noun A2 Elementary Common

bug

buhg

Bug (noun) means a small insect, or loosely, any small crawling or flying creature. Example: “A bug landed on the picnic table and everyone jumped.”

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

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “bug” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →

insect critter defect flaw error fault

Related words

section animal fly vice mistake error fail blame

Frequently asked questions

What does “bug” mean?

The word “bug” means a small insect, or loosely, any small crawling or flying creature. In plain terms, covers insects, software errors, minor illnesses, hidden microphones, and the verb "to annoy" — context makes clear which one is meant.

How do you pronounce “bug”?

“Bug” is pronounced buhg (/bʌɡ/ in IPA).

How do you use “bug” in a sentence?

Here is “bug” used in a sentence: “A bug landed on the picnic table and everyone jumped.”

What part of speech is “bug”?

Depending on how it is used, “bug” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “bug” come from?

The word “bug” comes from Middle English. 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.

Is “bug” a common word?

“Bug” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “bug” have?

“Bug” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small insect, or loosely, any small crawling or flying creature.

What is the difference between a bug and an insect?

In everyday English, bug loosely means a small insect or any small crawling or flying creature. In strict scientific use, "true bugs" are a specific group of insects, so not every insect is a bug to a biologist. In casual speech, though, the two words are often used interchangeably.

What is the difference between a bug and a glitch in software?

A bug is an error or flaw in a computer program or piece of software, often something that needs to be found and fixed. A glitch usually suggests a brief, minor, or temporary malfunction. Bugs tend to be underlying faults in the code, while glitches are the short-lived hiccups users notice.

What words commonly go with bug in software?

In the software sense, bug pairs with verbs like fix, report, find, and introduce, as in "fix a bug" or "report a bug." Common noun phrases include bug report, bug fix, and known bug.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include bug:

3 letter words Words that start with B

People also searched

section animal fly vice mistake error fail blame