but: Meaning and Definition of

but

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

but

Pronunciation: (but), [key]
— n. Scot.
  1. the outer or front room of a house; the outer or front apartment in an apartment house.
  2. the kitchen of a two-room dwelling, esp. of a cottage.

but

Pronunciation: (but), [key]
  1. butt.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also:
  • but (Thesaurus)