# book

/ˈbʊk/ (US) · /bˈʊk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/book
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. reading material

noun · CEFR A1

a set of printed pages held together inside a cover, or a digital version of this.

For teachers: a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers.

- I am reading a very interesting book about history right now.
- The library houses several rare books from the sixteenth century that require special handling due to their fragile bindings.

### 2. business records

noun · CEFR B2

the official records of the money a business spends and receives.

For teachers: the formal financial records of an organisation or business entity.

- The accountant spent all day checking the company's books for errors.
- The auditors discovered a significant discrepancy in the books, suggesting that several transactions had been recorded incorrectly over the fiscal year.

Usage: usually used in the plural form 'the books'

### 3. theatre script

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the written words and story of a musical or opera.

For teachers: the script or libretto of a musical theatre production, excluding the music and lyrics.

- The musical had great songs, but the book was a bit boring.
- While the score received critical acclaim, the book was criticised for its lack of character development and inconsistent pacing.

### 4. to reserve

verb · CEFR A2

to arrange to have a seat, room, or service at a particular time in the future.

For teachers: to reserve accommodation, a ticket, or a service in advance.

- You should book your flight early to get a cheaper price.
- The travel agent advised us to book the hotel months in advance, as the city becomes extremely crowded during the summer festival.

### 5. to record an offence

verb · CEFR B2

to officially record someone's name because they have done something wrong.

For teachers: to record the name and details of a person who has committed an offence for legal or disciplinary purposes.

- The police officer booked him for driving too fast.
- After the suspect was brought to the station, the sergeant proceeded to book him for obstructing justice and resisting arrest.

### 6. sports warning

verb · CEFR B1

to give a player a formal warning for breaking the rules.

For teachers: to note a player's name in an official record for a foul, typically signified by showing a yellow card.

- The referee booked the defender for a dangerous tackle.
- The referee had no choice but to book the midfielder after a series of persistent fouls throughout the first half.

### 7. to move fast

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang · American English

to move or travel very quickly.

For teachers: to move at high speed; to depart in a hurried manner.

- We really need to book it if we want to catch the train.
- As soon as the bell rang, the students were booking it down the hallway to get to the cafeteria before the line got too long.

## Examples

- I am reading a very interesting book.
- She bought a book about gardening to learn how to grow her own vegetables.
- The author's latest book uses a non-linear narrative to explore the complex relationship between personal memory and recorded history.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.