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to bull

to bull

9.3
To make shoes or metal shine by rubbing
  • verb
  • /bʊl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : lustrar
  • Before the event, he took the time to bull his shoes so they would shine.

Examples

  • At the competition, he was proud to bull his dress shoes until they gleamed.

  • The technician carefully bulled the metal surface to give it a glossy finish.

  • I were bulling my boots all morning.

Synonyms

to shine
vsto bull
64 1.0

To make something smooth and bright by rubbing it

aims specifically for an intense high gloss finish
to buff
vsto bull
17 4.4

To polish something by rubbing until it is smooth or shiny

creates a very high gloss rather than a moderate shine
to burnish
vsto bull
11 7.1

To make a surface smooth and shiny by rubbing

produces a higher gloss finish through thorough polishing
to furbish
vsto bull
  • Archaic
1 9.2

To make something shiny by rubbing

seeks a strong glossy effect rather than simple brightness

Antonyms

31 1.0

Not bright or shiny with weak colour

27 2.1

A dull shade mixed with grey or brown

Idioms

To deal with a difficult problem directly and bravely

3 7.2

A clumsy or careless person who causes damage in delicate situations

To chat in a relaxed way about everyday things

Face a difficult problem directly and bravely

Doing something suddenly and forcefully without thinking because you are very eager

9.9

Something someone says that is not true

Talk in a relaxed, joking way and make stories bigger to be funny

Phrasal Verbs

to bull through
  • Informal
1 8.1

To push something through when others strongly oppose it

Compounds

40 3.9

A strong, muscular dog often kept as a pet and known for loyalty

bull market
  • Specialized
17 4.5

A time when stock prices rise and many people who buy shares feel confident

bull shark
  • Specialized
7 6.7

A large aggressive shark that lives in warm shallow water near coasts and in rivers

3 7.5

One of two major Civil War battles that took place near a creek in Virginia

3 3.4

A strong short-haired dog with a muscular body and an egg-shaped head

bull dyke
  • Slur
2 9.9

An offensive word for a lesbian who looks or acts very manly and tough

An early Civil War battle in Virginia where Confederate forces defeat Union troops

1 6.3

An absurd lie used to avoid blame or trick someone

bull session
  • Informal
1 7.9

A casual group conversation without a set topic

A strong, muscular dog breed from the United States with a short coat and high energy

John Bull
  • Literature
1 9.3

A character who stands for England or a typical English person

papal bull
  • Formal
1 9.9

An official paper from the pope sealed with a lead seal

1 4.0

A large strong dog that protects people and homes

1 8.9

A former US political party started by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 that supported progressive reforms

1 7.4

A very thick, short neck that makes someone look strong

A strong dog with short fur that is often loyal and brave

blue bull
  • Indian
9.1

A large deer-like animal from India whose male has a blue-grey coat and whose female is brown and hornless

A small American dog with a short smooth dark coat, white patches, and a flat face

8.8

A tree that keeps its leaves all year with large shiny leaves and big white fragrant flowers

bull butter
  • Archaic
9.9

Talk that is not true and that people do not believe

bull fiddle
  • Archaic
9.1

A very large string instrument like a big violin that makes low sounds

bull gravy
  • Archaic
9.9

Talk that is not true and meant to trick people

9.9

A rough prickly plant from North America with pale yellow flowers and small berries

bull nose
  • Specialized
9.9

A pig disease causing swelling and redness of the nose

8.1

A tall pine tree with dark green needles in groups of two to five and thick dark bark when mature

6.9

A creek in northeastern Virginia where two Civil War battles took place

6.9

A large North American snake that eats rodents, lives in burrows, and is not venomous

8.2

A tall prickly plant with large purple flower heads often found as a weed

bull tongue
  • Archaic
9.9

A heavy plow with one wide blade that breaks soil for cotton

bull-thrower
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who says things in a direct, often rude way and does not listen

7.2

A false story people tell to hide the real reason

A major early Civil War battle fought in July 1861 near Manassas, Virginia that the Confederate army won

9.9

A lesbian woman who is openly confident, shows a masculine style, and takes back an offensive name

A star sign represented by a bull from about April 20 to May 20

A strong, medium-sized English dog with a stocky body, smooth coat, and friendly nature

How Shiny

to shine
428 1.0
to bull
  • Archaic
9.3
to buff
17 4.4
to clean
1.0
to wipe
531 1.0

Surface Forms

bull infinitive
bulling present participle
bulls third person singular
bulle past
bulle past participle

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the verb bull meaning 'to polish' is to think of rubbing boots or metal hard until they shine like a glossy bull hide.