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¹bill

noun \ˈbil\

Definition of BILL

: the jaws of a bird together with their horny covering

: a mouthpart (as the beak of a turtle) that resembles a bird's bill

: the point of an anchor fluke — see anchor illustration

: the visor of a cap or hood

Illustration of BILL

Origin of BILL

Middle English bile, from Old English; akin to Old English bill

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with BILL

brill, chill, dill, drill, fill, frill, gill, grill, grille, hill, ill, kill, krill, mil, mill, mille, nil, nill, Phil, pill, prill, quill, rill, shill, shrill, sill, skill, spill, squill, still, swill, thill, thrill, til, till, trill, twill, vill, will

²bill

verb

Definition of BILL

intransitive verb

: to touch and rub bill to bill

: to caress affectionately <billing and cooing>

First Known Use of BILL

1584

³bill

noun

Definition of BILL

: a weapon in use up to the 18th century that consists of a long staff ending in a hook-shaped blade

: billhook

Origin of BILL

Middle English bil, from Old English bill sword; akin to Old High German bill pickax

First Known Use: 14th century

⁴bill

noun

Definition of BILL

: an itemized list or a statement of particulars (as a list of materials or of members of a ship's crew)

: a written document or note

obsolete : a formal petition

a : an itemized account of the separate cost of goods sold, services performed, or work done : invoice

b : an amount expended or owed

c : a statement of charges for food or drink : check

a : a written or printed advertisement posted or otherwise distributed to announce an event of interest to the public; especially : an announcement of a theatrical entertainment

b : a programmed presentation (as a motion picture, play, or concert)

: a draft of a law presented to a legislature for enactment; also : the law itself <the GI bill>

: a declaration in writing stating a wrong a complainant has suffered from a defendant or stating a breach of law by some person <a bill of complaint>

a : a piece of paper money

b : an individual or commercial note <bills receivable>

c slang : one hundred dollars

— fill the bill or fit the bill

: to be exactly what is needed : be suitable

Origin of BILL

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French bille, from Medieval Latin billa, perhaps alteration of bulla, papal seal, bull — more at bull

First Known Use: 14th century

⁵bill

verb

Definition of BILL

transitive verb

a : to enter in an accounting system : prepare a bill of (charges)

b : to submit a bill of charges to

c : to enter (as freight) in a waybill

d : to issue a bill of lading to or for

: to announce (as a performance) especially by posters or placards

: advertise, promote <the book is billed as a “report” — P. G. Altbach>

— bill·able adjective

First Known Use of BILL

14th century

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

BILL Defined for Kids

¹bill

noun \ˈbil\

Definition of BILL for Kids

: the jaws of a bird together with their horny covering

: a part of an animal (as a turtle) that resembles the bill of a bird

— billed \ˈbild\ adjective

²bill

noun

Definition of BILL for Kids

: a draft of a law presented to a legislature for consideration <The representative introduced a bill in Congress.>

: a record of goods sold, services performed, or work done with the cost involved <a telephone bill>

: a piece of paper money <a dollar bill>

: a sign or poster advertising something

Headscratcher for BILL

A bill is the record you receive telling you how much money you need to pay someone for something. But bill can also mean the paper money that you pay with.