bucket
B1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A round, open-top container with a handle, used for carrying liquids, solids, or general items.
A significant quantity or large amount of something; a unit of measure in computing (e.g., data storage); a mechanism in machinery (e.g., excavator).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is polysemous, with a concrete primary meaning and several metaphorical extensions. The sense of 'a large amount' is informal. As a verb, it means 'to carry in a bucket' or 'to move quickly and jerkily'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The verb 'to bucket down' (rain heavily) is chiefly British. The phrase 'kick the bucket' (die) is common in both but slightly more frequent in UK English. The term 'bucket seat' is used in both varieties. No major lexical differences exist for the noun.
Connotations
Generally neutral. In both varieties, it can imply something basic, crude, or old-fashioned (e.g., 'bucket of bolts' for an old car). In US informal contexts, 'bucket' can refer to a basketball hoop.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties with near-equal distribution for the core noun meaning.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N + of + NP (a bucket of sand)V + N (carry/fill/empty a bucket)V + down (It's bucketing down.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “kick the bucket”
- “a drop in the bucket”
- “cry buckets”
- “bucket list”
- “rain buckets”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'We made buckets of money on that deal.' Not typically used in formal business writing.
Academic
Rare, except in technical fields like computing ('hash bucket'), engineering, or agriculture.
Everyday
Very common: household chores, gardening, beach trips, describing heavy rain.
Technical
Computing: a data structure unit; Mechanical Engineering: part of an excavator or water wheel.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- It's absolutely bucketing down outside.
- He bucketed water from the well.
American English
- The old truck bucketed along the dirt road.
- They bucketed the apples after harvest.
adverb
British English
- This usage is extremely rare and non-standard.
American English
- This usage is extremely rare and non-standard.
adjective
British English
- He wore a stylish bucket hat to the festival.
- The car had comfortable bucket seats.
American English
- She bought a new bucket seat for her gaming chair.
- The bucket loader cleared the construction site.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I need a bucket to wash the car.
- The bucket is full of water.
- She filled the bucket with sand at the beach.
- Can you empty this bucket, please?
- The data was sorted into different buckets for analysis.
- It's been bucketing down all morning, so the match is off.
- His charitable donation, while generous, was merely a drop in the bucket compared to the funds required.
- The excavator's bucket dug deep into the earth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BUCKET hanging from a BUCK-et tree; you pick it to collect things.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR EMOTIONS/QUANTITIES (e.g., 'buckets of tears', 'bucket of nerves').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'багет' (baguette). The Russian word 'ведро' is a direct equivalent for the container. The idiom 'kick the bucket' has no literal Russian equivalent; translate idiomatically as 'сыграть в ящик' or 'отправиться к праотцам'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'bucket' as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'I need bucket' instead of 'I need a bucket'). Confusing 'bucket' with 'basket'. Overusing the informal 'buckets of' in formal writing.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'kick the bucket' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In everyday use, yes, especially for a container with a handle. However, 'bucket' is more common and has wider metaphorical uses (e.g., bucket list). 'Pail' can sound slightly old-fashioned or childlike in some contexts.
Yes. It primarily means 'to carry in a bucket'. In British English, 'bucket down' means to rain heavily. Informally, it can mean 'to move or travel quickly and jerkily'.
A list of experiences or achievements a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime, popularized by the 2007 film 'The Bucket List'.
The main difference is in the first vowel. UK English uses /ʌ/ (as in 'cup'), while US English often uses a schwa /ə/. The 't' at the end is always pronounced clearly.