bus
bus
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling:
/bʌs/
/b/ (voiced bilabial plosive)
/ʌ/ (near-open central unrounded vowel)
/s/ (voiceless alveolar fricative)
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: bus
Plural Noun: buses
Verb (base form): bus
Verb (third-person singular present): buses
Verb (present participle): bussing
Verb (past tense/past participle): bussed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A large motor vehicle designed to carry numerous passengers along a fixed route, typically for public transportation.
Synonyms: coach, omnibus, motorcoach
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a specific type of vehicle. Could be contrasted with "private car" or "bicycle" in a transport context.)
Definition 2: (Informal) A system or network of electrical conductors designed to carry data or power between components within a computer or other electronic device.
Synonyms: data highway, pathway, conduit
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms.)
Verb
Definition 1: To travel by bus.
Example: "We decided to bus to the city center rather than drive."
Synonyms: ride the bus
Antonyms: walk, drive, cycle
Definition 2: (Of a restaurant employee) To clear dirty dishes, glassware, and other items from tables after diners have finished their meals.
Example: "After clearing the tables, the waiter began to bus the empty plates."
Synonyms: clear, tidy, remove
Antonyms: set, place, prepare (in the context of setting a table)
Examples of Use
Books:
"Harry felt a slight sense of panic when he realized he'd missed the last bus to Privet Drive." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
"The old man sat by the window, watching the city buses rumble past, each one a fleeting glimpse into other people's lives." (A fictional novel snippet, illustrating common usage)
Newspapers:
"The city council announced a new initiative to expand public bus routes, aiming to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions." (The Daily Nation)
"Students rallied outside the university, demanding more frequent bus services to accommodate the growing campus population." (The Standard)
Online Publications:
"Google's self-driving bus project, Waymo, is expanding its testing to new urban areas, promising a future of autonomous public transport." (TechCrunch.com )
"A guide to navigating London by bus: how to use Oyster cards, find your stop, and make the most of your journey." (LonelyPlanet.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (TV Show Dialogue): "Did you see that yellow bus go by? It must be the school trip." (From a children's animated series, often heard in casual dialogue)
Film (Movie Title/Plot Point): Speed (1994) – A prominent plot element revolves around a bomb on a city bus, showcasing the vehicle as a central part of the action.
Music (Song Lyrics): "The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round..." (Traditional children's song, demonstrating widespread cultural familiarity)
Video Games (Game Mechanic/Environment): In games like Grand Theft Auto V, players can sometimes drive or encounter city buses as part of the urban environment. (Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto V)
Social Media (User Post): "Just missed my bus again! Guess I'm walking today. #publictransportproblems" (A common lament on platforms like X/Twitter)
General Public Discourse:
"I'll just take the bus; it's cheaper than a taxi." (A common phrase heard in everyday conversations about transportation)
"Could you bus these tables, please? We have a new group coming in." (A typical instruction given by a manager to a server in a restaurant setting)
"The computer's internal bus is overloaded, causing the system to slow down." (A more technical but still common usage when discussing computer hardware issues)
10 Famous Quotes Using Bus
"The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round." (Traditional Children's Song)
"You never know what's going to happen when you get on a bus." (Forrest Gump, Forrest Gump)
"He who rides the bus saves the environment, saves money, and saves himself from the stress of driving." (Unknown)
"Life is like a bus trip. You get on, you ride, and you get off." (Unknown)
"A library is a hospital for the mind, and the public bus is a good way to get there." (Original Quote)
"Don't miss the bus that takes you to your dreams." (Original Quote)
"I travel the way a bus travels, and that is a slow but steady pace." (Original Quote)
"My life is like a public bus; always on the move, always picking up new passengers." (Original Quote)
"The bus stop is where stories begin and end." (Original Quote)
"Sometimes the best adventures start with just getting on the wrong bus." (Original Quote)
Etymology
The word "bus" is actually a shortened version of the word "omnibus."
Here's how it all came about:
The Original Idea: Back in the early 1800s in France, a man named Stanislas Baudry started a transport service in the city of Nantes. He had a flour mill that produced a lot of hot water, so he opened a spa nearby. To encourage people to visit his spa, he offered a horse-drawn carriage service from the city center.
The Name: These carriages were meant "for all" people, regardless of their social class, unlike earlier, more exclusive forms of transport. The name "omnibus" comes from Latin. "Omnibus" is the dative plural of the Latin word "omnis," which means "all" or "for all."
The Pun (Maybe!): There's a popular story, though it might be a legend, that the service stopped in front of a hatter's shop with the sign "Omnes Omnibus." This was a clever play on words, as "omnes" also means "all" (in a different Latin form), making the sign read "All for All." Whether this specific sign was the exact origin, the idea of "for all" was definitely central to the service.
Spreading the Word: The concept of these public carriages, called "omnibuses," quickly spread from France to other countries, including England and the United States, in the late 1820s and 1830s.
Shortening for Convenience: As these vehicles became more common, people naturally started to shorten the word "omnibus" to just "bus." This shortening, or "clipping," is a common way words evolve in language when a longer word is used frequently and the meaning is still clear. The first known use of "bus" as a standalone word to mean a public street carriage was around 1832.
So, in simple terms, a "bus" is a "vehicle for all," and its name is just a trimmed-down version of the Latin word that emphasized its purpose of serving everyone.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bus
Catch the bus: To get on a bus for transport.
Miss the bus: To fail to take advantage of an opportunity.
Under the bus: To betray or sacrifice someone to save oneself or gain an advantage.
Bus stop: A designated place where buses pick up or drop off passengers.
Bus lane: A lane on a road reserved for buses.
Bus fare: The money paid to ride a bus.
Bus route: The specific path a bus follows.
On the bus: Currently traveling by bus.
All aboard the bus: A call for everyone to get on the bus (or to join a collective effort).
Busman's holiday: A holiday or leisure time spent doing something similar to one's usual work.
To get a bus ticket to freedom: (Original phrase) To make a decision that leads to liberation.
The last bus home: (Original phrase) The final opportunity or chance.
Ride the knowledge bus: (Original idiom using synonym "coach") To acquire information.
On the express bus to success: (Original idiom using synonym "motorcoach") Moving quickly towards achieving goals.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bus from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
