but: Meaning and Definition of
but
Pronunciation: (but unstressed b&schwat), [key] — conj.
- on the contrary; yet: My brother went, but I did not.
- except; save: She was so overcome with grief she could do nothing but weep.
- unless; if not; except that (fol. by a clause, often with that expressed): Nothing would do but that I should come in.
- without the circumstance that: It never rains but it pours.
- otherwise than: There is no hope but by prayer.
- that (used esp. after doubt, deny, etc., with a negative): I don't doubt but he will do it.
- who not; that not: No leaders worthy of the name ever existed but they were optimists.
- (used as an intensifier to introduce an exclamatory expression): But she's beautiful!
- than: It no sooner started raining but it stopped.
- See(def. 31).
—prep. - with the exception of; except; save: No one replied but me.
—adv. - only; just: There is but one God.
- except for; were it not for: But for the excessive humidity, it might have been a pleasant day.
—n. - reservations or objections: You'll do as you're told, no buts about it.
but
Pronunciation: (but), [key] — n. Scot.
- the outer or front room of a house; the outer or front apartment in an apartment house.
- the kitchen of a two-room dwelling, esp. of a cottage.
but
Pronunciation: (but), [key] - butt.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.