Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Bull Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

🐂
Add to dictionary

bull

[bʊl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

animal

A bull is a male animal, especially a male cow. Bulls are known for their strength and are often used in farming for tasks such as plowing fields or pulling carts.

Synonyms

male cow, ox, steer.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
bull

Might also be used informally to describe something that is false or nonsense. This usage has a negative connotation.

  • He said he could lift a car, but everyone knew that was just bull.
male cow

Technically incorrect as a term, but might be used by those unfamiliar with agricultural terminology to describe a male member of the bovine family.

  • They thought it was a male cow, but it was actually a bull.
ox

Refers to a bovine animal, typically a castrated adult male, trained as a draft animal to carry heavy loads or plough fields.

  • The farmer used an ox to help plough the field.
steer

Describes a castrated male bovine, often raised for beef.

  • The steers were moved to a new pasture to graze.

Examples of usage

  • The farmer used a bull to plow the field.
  • The bull in the pasture was grazing peacefully.
Context #2 | Noun

stock market

In the stock market, a bull refers to a person who believes that the market will rise and tends to buy securities in the hope of selling them later at a profit.

Synonyms

bullish investor, optimist.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
bull

Used to describe someone or something that is strong and powerful, often in a literal sense, like the animal, or in a figurative sense, particularly in financial markets to describe rising stock prices.

  • The farmer showed me his prize bull.
  • The market has been a real bull lately with prices soaring.
optimist

Describes a person who always looks at the bright side of things and expects the best possible outcome. It can be used in any general context, not just finance.

  • He's an optimist who always sees the glass half full.
  • Despite the challenges, the team's optimist believed they could win the game.
bullish investor

Refers to an investor who believes that the market or a specific security will rise in value. This term is specific to financial contexts.

  • She is a bullish investor who always looks for stocks with growth potential.
  • The bullish investors repeated their predictions of a booming economy.

Examples of usage

  • The investor turned into a bull after seeing the positive earnings report.
  • The bull market lasted for several months.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'bull'

The word 'bull' has a long history, with its origins dating back to Old English. It has been used to refer to the male bovine animal as well as in the context of the stock market. The term 'bull market' is believed to have originated from the way a bull thrusts its horns up into the air, symbolizing a rising market. Over the years, 'bull' has become a widely recognized term in both agriculture and finance.

See also: bulldozer, bullion, bulls, bullseye.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,131 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.