Bill

Definition

Bill is a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to a statement of charges for goods or services, a proposed law presented for discussion, or the beak of a bird. As a verb, it means to send a statement of charges or to advertise something.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /bɪl/
• Respelling: bil

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /bɪl/
• Respelling: bil

The pronunciation of "bill" is identical in both American and British English.

Etymology

The word "bill" originates from the Old English "bile" meaning "beak" or "bill of a bird." The financial and legislative meanings came from the Medieval Latin "billa," meaning "document" or "writing," derived from the Latin "bulla," meaning "seal" or "bubble," referring to official documents.

Derivatives

• Billing (noun)
• Billed (adjective)
• Billable (adjective)
• Billboard (noun)
• Billfold (noun)

Synonyms

• Invoice
• Statement
• Proposal

Antonyms

• Payment
• Receipt
• None

Usage

The term "bill" is commonly used to refer to an itemized statement of charges, as in "The restaurant handed us the bill after the meal." It is also widely used in a legislative context, such as "The bill was introduced in Parliament."

Related Terms

• Invoice: An itemized list of goods and services with charges.
• Proposal: A formal suggestion, especially for legislation.
• Beak: The projecting part of a bird’s mouth, also known as a bill.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A statement of charges for goods or services: An itemized list presented to request payment.
  • Example: "They received the bill for their hotel stay."
• A draft of a proposed law presented for approval: Used in legislative contexts to describe a proposal awaiting approval.
  • Example: "The new health bill was debated in Congress."
• The beak of a bird: Refers to the hard, projecting part of a bird’s mouth.
  • Example: "The pelican used its bill to scoop up fish."

Verb

• To send a statement of charges: Refers to issuing an itemized list requesting payment.
  • Example: "The company billed us for last month's services."
• To advertise or promote: Often used in contexts where something is presented in a specific manner.
  • Example: "The event was billed as a charity concert."