Also called true bug , hemipteran , hemipteron. a hemipterous insect.

(loosely) any insect or insectlike invertebrate.

Informal . any microorganism, esp. a virus

He was laid up for a week by an intestinal bug.

Informal . a defect or imperfection, as in a mechanical device, computer program, or plan; glitch

The test flight discovered the bugs in the new plane.

Informal .

a person who has a great enthusiasm for something; fan or hobbyist

a hi-fi bug.

a craze or obsession

He's got the sports-car bug.

Informal .

a hidden microphone or other electronic eavesdropping device.

any of various small mechanical or electrical gadgets, as one to influence a gambling device, give warning of an intruder, or indicate location.

a mark, as an asterisk, that indicates a particular item, level, etc.

Horse Racing . the five-pound weight allowance that can be claimed by an apprentice jockey.

a telegraph key that automatically transmits a series of dots when moved to one side and one dash when moved to the other.

Poker Slang . a joker that can be used only as an ace or as a wild card to fill a straight or a flush.

Printing . a label printed on certain matter to indicate that it was produced by a union shop.

any of various fishing plugs resembling an insect.

Chiefly British . a bedbug.

to install a secret listening device in (a room, building, etc.) or on (a telephone or other device)

The phone had been bugged.

to bother; annoy; pester

She's bugging him to get her into show business.

bug off, Slang . to leave or depart, esp. rapidly

I can't help you, so bug off.

bug out, Slang . to flee in panic; show panic or alarm. ?

put a bug in someone's ear

to give someone a subtle suggestion; hint

We put a bug in his ear about a new gymnasium.

verb

not bother

noun

bacillus , disease , germ , infection , microbe , virusnotes:a bug is a particular kind of insect , specifically belonging to the order hemiptera (tough leathery forewings attached to the body - like ladybugs , beetles) while insects generally belong to the class insecta , which have bodies in three segments , usually two pairs or wings and three pairs of legs (like bees , mosquitoes); spiders are not technically insects because they have four pairs of legsinsect (from latin animal insectum) literally meant \'divided animal\' or \'cut up or into\' from the segments of its body (head , thorax , [[abdomen) - the common word being \' bug \'; insect is any of an extremely large group of small invertebrate animals - and most undergo metamorphosis while bug denotes a special group of insects with beaklike sucking mouth parts and partly membranous forewings]] , ant , beetle , cootie , flea , gnat , louse , pest , verminnotes:a bug is a particular kind of insect , craze , enthusiasm , fad , mania , rage , zealnotes:a bug is a particular kind of insect , breakdown , computer malfunction , defect , error , failure , fault , flaw , hitch , problem , something wrong , troublenotes:a bug is a particular kind of insect , microorganism , ailment , complaint , malady , blemish , imperfection , shortcoming , devotee , fanatic , maniac , zealot

verb

abrade , annoy , badger , chafe , gall , get on someone , harass , irk , irritate , needle , nettle , pester , plague , provoke , vexnotes:a bug is a particular kind of insect , specifically belonging to the order hemiptera (tough leathery forewings attached to the body - like ladybugs , beetles) while insects generally belong to the class insecta , which have bodies in three segments , usually two pairs or wings and three pairs of legs (like bees , mosquitoes); spiders are not technically insects because they have four pairs of legsinsect (from latin animal insectum) literally meant \'divided animal\' or \'cut up or into\' from the segments of its body (head , thorax , [[abdomen) - the common word being \' bug \'; insect is any of an extremely large group of small invertebrate animals - and most undergo metamorphosis while bug denotes a special group of insects with beaklike sucking mouth parts and partly membranous forewings]] , eavesdrop , listen in , overhear , spy , tap , wiretapnotes:a bug is a particular kind of insect , aggravate , bother , disturb , exasperate , fret , get , peeve , put out , rile , ruffle , vex , wiretap , ant , beetle , bug , flaw , flea , fly , germ , gnat , insect , june bug , lightning bug , mite , mosquito , spider , virus , wire