bounce
3 ENTRIES FOUND:
bounces;
bounced;
bouncing
bounces;
bounced;
bouncing
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOUNCE
1
a
[+ object]
:
to cause (a ball, rock, etc.) to hit against a surface and quickly move in a different and usually opposite direction
-
He was bouncing a tennis ball against/off the garage door.
-
bouncing the ball back and forth
b
[no object]
:
to move in one direction, hit a surface (such as a wall or the floor), and then quickly move in a different and usually opposite direction
— usually + off
-
The ball bounced off the wall.
-
A rock bounced off the road and hit our car's windshield.
-
The light will bounce off the mirror and shine into the next room.
2
a
[no object]
:
to move with a lot of energy and excitement
-
He bounced [=bounded] into the room to welcome his guests.
-
The kids are bouncing off the walls. [=the kids are very/too excited and have a lot of energy]
b
:
to move or jump up and down
[no object]
-
The children love to bounce on the bed/trampoline.
-
The winner bounced up and down with delight.
-
Her curls bounced as she jumped.
[+ object]
-
He bounced the baby on his knee.
3
a
[no object]
of a check
:
to be returned by a bank because there is not enough money in the bank account to pay the amount that is on the check
-
She gave me a check for 20 dollars, but the check bounced, and I never got the money.
b
[+ object]
:
to write (a check) that is returned without payment by the bank
-
He bounced a 100-dollar check at the grocery store.
-
The store charges a $15 fee for a bounced check.
4
[no object]
:
to go quickly and repeatedly from one job, place, etc., to another
— often + from
-
He bounces back and forth between Miami and Houston.
-
bouncing from place to place
-
She bounces from one job to another.
-
Our teacher's always bouncing from one subject to another.
5
:
to return (an e-mail) to the sender instead of delivering it
[+ object]
-
I tried to send you an e-mail, but it got bounced back to me. [=the e-mail or computer system was not able to deliver it]
[no object]
-
I tried to send you an e-mail but it bounced.
bounce around
[phrasal verb]
bounce (something) around
or
bounce around (something)
informal
:
to talk about (something, such as an idea) in an informal way in order to get different opinions about it
-
We were bouncing some ideas around for the design of the book's cover.
bounce back
[phrasal verb]
:
to return quickly to a normal condition after a difficult situation or event
-
She bounced back [=recovered] easily from her surgery.
-
After losing the first three games of the series, they bounced back to win their next eight games.
bounce into
[phrasal verb] British, informal
bounce (someone) into (something)
:
to force (someone) to decide to do (something) especially without having time to think about it
-
The voters were bounced into agreeing to the proposal.
bounce off
[phrasal verb]
bounce (something) off (someone)
informal
:
to talk about (something, such as an idea) with (someone) in an informal way in order to get an opinion
-
I wanted to bounce some ideas off you before the meeting.
2
bounce
/ˈbaʊns/
noun
plural
bounces
2
bounce
/ˈbaʊns/
noun
plural
bounces
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOUNCE
1
[count]
:
the act or action of bouncing off the ground or another surface
-
The ball took a high bounce over the shortstop's head.
-
He caught the ball on the first bounce.
2
[noncount]
a
:
the ability to move quickly in a different direction after hitting a surface
:
the ability to bounce
-
a basketball that has lost all its bounce
b
:
a quality that makes a person's hair look healthy, full, and attractive
:
a bouncy quality
-
The shampoo promises to give limp hair lots of bounce.
3
[singular]
:
a sudden increase
-
Several companies showed a bounce [=upswing, upsurge] in earnings.
-
After the debates, she enjoyed a big bounce in the election polls.
4
:
energy and liveliness
[noncount]
-
He may be 90 years old, but he still has plenty of bounce [=spring] in his step.
[singular]
-
There's still a bounce in his step.
