bounce

I UK [baʊns] / US verb
Word forms "bounce":
present tense I/you/we/they bounce he/she/it bounces present participle bouncing past tense bounced past participle bounced
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1) [intransitive/transitive] if a ball or other object bounces, or if you bounce it, it hits a surface then immediately moves away from it

The ball bounced twice before hitting the net.

Hailstones were bouncing off the roof.

Josh bounced the ball down the street.

2) [intransitive/transitive] if a person or vehicle bounces or is bounced, they move up and down as if they are on springs

She sat bouncing a baby on her knee.

bounce on/along:

The kids love bouncing on the bed.

Our jeep bounced along the rough track.

bounce someone/something up and down/around:

We were bounced around in the back of the van.

3) [intransitive] to move quickly and with a lot of energy, as if you are very happy

The band came bouncing onto the stage.

4) [intransitive/transitive] if a cheque bounces, or if a bank bounces it, the bank refuses to pay it because there is not enough money in the account of the person who wrote it

5) [intransitive] if an email message bounces, it is sent back to you without reaching the person you sent it to

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bounce someone into (doing) something — British

mainly journalism to make someone do something when they did not really want to do it or needed more time to think about it

She felt she'd been bounced into accepting the invitation.

Phrasal verbs:

- bounce around

- bounce back

- bounce off

II UK [baʊns] / US noun
Word forms "bounce":
singular bounce plural bounces

1) [countable] the movement of a ball or other object when it hits a surface and moves away again

2) [uncountable] the quality of being able to bounce or to make other things bounce

The pitch is in great condition, with plenty of bounce.

3) [uncountable] the quality of having a lot of energy and seeming happy and healthy

She came back full of confidence and bounce.

4) [singular] business a quick increase in prices after they have fallen to a low level

After the 1987 stock market crash, there was a 142-point bounce.