
用法筆記
Used in fixed phrases 'by the books' or 'go by the books'. Compare sense 5: this sense is about official rules; sense 5 is about all available knowledge.
7. the official records held by police or courts that list charges against someone
the official records held by police or courts that list charges against someone
Eve already had three theft charges on the books before she turned eighteen.
on the books = officially recorded
The detective added one more charge to the books that evening.
Théo's lawyer worked hard to keep the new offence off the books.
Old fraud charges from the 1990s remain on the books against the bank.
文法句型
on the books
用法筆記
Found mainly in 'on/off the books' meaning officially recorded by police or courts. Also used informally about laws still in force (e.g. 'the law is still on the books').
8. the written words of plays, operas, or musicals that performers learn and follow
the written words of plays, operas, or musicals that performers learn and follow on stage
Vinícius rewrote the books for two of the company's older musicals.
the books for + show
The director asked Alessia to study the books before rehearsals began.
Soprano Maria Callas studied the books for La Traviata until the pages fell apart.
Michael writes the books for school productions every summer.
文法句型
the books for [show]
用法筆記
Theatre and opera jargon. 'The book' (singular) of a musical is the spoken dialogue and stage directions; 'books' plural is used about multiple shows.
9. the written or computer records of all the bets a bookmaker has taken on horse r
the written or computer records of all the bets a bookmaker has taken on horse races, matches, or similar events
Sven kept the books at the local track for nearly thirty years.
keep the books = work as a bookmaker
By Saturday night the bookmaker's books were full of bets on the favourite horse.
Imran refused to take any more wagers because his books were already heavy.
Police raided the pub and seized the books from the back room.
文法句型
make / keep the books
用法筆記
Gambling sense. Often heard at racetracks. Note the related verb 'to book a bet' belongs to a different sense.
10. in some card games such as bridge, the first group of tricks a player or partner
in some card games such as bridge, the first group of tricks a player or partnership has to take so that later tricks start counting for score
Astrid lost the round because she could not take her books in hearts.
take the books = win the required tricks
In bridge, the declarer has to take six tricks to make the books.
Eitan and his partner had their books safely by the eighth round of the tournament.
Beginner players at the Wellington bridge club often forget they need the books before any trick scores.
- tricks
the individual rounds within a card game
文法句型
make / take the books
用法筆記
Restricted to certain trick-taking card games, especially bridge. Often paired with verbs 'make' or 'take'.
books — verb
- bookspresent simple I / you / we / they
- bookses3rd person singular
- booksing-ing form
- booksedpast simple
1. (third-person singular form of 'book') arranges and pays for a service such as a
(third-person singular form of 'book') arranges and pays for a service such as a seat, a room, a table, or a performer to be kept for a later date
Kemi always books her plane tickets three months before any trip.
books + [reservation object]
The wedding planner books five hotel rooms for every out-of-town guest.
Maeve books a quiet table near the window every Sunday lunch.
The village festival books the same headline band three summers in a row.
Andrew always books online because the phone line is so slow.
- cancels
the action that undoes a booking
文法句型
someone books something
someone books for [time]
用法筆記
More common in British English; American English often prefers 'reserves' or 'makes a reservation'. Subject is typically a person or organisation; object is the seat, room, table, or performer.
常見錯誤
2. (third-person singular form of 'book') officially writes down the name of someon
(third-person singular form of 'book') officially writes down the name of someone who has broken a rule, especially a police suspect or a player who has fouled in a match
The referee books any player who argues with him too loudly during a match.
books + [player] + for + offence
Officer Tendai books every suspect in front of the duty sergeant.
If the goalkeeper wastes time, the referee usually books him.
Antonia gets booked for speeding almost every winter on the same road.
The new referee from Madrid books fewer players than the strict old one did.
- releases
for the police sense, the action of letting someone go without charge
文法句型
books someone for [offence]
用法筆記
Two related contexts: police/legal (entering charges) and sports (issuing a yellow card). Frequently passive in sports reporting.
常見錯誤
3. (third-person singular form of 'book') leaves a place fast, often suddenly or to
(third-person singular form of 'book') leaves a place fast, often suddenly or to escape something — a casual American expression
Whenever the bell rings, Nicholas books out of the classroom first.
books out / books it = leaves fast
Ramón books home the moment his shift at the diner ends.
Joon just books whenever an argument starts in the dorm.
If anyone mentions chores, Andrés books to his room and shuts the door.
- stays
remains in the same place
文法句型
books + [direction adverb]
用法筆記
Slang, mostly North American teenage and young-adult speech. Often paired with 'out' or 'it'. Avoid in formal writing.