bullet
BUU-liht
Bullet (noun) means a small metal projectile fired from a gun. Example: “The detective examined a bullet under a magnifying glass.”
noun
1
A small metal projectile fired from a gun.
"The detective examined a bullet under a magnifying glass."
"The bullet lodged in the wooden door frame."
"Police found several spent bullets at the scene."
2
A small dot or symbol used to mark items in a list.
"Put a bullet before each item so the list is easy to read."
"The report began with a row of bullets setting out the main goals."
"Each bullet on the slide summarised one key point."
verb
1
To fire someone from a job abruptly (informal).
"Half the sales team were bulleted when the new manager arrived."
"Nobody saw it coming when she was bulleted on a Friday afternoon."
"He got bulleted after just two months on the job."
How to use bullet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the metal projectile fired from a gun, or the dot used to mark a list item.
Common pairings
fire a bullet
bullet point
dodge a bullet
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Word forms
- Plural
- bullets
- Third person singular
- bullets
- Past tense
- bulleted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The detective examined a _____ under a magnifying glass.
Etymology
From Old French boulette, diminutive of boule, "ball" — the projectile is named after its rounded shape.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for bullet
See all rhymes for bullet →Frequently asked questions
What does “bullet” mean?
The word “bullet” means a small metal projectile fired from a gun. In plain terms, either the metal projectile fired from a gun, or the dot used to mark a list item.
How do you pronounce “bullet”?
“Bullet” is pronounced BUU-liht (/ˈbʊlɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “bullet” in a sentence?
Here is “bullet” used in a sentence: “The bullet lodged in the wooden door frame.”
What part of speech is “bullet”?
Depending on how it is used, “bullet” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “bullet” come from?
The word “bullet” comes from Old French. From Old French boulette, diminutive of boule, "ball" — the projectile is named after its rounded shape.
Is “bullet” a common word?
“Bullet” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “bullet” have?
“Bullet” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small metal projectile fired from a gun.
What is the difference between a bullet and a cartridge?
A bullet is only the small metal projectile fired from a gun. A cartridge is the whole unit, combining the bullet with the casing, gunpowder, and primer, so people often say 'bullet' loosely when they mean the complete round.
What is a bullet point?
A bullet point is a small dot or symbol used to mark each item in a list, helping to separate and organise short pieces of information. The 'bullet' here is the mark itself, not the text beside it.
What do the idioms 'bite the bullet' and 'dodge a bullet' mean?
To 'bite the bullet' means to force yourself to do something difficult or unpleasant, while to 'dodge a bullet' means to narrowly avoid a danger or problem. Both draw on the image of the metal projectile fired from a gun.
Should you write 'bullet' or 'bullet point' in a document?
When talking about a list, both 'bullet' and 'bullet point' are correct for the mark. 'Bullet point' is the fuller, clearer term, while 'bullet' alone is common once the context is obvious.
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