boy

Universal Words noun, exclamation noun 1 [C] a male child or a young male person: a little / small / young boy * I used to play here as a boy. * The older boys at school used to tease him. * Now she's a teenager, she's starting to be interested in boys. * Be a good boy and get me my coat. seealsoOLDBOY 2 [C] a young son: They have two boys and a girl. * Her eldest boy is at college. 3 [C] (in compounds; offensive when used of an older man) a boy or young man who does a particular job: a delivery boy seealsoBACK-ROOMBOYS 4 [C] a way of talking about sb who comes from a particular place, etc: He's a local boy. * a city / country boy 5 (the boys) [pl.] (informal) a group of male friends who often go out together: a night out with the boys 6 (our boys) [pl.] a way of talking with affection about your country's soldiers: a message of support for our boys serving overseas 7 (AmE, !!!) used as an offensive way of addressing a black man IDIOMS the boys in blue (informal) the police boys will be boys (saying) you should not be surprised when boys or men behave in a noisy or rough way as this is part of typical male behaviour moreatBLUE, JOBn., MANn. exclamation (informal, especially AmE) used to express feelings of surprise, pleasure, pain, etc: Boy, it sure is hot! * Oh boy! That's great! * Boy, it hurts! * Boy, am I glad to see you! * They eat it for breakfast and boy is it good!