bullet

bullet — noun

1. a small piece of metal that leaves a gun when somebody fires it.

1.nounB2
Definition

a small piece of metal that leaves a gun when somebody fires it.

Example

A stray bullet cracked the shop window during the street fight.

collocation: stray bullet

Doctors removed the bullet from Bao's shoulder after the robbery.

pattern: remove a bullet from [body part]

Common collocations
  • stray bullet
  • bullet wound
  • bullet hole
  • rubber bullet
Synonyms
  • round

    common in gun-related contexts, but it can also mean a full cartridge, not only the metal piece

  • shot

    less exact and often used for the act of firing, not only for the object

  • slug

    used for a heavy bullet, especially in technical or hunting contexts

Grammar Patterns

a bullet from a gun

be hit by a bullet

Usage Note

Often appears in reports of crime or injury, especially in phrases like 'stray bullet', 'bullet wound', and 'bullet hole'.

Common Mistakes

The police found a gun under the driver's seat.
The police found a bullet under the driver's seat.
a gun is the weapon; a bullet is the small metal piece fired from it.

2. a dot or similar mark put before each short item in a list so the points are eas

2.nounB1
Definition

a dot or similar mark put before each short item in a list so the points are easy to read.

Example

Wen added three bullet points under the meeting title.

fixed phrase: bullet point(s)

Each slide should have two short bullet points, not long paragraphs.

Common collocations
  • bullet point
  • bullet list
  • key bullet points
  • write in bullet points
Synonyms
  • bullet point

    the full and most usual expression in modern English

  • dot

    describes the shape only, not its function in a list

  • marker

    broader word for any sign used to show or separate information

Grammar Patterns

bullet point

in bullet points

Usage Note

Usually appears in the fixed phrase 'bullet point' or 'bullet points', especially in lists, slides, and notes.

Common Mistakes

Write the reasons in bullet.
Write the reasons in bullet points.
the usual expression is 'bullet points', not 'bullet' by itself.
Idioms

bite the bullet

idiom

to face a painful or difficult situation and deal with it because you cannot avoid it any longer.

After months of delay, Greta bit the bullet and called the dentist.

The cafe bit the bullet and raised prices after rent went up.

dodge a bullet

idiom

to escape harm, trouble, or loss by a very small margin.

Nadia dodged a bullet when she missed the bus that later crashed.

The company dodged a bullet by checking the contract before signing.

dodge a/the bullet | dodge bullets

idiom

To narrowly escape something harmful or unpleasant.

Maya dodged a bullet when her canceled flight avoided the storm.

Did Diego dodge a bullet by not investing in that failing company?

Word family

  • bulletproof
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A 'bullet' is the small metal piece that flies out of a gun. A 'cartridge' is larger and names the whole unit before firing: the bullet together with the case and powder. 'Round' is a practical gun word that may mean one cartridge or one unit of ammunition, so it is less exact for learners. 'Shell' is usually used for shotgun ammunition or for much larger weapons, not for the ordinary metal piece fired by a handgun. In news reports, 'bullet' is the safest everyday choice when the focus is the object that hit something. Compare: 'Police found a bullet in the wall' versus 'The officer loaded six rounds into the magazine.'

bullet ↗cartridge ↗round ↗shell ↗

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

English borrowed 'bullet' from French words linked to the idea of a small ball. It first referred to the round metal shot used in early guns. Later, because list marks often look like small dots, the same word was also used for the mark that introduces each point in a list.