noun

bug

buhg

noun

A small insect, or loosely, any small crawling or flying creature.

"A bug landed on the picnic table and everyone jumped."

An error or flaw in a computer program or piece of software.

"The update fixed a bug that was crashing the app on startup."

"Testers found several bugs before the game's launch."

A minor, usually short-lived illness, or the germ that causes it.

"Half the office caught the stomach bug going around."

A hidden device used to secretly record or transmit conversations.

"The detective found a tiny bug hidden inside the lamp."

verb

To annoy or irritate someone.

"It really bugs me when people chew with their mouths open."

To secretly install a listening device somewhere.

"The agency was accused of bugging the ambassador's office."

How to Use Bug

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCovers insects, software errors, minor illnesses, hidden microphones, and the verb "to annoy" — context makes clear which one is meant.

Common mistake

In tech contexts, a "bug" (accidental flaw) is different from a "glitch" (a temporary malfunction) or a "feature" (intended behavior) — don't use them interchangeably in a bug report.

Common pairings

fix a bug catch a bug bug someone bug the room

Word Forms

bugged past tense, bugs plural, Bugs plural, Bugs plural, bugs singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ landed on the picnic table and everyone jumped.

Etymology

Traced to Middle English "bugge," meaning a scarecrow or hobgoblin; the "insect" meaning developed later, possibly influenced by a separate, similar-sounding word for beetle.

Rhymes for bug

humbug ladybug jitterbug

See all rhymes for bug →