bullet

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a small solid circle or symbol used to mark items in a list.

n. a typographical symbol, often a solid circle, used to introduce items in a list to improve readability.

“Use a bullet for each new point to make your notes easier to read.”

“The presentation was cluttered with excessive text, so the consultant recommended using bullets to highlight the primary objectives more effectively.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Technical

n. a large final payment made at the end of a loan.

n. a large, scheduled lump-sum repayment of the principal of a loan, typically occurring at the end of the term.

“The company struggled to pay the bullet at the end of the five-year loan.”

“The borrower opted for a bullet repayment structure to keep monthly interest costs low, despite the risk of a significant final obligation.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Slang

n. one year of time spent in prison.

n. a slang term representing a one-year prison sentence.

“He ended up doing a bullet for a crime he didn't commit.”

“After the plea bargain, the defendant was relieved to receive only a bullet rather than the five-year stretch the prosecutor originally sought.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to move very quickly in a specific direction.

v. to travel or move with great speed, mimicking the trajectory of a projectile.

“The motorcycle bulleted past us on the highway.”

“The experimental car bulleted across the salt flats, shattering the previous land speed record within the first three miles of the run.”