Buck

Definition

Buck is a versatile word in English, with meanings that vary based on context. It can refer to a male deer (noun), a dollar (noun, informal), or the action of resisting or opposing (verb). It is commonly used in various idiomatic expressions and contexts, giving it a rich usage in the English language.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /bʌk/
• Respelling: buk

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /bʌk/
• Respelling: buk

The pronunciation of "buck" is the same in both American and British English.

Etymology

The word "buck" originated in Old English "bucca," meaning "male goat" or "deer." The term evolved over time to describe a male deer specifically. Its use to refer to a dollar is American in origin, possibly related to the use of deerskins as a form of currency in trading during the colonial period.

Derivatives

• Buckling (noun)
• Bucks (noun, plural form for dollars or deer)
• Buckshot (noun)
• Buckaroo (noun, informal term for cowboy)
• Unbuckle (verb)

Synonyms

• Dollar (for monetary sense)
• Male (for animal sense)
• Resist (for verb sense)

Antonyms

• Submit (for verb sense)
• Female (for animal sense)
• Yield (for verb sense)

Usage

The word "buck" is used in many contexts. For example, "He spent ten bucks on lunch" (informal currency term), "The horse started to buck when it got scared" (verb meaning to resist or throw off), and "A large buck appeared at the edge of the forest" (noun for a male deer). The term also appears in idiomatic expressions such as "pass the buck," meaning to shift responsibility to someone else.

Related Terms

• Buckskin: Leather made from deer hide, commonly used in early trading.
• Buck up: A phrase meaning to encourage or strengthen oneself.
• Buckwheat: A plant whose seeds are used for flour, not directly related to "buck" but shares the root word.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A male deer or similar animal: Refers specifically to male deer and, by extension, other animals.
  • Example: "The hunter spotted a large buck near the lake."
• A dollar (informal, chiefly North American): Commonly used in informal contexts to refer to one dollar.
  • Example: "I only have a few bucks left until payday."

Verb

• To resist or oppose: Often used to describe resistance to authority or convention.
  • Example: "The young colt began to buck as soon as it felt the saddle on its back."