bug
buhg
Bug (noun) means a small insect, or loosely, any small crawling or flying creature. Example: “There is a tiny bug crawling up your sleeve, so hold still.”
noun
1
A small insect, or loosely, any small crawling or flying creature.
"There is a tiny bug crawling up your sleeve, so hold still."
"The children collected beetles and other bugs in a jar."
"A bug landed on the picnic table and everyone jumped."
2
An error or flaw in a computer program or piece of software.
"I reported a bug that makes the button stop responding on phones."
"The update fixed a bug that was crashing the app on startup."
"Testers found several bugs before the game's launch."
3
A minor, usually short-lived illness, or the germ that causes it.
"I can't come in today because I have caught some kind of bug."
"She stayed in bed for two days with a winter bug."
"Half the office caught the stomach bug going around."
4
A hidden device used to secretly record or transmit conversations.
"The police planted a bug in the suspect's car to hear his calls."
"Staff swept the boardroom for any hidden bug before the private meeting."
"The detective found a tiny bug hidden inside the lamp."
verb
1
To annoy or irritate someone.
"Don't let your brother's teasing bug you; he is just after a reaction."
"What bugs you most about living in a big city?"
"It really bugs me when people chew with their mouths open."
2
To secretly install a listening device somewhere.
"Someone had bugged the hotel room, so they spoke only in whispers."
"The spy novel begins when a journalist finds her phone has been bugged."
"The agency was accused of bugging the ambassador's office."
How to use bug
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- bugs
- Third person singular
- bugs
- Past tense
- bugged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There is a tiny _____ crawling up your sleeve, so hold still.
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
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.
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