Definition of but:

• Excepting or excluding the fact that; save that; were it not that; unless; -- elliptical, for but that.
• Otherwise than that; that not; -- commonly, after a negative, with that.
• The outer apartment or kitchen of a two-roomed house; -- opposed to ben, the inner room.
• A joint where the ends of two objects come squarely together without scarfing or chamfering; -- also called butt joint.
• A kind of hinge used in hanging doors, etc.; -- so named because fastened on the edge of the door, which butts against the casing, instead of on its face, like the strap hinge; also called butt hinge.
• A limit; a bound; a goal; the extreme bound; the end.
• The thicker end of anything. See But.
• A mark to be shot at; a target.
• A person at whom ridicule, jest, or contempt is directed; as, the butt of the company.
• A push, thrust, or sudden blow, given by the head of an animal; as, the butt of a ram.
• A piece of land left unplowed at the end of a field.
• The end of a connecting rod or other like piece, to which the boxing is attached by the strap, cotter, and gib.
• The portion of a half- coupling fastened to the end of a hose.
• The joint where two planks in a strake meet.
• The thickest and stoutest part of tanned oxhides, used for soles of boots, harness, trunks.
• The hut or shelter of the person who attends to the targets in rifle practice.
• A joint where the ends of two objects come squarely together without scarfing or chamfering; - also called butt joint.
• A kind of hinge used in hanging doors, etc.; - so named because fastened on the edge of the door, which butts against the casing, instead of on its face, like the strap hinge; also called butt hinge.
• See Butt, v., and Abut, v.
• The outer apartment or kitchen of a two- roomed house; - opposed to ben, the inner room.
• Except; besides.
• Or conj. without: except: besides: only: yet: still.
• Leaving out; except; barring.
• A limit; a boundary.
• The end; esp. the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end. See 1st Butt.
• A thrust in fencing.
• Same as BUTT.
• The larger or thicker end of anything.
• See Butt.
• Expressing surprise or dissent.
• Still; even if; however; yet; nevertheless.
• Except; yet; nevertheless; however; not with standing; tho; even if; besides; again.
• Except; unless; except that; which not; yet; nevertheless; than.
• Something more to supply; unless.
• Only; solely; merely.
• Excepting or excluding the fact that; save that; were it not that; unless; - elliptical, for but that.
• Otherwise than that; that not; - commonly, after a negative, with that.
• On the contrary; on the other hand; only; yet; still; however; nevertheless; more; further; -- as connective of sentences or clauses of a sentence, in a sense more or less exceptive or adversative; as, the House of Representatives passed the bill, but the Senate dissented; our wants are many, but quite of another kind.
• Only; no more than.
• Only.
• Without; except; yet; still.
• Not otherwise than; no more than; only.

Usage examples for but

1. But why do they do it?  Flash-lights from the Seven Seas by William L. Stidger Commentator: Bishop Francis J. McConnell

2. There's nothing but you, you, you!  Anthony Lyveden by Dornford Yates

3. But I know now.  The Dop Doctor by Clotilde Inez Mary Graves

4. But who had done it?  The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde