bounce
(bouns)
[Probably from Middle English bounsen, to beat.]
verb: bounced, bounc·ing, bounc·es.
intransitive verb
- To rebound after having struck an object or a surface.
- To move jerkily; bump: The car bounced over the potholes.
- To bound: children bouncing into the room.
- To be sent back by a bank as valueless: a check that bounced.
- Baseball To hit a ground ball to an infielder: The batter bounced out to the shortstop.
transitive verb
- To cause to strike an object or a surface and rebound: bounce a ball on the sidewalk.
- To present or propose for comment or approval. Often used with off: bounced a few ideas off my boss.
- Slang
- To expel by force.
- To dismiss from employment. See synonyms at dismiss
- To write (a check) on an overdrawn bank account.
noun
- A rebound.
- A sudden bound, spring, or leap.
- The capacity to rebound; spring: a ball with bounce.
- Spirit; liveliness.
- Slang Expulsion; dismissal.
- Chiefly British Loud, arrogant speech; bluster.
phrasal verbs
- bounce back
- To recover quickly, as from a setback: The patient bounced back to good health.
