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   Bounce

   /bouns/

   

   verb

   • 1. (of an object, especially a ball) move quickly up, back, or away from a surface after hitting it; rebound (once or repeatedly): "the ball bounced away and he chased it" Similar reboundspring backbobrecoilricochetjouncecaromrare:resile
   • ▪ (of light, sound, or an electronic signal) come into contact with an object or surface and be reflected: "short sound waves bounce off even small objects"
   • ▪ (of an email) be returned to its sender after failing to reach its destination: "I tried to email him, but the message bounced"
   • ▪ recover well after a setback: "he was admired for his ability to bounce back from injury"
   • ▪ hit a ball that bounces before reaching a fielder: "bouncing out with the bases loaded"
   • 2. (of a person) jump repeatedly up and down, typically on something springy: "bouncing up and down on the mattress" Similar boundleapjumpspringbobhopskiptripgamboldanceprancerompcapercavortfriskfrolicsport
   • ▪ (of a thing) move up and down while remaining essentially in the same position: "the gangplank bounced under his confident step"
   • ▪ cause (a child) to move lightly up and down on one's knee as a game: "I remember how you used to bounce me on your knee"
   • ▪ (of a vehicle) move jerkily along a bumpy surface: "the car bounced down the narrow track"
   • ▪ move in an energetic or happy manner: "Linda bounced in through the open front door" Similar boundleapjumpspringbobhopskiptripgamboldanceprancerompcapercavortfriskfrolicsport
   • 3. (of a check) be returned by a bank when there are insufficient funds to meet it: informal "my rent check bounced"
   • ▪ write (a check) on insufficient funds: informal "I've never bounced a check"
   • 4. eject (a troublemaker) forcibly from a nightclub or similar establishment. informal
   • ▪ dismiss (someone) from a job: North American "those who put in a dismal performance will be bounced from the tour"

   noun

   • 1. a rebound of a ball or other object: "a bad bounce caused the ball to get away from the second baseman" Similar springinessspringresilienceelasticitygivereboundrecoil
   • ▪ the power of rebounding: "a pitch of low bounce" Similar springinessspringresilienceelasticitygivereboundrecoil
   • 2. an act of jumping or an instance of being moved up and down: "every bounce of the truck brought them into fresh contact" Similar reboundreflectionricochet
   • ▪ a sudden rise in the level of something: "economists agree that there could be a bounce in prices next year"
   • ▪ exuberant self-confidence: "the bounce was now back in Jenny's step" Similar vitalityvigorenergyvivacitylivelinesslifeanimationsparkleeffervescenceexuberancevervespiritednessspiritenthusiasmdynamismfireardorzealpushdrivecheerfulnesscheerinesshappinessjoybuoyancyoptimismhigh spiritslight-heartednessmerrimentjollityebullienceinformal:goget-up-and-gopepoomphpizzazzzingzipfizzfeistiness
   • ▪ health and body in the hair: "use conditioner to help hair regain its bounce"

   Word Origin Middle Englishbunsen ‘beat, thump’, perhaps imitative, or from Low German bunsen ‘beat’, Dutch bons ‘a thump’.

   Scrabble Points: 10

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