B2noun1K

Bug

UK /["/bʌɡ/"]/US /["/bʌɡ/"]/

Definition

any small insect

In simple words: A small insect or mistake in a program.

Examples

There's a bug crawling up your arm.
a flu bug
There's a stomach **bug going round** *(= people are catching it from each other)*.
I picked up a bug in the office.
He's off work with a flu bug.
He's been bitten by the travel bug.
She was never interested in fitness before but now **she's been bitten by the bug**.
The software is full of bugs.
My computer's really slow at the moment—it must be some kind of bug.
They planted a bug in his hotel room.

Usage notes

Use 'bug' for insects in everyday conversation. In tech, 'bug' refers to errors in software. Avoid using in very formal contexts.

Grammar pattern

bug + object

Memory hint

Think of a tiny 'bug' in your ear, reminding you of the small size and annoyance.

Collocations

nasty
flu
stomach
have
catch
come down with
go around
go round
strike somebody down
with a/the bug
be bitten by
catch
get
bite (somebody)
minor
annoying
computer
discover
find
fix
bug in

Synonyms

insect
error
defect
flaw
mistake

Antonyms

feature
blessing

Common mistakes

Confused with 'bugged' as a past verb.
Omitting 'a' when referring to an insect (e.g., saying 'I saw bug').
Using 'bug' in a formal report instead of more technical terms.