billing

UK: /ˈbɪlɪŋ/ US: /ˈbɪlɪŋ/ ,(bil′ing)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

bill•ing /ˈbɪlɪŋ/  n. 

1. Show Business the listing of the name of a performer, act, etc., on a sign outside a theater, or on a poster, etc.:
   [uncountable] She always received top billing.
2. [uncountable] advertising;
   publicity:
   Advance billing made the show a sellout.
3. Business the preparing or sending out of bills or requests for payment:
   [uncountable] the billing and filing operations.
4. Business [countable] the amount of business done by a firm within a certain time:
   billings of $10 million a year.
5. Business [uncountable] the cost of goods or services billed to a customer within a period.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

bill•ing  (bil′ing), n. 

1. Show Business the relative position in which a performer or act is listed on handbills, posters, etc.:
   A star usually receives billing above the title of the play.
2. advertising;
   publicity:
   The show was a sellout weeks ahead of the opening because of advance billing.
3. Business the amount of business done by a firm, esp. an advertising agency, within a specified period of time.
4. Business an act or instance of preparing or sending out a bill or invoice.
5. Business the total amount of the cost of goods or services billed to a customer, usually covering purchases made or services rendered within a specified period of time.

• bill¹ + -ing¹ 1870–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

billing / ˈbɪlɪŋ/ noun

1. the relative importance of a performer or act as reflected in the prominence given in programmes, advertisements, etc
2. public notice or advertising (esp in the phrase advance billing)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

bill¹ /bɪl/   n. 

[countable]
1. a statement of the money owed for goods or services:
   I'd like to discuss the amount of this bill for car repairs.
2. a piece of paper money worth a specified amount:
   a ten-dollar bill.
3. Government a proposal for a new law:
   a gun-control bill.
4. Show Business [usually singular] entertainment scheduled for presentation:
   a twin bill for the price of one movie.

v. 

5. to send a list of charges to: [~ + object]
   [We'll bill you later for the amount.]
   [~ + object + object]
   [billed me one hundred dollars to tow the car.]
6. to advertise (something) or otherwise make (it) known by public notice:
   [~ + object] She was billed to play the part of Ophelia.
7. Show Business to advertise or claim (something) as having (some qualities):
   [~ + object (+ as) + object] The economic summit meeting was billed as a historic moment in time.

Idioms

8. Idioms fill the bill, to fit a particular purpose;
   be suitable:
   Yes, that costume fills the bill; I'll take it.

bill² /bɪl/   n. 

[countable]
1. Birds the parts of a bird's jaws that have a horny covering;
   beak.
2. the visor of a cap.

v. [no object]

3. to join bills:
   two birds billing.

Idioms

4. Idioms bill and coo, [no object] to kiss or hold someone closely and whisper in an intimate way.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

bill¹  (bil), n. 

1. a statement of money owed for goods or services supplied:
   He paid the hotel bill when he checked out.
2. a piece of paper money worth a specified amount:
   a ten-dollar bill.
3. Government a form or draft of a proposed statute presented to a legislature, but not yet enacted or passed and made law.
4. Business See bill of exchange. 
5. a written or printed public notice or advertisement.
6. any written paper containing a statement of particulars:
   a bill of expenditures.
7. Law a written statement, usually of complaint, presented to a court.
8. Slang Terms one hundred dollars:
   The job pays five bills a week.
9. Show Business playbill.
10. Show Business entertainment scheduled for presentation;
    program:
    a good bill at the movies.
11. Business [Obs.]
    • a promissory note.
    • a written and sealed document.
    • a written, formal petition.
12. Idioms fill the bill, to fulfill the purpose or need well:
    As a sprightly situation comedy this show fills the bill.

v.t. 

13. to charge for by bill;
    send a bill to:
    The store will bill me.
14. Business to enter (charges) in a bill;
    make a bill or list of:
    to bill goods.
15. to advertise by bill or public notice:
    A new actor was billed for this week.
16. Show Business to schedule on a program:
    The management billed the play for two weeks.

• Anglo-Latin billa for Late Latin bulla bull²
• Anglo-French
• Middle English bille 1300–50

bill′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. reckoning, invoice, statement.
• 5. bulletin, handbill, poster, placard, announcement, circular, throwaway, flyer, broadside.

bill²  (bil), n. 

1. Birds the parts of a bird's jaws that are covered with a horny or leathery sheath;
   beak. See diag. under bird. 
2. the visor of a cap or other head covering.
3. a beaklike promontory or headland.

v.i. 

4. to join bills or beaks, as doves.
5. Idioms bill and coo, to kiss or fondle and whisper endearments, as lovers:
   My sister and her boyfriend were billing and cooing on the front porch.

• bef. 1000; Middle English bile, bille, Old English bile beak, trunk; akin to bill³

bill³  (bil), n. 

1. Military a medieval shafted weapon having at its head a hooklike cutting blade with a beak at the back.
2. Military Also called billman. a person armed with a bill.
3. Also called billhook. a sharp, hooked instrument used for pruning, cutting, etc.
4. Nautical, Naval Terms Also called pea. the extremity of a fluke of an anchor. See diag. under anchor. 

• bef. 1000; Middle English bil, Old English bill sword; cognate with Old High German bil pickax

bill⁴  (bil), n. [Brit. Dial.]

1. British Terms the cry of the bittern.

• akin to bell², bellow 1780–90

Bill  (bil), n. 

1. a male given name, form of William. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

bill / bɪl/ noun

1. money owed for goods or services supplied
2. a written or printed account or statement of money owed
3. such an account for food and drink in a restaurant, hotel, etc
4. any printed or written list of items, events, etc, such as a theatre programme
5. a statute in draft, before it becomes law
6. a printed notice or advertisement; poster
7. a piece of paper money; note
8. an obsolete name for promissory note
9. See bill of exchange
10. See bill of fare

verb (transitive)

1. to send or present an account for payment to (a person)
2. to enter (items, goods, etc) on an account or statement
3. to advertise by posters
4. to schedule as a future programme

Etymology: 14th Century: from Anglo-Latin billa, alteration of Late Latin bulla document, bull³

bill / bɪl/ noun

1. the mouthpart of a bird, consisting of projecting jaws covered with a horny sheath; beak. It varies in shape and size according to the type of food eaten and may also be used as a weapon
2. any beaklike mouthpart in other animals
3. a narrow promontory

verb (intransitive)

1. (of birds, esp doves) to touch bills together
2. (of lovers) to kiss and whisper amorously

Etymology: Old English bile; related to bill bill³

bill / bɪl/ noun

1. a pike or halberd with a narrow hooked blade
2. short for billhook

Etymology: Old English bill sword, related to Old Norse bīldr instrument used in blood-letting, Old High German bil pickaxe