bust

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A woman's chest or bosom, especially as measured for clothing sizes.

   Grammar: Countable noun; often used in the singular with a measurement, e.g. 'a 34-inch bust'.

   Patterns

   • bust size
   • bust measurement
   • a 36-inch bust

   The dress is available in different bust sizes.

   She measured her bust to find the right size.

   The tailor took her bust measurement for the fitted jacket.

2. 2nouncountable

   A sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with 'of': 'a bust of Shakespeare'.

   Patterns

   • a bust of someone
   • bronze bust
   • marble bust

   The museum has a marble bust of the emperor.

   A bronze bust of the founder stands in the entrance hall.

   He sculpted a bust of his grandmother.

3. 3verbtransitive or intransitiveinformal

   To break or destroy something, or to burst.

   Grammar: Can be used with an object ('bust the door open') or without ('the pipe bust').

   Patterns

   • bust something open
   • bust a pipe
   • bust out

   The water pipe bust during the cold snap.

   He busted the lock to get inside.

   The kids busted the piñata open.

4. 4adjectivenot comparableinformal

   Bankrupt or broken; no longer working or able to pay debts.

   Grammar: Used after verbs like 'go' or 'be': 'go bust', 'be bust'.

   Patterns

   • go bust
   • be bust

   The company went bust after losing its biggest client.

   My phone is bust, so I need a new one.

   Many small businesses went bust during the recession.

Word forms

Common combinations

bust measurement

The seamstress recorded her bust measurement.

go bust

The airline went bust last year.

a bust of

There is a bust of the poet in the park.

bust size

She needs a larger bust size in this style.

Synonyms and how they differ

chest

Chest is a general term for the upper front body of any person; bust is used mainly for a woman's chest, especially in clothing measurements.

bosom

Bosom is an older or more literary word for a woman's chest; bust is the standard term in fashion and sizing.

statue

Statue is a general word for a carved or cast figure; bust specifically refers to a sculpture of the head and shoulders.

Word family

busted adjective

Broken or caught doing something wrong, as in 'a busted leg' or 'busted for speeding'.

buster noun

A person or thing that breaks something; also used informally to address a man.

Commonly confused: bust or burst?

Practice

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