Standard Lemma guide

bolus

noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈbəʊləs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -əʊləs
  • CMU ARPABET: B OW1 L AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A round mass of something, especially of chewed food in the mouth or alimentary canal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A single, large dose of a drug, especially one in that form.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To administer (a drug) in bolus dosing, that is, dosing in (one or more) boluses.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To take a bolus (dose) of insulin at a mealtime in order to control one's blood glucose level in diabetes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

a large pill; used especially in veterinary medicine

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pill, lozenge, tablet, tab

6

noun

Meaning 6

a small round soft mass (as of chewed food)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: ball, globe, orb

History

Etymology

From Late Latin bōlus (“clod of earth, lump”), plural bōlī, from Ancient Greek βῶλος (bôlos, “clod, lump”). Doublet of bole.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: pallero — round mass of food
  • French: bol — round mass of food
  • French: bol alimentaire — round mass of food
  • Hungarian: falat — round mass of food
  • Italian: bolo — round mass of food
  • Northern Kurdish: loq — round mass of food
  • Polish: kęs — round mass of food
  • Portuguese: bolo — round mass of food
  • Spanish: bolo alimenticio — round mass of food
  • Polish: dawka — large dose of a drug
  • Portuguese: bólus — large dose of a drug
  • Spanish: bolo — large dose of a drug