a written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers.

a number of sheets of blank or ruled paper bound together for writing, recording business transactions, etc.

a division of a literary work, esp. one of the larger divisions.

the Book, the Bible.

Music . the text or libretto of an opera, operetta, or musical.

books. book of account.

Jazz . the total repertoire of a band.

a script or story for a play.

a record of bets, as on a horse race.

Cards . the number of basic tricks or cards that must be taken before any trick or card counts in the score.

a set or packet of tickets, checks, stamps, matches, etc., bound together like a book.

anything that serves for the recording of facts or events

The petrified tree was a book of Nature.

Sports . a collection of facts and information about the usual playing habits, weaknesses, methods, etc., of an opposing team or player, esp. in baseball

The White Sox book on Mickey Mantle cautioned pitchers to keep the ball fast and high.

Stock Exchange .

the customers served by each registered representative in a brokerage house.

a loose-leaf binder kept by a specialist to record orders to buy and sell stock at specified prices.

a pile or package of leaves, as of tobacco.

Mineralogy . a thick block or crystal of mica.

a magazine

used esp. in magazine publishing.

book value.

Slang . bookmaker ( def. 1 ) .

the book,

a set of rules, conventions, or standards

The solution was not according to the book but it served the purpose.

the telephone book

I've looked him up, but he's not in the book.

to enter in a book or list; record; register.

to reserve or make a reservation for (a hotel room, passage on a ship, etc.)

We booked a table at our favorite restaurant.

to register or list (a person) for a place, transportation, appointment, etc.

The travel agent booked us for next week's cruise.

to engage for one or more performances.

to enter an official charge against (an arrested suspect) on a police register.

to act as a bookmaker for (a bettor, bet, or sum of money)

The Philadelphia syndicate books 25 million dollars a year on horse racing.

to register one's name.

to engage a place, services, etc.

Slang .

to study hard, as a student before an exam

He left the party early to book.

to leave; depart

I'm bored with this party, let's book.

to work as a bookmaker

He started a restaurant with money he got from booking.

of or pertaining to a book or books

the book department; a book salesman.

derived or learned from or based on books

a book knowledge of sailing.

shown by a book of account

The firm's book profit was

book in, to sign in, as at a job.

book out, to sign out, as at a job.

book up, to sell out in advance

The hotel is booked up for the Christmas holidays.

bring to book

to call to account; bring to justice

Someday he will be brought to book for his misdeeds.

by the book

according to the correct or established form; in the usual manner

an unimaginative individual who does everything by the book.

close the books

to balance accounts at the end of an accounting period; settle accounts.

cook the books

Informal . cook ( def. 10 ) .

in one's bad books

out of favor; disliked by someone

He's in the boss's bad books.

in one's book

in one's personal judgment or opinion

In my book, he's not to be trusted.

in one's good books

in favor; liked by someone.

like a book

completely; thoroughly

She knew the area like a book.

make book

to accept or place the bets of others, as on horse races, esp. as a business.

to wager; bet

You can make book on it that he won't arrive in time.

off the books, done or performed for cash or without keeping full business records: esp. as a way to avoid paying income tax, employment benefits

etc.

Much of his work as a night watchman is done off the books.

one for the book or books

a noteworthy incident; something extraordinary

The daring rescue was one for the book.

on the books

entered in a list or record

He claims to have graduated from Harvard, but his name is not on the books.

throw the book at

Informal .

to sentence (an offender, lawbreaker, etc.) to the maximum penalties for all charges against that person.

to punish or chide severely.

without book

from memory.

without authority

to punish without book.

write the book, to be the prototype, originator, leader, etc.

of

So far as investment banking is concerned, they wrote the book.

verb

bow out , cancel , exonerate , free , let go

noun

album , atlas , bestseller , bible , booklet , brochure , codex , compendium , copy , dictionary , dissertation , edition , encyclopedia , essay , fiction , folio , handbook , hardcover , leaflet , lexicon , magazine , manual , monograph , nonfiction , novel , octavo , offprint , omnibus , opus , opuscule , pamphlet , paperback , periodical , portfolio , preprint , primer , publication , quarto , reader , reprint , roll , scroll , softcover , speller , text , textbook , thesaurus , tome , tract , treatise , vade mecum , volume , work , writing , agenda , list , notebook , pad , record , register , roster , almagest , almanac , annals , anthology , appendix , armorial , backlist , baedeker , bestiary , bibliotheca , biograph , breviary , cambist , catechism , chapbook , concordance , dispensatory , faction , festschrift , formulary , herbal , holograph , hornbook , incunabulum , lectionary , ledger , missal , pharmacopoeia , polygraph , potboiler , prequel , psalter , pulp , remainder , sequel , sleeper , tome (ponderous) , variorum

verb

bespeak , bill , charter , engage , enroll , enter , hire , line up , make reservation , order , organize , pencil in , preengage , procure , program , reserve , schedule , set up , sew up , accuse , charge , prefer charges , take into custody , catalog , inscribe , set down , write down , album , atlas , bible , brochure , diary , dictionary , document , fiction , folio , hardcover , log , manual , nonfiction , note , novel , opus , paperback , primer , record , register , story , tablet , text , tome , volume , writing