bus1

[buhs] /bʌs/
noun, plural buses, busses.
1.
a large motor vehicle, having a long body, equipped with seats or benches for passengers, usually operating as part of a scheduled service; omnibus.
2.
a similar horse-drawn vehicle.
3.
a passenger automobile or airplane used in a manner resembling that of a bus.
4.
any vehicle operated to transport children to school.
5.
a low, movable filing cabinet.
6.
Electricity. Also called bus bar, busbar
[buhs-bahr] /ˈbʌsˌbɑr/ (Show IPA). a heavy conductor, often made of copper in the shape of a bar, used to collect, carry, and distribute powerful electric currents, as those produced by generators.
7.
Computers. a circuit that connects the CPU with other devices in a computer.
verb (used with object), bused or bussed, busing or bussing.
8.
to convey or transport by bus:
to bus the tourists to another hotel.
9.
to transport (pupils) to school by bus, especially as a means of achieving racial integration.
verb (used without object), bused or bussed, busing or bussing.
10.
to travel on or by means of a bus:
We bused to New York on a theater trip.
Idioms
11.
throw under the bus. throw (def 57).
Origin
1825-35; short for omnibus; (def 6) short for omnibus bar
Can be confused
bussed, bust.
British Dictionary definitions for busbar

busbar

/ˈbʌzˌbɑː/
noun
1.
an electrical conductor, maintained at a specific voltage and capable of carrying a high current, usually used to make a common connection between several circuits in a system
2.
a group of such electrical conductors at a low voltage, used for carrying data in binary form between the various parts of a computer or its peripherals
Sometimes shortened to bus

bus

/bʌs/
noun (pl) buses, busses
1.
a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers between stopping places along a regular route More formal name omnibus Sometimes called motorbus
2.
short for trolleybus
3.
(modifier) of or relating to a bus or buses: a bus driver, a bus station
4.
(informal) a car or aircraft, esp one that is old and shaky
5.
(electronics, computing) short for busbar
6.
the part of a MIRV missile payload containing the re-entry vehicles and guidance and thrust devices
7.
(astronautics) a platform in a space vehicle used for various experiments and processes
8.
miss the bus, to miss an opportunity; be too late
verb buses, busing, bused, busses, bussing, bussed
9.
to travel or transport by bus
10.
(mainly US & Canadian) to transport (children) by bus from one area to a school in another in order to create racially integrated classes
Word Origin
C19: short for omnibus
Word Origin and History for busbar

bus

n.

1832, abbreviation of omnibus (q.v.). The modern English noun is nothing but a Latin dative plural ending. To miss the bus, in the figurative sense of "lose an opportunity," is from 1901, Australian English (OED has a figurative miss the omnibus from 1886). Busman's holiday "leisure time spent doing what one does for a living" (1893) is probably a reference to London bus drivers riding the buses on their days off.

v.

1838, "to travel by omnibus," from bus (n.). Transitive meaning "transport students to integrate schools" is from 1961, American English. Meaning "clear tables in a restaurant" is first attested 1913, probably from the four-wheeled cart used to carry dishes. Related: Bused; busing.

Slang definitions & phrases for busbar

bus

noun
  1. A car: Whose old bus is in the drive? (1919+)
  2. An aircraft (1916+)
  3. An ambulance: Roger oneoh-four, do we need a bus? (1980s+ Police)
verb

To clear dirty dishes and tableware from the tables in a restaurant or cafeteria (1913+)

Related Terms

jitney, miss the bus, rubberneck wagon

[the restaurant sense probably fr the four-wheeled cart often used to carry dishes]