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Bugging: meaning, definitions and examples

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bugging

 

[ ˈbʌɡɪŋ ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

informal annoyance

Bugging refers to the act of annoying or bothering someone persistently. It can involve constant questioning, nagging, or irritating behavior that disrupts someone's peace of mind.

Synonyms

annoying, harassing, pestering

Examples of usage

  • Stop bugging me about my plans!
  • She was bugging him to finish his work.
  • They kept bugging their parents for a new video game.
Context #2 | Noun

surveillance device

Bugging also refers to the practice of placing a hidden listening device or 'bug' to secretly monitor conversations. This is commonly used in espionage and surveillance.

Synonyms

eavesdropping, monitoring, surveillance

Examples of usage

  • The authorities used bugging to gather intelligence.
  • He found out he was under bugging during the investigation.
  • Bugging is illegal without a warrant.

Translations

Translations of the word "bugging" in other languages:

🇵🇹 interferência

🇮🇳 बगिंग

🇩🇪 Abhörung

🇮🇩 pengintaian

🇺🇦 прослуховування

🇵🇱 podsłuchiwanie

🇯🇵 盗聴

🇫🇷 écoute

🇪🇸 intercepción

🇹🇷 dinleme

🇰🇷 도청

🇸🇦 تنصت

🇨🇿 odposlouchávání

🇸🇰 odpočúvanie

🇨🇳 窃听

🇸🇮 prisluškovanje

🇮🇸 hljóðnema

🇰🇿 тыңшылық

🇬🇪 სასმენელი

🇦🇿 dinləmə

🇲🇽 intercepción

Etymology

The term 'bugging' has its origins in the early 20th century. The word 'bug' itself was used to describe a mechanical error or glitch in a system, with one of the earliest known usages attributed to Thomas Edison in 1878 when he discussed bugs in electrical circuits. As technology evolved, particularly during World War II and the Cold War, the term 'bug' came to refer specifically to listening devices. The action of placing such devices for the purpose of eavesdropping became coined as 'bugging'. This has led to a broader colloquial use of the term 'bugging' to describe annoying or pestering someone in a more casual context, highlighting the evolution of its meaning from a technical issue to a behavioral annoyance.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,185, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.