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# booby

noun (a booby, boobies)

«booby» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A large tropical seabird with bright blue or red feet that dives into the sea to catch fish. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/booby/#m1)
2. (old-fashioned) A silly or stupid person. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/booby/#m2)
3. (rude, slang) a rude word for a part of the body; not for school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/booby/#m3)
4. A booby trap: a hidden trap, often a hidden bomb, set off when someone touches something harmless-looking. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/booby/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science and nature it is a seabird, like the blue-footed booby of the Galapagos. In stories and history "booby trap" means a hidden trap. The slang breast sense is rude and children may hear it as a giggle word. Phrases: "blue-footed booby", "booby trap", "booby prize" (a joke prize for coming last).

### Examples

- The blue-footed booby dances to show off its feet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/booby/#x1)
- Boobies dive from high up to catch fish. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/booby/#x2)
- Don't open the box, it might be a booby trap! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/booby/#x3)
- The soldiers checked the road for booby traps. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/booby/#x4)
- I came last and won the booby prize, a wooden spoon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/booby/#x5)
- (rude) The older boys giggled and said "boobies". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/booby/#x6)

### Note

Plural: boobies. The breast meaning is rude slang; do not use it at school. "Booby prize" is a joke prize for the worst result. The bird's name may come from a Spanish word for "fool", because it was easy to catch.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «booby» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/booby/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«booby» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/booby.html) on Mova free.