View synonyms for

bulldozer

[bool-doh-zer]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a large, powerful tractor having a vertical blade at the front end for moving earth, tree stumps, rocks, etc.
a person who intimidates or coerces.

bulldozer

/ ˈ��ʊ��ˌ��əʊ��ə /

noun

a powerful tractor fitted with caterpillar tracks and a blade at the front, used for moving earth, rocks, etc
informal��a person who bulldozes

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Word History and Origins

Origin of bulldozer¹

1875–80, 1925–30 in the sense “tractor”; origin uncertain. See bulldoze ( def. )

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

When the big day finally arrived in early June, more than 60 firefighters showed up with multiple fire engines, at least one bulldozer and a firefighting helicopter on standby in case anything went wrong.

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It was a "perfect place" for them because it had a paddock and stabling for their horses, but they soon realised the bulldozers were heading their way.

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Such is the scale that construction crews and their bulldozers seem like small plastic toys by comparison.

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Voelkel got one last look at his field when he was escorted to check out things in his office before the bulldozers cleared everything.

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One woman, who declined to provide her name out of fear for her safety, lamented what she called the administration's "bulldozer of rights" and "taking people off the streets without due process."

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When To Use

�� does��bulldozer mean?

A bulldozer is a large tractor that has a big, blade-like shovel at the front and moves around using metal tracks over wheels.A bulldozer is a kind of earthmover—they are typically used to move earth and clear debris from an area. They are sometimes called dozers for short.Less commonly, bulldozer can also mean a person who intentionally tries to intimidate others. In fact, this was its original use, first recorded in the 1870s.The verb bulldoze comes from around the same time. Today, bulldoze typically means to use a bulldozer, such as to move dirt or clear an area, or, more figuratively, to move forward or advance in an aggressive or forceful way.However, bulldoze originally meant to intimidate, such as with threats of violence. Early records of this use refer to violent attacks, especially whipping, against African Americans by white people in the Southern United States. However, the origin of these words, and how bulldozer came to be a name for a type of tractor, is ultimately unclear.

bulldoze bull dust

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