# bus

> English word · Noun · IPA /bʌs/ · frequency rank #1,554

## Definitions
1. A motor vehicle for transporting large numbers of people along roads.
2. A motor vehicle for transporting large numbers of people along roads.
3. Any motorized vehicle, such as a motorbike or car.
4. An electrical conductor or interface serving as a common connection for two or more circuits or components.
5. Part of a MIRV missile, having on-board motors used to deliver the warhead to a target.
6. An ambulance.
7. An aeroplane.
8. A network topology with each computer connected to a single cable.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₃ep-der.
Proto-Italic *opnis
Latin omnis
Latin omnibuslbor.
French omnibusbor.
English omnibusclip.
English bus
Clipping of omnibus. Superseded earlier 'bus, where the apostrophe indicated a clipping. The shift in spelling likely reflects the fact that modern speakers no longer perceive this term as a clipping. The electrical sense is derived from figurative application of the automotive sense.

## Easily confused with
- **by** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-by)
- **BW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-bw)
- **BX** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-bx)
- **but** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-but)
- **buy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-buy)
- **bye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-bye)
- **BYU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-byu)
- **busy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-busy)
- **bush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-bush)
- **butt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-butt)
- **buzz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-buzz)
- **bust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-bust)
- **buys** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-buys)
- **buss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-buss)
- **bute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-bute)
- **butts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-butts)
- **Busch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-busch)
- **busts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-busts)
- **busty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-busty)
- **Busan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bus-vs-busan)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bus