bull
- noun
- /bʊl/
- Formal
- We must study the bull issued by the pope before implementing the changes.
- a papal bull
- issue a papal bull
And I also read the papal bulls from the Vatican.
- And I also read the papal bulls from the Vatican.
Examples
-
His Holiness has issued the bull to formally declare the new policy.
-
The bull for Saint Hubert was issued in the Lateran Palace on April 29.
Academic text (2018) -
The original bulls have been lost in both cases.
Academic text (2018) -
His Holiness has issued the bull.
-
And I also read the papal bulls from the Vatican.
-
The town was rescued from economic oblivion by a papal bull granting it a university charter in 1425.
Academic text (2003) -
The papal bull granting the town a university charter changed its status forever.
Synonyms
An official public announcement by a government or leader that tells people something important
An official order that a government or person in power gives
An official order from a person or government in power that people must follow
An official paper from the pope sealed with a lead seal
Idioms
- Informal
A clumsy or careless person who causes damage in delicate situations
Doing something suddenly and forcefully without thinking because you are very eager
- Informal
Talk in a relaxed, joking way and make stories bigger to be funny
Compounds
- Specialized
A time when stock prices rise and many people who buy shares feel confident
- Specialized
A large aggressive shark that lives in warm shallow water near coasts and in rivers
An early Civil War battle in Virginia where Confederate forces defeat Union troops
A strong, muscular dog breed from the United States with a short coat and high energy
A former US political party started by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 that supported progressive reforms
- Indian
A large deer-like animal from India whose male has a blue-grey coat and whose female is brown and hornless
- US
A tree that keeps its leaves all year with large shiny leaves and big white fragrant flowers
- US
A rough prickly plant from North America with pale yellow flowers and small berries
- US
A tall pine tree with dark green needles in groups of two to five and thick dark bark when mature
- US
A large North American snake that eats rodents, lives in burrows, and is not venomous
A major early Civil War battle fought in July 1861 near Manassas, Virginia that the Confederate army won
- Slur
A lesbian woman who is openly confident, shows a masculine style, and takes back an offensive name
A strong, medium-sized English dog with a stocky body, smooth coat, and friendly nature
Surface Forms
Etymology
Bull for a papal letter comes from the Latin word bulla meaning 'seal', because these official papers were named after the lead seal attached to them.