# butt

/ˈbət/ (US) · /bˈʌt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. body part

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal · American English

the part of the body that you sit on.

For teachers: the buttocks or posterior of a person. Informal in register; widely used in American English as a standard colloquialism.

- He fell right on his butt after slipping on the icy sidewalk.
- The trainer told the athletes to keep their butts down during the squat to ensure proper form and avoid lower back strain.

### 2. end of a tool or weapon

noun · CEFR B2

the thicker or blunt end of a tool, handle, or gun.

For teachers: the larger or thicker end of an object, such as the stock of a rifle or the handle of a tool.

- He held the butt of the rifle firmly against his shoulder before firing.
- The carpenter used the butt of his chisel to tap the wood into place when he couldn't find his mallet.

### 3. cigarette end

noun · CEFR B1

the small part of a cigarette that is left after it has been smoked.

For teachers: the unconsumed end of a smoked cigarette or cigar.

- The sidewalk was covered in cigarette butts outside the office building.
- Environmental groups have highlighted that discarded cigarette butts are one of the most common forms of plastic pollution in urban waterways.

### 4. target of a joke

noun · CEFR B2

a person who is the target of a joke or criticism.

For teachers: a person who is the subject of ridicule or the target of a joke, typically in the phrase 'butt of the joke'.

- Poor Sam was always the butt of the joke in his group of friends.
- Despite being the butt of the comedian's opening monologue, the politician maintained a graceful and smiling exterior throughout the event.

### 5. large barrel

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

a very large wooden barrel used for holding wine or water.

For teachers: a large cask or barrel for liquids, specifically one with a capacity of 126 gallons.

- The cellar was filled with massive butts of aging sherry.
- The historical inventory listed several butts of Malmsey wine stored in the lower hold of the merchant vessel.

### 6. to hit with the head

verb · CEFR B2

to hit someone or something hard with your head.

For teachers: to strike or push something bluntly with the head, as seen in certain animals or contact sports.

- The goat tried to butt the gate open to get to the grass.
- The striker was sent off after he appeared to butt the opposing defender during a heated argument near the goalpost.

### 7. to join or touch

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to be right next to something or touch it at the edge.

For teachers: to meet or join at an end or boundary; to abut.

- The two pieces of wood should butt together perfectly without a gap.
- The architect specified that the marble tiles should butt against the hardwood flooring to create a seamless transition between the two rooms.

## Examples

- He fell down and landed right on his butt.
- After sitting on the hard wooden bench for three hours, my butt was completely numb.
- The comedian relied heavily on physical humor, often making himself the butt of the joke by falling over or landing awkwardly on the floor to get a laugh.

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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.