/bʊk/ noun
a set of printed pages that are held together in a cover so that you can read them
NOUNS + book
a history/travel/science/poetry etc book
Not much is written about her in the history books.
a library book
I need to return my library books.
a recipe book (=which tells you how to cook different foods)
I got the idea from a recipe book.
a paperback book (=with a thin card cover)
She took a paperback book out of her bag and began to read.
a hardback book (=with a thick stiff cover)
Hardback books are often very heavy.
a paper book (=one that is printed on paper, not electronically)
Paper books are less tiring for your eyes.
You use ebook about an electronic book that you can read on a screen: E-books are now becoming more popular than paper books. Textbook, schoolbook and phonebook are usually written as one
word. Cookbook (= a book that tells you how to cook different foods) is written as one word. It is used especially in American English. British people usually say cookery book.
VERBS + book
read a book
What book are you reading at the moment?
look through a book
I looked through the book until I found the right section.
write a book
He’s written several interesting travel books.
publish a book
The book is published by Penguin.
borrow a book also take out a book BrE (=from a library)
You can borrow up to six books from the library.
return a book (=give it back)
Please return all your books before the end of term.
renew a book (=arrange to continue borrowing it from a library)
If you need to renew a book, you can do it by phone.
book + VERBS
a book comes out (=it is published for the first time)
The book first came out about a year ago.
book + NOUNS
a book review
She had a book review published in the student magazine.
a book fair (=an event at which publishers and authors show new books)
a book token BrE (=a ticket that you can use to pay for a book)
She always bought me book tokens for my birthday.
PREPOSITIONS
a book about sth/sb
She wrote a book about her experiences.
I read a fascinating book about Margaret Thatcher.
a book on a subject
This section has books on politics and economics.
in a book
In his latest book, he tackles the subject of climate change.
PHRASES
the cover of a book
His picture is on the cover of a book.
the back of the book
It tells you the price on the back of the book.
a chapter/section of a book
The first chapter of the book is about his childhood.
The most useful section of the book is the list of suppliers of artists’ materials.
Bookshop, bookstore, bookseller, and bookshelf are usually written as one word.
THESAURUS:
TYPES OF BOOK
novel: a book about imaginary people and events:
The film is based on Nick Hornby’s best-selling novel.
I like reading historical novels.
'Lucky Jim' was the title of a novel by Kingsley Amis.
fiction: books that describe imaginary people and events:
The bookstore mostly sells popular fiction.
P.D. James is famous for writing crime fiction.
Lucille Andrews wrote more than 35 works of romantic fiction.
She likes reading historical fiction (=about people and events in the past).
You'll find his books in the fiction section.
literature: novels and plays that are considered to be important works of art:
I’m studying American literature at university.
All great literature is about suffering.
non-fiction: books that describe real people and events:
Men tend to prefer non-fiction.
science fiction: books about imaginary events in the future or space travel
reference book: a book such as a dictionary or encyclopedia, which you look at to find information
textbook: a book about a particular subject that you use in a classroom
set book/course book BrE: a book that you have to study as part of your course
guidebook: a book telling visitors about a city or country
picture book: a book for children with many pictures in it
hardcover/hardback: a book that has a hard stiff cover
paperback: a book that has a paper cover
biography: a book about a real person’s life, written by another person
autobiography: a book that someone has written about their own life
recipe book/cookery book BrE also cookbook AmE: a book that tells you how to cook different meals