# dict

Words: between
Meaning:
adv, prep   [Language: Old English; Origin: betweonum]//\n  1  also in between :  in or through the space that separates two things, people, or places//  --I sat down between Sue and Jane.//  --a house and stables with a yard in between//  --The ball rolled between his feet.//  --a small town halfway between Salt Lake City and Denver//\n  2  also in between :  in the time that separates two times or events//  --Are there any public holidays between Christmas and Easter?//  --You shouldn’t eat between meals.//  --The team have a lot of work to do between now and Sunday.//  --A lot of students spend a year abroad in between school and university.//  --I’ve had a few jobs with long periods of unemployment in between.//\n  3 within a range of amounts, numbers, distances etc:  --The project will cost between eight and ten million dollars.//  --Most of the victims were young men between the ages of 16 and 21.//\n  4 used to say which two places are joined or connected by something:  --They’re building a new road between Manchester and Sheffield.//  --a regular air service between London and Paris//\n  5 used to say which people or things are involved in something together or are connected:  --the long-standing friendship between Bob and Bryan//  --co-operation between the two countries//  --She had overheard a private conversation between two MPs.//  --the link between serious sunburn and deadly skin cancer//\n  6 used to say which people or things get, have, or are involved in something that is shared:  --Tom divided his money between his children.//  --Between the four of them they managed to lift her into the ambulance.//  --We collected [hA124]17 between us.//\n  7 used to say which two things or people you are comparing:  --the contrast between town and country life//  --In her book she makes a comparison between Russian and British ballet.//  --the difference between good music and really great music//\n  8  between you and me:   also between ourselves //   spoken used before telling someone something that you do not want them to tell anyone else//  --Between you and me, I think Schmidt’s about to resign.//\n  9  come between sb:  if something comes between two people, it causes an argument or problems between them//  --I let my stupid pride come between us.//\n  10 used when it is difficult to give an exact description of something and you therefore have to compare it to two things that are similar to it:  --He uttered a sound that was something between a sigh and a groan.//


Words: betwixt
Meaning:
prep   [Language: Old English; Origin: betwux]//\n  1  literary between:\n  2  betwixt and between:   old-fashioned not quite belonging to one group or to another//


Words: Bevan
Meaning:
Aneurin    also Nye Bevan //  (1897-1960) a British politician in the Labour Party, who started the National Health Service when he was Minister of Health from 1945 to 1951. Members of the Labour Party with  left-wing opinions used to be called Bevanites.//


Words: bevel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Old French; Origin: ba[hA170]f  ’with the mouth wide open’, from  baer;   ABASHED]//\n  1 a sloping edge or surface, usually along the edge of a piece of wood or glass:\n  2 a tool for making this kind of edge or surface:  -- bevelled adj //  --bevelled glass//


Words: beverage
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bevrage, from  beivre  ’to drink’, from  Latin bibere]//   formal a hot or cold drink//  --alcoholic beverages//  --the Food and Beverage Manager//


Words: Beveridge Report
Meaning:
the   an important report produced by the British  economistWilliam Beveridge in 1942. It introduced the idea of the  Welfare State (=the idea that the government should provide free health care, and money for old people and for people who cannot get a job) .//


Words: bevvy
Meaning:
n [C]   plural  bevvies  BrE  informal //  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: beverage]//  a drink, especially an alcoholic drink//  --Maybe she’d had a few bevvies.//


Words: bevy
Meaning:
n [singular]   a large group of people of the same kind, especially girls or young women//  bevy of//  --a bevy of beauties//


Words: beware
Meaning:
v [I,T only in imperative and infinitive]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: be +  ware  ’careful’ (11-19 centuries) (from  Old English w[zB024]r)]//  used to warn someone to be careful because something is dangerous//  beware of//  --Beware of the dog!//  beware of doing sth//  --They should beware of making hasty decisions.//  --Police warned drivers to beware.//


Words: bewilder
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: wilder  ’to lead the wrong way, confuse’ (17-19 centuries), perhaps from  wilderness]//  to confuse someone//  --He was bewildered by his daughter’s reaction.//


Words: bewildering
Meaning:
adj   confusing, especially because there are too many choices or things happening at the same time//  a bewildering variety/array/range //  --a bewildering variety of choices//  -- bewilderingly adv //  --The details are bewilderingly complex.//


Words: bewilderment
Meaning:
n [U]   a feeling of being very confused//   confusion//  in bewilderment//  --She looked at him in bewilderment.//


Words: bewitch
Meaning:
v [T usually passive] \n  1 to make someone feel so interested or attracted that they cannot think clearly:  --Tim’s utterly bewitched by her.//\n  2 to get control over someone by putting a magic spell on them:  -- bewitching adj //  --a bewitching smile//


Words: beyond
Meaning:
W1S2   prep, adv   [Language: Old English; Origin: begeondan, from  geondan  ’beyond’, from  geond;   YONDER]//\n  1 on or to the further side of something:  --They crossed the mountains and headed for the valleys beyond.//  --Beyond the river, cattle were grazing.//  --She drove through Westport, and stopped a few miles beyond at a wayside inn.//\n  2 later than a particular time, date etc:   after//  --What changes await us in the coming year and beyond?//  --The ban has been extended beyond 2003.//  --The disco went on until beyond midnight.//\n  3 more or greater than a particular amount, level, or limit:  --More people are choosing to work beyond retirement age.//  --Inflation has risen beyond the 5% level.//\n  4 outside the range or limits of something or someone:  --Such tasks are  far beyond  the scope of the average schoolkid.//  --expensive luxuries that are beyond the reach of ordinary people//\n  5 used to say that something is impossible to do:  beyond repair/control/belief etc (=impossible to repair, control, believe etc) //  --Scott’s equipment was damaged beyond repair.//  --The town centre had changed beyond all recognition.//  --Due to circumstances beyond our control the performance has had to be cancelled.//\n  6  be beyond sb:  to be too difficult for someone to understand//  --The whole problem was quite beyond him.//  --Why Joan ever married such an idiot in the first place is beyond me.//\n  7 used to mean ’except’ in negative sentences:  --Fred owns nothing beyond the clothes on his back.//  --I can’t tell you anything beyond what you know already.//\nbeyond 2 n   the beyond//   literary whatever comes after this life//


Words: BFI
Meaning:
the   the British Film Institute a British organization which was started in 1933 to encourage people to make films, and which includes the  National Film Theatre//


Words: bhaji
Meaning:
bhajee/b[hA35A][hA359]d[hA360]i[hA359]/ n [C]   a hot-tasting Indian vegetable cake cooked in batter (=a liquid mixture of flour, egg, and milk or water) //  --onion bhajis//


Words: Bhopal
Meaning:
a city in the north of India, where in 1984 over 2000 people died after poisonous gas escaped from a factory owned by Union Carbide, an American-owned company//


Words: Bhutan
Meaning:
a country in the Himalayas, surrounded by India, China, and Sikkim. Population: 2,000,000 (2001). Capital: Thimbu.//


Words: Bhutto
Meaning:
Zulfikar Ali   (1928-79) a Pakistani politician who was President (1971-73) and then prime minister (1973-77) of Pakistan. He was  overthrown in a military coup in 1977 and  executed in 1979. His daughter Benazir Bhutto was Prime Minister from 1988 to 1990.//


Words: bi-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Latin; Origin:]//  two, twice, or double//    semi-, di-, tri-//  --bilingual (=speaking two languages) //  --to bisect (=cut in two) //


Words: bias
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: biais, from  Old Proven[hA168]al]//\n  1 [singular, U] an opinion about whether a person, group, or idea is good or bad which influences how you deal with it:  political/gender/racial etc bias //  --a discussion about political bias in the press//  --Students were evaluated without bias or favoritism.//  bias against/towards/in favour of//  --It’s clear that the company has a bias against women and minorities.//\n  2 [singular] a natural skill or interest in one type of thing:  --Lydia has a strong artistic bias.//\n  3  on the bias:  in a diagonal direction//\nbias 2 v [T]   to unfairly influence attitudes, choices, or decisions//  --Several factors could have biased the results of the study.//


Words: biased biassed
Meaning:
adj \n  1 unfairly preferring one person or group over another:  --Of course I’m biased, but I thought my daughter’s paintings were the best.//  --racially biased attitudes//  biased against/towards/in favour of//  --news reporting that was heavily biased towards the government//\n  2 more interested in a particular thing than in another:  biased towards//  --The majority of infants are biased towards being social rather than being antisocial.//


Words: biathlon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bi- +  Greek athlon  ’competition’]//  a sports competition in which competitors ski across fields and then shoot a rifle//    decathlon, pentathlon//


Words: bib
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  bib  ’to drink’ (14-20 centuries), perhaps from  Latin bibere;   BIBULOUS]//\n  1 a piece of cloth or plastic tied under a baby’s chin to protect its clothes when it is eating:\n  2 the part of an apron, dungarees, or overalls that covers your chest:\n  3  your best bib and tucker:  your best clothes - used humorously//


Words: bible
Meaning:
Bible/ba[hA366]b[hA368]l/ n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Medieval Latin biblia, from  Greek, plural of  biblion  ’book’, from  byblos  ’papyrus’ (from which paper was made)]//\n  1  the Bible:  the holy book of the Christian religion, consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament//\n  2 [C] a copy of the Bible:\n  3 [singular]  informal the most useful and important book on a particular subject:  --It’s the anatomy student’s bible!//


Words: Bible Belt
Meaning:
the Bible Belt//  an area in the south of the US known for its very religious Christian people, who follow the teachings of the Bible very strictly//


Words: biblical
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   relating to or written in the Bible//  --The disease dates back to biblical times .//  biblical story/text/reference //  --the biblical story of Noah//


Words: bibliography
Meaning:
n   plural  bibliographies  [C] //\n  1 a list of all the books and articles used in preparing a piece of writing:\n  2 a list of books and articles that are all about a particular subject:  -- bibliographer n  [C] //


Words: bibulous
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: bibulus, from  bibere  ’to drink’]//  liking to drink too much alcohol - sometimes used humorously//


Words: bicameral
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  technical   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bi- +  cameral  ’of a room’ (18-21 centuries), from  Latin camera (  CAMERA)]//  a bicameral legislature (=part of the government that makes laws)  consists of two parts, such as the Senate and the House of Representatives in the US Congress//    unicameral//


Words: bicarbonate of soda
Meaning:
[U]  technical   a chemical substance used especially in baking, and sometimes taken with water as a medicine//   baking soda//


Words: bicentenary
Meaning:
n   plural  bicentenaries  [C] //   especially BrE the day or year exactly 200 years after an important event//    centenary//  bicentenary of//  --the bicentenary of Mozart’s death//  -- bicentenary adj  [only before noun] //  --the bicentenary year//


Words: bicentennial
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE the day or year exactly 200 years after an important event//  --the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence//  -- bicentennial adj //  --bicentennial celebrations//


Words: bicep
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: biceps, from  Latin,  ’two-headed’, from  caput  ’head’; because it is attached in two places]//  the large muscle on the front of your upper arm//  --He had an eagle tattoo on one of his biceps.//


Words: bicker
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: bicken  ’to attack’]//  to argue, especially about something very unimportant//  --I wish you two would stop bickering.//  bicker about/over//  --They kept bickering over who should answer the phone.//  -- bickering n  [U] //


Words: bicycle
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: bi- +  -cycle (as in  tricycle)]//  a vehicle with two wheels that you ride by pushing its pedals with your feet//   bike//  --Can James ride a bicycle yet?//    exercise bike//\nbicycle 2 v [I always + adverb/preposition]    formal to go somewhere by bicycle//   bike, cycle//  -- bicyclist n  [C] //


Words: bid
Meaning:
W3   n [C] \n  1 an offer to pay a particular price for something, especially at an auction:  bid for//  --They put in a bid for the house.//  --the person who places the highest bid //  --We’ve made a bid of nearly [hA124]400m for the company.//  --A takeover bid for the airline was launched today.//\n  2 an offer to do work or provide services for a specific price:  bid for//  --rival bids for the cleaning contract//\n  3 an attempt to achieve or obtain something:  bid for//  --a bid for power//  bid to do sth//  --a desperate bid to free herself from a loveless marriage//\n  4 a statement of how many points you hope to win in a card game:\nbid 2 v   past tense and past participle  bid present participle  bidding //\n  1 [I and T] to offer to pay a particular price for goods, especially in an auction:  bid (sb) sth for sth//  --She bid [hA124]100 for a Victorian chair.//  --What am I bid for lot 227? Shall we start at $500?//  bid against//  --The two men ended up bidding against each other at the auction.//\n  2 [I] to offer to do work or provide services for a specific price, in competition with other offers:  bid for//  --Three firms bid for the contract on the new buildings.//\n  3 [I and T] to say how many points you think you will win in a game of cards:\nbid 3 v   past tense  bade /b[zB024]d, be[hA366]d/ or  bid //  past participle  bid  or  bidden /b[hA366]dn///  present participle  bidding  literary //\n  1  bid sb good afternoon/good morning etc:  to greet someone//\n  2 [T] to order or tell someone what to do:  bid sb (to) do sth//  --The queen bade us enter.//


Words: bidder
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who offers to pay a particular amount of money for something that is being sold:  --The antiques will be sold to the highest bidder  (=the person who offers to pay the most) .//\n  2 someone who offers to do work or provide services for a particular amount of money, in competition with others:  --one of 13 bidders for the contract//


Words: bidding
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 when you bid for goods, especially in an auction:  --The bidding was brisk and sales went well.//\n  2  at sb’s bidding:   formal because someone has told you to//\n  3  do sb’s bidding:   formal to obey someone’s requests or orders//


Words: biddy
Meaning:
n   plural  biddies //  old biddy//   informal an old woman, especially one who is unpleasant or annoying//


Words: bide
Meaning:
v   [Language: Old English; Origin: bidan]//\n  1  bide your time:  to wait until the right moment to do something//  --They are stronger than us and can afford to bide their time.//\n  2 [I]  old use to wait or stay somewhere, often for a long time:   abide//


Words: bidet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: ’small horse, bidet’]//  a small low bath that you sit on to wash your bottom//


Words: biennial
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: biennium  ’two-year period’, from  bi- (  BI-) +  annus  ’year’]//\n  1 a biennial event happens once every two years:    annual//\n  2 a biennial plant stays alive for two years:   annual, perennial//  -- biennially adv //


Words: bier
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: b[zB024]r]//  a frame like a table on which a dead body or coffin is placed//


Words: Bierce
Meaning:
Ambrose   (1842-?1914) a US writer famous for his short stories, who disappeared in Mexico and was never found//


Words: biff
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from the sound of hitting]//\n  1 [T]  old-fashioned  informal to hit someone hard with your fist:   thump//  --He biffed me on the nose.//\n  2 [I]  informal to fall or hit something when riding a bicycle, snowboard etc:  --I was skiing too fast and biffed at the bottom of the hill.//  -- biff n  [C] //\nbiff 2 n [C]  informal   an embarrassing mistake//


Words: bifocals
Meaning:
n [plural]   special glasses with an upper part made for seeing things that are far away, and a lower part made for reading//  -- bifocal adj //


Words: bifurcate
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: , past participle of  bifurcare, from  Latin bi- (  BI-) +  furca  ’fork’]//   formal if a road, river etc bifurcates, it divides into two separate parts//  -- bifurcation/ba[hA366]f[hA353]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -f[hA353]r-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: big
Meaning:
adj   comparative  bigger superlative  biggest //  ----------//\n   1 size:\n   2 important:\n   3 popular/successful:\n   4 older:\n   5 large degree:\n   6 bad:\n   7 have big ideas/plans:\n   8 be big on something:\n   9 what’s the big idea?:\n  10 generous:\n  11 big mouth:\n  12 letters:\n  13 words:\n  14 be/get too big for your boots:\n  15 use/wield the big stick:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from a  Scandinavian language]//\n  1 SIZE:  of more than average size or amount//  --a big house//  --I need a bigger desk.//  --She had a big grin on her face.//  --a big increase in crime//  --Los Angeles is the biggest city in California.//  --The garage isn’t big enough for two cars.//  --When they lose, they lose in a big way  (=to a large degree) .//  --There was this great big  (=extremely big) spider in the sink. see usage note  fat1 //\n  2 IMPORTANT:  important and serious//  --a big decision//  --Buying your own house is a big commitment.//  --The big game is on Friday.//  --There’s a  big difference  between understanding something and being able to explain it to others.//  --Everyone was getting ready for the big day  (=a day when an important event will happen) .//\n  3 POPULAR/SUCCESSFUL:  successful or popular, especially in business or entertainment//  --Julia Roberts became a big star after ’Pretty Woman’.//  --She’s very big in Australia.//  --After years as a small-time actor, he suddenly made it big  (=became very successful) in Hollywood.//  the big boys (=the most powerful people or companies) //    big cheese,  big noise,  big shot at shot1 (14),  big time//\n  4 OLDER:  a)  big sister/brother//  your older sister or brother//  b) older or more like an adult - used especially by children or when you are talking to children//  --Come on, don’t cry. You’re a big girl now.//\n  5 LARGE DEGREE:   [only before noun]  informal //  a) doing something to a large degree//  a big eater/drinker/spender etc //  --Des is a big gambler, you know.//  be a big fan/admirer of sb/sth //  b) done to a large degree or with great energy//  give sb a big hug/kiss //  --Mama gave me a big hug.//  give sb a big hand (=clap loudly) //\n  6 BAD:   [only before noun]  informal used to emphasize how bad something is//  --AIDS remains a  big problem  in many parts of the world.//  --Buying that house was a  big mistake .//  --I never said that, you big liar!//\n  7  have big ideas/plans:  to have impressive plans for the future//  --I’ve got big plans for this place.//\n  8  be big on sth:   spoken //  a) to like something very much//  --I’m not big on kids.//  b) to have a lot of a quality or feature//  --The new BMW is big on safety features.//\n  9  what’s the big idea?:   spoken used when someone has done something annoying, especially when you want them to explain why they did it//  --Hey, what’s the big idea? Who said you could use my computer?//\n  10 GENEROUS:   it is big of sb to do sth//   spoken //  a) used to say that someone is very kind or generous to do something//  b) used when you really think that someone is not kind or helpful at all//  --A whole [hA124]5! That was very big of her, I must say!//\n  11  big mouth:   spoken someone who has a big mouth cannot be trusted to keep things secret//  --I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth.//  me and my big mouth (=said when you wish you had not told someone a secret) //    bigmouth//\n  12 LETTERS:   informal big letters are capitals, for example G, R, A etc//\n  13 WORDS:   informal big words are long or unusual and are difficult to read or understand//\n  14  be/get too big for your boots:   informal to be too proud of yourself//\n  15  use/wield the big stick:   informal to threaten to use your power to get what you want//    think big at think1 (39)//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: big, large, great //  big  and  large  have the same meaning, but  large is slightly more formal and more likely to be used in written than spoken English : a big lunch |  a large house //  large is used with quantity words such as ’number’ and ’amount’ : large amounts of money |  a large proportion of the students //  great is not usually used to talk about size but it can be used in literary writing to describe very large and impressive things : Before them stood a great palace. //  great  is used with  length ,  height , and  age , and in the expression  a great deal (=a lot) : The grass had reached a great height. |  a great deal of money //  WORD CHOICE:  big, tall, high //  big  is not used just to describe a person’s height. It is used to describe a child who is growing, or a person who is heavy, with a lot of fat or muscle on their body. //  tall is used to describe a person’s height. It can also be used to describe trees, buildings, or other things that are narrow and measure a long distance from bottom to top : She is tall and thin. | the tallest building in London //  high is used to describe things or places that are a long way from the ground : a high shelf | the highest mountain in the world //  ----------//\nbig 2 v   past tense and past participle  bigged present participle  bigging //  big it up//   BrE  spoken  informal to spend a lot of money and enjoy yourself in a social situation, in a way that other people will notice//


Words: Big Apple
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: big apple  ’important person’ (19-20 centuries); because of the importance of New York as a city]//  the Big Apple//  New York City//


Words: big band
Meaning:
n [C]   a large musical band, especially popular in the 1940s and 1950s, that plays jazz or dance music and has a leader who plays solos//  --Tommy Dorsey’s big band//  -- big-band adj //


Words: Big Bang
Meaning:
the name given to the changes in the system and rules of the London Stock Exchange which came into effect on December 27th 1986//  --By October 1987, a year after Big Bang, the inflated City salaries were slipping.//


Words: big bang theory
Meaning:
n   the big bang theory//  the idea that the universe began with a single large explosion (the ’big bang’), and that the pieces are still flying apart//    steady state theory//


Words: Big Ben
Meaning:
the large bell in the tower of the Houses of Parliament in London, which rings regularly to tell the time//


Words: Big Bird
Meaning:
a character in the US children’s television show Sesame Street,which is a large yellow bird who talks and behaves like a human child//


Words: Big Brother
Meaning:
1 a character in the novel  1984 by George Orwell. Big Brother is the leader of the state, and although no one has ever met him there are pictures of him everywhere with the message "Big Brother is watching you". People now use the expression ’Big Brother’ to describe any government or organization that has complete power, allows no freedom, and carefully watches what people are doing.:  --Increasingly, the state is taking a Big Brother role in this area.//\n  2 a television programme in which ten people are kept in a house without being able to talk to anyone outside the house. Everything they do is filmed. Each week, the people who watch the show vote by telephone to decide who must leave the house. The last person remaining in the house after ten weeks receives a prize of a large amount of money. The programme has been made and shown in several different countries:


Words: big brother
Meaning:
Big Brother n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Big Brother powerful ruler who controlled everything in the book Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) by George Orwell]//  any person, organization, or system that seems to want to control people’s lives and restrict their freedom//  --Increasingly, the state is taking a big brother role in this area.//


Words: Big Brothers
Meaning:
a US organization to help boys, especially boys who have family problems. Each boy has his own Big Brother, who is a man who meets him regularly to give advice, listen to his problems, have fun together etc.//


Words: big bucks
Meaning:
n [plural]  informal  especially AmE   a lot of money//  --Her parents spent big bucks on her wedding.//


Words: big business
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 very large companies, considered as a powerful group with a lot of influence:\n  2 a product or type of activity that people spend a lot of money on:  --Dieting has become big business.//


Words: big cheese
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  cheese probably from  Urdu chiz  ’thing’, from  Persian]//  an important and powerful person in an organization - used humorously//


Words: big deal
Meaning:
n [singular]  spoken \n  1 used to say that you do not think something is as important as someone else thinks it is:  --It’s just a game. If you lose, big deal.//  -- What’s the big deal? It’s only a birthday, not the end of the world.//  -- It’s no big deal . Everybody forgets things sometimes.//\n  2 an important or exciting event or situation:  --This audition is a big deal for Joey.//\n  3  make a big deal of/out of/about sth:  to get too excited or upset about something, or make something seem more important than it is//  --I know I’m probably making a big deal out of nothing, but I’m worried about you.//


Words: big dipper
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE  old-fashioned a small railway in a funfair, with steep slopes and sharp curves to give an exciting ride:\n  2  the Big Dipper:   AmE a group of seven bright stars seen only from northern parts of the world//  British Equivalent:  the Plough//


Words: Big Easy
Meaning:
AmE  informal   the Big Easy//  a name for  New Orleans//  --Slick Mo’s Club plays some of the best jazz outside of the Big Easy.//


Words: big government
Meaning:
n [U]    AmE government - used when people think it is controlling their lives too much//  --big government welfare policies//


Words: big gun
Meaning:
n [C]    informal a person or company that has a lot of power and influence//  --one of the party’s big guns//


Words: big hitter
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who is very important and successful and who has a lot of influence//  --one of the big hitters of the Conservative Party//


Words: Big Leagues
Meaning:
the   the  Major Leagues (=the teams that play at the highest level of professional baseball)  in the US//    Little League//


Words: Big Man on Campus
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  informal   an important and popular male student at a college or university, especially someone who is good at sports//


Words: big name
Meaning:
n [C]   a famous person or group, especially a musician, actor etc//  --Poor attendance at the concert was put down to the lack of big names.//


Words: big screen
Meaning:
n   the big screen//  the cinema, rather than the television or theatre//  on the big screen//  --She was last seen on the big screen in the comedy ’Jawbreaker’.//


Words: big shot
Meaning:
n [C]    informal someone who has a lot of power or influence in a company or an area of business//  --His father’s a big shot and he thinks he is, too.//


Words: Big Sisters
Meaning:
a US organization to help girls, especially girls who have family problems. Each girl has her own Big Sister, who is a woman who meets her regularly to give advice, listen to her problems, have fun together etc.//


Words: Big Ten, the , the Big
Meaning:
0   a group of ten midwestern US universities who compete with each other in sports. These teams are of very good quality in college sports, and their players often go on to join professional teams//    PAC 10//


Words: Big Three
Meaning:
the  AmE   General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, which are the three largest American car makers//  --The Big Three have all announced incentives to boost flagging auto sales.//


Words: big time
Meaning:
n   the big time//   informal the position of being very famous or important, for example in the entertainment business or in politics//  --The 46-year-old author has finally hit the big time .//  -- big-time adj  [only before noun] //  --big-time cocaine dealers//\nbig time 2 adv  spoken  especially AmE   to a very large degree//  --Morris messed up big time.//


Words: big wheel
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a machine used in amusement parks, consisting of a very large upright wheel with seats hanging from it, which turns round slowly//   ferris wheel//


Words: big-headed
Meaning:
adj    informal someone who is big-headed thinks they are very important, clever etc - used to show disapproval//  -- big-head n  [C]  see usage note  proud//


Words: bigamy
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: bigamia, from  Latin bi- (  BI-) +  Late Latin -gamia (  -GAMY)]//  the crime of being married to two people at the same time//    monogamy, polygamy//  -- bigamist n  [C] -- bigamous adj //


Words: Bigfoot
Meaning:
also Sasquatch   an animal like a large hairy human, which some people claim to have seen in the northwest US, but which has never been proved to exist//


Words: biggie
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  informal something very large, important, or successful:  --I think their new CD is going to be a biggie.//\n  2  no biggie:   AmE  spoken said when something is not important or when you are not upset or angry about something//  --’Oh, I’m sorry.’ ’That’s okay, no biggie.’//


Words: Biggles
Meaning:
a character in stories for children by Captain W.E. Johns. Biggles is a military pilot in World War I who is famous for his flying skills and courage.//


Words: bigoted
Meaning:
adj   having such strong opinions about a group of people that you are unwilling to listen to anyone else’s opinions//  --The decision not to allow disabled athletes to take part was seen as petty and bigoted.//


Words: bigotry
Meaning:
n [U]   bigoted behaviour or beliefs//  --sensational news stories that just encourage bigotry and intolerance//


Words: bijou
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  BrE   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: ’jewel’]//  a bijou house or apartment is small and fashionable - often used humorously//  --a bijou residence in Mayfair//


Words: bike
Meaning:
S2   n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bicycle]//\n  1 a bicycle:  --Let’s go for a bike ride .//  by bike//  --They’ll be coming by bike.//\n  2  informal a motorcycle:\n  3  on your bike!:   BrE  spoken used to tell someone rudely to go away//\nbike 2 v \n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition]  informal to ride a bicycle:  --She bikes to work every day.//\n  2 [T] to take something to someone by  motorcycle in order to get it there quickly:  bike sth over/round//  --We’re late for our deadline. Can you bike the photos over to us?//


Words: biker
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who rides a motorcycle, especially as part of a group:  --Most of the bikers rode Harley-Davidsons.//\n  2 someone who rides a bicycle:  --trails for bikers and hikers//


Words: bikini
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: Bikini Atoll, after a nuclear bomb test was held there in 1946]//  a piece of clothing in two separate parts that women wear for swimming//


Words: Bikini Atoll
Meaning:
an island in the Pacific Ocean where the US performed  nuclear weapons tests from 1946 until the 1960s//


Words: Biko
Meaning:
Steve   (1946-77) a black South African political leader who started the Black Consciousness Movement, an organization that fought against  apartheid (=the system in which black people had no political rights, and black and white people had to live in different areas) . He died while being questioned by the police.//


Words: bilabial
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   a consonant sound such as /p/ or /b/ that is made using both lips//  -- bilabial adj //    labial//


Words: bilateral
Meaning:
adj   involving two groups or nations//  bilateral relations/trade/agreements/negotiations etc //  --bilateral negotiations between Israel and Syria//  -- bilaterally adv //    multilateral,  unilateral//


Words: bilberry
Meaning:
n   plural  bilberries  [C] //  a blue-black fruit that grows in Northern Europe, or the bush it grows on//


Words: bile
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Latin bilis]//\n  1 a bitter green-brown liquid formed in the liver, which helps you to digest fats:\n  2  literary anger and hatred:


Words: bilge
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Probably from  Old French boulge,  bouge  ’leather bag, curved part’]//\n  1 [C usually plural] the broad bottom part of a ship:\n  2 [U]  old-fashioned  informal nonsense:


Words: bilingual
Meaning:
adj \n  1 written or spoken in two languages:  --a bilingual dictionary//  --The report proposed bilingual education in schools.//\n  2 able to speak two languages equally well:  --Their kids are completely bilingual.//  bilingual in//  --Louis is virtually bilingual in Dutch and German.//  -- bilingual n  [C]   monolingual, multilingual//


Words: bilious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: bilieux, from  Latin biliosus, from  bilis;   BILE]//\n  1 feeling as if you might vomit:  --I got up feeling bilious and with a terrible headache.//  --She felt a bilious attack coming on.//\n  2 very unpleasant:  --bilious green walls//\n  3  literary bad-tempered:  -- biliousness n  [U] //


Words: bilk
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Perhaps from  balk]//   informal to cheat someone, especially by taking their money//   swindle//  bilk sb out of sth//  --Consumers were bilked out of more than $15,000.//


Words: Bilko
Meaning:
Sergeant   the main character in a humorous television programme about a US army camp. Bilko is an army officer, played by Phil Silvers, who talks very fast and loves playing cards and finding ways to make money.//


Words: bill
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 request for payment:\n   2 restaurant:\n   3 law:\n   4 money:\n   5 fit/fill the bill:\n   6 concert/show etc:\n   7 give somebody/something a clean bill of health:\n   8 bird:\n   9 advertisement:\n  10 part of a hat:\n  11 the (old) bill:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-7, 9; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: billa, from  Latin bulla  ’bubble, seal added to a document’;   BOIL1]//  [Sense: 8,10; Origin: Old English bile]//  [Sense: 11; Date: 1300-1400; Origin: Old Bill]//\n  1 REQUEST FOR PAYMENT:  a written list showing how much you have to pay for services you have received, work that has been done etc//  bill for//  --The bill for the repairs came to $650.//  phone/electricity/gas/water etc bill //  --Have you paid the phone bill ?//\n  2 RESTAURANT:   especially BrE a list showing how much you have to pay for food you have eaten in a restaurant//  American Equivalent:  check//  --Could we have the bill, please?//\n  3 LAW:  a written proposal for a new law, which is brought to a parliament so that it can be discussed//  approve/pass/veto a bill //  --The House of Representatives passed a new gun-control bill.//  --The senator introduced a bill that would increase the minimum wage.//\n  4 MONEY:   AmE a piece of paper money//  British Equivalent:  note//    coin//  --a five-dollar bill//\n  5  fit/fill the bill:  to be exactly what you need//  --This car fits the bill perfectly. It’s cheap and gets good mileage.//\n  6 CONCERT/SHOW ETC:  a programme of entertainment at a theatre, concert, cinema etc, with details of who is performing, what is being shown etc//  --Tricia topped the bill  (=was the most important performer) at the Children’s Variety Show.//\n  7  give sb/sth a clean bill of health:  to officially state that someone is in good health or that something is working correctly//  --Maddox was given a clean bill of health.//\n  8 BIRD:  a bird’s beak//\n  9 ADVERTISEMENT:  a printed notice advertising an event//\n  10 PART OF A HAT:   AmE the front part that sticks out on a hat such as a baseball cap//\n  11  the (old) bill:   BrE  spoken the police//\nbill 2 v [T] \n  1 to send someone a bill:  --Clients will be billed monthly.//  bill sb for sth//  --I was billed for equipment that I didn’t order.//\n  2  be billed to do sth:  if someone is billed to appear, perform etc somewhere, it has been planned and advertised that they will do this//  --Johnson was billed to speak at two conferences.//\n  3  bill and coo:   old-fashioned if two lovers are billing and cooing, they are kissing and talking softly//  bill as [bill sth as sth] phr v//  to advertise or describe something in a particular way//  --The castle bills itself as the oldest in England.//


Words: bill of exchange plural
Meaning:
bills of exchange  n [C]    technical a signed document ordering someone to pay someone else a particular amount of money//


Words: Bill of Rights
Meaning:
the   part of the US  constitution (=the basic laws of the country that cannot easily be changed)  which is a list of the rights of US citizens, for example freedom of speech (=the right to say what you want to say, including criticizing the government) , and freedom of religion//


Words: bill of rights plural
Meaning:
bills of rights  n [C]   a written statement of the most important rights of the citizens of a country//


Words: Billboard
Meaning:
a US weekly magazine about popular music, that gives the Hot 100 (=a list of the 100 most popular records that week) //


Words: billet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: billette, from  bulle  ’document’, from  Latin bulla;   BILL1]//  a private house where soldiers are living temporarily//\nbillet 2 v [T]   to put soldiers in a private house to live there temporarily//


Words: billfold
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a small flat leather case, used for carrying paper money, credit cards etc in your pocket//   wallet//


Words: billhook
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: bill  ’pole with a sharp blade at the end’ (11-21 centuries) (from  Old English) +  hook]//  a tool which has a curved blade with a hooked point, used for cutting off tree branches etc//


Words: billiards
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: billard  ’(stick used in) billiards’, from  bille  ’piece of wood, stick’]//  a game played on a cloth-covered table in which balls are hit with a cue (=a long stick)  against each other and into pockets at the edge of the table//    pool, snooker//  -- billiard adj  [only before noun] //  --a billiard table//


Words: billing
Meaning:
n   give sb top/star billing//  to name a particular performer, actor etc as being the most important person in a show, play etc//


Words: Billingsgate
Meaning:
a large fish market in east London. The word ’Billingsgate’ was also formerly used to mean swearing and offensive language, because the people who worked in the market were known for this.//


Words: billion
Meaning:
number   plural  billion  or  billions //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: bi- +  -illion (as in  million)]//\n  1 the number 1,000,000,000:  --The final cost could be as much as one billion dollars.//  two/three/four etc billion //  --3.5 billion years ago//  --Overseas debt is a staggering [hA124]16 billion.//  billions of pounds/dollars etc //  --Many airlines have lost billions of dollars.//\n  2 an extremely large number of things or people:  a billion//  --A billion stars shone in the night sky.//  billions of sth//  --There are billions of things I want to say.//\n  3  BrE  old use the number 1,000,000,000,000:  -- billionth adj //  -- billionth n  [C] //


Words: billow
Meaning:
v [I] \n  1  also billow out :  if something made of cloth billows, it moves in the wind//  --Her long skirt billowed in the breeze.//\n  2 if a cloud or smoke billows, it rises in a round mass:  billow out of/up etc//  --There was smoke billowing out of the windows.//\nbillow 2 n [C usually plural]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  Old Norse bylgja]//\n  1 a moving cloud or mass of something such as smoke or cloth:\n  2  literary a wave, especially a very large one:


Words: Billy the Kid
Meaning:
(1859-81) a famous criminal in the southwest US who killed many people and stole cattle until he was finally caught and killed//


Words: bimbo
Meaning:
n   plural  bimbos  [C] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Italian; Origin: ’baby’]//   informal an insulting word for an attractive but unintelligent young woman//  --He picked up some bimbo at the club.//


Words: bimonthly
Meaning:
adj   appearing or happening every two months or twice each month//    monthly, quarterly//  --a bimonthly magazine//  -- bimonthly adv //


Words: bin
Meaning:
S2   n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: binn]//\n  1  BrE a container for putting waste in:    trash can, waste paper basket//  --Throw it in the bin.//    dustbin,  litter bin//\n  2 a large container for storing things, such as goods in a shop or substances in a factory:\nbin 2   past tense and past participle  binned present participle  binning  v [T] //   BrE  informal to throw something away//  --’What should I do with this letter?’ ’Just bin it!’//


Words: binary
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: binarius, from  Latin bini  ’two by two’]//\n  1  the binary system:  a system of counting, used in computers, in which only the numbers 0 and 1 are used//\n  2 consisting of two parts:   double//  --a binary star system//


Words: bind
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  bound /ba[hA35E]nd///  ----------//\n   1 tie/fasten:\n   2 form a connection:\n   3 make somebody do something:\n   4 stick together:\n   5 book:\n   6 stitch:  Phrasal verbs//   bind somebody over//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: bindan]//\n  1 TIE/FASTEN:   [T]  written //  a) to tie someone so that they cannot move or escape//  --They bound my arms and legs with rope.//  bound and gagged (=tied up, and with cloth tied around your mouth so you cannot speak) //  b)  also bind up //  to tie things firmly together with cloth or string//  --The pile of newspapers was bound with string.//\n  2 FORM A CONNECTION:   [T] to form a strong emotional or economic connection between two people, countries etc//   unite//  bind sb/sth together//  --Their shared experiences in war helped to bind the two communities together.//\n  3 MAKE SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING:   [T usually passive] if you are bound by an agreement, promise etc, you must do what you have agreed to do or promised to do//  --The monks are bound by vows of silence.//  bind sb to do sth//  --Employees are not bound to give their reasons for leaving.//\n  4 STICK TOGETHER:   [I and T]  technical to stick together in a mass, or to make small pieces of something stick together//  --The flour mixture isn’t wet enough to bind properly.//  bind with//  --The hydrogen molecule binds with the oxygen molecule.//\n  5 BOOK:   [T] to fasten the pages of a book together and put them in a cover//    bound2 (9)//\n  6 STITCH:   [T] to sew cloth over the edge of a piece of material, or stitch over it, to strengthen it//  --The edges of the blanket were bound with ribbon.//  bind over [bind sb over] phr v//  a)  BrE if someone is bound over by a court of law, they are warned that if they cause more trouble, they will be legally punished//  --The demonstrators were bound over to keep the peace.//  b)  AmE if someone is bound over for trial, they are forced by law to appear in a court of law//\nbind 2 n [singular]  informal   an annoying or difficult situation//  --It’s a real bind having to look after the children.//  in a bind//  --Caroline was really in a bind.//


Words: binder
Meaning:
n   1 [C] a removable cover for holding loose sheets of paper, magazines etc//\n  2 [C] a person or machine that fastens the parts of a book together:\n  3 [U and C] a substance that makes things stick together:\n  4 [C]  AmE an agreement in which you pay something to show that you intend to buy some property:


Words: binding
Meaning:
adj   a binding contract/promise/agreement etc//  a promise, agreement etc that must be obeyed//\nbinding 2 n \n  1 [C] a book cover:\n  2 [U] material sewn or stuck along the edge of a piece of cloth for strength or decoration:


Words: binge
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: English dialect; Origin: binge  ’to make completely wet’]//   informal a short period when you do too much of something, such as eating or drinking//  --a drinking binge//  --a week-long binge of shopping//  on a binge//  --Ken’s gone on a binge with his mates.//\nbinge 2 v [I]    informal to do too much of something, such as eating or drinking, in a short period of time//  binge on//  --Whenever she’s depressed she binges on chocolates.//


Words: bingo
Meaning:
n [U]   a game played for money or prizes in which numbers are chosen by chance and called out, and if you have the right numbers on your card you win//  --Vera won [hA124]20 at bingo.//\nbingo 2 interjection   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bing  ’sound of something being hit’ (1900-2000)]//  used when you have just done something successfully and are pleased//  --Bingo! That’s the one I’ve been looking for.//


Words: binman
Meaning:
n   plural  binmen /-men/ [C]  BrE //  someone who comes to people’s houses to collect their waste//   garbage collector//


Words: binocular vision
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   the ability to  focus both eyes on one object, which humans, monkeys, and some birds and other animals have//


Words: binoculars
Meaning:
n [plural]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: binocular  ’using both eyes’ (18-21 centuries), from  Latin bini (  BINARY) +  oculus  ’eye’]//  a pair of special glasses, that you hold up to your eyes to look at objects that are a long distance away//   field glasses//


Words: binomial
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: binomium, from  Latin binominis, from  bi- (  BI-) +  nomen  ’name’]//   technical a mathematical expression that has two parts connected by the sign + or the sign -, for example 3x + 4y or x - 7//  -- binomial adj //


Words: bio-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Greek; Origin: bios  ’way of life’]//  relating to or using living things//  --bio-genetics//  --biophysics//


Words: biodegradable
Meaning:
adj   materials, chemicals etc that are biodegradable are changed naturally by bacteria into substances that do not harm the environment//  → non biodegradable//  --This carton is made of biodegradable plastic.//


Words: biodiversity
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   the variety of plants and animals in a particular place//  --the biodiversity of the rainforest//


Words: biofeedback
Meaning:
n [U]   a method of helping people to relax by teaching them to control their heart rate, breathing etc, using an instrument attached to the body//


Words: biography
Meaning:
n   plural  biographies //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Greek; Origin: biographia, from  Greek bio- (  BIO-) +  -graphia  ’-graphy’]//\n  1 [C] a book that tells what has happened in someone’s life, written by someone else:  biography of//  --Boswell’s biography of Dr. Johnson//\n  2 [U] literature that consists of biographies:    autobiography//  -- biographical/ba[hA366][hA353]gr[zB024]f[hA369]k[hA368]l[hA36B]/ adj //  --biographical information//


Words: biological
Meaning:
adj \n  1 relating to the natural processes performed by living things:  --the biological functions of the body//  --Depression is both biological and psychological.//\n  2  biological weapons/warfare/attack etc:  weapons, attacks etc that involve the use of living things, including  bacteria, to harm other living things//  --a ban on chemical and biological weapons//\n  3 [only before noun] relating to biology:  --the biological sciences//\n  4  biological parent/father/mother etc:  a child’s parent through birth, rather than through adoption//  -- biologically/-kli/ adv //


Words: biological clock
Meaning:
n [singular] \n  1  technical the system in plants and animals that controls when they sleep, eat, produce babies etc:   body clock//\n  2 the idea that when a woman reaches a certain age, she will soon be too old to have a baby:  --career women who hear the  biological clock ticking //


Words: biology
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: German; Origin: biologie, from  bio- +  -logie  ’-logy’]//\n  1 the scientific study of living things:  --a degree in biology//  --molecular biology//\n  2 the scientific laws that control the life of a particular type of animal, plant etc:  --the biology of bacteria//


Words: biome
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   a type of environment that is described according to the typical weather conditions and plants that exist there//


Words: bionic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bionic  ’using electronically controlled parts in the human body’ (20-21 centuries), from  bio- +  electronic]//  bionic arms, legs etc are electronic and therefore stronger or faster than normal arms etc - often used humorously//  --I swear Mom has bionic ears.//


Words: biopic
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: biograhical picture]//   informal a film that tells the story of someone’s life//


Words: biopsy
Meaning:
n   plural  biopsies  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bio- +  Greek opsis  ’appearance’]//  the removal of cells, tissue etc from someone’s body in order to find out more about a disease they may have//  --a breast biopsy//


Words: biorhythms
Meaning:
n [plural]   regular changes in the speed at which physical processes happen in your body, which some people believe can affect the way you feel//


Words: biotechnology
Meaning:
informal  [U]   the use of living things such as cells, bacteria etc to make drugs, destroy waste matter etc//  --the biotech industries//  -- biotechnological/ba[hA366][hA353][hA35E]tekn[hA353]l[hA361]d[hA360][hA366]k[hA368]l $ ba[hA366]o[hA35E]tekn[hA353]l[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //


Words: bipartisan
Meaning:
adj   involving two political parties, especially parties with opposing views//  --a bipartisan committee//  --bipartisan cooperation//


Words: bipartite
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: bipartitus, from  bi- +  partitus  ’divided’]//   formal involving two different parts or groups//  --a bipartite treaty//  --bipartite DNA structures//


Words: biped
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: bipes, from  bi- +  pes  ’foot’]//   technical an animal with two legs, such as a human//


Words: bipolar
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun] \n  1 involving two opposing countries, groups etc:  --the bipolar view of the world during the Cold War//\n  2  bipolar disorder:   technical  manic depression//


Words: biracial
Meaning:
adj  AmE   representing or including people from two different races//  British Equivalent:  mixed race//  --biracial families//


Words: birch
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: birce,  beorc]//\n  1 [U and C] a tree with smooth bark (=outer covering)  and thin branches, or the wood from this tree:\n  2  the birch:   BrE the practice of hitting people with birch sticks as an official punishment//    silver birch//\nbirch 2 v [T]   to hit someone with a birch sticks as an official punishment//


Words: bird
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bridd]//\n  1 a creature with wings and feathers that can usually fly. Many birds sing and build nests, and female birds lay eggs.:  --wild birds//  --The dawn was filled with the sound of birds.//  --a flock of birds  (=a group of birds flying together) //  --a wooden bird cage//\n  2  BrE  informal a word meaning a young woman, which some people think is offensive:\n  3  the birds and the bees:  the facts about sex - used humorously or to children//\n  4  a little bird told me (sth):   informal used to say that you know something, but you will not say how you found out//  --A little bird told me that you’ve got engaged.//\n  5  birds of a feather (flock together):   informal used to say that two or more people have similar attitudes, beliefs etc//\n  6  give sb the bird:  a)  AmE  informal to make a very rude sign at someone by holding your middle finger up//  b)  BrE to show strong disapproval of someone who is performing or speaking in public by shouting, making rude noises etc//\n  7  a bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush):  used to say that it is better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by trying to get more//\n  8  the bird has flown:   informal used to say that the person you are looking for has already left or escaped//\n  9  be (strictly) for the birds:   old-fashioned  informal to be silly, useless, or not practical//\n  10  wise/wily/funny/weird etc old bird:   old-fashioned  informal a person who seems wise, funny etc//\n  11  do bird:   BrE  old-fashioned  informal to serve a prison sentence//   do time//    early bird at early1 (9),  kill two birds with one stone at kill1 (13)//


Words: bird dog
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a dog that is trained to find and return with birds that have been shot for sport//  British Equivalent:  gun dog//


Words: bird of passage plural
Meaning:
birds of passage  n [C] \n  1  technical a bird that flies from one area or country to another, according to the seasons:\n  2  literary someone who never stays in the same place for long:


Words: bird’s-eye view
Meaning:
n [singular]   1 a view of something from high above it//  --Visitors can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the area from the castle turrets.//\n  2 a general report or account of something, without many details:  --a bird’s-eye view of recent research//


Words: bird-watcher
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who watches wild birds and tries to recognize different types//  -- bird-watching n  [U] //


Words: birdie
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  spoken a word meaning a little bird, used especially by or to children:\n  2 in golf, a score that is one less than par:\n  3  AmE a small object with feathers that you hit across the net in a game of badminton:  British Equivalent:  shuttlecock//\nbirdie 2 v [T]   in golf, to get the ball into the hole in one hit less than par//  --Woods birdied the last two holes to take a 10-stroke lead.//


Words: birdshot
Meaning:
n [U]   a type of very small bullet that is fired in large numbers//  --The crowd was dispersed by police using tear gas and birdshot.//


Words: biretta
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: berretta, from  Proven[hA168]al berret;   BERET]//  a square cap worn by Roman Catholic priests//


Words: Birkenstocks
Meaning:
trademark   a type of  sandal (=a shoe that is open at the toes and heel)  with a wide, flat bottom, which is designed to be comfortable//


Words: Birmingham
Meaning:
1 a city in the West Midlands of England, the second largest city in the UK:\n  2 a city in Alabama in the US. During the 1960s, there were many protests in Birmingham about the way that black people were treated, as part of the  Civil Rights Movement.:


Words: Birnam Wood
Meaning:
the wood near Birnam in Perthshire, Scotland. In Shakespeare’s play ’Macbeth’, Macbeth is told that he will only be defeated when Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. Later, his enemy’s army comes through Birnam Wood and each soldier cuts a large branch to hide himself, so that when the army moves on it looks as if the wood is moving. Macbeth is defeated and killed.//


Words: biro
Meaning:
n   plural  biros  [C]  trademark  BrE //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Laszlo  Biro (1899-1985), the pen’s Hungarian inventor]//  a pen with a small ball at the end that puts ink onto paper//   ball point//  --a red biro//


Words: birth
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Norse; Origin: byrth]//\n  1  give birth (to sb):  if a woman gives birth, she produces a baby from her body//  --Patsy was celebrating last night after giving birth to twins.//\n  2 [U and C] the time when a baby comes out of its mother’s body:  --Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! //  --He only weighed 2 kilos  at birth .//  --Henry has been blind  from birth .//  -- What’s your  date of birth ? //  -- The exact  place of birth  is not recorded. //  -- They believe that the position of the planets at the  time of birth  determines the fate of the individual. //  -- More and more women are choosing to have  home births . //  -- Smoking in pregnancy has been linked to  premature birth . //  -- the association between  birth weight  and blood pressure //  -- The drug was found to cause serious  birth defects .//\n  3 [singular] the time when something new starts to exist:  birth of//  --the birth of a nation//  --The film gave birth to a TV show of the same name.//\n  4 [U] the character, language, social position etc that you have because of the family or country you come from:  --a woman of noble birth//  French/German etc by birth //  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 2 //  at birth //  from/since birth //  date of birth  especially BrE  //  birth date  especially AmE //  place of birth //  time of birth //  home birth (=when a mother gives birth at home instead of in a hospital) //  hospital birth (=when a mother gives birth in hospital) //  premature birth  (=when a baby is born earlier than it should be) //  stillbirth  (=when a baby is born dead) //  multiple birth  (=when a mother gives birth to two babies or more at the same time) //  birth weight //  birth defect  (=something wrong with a baby when it is born) //  ----------//


Words: birth control
Meaning:
n [U]   the practice of controlling the number of children you have//   contraception//  --a safe method of birth control//


Words: birth father
Meaning:
n [C]   a child’s natural father, rather than a man who has become the child’s legal father through  adoption//


Words: birth mother
Meaning:
n [C]   a child’s natural mother, rather than a woman who has become the child’s legal mother through  adoption//


Words: birth parent
Meaning:
n [C]   a child’s natural mother or father, rather than someone who has become the child’s legal mother or father through  adoption//


Words: birthday
Meaning:
W3S2   n [C] \n  1 your birthday is a day that is an exact number of years after the day you were born:  --He was in Kansas to celebrate his 74th birthday .//  happy birthday! (=what you say on someone’s birthday) //  birthday card/gift/party etc //  --Are you going to Anne’s birthday party?//  the birthday girl/boy  informal  (=the person whose birthday it is) //\n  2 a day that is an exact number of years since an organization was established or an event first happened:    anniversary//  --The City of Cleveland Orchestra is celebrating its 200th birthday .//\n  3  in your birthday suit:   informal not wearing any clothes - used humorously//


Words: Birthday Honours
Meaning:
the   special  honours given to a number of British people by the Queen each year on her birthday, as a reward for their achievements or good work//


Words: birthmark
Meaning:
n [C]   a permanent mark on your skin that you have had since you were born//  --Paul had a birthmark on his left cheek.//


Words: birthplace
Meaning:
n [C usually singular] \n  1 the place where someone was born, used especially when talking about someone famous:  --Stratford-upon-Avon was Shakespeare’s birthplace.//\n  2 the place where something first started to happen or exist:  --New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz.//


Words: birthrate
Meaning:
n [C]   the number of births for every 100 or every 1000 people in a particular year in a particular place//  --the rising birthrate//


Words: birthright
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   something such as a right, property, money etc that you believe you should have because of the family or country you belong to//  --Freedom of speech is every American’s birthright.//  --Charles felt cheated of his birthright.//


Words: Birtwhistle
Meaning:
Sir Harrison   (1934-  ) an English  composer known for his modern music for voices and instruments, including  Tragoedia  and  Ring a Dumb Carillon//


Words: biscuit
Meaning:
S3   n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bescuit, from  Latin bis  ’twice’ +  coctus  ’cooked’]//\n  1 [C]  BrE a small thin dry cake that is usually sweet and made for one person to eat:  American Equivalent:  cookie//  --a packet of chocolate biscuits//  --cheese and biscuits//\n  2 [C]  AmE a type of soft bread baked in small round pieces:\n  3 [U] a light brown colour:\n  4  take the biscuit:   BrE  informal to be the most surprising, annoying etc thing you have ever heard//  --I’ve heard some excuses, but this really takes the biscuit!//


Words: bisect
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: bi- +  -sect (as in  intersect)]//   formal to divide something into two equal parts//  --A long cobbled street bisects the town from east to west.//


Words: bisexual
Meaning:
adj \n  1 sexually attracted to both men and women:\n  2  technical having features of both males and females:  --a bisexual plant//  -- bisexual n  [C] //  -- bisexuality/ba[hA366]sek[hA35D]u[zB024]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: bishop
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bisceop, from  Late Latin episcopus, from  Greek episkopos  ’person in charge, bishop’, from  epi-  ’over’ +  skeptesthai  ’to look’]//\n  1 a priest with a high rank in some Christian religions, who is the head of all the churches and priests in a large area:  --the Bishop of Durham//\n  2 a piece in the game of chess that can be moved sideways over any number of squares of the same colour:


Words: bishopric
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bisceoprice, from  bisceop (  BISHOP) +  rice  ’kingdom’]//\n  1 the area that a bishop is in charge of:   diocese//\n  2 the position of being a bishop:


Words: Bismarck
Meaning:
the capital city of the US state of North Dakota//\n Otto von   (1815-98) a German politician who was mainly responsible for joining all the separate German states together to form one country, and who then became  chancellor of Germany//


Words: bismuth
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Early  German bismut, from  wismut, probably from  wise  ’field’ +  mut  ’claim to a mine’]//  a grey-white metal that is often used in medicines. It is a chemical element: symbol Bi.//


Words: bison
Meaning:
n   plural  bison  or  bisons  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , from an ancient  Germanic language]//  an animal like a large cow with hair on its head and shoulders//    buffalo//


Words: bisque
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French]//  a thick creamy soup made from shellfish//  --lobster bisque//


Words: bistro
Meaning:
n   plural  bistros  [C] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French]//  a small restaurant or bar//  --a French bistro//


Words: bit
Meaning:
adv, pron   ----------//\n   1 only slightly:\n   2 amount:\n   3 quite a lot:\n   4 time/distance:\n   5 a bit of a something:\n   6 not a bit/not one bit:\n   7 every bit as important/bad/good etc:\n   8 bit by bit:\n   9 a/one bit at a time:\n  10 take a bit of doing/explaining etc:\n  11 be a bit much:\n  12 be a bit of all right:\n  13 bit on the side:\n  14 a bit of stuff/fluff/skirt:\n  15 a bit of rough:  ----------//\n  1 ONLY SLIGHTLY:   a bit//   especially BrE //  a) slightly or to a small degree//   a little//  --Could you turn the TV up a bit?//  --Try to relax a bit.//  --That’s a bit odd.//  --’Are you sorry to be leaving?’ ’Yes, I am a bit.’//  --Aren’t you being a little bit unfair?//  --I think you’re a bit too young to be watching this.//  --She looks a bit like my sister.//  a bit better/older/easier etc //  --I feel a bit better now.//  b) sometimes, but not very often//  --I used to act a bit when I was younger.//\n  2 AMOUNT:   a bit//   especially BrE  informal a small amount of a substance or of something that is not a physical object//   a little//  a bit of//  --I may need a bit of help.//  --He still likes to do a bit of gardening.//  --I want to spend a bit of time with him before he goes.//  --With a bit of luck we should have finished by five o’clock.//  --Everyone needs a little bit of encouragement.//  --’Would you like cream in your coffee?’ ’Yes please, just a bit.’//  a bit more/less //  --Can we have a bit less noise please? see usage note  few//\n  3 QUITE A LOT:   quite a bit//   also a good bit  BrE a fairly large amount or to a fairly large degree//  --She’s quite a bit older than you, isn’t she?//  --He knows quite a bit about painting.//  quite a bit of//  --I expect you do quite a bit of travelling?//  quite a bit more/less //  --They’re worth quite a bit more than I thought.//\n  4 TIME/DISTANCE:   a bit//   especially BrE a short period of time or a short distance//   a while//  --You’ll have to wait a bit.//  in a bit//  --I’ll see you in a bit.//  for a bit//  --We sat around for a bit chatting.//  --I walked on a bit and then turned back.//\n  5  a bit of a sth:   especially BrE used to show that the way you describe something is only true to a limited degree//  --The news came as a bit of a shock.//  --I felt a bit of a fool.//  --It looks like they left in a bit of a hurry.//\n  6  not a bit/not one bit:   especially BrE not at all//  --You’re not a bit like your brother.//  --Am I cross? No, not a bit of it .//  --I’m not in the least bit interested in whose fault it is.//  --Well, you haven’t surprised me, not one bit.//\n  7  every bit as important/bad/good etc:   especially BrE used to emphasize that something is equally important, bad etc as something else//  --Jodi plays every bit as well as the men.//\n  8  bit by bit:   especially BrE gradually//  --Bit by bit, I was starting to change my mind.//\n  9  a/one bit at a time:   especially BrE in several small parts or stages//  --Try to improve your lifestyle a bit at a time.//\n  10  take a bit of doing/explaining etc:   BrE to be difficult to do, explain etc//  --The new system took a bit of getting used to.//\n  11  be a bit much:   BrE to be unacceptable, impolite, or unfair//  --It’s a bit much when he criticizes us for doing something that he does himself.//\n  12  be a bit of all right:   BrE  informal used to say that someone is sexually attractive//\n  13  bit on the side:   BrE  informal someone’s bit on the side is a person they are having a sexual relationship with, even though they already have a wife, husband, or partner - used humorously or to show disapproval//  --She stayed in the hope that he’d tire of his bit on the side.//\n  14  a bit of stuff/fluff/skirt:   BrE  informal  not polite offensive expressions meaning a young woman, especially one who is sexually attractive//\n  15  a bit of rough:   BrE  informal someone of a lower social class that someone has a sexual relationship with - used humorously//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: a bit, a bit of //  Use  a bit before an adjective, not before a noun, nor before an adjective+noun : He’s a bit shy (NOT a bit shy man).  //  Before a noun or adjective+noun, use  a bit of : Let’s listen to a bit of music (NOT a bit music). | It was a bit of a strange decision (NOT a bit strange decision). //  You can also use  a bit after the main verb : I cried a bit (NOT a bit cried). //  ----------//\nbit 2 n [C]   ----------//\n   1 piece:\n   2 part:\n   3 to bits:\n   4 computer:\n   5 tool:\n   6 horse:\n   7 bits and pieces:\n   8 do your bit:\n   9 get the bit between your teeth:\n  10 money:\n  11 pull something to bits:\n  12 typical behaviour/experience:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-3, 7-12; Origin: Old English bita  ’piece bitten off, small piece of food’]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: binary digit]//  [Sense: 5-6; Origin: Old English bite  ’act of biting’]//\n  1 PIECE:  a small piece of something//  bit of//  --bits of broken glass//  --He wedged the door open with a bit of wood.//  break/rip/shake etc sth to bits //  --The aircraft was blown to bits.//  --He’s taken the engine to bits .//  fall/come to bits //  --The old house was falling to bits.//\n  2 PART:   BrE  informal a part of something larger//  --This is the boring bit.//  bit of//  --We did the last bit of the journey on foot.//  bit about//  --Did you like the bit about the monkey?//\n  3  to bits:   BrE  informal very much or extremely//  --Mark’s a darling, I love him to bits .//  thrilled/chuffed/pleased to bits //  --I’ve always wanted a car, so I’m thrilled to bits.//\n  4 COMPUTER:  the smallest unit of information that a computer uses//  --a 32-bit processor//\n  5 TOOL:  the sharp part of a tool for cutting or making holes//  --a drill bit//\n  6 HORSE:  the metal bar attached to a horse’s bridle that is put into its mouth and used to control it//    be champing at the bit at champ1 (2)//\n  7  bits and pieces:   also bits and bobs  BrE  informal any small things of various kinds//  --Let me get all my bits and pieces together.//\n  8  do your bit:   informal to do a fair share of the work, effort etc that is needed to achieve something good or important//  --Everyone should do their bit for the environment.//\n  9  get the bit between your teeth:   BrE take the bit between your teeth  AmE to do something or deal with something in a very determined way, so that you are not likely to stop until it is done//\n  10 MONEY:  a)  two bits/four bits//   AmE  informal 25 cents or 50 cents//  b)  BrE  old-fashioned a small coin//  --a threepenny bit//\n  11  pull sth to bits:   BrE  informal to criticize something strongly//  --The critics pulled his new play to bits.//\n  12 TYPICAL BEHAVIOUR/EXPERIENCE:   informal used to mean a kind of behaviour or experience that is typical of someone or something//  the (whole) student/movie star/travelling etc bit //  --Then she gave us the concerned mother bit.//\nbit 3   the past tense of bite//


Words: bit part
Meaning:
n [C]   a small and unimportant acting job in a play or film//  --He’s had bit parts in a couple of soaps.//


Words: bit player
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who is not important and who has little influence in a particular situation//  --Although he was NRC chairman, Hervey was strictly a bit player in government.//


Words: bitch
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bicce]//\n  1  especially BrE a female dog:\n  2  informal an insulting word for a woman that you dislike or think is unpleasant - also used humorously between friends:  --The silly bitch went and told the police.//  --Ooh, you’re such a bitch!//\n  3  informal something that causes problems or difficulties:  --I love that silk dress, but it’s a bitch to wash.//    son of a bitch//    life’s a bitch at life(20)//\nbitch 2 v [I]  informal \n  1 to make unpleasant remarks about someone:  bitch about//  --He never bitches about other members of the team.//\n  2  AmE to complain continuously:  --Stop bitching!//  bitch at//  --He’s always bitching at me.//


Words: bitchin
Meaning:
bitching/b[hA366]t[hA35D][hA368]n/ adj  AmE  spoken  informal   very good//  --That guy has one bitchin truck.//


Words: bitchy
Meaning:
adj   unkind and unpleasant about other people//   catty//  --a bitchy remark//  --She can be really bitchy sometimes.//  -- bitchily adv //  -- bitchiness n  [U] //


Words: bite
Meaning:
S2   v   past tense  bit /b[hA366]t/past participle  bitten /b[hA366]tn/present participle  biting //  ----------//\n   1 teeth:\n   2 insect/snake:\n   3 press hard:\n   4 effect:\n   5 accept:\n   6 fish:\n   7 bite your tongue:\n   8 bite the dust:\n   9 bite the bullet:\n  10 bite off more than you can chew:\n  11 he/she won’t bite:\n  12 what’s biting you/her etc?:\n  13 something/somebody bites:\n  14 once bitten, twice shy:\n  15 bite the hand that feeds you:\n  16 be bitten by the showbiz/travel/flying etc bug:  Phrasal verbs//   bite back//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: bitan]//\n  1 TEETH:   [I and T] to use your teeth to cut, crush, or chew something//  --The dog bit him and made his hand bleed.//  bite into/through/at/down//  --She bit into a croissant and took a sip of coffee.//  --An adult conger eel can easily bite through a man’s leg.//  --Nina pushed her fist into her mouth and bit down hard .//  bite sth off//  --a man whose arm was bitten off by an alligator//  bite your nails (=bite the nails on your fingers, especially because you are nervous) //  --I wish I could stop biting my nails.//  bite your lip (=because you are upset or not sure what to say) //  --She paused uncertainly, biting her lip.//\n  2 INSECT/SNAKE:   [I and T] to injure someone by making a hole in their skin//    sting//  --I think I’ve been bitten.//  --The dog’s been badly bitten by fleas.//  --Spiders generally bite only in self-defence.//\n  3 PRESS HARD:   [I] if an object bites into a surface, it presses firmly into it and does not move or slip//  bite into//  --The hooves of the galloping horses had bitten deep into the soft earth.//  --He wore boots that bit into the ice.//\n  4 EFFECT:   [I] to start to have an unpleasant effect//  --The new tobacco taxes have begun to bite.//  bite into//  --The recession is biting into the music industry.//\n  5 ACCEPT:   [I] to believe what someone tells you or to buy something they are selling, especially when they have persuaded you to do this//  --The new camcorders were withdrawn after consumers failed to bite.//\n  6 FISH:   [I] if a fish bites, it takes food from a hook and so gets caught//  --The fish just aren’t biting today.//\n  7  bite your tongue:  to stop yourself from saying what you really think, even though this is difficult//  --She should have bitten her tongue.//\n  8  bite the dust:   informal to die, fail, or be defeated//  --Italy’s championship hopes eventually bit the dust.//\n  9  bite the bullet:   informal to start dealing with an unpleasant or dangerous situation because you cannot avoid it any longer//  --I finally bit the bullet and left.//\n  10  bite off more than you can chew:  to try to do more than you are able to do//\n  11  he/she won’t bite:   spoken used to say that there is no need to be afraid of someone, especially someone in authority//  --Well go and ask him - he won’t bite!//\n  12  what’s biting you/her etc?:   spoken used to ask why someone is annoyed or upset//\n  13  sth/sb bites:   spoken  not polite used to say that you dislike someone or something very much or think that something is very bad//\n  14  once bitten, twice shy:  used to say that if you have failed or been hurt once, you will be more careful next time//\n  15  bite the hand that feeds you:  to harm someone who has helped or supported you//\n  16  be bitten by the showbiz/travel/flying etc bug:  to develop a very strong interest in something//    bite sb’s head off at head1 (33)//    nail-biting//  bite back phr v//\n  1  bite sth → back:  to stop yourself from saying or showing what you really think//  --Tamar bit back the retort which sprang to her lips.//\n  2 to react strongly and angrily to something:  bite back at//  --Determined to bite back at car thieves, he wired his car to an electric fence.//\nbite 2 S3 n   ----------//\n   1 using teeth:\n   2 wound:\n   3 a bite (to eat):\n   4 taste:\n   5 cold:\n   6 strong effect:\n   7 fish:\n   8 another/a second bite at the cherry:\n   9 jaw:  ----------//\n  1 USING TEETH:   [C] the act of cutting or crushing something with your teeth//  --Antonio devoured half his burger in one bite.//  take/have a bite (of sth/out of sth) //  --She picked up the sandwich and took a bite.//  --Can I have a bite of your apple?//  give sb a bite //  --Some fish can give you a nasty bite.//  --Her body was covered in bite marks .//\n  2 WOUND:   [C] a small hole made where an animal or insect has bitten you//  snake/mosquito/ant etc bites //  bite of//  --The infection is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito.//\n  3  a bite (to eat):   informal a small meal//  --We had a bite to eat and a couple of drinks before the flight.//\n  4 TASTE:   [U] a pleasantly sharp taste//  --Goat’s cheese adds extra bite to any pasta dish.//\n  5 COLD:   [singular] a feeling of coldness//  --There was no mistaking the approach of winter; he could feel its bite.//\n  6 STRONG EFFECT:   [U] a special quality in a performance, piece of writing etc that makes its arguments very effective and likely to persuade people//  --The film gains incisive bite from Sellers’ performance as the union chief.//\n  7 FISH:   [C] when a fish takes the food from a hook//  --Sometimes I sit for hours and never get a bite .//\n  8  another/a second bite at the cherry:   BrE a second chance to do something//\n  9 JAW:   [C usually singular]  technical the way that a person or animal’s top and bottom teeth touch when their mouth is closed//  --Our dentist said that Emmy should wear a brace to improve her bite.//    love bite,  sound bite,  sb’s bark is worse than their bite at bark2 (4)//


Words: bite-sized
Meaning:
also bite-size  adj [only before noun]   small enough to put into your mouth to eat//  --sushi served in convenient bite-size pieces //


Words: biting
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a biting wind is unpleasantly cold:   icy//  --A biting wind blew down from the hills.//\n  2 a biting criticism, remark etc is cruel or unkind:  --a biting satire on corruption//  -- bitingly adv //


Words: bitmap
Meaning:
n [C]  written abbreviation BMP    technical a computer image that is stored or printed as an arrangement of bits//  --bitmap fonts//  -- bitmapped adj //  --bitmapped graphics//


Words: bitter
Meaning:
W3S3   adj   [Language: Old English; Origin: biter]//\n  1 feeling angry, jealous, and upset because you think you have been treated unfairly:    bitterly//  bitter about//  --I feel very bitter about what has happened.//  --a bitter and vindictive old man//\n  2 [only before noun] making you feel very unhappy and upset:    bitterly//  a bitter disappointment/blow //  --If he failed, it would be a bitter disappointment to his parents.//  --His photo stirred up bitter memories.//  from bitter experience (=because of your own very unpleasant experiences) //  --She knew from bitter experience that it would be impossible to talk it over with Julian.//\n  3 a bitter argument, battle etc is one in which people oppose or criticize each other with strong feelings of hate and anger:  bitter dispute/battle/struggle etc //  --The couple are locked in a bitter battle for custody of the children.//  --The government faces bitter opposition to these policies.//  --The countries are still bitter enemies .//\n  4 having a sharp strong taste like black coffee without sugar:    sour; sweet//  --Enjoy the beer’s bitter taste as you slowly drink it.//  --bitter chocolate//\n  5 unpleasantly cold:    bitterly//  --a bitter wind//  --the bitter cold of the Midwestern winters//\n  6  to the bitter end:  continuing until the end, even though this is difficult//  --Employees have vowed to fight the closure to the bitter end .//\n  7  a bitter pill (to swallow):  something very unpleasant that you must accept//  --The knowledge that his friends no longer trusted him was a bitter pill to swallow.//  -- bitterness n  [U] //\nbitter 2 n \n  1 [U and C]  BrE a type of dark beer that is popular in Britain, or a glass of this:  --A pint of bitter, please.//\n  2  bitters [U] a strong bitter liquid made from plants that is added to alcoholic drinks:


Words: bitterly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 in a way that produces or shows feelings of great sadness or anger:  --He complained bitterly about his exam grades.//  --I was bitterly disappointed .//  --The march was bitterly opposed by local residents.//\n  2  bitterly cold:  very cold//


Words: bittersweet
Meaning:
adj \n  1 feelings, memories, or experiences that are bittersweet are happy and sad at the same time:  --bittersweet memories of childhood//\n  2 a taste or smell that is bittersweet is both sweet and bitter at the same time:


Words: bitty
Meaning:
adj  BrE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: itty-bitty]//  having too many small parts that do not seem to be related or connected to each other//  --I thought the film was rather bitty.//  -- bittiness n  [U] //


Words: bitumen
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin]//  a dark sticky substance that is used for making the surface of roads//  -- bituminous/b[hA369]tju[hA359]m[hA369]n[hA353]s $ -tu[hA359]-/ adj //


Words: bivouac
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Low German biwake, from  bi  ’at’ +  wake  ’guard’]//  a temporary camp built outside without any tents//\nbivouac 2   past tense and past participle  bivouacked present participle  bivouacking  v [I] //  to spend the night outside without tents in a temporary camp//  --The climbers bivouacked halfway up the mountain.//


Words: biweekly
Meaning:
adj, adv \n  1 appearing or happening every two weeks:   fortnightly//  --a bi-weekly magazine//\n  2 appearing or happening twice a week:  --a bi-weekly television drama//


Words: biz
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: business]//   informal a particular type of business, especially one relating to entertainment//  --the music biz //    showbiz//


Words: bizarre
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Italian bizzarro  ’always changing, unreasonable’, from  Spanish bizarro  ’brave’, perhaps from  Basque bizarra  ’beard’]//  very unusual or strange//  --a bizarre coincidence//  --dancers in rather bizarre costumes//  -- bizarrely adv  see usage note  unusual//


Words: Bizet
Meaning:
Georges   (1838-75) a French composer best know for his operas, which include Carmen and  The Pearl Fishers.//


Words: blab
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  blabbed present participle  blabbing  [I]  informal //  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: blab  ’person who talks too much, too much talk’ (14-20 centuries), probably from the sound]//  to tell someone something that should be kept secret//  blab to//  --This is not something you go blabbing to your friends about.//


Words: blabber
Meaning:
v [I]    informal to talk in a silly or annoying way for a long time//  blabber on//  --I wish she’d stop blabbering on about her boyfriends.//


Words: blabbermouth
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: blabber  ’person who talks too much’ (16-21 centuries) (from  blab) +  mouth]//   informal someone who tells secrets because they always talk too much//


Words: Black
Meaning:
Conrad   (1940- ) a Canadian businessman, whose company owns more than 500 newspapers in various countries, including the  Daily Telegraph in the UK and the Chicago Sun-Times in the US//


Words: black
Meaning:
adj   comparative  blacker superlative  blackest //  ----------//\n   1 colour:\n   2 no light:\n   3 people:\n   4 drink:\n   5 dirty:\n   6 without hope:\n   7 humour:\n   8 angry:\n   9 a black mark (against somebody):\n  10 not be as black as you are painted:\n  11 bad:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: bl[zB024]c]//\n  1 COLOUR:  having the darkest colour, like coal or night//  --a black evening dress//  jet/inky black (=very dark) //  --jet black hair//\n  2 NO LIGHT:  very dark because there is no light//  --It was still pitch black  (=very dark) at that time of the morning.//\n  3 PEOPLE:   also  Black//  a) belonging to the race of people who originally came from Africa and who have dark brown skin//    white//  --Over half the students are black.//  b)  [only before noun] relating to black people//  --politics from a black perspective//  --Black and Asian music//\n  4 DRINK:   [only before noun] black coffee or tea does not have milk in it//  → white//  --Black coffee, no sugar, please.//\n  5 DIRTY:   informal very dirty//  be black with soot/dirt/age etc//\n  6 WITHOUT HOPE:  sad and without hope for the future//  --the blackest period of European history//  --a mood of black despair//  --It’s been another black day for the car industry with more job losses announced.//\n  7 HUMOUR:  making jokes about serious subjects, especially death//  --a very black joke //\n  8 ANGRY:   [only before noun] full of feelings of anger or hate//    blackly//  --Denise gave me a black look .//\n  9  a black mark (against sb):  if there is a black mark against you, someone has a bad opinion of you because of something you have done//\n  10  not be as black as you are painted:  not to be as bad as people say you are//\n  11 BAD:   literary very bad//  --black deeds//  -- blackness n  [C] //\nblack 2 n \n  1 [U and C] the dark colour of coal or night:  --You look good wearing black.//  --thick fur patterned in blacks and browns//    coal-black//\n  2 [C]  also  Black:  someone who belongs to the race of people who originally came from Africa and who have dark brown skin//    white//  --laws that discriminated against blacks//\n  3  be in the black:  to have money in your bank account//  → be in the red//\nblack 3 v [T] \n  1  BrE if a trade union blacks goods or a company, it refuses to work with them:  --The union has blacked all non-urgent work.//\n  2  old-fashioned to make something black:  black out phr v//\n  1 to become unconscious:   faint, pass out//  --For a few seconds, he thought he was going to black out.//\n  2  black sth → out:  to put a dark mark over something so that it cannot be seen//  --The censors had blacked out several words.//\n  3  black sth → out:  to hide or turn off all the lights in a town or city, especially during war//   blackout//


Words: black and blue
Meaning:
adj   skin that is black and blue has bruises (=dark marks) on it as a result of being hit//  --If you do that again, I’ll beat you back and blue.//


Words: Black and Tans
Meaning:
the   a British military force that was active in Ireland from 1918 to 1920, opposing the people who were fighting for independence//


Words: black and white
Meaning:
adj \n  1 showing pictures or images only in black, white, and grey:    colour//  --black and white photos//  --an old black and white TV//\n  2  black and white:  considering things in a way that is too simple and as if things are either completely good or completely bad//  --There’s still a tendency to see the issues in black and white.//\n  3  in black and white:  in written form, and therefore definite//  --Once it’s down in black and white, you can’t forget it.//


Words: Black Beauty
Meaning:
the name of the horse that is the main character in the children’s book  Black Beauty (1877) by Anna Sewell//


Words: black belt
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a high rank in sports such as judo and karate:\n  2 someone who has this rank:  black belt in//  --Sandy’s a black belt in judo.//


Words: black box
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   a piece of equipment on an aircraft that records what happens on a flight and can be used to discover the cause of accidents//   flight recorder//


Words: Black Death
Meaning:
n   the Black Death//  the illness that killed large numbers of people in Europe and Asia in the 14th century//    bubonic plague,  plague1 (2)//


Words: black economy
Meaning:
n [singular]   business activity that takes place secretly, especially in order to avoid tax//    black market//


Words: black eye
Meaning:
n [C]   if you have a black eye, you have a dark area around your eye because you have been hit//  --Jack looked like someone had given him a black eye .//


Words: black hole
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 an area in outer space into which everything near it, including light, is pulled:\n  2  informal something that uses up a lot of money:  --I’m worried that the project could become a financial black hole.//


Words: Black Hole of Calcutta
Meaning:
the   a small room used as a prison in Calcutta, India. In 1756, 146 British prisoners were put into it, and most of them died in one night. People sometimes say that a small very crowded room or dark place is "like the Black Hole of Calcutta".//


Words: black ice
Meaning:
n [U]   an area of ice that is very difficult to see//  --Driving conditions are dangerous, with black ice in many areas.//


Words: Black Lace
Meaning:
one of a British series of romantic novels, written mainly for women, which contain a lot of sexual detail//    Mills and Boon//


Words: Black Maria
Meaning:
BrE police wagon  AmE paddy wagon  AmE n [C]  informal   a vehicle used by the police to carry prisoners//


Words: black market
Meaning:
n [C]   the system by which people illegally buy and sell foreign money, goods that are difficult to obtain etc//  black market in//  --There was a thriving black market in foreign currency.//  --Many foods were only available on the black market .//  --black market cigarettes//   black economy//


Words: Black Mass
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a ceremony performed by people who pray to the Devil, parts of which are similar to the ceremonies performed by Christians//


Words: Black Monday
Meaning:
1 Monday, 19 October 1987, the day on which  share prices on the  stock exchange suddenly fell by a large amount, and many people lost a lot of money:\n  2 Monday, 28 October 1929, the day on which share prices on the Stock Exchange suddenly fell by a large amount, leading to the  Great Depression of the 1930s:


Words: Black Muslim
Meaning:
n [C]   a member of a group of black people who believe in the religion of Islam and want a separate black society//


Words: Black Panthers
Meaning:
the  also the Black Panther Party   a group of black people in the US in the 1960s and 1970s, who supported the use of violence to get better treatment for black people//


Words: black pepper
Meaning:
n [U]   pepper made from crushed seeds from which the dark outer covering has not been removed//    white pepper//


Words: Black Prince
Meaning:
Edward the   (1330-76) the oldest son of King Edward III of England, who wore black  armour in battle//


Words: Black Rod
Meaning:
the title of one of the officials who takes part in the ceremony for opening the British Parliament each year. His job is to go to the House of Commons and tell its members to come to the House of Lords so that they can hear the Queen’s speech.//


Words: Black Sash
Meaning:
an organization of South African women that was started in 1955 to protest against  apartheid (=the system in which black people had few political rights, and black and white people had to live in different areas) //


Words: Black Sea
Meaning:
the Black Sea//  a large sea that is surrounded by land, and is between Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia//


Words: black sheep
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   someone who is regarded by other members of their family or group as a failure or embarrassment//  --Amy’s always been the black sheep of the family .//


Words: Black Watch
Meaning:
the   an unofficial name for the Royal Highland Regiment, a large group of soldiers that are part of the British Army and are based in Scotland//


Words: black-tie
Meaning:
adj   a black-tie event is one at which people wear special formal clothes, such as tuxedos for men//   white tie//


Words: blackball
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Because a black ball was used for voting against someone]//  to vote against someone, especially so that they cannot join a club or social group//


Words: blackberry
Meaning:
n   plural  blackberries  [C] //  a small black or purple berry from a bush that has thorns (=sharp points) //


Words: blackboard
Meaning:
n [C]   a board with a dark smooth surface, used in schools for writing on with chalk//   whiteboard//


Words: blacken
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I and T] to become black, or make something black:  --The thunder became louder and the sky blackened.//\n  2  blacken sb’s name/character/reputation:  to say unpleasant things about someone in order to make other people have a bad opinion of them//


Words: blackguard
Meaning:
n [C]  old use   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: black guard  ’soldier of bad character’ (16-18 centuries)]//  a man who treats other people very badly//


Words: blackjack
Meaning:
n   [Sense: 1; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: black +   JACK12]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: black +  jack  ’tool’ (16-20 centuries)]//\n  1 [U] a card game, usually played for money, in which you try to get as close to 21 points as possible:\n  2 [C] a weapon like a stick covered with leather, used to hit people:


Words: blackleg
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   someone who continues to work when other workers are on strike - used to show disapproval//


Words: blacklist
Meaning:
v [T]   to put a person, country, product etc on a blacklist//  --Many people in the industry were blacklisted for their alleged communist sympathies.//\nblacklist 2 n [C]   a list of people, countries, products etc that are disapproved of, and should therefore be avoided or punished//  --Friends of the Earth have produced a blacklist of environmentally damaging products.//


Words: blackmail
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: black +  mail  ’payment’ (11-20 centuries) (from  Old Norse mal  ’speech, agreement’)]//\n  1 when someone tries to get money from you or make you do what they want by threatening to tell other people your secrets:\n  2 when someone tries to make you do what they want by making threats or by making you feel guilty if you do not do it:  --She had already tried emotional blackmail  (=tried to make him feel guilty) to stop him leaving.//\nblackmail 2 v [T]   to use blackmail against someone//  --He was jailed for four years for blackmailing gay businessmen.//  blackmail sb into (doing) sth//  --I refuse to be blackmailed into making a quick decision.//  -- blackmailer n  [C] //


Words: blackout
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a period of darkness caused by a failure of the electricity supply:   power cut//\n  2 a situation in which particular pieces of news or information are not allowed to be reported:  --As the crisis worsened, the authorities imposed a news blackout .//\n  3 a period during a war when all the lights in a town or city must be turned off:\n  4 if someone has a blackout, they suddenly become unconscious:


Words: Blackpool
Meaning:
a popular holiday town on the northwest coast of England. Blackpool is famous for its tower (theBlackpool Tower) and illuminations (=attractive coloured lights) . //


Words: blacksmith
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: black (from  black metal  ’iron’) +  smith]//  someone who makes and repairs things made of iron, especially horseshoes//


Words: blackspot
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a place or area where there are more problems than usual//  --Arbroath is now the unemployment blackspot of north-east Scotland.//  --an accident blackspot  (=where there are a lot of road accidents) //


Words: blacktop
Meaning:
n  AmE \n  1 [U] a thick black sticky substance that becomes hard as it dries, used to cover roads:  British Equivalent:  tarmac//\n  2  the blacktop:  the surface of a road covered by this substance//  --We left the blacktop and drove along a forest road.//


Words: bladder
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bl[zB024]dre]//\n  1 the organ in your body that holds urine (=waste liquid)  until it is passed out of your body:\n  2 a bag of skin, leather, or rubber, for example inside a football, that can be filled with air or liquid:    gall bladder//


Words: blade
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bl[zB024]d]//\n  1 the flat cutting part of a tool or weapon:    edge//  blade of//  --The blade of the knife flashed in the moonlight.//  --a razor blade //\n  2 the flat wide part of an object that pushes against air or water:  --the blade of an oar//\n  3  blade of grass:  a single thin flat piece of grass//\n  4 the metal part on the bottom of an ice-skate:    shoulder blade//


Words: Blade Runner
Meaning:
(1982) a US film by the  director Ridley Scott, in which  a policeman in Los Angeles in the year 2019 has to find and kill a group of intelligent machines that look exactly like people//


Words: blag
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  blagged present participle  blagging  [I and T]  BrE  informal //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from  blag  ’to steal’ (19-21 centuries)]//  to obtain something you want by talking in a clever way//  --He blagged his way in by saying he was a friend of the owner.//


Words: blah
Meaning:
S2   n   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  From the sound of empty talk]//\n  1  blah, blah, blah:   spoken used when you do not need to complete what you are saying because it is boring or because the person you are talking to already knows it//  --You know how Michelle talks: ’Tommy did this, and Jesse did that, blah, blah, blah.’//\n  2 [U]  BrE  spoken remarks or statements that are boring and do not mean much:  --the usual blah about everyone working harder//\n  3  the blahs [plural]  AmE  informal a feeling of being sad and bored:  --a case of the winter blahs//\nblah 2 adj  AmE  spoken  informal \n  1 not having an interesting taste, appearance, character etc:  --The chili was kind of blah.//\n  2 slightly ill or unhappy:  --I feel really blah today.//


Words: Blair
Meaning:
Tony   (1953-) a British politician who became leader of the Labour Party in 1994, and Prime Minister in 1997.  He won a large victory again in the election in 2001, becoming the first Labour Prime Minister to win two full terms in power, one after the other. //


Words: Blake
Meaning:
William   (1757-1827) a British poet and artist whose work is an example of  Romanticism, and whose best-known poems are in  Songs of Innocence  and  Songs of Experience//


Words: blame
Meaning:
W3S2   v [T]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: blamer, from  Late Latin blasphemare;   BLASPHEME]//\n  1 to say or think that someone or something is responsible for something bad:  --Don’t blame me - it’s not my fault.//  --I blame his mother. She does everything for him.//  blame sb/sth for sth//  --Marie still blames herself for Patrick’s death.//  --The report blames poor safety standards for the accident.//  --The decision to increase interest rates was widely blamed  (=blamed by many people) for the crisis.//  blame sth on sb/sth//  --One of the computers is broken and she’s blaming it on me.//  --The crash was blamed on pilot error.//\n  2  sb/sth is to blame (for sth):  used to say that someone or something is responsible for something bad//  --Officials believe that more than one person may be to blame for the fire.//  partly/largely/entirely etc to blame //  --Television is partly to blame.//\n  3  I don’t blame you/you can hardly blame him etc:   spoken used to say that you think it was right or reasonable for someone to do what they did//  --’She’s left her husband.’ ’I don’t blame her, after the way he treated her.’//  --You can hardly blame him for not waiting. You were in there for an hour.//\n  4  don’t blame me:   spoken used when you are advising someone not to do something but you think that they will do it in spite of your advice//  --Buy it then, but don’t blame me when it breaks down.//\n  5  sb only has himself/herself to blame:   spoken used to say that someone’s problems are their own fault//  --If he fails his exams, he’ll only have himself to blame.//\nblame 2 n [U]   responsibility for a mistake or for something bad//  blame for//  --Do you  accept  any  blame  for what happened?//  --You can’t expect Terry to  take  all  the blame . //  -- I always  get the blame  for his mistakes! //  -- She stole the money but she’s trying to  put the blame on  me. //  --There was no safety barrier, but the court ruled that the child’s parents must  share the blame  for the accident.//  -- We are not here to  apportion blame . //  -- It’s no use trying to  shift the blame onto  other people. //  -- In my opinion,  the blame lies with  the police.//   see usage note  fault1 //  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  take/accept the blame  (=say that something is your fault) //  get the blame  (=be blamed) //  put/lay/pin/place the blame (for something) on somebody  (=blame someone, especially for something that is not their fault) //  share the blame //  apportion/assign blame  formal  (=blame someone) //  shift the blame (onto somebody)  (=blame someone else for something you did) //  the blame lies with somebody  (=used to say that someone did something) //  ----------//


Words: blameless
Meaning:
adj   not guilty of anything bad//   innocent//  --The police are not always entirely blameless  (=are guilty of doing something bad) in these matters.//  --She had led a blameless life .//  -- blamelessly adv //


Words: blanch
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: blanchir, from  blanc  ’white’]//\n  1 [T] to put vegetables, fruit, or nuts into boiling water for a short time:  --Blanch the peaches and remove the skins.//\n  2 [I]  literary to become pale because you are frightened or shocked:  --Patrick visibly blanched.//


Words: blancmange
Meaning:
n [U and C]  BrE   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: blanc mangier  ’white food’]//  a cold sweet food made from cornflour, milk, and sugar//  American Equivalent:  pudding//


Words: bland
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: blandus]//\n  1 without any excitement, strong opinions, or special character:   dull//  --a few bland comments//\n  2 food that is bland has very little taste:  --a bland diet//  -- blandly adv //  -- blandness n  [U] //


Words: Blanda
Meaning:
George   (1927- ) a US  football player who is famous because he played professional football for 26 years and scored more points than any other  NFL player.//


Words: blandishments
Meaning:
n [plural]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: blandish  ’to flatter’ (14-21 centuries), from  Old French blandir, from  Latin blandus;   BLAND]//  pleasant things that you say in order to persuade or influence someone//  --How sensible she had been to resist his blandishments.//


Words: blank
Meaning:
S3   adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: blanc;   BLANCH]//\n  1 without any writing, print, or recorded sound:  -- Leave the last page blank .//  --a blank cassette//\n  2 a blank face or look shows no emotion, understanding, or interest:    blankly//  blank face/look/expression/eyes //  --Zoe looked at me with a blank expression.//  --She gazed at him in blank astonishment.//\n  3  go blank:  a) if your mind goes blank, or if you go blank, you are suddenly unable to remember something//  --My heart began to race and my mind went blank.//  b) to stop showing any images, writing etc//  --Suddenly the screen went blank.//  -- blankness n  [U] //    blank verse//\nblank 2 n [C] \n  1 an empty space on a piece of paper, where you are supposed to write a word or letter:  --When you’ve filled in the blanks , hand the form back to me.//\n  2  my mind’s a blank:   spoken used to say that you cannot remember something//  --I’m trying to think of his name, but my mind’s a complete blank.//\n  3 a cartridge (=container for a bullet in a gun)  that contains an explosive but no bullet:  --Soldiers fired blanks into the crowd.//    draw a blank at draw1 (32)//\nblank 3 v \n  1  also  blank out:   [I]  informal if you blank, or if your mind blanks, you are suddenly unable to remember something//  --I just blanked in the oral exam.//\n  2 [T]  BrE  informal to ignore someone who you would usually greet or speak to:  --Last time I saw Mike Adams he completely blanked me.//  blank out [blank sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to cover something so that it cannot be seen:  --The actual names had been blanked out.//\n  2 to completely forget something, especially deliberately:  --I tried to blank out everything he had said.//


Words: blank cheque
Meaning:
BrE  blank check AmE n [C] \n  1 a cheque that has been signed, but has not had the amount written on it:\n  2  give sb a blank cheque:   BrE  /check//   AmE to give someone permission to do whatever they think is necessary in a particular situation//


Words: blanket
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: blanket  ’white cloth’ (13-15 centuries), from  Old French blankete, from  blanc;   BLANCH]//\n  1 [C] a cover for a bed, usually made of wool:\n  2 [singular] a thick covering or area of something:  blanket of//  --The hills were covered with a thick blanket of snow .//  blanket of fog/cloud //\n  3 [singular] something that makes it hard for you to find information or the truth about something:  blanket of//  --The inquiry was conducted under a blanket of secrecy .//    electric blanket at electric(1),  wet blanket,  security blanket//\nblanket 2 v [T usually passive]   to cover something with a thick layer//  be blanketed in/with sth//  --The rooftops were blanketed in snow.//\nblanket 3 adj [only before noun]   blanket statement/rule/ban etc//  a statement, rule etc that affects everyone or includes all possible cases//  --the proposed blanket ban on tobacco advertising//  --a blanket strategy//


Words: blankety-blank
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  AmE  spoken   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: blank; from the idea of an empty space taking the place of an impolite word]//  used to show annoyance when you want to avoid swearing//  --The blankety-blank key is stuck!//


Words: blankly
Meaning:
adv   in a way that shows no emotion, understanding, or interest//  --Anna stared blankly at the wall.//


Words: blare
Meaning:
v  also blare out  [I and T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from an unrecorded  Old English bl[zB024]ran]//  to make a very loud unpleasant noise//  --Horns blared in the street outside.//  --The radio was blaring out the latest pop songs.//  -- blare n  [singular] //


Words: blarney
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: Blarney Stone, large piece of stone in Blarney Castle, Ireland which is said to give skill in flattery to people who kiss it]//  pleasant but untrue things that you say to someone in order to trick or persuade them//


Words: Blarney Stone
Meaning:
the Blarney Stone//  a stone in the wall of Blarney Castle in Ireland. People believe that if you kiss it, it will bring you good luck, and the ability to persuade people to do what you want.//


Words: blase
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: , past participle of  blaser  ’to make tired with too much of something’]//  not worried or excited about things that most people think are important, impressive etc//  blase about//  --He’s very blase about money now that he’s got that job.//


Words: blaspheme
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: blasphemare, from  Greek, from  blasphemos  ’speaking evil’]//  to speak in a way that insults God or people’s religious beliefs, or to use the names of God and holy things when swearing//  -- blasphemer n  [C] //


Words: blasphemy
Meaning:
n   plural  blasphemies  [U and C] //  something you say or do that is insulting to God or people’s religious beliefs//  -- blasphemous adj //  --The book has been widely condemned as blasphemous.//  -- blasphemously adv //


Words: blast
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 air/wind:\n   2 explosion:\n   3 loud noise:\n   4 (at) full blast:\n   5 fun:\n   6 emotion:\n   7 a blast from the past:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: bl[zB024]st]//\n  1 AIR/WIND:  a sudden strong movement of wind or air//  blast of//  --A blast of cold air swept through the hut.//\n  2 EXPLOSION:  an explosion, or the very strong movement of air that it causes//  in the blast//  --Thirty-six people died in the blast.//  bomb/shotgun/nuclear etc blast //  --A bomb blast completely destroyed the building.//\n  3 LOUD NOISE:  a sudden very loud noise, especially one made by a whistle or horn//  blast on//  --The station master gave a blast on his whistle and we were off.//  long/short blast //  --a long trumpet blast//\n  4  (at) full blast:  as powerfully or loudly as possible//  --I had the gas fire going full blast .//  --The radio was on at full blast .//\n  5 FUN:   a blast//   informal an enjoyable and exciting experience//  --The concert was a blast .//  --We had a blast at the fair.//\n  6 EMOTION:  a sudden strong expression of a powerful emotion//  blast of//  --She was totally unprepared for the blast of criticism she received.//\n  7  a blast from the past:   informal something from the past that you remember, see, or hear again, and that reminds you of that time in your life//  --That’s a blast from the past. No one has called me that for years.//\nblast 2 v   ----------//\n   1 gun/bomb:\n   2 break something into pieces:\n   3 loud noise:\n   4 criticize:\n   5 kick/hit a ball:\n   6 air/water:\n   7 sports:  Phrasal verbs//   blast off//  ----------//\n  1 GUN/BOMB:   [T] to damage or destroy something, or to injure or kill someone, using a gun or a bomb//  blast sb with sth//  --She blasted her husband with a shotgun because he was having an affair.//  --The first shot missed and blasted a hole in the far wall.//  --The plane was blasted out of the sky by a terrorist bomb.//\n  2 BREAK SOMETHING INTO PIECES:   [I and T] to break something into pieces using explosives, especially in order to build something such as a road//  blast sth through sth//  --A 1.5 km tunnel was blasted through the mountain.//  blast sth out of sth//  --The road will have to be blasted out of solid rock.//  blast through//  --Railway workers had blasted through the mountains 90 years before.//\n  3 LOUD NOISE:   also blast out //   [I and T] to produce a lot of loud noise, especially music//  --He was woken by the radio alarm clock blasting out rock music.//  blast from//  --Dance music blasted from the stereo.//\n  4 CRITICIZE:   [T] to criticize someone or something very strongly - used especially in news reports//  blast sb for (doing) sth//  --Union leaders blasted the Government for failing to tackle the jobs crisis.//\n  5 KICK/HIT A BALL:   [T] to hit or kick a ball very hard//  --With six minutes remaining, he blasted the ball through the Coleraine defences for his 19th goal of the season.//\n  6 AIR/WATER:   [I and T] if air or water is blasted somewhere, or if it blasts somewhere, it moves there with great force//  --The wind ripped through the trees and blasted a curtain of rain up the meadow.//  --Icy winds and driving snow blasted through the pine trees.//\n  7 SPORTS:   [T]  AmE  informal to beat another team very easily//  --The Seahawks were blasted 35-14 by the Broncos.//  blast off phr v//  if a spacecraft blasts off, it leaves the ground//    blast-off//\nblast 3 interjection  also  blast her/it etc  used when you are very annoyed about something//  --Oh blast! I’ve forgotten my key.//


Words: blast-off
Meaning:
n [U]   the moment when a spacecraft leaves the ground//  --10 seconds to blast-off//    blast off at blast2 //


Words: blasted
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]    spoken  informal used to express annoyance//  --I wish that blasted baby would stop crying!//


Words: blatant
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from  Latin blatire  ’to talk without serious purpose’]//  something bad that is blatant is very clear and easy to see, but the person responsible for it does not seem embarrassed or ashamed//  --a blatant abuse of power//  --blatant discrimination//  -- blatantly adv //


Words: blather
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old Norse; Origin: blathra]//  to talk for a long time about unimportant things//  -- blather n  [U and C] //


Words: blaze
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 fire:\n   2 light/colour:\n   3 blaze of publicity/glory:\n   4 :\n   5 what the blazes/who the blazes etc:\n   6 like blazes:\n   7 :  ----------//  [Sense: 1-6; Origin: Old English bl[zB024]se  ’torch’]//  [Sense: 7; Date: 1600-1700; Language: German; Origin: blas  ’white mark’]//\n  1 FIRE:  a)  [C usually singular] a big dangerous fire - used especially in news reports//    ablaze//  --It took almost 100 firemen to bring the blaze under control.//  fight/tackle/control a blaze //  --Helicopters were used to help fight the blaze.//  house/factory/barn etc blaze //  --a huge chemical factory blaze//  b)  [singular] a fire burning with strong bright flames//  --I lit the fire and soon had a cheerful blaze going.//\n  2 LIGHT/COLOUR:   [singular] very bright light or colour//    ablaze//  blaze of//  --the blaze of light from the security lamps//  --The garden is a blaze of colour at this time of year.//\n  3  blaze of publicity/glory:  a lot of public attention or success and praise//  --As soon as the trial was over, the blaze of publicity surrounding him vanished.//  --She played the Canada tournament then retired, going out in a blaze of glory  (=ending her career with a lot of success and praise) .//\n  4 [singular] a sudden show of very strong emotion:  --A blaze of anger flashed across his face.//\n  5  what the blazes/who the blazes etc:   old-fashioned  spoken used to emphasize a question when you are annoyed//  --What the blazes is going on here?//\n  6  like blazes:   old-fashioned  spoken as fast, as much, or as strongly as possible//  --We had to run like blazes.//\n  7 [C usually singular] a white mark, especially one down the front of a horse’s face:\nblaze 2 v [I]   ----------//\n   1 fire:\n   2 light:\n   3 eyes:\n   4 gun:\n   5 blaze a trail:\n   6 be blazed across/all over something:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-4, 6; Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  BLAZE11]//  [Sense: 5; Date: 1700-1800; Origin: blaze  ’mark showing a path to be followed, made by cutting a piece from a tree’ (17-20 centuries);   BLAZE17]//\n  1 FIRE:  to burn very brightly and strongly//    blazing//  --The room was warm and cosy, with a fire blazing in the hearth.//\n  2 LIGHT:  to shine with a very bright light//  --A huge truck was advancing towards us, its headlights blazing.//  --The sun blazed down as we walked along the valley.//\n  3 EYES:   [usually in progressive]  literary if someone’s eyes are blazing, their eyes are shining brightly because they are feeling a very strong emotion, usually anger//  blaze with//  --Linda leapt to her feet, her dark eyes blazing with anger.//\n  4 GUN:   also blaze away //  if guns blaze, they fire bullets quickly and continuously//  --An enemy plane roared overhead, its guns blazing.//\n  5  blaze a trail:  to develop or do something new and important, or to do something important that no one has done before//  --an innovative young company that has blazed a trail for others to follow//\n  6  be blazed across/all over sth:  if something is blazed across a newspaper etc, it is written in a way that everyone will notice//  --News of their divorce was blazed across all the tabloids.//


Words: blazer
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: blaze; from the originally bright colors of blazers]//  a jacket, sometimes with the special sign of a school, club etc on it//


Words: blazing
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1 extremely hot:  --a blazing August afternoon//\n  2 full of strong emotions, especially anger:  --He jumped to his feet in a blazing fury.//  blazing row (=very angry argument) //


Words: blazon
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: blason]//  be blazoned across/on/over sth//  to be written or shown on something in a very noticeable way//


Words: bleach
Meaning:
n [U]   a chemical used to make things pale or white, or to kill germs//\nbleach 2 v [T]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bl[zB024]can]//  to make something pale or white, especially by using chemicals or the sun//  --She bleached her hair blond.//  --The wood had been bleached by the sun .//


Words: bleachers
Meaning:
n [plural]  especially AmE   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bleach; because they are usually unprotected from the sun]//  long wooden benches arranged in rows, where you sit to watch sport//


Words: bleak
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old Norse; Origin: bleikr  ’pale, white’]//\n  1 without anything to make you feel happy or hopeful:  a bleak future/prospect //  --The company still hopes to find a buyer, but the future looks bleak .//\n  2 cold and without any pleasant or comfortable features:  --a bleak January afternoon//  --The landscape was bleak and bare.//  -- bleakly adv //  -- bleakness n  [U] //


Words: Bleak House
Meaning:
a novel written by Charles  Dickens in 1852-53. It is the story of members of the Jarndyce family who fight each other in a court of law about money and property that belongs to the family.//


Words: bleary
Meaning:
adj  also bleary-eyed   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: blear  ’to make (the eyes) unable to see clearly’ (13-19 centuries)]//  unable to see very clearly, because you are tired or have been crying//  --Steve emerged from his room, unshaven and bleary-eyed.//  -- blearily adv //  -- bleariness n  [U] //


Words: bleat
Meaning:
v [I]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bl[zB024]tan]//\n  1 to make the sound that a sheep or goat makes:\n  2  informal to complain in a silly or annoying way:  --’But I’ve only just got here,’ bleated Simon.//  -- bleat n  [C] //


Words: bleed
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  bled /bled///  ----------//\n   1 blood:\n   2 money:\n   3 air/liquid:\n   4 colour:\n   5 bleed red ink:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: bledan, from  blod;   BLOOD]//\n  1 BLOOD:  a)  [I] to lose blood, especially because of an injury//  --Your nose is bleeding.//  --Tragically, she bled to death .//  bleed profusely/heavily (=bleed a lot) //  --Mrs Burke was found unconscious and bleeding profusely.//  b)  [T] to take some blood from someone’s body, done in the past in order to treat a disease//  --When he fell sick several days later, he had a doctor bleed him.//\n  2 MONEY:   [T] to force someone to pay an unreasonable amount of money over a period of time//  --His ex-wife clearly intends to bleed him for every last penny.//  bleed sb dry/white (=take all their money, possessions etc) //  --The ten-year war has bled the country dry.//\n  3 AIR/LIQUID:   [T] to remove air or liquid from a system in order to make it work properly, for example from a heating system//  --We need to bleed the radiators.//\n  4 COLOUR:   [I] to spread from one area of cloth or paper to another//   run//  --Wash it in cold water so the colours don’t bleed.//\n  5  bleed red ink:   informal if a company or business bleeds red ink, it loses a lot of money rather than making money//  --Analysts predict the retailer will continue to bleed red ink, with losses topping $180 million.//    my heart bleeds (for sb) at heart(37)//


Words: bleeder
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  spoken  not polite   a very offensive word for a person, especially a man that you dislike//


Words: bleeding
Meaning:
n [U]   the condition of losing blood from your body//  --Use pressure to control the bleeding .//  --The bleeding had almost stopped .//  --He died of internal bleeding .//  severe/heavy bleeding (=when someone is losing a lot of blood) //\nbleeding 2 adj [only before noun]  BrE  spoken  not polite   an offensive way of emphasizing something when you are angry//  --Get your bleeding hands off my car!//


Words: bleeding heart
Meaning:
also bleeding heart liberal  n [C]    informal someone who feels sympathy for poor people or criminals, in a way that you think is not practical or helpful//


Words: bleep
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 a short high sound made by a piece of electronic equipment:\n  2 a bleeper:\nbleep 2 v \n  1 [I] to make a high electronic sound:  --The timer on the cooker started to bleep.//\n  2 [T]  BrE to let someone know, through their bleeper, that you want them to telephone you:  American Equivalent:  beep//\n  3 [T]  also bleep out :  to prevent an offensive word being heard on television or the radio by making a high electronic sound//  --All the swear words had been bleeped out.//


Words: bleeper
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a small machine that you carry with you, that makes short high electronic sounds to tell you that you must telephone someone//   pager//  American Equivalent:  beeper//


Words: blemish
Meaning:
n [C]   a small mark, especially a mark on someone’s skin or on the surface of an object, that spoils its appearance//\nblemish 2 v [T often passive]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: blemir  ’to make pale, injure’]//  to spoil the beauty or appearance of something, so that it is not perfect//    unblemished//  -- blemished adj //


Words: blend
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old Norse; Origin: blanda]//\n  1 [I and T] to combine different things in a way that produces an effective or pleasant result, or to become combined in this way:  --a story that blends fact and legend//  blend with/together//  --Leave the sauce for at least one hour to allow the flavours to blend together.//\n  2 [T] to thoroughly mix together soft or liquid substances to form a single smooth substance:  --Blend the sugar, eggs, and flour.//\n  3 [T usually passive] to produce tea, tobacco, whisky etc by mixing several different types together:  blend in phr v//  if someone or something blends in with people or objects, they match them or are similar, and you do not notice them//  blend in with//  --The old house blends in perfectly with the countryside.//\nblend 2 n [C] \n  1 a product such as tea, tobacco, or whisky that is a mixture of several different types:\n  2 a mixture of different things that combine together well:  --an excellent team, with a nice blend of experience and youthful enthusiasm//


Words: blended family
Meaning:
n [C]   a family in which one or both parents have children from previous marriages living with the family//


Words: blender
Meaning:
n [C]   an electric machine that you use to mix liquids and soft foods together//  British Equivalent:  liquidizer//


Words: bless
Meaning:
S3   v [T]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bletsian, from  blod  ’blood’; because blood was used in religious ceremonies]//\n  1  bless you!:   spoken //  a) what you say when someone sneezes//  b) used to thank someone for doing something for you//\n  2  bless (him/her etc):   spoken used to show that you are fond of someone, amused by them, or pleased by something they have done//  --He’s always willing to help. Bless him!//  --’Jess made this card for me.’ ’Bless!’//\n  3  be blessed with sth:  to have a special ability, good quality etc//  --Fortunately we’re both blessed with good health.//\n  4 if God blesses someone or something, he helps and protects them:  --May God bless you.//\n  5 to ask God to protect someone or something:  --The couple later had their marriage blessed in their local parish church.//\n  6 to make something holy:  --Then the priest blesses the bread and wine.//\n  7  bless my soul/I’ll be blessed!:   old-fashioned  spoken used to express surprise//


Words: blessed
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [only before noun]  spoken used to express annoyance:  --Now where have I put that blessed book?//\n  2 [only before noun] very enjoyable or desirable:  --a few moments of blessed silence//\n  3 holy:  --the Blessed Virgin//  -- blessedly adv //  -- blessedness n  [U] //


Words: blessing
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] something that you have or something that happens which is good because it improves your life, helps you in some way, or makes you happy:  --The dishwasher has been a real blessing!//  it is a blessing (that) //  --It’s a blessing no-one was badly hurt.//\n  2 [U] someone’s approval or encouragement for a plan, activity, idea etc:  with sb’s blessing//  --They were determined to marry, with or without their parents’ blessing.//  --The Defense Department has given its blessing to the scheme.//\n  3  a mixed blessing:  a situation that has both good and bad parts//  --Having children so early in their marriage was a mixed blessing.//\n  4  a blessing in disguise:  something that seems to be bad or unlucky at first, but which you later realize is good or lucky//\n  5  count your blessings:  used to tell someone to remember how lucky they are, especially when they are complaining about something//\n  6 [U and C] protection and help from God, or words spoken to ask for this:  --The priest gave the blessing.//


Words: blether
Meaning:
v [I]   to talk about things that are not important - used especially in Scotland//  -- blether n  [U and C] //


Words: Bligh
Meaning:
Captain William   (1754-?1817) an officer in the British navy who was in command of the ship  HMS Bounty. Bligh was unpopular because he was a strict leader, so the men on his ship took power from him, and made him leave in a small boat.//


Words: blight
Meaning:
n \n  1 [singular,U] an unhealthy condition of plants in which parts of them dry up and die:\n  2 [singular] something that makes people unhappy or that spoils their lives or the environment they live in:  blight on//  --Her guilty secret was a blight on her happiness.//  --the blight of poverty//\nblight 2 v [T]   to spoil or damage something, especially by preventing people from doing what they want to do//  --a disease which, though not fatal, can blight the lives of its victims//  --a country blighted by poverty//  -- blighted adj //  --blighted hopes//


Words: blighter
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  old-fashioned  informal \n  1 used to talk about someone that you feel sorry for or jealous of:  --Poor old blighter.//  --You lucky blighter!//\n  2 a bad or unpleasant person:


Words: Blighty
Meaning:
BrE   a name for Britain, which was used especially by British soldiers and other British people working abroad during the 19th and early 20th century//


Words: blimey
Meaning:
interjection  BrE  spoken  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: blind me! or  blame me!]//  used to express surprise//  --Blimey, look at that!//


Words: Blimp
Meaning:
also  Colonel Blimp n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Colonel  Blimp, a cartoon character invented by David Low]//  someone, especially an old man, with old-fashioned political ideas - used to show disapproval//  -- Blimpish adj //


Words: blimp
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Perhaps from ’Type  B-limp’, official name given to an airship without an inner frame]//\n  1 a small airship (=type of aircraft without wings) :\n  2  AmE  spoken  not polite an offensive word for a very fat person:


Words: blind
Meaning:
W3S2   adj   ----------//\n   1 unable to see:\n   2 be blind to something:\n   3 turn a blind eye (to something):\n   4 not take/pay a blind bit of notice:\n   5 not make a blind bit of difference:\n   6 feelings:\n   7 road:\n   8 the blind leading the blind:\n   9 aircraft:\n  10 blind drunk:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 UNABLE TO SEE:  a) unable to see//    colour-blind, visually impaired, handicapped//  --a school for blind children//  --the needs of blind and partially-sighted people//  totally/completely/almost/partially blind //  --She’s almost blind in her right eye.//  --He was slowly going blind  (=becoming blind) .//  --Beverley was born blind and deaf.//  b)  the blind [plural] people who are unable to see//  --talking books for the blind//  c)  as blind as a bat//  unable to see well - used humorously//  --I’m as blind as a bat without my glasses.//  d)  blind with tears/rage/pain etc//  unable to see because of tears, pain, or a strong emotion//    blindly//  --She screamed at him, her eyes blind with tears.//\n  2  be blind to sth:  to completely fail to notice or realize something//    blindly//  --International companies are all too often blind to local needs.//  --He was totally blind to the faults of his children.//\n  3  turn a blind eye (to sth):  to deliberately ignore something that you know should not be happening//  --Teachers were turning a blind eye to smoking in school.//\n  4  not take/pay a blind bit of notice:   BrE  informal to completely ignore what someone does or says, especially in a way that is annoying//  --He never pays a blind bit of notice to what his staff tell him.//\n  5  not make a blind bit of difference:   BrE  informal used to emphasize that whatever someone says or does will not change the situation at all//  --Try and talk to her if you want. But I don’t think it’ll make a blind bit of difference.//\n  6 FEELINGS:  a)  blind faith/prejudice/obedience etc//  strong feelings that someone has without thinking about why they have them - used to show disapproval//  --Blind faith sent thousands of people to a pointless war.//  --a story about blind loyalty//  b)  blind panic/rage//  strong feelings of fear or anger that you cannot control//  --In a moment of blind panic she had pulled the trigger and shot the man dead.//  --Blind rage took hold of him.//\n  7 ROAD:   blind bend/corner//  a corner in a road that you cannot see beyond when you are driving//\n  8  the blind leading the blind:  used to say that people who do not know much about what they are doing are guiding or advising others who know nothing at all//\n  9 AIRCRAFT:  blind flying is when you use only instruments to fly an aircraft because you cannot see through cloud, mist etc//\n  10  blind drunk:   BrE  informal extremely drunk//  -- blindness n  [U] //    rob sb blind at rob(3),  swear blind at swear(3)//\nblind 2 v [T] \n  1 to make it difficult for someone to see for a short time:  --For a moment I was blinded by the glare of headlights coming towards me.//  --The dust choked and blinded him.//  --Blinded by tears, I walked towards the door.//\n  2 to make someone lose their good sense or judgment and be unable to see the truth about something:  --He should have known better. But he was blinded by his own self-centredness.//  blind sb to sth//  --Children’s bad behaviour should not blind us to their need for love.//  --His single-minded determination to win the war is blinding him to other dangers.//\n  3 to permanently destroy someone’s ability to see:  --He had been blinded in an explosion.//\n  4  blind sb with science:  to confuse or trick someone by using complicated language//    effing and blinding at eff(1)//\nblind 3 n [C] \n  1  also (window) shade  AmE :  a covering, especially one made of cloth, that can be rolled up and down to cover a window inside a building//  --The blinds were drawn  (=pulled down) to protect the new furniture from the sun.//  open/pull down/draw the blinds //    roller blind,  Venetian blind//\n  2  AmE a small shelter where you can watch birds or animals without being seen by them:  British Equivalent:  hide//\n  3 [singular] a trick or excuse to stop someone from discovering the truth:


Words: blind alley
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a small narrow street with no way out at one end:\n  2 a way of doing something that seems as if it will have a successful result, but which in fact does not:  --False information has led the police up a series of blind alleys.//


Words: blind date
Meaning:
n [C]   an arranged meeting between a man and woman who have not met each other before//  --Would you ever go on a blind date?//


Words: blind spot
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 something that you are unable or unwilling to understand:  --I have a blind spot where computers are concerned.//\n  2 the part of the road that you cannot see when you are driving a car:\n  3 the point in your eye where the nerve enters, which is not sensitive to light:


Words: blinder
Meaning:
n \n  1 [singular]  BrE  informal an excellent performance, especially in sport:  --He played an absolute blinder!//\n  2  blinders [plural]  AmE pieces of leather that are put beside a horse’s eyes to stop it from seeing objects on either side:  British Equivalent:  blinkers//


Words: blindfold
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of cloth that covers someone’s eyes to prevent them from seeing anything//\nblindfold 2 v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: blindfell  ’to make blind, cover the eyes of’ (13-16 centuries), from  blind +   FELL3; influenced by  fold]//  to cover someone’s eyes with a piece of cloth//  --Blindfold the prisoner!//\nblindfold 3  BrE  also blindfolded   adv \n  1 with your eyes covered by a piece of cloth:\n  2  can do sth blindfold:   informal used to say that it is very easy for you to do something because you have done it so often//


Words: blinding
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [usually before noun] so bright or strong that you cannot see properly:  blinding flash/light/glare etc //  --the desert with its strange twisted plants and its blinding light//  blinding rain/snow/heat etc //  --I struggled back to the hut through blinding rain.//\n  2  blinding headache:  a very bad headache//\n  3  blinding realization/clarity/revelation etc:  a sudden realization, clear understanding, or new idea about something//  --It was then that she realised, with blinding clarity, that she loved him.//  --Suddenly I had a blinding flash of inspiration.//\n  4  BrE  spoken  informal very good and enjoyable:  --It’s a blinding album.//


Words: blindly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 not thinking about something or trying to understand it:  --Don’t just blindly accept what you are told.//\n  2 not seeing or noticing what is around you, especially because you are upset:  --’I don’t know,’ she repeated as she stared blindly down into her glass.//  --I ran blindly upstairs.//


Words: blindside
Meaning:
v [T]  AmE  informal \n  1 to hit the side of a vehicle with your vehicle in an accident:  --Their car was blindsided by a bus at the intersection.//\n  2 to give someone an unpleasant surprise:  --I was blindsided by his suggestion.//


Words: bling bling
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   expensive objects such as jewellery that are worn in a way that is very easy to notice//


Words: blink
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: blinken  ’to shine’]//\n  1 [I and T] to shut and open your eyes quickly:  --I blinked as I came out into the sunlight.//\n  2 [I] if lights blink, they shine unsteadily or go on and off quickly:  --The light on your answering machine is blinking.//\n  3  not (even) blink:  to not seem at all surprised//  --When I told her how much it would cost, she didn’t even blink.//\n  4  before you could blink:   spoken extremely quickly//\n  5  blink back/away tears:  to shut and open your eyes in order to get rid of tears//  --Lynn laughed, blinking back unexpected tears.//\nblink 2 n \n  1  on the blink:   spoken not working properly//  --My computer’s on the blink again.//\n  2  in the blink of an eye:  very quickly//\n  3 [C] the action of quickly shutting and opening your eyes:


Words: blinkered
Meaning:
adj \n  1 having a limited view of a subject, or refusing to accept or consider different ideas:   narrow-minded//  a blinkered attitude/approach //  --a blinkered attitude to other cultures//\n  2 a horse that is blinkered is wearing blinkers:


Words: blinkers
Meaning:
n [plural] \n  1  BrE pieces of leather that are put beside a horse’s eyes to stop it from seeing objects on either side:  American Equivalent:  blinders//\n  2  AmE  informal the small lights on a car that you flash on and off to show which way you are turning:


Words: blinking
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]    BrE informal used to show that you are annoyed//  --Turn that blinking music down!//


Words: blip
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  From the sound of a sudden light hit]//\n  1 a short high electronic sound, or a flashing light on the screen of a piece of electronic equipment:  --blips on a radar screen//\n  2 a short pause or change in a process or activity, especially when the situation gets worse for a while before it improves again:  --A government spokesman described the rise in inflation as a temporary blip .//


Words: bliss
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin:]//  perfect happiness or enjoyment//  domestic/wedded/marital bliss //  --Mr Lowe has just celebrated six months of wedded bliss to his sweetheart Ellen.//  --I didn’t have to get up till 11 - it was sheer bliss.//


Words: blissed out
Meaning:
adj  BrE  informal   extremely happy and relaxed, especially as a result of using illegal drugs//  --blissed-out partygoers//  -- bliss out v  [I] //


Words: blissful
Meaning:
adj \n  1 extremely happy or enjoyable:  --blissful sunny days//\n  2  blissful ignorance:  a situation in which you do not yet know about something unpleasant//  -- blissfully adv //  --Jean seems blissfully happy.//  --blissfully unaware of the impending danger//


Words: blister
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: blestre,  blostre  ’swelling on the skin’, from  Middle Dutch  bluyster  ’blister’]//\n  1 a swelling on your skin containing clear liquid, caused for example by a burn or continuous rubbing:  --New shoes always give me blisters.//\n  2 a swelling on the surface of metal, rubber, painted wood etc:\nblister 2 v [I and T]   to develop blisters or make blisters form//  --The paint will blister in the heat.//  -- blistered adj //  --My hands were blistered from all the digging.//


Words: blistering
Meaning:
adj \n  1 extremely hot:   blazing//  --the blistering heat of the desert//\n  2  blistering attack/criticism etc:  very critical remarks expressing anger and disapproval//  --She launched into a blistering attack on her boss.//\n  3 used to describe actions in sport which are very fast or forceful:  --Schumacher set a blistering pace from the start.//  -- blisteringly adv //  --a blisteringly hot day//


Words: blithe
Meaning:
adj   [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 seeming not to care or worry about the effects of what you do:  --a blithe disregard for the facts//\n  2  literary happy and having no worries:  -- blithely adv //  --He seems blithely unaware of how much anger he’s caused.//  --’Don’t worry. I’ll pay,’ she said blithely.//


Words: blithering
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: blither  ’to talk nonsense’ (19-20 centuries), from  blather]//  blithering idiot//   spoken someone who has done something very stupid//


Words: blitz
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: blitzkrieg]//\n  1 a sudden military attack, especially from the air:  the Blitz (=the bombing of British cities by German aircraft in 1940 and 1941) //\n  2  informal a period of great effort in order to deal with something quickly and completely:  blitz on//  --We’ll have to have a blitz on the house before your parents arrive.//\n  3 a big effort to make people notice something or buy something:  a media/marketing/advertising etc blitz //  --The campaign was launched with a nationwide publicity blitz.//  -- blitz v  [T] //  --News came that Rotterdam had been blitzed.//


Words: Blixen
Meaning:
Baroness Karen   (1885-1962) a Danish writer who wrote in English using the man’s name Isak Dinesen. Her most famous book,  Out of Africa, describes her life on a coffee farm in Kenya.//


Words: blizzard
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a severe snow storm:  --We got stuck in a blizzard.//\n  2 a sudden large amount of something unpleasant or annoying that you must deal with:  blizzard of//  --a blizzard of emails//


Words: bloated
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: bloat  ’to swell’ (17-21 centuries), from  bloat  ’swollen’ (17-19 centuries), perhaps from  Old Norse blautr  ’soft, swollen with liquid’]//\n  1 full of liquid, gas, food etc, so that you look or feel much larger than normal:  --a red bloated face//  --I feel really bloated after that meal.//\n  2 if you describe an organization as bloated, you mean that it is too big and does not work effectively:  --the bloated state bureaucracy//


Words: bloater
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bloat  ’to preserve with salt and smoke’ (17-19 centuries), perhaps from  blote  ’soft and wet’ (1300-1400), probably from  Old Norse blautr;   BLOATED]//  a smoked fish//


Words: blob
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from  blob  ’bubble’ (16-19 centuries), perhaps from the sound made by the lips when producing a bubble]//\n  1 a very small round mass of a liquid or sticky substance:  blob of//  --a blob of honey//\n  2 something that cannot be clearly seen, especially because it is far away:  --Without a telescope, the comet will look like a fuzzy blob.//


Words: bloc
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: Old French;   BLOCK1]//  a large group of people or countries with the same political aims, working together//  --the former Soviet bloc//    en bloc//


Words: block
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 solid material:\n   2 streets/area:\n   3 large building:\n   4 quantity of things:\n   5 block booking/voting:\n   6 inability to think:\n   7 stopping movement:\n   8 punishment:\n   9 put your head/neck on the block:\n  10 sport:\n  11 sell:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bloc, from  Middle Dutch blok]//\n  1 SOLID MATERIAL:  a piece of hard material such as wood or stone with straight sides//\n  2 STREETS/AREA:  a)  AmE the distance along a city street from where one street crosses it to the next//  --Head for 44th Street, a few blocks east of Sixth Avenue.//  --The church is down the block.//  b) the four city streets that form a square around an area of buildings//  --Let’s walk round the block.//  --She grew up playing with the other kids on the block.//  c)  AusE a large piece of land//  --a ten acre block near the city//\n  3 LARGE BUILDING:  a large building divided into separate parts//  block of//  --a block of flats //  --an office block //  --an apartment block //  --the school science block//\n  4 QUANTITY OF THINGS:  a quantity of things of the same kind, considered as a single unit//  block of//  --New employees receive a block of shares in the firm.//  --a system for storing large blocks of data//  --Set aside blocks of time for doing your homework.//\n  5  block booking/voting:  an arrangement that is made for a whole group to buy something or to vote together//\n  6 INABILITY TO THINK:   [usually singular] the temporary loss of your normal ability to think, learn, write etc//  --I have a mental block whenever I try to remember my password.//  --After his second novel Garland had writer’s block  (=he could not write anything) .//\n  7 STOPPING MOVEMENT:   [usually singular] something that prevents movement or progress//  block to//  --a major block to progress//    roadblock,  stumbling block//\n  8 PUNISHMENT:   the block//  in the past, a solid block of wood on which someone’s head was cut off as a punishment//\n  9  put your head/neck on the block:  to risk destroying other people’s opinion of you or losing your job by doing or saying something//  --I’m not prepared to put my head on the block for him.//\n  10 SPORT:  a movement in sport that stops an opponent going forward or playing the ball forward//\n  11 SELL:   go on the block//  to be sold, especially at an auction//  --$500 million worth of art will go on the block.//    block capitals,  tower block,  be a chip off the old block at chip1 (7),  I’ll knock your block off at knock1 (24)//\nblock 2 S3 v [T] \n  1  also block up :  to prevent anything moving through a space by being or placing something across it or in it//  --A fallen tree is blocking the road.//  --The sink’s blocked up.//\n  2  block sb’s way/path/exit/escape etc:  to stand in front of someone, so that they cannot go past//  --I tried to get through, but there were too many people blocking my way.//\n  3 to stop something happening, developing, or succeeding:  --The Senate blocked publication of the report.//  --laws designed to block imports of cheap tobacco//\n  4  block sb’s view:  to be in front of someone so that they cannot see something//  --The huge building across the street blocked our view of the sea.//\n  5  also block out :  to stop light reaching a place//  --Can you move? You’re blocking my light.//\n  6 to stop a ball, a blow etc from getting to where your opponent wants it to:  --a shot blocked by the goalkeeper//  block in [block sb/sth → in] phr v//\n  1 to park your car too close to another car, so that the other one cannot drive away:\n  2 to paint or draw simple shapes or areas of colour:  --I’ll just block in the main buildings.//  block sth off [block sth→ off] phr v//  to completely close something such as a road or an opening//  --Police blocked off the city centre streets.//  --The fireplace had been blocked off.//  block sth out [block sth→ out] //\n  1 to stop light reaching a place:  --There was a heavy curtain blocking out the light.//\n  2 to stop yourself thinking about something or remembering it:  --a memory so terrible that she tried to block it out//


Words: block and tackle
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   a piece of equipment with wheels and ropes, used for lifting heavy things//


Words: block capitals
Meaning:
n [plural]   letters in their large form such as A, B, C, rather than a, b, c//  --Complete the form in block capitals.//


Words: blockade
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  BLOCK1 +  French -ade  ’action of’]//\n  1 [usually singular] the surrounding of an area by soldiers or ships to stop people or supplies leaving or entering:  --a naval blockade//  --They’ve imposed an economic blockade on the country.//  --an agreement to lift the blockade  (=end it) //\n  2 something that is used to stop vehicles or people entering or leaving a place:  --Angry farmers used tractors as blockades on the streets.//\nblockade 2 v [T]   to put a place under a blockade//  --The ships blockaded the port.//


Words: blockage
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] something that is stopping movement in a narrow place:  --a blockage in the pipe//\n  2 [U] the state of being blocked or prevented:


Words: blockbuster
Meaning:
n [C]    informal a book or film that is very good or successful//  --the latest Hollywood blockbuster//  -- blockbusting adj //  --a blockbusting movie//


Words: blog
Meaning:
n [C]   a web page that is made up of information about a particular subject, in which the newest information is always at the top of the page//   web log//  -- blogger n  [C] //


Words: bloke
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  Shelta]//   BrE  informal a man//  --He’s a nice bloke.//


Words: blokish
Meaning:
blokeish/bl[hA353][hA35E]k[hA366][hA35D] $ blo[hA35E]-/ adj  BrE  informal   if you do blokish things, you behave in a traditionally male way//  --playing football, fixing the car, and other blokish activities//


Words: blond
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Medieval Latin blondus  ’yellow’]//\n  1 another spelling of blonde:\n  2 a man who is blond has pale or yellow hair:


Words: blonde
Meaning:
S3   adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: , feminine form of  blond;   BLOND]//\n  1 blonde hair is pale or yellow in colour:\n  2 a woman who is blonde has pale or yellow hair:\nblonde 2 S3 n [C]    informal a woman with pale or yellow-coloured hair//  --a beautiful blonde//


Words: Blondie
Meaning:
the main female character in the US cartoon strip which is also called "Blondie". Blondie is a kind attractive  housewife who is always helping her husband Dagwood whenever he does something wrong.//


Words: blood
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin: blod]//\n  1 the red liquid that your heart pumps around your body:  --She  lost  a lot of  blood  in the accident. //  -- The dog bit her but didn’t  draw blood .//  --I’m going to  give blood  this afternoon. //  --Cooked garlic helps to prevent  blood clotting,  and so reduces the risk of heart attack. //  -- Dried blood  matted his hair on each side of his head. //  -- My trousers were  caked with blood . //  --Her body was found in a  pool of blood  . //  -- A single  drop of blood  can transport the virus. //  -- the steady  trickle of blood  from the corner of his mouth //  -- Blood oozed  from a cut on his forehead.//  -- Blood tests  proved he was not the father. //\n  2  (have) sb’s blood on your hands:  to have caused someone’s death//  --dictators with blood on their hands//\n  3  in cold blood:  in a cruel and deliberate way//  --Evans had been murdered in cold blood .//\n  4  make sb’s blood boil:  to make someone extremely angry//  --The way they treat people makes my blood boil.//\n  5  make sb’s blood run cold:  to make someone feel extremely frightened//\n  6  like getting blood out of a stone:  almost impossible//  --Getting the truth out of her is like getting blood out of a stone.//\n  7  blood is thicker than water:  used to say that family relationships are more important than any other kind//\n  8  be after sb’s blood:  to be angry enough to want to hurt someone//\n  9  sb’s blood is up:   BrE someone is extremely angry about something and determined to do something about it//  --They tried to stop me, but my blood was up.//\n  10 the family to which you belong from the time that you are born:  --There’s Irish blood on his mother’s side.//\n  11  be/run in sb’s blood:  if an ability or tendency is in, or runs in, someone’s blood, it is natural to them and others in their family//\n  12  sweat blood:  to work extremely hard to achieve something//  --Beth sweated blood over that article.//\n  13  blood, sweat, and tears:  extremely hard work//\n  14  new/fresh blood:  new members in a group or organization who bring new ideas and energy//  --We need to bring in some new blood and fresh ideas.//\n  15  blood on the carpet:  a situation where people have a very strong disagreement, with the result that something serious happens, such as someone losing his or her job//\n  16  young blood:   old-fashioned a fashionable young man//    bad blood at bad1 (27),  blue-blooded,  red blood cell,  white blood cell,  your own flesh and blood at flesh1 (6),  shed blood at shed2 (5)//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  lose blood //  draw blood  (=make someone bleed) //  give/donate blood  (=have blood taken from you for the medical treatment of other people) //  blood clots  (=blood that forms a mass and stops flowing) //  dried blood //  be caked with blood  (=covered in dry blood) //  pool of blood //  drop of blood //  trickle of blood //  blood flows/oozes/gushes //  blood test //  blood cell //  blood sample //  ----------//\nblood 2 v [T]    BrE to give someone their first experience of an activity, especially a difficult or unpleasant one//


Words: blood brother
Meaning:
n [C]   a man who promises loyalty to another, often in a ceremony in which the men’s blood is mixed together//


Words: blood count
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a medical examination of someone’s blood to see if it contains the right substances in the right amounts:\n  2 the number of cells in someone’s blood:  --Her blood count is very low.//


Words: blood feud
Meaning:
n [C]   a quarrel between people or families that lasts for many years, in which each side murders or injures members of the other side//


Words: blood group
Meaning:
n [C]    especially BrE one of the classes into which human blood can be separated, including A, B, AB and O//  American Equivalent:  blood type//


Words: blood money
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 money paid for murdering someone:\n  2 money paid to the family of someone who has been murdered:


Words: blood pressure
Meaning:
n [U]   the force with which blood travels through your body//  --high blood pressure//  check/take sb’s blood pressure (=measure it) //  --The nurse will take your blood pressure.//


Words: blood type
Meaning:
n [C]    especially AmE one of the classes into which human blood can be separated, including A, B, AB, and O//  British Equivalent:  blood group//


Words: bloodless
Meaning:
adj \n  1 without killing or violence:  --a bloodless coup//\n  2 a bloodless part of your body is very pale:  --His lips were thin and bloodless.//\n  3 lacking in human feeling:  -- bloodlessly adv //


Words: bloodletting
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 killing people:   bloodshed//  --The movie contains scenes of violence and bloodletting.//\n  2 a medical treatment used in the past which involved removing some of a person’s blood:\n  3 a reduction in the number of people working for an organization, industry etc:  --Many jobs have been lost, and the bloodletting isn’t over yet.//


Words: bloodline
Meaning:
n [C]   all the members of a family of people or animals over a period of time//    pedigree//  --a royal bloodline//  --Hereford cattle with bloodlines going back 200 years//


Words: bloodshed
Meaning:
n [U]   the killing of people, usually in fighting or war//  --diplomacy aimed at stopping further bloodshed//


Words: bloodstream
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   the blood flowing in your body//  --The drug is injected directly into the bloodstream.//


Words: bloodsucker
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a creature that sucks blood from the bodies of other animals:\n  2  informal someone who always uses other people’s money or help - used in order to show disapproval:


Words: bloodthirsty
Meaning:
adj \n  1 eager to kill and wound, or enjoying killing and violence:  --a bloodthirsty crowd//\n  2 describing or showing violence:  --The film was too bloodthirsty for me.//


Words: bloody
Meaning:
W3S3   adj, adv  spoken  especially BrE \n  1 used to emphasize what you are saying in a slightly rude way:  --It’s bloody cold out there!//  --That’s a bloody good idea.//  --Bloody hell!//  --’Are you going to go with him?’ ’Not bloody likely (=definitely not) .’//\n  2  bloody well:  used to emphasize an angry statement or order//  --It serves you bloody well right.//\nbloody 2 adj \n  1 covered in blood, or bleeding:\n  2 with a lot of killing and injuries:  --a bloody battle//\n  3  scream/yell bloody murder:   AmE  informal to protest in a loud very angry way//  --She was furious - screaming bloody murder at the manager!//\n  4  bloody/bloodied but unbowed:  harmed by events but not defeated by them//  --He emerged from the discussions bloody but unbowed.//\nbloody 3   past tense and past participle  bloodied present participle  bloodying third person singular  bloodies  v [T] //  to injure someone so that blood comes, or to cover something with blood//


Words: Bloody Sunday
Meaning:
Sunday, 30th January 1972, when British soldiers in Northern Ireland used force to control a large crowd of people who were protesting against the policy of  internment (=putting people in prison without a trial if they were believed to be members of theIRA) . 13 people were killed when the soldiers fired at the crowd.//


Words: Bloody Tower
Meaning:
a part of the Tower of London. It became known as the Bloody Tower after two young princes, the nephews of Richard III, were believed to be murdered there in 1483.//


Words: bloody-minded
Meaning:
adj   deliberately making things difficult for other people//    awkward//  --Stop being so bloody-minded!//  -- bloody-mindedness n  [U] //


Words: bloom
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Norse; Origin: blom]//\n  1 [U and C] a flower or flowers:  --beautiful red blooms//  --a mass of bloom on the apple trees//\n  2  in (full) bloom:  with the flowers fully open//\n  3 [singular,U] the healthy happy appearance that someone has, especially when they are young:  --The rosy bloom of her cheeks had faded.//\nbloom 2 v [I] \n  1 if a plant or a flower blooms, its flowers appear or open:\n  2 to become happier, healthier, or more successful in a way that is very noticeable:  --She was positively blooming the last time I saw her.//


Words: bloomer
Meaning:
n \n  1  bloomers [plural] underwear that women wore in the past, like loose trousers that end at the knees:\n  2 [C]  BrE  old-fashioned an embarrassing mistake that you make in front of other people - used humorously:  American Equivalent:  blooper//


Words: blooming
Meaning:
adj, adv [only before noun]  BrE  spoken  old-fashioned   used for emphasizing a remark, especially when you are angry or surprised//  --It’s blooming ridiculous!//


Words: Bloomsbury
Meaning:
a busy area in the centre of London which has attractive buildings and  squares (=open areas with grass and trees, surrounded on four sides by roads and buildings) , where many writers and artists lived in the early part of the 20th century//


Words: Bloomsbury Group
Meaning:
the   a group of artists and writers who lived and met each other regularly in Bloomsbury in the early part of the 20th century. The most famous member of the group was Virginia Woolf.//


Words: Bloomsday
Meaning:
June 16th, celebrated in Dublin as the day in the life of Leopold Bloom which is described in James Joyce’s novel  Ulysses//  --Bloomsday has turned into a carnival, attended by thousands of people who know little about James Joyce.//


Words: blooper
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bloop  ’unpleasant sound’ (1900-2000), from the sound]//\n  1 an embarrassing mistake that you make in front of other people:  British Equivalent:  bloomer//\n  2 a ball in baseball that is high and slow and easy to catch or hit:


Words: blossom
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: blostm]//\n  1 a flower or the flowers on a tree or bush:  --pale pink blossoms//  --The cherry tree was covered in blossom.//\n  2  in (full) blossom:  with the flowers fully open//\nblossom 2 v [I] \n  1 if trees blossom, they produce flowers:  --The apple trees are just beginning to blossom.//\n  2  also blossom out :  to become happier, more beautiful, more successful etc//  --Pete’s blossomed out in his new school.//  blossom into//  --The idea blossomed into a successful mail order business.//


Words: blot
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  blotted present participle  blotting  [T] //\n  1 to make a wet surface become dry by pressing soft paper or cloth on it:\n  2  blot your copybook:   BrE  informal to do something that spoils the idea that people have of you//  blot out [blot sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to cover or hide something completely:  --Thick white smoke blotted out the sun.//\n  2 if you blot out an unpleasant memory, a thought etc, you deliberately try to forget it:  --She said she took drugs to blot out her problems.//  blot up [blot sth → up] phr v//  to remove liquid from a surface by pressing soft paper or cloth onto it//\nblot 2 n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from a  Scandinavian language]//\n  1 a mark or dirty spot on something, especially made by ink:  -- ink blots //\n  2 a building, structure etc that is ugly and spoils the appearance of a place:  --The new power station is a blot on the landscape .//\n  3 something that spoils the good opinion that people have of someone or something:  blot on//  --The increase in juvenile crime is a blot on our time.//


Words: blotch
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Perhaps from  blot +  botch  ’swelling’ (14-19 centuries) (from  Old North French boche, from  Old French boce;   BOSS1)]//  a pink or red mark on the skin, or a coloured mark on something//  -- blotchy adj //  -- blotched adj //


Words: blotter
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a large piece of blotting paper kept on top of a desk:\n  2  AmE a book in which an official daily record is kept:  --the police blotter//\n  3  AmE  informal the drug LSD:


Words: blow
Meaning:
W3S2   v   past tense  blew /blu[hA359]/past participle  blown / $ blo[hA35E]n///  ----------//\n   1 wind moving:\n   2 wind moving something:\n   3 air from your mouth:\n   4 make a noise:\n   5 violence:\n   6 lose an opportunity:\n   7 waste money:\n   8 blow your nose:\n   9 blow somebody a kiss:\n  10 electricity stops:\n  11 tyre:\n  12 make a shape:\n  13 surprise/annoyance:\n  14 tell a secret:\n  15 blow somebody’s mind:\n  16 blow your top/stack/cool:\n  16 blow a fuse/gasket:\n  17 blow the whistle on somebody:\n  18 blow something (up) out of (all) proportion:\n  19 blow your own trumpet:\n  19 blow your own horn:\n  20 blow somebody/something out of the water:\n  21 blow hot and cold:\n  22 blow something sky-high:  Phrasal verbs//   blow sb→ away//   blow down//   blow in//   blow somebody/something → off//   blow out//   blow over//   blow up//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: blawan]//\n  1 WIND MOVING:   [I and T] if the wind or a current of air blows, it moves//  --A cold breeze was blowing hard .//  --It was blowing from an easterly direction.//  --Outside, the weather was blowing a gale .//\n  2 WIND MOVING SOMETHING:   [I,T usually + adverb/preposition] to move or to move something by the force of the wind or a current of air//  --Her hair was blowing in the breeze.//  --The wind blew the rain into our faces.//  --My ticket blew away.//  blow (sth) open/shut //  --A sudden draught blew the door shut .//\n  3 AIR FROM YOUR MOUTH:   [I,T always + adverb/preposition] to send air out from your mouth//  blow (sth) into/onto/out etc//  --She blew onto her coffee to cool it down.//  --He blew the smoke right in my face.//  --You’ll have to blow harder than that!//\n  4 MAKE A NOISE:   [I and T] to make a sound by passing air through a whistle, horn etc//  --The whistle blew for halftime.//  --A truck went by and blew its horn at her.//\n  5 VIOLENCE:   [T always + adverb/preposition] to damage or destroy something violently with an explosion or by shooting//  blow sth away/out/off sth//  --Part of his leg had been blown off.//  blow sth/sb to pieces/bits/smithereens //  --A bomb like that could blow you to bits.//\n  6 LOSE AN OPPORTUNITY:   [T]  informal to lose a good opportunity by making a mistake or by being careless//  --We’ve blown our chances of getting that contract.//  --You’ve got a great future ahead of you. Don’t blow it .//\n  7 WASTE MONEY:   [T]  informal to spend a lot of money in a careless way, especially on one thing//  --I blew all the money I won on a trip to Hawaii.//\n  8  blow your nose:  to clean your nose by forcing air through it into a cloth or a piece of soft paper//\n  9  blow sb a kiss:  to kiss your hand and then pretend to blow the kiss towards someone//  --She leant out of the window and blew him a kiss.//\n  10 ELECTRICITY STOPS:   [I and T] if an electrical fuse blows, or a piece of electrical equipment blows a fuse, the electricity suddenly stops working because a thin wire has melted//  --The floodlights blew a fuse.//\n  11 TYRE:   [I and T] if a tyre blows or if a car blows a tyre, it bursts//\n  12 MAKE A SHAPE:   [T] to make or shape something by sending air out from your mouth//  --The kids were blowing bubbles in the backyard.//  blow glass (=shape glass by blowing into it when it is very hot and soft) //\n  13 SURPRISE/ANNOYANCE:   blow/blow me/blow it etc//   BrE  spoken said to show annoyance or surprise//  --Blow it! I forgot to phone Jane.//  -- Blow me down if she didn’t just run off!//  --Well, I’m blowed !//\n  14 TELL A SECRET:   [T] to make known something that was meant to be a secret//  --Your coming here has blown the whole operation.//  blow sb’s cover (=make known what someone’s real job or name is) //  --It would only take one phone call to blow his cover.//\n  15  blow sb’s mind:   spoken to make you feel very surprised and excited by something//  --Seeing her again really blew my mind.//    mind-blowing//\n  16  blow your top/stack/cool:   also  blow a fuse/gasket//   informal to become extremely angry quickly or suddenly//  --One day, I just blew my top and hit him.//\n  17  blow the whistle on sb:   informal to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone is doing//  --He blew the whistle on his colleagues.//    whistle-blower//\n  18  blow sth (up) out of (all) proportion:  to make something seem much more serious or important than it is//  --The issue was blown up out of all proportion.//\n  19  blow your own trumpet:   especially BrE  also  blow your own horn//   AmE  informal to talk a lot about your own achievements - used to show disapproval//  --Dave spent the whole evening blowing his own trumpet.//\n  20  blow sb/sth out of the water:  to defeat someone or something that you are competing with, or to achieve much more than they do//  --Motown had blown all the other record companies out of the water.//\n  21  blow hot and cold:   BrE  informal to keep changing your attitude towards someone or something//\n  22  blow sth sky-high:   BrE to destroy an idea, plan etc by showing that it cannot be true or effective//  --This new information blows his theory sky-high.//  blow sb away [blow sb→ away] phr v//\n  1 to make someone feel very surprised, especially about something they like or admire:  --It just blows me away, the way everyone’s so friendly round here.//\n  2 to kill someone by shooting them with a gun:  --One move and I’ll blow you away!//\n  3 to defeat someone completely, especially in a game:  --Nancy blew away the rest of the skaters.//  blow down phr v//  if the wind blows something down, or if something blows down, the wind makes it fall//  --The garden gate has blown down.//  blow sth → down//  --Several trees were blown down in the night.//  blow in phr v//\n  1  also blow into sth :   informal to arrive in a place, especially suddenly//  --Jim blew in about an hour ago.//  --Guess who’s just blown into town ?//\n  2 if a storm or bad weather blows in, it arrives and begins to affect a particular area:  --The first snowstorm blew in from the north.//  blow off [blow sb/sth → off] phr v//\n  1 to treat someone or something as unimportant, for example by not meeting someone or not going to an event:  --Tanya just blew me off - she said she didn’t want to see me any more.//  --Bud got into trouble for blowing off the meeting.//\n  2  blow the lid off sth:  to make known something that was secret, especially something involving important or famous people//  --Her book blew the lid off the Reagan years.//\n  3  blow sb’s head off:  to kill someone by shooting them in the head//\n  4  blow off steam:   AmE to get rid of anger or energy by doing something//  British Equivalent:  let off steam//  --I went jogging to blow off some steam.//  blow out phr v//\n  1 if you blow a flame or a fire out, or if it blows out, it stops burning:  --The match blew out in the wind.//  blow sth → out//  --Blow out all the candles.//\n  2 if a tyre blows out, it bursts:\n  3  blow itself out:  if a storm blows itself out, it ends//\n  4  blow your/sb’s brains out:  to kill yourself or someone else with a shot to the head//\n  5  blow sb → out:   AmE  spoken to easily defeat someone//  --We blew them out 28 - 0.//\n  6  AmE if you blow out your knee or another joint in your body, or if it blows out, you injure it badly:\n  7 if an oil or gas well blows out, oil or gas suddenly escapes from it:\n  8  blow sb out:  to stop having a friendship or relationship with someone//  blow over phr v//\n  1 if the wind blows something over, or if something blows over, the wind makes it fall:  --Our fence blew over in the storm.//  blow sth → over//  --The hurricane blew some palm trees over.//\n  2 if an argument or unpleasant situation blows over, it ends or is forgotten:  --They weren’t speaking to each other, but I think it’s blown over now.//\n  3 if a storm blows over, it goes away:  blow up phr v//\n  1 to destroy something, or to be destroyed, by an explosion:  --The plane blew up in mid-air.//  blow sth → up//  --Rebels attempted to blow up the bridge.//\n  2  blow sth → up:  to fill something with air or gas//  --Can you blow up this balloon ?//  --We’ll blow the tyres up .//\n  3 if a situation, argument etc blows up, it suddenly becomes important or dangerous:  --A crisis had blown up over the peace talks.//\n  4  blow sth → up:  if you blow up a photograph, you make it larger//   enlarge//  --How much would it cost to have this photo blown up?//\n  5  informal to become very angry with someone:  --Jenny’s father blew up when she didn’t come home last night.//  blow up at//  --I was surprised at the way he blew up at Hardy.//\n  6 if bad weather blows up, it suddenly arrives:  --It looks as if there’s a storm blowing up.//\n  7  blow up in sb’s face:  if something you have done or planned to do blows up in your face, it suddenly goes wrong//  --One of his deals had just blown up in his face.//\nblow 2 W3 n [C]   ----------//\n   1 BAD EFFECT :\n   2 hard hit:\n   3 blowing:\n   4 come to blows (with somebody):\n   5 soften/cushion the blow:\n   6 low blow:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-2, 4-6; Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Origin unknown.]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  BLOW1]//\n  1 BAD EFFECT :  an action or event that causes difficulty or sadness for someone//  --Joe resigned, which was a  severe blow  because we needed him desperately. //  -- His mother’s death was a  shattering blow . //  -- The election result  dealt a  further  blow to  the party. //  --The factory closures  came as a blow  to the local economy.//  --The  final blow  for many firms was the government’s abolition of import duties.//\n  2 HARD HIT:  a hard hit with someone’s hand, a tool, or a weapon//  --She died from a heavy blow to the head.//  --He struck a blow which threw her to the floor.//  --Martin received a blow on the nose.//  --He had been struck a glancing blow  (=a blow that did not hit him directly) by the car.//  blow to//  --He gave her a violent blow to the head.//\n  3 BLOWING:  an action of blowing//  --One big blow and the candles were out.//\n  4  come to blows (with sb):  if two people come to blows, they start arguing or hitting each other because they disagree about something//  come to blows (with somebody) over//  --They almost came to blows over the money.//\n  5  soften/cushion the blow:  to make something unpleasant easier for someone to accept//  --A reduction in interest rates would soften the blow of tax increases.//\n  6  low blow:   AmE  informal something unkind you say to deliberately embarrass or upset someone//    strike a blow for sb/sth at strike1 (13)//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  serious/severe/major blow //  shattering/devastating/bitter blow  (=something that makes you extremely disappointed and upset) //  cruel/heavy/grievous blow //  deal a blow (to somebody/something)/deal (somebody/something) a blow //  strike a blow //  suffer/receive a blow //  come as a blow (to somebody) //  fatal/final/mortal blow (=one that ends something) //  ----------//


Words: blow job
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   the practice of touching a man’s sexual organs with your lips and tongue to give him sexual pleasure//


Words: blow-by-blow
Meaning:
adj   a blow-by-blow account/description etc//  an account that includes all the details of an event exactly as they happened//  --Jenny bored us with a blow-by-blow account of her holiday.//


Words: blow-dry past tense and past participle
Meaning:
blow-dried present participle  blow-drying third person singular  blow-dries  v [T]   to dry hair and give it shape by using an electric  hairdryer//  -- blow-dry n  [C] //  --a cut and blow-dry//


Words: blow-dryer
Meaning:
n [C]   a small electric machine that blows hot air onto your hair in order to dry it//   hair dryer//


Words: blow-hole
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a hole in the surface of ice where water animals such as seals come to breathe:\n  2 a hole in the top of the head of a whale, dolphin etc through which they breathe:


Words: blow-out
Meaning:
also blowout  especially AmE   n [C] \n  1 a sudden bursting of a tyre:    puncture//  --I had a blow-out on the driver’s side.//\n  2 [usually singular]  informal a big expensive meal or large social occasion:  --We went for a real blow-out to celebrate.//\n  3  AmE  informal an easy victory over someone in a game:\n  4 a sudden uncontrolled escape of oil or gas from a well:


Words: blow-up
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a photograph or part of a photograph that has been made larger:\n  2 [C usually singular]  AmE a sudden big argument or disagreement:    blow up at blow1 //


Words: blower
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a machine that blows out air, for example inside a car:\n  2  on the blower:   BrE  old-fashioned on the telephone in order to talk to someone//


Words: blowlamp
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a piece of equipment that produces a very hot flame, used especially for removing paint//  American Equivalent:  blowtorch//


Words: blowtorch
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of equipment that produces a small very hot flame, used especially for removing paint//  British Equivalent:  blowlamp//


Words: Blu-tack
Meaning:
trademark   a flexible adhesive substance used in the home or office. It is often used to attach posters or decorations to a wall without damaging paint or wallpaper. //


Words: blubber
Meaning:
[I]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: blubber  ’to make a bubbling sound’ (14-18 centuries), from  blubber  ’bubble’;   BLUBBER2]//  to cry noisily, especially in a way that annoys people//\nblubber 2 n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: blubber  ’bubble, foam’ (14-19 centuries), probably from the sound of bubbling; perhaps because the inside parts of fish, whales, etc. seem to bubble when they are cut open]//  the fat of sea animals, especially whales//


Words: bludgeon
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to hit someone several times with something heavy:  --He was bludgeoned to death with a hammer.//\n  2 to force someone to do something by making threats or arguing with them:  bludgeon into//  --I won’t let myself be bludgeoned into marriage.//\n  3  bludgeon your way through/to/past etc sb/sth:  to get somewhere or achieve something by pushing past other people, or not caring about them//  --He bludgeoned his way through the crowd.//\nbludgeon 2 n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old French bougeon, from  bouge  ’stick for hitting people’]//  a heavy stick with a thick end, used as a weapon//


Words: blue
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: blou]//\n  1 having the colour of the sky or the sea on a fine day:    navy, navy blue//  --the blue waters of the lake//  dark/light/pale/bright blue //  --a dark blue raincoat//\n  2 [not before noun]  informal sad and without hope:   depressed//  --I’ve been feeling kind of blue .//\n  3  informal blue jokes, stories etc are about sex, in a way that might offend some people:    blue movie//\n  4  argue/talk etc till you’re blue in the face:   informal to argue, talk etc about something a lot, but without achieving what you want//  --You can tell them till you’re blue in the face, but they’ll still do what they want.//\n  5  blue with cold:   especially BrE someone who is blue with cold looks extremely cold//\n  6  go blue:   BrE if someone goes blue, their skin becomes blue because they are cold or cannot breathe properly//\n  7  talk a blue streak:   AmE  informal to talk very quickly without stopping//  -- blueness n  [U] //    black and blue,  once in a blue moon at once1 (15),  scream blue murder at scream1 (1)//\nblue 2 n \n  1 [U and C] the colour of the sky or the sea on a fine day:  --She nearly always dresses in blue.//  --the rich greens and blues of the tapestry//\n  2  blues [U]  also the blues :  a slow sad style of music that came from the southern US//  --a blues singer//    rhythm and blues//\n  3  the blues [plural]  informal feelings of sadness:  --A lot of women get the blues after the baby is born.//\n  4  out of the blue:   informal if something happens out of the blue, it is very unexpected//    a bolt from/out of the blue at bolt1 (3)//\n  5 [C]  Blue:   BrE someone who has represented Oxford or Cambridge University at a sport, or the title given to such a person//\n  6  the blue:   literary the sea or the sky//    boys in blue at boy1 (9)//


Words: blue book
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE \n  1 a book with a list of prices that you can expect to pay for any used car:\n  2 a book with a blue cover that is used in American colleges for writing answers to examination questions:


Words: blue chip
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: blue chip  ’blue counter of high value used in gambling’ (1900-2000)]//  blue-chip companies/shares etc//  companies or shares that make a profit and are considered safe//  -- blue chip n  [C] //


Words: Blue Danube
Meaning:
The   the title of an extremely popular  waltz (=a type of music for dancing to) , written by Johann Strauss in 1866//


Words: blue law
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   a law used in the past in the US to control activities that were considered immoral, such as drinking alcohol and working on Sundays//


Words: Blue Nile
Meaning:
the Blue Nile//  one of the two rivers that form the River Nile. It starts in Ethiopia in East Africa, and flows north to Khartoum in Sudan, where it joins the White Nile.//


Words: Blue Peter
Meaning:
a children’s programme that has been on British television since the late 1950s. It is known for encouraging children to collect money or things for people who are poor or sick, and for showing them how to do and make useful things.//


Words: blue ribbon
Meaning:
also blue riband  BrE   n [C]   the first prize in a competition, sometimes consisting of a small piece of blue material//  -- blue ribbon also blue riband  BrE //   adj  [only before noun] //  --the club’s prized blue riband award//


Words: Blue Ridge Mountains
Meaning:
also the Blue Ridge   the Blue Ridge Mountains//  the part of the  Appalachians (=a group of mountains in the eastern US)  that goes from southern Pennsylvania to northern Georgia//


Words: blue-collar
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   blue-collar workers do physical work, rather than working in offices//    white-collar, pink-collar//


Words: blue-eyed boy
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]  BrE    informal the man or boy in a group who is most liked and approved of by someone in authority//  --John was always the blue-eyed boy at school.//


Words: blue-sky
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  AmE   blue-sky tests etc are done to test ideas and not for any practical purpose//


Words: Bluebeard
Meaning:
an evil character in old European stories who got married many times, and each time killed his wife//


Words: blueberry
Meaning:
n   plural  blueberries  [U and C] //  a small blue fruit, or the plant it grows on//  --blueberry pie//


Words: bluegrass
Meaning:
n   [U] a type of music from the southern and western US, played on instruments such as the guitar and violin//


Words: blueprint
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a plan for achieving something:  blueprint for//  --a blueprint for health-care reform//\n  2 a photographic print of a plan for a building, machine etc on special blue paper:  blueprint for//  --a blueprint for the new shopping mall//\n  3  technical a pattern that all living cells contain, which decides how a person, animal, or plant develops and what it looks like:  --By changing the tomato’s genetic blueprint , scientists can alter the rate at which it ripens.//


Words: bluestocking
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  From the  ’blue’ (actually grey) stockings worn by gentlemen at that time]//  a woman who is more interested in ideas and studying than in parties, men etc - sometimes used to show disapproval//


Words: bluetooth
Meaning:
n [U]  trademark   bluetooth technology allows electronic equipment to communicate by using radio, so that, for example, a computer and printer can work together without having a wire connecting them//


Words: bluff
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from  Dutch bluffen  ’to boast, play a kind of card game’]//  to pretend something, especially in order to achieve what you want in a difficult or dangerous situation//  --You wouldn’t really tell her. You’re bluffing!//  bluff your way out of/through/past etc sb/sth (=go somewhere or succeed in doing something by deceiving someone) //  --I hope we’ll be able to bluff our way past the guard.//  --’I was with Don,’ she said, deciding to bluff it out  (=continue to pretend something) .//  bluff sb into (doing) sth (=make someone do something by deceiving them) //\nbluff 2 n   [Sense: 1-2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  BLUFF1]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  BLUFF3]//\n  1 [U and C] an attempt to deceive someone by making them think you will do something when you do not intend to do it:  --The threat was only a bluff.//  --Whatever you say, you must do it. This isn’t a game of bluff .//    double bluff//\n  2  call sb’s bluff:  to tell someone to do what they have threatened because you do not believe that they will really do it//\n  3 [C] a very steep cliff or slope:\nbluff 3 adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Early  Dutch blaf  ’flat’]//  a bluff person, usually a man, is pleasant but very direct and does not always consider other people//  --He was a bluff no-nonsense administrator.//


Words: blunder
Meaning:
n [C]   a careless or stupid mistake//  --A last-minute blunder cost them the match.//\nblunder 2 v   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from a  Scandinavian language]//\n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition] to move in an unsteady way, as if you cannot see properly:  blunder about/around//  --Someone was blundering about in the kitchen.//  blunder into/past/through etc sth//  --Phil came blundering down the stairs.//\n  2 [I] to make a big mistake, especially because you have been careless or stupid:  --They blundered badly when they gave him the job.//\n  3 [I always + adverb/preposition] to enter a place or become involved in a difficult situation by mistake:  blunder into//  --Somehow we blundered into the war.//  blunder in//  --He would have agreed if you hadn’t blundered in.//


Words: blunderbuss
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Early  Dutch donderbus, from  donder  ’thunder’ +  bus  ’gun’; influenced by  blunder]//  a type of gun used in the past//


Words: Blunt
Meaning:
Anthony   (1907-1983) a British man who was an art historian and director of the Courtauld Institute of Art. In 1979 it was found out that he was a  spy for the Soviet Union when he was a student and during World War II, when he worked in British Intelligence//


Words: blunt
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old Norse blundr  ’sleeping’]//\n  1 not sharp or pointed:  → sharp//  --Sharpen all your blunt knives.//  --a blunt pencil//\n  2 speaking in an honest way even if this upsets people:    bluntly//  --To be blunt, many of the candidates cannot read or write.//  --Julian’s blunt words hurt her.//\n  3  blunt instrument:  a) a heavy object that is used to hit someone//  --The victim suffered a blow to the head from a blunt instrument.//  b) a method of doing something that does not work very well because it has a lot of other effects which you do not want//  --The mini-exams in English, science, and maths are a blunt instrument which will reveal little about children’s abilities.//  -- bluntness n  [U] //\nblunt 2 v [T] \n  1 to make a feeling less strong:  --The bad weather blunted their enthusiasm for camping.//\n  2 to make the point of a pencil or the edge of a knife less sharp:


Words: bluntly
Meaning:
adv   speaking in a direct honest way that sometimes upsets people//  --’You’re drunk,’ she said bluntly.//  -- To put it bluntly , she’s not up to the job.//


Words: blur
Meaning:
n [C usually singular] \n  1 a shape that you cannot see clearly:  blur of//  --I just saw the blur of the car as it passed in front of me.//  --The island was a faint blur through misty rain.//\n  2 something that you cannot remember clearly:  --The days before the accident were a blur.//\nblur 2   past tense and past participle  blurred present participle  blurring  v [I and T] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  blear;   BLEARY]//\n  1 to become difficult to see or to make something difficult to see, because the edges are not clear:  --The street lights were blurred by the fog.//  --Many of the details in the picture are blurred.//\n  2 to be unable to see clearly:  --Tears blurred her eyes .//  --His vision was blurred .//\n  3 to make the difference between two ideas, subjects etc less clear:  --His films blur the boundaries between fact and fiction.//  --The design of the conservatory is meant to blur the distinction between the house and the garden.//  -- blurry adj //  --a few blurry photos of their holiday together//    blurred//


Words: blurb
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  An invented word]//  a short description giving information about a book, new product etc//


Words: blurred
Meaning:
adj \n  1 unclear in shape, or making it difficult to see shapes:  --a blurred photo//\n  2 difficult to remember or understand clearly:  --blurred memories//


Words: blurt
Meaning:
v   blurt out [blurt sth → out] phr v//  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from the sound of sudden speech]//  to say something suddenly and without thinking, usually because you are nervous or excited//  --Peter blurted the news out before we could stop him.//


Words: blush
Meaning:
v [I]   [Language: Old English; Origin: blyscan  ’to become red’, from  blysa  ’flame’]//\n  1 to become red in the face, usually because you are embarrassed:  --Wilson saw she was watching him and blushed.//  --Joan blushed at the unexpected compliment.//  --Kate blushed scarlet.//\n  2 to feel ashamed or embarrassed about something:  blush to do sth//  --I blush to admit that I haven’t read it.//\n  3  sth that would make sb blush:  something so shocking that it would shock someone who is not normally easily shocked//  --language that would make a sailor blush//\n  4  the blushing bride:  a young woman on her wedding day - used humorously//  -- blushingly adv //\nblush 2 n \n  1 [C] the red colour on your face that appears when you are embarrassed:  --Donald felt a blush warm his cheeks.//  --She bent her head to hide her blushes.//\n  2  at first blush:   literary when first thought of or considered//  --At first blush, this sounds like good news.//    spare sb’s blushes at spare2 (10)//


Words: bluster
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Probably from  Middle Low German blusteren]//\n  1 [I and T] to speak in a loud angry way that is not really very impressive:  --’That’s hardly the point,’ he blustered.//\n  2 [I] if the wind blusters, it blows violently:  -- bluster n  [U] //  -- blustering adj //  --blustering wintry weather//


Words: Blyton
Meaning:
Enid   (1897-1978) a British writer of books for children, who invented the characters  Noddy, the  Famous Five, and the Secret Seven//\nBM 1   an abbreviation for the British Museum//


Words: BMA
Meaning:
the   the British Medical Association an organization that represents medical doctors in the UK. There is a similar organization in the US called the A.M.A.//


Words: BMJ
Meaning:
the   the British Medical Journal a magazine for doctors, nurses, and others in the medical profession//


Words: BMW
Meaning:
trademark \n  1 a German company which makes high quality cars and powerful  motorcycles:\n  2 a car made by BMW:


Words: BMX
Meaning:
trademark   a type of bicycle designed to be ridden over rough ground, with a strong frame and small wide wheels //


Words: boa
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin]//\n  1  also boa constrictor :  a large snake that is not poisonous, but kills animals by crushing them//\n  2 a feather boa:


Words: board
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 information:\n   2 for putting things on:\n   3 group of people:\n   4 in names:\n   5 in building:\n   6 on board:\n   7 meals:\n   8 go by the board:\n   9 in water sports:\n  10 across the board:\n  11 take something on board:\n  12 electricity:\n  13 theatre:\n  14 sports area:\n  15 college/medical boards:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: bord]//\n  1 [C] INFORMATION:  a flat wide piece of wood, plastic etc that you can use to show information//  on a board//  --The plan of the new building is displayed on a board at the back of the room.//  --I’ve put a list of names up on the board.//  --I’ll check the departure board for train times.//    billboard,  blackboard,  noticeboard,  scoreboard//  2 FOR PUTTING THINGS ON//   [C] a flat piece of wood, plastic, card etc that you use for a particular purpose such as cutting things on, or for playing indoor games//  --Martha was chopping vegetables on a wooden board.//  --a chess board//    breadboard,  cheeseboard,  chopping board//\n  3  also  Board:  GROUP OF PEOPLE//   [C also + plural verb]  BrE a group of people in a company or other organization who make the rules and important decisions//  --a board meeting//  --a board member //  board of//  --The Board of Directors met yesterday.//  --There was disagreement among the agency’s board of governors.//  --The decision was discussed and agreed at board level.//  sit on a board/have a seat on a board (=be a member of a board) //  --He gave up his seat on the board after 40 years.//\n  4 IN NAMES:   Board//  used in the name of some organizations//  --the New York State Board of Elections//  --the British Boxing Board of Control//\n  5 IN BUILDING:   [C] a long thin flat piece of wood used for making floors, walls, fences etc//  --We’ll have to take the boards up to check the wiring.//    floorboard//\n  6  on board:  a) on a ship, plane, or spacecraft//   aboard//  --There are 12 children on board the ship.//  b) involved with something or working for an organization//  --Supporters of the treaty say that it will be necessary to have the United States on board.//  --He came on board in the late Sixties and spent two decades with the agency.//\n  7 MEALS:   [U] the meals that are provided for you when you pay to stay somewhere//  --In the nursing home she will have to pay for room and board .//  --The landlord provides board and lodging  (=meals and a place to stay) .//    full board,  half board//\n  8  go by the board:  if an idea, way of behaving, or plan goes by the board, it fails to happen, ends, or is no longer possible//  --It seems that loyalty has gone by the board.//\n  9 IN WATER SPORTS:   [C] a surfboard or sailboard//\n  10  across the board:  if something happens or is done across the board, it affects everyone in a particular group, place etc//  --The changes will affect local authorities across the board.//  --We find jobs for people right across the board from chief executives to cleaners.//\n  11  take sth on board:  to listen to and accept a suggestion, idea etc//  --The school refused to take any of the parents’ criticisms on board.//\n  12 ELECTRICITY:   [C] a circuit board//\n  13 THEATRE:   the boards [plural] the stage in a theatre//    tread the boards at tread1 (7)//\n  14 SPORTS AREA:   boards [plural]  AmE the low wooden wall around the area in which you play ice hockey//\n  15  college/medical boards:   AmE examinations that you take in the US when you formally ask to be accepted as a student at a college or medical school//    above board,  diving board,  drawing board,  ironing board,  sounding board,  sweep the board at sweep1 (11)//\nboard 2 v \n  1 [I and T]  formal to get on a bus, plane, train etc in order to travel somewhere:  --The couple boarded the train for New York.//  --Passengers were standing on the dock, waiting to board.//\n  2  be boarding:  if a plane or ship is boarding, passengers are getting onto it//  --Olympic Airways Flight 172 to Istanbul is now boarding at Gate No. 37.//\n  3 [I always + adverb/preposition] to stay in a room in someone’s house that you pay for:  --Several students boarded with Mrs. Smith.//\n  4 [I] to stay at a school at night as well as during the day:  --Dickie was sent away to school as soon as he was old enough to board.//  board out [board sth → out] phr v//  to pay money and arrange for an animal to stay somewhere//  --We’ll have to board the cat out while we’re away.//  board up [board sth → up] phr v//  to cover a window or door, or all the windows and doors of a building, with wooden boards//  --The shop was boarded up.//


Words: Board of Education
Meaning:
in the US, a group of people who are elected to make decisions about how schools and colleges are managed, and about how children are educated in a particular  county or state//


Words: boarder
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a student who stays at a school during the night, as well as during the day:    day pupil//\n  2 someone who pays to live in another person’s house with some or all of their meals provided:   lodger//


Words: boarding
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the act of getting on a ship, plane etc in order to travel somewhere:  --Boarding is now taking place at Gate 38.//\n  2 narrow pieces of wood that are fixed side by side, usually to cover a broken door or window:


Words: boarding pass
Meaning:
also boarding card  BrE  n [C]   an official card that you have to show before you get onto a plane//


Words: boast
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: bost  ’boasting’]//\n  1 [I and T] to talk too proudly about your abilities, achievements, or possessions:  --’I wouldn’t be afraid,’ she boasted.//  boast that//  --Amy boasted that her son was a genius.//  boast about//  --He’s boasting about how much money he has made.//  boast of//  --The company is inclined to boast of its success.//\n  2 [T not in progressive] if a place, object, or organization boasts something, it has something that is very good:  --The city boasts two excellent museums.//  --The Society boasts 3000 members worldwide.//  -- boaster n  [C] //\nboast 2 n [C]   something that you like telling people because you are proud of it//  --It is the company’s proud boast that it can deal with all a customer’s needs in one phone call.//  --Philip’s boast is that he started out without any outside financial backing.//  an empty/idle/vain boast (=a false statement that something is good or possible) //  --She claimed that she could beat anyone, but it was an empty boast.//  --’Making knowledge work’ is the university’s phrase, and it is no idle boast (=not a boast, but true) .//


Words: boat
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bat]//\n  1 a vehicle that travels across water:  --If we had a boat, we could row across to the island.//  --a fishing boat//  on/in a boat//  --MacKay said he would sleep on his boat.//  by boat//  --Some of the beaches can only be reached by boat.//  --The tour includes boat trips up the river.//    lifeboat,  motorboat,  powerboat,  rowing boat,  speedboat,  steamboat//\n  2  informal a ship, especially one that carries passengers:  --We’re taking the night boat to St. Malo.//\n  3  be in the same boat (as sb):  to be in the same unpleasant situation as someone else//  --Everyone has lost their job. We’re all in the same boat.//    gravy boat,  sauce boat,  burn your bridges/boats at burn1 (18),  miss the boat at miss1 (14),  push the boat out at push1 (15),  rock the boat at rock2 (3)//


Words: Boat Race
Meaning:
the   a rowing race on the River Thames in Britain, held every year between teams from Oxford University and Cambridge University//


Words: boater
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Because it was originally used for boating]//  a hard straw hat with a flat top//


Words: boating
Meaning:
n [U]   the activity of travelling in a small boat for pleasure//  --Let’s go boating on the lake.//


Words: boatman
Meaning:
n   plural  boatmen /-m[hA353]n/ [C] //  a man who you pay to take you out in a boat or for the use of a boat//


Words: boatswain
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: boat +  swain  ’boy, servant’ (13-17 centuries) (  SWAIN)]//  another spelling of bosun//


Words: Bob
Meaning:
n   Bob’s your uncle!//   BrE  spoken used to say that something will be easy to do//  --Just copy the disk, and Bob’s your uncle!//\nbob 1 v   past tense and past participle  bobbed present participle  bobbing //  ----------//\n   1 move on water:\n   2 move somewhere:\n   3 bob your head:\n   4 cut hair:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-3; Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  bob  ’to hit, punch’ (13-19 centuries), from the sound.]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  BOB21]//\n  1 MOVE ON WATER:   [I] to move up and down when floating on the surface of water//  --The boat bobbed gently up and down on the water.//\n  2 MOVE SOMEWHERE:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to move quickly in a particular direction//  --Mrs Foster bobbed about, gathering up her things.//\n  3  bob your head:  to move your head down quickly as a way of showing respect, greeting someone, or agreeing with them//  --He spoke rapidly to the girl, who bobbed her head.//\n  4 CUT HAIR:   [T] to cut someone’s, especially a woman’s, hair in a bob//  --her neatly bobbed hair//\nbob 2 n [C]   [Sense: 1; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bob  ’bunch (of hair)’ (14-20 centuries), perhaps from  Scottish Gaelic baban]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  BOB1]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  Bob, an informal name for someone called  Robert]//\n  1 a way of cutting hair so that it hangs to the level of your chin and is the same length all the way round your head:\n  2 a quick up and down movement of your head or body, to show respect, agreement, greeting etc:  --The maid gave a little bob and left the room.//\n  3 [plural]  informal a shilling (=coin used in the past in Britain) :  --At last I’m making a few bob (=a reasonable amount of money) .//    bits and bobs at bit2 (7)//


Words: bobbin
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: bobine]//  a small round object that you wind thread onto, especially for a sewing machine//    spool, reel//


Words: bobble
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a small soft ball, usually made of wool, that is used especially for decorating clothes//  --Her pullover had bobbles on the front.//  -- bobbly adj //\nbobble 2 v   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  BOB11]//\n  1 [T]  AmE to drop or hold a ball in an uncontrolled way:   fumble//\n  2 [I]  BrE if a piece of clothing bobbles, especially a sweater, it forms little balls on the surface of the cloth after it has been worn or washed:  American Equivalent:  pill//


Words: bobby
Meaning:
n   plural  bobbies  [C]  BrE  informal  old-fashioned //  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Bobby, form of the male name  Robert, from Sir  Robert Peel (1788-1850), who reorganized the London police force]//  a policeman//


Words: bobby pin
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from   BOB21]//   AmE a thin piece of metal bent into a narrow U shape that you use to hold your hair in place//  British Equivalent:  hairgrip//


Words: bobby socks
Meaning:
bobby sox n [plural]  AmE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from  bob  ’short’;   BOBCAT]//  girls’ short socks that have the tops turned over//


Words: bobcat
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bob  ’short’ (18-19 centuries) (probably from BOBTAIL; because it has no tail) +  cat]//  a large North American wild cat that has no tail//   lynx//


Words: bobsleigh
Meaning:
1 [C] a small vehicle with two long thin metal blades instead of wheels, that is used for racing down a special ice track:\n  2 [U] a sports event in which people race against each other in bobsleighs:  --Sixteen teams took part in the 400m bobsleigh.//  -- bobsleigh v  [I] //


Words: bobwhite
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  From the sound it makes]//  a bird from North America, often shot for sport//   quail//


Words: Boccaccio
Meaning:
Giovanni   (1313-75) an Italian writer whose book of stories called  The Decameron had an important influence on European literature//


Words: bod
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: body]//\n  1  BrE  spoken a person:  --He’s a clever bod.//\n  2  informal someone’s body:  --She’s got a lovely bod.//\n  3  odd bod:   informal a strange person//  --He’s a bit of an odd bod but very pleasant.//


Words: bode
Meaning:
v   [Sense: 2; Origin: Old English bodian]//\n  1 the past tense of bide:\n  2  bode well/ill (for sb/sth):  to be a good or bad sign for the future//  --The opinion polls do not bode well for the Democrats.//


Words: bodge
Meaning:
n  also bodge up  [singular]    spoken a mistake or something that is not as good as it should be//    botch//  --The builders have made a complete bodge of the kitchen.//  -- bodge v  [T] //


Words: bodice
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: bodies, plural of  body]//\n  1 the part of a woman’s dress above her waist:\n  2 a tight-fitting woman’s waistcoat worn over a blouse in former times:\n  3  old use a piece of woman’s underwear that covers the upper part of her body:   corset//


Words: bodily
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   related to the human body//  --Many bodily changes occur during adolescence.//  --bodily sensations//\nbodily 2 adv \n  1 by moving the whole of your or someone else’s body:  --He lifted the child bodily aboard.//\n  2 by moving a large object in one piece:  --The column was transferred bodily to a new site by the bank of the river.//


Words: bodkin
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  Welsh bidog or  Scottish Gaelic biodag  ’knife used as a weapon’]//  a long thick needle without a point//


Words: Bodleian Library
Meaning:
the Bodleian Library//   also  the Bodleian//  the university library of Oxford University, which has many of the country’s oldest and most famous books and papers//


Words: body
Meaning:
n   plural  bodies //  artery, brain, fatty, tissue, heart, kidney, intestine, intestine2, small, large, liver, lung, muscles, stomach, vein, throat//  ----------//\n   1 people/animals:\n   2 dead person:\n   3 group:\n   4 body of something:\n   5 body of water:\n   6 middle part:\n   7 vehicle:\n   8 object:\n   9 hair:\n  10 taste:\n  11 full/medium/light bodied:\n  12 long/thick etc bodied etc:\n  13 keep body and soul together:\n  14 body and soul:\n  15 instrument:\n  16 clothing:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: bodig]//\n  1 PEOPLE/ANIMALS:   [C] the physical structure of a person or animal//  --the human body//  --My fingers were numb and my whole body ached.//  body weight/temperature/size //  --Your body temperature is higher in the daytime than at night.//  --For their body size, these birds lay very small eggs.//  --He needs to overcome a negative body image  (=what you think about your own body) .//\n  2 DEAD PERSON:   [C] the dead body of a person//  --A dog found the body of a girl in the woods.//  --Laura had never seen a dead body before.//\n  3 GROUP:   [C] a group of people who work together to do a particular job or who are together for a particular purpose//  --The British Medical Association is the doctors’ professional body.//  body of//  --There were reports of a large body of armed men near the border.//  --Kaplan served on the governing body of the museum (=the group who control the museum) .//  --The student body  (=all the students in a school or college) numbers 5000.//  --The research will be used by government departments and other public bodies  (=groups whose work is connected to the government) .//  in a body (=as a group, together) //  --The women moved towards the building in a body.//\n  4  body of sth:  a) a large amount or mass of something, especially something that has been collected//  body of knowledge/evidence/opinion etc //  --There is now a considerable body of knowledge of the different stages of childhood.//  --There is a growing body of evidence that charges are too high.//  b) the main, central, or most important part of something//  --The arguments are explained in the body of the text.//  --Leave three blank lines between the date and the body of the letter.//\n  5  body of water:  a large area of water such as a lake//  --The city was built near a large body of water.//\n  6 MIDDLE PART:   [C] the central part of a person or animal’s body, not including the head, arms, legs or wings//  --Nick had bruises on his face and body.//  --The bird has a small body and long wings.//\n  7 VEHICLE:   [C] the main structure of a vehicle not including the engine, wheels etc//  --Workers at the factory are making steel bodies for cars.//\n  8 OBJECT:   [C]  technical an object that is separate from other objects//  --Keep the caps on the bottles to prevent foreign bodies entering them (=objects that should not be there) .//    heavenly body at heavenly(3)//\n  9 HAIR:   [U] if your hair has body, it is thick and healthy//  --This shampoo will give more body to your hair.//\n  10 TASTE:   [U] if food or an alcoholic drink has body, it has a strong flavour (=taste) //  --A small amount of tomato paste will give extra colour and body to the sauce.//\n  11  full/medium/light bodied:  used to describe how much taste an alcoholic drink has, with a full bodied drink having the strongest taste//  --a full bodied wine//\n  12  long/thick etc bodied etc:  having a long, thick etc body//  --a slim bodied orange-gold fish//    able-bodied//\n  13  keep body and soul together:  to continue to exist with only just enough food, money etc//  --He’s working at the shop to keep body and soul together//\n  14  body and soul:  a) completely//  --She threw herself body and soul into her work.//  b) the whole of a person//  --They think they own the employees, body and soul.//\n  15 INSTRUMENT:   [C] the wide part of a musical instrument such as a violin or guitar, or of a sports racket (=bat) //  --The guitar is 16 inches wide across the body.//\n  16 CLOTHING:   [C]  BrE body suit  AmE a type of tight fitting shirt worn by women that fastens between their legs//    over my dead body at dead1 (11)//


Words: body bag
Meaning:
n [C]   a large bag in which a dead body is removed//  --No pictures of dead soldiers, body bags, or coffins were allowed.//


Words: body blow
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a serious loss, disappointment, or defeat:    blow//  --Hopes of economic recovery were dealt a body blow by this latest announcement.//\n  2 a hard hit between your neck and waist during a fight:


Words: body building
Meaning:
n [U]   an activity in which you do hard physical exercise in order to develop big muscles//  -- body builder n  [C] //


Words: body clock
Meaning:
n [C]   the system in your body that controls types of behaviour which happen at regular times, such as sleeping or eating//   biological clock//


Words: body count
Meaning:
n [C]   the number of dead soldiers after a period of fighting, or the process of counting their bodies//


Words: body double
Meaning:
n [C]   someone whose body appears instead of an actor’s or actress’s in a film, especially in scenes where they are not wearing any clothes//    double//


Words: body language
Meaning:
n [U]   changes in your body position and movements that show what you are feeling or thinking//  --It was obvious from Luke’s body language that he was nervous.//


Words: body piercing
Meaning:
n [U]   making a hole in a part of the body in order to fix a ring or other piece of jewellery to the body//


Words: body politic
Meaning:
n [singular]  formal   all the people in a nation forming a state under the control of a single government//


Words: body search
Meaning:
n [C]   a thorough search for drugs, weapons etc, that might be hidden on someone’s body//  --Everyone entering the building had a body search.//  -- body-search v  [T] //


Words: body suit
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a type of tight fitting shirt worn by women that fastens between their legs//  British Equivalent:  body//


Words: body warmer
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a piece of warm clothing without arms that you wear over a  sweater or a shirt, especially when you are outside//  --a woolly fleece body warmer//


Words: bodyguard
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone whose job is to protect an important person:  --The Senator arrived, surrounded by personal bodyguards.//\n  2 a group of people who work together to protect an important person:


Words: bodywork
Meaning:
n [U]   the metal frame of a vehicle, not including the engine, wheels etc//  --The bodywork’s beginning to rust.//


Words: Boeing
Meaning:
trademark   a US company that makes aircraft. Its passenger planes, such as the Boeing 747, are the most common ones used by  airlines//


Words: Boer
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Afrikaans; Origin: Dutch boer  ’farmer’]//  a white South African whose family is related to the Dutch people who settled in South Africa in the 1600s//    Afrikaner//


Words: Boer War
Meaning:
the  also  the South African War   (1899-1902) a war in South Africa in which the British army successfully fought against two Boer  republics called the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, and made them part of the British Empire//


Words: boffin
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  informal \n  1 a scientist:\n  2 someone who is very clever:  --He was always a bit of a boffin, even at school.//  -- computer boffins //


Words: bog
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Scottish Gaelic; Origin: bogach, from  bog  ’soft’]//\n  1 [U and C] an area of low wet muddy ground, sometimes containing bushes or grasses:    marsh, swamp//\n  2 [C]  BrE  informal a toilet:\nbog 2 v   past tense and past participle  bogged present participle  bogging //  bog down [bog sb/sth → down] phr v//\n  1 if a process or plan becomes bogged down, it is delayed so that no progress is made:  --Talks to settle the pay dispute have become bogged down.//  bog somebody/something → down in//  --Don’t let yourself get bogged down in minor details.//\n  2 if something gets bogged down, it becomes stuck in soft ground and is unable to move:  --The car got bogged down in the mud.//  bog off phr v//  used to tell someone rudely to go away//  --Just bog off and leave me alone!//


Words: bog-standard
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  BrE  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Perhaps from  box-standard  ’of the standard type, packed in an ordinary box’]//  not special or interesting in any way//   average//


Words: bogey bogie
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bogle  ’evil spirit’ (16-20 centuries), from  bug  ’something causing great fear’ (14-18 centuries)]//\n  1  technical when you take one more shot than par (=the usual number of shots)  to get the ball into the hole in golf:    birdie, eagle//\n  2 a problem or difficult situation that makes you feel anxious:  bogey of//  --the bogey of recession//\n  3  BrE  informal a piece of mucus from inside your nose:\n  4 a bogeyman:


Words: bogeyman
Meaning:
n   plural  bogeymen /-men/ [C] //\n  1 an evil spirit, especially in children’s imagination or stories:\n  2 someone who people think is evil or unpleasant:  --Manson was and remains America’s number one bogeyman.//


Words: boggle
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from  bogle;   BOGEY]//  the/your mind boggles//   also sth makes the/your mind boggle //   also sth boggles the/your mind //   informal if your mind boggles when you think of something, it is difficult for you to imagine or accept it//  --The sheer amount of data makes the mind boggle.//  the/your mind boggles at//  --My mind boggles at the amount of work still to do.//


Words: bogie
Meaning:
n [C]   a bogey//\nbogie 2 v [T]   to use one more than par (=the usual number of strokes)  to get the ball into the hole in golf//


Words: bogus
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bogus  ’machine for making illegal money’ (1800-1900)]//  not true or real, although someone is trying to make you think it is//   false//  --bogus insurance claims//  --bogus applications for asylum//


Words: bohemian
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Bohemian  ’of Bohemia, area and former country in the Czech Republic’; because of an association between Bohemia and traveling artists and gypsies]//  living in a very informal or relaxed way and not accepting society’s rules of behaviour//  --bohemian cafes frequented by artists, musicians, and actors//  -- bohemian n  [C] //


Words: Bohr
Meaning:
Niels Henrik David   (1885-1962) a Danish scientist who made important discoveries in  nuclear physics, especially discoveries about the structure of atoms//


Words: boil
Meaning:
S3   v   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: boillir, from  Latin bullire, from  bulla  ’bubble’]//\n  1 [I and T] when a liquid boils, or when you boil it, it becomes hot enough to turn into gas:  boil at//  --The solution boiled at 57.4[hA131]C.//  --Put the spaghetti into plenty of boiling salted water.//  --We were advised to boil the water before drinking it.//\n  2 [I and T] to cook something in boiling water:  --a boiled egg//  --Boil the rice for 15 minutes.//  --She fried the chicken and put the vegetables on to boil .//\n  3 [I and T] if something containing liquid boils, the liquid inside it is boiling:  --The kettle’s boiling - shall I turn it off?//  --The saucepan boiled dry on the stove.//\n  4 [T] to wash something, using boiling water:  --I always boil the cotton sheets.//\n  5 [I] if you are boiling with anger, you are extremely angry:  boil with//  --Lewis was boiling with rage and misery.//    boiling point(2),  make sb’s blood boil at blood1 (4)//  boil away phr v//  if a liquid boils away, it disappears because it has been heated too much//  --The soup’s almost boiled away.//  boil down phr v//\n  1  boil down to sth:   informal if a long statement, argument etc boils down to a single statement, that statement is the main point or cause//  --Think of the money you can make - that’s what it all boils down to.//  --It boils down to a question of priorities.//\n  2  boil sth → down:  to make a list or piece of writing shorter by not including anything that is not necessary//  --You can boil this down so that there are just two main categories.//\n  3 if a food or liquid boils down, or if you boil it down, it becomes less after it is cooked:  --Spinach tends to boil down a lot.//  boil sth → down//  --glue made from boiling down old sheepskins//  boil over phr v//\n  1 if a liquid boils over when it is heated, it rises and flows over the side of the container:  --The milk was boiling over on the stove behind her.//\n  2 if a situation or an emotion boils over, the people involved stop being calm:  --All the bitterness of the last two years seemed to boil over.//  boil over into//  --Anger eventually boils over into words and actions that are later regretted.//  boil up phr v//\n  1 if a situation or emotion boils up, bad feelings grow until they reach a dangerous level:  --She could sense that trouble was boiling up at work.//  --He could feel the anger boiling up inside him.//\n  2  boil sth → up:  to heat food or a liquid until it begins to boil//  --Boil the fruit up with sugar.//\nboil 2 n   [Sense: 1,3; Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  BOIL1]//  [Sense: 2; Origin: Old English byl]//\n  1  the boil:   BrE a boil  AmE the act or state of boiling//  --Add the seasoning and bring the sauce to the boil .//  --She waited for the water to come to the boil  (=begin to boil) .//\n  2 [C] a painful infected swelling under someone’s skin:  --The boy’s body is covered in boils.//\n  3  go off the boil:   BrE to become less good at something that you are usually very good at//  --He’s gone off the boil after a tournament win in Dubai.//


Words: boiler
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   a container for boiling water that is part of a steam engine, or is used to provide heating in a house//


Words: boiler room
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a room in a large building where the building’s boiler is:\n  2  AmE  informal a room or office where people sell shares or services on the telephone, using unfair and sometimes dishonest methods:


Words: boiler suit
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a piece of loose clothing like trousers and a shirt joined together, that you wear over your clothes to protect them when you are working//    overalls//


Words: boilerplate
Meaning:
n [U and C]  AmE   a standard piece of writing or a design for something that can be easily used each time you need it, for example in business or legal documents//    template//  --a boilerplate for a fax message//  --lawyers selling boilerplate wills//


Words: boiling
Meaning:
S3   adj    spoken very hot//  → freezing//  --Can I open a window? It’s boiling in here.//  --It was a boiling hot morning.//


Words: boiling point
Meaning:
n [C usually singular] \n  1 the temperature at which a liquid boils:\n  2 a point where people can no longer deal calmly with a problem:    flashpoint//  --Relations between the two countries have almost reached boiling point .//


Words: boisterous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: boistous  ’rough’ (14-16 centuries), from  Old French boistos]//  someone, especially a child, who is boisterous makes a lot of noise and has a lot of energy//  --a class of boisterous five year olds//


Words: bok choy
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Chinese; Origin: paak ts’oi  ’white vegetable’]//  another spelling of pak choi//


Words: bold
Meaning:
adj   comparative  bolder superlative  boldest //  ----------//\n   1 person/action:\n   2 manner/appearance:\n   3 colours/shapes:\n   4 lines/writing:\n   5 printed letters:\n   6 make/be so bold (as to do something):\n   7 if I may be so bold:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: beald]//\n  1 PERSON/ACTION:  not afraid of taking risks and making difficult decisions//  --In a surprisingly bold move , he is threatening court action against the company.//  --My aunt Flo was a bold determined woman.//  --He had the ability to take bold imaginative decisions.//\n  2 MANNER/APPEARANCE:  so confident or determined that you sometimes offend people//  --You should be feeling confident and bold when you meet your bank manager.//  --She marched into his office as bold as brass  (=very confident and not showing enough respect) .//\n  3 COLOURS/SHAPES:  very strong or bright so that you notice them//  --bold geometric shapes//  --Stripes are bold, bright, and fun to wear.//  --bold colours//\n  4 LINES/WRITING:  written or drawn in a very clear way//  --an envelope addressed to her in a bold black hand//  --The graphics are bold and colourful.//  --The print should be bold and easy to read.//\n  5 PRINTED LETTERS:  printed in letters that are darker and thicker than ordinary printed letters//  --All the headings are in bold type.//\n  6  make/be so bold (as to do sth):   formal to do something that other people feel is rude or not acceptable//  --I see that you have been so bold as to ask for food at this late hour.//\n  7  if I may be so bold:   BrE  spoken  formal used when asking someone a question, to show that you are slightly annoyed with them//  --Tell me, if I may be so bold as to ask, precisely what you are talking about.//  -- boldly adv //  -- boldness n  [U] //


Words: boldface
Meaning:
n [U]    technical a way of printing letters that makes them thicker and darker than normal//  -- boldfaced adj //  -- boldface adj //


Words: bole
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old Norse; Origin: bolr]//   literary the main part of a tree//   trunk//


Words: bolero
Meaning:
n   plural  boleros  [C] //  a type of Spanish dance, or the music for this dance//\nbolero 2   n   plural  boleros  [C] //  a short jacket for a woman//


Words: Boleyn
Meaning:
Anne   (1507-36) the second wife of the English king  Henry VIII, who was the mother of Queen Elizabeth I//


Words: Bolivar
Meaning:
Simon   (1783-1830) also called the Liberator; a soldier and political leader who, at the time when many parts of South America were ruled by Spain, fought against the Spanish army and won independence for Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador//


Words: Bolivia
Meaning:
a country with many mountains in the western part of South America, surrounded by Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Paraguay. Population: 8,300,000 (2001). Capital: La Paz.//  -- Bolivian n  adj //


Words: boll
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: bolle  ’bowl, bubble’]//  the part of a cotton plant that contains the seeds//


Words: bollard
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  bole]//\n  1  BrE a short thick post in the street that is used to stop traffic entering an area or to show a junction more clearly:\n  2 a thick stone or metal post used for tying ships to when they are in port:


Words: bollock
Meaning:
v [T]    BrE  spoken  informal to tell someone angrily that you do not like what they have done//  --I’ll bollock him for sticking his rubbish in my cupboard.//


Words: bollocking
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE  spoken  informal when someone tells you that they are very angry with you//  --I expect I’ll get a right bollocking from my boss when she finds out.//


Words: bollocks
Meaning:
n [plural]  BrE  spoken  informal   [Language: Old English; Origin: beallucas  ’testicles’]//\n  1 used to say rudely that you think something is wrong or stupid:   rubbish//  --Your lyrics are complete bollocks; they don’t actually mean anything, do they?//  --She’s just talking a load of old bollocks .//\n  2 a word used to emphasize that you are annoyed or angry:  --Oh bollocks! We’ve missed it.//\n  3  bollocks to you/that/it etc:  used when you refuse to accept or obey something//  --Yeah well bollocks to you too mate!//\n  4 the two round male organs that produce sperm:   testicle//


Words: Bollywood
Meaning:
n [U]   an informal name for the Indian film industry, based on the names ’Hollywood’ and ’Bombay’, the city where most popular Indian films are made//


Words: bolo tie
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from  bolo  ’long heavy knife’ (20-21 centuries), from  Philippine Spanish]//  a string worn around your neck that you fasten with a decoration//


Words: Bologna
Meaning:
the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in north central Italy, built below a group of mountains called the Apennines//


Words: bologna
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Bologna Italian city]//  a type of cooked meat often eaten in sandwiches//


Words: Bolshevik
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Russian; Origin: bol’shevik, from  bol’she  ’larger’; because they formed the largest group in the Communist party]//\n  1 someone who supported the communist party at the time of the Russian Revolution in 1917:\n  2  old-fashioned an insulting way of talking about a communist or someone who has strong left-wing opinions:  -- bolshevik adj //


Words: bolshie
Meaning:
bolshy/b[hA353][hA35E]l[hA35D]i $ bo[hA35E]l-/ adj  BrE  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Bolshevik]//  tending to be angry or annoyed and not to obey people//  --There’s no need to be so bolshie.//  -- bolshiness n  [U] //


Words: bolster
Meaning:
v  also bolster up  [T] \n  1 to help someone to feel better and more positive:  --He is making a bold attempt to bolster the territory’s confidence.//\n  2 to improve something:  --his efforts to bolster his career//\nbolster 2 n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin:]//  a long firm pillow, usually shaped like a tube//


Words: bolt
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 lock:\n   2 screw:\n   3 a bolt from (out of) the blue:\n   4 bolt of lightning:\n   5 make a bolt for it:\n   6 weapon:\n   7 cloth:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: ’short arrow’]//\n  1 LOCK:  a metal bar that you slide across a door or window to fasten it//  2 SCREW//  a screw with a flat head and no point, for fastening things together//\n  3  a bolt from (out of) the blue:  news that is sudden and unexpected//  --Was this money a bolt from the blue or did you know you were going to get it?//\n  4  bolt of lightning:  lightning that appears as a white line in the sky//  --There’s not much left of his house after it was struck by a bolt of lightning .//    thunderbolt//\n  5  make a bolt for it:   BrE to suddenly try to escape from somewhere//  --They attacked the driver and he straightaway made a bolt for it.//\n  6 WEAPON:  a short heavy arrow that is fired from a crossbow//\n  7 CLOTH:  a large long roll of cloth//    have shot your bolt at shoot1 (24),  the nuts and bolts of sth at nut1 (6)//\nbolt 2 v \n  1 [I] to suddenly run somewhere very quickly, especially in order to escape or because you are frightened:  --The horse reared up and bolted.//  --Kevin had bolted through the open window.//\n  2 [T]  also bolt down :  to eat very quickly//   gobble//  --He bolted down his breakfast.//\n  3 [T] to fasten two things together using a bolt:  bolt sth to sth//  --The cell contained an iron bedframe bolted to the floor.//  bolt sth together//  --The boxes were made of heavy panels of metal bolted together.//\n  4 [T] to lock a door or window by sliding a bolt across:\nbolt 3 adv   sit/stand bolt upright//  to sit or stand with your back very straight, often because something has frightened you//  --She sat bolt upright in the back seat during the whole journey.//


Words: bolt-on
Meaning:
adj  especially BrE   bolt-on part/component/extra//  something that is connected to the outside of a machine after it has been made, and is then part of the machine//


Words: bomb
Meaning:
W3S2   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 weapon:\n   2 bad performance/event:\n   3 be the bomb:\n   4 the bomb:\n   5 cost a bomb:\n   6 make a bomb:  ----------//  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: bombe, from  Italian bomba, probably from  Latin bombus  ’deep sound’, from  Greek bombos, from the sound]//\n  1 WEAPON:  a weapon made of material that will explode//  --Fortunately the house was empty when the bomb exploded .//  --The bomb went off at 9.30 in the morning.//  --Enemy planes  dropped  over 200  bombs  during the raid.//  --Terrorists had  planted a bomb  somewhere in the station. //  --One theory is that the  bomb was detonated  by remote control.//  -- Unexploded bombs  were found there as late as the 1960s. //  -- a  bomb attack  on a crowded bus in the city centre//  --The station was closed for six hours following a  bomb threat .//  -- the  bomb blast  that killed one and injured more than 100 people//    atomic bomb,  car bomb,  cluster bomb,  hydrogen bomb,  letter bomb,  neutron bomb,  nuclear bomb,  parcel bomb,  petrol bomb,  smart bomb,  smoke bomb,  stink bomb,  time bomb//\n  2 BAD PERFORMANCE/EVENT:   AmE  informal a play, film, event etc that is not successful//  --This is just another one of Hollywood’s bland and boring bombs.//\n  3  be the bomb:   informal to be very good or exciting//  --That new P Diddy CD is the bomb.//\n  4  the bomb:  used to describe nuclear weapons, and especially the hydrogen bomb//  --Voices of dissent began to rise against the bomb.//\n  5  cost a bomb:   BrE  informal to cost a lot of money//\n  6  make a bomb:   BrE  informal to get a lot of money by doing something//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  a bomb explodes/goes off //  drop a bomb //  plant a bomb  (=leave a bomb somewhere) //  detonate a bomb (=make a bomb explode) //  unexploded bomb //  bomb attack //  bomb threat //  bomb blast //  ----------//\nbomb 2 v \n  1 [T] to attack a place by leaving a bomb there, or by dropping bombs on it from a plane:  --The town was heavily bombed in World War II.//  --Government aircraft have been bombing civilian areas.//    carpet-bomb,  dive-bomb//\n  2 [I always + adverb/preposition]  BrE  informal to move or drive very quickly:  --Suddenly a police car came bombing down the high street.//\n  3 [I and T]  AmE  informal to fail a test very badly:  --I bombed my midterm.//\n  4 [I]  AmE if a play, film, event etc bombs, it is not successful:  --His latest play bombed on Broadway.//  be bombed out phr v//  if a building or the people in it are bombed out, the building is completely destroyed//  --My family were bombed out in 1941.//


Words: bomb disposal
Meaning:
n [U]   the job of dealing with bombs that have not exploded, and making them safe//  bomb disposal experts/team/squad/unit //  --The device, which contained 400lbs of explosive, was made safe by army bomb disposal experts.//


Words: bomb scare
Meaning:
n [C]   when people have to be moved out of a building because there may be a bomb there//  --a bomb scare in Central London//


Words: bomb site
Meaning:
n [C]   a place where a bomb has destroyed several buildings in a town//  --They’ve pulled down so many buildings around here it looks like a bomb site.//


Words: bombard
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: bombarder, from  bombarde  ’large gun’, probably from  Latin bombus;   BOMB1]//\n  1 to attack a place for a long time using large weapons, bombs etc:  --I had been in action bombarding the Normandy coast.//\n  2 to do something too often or too much, for example criticizing or questioning someone, or giving too much information:  --The office was bombarded by telephone calls.//  bombard sb with sth//  --They bombarded him with questions.//  --Today we are bombarded with advice on what to eat and what to avoid.//


Words: bombardier
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bombardier  ’soldier in charge of a gun’ (16-20 centuries), from  French, from  bombarde;   BOMBARD]//\n  1 the person on a military aircraft responsible for dropping bombs:\n  2 a low rank in the British army:


Words: bombardment
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a continuous attack on a place by big guns and bombs//  --The bombardment continued for a terrible nine hours.//  aerial/artillery/naval bombardment (=attack from the air, land, or sea) //  --The effects of the artillery bombardment were devastating.//


Words: bombastic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: bombast  ’bombastic language’ (16-21 centuries), from  Old French bombace  ’soft material for filling something’, from  Medieval Latin bombax  ’cotton’]//  bombastic language contains long words that sound important but have no real meaning//  --He is best known for three rather bombastic poems.//  -- bombast/b[hA361]mb[zB024]st $ b[hA35A][hA359]m-/ n  [U] //


Words: Bombay
Meaning:
the largest city in India, on the west coast of the country. It is the capital of Maharashtra state, an important port and industrial centre, and the centre of the Indian film industry. The new name for Bombay is Mumbai.//


Words: bombed
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]    informal very drunk or affected by illegal drugs//   stoned//  --I feel like going out and getting completely bombed.//


Words: bomber
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a plane that carries and drops bombs:\n  2 someone who hides a bomb somewhere in order to destroy something:


Words: bombing
Meaning:
n [U and C]   the use of bombs to attack a place//  --The south-west of the country suffered an intensive bombing campaign .//  --They were planning bombing raids in some of America’s major cities.//  --a terrorist network responsible for a wave of bombings in Paris//  bombing of//  --the bombing of Hiroshima//


Words: bombshell
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 an unexpected and very shocking piece of news:  --Then came the bombshell: the factory was to close down.//  --Finally she dropped the bombshell . She was pregnant, she said.//\n  2  blonde bombshell:   humorous a sexually attractive woman with light-coloured hair//


Words: bon appetit
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: bon appetit  ’good appetite’]//  said to someone before they start eating a meal, to tell them you hope they enjoy their food//


Words: bon vivant
Meaning:
[C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: ’person who lives well’]//   formal someone who enjoys good food and wine, and being with people//


Words: bon voyage
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: ’good trip’]//  used to wish someone a good journey//


Words: bona fide
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: ’in good faith’]//  real, true, and not intended to deceive anyone//  --Only bona fide members are allowed to use the club pool.//


Words: bona fides
Meaning:
n [plural]  BrE   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: ’good faith’]//  if you check someone’s bona fides, you check that they are who they say they are, and that their intentions are good and honest//  --The firm required a reference to establish the bona fides of the client.//


Words: bonanza
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Spanish; Origin: ’good weather’, from  Medieval Latin bonacia, changed from  Latin malacia  ’calm at sea’, from  Greek, from  malakos  ’soft’]//  a lucky or successful situation where people can make a lot of money//  --2002 will be a bonanza year for the computer industry.//  --an amazing cash bonanza//


Words: Bond
Meaning:
James   a character in the books by Ian Fleming, and in the films that have been based on these stories. James Bond is a  secret agent who works for the British government and is sometimes called "007".//


Words: bond
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 money:\n   2 relationship:\n   3 bonds:\n   4 with glue:\n   5 chemistry:\n   6 written agreement:\n   7 my word is my bond:\n   8 in/out of bond:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Norse; Origin: band]//\n  1 MONEY:  an official document promising that a government or company will pay back money that it has borrowed, often with interest//  --My father put all his money into stock market bonds.//  --furious trading on the bond market//\n  2 RELATIONSHIP:  something that unites two or more people or groups, such as love, or a shared interest or idea//    tie//  bond between//  --the emotional bond between mother and child//  bond with//  --the United States’ special bond with Britain//  bond of//  --lifelong bonds of family and friendship//\n  3  bonds [plural]  literary something that limits your freedom and prevents you from doing what you want:  bonds of//  --the bonds of fear and guilt//\n  4 WITH GLUE:  the way in which two surfaces become attached to each other using glue//  --Use a glue gun to form a strong bond on wood or china.//\n  5 CHEMISTRY:   technical the chemical force that holds atoms together in a molecule//  --In each methane molecule there are four CH bonds.//\n  6 WRITTEN AGREEMENT:  a written agreement to do something, that makes you legally responsible for doing it//    contract//\n  7  my word is my bond:   formal used to say that you will definitely do what you have promised//\n  8  in/out of bond:   technical in or out of a bonded warehouse//\nbond 2 v \n  1 [I] if two things bond with each other, they become firmly fixed together, especially after they have been joined with glue:  --It takes less than 10 minutes for the two surfaces to bond.//\n  2 [I] to develop a special relationship with someone:  bond with//  --Time must be given for the mother to bond with her baby.//\n  3 [T]  technical to keep goods in a bonded warehouse:


Words: bondage
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the state of having your freedom limited, or being prevented from doing what you want:  --young women lost to the bondage of early motherhood//\n  2  literary the state of being a slave:  in bondage//  --Since the age of 13 he had been in bondage.//\n  3 the practice of being tied up for sexual pleasure:


Words: bonded warehouse
Meaning:
n [C]    technical an official place for storing goods that have been brought into a country before tax has been paid on them//


Words: bonding
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 a process in which a special relationship develops between two or more people:  bonding between//  --the bonding between mare and foal//\n  2  male/female bonding:   informal the activity of doing things with other people of the same sex, so that you feel good about being a man or a woman//  --They’re in the bar again doing some male bonding!//\n  3  technical the connection of atoms or of two surfaces that are glued together:  --chemical bonding//


Words: bone
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: ban]//\n  1 [C] one of the hard parts that together form the frame of a human, animal, or fish body:  --The X-ray showed that the bone was broken in two places.//  hip/leg/cheek etc bone (=the bone in your hip etc) //  --He broke his collar bone.//  big-boned/fine-boned/small-boned etc (=with big etc bones) //  --She was tall and big-boned.//  --Amelia had inherited her mother’s good bone structure .//\n  2 [U] a substance made of bones:  --the bone handle of his dagger//\n  3  the bare bones:  the simplest and most important details of something//  --I can’t tell you more than the bare bones of what happened.//\n  4  make no bones about (doing) sth:  to not feel nervous or ashamed about doing or saying something//  --Mary made no bones about enjoying a drink.//\n  5  bone of contention:  something that causes arguments between people//  --The examination system has long been a serious bone of contention in this country.//\n  6  be chilled/frozen to the bone:  to be extremely cold//\n  7  skin and bone:  very thin//  --She was all skin and bone.//\n  8  a bag of bones:  someone who is much too thin//\n  9  feel/know sth in your bones:  to be certain that something is true, even though you have no proof and cannot explain why you are certain//  --She knew that something good was sure to happen; she could feel it in her bones.//\n  10  have a bone to pick with sb:   spoken used to tell someone that you are annoyed with them and want to talk about it//\n  11  close to the bone:  a remark, statement etc that is close to the bone is close to the truth in a way that may offend someone//  --His jokes were a bit close to the bone.//\n  12  cut sth to the bone:  to reduce costs, services etc as much as possible//  --Shops cut prices to the bone in the January sales.//\n  13  on the bone:  meat that is served on the bone is still joined to the bone//  --a boiled ham on the bone//\n  14  off the bone:  meat that is served off the bone has been cut away from the bone//  --roasted duck, off the bone//    dry as a bone at dry1 (1),  work your fingers to the bone at work1 (29)//\nbone 2 v [T]   to remove the bones from fish or meat//  --boned breast and thigh meat//  bone up on [bone up on sth] phr v//  to learn as much as you can about a subject, because you need the knowledge, for example for an examination//  --I have to bone up on criminal law for a test next week.//


Words: bonemeal
Meaning:
also  bone meal/b[hA353][hA35E]nmi[hA359]l $ bo[hA35E]n-/ n [U]   a substance used to feed plants that is made of crushed bones//


Words: bonfire
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: bonfire  ’fire made from bones’ (14-17 centuries), from  bone +  fire]//  a large outdoor fire, either for burning waste or for a party//  --Someone had lit a bonfire and we sat round it chatting.//


Words: bonfire night
Meaning:
Bonfire Night n [U]   November 5th, when people in Britain light fireworks and burn a guy on a large outdoor fire//   Guy Fawkes’ night//


Words: bong
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  From the sound]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from  Thai baung]//\n  1 a deep sound made by a large bell:\n  2  informal an object used for smoking cannabis, in which the smoke goes through water to make it cool:


Words: bongos
Meaning:
n  also bongo drums  [plural]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: American Spanish; Origin: bongo (singular)]//  a pair of small drums that you play with your hands//


Words: bonhomie
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: bonhomme  ’pleasant man’, from  bon  ’good’ +  homme  ’man’]//   formal a friendly feeling among a group of people//  --They were relaxed and full of bonhomie.//


Words: bonk
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1  BrE  informal to have sex with someone - used humorously:\n  2  informal to hit someone lightly on the head or to hit your head on something:  --He fell, bonking his head against a tree.//\nbonk 2 n \n  1 [singular]  BrE  informal the action of having sex - used humorously:  --a quick bonk//\n  2 [C]  informal the action of hitting someone lightly on the head, or hitting your head against something:\n  3 [C]  informal a sudden short deep sound, for example when something hits the ground:


Words: bonkers
Meaning:
adj [not before noun] \n  1 slightly crazy:\n  2  drive sb bonkers:  to make someone feel crazy or very annoyed//  --Thinking about the whole problem has driven me nearly bonkers.//


Words: bonnet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bonet, from  Medieval Latin abonnis  ’hat’]//\n  1  BrE the metal lid over the front of a car:  American Equivalent:  hood//  --I’ll need to check under the bonnet.//  ribbon//\n  2 :  a) a warm hat that a baby wears which ties under its chin//  b) a type of hat that women wore in the past which tied under their chin and often had a wide brim//    have a bee in your bonnet at bee(2)//


Words: Bonnie and Clyde
Meaning:
two young criminals, Bonnie Parker (a woman) and Clyde Barrow (a man), who stole money from banks and businesses in the US in the 1930s//


Words: Bonnie Prince Charlie
Meaning:
(1720-88) the popular name of Charles Edward Stuart, sometimes also called the Young Pretender. He was the grandson of King James II, and believed he had the right to be the British king instead of King George II. He led the second  Jacobite Rising against the king in 1745-46, but was defeated at the Battle of  Culloden.//    Stuart, James Edward//


Words: bonny
Meaning:
adj  BrE   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Probably from  Old French bon  ’good’, from  Latin bonus;   BONUS]//  pretty and healthy//  --a bonny baby//


Words: bonsai
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Japanese; Origin: ’tray planting’]//  a tree that is grown so that it always stays very small, or the art of growing trees in this way//  -- bonsai adj //


Words: bonus
Meaning:
S2   n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: ’good’]//\n  1 money added to someone’s wages, especially as a reward for good work:  --Long-term savers qualify for a cash bonus.//  --Further additions to your pay may take the form of bonus payments.//  --a Christmas bonus//  --Each worker receives an annual bonus.//  --a [hA124]20,000 bonus//\n  2 something good that you did not expect in a situation:  bonus for//  --Britain’s possession of North Sea oil has proved a bonus for British technology.//  --He promised to take me to the match with the added bonus of an afternoon off school.//\n  3  no-claims bonus:   BrE a reduction in the cost of your car insurance when you do not make a claim in a particular year//


Words: bony
Meaning:
adj \n  1 someone or part of their body that is bony is very thin:  --She had a bony intelligent face.//  --He was tall and bony.//\n  2 bony meat or fish contains a lot of small bones:\n  3 a part of an animal that is bony consists mostly of bone:


Words: boo
Meaning:
v [I and T]   to shout ’boo’ to show that you do not like a person, performance, idea etc//  --Some of the audience started booing.//  --She was booed off stage  (=they shouted ’boo’ until she left the stage) .//\nboo 2 interjection   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Natural sound]//\n  1 a noise made by people who do not like a person, performance, idea etc:\n  2 a word you shout suddenly to someone as a joke in order to frighten them:\n  3  wouldn’t say boo to a goose:  an expression used to describe a shy quiet person//


Words: boo-boo
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Perhaps from   BOOB1]//   informal a silly mistake//  --I made a bit of a boo-boo asking her about David!//


Words: boob
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bubby  ’breast’ (17-21 centuries), perhaps from the sound of a sucking baby]//  [Sense: 2-3; Date: 1600-1700; Language: Spanish; Origin: bobo, from  Latin balbus  ’stammering’]//\n  1 [usually plural]  informal a woman’s breast:\n  2  BrE  informal a silly mistake:\n  3  AmE  old-fashioned a stupid or silly person:\nboob 2 v [I]  BrE  informal   to make a stupid mistake//  American Equivalent:  goof//  --I think Jean’s boobed again.//


Words: boob tube
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE a piece of women’s clothing made of material that stretches, that covers her chest:  American Equivalent:  tube top//\n  2  the boob tube:   AmE  informal the television//


Words: booby
Meaning:
n   plural  boobies  [C] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  BOOB]//   informal a silly or stupid person//


Words: booby trap
Meaning:
booby-trap n [C] \n  1 a hidden bomb that explodes when you touch something else that is connected to it:  --He lost both legs in a booby trap bomb blast.//\n  2 a harmless trap that you arrange for someone as a joke:  -- booby-trapped adj //  -- booby trap v //


Words: booger
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: boogie  ’booger’ (19-20 centuries), from  bogey  (19-21 centuries).]//  a thick piece of mucus from your nose//


Words: boogie
Meaning:
v [I]    informal to dance, especially to fast popular music//\nboogie 2  also boogie woogie   n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: boogie woogie]//\n  1 a type of music played on the piano with a strong fast rhythm:  --boogie rock at its finest//\n  2  a boogie:   informal a dance, or an occasion when you dance, especially to fast popular music//  --You work hard all week - you deserve a boogie now and then.//


Words: book
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 printed pages:\n   2 to write in:\n   3 set of things:\n   4 books:\n   5 by the book:\n   6 a closed book:\n   7 be in somebody’s good/bad books:\n   8 law:\n   9 part of a book:\n  10 in my book:\n  11 bring somebody to book:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: boc]//\n  1 PRINTED PAGES:   [C] a set of printed pages that are held together in a cover so that you can read them//  --I’ve just started reading a book by Graham Greene.//  --a cookery book//  --a special exhibition of children’s books//  book about/on//  --a book about cats//  --a cheap paperback book//  --I can’t afford to buy hardback books.//\n  2 TO WRITE IN:   [C] a set of sheets of paper held together in a cover so that you can write on them//  --a black address book//  --a notebook//\n  3 SET OF THINGS:   [C] a set of things such as stamps, matches, or tickets, held together inside a paper cover//  --a cheque book//\n  4  books [plural] :  a) ACCOUNTS//  written records of the financial accounts of a business//  --An accountant will examine the company’s books.//  --a small firm that is having problems balancing the books  (=keeping its profits and spending equal) //  on the books//  --They have [hA124]50 billion worth of orders on the books.//    cook the books at cook1 (3)//  b) JOBS//  the names of people who use a company’s services, or who are sent by a company to work for other people//  on sb’s books//  --an agent with a lot of popular actors on his books//\n  5  by the book:  exactly according to rules or instructions//  --She feels she has to go by the book and can’t use her creativity.//  do/play sth by the book //  --The police were careful to do everything by the book.//\n  6  a closed book:  a subject that you do not understand or know anything about//  --Chemistry is a closed book to me.//\n  7  be in sb’s good/bad books:   informal used to say that someone is pleased or annoyed with you//\n  8 LAW:   be on the books//  if a law is on the books, it is part of the set of laws in a country, town, area etc//\n  9 PART OF A BOOK:   [C] one of the parts that a very large book such as the Bible is divided into//  book of//  --the Book of Isaiah//\n  10  in my book:   spoken said when giving your opinion//  --In my book, nothing is more important than football.//\n  11  bring sb to book:  to punish someone for breaking laws or rules, especially when you have been trying to punish them for a long time//  --War criminals must be brought to book.//    statute book,  take a leaf out of sb’s book at leaf1 (2),  read sb like a book at read1 (16),  suit sb’s book at suit2 (5),  a turn-up for the book at turn-up(2),  throw the book at sb at throw1 (26)//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: book //  a book about imaginary events: novel,  thriller,  mystery,  horror story,  love story,  detective story,  whodunit //  books about imaginary events in general: fiction,  science fiction,  romantic fiction,  crime fiction,  chick lit (informal) //  famous or important novels, poems etc : literature //  books about real events: non-fiction //  a book that gives information: reference book,  encyclopedia,  textbook //  a book about someone’s life: biography,  autobiography,  journal,  diary //  someone who writes books: writer,  author,  novelist //  a book with a hard cover: hardback  (BrE) hardcover (AmE) //  a book with a cover made of paper or card: paperback //  ----------//\nbook 2 S2 v \n  1 [I and T] to make arrangements to stay in a place, eat in a restaurant, go to a theatre etc at a particular time in the future:    reserve//  --Have you booked a holiday this year?//  --You need to book well in advance for Christmas.//  --The flight was already fully booked  (=no more seats were available) .//  --To get tickets, you have to book in advance .//  --The show’s booked solid  (=all the tickets have been sold) until February.//\n  2 [T] to arrange for someone such as a singer to perform on a particular date:  --The band was booked for a benefit show in Los Angeles.//\n  3  be booked up:  a) if a hotel, restaurant etc is booked up, there are no more rooms, places, seats etc still available//  --The courses quickly get booked up.//  b) if someone is booked up, they are extremely busy and have arranged a lot of things they must do//  --I’m all booked up this week - can we get together next Friday?//\n  4 [T] to arrange for someone to go to a hotel, fly on a plane etc:  --I’ve booked you a flight on Saturday.//  book sb on/in etc//  --I’ll book you in at the Hilton.//\n  5 [T] to put someone’s name officially in police records, along with the charge made against them:  --Smith was booked on suspicion of attempted murder.//\n  6 [T]  BrE when a referee in a sports game books a player who has broken the rules, he or she officially writes down the player’s name in a book as a punishment:  book in phr v//   BrE to arrive at a hotel and say who you are etc//   check in//  --Several tourists were booking in.//


Words: book club
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a club that offers books cheaply to its members:\n  2 a group of people who meet regularly to discuss a particular book they have all read:


Words: Book of Common Prayer
Meaning:
The   a book used in Church of England and Episcopal churches, which contains the words spoken by the priest and by the people in church at weekly services and at weddings, funerals etc//


Words: book value
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 how much a car of a particular age, style etc should be worth if you sold it:\n  2  technical :  a) the value of a business after you sell all of its assets and pay all of its debts//  b) the value of something that a company owns, which it lists in its accounts//


Words: bookable
Meaning:
adj \n  1  BrE tickets for a concert, performance etc that are bookable can be ordered before it happens:\n  2  bookable offence:  an offence for which a sports player can be punished by having his or her name written into the referee’s book//


Words: bookend
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   one of a pair of objects that you put at the end of a row of books to prevent them from falling over//


Words: Booker Prize
Meaning:
the  n [C]   an important prize given every year for the best novel in English written by a citizen of the UK or the British  Commonwealth//  --Booker Prize-winning author Roddy Doyle//


Words: booking
Meaning:
S3   n [C] \n  1 an arrangement to travel by train, use a hotel room etc at a particular time in the future:    reservation//  --bookings on cruise ships//  --I made a booking for two double rooms.//  --I’m calling to confirm my booking  (=say definitely that I want to travel etc) .//  --If you cancel your booking , there will be a small charge.//  --Places on the course are limited and advance booking is essential.//  block booking (=a booking for a large number of dates, seats, rooms etc) //\n  2 an arrangement made by a performer to perform at a particular time in the future:\n  3  BrE the act of writing a football player’s name in a book as a punishment for breaking the rules:


Words: bookish
Meaning:
adj   someone who is bookish is more interested in reading and studying than in sports or other activities//  --a shy bookish man//


Words: bookkeeping
Meaning:
n [U]   the job or activity of recording the financial accounts of an organization//    accountancy//


Words: booklet
Meaning:
S2   n [C]   a very short book that usually contains information on one particular subject//    leaflet//  --a free booklet on drug abuse//


Words: bookmaker
Meaning:
n  also bookie  informal  [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: book  ’list of bets made’ (19-21 centuries) +  maker]//  someone whose job is to collect money that people want to risk on the result of a race, competition etc, and who pays them if they guess correctly//


Words: bookmark
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a piece of paper, leather etc that you put in a book to show you the last page you have read:\n  2 a way of saving the address of a page on the Internet so that you can find it again easily:\nbookmark 2 v [T]   to save the address of a page on the Internet so that you can find it again easily//


Words: bookmobile
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a vehicle that contains a library and travels to different places so that people can use it//  British Equivalent:  mobile library//


Words: bookplate
Meaning:
n [C]   a decorated piece of paper with your name on it, that you stick in the front of your books//


Words: bookrest
Meaning:
n [C]   a metal or wood frame that holds a book upright so that you can read it without holding it in your hands//


Words: bookshelf
Meaning:
n   plural  bookshelves /-[hA35D]elvz/ [C] //  a shelf that you keep books on, or a piece of furniture used for holding books//    bookcase//


Words: bookstall
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a small shop that has an open front and sells books and magazines, often at a railway station//  American Equivalent:  newsstand//


Words: boom
Meaning:
S3   n   ----------//\n   1 increase in business:\n   2 when something is popular:\n   3 sound:\n   4 boat:\n   5 long pole:\n   6 on a river/harbour:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-3; Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  BOOM2]//  [Sense: 4-6; Date: 1500-1600; Language: Dutch; Origin: ’tree, long piece of wood’]//\n  1 INCREASE IN BUSINESS:   [singular] a quick increase of business activity//  → slump//  --The boom has created job opportunities.//  boom in//  --a sudden boom in the housing market//  consumer/investment/property etc boom //  --the post-war property boom//  boom years/times //  --In boom times, airlines do well.//  --the economic boom of the 1950s//  --The economy went from boom to bust  (=from increasing to decreasing) very quickly.//    boom town//\n  2 WHEN SOMETHING IS POPULAR:   [singular] an increase in how popular or successful something is, or in how often it happens//  --the disco boom of the 1970s//  boom in//  --the boom in youth soccer in the U.S.//    baby boom//\n  3 SOUND:   [C] a deep loud sound that you can hear for several seconds after it begins, especially the sound of an explosion or a large gun//  --the dull boom of the cannons//    sonic boom//\n  4 BOAT:   [C] a long pole on a boat that is attached to the bottom of a sail, and that you move to change the position of the sail//\n  5 LONG POLE:   [C] //  a) a long pole used as part of a piece of equipment that loads and unloads things//  b) a long pole that has a camera or microphone on the end//\n  6 ON A RIVER/HARBOUR:   [C] something that is stretched across a river or a bay to prevent things floating down or across it//\nboom 2 v   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [I usually in progressive] if business, trade, or a particular area is booming, it is increasing and being very successful:  -- Business was booming , and money wasn’t a problem.//  --Tourism on the island has boomed.//\n  2  also boom (sth →) out :   [T] to say something in a loud deep voice//  --’Ladies and gentlemen,’ his voice boomed out.//\n  3  also boom out :   [I] to make a loud deep sound//  --Guns boomed in the distance.//  -- booming adj //  --a booming economy//


Words: boom town
Meaning:
n [C]   a town or city that suddenly becomes very successful because there is a lot of new industry//


Words: boomerang
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Dharuk]//  a curved stick that flies in a circle and comes back to you when you throw it, first used in Australia//\nboomerang 2 v [I]   if a plan or action boomerangs on someone, it affects them badly instead of the person who it was intended to affect//


Words: boon
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old Norse; Origin: ’prayer, request’]//  something that is very useful and makes your life a lot easier or better//  --The bus service is a real boon to people in the village.//


Words: boon companion
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: bon;   BONNY]//   literary a very close friend//


Words: boondocks
Meaning:
n [plural]  AmE  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Tagalog; Origin: bundok  ’mountain’]//  the boondocks//  a place that is a long way from the nearest town//


Words: boondoggle
Meaning:
n [singular]  AmE  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  An invented word]//  an officially organized plan or activity that is very complicated and wastes a lot of time, money, and effort//  --a bureaucratic boondoggle//


Words: Boone
Meaning:
Daniel   (1734-1820) one of the first white Americans to go to Kentucky, where he started to build a town//


Words: boor
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Dutch; Origin: boer;   BOER]//  a man who behaves in a very rude way//  -- boorish adj //  -- boorishly adv //


Words: boost
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to increase or improve something and make it more successful:  --The new resort area has boosted tourism.//  boost sb’s confidence/morale/ego //  --The win boosted the team’s confidence.//\n  2  also boost up :  to help someone reach a higher place by lifting or pushing them//  --She put her foot on his hands, and he boosted her up.//\n  3 if a rocket or motor boosts a spacecraft, it makes it go up into space or go in a particular direction:\n  4  AmE  informal to steal something:\nboost 2 n \n  1 [singular] something that gives someone more confidence, or that helps something increase, improve, or become successful:  boost to//  --a major boost to the economy//  boost for//  --a multi-million pound boost for the British film industry//  --Add a little more vanilla, to give the flavor a boost .//  get/receive a boost //  --The community will get a boost from a new library and recreation center.//  morale/ego boost //  --The poll provided a morale boost for the Conservatives.//\n  2  give sb a boost (up):  to lift someone so that they can reach a higher place//  --If I give you a boost, could you reach the window?//\n  3 [U] an increase in the amount of power available to a rocket, piece of electrical equipment etc:


Words: booster
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a small quantity of a drug that increases the effect of one that was given before, so that someone continues to be protected against a disease:  --a booster shot//\n  2 something that helps someone or something to increase or improve, or to be more successful or confident:  --a booster pump//  --a profit booster for the company//  morale/confidence booster //  --Mail from home is a big morale booster for far-away troops.//\n  3 a rocket that is used to provide extra power for a spacecraft to leave the Earth:  --a giant booster rocket//\n  4  AmE someone who gives a lot of support to a person, organization, or an idea:  --a dance organized by the school’s booster club//


Words: booster seat
Meaning:
also booster chair booster cushion  BrE n [C]   a special seat for a small child that lets them sit in a higher position in a car or at a table//


Words: boot
Meaning:
W3S2   n [C]   [Sense: 1-3, 5-7; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bote]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old English; Origin: bot  ’advantage, profit, use’]//\n  1 a type of shoe that covers your whole foot and the lower part of your leg:    Wellington//  --hiking boots//  --a pair of walking boots//\n  2  BrE an enclosed space at the back of a car, used for carrying bags etc:  American Equivalent:  trunk//  --The new model has a bigger boot.//\n  3  the boot:   informal when someone is forced to leave their job//   the sack//    dismiss//  --The chairman denied that he had been given the boot .//  --He should have got the boot years ago.//\n  4  to boot:  in addition to everything else you have mentioned//  --She was a great sportswoman, and beautiful to boot.//\n  5  put the boot in:   BrE  informal //  a) to criticize or be cruel to someone who is already in a bad situation//  b) to attack someone by kicking them repeatedly, especially when they are on the ground//\n  6  the boot is on the other foot:   BrE used to say someone who has caused problems for other people in the past is now in a situation in which people are causing problems for them//\n  7  AmE a metal object that the police attach to one of the wheels of an illegally parked car so that it cannot be moved:  British Equivalent:  wheel clamp//    be/get too big for your boots at big1 (14),  lick sb’s boots at lick1 (7),  tough as old boots at tough1 (2)//\nboot 2 v   [Sense: 1; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bootstrap  ’to boot up’ (1900-2000), probably from  bootstrap (noun);   BOOTSTRAPS]//  [Sense: 2-3; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  BOOT1]//\n  1  also boot up :   [I and T] to start the program that makes a computer ready to be used//    load//\n  2 [T]  informal to kick someone or something hard:  boot sth in/round/down etc//  --The goalkeeper booted the ball upfield.//\n  3 [T]  AmE to stop someone from moving their illegally parked vehicle by fixing a piece of equipment to one of the wheels:  British Equivalent:  clamp//  boot out [boot sb → out] phr v//  to force someone to leave a place, job, or organization, especially because they have done something wrong//   throw out//  --His fellow students booted him out of the class.//


Words: bootee
Meaning:
bootie/bu[hA359]ti[hA359], bu[hA359]ti[hA359]/ n [C]   a short thick sock that a baby wears instead of a shoe//


Words: Booth
Meaning:
John Wilkes   (1838-65) the man who shot and killed US President Abraham Lincoln//\n William   (1829-1912) a British religious leader who started the  Salvation Army//


Words: booth
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Origin:  From a  Scandinavian language]//\n  1 a small partly enclosed place where one person can do something privately, such as use the telephone or vote:  --a voting booth//\n  2 a small partly enclosed structure or tent where you can buy things, play games, or get information, usually at a market or a fair:  --a crafts booth//\n  3 a partly enclosed place in a restaurant with a table between two long seats:


Words: bootleg
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   bootleg alcohol, software, or recordings are made and sold illegally//  --bootleg tapes//\nbootleg 2 n [C]   an illegal recording of a music performance//\nbootleg 3   past tense and past participle  bootlegged present participle  bootlegging  v [I and T] //  to illegally make or sell alcohol, or to illegally make or sell copies of software or recordings//  -- bootlegger n  [C] //  -- bootlegging n  [U] //


Words: bootstraps
Meaning:
n [plural]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bootstrap  ’piece of leather or cloth attached to the back of a boot to make it easier to pull on’ (19-20 centuries)]//  pull/haul yourself up by your bootstraps//  to improve your position and get out of a difficult situation by your own efforts, without help from other people//


Words: booty
Meaning:
n [U]  especially literary   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: butin, from  Middle Low German bute  ’exchange’]//  valuable things that a group of people, especially an army that has just won a victory, take away or steal from somewhere//   loot//


Words: booze
Meaning:
n [singular, U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: Middle Flemish busen]//   informal alcoholic drink//  --a bottle of booze//  on the booze//  --He’s been on the booze (=drinking too much alcohol) for five days.//  off the booze//  --My husband is now off the booze (=no longer drinking too much alcohol) and he is a different person.//


Words: boozing
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   when someone drinks alcohol, especially a lot of it//  --You’ve been out boozing, haven’t you?//  -- booze v  [I] //


Words: bop
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  bopped present participle  bopping  informal //  [Sense: 1,3; Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  From the sound of hitting.]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  BOP22]//\n  1 [T] to hit someone, especially gently:  --Tom bopped him on the nose.//\n  2 [I] to dance to popular music:  --kids happily bopping on the dance floor//\n  3  informal  [I always + adverb/preposition] to go somewhere or to several different places, especially to enjoy yourself:  --We spent the afternoon just bopping around town.//\nbop 2 n   [Sense: 1; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bebop]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  BOP11]//\n  1 another word for bebop:\n  2 [C] a gentle hit:  --a bop on the head//\n  3 [singular]  BrE  informal a dance:


Words: borax
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: boras, from  Medieval Latin borax, from  Arabic buraq, from  Persian burah]//  a mineral used for cleaning//


Words: bordello
Meaning:
n   plural  bordellos  [C]  especially literary //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: Old French bordel]//  a house where men can pay to have sex//   brothel//


Words: Borden
Meaning:
Lizzie   (1860-1927) a US woman who, many people believed, killed her father and his new wife with an  axe in 1892//


Words: border
Meaning:
W2S3   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bordure, from  border  ’to border’, from  bort  ’border’]//\n  1 the official line that separates two countries, states, or areas, or the area close to this line:  --the German-Polish border//  border between//  --The river lies on the border between the US and Mexico.//  border with//  --regular patrols along the border with France//  --a market town  on the border  of England and Wales//  --He fled  across the border  to freedom.//  -- To  cross the border , you will need a valid passport. //  -- The two governments have settled their differences over their  common border . //  -- the  border town  of El Paso, Texas//  --The coach took us  south of the border to Tia Juana.//\n  2 a band along or around the edge of something such as a picture or piece of material:  --writing paper with a black border//\n  3 an area of soil where you plant flowers or bushes, along the edge of an area of grass:  --a flower and shrub border//\n  4 something that separates one situation, state etc from another:  --new scientific discoveries that are stretching the borders of knowledge//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  on the border //  across/over the border //  cross the border //  a common/shared border //  border town //  border region/area //  border controls //  border guard //  border crossing //  border dispute  (=a disagreement about where the border should be) //  north/south/east/west of the border //  ----------//\nborder 2 v [T] \n  1 if one country, state, or area borders another, it is next to it and shares a border with it:  --countries that border the Mediterranean//  border on//  --The area borders on the Yorkshire Dales.//\n  2 to form a border along the edge of something:  --a path bordered by a high brick wall//  border on [border on sth] phr v//  to be very close to being something extreme//  --His confidence bordered on arrogance.//


Words: borderland
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 the land near the border between two countries:\n  2 the borderland between two qualities is an unclear area that contains features of both of them:


Words: borderline
Meaning:
adj \n  1 very close to not being acceptable:  --In borderline cases , the student’s coursework is considered, as well as exam grades.//  --The referee’s decision was borderline.//\n  2 [usually before noun] having qualities of both one situation, state etc and another more extreme situation or state:  --a borderline schizophrenic (=someone who has some signs of being mentally ill) //\nborderline 2 n \n  1 [singular] the point at which one quality, situation, emotion etc ends and another begins:  --She slipped over the borderline into sleep.//  on the borderline//  --I was on the borderline between a first- and a second-class degree.//\n  2 [C] a border between two countries:


Words: Borders
Meaning:
the Borders//  an area in Scotland close to the border with England, known for its low hills//    Scottish Borders//


Words: bore
Meaning:
v   the past tense of bear//\nbore 2 v \n  1 [T] to make someone feel bored, especially by talking too much about something they are not interested in:  --He’s the sort of person who bores you at parties.//  --a film that will bore its young audience//  bore sb with sth//  --I won’t bore you with all the technical details.//  bore sb to death/tears (=make them very bored) //\n  2 [I and T] to make a deep round hole in a hard surface:  bore sth through/into/in sth//  --The machine bores a hole through the cards.//  bore through/into//  --To build the tunnel they had to bore through solid rock.//\n  3 [I + into] if someone’s eyes bore into you, they look at you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable:\nbore 3 n \n  1 [singular] something that is not interesting to you or that annoys you:  --Waiting is a bore.//  --You’ll find it’s a terrible bore.//\n  2 [C] someone who is boring, especially because they talk too much about themselves or about things that do not interest you:  --He turned out to be a crashing bore (=used to emphasize that someone is very boring) .//\n  3 [singular] the measurement of the width of the inside of a long hollow object such as a pipe or the barrel of a gun:  --Take a length of piping with a bore of about 15mm.//  12-/16-/20- etc bore //  --a 12-bore shotgun //  wide/narrow/fine bore //  --a fine bore tube//\n  4 [singular] a wave of water that moves quickly along a river from the sea at particular times of the year:  --the Severn bore//\n  5 [C] a borehole:


Words: bored
Meaning:
S3   adj   tired and impatient because you do not think something is interesting, or because you have nothing to do//  --He was easily bored.//  --After a while I got bored and left.//  bored with//  --Are you bored with your present job?//  bored stiff/to tears/to death/out of your mind (=extremely bored) //  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not confuse bored, which describes a feeling, and boring, which describes something that makes you feel bored: bored students| a boring job //  ----------//


Words: boredom
Meaning:
n [U]   the feeling you have when you are bored, or the quality of being boring//  --a game to relieve the boredom of a long journey//  --the sheer boredom of being in jail//  boredom with//  --his boredom with life in a small town//


Words: borehole
Meaning:
n [C]   a deep hole made using special equipment, especially in order to get water or oil out of the ground//


Words: Borges
Meaning:
Jorge Luis   (1899-1986) an Argentinian poet and writer of short stories. He is famous for his imaginative style of  magic realism (=a type of literature in which impossible events are described as if they are real) .//


Words: Borgias
Meaning:
the   a powerful wealthy Italian family in the 15th and early 16th centuries. Lucrezia Borgia(1480-1519) became the Duchess of Ferrara. Her brother Cesare Borgia (1476-1507) was a successful soldier and ruler.//


Words: boring
Meaning:
S2   adj   not interesting in any way//  --Her husband is about the most boring person I’ve ever met.//  --The job was dull and boring.//  dead/incredibly/terribly etc boring (=very boring) //  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: boring //  similar words: not very interesting,  dull,  dreary,  drab //  very boring: tedious,  mind-numbing,  soul-destroying //  ----------//


Words: born
Meaning:
a past participle of bear//\nborn 2 v   ----------//\n   1 be born:\n   2 start existing:\n   3 born and bred:\n   4 be born to do/be something:\n   5 I wasn’t born yesterday:\n   6 there’s one born every minute:\n   7 be born under a lucky/unlucky star:\n   8 be born with a silver spoon in your mouth:  ----------//\n  1  be born:  when a person or animal is born, they come out of their mother’s body or out of an egg//  --Forty lambs were born this spring.//  be born in//  --Swift was born in 1667.//  --She was born in India, where her father was a British official.//  be born at//  --Then, most babies were born at home.//  be born on//  --I was born on December 15th, 1973.//  be born into/to/of sth//   (=be born in a particular situation, type of family etc) //  --One-third of all children are born into single-parent families.//  be born with sth//   (=have a particular disease, type of character etc since birth) //  --Jenny was born with a small hole in her heart.//  --I was born and raised  (=born and grew up) in Alabama.//  be born blind/deaf etc (=be blind, deaf etc when born) //  --a newly-born baby //  --the queen’s firstborn son//  be born lucky/unlucky etc (=always be lucky, unlucky etc) //  Australian/French etc born (=born in or as a citizen of Australia etc) //\n  2 START EXISTING:   be born//  something that is born starts to exist//  --the country where the sport of cricket was born//  be born (out) of//   (=existing as a result of a particular situation) //  --The alliance was born of necessity in 1941.//  --Bill spoke with a cynicism born of bitter experience.//\n  3  born and bred:  born and having grown up in a particular place and having the typical qualities of someone from that place//  --I was born and bred in Liverpool.//\n  4  be born to do/be sth:  to be very suitable for a particular job, activity etc//  --He was born to be a politician.//\n  5  I wasn’t born yesterday:   spoken used to tell someone you think is lying to you that you are not stupid enough to believe them//\n  6  there’s one born every minute:   spoken used to say that someone has been very stupid or easily deceived//\n  7  be born under a lucky/unlucky star:  to always have good or bad luck in your life//\n  8  be born with a silver spoon in your mouth:  to be born into a rich family//    natural-born//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’I born’, ’I have been born’, or ’I am born’. Say  I was born : He was born in Pakistan. //  ----------//\nborn 3 adj [only before noun]   [Language: Old English; Origin: boren, past participle of  beran;   BEAR1]//\n  1  born leader/musician/teacher etc:  someone who has a strong natural ability to lead, play music etc//  --the skill of a born actor//\n  2  born loser:  someone who always seems to have bad things happen to them//\n  3  in all your born days:   old-fashioned used to express surprise or annoyance at something that you have never heard about before//  --In all her born days she had never heard anything like it.//


Words: born-again
Meaning:
adj \n  1  born-again Christian:  someone who has become an evangelical Christian//\n  2  born-again non-smoker/vegetarian etc:   informal someone who has recently stopped smoking, eating meat etc, and who is always talking about it and suggesting that other people do the same//


Words: borne
Meaning:
the past participle of bear//\nborne 2 adj \n  1  water-borne/sea-borne/air-borne etc:  carried by water, the sea, air etc//  --waterborne diseases//\n  2  be borne in on/upon sb:  if a fact is borne in on someone, they realize that it is true//


Words: Borneo
Meaning:
the largest island of the Malay Archipelago (=a group of many islands) in southeast Asia. Part of it belongs to Malaysia and part of it to Indonesia, and it also includes the Sultanate of Brunei. Its population is 12.5 million (1991).//


Words: borough
Meaning:
S2   n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: burg  ’castle, town defended by a wall’]//  a town, or part of a large city, that is responsible for managing its own schools, hospitals, roads etc//  --the borough of Queens in New York City//  --Lambeth Borough Council//


Words: borrow
Meaning:
W3S2   v [I and T]   [Language: Old English; Origin: borgian]//\n  1 to use something that belongs to someone else and that you must give back to them later:    lend, loan//  --Can I borrow your pen for a minute?//  borrow sth from sb//  --You are allowed to borrow six books from the library at a time.//  --They borrowed heavily  (=borrowed a lot of money) from the bank to start their new business.//\n  2 to take or copy someone’s ideas, words etc and use them in your own work, language etc:  borrow sth from sb/sth//  --I borrowed my ideas from Eliot’s famous poem ’The Waste Land’.//  --To borrow a phrase  (=use what someone else has said) , if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen.//  borrow from//  --English has borrowed words from many languages.//\n  3  borrow trouble:   AmE  informal to worry about something when it is not necessary//    be living on borrowed time at live1 (17)//    beg, borrow, or steal at beg(8)//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not confuse borrow and lend (=give someone permission to use something of yours): I borrowed his bike.| Can you lend me your pen? //  ----------//


Words: borrower
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who has borrowed money and has not yet paid it all back//  --Most borrowers pay 7% interest.//


Words: borrowing
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] when a person, government, company etc borrows money, or the money that they borrow:  --Public borrowing has to be increased.//\n  2 [C] something such as a word, phrase, or idea that has been copied from another language, book etc:  --words that are French borrowings//  borrowing from//  --His music is full of borrowings from other composers.//\n  3  borrowings [plural] the total amount of money that a company or organization owes:


Words: borstal
Meaning:
n [U and C]  BrE  old-fashioned   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Borstal, village in Kent, southeast England, where the first such prison was]//  a special prison for criminals who are not old enough to be in an ordinary prison//


Words: Bosch
Meaning:
Hieronymus   (?1460-1516) a Flemish painter famous especially for his religious paintings and his pictures of Hell in his best-known work ’The Garden of Earthly Delights’//


Words: bosh
Meaning:
n [U]  especially BrE  old-fashioned   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Turkish; Origin: bos  ’empty, useless’]//  something that you think is silly, not good, or not true//  --He thinks modern art is bosh.//  -- bosh interjection //


Words: Bosnia
Meaning:
also Bosnia-Herzegovina   a country in eastern Europe between Croatia and Yugoslavia. It was formerly a part of Yugoslavia, but it joined with Herzegovina in 1992 to form a new country. Population: 4,400,000 (1993). Capital: Sarajevo.//  -- Bosnian n  adj //


Words: Bosnian War
Meaning:
the   (1991-95) a war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where the three different groups of people living in this area - Serbs, Croats, and Bosnian Muslims - fought each other to gain land//


Words: bosom
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: bosm]//\n  1 [C usually singular]  written the front part of a woman’s chest:  --She cradled the child to her bosom.//\n  2 [C usually plural] a woman’s breast:\n  3  the bosom of the family/the Church etc:  the situation where you feel safe because you are with people who love and protect you//\n  4 [singular]  literary a word meaning someone’s feelings and emotions, used especially when these are bad or unpleasant:  --Drury harboured bitterness in his bosom.//\n  5  bosom friend/buddy/pal:   literary a very close friend//


Words: Bosporus
Meaning:
the Bosporus//  the narrow sea between the European and Asian parts of Turkey, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara//


Words: boss
Meaning:
W3S2   n [C]   [Sense: 1-3; Date: 1800-1900; Language: Dutch; Origin: baas  ’man in charge’]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: boce, from  Vulgar Latin bottia]//\n  1 the person who employs you or who is in charge of you at work:    employer, manager, supervisor//  --I’ll have to ask my boss for a day off.//  --Since I’m my own boss  (=I work for myself, rather than for an employer) , my hours are flexible.//\n  2  informal someone with an important position in a company or other organization:  --the new boss at Paramount Pictures//  --union bosses//  --An alleged Mafia boss was acquitted last night.//\n  3 the person who is the strongest in a relationship, who controls a situation etc:  --Remember, you’re the parent. You’re the boss.//  --When you first start training a dog, it’s important to let him see that you’re the boss.//  --You’ve got to show the kids who’s boss .//\n  4 a round decoration on the surface of something, for example on the ceiling of an old building:\nboss 2 v [T]   to tell people to do things, give them orders etc, especially when you have no authority to do it//  boss sb about//   BrE //  /around//  --Five-year-old girls love to boss people around.//\nboss 3 adj  informal   very good, attractive, or fashionable//  --a boss car//


Words: bossy
Meaning:
adj   comparative  bossier superlative  bossiest //\n  1 always telling other people what to do, in a way that is annoying:  --her loud bossy sister//\n  2  bossy-boots:   BrE  informal someone who you think tells other people what to do too often//  -- bossily adv //  -- bossiness n  [U] //


Words: Boston
Meaning:
a city in Massachusetts on the Atlantic coast, the most important city in New England, and one of the oldest cities in the US. Its famous colleges and universities include  Harvard and  MIT.//


Words: Boston Massacre
Meaning:
the   one of the events that started the  American Revolutionary War. In 1770 a group of Boston citizens, who were angry because the British army was in their town, threatened a British soldier. Other soldiers fired their guns into the crowd, killing five people.//


Words: Boston Pops
Meaning:
the   an  orchestra (=large group of musicians)  from Boston, known for its performances and records of well-known pieces of  classical music and famous tunes from films and  musicals//


Words: Boston Strangler
Meaning:
the   the name newspapers used to describe Albert DeSalvo (1931-73), a man who raped and strangled 13 women aged between 19 and 85 in Boston, US, between June 1962 and January 1964//


Words: Boston Tea Party
Meaning:
the   a protest in Boston in 1773 against the British tax on tea, when tea was thrown from British ships into the water. This is often considered to be the event that started the American Revolutionary War.//


Words: bosun
Meaning:
n [C]   an officer on a ship whose job is to organize the work and look after the equipment//   boatswain//


Words: Boswell
Meaning:
James   (1740-95) a Scottish lawyer and writer, famous for his book about the life of Samuel  Johnson//


Words: Bosworth Field
Meaning:
the place where the final battle of the Wars of the Roses was fought in 1485, where Richard III was defeated by Henry Tudor//


Words: bot
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   a computer program that performs the same operation many times in a row, for example one that searches for information on the Internet as part of a search engine//


Words: botanical
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: botanique, from  Greek botanikos, from  botane  ’plant (that can be eaten)’, from  boskein  ’to feed’]//  relating to plants or the scientific study of plants//  -- botanically/-kli/ adv //


Words: botanical garden
Meaning:
n [C]   a large public garden where many different types of flowers and plants are grown for scientific study//


Words: Botany Bay
Meaning:
a place in southeast Australia, close to Sydney, where a narrow part of the sea reaches into the land, which was visited in 1770 by Captain  Cook. In the early 19th century, another place in this area was used as a place for sending British criminals as a punishment, and this was also given the name ’Botany Bay’.//


Words: botch
Meaning:
v  also botch up  [T]    informal to do something badly, because you have been careless or because you do not have the skill to do it properly//  --The builders really botched up our patio.//  --a botched investigation//\nbotch 2  also botch-up  BrE n [C]  informal  especially BrE   a piece of work, a job etc that has been badly or carelessly done//  --I’ve just made an awful botch of my translation.//  --The whole thing was a botch job .//


Words: both
Meaning:
determiner, predeterminer, pron \n  1 used to talk about two people, things etc together, and emphasize that each is included:    either//  --Both Helen’s parents are doctors.//  --Hold it in both hands.//  --You can both swim, can’t you?//  --They both started speaking together.//  --Oxford is not far from Stratford, so you can easily visit both in a day.//  both of//  --Both of my grandfathers are farmers.//\n  2  sb can’t have it both ways:  used to say that someone cannot have the advantages that come from two separate situations because they cannot exist together//  --It’s either me or her. You can’t have it both ways.//\nboth 2 conj   both...and...//  used to emphasize that something is true not just of one person, thing, or situation but also of another//  --He’s lived in both Britain and America.//  --She can both speak and write Japanese.//  --Both he and his wife enjoy tennis.//


Words: bother
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 make an effort:\n   2 worry:\n   3 annoy:\n   4 somebody can’t/couldn’t be bothered (to do something):\n   5 cause pain:\n   6 sorry to bother you:\n   7 frighten:\n   8 not bother yourself/not bother your head:\n   9 bother it/them etc:  ----------//  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Perhaps from  Irish Gaelic bodhar  ’deaf, bothered’]//\n  1 MAKE AN EFFORT:   [I,T usually in questions and negatives] to make the effort to do something//  (not) bother to do sth//  --He didn’t bother to answer the question.//  not bother about/with//  --He didn’t bother with a reply.//  (not) bother doing sth//  --Many young people didn’t bother voting.//  don’t/didn’t/won’t etc bother //  --’Do you want me to wait for you?’ ’No, don’t bother.’//  -- Why bother to go abroad, when there are so many nice places here at home?//\n  2 WORRY:   [I and T] to make someone feel slightly worried, upset, or concerned//  --Being in a crowd really bothers me.//  --It was very noisy, but that didn’t bother me.//  bother about//   especially BrE //  --I try not to bother about what other people think.//  bother sb that//  --It really bothered me that he’d forgotten my birthday.//\n  3 ANNOY:   [I and T] to annoy someone, especially by interrupting them when they are trying to do something//  --Danny, don’t bother Ellen while she’s reading.//  --Would it bother you if I put on some music?//  bother sb about/with sth//  -- It didn’t seem worth bothering the doctor about.//\n  4  sb can’t/couldn’t be bothered (to do sth):   especially BrE used to say that you do not want to make the effort to do something, or that you are not interested in doing something//  --It was so hot I couldn’t be bothered to cook.//  --I should be revising, but I just can’t be bothered.//\n  5 CAUSE PAIN:   [T] if a part of your body bothers you, it is slightly painful or uncomfortable//  --My back’s been bothering me.//\n  6  sorry to bother you:   spoken used as a very polite way of interrupting someone when you want their attention//  --Sorry to bother you, but Mr. Grey is on the line.//\n  7 FRIGHTEN:   [T] to upset or frighten someone by talking to them when they do not want to talk to you, trying to hurt them, touch them sexually etc//  --Don’t worry, my dog won’t bother you.//  --If he starts bothering you, let me know.//\n  8  not bother yourself/not bother your head:  to not spend time or effort on something, either because it is not important or because it is too difficult//  not bother yourself/not bother your head with/about//  --Cliff didn’t want to bother himself with masses of detail.//\n  9  bother it/them etc:   BrE  spoken old-fashioned used to express a sudden feeling of annoyance about something//  --Oh bother it! The thread’s broken again!//\nbother 2 n \n  1 [U]  especially BrE trouble or difficulty that has been caused by small problems and that usually only continues for a short time:   trouble//  --It’s an old car, but it’s never caused me any bother.//  bother with//  --Joe’s been having a bit of bother with his back again.//  --’Thanks for your help.’ ’ It was no bother  (=used to emphasize that you were happy to help someone) at all.’//  --My mother hardly ever went to the bother of  (=the effort of) making cakes.//  --Are you sure the station is on your way? I don’t want to give you any extra bother .//  --I should have phoned the shop first and saved myself the bother of going there.//  sth is more bother than it’s worth (=it is too difficult to be worth doing) //\n  2  a bother:   especially BrE a person or job that slightly annoys you by causing trouble or problems//  --I hate to be a bother, but could you show me how the photocopier works?//\nbother 3 interjection  BrE  informal   used when you are slightly annoyed//  --Oh bother! I forgot to phone Jean.//


Words: bothered
Meaning:
adj [not before noun] \n  1 worried or upset:  bothered about//  --He doesn’t seem too bothered about the things that are written about him in the papers.//  bothered that//  --No one else seemed bothered that Grandfather wasn’t there.//\n  2  not bothered:   especially BrE if you are not bothered about something, it is not important to you//  --’What film do you want to see?’ ’I’m not bothered.’//  not bothered about//  --He’s not really bothered about getting the facts right.//    hot and bothered at hot1 (12)//


Words: bothersome
Meaning:
adj   slightly annoying//\nBotox 1  trademark   a substance that makes muscles relax, which can be injected into the skin around someone’s eyes to make the lines disappear and the skin look younger and more attractive//  --Botox injections for wrinkles//\nBotox 2 v [T usually passive]  trademark   to use Botox to remove lines on your face//  --Getting Botoxed is pretty simple.//  --He Botoxed his forehead before the next film.//


Words: bottle
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bouteille, from  Medieval Latin butticula, from  Late Latin buttis  ’wooden container for liquid’]//\n  1 [C] a container with a narrow top for keeping liquids in, usually made of plastic or glass:  --an empty bottle//  a wine/milk/beer etc bottle //  bottle of//  --a bottle of champagne//\n  2 [C]  also bottleful :  the amount of liquid that a bottle contains//  --Between us, we drank three bottles of wine.//\n  3 [C] a container for babies to drink from, with a rubber part on top that they suck, or the milk contained in this bottle:  --My first baby just wouldn’t take a bottle at all.//\n  4  the bottle:  alcoholic drink - used when talking about the problems drinking can cause//  --Peter let the bottle ruin his life.//  hit the bottle (=regularly drink too much) //  --She was under a lot of stress, and started hitting the bottle.//  be on the bottle  BrE  (=be drinking lot of alcohol regularly) //\n  5 [U]  BrE  informal courage to do something that is dangerous or unpleasant:   nerve//  --I never thought she’d have the bottle to do it!//\n  6  bring a bottle:   BrE  bring your own bottle AmE used when you invite someone to an informal party to tell them that they should bring their own bottle of alcoholic drink//    hot-water bottle//\nbottle 2 v [T] \n  1 to put a liquid, especially wine or beer, into a bottle after you have made it:  --The whisky is bottled here before being sent abroad.//\n  2  BrE to put vegetables or fruit into special glass containers in order to preserve them:  American Equivalent:  can//  bottle out phr v//   also bottle it //  to suddenly decide not to do something because you are frightened//   cop out//  --’Did you tell him?’ ’No, I bottled out at the last minute.’//  bottle up [bottle sth → up] phr v//\n  1 to deliberately not allow yourself to show a strong feeling or emotion:  --It is far better to cry than to bottle up your feelings.//\n  2 to cause problems by delaying something:  --The bill has been bottled up in Congress.//


Words: bottle bank
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a container in the street that you put empty bottles into, so that the glass can be used again//


Words: bottle-feed past tense and past participle
Meaning:
bottle-fed  v [T]   to feed a baby or young animal with milk from a bottle rather than from their mother’s breast//  -- bottle-feeding n  [U] //  -- bottle-fed adj //


Words: bottleneck
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a place in a road where the traffic cannot pass easily, so that there are a lot of delays:\n  2 a delay in one stage of a process that makes the whole process take longer:  --Understaffing has caused a real bottleneck.//


Words: Bottom
Meaning:
a humorous character who is changed into a  donkey in Shakespeare’s play  A Midsummer Night’s Dream//


Words: bottom
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 lowest part:\n   2 lowest side:\n   3 lowest inner part:\n   4 lowest social position/rank:\n   5 ocean/river:\n   6 body:\n   7 clothes:\n   8 furthest part:\n   9 get to the bottom of something:\n  10 be/lie at the bottom of something:\n  11 be at/hit/reach rock bottom:\n  12 from the bottom of your heart:\n  13 the bottom drops/falls out of the market:\n  14 bottoms up!:\n  15 big-bottomed/round-bottomed etc:\n  16 at bottom:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: botm]//\n  1 LOWEST PART:   the bottom//  the lowest part of something//  → top//  the bottom of//  --Can you hold the bottom of the ladder for me?//  at the bottom (of sth)//  --Grandma was standing at the bottom of the stairs.//  --at the bottom of the page//  --Go downstairs and wait for me at the bottom.//  the bottom of the page/screen //  --There should be a menu bar at the bottom of your screen.//\n  2 LOWEST SIDE:   [C usually singular] the flat surface on the lowest side of an object//  the bottom of sth//  --Something’s hanging from the bottom of your car.//  --What’s that on the bottom of your shoe?//\n  3 LOWEST INNER PART:   [C usually singular] the lowest inner surface of something such as a container//  at/in the bottom of sth//  --I found the keys - they were at the bottom of my handbag.//  --The drugs had been hidden in a suitcase with a false bottom.//\n  4 LOWEST SOCIAL POSITION/RANK:   the bottom//  the lowest position in an organization or company//  → top//  the bottom of//  --The Giants are at the bottom of the league.//  the bottom of the ladder/pile/heap (=the lowest position in society, an organization etc) //  --Immigrants were at the bottom of the pile.//  --Higgins had started at the bottom  (=in a low position in a company) and worked his way up to become managing director.//  second/third etc from bottom //  --United currently lie second from bottom of the Premier League.//\n  5 OCEAN/RIVER:   the bottom//  the ground under a sea, river etc, or the flat land in a valley//  the bottom of//  --The bottom of the pool is very slippery.//  at/on the bottom (of sth)//  --A body was found at the bottom of the canal.//  the sea/river bottom //  --fish living on the sea bottom//\n  6 BODY:   [C] the part of your body that you sit on//   backside//  --I just sat on my bottom and slid down.//\n  7 CLOTHES:   [C usually plural] the part of a set of clothes that you wear on the lower part of your body//  --pyjama bottoms//  --a blue bikini bottom//\n  8 FURTHEST PART:   the bottom of a road/garden etc//   especially BrE the part of a road, area of land etc that is furthest from where you are//  --There’s a shop at the bottom of the street.//\n  9  get to the bottom of sth:  to find out the cause of a problem or situation//  --I never got to the bottom of this!//\n  10  be/lie at the bottom of sth:  to be the basic cause of a problem or situation//  --Lack of money is at the bottom of many family problems.//\n  11  be at/hit/reach rock bottom:  a) to be in a very bad situation that could not be any worse//  --I was at rock bottom, and knew I had to try and stop drinking.//  b) to be at a very low level//  --We bought the house when prices were at rock bottom.//\n  12  from the bottom of your heart:  in a very sincere way//  --Thank you from the bottom of my heart.//\n  13  the bottom drops/falls out of the market:  when people stop buying a particular product, so that the people who sell it can no longer make any money//\n  14  bottoms up!:   spoken used to tell someone to enjoy or finish their alcoholic drink//\n  15  big-bottomed/round-bottomed etc:  having a bottom or base that is big, round etc//\n  16  at bottom:   formal the way a person or situation really is, although they may seem different//  --She’s a good kind person at bottom.//   top//    you can bet your bottom dollar at bet1 (4),  knock the bottom out of at knock1 (25),  from top to bottom at top1 (21),  the bottom of the list at list1 (2),  scrape the bottom of the barrel at scrape1 (5)//\nbottom 2 adj \n  1 [only before noun] in the lowest place or position:  → top//  --It’s on the bottom shelf .//  --The towels are in the bottom drawer .//  --You’ve got some butter on your bottom lip .//  --the bottom right hand corner of the page//\n  2 [not before noun] the least important, successful etc:  → top//  --I was bottom of the class  (=the least successful student) in Spanish.//  --Britain came bottom on efforts to tackle pollution and global warming.//\n  3 [only before noun]  especially BrE in the place furthest away from where you are:  --Most of the sheep were grazing in the bottom field.//\n  4  bottom gear:  the lowest gear of a vehicle//\nbottom 3 v   bottom out phr v//  if a situation, price etc bottoms out, it stops getting worse or lower, usually before improving again//    level off/out//  --There are signs that the recession has bottomed out.//


Words: bottom drawer
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE all the things, especially things that you use in a house, that a woman collects to use when she is married//  American Equivalent:  hope chest//


Words: bottom line
Meaning:
n [singular] \n  1  the bottom line:  used to tell someone what the most important part of a situation is, or what the most important thing to consider is//  --The bottom line is that recycling isn’t profitable.//  --In radio you have to keep the listener listening. That’s the bottom line.//\n  2 the profit or the amount of money that a business makes or loses:\n  3 the least amount of money that you are willing to accept in a business deal:  -- bottom-line adj //


Words: bottom-up
Meaning:
adj   a bottom-up plan is one in which you decide on practical details before thinking about general principles//  → top-down//


Words: bottomless
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a bottomless hole, sea etc is one that is extremely deep:  --There was a rope dangling down into a dark, bottomless hole.//\n  2 seeming to have no end or limit:  --the bottomless well of information available through the Internet//  --The government does not have a bottomless pit  (=a supply with no limits) of money to spend on public services.//


Words: botulism
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: German; Origin: botulismus, from  Latin botulus  ’sausage’; because the bacteria were first found in sausages and other cooked meats]//  serious food poisoning caused by bacteria in preserved meat and vegetables//


Words: Boudicca
Meaning:
also  Boadicea   (died AD 60) the Queen of the Iceni people of eastern Britain, who led them in battle against the Romans//


Words: boudoir
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: bouder  ’to pout’]//   old use a woman’s bedroom or private sitting room//


Words: bouffant
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: , present participle of  bouffer  ’to swell’]//  a bouffant hair style is one in which your hair is raised away from your head at the top//


Words: bougainvillea
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Louis Antoine de  Bougainville (1729-1811), French explorer]//  a tropical plant that has red or purple flowers and grows up walls//


Words: bough
Meaning:
n [C]  literary   [Language: Old English; Origin: bog  ’shoulder, bough’]//  a main branch on a tree//


Words: bouillon
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Old French boillon, from  boillir  ’to boil’]//  a clear soup made by boiling meat and vegetables in water//


Words: bouillon cube
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a small square made of dried meat or vegetables, used to give a stronger taste to soups//  British Equivalent:  stock cube//


Words: boulevard
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Middle Dutch bolwerc;   BULWARK]//\n  1 a wide road in a town or city, often with trees along the sides:\n  2  written abbreviation Blvd :  used as part of the name of a particular road//  --Sunset Boulevard//


Words: Boulogne
Meaning:
a city on the northeast coast of France. It is one of the ports where ships bringing passengers and cars arrive after crossing the English Channel from Dover.//


Words: bounce
Meaning:
S3   v   ----------//\n   1 ball/object:\n   2 jump up and down:\n   3 cheque:\n   4 walk:\n   5 something moves up and down:\n   6 light/sound:\n   7 email:\n   8 bounce ideas off somebody:\n   9 force somebody to leave:  Phrasal verbs//   bounce something → around//   bounce back//   bounce somebody into something//  ----------//  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: bounce  ’to hit’ (13-19 centuries), probably from the sound]//\n  1 BALL/OBJECT:   [I and T] if a ball or other object bounces, or you bounce it, it immediately moves up or away from a surface after hitting it//  bounce off//  --The ball bounced off the post and into the goal.//  bounce sth on/against etc sth//  --The kids were bouncing a ball against the wall.//\n  2 JUMP UP AND DOWN:   [I] to move up and down, especially because you are hitting a surface that is made of rubber, has springs etc//  bounce on//  --Lyn was bouncing on the trampoline.//  --Stop bouncing up and down on the sofa.//\n  3 CHEQUE:   [I and T] if a cheque bounces, or if a bank bounces a cheque, the bank will not pay any money because there is not enough money in the account of the person who wrote it//  --The bank charges [hA124]30 for a bounced cheque.//\n  4 WALK:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to walk quickly and with a lot of energy//  --Olivia came bouncing into the room.//\n  5 SOMETHING MOVES UP AND DOWN:   [I] if something bounces, it moves quickly up and down as you move//  --Her hair bounced when she walked.//\n  6 LIGHT/SOUND:   [I and T] if light or sound bounces, it hits a surface and then moves quickly away from it//  bounce (sth) off sth//  --The radio signals are bounced off a satellite.//\n  7 EMAIL:   also bounce back //   [I and T] if an email that you send bounces or is bounced, it is returned to you and the other person does not receive it because of a technical problem//\n  8  bounce ideas off sb:  to talk about your ideas with someone in order to get their opinion//  --When you work in a team you can bounce your ideas off each other.//\n  9 FORCE SOMEBODY TO LEAVE:   [T]  informal to force someone to leave a place, job, or organization, especially because they have done something wrong//  bounce sb from sth//  --Taylor was bounced from the team for assaulting another player.//  bounce around [bounce sth → around] phr v//  to discuss ideas with other people//  --I wanted to have a meeting so that we could bounce a few ideas around.//  bounce back phr v//\n  1 to feel better quickly after being ill, or to become successful again after failing or having been defeated:   recover//  --The company’s had a lot of problems in the past, but it’s always managed to bounce back.//\n  2 if an email that you send bounces back or is bounced back, it is returned to you and the other person does not receive it because of a technical problem:  bounce into [bounce sb into sth] phr v//  to force someone to decide to do something, especially without giving them time to consider it carefully//  bounce sb into doing sth//  --Party members feel that they were bounced into accepting the policy.//\nbounce 2 n \n  1 [C] the action of moving up and down on a surface:  --Try to catch the ball on the second bounce.//\n  2 [U] the ability to move up and down on a surface, or that surface’s ability to make something move up and down:  --The ball had completely lost its bounce.//  --a basketball court with good bounce//\n  3 [singular,U] a lot of energy that someone has:  --Exercise is great. I feel like there’s a new bounce in my step.//\n  4 [U] hair that has bounce is in very good condition and goes back to its shape if you press it:  --a brand new styling spray that gives your hair body and bounce//


Words: bouncer
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone whose job is to stand at the door of a club, bar etc and stop unwanted people coming in, or make people leave if they are behaving badly:\n  2 a fast ball in cricket that passes or hits the batsman above the chest after it bounces:


Words: bouncy
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a bouncy ball etc quickly moves away from a surface after it has hit it:\n  2 a bouncy surface is made of a substance that makes people move up and down when they are on it:  --The new bed is nice and bouncy.//\n  3 someone who is bouncy is always very happy, confident, and full of energy:\n  4 hair or material that is bouncy goes back to its shape when you press it:  -- bouncily adv //  -- bounciness n  [U] //


Words: bouncy castle
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a large object filled with air, often shaped like a castle, that children jump on for fun//


Words: bound
Meaning:
the past tense and past participle of bind//\nbound 2 W3S2 adj [no comparative]   ----------//\n   1 likely:\n   2 law/agreement:\n   3 duty:\n   4 travelling towards:\n   5 relationship:\n   6 be bound up in something:\n   7 be bound up with something:\n   8 snow-bound/strike-bound/tradition-bound etc:\n   9 :\n  10 I’ll be bound:\n  11 bound and determined:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-3, 5-11; Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  From the past participle of   BIND1]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old Norse; Origin: buinn, past participle of  bua  ’to live in a place, prepare’; probably influenced by the past participle  bound]//\n  1 LIKELY:   be bound to//  to be very likely to do or feel a particular thing//  --Don’t lie to her. She’s bound to find out about it.//  it is bound to be (=used to say that something should have been expected) //  --’It’s hot!’ ’Well, it was bound to be, I just took it out of the oven.’//  --When you are dealing with so many patients, mistakes are bound to happen .//\n  2 LAW/AGREEMENT:   be bound (by sth)//  to be forced to do what a law or agreement says you must do//  bound (by sth) to do sth //  --The Foundation is bound by the treaty to help any nation that requests aid.//  --You are legally bound to report the accident.//\n  3 DUTY:   be/feel bound to do sth//  to feel that you ought to do something, because it is morally right or your duty to do it//  --Ian felt bound to tell Joanna the truth.//  --Well I’m bound to say  (=I feel I ought to say) , I think you’re taking a huge risk.//  be duty bound/honour bound to do sth //  --A son is duty bound to look after his mother.//\n  4 TRAVELLING TOWARDS:   bound for London/Mexico etc//   also London-bound/Mexico-bound etc //  travelling towards a particular place or in a particular direction//  --a plane bound for Somalia//  --We tried to get seats on a Rome-bound flight.//  -- homeward-bound  (=travelling towards home) commuters//  northbound/southbound/eastbound/westbound //  --All eastbound trains have been cancelled due to faulty signals.//\n  5 RELATIONSHIP:   be bound (together) by sth//  if two people or groups are bound together by something, they share a particular experience or situation which causes them to have a relationship//    unite//  --The two nations were bound together by a common history.//\n  6  be bound up in sth:  to be very involved in something, so that you cannot think about anything else//  --He was too bound up in his own problems to listen to any of mine.//\n  7  be bound up with sth:  to be very closely connected with a particular problem or situation//  --Mark’s problems are all bound up with his mother’s death when he was ten.//  --The people of Transkei began to realize that their future was inseparably bound up with that of South Africa.//\n  8  snow-bound/strike-bound/tradition-bound etc:  controlled or limited by something, so that you cannot do what you want or what other people want you to//  --a fog-bound airport//  --people who are wheelchair-bound //  --a desk-bound sergeant (=having to work in an office, instead of doing a more active job) //\n  9 a bound book is covered on the outside with paper, leather etc:    bind//  bound in//  --a Bible bound in Moroccan leather//  --a leather-bound volume of Shakespeare’s plays//\n  10  I’ll be bound:   old-fashioned used when you are very sure that what you have just said is true//  --He had good reasons for doing that, I’ll be bound.//\n  11  bound and determined:   AmE very determined to do or achieve something, especially something difficult//  --Klein is bound and determined to win at least five races this year.//\nbound 3 v   [Sense: 1; Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: bondir, from  Vulgar Latin bombitire  ’to hum’, from  Latin bombus;   BOMB1]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  BOUND41]//\n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition] to run with a lot of energy, because you are happy, excited, or frightened:  bound up/towards/across etc//  --Suddenly a huge dog came bounding towards me.//\n  2  be bounded by sth:  if a country or area of land is bounded by something such as a wall, river etc, it has the wall etc at its edge//  --a yard bounded by a wooden fence//  --The US is bounded in the north by Canada and in the south by Mexico.//\nbound 4 n   [Sense: 1-2, 4-5; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bodne, from  Medieval Latin bodina]//  [Sense: 3, 6; Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: bond, from  bondir;   BOUND32]//\n  1  bounds [plural] :  a) the limits of what is possible or acceptable//  within the bounds of sth//  --We are here to make sure that the police operate within the bounds of the law.//  be/go beyond the bounds of credibility/reason/decency etc //  --The humor in the movie sometimes goes beyond the bounds of good taste.//  be within/beyond the bounds of possibility (=be possible/not possible) //  --It was not beyond the bounds of possibility that they could meet again.//  b)  old-fashioned the edges of a town, city etc//\n  2  out of bounds:  if a place is out of bounds, you are not allowed to go there//  American Equivalent:  off-limits//  out of bounds to/for//  --The path by the railway line is officially out of bounds to both cyclists and walkers.//\n  3  by leaps and bounds/in leaps and bounds:   BrE if someone or something increases, develops etc by leaps and bounds, they increase etc very quickly//  --Julie’s reading is improving in leaps and bounds.//\n  4  know no bounds:   formal if someone’s honesty, kindness etc knows no bounds, they are extremely honest etc//\n  5  in bounds/out of bounds:  inside or outside the legal playing area in a sport such as American football or basketball//\n  6 [C] a long or high jump made with a lot of energy:


Words: boundary
Meaning:
W3S2   n   plural  boundaries //  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  BOUND41]//\n  1 [C] the real or imaginary line that marks the edge of a state, country etc, or the edge of an area of land that belongs to someone:  boundary between//  --The Mississippi River forms a  natural boundary  between Iowa and Illinois.//  -- National boundaries  are becoming increasingly meaningless in the global economy. //  -- We would need their agreement to build outside the  city boundary . //  --The stream curves round to  mark the boundary  of his property. //  -- Anything that  crosses the boundary  of a black hole cannot get back. //  -- We walked through the churchyard towards the  boundary wall . //  -- The property’s  boundary line  is 25 feet from the back of the house. //  -- boundary disputes  between neighbouring countries  //\n  2 [C usually plural] the limit of what is acceptable or thought to be possible:  boundary of//  --the boundaries of human knowledge//  within/beyond the boundaries of sth //  --within the boundaries of the law//  push back the boundaries (of sth) (=to make a new discovery, work of art etc that is very different from what people have known before, and that changes the way they think) //  --art that pushes back the boundaries//\n  3 [C] the point at which one feeling, idea, quality etc stops and another starts:  boundary of/between//  --the boundaries between work and play//  --the blurring of the boundaries between high and popular culture//\n  4 [C] the outer limit of the playing area in cricket, or a shot that sends the ball across this limit for extra points:  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  national/state/city etc boundary  (=a boundary between countries, states, cities etc) //  geographical/natural boundary (=a river, line of mountains etc that form a boundary) //  political boundary  (=an official recognized boundary) //  mark a boundary //  cross a boundary //  boundary wall/fence //  boundary line //  boundary dispute  (=a disagreement about where a boundary should be) //  ----------//


Words: bounden
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Old past participle of   BIND1]//  your bounden duty//   old use something that you should do because it is morally correct//


Words: bounder
Meaning:
n [C]  old-fashioned   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  BOUND32]//  a man who has behaved in a way that is morally wrong//


Words: boundless
Meaning:
adj   having no limit or end//  --boundless energy and enthusiasm//  -- boundlessly adv //  -- boundlessness n  [U] //


Words: bounteous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bontif  ’kind’, from  bonte;   BOUNTY]//  very generous//


Words: bountiful
Meaning:
adj \n  1 if something is bountiful, there is more than enough of it:  --bountiful harvests//\n  2 generous:  --bountiful God//


Words: Bounty
Meaning:
The  also HMS Bounty   a British naval ship on which there was a famous  mutiny (=when the ordinary sailors take control of a ship by force)  in the Pacific Ocean in 1789. The sailors, led by an officer called Fletcher Christian, took power from Captain William  Bligh, and made him leave in a small boat.//


Words: bounty
Meaning:
n   plural  bounties //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bonte  ’goodness’, from  Latin bonitas, from  bonus;   BONUS]//\n  1 [C] an amount of money that is given to someone by the government as a reward for doing something, especially catching or killing a criminal:  bounty on//  --a notorious cattle rustler with a bounty on his head //\n  2 [U]  literary food or wealth that is provided in large amounts:  --People came from all over the world to enjoy America’s bounty.//\n  3 [U]  literary the quality of being generous:


Words: bouquet
Meaning:
n   flower, paper, string//  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Old North French bosquet  ’plants growing thickly together’, from  Old French bosc  ’forest’]//\n  1 [C] an arrangement of flowers, especially one that you give to someone:\n  2 [U and C] the smell of a wine:


Words: bouquet garni
Meaning:
n   plural  bouquets garnis  [C] //  a small bag full of herbs that you put into food that you are cooking to give it a special taste//


Words: bourgeois
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: ’person who lives in a town’, from  Old French borjois, from  borc  ’town’, from  Latin burgus  ’castle, town defended by a wall’]//\n  1 belonging to the middle class:  --She came from a respectable bourgeois family.//  --bourgeois morality//\n  2 too interested in having a lot of possessions and a high position in society:  --the Sixties backlash against bourgeois materialism//\n  3 belonging to or typical of the part of society that is rich, educated, owns land etc, according to Marxism:   proletarian//  -- bourgeois n  [C] //    petty bourgeois//


Words: bourgeoisie
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: bourgeois;   BOURGEOIS]//  the bourgeoisie//  the people in a society who are rich, educated, own land etc, according to Marxism//    the proletariat//


Words: bout
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: bout  ’one trip up the field and back in plowing’ (16-19 centuries), from  bought  ’bending’ (14-17 centuries)]//\n  1  a bout of depression/flu/sickness etc:  a short period of time during which you suffer from an illness//\n  2 a short period of time during which you do something a lot, especially something that is bad for you:  --a drinking bout//  bout of//  --a bout of unemployment//\n  3 a boxing or wrestling match:


Words: boutique
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Latin apotheca;   APOTHECARY]//  a small shop that sells fashionable clothes or other objects//


Words: boutonniere
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: boutonni[hA169]re, from  bouton  ’button’]//   AmE a flower that a man wears fastened to his jacket, at a wedding//  British Equivalent:  buttonhole//


Words: bouzouki
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Modern Greek; Origin: mpouzouki, probably from  Turkish buyuk  ’big’]//  a Greek musical instrument similar to a guitar//


Words: bovine
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Late Latin; Origin: bovinus, from  Latin bos  ’ox, cow’]//\n  1  technical relating to cows:  --bovine diseases//\n  2  written slow and slightly stupid, like a cow - used to show disapproval:  --a bovine expression of contentment//


Words: Bovril
Meaning:
trademark   a type of thick dark-brown substance made from cow’s meat, sold in the UK. It is used to make hot drinks or added to food when cooking.//


Words: bovver
Meaning:
n [U]    BrE  informal  old-fashioned violent behaviour, especially by a group of young men//  bovver boy (=someone who behaves in a violent way) //


Words: bow
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I] to bend the top part of your body forward in order to show respect for someone important, or as a way of thanking an audience:  --She bowed and left the stage.//  --Corbett entered the room, bowing respectfully.//  --The servant bowed low and handed his master the sealed note.//  bow before/to//  --He bowed before the king.//\n  2  bow your head:  to bend your neck so that you are looking at the ground, especially because you want to show respect for God, or because you are embarrassed or upset//  --She bowed her head and prayed.//  --Phil stood there, his head bowed in shame.//\n  3 [I and T] to bend your body over something, especially in order to see it more closely:  bow over//  --Teague sat at his desk, bowed over a book.//\n  4 [I and T] to bend or to make something bend:  --The trees bowed in the wind.//  --He made his way up the steep stairs, his back bowed under the weight of the heavy bag.//\n  5  bow and scrape:  to show too much respect to someone in authority - used to show disapproval//  bow down phr v//\n  1 to bend your body forward, especially when you are already kneeling, in order to show respect:  bow down before/to etc//  --Maria entered the room and bowed down before the statue.//  --Come, let us bow down in worship .//\n  2  bow down to sb:   literary to let someone give you orders or tell you what to do - used to show disapproval//  bow out phr v//\n  1 to stop taking part in an activity, job etc, especially one that you have been doing for a long time:  bow out of//  --Reeves thinks it is time for him to bow out of politics.//\n  2 to not do something that you have promised or agreed to do:   get out of//  bow out of//  --You’re not trying to bow out of this, are you?//  bow to / [bow to sb/sth] phr v//  to finally agree to do something that people want you to do, even though you do not want to do it//  --Congress may bow to public pressure and lift the arms embargo.//  --Myers finally bowed to the inevitable  (=accepted something he could not change) and withdrew from the campaign.//\nbow 2   n \n  1 [C] the act of bending the top part of your body forward to show respect for someone when you meet them, or as a way of thanking an audience:  take/give a bow (=bow to the audience at the end of a performance) //  --The music ended and the girl took a bow.//  --He gave a final bow just as the curtains came down.//  --This is done with a formal bow to the king or queen.//\n  2 [C]  also bows :   [plural] the front part of a ship//    stern, yacht//\nbow 3   n [C]   bow, violin, present//\n  1 a weapon used for shooting arrows, made of a long thin piece of wood held in a curve by a tight string:  --a bow and arrow //\n  2 a knot of cloth or string with a curved part on either side, and two loose ends, worn in the hair as decoration or for tying shoelaces:  --Ella wore a bow in her hair.//  in a bow//  --long chestnut hair tied back in a bow//\n  3 a long thin piece of wood with a tight string fastened along it, used to play musical instruments such as the violin or cello:    have more than one string to your bow at string1 (8)//\nbow 4   v   [I and T] to play a piece of music on a musical instrument with a bow3//


Words: Bow Bells
Meaning:
the church bells of St Mary-le-Bow in London. It is said that a person born within the sound of (=in a place where you can hear)  Bow Bells is a true Cockney//


Words: bow legs
Meaning:
n [plural]   legs that curve outwards at the knees//  -- bow-legged/-legd[hA36B],-leg[hA369]d[hA36B]/ adj //


Words: Bow Street
Meaning:
a street in London where there is a police court//  --He was remanded in custody until 28 June by Bow Street Magistrates.//


Words: bow tie
Meaning:
n [C]   glass, bow tie, tray//  a short piece of cloth tied in the shape of a bow that men sometimes wear around their neck//


Words: bow-wow
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  From the sound]//  a word meaning a dog, used by and to small children//


Words: bowdlerize
Meaning:
also  bowdlerise BrE   v [T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Thomas  Bowdler (1754-1825), English editor who removed impolite words from Shakespeare’s plays]//  to remove all the parts of a book, play etc that you think might offend someone - used to show disapproval//  --a bowdlerized version of ’Antony and Cleopatra’//


Words: bowel
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: boel, from  Medieval Latin botellus, from  Latin botulus;   BOTULISM]//\n  1  bowels [plural] the system of tubes inside your body where food is made into solid waste material and through which it passes out of your body:    intestine//  move/empty/open your bowels (=get rid of solid waste from your body) //\n  2 [singular] one part of this system of tubes:  --cancer of the bowel//\n  3  a bowel movement:   formal the act of getting rid of solid waste from your body//\n  4  the bowels of sth:   literary the lowest or deepest part of something//  the bowels of the earth (=deep under the ground) //


Words: bower
Meaning:
n [C]  literary   [Language: Old English; Origin: bur]//  a pleasant place in the shade under a tree//  --a rose-scented bower//


Words: Bowie
Meaning:
David   (1947- ) an English singer, songwriter, and actor who was extremely successful in the 1970s. His records, such as  The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) influenced many later musicians.//\n James   (1790-1836) a US man born in Kentucky who invented the Bowie knife, a large knife with a curved blade. Bowie supported the cause of Texan independence from Mexico, and shared command of the Alamo, where he was killed.//


Words: bowl
Meaning:
W3S2   n   ----------//\n   1 container:\n   2 amount:\n   3 game:\n   4 ball:\n   5 shape:\n   6 stadium:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: bolla]//\n  1 CONTAINER:   [C] a wide round container that is open at the top, used to hold liquids, food, flowers etc//    dish//  --Mix all the ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl.//  --Fill the bowl with water.//  a mixing/serving bowl (=a bowl used for mixing foods or serving them) //  --Beat the butter in a mixing bowl until creamy and soft.//  a soup/salad/cereal etc bowl (=a bowl to eat or serve soup, salad etc from) //\n  2 AMOUNT:   [C]  also bowlful //  the amount of something contained in a bowl//  bowl of//  --a bowl of rice//  --a bowl of fruit//\n  3 GAME:  a)  bowls//   BrE  [plural] an outdoor game played on grass in which you try to roll big balls as near as possible to a small ball//  American Equivalent:  lawn bowling//  b)  [C usually singular] a special game in American football played by the best teams after the normal playing season//  --the Rose Bowl//\n  4 BALL:   [C]  BrE a ball that you use in the game of bowls//\n  5 SHAPE:   [C] the part of an object such as a spoon, pipe, toilet etc that is shaped like a bowl//  --the bowl of a pipe//  a toilet/lavatory bowl //\n  6 STADIUM:   [C usually singular]  AmE a large stadium shaped like a bowl, where people go to watch special events, such as sports games or music concerts//  --the Hollywood Bowl//\nbowl 2 v   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: bowl  ’ball used in bowling’ (15-21 centuries), from  Old French boule, from  Latin bulla  ’bubble’]//\n  1 [I and T] to roll a ball along a surface when you are playing the game of bowls:\n  2 [I and T] :  a) to throw a ball at the batsman (=the person who hits the ball)  in cricket//    bat//  b)  [T] to make a batsman have to leave the field by throwing a ball so that it hits the wicket behind him//\n  3 [I always + adverb/preposition] to travel along very quickly and smoothly:  bowl along/down//  --We were bowling along at about 90 miles per hour.//  bowl out [bowl sb → out] phr v//  in cricket, when a team is bowled out, each member of the team has had to leave the field and there is no one left to bat//  bowl over [bowl sb → over] phr v//\n  1 to accidentally hit someone and knock them down because you are running in a place that is full of people or things:   knock over//\n  2 to surprise, please, or excite someone very much:   knock out//  --He was bowled over by her beauty.//


Words: bowler
Meaning:
n [C]   1 a player in cricket who throws the ball at a batsman//\n  2  also bowler hat  BrE a hard round black hat that businessmen sometimes wear:  American Equivalent:  derby//


Words: bowling
Meaning:
n [U]   bowling ball, shoes, pin, bowling//\n  1 an indoor game in which you roll a large heavy ball along a wooden track in order to knock down a group of pins (=wooden objects shaped like bottles) :  --Do you want to go bowling with us Friday?//\n  2 the act of throwing a ball at the batsman in cricket:


Words: box
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 container:\n   2 amount:\n   3 shape:\n   4 in a court/theatre etc:\n   5 small building:\n   6 at a post office:\n   7 sports field:\n   8 protection:\n   9 tree:\n  10 television:\n  11 be out of your box:  ----------//  [Date: 900-1000; Language: Latin; Origin: buxus, from  Greek pyxis, from  pyxos type of tree, whose wood was used for making boxes]//\n  1 CONTAINER:   [C] a container for putting things in, especially one with four stiff straight sides//  cardboard/wooden/plastic etc box //  --a strong cardboard box//  toolbox/shoebox/matchbox etc (=a box used for keeping tools etc in) //\n  2 AMOUNT:   also boxful //   [C] the amount of something contained in a box//  box of//  --a box of chocolates//\n  3 SHAPE:   [C] //  a) a small square on a page for people to write information in//  --Put an ’X’ in the box if you would like to join our mailing list.//  b) a square or rectangle on a page where information is given or where an answer can be written//  --The box on the left gives a short history of the battle.//\n  4 IN A COURT/THEATRE ETC:   [C] a small area of a theatre or court that is separate from where other people are sitting//  --the jury box//  --a box at the Palace Theatre//\n  5 SMALL BUILDING:   [C] a small building or structure used for a particular purpose//   booth//  --a sentry box//  telephone box  BrE //\n  6 AT A POST OFFICE:   box 25/450 etc//  a box with a number in a post office, where you can have letters etc sent instead of to your own address//   PO Box//\n  7 SPORTS FIELD:   [C usually singular] a special area of a sports field that is marked by lines and used for a particular purpose//  --the penalty box //\n  8 PROTECTION:   [C]  BrE a piece of plastic that a man wears over his sex organs to protect them when he is playing a sport, especially cricket//\n  9 TREE:   [U and C] a small tree that keeps its leaves in winter and is often planted around the edge of a garden or field//  --a box hedge //\n  10 TELEVISION:   the box//   informal the television//  --What’s on the box tonight?//\n  11  be out of your box:   BrE  informal to be very drunk or have taken an illegal drug//    black box//\nbox 2 v   [Sense: 1,4; Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Origin unknown.]//  [Sense: 2-3; Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  BOX1]//\n  1 [I and T] to fight someone as a sport by hitting them with your closed hands inside big leather gloves:\n  2  also box up :   [T] to put things in boxes//  --Want to help me box up the Christmas tree lights?//    boxed//\n  3 [T] to draw a box around something on a page:\n  4  box sb’s ears:   old-fashioned to hit someone on the side of their head//  box in [box sb/sth → in] phr v//\n  1 to surround someone or something so that they are unable to move freely:  --Someone had parked right behind them, boxing them in.//\n  2  feel boxed in:  a) to feel that you cannot do what you want to do because a person or situation is limiting you//  --Married for only a year, Connie already felt boxed in.//  b) to feel that you cannot move freely, because you are in a small space//  box off [box sth → off] phr v//  to separate a particular area from a larger one by putting walls around it//  --We’re going to box off that corner to get extra storage space.//


Words: box end wrench
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a type of wrench with a hollow end that fits over a nut that is being screwed or unscrewed//  British Equivalent:  ring spanner//


Words: box lunch
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a  lunch (=a meal eaten in the middle of the day)  that you take to school or work with you in a lunchbox//  British Equivalent:  packed lunch//


Words: box number
Meaning:
n [C]   an address at the post office that people can have their letters etc sent to instead of their own address//


Words: box office
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] the place in a theatre, cinema etc where tickets are sold:    ticket office//  at the box office//  --Collect your tickets at the box office.//\n  2 [singular] used to describe how successful a film, play, or actor is, by the number of people who pay to see them:  a (huge) box office hit/success //  a (big) box office draw (=a successful actor who many people will pay to see) //  box office receipts/takings etc (=the number of tickets sold or the money received) //


Words: boxer
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1; Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  BOX21]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1900-2000; Language: German; Origin: English boxer  ’fighter’; because of its flattened nose]//\n  1 someone who boxes, especially as a job:\n  2 a large dog with short light brown hair and a flat nose:


Words: Boxing Day
Meaning:
n [U and C]    BrE a national holiday in England and Wales, on the first day after Christmas Day that is not a Sunday//


Words: boy
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Perhaps from  Frisian boi  ’boy’]//\n  1 a male child, or a male person in general:    girl//  --The boys wanted to play football.//  --The school has over 1,200 boys and girls aged 11 - 18.//  a teenage/adolescent boy //  --A group of teenage boys stood talking in a group outside.//  bad/naughty boy //  --’You naughty boy!’ she said in a harsh voice.//  --What a polite little boy  (=young male child) you are.//  --Come on, Timmy, act like a big boy  (=an older boy) now.//\n  2 a son:  --I love my boys, but I’d like to have a girl too.//  --How old is your little boy  (=young son) ?//\n  3  office/paper/delivery etc boy:  a young man who does a particular job//\n  4  city/local/country boy:   informal a man of any age who is typical of people from a particular place, or who feels a strong connection with the place he grew up in//  --The classic story of a local boy who’s made good (=who has succeeded) .//  --I’m just a country boy.//\n  5  the boys [plural]  informal a group of men who are friends and often go out together:  --Friday is his night out with the boys .//  --He considers himself just one of the boys  (=not anyone special, but liked by other men) .//\n  6 a way of talking to a male horse or dog:  --Good boy!//\n  7  boys [plural]  informal :  a) a group of men who do the same job//  --Oh no! Wait until the press boys get hold of this story.//  b) men in the army, navy etc, especially those who are fighting in a war//  --our boys on the front lines//\n  8  boys will be boys:  used to say that you should not be surprised when boys or men behave badly, are noisy etc//\n  9  the boys in blue:   informal the police//\n  10  old boy/my dear boy:   BrE  old-fashioned a friendly way for one man to speak to another man//\n  11  AmE  not polite an offensive way of talking to a black man:    blue-eyed boy,  jobs for the boys at job(15),  mama’s boy,  mummy’s boy,  old boy,  wide boy//\nboy 2 interjection  AmE  informal \n  1 used when you are excited or pleased about something:  --Boy, that was a great meal!//\n  2  oh boy!:  used when you are slightly annoyed or disappointed about something//  --Oh boy! Bethany’s sick again.//


Words: boy band
Meaning:
n [C]   a group of attractive young men who perform by singing and dancing, and who are especially popular with teenage girls//  --Christy’s favorite boy band is Boyzone.//


Words: boy toy
Meaning:
n [C]   an attractive young man who an older, usually rich or successful woman has a sexual relationship with//


Words: boycott
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Charles  Boycott (1832-97), English official in Ireland who refused to reduce rents, so the local people refused to do any business with him]//  to refuse to buy something, use something, or take part in something as a way of protesting//  --We boycott all products tested on animals.//\nboycott 2 n [C]   an act of boycotting something, or the period of time when it is boycotted//  --They are now trying to organize a boycott .//  boycott of/on/against//  --a boycott on GM crops//  --He called for a boycott of the elections.//


Words: boyfriend
Meaning:
n [C]   a man that you are having a romantic relationship with//    girlfriend//  --Have you met Jilly’s new boyfriend yet?//


Words: boyish
Meaning:
adj   someone who is boyish looks or behaves like a boy in a way that is attractive//    girlish//  --boyish good looks//  --At 45, she still had a trim boyish figure .//  -- boyishly adv //  --boyishly handsome//  -- boyishness n  [U] //


Words: Boyne
Meaning:
the Battle of the   a famous battle in 1690 near the River Boyne in Ireland, in which Britain’s Protestant King William III defeated the former King James II (a Catholic), and ended the attempts by the Catholic part of the royal family to rule in Britain//


Words: Boys’ Brigade
Meaning:
the   an organization which was set up in Britain in 1883 to encourage boys to develop team spirit and responsible behaviour//


Words: Boys’ Own
Meaning:
adj  BrE   a phrase used to describe men who are doing brave, exciting things, like a  hero in an adventure story. The Boys’ Own Paper was a boys’ magazine sold in the late 19th century and early 20th century in Britain which contained adventure stories//  --He has been called a swashbuckling Boys’ Own hero.//  --His background is the stuff of boys’ own papers.//


Words: bozo
Meaning:
n   plural  bozos  [C] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Perhaps from  Spanish bozal  ’stupid’ or from  Italian bozzo  ’cuckold, unpleasant person’]//   informal someone who you think is silly or stupid//  --Who’s the bozo in the pyjamas?//


Words: bps
Meaning:
BPS/bi[hA359] pi[hA359] es/ technical   bits per second a measurement of how fast a computer or modem can send or receive information//  --a 28,800 bps modem//


Words: Br.
Meaning:
also  Br BrE \n  1 the written abbreviation of brother :\n  2 the written abbreviation of British :  n [singular] //  British Rail//


Words: bra
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: brassiere]//  a piece of underwear that a woman wears to support her breasts//


Words: brace
Meaning:
v \n  1 [T] to mentally or physically prepare yourself or someone else for something unpleasant that is going to happen:  brace yourself (for sth)//  --Nancy braced herself for the inevitable arguments.//  --You had better brace yourself - I have some bad news.//  --The military needs to brace itself for further spending cuts, says McCoy.//  brace yourself to do sth//  --Cathy braced herself to see Matthew, who she expected to arrive at any minute.//  be braced for sth//  --The base was braced for an attack.//\n  2 [T] to push part of your body against something solid in order to make yourself more steady:  brace sth against sth //  --Gina braced her back against the wall and pushed as hard as she could.//  brace yourself (for sth) //  --Before he could brace himself she’d shoved him out of the door.//  --The pilot told passengers and crew to brace themselves for a rough landing.//\n  3 [T] to make something stronger by supporting it:  --Wait until we’ve braced the ladder.//  --Workers used steel beams to brace the roof.//\n  4 [I and T] to make your body or part of your body stiff in order to prepare to do something difficult:\nbrace 2 n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ’two arms’, from  Latin bracchia, from  bracchium  ’arm’]//\n  1 [C] something that is used to strengthen or support something, or to make it stiff:  --The miners used special braces to keep the walls from collapsing.//  neck/back/knee brace (=a brace which supports the neck etc) //  --He was being fitted for a back brace.//  --She had to wear a brace after the accident.//\n  2 [C]  also braces  AmE :  a system of metal wires that people, usually children, wear on their teeth to make them grow straight//\n  3 [C usually plural]  AmE a metal support that someone with weak legs wears to help them walk:  British Equivalent:  callipers//\n  4  braces [plural]  BrE two long pieces of material that stretch over someone’s shoulders and fasten to their trousers at the front and the back to stop them falling down:  American Equivalent:  suspenders//\n  5 [C] one of a pair of signs { } used to show that information written between them should be considered together:    bracket//\n  6  a brace of sth:   especially BrE two things of the same type, especially two birds or animals that have been killed for food or sport//  --a brace of partridge//


Words: bracelet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: bras  ’arm’, from  Latin bracchium;   BRACE2]//  a band or chain that you wear around your wrist or arm as a decoration//    bangle//  --a gold bracelet//


Words: bracing
Meaning:
adj   bracing air or weather is cold and makes you feel very awake and healthy//  --a bracing sea breeze//


Words: bracken
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from a  Scandinavian language]//  a plant that often grows in forests and becomes reddish brown in the autumn//


Words: bracket
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: braguette  ’codpiece’, from  brague  ’trousers’, from  Latin braca; because of the way a bracket (3) sticks out]//\n  1 [usually plural]  also round bracket :   BrE one of the pair of signs put around words to show extra information//  American Equivalent:  parenthesis//  in brackets//  --Last year’s sales figures are given in brackets.//    angle brackets//    square bracket//    punctuation mark//\n  2  income/tax/age etc bracket:  a particular income, tax etc range//  --Peter’s salary puts him in the highest tax bracket.//  --families in lower income brackets//\n  3 a piece of metal, wood, or plastic, often in the shape of the letter L, fixed to a wall to support something such as a shelf:\nbracket 2 v [T usually passive] \n  1 to consider two or more people or things as being similar or the same:  bracket sb together//  --Women and minors were bracketed together for the legislation.//  bracket sb with sb//  --Arizona has been bracketed with Iowa in the tournament.//\n  2 to put brackets around a written word, piece of information etc:  --Debit amounts are bracketed.//


Words: brackish
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Dutch; Origin: brac  ’salty’]//  brackish water is not pure because it is slightly salty//


Words: brad
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Norse; Origin: broddr  ’pointed object’]//\n  1 a small metal object like a button with two metal sticks that are put through several pieces of paper and folded down to hold the papers together:\n  2 a small thin wire nail with either a small head or a part that sticks out to the side instead of a head:


Words: bradawl
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: brad +  awl]//   especially BrE a small tool with a sharp point for making holes//   awl//


Words: Brady Bunch
Meaning:
The   a US television programme of the 1960s and 1970s about a large family. Some people talk about the Brady Bunch as an example of an impossibly good family with few real problems//


Words: brag
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  bragged present participle  bragging  [I and T] //  to talk too proudly about what you have done, what you own etc - used to show disapproval//   boast//  --’I came out top in the test,’ he bragged.//  brag about//  --Ben’s always bragging about his success with women.//  brag that//  --Julia used to brag that her family had a villa in Spain.//


Words: braggadocio
Meaning:
n [U]  especially literary   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Braggadocchio proud-talking character in the poem The Faerie Queen (1590) by Edmund Spenser]//  proud talk about something that you claim to own, to have done etc//


Words: braggart
Meaning:
n [C]  old-fashioned   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: bragard, from  braguer  ’to brag’, perhaps from  English brag]//  someone who is always talking too proudly about what they own or have done//


Words: Brahma
Meaning:
one of the three main gods in the Hindu religion, who is considered to be the god of  creation//    shiva//    Vishnu//


Words: Brahman
Meaning:
[C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Sanskrit; Origin: brahmana  ’of prayer’, from  brahman  ’prayer’]//  someone of the highest rank in the Hindu faith//


Words: braid
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] a narrow band of material formed by twisting threads together, used to decorate the edges of clothes:  --a jacket trimmed with red braid //\n  2 [C] a length of hair that has been separated into three parts and then woven together:  British Equivalent:  plait//  in braids//  --Suzy always wears her hair in braids.//  -- braided adj //\nbraid 2 v [T]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bregdan]//  to weave or twist together three pieces of hair or cloth to form one length//  British Equivalent:  plait//


Words: braille
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Louis  Braille]//  a form of printing for blind people, with raised parts that they can read by touching the paper with their fingers//


Words: brain
Meaning:
n   artery, brain, fatty, tissue, heart, kidney, intestine, intestine2, small, large, liver, lung, muscles, stomach, vein, throat//  ----------//\n   1 organ:\n   2 intelligence:\n   3 person:\n   4 food:\n   5 have something on the brain:\n   6 be the brains behind/of something:\n   7 brain dead:\n   8 brain box:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: br[zB024]gen]//\n  1 ORGAN:   [C] the organ inside your head that controls how you think, feel, and move//  --Messages from the brain are carried by the central nervous system.//  --the chemistry of the brain//  --the human brain//  the right/left hemisphere of the brain (=the right or left side of the brain) //  --Emotional responses are a function of the right hemisphere of the brain.//  --She died of a brain tumour .//  brain tissue/cell //\n  2 INTELLIGENCE:   [>C usually plural, U] the ability to think clearly and learn quickly//  --If you had any brains, you’d know what I meant.//  --The job requires brains.//  --Something’s addled your brains  (=made you confused) .//  --Come on, use your brain , John.//\n  3 PERSON:   [C usually plural]  informal someone who is intelligent, with good ideas and useful skills//  --Some of our best brains are leaving the country to work in the US.//    brain drain//\n  4 FOOD:   [U]  also  brains//   [plural] the brain of an animal, used as food//\n  5  have sth on the brain:   informal to be always thinking about something//  --I’ve got that song on the brain today.//\n  6  be the brains behind/of sth:  to be the person who thought of and developed a particular plan, system, or organization, especially a successful one//  --Danny’s definitely the brains of the project.//\n  7  brain dead:  a) in a state where your brain has stopped working properly even though your heart may still be beating//  b)  informal in a state in which you seem stupid or uninteresting, especially because you live a boring life or are very tired//\n  8  brain box:   BrE  informal a very intelligent person//    bird-brain,  hare-brained,  beat your brains out at beat1 (22),  pick sb’s brains at pick1 (7),  rack your brain(s) at rack2 (2)//\nbrain 2 v [T]  informal   to hit someone very hard on the head - used humorously//  --I wanted to brain him.//


Words: brain damage
Meaning:
n [U]   damage to someone’s brain caused by an accident or illness//  --Potts suffered severe brain damage in the crash.//  -- brain-damaged adj //


Words: brain drain
Meaning:
n   the brain drain//  a movement of highly skilled or professional people from their own country to a country where they can earn more money//


Words: brain scan
Meaning:
n [C]   a process in which detailed photographs of the inside of your brain are taken and examined by a doctor//


Words: brainchild
Meaning:
n [singular]   an idea, plan, organization etc that someone has thought of without any help from anyone else//  brainchild of//  --The festival was the brainchild of Reeves.//


Words: brainpower
Meaning:
also  brain power/bre[hA366]npa[hA35E][hA353] $ -pa[hA35E]r/ n [U] \n  1 intelligence, or the ability to think:  --A lot of brainpower went into solving the problem.//\n  2 educated intelligent people who have special skills, especially in science, considered as a group:  --the country’s shortage of scientific brainpower//


Words: brainstorm
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C usually singular] a sudden clever idea:  British Equivalent:  brainwave//  --Kirby had a sudden brainstorm .//\n  2 [C]  BrE  informal if you have a brainstorm, you are suddenly unable to think clearly or sensibly:  --I must have had a brainstorm that afternoon.//


Words: brainstorming
Meaning:
n [U]   when a group of people meet in order to try to develop ideas and think of ways of solving problems//  --a brainstorming session to come up with slogans for new products//  -- brainstorm v  [I and T] //  --Employees get together and brainstorm ideas .//


Words: brainwash
Meaning:
v [T]   to make someone believe something that is not true, by using force, confusing them, or continuously repeating it over a long period of time//  --Young people are being brainwashed by this religious group.//  brainwash sb into doing sth //  --Commercials brainwash consumers into buying things they don’t need.//  -- brainwashing n  [U] //


Words: brainwave
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE a sudden clever idea:  American Equivalent:  brainstorm//  --I’ve had a brainwave! Let’s go this weekend instead.//\n  2 an electrical force that is produced by the brain and that can be measured:


Words: brainy
Meaning:
adj   comparative  brainier superlative  brainiest //  able to learn easily and think quickly//   clever//  American Equivalent:  smart//  --He always was the brainy one, except at maths.//


Words: braise
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: braiser, from  braise  ’burning coal’, from  Old French brese;   BRAZIER]//  to cook meat or vegetables slowly in a small amount of liquid in a closed container//    stew//  -- braised adj //


Words: brake
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a piece of equipment that makes a vehicle go more slowly or stop:  --Test your brakes after driving through water.//  --Moira slammed on the brakes  (=use them suddenly and with a lot of force) and skidded to a halt.//  --I managed to put on the brakes just in time.//  the rear/front brakes //  --a car equipped with anti-lock brakes //  --the screech of brakes  (=the loud unpleasant noise they can make) //  apply the brakes  formal //  --Williams testified that he tried to apply the brakes but couldn’t stop the vehicle in time.//\n  2  act as a brake on sth:  to make something develop more slowly, be more difficult to do, or happen less//  --Rises in interest rates usually act as a brake on expenditure.//\n  3  put the brakes on sth:  to stop something that is happening//\nbrake 2 v [I]   to make a vehicle or bicycle go more slowly or stop by using its brake//  brake sharply/hard (=brake quickly) //  --He braked sharply to avoid the dog.//


Words: brake shoe
Meaning:
n [C]   one of the two curved parts that press against the wheel of a vehicle in order to make it go more slowly or stop//


Words: bran
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French]//  the crushed outer skin of wheat or a similar grain that is separated from the rest of the grain when making white flour//


Words: branch
Meaning:
n [C]   branch, leaves, trunk//  ----------//\n   1 of a tree:\n   2 of a business/shop/company etc:\n   3 of government:\n   4 of a subject:\n   5 of a family:\n   6 of a river/road etc:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: branche, from  Late Latin branca  ’animal’s foot’]//\n  1 OF A TREE:  a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk (=main stem)  and that has leaves, fruit, or smaller branches growing from it//    limb//  --After the storm, the ground was littered with twigs and branches.//  --The topmost branches were full of birds.//\n  2 OF A BUSINESS/SHOP/COMPANY ETC:  a local business, shop etc that is part of a larger business etc//  --The bank has branches all over the country.//  --a branch office in Boston//  --She now works in our Denver branch.//  --Where’s their nearest branch?//  --They’re planning to open a branch in St. Louis next year.//  --Have you met our branch manager , Mr. Carlson?//\n  3 OF GOVERNMENT:  a part of a government or other organization that deals with one particular part of its work//    department//  --All branches of government are having to cut costs.//  the executive/judicial/legislative branch (=the three main parts of the US government) //\n  4 OF A SUBJECT:  one part of a large subject of study or knowledge//    field//  a branch of mathematics/physics/biology etc //\n  5 OF A FAMILY:  a group of members of a family who all have the same ancestors//    side//  --the wealthy South American branch of the family//\n  6 OF A RIVER/ROAD ETC:  a smaller less important part of a river, road, or railway that leads away from the larger more important part of it//  --The rail company may have to close the branch line to Uckfield.//\nbranch 2 v [I]   to divide into two or more smaller, narrower, or less important parts//    fork//  --Another road branched northward.//  --When you reach the village green, the street branches into two .//  branch off phr v//\n  1 if a road, passage, railway etc branches off from another road etc, it separates from it and goes in a different direction:   fork off//  branch off from//  --a passage branching off from the main tunnel//\n  2  BrE to leave a main road:   fork off//  branch off from/into//  --We branched off from the main road and turned down a country lane.//\n  3 to start talking about something different from what you were talking about before:  branch off into//  --Then the conversation branched off into a discussion about movies.//  branch out phr v//  to start doing something different from the work or activities that you normally do//  --Don’t be afraid to branch out and try something new.//  branch out into (doing) sth//  --Profits were falling until the bookstore branched out into selling CDs.//


Words: brand
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: ’torch, sword’]//\n  1 a type of product made by a particular company, that has a particular name or design:    make//  brand of//  --What brand of detergent do you use?//  brand leader/leading brand (=the brand that sells the most) //  --products which lack a strong brand image //  brand loyalty (=the tendency to always buy a particular brand) //  own brand  BrE //  store brand  AmE  (=a product made and sold by a particular store) //\n  2  brand of humour/politics/religion etc:  a particular type of humour, religion, politics etc//  --a strange macabre brand of humour//\n  3 a mark made or burned on a farm animal’s skin that shows who it belongs to:\nbrand 2 v [T] \n  1 to describe someone or something as a very bad type of person or thing, often unfairly:  brand sb (as) sth//  --You can’t brand all football supporters as hooligans.//  --Stealing that money has branded Jim for life - no-one will trust him again.//\n  2 to burn a mark onto something, especially a farm animal, in order to show who it belongs to:  brand sth with sth//  --Each cow was branded with the ranch’s logo.//\n  3  technical to give a name to a product or group of products so that they can be easily recognized by their name or design:


Words: branded
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   a branded product is made by a well-known company and has the company’s name on it//


Words: branding
Meaning:
n [U]   a practice which involves a company giving a group of their products the same brand name, helping this name to become well-known//


Words: branding iron
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of metal that is heated and used for burning marks on cattle or sheep, to show who they belong to//


Words: brandish
Meaning:
v [T]  written   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: brandir, from  brand  ’sword’]//  to wave something around in a dangerous or threatening way, especially a weapon//  --A man leapt out brandishing a kitchen knife.//


Words: Brando
Meaning:
Marlon   (1924-) a US actor who many people think is one of the best actors in the history of the cinema. His films include  The Wild One, On the Waterfront, The Godfather, and  Apocalypse Now.//


Words: brandy
Meaning:
n   plural  brandies  [U and C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: brandywine  (1600-1700), from  Dutch brandewijn  ’burnt wine, distilled wine’]//  a strong alcoholic drink made from wine, or a glass of this drink//


Words: Branson
Meaning:
Richard   (1950-) a British businessman who started the  Virgin companies, which include a record company, an  airline, a financial services company, and a train company//


Words: Branston Pickle
Meaning:
trademark   a type of  chutney, which is very popular in the UK and is often eaten in  sandwiches with cheese.//


Words: Braque
Meaning:
Georges   (1882-1963) a French painter who worked with  Picasso and was one of those who started the movement known as  cubism//


Words: brash
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from   RASH1]//\n  1 behaving too confidently and speaking too loudly - used to show disapproval:  --Brash noisy journalists were crowding around the ambassador.//\n  2 a brash building, place, or object attracts attention by being very colourful, large, exciting etc:  --The painting was bold, brash, and modern.//  -- brashly adv //  -- brashness n  [U] //


Words: brass
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 metal:\n   2 music:\n   3 decorations:\n   4 get down to brass tacks:\n   5 people with top jobs:\n   6 it’s brass monkeys/brass monkey weather:\n   7 money:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: br[zB024]s]//\n  1 METAL:   [U] a very hard bright yellow metal that is a mixture of copper and zinc//  --an old brass bedstead//\n  2 MUSIC:  a)  [U] musical instruments that are made of metal, such as the trumpet and the trombone//  --brass instruments//    percussion,  stringed instrument,  wind instrument,  woodwind//  b)  the brass (section)//  the people in an orchestra or band who play musical instruments that are made of metal//\n  3 DECORATIONS:   [C usually plural] an object made of brass, usually with a design cut into it, or several brass objects//\n  4  get down to brass tacks:   informal to start talking about the most important facts or details of something//\n  5 PEOPLE WITH TOP JOBS:   the brass//   AmE  informal people who hold the most important positions//  British Equivalent:  top brass//\n  6  it’s brass monkeys/brass monkey weather:   BrE  spoken  informal used to say that it is very cold//\n  7 MONEY:   [U]  BrE  old-fashioned  informal money//    as bold as brass at bold(2)//


Words: brass knuckles
Meaning:
n [plural]  AmE   a set of connected metal rings worn over a person’s fingers, used as a weapon//  British Equivalent:  knuckleduster//


Words: brasserie
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: brasser  ’to make beer’]//  a cheap informal restaurant, usually serving French food//


Words: brassiere
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Early  French brassi[hA169]re  ’top part of a dress’, from  Old French braciere  ’arm protector’, from  braz  ’arm’]//  a bra//


Words: brassy
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a woman who is brassy is too loud, confident, or brightly dressed:  --a drunken brassy nightclub singer//\n  2 sounding hard and loud like the sound made by a brass musical instrument:\n  3 having a bright gold-yellow colour like brass:


Words: brat
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from  brat  ’rough or torn piece of clothing’ (10-20 centuries), from  Old Irish bratt  ’cloak’]//\n  1 a badly behaved child:  --a spoiled brat //\n  2  Army/Navy/military etc brat:   AmE a child whose family moves often because one or both parents works for the army, navy etc//  -- bratty adj //


Words: Braun
Meaning:
Eva   (1910-45) a German Nazi who married Adolf Hitler in 1945 and then killed herself at the same time as he did//


Words: bravado
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: bravade and  Old Spanish bravata, from  Old Italian bravata, from  brava;   BRAVE1]//  behaviour that is deliberately intended to make other people believe you are brave and confident//  --youthful bravado//


Words: brave
Meaning:
S3   adj   comparative  braver superlative  bravest //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: Old Italian and  Old Spanish bravo  ’brave, wild’, from  Latin barbarus;   BARBAROUS]//\n  1 :  a) dealing with danger, pain, or difficult situations with courage and confidence//   courageous//  --brave soldiers//  --her brave fight against cancer//  it is brave of sb (to do sth)//  --It was brave of you to speak in front of all those people.//  b)  the brave [plural] brave people//  --Today we remember the brave who died in the last war.//\n  2 very good:  --Despite their captain’s brave performance, Arsenal lost 2-1.//  brave effort/attempt //  --the brave efforts of the medical staff to save his life//\n  3  put on a brave face/front:  to pretend that you are happy when you are really very upset//\n  4  brave new world:  a situation or a way of doing something that is new and exciting and meant to improve people’s lives//  --the brave new world of digital television//  -- bravely adv //  --She smiled bravely.//\nbrave 2 v [T] \n  1 to deal with a difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant situation:  --I decided to take the train to work rather than brave the traffic.//  brave the elements/weather etc (=go out in bad weather) //  --More than 100 people braved the elements and attended the rally.//\n  2  brave it out:  to deal bravely with something that is frightening or difficult//\nbrave 3 n   [C] a young fighting man from a Native American tribe//


Words: Brave New World
Meaning:
a novel written in 1932 by the British writer Aldous Huxley, which imagines an advanced society of the future in which many people seem to have easy and pleasant lives, but in fact no-one has any freedom. This phrase, which was first used in Shakespeare’s play  The Tempest, is now used to describe any society like this.//


Words: bravery
Meaning:
n [U]   actions, behaviour, or an attitude that shows courage and confidence//   courage//  --an act of great bravery//


Words: bravo
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Italian, from  bravo (adjective);   BRAVE1]//  used to show your approval when someone, especially a performer, has done something very well//  --Bravo! Encore!//


Words: bravura
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: bravo;   BRAVE1]//  great skill shown in the way you perform, write, paint etc, especially when you do something very difficult//  --a bravura performance//


Words: brawl
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from the sound of fighting]//  a noisy quarrel or fight among a group of people, especially in a public place//  --a drunken brawl in the street//\nbrawl 2 v [I]   to quarrel or fight in a noisy way, especially in a public place//  --Fans brawled outside the stadium.//  -- brawler n  [C] //


Words: brawn
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: braon  ’muscle’]//\n  1 physical strength, especially when compared with intelligence:  --Mina has the brains, I have the brawn.//\n  2  BrE meat from a pig’s head that has been boiled and pressed in a container and is often served in thin flat pieces:  American Equivalent:  headcheese//


Words: bray
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: braire  ’to cry’, from  Vulgar Latin bragare]//\n  1 if a donkey brays, it makes a loud sound:\n  2 if someone brays, they laugh or talk in a loud, slightly annoying way:  -- bray n  [C] //


Words: brazen
Meaning:
adj   [Language: Old English; Origin: br[zB024]sen, from  br[zB024]s;   BRASS]//\n  1 used to describe a person or the actions of a person who is not embarrassed about behaving in a wrong or immoral way:  --At first I was scared, but as I went on, I became more brazen.//  --her brazen admission that she was cheating on him//\n  2  literary having a shiny yellow colour:\nbrazen 2 v   brazen out [brazen sth out] phr v//  to deal with a situation that is difficult or embarrassing for you by appearing to be confident rather than ashamed//  --She knew she could either admit the truth or brazen it out.//


Words: brazenly
Meaning:
adv   doing something openly, without showing or feeling any shame//  --She smiled at him brazenly.//


Words: brazier
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: brasier, from  Old French brese  ’burning coal’]//  a metal container that holds a fire and is used to keep people warm outside//


Words: breach
Meaning:
W3   n   [Language: Old English; Origin: bryce]//\n  1 [U and C] an action that breaks a law, rule, or agreement:  breach of//  --This was a clear breach of the 1994 Trade Agreement.//  --They sued the company for breach of contract .//  --a breach of professional duty//  be in breach of sth//  --He was clearly in breach of the law.//\n  2 [C] a serious disagreement between people, groups, or countries:  breach with//  --Britain did not want to risk a breach with the US over sanctions.//  breach between//  --What had caused the sudden breach between Henry and his son?//  --She wanted to help heal the breach between them.//\n  3  breach of confidence/trust:  an action in which someone does something that people have trusted them not to do//  --We regard the publication of this information as a serious breach of trust.//\n  4  breach of security:  an action in which someone manages to learn secret information or manages to get into a place that is guarded//  --There had been a major breach of security at the air base.//\n  5  breach of the peace:   BrE the crime of making too much noise or fighting in a public place//  --He was arrested and charged with breach of the peace.//\n  6 [C] a hole made in a wall that is intended to protect a place:  breach in//  --a breach in the castle wall//  --a breach in the flood defence barrier//\n  7  step into the breach:  to help by doing someone else’s job or work when they are unable to do it//   step in//  --Thanks for stepping into the breach last week.//\nbreach 2 v [T] \n  1 to break a law, rule, or agreement:   break//  --The company accused him of breaching his contract.//  --Traders who breach the rules could face a fine of up to [hA124]10,000.//\n  2 to break a hole in a wall that is intended to protect a place:  --The storm had breached the sea wall in two places.//


Words: bread
Meaning:
W3S2   n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 a type of food made from flour and water that is mixed together and then baked:  --Would you like some bread with your soup?//  --the smell of fresh bread //  --a loaf of bread //  --Could you cut me a slice of bread please?//  --a piece of bread and butter //  white/brown/rye etc bread //  --a brown bread sandwich//\n  2  your/sb’s bread and butter:   informal the work that provides you with most of the money that you need in order to live//  --Writing is my bread and butter.//\n  3  know which side your bread is buttered on:   informal to know which people to be nice to in order to get advantages for yourself//\n  4  old-fashioned informal money:


Words: bread-and-butter
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1  BrE bread-and-butter questions are very important basic ones:  --bread-and-butter political issues such as jobs and housing//\n  2 bread-and-butter work is work that is not very exciting but provides you with most of the money that you need in order to live:


Words: breadbasket
Meaning:
n   1 [C] a basket in which you keep or serve bread//\n  2 [singular] the part of a country or area that provides most of its food:  --Zambia could be the breadbasket of Africa.//


Words: breadcrumbs
Meaning:
n [plural]   very small pieces of bread that are left after cutting bread, or are used in cooking//  --Coat the fish with breadcrumbs and fry in a little oil.//


Words: breadline
Meaning:
n   the breadline//  a very low level of income which allows people to eat but not have any extra things//  --a family living on the breadline //


Words: breadth
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: brede  ’breadth’ (11-19 centuries) (from  Old English br[zB024]du, from  brad;   BROAD1) +  -th (as in  length)]//\n  1 [U and C] the distance from one side of something to the other:   width//    broad, depth, length//  breadth of//  --the breadth of the river//\n  5 metres/3 feet etc in breadth :  --The boat measured fifteen feet in length and four feet in breadth.//\n  2 [U] the quality of including a lot of different people, things, or ideas:    broad, depth//  breadth of//  --The job wasn’t giving him the breadth of experience he wanted.//  --His breadth of knowledge was amazing.//  --a politician known for his breadth of vision //  --We need to provide more breadth in the college curriculum.//    hair’s breadth,  the length and breadth of at length(8)//


Words: break
Meaning:
v   past tense  broke /br[hA353][hA35E]k $ bro[hA35E]k/past participle  broken /br[hA353][hA35E]k[hA353]n $ bro[hA35E]-///  ----------//\n   1 separate into pieces:\n   2 bones:\n   3 machines:\n   4 rules/laws:\n   5 promise/agreement:\n   6 stop/rest:\n   7 end something:\n   8 defeat somebody:\n   9 destroy an organization:\n  10 day/dawn:\n  11 storm:\n  12 weather:\n  13 waves:\n  14 somebody’s voice:\n  15 news:\n  16 break a habit:\n  17 break a record:\n  18 break a journey:\n  19 break somebody’s heart:\n  20 break a strike:\n  21 break a link/tie/connection:\n  22 break the skin:\n  23 break the back of something:\n  24 break the bank:\n  25 break somebody’s concentration:\n  26 break the silence:\n  27 break somebody’s spirit:\n  28 break somebody’s power:\n  29 break the ice:\n  30 break a code:\n  31 break wind:\n  32 break (somebody’s) serve:  Phrasal verbs//   break away//   break down//   break for something//   break in//   break into something//   break somebody of something//   break off//   break out//   break through//   break up//   break with somebody/something//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: brecan]//\n  1 SEPARATE INTO PIECES:  a)  [T] if you break something, you make it separate into two or more pieces, for example by hitting it, dropping it, or bending it//  --I had to break a window to get into the house.//  --Don’t lean on the fence like that - you’ll break it!//  break sth in half/two //  --He broke the biscuit in half and handed one piece to me.//  -- Break the chocolate into small pieces and melt it over a gentle heat.//  b)  [I] if something breaks, it separates into two or more pieces//  --He kept pulling at the rope until it broke.//  --The frames are made of plastic and they tend to break quite easily.//\n  2 BONES:   [T] to damage a bone in your body by making it crack or split//  --She fell downstairs and broke her hip.//\n  3 MACHINES:  a)  [T] to damage a machine so that it does not work properly//  --Don’t mess about with my camera - you’ll break it.//  --Someone’s broken the TV.//  b)  [I] if a machine breaks, it stops working properly//  --The washing machine’s broken again.//\n  4 RULES/LAWS:   [T] to disobey a rule or law//  --They’re breaking the law by employing such young children.//  --If you break the rules you will be punished.//  --The police are determined to catch motorists who break the speed limit.//\n  5 PROMISE/AGREEMENT:   [T] to not do something that you have promised to do or signed an agreement to do//  --I never break my promises .//  --You betrayed me. You broke your word .//  break an agreement/contract //  --He was worried that he might be breaking his contract.//\n  6 STOP/REST:   [I] to stop for a short time in order to have a rest or eat something//  break for//  --Shall we break for lunch now?//\n  7 END SOMETHING:   [T] to stop something from continuing//  --We need to break the cycle of poverty and crime in the inner cities.//  --We took turns driving, in order to try and break the monotony.//  --New talks will begin on Monday in an effort to break the deadlock .//\n  8 DEFEAT SOMEBODY:   [T] to make someone feel that they have been completely defeated and they cannot continue working or living//  --Losing his business nearly broke him.//  --I won’t give in. I won’t be broken by him.//\n  9 DESTROY AN ORGANIZATION:   [T] to damage an organization so badly that it no longer has any power//  --The government finally succeeded in breaking the unions.//\n  10 DAY/DAWN:   [I] when the day or the  dawn breaks, the sky gets light//  --Dawn was breaking by the time we arrived home.//\n  11 STORM:   [I] if a storm breaks, it begins//  --We were keen to get back to the hotel before the storm broke.//\n  12 WEATHER:   [I] if the weather breaks, it suddenly changes and becomes cold or wet//  --The following day the weather broke and we had ten days of solid rain.//\n  13 WAVES:   [I] when waves break, they fall onto the land at the edge of the water//  --We sat and watched the waves breaking on the shore//\n  14 SOMEBODY’S VOICE:   [I] //  a) when a boy’s voice breaks, it becomes lower and starts to sound like a man’s voice//  --He was fifteen, and his voice was just beginning to break.//  b) if your voice breaks, it does not sound smooth because you are feeling strong emotions//  --Her voice broke as she told us what had happened.//\n  15 NEWS:  a)  [I] if news about an important event breaks, it becomes known//  --News of his resignation broke yesterday afternoon.//  --The minister has refused to give any interviews since the scandal broke.//  b)  [T] if you break unpleasant news to someone, you tell it to them//  --I didn’t know how I was going to break the news to my mother.//  --The doctor finally broke it to me that there was no cure.//\n  16  break a habit:  to stop doing something that you do regularly, especially something that you should not do//  --a new drug which helps smokers to break their habit//\n  17  break a record:  to do something even faster or even better than the previous best time, amount etc//  --an attempt to break the 10,000 metres world record//\n  18  break a journey:   BrE to stop somewhere for a short time during a long journey//  --We decided to break our journey in Oxford.//\n  19  break sb’s heart:  to make someone very unhappy by ending a relationship with them or doing something that upsets them a lot//  --He broke my heart when he left me.//  --It would break her heart if she lost her children.//  --It’ll break your father’s heart if you tell him you’re giving up college.//\n  20  break a strike:  to force workers to end a strike//  --The government has threatened to bring in the army to break the 10 month old strike.//\n  21  break a link/tie/connection:  to end a relationship with a person or organization//  --The US has now broken all diplomatic links with the regime.//  --Sometimes it is necessary to break family ties in order to protect the child.//\n  22  break the skin:  to cut the skin on your body//  --Their teeth are sharp enough the break the skin.//\n  23  break the back of sth:  to finish the main or worst part of something//  --I think we’ve broken the back of the job now.//\n  24  break the bank:  to cost a lot of money, or more money than you have//  --A new hard drive doesn’t have to break the bank.//\n  25  break sb’s concentration:  to interrupt someone and stop them from being able to continue thinking or talking about something//  --The slightest sound would break his concentration.//\n  26  break the silence:  to end a period of silence by talking or making a noise//  --The silence was broken by a loud scream.//\n  27  break sb’s spirit:  to destroy someone’s feeling of determination//  --They could not break her spirit.//  --The spirit of our soldiers will never be broken.//\n  28  break sb’s power:  to take away someone’s position of power or control//  --At last the power of the church was finally broken.//\n  29  break the ice:   informal to make people feel more friendly and willing to talk to each other//  --Sam’s arrival broke the ice and people began to talk and laugh.//\n  30  break a code:  to succeed in understanding something that is written in a secret way//  --Scientists worked day and night to break the code.//\n  31  break wind:  to allow gas to escape from your bottom, making a noise and an unpleasant smell//\n  32  break (sb’s) serve:  to win a game in tennis when your opponent is starting the game by hitting the ball first//  --Hewitt broke serve twice in the second set.//  break away phr v//\n  1 to leave a group or political party and form another group, usually because of a disagreement:  --More than 30 Labour MPs broke away to form a new left-wing party.//  break away from//  --They broke away from the national union and set up their own local organization.//    breakaway2 //\n  2 to leave your home, family, or job and become independent:  break away from//  --I felt the need to break away from home.//\n  3 to move away from someone who is holding you:  --She started crying and tried to break away.//  break away from//  --She broke away from him and ran to the door.//\n  4 to move away from other people in a race or game:  --Radcliffe broke away 200 metres before the finish.//\n  5 to become loose and no longer attached to something:  --Part of the plane’s wing had broken away.//  break down phr v//\n  1 if a car or machine breaks down, it stops working:  --The car broke down just north of Paris.//  --The printing machines are always breaking down.//    breakdown//\n  2 to fail or stop working in a successful way:  --Negotiations broke down after only two days.//  --I left London when my marriage broke down.//    breakdown//\n  3  break sth → down:  if you break down a door, you hit it so hard that it breaks and falls to the ground//  --Police had to break down the door to get into the flat.//\n  4  break sth → down:  to change or remove something that prevents people from working together and having a successful relationship with each other//  --Getting young people together will help to break down the barriers between them.//  --It takes a long time to break down prejudices.//\n  5 if a substance breaks down or something breaks it down, it changes as a result of a chemical process:  break sth → down//  --Food is broken down in the stomach.//  --Bacteria are added to help break down the sewage.//\n  6 to be unable to stop yourself crying, especially in public:  --He broke down and cried.//  --She broke down in tears when she heard the news.//\n  7  break sth → down:  to separate something into smaller parts so that it is easier to do or understand//  --He showed us the whole dance, then broke it down so that we could learn it more easily.//  --The question can be broken down into two parts.//    breakdown//  break for [break for sth] phr v//  to suddenly run towards something, especially in order to escape from someone//  --He broke for the door, but the guards got there before he did.//  break in phr v//\n  1 to enter a building by using force, in order to steal something:  --Thieves broke in and stole [hA124]10,000 worth of computer equipment.//    break-in//\n  2 to interrupt someone when they are speaking:  break in on//  --I didn’t want to break in on his telephone conversation.//  break in with//  --Dad would occasionally break in with an amusing comment.//\n  3  break sth → in:  to make new shoes or boots less stiff and more comfortable by wearing them//  --I went for a walk to break in my new boots.//\n  4  break sb in:  to help a person get used to a certain way of behaving or working//  --She’s quite new to the job so we’re still breaking her in.//\n  5  break sth → in:  to teach a young horse to carry people on its back//  --We break the horses in when they’re about two years old.//  break into [break into sth] phr v//\n  1 to enter a building or car by using force, in order to steal something:  --Someone broke into my car and stole the radio.//  --Her house was broken into last week.//\n  2 to become involved in a new job or business activity:  --She made an attempt to break into journalism.//  --It’s a profession that is very hard to break into.//  --Many British firms have failed in their attempts to break into the American market.//\n  3 to start to spend money that you did not want to spend:  --I don’t want to break into my savings unless I have to.//\n  4  break into a run/trot etc:  to suddenly start running//  --He broke into a run as he came round the corner.//\n  5  break into a smile/a song/applause etc:  to suddenly start smiling, singing etc//  --Her face broke into a smile.//  --He suddenly broke into song.//  --The audience broke into loud applause.//  break of [break sb of sth] phr v//  to make someone stop having a bad habit//  --Try to break yourself of the habit of eating between meals.//  break off phr v//\n  1 to suddenly stop talking:  --She started to speak, then broke off while a waitress served us coffee.//  --He broke off in mid-sentence to shake hands with the new arrivals.//  break sth → off//  --I broke off the conversation and answered the phone.//\n  2  break sth → off:  to end a relationship//  --She broke off their engagement only a few weeks before they were due to be married.//  --The US has broken off diplomatic relations with the regime.//\n  3 if something breaks off, or if you break it off, it comes loose and is no longer attached to something else:  --One of the car’s wing mirrors had broken off.//  break sth → off//  --He broke off a piece of bread.//  break out phr v//\n  1 if something unpleasant such as a fire, fight, or war breaks out, it starts to happen:  --I was still living in London when the war broke out.//  --Does everyone know what to do if a fire breaks out?//  --Fighting broke out between demonstrators and the police.//    outbreak//\n  2 to escape from a prison:  break out of//  --Three men have broken out of a top security jail.//    breakout//\n  3 to change the way you live because you feel bored:  break out of//  --She felt the need to break out of her daily routine.//\n  4  break out in spots/a rash/a sweat etc:  if you break out in spots etc, they appear on your skin//  --I broke out in a painful rash.//  --My whole body broke out in a sweat.//  break through phr v//\n  1  break through (sth):  to manage to get past or through something that is in your way//  --Several demonstrators broke through the barriers despite warnings from the police.//  --After hours of fierce fighting, rebels broke through and captured the capital.//\n  2  break through (sth):  if the sun breaks through, you can see it when you could not see it before because there were clouds//  --The sun broke through at around lunch time.//  --The sun soon broke through the mist.//\n  3 to manage to do something successfully when there is a difficulty that is preventing you:  --He’s a very talented young actor who’s just ready to break through.//  break through into//  --It is possible that at this election some of the minority parties might succeed in breaking through into parliament.//    breakthrough//  break up phr v//\n  1 if something breaks up, or if you break it up, it breaks into a lot of small pieces:  --It seems that the plane just broke up in the air.//  break sth → up//  --Use a fork to break up the soil.//\n  2  break sth → up:  to separate something into several smaller parts//  --There are plans to break the company up into several smaller independent companies.//  --You need a few trees and bushes to break up the lawn.//\n  3  break sth → up:  to stop a fight//  --Three policemen were needed to break up the fight.//\n  4  break sth → up:  to make people leave a place where they have been meeting or protesting//  --Government soldiers broke up the demonstration .//  --Police moved in to break up the meeting .//\n  5 if a marriage, group of people, or relationship breaks up, the people in it separate and do not live or work together any more:  --He lost his job and his marriage broke up .//  --The couple broke up last year.//  --Many bands break up because of personality clashes between the musicians.//  break up with//  --Has Sam really broken up with Lucy?//    breakup//\n  6 if a meeting or party breaks up, people start to leave:  --The party didn’t break up until after midnight.//  --The meeting broke up without any agreement.//\n  7  BrE when a school breaks up, it closes for a holiday:  --School breaks up next week.//  break up for//  --When do you break up for Easter?//\n  8  break sb up:   AmE  informal to make someone laugh by saying or doing something funny//  --He really breaks me up!//  break with / [break with sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to leave a group of people or an organization, especially because you have had a disagreement with them:  --She had broken with her family years ago.//  --They broke with the Communist Party and set up a new party.//\n  2  break with tradition/the past:  to stop following old customs and do something in a completely different way//  --Now is the time to break with the past.//  --His work broke with tradition in many ways.//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: words meaning break //  smash with a lot of force //  shatter into many pieces //  split  into two pieces //  snap into two pieces, with a sudden loud noise //  tear paper/cloth //  burst pipe/tyre/balloon //  crumble break into a lot of small pieces //  disintegrate break into a lot of small pieces and be destroyed //  fracture if a bone fractures or you fracture it, it breaks slightly so that a small line appears on the surface //  ----------//\nbreak 2 n   ----------//\n   1 stop working:\n   2 stop doing something:\n   3 holiday:\n   4 at school:\n   5 on tv:\n   6 something stops happening:\n   7 end a relationship:\n   8 space/hole:\n   9 chance:\n  10 bones:\n  11 tennis:\n  12 snooker:\n  13 break with tradition/the past:\n  14 make a break for something:\n  15 give me/it a break!:\n  16 give somebody a break:\n  17 the break of day:  ----------//\n  1 STOP WORKING:   [C] a period of time when you stop working in order to rest, eat etc//  --We’ll  have a  short break  for lunch, then start again at 2 o’clock.//  -- Let’s  take a  ten-minute  break . //  --We’d worked for ten hours  without a break . //  -- I’ll go shopping during my  lunch break . //  -- You’ll just have to stay in at  break time  and do it again.//\n  2 STOP DOING SOMETHING:   [C] a period of time when you stop doing something before you start again//  break from//  --I wanted a break from university life.//  --She decided to take a career break when she had children.//  break in//  --a welcome break in my normal routine//\n  3 HOLIDAY:   [C] a short holiday//  --I was beginning to feel that I needed a break.//  --We flew off for a week’s break in Spain.//  --They’re offering weekend breaks in Paris for only a hundred pounds.//  the Easter/Christmas etc break //  --Are you looking forward to the summer break?//\n  4 AT SCHOOL:   [U] the time during the school day when classes stop and teachers and students can rest, eat, play etc//  at break//  --I’ll speak to you at break.//  --They get together with their friends at break time .//\n  5 ON TV:   [C] a pause for advertisements during a television or radio programme//  --Join us again after the break.//  --We’ll be back with more after a short break.//\n  6 SOMETHING STOPS HAPPENING:   [C] a period of time when something stops happening before it starts again//  break in//  --We’ll go for a walk if there’s a break in the rain.//  --Latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance.//  --She waited for a break in the conversation.//  --There was no sign of a break in the weather  (=an improvement in bad weather) .//\n  7 END A RELATIONSHIP:   [singular] a time when you leave a person or group, or end a relationship with someone//  --I wanted a clean break so that I could restart my life.//  --It was years before I plucked up enough courage to make the break and leave him.//  break with//  --He was beginning to regret his break with the Labour Party.//\n  8 SPACE/HOLE:   [C] a space or hole in something//  break in//  --We crawled through a break in the hedge.//  --The sun shone through a break in the clouds.//\n  9 CHANCE:   [C]  informal a sudden or unexpected chance to do something that allows you to become successful in your job//  --There are hundreds of young musicians out there looking for their first break.//  --He got his first big break in 1998.//  --a lucky break //\n  10 BONES:   [C] the place where a bone in your body has broken//  --It’s quite a bad break, which will take several months to heal.//\n  11 TENNIS:   [C] a situation in a game of tennis in which you win a game when your opponent is starting the game by hitting the ball first//  --She really needs a break of serve now if she wants to win this match.//\n  12 SNOOKER:   [C] the number of points that a player wins when it is their turn to hit the ball in a game such as snooker//\n  13  break with tradition/the past:  a time when people stop following old customs and do something in a completely different way//  --It is time for a complete break with the past.//\n  14  make a break for sth:  to suddenly start running towards something in order to escape from a place//  --As soon as the guard’s back was turned they made a break for the door.//  --Two of the prisoners made a break for it but were soon recaptured.//\n  15  give me/it a break!:   spoken used when you want someone to stop doing or saying something that is annoying you//\n  16  give sb a break:   spoken to stop being strict with someone so that a situation becomes easier for them//  --Give the kid a break. It’s only his second day on the job.//\n  17  the break of day:   literary the time early in the morning when it starts getting light//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  have/take a break //  do something without a break //  lunch break //  coffee/tea break //  break time BrE  (=the times during the school day when there are no lessons) //  ----------//


Words: break-in
Meaning:
n [C]   an act of entering a building illegally and by force, especially in order to steal things//  --Since the break-in we’ve had all our locks changed.//    break in at break1 //


Words: breakable
Meaning:
adj   made of a material such as glass or clay that breaks easily//  --Make sure you pack breakable ornaments carefully.//


Words: breakage
Meaning:
n   [U and C] something that someone breaks, especially when they must pay for it//  --All breakages must be paid for.//


Words: breakaway
Meaning:
adj   breakaway group/party/movement//  a breakaway group etc is formed by people who have left another group because of a disagreement//  --a breakaway group of journalists//  --Hundreds of miners joined the breakaway union.//    break away at break1 //\nbreakaway 2 n [singular] \n  1 a time when some people leave a group or organization after a disagreement and start a new group or organization:  breakaway from//  --He led a breakaway from the Communist Party.//\n  2 a change from the usual or accepted way of doing something:  breakaway from//  --His work marks a breakaway from traditional building styles.//


Words: breakdancing
Meaning:
n [U]   a type of dancing to popular music that involves a lot of jumping and rolling on the floor//


Words: breakdown
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] the failure of a relationship or system:  breakdown of//  --He moved away after the breakdown of his marriage.//  --A sudden rise in oil prices could lead to a breakdown of the economy.//  breakdown in//  --There has been a serious breakdown in relations between the two countries.//  marriage/marital/family breakdown //  --Family breakdown can lead to behavioural problems in children.//\n  2 [C] a serious medical condition in which someone becomes mentally ill and is unable to work or deal with ordinary situations in life:  --I was worried he might have a breakdown if he carried on working so hard.//  --Two years ago he suffered a mental breakdown .//  --She had already had one nervous breakdown .//\n  3 [C] an occasion when a car or a piece of machinery breaks and stops working:  --Always carry a phone with you in case you have a breakdown on the motorway.//  breakdown in//  --a breakdown in the cooling system//\n  4 [C] a list of all the separate parts of something:  breakdown of//  --Can you give us a breakdown of the figures?//  --a breakdown of the costs//\n  5 [singular] the changing of a substance into other substances:  --the breakdown of glucose in the body to release energy//    break down at break1 //


Words: breakdown truck
Meaning:
also breakdown lorry  n [C]  BrE   a vehicle with special equipment that is used to pull a car that is broken and does not work to a place where it can be repaired//  American Equivalent:  tow truck//


Words: breakeven
Meaning:
break-even/bre[hA366]ki[hA359]v[hA368]n[hA36B]/ n [U]   the level of business activity at which a company is making neither a profit nor a loss//  (the) breakeven point/level //  --The firm should reach breakeven point after one year.//    break even at even2 (11)//


Words: breakfast
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: break +   FAST4]//  the meal you have in the morning//  --We had bacon and eggs for breakfast .//  --I never seem to have time to eat breakfast .//  --After a hearty breakfast  (=large breakfast) we set out for a hike.//  --a light breakfast  (=small breakfast) //  --a working breakfast  (=a breakfast at which you talk about business) //  -- breakfast v  [I] //    bed and breakfast,  continental breakfast,  English breakfast,  wedding breakfast at wedding(1),  make a dog’s breakfast of sth at dog1 (8)//


Words: breakneck
Meaning:
adj   at breakneck speed/pace//  extremely and often dangerously fast//  --He drove away at breakneck speed.//


Words: breakout
Meaning:
n [C]   an escape from a prison, especially one involving a lot of prisoners//    break out at break1 //


Words: breakthrough
Meaning:
n [C]   an important new discovery in something you are studying, especially one made after trying for a long time//  breakthrough in//  --Scientists have made a major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer.//    break through at break1 //


Words: breakup
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 the act of ending a marriage or relationship:  --the breakup of her marriage//\n  2 the separation of a group, organization, or country into smaller parts:  breakup of//  --the breakup of the Soviet Union//    break up at break1 //


Words: breast
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 woman’s body:\n   2 chest:\n   3 bird:\n   4 meat:\n   5 clothes:\n   6 make a clean breast of it/things:\n   7 emotions:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: breost]//\n  1 [C] WOMAN’S BODY:  one of the two round raised parts on a woman’s chest that produce milk when she has a baby//  --These bras are specially designed for women with large breasts.//  -- breast milk//  -- breast cancer//  bare-breasted/small-breasted etc //\n  2 CHEST:   [C]  written the part of your body between your neck and your stomach//  --Dick cradled her photograph against his breast.//\n  3 BIRD:   [C] the front part of a bird’s body, below its neck//  --a robin with a red breast//  red-breasted/white-breasted etc //  --red-breasted geese//\n  4 MEAT:   [U] meat that comes from the front part of the body of a bird such as a chicken//  --turkey breast//\n  5 CLOTHES:   [C usually singular] the part of a jacket, shirt etc that covers the top part of your chest//    double-breasted,  single-breasted//\n  6  make a clean breast of it/things:  to admit that you have done something wrong//\n  7 EMOTIONS:   [C]  literary where your feelings of sadness, love, anger, fear etc come from//  --a troubled breast//    beat your breast at beat1 (31),  chimney breast//\nbreast 2 v [T]  formal \n  1 to reach the top of a hill or slope:\n  2 to push against something with your chest:


Words: breast-feed past tense and past participle
Meaning:
breast-fed  v [I and T]   if a woman breastfeeds, she feeds her baby with milk from her breast rather than from a bottle//   nurse//    suckle, bottle-feed//


Words: breastbone
Meaning:
n [C]   backbone, breastbone, collarbone, kneecap, pelvis, skull, spine, rib//  a long flat bone in the front of your chest which is connected to the top seven pairs of ribs//   sternum//


Words: breastplate
Meaning:
n [C]   a leather or metal protective covering worn over the chest by soldiers during battles in the past//


Words: breaststroke
Meaning:
n [U]   a way of swimming in which you push your arms out and then bring them back in a circle towards you while bending your knees towards your body and then kicking out//


Words: breath
Meaning:
W2S3   n   [Language: Old English; Origin: br[zB024]th]//\n  1 :  a)  [U] the air that you send out of your lungs when you breathe//  --Leo could smell the wine on her breath.//  --Let your breath out slowly.//  --He’s got bad breath  (=breath that smells unpleasant) .//  b)  [U] air that you take into your lungs//  --Eric came running into the room, out of breath  (=having difficulty breathing because he had just been running) .//  --She was fat and short of breath  (=unable to breathe easily, especially because of ill health) .//  gasp/fight etc for breath (=breathe quickly because you are having difficulty breathing) //  --When he reached the top of the stairs, his heart was pounding and he was gasping for breath.//  c)  [C] an amount of air that you take into your lungs//  take a (deep/long/big etc) breath (=breathe in a lot of air at one time) //  --Shaun took a deep breath and dived in.//\n  2  a breath of fresh air:  a) something that is new and different in a way you think is exciting and good//  --Osborne’s play brought a breath of fresh air to the British theatre.//  b) clean air outside, which you feel you need after being inside for a long time//  --I’m going outside for a breath of fresh air.//\n  3  don’t hold your breath:   informal used to say that something is not going to happen soon//  --The system’s due for an update, but don’t hold your breath.//\n  4  catch your breath:   also  get your breath back//  to start breathing normally again after running or making a lot of effort//  --Slow down, I need a minute to catch my breath.//\n  5  don’t waste your breath:   also  save your breath//   spoken used to say that someone will not be able to persuade someone else, so there is no point in trying//  --Save your breath. She’s already made up her mind.//  --Will he listen to me or will I just be wasting my breath?//\n  6  take sb’s breath away:  to be extremely beautiful or exciting//  --The view from the top will take your breath away.//\n  7  under your breath:  in a quiet voice so that no one can hear you//  --’Son of a bitch,’ he muttered under his breath.//\n  8  in the same breath:  a)  also  in the next breath//  used to say that someone has said two things at once that are so different from each other they cannot both be true//  --He criticized the film, then predicted in the same breath that it would be a great success.//  b) if you mention two people or things in the same breath, you show that you think they are alike or are related//  --I became nervous when the doctor mentioned my mother’s name and ’cancer’ in the same breath.//  in the same breath as/with//  --a young poet mentioned in the same breath as T.S. Eliot//\n  9  with your last/dying breath:  at the moment when you are dying//  --With his last breath he cursed his captors.//\n  10 [singular]  written a very small amount or a sign of something:  breath of//  --They did everything they could to avoid the slightest breath of scandal.//\n  11  a breath of air/wind:   literary a slight movement of air//  --Scarcely a breath of air disturbed the stillness of the day.//    with bated breath at bated,  draw breath at draw1 (24)//    hold your breath at hold1 (17)//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not confuse the noun breath /bre[hA35F]/ with the verb breathe /bri[hA359][hA171]/ She took a breath and continued.| I can’t breathe in here! //  ----------//


