book
book — noun
1. a long piece of writing published for people to read, either on paper or on a sc
a long piece of writing published for people to read, either on paper or on a screen.
Leila finished a history book about Taiwan on the train home.
book about + topic
Our teacher asked each student to bring one English book on Friday.
book as assigned reading
Bao downloaded the book to his tablet before the flight to Manila.
The new book sold out at the museum shop by noon.
文法句型
a book about + topic
write / publish / read a book
用法筆記
Often used when you talk about an author, title, subject, or digital version. Distinguish from sense 2, which focuses on the physical object you can hold.
2. pages joined under one cover, used as something you read or write in.
pages joined under one cover, used as something you read or write in.
Theo dropped his maths book in a puddle outside the school gate.
physical object you can carry
Nadia keeps a small black book beside the phone for numbers.
book used for writing notes
The nurse opened the record book and wrote today's temperature inside.
One leg of the kitchen table stood on a thick book.
文法句型
open / carry / drop a book
write in a book
用法筆記
Choose this sense when the sentence is about size, weight, shape, or where the book is lying. Unlike sense 1, this sense also covers blank or partly blank books used for writing.
3. a large named division inside a long work, especially in the Bible.
a large named division inside a long work, especially in the Bible.
Our class read the Book of Ruth before the school trip.
Book of + name
The final book of the poem describes the king's return home.
book of + long work
In the third book, the hero finally meets his lost sister.
Professor Kim compared the first two books of the law text.
文法句型
the first / final book of + work
Book of + name
用法筆記
Common with long religious, legal, or epic works that are split into major parts. This is not the whole publication in sense 1, but one large section within it.
4. small pieces such as stamps, tickets, or matches sold together in a thin tear-of
small pieces such as stamps, tickets, or matches sold together in a thin tear-off booklet.
Ravi bought a small book of stamps at the post office.
a book of + small items
The usher handed us a book of raffle tickets at the door.
book of tickets
Mina kept a book of matches in the drawer beside the sink.
Each child received a book of coupons for the summer fair.
文法句型
a book of + plural noun
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the pattern 'a book of ...', especially with stamps, tickets, matches, or coupons. The items are small and made to be torn off or used one by one.
5. the account records showing what a business has paid, taken in, or still owes.
the account records showing what a business has paid, taken in, or still owes.
The cafe owner checked the books before paying the milk company.
check the books
Our aunt keeps the shop's books on an old laptop.
keep the books
After the fire, the accountant rebuilt the books from saved emails.
The buyer asked to see the company's books before signing anything.
- accounts
the most common everyday alternative in business
- ledgers
more technical; stresses formal account books
- financial records
clear but less idiomatic than 'the books'
文法句型
keep / check / open the books
the company's books
用法筆記
Usually plural: 'the books'. Common with verbs like keep, check, open, and balance. Distinguish from sense 6, which belongs to betting rather than ordinary business accounts.
常見錯誤
6. the set of bets a bookmaker has taken on the possible result of a race, match, o
the set of bets a bookmaker has taken on the possible result of a race, match, or similar event.
By noon, the bookmaker's book showed too many bets on City United.
the book on + team
Rain before the race changed the book as gamblers backed different horses.
book as betting record
The manager closed the book five minutes before the first kick.
A late goal saved the book because fewer fans won their bets.
- betting ledger
descriptive phrase rather than a fixed everyday term
- betting list
plain explanation of what is recorded
文法句型
open / close the book
the book on + team / horse
用法筆記
Used in betting language, especially with verbs like open, close, balance, or save. Distinguish from sense 5: both involve records of money, but this sense is specifically about bets accepted by a bookmaker.
book — verb
1. to reserve a seat, room, table, or performer for a later time.
to reserve a seat, room, table, or performer for a later time.
Priya booked two window seats on the early train to Kaohsiung.
book + seats for travel
We booked a table by the lake for my parents' anniversary dinner.
book + table for event
The festival booked a jazz band from Seoul for Saturday night.
Omar forgot to book the hotel room until every cheap one had gone.
Guests can book online after choosing a room type.
文法句型
book + noun (room, seat, table, flight)
book + performer + for + event
book online / in advance
用法筆記
Object is usually a service, place, seat, or performer that will be ready later. Often used with time words, websites, and advance planning. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about officially writing down a wrong action.
常見錯誤
2. if police or a sports official book someone, they officially record that person'
if police or a sports official book someone, they officially record that person's name after a rule or law has been broken.
The referee booked Tariq for pulling a striker's shirt in the box.
book + player + for + foul
Police booked the driver after the crash beside the market.
police use
A second foul in the last minute got Diego booked.
The officer booked two men for fighting outside the station.
文法句型
book + person + for + offence
get booked
用法筆記
Common with police, referees, and other officials. In sports, passive forms such as 'got booked' or 'was booked' are especially common. This sense does not mean making a reservation.