buster
/ˈbʌstɚ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.47 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Forming compounds denoting a team, weapon, or device specialized in the destruction of the first element.
Slang
noun
Someone who or something that 'breaks', tames, or overpowers a specified person or thing.
American usage; Colloquial; Dated; Slang
noun
Someone who or something that 'breaks', tames, or overpowers a specified person or thing.
Colloquial; Slang
noun
Someone or something remarkable, especially for being loud, large, etc.
Colloquial; Dated; Slang
Example Sentences
- "Now death, I pray thee what is it, but a buster of bonds; a destruction of toyle?"
- "Rothlin was described... by the papers as the buster of the bandit ring."
- "German ‘balloon busters’ attack the Dover barrage."
- "Our main purpose in further experimentation with nuclear bombs is not... to make city-busters more horrible."
- "B-2 bombers are the only plane capable of carrying the Massive Ordinance Penetrator, which experts have highlighted as the only type of bomb potentially capable of destroying Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility. Each B-2 bomber is able to carry two of these “bunker buster” bombs, which weigh an impressive 30,000 pounds each."
- "The bombs used in the strikes were GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrators, known as a “bunker busters,” two sources familiar with the operation said."
Etymology
Originally a dialectal variant of burster; later influenced by bust + -er. The combining form of the term has appeared from the early 20th century but been especially prolific during three periods: in the 1930s, owing to the success of the radio series Gang Busters; in the 1940s, owing to its appearance as military slang; and in the 1980s, owing to the success of the movie Ghostbusters.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈbʌstɚ/
- British English: /ˈbʌstə/
Usage
- Colloquial
- Slang
- American usage
- Dated
- Obsolete
- Australian usage
- New Zealand usage
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
ball-buster
balloon-buster
belly-buster
belly buster
block-buster
booze-buster
brick-buster
bronco-buster