bugbear : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: bugbear	by the DICT Development Group
4 results for bugbear
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
bugbear n an imaginary monster used to frighten children [syn: bogeyman, bugbear, bugaboo, boogeyman, booger] an object of dread or apprehension; "Germany was always a bugbear for France"; "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds"--Ralph Waldo Emerson Synonym(s): bugbear, hobgoblin
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Bugaboo \Bug`aboo"\, Bugbear* \Bug"bear`\, n. [See {Bug}.] Something frightful, as a specter; anything imaginary that causes needless fright; something used to excite needless fear; also, something really dangerous, used to frighten children, etc. [bd]Bugaboos to fright ye.[b8] --Lloyd. But, to the world no bugbear is so great As want of figure and a small estate. --Pope. The bugaboo of the liberals is the church pray. --S. B. Griffin. The great bugaboo of the birds is the owl. --J. Burroughs. Syn: Hobgoblin; goblin; specter; ogre; scarecrow.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Bugbear \Bug"bear`\, n. Same as {Bugaboo}. -- a. Causing needless fright. --Locke.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Bugbear \Bug"bear`\, v. t. To alarm with idle phantoms.