bucket

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 (AmE also pail) [C] a round open container with a handle, used for carrying or holding liquids, sand, etc: a plastic bucket * They were playing on the beach with their buckets and spades. 2 (also bucketful ) (AmE also pail, pailful) [C] the amount contained in a bucket: two buckets / bucketfuls of water * They used to drink tea by the bucket / bucketful (= in large quantities). 3 (buckets) [pl.] (informal) a large amount: To succeed in show business, you need buckets of confidence. * We wept buckets. * He was sweating buckets by the end of the race. * The rain was coming down in buckets (= it was raining very heavily). IDIOMS see DROPn., KICKv. verb PHRASALVERBS bucket down (BrE, informal) to rain heavily: It's bucketing down.