ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bologna

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //bəˈɫoʊni// UK //bəlˈəʊni// bologna

n. a type of large, cooked sausage that people usually slice and eat in sandwiches. In American English, it is also a common word for nonsense or lies.

n. a large, finely ground cooked sausage, typically made of beef, pork, or a mixture of both. In North American usage, the term frequently serves as a synonym for nonsense or deceptive talk.


SIMPLE

I made a bologna sandwich for lunch today.

CONTEXTUAL

The deli counter worker sliced the bologna thin so it would fold easily into the rolls.

COMPLEX

While the official report claimed the project was on schedule, most of the staff recognized the statement as pure bologna designed to appease the investors.

Origin

From Italian Bologna, from Latin Bonōnia, ultimately from Celtic. Doublet of Boleyn and Boulogne.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the meat or the abstract concept of nonsense; countable only when referring to specific varieties or whole sausages.

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