bo·nusI. \ˈbōnəs\
noun(
-es)
Etymology: Latin, good — more at
bounty
1. : something given or received that is over and above what is expected
< as a bonus she got the day off from school > < a bonus of five days of beautiful weather >specifically : a gift given (as to a person) for complying with the donor's wishes
2. a. Britain : dividend
1c
b. (1) : money or an equivalent given in addition to the usual compensation
< surplus profits distributed among the workers as a bonus > (2) : the payment made by the employer under a bonus system
c. : a premium (as of stock) given by a corporation to a purchaser of its securities, to a promoter, or to an employee in recognition of his services
d. (1) : a government subsidy to an industry
< the mills closed down because the city did not provide a $100,000 bonus to keep them operating — American Guide Series: Michigan > (2) : a government payment to all ex-servicemen of a war often viewed as compensation for decreased earnings during time spent in the service
e. : a sum in excess of salary given a baseball player for signing with a team
< a bonus pitcher >3. : a sum of money in addition to interest or royalties charged for the granting of a loan, for the granting of a charter or other privilege to a company, or for the lease or transfer of property (as oil lands)
4. a. : a score in a card game that does not count toward winning: as
(1) : the score in bridge for honors, for making a doubled or redoubled contract, for a slam, or for winning the rubber — called also
premium (2) : the score in gin rummy for each hand won or game won
b. : an extra amount received in poker for holding an unusually good hand (as a straight flush) — called also
premium, royaltyII. transitive verb(
-ed/-ing/-es)
: to give a bonus to
< bonusing each family having more than three children >: subsidize
< the enterprise … was heavily bonused with land and a certain amount of cash — B.K.Sandwell >