bus stop
bus stop
Pronunciation
bus stop /bʌs stɒp/
bus:
/b/ - voiced bilabial plosive
/ʌ/ - near-open central unrounded vowel
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
stop:
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/t/ - voiceless alveolar plosive
/ɒ/ - open back rounded vowel
/p/ - voiceless bilabial plosive
Word Form Variations
Singular: bus stop
Plural: bus stops
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
1. A designated place where a public bus regularly picks up or drops off passengers.
Synonyms: bus halt, bus stand, omnibus stop
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "destination" or "departure point" are too broad)
2. An act of a bus halting to allow passengers to board or alight.
Synonyms: halt, pause, break, layover
Antonyms: continuous travel, non-stop journey
Examples of Use
Books: "He waited for her at the usual bus stop, watching the rain slick the pavement." (From The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, January 2015)
Newspapers: "City council approves plans for new covered bus stops along Main Street." ( The Daily Herald)
Online Publications: "How to navigate public transport in London: finding your bus stop and understanding routes." (Lonely Planet Travel Blog)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms (Film): In the movie Forrest Gump, many pivotal scenes and narrative segues occur at a bus stop where Forrest recounts his life story to various strangers. (Paramount Pictures, July 1994)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms (Music): The Beatles' song "A Day in the Life" includes the lyric: "He blew his mind out in a car / He hadn't noticed that the lights had changed / A crowd of people stood and stared / They'd seen his face before / Nobody was really sure / If he was from the House of Lords." (While not directly "bus stop," the imagery of a public transport incident is related, and the band has other songs that might feature it more directly, but this illustrates a general public setting).
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms (Video Games): In the game Grand Theft Auto V, players can often see NPCs waiting at virtual bus stops, and sometimes even interact with buses that stop at these locations. (Rockstar Games, September 2013)
General Public Discourse: "I missed my bus by about thirty seconds this morning, saw it pulling away from the bus stop as I ran up." (Heard in conversation)
General Public Discourse: "Excuse me, could you tell me where the nearest bus stop is?" (Common question asked for directions)
10 Quotes Using Bus Stop
"Life is like a bus stop; you never know who you're going to meet while you're waiting." (Original quote)
"At the bus stop, one can observe the rhythm of a city." (Original quote)
"The rain always seems heavier when you're waiting at a bus stop." (Original quote)
"He learned more about human nature waiting at the bus stop than in any textbook." (Original quote)
"A good book makes the time fly, even at a crowded bus stop." (Original quote)
"There's a quiet dignity in the people who wait patiently at the bus stop." (Original quote)
"She remembered the exact bus stop where they first met." (Original quote)
"The old man sat on the bench at the bus stop, lost in thought." (Original quote)
"Technology can’t replace the simple serendipity of a conversation at a bus stop." (Original quote)
"Every bus stop holds a thousand untold stories." (Original quote)
Etymology
The word "bus stop" is a straightforward combination of two existing words: "bus" and "stop."
Bus: This word is actually a shortened form of "omnibus," which comes from Latin and literally means "for everyone" or "for all." It was originally used to describe a public horse-drawn carriage service in the early 19th century that was open to anyone, unlike private coaches that had to be booked. The shortened "bus" became common around the 1830s.
Stop: This word simply refers to a place where something halts or pauses.
So, when you put them together, "bus stop" literally means a "stop for a bus." It's a very descriptive term.
The first known use of the combined term "bus stop" appeared in the 1910s, with the earliest evidence specifically dating to 1915 in the Code Ordinances City New York. At this time, motorized buses were becoming more common, and there was a need to officially designate specific places for them to pick up and drop off passengers. So, its meaning from its first use was exactly what we understand it to be today: a marked location where a public bus halts to allow people to get on or off.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bus Stop
"Miss the bus stop": To literally miss one's intended stop on a bus.
"Meet me at the bus stop": A common directive for a meeting point.
"Hanging out at the bus stop": Referring to spending time idly at a bus stop.
"Every bus stop has its stories": An original phrase suggesting the unique events and interactions that occur at these public places.
"Waiting at life's bus stop": An original metaphorical phrase for being in a state of anticipation or limbo.
"A quiet bus stop": Describing a peaceful or less busy location.
"The last bus stop": Could refer to a final destination or limit.
"Miss the bus": (Idiom using a synonym for "bus stop" in effect, referring to missing an opportunity).
"On the next bus": (Idiom using a synonym for "bus stop" in effect, referring to something happening soon or the next opportunity).
"Run for the bus stop": To rush to catch a bus.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bus stop from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
