Skip to definition.
Get the FREE one-click dictionary software for Windows or the iPhone/iPad and Android apps


Noun: bum  búm
Usage: informal
  1. [N. Amer, informal] A person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible
    "throw the bum out";
    - rotter [Brit, informal], dirty dog [informal], rat [informal], skunk [informal], stinker [informal], stinkpot [N. Amer, informal], crumb [N. Amer, informal], lowlife [informal], scumbag [informal], so-and-so [informal], git [Brit, informal], scumbag [informal], sleazebucket [informal], toad [informal], scuzz [N. Amer, informal], sleazeball [informal], toerag [Brit, informal], sleazebag [informal], sod [Brit, informal], swine [informal], ratbag [Brit, informal], scuzzball [N. Amer, informal], scuzzbag [N. Amer, informal], scuzzbucket [N. Amer, informal], slimebag [informal], dirtbag [US, informal], slimeball [informal]
     
  2. [N. Amer, informal] A homeless person or vagrant
    "he tried to help the really down-and-out bums";
    - tramp, hobo [N. Amer, informal], bindlestiff [US], skell [US, informal]
     
  3. [N. Amer, informal] Person who does no work
    "a lazy bum";
    - idler, loafer, do-nothing [informal], layabout [informal], slacker [informal], shirker [informal], deadbeat [informal]
     
  4. [Brit, informal] The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
    "he deserves a good kick in the bum";
    - buttocks, nates [technical], butt [N. Amer, informal], backside, buns [N. Amer, informal], can [N. Amer, informal], fundament, hindquarters, hind end, posterior, rear [informal], rear end [informal], rump, stern [informal], seat, tail [N. Amer, informal], tail end, tooshie [informal], tush [N. Amer, informal], bottom, behind, derriere, bahookie [UK, dialect, informal], botty [informal], heinie [US, informal], duff [N. Amer, informal], booty [N. Amer, informal], patootie [US, informal], tushy [N. Amer, informal], derrière
Verb: bum (bummed,bumming)  búm
Usage: informal
  1. Ask for and get free; be a parasite
    - mooch [N. Amer, informal], cadge [informal], grub [informal], sponge [informal], bludge [Austral, NZ, informal], sponge off [informal]
     
  2. Be lazy or idle
    "Her son is just bumming around all day";
    - bum around [informal], bum about [informal], arse around [Brit, Cdn, informal], arse about [Brit, Cdn, informal], loaf [informal], waste one's time, lounge around, loll, loll around, lounge about, slob [Brit, informal]
Adjective: bum  búm
Usage: informal
  1. Of very poor quality; flimsy
    - cheap, cheesy [informal], chintzy [N. Amer, informal], crummy [informal], punk [N. Amer, informal], sleazy [archaic], tinny [archaic], tacky [informal], crumby [informal]
     
  2. Wrong, out of place or inappropriate
    "hit a bum note"

Derived forms: bums, bummed, bumming

See also: inferior

Type of: body part, clochard, disagreeable person, drifter, floater, idle, laze, nonworker, obtain, slug [informal], stagnate, unpleasant person, vagabond, vagrant

Part of: body, torso, trunk

Encyclopedia: Bum, Azerbaijan