bug

A small animal such as an insect or spider, especially one people find annoying.

• There’s a bug on your shirt.
• We found tiny bugs under the leaves.
• Does this spray keep bugs away?

Similar words: insect, creepy-crawly

Common phrases: bug spray, little bug, bug bite

A fault that makes a computer program or another system work incorrectly.

• There is a bug in the app.
• The update fixed several bugs.
• Can you report the bug to the developers?

Similar words: fault, error, defect, glitch

Common phrases: software bug, fix a bug, bug report

An illness that spreads between people, or the tiny living thing that causes it.

• I’ve caught a stomach bug.
• A nasty bug is going around the school.
• She stayed in bed until the bug passed.

Similar words: infection, illness, germ

Common phrases: stomach bug, catch a bug, flu bug

A strong interest in an activity, or someone who is extremely interested in a particular subject.

• She caught the travel bug at university.
• The gardening bug has taken over our family.
• As a gold bug, he follows metal prices closely.

Similar words: enthusiasm, obsession, enthusiast

Common phrases: travel bug, catch the bug, gold bug

A small hidden electronic device used to listen secretly to people’s conversations.

• They found a bug under the desk.
• The police planted a bug in the office.
• The tiny bug recorded every conversation in the room.

Similar words: listening device, hidden microphone

Common phrases: plant a bug, hidden bug, listening bug

An insect in a particular group whose mouthparts pierce plants or animals to suck out liquid.

• This insect is a true bug.
• The scientist examined the bug’s piercing mouthparts.
• Aphids and cicadas belong to the same broad group of bugs.

Common phrases: true bug, shield bug, plant bug

To annoy someone, often by repeatedly asking questions or interrupting them.

• Stop bugging me!
• The noise has been bugging her all morning.
• My brother bugged me for a lift.

How to use it: bug someone about something (He keeps bugging me about the deadline.); bug someone to do something (They bugged me to join the club.)

Similar words: bother, annoy, pester

Common phrases: bug someone, bug someone about something, bug someone for something

To place hidden electronic equipment somewhere to listen secretly to conversations.

• They plan to bug the office.
• Someone had bugged her telephone.
• The police bugged the room before the meeting.

Similar words: wiretap

Common phrases: bug a room, bug a phone, bug someone’s office