bounce

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bounce/baʊns/

▶verb

• 1 (of an object, especially a ball) spring quickly up or away from a surface after hitting it.

  ■ (of light, sound, or an electronic signal) reflect back from a surface.

  ■ (also bounce back) (of an email) be returned to its sender after failing to reach its destination.

  ■ (bounce back) recover well after a setback or problem.

• 2 move or jump up and down repeatedly.

  ■ move in an energetic or enthusiastic manner.

• 3 informal (of a cheque) be returned by a bank when there are insufficient funds in an account to meet it.

• 4 informal, chiefly N. Amer. dismiss from a job.

• 5 Brit. informal pressurize (someone) into doing something.

▶noun

• 1 a rebound of a ball or other object.

  ■ an act of bouncing up and down.

• 2 exuberant self-confidence.

• 3 health and body in a person's hair.

– phrases
bounce an idea off someone informal discuss an idea with someone in order to test or improve it.

– origin ME bunsen ‘beat, thump’, perh. imitative, or from Low Ger. bunsen ‘beat’, Du. bons ‘a thump’.