bug
An insect of the order Hemiptera (the “true bugs”).
Noun 4 meanings
An insect of the order Hemiptera (the “true bugs”).
Any motile small terrestrial invertebrate, especially one that is seen as a pest.
“These flies are a bother. I’ll get some bug spray and kill them.”
Any minibeast.
A problem that needs fixing.
“The software bug led the computer to calculate 2 plus 2 as 3.”
Verb 4 meanings
To annoy.
“Don’t bug me, I’m busy!”
To act suspiciously or irrationally, especially in a way that annoys others.
“I'm worried about Wallace. He's been buggin' all week.”
To install an electronic listening device or devices in.
“We need to know what’s going on. We’ll bug his house.”
To bulge or protrude.
Etymology
First attested in this form around 1620 (referring to a “bedbug”), from earlier bugge (“beetle”), from Middle English bugge (“scarecrow, hobgoblin”) which is traced alternatively to: * a Celtic root found in Scots bogill (“goblin, bugbear”) and obsolete Welsh bwg (“ghost, hobgoblin”); compare Welsh bwgwl (“threat, fear”) and Middle Irish bocanách (“supernatural being”).
Similar and opposite words
BUG at a glance
BUG has 3 letters and scores 6 points in Scrabble (B 3 + U 1 + G 2) and 9 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #5,015 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with bug
All rhymes- DEBUG9
- LADYBUG14
- HUMBUG14
- BEDBUG12
- JITTERBUG19
- FIREBUG13
- SUPERBUG13
- DOODLEBUG14
- SHUTTERBUG16
- MEALYBUG16
- LOVEBUG13
- STINKBUG15
One letter away
Keep going
Related lists
Looking for a different word?
Type the letters you have and the Finder shows every word that fits.