IPA: /bɪl/
KK: /bɪl/
To touch beaks together, usually as a form of greeting or affection among birds.
The two birds bill as a sign of their bond.
Past: billed
Past Participle: billed
A document that shows how much money you owe for goods or services, or a proposal for a new law that is presented to a government for approval.
I received the bill for my electricity usage this month.
To present a statement of costs or charges to someone, often for payment.
The restaurant will bill you for your meal at the end of your visit.
Past: billed
Past Participle: billed
The word 'bill' originates from Old English 'billa', meaning a sword or a beak. It later evolved to refer to a written statement of charges or a draft of a proposed law, reflecting the idea of a document that has a pointed or sharp nature, similar to a sword or beak.
Think of a 'bill' as a 'sharp document' — it originally referred to a sword or beak, which helps you remember that a bill is a written statement of charges.