buck

/bʌk/ (bre, ipa) · [bˈʌk] /bʌk/ (ame, ipa) · [bˈʌk] /ˈbək/ (ame, mw)

buck — noun

  • bucksingular
  • bucksplural

1. an informal word for one dollar.

1.名詞B1
釋義

an informal word for one dollar.

例句

Ravi found a buck under the sofa and bought a bus ticket.

a buck = one dollar

At the yard sale, each comic book cost only one buck.

one buck after a price

同義詞
  • dollar

    the neutral standard word in speech and writing

  • greenback

    a more playful or old-fashioned American word, especially for paper money

  • one-dollar bill

    names the paper note itself rather than the money unit in general

文法句型

a buck

number + bucks

a buck each

用法筆記

Usually follows a number or price in casual speech. Distinguish from noun/2 and noun/3: this sense refers to dollars, not rupees or rand.

常見錯誤

The sandwich cost five buck.
The sandwich cost five bucks.
💡Use the plural form after numbers above one.

2. money, or a chance to get a lot of it, in set informal expressions.

2.名詞B2
釋義

money, or a chance to get a lot of it, in set informal expressions.

例句

Investors came hoping to make a quick buck from the phone app.

make a quick buck

The new printer gives small offices more bang for their buck.

more bang for your buck

同義詞
  • money

    the broad neutral word

  • cash

    focuses on money in notes and coins, not on profit

  • profit

    more formal and tied to money gained from business

反義詞
  • loss

    money that is lost instead of gained

文法句型

make a quick buck

bring in the big bucks

more bang for your buck

用法筆記

Usually appears in fixed phrases rather than as a simple price word. Distinguish from noun/1, noun/2, and noun/3: those senses name one unit of currency, while this sense often means money more generally.

常見錯誤

The tablet cost two quick bucks.
The tablet cost two bucks.' / 'They wanted to make a quick buck.
💡Quick buck belongs in a fixed phrase about earning money, not naming a price.

3. a male deer, rabbit, or similar animal; in South Africa, it can also mean an ant

3.名詞B2
釋義

a male deer, rabbit, or similar animal; in South Africa, it can also mean an antelope or deer of either sex.

例句

At dawn, a buck stepped out of the trees near the lake.

buck = male deer

The children watched a young buck chase another deer across the field.

young buck

同義詞
  • stag

    usually refers specifically to an adult male deer

  • male

    a broader biological term, not a species word

  • antelope

    fits the South African use but does not itself mark sex

反義詞
  • doe

    the usual word for a female deer or rabbit

文法句型

a buck

young buck

buck + animal noun

用法筆記

Most often names a male deer or rabbit. In South African use, it can refer more broadly to antelope and may not mark sex in the same way.

常見錯誤

The doe lowered his head and ran.
The buck lowered his head and ran.
💡A buck is male, while a doe is female.

4. an informal word for one rupee.

4.名詞C2
釋義

an informal word for one rupee.

例句

In Mumbai, a paper cup of tea cost ten bucks.

number + bucks

Meera found a buck beside the fruit stand in Jaipur.

a buck = one rupee

同義詞
  • rupee

    the neutral standard name of the currency

文法句型

a buck

number + bucks

用法筆記

This sense appears in Indian contexts. Distinguish from noun/1 and noun/3 by the local currency named in the situation.

5. an informal word for one rand.

5.名詞C2
釋義

an informal word for one rand.

例句

In Cape Town, the driver asked for twenty bucks in cash.

number + bucks

At the Durban market, oranges sold for a buck each on Sunday.

a buck each

同義詞
  • rand

    the neutral standard name of the currency

文法句型

a buck

number + bucks

用法筆記

This sense appears in South African contexts. Distinguish from noun/1 and noun/2 by the currency used in the place or setting.

6. a four-legged gym object that students run at and leap across.

6.名詞C1
釋義

a four-legged gym object that students run at and leap across.

例句

The coach placed the buck in the middle of the gym.

place the buck

After warm-up, each student ran and jumped over the buck.

jump over the buck

同義詞
  • vaulting horse

    the more familiar modern term for similar equipment

  • horse

    shorter gym term that depends on context

文法句型

jump over the buck

place the buck

vaulting buck

用法筆記

Used mainly in gymnastics, especially older or technical descriptions of vaulting equipment. Modern learners may also meet horse or vaulting horse for a similar object.

buck — verb