Bus
A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a road vehicle designed to carry many passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-deck rigid bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are used for longer-distance services. Many types of buses, such as city transit buses and inter-city coaches, charge a fare. Other types, such as elementary or secondary school buses or shuttle buses within a post-secondary education campus do not charge a fare. In many jurisdictions, bus drivers require a special licence above and beyond a regular driver’s licence.
Buses may be used for scheduled bus transport, scheduled coach transport, school transport, private hire, or tourism; promotional buses may be used for political campaigns and others are privately operated for a wide range of purposes, including rock and pop band tour vehicles.
Horse-drawn buses were used from the 1820s, followed by steam buses in the 1830s, and electric trolleybuses in 1882. The first internal combustion engine buses, or motor buses, were used in 1895. Recently, interest has been growing in hybrid electric buses, fuel cell buses, and electric buses, as well as buses powered by compressed natural gas or biodiesel. As of the 2010s, bus manufacturing is increasingly globalised, with the same designs appearing around the world.
Bus (noun)
A motor vehicle for transporting large numbers of people along roads.
Bus (noun)
An electrical conductor or interface serving as a common connection for two or more circuits or components.
Bus (noun)
An ambulance.
Bus (verb)
To transport via a motor bus.
Bus (verb)
To transport students to school, often to a more distant school for the purposes of achieving racial integration.
Bus (verb)
To travel by bus.
Bus (verb)
To clear meal remains from.
“He bussed tables as the restaurant emptied out.”
Bus (verb)
To work at clearing the remains of meals from tables or counters; to work as a busboy.
“He’s been bussing for minimum wage.”
Omnibus (noun)
A vehicle set up to carry many people (now usually called a bus).
Omnibus (noun)
An anthology of previously released material linked together by theme or author, especially in book form.
Omnibus (noun)
A broadcast programme consisting of all of the episodes of a serial that have been shown in the previous week.
“The omnibus edition of The Archers is broadcast every Sunday morning at 11.00.”
Omnibus (noun)
A stamp issue, usually commemorative, that appears simultaneously in several countries as a joint issue.
Omnibus (adjective)
Containing multiple items.
“The legislature enacted an omnibus appropriations bill.”
Omnibus (verb)
To combine (bills, etc.) into a single package.
Omnibus (verb)
To drive an omnibus.
Omnibus (verb)
To travel or be transported by omnibus.
Bus (noun)
a large motor vehicle carrying passengers by road, typically one serving the public on a fixed route and for a fare
“a bus service”
Bus (noun)
a car, aircraft, or other vehicle.
Bus (noun)
a distinct set of conductors carrying data and control signals within a computer system, to which pieces of equipment may be connected in parallel.
Bus (verb)
transport in a communal road vehicle
“staff were bussed in and out of the factory”
Bus (verb)
travel by bus
“the priest bussed in from a neighbouring parish”
Bus (verb)
transport (a child of one ethnic group) to a school where another group is predominant, in an attempt to promote racial integration.
Bus (verb)
remove (dirty plates and dishes) from a table in a restaurant or cafeteria.
Bus (verb)
remove dirty plates and dishes from (a table).
Bus Illustrations
