# dict

Words: believable
Meaning:
adjective\nthat can be believed\nSYN PLAUSIBLE:\nHer explanation certainly sounded believable. * a play with believable characters\nOPP UNBELIEVABLE


Words: believe
Meaning:
verb (not used in the progressive tenses)\n  feel certain\n  1  to feel certain that sth is true or that sb is telling you the truth:\n[VN] I don’t believe you! * I believed his lies for years. * The man claimed to be a social worker and the old woman believed him. * I find that hard to believe. * Believe me, she’s not right for you. * Don’t believe a word of it (= don’t believe any part of what sb is saying). * [V (that)] People used to believe (that) the earth was flat. * He refused to believe (that) his son was involved in drugs.\n  think possible\n  2  to think that sth is true or possible, although you are not completely certain:\n[V (that)] Police believe (that) the man may be armed. * [VN (that)] It is believed that the couple have left the country. * [VN to inf] The vases are believed to be worth over $20 000 each. * [V] ’Where does she come from?’ ’Spain, I believe.’ * ’Does he still work there?’ ’I believe so / not.’ * [VN-ADJ] Three sailors are missing, believed drowned.\n  have opinion\n  3  [V (that)] to have the opinion that sth is right or true:\nThe party believes (that) education is the most important issue facing the government. * She believes that killing animals for food or fur is completely immoral.\n  be surprised / annoyed\n  4  (don’t / can’t ~ sth) used to say that you are surprised or annoyed at sth:\n[V (that)] She couldn’t believe (that) it was all happening again. * I don’t believe I’m doing this! * [V wh-] I can’t believe how much better I feel.\n  religion\n  5  [V] to have a religious faith:\nThe god appears only to those who believe.\n IDIOMS \n  believe it or not (spoken) used to introduce information that is true but that may surprise people:\nBelieve it or not, he asked me to marry him!\n  believe (you) me (spoken) used to emphasize that you strongly believe what you are saying:\nYou haven’t heard the last of this, believe you me!\n  don’t you believe it! (spoken) used to tell sb that sth is definitely not true:\n’She wouldn’t do a thing like that.’ ’Don’t you believe it!’\n  I don’t believe it! (spoken) used to say that you are surprised or annoyed about sth:\nI don’t believe it! What are you doing here?\n  if you believe that, you’ll believe anything (spoken) used to say that you think sb is stupid if they believe that sth is true:\n’He promised not to do it again.’ ’Sure, and if you believe that, you’ll believe anything.’\n  make believe (that ...) to pretend that sth is true\nrelated noun MAKE-BELIEVE\n  not believe your ears / eyes (spoken) to be very surprised at sth you hear/see:\nI couldn’t believe my eyes when she walked into the room.\n  seeing is believing (saying) used to say that sb will have to believe that sth is true when they see it, although they do not think it is true now\n  would you believe (it)? (spoken) used to show that you are surprised and annoyed about sth:\nAnd, would you believe, he didn’t even apologize!\n  you / you’d better believe it! (spoken) used to tell sb that sth is definitely true:\n’He’s not a bad player, is he?’ ’You’d better believe it!’\nmore at GIVE v.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  believe in sb/sth to feel certain that sb/sth exists:\nDo you believe in God?\n  believe in sb to feel that you can trust sb and/or that they will be successful:\nThey need a leader they can believe in. * I never thought I could make it as an actor, but my parents always believed in me.\n  believe in sth to think that sth is good, right or acceptable:\n[+ -ing] I don’t believe in hitting children.:\nDo you believe in capital punishment?\n  believe sth of sb to think that sb is capable of sth:\nAre you sure he was lying? I can’t believe that of him.


Words: believer
Meaning:
noun\na person who believes in the existence or truth of sth, especially sb who believes in a god or religious faith\nOPP UNBELIEVER\n IDIOMS \n  be a (great / firm) believer in sth to believe strongly that sth is good, important or valuable:\nI’ve always been a great believer in getting as much sleep as possible.


Words: Belisha beacon
Meaning:
noun\n(in Britain) a post with an orange flashing light on top marking a place where cars must stop to allow people to cross the road


Words: belittle
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to make sb or the things that sb does seem unimportant:\nShe felt her husband constantly belittled her achievements. * By saying this, I do not mean to belittle the importance of his role.


Words: bell
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a hollow metal object, often shaped like a cup, that makes a ringing sound when hit by a small piece of metal inside it; the sound that it makes:\nA peal of church bells rang out in the distance. * a bicycle bell * His voice came down the line as clear as a bell. * a bell tower * a bell-shaped flower * wedding bells * The dancers wore bells on their ankles.\nsee also HANDBELL\n \n  2  an electrical device which makes a ringing sound when a button on it is pushed; the sound that it makes, used as a signal or a warning:\nRing the bell to see if they’re in. * The bell’s ringing! * The bell went for the end of the lesson. * An alarm bell went off. * Warning bells started ringing in her head as she sensed that something was wrong.\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  give sb a bell (BrE, informal) to call sb by telephone\nmore at ALARM n., PULL v., RING v., SOUND adj.


Words: bell-ringer
Meaning:
(also ringer) noun\na person who rings church bells as a hobby\n    bell-ringing noun [U] \nsee also CAMPANOLOGIST, CAMPANOLOGY


Words: belle
Meaning:
noun\n(old-fashioned) a beautiful woman; the most beautiful woman in a particular place:\nYou were the belle of the ball (= the most beautiful woman at a party, etc.). * a dainty Southern beach belle from Virginia


Words: belles-lettres
Meaning:
noun\n[U+sing./pl. v.] (from French, old-fashioned) studies or writings on the subject of literature or art, contrasted with those on technical, scientific, etc. subjects


Words: bellicose
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) having or showing a desire to argue or fight\nSYN AGGRESSIVE, WARLIKE\n    bellicosity  noun [U]


Words: belligerent
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  unfriendly and aggressive\nSYN HOSTILE:\na belligerent attitude * He is always very belligerent towards me.\n  2  [only before noun] (formal) (of a country) fighting a war:\nthe belligerent countries / states / nations\n    belligerence  noun [U]\n    belligerently adverb \n    noun (formal) a country or group that is fighting a war


Words: bellow
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (sth) (at sb) to shout in a loud deep voice, especially because you are angry:\n[V] They bellowed at her to stop but it was too late. * Do you have to bellow in my ear? * [VN] The coach bellowed instructions from the sidelines. [also V speech]\n  2  [V] when a large animal such as a BULL bellows, it makes a loud deep sound\n    bellow noun:\nto let out a bellow of rage / pain


Words: bellows
Meaning:
noun\n[C+sing./pl. v.] a piece of equipment for blowing air into or through sth. Bellows are used for making a fire burn better or for producing sound in some types of musical instruments:\na pair of bellows (= a small bellows with two handles to be pushed together)


Words: belly
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun (plural bellies)\n  1  the part of the body below the chest\nSYN STOMACH, GUT:\nThey crawled along on their bellies.\nsee also BEER BELLY, POT BELLY\n  2  (literary) the round or curved part of an object:\nthe belly of a ship\n  3  (-bellied) (in adjectives) having the type of belly mentioned:\nswollen-bellied * round-bellied\n    verb (bellies, bellying, bellied, bellied) [V] ~ (out) (especially of sails) to fill with air and become rounder:\nThe sails bellied out in the wind.


Words: belly dance
Meaning:
noun\na dance, originally from the Middle East, in which a woman moves her belly and hips around\n    belly dancer noun


Words: bellyache
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [C, U] (informal) a pain in the stomach:\nI’ve got (a) bellyache.\n    verb [V] (informal) to complain a lot about sth in an annoying or unreasonable way:\nHe’s always bellyaching about how much work he has to do.


Words: bellyful
Meaning:
noun\n IDIOMS \n  have had a bellyful of sb/sth (informal) to have had more than enough of sb/sth, so that you cannot deal with any more:\nI’ve had a bellyful of your moaning.


Words: belong
Meaning:
verb (not used in the progressive tenses)\n  1  [V +adv./prep.] to be in the right or suitable place:\nWhere do these plates belong (= where are they kept)? * Are you sure these documents belong together? * Several of the points you raise do not belong in this discussion. * A person like that does not belong in teaching.\n  2  [V] to feel comfortable and happy in a particular situation or with a particular group of people:\nI don’t feel as if I belong here.\n    belonging noun [U]:\nto feel a sense of belonging\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  belong to sb\n1 to be owned by sb:\nWho does this watch belong to? * The islands belong to Spain.\n2 an event, a competition, etc. that belongs to sb is one in which they are the most successful or popular:\nBritish actors did well at the award ceremony, but the evening belonged to the Americans.\n  belong to sth\n1 to be a member of a club, an organization, etc:\nHave you ever belonged to a political party?\n2 to be part of a particular group type, or system:\nLions and tigers belong to the cat family.


Words: belongings
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] the things that you own which can be moved, for example not land or buildings:\ninsurance of property and personal belongings * She packed her few belongings in a bag and left. * The burglars had gone through all his belongings.


Words: beloved
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective (written)\n  1   of sb loved very much by sb; very popular with sb:\nthe deep purple flowers so beloved by artists * She was beloved by all who knew her.\n  2   [only before noun] loved very much:\nin memory of our dearly beloved son, John * They were glad to be back in their beloved Ireland.\n    noun  (old use or literary) a person who is loved very much by sb:\nIt was a gift from her beloved.


Words: below
Meaning:
preposition, adverb \n    preposition\n  1  at or to a lower level or position than sb/sth:\nHe dived below the surface of the water. * Please do not write below this line. * Skirts will be worn below (= long enough to cover) the knee.\n  2  of a lower amount or standard than sb/sth:\nThe temperatures remained below freezing all day. * Her work was well below average for the class.\n  3  of a lower rank or of less importance than sb/sth:\nA police sergeant is below an inspector. * They’re two places below Chelsea in the table. -> UNDER\n    adverb\n  1  at or to a lower level, position or place:\nThey live on the floor below. * I could still see the airport buildings far below. * See below (= at the bottom of the page) for references. * The passengers who felt seasick stayed below (= on a lower deck).\n  2  (of a temperature) lower than zero:\nThe thermometer had dropped to a record 40 below (= -40 degrees).\n  3  at a lower rank:\nThis ruling applies to the ranks of Inspector and below.


Words: belt
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a long narrow piece of leather, fabric, etc. that you wear around the waist:\nto do up / fasten / tighten a belt * a belt buckle\nsee also BLACK BELT, LIFEBELT, SEAT BELT, SUSPENDER BELT\n \n  2  a continuous band of material that moves round and is used to carry things along or to drive machinery\nsee also CONVEYOR BELT, FAN BELT\n \n  3  an area with particular characteristics or where a particular group of people live:\nthe country’s corn / industrial belt * We live in the commuter belt. * a belt of rain moving across the country\nsee also GREEN BELT\n  4  (informal) an act of hitting sth/sb hard:\nShe gave the ball a terrific belt.\n IDIOMS \n  below the belt (of a remark) unfair or cruel:\nThat was distinctly below the belt!\n  belt and braces (informal) taking more actions than are really necessary to make sure that sth succeeds or works as it should:\na belt-and-braces policy\n  have sth under your belt (informal) to have already achieved or obtained sth:\nShe already has a couple of good wins under her belt.\nmore at TIGHTEN\n    verb\n  1  [VN] (informal) to hit sb/sth hard:\nHe belted the ball right out of the park. * I’ll belt you if you do that again.\n  2  [V +adv./prep.] (informal, especially BrE) to move very fast:\nA truck came belting up behind us.\n  3  [VN] to fasten a belt around sth:\nThe dress was belted at the waist.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  belt sth<->out (informal) to sing a song or play music loudly:\nNobody can belt out a tune like she can. * The band was belting out songs from the 1940s.\n  belt up (BrE)\n1 (AmE buckle up) (informal) to fasten your SEAT BELT (= a belt worn by a passenger in a vehicle)\n2 (spoken) used to tell sb rudely to be quiet:\nJust belt up, will you!


Words: bemoan
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to complain or say that you are not happy about sth:\nThey sat bemoaning the fact that no one would give them a chance.


Words: bemused
Meaning:
adjective\nshowing that you are confused and unable to think clearly:\na bemused expression / smile * She looked somewhat shaken and bemused by what had happened.\n    bemusedly adverb


Words: bench
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [C] a long seat for two or more people, usually made of wood:\na park bench\n \n  2  (the bench) [sing.] (law) a judge in a court of law or the seat where he/she sits; the position of being a judge or MAGISTRATE:\nHis lawyer turned to address the bench. * She has recently been appointed to the bench.\n \n  3  [C, often pl.] (in the British Parliament) a seat where a particular group of politicians sit:\nThere was cheering from the Opposition benches.\nsee also BACK BENCH, THE FRONT BENCH\n  4  (the bench) [sing.] (sport) the seats where players sit when they are not playing in the game:\nthe substitutes’ bench * He started the game on the bench but finished as the team’s top scorer.\n  5  [C] = WORKBENCH:\na carpenter’s bench


Words: benchmark
Meaning:
noun\nsomething which can be measured and used as a standard that other things can be compared with:\nTests at the age of seven provide a benchmark against which the child’s progress at school can be measured.


Words: bend
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n (bent, bent )\n \n  1  [often +adv./prep.] (especially of sb’s body or head) to lean, or make sth lean, in a particular direction:\n[V] He bent and kissed her. * fields of poppies bending in the wind * The doctor told me to avoid bending and stretching. * His dark head bent over her. * She bent forward to pick up the newspaper. * Slowly bend from the waist and bring your head down to your knees. * [VN] He bent his head and kissed her. * She was bent over her desk writing a letter.\n \n  2  if you bend your arm, leg, etc. or if it bends, you move it so that it is no longer straight:\n[VN] Bend your knees, keeping your back straight. * [V] Lie flat and let your knees bend.\n \n  3  [VN] to force sth that was straight into an angle or a curve:\nMark the pipe where you want to bend it. * The knives were bent out of shape. * He bent the wire into the shape of a square.\n \n  4  to change direction to form a curve or an angle; to make sth change direction in this way:\n[V] The road bent sharply to the right. * [VN] Glass and water both bend light.\n IDIOMS \n  bend sb’s ear (about sth) (informal) to talk to sb a lot about sth, especially about a problem that you have\n  bend your mind / efforts to sth (formal) to think very hard about or put a lot of effort into one particular thing\n  bend the truth to say sth that is not completely true:\nI wasn’t exactly lying when I said I hadn’t seen her-I was just bending the truth a little.\n  on bended knee(s) if you ask for sth on bended knee(s), you ask for it in a very anxious and/or HUMBLE way:\nI’d go down on bended knee if I thought she’d change her mind.\nmore at BACKWARDS, RULE n.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bend sb to sth (formal) to force or persuade sb to do what you want or to accept your opinions:\nHe manipulates people and tries to bend them to his will (= make them do what he wants). * She managed to bend the committee to her opinion.\n    noun\n  1  [C] a curve or turn, especially in a road or river:\na sharp bend in the road * You took that bend very fast!\nsee also HAIRPIN BEND\n  2  (the bends) [pl.] severe pain and difficulty in breathing experienced by a DIVER who comes back to the surface of the water too quickly\n IDIOMS \n  round the bend / twist (informal, especially BrE) crazy:\nShe’s gone completely round the bend. * The children have been driving me round the bend today (= annoying me very much).


Words: bendy
Meaning:
adjective (BrE, informal)\n  1  that can be bent easily\nSYN FLEXIBLE\n  2  with many bends:\na bendy road


Words: beneath
Meaning:
preposition (formal)\n  1  in or to a lower position than sb/sth; under sb/sth:\nThey found the body buried beneath a pile of leaves. * The boat sank beneath the waves.\n  2  not good enough for sb:\nHe considers such jobs beneath him. * They thought she had married beneath her (= married a man of lower social status). -> UNDER\n    beneath adverb:\nHer careful make-up hid the signs of age beneath.


Words: Benedictine
Meaning:
noun\na member of a Christian group of MONKS or NUNS following the rules of St Benedict\n    Benedictine adjective:\na Benedictine monastery


Words: benediction
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (formal) a Christian prayer of BLESSING:\nto sing / say / give a benediction * his arms outstretched in benediction


Words: benefaction
Meaning:
noun\n[C] (formal) a gift, usually of money, that is given to a person or an organization in order to do good:\nA large proportion of their income comes from benefactions.


Words: benefactor
Meaning:
noun\n(formal) a person who gives money or other help to a person or an organization such as a school or charity:\na generous benefactor * friends and benefactors of the hospital


Words: beneficent
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) giving help; showing kindness\nSYN GENEROUS:\nthe beneficent powers of Nature\n    beneficence  noun [U]


Words: beneficial
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (to sth/sb) (written) improving a situation; having a helpful or useful effect\nSYN FAVOURABLE, ADVANTAGEOUS:\na good diet is beneficial to health * They finally came to a mutually beneficial agreement.


Words: beneficiary
Meaning:
noun (plural beneficiaries) ~ (of sth)\n  1  a person who gains as a result of sth:\nWho will be the main beneficiary of the cuts in income tax?\n  2  a person who receives money or property when sb dies:\nShe was the sole beneficiary of her father’s will.


Words: benefit
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U, C] an advantage that sth gives you; a helpful and useful effect that sth has:\nI’ve had the benefit of a good education. * The new regulations will be of benefit to everyone concerned. * It will be to your benefit to arrive early. * He couldn’t see the benefit of arguing any longer. * the benefits of modern medicine * It was good to see her finally reaping the benefits (= enjoying the results) of all her hard work. * With the benefit of hindsight (= knowing what we have learnt since), we would do things differently. * For maximum benefit, take the tablets before meals.\nsee also COST-BENEFIT, FRINGE BENEFIT\n  2  [U, C] (BrE) money provided by the government to people who need financial help because they are unemployed, ill, etc:\nHow long have you been on benefit?\nsee also CHILD BENEFIT, HOUSING BENEFIT, SICKNESS BENEFIT\n  3  [C, usually pl.] advantages that you get from a company in addition to the money that you earn; money from an insurance company:\nThe insurance plan will provide substantial cash benefits to your family in case of your death.\nsee also FRINGE BENEFIT\n  4  [C] an event such as a performance, a dinner, etc., organized in order to raise money for a particular person or charity:\na benefit match / concert * The proceeds from the benefit will go directly to the refugee camps.\n IDIOMS \n  for sb’s benefit especially in order to help or be useful to sb:\nI have typed out some lecture notes for the benefit of those people who were absent last week. * Don’t go to any trouble for my benefit!\n  give sb the benefit of the doubt to accept that sb has told the truth or has not done sth wrong because you cannot prove that they have not:\nShe may have been lying, but I felt I had to give her the benefit of the doubt.\n    verb (-t- or -tt-)\n  1  [VN] to be useful to sb or improve their life in some way:\nWe should spend the money on something that will benefit everyone.\n  2  [V] ~ (from / by sth) to be in a better position because of sth:\nWho exactly stands to benefit from these changes? * Most crime victims benefit greatly by talking about their experiences.


Words: benevolent
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (formal) (especially of people in authority) kind, helpful and generous:\na benevolent smile / attitude * belief in the existence of a benevolent god * a benevolent dictatorship\nOPP MALEVOLENT\n  2  used in the names of some organizations that give help and money to people in need:\nthe RAF Benevolent Fund\n    benevolence  noun [U]\n    benevolently adverb:\nsmiling benevolently


Words: Bengali
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a person from Bangladesh or West Bengal\n  2  [U] the language of people from Bangladesh or West Bengal\n    Bengali adjective


Words: benighted
Meaning:
adjective (old-fashioned)\n  1  (of people) without understanding\n  2  (of places) without the benefits of modern life


Words: benign
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (formal) (of people) kind and gentle; not causing any harm:\nYou would never have guessed his intentions from the benign expression on his face.\n  2  (medical) (of TUMOURS growing in the body) not dangerous or likely to cause death\ncompare MALIGNANT\n    benignly adverb:\nHe smiled benignly.


Words: bent
Meaning:
adjective, noun-see also BEND, BENT, BENT\n    adjective\n\n \n  1  not straight:\na piece of bent wire * Do this exercise with your knees bent (= not with your legs straight).\n \n  2  (of a person) not able to stand up straight, usually because of old age or disease:\na small bent old woman * He was bent double with laughter.\n \n  3  (BrE, informal) (of a person in authority) dishonest\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  be bent on sth / on doing sth to be determined to do sth (usually sth bad):\nShe seems bent on making life difficult for me.\nsee also HELL-BENT\n    noun [usually sing.] ~ (for sth) a natural skill or interest in sth:\nShe has a bent for mathematics. * people of a philosophical bent


Words: benzene
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a colourless liquid obtained from PETROLEUM and COAL TAR, used in making plastics and many chemical products


Words: bequeath
Meaning:
verb ~ sth (to sb) | ~ (sb) sth (formal)\n  1  to say in a WILL that you want sb to have your property, money, etc. after you die: [VN, VNN] He bequeathed his entire estate to his daughter. * He bequeathed his daughter his entire estate.\n  2  [VN, VNN] to leave the results of your work, knowledge, etc. for other people to use, especially after you have died


Words: bequest
Meaning:
noun\n(formal) money or property that you ask to be given to a particular person when you die:\nHe left a bequest to each of his grandchildren.


Words: berate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to criticize or speak angrily to sb because you do not approve of sth they have done:\nShe berated herself for being a bad mother.


Words: bereave
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (be bereaved) if sb is bereaved, a relative or close friend has just died:\nThe ceremony was an ordeal for those who had been recently bereaved.


Words: bereaved
Meaning:
adjective (formal)\n  1  having lost a relative or close friend who has recently died:\nrecently bereaved families\n  2  (the bereaved) noun (plural the bereaved) a person who is bereaved:\nan organization offering counselling for the bereaved


Words: bereavement
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the state of having lost a relative or close friend because they have died:\nthe pain of an emotional crisis such as divorce or bereavement * a sense of bereavement * learning to cope with bereavement * bereavement counselling\n  2  [C] the death of a relative or close friend:\nA family bereavement meant that he could not attend the conference. * She had suffered three bereavements in quick succession.


Words: bereft
Meaning:
adjective [not before noun] (formal)\n  1  ~ of sth completely lacking sth; having lost sth:\nbereft of ideas / hope\n  2  (of a person) sad and lonely because you have lost sth:\nHe was utterly bereft when his wife died. * The shock of his departure had left her feeling alone and bereft.


Words: Bermuda shorts
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] SHORTS (= short trousers/pants) that come down to just above the knee:\na pair of Bermudas


Words: berry
Meaning:
noun\n(plural berries) (often in compounds) a small fruit that grows on a bush. There are several types of berry, some of which can be eaten:\nBirds feed on nuts and berries in the winter. * blackberries / raspberries


Words: berth
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a place to sleep on a ship or train, or in a CARAVAN /CAMPER:\na cabin with three berths\n  2  a place where a ship or boat can stop and stay, usually in a harbour:\na berth in dock * Water and electricity are supplied at each berth.\n IDIOMS  see WIDE adj.\n    verb to put a ship in a berth or keep it there; to sail into a berth: [VN] The ship is berthed at Southampton. [also V]


Words: beseech
Meaning:
verb\n(besought, besought ) or (beseeched, beseeched) (formal) to ask sb for sth in an anxious way because you want or need it very much\nSYN IMPLORE, BEG:\n[VN] Let him go, I beseech you! [also VN to inf, V]


Words: beseeching
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (formal) (of a look, tone of voice, etc.) showing that you want sth very much\n    beseechingly adverb


Words: beset
Meaning:
verb\n(besetting, beset, beset) [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to affect sb/sth in an unpleasant or harmful way:\nThe team had been beset by injury all season. * It’s one of the most difficult problems besetting our modern way of life. * a life beset with financial worries


Words: beside
Meaning:
preposition\n  1  next to or at the side of sb/sth:\nHe sat beside her all night. * a mill beside a stream\n  2  compared with sb/sth:\nMy painting looks childish beside yours.\n IDIOMS \n  beside yourself (with sth) unable to control yourself because of the strength of emotion you are feeling:\nHe was beside himself with rage when I told him what I had done. * They were beside themselves with excitement.\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nbeside / besides\nThe preposition beside usually means ’next to something/somebody’ or ’at the side of something/somebody’: Sit here beside me. Besides means ’in addition to something’: What other sports do you play besides hockey? Do not use beside with this meaning.\nThe adverb besides is not usually used on its own with the same meaning as the preposition. It is mainly used to give another reason or argument for something: I don’t think I’ll come on Saturday. I have a lot of work to do. Besides, I don’t really like parties. * _S_h_e_ _l_i_k_e_s_ _f_o_o_t_b_a_l_l_._ _B_e_s_i_d_e_s_,_ _s_h_e_ _l_i_k_e_s_ _t_e_n_n_i_s_ _a_n_d_ _b_a_s_k_e_t_b_a_l_l.\n______________________________


Words: besides
Meaning:
preposition, adverb \n    preposition in addition to sb/sth; apart from sb/sth:\nWe have lots of things in common besides music. * Besides working as a doctor, he also writes novels in his spare time. * I’ve got no family besides my parents. * I’ve got plenty of other things to do besides talking to you. -> BESIDE\n    adverb\n  1  used for making an extra comment that adds to what you have just said:\nI don’t really want to go. Besides, it’s too late now. -> BESIDE\n  2  in addition; also:\ndiscounts on televisions, stereos and much more besides\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nbesides / apart from / except\nThe preposition besides means ’in addition to’: What other sports do you like besides football? You use except when you mention the only thing that is not included in a statement: I like all sports except football. You can use apart from with both these meanings: What other sports do you like apart from football? * I like all sports apart from football.\n-> note at BESIDE\n______________________________


Words: besiege
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to surround a building, city, etc. with soldiers until the people inside are forced to let you in:\nParis was besieged for four months and forced to surrender. * (figurative) Fans besieged the box office to try and get tickets for the concert.\n  2  [usually passive] (especially of sth unpleasant or annoying) to surround sb/sth in large numbers:\nThe actress was besieged by reporters at the airport.\n  3  ~ sb (with sth) to send so many letters, ask so many questions, etc. that it is difficult for sb to deal with them all:\nThe radio station was besieged with calls from angry listeners.


Words: besmirch
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to damage the opinion that people have of sb/sth\nSYN SULLY:\nHe had deliberately set out to besmirch her reputation.


Words: besotted
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (by / with sb/sth) loving sb/sth so much that you do not behave in a sensible way:\nHe is completely besotted with his new girlfriend.


Words: bespoke
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun] (especially BrE, formal)\n  1  (AmE usually custom-made) (of a product) made specially, according to the needs of an individual customer:\nbespoke software * a bespoke suit\n  2  making products specially, according to the needs of an individual customer:\na bespoke tailor


Words: best
Meaning:
adjective, adverb, noun, verb \n    adjective (superlative of good)\n  1  of the most excellent type or quality:\nThat’s the best movie I’ve ever seen! * He wrote his best songs before he was 25. * She was one of the best tennis players of her generation. * Is that your best suit? * They’ve been best friends (= closest friends) since they were children. * the company’s best-ever results * We want the kids to have the best possible education. * The best-before date on the lemonade is 10 May (= it should be used by May 10 as it will not be of such good quality after that).\n  2  most enjoyable; happiest:\nThose were the best years of my life.\n  3  most suitable or appropriate:\nWhat’s the best way to cook steak? * The best thing to do would be to apologize. * He’s the best man for the job. * It’s best if you go now. * I’m not in the best position to advise you.\n IDIOMS \n  Idioms containing bestadjective are at the entries for the nouns and verbs in the idioms, for example on your best behaviour is at behaviour.\n    adverb (superlative of well, often used in adjectives)\n  1  most; to the greatest extent:\nWhich one do you like best? * Well-drained soil suits the plant best. * her best-known poem\n  2  in the most excellent way; to the highest standard:\nHe works best in the mornings. * Britain’s best-dressed woman * The beaches are beautiful, but, best of all, there are very few tourists.\n  3  in the most suitable or appropriate way:\nPainting is best done in daylight. * Do as you think best (= what you think is the most suitable thing to do).\n IDIOMS \n  as best you can not perfectly but as well as you are able:\nWe’ll manage as best we can.\n    noun [sing.] (usually the best)\n  1  the most excellent thing or person:\nWe all want the best for our children. * They only buy the best. * They’re all good players, but she’s the best of all. * We’re the best of friends (= very close friends).\n  2  the highest standard that sb/sth can reach:\nShe always brings out the best in people. * The town looks its best (= is most attractive) in the spring. * Don’t worry about the exam-just do your best. * The roses are past their best now. * I don’t really feel at my best today.\n  3  something that is as close as possible to what you need or want:\nFifty pounds is the best I can offer you. * The best we can hope for in the game is a draw.\n  4  the highest standard that a particular person has reached, especially in a sport:\nShe won the race with a personal best of 2 minutes 22.\n IDIOMS \n  all the best (informal) used when you are saying goodbye to sb or ending a letter, to give sb your good wishes\n  at best used for saying what is the best opinion you can have of sb/sth, or the best thing that can happen, when the situation is bad:\nTheir response to the proposal was, at best, cool. * We can’t arrive before Friday at best.\n  be (all) for the best used to say that although sth appears bad or unpleasant now, it will be good in the end:\nI don’t want you to leave, but perhaps it’s for the best.\n  the best of three, five, etc. (especially in games and sports) up to three, five, etc. games played to decide who wins, the winner being the person who wins most of them\n  do, mean, etc. sth for the best to do or say sth in order to achieve a good result or to help sb:\nI just don’t know what to do for the best. * I’m sorry if my advice offended you-I meant it for the best.\n  have / get the best of sth to gain more advantage from sth than sb else:\nI thought you had the best of that discussion.\n  make the best of sth / it | make the best of things | make the best of a bad job to accept a bad or difficult situation and do as well as you can\n  to the best of your knowledge / belief as far as you know:\nHe never made a will, to the best of my knowledge.\n  with the best (of them) as well as anyone:\nHe’ll be out there, dancing with the best of them.\nmore at BUNCH n., HOPE v., LUCK n., SUNDAY\n    verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to defeat or be more successful than sb:\nHe was determined not to be bested by his old rival.


Words: best man
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] a male friend or relative of the BRIDEGROOM at a wedding, who helps him during the wedding ceremony\ncompare BRIDESMAID


Words: best-seller
Meaning:
noun\na product, usually a book, which is bought by large numbers of people:\nthe best-seller list\n    best-selling adjective:\na best-selling novel / author


Words: bestiality
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  (technical) sexual activity between a human being and an animal\n  2  (formal) cruel or disgusting behaviour:\nthe sheer bestiality of these crimes


Words: bestir
Meaning:
verb\n(-rr-) [VN] ~ yourself (formal or humorous) to start doing things after a period during which you have been doing nothing\nSYN ROUSE:\nHe needs to bestir himself and start looking for a job.


Words: bestow
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ sth (on / upon sb) (formal) to give sth to sb, especially to show how much they are respected:\nIt was a title bestowed upon him by the king.


Words: bet
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (betting, bet, bet)\n  1  ~ (sth) (on / against sth) to risk money on a race or an event by trying to predict the result:\n[V] You have to be over 16 to bet. * I wouldn’t bet on them winning the next election. * [VN] He bet $2 000 on the final score of the game. * [VNN] She bet me ｣20 that I wouldn’t do it. [also V that, VN that] \nsee also BETTING, GAMBLE\n  2  (spoken) used to say that you are almost certain that sth is true or that sth will happen:\n[V (that)] I bet (that) we’re too late. * You can bet (that) the moment I sit down, the phone will ring. * [VN (that)] I’ll bet you (that) he knows all about it.\n IDIOMS \n  I / I’ll bet! (spoken)\n1 used to show that you can understand what sb is feeling, describing, etc:\n’I nearly died when he told me.’ ’I bet!’\n2 used to tell sb that you do not believe what they have just said:\n’I’m going to tell her what I think of her.’ ’Yeah, I bet!’\n  I wouldn’t bet on it | don’t bet on it (spoken) used to say that you do not think that sth is very likely:\n’She’ll soon get used to the idea.’ ’I wouldn’t bet on it.’\n  you bet! (spoken) used instead of ’yes’ to emphasize that sb has guessed sth correctly or made a good suggestion:\n’Are you nervous?’ ’You bet!’\n  you can bet your life / your bottom dollar (on sth / (that) ...) (spoken) used to say that you are certain that sth will happen:\nYou can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll be late.\n    noun\n  1  an arrangement to risk money, etc. on the result of a particular event; the money that you risk in this way:\nto win / lose a bet * We’ve got a bet on who’s going to arrive first. * He had a bet on the horses. * ’Liverpool are bound to win.’ ’Do you want a bet?’ (= I disagree with you, I don’t think they will.) * They all put a bet on the race. * I hear you’re taking bets on whether she’ll marry him. * I did it for a bet (= because sb had agreed to pay me money if I did).\n  2  (informal) an opinion about what is likely to happen or to have happened:\nMy bet is that they’ve been held up in traffic.\n IDIOMS \n  the / your best bet (informal) used to tell sb what is the best action for them to take to get the result they want:\nIf you want to get around London fast, the Underground is your best bet.\n  a good / safe bet something that is likely to happen, to succeed or to be suitable:\nClothes are a safe bet as a present for a teenager.\nmore at HEDGE v.


Words: bete noire
Meaning:
noun\n(plural betes noires ) (from French) a person or thing that particularly annoys you and that you do not like


Words: betel nut
Meaning:
noun\nthe slightly bitter nut of a tropical Asian PALM, that is cut into small pieces, wrapped in the leaves of a plant, (called betel), and chewed


Words: betray
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sb/sth (to sb) to give information about sb/sth to an enemy:\nFor years they had been betraying state secrets to Russia. * He was offered money to betray his colleagues.\n  2  to hurt sb who trusts you, especially by not being loyal or faithful to them:\nShe felt betrayed when she found out the truth about him. * She betrayed his trust over and over again. * I have never known her to betray a confidence (= tell other people sth that should be kept secret).\n  3  to ignore your principles or beliefs in order to achieve sth or gain an advantage for yourself:\nHe has been accused of betraying his former socialist ideals.\n  4  ~ sth / yourself to tell sb or make them aware of a piece of information, a feeling, etc., usually without meaning to:\nHis voice betrayed the worry he was trying to hide. * She was terrified of saying something that would make her betray herself (= show her feelings or who she was).


Words: betrayal
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] the act of betraying sb/sth or the fact of being betrayed:\na sense / a feeling / an act of betrayal * I saw her actions as a betrayal of my trust. * the many disappointments and betrayals in his life * Memories of his betrayal still haunted her. * a betrayal of their election promises * a story of heroism, love and betrayal


Words: betrothed
Meaning:
adjective (formal or old-fashioned)\n  1  ~ (to sb) having promised to marry sb\nSYN ENGAGED\n  2  (sb’s betrothed) noun [sing.] the person that sb has promised to marry


Words: better
Meaning:
adjective, adverb, noun, verb \n    adjective (comparative of good)\n  1  of a higher standard or less poor quality; not as bad as sth else:\nWe’re hoping for better weather tomorrow. * Her work is getting better and better. * He is in a much better mood than usual. * The meal couldn’t have been better. * There’s nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath. * If you can only exercise once a week, that’s better than nothing (= better than taking no exercise at all).\n  2  more able or skilled:\nShe’s far better at science than her brother.\n  3  more suitable or appropriate:\nCan you think of a better word than ’nice’? * It would be better for him to talk to his parents about his problems. * You’d be better going by bus.\n  4  less ill/sick or unhappy:\nShe’s a lot better today. * His leg was getting better. * You’ll feel all the better for a good night’s sleep.\n IDIOMS \n  Most idioms containing better are at the entries for the nouns and verbs in the idioms, for example better luck next time is at luck.\n  little / no better than almost or just the same as; almost or just as bad as:\nThe path was no better than a sheep track.\n  that’s (much) better\n1 used to give support to sb who has been upset and is trying to become calmer:\nDry your eyes now. That’s better.\n2 used to praise sb who has made an effort to improve:\nThat’s much better-you played the right notes this time.\n  the bigger, smaller, faster, slower, etc. the better used to say that sth should be as big, small, etc. as possible:\nAs far as the hard disk is concerned, the bigger the better.\nmore at DISCRETION, HEAD n., PART n., PREVENTION\n    adverb (comparative of well)\n  1  in a more excellent or pleasant way; not as badly:\nShe sings much better than I do. * Sound travels better in water than in air. * People are better educated now.\n  2  more; to a greater degree:\nYou’ll like her when you know her better. * A cup of tea? There’s nothing I’d like better! * Fit people are better able to cope with stress.\n  3  used to suggest that sth would be a suitable or appropriate thing to do:\nThe money could be better spent on more urgent cases. * Some things are better left unsaid. * You’d do better to tell her everything before she finds out from someone else.\n IDIOMS \n  Most idioms containing better are at the entries for the nouns, adjectives and verbs in the idioms, for example better the devil you know is at devil.\n  be better off to have more money:\nFamilies will be better off under the new law. * Her promotion means she’s $100 a week better off.\n  be better off (doing sth) used to say that sb is/would be happier or more satisfied if they were in a particular position or did a particular thing:\nShe’s better off without him. * The weather was so bad we’d have been better off staying at home.\n  had better / best (do sth) used to tell sb what you think they should do:\nYou’d better go to the doctor about your cough. * We’d better leave now or we’ll miss the bus. * You’d better not do that again. * ’I’ll give you back the money tomorrow.’ ’You’d better!’ (= as a threat) -> SHOULD\n    noun\n  1  [sing., U] something that is better:\nthe better of the two books * I expected better of him (= I thought he would have behaved better).\n  2  (your betters) [pl.] (old-fashioned) people who are more intelligent or more important than you\n IDIOMS \n  for better or (for) worse used to say that sth cannot be changed, whether the result is good or bad\n  get the better of sb/sth to defeat sb/sth or gain an advantage:\nNo one can get the better of her in an argument. * She always gets the better of an argument. * His curiosity got the better of him (= he didn’t intend to ask questions, but he wanted to know so badly that he did).\n  so much the better / worse used to say that sth is even better/worse:\nWe don’t actually need it on Tuesday, but if it arrives by then, so much the better.\nmore at CHANGE n., ELDER n., THINK v.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  [often passive] to be better or do sth better than sb/sth else:\nThe work he produced early in his career has never really been bettered.\n  2  ~ yourself to improve your social position through education, a better job, etc:\nThousands of Victorian workers joined educational associations in an attempt to better themselves.


Words: betterment
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal) the process of becoming or making sth/sb better\nSYN IMPROVEMENT:\nHis life offered me no hope of betterment.


Words: betting
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the act of risking money, etc. on the unknown result of an event:\nillegal betting\n IDIOMS \n  What’s the betting ...? | The betting is that ... (informal) it seems likely that ...:\nWhat’s the betting that he gets his own way? * The betting is that he’ll get his own way.


Words: between
Meaning:
preposition, adverb \n    preposition\n  1  in or into the space separating two or more points, objects, people, etc:\nQ comes between P and R in the English alphabet. * I sat down between Jo and Diana. * Switzerland lies between France, Germany, Austria and Italy. * The paper had fallen down between the desk and the wall. * (figurative) My job is somewhere between a secretary and a personal assistant.\n  2  in the period of time that separates two days, years, events, etc:\nIt’s cheaper between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. * Don’t eat between meals. * Children must attend school between the ages of 5 and 16. * Many changes took place between the two world wars.\n  3  at some point along a scale from one amount, weight, distance, etc. to another:\nIt weighed between nine and ten kilos. * The temperature remained between 25 ｰ C and 30 ｰ C all week.\n  4  (of a line) separating one place from another:\nthe border between Sweden and Norway\n  5  from one place to another:\nWe fly between Rome and Paris twice daily.\n  6  used to show a connection or relationship:\na difference / distinction / contrast between two things * a link between unemployment and crime * There’s a lot of bad feeling between them. * I had to choose between the two jobs.\n  7  shared by two or more people or things:\nWe drank a bottle of wine between us. * This is just between you and me / between ourselves (= it is a secret).\n  8  ~ doing sth used to show that several activities are involved:\nBetween working full-time and taking care of the kids, he didn’t have much time for hobbies.\n    adverb (usually in between) in the space or period of time separating two or more points, objects, etc. or two dates, events, etc.:\nThe house was near a park but there was a road in between. * I see her most weekends but not very often in between.\n IDIOMS  see BETWIXT


Words: betwixt
Meaning:
adverb, preposition\n(literary or old use) between\n IDIOMS \n  betwixt and between (old-fashioned) in a middle position; neither one thing nor the other:\nHe found himself placed betwixt and between in the debate, agreeing with parts of each side’s arguments.


Words: bevel
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a sloping edge or surface, for example at the side of a picture frame or sheet of glass\n  2  a tool for making sloping edges or surfaces on wood or stone


Words: bevelled
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE beveled)  adjective\n[usually before noun] having a sloping edge or surface:\na bevelled mirror


Words: bevy
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (informal) a large group of people or things of the same kind:\na bevy of beauties (= beautiful young women)


Words: beware
Meaning:
verb\n~ (of sb/sth / of doing sth) (used only in infinitives and in orders) if you tell sb to beware, you are warning them that sb/sth is dangerous and that they should be careful:\n[V] Motorists have been warned to beware of icy roads. * Beware of saying anything that might reveal where you live. * [VN] It’s a great place for swimming, but beware dangerous currents. [also V -ing]


Words: bewilder
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [usually passive] to confuse sb:\nShe was totally bewildered by his sudden change of mood. * His complete lack of interest in money bewilders his family.


Words: bewildering
Meaning:
adjective\nmaking you feel confused because there are too many things to choose from or because sth is difficult to understand:\na bewildering array / range * There is a bewildering variety of software available.\n    bewilderingly adverb:\nAll the houses looked bewilderingly similar.


Words: bewitch
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  [often passive] (written) to attract or impress sb so much that they cannot think in a sensible way:\nHe was completely bewitched by her beauty.\n  2  to put a magic SPELL on sb


Words: bewitching
Meaning:
adjective\n(written) so beautiful or interesting that you cannot think about anything else:\na bewitching girl / smile * a bewitching performance


Words: beyond
Meaning:
preposition, adverb \n    preposition\n  1  on or to the further side of sth:\nThe road continues beyond the village up into the hills.\n  2  later than a particular time:\nIt won’t go on beyond midnight. * I know what I’ll be doing for the next three weeks but I haven’t thought beyond that.\n  3  more than sth:\nOur success was far beyond what we thought possible. * She’s got nothing beyond her state pension.\n  4  used to say that sth is not possible:\nThe bicycle was beyond repair (= is too badly damaged to repair). * The situation is beyond our control.\n  5  too far or too advanced for sb/sth:\nThe handle was just beyond my reach. * The exercise was beyond the abilities of most of the class.\n IDIOMS \n  be beyond sb (informal) to be impossible for sb to imagine, understand or do:\nIt’s beyond me why she wants to marry Jeff.\n    adverb on the other side; further on:\nSnowdon and the mountains beyond were covered in snow. * The immediate future is clear, but it’s hard to tell what lies beyond. * the year 2000 and beyond\n IDIOMS  see BACK n., DOUBT n.


Words: bi-
Meaning:
combining form\n(in nouns and adjectives) two; twice; double:\nbilingual * bicentenary\n HELP NOTE  Bi- with a period of time can mean either ’happening twice’ in that period of time, or ’happening once in every two’ periods.


Words: biannual
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] happening twice a year:\na biannual meeting\ncompare ANNUAL\nsee also BIENNIAL


Words: bias
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U, C, usually sing.] a strong feeling in favour of or against one group of people, or one side in an argument, often not based on fair judgement:\naccusations of political bias in news programmes (= that reports are unfair and show favour to one political party) * Employers must consider all candidates impartially and without bias. * Some institutions still have a strong bias against women.\n  2  [C, usually sing.] an interest in one thing more than others; a special ability:\nThe course has a strong practical bias. * Leila had a marked scientific bias.\n  3  [U, sing.] the bias of a piece of cloth is an edge cut DIAGONALLY across the threads:\nThe skirt is cut on the bias. * a bias strip\n    verb (-s- or -ss-) [VN] ~ sb/sth (towards / against / in favour of sb/sth) to unfairly influence sb’s opinions or decisions:\nThe newspapers have biased people against her.


Words: biased
Meaning:
(also biassed)  adjective\n  1  ~ (toward(s) / against / in favour of sb/sth) having a tendency to show favour towards or against one group of people or one opinion for personal reasons; making unfair judgements:\nbiased information / sources / press reports * a biased jury / witness * Their research was based on a biased sample (= a group of people / things containing more of one kind than normal, therefore not giving fair or accurate results).\nOPP UNBIASED\n  2  ~ toward(s) sth/sb having a particular interest in one thing more than others:\na school biased towards music and art


Words: biathlon
Meaning:
noun\n[sing., U] a sporting event that combines CROSS-COUNTRY skiing and RIFLE shooting\ncompare DECATHLON, HEPTATHLON, PENTATHLON, TRIATHLON


Words: bib
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a piece of fabric or plastic that you put under babies’ chins to protect their clothes while they are eating\n \n  2  (especially BrE) a piece of fabric or plastic with a number or special colours on it that people wear on their chests and backs when they are taking part in a sport, for example a race or a football match, so that people know who they are\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  your best bib and tucker (humorous) your best clothes that you only wear on special occasions


Words: bible
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (the Bible) [sing.] the holy book of the Christian religion, consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament\n  2  (the Bible) [sing.] the holy book of the Jewish religion, consisting of the Torah (or Law), the PROPHETS, and the Writings\n  3  [C] a copy of the holy book of the Christian or Jewish religion\n  4  [C] a book containing important information on a subject, that you refer to very often:\nthe stamp-collector’s bible


Words: biblical
Meaning:
(also Biblical) adjective\nconnected with the Bible; in the Bible:\nbiblical scholarship / times / scenes * biblical stories / passages


Words: bibliography
Meaning:
noun (plural bibliographies)\n  1  [C] a list of books or articles about a particular subject or by a particular author; the list of books, etc. that have been used by sb writing an article, etc:\nThere is a useful bibliography at the end of each chapter.\n  2  [U] the study of the history of books and their production\n    bibliographer  noun\n    bibliographical  adjective


Words: bicameral
Meaning:
adjective\n(technical) (of a parliament) having two main parts, such as the Senate and the House of Representatives in the US, and the House of Commons and the House of Lords in Britain:\na bicameral assembly / legislature / congress


Words: bicentenary
Meaning:
noun\n(plural bicentenaries) (BrE) (AmE bicentennial) the year, or the day, when you celebrate an important event that happened exactly 200 years earlier:\nMozart’s bicentenary * to celebrate / mark the bicentenary of sb/sth\n    bicentenary adjective [only before noun]:\nbicentenary celebrations


Words: bicentennial
Meaning:
noun\n(AmE) = BICENTENARY\n    bicentennial adjective [only before noun] (especially AmE):\nbicentennial celebrations


Words: biceps
Meaning:
noun\n(plural biceps) the large muscle at the front of the top part of the arm:\nHe showed off his bulging biceps.\ncompare TRICEPS


Words: bicker
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (about / over sth) to argue about things that are not important \nSYN SQUABBLE:\nThe children are always bickering about something or other.\n    bickering noun [U]


Words: bicycle
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n (also informal bike) a road vehicle with two wheels that you ride by pushing the PEDALS with your feet:\nHe got on his bicycle and rode off. * We went for a bicycle ride on Sunday.\n    verb [V]   [usually +adv./prep.] (old-fashioned) to go somewhere on a bicycle\ncompare BIKE, CYCLE


Words: bicycle clip
Meaning:
noun\none of the two bands that people wear around their ankles when they are riding a bicycle to stop their trousers/pants getting caught in the chain


Words: bicyclist
Meaning:
noun\n(old-fashioned in British English, formal in American English) a person who rides a bicycle\ncompare CYCLIST


Words: bid
Meaning:
verb, noun-see also BID\n    verb (bidding, bid, bid)\n  1  to offer to pay a particular price for sth, especially at an AUCTION:\n[VN] I bid ｣2 000 for the painting. * [V] We wanted to buy the chairs but another couple were bidding against us.\n  2  ~ (for sth)| (AmE) ~ (on sth) to offer to do work or provide a service for a particular price, in competition with other companies, etc.\nSYN TENDER:\n[V] A French firm will be bidding for the contract. [also V to inf]\n  3  [V to inf] (used especially in newspapers) to try to do, get or achieve sth\nSYN ATTEMPT:\nThe team is bidding to retain its place in the league.\n  4  (in some card games) to say how many points you expect to win:\n[VN] She bid four hearts. [also V]\n IDIOMS \n  what am I bid? used by an AUCTIONEER when he or she is selling sth:\nWhat am I bid for this vase?\n    noun\n  1  ~ (for sth) an offer by a person or a business company to pay a particular amount of money for sth:\nGranada mounted a hostile takeover bid for Forte. * At the auction (= a public sale where things are sold to the person who offers most), the highest bid for the picture was ｣200 000. * Any more bids?\n  2  ~ (for sth)| (AmE also) ~ (on sth) an offer to do work or provide a service for a particular price, in competition with other companies, etc.\nSYN TENDER:\nThe company submitted a bid for the contract to clean the hospital.\n  3  ~ (for sth) | ~ (to do sth) (used especially in newspapers) an effort to do sth or to obtain sth:\na bid for power * a desperate bid to escape from his attackers\n  4  (in some card games) a statement of the number of points a player thinks he or she will win\n\n or (bidding, bid, bid)\n  1  ~ (sb) good morning, farewell, etc. (formal) to say ’good morning’, etc. to sb: [VN, VNN] I bade farewell to all the friends I had made in Paris. * I bade all my friends farewell.\n  2  (old use or literary) to tell sb to do sth:\n[VN inf] He bade me come closer. [also VN to inf, VN]


Words: biddable
Meaning:
adjective\n(rare, especially BrE) (of people) willing to obey and to do what they are told to:\na very biddable little girl


Words: bidder
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person or group that offers to pay an amount of money to buy sth:\nThe house went to the highest bidder (= the person who offered the most money).\n  2  a person or group that offers to do sth or to provide sth for a particular amount of money, in competition with others:\nThere were six bidders for the catering contract.


Words: bidding
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the act of offering prices, especially at an AUCTION:\nThere was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. * Several companies remained in the bidding. * A bidding war for the textile firm erupted.\n  2  the act of offering to do sth or to provide sth for a particular price:\ncompetitive bidding for the contract\n  3  (in some card games) the process of stating the number of points that players think they will win\n  4  (old-fashioned or formal) what sb asks or orders you to do:\nto do sb’s bidding (= to obey sb) * At his father’s bidding (= because his father asked him to) he wrote to his lawyer.


Words: bide
Meaning:
verb\n[V] (old use) = ABIDE\n IDIOMS \n  bide your time to wait for the right time to do sth:\nHe decided to bide his time until he got an opportunity to talk to her alone.


Words: bidet
Meaning:
noun\na low bowl in the bathroom, usually with taps/faucets, that you fill with water and sit on to wash your bottom


Words: biennial
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective [usually before noun] happening once every two years:\na biennial convention\n    biennially adverb \nsee also ANNUAL, BIANNUAL\n    noun any plant that lives for two years, producing flowers in the second year\ncompare ANNUAL, PERENNIAL


Words: biff
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (old-fashioned, informal) to hit sb hard with your FIST:\nHe biffed me on the nose.\n    biff noun


Words: bifocals
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] a pair of glasses with each LENS made in two parts. The upper part is for looking at things at a distance, and the lower part is for reading or for looking at things that are close to you:\nHe peered through his bifocals.\n    bifocal adjective:\nbifocal lenses


Words: bifurcate
Meaning:
verb\n[V] (formal) (of roads, rivers, etc.) to divide into two separate parts\n    bifurcation  noun [C, U]


Words: big
Meaning:
adjective, adverb \n    adjective (bigger, biggest)\n  large\n  1  large in size, degree, amount, etc:\na big man / house / increase * This shirt isn’t big enough. * It’s the world’s biggest computer company. * (informal) He had this great big grin on his face. * They were earning big money. * The news came as a big blow.\n  older\n  2  (informal) older:\nYou’re a big girl now. * my big brother\n  important\n  3  [only before noun] important; serious:\na big decision * Tonight is the biggest match of his career. * You are making a big mistake. * She took the stage for her big moment. * (informal) Do you really think we can take on the big boys (= compete with the most powerful people)?\n  ambitious\n  4  (informal) (of a plan) needing a lot of effort, money or time to succeed:\nThey’re full of big ideas.\n  popular\n  5  ~ (in ...) (informal) popular with the public; successful:\nOrange is the big colour this year. * The band’s very big in Japan.\n  enthusiastic\n  6  (informal) enthusiastic about sb/sth:\nI’m a big fan of hers.\n  doing sth a lot\n  7  doing sth often or to a large degree:\na big eater / drinker / spender\n  generous\n  8  ~ of sb (usually ironic) kind or generous:\nHe gave me an extra five pounds for two hours’ work. I thought ’That’s big of you’.\n    bigness noun [U] (rare) \n IDIOMS \n  be / get too big for your boots to be/become too proud of yourself; to behave as if you are more important than you really are\n  a big cheese (informal, humorous) an important and powerful person, especially in an organization\n  big deal (spoken) used to say that you are not impressed by sth:\nSo he earns more than me. Big deal!\n  the big enchilada (AmE, informal, humorous) the most important person or thing\n  a big fish (in a small pond) an important person (in a small community)\n  a big noise / shot / name an important person\n  the big picture (informal, especially AmE) the situation as a whole:\nRight now forget the details and take a look at the big picture.\n  the big stick (informal) the use or threat of force or power:\nThe authorities used quiet persuasion instead of the big stick.\n  the big three, four, etc. the three, four, etc. most important countries, people, companies, etc:\nShe works for one of the Big Six.\n  give sb / get a big hand to show your approval of sb by CLAPPING your hands; to be APPLAUDED in this way:\nLadies and gentlemen, give a big hand for our special guests tonight ...\n  have / be a big mouth\n1 to be bad at keeping secrets\n2 to talk too much, especially about your own abilities and achievements\n  me and my big mouth (spoken) used when you realize that you have said sth that you should not have said\n  no big deal (spoken) used to say that sth is not important or not a problem:\nIf I don’t win it’s no big deal.\nmore at EYE n., FISH n., THING, WAY n.\n    adverb in an impressive way:\nWe need to think big.\n IDIOMS \n  go over big (with sb) (informal) to make a good impression on sb; to be successful:\nThis story went over big with my kids.\n  make it big to be very successful:\nHe’s hoping to make it big on TV.\nmore at HIT v.\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nbig / large / great\nThese adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:\nbig ~  large ~  great ~\nman  numbers  success\nhouse  part  majority\ncar  area  interest\nboy  room  importance\ndog  company  difficulty\nsmile  eyes  problem\nproblem  family  pleasure\nsurprise  volume  beauty\nquestion  population  artist\ndifference  problem  surprise\nLarge is more formal than big and should be used in writing unless it is in an informal style. It is not usually used to describe people, except to avoid saying ’fat’.\nGreat often suggests quality and not just size. Note also the phrases: a large amount of * a large number of * a large quantity of * a great deal of * in great detail * a person of great age.\n______________________________


Words: big bang
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (usually the big bang) the single large explosion that some scientists suggest created the universe


Words: Big Brother
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] a leader, a person in authority, or a government that tries to control people’s behaviour and thoughts, but pretends to act for their benefit\n ORIGIN  From George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, in which the leader of the government, Big Brother, had total control over the people. The slogan ’Big Brother is watching you’ reminded people that he knew everything they did.


Words: big business
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  large companies which have a lot of power and influence, considered as a group:\nlinks between politics and big business\n  2  something that has become important because people are willing to spend a lot of money on it:\nHealth and fitness have become big business.


Words: big dipper
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (old-fashioned, BrE) a small train at an AMUSEMENT PARK, which goes very quickly up and down a steep track and around bends\nsee also ROLLER COASTER\n  2  (the Big Dipper) (AmE) = THE PLOUGH


Words: big time
Meaning:
noun, adverb (informal) \n    noun (the big time) great success in a profession, especially the entertainment business:\na bit-part actor who finally made / hit the big time\ncompare SMALL-TIME\n    adverb on a large scale; to a great extent:\nThis time they’ve messed up big time!


Words: big wheel
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (usually the Big Wheel) (BrE) (also Ferris wheel AmE, BrE) a large upright wheel at an AMUSEMENT PARK with seats hanging at its edge for people to ride in\n  2  (AmE, informal) an important person in a company or an organization


Words: big-headed
Meaning:
adjective\n(informal, disapproving) having a very high opinion of how important and clever you are; too proud\n    big-head noun


Words: bigamy
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the crime of marrying sb when you are still legally married to sb else\ncompare MONOGAMY, POLYGAMY\n    bigamous  adjective:\na bigamous relationship


Words: biggie
Meaning:
noun\n(informal) an important thing, person or event:\nThis year is going to be the biggie in his career!


Words: bigot
Meaning:
noun\na person who has very strong, unreasonable beliefs or opinions about race, religion or politics and who will not listen to or accept the opinions of anyone who disagrees:\na religious / racial bigot


Words: bijou
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (BrE, sometimes ironic) (of a building or a garden) small but attractive and fashionable:\nThe house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence.


Words: bike
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n (informal)\n \n  1  a bicycle:\nShe got on her bike and rode off. * I usually go to work by bike.\nsee also MOUNTAIN BIKE, PUSHBIKE\n \n  2  a motorcycle\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  on your bike! (BrE, informal) a rude way of telling sb to go away\n    verb [V]   [usually +adv./prep.] (informal) to go somewhere on a bicycle or motorcycle:\nMy dad bikes to work every day.\n    biking noun [U]:\nThe activities on offer include horseback riding and mountain biking.\ncompare BICYCLE, CYCLE


Words: biker
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who rides a motorcycle, usually as a member of a large group:\na biker’s leather jacket\n  2  a person who rides a bicycle, especially a MOUNTAIN BIKE


Words: bilabial
Meaning:
noun\n(phonetics) a speech sound made by using both lips, such as / b /, / p / and / m /  \n    bilabial adjective


Words: bilateral
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  involving two groups of people or two countries:\nbilateral relations / agreements / trade / talks\n  2  (medical) involving both of two parts or sides of the body or brain:\nbilateral hearing impairment\n    bilaterally adverb \ncompare MULTILATERAL, UNILATERAL


Words: bilberry
Meaning:
(plural bilberries) noun\na small dark blue berry that grows on bushes on hills and in woods in northern Europe and can be eaten. The bush is also called a bilberry.\ncompare BLUEBERRY


Words: bile
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the greenish brown liquid with a bitter unpleasant taste that is produced by the LIVER to help the body to deal with fats, and that comes into your mouth when you VOMIT with an empty stomach\n  2  (written) anger or hatred:\nThe critic’s review of the play was just a paragraph of bile.


Words: bilge
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] (also bilges [pl.]) the almost flat part of the bottom of a boat or a ship, inside or outside\n  2  (also bilge water) [U] dirty water that collects in a ship’s bilge


Words: bilharzia
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a serious disease, common in parts of Africa and S America, caused by small worms that get into the blood


Words: bilingual
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  able to speak two languages equally well because you have used them since you were very young:\nShe is bilingual in English and Punjabi.\n  2  using two languages; written in two languages:\nbilingual education / communities * a bilingual dictionary\n    bilingual noun:\nWelsh / English bilinguals\ncompare MONOLINGUAL, MULTILINGUAL


Words: bilious
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  feeling as if you might VOMIT soon:\nI felt a little bilious after last night’s dinner. * a bilious attack\n  2  (of colours, usually green or yellow) creating an unpleasant effect:\na bilious green dress\n  3  (written) bad-tempered; full of anger


Words: bilk
Meaning:
verb\n(informal, especially AmE) [VN] ~ sb (out of sth) | ~ sth (from sb) to cheat sb, especially by taking money from them:\na con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars


Words: bill
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  for payment\n \n  1  a piece of paper that shows how much you owe sb for goods or services:\nthe telephone / electricity / gas bill * We ran up a massive hotel bill. * She always pays her bills on time. * I’ll be sending you the bill for the dry-cleaning! * The bills are piling up (= there are more and more that have still not been paid).\n \n  2  (especially BrE) (AmE usually check) a piece of paper that shows how much you have to pay for the food and drinks that you have had in a restaurant:\nLet’s ask for the bill.\n \n  money\n \n  3  (AmE) = NOTE:\na ten-dollar bill\n  in parliament\n  4  a written suggestion for a new law that is presented to a country’s parliament so that its members can discuss it:\nto introduce / approve / reject a bill * the Education Reform Bill\nsee also PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILL\n  at theatre\n  5  a programme of entertainment at a theatre, etc:\na horror double bill (= two horror films / movies shown one after the other) * Topping the bill (= the most important performer) is Robbie Williams.\n  advertisement\n  6  a notice in a public place to advertise an event\nSYN POSTER:\nPost no bills (= a notice warning people not to stick bills in a particular place).\nsee also HANDBILL\n  of birds\n  7  the hard pointed or curved outer part of a bird’s mouth\nSYN BEAK\n  8  (-billed) (in adjectives) having the type of bill mentioned:\nlong-billed waders\n  on hat\n  9  (AmE) = PEAK (4)\nsee also THE OLD BILL\n IDIOMS \n  fill / fit the bill to be what is needed in a particular situation or for a particular purpose:\nOn paper, several of the applicants fit the bill.\nmore at CLEAN adj., FOOT v.\n    verb\n  ask for payment\n  1  [VN] ~ sb (for sth) to send sb a bill for sth:\nPlease bill me for the books. * You will be billed monthly for the service.\n  advertise\n  2  [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth as sth to advertise or describe sb/sth in a particular way:\nHe was billed as the new Tom Cruise.\n  3  [VN to inf] [usually passive] to advertise that sb/sth will do sth:\nShe was billed to speak on ’China-Yesterday and Today’.\n IDIOMS \n  bill and coo (old-fashioned, informal) if two people who are in love bill and coo, they kiss and speak in a loving way to each other


Words: bill of exchange
Meaning:
noun\n(plural bills of exchange) (business) a written order to pay a sum of money to a particular person on a particular date


Words: bill of fare
Meaning:
noun\n(plural bills of fare) (old-fashioned) a list of the food that can be ordered in a restaurant\nSYN MENU


Words: bill of lading
Meaning:
noun\n(plural bills of lading) (business) a list giving details of the goods that a ship, etc. is carrying


Words: bill of rights
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] a written statement of the basic rights of the citizens of a country:\nIt was argued that the civil and political status and rights of the citizen must be enshrined in a bill of rights.


Words: billet
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a place, often in a private house, where soldiers live temporarily:\nThe troops are all in billets (= not in camps or barracks).\n    verb [V +adv./prep.] [usually passive] to send soldiers to live somewhere temporarily, especially in private houses during a war:\nThe troops were billeted in the town with local families.


Words: billiards
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a game for two people played with CUES (= long sticks) and three balls on a long table covered with green fabric. Players try to hit the balls against each other and into pockets at the edge of the table:\na game of billiards\ncompare POOL, SNOOKER\n    billiard adjective [only before noun]:\na billiard cue


Words: billing
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the position, especially an important one, that sb is advertised or described as having in a show, etc:\nto have top / star billing * The team justified their billing as the clear favourites to win.\n  2  [U] the act of preparing and sending bills to customers\n  3  [C, usually pl.] the total amount of business that a company does in a particular period of time:\nbillings around $7 million


Words: billion
Meaning:
number (plural verb)\n  1  (abbreviation bn) 1 000 000 000; one thousand million\n HELP NOTE  You say a, one, two, several, etc. billion without a final ’s’ on ’billion’. Billions (of ...) can be used if there is no number or quantity before it. Always use a plural verb with billion or billions:\nWorldwide sales reached 2.5 billion. * half a billion dollars * a few tens of billions of yen * They have spent billions on the problem (= billions of dollars, etc.).\n HELP NOTE  There are more examples of how to use numbers at the entry for hundred.\n  2  (a billion or billions) (informal) a very large amount:\nOur immune systems are killing billions of germs right now.\n  3  (old-fashioned, BrE) 1 000 000 000 000; one million million\nSYN TRILLION


Words: billionaire
Meaning:
noun\nan extremely rich person, who has at least a thousand million pounds, dollars, etc. in money or property:\na Texas billionaire


Words: billow
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [V] \n  1  (of a sail, skirt, etc.) to fill with air and swell out:\nThe curtains billowed gently in the breeze.\n  2  if smoke, cloud, etc. billows, it rises and moves in a large mass:\nA great cloud of smoke billowed out of the chimney.\n    noun [usually pl.] a moving mass or cloud of smoke, steam, etc. like a wave:\nA farmer was burning straw, the yellow billows of smoke spiralling lazily upward.


Words: billy
Meaning:
noun\n(plural billies) (also billycan ) (BrE) a metal can with a lid and a handle used for boiling water or for cooking when you are camping


Words: bimbo
Meaning:
noun\n(plural bimbos) (informal, disapproving) a young person, usually a woman, who is sexually attractive but not very intelligent:\nHe’s going out with an empty-headed bimbo half his age.


Words: bimonthly
Meaning:
adjective, adverb\nproduced or happening every two months or twice each month:\na bimonthly newsletter


Words: bin
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  (BrE) a container that you put waste in:\na rubbish bin\nsee also DUSTBIN\n \n  2  a large container, usually with a lid, for storing things in:\na bread bin\n    verb (-nn-) [VN] (BrE, informal) to throw sth away:\nDo you need to keep these letters or shall we bin them?


Words: binary
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (computing, mathematics) using only 0 and 1 as a system of numbers:\nthe binary system * binary arithmetic\n  2  (technical) based on only two numbers; consisting of two parts:\nbinary codes / numbers\n    binary noun [U]:\nThe computer performs calculations in binary and converts the results to decimal.


Words: bind
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (bound, bound )\n  tie with rope / fabric\n  1  [VN] ~ sb/sth (to sth) | ~ sb/sth (together) to tie sb/sth with rope, string, etc. so that they cannot move or are held together firmly:\nShe was bound to a chair. * They bound his hands together. * He was left bound and gagged (= tied up and with a piece of fabric tied over his mouth).\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (up) to tie a long thin piece of fabric around sth:\nShe bound up his wounds.\n  unite\n  3  [VN] ~ A and B (together) | ~ A to B to unite people, organizations, etc. so that they live or work together more happily or effectively:\nOrganizations such as schools, factories and clubs bind a community together. * She thought that having his child would bind him to her forever.\n  make sb do sth\n  4  [usually passive] ~ sb (to sth) to force sb to do sth by making them promise to do it or by making it their duty to do it:\n[VN] He had been bound to secrecy (= made to promise not to tell people about sth). * [VN to inf] The agreement binds her to repay the debt in full within six months.\nsee also BINDING, BOUND\n  stick together\n  5  ~ (sth) (together) to stick together or to make things stick together in a solid mass:\n[V] Add an egg yolk to make the mixture bind. * [VN] Add an egg yolk to bind the mixture together.\n  book\n  6  [VN] [usually passive] to fasten the pages of a book together and put them inside a cover:\ntwo volumes bound in leather\n  sew edge\n  7  [VN] [often passive] ~ sth (with sth) to sew the edge of sth to decorate it or to make it stronger:\nThe blankets were bound with satin.\n IDIOMS  see HAND n.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bind sb over [usually passive]\n1 (AmE, law) to give sb BAIL while they are waiting to go to trial:\nHe was bound over for trial.\n2 (BrE, law) to give sb a formal warning that if they break the law again they will be punished:\nShe was bound over to keep the peace for a year.\n    noun [sing.] (BrE, informal) an annoying situation that is often difficult to avoid\nsee also DOUBLE BIND\n IDIOMS \n  in a bind (AmE) in a difficult situation that you do not know how to get out of


Words: binder
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a hard cover for holding sheets of paper, magazines, etc. together:\na ring binder\n  2  [C] a person or machine that puts covers on books\n  3  [C, U] a substance that makes things stick or mix together in a solid form\n  4  [C] a machine that fastens corn into bunches after it has been cut


Words: binding
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective ~ (on / upon sb) that must be obeyed because it is accepted in law:\na binding promise / agreement / contract * The decision is binding on both parties. * The judge said the document was not legally binding.\n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C, U] the cover that holds the pages of a book together:\nrare books in leather bindings\n \n  2  [C, U] fabric that is fastened to the edge of sth to protect or decorate it\n \n  3  [C] a device on a ski that holds the heel and toe of your boot in place and releases the boot automatically if you fall


Words: binge
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun (informal) a short period of time when you do too much of a particular activity, especially eating or drinking alcohol:\nto go on a binge * I had a shopping binge with my credit card.\n    verb (bingeing or binging, binged, binged) [V] ~ (on sth) to eat or drink too much, especially without being able to control yourself:\nWhen she’s depressed she binges on chocolate.


Words: bingo
Meaning:
noun, exclamation \n    noun [U] a game in which each player has a card with numbers on. Numbers are called out in no particular order and the first player whose numbers are all called out, or who has a line of numbers called out, wins a prize:\nto play bingo * a bingo hall\n    exclamation used to express pleasure and/or surprise because you have found sth that you were looking for, or done sth that you were trying to do:\nThe computer program searches, and bingo! We’ve got a match.


Words: binoculars
Meaning:
(also field glasses) noun\n[pl.] an instrument, like two small TELESCOPES fixed together, that makes objects that are far away seem nearer when you look through it:\na pair of binoculars * We looked at the birds through binoculars.


Words: binomial
Meaning:
noun\n(mathematics) an expression that has two groups of numbers or letters, joined by the sign + or -\n    binomial adjective


Words: bio-
Meaning:
combining form\n(in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with living things or human life:\nbiodegradable * biography


Words: biochemistry
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the scientific study of the chemistry of living things\n  2  [U, C] the chemical structure and behaviour of a living thing:\nYour biochemistry is almost identical to that of your cat.\n    biochemical  adjective


Words: biodegradable
Meaning:
adjective\na substance or chemical that is biodegradable can be changed back to a harmless natural state by the action of bacteria, and will therefore not damage the environment:\nAll active ingredients of this soap powder are 98% biodegradable within three days.


Words: biodiversity
Meaning:
(also less frequent biological diversity) noun\n[U] the existence of a large number of different kinds of animals and plants which make a balanced environment:\nThe mining project threatens one of the world’s richest areas of biodiversity.


Words: biography
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (plural biographies) the story of a person’s life written by sb else; this type of writing:\nBoswell’s biography of Johnson\ncompare AUTOBIOGRAPHY\n    biographical  adjective


Words: biological
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  connected with the science of biology:\nthe biological sciences\n  2  connected with the processes that take place within living things:\nthe biological effects of radiation * the biological control of insect pests (= using living organisms to destroy them, not chemicals) * a child’s biological parents (= natural, not adoptive parents)\n  3  (of washing powder, etc.) using ENZYMES (= chemical substances that are found in plants and animals) to get clothes, etc. clean:\nbiological and non-biological powders


Words: biological clock
Meaning:
noun\n(technical) a mechanism in plants and animals that controls regular physical activities such as sleeping: (figurative) At 35, Kate’s biological clock was ticking (= she was beginning to think that she would soon be too old to have children). * The movements of the leaves are triggered by the plant’s biological clock.


Words: biology
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the scientific study of the life and structure of plants and animals:\na degree in biology\ncompare BOTANY, ZOOLOGY\n  2  the way in which the body and cells of a living thing behave:\nHow far is human nature determined by biology? * the biology of marine animals


Words: biomass
Meaning:
noun\n[U, sing.] (technical) the total quantity or weight of plants and animals in a particular area or volume


Words: bionic
Meaning:
adjective\n(in SCIENCE FICTION stories) having parts of the body that are electronic, and therefore able to do things that are not possible for normal human beings


Words: biopic
Meaning:
noun\n(informal) a film/movie about the life of a particular person:\na political biopic about President Kennedy


Words: biopsy
Meaning:
noun\n(plural biopsies) the removal and examination of tissue from the body of sb who is ill, in order to find out more about their disease


Words: biorhythm
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] the changing pattern of how physical processes happen in the body, that some people believe affects human behaviour


Words: biosphere
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (technical) the part of the earth’s surface and atmosphere in which plants and animals can live


Words: biotechnology
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (technical) the use of living cells and bacteria in industrial and scientific processes\n    biotechnological adjective:\nbiotechnological research


Words: bipartisan
Meaning:
adjective\n(written) involving two political parties:\na bipartisan policy * The Bill before Congress has bipartisan support.


Words: birch
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] (also birch tree [C]) a tree with smooth bark and thin branches, that grows in northern countries\nsee also SILVER BIRCH\n  2  (also birchwood ) [U] the hard pale wood of the birch tree\n  3  (the birch) [sing.] the practice of hitting sb with a bunch of birch sticks, as a punishment


Words: bird
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a creature that is covered with feathers and has two wings and two legs. Most birds can fly:\na bird’s nest with two eggs in it * a species of bird * The area has a wealth of bird life. * More than a third of Britain’s bird species need urgent protection.\nsee also GAME BIRD, SEABIRD, SONGBIRD, WATERBIRD\n \n  2  (BrE, slang, sometimes offensive) a way of referring to a young woman\n \n  3  (informal) a person of a particular type, especially sb who is strange or unusual in some way:\na wise old bird * She is that rare bird: a politician with a social conscience.\n \n IDIOMS \n  be (strictly) for the birds (informal) to not be important or practical\n  the bird has flown the wanted person has escaped\n  a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (saying) it is better to keep sth that you already have than to risk losing it by trying to get much more\n  the birds and the bees (humorous) the basic facts about sex, especially as told to children\n  a bird’s-eye view (of sth) a view of sth from a high position looking down:\nFrom the plane we had a bird’s eye view of Manhattan.\n  birds of a feather (flock together) (saying) people of the same sort (are found together)\n  give sb / get the bird (informal)\n1 (BrE) to shout at sb as a sign of disapproval; to be shouted at\n2 (AmE) to make a rude sign at sb with your middle finger; to have this sign made at you\nmore at EARLY adj., KILL v., LITTLE adj.


Words: bird of passage
Meaning:
noun (plural birds of passage)\n  1  a bird that travels regularly from one part of the world to another at different seasons of the year\n  2  a person who passes through a place without staying there long


Words: bird of prey
Meaning:
noun\n(plural birds of prey) a bird that hunts and kills other creatures for food. EAGLES, HAWKS and OWLS are all birds of prey.


Words: birdie
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (spoken) a child’s word for a little bird\n  2  (in golf) a score of one stroke less than PAR (= the standard score for a hole)\ncompare BOGEY, EAGLE\n  3  (AmE) = SHUTTLECOCK


Words: birdwatcher
Meaning:
noun\na person who watches birds in their natural environment and identifies different breeds\n    birdwatching noun [U]


Words: Biro
Meaning:
noun\n(plural Biros) (BrE) a plastic pen with a metal ball at the top that rolls ink onto the paper\ncompare BALLPOINT


Words: birth
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] the time when a baby is born; the process of being born:\nThe baby weighed three kilos at birth. * John was present at the birth of both his children. * It was a difficult birth. * a hospital / home birth * Mark has been blind from birth. * Please state your date of birth.\n  2  [sing.] the beginning of a new situation, idea, place, etc:\nthe birth of a new society in South Africa\n  3  [U] a person’s origin or the social position of their family:\nAnne was French by birth but lived most of her life in Italy. * a woman of noble birth\n IDIOMS \n  give birth (to sb/sth) to produce a baby or young animal:\nShe died shortly after giving birth. * Mary gave birth to a healthy baby girl. * (figurative) It was the study of history that gave birth to the social sciences.


Words: birth control
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the practice of controlling the number of children a person has, using various methods of CONTRACEPTION:\na reliable method of birth control


Words: birth rate
Meaning:
noun\nthe number of births every year for every 1 000 people in the population of a place:\na low / high birth rate * The birth rate is falling / rising.


Words: birthday
Meaning:
noun\nthe day in each year which is the same date as the one on which you were born:\nHappy Birthday! * Oliver’s 13th birthday * a birthday card / party / present\n IDIOMS \n  in your birthday suit (humorous) not wearing any clothes


Words: birthplace
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the house or area where a person was born, especially a famous person\n  2  the place where sth first happened:\nHawaii was the birthplace of surfing.


Words: birthright
Meaning:
noun\na thing that sb has a right to because of the family or country they were born in, or because it is a basic right of all human beings:\nThe property is the birthright of the eldest child. * Education is every child’s birthright.


Words: biscuit
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [C] (BrE) a small flat dry cake for one person, usually sweet, and baked until crisp:\na packet of chocolate biscuits * a selection of cheese biscuits * The cake has a biscuit base (= one made from crushed biscuits).\ncompare COOKIE\nsee also DIGESTIVE BISCUIT, DOG BISCUIT\n \n  2  [C] (AmE) a soft bread roll, often eaten with GRAVY\n \n  3  [U] a pale yellowish-brown colour\n \n IDIOMS \n  take the biscuit (BrE) (also take the cake AmE, BrE) (informal) to be the most surprising, annoying, etc. thing that has happened or that sb has done:\nYou’ve done some stupid things before, but this really takes the biscuit!


Words: bisexual
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  sexually attracted to both men and women\n  2  (biology) having both male and female sexual organs\n    bisexuality  noun [U] \n    noun a person who is bisexual\ncompare HETEROSEXUAL, HOMOSEXUAL


Words: bishop
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a senior priest in charge of the work of the Church in a city or district:\nthe Bishop of Oxford * Bishop Harries\nsee also ARCHBISHOP\n \n  2  a piece used in the game of CHESS that is shaped like a bishop’s hat and can move any number of squares in a DIAGONAL line


Words: bishopric
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the position of a bishop\n  2  the district for which a bishop is responsible\nSYN DIOCESE


Words: bison
Meaning:
noun\n(plural bison) a large hairy wild animal of the cow family. There are two types of bison, the N American (also called BUFFALO) and the European:\na herd of bison


Words: bit
Meaning:
noun\n \n  small amount\n \n  1  (a bit) [sing.] (used as an adverb) (especially BrE) rather; a little:\nThese trousers are a bit tight. * ’Are you tired?’ ’Yes, I am a bit.’ * It costs a bit more than I wanted to spend. * I can lend you fifty pounds, if you want. That should help a bit.\n \n  2  (a bit) [sing.] (especially BrE) a short time or distance:\nWait a bit! * Can you move up a bit? * Greg thought for a bit before answering.\n \n  3  [C] ~ of sth (especially BrE) a small amount or piece of sth:\nsome useful bits of information * With a bit of luck, we’ll be there by 12. * I’ve got a bit of shopping to do. * a bit of cake * bits of grass / paper\n  part of sth\n  4  [C] (especially BrE) a part of sth larger:\nThe best bit of the holiday was seeing the Grand Canyon. * The school play was a huge success-the audience roared with laughter at all the funny bits.\n  large amount\n  5  [sing.] a ~ (of sth) (informal, especially BrE) a large amount:\n’How much does he earn?’ ’Quite a bit!’ * The new system will take a bit of getting used to (= it will take a long time to get used to).\n  computing\n  6  [C] the smallest unit of information used by a computer\n  for horse\n  7  [C] a metal bar that is put in a horse’s mouth so that the rider can control it\n  tool\n  8  [C] a tool or part of a tool for DRILLING (= making) holes\nsee also DRILL\n  money\n  9  (AmE, informal) an amount of money equal to 12ｽ cents\nsee also BITE, BIT, BITTEN v.\n IDIOMS \n  the (whole) ...bit (informal, disapproving) behaviour or ideas that are typical of a particular group, type of person or activity:\nShe couldn’t accept the whole drug-culture bit.\n  bit by bit a piece at a time; gradually:\nHe assembled the model aircraft bit by bit. * Bit by bit memories of the night came back to me.\n  a bit much (informal) not fair or not reasonable:\nIt’s a bit much calling me at three in the morning. * The noise from next door is getting a bit much.\n  a bit of a ... (informal, especially BrE) used when talking about unpleasant or negative things or ideas, to mean ’rather a ...’:\nWe may have a bit of a problem on our hands. * The rail strike is a bit of a pain.\n  a bit of all right (BrE, slang) a person that you think is sexually attractive:\nDave’s new girlfriend is a bit of all right, isn’t she?\n  a bit of rough (BrE, slang) a person of a low social class who has a sexual relationship with sb of a higher class\n  a bit on the side (BrE, slang) the boyfriend or girlfriend of sb who is already married or in a steady sexual relationship with sb else:\nIs he your bit on the side?\n  bits and pieces / bobs (BrE, informal) small objects or items of various kinds:\nShe stuffed all her bits and pieces into a bag and left.\n  do your bit (informal) to do your share of a task:\nWe can finish this job on time if everyone does their bit.\n  every bit as good, bad, etc. (as sb/sth) just as good, bad, etc.; equally good, bad, etc:\nRome is every bit as beautiful as Paris. * He’s every bit as clever as she is.\n  get the bit between your teeth (informal) to become very enthusiastic about sth that you have started to do so that you are unlikely to stop until you have finished\n  not a bit | not one (little) bit not at all; not in any way:\n’Are you cold?’ ’Not a bit.’ * It’s not a bit of use (= there’s no point in) complaining. * I don’t like that idea one bit.\n  not a bit of it! (informal, BrE) used for saying that sth that you had expected to happen did not happen:\nYou’d think she’d be tired after the journey but not a bit of it!\n  to bits\n1 into small pieces:\nThe book fell to bits in my hands. * She took the engine to bits, then carefully put it together again.\n2 (spoken, informal) very much:\nI love my kids to bits. * She was thrilled to bits when I said I’d come.\nmore at BLIND adj., CHAMP v.\n______________________________\n BRITISH / AMERICAN \na bit / a little\nIn BrE it is common to use a bit to mean ’slightly’ or ’to a small extent’: These shoes are a bit tight. * I’ll be a bit later home tomorrow. * Can you turn the volume up a bit?\nIt is more common in AmE to say a little,or (informal) a little bit. You can also use these phrases in BrE: These shoes are a little bit too tight. * I’ll be a little later home tomorrow. * Can you turn the volume up a little bit?\n______________________________


Words: bitch
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a female dog:\na greyhound bitch\n  2  (slang, disapproving) an offensive way of referring to a woman, especially an unpleasant one:\nYou stupid little bitch! * She can be a real bitch.\n  3  (slang) a thing that causes problems or difficulties:\nLife’s a bitch.\nsee also SON OF A BITCH\n    verb [V] ~ (about sb/sth) (informal) to make unkind and critical remarks about sb/sth, especially when they are not there:\nShe isn’t the sort of person who bitches about others behind their back.


Words: bitchy
Meaning:
adjective\n(informal) saying unpleasant and unkind things about other people:\nbitchy remarks\n    bitchiness noun [U]


Words: bite
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n (bit )\n \n  use teeth\n \n  1  ~ (into / through / off sth) to use your teeth to cut into or through sth:\n[VN] She was bitten by the family dog. * Stop biting your nails! * [V] She bit into a ripe juicy pear. * Does your dog bite? * (spoken) Come here! I won’t bite! (= you don’t need to be afraid) * He bit off a large chunk of bread / He bit a large chunk of bread off.\n \n  of insect / snake\n \n  2  to wound sb by making a small hole or mark in their skin:\n[VN] We were badly bitten by mosquitoes. * [V] Most European spiders don’t bite.\n \n  of fish\n  3  [V] if a fish bites, it takes food from the hook of a FISHING LINE and may get caught\n  have effect\n  4  [V] to have an unpleasant effect:\nThe recession is beginning to bite.\n IDIOMS \n  be bitten by sth to develop a strong interest in or enthusiasm for sth:\nHe’s been bitten by the travel bug.\n  bite the bullet (informal) to start to deal with an unpleasant or difficult situation which cannot be avoided:\nI wasn’t happy with the way my career was going so I decided to bite the bullet and look for another job.\n ORIGIN  From the custom of giving soldiers a bullet to bite on during a medical operation without anaesthetic.\n  bite the dust (informal)\n1 to fail, or to be defeated or destroyed:\nThousands of small businesses bite the dust every year.\n2 (humorous) to die\n  bite the hand that feeds you to harm sb who has helped you or supported you\n  bite your lip to stop yourself from saying sth or from showing an emotion\n  bite off more than you can chew to try to do too much, or sth that is too difficult\n  bite your tongue to stop yourself from saying sth that might upset sb or cause an argument, although you want to speak:\nI didn’t believe her explanation but I bit my tongue.\n  I, etc. could have bitten my / his / her tongue out / off used when sb says sth stupid or embarrassing and immediately wishes they had not said it\nmore at HEAD n., ONCE adv.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bite back (at sb/sth) to react angrily, especially when sb has criticized or harmed you:\nThe election was a chance for the people to bite back at the government.\n  bite sth<->back to stop yourself from saying sth or from showing your feelings:\nShe bit back her anger.\n  bite into sth to cut into the surface of sth:\nThe horses’ hooves bit deep into the soft earth.\n    noun\n  using teeth\n  1  [C] an act of biting:\nThe dog gave me a playful bite. * He has to wear a brace to correct his bite (= the way the upper and lower teeth fit together).\n  food\n  2  [C] a small piece of food that you can bite from a larger piece:\nShe took a couple of bites of the sandwich. * He didn’t eat a bite of his dinner (= he ate nothing).\n  3  a ~ (to eat) [sing.] (informal) a small amount of food; a small meal:\nHow about a bite of lunch? * We just have time for a bite to eat before the movie.\n  of insect / animal\n  4  [C] a wound made by an animal or insect:\nDog bites can get infected. * a mosquito / snake bite\n  strong taste\n  5  [U] a pleasant strong taste:\nCheese will add extra bite to any pasta dish.\n  cold\n  6  [sing.] a sharp cold feeling:\nThere’s a bite in the air tonight.\n  powerful effect\n  7  [U] a quality that makes sth effective or powerful:\nThe performance had no bite to it. * The sun had lost some of its bite by then.\n  of fish\n  8  [C] the act of a fish biting food on a hook:\nThe fishermen waited all afternoon for a bite.\nsee also FROSTBITE, LOVE BITE, SOUND BITE\n IDIOMS \n  a bite at / of the cherry (BrE) an opportunity to do sth:\nYou only get one bite at the cherry in life. * They were eager for a second bite of the cherry.\nmore at BARK n.


Words: bite-sized
Meaning:
(also bite-size) adjective\n[usually before noun] small enough to put into the mouth and eat:\nCut the meat into bite-sized pieces.


Words: biting
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of a wind) very cold and unpleasant\n  2  (of remarks) cruel and critical:\nbiting sarcasm / wit\n    bitingly adverb


Words: bitmap
Meaning:
noun\n(computing) a way in which an image is stored with a fixed number of BITS (= units of information) for each unit of the image\n    bitmap verb (-pp-) [VN]


Words: bitter
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n HELP NOTE  more bitter and most bitter are the usual comparative and superlative forms, but bitterest can also be used.\n  1  (of arguments, disputes, etc.) very fierce and unpleasant, with a lot of anger and hatred involved:\na long and bitter dispute\n  2  (of people) feeling angry and unhappy because you feel that you have been treated unfairly:\nShe is very bitter about losing her job.\n  3  [usually before noun] making you feel very unhappy; caused by great unhappiness:\nto weep / shed bitter tears * Losing the match was a bitter disappointment for the team. * I’ve learnt from bitter experience not to trust what he says.\n  4  (of food, etc) having a strong, unpleasant taste; not sweet:\nBlack coffee leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.\ncompare SWEET\n  5  (of weather conditions) extremely cold and unpleasant:\nbitter cold * a bitter wind * It’s really bitter out today.\n    bitterness noun [U]:\nThe pay cut caused bitterness among the staff. * The flowers of the hop plant add bitterness to the beer.\n IDIOMS \n  a bitter pill (for sb) (to swallow) a fact or an event that is unpleasant and difficult to accept:\nThe election defeat was a bitter pill for the party to swallow.\n  to / until the bitter end continuing until you have done everything you can, or until sth is completely finished, in spite of difficulties and problems:\nThey were prepared to fight to the bitter end for their rights.\n    noun (BrE)\n  1  [U, C] a type of beer with a dark colour and a strong bitter taste, that is very popular in Britain:\nA pint of bitter, please.\ncompare MILD\n  2  (bitters) [U+sing./pl. v.] a strong bitter alcoholic liquid that is made from plants and added to other alcoholic drinks to give flavour:\ngin with a dash of bitters


Words: bitter-sweet
Meaning:
adjective (BrE)\n  1  bringing pleasure mixed with sadness:\nbitter-sweet memories\n  2  (of tastes or smells) bitter and sweet at the same time


Words: bitterly
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  in a way that shows feelings of sadness or anger:\nShe wept bitterly. * They complained bitterly. * The development was bitterly opposed by the local community.\n  2  (describing unpleasant or sad feelings) extremely:\nbitterly disappointed / ashamed\n  3  ~ cold very cold


Words: bitty
Meaning:
adjective\n(BrE, informal) made up of many small separate parts, which do not seem to fit together well


Words: bivouac
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a temporary camp or shelter, without using a tent, that is made and used especially by people climbing mountains or by soldiers\n    verb (-ck-) [V] to spend the night in a bivouac


Words: bizarre
Meaning:
adjective\nvery strange or unusual\nSYN WEIRD:\na bizarre situation / incident / story * bizarre behaviour\n    bizarrely adverb:\nbizarrely dressed


Words: blab
Meaning:
verb\n(-bb-) ~ (to sb) (about sth) (informal) to tell sb information that should be kept secret:\n[V] Someone must have blabbed to the police. [also VN]


Words: blabber
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (on) (about sth) (informal) to talk in a way that other people think is silly and annoying:\nWhat was she blabbering on about this time?


Words: black
Meaning:
adjective, noun, verb \n    adjective (blacker, blackest)\n  colour\n  1  having the very darkest colour, like night or coal:\na shiny black car * black storm clouds\n  with no light\n  2  without light; completely dark:\na black night\n  people\n  3  (also Black) belonging to a race of people who have dark skin; connected with black people:\na black woman writer * black culture\n HELP NOTE  Black is the word most widely used and generally accepted in Britain. In the US the currently accepted term is African American.\n  tea / coffee\n  4  without milk:\nTwo black coffees, please.\ncompare WHITE\n  dirty\n  5  very dirty; covered with dirt:\nchimneys black with smoke * Go and wash your hands; they’re absolutely black!\n  angry\n  6  full of anger or hatred:\nShe’s been in a really black mood all day. * Rory shot her a black look.\n  depressing\n  7  without hope; very depressing:\nThe future looks pretty black, I’m afraid. * It’s been another black day for the north-east with the announcement of further job losses.\n  evil\n  8  (literary) evil or wicked:\nblack deeds / lies\n  humour\n  9  dealing with unpleasant or terrible things, such as murder, in a humorous way:\n’Good place to bury the bodies,’ she joked with black humour. * The play is a black comedy.\n    blackness noun [U, sing.]:\nShe peered out into the blackness of the night.\n IDIOMS \n  (beat sb) black and blue (to hit sb until they are) covered with BRUISES (= blue, brown or purple marks on the body)\n  not as black as he / she / it is painted not as bad as people say he/she/it is:\nHe’s not very friendly, but he’s not as black as he’s painted.\nmore at POT n.\n    noun\n  colour\n \n  1  [U] the very darkest colour, like night or coal:\nthe black of the night sky * Everyone at the funeral was dressed in black.\n \n  people\n \n  2  (also Black) [C, usually pl.] a member of a race of people who have dark skin\n \n HELP NOTE  In this meaning black is more common in the plural. It can sound offensive in the singular. Instead, you can use the adjective (’a black man / woman’) or, in the US, African American.\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  be in the black to have money, for example in your bank account:\nThe company has managed to stay in the black for the year ending December 31.\ncompare (be in) the red at RED\n  black and white having no colours except black, white and shades of grey (in photographs, on television, etc.):\na film made in black and white * black-and-white photos\n  in black and white in writing or in print:\nI never thought they’d put it in black and white on the front page.\n  (in) black and white in a way that makes people or things seem completely bad or good, or completely right or wrong:\nIt’s a complex issue, but he only sees it in black and white. * This is not a black-and-white decision (= where the difference between two choices is completely clear).\n    verb [VN] \n  1  (BrE) to refuse to deal with goods or to do business with sb as a political protest\nSYN BOYCOTT:\nThe unions have blacked all imports from the country.\n  2  (rare) to make sth black\nSYN BLACKEN\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  black out to lose consciousness for a short time:\nThe driver had probably blacked out at the wheel.\nrelated noun BLACKOUT\n  black sth<->out\n1 to make a place dark by turning off lights, covering windows, etc:\nA power failure blacked out the city last night. * a house with blacked out windows\nrelated noun BLACKOUT\n2 to prevent sth such as a piece of writing or a television broadcast from being read or seen:\nSome lines of the document have been blacked out for security reasons.


Words: black belt
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a belt that you can earn in a sport such as JUDO or KARATE which shows that you have reached a very high standard\n  2  a person who has gained a black belt


Words: black box
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (also flight recorder) a small machine in a plane that records all the details of each flight and is useful for finding out the cause of an accident\n  2  [usually sing.] (technical) a complicated piece of equipment, usually electronic, that you know produces particular results, but that you do not completely understand


Words: black eye
Meaning:
noun\nan area of dark skin (called a BRUISE), that can form around sb’s eye when they receive a blow on it


Words: black hole
Meaning:
noun\nan area in space that nothing, not even light, can escape from, because GRAVITY (= the force that pulls objects in space towards each other) is so strong there: (figurative) The company viewed the venture as a financial black hole (= it would use a lot of the company’s money with no real result). * (figurative) Thousands of people have been plunged into the black hole of unemployment.


Words: black magic
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (also the black arts [pl.]) a type of magic which is believed to use the power of the Devil in order to do evil


Words: black mark
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a note, either in writing on an official record, or in sb’s mind, of sth you have done or said that makes people think badly of you:\nShe earned a black mark for opposing company policy. * The public scandal was a black mark against him.


Words: black market
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] an illegal form of trade in which foreign money, or goods that are difficult to obtain, are bought and sold:\nto buy / sell goods on the black market * a flourishing black market in foreign currency


Words: Black Muslim
Meaning:
noun\na member of a group of black people, especially in the US, who follow the religion of Islam and want a separate black society


Words: black pudding
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE blood sausage) noun\n[U, C] a type of large dark sausage made from pig’s blood, fat and grain


Words: black sheep
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] a person who is different from the rest of their family or another group, and who is considered bad or embarrassing:\nthe black sheep of the family


Words: black spot
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a place, a situation or an event that is a problem or that causes a lot of problems:\nan environmental black spot * That corner is a notorious accident black spot (= a lot of accidents happen there). * The one black spot on the horizon is that the team’s sponsorship will be reduced next year.


Words: black tie
Meaning:
noun\na black BOW TIE worn with a DINNER JACKET\n    black tie adjective:\nThe party is black tie (= dinner jackets should be worn). * a black-tie dinner


Words: blackball
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to prevent sb from joining a club or a group by voting against them:\nHe was blackballed when he tried to join the Country Club.


Words: blackberry
Meaning:
(plural blackberries) (BrE also bramble) noun\na small soft black fruit that grows on a prickly bush in gardens/yards or in the countryside. The bush is also called a blackberry/bramble:\nblackberry and apple pie


Words: blackbird
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a European bird: the male is black with a yellow beak and the female is brown with a brown beak\n \n  2  a black N American bird, larger than the European blackbird, related to the STARLING


Words: blackboard
Meaning:
(also chalkboard especially in AmE) noun\na large board with a smooth black or dark green surface that teachers write on with a piece of chalk:\nto write on the blackboard\ncompare WHITEBOARD


Words: blackcurrant
Meaning:
noun\na small black berry that grows in bunches on a garden bush and can be eaten:\nblackcurrant jam * a blackcurrant bush


Words: blacken
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to make sth black; to become black:\n[VN] Their faces were blackened with soot. * Smoke had blackened the walls. * rows of blackened teeth [also V]\n  2  [VN] ~ sb’s name / reputation / character to say unpleasant things that give people a bad opinion of sb:\nHe accused the newspaper of trying to blacken his name.


Words: blackguard
Meaning:
noun\n(old-fashioned, BrE) a man who is dishonest and has no sense of what is right and what is wrong


Words: blackjack
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE also pontoon) [U] a card game in which players try to collect cards with a total value of 21\n  2  (especially AmE) a type of CLUB used as a weapon, especially a metal pipe covered with leather


Words: blackleg
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE, disapproving) a person who continues to work when the people they work with are on strike; a person who is employed to work instead of those who are on strike\ncompare STRIKE-BREAKER\nsee also SCAB


Words: blacklist
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a list of the names of people, companies, products or countries that an organization or a government considers unacceptable and that must be avoided\n    verb [VN] to put the name of a person, a company, a product or a country on a blacklist:\nShe was blacklisted by all the major Hollywood studios because of her political views.


Words: blackmail
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [U]\n  1  the crime of demanding money from a person by threatening to tell sb else a secret about them\n  2  the act of putting pressure on a person or a group to do sth they do not want to do, for example by making threats or by making them feel guilty:\nemotional / moral blackmail\n    verb [VN] ~ sb (into doing sth) to force sb to give you money or do sth for you by threatening them, for example by saying you will tell people a secret about them:\nShe blackmailed him for years by threatening to tell the newspapers about their affair. * The President said he wouldn’t be blackmailed into agreeing to the terrorists’ demands.


Words: blackout
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a period of darkness caused by an electrical power failure\n  2  a situation when the government or the police will not allow any news or information on a particular subject to be given to the public:\nThe government imposed a news blackout during the crisis.\n  3  (especially BrE) a period of time during a war when all lights must be put out or covered at night, so that they cannot be seen by an enemy attacking by air:\nIt used to take hours to travel home in the blackout.\n  4  [usually pl.] (BrE) a covering for windows that stops light being seen from outside, or light from outside from coming into a room\n  5  a temporary loss of consciousness, sight or memory:\nShe had a blackout and couldn’t remember anything about the accident.


Words: blacksmith
Meaning:
(also smith) noun\na person whose job is to make and repair things made of iron, especially HORSESHOES\ncompare FARRIER


Words: blackthorn
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a prickly bush with black branches, white flowers and sour purple fruit called SLOES:\na blackthorn bush / hedge


Words: bladder
Meaning:
noun\n  1  an organ that is shaped like a bag in which liquid waste (= URINE) collects before it is passed out of the body\nsee also GALL BLADDER\n  2  a bag made of rubber, leather, etc. that can be filled with air or liquid, such as the one inside a football


Words: blade
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  the flat part of a knife, tool or machine, which has a sharp edge or edges for cutting\nsee also RAZOR BLADE, SWITCHBLADE\n \n  2  one of the flat parts that turn around in an engine or on a HELICOPTER:\nthe blades of a propeller * rotor blades on a helicopter\n \n  3  the flat wide part of an OAR (= one of the long poles that are used to row a boat) that goes in the water\n \n  4  a single flat leaf of grass:\nNot a blade of grass stirred.\nsee also SHOULDER BLADE


Words: blah
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun [U] (spoken) people say blah, blah, blah, when they do not want to give the exact words that sb has said or written because they think they are not important or are boring:\nThey said, ’Come in, sit down, blah, blah, blah, sign here’.\n    adjective (AmE, informal)\n  1  not interesting:\nThe movie was pretty blah.\n  2  not feeling well; feeling slightly unhappy:\nI don’t know what’s wrong with me; I just feel kind of blah.


Words: blame
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (for sth) | ~ sth on sb/sth to think or say that sb/sth is responsible for sth bad:\nShe doesn’t blame anyone for her father’s death. * A dropped cigarette is being blamed for the fire. * Police are blaming the accident on dangerous driving.\n IDIOMS \n  be to blame (for sth) to be responsible for sth bad:\nIf anyone’s to blame, it’s me. * Which driver was to blame for the accident?\n  don’t blame me (spoken) used to advise sb not to do sth, when you think they will do it despite your advice:\nCall her if you like, but don’t blame me if she’s angry.\n  I don’t blame you / her, etc. (for doing sth) (spoken) used to say that you think that what sb did was reasonable and the right thing to do:\n’I just slammed the phone down when he said that.’ ’I don’t blame you!’\n  only have yourself to blame used to say that you think sth is sb’s own fault:\nIf you lose your job, you’ll only have yourself to blame.\n    noun [U] ~ (for sth) responsibility for doing sth badly or wrongly; saying that sb is responsible for sth:\nto lay / put the blame for sth on sb * The government will have to take the blame for the riots. * Why do I always get the blame for everything that goes wrong? * I’m not interested in apportioning blame for the accident (= deciding how much each person involved was responsible for it).\ncompare CREDIT n. (7)


Words: blameless
Meaning:
adjective\n(written) doing no wrong; free from responsibility for doing sth bad\nSYN INNOCENT:\nto lead a blameless life * None of us is entirely blameless in this matter.\n    blamelessly adverb


Words: blameworthy
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) deserving disapproval and criticism; responsible for doing sth wrong:\nblameworthy conduct * Blameworthy or not, his father should pay some of the costs of repairing the damage.


Words: blanch
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V] ~ (at sth) (written) to become pale because you are shocked or frightened:\nHe blanched visibly when he heard the news.\n  2  [VN] to prepare food, especially vegetables, by putting it into boiling water for a short time:\nBlanch the peas quickly before you freeze them.


Words: blancmange
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (BrE) a cold DESSERT (= a sweet dish) that looks like jelly, made with milk and flavoured with fruit


Words: bland
Meaning:
adjective (blander, blandest)\n  1  with little colour, excitement or interest; without anything to attract attention:\nbland background music\n  2  not having a strong or interesting taste:\na rather bland diet of soup, fish and bread\n  3  showing no strong emotions or excitement; not saying anything very interesting:\na bland expression / smile * After the meeting, a bland statement was issued.\n    blandly adverb\n    blandness noun [U]


Words: blandishments
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] (formal) pleasant things that you say to sb or do for them to try to persuade them to do sth:\nHe refused to be moved by either threats or blandishments.


Words: blank
Meaning:
adjective, noun, verb \n    adjective\n  1  empty, with nothing written, printed or recorded on it:\nSign your name in the blank space below. * a blank cassette * Write on one side of the paper and leave the other side blank. * She turned to a blank page in her notebook.\n  2  (of a wall or screen) empty; with no pictures, marks or decoration:\nblank whitewashed walls * Suddenly the screen went blank.\n  3  showing no feeling, understanding or interest:\nShe stared at me with a blank expression on her face. * Steve looked blank and said he had no idea what I was talking about. * Suddenly my mind went blank (= I could not remember anything).\n  4  [only before noun] (of negative things) complete and total:\na blank refusal / denial\nsee also POINT-BLANK\n    blankly adverb:\nShe stared blankly into space, not knowing what to say next.\n    blankness noun [U] \n    noun\n  1  [C] an empty space on a printed form or document for you to write answers, information, etc. in:\nPlease fill in the blanks with a black pen. * If you can’t answer the question, leave a blank.\n  2  [sing.] a state of not being able to remember anything:\nMy mind was a blank and I couldn’t remember her name.\n  3  [C] (also blank cartridge) a CARTRIDGE in a gun that contains an explosive but no bullet:\nThe troops fired blanks in the air.\n IDIOMS  see DRAW v.\n    verb\n  1  [VN] (BrE, informal) to ignore sb completely:\nI saw her on the bus this morning, but she totally blanked me.\n  2  [V] (AmE) to be suddenly unable to remember or think of sth:\nI knew the answer, but I totally blanked during the test.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  blank out to suddenly become empty:\nThe screen blanked out.\n  blank sth<->out\n1 to cover sth completely so that it cannot be seen:\nAll the names in the letter had been blanked out.\n2 to deliberately forget sth unpleasant:\nShe had tried to blank out the whole experience.


Words: blank cheque
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE blank check) noun\n  1  a cheque that is signed but which does not have the amount of money to be paid written on it\n  2  permission or authority to do sth that is necessary in a particular situation:\nThe President was given a blank check by Congress to continue the war.


Words: blank verse
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (technical) poetry that has a regular rhythm, usually with ten syllables and five stresses in each line, but which does not RHYME\ncompare FREE VERSE


Words: blanket
Meaning:
noun, adjective, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a large cover, often made of wool, used especially on beds to keep people warm:\nIt’s cold tonight-can I have another blanket? * The baby was wrapped in a blanket.\nsee also ELECTRIC BLANKET\n \n  2  [usually sing.] ~ of sth a thick layer or covering of sth:\na blanket of fog / snow / cloud * (figurative) The trial was conducted under a blanket of secrecy.\nsee also WET BLANKET\n    adjective [only before noun] including or affecting all possible cases, situations or people:\na blanket ban on tobacco advertising * a blanket refusal\n    verb [VN] [often passive] (written) to cover sth completely with a thick layer:\nSnow soon blanketed the frozen ground.


Words: blankety-blank
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (spoken) used in place of a rude word that the speaker does not want to say:\nIt’s not my blankety-blank fault!


Words: blare
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb ~ (sth) (out) to make a loud unpleasant noise:\n[V] police cars with lights flashing and sirens blaring * Music blared out from the open window. * [VN] The radio was blaring (out) rock music.\n    noun [sing.] a loud unpleasant noise:\nthe blare of car horns * the constant blare of music from the house next door


Words: blarney
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (informal) talk that is friendly and amusing but probably not true, and which may be used to persuade or trick you\n ORIGIN  From Blarney, a castle in Ireland where there is a stone which is said to have magical powers: anyone who kisses the ’Blarney stone’ is given the gift of speaking persuasively (’the gift of the gab’).


Words: blase
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (about sth) not impressed, excited or worried about sth, because you have seen or experienced it many times before:\nKids have become blase about violence on television.


Words: blaspheme
Meaning:
verb\n[V, VN] to speak about God or the holy things of a particular religion in an offensive way; to swear using the names of God or holy things\n    blasphemer noun


Words: blasphemy
Meaning:
noun\n(plural blasphemies) [U, C] behaviour or language that insults or shows a lack of respect for God or religion\n    blasphemous  adjective:\nMany people found the film blasphemous.\n    blasphemously adverb


Words: blast
Meaning:
noun, verb, exclamation \n    noun\n  explosion\n  1  [C] an explosion or a powerful movement of air caused by an explosion:\na bomb blast * 27 schoolchildren were injured in the blast. * The blast ripped through the building.\n  of air\n  2  [C] a sudden strong movement of air:\nA blast of hot air hit us as we stepped off the plane. * the wind’s icy blasts\n  loud noise\n  3  [C] a sudden loud noise, especially one made by a musical instrument that you blow, or by a whistle or a car horn:\nthree short blasts on the ship’s siren * The driver opened the door letting out a blast of Bob Marley.\n  criticism\n  4  [C] (used especially in newspapers) strong criticism:\nBlast for prison governors in judge’s report.\n  fun\n  5  [sing.] (AmE) a very enjoyable experience that is a lot of fun:\nThe party was a blast. * We had a blast at the party.\n IDIOMS \n  (at) full blast with the greatest possible volume or power:\nShe had the car stereo on at full blast.\n    verb\n  explode\n  1  to violently destroy or break sth into pieces, using explosives:\n[VN] They blasted a huge crater in the runway. * Builders had to blast a tunnel through the mountain. * All the windows were blasted inwards with the force of the explosion. * The jumbo jet was blasted out of the sky. * [V] Danger! Blasting in Progress! [also VN-ADJ]\n  make loud noise\n  2  ~ (sth) (out) to make a loud unpleasant noise, especially music:\n[V] Music suddenly blasted out from the speakers. * [VN] The radio blasted out rock music at full volume.\n  criticize\n  3  [VN] ~ sb/sth (for sth / for doing sth) (informal) to criticize sb/sth severely:\nThe movie was blasted by all the critics.\n  hit / kick\n  4  [VN] (informal) to hit or kick sb/sth with a lot of force:\nHe blasted the ball past the goalie. * He blasted the policeman right between the eyes.\n  air / water\n  5  [VN] to direct air, water, etc. at sb/sth with a lot of force:\nPolice blasted the demonstrators with water cannons.\n  destroy with disease, etc.\n  6  [VN] [usually passive] to destroy sth such as a plant with disease, cold, heat, etc:\nTheir whole crop had been blasted by a late frost.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  blast away if a gun or sb using a gun blasts away, the gun fires continuously and loudly:\nThe machine guns blasted away non-stop.\n  blast off (of spacecraft) to leave the ground; to take off:\nThe rocket blasted off at noon.\nrelated noun BLAST-OFF\n    exclamation (informal) people sometimes say Blast! when they are annoyed about sth:\nOh blast! The car won’t start.


Words: blast furnace
Meaning:
noun\na large structure like an oven in which iron ORE (= rock containing iron) is melted in order to take out the metal


Words: blasted
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (spoken) used when you are very annoyed about sth:\nMake your own blasted coffee!


Words: blatant
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) (of actions that are considered bad) done in an obvious and open way without caring if people object or are shocked\nSYN FLAGRANT:\na blatant attempt to buy votes * It was a blatant lie.\n    blatantly adverb:\na blatantly unfair decision


Words: blather
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (on) (about sth) (informal, especially BrE) to talk continuously about things that are silly or unimportant:\nWhat are you blathering on about now?\n    blather (also blether) noun [U]


Words: blaze
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  [V] to burn brightly and strongly:\nA huge fire was blazing in the fireplace. * Within minutes the whole building was blazing. * He rushed back into the blazing house.\n  2  [V] to shine brightly:\nThe sun blazed down from a clear blue sky. * The garden blazed with colour.\n  3  [V] ~ (with sth) (written) if sb’s eyes blaze, they look extremely angry:\nHer eyes were blazing with fury.\n  4  (also blazon) [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (across / all over sth) to make news or information widely known by telling people about it in a way they are sure to notice:\nThe story was blazed all over the daily papers.\n  5  ~ (away) if a gun or sb using a gun blazes, the gun fires continuously:\nIn the distance machine guns were blazing.\n IDIOMS \n  blaze a trail to be the first to do or to discover sth that others follow:\nThe department is blazing a trail in the field of laser surgery.\ncompare TRAILBLAZER\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  blaze up\n1 to suddenly start burning very strongly\n2 to suddenly become very angry\n    noun\n  1  [C] (used especially in newspapers) a very large fire, especially a dangerous one:\nFive people died in the blaze. * More than 50 firefighters fought to bring the blaze under control.\n  2  [sing.] strong bright flames in a fire:\nDry wood makes a good blaze.\n  3  [sing.] a ~ of sth a very bright show of lights or colour; an impressive or noticeable show of sth:\nThe gardens in summer are a blaze of colour. * a blaze of lights in the city centre * the bright blaze of the sun * a blaze of glory * They got married in a blaze of publicity.\n  4  [sing.] (a) ~ of sth a sudden show of very strong feeling:\na blaze of anger / passion / hate\n  5  [C, usually sing.] a white mark on an animal’s face\n IDIOMS \n  what / where / who the blazes ...? (old-fashioned, spoken) used to emphasize that you are annoyed and surprised, to avoid using the word ’hell’:\nWhat the blazes have you done?\n  like blazes (old-fashioned, spoken) very hard; very fast


Words: blazer
Meaning:
noun\na jacket, not worn with matching trousers/pants, often showing the colours or BADGE of a club, school, team, etc.


Words: blazing
Meaning:
adjective [only before noun]\n  1  (also blazing hot) extremely hot:\nblazing heat * a blazing hot day\n  2  extremely angry or full of strong emotion:\nShe had a blazing row with Eddie and stormed out of the house.


Words: blazon
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  [usually passive] ~ sth (on / across / over sth) = EMBLAZON:\nHe had the word ’Cool’ blazoned across his chest.\n  2  = BLAZE (4)


Words: bleach
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb to make sth white or pale by a chemical process or by the effect of sunlight; to become white or pale in this way:\n[VN] His hair was bleached by the sun. * bleached cotton / paper * [VN-ADJ] She bleached her hair blonde. * [V] bones of animals bleaching in the sun\n    noun [U, C] a chemical that is used to make sth become white or pale and as a DISINFECTANT (= to prevent infection from spreading)


Words: bleak
Meaning:
adjective (bleaker, bleakest)\n  1  (of a situation) not hopeful or encouraging:\na bleak outlook / prospect * The future looks bleak for the fishing industry. * The medical prognosis was bleak. * They faced a financially bleak Christmas.\n  2  (of the weather) cold and unpleasant:\na bleak winter’s day\n  3  (of a place) bare, empty or with no pleasant features:\na bleak landscape / hillside / moor * bleak concrete housing\n    bleakly adverb:\n’There seems no hope,’ she said bleakly. * bleakly lit corridors * It was a bleakly impressive coastline.\n    bleakness noun [U]


Words: bleary
Meaning:
adjective\n(of eyes) not able to see clearly, especially because you are tired:\nShe had bleary red eyes from lack of sleep.


Words: bleary-eyed
Meaning:
adjective\nwith bleary eyes and seeming tired:\nHe appeared at breakfast bleary-eyed and with a hangover.


Words: bleat
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V] to make the sound that sheep and goats make\n  2  ~ (on) (about sth) to speak in a weak or complaining voice:\n[V speech] ’But I’ve only just got here,’ he bleated feebly. [also V that, V] \n    bleat noun:\nThe lamb gave a faint bleat.\n    bleating noun [U, C]:\nthe distant bleating of sheep


Words: bleed
Meaning:
1  [V] to lose blood, especially from a wound or an injury:\nMy finger’s bleeding. * She slowly bled to death. * He was bleeding from a gash on his head.\n  2  [VN] (in the past) to take blood from sb as a way of treating disease\n  3  [VN] ~ sb (for sth) (informal) to force sb to pay a lot of money over a period of time:\nMy ex-wife is bleeding me for every penny I have.\n  4  [VN] to remove air or liquid from sth so that it works correctly\n  5  [V] to spread from one area of sth to another area:\nKeep the paint fairly dry so that the colours don’t bleed into each other.\n IDIOMS \n  bleed sb dry (disapproving) to take away all sb’s money:\nThe big corporations are bleeding some of these small countries dry.\nmore at HEART


Words: bleeding
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective [only before noun] (BrE, slang) = BLOODY\n    noun [U] the process of losing blood from the body:\nPress firmly on the wound to stop the bleeding.


Words: bleeding heart
Meaning:
noun\n(disapproving) a person who is too kind and sympathetic towards people that other people think do not deserve kindness:\na bleeding-heart liberal * All the bleeding hearts and socialists oppose the changes to the immigration law.


Words: bleep
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a short high sound made by a piece of electronic equipment\n    verb\n  1  [V] to make a short high electronic sound:\nThe microwave will bleep when your meal is ready.\n  2  (BrE) (AmE beep) [VN] to call sb on their bleeper:\nPlease bleep the doctor on duty immediately.\nsee also PAGE


Words: bleeper
Meaning:
(AmE beeper) noun\na small electronic device that you carry around with you and that lets you know when sb is trying to contact you, by making a sound:\nAll the doctors in the hospital carry a bleeper.


Words: blemish
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a mark on the skin or on an object that spoils it and makes it look less beautiful or perfect:\nmake-up to cover blemishes * (figurative) His reputation is without a blemish.\n    verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to spoil sth that is beautiful or perfect in all other ways


Words: blench
Meaning:
verb\n[V] (BrE, formal) to react to sth in a way that shows you are frightened:\nHe blenched when he heard her name announced.


Words: blend
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  [VN] ~ A with B | ~ A and B (together) to mix two or more substances together:\nBlend the flour with the milk to make a smooth paste. * Blend together the eggs, sugar and flour.\n  2  [V] ~ (with sth) | ~ (together) to form a mixture with sth:\nOil does not blend with water. * Oil and water do not blend.\n  3  ~ (with sth) | ~ (together) to combine with sth in an attractive or effective way; to combine sth in this way:\n[V] The old and new buildings blend together perfectly. * [VN] Their music blends traditional and modern styles.\n  4  [VN] [usually passive] to produce sth by mixing different types together:\nblended whisky / tea\n IDIOMS  see WOODWORK\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  blend in (with sth/sb) if sth blends in, it is similar to its surroundings or matches its surroundings:\nChoose curtains that blend in with your decor.\n  blend sth<->in (in cooking) to add another substance and mix it in with the others:\nBeat the butter and sugar; then blend in the egg.\n  blend into sth to look so similar to the background that it is difficult for you to see it separately:\nHe blended into the crowd.\n    noun\n  1  a mixture of different types of the same thing:\na blend of tea / coffee / whisky\n  2  [usually sing.] a pleasant or useful combination of different things:\na blend of youth and experience


Words: blender
Meaning:
(BrE also liquidizer) noun\nan electric machine for mixing soft food or liquid:\nCombine the milk and eggs in a blender.


Words: bless
Meaning:
[VN] \n  1  to ask God to protect sb/sth:\nThey brought the children to Jesus and he blessed them. * God bless you!\ncompare BEATIFY\n  2  to make sth holy by saying a prayer over it:\nThe priest blessed the bread and wine.\n  3  (formal) to call God holy; to praise God:\nWe bless your holy name, O Lord.\n  4  (old-fashioned, spoken) used to express surprise:\nBless my soul! Here comes Bill! * ’Where’s Joe?’ ’I’m blessed if I know (= I don’t know)!’\n IDIOMS \n  be blessed with sth/sb to have sth good such as ability, great happiness, etc:\nShe’s blessed with excellent health. * We’re blessed with five lovely grandchildren.\n  bless you, her, him, etc. (spoken) used to show that you are pleased with sb, especially because of sth they have done:\nSarah, bless her, had made a cup of tea.\n  bless you (spoken) said to sb after they have SNEEZED\nmore at GOD


Words: blessed
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  holy:\nthe Blessed Virgin Mary\n  2  (in religious language) lucky:\nBlessed are the poor.\n  3  [only before noun] enjoyable in a way that gives you a sense of peace or RELIEF from anxiety or pain:\na moment of blessed calm\n  4  [only before noun] (old-fashioned, informal) used to express mild anger:\nI can’t see a blessed thing without my glasses.\n    blessedly adverb:\nThe kitchen was warm and blessedly familiar.\n    blessedness  noun [U]


Words: blessing
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [usually sing.] God’s help and protection, or a PRAYER asking for this:\nto pray for God’s blessing * The bishop said the blessing.\n  2  [usually sing.] approval of or permission for sth:\nThe government gave its blessing to the new plans. * He went with his parents’ blessing.\n  3  something that is good or helpful:\nLack of traffic is one of the blessings of country life. * It’s a blessing that nobody was in the house at the time.\nsee also MIXED BLESSING\n IDIOMS \n  a blessing in disguise something that seems to be a problem at first, but that has good results in the end\nmore at COUNT v.


Words: blight
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] to spoil or damage sth, especially by causing a lot of problems:\nHis career has been blighted by injuries. * an area blighted by unemployment\n    noun\n  1  [U, C] any disease that kills plants, especially crops:\npotato blight * Many areas have been devastated by blights which destroyed cereal crops and vines.\n  2  [sing., U] ~ (on sb/sth) something that has a bad effect on a situation, a person’s life or the environment:\nHis death cast a blight on the whole of that year. * urban blight (= ugly or neglected areas in a city) * Her divorce was a great blight on her life.


Words: blighter
Meaning:
noun\n(old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a way of referring to a person (usually a man) that you either find unpleasant or that you feel some sympathy or ENVY for


Words: blimp
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (especially AmE) a small AIRSHIP (= an aircraft without wings)\n  2  (also Colonel Blimp) (old-fashioned, BrE, disapproving) an older person, especially an old army officer, with very old-fashioned political opinions\n    blimpish adjective


Words: blind
Meaning:
adjective, verb, noun, adverb \n    adjective (blinder, blindest)\n  1  not able to see:\nDoctors think he will go blind. * blind and partially sighted people * One of her parents is blind.\n  2  (the blind) noun [pl.] people who are blind:\nrecorded books for the blind * guide dogs for the blind\n  3  ~ (to sth) not noticing or realizing sth:\nShe is blind to her husband’s faults. * I must have been blind not to realize the danger we were in.\n  4  [usually before noun] (of strong feelings) seeming to be unreasonable, and accepted without question; seeming to be out of control:\nblind faith / obedience * blind panic\n  5  [usually before noun] (of a situation or an event) that cannot be controlled by reason:\nblind chance * the blind force of nature\n  6  that a driver in a car cannot see, or cannot see around:\na blind driveway * a blind bend / corner\n    blindness noun [U]:\ntotal / temporary / partial blindness\nsee also BLINDLY\n IDIOMS \n  (as) blind as a bat (humorous) not able to see well:\nShe’s as blind as a bat without her glasses.\n  the blind leading the blind a situation in which people with almost no experience or knowledge give advice to others who also have no experience or knowledge\n  not a blind bit / the blindest bit of ... (BrE, spoken) not any:\nHe didn’t take a blind bit of notice of me (= he ignored me). * It won’t make the blindest bit of difference (= it will make no difference at all).\n  turn a blind eye (to sth) to pretend not to notice sth bad that is happening, so you do not have to do anything about it:\nThe authorities were either unaware of the problem or turned a blind eye to it.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to permanently destroy sb’s ability to see:\nShe was blinded in the explosion. * The attackers blinded him with acid.\n  2  to make it difficult for sb to see for a short time:\nWhen she went outside she was temporarily blinded by the sun. * His eyes were blinded by tears.\n  3  ~ sb (to sth) to make sb no longer able to think clearly or behave in a sensible way:\nHis sense of loyalty blinded him to the truth.\n IDIOMS \n  blind sb with science to confuse sb by using technical or complicated language that they do not understand\nmore at EFF\n    noun\n\n \n  1  (AmE also shade, window shade) [C] a covering for a window, especially one made of a roll of fabric that is fixed at the top of the window and can be pulled up and down\nsee also VENETIAN BLIND\n \n  2  [sing.] something people say or do to hide the truth about sth in order to deceive other people\n    adverb (in connection with flying) without being able to see; using instruments only\n IDIOMS \n  blind drunk extremely drunk\nmore at ROB, SWEAR\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nblind / blindly\nThere are two adverbs that come from the adjec-tive blind. Blindly means ’not being able to see what you are doing’ or ’not thinking about some-thing’. The adverb blind is mainly used in the context of flying and means ’without being able to see’, ’using instruments only’.\n______________________________


Words: blind alley
Meaning:
noun\na way of doing sth that seems useful at first, but does not produce useful results, like following a path that suddenly stops:\nProgress in science cannot be made without exploring blind alleys.


Words: blind date
Meaning:
noun\na meeting between two people who have not met each other before. The meeting is usually organized by their friends because they want them to develop a romantic relationship:\nto go on a blind date


Words: blind man’s buff
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE blind man’s bluff) noun\n[U] a children’s game in which a player whose eyes are covered with a piece of fabric tries to catch and identify the other players


Words: blind spot
Meaning:
noun\n  1  an area that sb cannot see, especially an area of the road when they are driving a car:\nThe rear-view mirror helps to reduce blind spots on both sides of the car.\n  2  if sb has a blind spot about sth, they ignore it or they are unwilling or unable to understand it:\nI have a blind spot where maths is concerned.\n  3  the part of the RETINA in the eye that is not sensitive to light


Words: blinder
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, usually sing.] (BrE, informal) something which is excellent, especially in sport:\nUnited are playing a blinder of a game.\n  2  (blinders) [pl.] (AmE) = BLINKERS


Words: blindfold
Meaning:
noun, verb, adjective, adverb \n    noun something that is put over sb’s eyes so they cannot see:\nShe used a scarf as a blindfold.\n    verb [VN] to cover sb’s eyes with a piece of fabric or other covering so that they cannot see:\nThe hostages were tied up and blindfolded.\n    adjective, adverb (BrE) (also blindfolded BrE, AmE) with the eyes covered:\nThe reporter was taken blindfold to a secret location. * I knew the way home blindfold (= because it was so familiar). * I could do that blindfold (= very easily, with no problems).


Words: blinding
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  very bright; so strong that you cannot see:\na blinding flash of light * blinding rain / snow * (figurative) a blinding (= very bad) headache\n  2  (BrE, spoken) very good or enjoyable:\nWe had a blinding day out in London last Saturday.


Words: blindingly
Meaning:
adverb\nvery; extremely:\nThe reason is blindingly obvious. * The latest computers can work at a blindingly fast speed.


Words: blindly
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  without being able to see what you are doing:\nShe groped blindly for the light switch in the dark room.\n  2  without thinking about what you are doing:\nHe wanted to decide for himself instead of blindly following his parents’ advice. -> BLIND


Words: blindside
Meaning:
verb [VN] (AmE)\n  1  to attack sb from the direction where they cannot see you coming\n  2  [usually passive] to give sb an unpleasant surprise that leaves them in a state of shock:\nJust when it seemed life was going well, she was blindsided by a devastating illness.


Words: blink
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n\n \n  1  when you blink or blink your eyes or your eyes blink, you shut and open your eyes quickly:\n[V] He blinked in the bright sunlight. * Lucy blinked at him in astonishment. * I’ll be back before you can blink (= very quickly). * When I told him the news he didn’t even blink (= showed no surprise at all). [also VN] \ncompare WINK\n \n  2  [V] to shine with an unsteady light; to flash on and off:\nSuddenly a warning light blinked.\n \n PHRASAL VERBS \n \n  blink sth<->away / back to try to control tears or clear your eyes by blinking:\nShe bravely blinked back her tears.\n    noun [usually sing.] the act of shutting and opening your eyes very quickly\n IDIOMS \n  in the blink of an eye very quickly; in a short time\n  on the blink (informal) (of a machine) no longer working correctly


Words: blinker
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] (informal) = INDICATOR\n  2  (blinkers) (AmE also blinders) [pl.] pieces of leather that are placed at the side of a horse’s eyes to stop it from looking sideways: (figurative) We need to have a fresh look at the plan, without blinkers (= we need to consider every aspect of it).


Words: blinkered
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) not aware of every aspect of a situation; not willing to accept different ideas about sth\nSYN NARROW-MINDED:\na blinkered policy / attitude / approach


Words: blinking
Meaning:
adjective, adverb\n(BrE, spoken) a mild swear word that some people use when they are annoyed, to avoid saying ’bloody’:\nShut the blinking door!


Words: blip
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a bright light flashing on the screen of a piece of equipment, sometimes with a short high sound\n  2  a change in a process or situation, usually when it gets worse for a short time before it gets better; a temporary problem:\na temporary blip


Words: bliss
Meaning:
noun\n[U] extreme happiness; joy:\nmarried / wedded / domestic bliss * My idea of bliss is a month in the Bahamas. * Swimming on a hot day is sheer bliss.\n IDIOMS  see IGNORANCE


Words: blissful
Meaning:
adjective\nextremely happy; showing happiness:\nWe spent three blissful weeks away from work. * a blissful smile * We preferred to remain in blissful ignorance of what was going on (= not to know).\n    blissfully  adverb:\nblissfully happy * blissfully ignorant / unaware


Words: blister
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a swelling on the surface of the skin that is filled with liquid and is caused, for example, by rubbing or burning:\nThese shoes have given me blisters on my heels.\n    verb\n  1  to form blisters; to make sth form blisters:\n[V] His skin was beginning to blister. * [VN] Her face had been blistered by the sun.\n  2  [V, VN] when a surface blisters or sth blisters it, it swells and cracks\n    blistered adjective:\ncracked and blistered skin * blistered paintwork


Words: blistering
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  (describing actions in sport) done very fast or with great energy:\nThe runners set off at a blistering pace.\n  2  extremely hot in a way that is uncomfortable:\na blistering July day * blistering heat\n  3  very critical:\na blistering attack\n    blisteringly adverb


Words: blithe
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  (disapproving) showing you do not care or are not anxious about what you are doing:\nHe drove with blithe disregard for the rules of the road.\n  2  (literary) happy; not anxious:\na blithe and carefree girl\n    blithely adverb:\nHe was blithely unaware of the trouble he’d caused. * ’It’ll be easy,’ she said blithely.


Words: blitz
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C, usually sing.] something which is done with a lot of energy:\nan advertising / a media blitz (= a lot of information about sth on television, in newspapers, etc.)\n  2  [C, usually sing.] ~ (on sth) a sudden attack:\nFive shops were damaged in a firebomb blitz. * (figurative) a blitz on passengers who avoid paying fares * (figurative) I’ve had a blitz on the house (= cleaned it very thoroughly).\n  3  (the Blitz) [sing.] the German air attacks on Britain in 1940\n    verb [VN] to attack or damage a city by dropping a large number of bombs on it in a short time:\nLondon was heavily blitzed in the war.


Words: blizzard
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a SNOWSTORM with very strong winds:\nblizzard conditions * The blizzard struck the north-east yesterday, causing serious damage. * a raging / howling blizzard\n  2  (written) a large quantity of things that may seem to be attacking you:\na blizzard of documents


Words: bloat
Meaning:
verb\nto swell or make sth swell, especially in an unpleasant way:\n[VN] Her features had been bloated by years of drinking and drug-taking. [also V]


Words: bloated
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  full of liquid or gas and therefore bigger than normal, in a way that is unpleasant:\na bloated body floating in the canal * (figurative) a bloated organization (= with too many people in it)\n  2  full of food and feeling uncomfortable:\nI felt bloated after the huge meal they’d served.


Words: blob
Meaning:
noun\na small amount or drop of sth, especially a liquid; a small area of colour:\na blob of ink * a pink blob * The street lights in the distance were blobs of orange light.


Words: bloc
Meaning:
noun\na group of countries that work closely together because they have similar political interests:\nthe former Soviet bloc\nsee also EN BLOC


Words: block
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  solid material\n \n  1  [C] a large piece of a solid material that is square in shape and usually has flat sides:\na block of ice / concrete / stone * a chopping block (= for cutting food on)\nsee also BREEZE BLOCK, BUILDING BLOCK, CINDER BLOCK\n \n  for punishment\n \n  2  (the block) [sing.] (in the past) the piece of wood on which a person’s head was cut off as a punishment\n \n  building\n \n  3  [C] (BrE) a tall building that contains flats or offices; buildings that form part of a school, hospital, etc. which are used for a particular purpose:\na tower block * a block of flats * an office block * the university’s science block\n  streets\n  4  [C] a group of buildings with streets on all sides:\nShe took the dog for a walk around the block.\n  5  [C] (AmE) the length of one side of a piece of land or group of buildings, from the place where one street crosses it to the next:\nHis apartment is three blocks away from the police station.\n  area of land\n  6  [C] (especially AmE) a large area of land\n  amount\n  7  [C] a quantity of sth or an amount of time that is considered as a single unit:\na block of shares * a block of text in a document * (BrE) The theatre gives discounts for block bookings (= a large number of tickets bought at the same time). * The three-hour class is divided into four blocks of 45 minutes each.\n  that stops progress\n  8  [C, usually sing.] something that makes movement or progress difficult or impossible \nSYN OBSTACLE:\nLack of training acts as a block to progress in a career. * Tony had writer’s block for two years (= he couldn’t write anything).\nsee also ROADBLOCK, STUMBLING BLOCK\n  in sport\n  9  [C] a movement that stops another player from going forward\n  10  (the blocks) [pl.] = STARTING BLOCKS\n IDIOMS \n  go on the block to be sold, especially at an AUCTION (= a sale in which items are sold to the person who offers the most money)\n  put / lay your head / neck on the block to risk losing your job, damaging your reputation, etc. by doing or saying sth:\nIt’s not a matter that I’m prepared to put my head on the block for.\nmore at CHIP n., KNOCK v.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to stop sth from moving or flowing through a pipe, a passage, a road, etc. by putting sth in it or across it:\nAfter today’s heavy snow, many roads are still blocked. * a blocked sink\n  2  ~ sb’s way, exit, view, etc. to stop sb from going somewhere or seeing sth by standing in front of them or in their way:\nOne of the guards moved to block her path. * An ugly new building blocked the view from the window. * His way was blocked by two large bouncers.\n  3  to prevent sth from happening, developing or making progress:\nThe proposed merger has been blocked by the government.\n  4  to stop a ball, blow, etc. from reaching somewhere by moving in front of it:\nZola’s shot was blocked by the goalie.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  block sb/sth<->in to prevent a car from being able to be driven away by parking too close to it:\nHe found that his car had been blocked in.\n  block sth<->in to draw or paint sth roughly, without showing any detail:\nI have blocked in the shapes of the larger buildings.\n  block sth<->off to close a road or an opening by placing a barrier at one end or in front of it:\nThe main roads of the city have been blocked off.\n  block sth<->out\n1 to stop light or noise from coming in:\nBlack clouds blocked out the sun. * He put his hands over his ears to block out the noise.\n2 to stop yourself from thinking about or remembering sth unpleasant:\nOver the years she had tried to block out that part of her life.\n  block sth<->up to completely fill a hole or an opening and so prevent anything from passing through it:\nOne door had been blocked up. * My nose is blocked up.


Words: block and tackle
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] a piece of equipment for lifting heavy objects, which works by a system of ropes and PULLEYS (= small wheels around which the ropes are stretched)


Words: block capitals
Meaning:
(also block letters) noun\n[pl.] separate capital letters:\nPlease fill out the form in block capitals.


Words: blockade
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  the action of surrounding or closing a place, especially a port, in order to stop people or goods from coming in or out:\na naval blockade * to impose / lift a blockade * an economic blockade (= stopping goods from entering or leaving a country) * blockades of roads by truck drivers protesting over pay\n  2  a barrier that stops people or vehicles from entering or leaving a place:\nThe police set up blockades on highways leading out of the city.\n    verb [VN] to surround a place, especially a port, in order to stop people or goods from coming in or out:\nAll the ports had been blockaded. * Employees blockaded the entrance to the offices.


Words: blockage
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a thing that blocks flow or movement, for example of a liquid in a narrow place:\na blockage in an artery / a pipe / a drain\n  2  the state of being blocked:\nto cause / clear the blockage


Words: blockbuster
Meaning:
noun\n(informal) something very successful, especially a very successful book or film/movie:\nthe latest Hollywood blockbuster\n    blockbusting adjective:\na blockbusting performance


Words: blonde
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective (also blond)\n  1  (of hair) pale gold in colour\n  2  (of a person) having blonde hair:\na small, blond boy\n    noun a woman with hair that is pale gold in colour:\nIs she a natural blonde (= Is her hair naturally blonde)?


Words: blood
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [U] the red liquid that flows through the bodies of humans and animals:\nHe lost a lot of blood in the accident. * Blood was pouring out of a cut on her head. * to give blood (= to have blood taken from you so that it can be used in the medical treatment of other people) * to draw blood (= to make a person bleed) * a blood cell / sample * the blood supply to the brain * dried blood\n \n  2  (-blooded) (in adjectives) having the type of blood mentioned:\ncold-blooded reptiles\nsee also BLUE-BLOODED, HOT-BLOODED, RED-BLOODED\n \n  3  [U] (formal) family origins:\nShe is of noble blood. * There is some Polish blood on his father’s side.\n  4  [C] (old-fashioned, BrE) a rich and fashionable man:\na young blood\n IDIOMS \n  bad blood (between A and B) (old-fashioned) feelings of hatred or strong dislike\n  be after / out for sb’s blood (informal, often humorous) to be angry with sb and want to hurt or punish them\n  be / run in your blood to be a natural part of your character and of the character of other members of your family\n  blood is thicker than water (saying) family relationships are stronger than any others\n  sb’s blood is up (BrE) somebody is very angry and ready to argue or fight\n  blood, sweat and tears very hard work; a lot of effort:\nThe only way to succeed is through old-fashioned blood, sweat and tears.\n  have sb’s blood on your hands to be responsible for sb’s death:\na dictator with the blood of thousands on his hands\n  like getting blood out of / from a stone almost impossible to obtain:\nGetting an apology from him was like getting blood from a stone.\n  make sb’s blood boil to make sb extremely angry:\nThe way he treats his employees really makes my blood boil.\n  make sb’s blood run cold to make sb very frightened or fill them with horror:\nThe sound of laughter in the empty house made my blood run cold.\n  new / fresh blood new members or employees, especially young ones, with new ideas, skills or ways of doing things:\nThis company badly needs to bring in some new blood.\nmore at COLD adj., FLESH n., FREEZE v., SPILL v., SPIT v., STIR v., SWEAT v.\n    verb [VN] (especially BrE) to give sb their first experience of an activity


Words: blood brother
Meaning:
noun\na man who has promised to treat another man as his brother, usually in a ceremony in which their blood is mixed together


Words: blood clot
Meaning:
(also clot) noun\na lump that is formed when blood dries or becomes thicker:\na blood clot on the brain


Words: blood count
Meaning:
noun\nthe number of red and white cells in sb’s blood; a medical test to count these:\nYour blood count is normal. * a full blood count


Words: blood donor
Meaning:
noun\na person who gives some of his or her blood to be used in the medical treatment of other people


Words: blood group
Meaning:
(also blood type especially in AmE) noun\nany of the different types that human blood is separated into for medical purposes: (BrE) What blood group are you? * (AmE) What blood type do you have? * blood group / type O


Words: blood money
Meaning:
noun [U] (disapproving)\n  1  money paid to a person who is hired to murder sb\n  2  money paid to the family of a murdered person


Words: blood poisoning
Meaning:
noun\nan illness where the blood becomes infected with harmful bacteria, especially because of a cut or a wound


Words: blood pressure
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the pressure of blood as it travels around the body:\nto have high / low blood pressure * to take (= measure) sb’s blood pressure


Words: blood test
Meaning:
noun\nan examination of a small amount of your blood by doctors in order to make judgements about your medical condition


Words: blood transfusion
Meaning:
(also transfusion) noun\n[C, U] the process of putting new blood into the body of a person or an animal:\nHe was given a blood transfusion.


Words: blood vessel
Meaning:
noun\nany of the tubes through which blood flows through the body:\nbroken blood vessels * The knife had missed the major blood vessels.\nsee also ARTERY, VEIN


Words: blood-curdling
Meaning:
adjective\n(of a sound or a story) filling you with horror; extremely frightening:\na blood-curdling scream / story


Words: bloodless
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  without any killing:\na bloodless coup / revolution\n  2  (of a person or a part of the body) very pale:\nbloodless lips\n  3  lacking human emotion\nSYN COLD, UNEMOTIONAL


Words: bloodletting
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  (formal) the killing or wounding of people\nSYN BLOODSHED:\nthe futile bloodletting of war\n  2  a medical treatment used in the past in which some of a patient’s blood was removed


Words: bloodshed
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the killing or wounding of people, usually during fighting or a war:\nThe two sides called a truce to avoid further bloodshed. * The march ended in violence and bloodshed.


Words: bloodshot
Meaning:
adjective\n(of eyes) with the part that is usually white full of red lines because of lack of sleep, etc.


Words: bloodstain
Meaning:
noun\na mark or spot of blood on sth:\nPolice found bloodstains on her jacket.\n    bloodstained adjective:\na bloodstained shirt


Words: bloodstream
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] the blood flowing through the body:\nThey injected the drug directly into her bloodstream.


Words: bloodthirsty
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  wanting to kill or wound; enjoying seeing or hearing about killing and violence\n  2  (of a book, film / movie, etc.) describing or showing killing and violence


Words: bloody
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] adverb-see also BLOODY (BrE, !!!, spoken) a swear word that many people find offensive that is used to emphasize a comment or an angry statement:\nDon’t be such a bloody fool. * That was a bloody good meal! * What bloody awful weather! * She did bloody well to win that race. * He doesn’t bloody care about anybody else. * ’Will you apologize?’ ’Not bloody likely (= Certainly not)!’ * The rail strike is a bloody nuisance. * I can’t get this bloody stupid thing to work. * What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?\n IDIOMS \n  bloody well (BrE, !!!, spoken) used to emphasize an angry statement or an order:\nYou can bloody well keep your job-I don’t want it! * ’I’m not coming.’ ’Yes, you bloody well are!’\n\n  adjective-see also BLOODY (bloodier, bloodiest)\n  1  involving a lot of violence and killing:\na bloody battle * The terrorists have halted their bloody campaign of violence.\n  2  covered with blood; bleeding:\nto give sb a bloody nose (= in a fight) * bloody fingerprints\n    bloodily adverb\n IDIOMS  see SCREAM v.


Words: bloody-minded
Meaning:
adjective\n(BrE, informal) behaving in a way that makes things difficult for other people; refusing to be helpful:\nDon’t be so bloody-minded!\n    bloody-mindedness noun [U]:\nsheer bloody-mindedness


Words: bloom
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun (written or technical)\n  1  [C] a flower (usually one on a plant that people admire for its flowers):\nthe exotic blooms of the orchid * The plant produced a single white bloom.\n  2  [sing., U] a healthy fresh appearance:\nthe bloom in her cheeks * the bloom of youth\n IDIOMS \n  in (full) bloom (of trees, plants, gardens, etc.) with the flowers fully open:\nThe roses were in full bloom. * He loved watching the garden come into bloom. * daffodils in bloom\n    verb [V] \n  1  to produce flowers:\nMost roses will begin to bloom from late May. * Tulips were blooming as far as the eye could see.\n  2  to become healthy, happy or confident:\nThe children had bloomed during their stay on the farm. * She was blooming with good health.


Words: bloomers
Meaning:
noun [pl.]\n  1  (informal) an old-fashioned piece of women’s underwear like long loose UNDERPANTS\n  2  short loose trousers/pants that fit tightly at the knee, worn in the past by women for games, riding bicycles, etc:\na pair of bloomers


Words: blooming
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] adverb (BrE, spoken) a mild swear word, used to emphasize a comment or a statement, especially an angry one:\nWhat blooming awful weather!


Words: blossom
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n [C, U] a flower or a mass of flowers, especially on a fruit tree or bush:\ncherry / orange / apple blossom * The trees are in blossom. * She loved the spring, when the blossom was out.\n    verb [V] \n  1  (of a tree or bush) to produce blossom:\nThe cherry tress blossomed early this year.\n  2  ~ (into sth) to become more healthy, confident or successful:\nShe has visibly blossomed over the last few months. * Their friendship blossomed into love.


Words: blot
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (-tt-) [VN] \n  1  to remove liquid from a surface by pressing soft paper or cloth on it\n  2  to make a spot or spots of ink fall on paper\n IDIOMS \n  blot your copybook (old-fashioned, informal) to do sth to spoil the opinion that other people have of you\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  blot sth<->out\n1 to cover or hide sth completely:\nClouds blotted out the sun.\n2 to deliberately try to forget an unpleasant memory or thought:\nHe tried to blot out the image of Helen’s sad face. * She just wanted to sleep and blot out the terrifying events of the day.\n    noun\n  1  a spot or dirty mark on sth, made by ink, etc.\n  2  ~ (on sth) something that spoils the opinion that other people have of you, or your happiness:\nHer involvement in the fraud has left a serious blot on her character. * There was just a tiny blot on his happiness.\n IDIOMS \n  a blot on the landscape an object, especially an ugly building, that spoils the beauty of a place


Words: blotch
Meaning:
noun\na mark, usually not regular in shape, on skin, plants, material, etc:\nOvernight he had come out in (= become covered in) dark red blotches.


Words: blotter
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a large piece of blotting paper in a cover with a stiff back which is kept on a desk\n  2  (AmE) the record of ARRESTS in a police district


Words: blotting paper
Meaning:
noun\n[U] soft thick paper used for drying ink after you have written sth on a piece of paper:\na piece / sheet of blotting paper


Words: blotto
Meaning:
adjective\n[not before noun] (old-fashioned, informal) very drunk:\nHe got completely blotto at the party.


Words: blow
Meaning:
verb, noun, exclamation \n    verb\n (blew  )\n HELP NOTE  In sense 13 blowed  is used for the past participle.)\n \n  from mouth\n \n  1  [+adv./prep.] to send out air from the mouth:\n[V] You’re not blowing hard enough! * The policeman asked me to blow into the breathalyser. * [VN] He drew on his cigarette and blew out a stream of smoke.\n \n  of wind\n \n  2  when the wind or a current of air blows, it is moving; when it blows, the wind is blowing: [V, often +adv./prep.] A cold wind blew from the east. * It was blowing hard. * [VN] It was blowing a gale (= there was a strong wind).\n \n  move with wind / breath\n  3  [+adv./prep.] to be moved by the wind, sb’s breath, etc.; to move sth in this way:\n[V] My hat blew off. * [V-ADJ] The door blew open. * [VN] I was almost blown over by the wind. * She blew the dust off the book. * The ship was blown onto the rocks. * The bomb blast blew two passers-by across the street. [also VN-ADJ]\n  whistle / instrument\n  4  if you blow a whistle, musical instrument, etc. or if a whistle, etc. blows, you produce a sound by blowing into the whistle, etc:\n[VN] The referee blew his whistle. * [V] the sound of trumpets blowing\n  your nose\n  5  [VN] ~ your nose to clear your nose by blowing strongly through it into a HANDKERCHIEF\n  a kiss\n  6  [VN, VNN] ~ (sb) a kiss to kiss your hand and then pretend to blow the kiss towards sb\n  shape sth\n  7  [VN] to make or shape sth by blowing:\nto blow smoke rings * to blow bubbles (= for example, by blowing onto a thin layer of water mixed with soap) * to blow glass (= to send a current of air into melted glass to shape it)\n  electricity\n  8  [V, VN] if a FUSE blows or you blow a FUSE, the electricity stops flowing suddenly because the FUSE (= a thin wire) has melted because the current was too strong\n  with explosives\n  9  [VN] to break sth open with explosives:\nThe safe had been blown by the thieves.\n  secret\n  10  [VN] (informal) to make known sth that was secret:\nOne mistake could blow your cover (= make your real name, job, intentions, etc. known). * We’re going to blow his operation wide open.\n  money\n  11  [VN] ~ sth (on sth) (informal) to spend or waste a lot of money on sth:\nHe inherited over a million dollars and blew it all on drink and gambling.\n  opportunity\n  12  [VN] (informal) to waste an opportunity:\nShe blew her chances by arriving late for the interview. * You had your chance and you blew it.\n  exclamation\n  13  [VN] (BrE, informal) used to show that you are annoyed, surprised or do not care about sth:\nBlow it! We’ve missed the bus. * Well, blow me down! I never thought I’d see you again. * I’m blowed if I’m going to (= I certainly will not) let him treat you like that. * Let’s take a taxi and blow (= never mind) the expense.\n  leave suddenly\n  14  (AmE, slang) to leave a place suddenly:\n[VN] Let’s blow this joint. [also V]\n IDIOMS \n  blow your / sb’s brains out to kill yourself/sb by shooting yourself/them in the head\n  blow a fuse (informal) to get very angry\n  blow the gaff (on sb/sth) (BrE, informal) to tell sth secret, especially by mistake\n  blow hot and cold (about sth) (informal) to change your opinion about sth often\n  blow your mind (informal) to produce a very strong pleasant or shocking feeling:\nWait till you hear this. It’ll blow your mind.\nsee also MIND-BLOWING\n  blow your own trumpet (especially BrE) (AmE usually blow / toot your own horn) (informal) to praise your own abilities and achievements\nSYN BOAST\n  blow your top (BrE) (AmE blow your stack) (informal) to get very angry\n  blow up in sb’s face if a plan, etc. blows up in your face, it goes wrong in a way that causes you damage, embarrassment, etc.\n  blow the whistle on sb/sth (informal) to tell sb in authority about sth wrong or illegal that sb is doing\nsee also WHISTLE-BLOWER\n IDIOMS  see COBWEB, ILL adj., LARK n., LID, PUFF v., SOCK n., WAY n.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  blow sb<->away (informal, especially AmE)\n1 to kill sb by shooting them\n2 to impress sb a lot or to make them very happy\n  blow in | blow into sth (informal) to arrive or enter a place suddenly:\nLook who’s just blown in!\n  blow sb<->off (AmE) to deliberately not meet sb when you said you would\nSYN STAND UP\n  blow out\n1 if a flame, etc. blows out, it is put out by the wind, etc:\nSomebody opened the door and the candle blew out.\n2 if an oil or gas WELL blows out, it sends out gas suddenly and forcefully\nrelated noun BLOW-OUT\n  blow itself out when a storm blows itself out, it finally loses its force\n  blow sb<->out (AmE, informal) to defeat sb easily\n  blow sth<->out to put out a flame, etc. by blowing\n  blow over to go away without having a serious effect:\nThe storm blew over in the night. * The scandal will soon blow over.\n  blow up\n1 to explode; to be destroyed by an explosion:\nThe bomb blew up. * A police officer was killed when his car blew up.\n2 to start suddenly and with force:\nA storm was blowing up. * A crisis has blown up over the President’s latest speech.\n  blow sth<->up\n1 to destroy sth by an explosion:\nThe police station was blown up by terrorists.\n2 to fill sth with air or gas so that it becomes firm:\nThe tyres on my bike need blowing up.\n3 to make a photograph bigger\nSYN ENLARGE\nrelated noun BLOW-UP\n4 to make sth seem more important, better, worse, etc. than it really is:\nThe whole affair was blown up out of all proportion.\n  blow up (at sb) (informal) to get angry with sb:\nI’m sorry I blew up at you.\nrelated noun BLOW-UP\n    noun\n  1  a hard hit with the hand, a weapon, etc:\nShe received a severe blow on the head. * He was knocked out by a single blow to the head. * The two men were yelling at each other and exchanging blows. * He landed a blow on Hill’s nose.\n  2  ~ (to sb/sth) a sudden event which has damaging effects on sb/sth, causing sadness or disappointment:\nLosing his job came as a terrible blow to him. * It was a shattering blow to her pride. * The new cuts will be seen as a crippling blow for people on low incomes. * The recent bomb attacks are a serious blow for the peace process.\nsee also BODY BLOW\n  3  the action of blowing:\nGive your nose a good blow (= clear it completely). * Try to put the candles out in one blow. * I’ll give three blows on the whistle as a signal.\n IDIOMS \n  a blow-by-blow account, description, etc. (of sth) (informal) a description of an event which gives you all the details in the order in which they happen:\nHe insisted on giving us a blow-by-blow account of what had happened.\n  come to blows (over sth) to start fighting because of sth:\nWe almost came to blows over what colour the new carpet should be.\n  soften / cushion the blow to make sth unpleasant seem less unpleasant and easier to accept\nmore at DEAL v., STRIKE v.\n    exclamation (old-fashioned, BrE) used to show that you are annoyed about sth:\nBlow! I forgot to tell them I’d be late.


Words: blow job
Meaning:
noun\n(!!!, slang) the act of touching a man’s PENIS with the tongue and lips to give sexual pleasure\nSYN FELLATIO


Words: blow-dry
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to dry hair with a HAIRDRYER and shape it into a particular style\n    blow-dry noun:\na cut and blow-dry


Words: blow-out
Meaning:
noun\n  1  an occasion when a tyre suddenly bursts on a motor vehicle while it is moving:\nto have a blow-out\n  2  [usually sing.] (informal) a large meal at which people eat too much:\nWe had a real blow-out for her birthday.\n  3  (AmE, informal) a large party or social occasion\n  4  (AmE, informal) an easy victory\n  5  a sudden escape of oil or gas from an OIL WELL


Words: blow-up
Meaning:
noun\n  1  an ENLARGEMENT of a photograph, picture or design:\nCan you do me a blow-up of his face?\n  2  (AmE) an occasion when sb suddenly becomes angry


Words: blower
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a device that produces a current of air:\na hot-air blower\n  2  (the blower) [sing.] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) the telephone:\nI’ve been trying to get her on the blower all morning.\nsee also WHISTLE-BLOWER


Words: blowhard
Meaning:
noun\n(AmE, informal, disapproving) a person who talks too proudly about sth they own or sth they have done


Words: blowhole
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a hole in the top of a WHALE’S head through which it breathes\n  2  a hole in a large area of ice, through which SEALS, etc. breathe


Words: blowlamp
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE torch, blowtorch) noun\na tool for directing a very hot flame onto part of a surface, for example to remove paint


Words: BLT
Meaning:
abbreviation\nbacon, lettuce and tomato, (used to refer to a sandwich filled with this):\nI’ll have a BLT with extra mayonnaise.


Words: blubber
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [U] the fat of WHALES and other sea animals\n    verb (informal, disapproving) to cry noisily:\n[V] There he sat, blubbering like a baby. [also V speech]


Words: bludgeon
Meaning:
verb [VN] (written)\n  1  to hit sb several times with a heavy object:\nShe had been bludgeoned to death.\n  2  ~ sb (into sth / into doing sth) to force sb to do sth, especially by arguing with them:\nThey tried to bludgeon me into joining their protest. * She was determined not to be bludgeoned into submission.


Words: blue
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n \n    adjective (bluer, bluest)\n \n  1  having the colour of a clear sky or the sea/ocean on a clear day:\npiercing blue eyes * a blue shirt\n \n  2  (of a person or part of the body) looking slightly blue in colour because the person is cold or cannot breathe easily:\nHer hands were blue with cold.\n \n  3  (informal) sad; depressed:\nHe’d been feeling blue all week.\n  4  films/movies, jokes or stories that are blue are about sex:\na blue movie\nsee also TRUE-BLUE\n    blueness noun [U, sing.]:\nthe blueness of the water\n IDIOMS \n  sb’s blue-eyed boy (BrE, informal, often disapproving) a person treated with special favour by sb:\nHe’s the manager’s blue-eyed boy.\n  do sth till you are blue in the face (informal) to try to do sth as hard and as long as you possibly can but without success:\nYou can argue till you’re blue in the face, but you won’t change my mind.\nmore at BLACK adj., DEVIL, ONCE adv., SCREAM v.\n    noun-see also BLUES\n  1  [C, U] the colour of a clear sky or the sea/ocean on a clear day:\nbright / dark / light / pale blue * The room was decorated in vibrant blues and yellows. * She was dressed in blue.\n  2  (BrE) a person who has played a particular sport for Oxford or Cambridge University; a title given to them:\nHe’s an Oxford rugby blue. * She won a blue for rowing.\n IDIOMS \n  out of the blue unexpectedly; without warning:\nHis resignation came right out of the blue.\nmore at BOLT n., BOY n.


Words: blue riband
Meaning:
(BrE) (also blue ribbon AmE, BrE) noun\nan honour (sometimes in the form of a piece of blue RIBBON) given to the winner of the first prize in a competition:\na blue-riband event (= a very important one)


Words: blue tit
Meaning:
noun\na small European bird of the TIT family, with a blue head, wings and tail and yellow parts underneath


Words: blue-chip
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (finance) a blue-chip INVESTMENT is thought to be safe and likely to make a profit:\nblue-chip companies / stocks


Words: blue-collar
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] connected with people who do physical work in industry:\nblue-collar workers / voters / votes\ncompare PINK-COLLAR, WHITE-COLLAR


Words: bluebell
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a garden or wild flower with a short stem and small blue or white flowers shaped like bells\n \n  2  (ScotE) = HAREBELL


Words: blueberry
Meaning:
noun\n(plural blueberries) a dark blue berry that grows on bushes in N America and can be eaten\ncompare BILBERRY


Words: bluejay
Meaning:
noun\na large N American bird with blue feathers on its back and a row of feathers (called a CREST) standing up on its head


Words: blueprint
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a photographic print of a plan for a building or a machine, with white lines on a blue background:\nblueprints of a new aircraft\n  2  ~ (for sth) a plan which shows what can be achieved and how it can be achieved:\na blueprint for the privatization of health care\n  3  (technical) the pattern in every living cell, which decides how the plant, animal or person will develop and what it will look like:\nDNA carries the genetic blueprint which tells any organism how to build itself.


Words: blues
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (often the blues) [U] a type of slow sad music with strong rhythms, developed by African American musicians in the southern US:\na blues band / singer\n  2  [C] (plural blues) a blues song\n  3  (the blues) [pl.] feelings of deep sadness:\nthe Monday morning blues


Words: bluestocking
Meaning:
noun\n(old-fashioned, BrE, sometimes disapproving) a well-educated woman who is more interested in ideas and studying than in traditionally FEMININE things


Words: bluff
Meaning:
verb, noun, adjective \n    verb to try to make sb believe that you will do sth that you do not really intend to do, or that you know sth that you do not really know:\n[V] I don’t think he’ll shoot-I think he’s just bluffing. [also VN] \n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bluff sb into doing sth to make sb do sth by tricking them, especially by pretending you have more experience, knowledge, etc. than you really have\n  bluff it out to get out of a difficult situation by continuing to deceive sb, especially when they suspect you are not being honest\n  bluff your way in / out / through | bluff your way into / out of / through sth to succeed in dealing with a difficult situation by deceiving other people:\nShe successfully bluffed her way through the interview.\n    noun\n  1  [U, C] an attempt to trick sb by making them believe that you will do sth when you really have no intention of doing it, or that you know sth when you do not, in fact, know it:\nIt was just a game of bluff. * He said he would resign if he didn’t get more money, but it was only a bluff.\nsee also DOUBLE BLUFF\n  2  [C] a steep cliff or slope, especially by the sea or a river\n IDIOMS  see CALL v.\n    adjective (of people or their manner) very direct and cheerful, with good intentions, although not always very polite:\nBeneath his bluff exterior he was really quite a sensitive man.


Words: blunder
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a stupid or careless mistake:\nto make a terrible blunder * a series of political blunders\n    verb [V] to make a stupid or careless mistake:\nThe government had blundered in its handling of the affair.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  blunder about, around, etc. to move around in an awkward way, knocking into things, as if you cannot see where you are going:\nI could hear him blundering around the bathroom in the dark.\n  blunder into sth\n1 to knock into sth because you are awkward or are not able to see\n2 to accidentally find yourself in a difficult or unpleasant situation:\nShe realized that she had blundered into a trap.\n  blunder on to continue doing sth in a careless or stupid way:\nI wasn’t sure he understood what I was saying, but I blundered on with my explanation.


Words: blunt
Meaning:
adjective, verb \n    adjective (blunter, bluntest)\n  1  without a sharp edge or point:\na blunt knife * This pencil’s blunt! * The police said he had been hit with a blunt instrument.\nOPP SHARP\n  2  (of a person or remark) very direct; saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite:\nShe has a reputation for blunt speaking. * To be blunt, your work is appalling.\n    bluntness noun [U] \n    verb [VN] \n  1  to make sth weaker or less effective:\nAge hadn’t blunted his passion for adventure.\n  2  to make a point or an edge less sharp


Words: bluntly
Meaning:
adverb\nin a very direct way, without trying to be polite or kind:\nTo put it bluntly, I want a divorce. * ’Is she dead?’ he asked bluntly.


Words: blur
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n [usually sing.]\n \n  1  a shape that you cannot see clearly, often because it is moving too fast:\nHis arm was a rapid blur of movement as he struck. * Everything is a blur when I take my glasses off.\n \n  2  something that you cannot remember clearly:\nThe events of that day were just a blur.\n    verb (-rr-)\n  1  if the shape or outline of sth blurs, or if sth blurs it, it becomes less clear and sharp:\n[V] The writing blurred and danced before his eyes. * [VN] The mist blurred the edges of the buildings.\n  2  if sth blurs your eyes or vision, or your eyes or vision blur, you cannot see things clearly:\n[VN] Tears blurred her eyes. [also V]\n  3  to become or make sth become difficult to distinguish clearly:\n[V] The differences between art and life seem to have blurred. * [VN] She tends to blur the distinction between her friends and her colleagues.


Words: blurb
Meaning:
noun\na short description of a book, a new product, etc., written by the people who have produced it, that is intended to attract your attention and make you want to buy it:\npublisher’s blurbs * The blurb says that this is Tarantino’s greatest movie.


Words: blurred
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  not clear; without a clear outline or shape:\nShe suffered from dizziness and blurred vision. * a blurred image / picture\n  2  difficult to remember clearly:\nblurred memories * She tried to piece together the blurred details and recollections of the accident.\n  3  difficult to distinguish, so that differences are not clear:\nblurred distinctions / boundaries * Gender differences are becoming more blurred as both sexes become more liberated.


Words: blurry
Meaning:
adjective\n(informal) without a clear outline; not clear:\nblurry, distorted photographs * (figurative) a blurry policy


Words: blurt
Meaning:
verb\n~ sth (out) to say sth suddenly and without thinking carefully enough:\n[VN] She blurted it out before I could stop her. * [V speech] ’She’s pregnant,’ Jack blurted. [also V that, V wh-]


Words: blush
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  ~ (with sth) (at sth) to become red in the face because you are embarrassed or ashamed:\n[V] to blush with embarrassment / shame * She blushed furiously at the memory of the conversation. * He looked away, blushing. * [V-ADJ] He blushed scarlet at the thought. [also V-N]\n  2  [V to inf] to be ashamed or embarrassed about sth:\nI blush to admit it, but I quite like her music.\n    noun\n  1  the red colour that spreads over your face when you are embarrassed or ashamed:\nShe felt a warm blush rise to her cheeks. * He turned away to hide his blushes.\n  2  (AmE) = BLUSHER\n IDIOMS  see SPARE v.


Words: blusher
Meaning:
(AmE also blush) noun\n[U, C] a coloured cream or powder that some people put on their cheeks to give them more colour


Words: bluster
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to talk in an aggressive or threatening way, but with little effect:\n[V speech] ’I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he blustered. * [V] a blustering bully\n  2  [V] (of the wind) to blow violently:\nOutside the wind was blustering.\n    bluster noun [U]:\nI wasn’t frightened by what he said-it was all bluster.


Words: blustery
Meaning:
adjective\n(of weather) with strong winds:\nblustery winds / conditions / weather * The day was cold and blustery.


Words: BO
Meaning:
noun\n[U] an unpleasant smell from a person’s body, especially of sweat (the abbreviation for ’body odour’):\nShe’s got BO.


Words: boa constrictor
Meaning:
(also boa) noun\na large S American snake that kills animals for food by winding its long body around them and crushing them


Words: boar
Meaning:
noun (plural boar or boars)\n  1  (also wild boar) a wild pig\n  2  a male pig that has not been CASTRATED\ncompare HOG, SOW


Words: board
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  piece of wood\n \n  1  [C, U] a long thin piece of strong hard material, especially wood, used, for example, for making floors, building walls and roofs and making boats:\nHe had ripped up the carpet, leaving only the bare boards.\nsee also CHIPBOARD, FLOORBOARD, HARDBOARD, SKIRTING BOARD\n \n  2  [C] (especially in compounds) a piece of wood, or other strong material, that is used for a special purpose:\na blackboard * I’ll write it up on the board. * (BrE) a noticeboard * (AmE) a bulletin board * The exam results went up on the board. * a diving board * She jumped off the top board. * a chessboard * He removed the figure from the board.\n \n  in water sports\n \n  3  [C] = SAILBOARD, SURFBOARD\n  group of people\n  4  [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who have power to make decisions and control a company or other organization:\nShe has a seat on the board of directors. * The board is / are unhappy about falling sales. * members of the board * discussions at board level * the academic board (= for example, of a British university) * (AmE) the Board of Education (= a group of elected officials who are in charge of all the public schools in a particular area)\n  organization\n  5  [C] used in the name of some organizations:\nthe Welsh Tourist Board (= responsible for giving tourist information) * the Cambridge Examination Board (= responsible for organizing some public exams)\n  meals\n  6  [U] the meals that are provided when you stay in a hotel, GUEST HOUSE, etc.; what you pay for the meals:\nHe pays ｣90 a week board and lodging.\nsee also BED AND BOARD, FULL BOARD, HALF BOARD\n  exams\n  7  (boards) [pl.] (old-fashioned, AmE) exams that you take when you apply to go to college in the US\n  in theatre\n  8  (the boards) [pl.] (old-fashioned, informal) the STAGE in a theatre:\nHis play is on the boards on Broadway. * She’s treading the boards (= working as an actress).\n HELP NOTE  There are many other compounds ending in board. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.\n IDIOMS \n  across the board involving everyone or everything in a company, an industry, etc:\nThe industry needs more investment across the board. * an across-the-board wage increase\n  be above board (especially of a business arrangement) to be honest and open:\nDon’t worry; the deal was completely above board.\n  go by the board (BrE) (of plans or principles) to be rejected or ignored; to be no longer possible:\nAll her efforts to be polite went by the board and she started to shout.\n  on board on or in a ship, an aircraft or a train:\nHave the passengers gone on board yet? * (figurative) It’s good to have you on board (= working with us) for this project.\n  take sth on board to accept and understand an idea or a suggestion:\nI told her what I thought, but he didn’t take my advice on board.\nmore at SWEEP v.\n    verb\n  get on plane / ship, etc.\n \n  1  to get on a ship, train, plane, bus, etc:\n[VN] The ship was boarded by customs officials. * [V] Passengers are waiting to board.\n \n  2  [V] (be boarding) when a plane or ship is boarding, it is ready for passengers to get on:\nFlight BA193 for Paris is now boarding at Gate 37.\n \n  live somewhere\n \n  3  [V] ~ at ... / with sb to live and take meals in sb’s home, in return for payment:\nShe always had one or two students boarding with her. * He boarded at his aunt’s house until he found a place of his own.\n  4  [V] to live at a school during the TERM/SEMESTER\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  board sb out to arrange for sb to live somewhere away from their place of work, school, etc. in return for payment\n  board sth<->up to cover a window, door, etc. with wooden boards:\nMost buildings along the street had been boarded up.


Words: boarder
Meaning:
noun (especially BrE)\n  1  a child who lives at school and goes home for the holidays:\nboarders and day pupils\n  2  a person who pays money to live in a room in sb else’s house


Words: boarding
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  (BrE) long pieces of wood that are put together to make a wall, etc.\n  2  the arrangement by which school students live at their school, going home during the holidays:\nboarding fees


Words: boarding kennel
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] (BrE) a place where people can leave their dogs to be looked after when they go on holiday/vacation\nsee also KENNEL (2)


Words: boardroom
Meaning:
noun\na room in which the meetings of the board of a company (= the group of people who control it) are held:\na boardroom row


Words: boast
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  ~ (about / of sth) to talk with too much pride about sth that you have or can do:\n[V] I don’t want to boast, but I can actually speak six languages. * She is always boasting about how wonderful her children are. * He openly boasted of his skill as a burglar. * [V that] Sam boasted that she could beat anyone at poker. [also V speech]\n  2  [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) (written) to have sth that is impressive and that you can be proud of:\nThe hotel also boasts two swimming pools and a golf course. * Rhodes boasts 300 days of sunshine a year.\n    noun ~ (that ...) (often disapproving) something that a person talks about in a very proud way, often to seem more important or clever:\nDespite his boasts that his children were brilliant, neither of them went to college. * It was her proud boast that she had never missed a day’s work because of illness. * Her claim that she could beat us all was clearly no idle / empty boast (= it was true).


Words: boastful
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) talking about yourself in a very proud way:\nI tried to emphasize my good points without sounding boastful.


Words: boat
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a vehicle (smaller than a ship) that travels on water, moved by OARS, sails or a motor:\na rowing / sailing / motor boat * a fishing boat * You can take a boat trip along the coast.\nsee also LIFEBOAT, POWERBOAT, SPEEDBOAT, STEAMBOAT\n \n  2  any ship:\n’How are you going to France?’ ’We’re going by boat (= by ferry).’\nsee also GRAVY BOAT, SAUCE BOAT\n \n IDIOMS \n  be in the same boat to be in the same difficult situation\nmore at BURN v., MISS v., PUSH v., ROCK v.


Words: boat people
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] people who escape from their own country in small boats to try to find safety in another country:\nVietnamese boat people


Words: boating
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the activity of using a small boat for pleasure:\nto go boating * Local activities include walking, boating and golf.


Words: boatman
Meaning:
noun\n(plural boatmen ) a man who earns money from small boats, either by carrying passengers or good on them, or by renting them out


Words: Bob
Meaning:
noun\n IDIOMS \n  Bob’s your uncle (BrE, informal) used to say how easy and quick it is to do a particular task:\nPress here and Bob’s your uncle! It’s disappeared.


Words: bob
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (-bb-)\n  1  ~ (sth) (up and down) to move or make sth move quickly up and down, especially in water:\n[V] Tiny boats bobbed up and down in the harbour. * [VN] She bobbed her head nervously. * The maid bobbed a curtsy.\n  2  [VN] to cut sb’s hair so that it is the same length all the way around\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bob up to come to the surface suddenly:\nThe dark head of a seal bobbed up a few yards away.\n    noun\n  1  a quick movement down and up of your head and body:\na bob of the head\n  2  a style of a woman’s hair in which it is cut the same length all the way around:\nShe wears her hair in a bob.\n  3  (plural bob) (informal) an old British coin, the SHILLING, worth 12 old pence:\nThat’ll cost a few bob (= a lot of money).\n  4  = BOBSLEIGH\n IDIOMS  see BIT


Words: bobbed
Meaning:
adjective\n(of hair) cut so that it hangs loosely to the level of the chin all around the back and sides


Words: bobble
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a small, soft ball, usually made of wool, that is used especially for decorating clothes\nSYN POMPOM:\na woolly hat with a bobble on top


Words: bobby
Meaning:
noun\n(plural bobbies) (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a police officer\n ORIGIN  Named after Sir Robert Peel, the politician who created London’s police force in the 19th century. Bobby is a familiar form of ’Robert’.


Words: bod
Meaning:
noun (informal)\n  1  (BrE) a person:\nShe’s a bit of an odd bod (= rather strange).\n  2  a person’s body:\nHe’s got a great bod.


Words: bode
Meaning:
verb\n IDIOMS \n  bode well / ill (for sb/sth) (written) to be a good/bad sign for sb/sth:\nThese figures do not bode well for the company’s future. * The look on her face boded ill for anyone who crossed her path that day.


Words: bodge
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ sth (up / together) (BrE, informal) to make or repair sth in a way that is not as good as it should be:\nThe fence was bodged together from old planks and doors.


Words: bodily
Meaning:
adjective, adverb \n    adjective [only before noun] connected with the human body:\nbodily functions / changes / needs * bodily fluids * bodily harm (= physical injury)\n    adverb\n  1  by moving the whole of sb’s body; by force:\nThe force of the blast hurled us bodily to the ground. * He lifted her bodily into the air.\n  2  in one piece; completely:\nThe monument was moved bodily to a new site.


Words: body
Meaning:
noun (plural bodies)\n  of person / animal\n  1  [C] the whole physical structure of a human being or an animal:\na human / female / male / naked body * parts of the body * His whole body was trembling. * body weight / temperature / size / heat * body fat / tissues * The heart pumps blood around the body.\n  2  [C] the main part of a body not including the head, or not including the head, arms and legs:\nShe had injuries to her head and body. * He has a large body, but thin legs.\n  3  [C] the body of a dead person or animal:\na dead body * The family of the missing girl has been called in by the police to identify the body. * His body is being brought back to his home town for burial.\n  main part\n  4  [sing.] the ~ of sth the main part of sth, especially a building, a vehicle or a book, an article, etc:\nthe body of a plane (= the central part where the seats are) * the main body of the text / book / report\n  group of people\n  5  [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who work or act together, often for an official purpose, or who are connected in some other way:\na regulatory / an advisory / a review body * The governing body of the school is / are concerned about discipline. * recognized professional bodies such as the Law Association * An independent body has been set up to investigate the affair. * A large body of people will be affected by the tax cuts. * The protesters marched in a body (= all together) to the White House. * a meeting of representatives of the student body and teaching staff\n  large amount\n  6  [C] ~ of sth a large amount or collection of sth:\na vast body of evidence / information / research * large bodies of water (= lakes or seas) * There is a powerful body of opinion against the ruling.\n  object\n  7  [C] (formal) an object:\nheavenly bodies (= stars, planets, etc.) * an operation to remove a foreign body (= sth that would not usually be there) from a wound\n  of drink / hair\n  8  [U] the full strong flavour of alcoholic drinks or the thick healthy quality of sb’s hair:\na wine with plenty of body * Regular use of conditioner is supposed to give your hair more body.\n  -bodied\n  9  (in adjectives) having the type of body mentioned:\nfull-bodied red wines * soft-bodied insects\nsee also ABLE-BODIED\n  clothing\n  10  [C] (BrE) (AmE bodysuit) a piece of clothing which fits tightly over a woman’s upper body and bottom, usually fastening between the legs\n IDIOMS \n  body and soul with all your energy\nSYN COMPLETELY:\nShe committed herself body and soul to fighting for the cause.\n  keep body and soul together to stay alive with just enough of the food, clothing, etc. that you need\nSYN SURVIVE:\nThey barely have enough money to keep body and soul together.\nmore at DEAD adj., SELL v.\n______________________________\n VOCABULARY BUILDING \nactions expressing emotions\nOften parts of the body are closely linked to particular verbs. The combination of the verb and part of the body expresses an emotion or attitude.\naction  part of body  you feel...\nbite  lips  nervous\nclench  fist  angry, aggressive\nclick  fingers  you’re trying to remember sth\nclick  tongue  annoyed\ndrum/tap  fingers  impatient\nhang  head  ashamed\nlick  lips  anticipating sth good, nervous\nnod  head  agreement\npurse  lips  disapproval, dislike\nraise  eyebrows  inquiring, surprised\nscratch  head  puzzled\nshake  head  disagreement\nshrug  shoulders  doubt, indifferent\nstamp  foot  angry\nwrinkle  nose  dislike, distaste\nwrinkle  forehead  puzzled\nFor example: She bit her lip nervously. * He scratched his head and looked thoughtful. * I wrinkled my nose in disgust. * She raised questioning eyebrows.\n______________________________


Words: body blow
Meaning:
noun\nsomething which has damaging effects on sb/sth, creating problems or causing severe disappointment


Words: body clock
Meaning:
noun\nthe natural tendency that your body has to sleep, eat, etc. at particular times of the day:\nI only arrived in London yesterday, and my body clock is still on New York time.


Words: body double
Meaning:
noun\na person who takes part in a film/movie in place of an actor when the scene involves being naked, or using special or dangerous skills


Words: body language
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the process of communicating what you are feeling or thinking by the way you place and move your body rather than by words:\nI could tell from her body language that she was angry.


Words: body odour
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (abbreviation BO) an unpleasant smell from a person’s body, especially of sweat:\nNobody told her she had a body odour problem.


Words: body search
Meaning:
noun\na search of a person’s body, for example by the police or by a CUSTOMS official, for drugs, weapons, etc.


Words: body shop
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the part of a car factory where the main bodies of the cars are made\n  2  (especially AmE) a place where repairs are made to the main bodies of cars


Words: body stocking
Meaning:
noun\na piece of clothing that fits closely over the whole body from the neck to the ankles, often including the arms, worn for example by dancers


Words: bodyguard
Meaning:
noun\n[C+sing./pl. v.] a person or a group of people who are employed to protect sb:\nThe President’s bodyguard is / are armed.


Words: bodywork
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the main outside structure of a vehicle, usually made of painted metal:\nThe car had damaged bodywork but a very good engine.


Words: Boer
Meaning:
noun\na South African whose family originally came from the Netherlands:\nthe Boer War (= the war between the Boers and the British (1899-1902))\nsee also AFRIKANER


Words: bog
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C, U] (an area of) wet soft ground, formed of decaying plants:\na peat bog\nsee also BOGGY\n  2  [C] (BrE, slang) a toilet:\nHave you got any bog roll (= toilet paper)? * Sam was on the bog when I arrived.\n    verb (-gg-)\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bog sth/sb down (in sth) [usually passive]\n1 to make sth sink into mud or wet ground:\nThe tank became bogged down in mud.\n2 to prevent sb from making progress in an activity:\nWe mustn’t get bogged down in details.


Words: bog standard
Meaning:
adjective\n(BrE, informal) ordinary; with no special features:\nAll you need is a bog standard machine - nothing fancy.


Words: bogey
Meaning:
(also bogy)  noun\n  1  a thing that causes fear, often without reason:\nthe bogey of unemployment\n  2  (BrE) (AmE booger) (informal) a piece of dried MUCUS from inside your nose\n  3  (BrE) = BOGEYMAN\n  4  (in golf) a score of one stroke over PAR (= the standard score for a hole)\ncompare BIRDIE, EAGLE


Words: bogeyman
Meaning:
(also bogyman)  noun\n(BrE also bogey, bogy) (AmE usually boogeyman) (plural bogeymen ) an imaginary evil spirit that is used to frighten children:\nThe bogeyman’s coming!


Words: boggle
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (at sth) (informal) to be slow to do or accept sth because you are surprised or shocked by it:\nEven I boggle at the idea of spending so much money.\n IDIOMS \n  sth boggles the mind (also the mind boggles) (informal) if sth boggles the mind or the mind boggles at it, it is so unusual that people find it hard to imagine or accept:\nThe vastness of space really boggles the mind. * ’He says he’s married to his cats!’ ’The mind boggles!’\ncompare MIND-BOGGLING


Words: bogus
Meaning:
adjective\npretending to be real or genuine\nSYN FALSE:\na bogus doctor / contract * bogus claims of injury by workers


Words: bohemian
Meaning:
noun\na person, often sb who is involved with the arts, who lives in a very informal way without following accepted rules of behaviour:\nHe liked to think of himself as a bit of a bohemian.\n    bohemian adjective:\na bohemian existence / lifestyle * her bohemian artist friends


Words: boil
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  when a liquid boils or when you boil it, it is heated to the point where it forms bubbles and turns to steam or VAPOUR:\n[V] The water was bubbling and boiling away. * [VN] Boil plenty of salted water, then add the spaghetti.\n  2  when a KETTLE, pan, etc. boils or when you boil a KETTLE, etc., it is heated until the water inside it boils :\n[VN] I’ll boil the kettle and make some tea. * [V] (BrE) The kettle’s boiling. * [V-ADJ] She left the gas on by mistake and the pan boiled dry (= the water boiled until there was none left).\n  3  to cook or wash sth in boiling water; to be cooked or washed in boiling water:\n[V] She put some potatoes on to boil. * [VN] boiled carrots / cabbage * [VN, VNN] to boil an egg for sb * to boil sb an egg\n  4  [V] (written) if you boil with anger, etc. or anger, etc. boils inside you, you are very angry:\nHe was boiling with rage. * She wanted to give vent to the fury boiling within her.\n IDIOMS  see BLOOD n.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  boil down | boil sth<->down to be reduced or to reduce sth by boiling\n  boil sth down (to sth) to make sth, especially information, shorter by leaving out the parts that are not important:\nThe original speech I had written got boiled down to about ten minutes.\n  boil down to sth (not used in the progressive tenses) (of a situation, problem, etc.) to have sth as a main or basic part:\nIn the end, what it all boils down to is money, or the lack of it.\n  boil over\n1 (of liquid) to boil and flow over the side of a pan, etc:\nThe milk is boiling over.\n2 (informal) to become very angry\n3 (of a situation, an emotion, etc.) to change into sth more dangerous or violent \nSYN EXPLODE:\nRacial tension finally boiled over in the inner city riots.\n  boil up if a situation or an emotion boils up, it becomes dangerous, worrying, etc:\nI could feel anger boiling up inside me.\n  boil sth<->up to heat a liquid or some food until it boils:\nShe boiled up a large pan of water.\n    noun\n  1  [sing.] a period of boiling; the point at which liquid boils: (BrE) Bring the soup to the boil, then allow it to simmer for five minutes. * (AmE) Bring the soup to a boil. * The sauce should thicken as it comes to the boil.\n  2  [C] a painful infected swelling under the skin which is full of a thick yellow liquid (called PUS)\n IDIOMS \n  off the boil (BrE) less good than before:\nThe second series of the show really went off the boil.\n  on the boil very active:\nWe have several projects all on the boil at once.


Words: boiled sweet
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE hard candy [U]) noun\na hard sweet/candy made from boiled sugar, often with fruit flavours


Words: boiler
Meaning:
(also furnace especially in AmE) noun\na container in which water is heated to provide hot water and heating in a building or to produce steam in an engine:\na central heating boiler * a gas boiler * a back boiler (= situated behind a fire) * a boiler room


Words: boiler suit
Meaning:
noun\n(especially BrE) (AmE usually coveralls) a piece of clothing like trousers/pants and a jacket in one piece, worn for doing dirty work\ncompare OVERALLS


Words: boiling point
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the temperature at which a liquid starts to boil:\nThe boiling point of water is 100ｰC.\n  2  the point at which a person becomes very angry, or a situation is likely to become violent:\nRacial tension has reached boiling point.


Words: boisterous
Meaning:
adjective\n(of people, animals or behaviour) noisy and full of life and energy:\nIt was a challenge, keeping ten boisterous seven-year-olds amused. * The children and the dogs raced out of the house to give me a boisterous welcome.\n    boisterously adverb


Words: bold
Meaning:
adjective (bolder, boldest)\n  1  (of people or behaviour) brave and confident; not afraid to say what you feel or to take risks:\nIt was a bold move on their part to open a branch of the business in France. * The wine made him bold enough to approach her and introduce himself. * a bold and fearless warrior\n  2  (of shape, colour, lines, etc.) that can be easily seen; having a strong clear appearance:\nthe bold outline of a mountain against the sky * She paints with bold strokes of the brush.\n  3  (technical) (of printed words or letters) in a thick, dark TYPE:\nHighlight the important words in bold (type). * bold lettering\n    boldly adverb:\nboldly patterned / coloured * He stepped boldly forward to speak.\n    boldness noun [U]\n IDIOMS \n  be / make so bold (as to do sth) (formal) used especially when politely asking a question or making a suggestion which you hope will not offend anyone (although it may criticize them slightly):\nIf I may be so bold as to suggest that he made a mistake in his calculations ...\n  (as) bold as brass (BrE, informal) without showing any respect, shame or fear:\nShe marched in here, bold as brass, and demanded a pay rise.


Words: bolero
Meaning:
noun (plural boleros)\n  1  a traditional Spanish dance; a piece of music for this dance:\nRavel’s Bolero\n  2   /; also {speaker} b{a}l{e}r{e}{U}; AmE {speaker} b{e}lero{U} / a women’s short jacket that is not fastened at the front


Words: bollard
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  (BrE) a short thick post that is used to stop motor vehicles from going on to a road or part of a road\n \n  2  a short thick post on a ship, or on land close to water, to which a ship’s rope may be tied


Words: bollocking
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE, !!!) an occasion when sb tells you that they are very angry with you, often by shouting at you:\nto give sb a bollocking * to get a bollocking\n HELP NOTE  There are more polite ways to express this, for example to give sb / to get a rocket, or to tear a strip off sb.


Words: bollocks
Meaning:
noun (BrE, !!!, slang)\n  1  [U] nonsense:\nYou’re talking a load of bollocks!\n  2  [pl.] a man’s TESTICLES\n  3  (Bollocks!) exclamation used as a swear word when sb is disagreeing with sth, or when they are angry about sth:\nBollocks! He never said that!


Words: bologna
Meaning:
(also baloney) noun\n[U] (AmE) a type of sausage that is put in sandwiches, made of a mixture of meats


Words: bolshie
Meaning:
(also bolshy)  adjective\n(BrE, informal, disapproving) (of a person) creating difficulties or arguments deliberately, and refusing to be helpful:\nShe was in a bolshie mood.


Words: bolster
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (up) to improve sth or make it stronger:\nto bolster sb’s confidence / courage / morale * Falling interest rates may help to bolster up the economy.\n    noun a long thick PILLOW that is placed across the top of a bed under the other pillows


Words: bolt
Meaning:
noun, verb, adverb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a long, narrow piece of metal that you slide across the inside of a door or window in order to lock it:\nHe slid back the bolt on the door.\n \n  2  a piece of metal like a screw without a point which is used with a circular piece of metal (= a NUT) to fasten things together:\nnuts and bolts\n \n  3  ~ of lightning a sudden flash of LIGHTNING in the sky, appearing as a line\n \n  4  a short heavy arrow shot from a CROSSBOW\n \n  5  a long piece of fabric wound in a roll around a piece of cardboard\n IDIOMS \n  a bolt from the blue an event or a piece of news which is sudden and unexpected; a complete surprise:\nHer dismissal came as a bolt from the blue.\n  make a bolt for sth | make a bolt for it to run away very fast, in order to escape\nmore at NUT n., SHOT v.\n    verb\n  1  to fasten sth such as a door or window by sliding a bolt across; to be able to be fastened in this way:\n[VN] Don’t forget to bolt the door. * [V] The gate bolts on the inside.\n  2  [VN] ~ A to B | ~ A and B together to fasten things together with a bolt:\nThe vice is bolted to the workbench. * The various parts of the car are then bolted together.\n  3  [V] if an animal, especially a horse, bolts, it suddenly runs away because it is frightened\n  4  [V]   [usually +adv./prep.] (of a person) to run away, especially in order to escape:\nWhen he saw the police arrive, he bolted down an alley.\n  5  [VN] ~ sth (down) to eat sth very quickly:\nDon’t bolt your food!\n  6  (AmE) to stop supporting a particular group or political party:\n[VN] Many Democrats bolted the party to vote Republican. [also V]\n  7  [V] (of a plant, especially a vegetable) to grow too quickly and start producing seeds and so become less good to eat\n IDIOMS  see STABLE n.\n    adverb\n IDIOMS \n  sit / stand bolt upright to sit or stand with your back straight


Words: bolt-hole
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a place that you can escape to, for example when you are in a difficult situation:\nHe felt he needed a bolt-hole where he could get away from the pressures of city life.


Words: bomb
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] a weapon designed to explode at a particular time or when it is dropped or thrown:\na bomb attack / blast / explosion * a bomb goes off / explodes * extensive bomb damage * Hundreds of bombs were dropped on the city.\n  2  (the bomb) [sing.] nuclear weapons (ATOMIC or HYDROGEN bombs):\ncountries which have the bomb\n  3  (a bomb) [sing.] (BrE, informal) a lot of money:\nThat dress must have cost a bomb! * Some company directors make an absolute bomb.\n  4  (a bomb) [sing.] (AmE, informal) a complete failure:\nThe musical was a complete bomb on Broadway.\n IDIOMS \n  go down a bomb | go (like) a bomb (BrE) to be very successful:\nOur performance went down a bomb. * The party was really going (like) a bomb. * Her new novel is going like a bomb (= selling well).\n  go like a bomb (BrE) (of a vehicle) to go very fast\n    verb\n  1  [VN] to attack sb/sth by leaving a bomb in a place or by dropping bombs from a plane:\nTerrorists bombed several army barracks. * Coventry was heavily bombed during the last war.\n  2  [V +adv./prep.] (BrE, informal) to move very fast, especially in a vehicle, in a particular direction:\nThey were bombing down the road at about 80 miles an hour.\n  3  [VN] (AmE, informal) to fail a test or an exam very badly:\n[VN] The exam was impossible! I definitely bombed it. [also V]\n  4  [V] (informal) (of a play, show, etc.) to fail very badly:\nHis latest musical bombed and lost thousands of dollars.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  be bombed out (of sth)\n1 if you are bombed out, your home is destroyed by bombs:\na programme of house-building for those who were bombed out of their homes\n2 if a building is bombed out, it has been destroyed by bombs:\na bombed out warehouse


Words: bomb disposal
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the job of removing or exploding bombs in order to make an area safe:\na bomb disposal expert / squad / team


Words: bomb scare
Meaning:
(also bomb threat especially in AmE) (BrE also bomb alert) noun\nan occasion when sb says that they have put a bomb somewhere and everyone has to leave the area


Words: bombard sth
Meaning:
(with sth)\n  1  to attack a place by firing large guns at it or dropping bombs on it continuously:\nMadrid was heavily bombarded for several months.\n  2  to attack sb with a lot of questions, criticisms, etc. or by giving them too much information:\nWe have been bombarded with letters of complaint. * We are bombarded daily with propaganda about what we should eat.\n    bombardment noun [U, C]:\nThe city came under heavy bombardment.


Words: bombardier
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the person on a military plane in the US air force who is responsible for aiming and dropping bombs\n  2  a member of a low rank in the Royal Artillery (= a part of the British army that uses large guns)


Words: bombast
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal) words which sound important but have little meaning, used to impress people:\nHis speech was full of bombast.\n    bombastic  adjective:\na bombastic speaker * bombastic language


Words: bombing
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] an occasion when a bomb is dropped or left somewhere; the act of doing this:\nrecent bombings in major cities * enemy bombing


Words: bombshell
Meaning:
noun [usually sing.] (informal)\n  1  an event or a piece of news which is unexpected and usually unpleasant:\nThe news of his death came as a bombshell. * She dropped a bombshell at the meeting and announced that she was leaving.\n  2  (a blond(e) bombshell) (informal) a very attractive woman with BLONDE hair


Words: bon mot
Meaning:
noun\n(plural bons mots ) (from French, formal) a funny and clever remark:\nThey loved a bon mot or anecdote but despised gossip.


Words: bona fide
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (from Latin) genuine, real or legal; not false:\na bona fide reason * Is it a bona fide, reputable organization? * You’re a bona fide member of the team now.


Words: bona fides
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] (from Latin) evidence that sb is who they say that they are; evidence that sb/sth is honest:\nIs there any doubt concerning his bona fides? * to check sb’s bona fides


Words: bonanza
Meaning:
noun [sing.]\n  1  a situation in which people can make a lot of money or be very successful:\na cash bonanza for investors * a bonanza year for the computer industry\n  2  a situation where there is a large amount of sth pleasant:\nthe usual bonanza of sport in the summer


Words: bond
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  strong connection\n  1  [C] ~ (between A and B) something that forms a connection between people or groups, such as a feeling of friendship or shared ideas and experiences:\nA bond of friendship had been forged between them. * The agreement strengthened the bonds between the two countries. * the special bond between mother and child\n  money\n  2  [C] an agreement by a government or a company to pay you interest on the money you have lent; a document containing this agreement:\ngovernment bonds\nsee also JUNK BOND\n  3  [U] (law) (especially AmE) a sum of money that is paid as BAIL:\nHe was released on $5 000 bond.\n  ropes / chains\n  4  (bonds) [pl.] (formal) the ropes or chains keeping sb prisoner; anything that stops you from being free to do what you want:\nto release sb from their bonds * the bonds of oppression / injustice\n  legal agreement\n  5  [C] (formal) a legal written agreement or promise:\nWe entered into a solemn bond.\n  join\n  6  [C] the way in which two things are joined together:\na firm bond between the two surfaces\n  chemistry\n  7  [C] the way in which ATOMS are held together in a chemical compound\n IDIOMS  see WORD n.\n    verb\n  join firmly\n  1  ~ (A and B) (together) | ~ (A) to B to join two things firmly together; to join firmly to sth else:\n[VN] This new glue bonds a variety of surfaces in seconds. * It cannot be used to bond wood to metal. * [V] The atoms bond together to form a molecule.\n  develop relationship\n  2  ~ (with sb) to develop or create a relationship of trust and affection with sb:\nMothers who are depressed sometimes fail to bond with their children. [also VN]


Words: bondage
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (old-fashioned or formal) the state of being a slave or prisoner: (figurative) women’s liberation from the bondage of domestic life\n  2  the practice of being tied with ropes, chains, etc. in order to gain sexual pleasure


Words: bonding
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the process of forming a special relationship with sb or with a group of people:\nmother-child bonding * male bonding\n  2  (chemistry) the process of atoms joining together:\nhydrogen bonding


Words: bone
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] any of the hard parts that form the SKELETON of the body of a human or an animal:\nHe survived the accident with no broken bones. * This fish has a lot of bones in it. * The dog was gnawing at a bone. * She had a beautiful face with very good bone structure.\n \n  2  [U] the hard substance that bones are made of:\nknives with bone handles\n \n  3  (-boned) (in adjectives) having bones of the type mentioned:\nfine-boned\n \n IDIOMS \n  a bone of contention a subject which causes disagreement and arguments between people\n  close to the bone (BrE, informal) (of a remark, joke, story, etc.) so honest or clearly expressed that it is likely to cause offence to some people:\nHis comments about her size were a bit close to the bone. * Some of the sex scenes in the play were judged by critics to be too close to the bone.\n  cut, pare, etc. sth to the bone to reduce sth, such as costs, as much as you possibly can:\nTheir annual budget has already been pared to the bone.\n  have a bone to pick with sb (spoken) to be angry with sb about sth and want to discuss it with them\n  make no bones about (doing) sth to be honest and open about sth; to not hesitate to do sth:\nShe made no bones about telling him exactly what she thought of him.\n  to the bone affecting you very strongly:\nHis threats chilled her to the bone.\nmore at BAG n., BARE adj., FEEL v., FINGER n., FLESH n., SKIN n.\n    verb [VN] to take the bones out of fish or meat\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bone up on sth (informal) to try to learn about sth or to remind yourself of what you already know about it:\nShe had boned up on the city’s history before the visit.


Words: bone marrow
Meaning:
(also marrow) noun\n[U] a soft substance that fills the hollow parts of bones:\na bone marrow transplant


Words: Bonfire Night
Meaning:
(also Guy Fawkes night) noun\n[U, C] (in Britain) the night of 5 November when people light bonfires and have FIREWORKS to celebrate the failure of the plan in 1605 to destroy the parliament buildings with explosives


Words: bongo
Meaning:
(plural bongos) (also bongo drum) noun\na small drum, usually one of a pair, that you play with your fingers


Words: bonhomie
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (from French, formal) a feeling of cheerful friendship:\nThere was a casual bonhomie between the actors at rehearsals.


Words: bonk
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun (BrE, informal)\n  1  [sing.] an act of having sex with sb:\nShe wasn’t interested in having a quick bonk.\n  2  [C] the act of hitting sb on the head or of hitting your head on sth:\nHe got a bonk on the head when he fell out of bed.\n  3  [C] the sound of sth hitting sth else:\nI heard a loud ’bonk’ outside.\n    verb (BrE, informal)\n  1  to have sex with sb:\n[VN] He’s been bonking one of his students. [also V]\n  2  [VN] to hit sb lightly on the head or to hit yourself by mistake:\nI bonked my head on the doorway.


Words: bonkers
Meaning:
adjective\n[not before noun] (informal) completely crazy and silly:\nI’ll go bonkers if I have to wait any longer. * He thought I was stark raving bonkers to give up my job.\n IDIOMS  see RAVING adv.


Words: bonnet
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a hat tied with strings under the chin, worn by babies and, especially in the past, by women\n \n  2  (BrE) (AmE hood) the metal part over the front of a motor vehicle, usually covering the engine\n \n IDIOMS  see BEE


Words: bonny
Meaning:
(also bonnie)  adjective\n(bonnier, bonniest) (dialect, especially ScotE) very pretty; attractive:\na bonny baby / lass


Words: bonsai
Meaning:
noun (plural bonsai)\n \n  1  [C] a small tree that is grown in a pot and prevented from reaching its normal size\n \n  2  [U] the Japanese art of growing bonsai


Words: bonus
Meaning:
noun (plural bonuses)\n  1  an extra amount of money that is added to a payment, especially to sb’s wages as a reward:\nAll employees received a ｣100 Christmas bonus. * productivity bonuses * What is actually paid will depend on the bonus payments made at the end of the policy.\n  2  anything pleasant that is extra and more or better than you were expecting:\nBeing able to walk to work is an added bonus of the new job. * As a bonus, club members can get free tickets for all the family. * One of the great bonuses of retirement is having time to spare.\nsee also NO-CLAIMS BONUS


Words: bony
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of a person or part of the body) very thin so that the bones can be seen under the skin:\na bony face / hand * a tall bony man\n  2  (of fish) full of small bones\n  3  consisting of or like bone


Words: boo
Meaning:
exclamation, noun, verb \n    exclamation, noun\n  1  a sound that people make to show that they do not like an actor, speaker, etc:\n’Boo!’ they shouted, ’Get off!’. * The speech was greeted with loud boos from the audience.\n  2  people shout Boo! when they want to surprise or frighten sb\n IDIOMS  see SAY v.\n    verb to show that you do not like a person, performance, idea, etc. by shouting ’boo’:\n[V] The audience booed as she started her speech. * [VN] He was booed off the stage.


Words: boob
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  (slang) a woman’s breast\n  2  (BrE) (also booboo , AmE, BrE) (informal) a stupid mistake:\nI made a bit of a boob throwing that file away.\n  3  (AmE) a stupid person\n    verb [V] (informal) to make a stupid mistake


Words: boob tube
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE, informal) (AmE tube top) a piece of women’s clothing that is made of fabric that stretches and covers the chest\n  2  (AmE, informal, disapproving) the television:\nThe kids spend too much time in front of the boob tube.


Words: booby trap
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a hidden bomb that explodes when the object that it is connected to is touched:\nNobody went near the abandoned car in case it was a booby trap. * a booby-trap device containing two kilos of explosives\n  2  a hidden device that is meant as a joke to surprise sb, for example an object placed above a door so that it will fall on the first person who opens the door


Words: boogie
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun (also boogie-woogie ) [U] a type of blues music played on the piano, with a fast strong rhythm\n    verb [V] (informal) to dance to fast pop music


Words: book
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  printed work\n \n  1  [C] a set of printed pages that are fastened inside a cover so that you can turn them and read them:\na pile of books * hardback / paperback books\n \n  2  [C] a written work published in printed or electronic form:\nShe’s reading a book by Stephen King. * a book about / on wildlife * reference / children’s / library books\n \n  for writing in\n \n  3  [C] a set of sheets of paper that are fastened together inside a cover and used for writing in:\nan exercise book * an address book * a notebook\n  of stamps / tickets / matches, etc.\n  4  [C] a set of things that are fastened together like a book:\na book of stamps / tickets / matches * a chequebook\n  accounts\n  5  (books) [pl.] the written records of the financial affairs of a business\nSYN ACCOUNTS:\nto do the books (= to check the accounts) * You need to go over the books again; there’s a mistake somewhere.\n  section of bible, etc.\n  6  [C] a section of a large written work:\nthe books of the Bible\n  for betting\n  7  [C] (BrE) a record of BETS made on whether sth will happen, sb will win a race, etc:\nThey’ve opened a book on who’ll win the Championship.\n IDIOMS \n  be in sb’s good / bad books (informal) used to say that sb is pleased/annoyed with you:\nI’m in her good books at the moment because I cleared up the kitchen.\n  bring sb to book (for sth) (formal, especially BrE) to punish sb for doing sth wrong and make them explain their behaviour:\nWe will ensure that people who commit fraud are brought to book through the courts.\n  by the book following rules and instructions in a very strict way:\nShe always does everything by the book.\n  in my book (spoken) used when you are giving your opinion:\nThat’s cheating in my book.\n  (be) on sb’s books (to be) on an organization’s list, for example of people who are available for a particular type of work:\nWe have very few nurses on our books at the moment. * Most of the houses on our books are in the north of the city.\n  throw the book at sb (informal) to punish sb who has committed an offence as severely as possible:\n’Get this man down to the station and throw the book at him!’ yelled Curtis.\nmore at CLOSE v., CLOSED, COOK v., HISTORY, JUDGE v., LEAF n., OPEN adj., READ v., SUIT v., TRICK n.\n    verb\n  1  (especially BrE) to arrange with a hotel, restaurant, theatre, etc. to have a room, table, seat, etc. on a particular date:\n[V] Book early to avoid disappointment. * [VN] I’d like to book a table for two for 8 o’clock tonight. * The performance is booked up (= there are no more tickets available). * I’m sorry-we’re fully booked.\ncompare RESERVE\n  2  [VN] to arrange for sb to have a seat on a plane, etc:\nI’ve booked you on the 10 o’clock flight.\n  3  [VN] to arrange for a singer, etc. to perform on a particular date:\nWe’ve booked a band for the wedding reception.\n  4  [VN] (informal) to write down sb’s name and address because they have committed a crime or an offence:\nHe was booked for possession of cannabis.\n  5  [VN] (BrE, informal) (of a referee) to write down in an official book the name of a player who has broken the rules of the game\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  book in / into sth to arrive at a hotel, etc. and arrange to stay there:\nI got in at ten and booked straight into a hotel.\n  book sb in / into sth to arrange for sb to have a room at a hotel, etc:\nI’ve booked you in at the Sheraton for the night.


Words: book token
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a card, usually given as a gift, that you can exchange for books of a particular value:\na ｣10 book token


Words: bookable
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  tickets, etc. that are bookable can be ordered in advance:\nAll seats are bookable by phone.\n  2  (BrE) if an offence in football is bookable, the name of the player responsible is written down in a book by the REFEREE as a punishment\n  3  (AmE) if a crime is a bookable offence, the person responsible can be arrested


Words: bookbinder
Meaning:
noun\na person whose job is fastening the pages of books together and putting covers on them\n    bookbinding noun [U]


Words: booking
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] (especially BrE) an arrangement that you make in advance to buy a ticket to travel somewhere, go to the theatre, etc:\na booking form / office / hall / clerk * Can I make a booking for Friday afternoon? * Early booking is strongly recommended. * No advance booking is necessary. * We can’t take any more bookings.\ncompare BOOKING\n  2  [C] an arrangement for sb to perform at a theatre, in a concert, etc.\n  3  [C] (BrE) (in football) an act of the REFEREE writing a player’s name in a book, as a punishment because an offence has been committed


Words: bookish
Meaning:
adjective\n(often disapproving) interested in reading and studying, rather than in more active or practical things:\nHe was more bookish and intellectual than many of his fellow students.


Words: bookkeeper
Meaning:
noun\na person whose job is to keep an accurate record of the accounts of a business\n    bookkeeping noun [U]


Words: bookmaker
Meaning:
(also informal bookie) (also BrE formal turf accountant) noun\na person whose job is to take bets on the result of horse races, etc. and pay out money to people who win\n    bookmaking noun [U]


Words: bookmark
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a strip of paper, etc. that you put between the pages of a book when you finish reading so that you can easily find the place again\n  2  (computing) a record of the address of a file, a page on the Internet, etc. that enables you to find it quickly\n    bookmark verb:\n[VN] Do you want to bookmark this site?


Words: bookplate
Meaning:
noun\na decorative piece of paper that is stuck in a book to show the name of the person who owns it


Words: bookstall
Meaning:
(especially BrE) (AmE usually news-stand) noun a small shop/store that is open at the front, where you can buy books, newspapers or magazines, for example at a station or an airport


Words: boom
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  in business / economy\n \n  1  ~ (in sth) a sudden increase in trade and economic activity; a period of wealth and success:\na boom in car sales * Living standards improved rapidly during the post-war boom. * a boom year (for trade, exports, etc.) * a property / housing boom * a chaotic period of boom and bust\ncompare SLUMP\nsee also BABY BOOM\n \n  popular period\n \n  2  [usually sing.] a period when sth such as a sport or a type of music suddenly becomes very popular and successful:\nThe only way to satisfy the golf boom was to build more courses.\n  on boat\n  3  a long pole that the bottom of a sail is attached to and that you move to change the position of the sail\n  sound\n  4  [usually sing.] a loud deep sound:\nthe distant boom of the guns\nsee also SONIC BOOM\n  in river / harbour\n  5  a floating barrier that is placed across a river or the entrance to a harbour to prevent ships or other objects from coming in or going out\n  for microphone\n  6  a long pole that carries a MICROPHONE or other equipment\n    verb\n  make loud sound\n  1  [V] to make a loud deep sound:\nOutside, thunder boomed and crashed.\n  2  ~ (out) to say sth in a loud deep voice:\n[V speech] ’Get out of my sight!’ he boomed. * [V] A voice boomed out from the darkness.\n  of business / economy\n  3  [V] to have a period of rapid growth; to become bigger, more successful, etc:\nBy the 1980s, the computer industry was booming. * Business is booming!


Words: boomerang
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a curved flat piece of wood that you throw and that can fly in a circle and come back to you. Boomerangs were first used by Australian ABORIGINES as weapons when they were hunting: (figurative) The plan had a boomerang effect (= caused unexpected harm to the person responsible for it).\n    verb [V] if a plan boomerangs on sb, it hurts them instead of the person it was intended to hurt\nSYN BACKFIRE


Words: boon
Meaning:
noun\n~ (to / for sb) something that is very helpful and makes life easier for you:\nThe new software will prove a boon to home computer users.


Words: boondocks
Meaning:
(also boonies) noun\n[pl.] (AmE, informal, disapproving) an area far away from cities or towns:\nHe lives way out in the boondocks. * a high school graduate from the boondocks


Words: boondoggle
Meaning:
noun\n(AmE, informal) a piece of work that is unnecessary and that wastes time and/or money:\nThe road improvement scheme was a gigantic boondoggle.


Words: boost
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] to make sth increase, or become better or more successful:\nto boost exports / profits * The movie helped boost her screen career. * to boost sb’s confidence / morale * Getting that job did a lot to boost his ego (= make him feel more confident).\n    noun [usually sing.]\n  1  something that helps or encourages sb/sth:\na great / tremendous / welcome boost * The tax cuts will give a much needed boost to the economy. * Winning the competition was a wonderful boost for her morale.\n  2  an increase in sth:\na boost in car sales\n  3  an increase in power in an engine or a piece of electrical equipment\n  4  (especially AmE) an act of pushing sb up from behind:\nHe gave her a boost over the fence.


Words: booster
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (also booster rocket) a rocket that gives a spacecraft extra power when it leaves the earth, or that makes a MISSILE go further\n  2  a device that gives extra power to a piece of electrical equipment\n  3  an extra small amount of a drug that is given to increase the effect of one given earlier, for example to protect you from a disease for longer:\na tetanus booster\n  4  a thing that helps, encourages or improves sb/sth:\na morale / confidence booster\n  5  (especially AmE) a person who gives their support to sb/sth, especially in politics:\na meeting of Republican boosters


Words: booster seat
Meaning:
noun\na seat that you put on a car seat, or on a chair at a table, so that a small child can sit higher


Words: boot
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a strong shoe that covers the foot and ankle and often the lower part of the leg: (BrE) walking boots * (AmE) hiking boots * a pair of black leather boots * cowboy boots\nsee also DESERT BOOT, FOOTBALL BOOT, WELLINGTON\n \n  2  (BrE) (AmE trunk) the enclosed space at the back of a car that you put bags, cases, etc. in:\nI’ll put the luggage in the boot. * Did you lock the boot?\nsee also CAR BOOT SALE\n \n  3  [usually sing.] (informal) a quick hard kick:\nHe gave the ball a tremendous boot.\n  4  (AmE) = CLAMP\n IDIOMS \n  be given the boot | get the boot (informal) to be told that you must leave your job or that a relationship you are having with sb is over:\nHe should have been given the boot years ago.\n  the boot is on the other foot (BrE) (AmE the shoe is on the other foot) used to say that a situation has changed so that sb now has power or authority over the person who used to have power or authority over them\n  put / stick the boot in (BrE, informal)\n1 to kick sb very hard, especially when they are on the ground\n2 to attack sb by criticizing them when they are in a difficult situation:\nI wonder if the press will put the boot in?\n  to boot (old-fashioned or humorous) used to add a comment to sth that you have said:\nHe was a vegetarian, and a fussy one to boot.\nmore at BIG adj., FILL v., LICK v., TOUGH adj.\n    verb\n  1  [VN +adv./prep.] to kick sb/sth hard with your foot:\nHe booted the ball clear of the goal.\n  2  [V, VN] ~ (sth) (up) (computing) to prepare a computer for use by loading its OPERATING SYSTEM\n  3  [VN] (be / get booted) (AmE, informal) if you or your car is booted, a piece of equipment is fixed to the car’s wheel so that you cannot drive it away, usually because the car is illegally parked\nsee also CLAMP\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  boot sb<->out (of sth) (informal) to force sb to leave a place or job


Words: boot camp
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a training camp for new members of the armed forces, where they have to work hard:\nHe had recently graduated from Marine Corps boot camp.\n  2  a type of prison for young criminals where there is strict discipline


Words: bootee
Meaning:
(also bootie) noun\n  1  a baby’s sock, worn instead of shoes:\na pair of pink bootees\n  2  a woman’s short boot


Words: booth
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a small enclosed place where you can do sth privately, for example make a telephone call, or vote:\na phone booth * a polling / voting booth\nsee also PHOTO BOOTH, TOLLBOOTH\n \n  2  a small tent or temporary structure at a market, an EXHIBITION or a FAIRGROUND, where you can buy things, get information or watch sth:\nThe stalls and booths were doing a brisk trade.\n \n  3  a place to sit in a restaurant which consists of two long seats with a table between them


Words: bootleg
Meaning:
adjective, verb \n    adjective [only before noun] made and sold illegally:\na bootleg cassette (= for example, one recorded illegally at a concert)\nsee also PIRATE\n    bootleg noun:\na bootleg of the concert\n    verb (-gg-) [VN] to make or sell goods, especially alcohol, illegally\n    bootlegger noun\n    bootlegging noun [U]


Words: bootstrap
Meaning:
noun\n IDIOMS \n  pull / drag yourself up by your (own) bootstraps (informal) to improve your situation yourself, without help from other people


Words: booze
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [U] (informal) alcoholic drink:\nNow he’s off the booze (= he has given up drinking alcohol), he’s a different person.\n    verb [V] (informal) (usually used in the progressive tenses) to drink alcohol, especially in large quantities:\nHe’s out boozing with his mates.


Words: boozy
Meaning:
adjective\n(informal) liking to drink a lot of alcohol; involving a lot of alcoholic drink:\none of my boozy friends * a boozy lunch


Words: bop
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] (BrE, informal) a dance to pop music; a social event at which people dance to pop music:\nFancy a bop? * There’s a bop on in the village hall tonight.\n  2  [U] = BEBOP\n    verb (-pp-)\n  1  [V] (BrE, informal) to dance to pop music\n  2  [VN] to hit sb lightly


Words: borage
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a Mediterranean plant with blue flowers that are shaped like stars, and hairy leaves that are eaten raw as a salad vegetable


Words: borax
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a white mineral, usually in powder form, used in making glass and as an ANTISEPTIC (= a substance that helps to prevent infection in wounds)


Words: Bordeaux
Meaning:
noun\n(plural Bordeaux) [U, C] a red or white wine from the Bordeaux area of France. There are several types of Bordeaux.\ncompare CLARET


Words: border
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  the line that divides two countries or areas; the land near this line:\na national park on the border between Kenya and Tanzania * Denmark’s border with Germany * in the US, near the Canadian border * Nevada’s northern border * to cross the border * to flee across / over the border * border guards / controls * a border dispute / incident * a border town / state * (figurative) It is difficult to define the border between love and friendship.\n  2  a strip around the edge of sth such as a picture or a piece of fabric:\na pillowcase with a lace border\n  3  (in a garden) a strip of soil which is planted with flowers, along the edge of the grass:\nherbaceous borders\n    verb [VN] \n  1  (of a country or an area) to share a border with another country or area:\nthe countries bordering the Baltic\n  2  (written) to form a line along or around the edge of sth:\nMeadows bordered the path to the woods. * The large garden is bordered by a stream.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  border on sth\n1 to come very close to being sth, especially a strong or unpleasant emotion or quality:\nShe felt an anxiety bordering on hysteria.\n2 to be next to sth:\nareas bordering on the Black Sea


Words: borderland
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] an area of land close to a border between two countries\n  2  [sing.] an area between two qualities, ideas or subjects that has features of both but is not clearly one or the other:\nthe murky borderland between history and myth


Words: borderline
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective not clearly belonging to a particular condition or group; not clearly acceptable:\nIn doubtful and borderline cases teachers will take the final decision, based on the student’s previous work. * a borderline pass / fail in an exam\n    noun the division between two qualities or conditions:\nThis biography sometimes crosses the borderline between fact and fiction.


Words: bore
Meaning:
verb, noun-see also BEAR, BORE, BORNE v.\n    verb\n  1  [VN] to make sb feel bored, especially by talking too much:\nI’m not boring you, am I? * Has he been boring you with his stories about China?\n  2  ~ (into / through sth) to make a long deep hole with a tool or by digging:\n[V] The drill is strong enough to bore through solid rock. * [VN] to bore a hole in sth\n  3  [V] ~ into sb/sth (of eyes) to stare in a way that makes sb feel uncomfortable:\nHis blue eyes seemed to bore into her.\n    noun\n  1  [C] a person who is very boring, usually because they talk too much\n  2  [sing.] a situation or thing that is boring or that annoys you:\nIt’s such a bore having to stay late this evening.\n  3  (also gauge especially in AmE) (especially in compounds) the hollow inside of a tube, such as a pipe or a gun; the width of the hole:\na tube with a wide / narrow bore * a twelve-bore shotgun\n  4  a strong, high wave that rushes along a river from the sea at particular times of the year\n  5  (also borehole) a deep hole made in the ground, especially to find water or oil\n IDIOMS  see CRASH v.


Words: bored
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (with sb/sth) | ~ (with doing sth) feeling tired and impatient because you have lost interest in sb/sth or because you have nothing to do:\nThe children quickly got bored with staying indoors. * There was a bored expression on her face.\n IDIOMS \n  bored stiff | bored to death / tears | bored out of your mind extremely bored\nmore at WITLESS


Words: boredom
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the state of feeling bored; the quality of being very boring:\nI started to eat too much out of sheer boredom. * Television helps to relieve the boredom of the long winter evenings. * I noticed her short attention span and low boredom threshold (= she got bored very quickly).


Words: boring
Meaning:
adjective\nnot interesting; making you feel tired and impatient:\nHe’s such a boring man! * a boring job / book / evening\n    boringly adverb:\nboringly normal


Words: born
Meaning:
verb, adjective \n    verb (be born) (used only in the passive, without by)\n  1  (abbreviation b.) to come out of your mother’s body at the beginning of your life:\n[VN] I was born in 1976. * He was born in a small village in northern Spain. * She was born into a very musical family. * He was born of / to German parents. * She was born with a weak heart. * [VN-ADJ] Her brother was born blind (= was blind when he was born). * [VN-N] John Wayne was born Marion Michael Morrison (= that was his name at birth).\n  2  [VN] (of an idea, an organization, a feeling, etc.) to start to exist:\n’Solidarity’ was born as a protest movement, not a political party. * She acted with a courage born (out) of desperation.\n  3  (-born) (in compounds) born in the order, way, place, etc. mentioned:\nfirstborn * nobly-born * French-born\nsee also NEWBORN\n IDIOMS \n  be born to be / do sth to have sth as your DESTINY (= what is certain to happen to you) from birth:\nHe was born to be a great composer.\n  born and bred born and having grown up in a particular place with a particular background and education:\nHe was born and bred in Boston. * I’m a Londoner, born and bred.\n  born with a silver spoon in your mouth (saying) having rich parents\n  in all my born days (old-fashioned, informal) used when you are very surprised at sth you have never heard or seen before:\nI’ve never heard such nonsense in all my born days.\n  not be born yesterday (spoken) used to say that you are not stupid enough to believe what sb is telling you:\nOh yeah? I wasn’t born yesterday, you know.\n  there’s one born every minute (saying) used to say that sb is very stupid\nmore at KNOW v., MANNER, WAY n.\n    adjective [only before noun] having a natural ability or skill for a particular activity or job:\na born athlete / writer / leader * a born loser (= a person who always loses or is unsuccessful)


Words: born-again
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] having come to have a strong belief in a particular religion (especially EVANGELICAL Christianity) or idea, and wanting other people to have the same belief:\na born-again Christian * a born-again vegetarian


Words: borough
Meaning:
noun\na town or part of a city that has its own local government:\nthe London borough of Westminster * The Bronx is one of the five boroughs of New York. * a borough council


Words: borrow
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] ~ sth (from sb/sth) to take and use sth that belongs to sb else, and return it to them at a later time:\nCan I borrow your umbrella? * Members can borrow up to ten books from the library at any one time.\ncompare LEND\n  2  ~ (sth) (from sb/sth) to take money from a person or bank and agree to pay it back to them at a later time:\n[VN] How much did you have to borrow to pay for this? * She borrowed ｣2 000 from her parents. * [V] I don’t like to borrow from friends.\ncompare LEND\n  3  ~ (sth) (from sb/sth) to take words, ideas, etc. from another language, person, etc. and use them, as your own:\n[V] The author borrows heavily from Henry James. * [VN] Some musical terms are borrowed from Italian.\n IDIOMS \n  be (living) on borrowed time\n1 to still be alive after the time when you were expected to die:\nHe’s been living on borrowed time ever since his last heart attack.\n2 to be doing sth that other people are likely to soon stop you from doing:\nAccording to the latest opinion polls, the government is living on borrowed time.\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nborrow / lend\nThese two words are often confused. You borrow something from someone else, while they lend it to you: Can I borrow your pen? * Can I borrow a pen from you? * Here, I’ll lend you my pen.\n______________________________


Words: borrower
Meaning:
noun\na person or an organization that borrows money, especially from a bank:\nThe interest rate was raised for borrowers.\ncompare LENDER


Words: borrowing
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] the money that a company, an organization or a person borrows; the act of borrowing money:\nan attempt to reduce bank borrowings * High interest rates help to keep borrowing down.\n  2  [C] a word, a phrase or an idea that sb has taken from another person’s work or from another language and used in their own


Words: bosom
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a woman’s chest or breasts:\nher ample bosom * She pressed him to her bosom.\n  2  [C] the part of a piece of clothing that covers a woman’s bosom:\na rose pinned to her bosom\n  3  the ~ of sth [sing.] a situation in which you are with people who love and protect you:\nto live in the bosom of your family * They were welcomed into the bosom of the Church.


Words: boss
Meaning:
noun, verb, adjective \n    noun\n  1  a person who is in charge of other people at work and tells them what to do:\nI’ll ask my boss if I can have the day off. * I like being my own boss (= working for myself and making my own decisions). * Who’s the boss (= who’s in control) in this house?\n  2  (informal) a person who is in charge of a large organization:\nthe new boss at IBM * Hospital bosses protested at the decision.\n IDIOMS  see SHOW v.\n    verb [VN] ~ sb (about / around) to tell sb what to do in an aggressive and/or annoying way:\nI’m sick of you bossing me around!\n    adjective (slang, especially BrE) very good


Words: bossy
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) always telling people what to do\n    bossily adverb\n    bossiness noun [U]


Words: botanical garden
Meaning:
(also botanic garden) noun\n[usually pl.] a park where plants, trees and flowers are grown for scientific study


Words: botch
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] ~ sth (up) (informal) to spoil sth by doing it badly:\nHe completely botched up the interview. * The work they did on the house was a botched job.\n    noun (also botch-up) (BrE, informal) a piece of work or a job that has been done badly:\nI’ve made a real botch of the decorating.


Words: both
Meaning:
determiner, pronoun\n  1  used with plural nouns to mean ’the two’ or ’the one as well as the other’:\nBoth women were French. * Both the women were French. * Both of the women were French. * I talked to the women. Both of them were French / They were both French. * I liked them both. * We were both tired. * Both of us were tired. * We have both seen the movie. * I have two sisters. Both of them live in London / They both live in London. * Both (my) sisters live in London.\n  2  both ...and ... not only ...but also ...:\nBoth his mother and his father will be there. * For this job you will need a good knowledge of both Italian and Spanish.


Words: bother
Meaning:
verb, noun, exclamation \n    verb\n  1  (often used in negative sentences and questions) ~ (with / about sth) to spend time and/or energy doing sth:\n[V] He doesn’t bother much about his appearance. * ’Shall I wait?’ ’No, don’t bother’. * It’s not worth bothering with (= using) an umbrella-the car’s just outside. * I don’t know why I bother! Nobody ever listens! * If that’s all the thanks I get, I won’t bother in future! * I don’t know why you bother with that crowd (= why you spend time with them). * [V to inf] He didn’t even bother to let me know he was coming. * [V -ing] Why bother asking if you’re not really interested?\n  2  ~ sb (about / with sth) to annoy, worry or upset sb; to cause sb trouble or pain:\n[VN] The thing that bothers me is ... * You don’t sound too bothered about it. * I don’t want to bother her with my problems at the moment. * That sprained ankle is still bothering her (= hurting). * ’I’m sorry he was so rude to you.’ ’It doesn’t bother me.’ * [VN that] Does it bother you that she earns more than you? * [VN to inf] It bothers me to think of her alone in that big house.\n  3  [VN] to interrupt sb; to talk to sb when they do not want to talk to you:\nStop bothering me when I’m working. * Let me know if he bothers you again. * Sorry to bother you, but there’s a call for you on line two.\n IDIOMS \n  be bothered (about sb/sth) (especially BrE) to think that sb/sth is important:\nI’m not bothered about what he thinks. * ’Where shall we eat?’ ’I’m not bothered.’ (= I don’t mind where we go).\n  can’t be bothered (to do sth) used to say that you do not want to spend time and/or energy doing sth:\nI should really do some work this weekend but I can’t be bothered. * All this has happened because you couldn’t be bothered to give me the message.\n  not bother yourself / your head with / about sth (especially BrE) to not spend time/effort on sth, because it is not important or you are not interested in it\nmore at HOT adj.\n    noun\n  1  [U] trouble or difficulty:\nYou seem to have got yourself into a spot of bother. * I don’t want to put you to any bother (= cause you any trouble). * Don’t go to the bother of tidying up on my account (= don’t make the effort to do it). * ’Thanks for your help!’ ’It was no bother.’ * Call them and save yourself the bother of going round. * I don’t mind looking after the children; they aren’t any bother. * She’s been having a bit of bother with her car.\n  2  (a bother) [sing.] (BrE) an annoying situation, thing or person\nSYN NUISANCE:\nI hope I haven’t been a bother.\n    exclamation (BrE) used to express the fact that you are annoyed about sth/sb:\nBother! I’ve left my wallet at home. * Oh, bother him! He’s never around when you need him.


Words: bothy
Meaning:
noun\n(plural bothies) a mountain hut in Scotland built for farm workers to live in or for people to shelter in


Words: bottle
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] a glass or plastic container, usually round with straight sides and a narrow neck, used especially for storing liquids:\na wine / beer / milk bottle * Put the top back on the bottle.\n \n  2  [C] (also bottleful ) the amount contained in a bottle:\nWe drank a whole bottle of wine.\n \n  3  (the bottle) [sing.] (informal) alcoholic drink:\nAfter his wife died, he really hit the bottle (= started drinking heavily).\n \n  4  [C, usually sing.] a bottle used to give milk to a baby; the milk from such a bottle (used instead of mother’s milk):\nIt’s time for her bottle.\n  5  [U] (BrE, informal) courage or confidence, for example to do sth that is dangerous or unpleasant:\nIt took a lot of bottle to do that. * I didn’t think she’d have the bottle to ask him.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to put a liquid into a bottle:\nThe wines are bottled after three years.\n  2  to put fruit or vegetables into glass containers in order to preserve them:\nKeep your empty jam jars for bottling next year’s fruit.\n    bottled adjective:\nbottled beer / water / pickles * bottled gas (= sold in metal containers for use in heating and cooking)\n IDIOMS \n  bottle it (BrE, informal) to not do sth, or not finish sth, because you are frightened\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bottle out (of sth / doing sth) (BrE, informal) to not do sth that you had intended to do because you are too frightened\n  bottle sth<->up to not allow other people to see that you are unhappy, angry, etc., especially when this happens over a long period of time:\nTry not to bottle up your emotions.


Words: bottle bank
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a large container in a public place where people can leave their empty bottles so that the glass can be used again (= RECYCLED); a public place with several of these containers


Words: bottleneck
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a narrow or busy section of road where the traffic often slows down and stops:\nHe drove around the outside of the town to avoid the bottleneck in the centre. * a traffic bottleneck\n  2  anything that slows down development or progress, particularly in business or industry:\nto create / eliminate bottlenecks in the manufacturing process


Words: bottom
Meaning:
noun, adjective, verb \n    noun\n  lowest part\n \n  1  [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the lowest part of sth:\nFootnotes are given at the bottom of each page. * The wind blew through gaps at the top and bottom of the door. * I waited for them at the bottom of the hill. * The book I want is right at the bottom (= of the pile). * farmers who lived in the valley bottoms\n \n  2  [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the part of sth that faces downwards and is not usually seen:\nThe manufacturer’s name is on the bottom of the plate.\n \n  of container\n \n  3  [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the lowest surface on the inside of a container:\nI found some French coins at the bottom of my bag. * Allow the tea leaves to settle to the bottom of the cup.\n  of river / pool\n  4  [sing.] the ground below the water in a lake, river, swimming pool, etc:\nHe dived in and hit his head on the bottom. * I feel safe as long as I can touch the bottom.\n  end of sth\n  5  the ~ (of sth) [sing.] (especially BrE) the part of sth that is furthest from you, your house, etc:\nI went to the school at the bottom of our street. * There was a stream at the bottom of the garden.\n  lowest position\n  6  ~ (of sth) [sing.] the lowest position in a class, on a list, etc.; a person, team, etc. that is in this position:\na battle between the teams at the bottom of the league * You have to be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up. * I was always bottom of the class in math.\n  part of body\n  7  [C] (especially BrE) the part of the body that you sit on:\nI’ll smack your bottom if you do that again!\nSYN BACKSIDE, BEHIND\n  clothing\n  8  [C, usually pl.] the lower part of a set of clothes that consists of two pieces:\na bikini bottom * a pair of pyjama / tracksuit bottoms\n  of ship\n  9  [C] the lower part of a ship that is below the surface of the water\nSYN HULL\n  -bottomed\n  10  (in adjectives) having the type of bottom mentioned:\na flat-bottomed boat\nsee also ROCK-BOTTOM\n IDIOMS \n  at bottom used to say what sb/sth is really like:\nTheir offer to help was at bottom self-centred.\n  be / lie at the bottom of sth to be the original cause of sth, especially sth unpleasant:\nWe need to find out what lies at the bottom of these fears.\n  the bottom drops / falls out (of sth) people stop buying or using the products of a particular industry:\nThe bottom has fallen out of the travel market.\n  bottoms up! (spoken) used to express good wishes when drinking alcohol, or to tell sb to finish their drink\n  get to the bottom of sth to find out the real cause of sth, especially sth unpleasant:\nI won’t rest until I’ve got to the bottom of this!\nmore at HEAP n., HEART, PILE n., SCRAPE v., TOP n., TOUCH v.\n    adjective [only before noun] in the lowest, last or furthest place or position:\nthe bottom line (on a page) * your bottom lip * the bottom step (of a flight of stairs) * on the bottom shelf * Put your clothes in the bottom drawer. * Their house is at the bottom end of Bury Road (= the end furthest from where you enter the road). * Sign in the bottom right-hand corner of the page. * the bottom end of the price range * to go up a hill in bottom gear\n IDIOMS  see BET v.\n    verb\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bottom out (of prices, a bad situation, etc.) to stop getting worse:\nThe recession is finally beginning to show signs of bottoming out.


Words: bottom line
Meaning:
noun [sing.]\n  1  (the bottom line) the most important thing that you have to consider or accept; the essential point in a discussion, etc:\nThe bottom line is that we have to make a decision today.\n  2  (business) the amount of money that is a profit or a loss after everything has been calculated:\nThe bottom line for 1999 was a pre-tax profit of ｣85 million. * Sales last month failed to add to the company’s bottom line.\n  3  the lowest price that sb will accept:\nTwo thousand-and that’s my bottom line!


Words: bottomless
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) very deep; seeming to have no bottom or limit:\na bottomless abyss\n IDIOMS \n  a bottomless pit (of sth) a thing or situation which seems to have no limits or seems never to end:\nThere isn’t a bottomless pit of money for public spending. * the bottomless pit of his sorrow


Words: bouffant
Meaning:
adjective\n(of a person’s hair) in a style that raises it up and back from the head in a high round shape:\na bouffant hairdo


Words: bouillon
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] a liquid made by boiling meat or vegetables in water, used for making clear soups or sauces


Words: boulder
Meaning:
noun\na very large rock which has been shaped by water or the weather:\nhuge granite boulders underneath the cliff * fallen rocks and boulders


Words: boulevard
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE) a wide city street, often with trees on either side\n  2  (abbreviation Blvd.) (AmE) a wide main road (often used in the name of streets):\nSunset Boulevard


Words: bounce
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  move off surface\n \n  1  if sth bounces or you bounce it, it moves quickly away from a surface it has just hit or you make it do this:\n[V] The ball bounced twice before he could reach it. * Short sound waves bounce off even small objects. * The light bounced off the river and dazzled her. * [VN] She bounced the ball against the wall.\n \n  move up and down noun\n \n  2  [V] (of a person) to jump up and down on sth:\nShe bounced up and down excitedly on the bed.\n \n  3  [VN] to move a child up and down while he or she is sitting on your knee in order to entertain him or her\n \n  4  to move up and down; to move sth up and down:\n[V] Her hair bounced from side to side as she walked. [also VN]\n  5  [V +adv./prep.] to move up and down in a particular direction:\nThe bus bounced down the hill.\n  move with energy\n  6  [V +adv./prep.] (of a person) to move somewhere in a lively and cheerful way:\nHe bounced across the room to greet them.\n  cheque\n  7  [V, VN] (informal) if a cheque bounces, or a bank bounces it, the bank refuses to accept it because there is not enough money in the account\n  ideas\n  8  [VN] ~ ideas (off sb) / (around) to tell sb your ideas in order to find out what they think about them:\nHe bounced ideas off colleagues everywhere he went.\n  computing\n  9  [V, VN] ~ (sth) (back) if an e-mail bounces or the system bounces it, it returns to the person who sent it because the system cannot deliver it\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bounce back to become healthy, successful or confident again after being ill/sick or having difficulties\nSYN RECOVER:\nHe’s had a lot of problems, but he always seems to bounce back pretty quickly.\n  bounce sb into sth (BrE) to make sb do sth without giving them enough time to think about it\n    noun\n  movement\n  1  [C] the action of bouncing:\none bounce of the ball * (AmE) a bounce (= increase) in popularity\n  2  [U] the ability to bounce or to make sth bounce:\nThere’s not much bounce left in these balls. * Players complained about the uneven bounce of the tennis court.\n  energy\n  3  [U, C] the energy that a person has:\nAll her old bounce was back. * There was a bounce to his step which I hadn’t seen before.\n  of hair\n  4  [U] the quality in a person’s hair that shows that it is in good condition and means that it does not lie flat:\nthin fine hair, lacking in bounce


Words: bouncer
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person employed to stand at the entrance to a club, pub, etc. to stop people who are not wanted from going in, and to throw out people who are causing trouble inside\n  2  (in cricket) a ball thrown very fast that rises high after it hits the ground


Words: bouncing
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (with sth) healthy and full of energy:\na bouncing baby boy * He was bouncing with health.


Words: bouncy
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  that bounces well or that has the ability to make sth bounce:\na very bouncy ball * his bouncy blond curls * (BrE) a bouncy castle (= a plastic castle or other shape which is filled with air and which children can jump and play on)\n  2  lively and full of energy


Words: bound
Meaning:
adjective, verb, noun-see also BIND, BOUND, BOUND v.\n    adjective [not before noun]\n  1  ~ to do / be sth certain or likely to happen, or to do or be sth:\nThere are bound to be changes when the new system is introduced. * It’s bound to be sunny again tomorrow. * You’ve done so much work-you’re bound to pass the exam. * It was bound to happen sooner or later (= we should have expected it). * You’re bound to be nervous the first time (= it’s understandable).\n  2  ~ (by sth) | ~ (by sth) (to do sth) forced to do sth by law, duty or a particular situation:\nWe are not bound by the decision. * You are bound by the contract to pay before the end of the month. * (BrE, formal) I am bound to say I disagree with you on this point. * They are legally bound to appear in court.\n  3  (in compounds) prevented from going somewhere or from working normally by the conditions mentioned:\nStrike-bound travellers face long delays. * fogbound airports\n  4  ~ (for ...) (also in compounds) travelling, or ready to travel, in a particular direction or to a particular place:\nhomeward bound (= going home) * a plane bound for Dublin * Paris-bound * northbound / southbound / eastbound / westbound\n IDIOMS \n  be bound together by / in sth to be closely connected:\ncommunities bound together by customs and traditions\n  be bound up in sth very busy with sth; very interested or involved in sth:\nHe’s too bound up in his work to have much time for his children.\n  bound up with sth closely connected with sth:\nFrom that moment my life became inextricably bound up with hers.\n  I’ll be bound (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) I feel sure:\nThey’re up to some mischief, I’ll be bound!\nmore at HONOUR n.\n    verb\n  1  [V +adv./prep.] to run with long steps, especially in an enthusiastic way:\nThe dogs bounded ahead.\n  2  [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to form the edge or limit of an area:\nThe field was bounded on the left by a wood.\n    noun (written) a high or long jump:\nThe dog cleared the gate in one bound.\nsee also BOUNDS\n IDIOMS  see LEAP n.


Words: boundary
Meaning:
noun (plural boundaries)\n  1  a real or imagined line that marks the limits or edges of sth and separates it from other things or places; a dividing line:\nnational boundaries * (BrE) county boundaries * boundary changes / disputes * The fence marks the boundary between my property and hers. * Scientists continue to push back the boundaries of human knowledge. * the boundary between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour * He could just see her beyond the boundary wall of the cemetery. * to extend the boundaries of high art to include some popular music\n  2  (in cricket) a hit of the ball that crosses the boundary of the playing area and scores extra points:\nHe hit 13 boundaries from 183 balls.


Words: bounden
Meaning:
adjective\n IDIOMS \n  a / your bounden duty (old-fashioned, formal) something that you feel you must do; a responsibility which cannot be ignored:\nHe felt it was his bounden duty to tell the police what he knew. * We have a bounden duty to respond to this call for help.


Words: bounds
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] the accepted or furthest limits of sth:\nbeyond / outside / within the bounds of decency * Public spending must be kept within reasonable bounds. * It was not beyond the bounds of possibility that they would meet again one day. * His enthusiasm knew no bounds (= was very great).\n IDIOMS \n  out of bounds (to / for sb) (especially BrE) (AmE usually off limits) if a place is out of bounds or off limits, people are not allowed to go there\n  out of bounds\n1 (in some sports) outside the area of play which is allowed:\nHis shot went out of bounds.\n2 (AmE) not reasonable or acceptable:\nHis demands were out of bounds.\nmore at LEAP n.


Words: bountiful
Meaning:
adjective (formal or literary)\n  1  in large quantities; large:\na bountiful supply of food\n  2  giving generously\nSYN GENEROUS:\nbelief in a bountiful god * bountiful nature


Words: bounty
Meaning:
noun (plural bounties)\n  1  [U, C] (literary) generous actions; sth provided in large quantities:\nto thank the Lord for his bounty * the bounties of nature\n  2  [C] money given as a reward:\na bounty hunter (= sb who catches criminals or kills people for a reward)


Words: bouquet
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a bunch of flowers arranged in an attractive way so that it can be carried in a ceremony or presented as a gift:\na bridal / wedding bouquet * The little girl presented the princess with a large bouquet of flowers. * She received a bouquet of red roses on Valentine’s Day.\n  2  [C, U] the pleasant smell of a type of food or drink, especially of wine:\na red wine with a full flavour and a fragrant bouquet


Words: bouquet garni
Meaning:
noun\n(plural bouquets garnis ) (from French) a bunch of different herbs in a small bag, used in cooking to give extra flavour to food


Words: bourgeois
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  belonging to the middle class:\na traditional bourgeois family\nsee also PETIT BOURGEOIS\n  2  (disapproving) interested mainly in possessions and social status and supporting traditional values:\nbourgeois attitudes / tastes * They’ve become very bourgeois since they got married.\n  3  (politics) supporting the interests of CAPITALISM:\nbourgeois ideology\n    bourgeois noun (plural bourgeois)


Words: bourgeoisie
Meaning:
pl. v.]\n  1  the middle classes in society:\nthe rise of the bourgeoisie in the nineteenth century\n  2  (politics) the CAPITALIST class:\nthe proletariat and the bourgeoisie


Words: bout
Meaning:
noun\n  1  ~ (of sth / of doing sth) a short period of great activity; a short period during which there is a lot of a particular thing, usually sth unpleasant:\nThey had been fighting after a drinking bout. * the latest bout of inflation * Regular exercise is better than occasional bouts of strenuous activity.\n  2  ~ (of sth) an attack or period of illness:\na severe bout of flu / coughing * He suffered occasional bouts of depression. * (AmE) a bout with the flu\n  3  a boxing or WRESTLING match


Words: bovine
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  (technical) connected with cows:\nbovine diseases\n  2  (written, disapproving) (of a person) stupid and slow:\na look of bovine surprise / stupidity


Words: bow
Meaning:
verb, noun-see also BOW\n    verb\n  1  [V] ~ (down) (to / before sb/sth) to move your head or the top half of your body forwards and downwards as a sign of respect or as a greeting:\nHe bowed low to the assembled crowd. * The people all bowed down before the Emperor.\n  2  [VN] to move your head forwards and downwards:\nShe bowed her head in shame. * They stood in silence with their heads bowed.\n  3  to bend or make sth bend:\n[V] The pines bowed in the wind. * [VN] Their backs were bowed under the weight of their packs.\n IDIOMS \n  bow and scrape (disapproving) to be too polite to an important person in order to gain their approval:\nShe was beginning to tire of all their bowing and scraping.\nmore at SHOT n.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bow down to sb/sth (disapproving) to allow sb to tell you what to do\n  bow out (of sth) to stop taking part in an activity, especially one in which you have been successful in the past:\nShe has finally decided it’s time to bow out of international tennis.\n  bow to sth to agree unwillingly to do sth because other people want you to:\nThey finally bowed to pressure from the public. * She bowed to the inevitable (= accepted a situation in which she had no choice) and resigned.\n    noun\n\n \n  1  the act of bending your head or the upper part of your body forward in order to greet sb or to show respect:\nShe gave a slight bow of her head in greeting. * The messenger made a formal bow and left the room.\n \n  2  (also bows [pl.]) the front part of a boat or ship\ncompare STERN n.\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  take a / your bow (of a performer) to bow to the audience as they are APPLAUDING you:\nShe came back on stage to take another bow.\nmore at SHOT\n\n noun, verb-see also BOW\n    noun\n\n \n  1  a weapon used for shooting arrows, consisting of a long curved piece of wood with a tight string joining its ends:\nHe was armed with a bow and arrow.\n \n  2  a knot with two LOOPS and two loose ends which is used for decoration on clothes, in hair, etc. or for tying shoes:\nto tie your shoelaces in a bow * Her hair was tied back in a neat bow. * a dress decorated with bows and ribbons\n \n  3  a long thin piece of wood with thin string stretched along it, used for playing musical instruments such as the violin\n \n IDIOMS  see STRING n.\n    verb [V, VN] to use a bow to play a musical instrument that has strings


Words: bowdlerize
Meaning:
(BrE also bowdlerise)  verb\n[VN] (usually disapproving) to remove the parts of a book, play, etc. that you think are likely to shock or offend people\nSYN EXPURGATE\n ORIGIN  Named after Dr Thomas Bowdler, who in 1818 produced a version of Shakespeare from which he had taken out all the material which he considered unsuitable for family use.


Words: bowel
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, usually pl.] one of a system of tubes below the stomach in which solid waste collects before it is passed out of the body: (medical) to empty / move / open your bowels (= to pass solid waste out of the body) * bowel cancer / cancer of the bowel\n  2  (the bowels of sth) [pl.] (literary) the part that is deepest inside sth:\nA rumble came from the bowels of the earth (= deep underground).


Words: bowel movement
Meaning:
(also movement) noun\n(medical) an act of emptying waste material from the bowels; the waste material that is emptied


Words: bower
Meaning:
noun\n(literary) a pleasant place in the shade under trees or climbing plants in a wood or garden/yard:\na shady / leafy bower * a bower of roses


Words: bowl
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  container\n \n  1  [C] (especially in compounds) a deep round dish with a wide open top, used especially for holding food or liquid:\na salad / fruit / sugar bowl * a washing-up bowl\n \n  amount\n \n  2  [C] (also bowlful ) the amount contained in a bowl:\na bowl of soup\n \n  shape\n \n  3  [C] the part of some objects that is shaped like a bowl:\nthe bowl of a spoon * a toilet / lavatory bowl\n  theatre\n  4  [C] (especially AmE) (in names) a large round theatre without a roof, used for concerts, etc. in the open air\nSYN STADIUM:\nthe Hollywood Bowl\n  ball\n  5  [C] a heavy wooden ball that is used in the game of bowls \n  game\n  6  (bowls) [U] (AmE also lawn bowling) a game played on an area of very smooth grass, in which players take turns to roll bowls as near as possible to a small ball\n  football game\n  7  [C] (AmE) (in names) a football game played after the main season between the best teams:\nthe Super Bowl\n    verb\n  roll ball\n \n  1  [V, VN] to roll a ball in the games of bowls and BOWLING\n \n  in cricket\n \n  2  [V, VN] to throw a ball to the BATSMAN (= the person who hits the ball)\n \n  3  [VN] ~ sb (out) to make the BATSMAN have to leave the field by throwing a ball that hits the WICKET\n \n  move quickly\n \n  4  [V +adv./prep.] (BrE, written) to move quickly in a particular direction, especially in a vehicle:\nSoon we were bowling along the country roads.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bowl sb over\n1 to run into sb and knock them down\n2 to surprise or impress sb a lot


Words: bowler
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  (in cricket) a player who throws the ball at the BATSMAN\n \n  2  (also bowler hat) (both especially BrE) (AmE usually derby) a hard black hat with a curved BRIM and round top, worn, for example, in the past by men in business in Britain


Words: bowling
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a game in which players roll heavy balls (called BOWLS) along a special track towards a group of PINS (= bottle-shaped objects) and try to knock over as many of them as possible


Words: bowling alley
Meaning:
noun\na building or part of a building where people can go bowling:\nThe complex contains a bowling alley, pool hall and indoor tennis courts.


Words: box
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  container\n \n  1  [C] (especially in compounds) a container made of wood, cardboard, metal, etc. with a flat stiff base and sides and often a lid, used especially for holding solid things:\nShe kept all the letters in a box. * a money box * cardboard boxes * a toolbox * a matchbox\n \n  2  [C] a box and its contents:\na box of chocolates / matches\n \n  in theatre / court\n \n  3  [C] a small area in a theatre or court of law separated off from where other people sit:\na box at the opera * the witness / jury box\n  hut\n  4  [C] a small hut used for a particular purpose:\na sentry / signal box * (BrE) a telephone box * I called him from the phone box on the corner.\n  shape\n  5  [C] a small square or RECTANGLE drawn on a page for people to write information in:\nPut a cross in the appropriate box. * to tick / check a box\n  television\n  6  (the box) [sing.] (informal) the television:\nWhat’s on the box tonight?\n  on road\n  7  [C] (BrE) = BOX JUNCTION:\nOnly traffic turning right may enter the box.\n  in sport\n  8  [C] an area on a sports field that is marked by lines and used for a particular purpose: (BrE) He was fouled in the box (= the penalty box).\n  for mail\n  9  [C] = BOX NUMBER\nsee also PO BOX\n  protection\n  10  [C] (BrE) a piece of plastic that a man wears over his sex organs to protect them while he is playing a sport, especially cricket\n  tree / wood\n  11  [C, U] a small EVERGREEN tree or bush with thick dark leaves, used especially for garden HEDGES\n  12  (also boxwood) [U] the hard wood of this bush\n IDIOMS \n  give sb a box on the ears (old-fashioned) to hit sb with your hand on the side of their head as a punishment\nmore at TRICK n.\n    verb\n  fight\n  1  [V, VN] to fight sb in the sport of boxing\n  put in container\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (up) to put sth in a box\n IDIOMS \n  box sb’s ears (old-fashioned) to hit sb with your hand on the side of their head as a punishment\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  box sb/sth in\n1 to prevent sb/sth from being able to move by surrounding them with people, vehicles, etc:\nSomeone had parked behind us and boxed us in.\n2 [usually passive] (of a situation) to prevent sb from doing what they want by creating unnecessary problems:\nShe felt boxed in by all their petty rules.


Words: box junction
Meaning:
(also box) noun\n(BrE) a place where two roads cross or join, marked with a pattern of yellow lines to show that vehicles must not stop


Words: box number
Meaning:
(also box) noun\na number used as an address, especially one given in newspaper advertisements to which replies can be sent


Words: box office
Meaning:
noun\nthe place at a theatre, cinema/movie theater, etc. where the tickets are sold:\nThe movie has been a huge box-office success (= many people have been to see it). * Box-office receipts have exceeded expectations.


Words: boxer
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a person who boxes, especially as a job:\na professional / amateur / heavyweight boxer\n \n  2  a large dog with smooth hair, a short flat nose and a tail that has usually been cut very short


Words: boxer shorts
Meaning:
(also boxers) (AmE also shorts) noun\n[pl.] men’s UNDERPANTS similar to the SHORTS worn by boxers:\na pair of boxer shorts


Words: boxing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a sport in which two people fight each other with their hands, while wearing very large thick gloves (called boxing gloves):\na boxing champion / match * heavyweight boxing


Words: Boxing Day
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (BrE) the first day after Christmas Day that is not a Sunday. Boxing Day is an official holiday in Britain.


Words: boy
Meaning:
noun, exclamation \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] a male child or a young male person:\na little / small / young boy * I used to play here as a boy. * The older boys at school used to tease him. * Now she’s a teenager, she’s starting to be interested in boys. * Be a good boy and get me my coat.\nsee also OLD BOY\n \n  2  [C] a young son:\nThey have two boys and a girl. * Her eldest boy is at college.\n \n  3  [C] (in compounds; offensive when used of an older man) a boy or young man who does a particular job:\na delivery boy\nsee also BACK-ROOM BOYS\n  4  [C] a way of talking about sb who comes from a particular place, etc:\nHe’s a local boy. * a city / country boy\n  5  (the boys) [pl.] (informal) a group of male friends who often go out together:\na night out with the boys\n  6  (our boys) [pl.] a way of talking with affection about your country’s soldiers:\na message of support for our boys serving overseas\n  7  (AmE, !!!) used as an offensive way of addressing a black man\n IDIOMS \n  the boys in blue (informal) the police\n  boys will be boys (saying) you should not be surprised when boys or men behave in a noisy or rough way as this is part of typical male behaviour\nmore at BLUE, JOB n., MAN n.\n    exclamation (informal, especially AmE) used to express feelings of surprise, pleasure, pain, etc:\nBoy, it sure is hot! * Oh boy! That’s great! * Boy, it hurts! * Boy, am I glad to see you! * They eat it for breakfast and boy is it good!


Words: boycott
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] to refuse to buy, use or take part in sth as a way of protesting:\nWe are asking people to boycott goods from companies that use child labour.\n    noun ~ (of / on sth) an act of boycotting sb/sth:\na trade boycott of British goods * a boycott on the use of tropical wood


Words: boyhood
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (becoming old-fashioned) the time in a man’s life when he is a boy:\nboyhood days / memories / friends * He spent most of his boyhood with his grandparents. * All his boyhood heroes were football players.


Words: boyish
Meaning:
adjective\n(approving) looking or behaving like a boy, in a way that is attractive:\nboyish charm / enthusiasm * her slim boyish figure * His boyish good looks made him popular with girls.\n    boyishly adverb


Words: brace
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] a device that holds things firmly together or holds and supports them in position:\na neck brace (= worn to support the neck after an injury)\n \n  2  [C] (AmE braces [pl.]) a metal device that children wear inside the mouth to help their teeth grow straight:\nMy daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth.\n \n  3  (braces) (BrE) (AmE suspenders) [pl.] straps for holding trousers/pants up. They are fastened to the top of the trousers/pants at the front and back and passed over the shoulders:\na pair of braces\n \n  4  [C, usually pl.] (AmE) = CALLIPER\n  5  [C] either of the two marks, {}, used to show that the words, etc. between them are connected\ncompare BRACKET\n  6  [C] (plural brace) a pair of birds or animals that have been killed in hunting:\ntwo brace of partridge(s) * He scored a brace of goals.\n IDIOMS  see BELT n.\n    verb\n  1  ~ sb / yourself (for sth) to prepare sb/yourself for sth difficult or unpleasant that is going to happen:\n[VN] UN troops are braced for more violence. * They are bracing themselves for a long legal battle. [also VN to inf]\n  2  [VN] ~ sth / yourself (against sth) to press your body or part of your body firmly against sth in order to stop yourself from falling:\nThey braced themselves against the wind.\n  3  [VN] to tighten the muscles in your body or part of your body before doing sth that is physically difficult:\nHe stood with his legs and shoulders braced, ready to lift the weights.\n  4  [VN] (technical) to make sth stronger or more solid by supporting it with sth:\nThe roof was braced by lengths of timber.


Words: bracing
Meaning:
adjective\n(especially of weather) making you feel full of energy because it is cold:\nbracing sea air


Words: bracken
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a wild plant with large leaves that grows thickly on hills and in woods and turns brown in the autumn/fall


Words: bracket
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  (also round bracket) (both BrE) (also parenthesis AmE or formal) [usually pl.] either of a pair of marks, ( ) placed around extra information in a piece of writing or part of a problem in mathematics:\nPublication dates are given in brackets after each title. * Add the numbers in brackets first.\nsee also ANGLE BRACKET\ncompare BRACE\n \n  2  [usually pl.] (AmE) = SQUARE BRACKET\n \n  3  price, age, income, etc. ~ prices, etc. within a particular range:\npeople in the lower income bracket * Most of the houses are out of our price bracket. * the 3034 age bracket (= people aged between 30 and 34)\n  4  a piece of wood, metal or plastic fixed to the wall to support a shelf, lamp, etc.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to put words, information, etc. between brackets\n  2  ~ A and B (together) | ~ A (together) with B [often passive] to consider people or things to be similar or connected in some way:\nIt is unfair to bracket together those who cannot work with those who will not.


Words: brag
Meaning:
verb\n(-gg-) ~ to sb (about / of sth) (disapproving) to talk too proudly about sth you own or sth you have done\nSYN BOAST:\n[V] He bragged to his friends about the crime. * I’m not boasting but I think I did very well in the interview. [also V that, V speech]


Words: Brahman
Meaning:
noun\n(also Brahmin ) a Hindu who belongs to the highest CASTE (= division of society), in which all the members are priests


Words: braid
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [U] thin coloured rope that is used to decorate furniture and military uniforms:\nThe general’s uniform was trimmed with gold braid. * The curtains were trimmed with silk braid.\n \n  2  [C] (especially AmE) = PLAIT:\nShe wears her hair in braids.\n    verb [VN] (especially AmE) = PLAIT:\nShe’d braided her hair.


Words: Braille
Meaning:
(also braille)  noun\n[U] a system of printing for blind people in which the letters of the alphabet and the numbers are printed as raised dots that can be read by touching them:\nAll the exhibits are labelled in Braille.


Words: brain
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  in head\n  1  [C] the organ inside the head that controls movement, thought, memory and feeling:\ndamage to the brain * brain cells * She died of a brain tumour. * a device to measure brain activity during sleep\n  food\n  2  (brains) [pl.] the brain of an animal, eaten as food:\nsheep’s brains\n  intelligence\n  3  [U, C, usually pl.] the ability to learn quickly and think about things in a logical and intelligent way:\nIt doesn’t take much brain to work out that both stories can’t be true. * Teachers spotted that he had a good brain at an early age. * You need brains as well as brawn (= intelligence as well as strength) to do this job.\n  intelligent person\n  4  [C, usually pl.] (informal) an intelligent person:\nWe have the best scientific brains in the country working on this.\n  5  (the brains) [sing.] the most intelligent person in a particular group; the person who is responsible for thinking of and organizing sth:\nHe’s always been the brains of the family. * The band’s drummer is the brains behind their latest venture.\n IDIOMS \n  have sth on the brain (informal) to think about sth all the time, especially in a way that is annoying:\nHe has sex on the brain.\nmore at BEAT v., BLOW v., CUDGEL v., PICK v., RACK v.\n    verb [VN] (informal) to kill a person or an animal by hitting them very hard on the head:\nI nearly brained myself on that low beam.


Words: brain damage
Meaning:
noun\n[U] permanent damage to the brain caused by illness or an accident\n    brain-damaged adjective


Words: brain death
Meaning:
noun\n[U] very serious damage to the brain that cannot be cured. A person who is suffering from brain death needs machines to keep them alive, even though their heart is still beating:\na diagnosis of brain death


Words: brain drain
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (informal) the movement of highly skilled and qualified people to a country where they can work in better conditions and earn more money:\na brain drain to the US


Words: brain-dead
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  suffering from serious damage to the brain and needing machines to stay alive:\nDoctors declared her clinically brain-dead.\n  2  (humorous) very stupid and boring; not thinking in an intelligent way:\nI was afraid of becoming brain-dead after months at home.


Words: brain-teaser
Meaning:
noun\na problem that is difficult but fun to solve:\nThere were some real brain-teasers in the quiz.


Words: brainchild
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] the ~ (of sb) an idea or invention of one person or a small group of people:\nThe TV programme was the brainchild of the producer.


Words: brainless
Meaning:
adjective\nstupid; not able to think or talk in an intelligent way:\nHer husband’s colleagues were brainless bores.


Words: brainpower
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the ability to think; intelligence:\nMost humans only use a fraction of their total useful brainpower.


Words: brainstorm
Meaning:
noun [sing.]\n  1  (BrE) a sudden inability to think clearly which causes unusual behaviour:\nShe had a brainstorm in the exam and didn’t answer a single question.\n  2  (AmE) = BRAINWAVE


Words: brainstorming
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a way of making a group of people all think about sth at the same time, often in order to solve a problem or to create good ideas:\na brainstorming session\n    brainstorm verb:\n[VN] Brainstorm as many ideas as possible. [also V]


Words: brainwash
Meaning:
verb\n~ sb (into doing sth) to force sb to accept your ideas or beliefs, for example by repeating the same thing many times or by preventing the person from thinking clearly:\n[VN] The group is accused of brainwashing its young members. * Women have been brainwashed into thinking that they must go out to work in order to fulfil themselves. [also VN, VN to inf]\n    brainwashing noun [U]:\nthe victims of brainwashing and torture


Words: brainwave
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (AmE also brainstorm) a sudden good idea:\nI’ve had a brainwave that might help.\n  2  an electrical signal in the brain


Words: braise
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to cook meat or vegetables very slowly with a little liquid in a closed container:\nbraising steak (= that is suitable for braising) * The liver is then braised in olive oil.


Words: brake
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle:\nto put / slam on the brakes * the brake pedal * She stopped with a squeal / screech of the brakes.\nsee also AIR BRAKE, DISC BRAKE, HANDBRAKE\n \n  2  ~ (on sth) a thing that stops sth or makes it difficult:\nHigh interest rates are a brake on the economy.\n \n IDIOMS  see JAM v.\n    verb to slow down or make a vehicle slow down using the brake: [V] The car braked and swerved. * The truck braked to a halt. * You don’t need to brake at every bend. * She had to brake hard to avoid running into the car in front. * [VN] He braked the car and pulled in to the side of the road.


Words: brake light
Meaning:
(AmE also stop light) noun\na red light on the back of a vehicle that comes on when the brakes are used


Words: bran
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the outer covering of grain which is left when the grain is made into flour:\nbreakfast cereal that contains bran


Words: branch
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  of tree\n \n  1  a part of a tree that grows out from the main stem and on which leaves, flowers and fruit grow:\nShe climbed the tree and hid in the branches.\n \n  of company\n \n  2  a local office or shop/store belonging to a large company or organization:\nThe bank has branches all over the country. * Our New York branch is dealing with the matter.\n \n  of government\n \n  3  a part of a government or other large organization that deals with one particular aspect of its work\nSYN DEPARTMENT:\nthe anti-terrorist branch\n  of knowledge\n  4  a division of an area of knowledge or a group of languages:\nthe branch of computer science known as ’artificial intelligence’\n  of river / road\n  5  a smaller or less important part of a river, road, railway/railroad, etc. that leads away from the main part:\na branch of the Rhine * a branch line (= a small line off a main railway line, often in country areas)\n  of family\n  6  a group of members of a family who all have the same ancestors:\nMy uncle’s branch of the family emigrated to Canada.\n IDIOMS  see ROOT n.\n    verb [V] to divide into two or more parts, especially smaller or less important parts:\nThe accident happened where the road branches.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  branch off\n1 (of a road or river) to be joined to another road or river but lead in a different direction:\nJust after the lake, the path branches off to the right.\n2 (of a person) to leave a road or path and travel in a different direction\n  branch out (into sth) to start to do an activity that you have not done before, especially in your work or business:\nThe company has now branched out into selling insurance. * I decided to branch out on my own.


Words: brand
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a type of product made by a particular company:\nWhich brand of toothpaste do you use? * (BrE) You pay less for the supermarket’s own brand. * (AmE) You pay less for the store brand. * brand loyalty (= the tendency of customers to continue buying the same brand) * Champagne houses owe their success to brand image. * the leading brand of detergent\nsee also OWN-BRAND\n  2  a particular type or kind of sth:\nan unorthodox brand of humour * I don’t think Bertha would appreciate your particular brand of sympathy.\n  3  a mark made with a piece of hot metal, especially on farm animals to show who owns them\n    verb [often passive]\n  1  ~ sb (as) sth to describe sb as being sth bad or unpleasant, especially unfairly:\n[VN] They were branded as liars and cheats. * [VN-N] The newspapers branded her a hypocrite. [also VN-ADJ]\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to mark an animal with a brand to show who owns it


Words: branded
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (of a product) made by a well-known company and having that company’s name on it:\nbranded drugs / goods / products


Words: brandy
Meaning:
noun (plural brandies)\n  1  [U, C] a strong alcoholic drink made from wine. There are several types of brandy:\nThe finest brandies are made in Cognac.\n  2  [C] a glass of brandy


Words: brandy butter
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a very thick sweet sauce made with butter, sugar and brandy, often eaten with CHRISTMAS PUDDING


Words: brandy snap
Meaning:
noun\n(especially BrE) a thin crisp biscuit/cookie in the shape of a tube, flavoured with GINGER and often filled with cream


Words: brash
Meaning:
adjective (disapproving)\n  1  confident in an aggressive way:\nBeneath his brash exterior, he’s still a little boy inside.\n  2  (BrE) (of things and places) too bright or too noisy in a way that is not attractive:\nIt was real gold but it still looked brash and cheap.\n    brashly adverb\n    brashness noun [U]


Words: brass
Meaning:
noun\n \n  metal\n \n  1  [U] a bright yellow metal made by mixing COPPER and ZINC; objects made of brass:\nsolid brass fittings / door handles * a brass plate (= a sign outside a building giving the name and profession of the person who works there) * to clean / polish the brass\n \n  musical instruments\n \n  2  [U+sing./pl. v.] the musical instruments made of metal, such as TRUMPETS or FRENCH HORNS, that form a band or section of an orchestra; the people who play them:\nmusic for piano, strings and brass\ncompare PERCUSSION, STRINGS, WOODWIND, WIND INSTRUMENT\n  ornament\n  3  [C] (BrE) a decorated piece of brass used as an ornament, especially a round flat piece attached to a horse’s HARNESS\n  in church\n  4  [C] (especially BrE) a flat piece of brass with words or a picture on it, fixed to the floor or wall of a church in memory of sb who has died:\na memorial brass\n  important people\n  5  [U+sing./pl. v.] (especially AmE) = TOP BRASS\n  money\n  6  [U] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) money\nsee also BRASSY\n IDIOMS \n  brass monkeys | brass monkey weather (BrE, slang) if you say that it is brass monkeys or brass monkey weather, you mean that it is very cold weather\n  brass neck / nerve (BrE, informal) a combination of confidence and lack of respect:\nI didn’t think she would have the brass neck to do that.\n  (get down to) brass tacks (informal) (to start to consider) the basic facts or practical details of sth\nmore at BOLD, MUCK n.


Words: brass band
Meaning:
noun\na group of musicians who play brass instruments:\nThe village brass band plays regular concerts.


Words: brass rubbing
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] the art of rubbing a soft pencil or chalk on a piece of paper placed over a BRASS in a church; the pattern you get by doing this


Words: brassy
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (sometimes disapproving) (of music) loud and harsh\n  2  (informal, disapproving) (of a woman) dressing in a way that makes her sexual attraction obvious, but without style:\nthe brassy blonde behind the bar\n  3  like BRASS (1) in colour; too yellow and bright\n  4  (AmE, informal) saying what you think, without caring about other people


Words: brat
Meaning:
noun\n(informal, disapproving) a person, especially a child, who behaves badly:\na spoiled / spoilt brat


Words: bravado
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a confident way of behaving that is intended to impress people, sometimes as a way of hiding a lack of confidence:\nan act of sheer bravado * ’Don’t threaten me,’ she whispered with false bravado.


Words: brave
Meaning:
adjective, verb, noun \n    adjective (braver, bravest)\n  1  (of a person) willing to do things which are difficult, dangerous or painful; not afraid\nSYN COURAGEOUS:\nbrave men and women * Be brave! * I wasn’t brave enough to tell her what I thought of her.\n  2  (of an action) requiring or showing courage:\na brave decision * She died after a brave fight against cancer. * He felt homesick, but made a brave attempt to appear cheerful.\n  3  ~ new (sometimes ironic) new in an impressive way:\na vision of a brave new Britain\n    bravely adverb\n    bravery  noun [U]:\nan award for outstanding bravery * acts of skill and bravery\n IDIOMS \n  (a) brave new world a situation or society that changes in a way that is meant to improve people’s lives but is often a source of extra problems:\nthe brave new world of technology\n  put on a brave face | put a brave face on sth to pretend that you feel confident and happy when you do not:\nI had to put on a brave face and try to show him that I wasn’t worried. * She put a brave face on her illness.\n    verb [VN] to have to deal with sth difficult or unpleasant in order to achieve sth:\nHe did not feel up to braving the journalists at the airport. * Over a thousand people braved the elements (= went outside in spite of the bad weather) to attend the march. * The firemen braved the flames to rescue the family.\n    noun\n  1  (the brave) [pl.] people who are brave:\nAmerica-the land of the free and the home of the brave\n  2  [C] (old-fashioned) a Native American WARRIOR


Words: bravo
Meaning:
exclamation\n(becoming old-fashioned) people say Bravo! at the end of sth they have enjoyed, such as a play at the theatre


Words: brawl
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a noisy and violent fight involving a group of people, usually in a public place:\na drunken brawl * Police officers were injured in a mass brawl outside a nightclub.\n    verb [V] to take part in a noisy and violent fight, usually in a public place:\nThey were arrested for brawling in the street.\n    brawler noun


Words: brawn
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  physical strength:\nIn this job you need brains as well as brawn.\n  2  (BrE) (AmE headcheese) meat made from the head of a pig or CALF that has been boiled and pressed into a container, served cold in thin slices


Words: bray
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V] when a DONKEY brays, it makes a loud harsh sound\n  2  (of a person) to talk or laugh in a loud unpleasant voice:\n[V] He brayed with laughter. * a braying voice [also V speech] \n    bray noun:\na voice somewhere between a bray and a bellow


Words: brazen
Meaning:
adjective, verb \n    adjective\n  1  (disapproving) open and without SHAME, usually about sth that people find shocking:\nShe had become brazen about the whole affair. * his brazen admission that he was cheating\n  2  made of, or the colour of, BRASS (1)\n    brazenly adverb:\nShe had brazenly admitted allowing him back into the house.\n    verb\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  brazen it out to behave as if you are not ashamed or embarrassed about sth even though you should be:\nNow that everyone knew the truth, the only thing to do was to brazen it out.


Words: brazier
Meaning:
noun\na large metal container that holds a fire and is used to keep people warm when they are outside:\na brazier of red-hot charcoal


Words: brazil
Meaning:
(also brazil nut) noun\nthe curved nut of a large S American tree. It has a hard shell with three sides.


Words: breach
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C, U] ~ of sth a failure to do sth that must be done by law:\na breach of contract / copyright / warranty * They are in breach of Article 119. * (BrE) (a) breach of the peace (= the crime of behaving in a noisy or violent way in public) * Selling goods constituted a breach of regulation 10B.\n  2  [C, U] ~ of sth an action that breaks an agreement to behave in a particular way:\na breach of confidence / trust * a breach of security (= when sth that is normally protected is no longer secure)\n  3  [C] a break in a relationship between people or countries:\na breach in Franco-German relations\n  4  [C] an opening that is created during a military attack or by strong winds or seas:\nThey escaped through a breach in the wire fence. * A breach in the mountain wall permits warm sea air to penetrate inland.\n IDIOMS  see STEP v.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to not keep to an agreement or not keep a promise:\nThe government is accused of breaching the terms of the treaty.\n  2  to make a hole in a wall, fence, etc. so that sb/sth can go through it:\nThe dam had been breached. * Demonstrators breached police lines around the embassy.


Words: bread
Meaning:
noun [U]\n \n  1  a type of food made from flour, water and usually YEAST mixed together and baked:\na loaf / slice / piece of bread * white / brown / wholemeal bread\nsee also CRISPBREAD, FRENCH BREAD, GINGERBREAD\n \n  2  (old-fashioned, slang) money\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  take the bread out of sb’s mouth to take away sb’s job so that they are no longer able to earn enough money to live\nmore at DAILY adj., KNOW v., THING


Words: bread and butter
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  slices of bread that have been spread with butter:\na piece of bread and butter\n  2  (informal) a person or company’s main source of income


Words: bread bin
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) (AmE bread box) a wooden, metal or plastic container for keeping bread in so that it stays fresh


Words: bread-and-butter
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] basic; very important:\nEmployment and taxation are the bread-and-butter issues of politics.


Words: breadbasket
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (especially AmE) the part of a country or region that produces large amounts of food, especially grain, for the rest of the country or region


Words: breadfruit
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (plural breadfruit) a large tropical fruit with a thick skin, that tastes and feels like bread when it is cooked


Words: breadline
Meaning:
noun\n(the breadline) [sing.] (BrE) the level of income of very poor people:\nMany people without jobs are living on the breadline (= are very poor).


Words: breadth
Meaning:
noun [U, C]\n  1  (also broadness) the distance or measurement from one side to the other; how BROAD or wide sth is\nSYN WIDTH:\nShe estimated the breadth of the lake to be 500 metres.\ncompare LENGTH\n  2  a wide range (of knowledge, interests, etc.):\nHe was surprised at her breadth of reading. * The curriculum needs breadth and balance. * a new political leader whose breadth of vision (= willingness to accept new ideas) can persuade others to change\n IDIOMS  see LENGTH


Words: breadwinner
Meaning:
noun\na person who supports their family with the money they earn:\nWhen the baby was born, I became the sole breadwinner.


Words: break
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n (broke )\n \n  in pieces\n \n  1  ~ (sth) (in / into sth) to be damaged and separated into two or more parts, as a result of force; to damage sth in this way:\n[V] All the windows broke with the force of the blast. * The bag broke under the weight of the bottles inside it. * She dropped the plate and it broke into pieces. * [VN] to break a cup / window * She fell off a ladder and broke her arm. * He broke the chocolate in two.\n \n  stop working\n \n  2  to stop working as a result of being damaged; to damage sth and stop it from working:\n[V] My watch has broken. * [VN] I think I’ve broken the washing machine.\n \n  skin\n  3  [VN] to cut the surface of the skin and make it bleed:\nThe dog bit me but didn’t break the skin.\n  law / promise\n  4  [VN] to do sth that is against the law; to not keep a promise, etc:\nto break the law / rules / conditions * to break an agreement / a contract / a promise / your word * to break an appointment (= not to come to it) * He was breaking the speed limit (= travelling faster than the law allows).\n  stop for short time\n  5  ~ (for sth) to stop doing sth for a while, especially when it is time to eat or have a drink:\n[V] Let’s break for lunch. * [VN] a broken night’s sleep (= a night during which you often wake up) * (especially BrE) We broke our journey at Oxford (= stopped in Oxford on the way to the place we were going to).\n  end sth\n  6  [VN] to interrupt sth so that it ends suddenly:\nShe broke the silence by coughing. * A tree broke his fall (= stopped him as he was falling). * The phone rang and broke my train of thought. * Someone laughed suddenly and the spell was broken.\n  7  [VN] to make sth end by using force or strong action:\nan attempt to break the year-long siege * Management has not succeeded in breaking the strike.\n  8  [VN] to end a connection with sth or a relationship with sb:\nHe broke all links with the Communist party.\n  escape\n  9  [V +adv./prep.] ~ free (from sb/sth) (of a person or an object) to get away from or out of a position in which they are stuck or trapped:\nHe finally managed to break free from his attacker.\n  destroy\n  10  to destroy sth or make sb/sth weaker; to become weak or be destroyed:\n[VN] to break sb’s morale / resistance / resolve / spirit * The government was determined to break the power of the trade unions. * The scandal broke him (= ruined his reputation and destroyed his confidence). * [V] She broke under questioning (= was no longer able to bear it) and confessed to everything.\n  make sb feel bad\n  11  [VN] to make sb feel so sad, lonely, etc. that they cannot live a normal life:\nThe death of his wife broke him completely.\n  of weather\n  12  [V] to change suddenly, usually after a period when it has been fine\n  show opening\n  13  [V] to show an opening:\nThe clouds broke and the sun came out.\n  of day / dawn / storm\n  14  [V] when the day or DAWN or a storm breaks, it begins:\nDawn was breaking when they finally left.\nsee also DAYBREAK\n  of news\n  15  [V] if a piece of news breaks, it becomes known:\nThere was a public outcry when the scandal broke.\n  of voice\n  16  [V] if sb’s voice breaks, it changes its tone because of emotion:\nHer voice broke as she told us the dreadful news.\n  17  [V] when a boy’s voice breaks, it becomes permanently deeper at about the age of 13 or 14\n  a record\n  18  [VN] to do sth better, faster, etc. than anyone has ever done it before:\nShe had broken the world 100 metres record. * The movie broke all box-office records.\n  of waves\n  19  [V] when waves break, they fall and are dissolved into FOAM, usually near the shore:\nthe sound of waves breaking on the beach * The sea was breaking over the wrecked ship.\n  sth secret\n  20  [VN] to find the meaning of sth secret:\nto break a code\n  money\n  21  [VN] (especially AmE) to change a BANKNOTE for coins:\nCan you break a twenty dollar bill?\n IDIOMS \n  Idioms containing break are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example break sb’s heart is at heart.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  break away (from sb/sth)\n1 to escape suddenly from sb who is holding you or keeping you prisoner:\nThe prisoner broke away from his guards.\n2 to leave a political party, state, etc., especially to form a new one:\nThe people of the province wished to break away and form a new state.\nrelated noun BREAKAWAY\n3 to move away from a crowd or group, especially in a race:\nShe broke away from the pack and opened up a two second lead.\n  break down\n1 (of a machine or vehicle) to stop working because of a fault:\nThe telephone system has broken down. * We (= the car) broke down on the freeway.\nrelated noun BREAKDOWN\n2 to fail:\nNegotiations between the two sides have broken down.\nrelated noun BREAKDOWN\n3 to become very bad:\nHer health broke down under the pressure of work.\nsee also NERVOUS BREAKDOWN\n4 to lose control of your feelings and start crying:\nHe broke down and wept when he heard the news.\n5 to divide into parts to be analysed:\nExpenditure on the project breaks down as follows: wages $10m, plant $4m, raw materials $5m.\n  break sth<->down\n1 to make sth fall down, open, etc. by hitting it hard:\nFirefighters had to break the door down to reach the people trapped inside.\n2 to destroy sth or make it disappear, especially a particular feeling or attitude that sb has:\nto break down resistance / opposition * to break down sb’s reserve / shyness * Attempts must be made to break down the barriers of fear and hostility which divide the two communities.\n3 to divide sth into parts in order to analyse it or make it easier to do:\nBreak your expenditure down into bills, food and other. * Each lesson is broken down into several units.\nrelated noun BREAKDOWN\n4 to make a substance separate into parts or change into a different form in a chemical process:\nSugar and starch are broken down in the stomach.\nrelated noun BREAKDOWN\n  break for sth to suddenly run towards sth when you are trying to escape:\nShe had to hold him back as he tried to break for the door.\n  break in to enter a building by force:\nBurglars had broken in while we were away.\nrelated noun BREAK-IN\n  break sb/sth in\n1 to train sb/sth in sth new that they must do:\nto break in new recruits * The young horse was not yet broken in (= trained to carry a rider).\n2 to wear sth, especially new shoes, until they become comfortable\n  break in (on sth) to interrupt or disturb sth:\nShe longed to break in on their conversation but didn’t want to appear rude. * [+ speech] ’I didn’t do it!’ she broke in.\n  break into sth\n1 to enter a building by force; to open a car, etc. by force:\nWe had our car broken into last week.\nrelated noun BREAK-IN\n2 to begin laughing, singing, etc. suddenly:\nAs the President’s car drew up, the crowd broke into loud applause.\n3 to suddenly start running; to start running faster than before:\nHe broke into a run when he saw the police. * Her horse broke into a trot.\n4 (BrE) to use a BANKNOTE of high value to buy sth that costs less:\nI had to break into a ｣20 to pay the bus fare.\n5 to open and use sth that has been kept for an emergency:\nThey had to break into the emergency food supplies.\n6 to be successful when you get involved in sth:\nThe company is having difficulty breaking into new markets.\n  break off\n1 to become separated from sth as a result of force:\nThe back section of the plane had broken off.\n2 to stop speaking or stop doing sth for a time:\nHe broke off in the middle of a sentence.\n  break sth<->off\n1 to separate sth, using force:\nShe broke off a piece of chocolate and gave it to me.\n2 to end sth suddenly:\nBritain threatened to break off diplomatic relations. * They’ve broken off their engagement.\n  break out (of war, fighting or other unpleasant events) to start suddenly:\nThey had escaped to America shortly before war broke out in 1939. * Fighting had broken out between rival groups of fans. * Fire broke out during the night.\nrelated noun OUTBREAK\n  break out (of sth) to escape from a place or situation:\nSeveral prisoners broke out of the jail. * She needed to break out of her daily routine and do something exciting.\nrelated noun BREAKOUT\n  break out in sth to suddenly become covered in sth:\nHer face broke out in a rash. * He broke out in a cold sweat (= for example, through fear).\n  break through to make new and important discoveries:\nScientists think they are beginning to break through in the fight against cancer.\nrelated noun BREAKTHROUGH\n  break through | break through sth\n1 to make a way through sth using force:\nDemonstrators broke through the police cordon. * There was a police cordon around the site but the demonstrators still broke through.\n2 (of the sun or moon) to appear from behind clouds:\nThe sun broke through at last in the afternoon. * At last the moon broke through the clouds and they could see their way.\n  break through sth to succeed in dealing with an attitude that sb has and the difficulties it creates\nSYN OVERCOME:\nHe had finally managed to break through her reserve.\n  break up\n1 to separate into smaller pieces:\nThe ship broke up on the rocks.\n2 to come to an end:\nTheir marriage has broken up.\nrelated noun BREAK-UP\n3 to go away in different directions:\nThe meeting broke up at eleven o’clock.\n4 (especially BrE) to begin the holidays when school closes at the end of a TERM:\nWhen do you break up for Christmas?\n5 (BrE) to become very weak:\nHe was breaking up under the strain.\n6 (AmE) to laugh very hard:\nWoody Allen makes me just break up.\n  break sth<->up\n1 to make sth separate into smaller pieces; to divide sth into smaller parts:\nThe ship was broken up for scrap metal. * Sentences can be broken up into clauses.\n2 to end a relationship, a company, etc:\nThey decided to break up the partnership.\nrelated noun BREAK-UP\n3 to make people leave sth or stop doing sth, especially by using force:\nPolice were called in to break up the fight.\n  break up (with sb) to end a relationship with sb:\nShe’s just broken up with her boyfriend.\nrelated noun BREAK-UP\n  break with sth to end a connection with sth:\nto break with tradition / old habits / the past * He broke with the party on the issue of Europe.\n    noun\n  short stop / pause\n  1  [C] a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest, eat, etc:\na coffee / lunch / tea break * Let’s take a break. * a break for lunch * She worked all day without a break.\n  2  (also break time) (both BrE) (AmE recess) [U] a period of time between lessons at school:\nCome and see me at break.\n  3  [C] a pause or period of time when sth stops before starting again:\na break in my daily routine * She wanted to take a career break in order to have children.\n  4  [C] a pause for advertisements in the middle of a television or radio programme:\nMore news after the break.\n  holiday / vacation\n  5  [C] a short holiday/vacation:\nWe had a weekend break in New York. * a well-earned break\n  change in situation\n  6  [sing.] ~ (in sth) | ~ (with sb/sth) the moment when a situation that has existed for a time changes, ends or is interrupted:\nHe needed to make a complete break with the past. * a break with tradition / convention (= a change from what is accepted, in sth such as art, behaviour, etc.) * a break in the weather (= a change from one type of weather to a different one) * a break in diplomatic relations\n  opening / space\n  7  [C] ~ (in sth) a space or an opening between two or more things:\nWe could see the moon through a break in the clouds. * Wait for a break in the traffic before crossing the road.\n  opportunity\n  8  [C] (informal) an opportunity to do sth, usually to get sth that you want or to achieve success:\nI got my lucky break when I won a ’Young Journalist of the Year’ competition. * We’ve had a few bad breaks (= pieces of bad luck) along the way. * If you just give me a break, you won’t regret it.\n  of bone\n  9  [C] a place where sth, especially a bone in your body, has broken:\nThe X-ray showed there was no break in his leg.\n  in tennis\n  10  (also break of serve) [C] a win in a game in which your opponent is SERVING:\nIt was her second break in the set. * break point (= a situation in which, if you win the next point, you win the game)\n  in billiards / snooker\n  11  [C] a series of successful shots by one player; the number of points scored in a series of successful shots:\nHe’s put together a magnificent break. * a 147 break (= the highest possible break in SNOOKER) * The champion began with breaks of 74 and 58.\n IDIOMS \n  break of day / dawn (literary) the moment in the early hours of the morning when it begins to get light\n  give me a break! (spoken) used when sb wants sb else to stop doing or saying sth that is annoying, or to stop saying sth that is not true\n  give sb a break to give sb a chance; to not judge sb too harshly:\nGive the lad a break-it’s only his second day on the job.\n  make a break for sth / for it to run towards sth in order to try and escape:\nHe suddenly leapt up and made a break for the door. * They decided to make a break for it (= to try and escape) that night.\nmore at CLEAN adj.\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nbreak / recess / interval / intermission / interlude / pause\nAll these words mean the short time when an activity stops before it starts again, but they are used in different situations.\nA break is a rest during the working day: a lunch / coffee break * I’m exhausted - I need a break.\nAt school, children have break [U] (BrE) or recess [U] (AmE): Come and see me at break/recess.\nRecess is also the time when Parliament or Congress is officially not working, or when work stops in a court of law.\nAn interval (BrE) or intermission [C,U] (AmE) is the period between the parts of a play, concert, etc: We had a quick drink in the interval.\nAn interlude may be a short space of time between the parts of a play, etc., or a period of time during a longer activity when something different happens: Her time in Paris was a happy interlude in a difficult career.\nPause is often applied to speech: a pause for breath * After a pause, she said ’Yes.’\n______________________________\n\n______________________________\n VOCABULARY BUILDING \nwords that mean ’break’\nburst  The balloon hit a tree and burst.\ncrack  The ice started to crack.\ncrumble  Crumble the cheese into a bowl.\ncut  Now cut the wire in two.\nfracture  He fell and fractured his hip.\nshatter  The vase hit the floor and shattered.\nsmash  Vandals had smashed two windows.\nsnap  I snapped the pencil in half.\nsplit  The bag had split open on the way home.\ntear  She tore the letter into pieces.\nAll these verbs, except cut, can be used with or with-out an object.\n______________________________


Words: break-dancing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a style of dancing with ACROBATIC movements, often performed in the street\n    break-dance verb [V]\n    break-dancer noun


Words: break-in
Meaning:
noun\nan entry into a building using force, usually to steal sth:\nPolice were called to three break-ins in the same area last night.


Words: break-up
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the ending of a relationship or an association:\nHe did nothing to stop the break-up of their marriage. * family break-ups\n  2  the division of a large organization or country into smaller parts:\nthe break-up of the company


Words: breakage
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, usually pl.] an object that has been broken:\nThe last time we moved house there were very few breakages.\n  2  [U, C] the act of breaking sth:\nWrap it up carefully to protect against breakage.


Words: breakaway
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective [only before noun] (of a political group, an organization, or a part of a country) having separated from a larger group or country:\na breakaway faction / group / section * a breakaway republic\n    noun [sing.]\n  1  an occasion when members of a political party or an organization leave it in order to form a new party, etc.\n  2  a change from an accepted style:\na breakaway from his earlier singing style


Words: breakdown
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] an occasion when a vehicle or machine stops working:\na breakdown on the motorway * a breakdown recovery service\n  2  [C, U] a failure of a relationship, discussion or system:\nthe breakdown of a marriage * marriage breakdown * a breakdown in communications * The breakdown of the negotiations was not unexpected. * the breakdown of law and order\n  3  [C, usually sing.] detailed information that you get by studying a set of figures:\nFirst, let’s look at a breakdown of the costs.\n  4  [U] (technical) the breaking of a substance into the parts of which it is made:\nthe breakdown of proteins in the digestive system\n  5  [C] = NERVOUS BREAKDOWN:\nShe’s still recovering from her breakdown.


Words: breakdown truck
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE tow truck) noun\na truck that is used for taking cars away to be repaired when they have had a breakdown


Words: breaker
Meaning:
noun\na large wave covered with white bubbles that is moving towards the shore\nsee also CIRCUIT-BREAKER, ICE-BREAKER, HOUSEBREAKER, LAWBREAKER, RECORD-BREAKER, STRIKE-BREAKER, TIEBREAKER


Words: breakfast
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n [C, U] the first meal of the day:\na big / hearty / light breakfast * (especially BrE) a cooked breakfast * Do you want bacon and eggs for breakfast? * They were having breakfast when I arrived. * She doesn’t eat much breakfast.\nsee also BED AND BREAKFAST, CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, ENGLISH BREAKFAST, POWER BREAKFAST, WEDDING BREAKFAST\n \n IDIOMS  see DOG n.\n    verb [V] ~ (on sth) (formal) to eat breakfast


Words: breaking point
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the time when problems become so great that a person, an organization or a system can no longer deal with them:\nto be at / to reach breaking point * to be stretched to breaking point


Words: breakneck
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] very fast and dangerous:\nto drive / travel / do sth at breakneck speed


Words: breakout
Meaning:
noun\nan escape from prison, usually by a group of prisoners:\na mass breakout from a top security prison


Words: breakthrough
Meaning:
noun\nan important development that may lead to an agreement or achievement:\nto make / achieve a breakthrough * a significant breakthrough in negotiations * a major breakthrough in cancer research


Words: breast
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  part of body\n  1  [C] either of the two round soft parts at the front of a woman’s body that produce milk when she has had a baby:\nShe put the baby to her breast. * breast cancer * breast milk\n  2  [C] the similar, smaller part on a man’s body, which does not produce milk\n  3  [C] (literary) the top part of the front of your body, below your neck\nSYN CHEST:\nShe cradled the child against her breast.\n  clothing\n  4  [C] the part of a piece of clothing that covers your chest:\nA row of medals was pinned to the breast of his coat.\n  of bird\n  5  [C] the front part of a bird’s body:\nbreast feathers * The robin has a red breast.\n  meat\n  6  [C, U] meat from the front part of the body of a bird or an animal:\nchicken / turkey breasts * breast of lamb\n  -breasted\n  7  (in adjectives) having the type of chest or breasts mentioned:\na small-breasted / full-breasted woman * bare-breasted * the yellow-breasted male of the species\nsee also DOUBLE-BREASTED, SINGLE-BREASTED\n  heart\n  8  [C] (literary) the part of the body where the feelings and emotions are thought to be:\na troubled breast\nsee also CHIMNEY BREAST\n IDIOMS  see BEAT v., CLEAN adj.\n    verb [VN] (formal)\n  1  to reach the top of a hill, etc:\nAs they breasted the ridge, they saw the valley and lake before them.\n  2  to push through sth, touching it with your chest:\nHe strode into the ocean, breasting the waves.


Words: breast pocket
Meaning:
noun\na pocket on a shirt, or on the outside or inside of the part of a jacket that covers the chest


Words: breastbone
Meaning:
noun\nthe long flat bone in the chest that the seven top pairs of RIBS are connected to \nSYN STERNUM


Words: breastfeed
Meaning:
verb\n(breastfed, breastfed ) [V, VN] when a woman breastfeeds, she feeds her baby with milk from her breasts.\ncompare BOTTLE-FEED, NURSE v. (6)


Words: breaststroke
Meaning:
noun\n[U, sing.] a style of swimming that you do on your front, moving your arms and legs away from your body and then back towards it in a circular movement:\nto swim breaststroke * a slow breaststroke


Words: breath
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the air that you take into your lungs and send out again:\nHis breath smelt of garlic. * bad breath (= that smells bad) * We had to stop for breath before we got to the top. * She was very short of breath (= had difficulty breathing). * While there is breath left in my body, I will refuse.\n  2  [C] an amount of air that enters the lungs at one time:\nto take a deep breath * He recited the whole poem in one breath.\n  3  ~ of sth [sing.] (formal) a small amount of sth; slight evidence of sth:\na breath of suspicion / scandal\n  4  a ~ of air, wind [sing.] (literary) a slight movement of air\n IDIOMS \n  a breath of (fresh) air clean air breathed in after being indoors or in a dirty atmosphere:\nWe’ll get a breath of fresh air at lunchtime.\n  a breath of fresh air a person, thing or place that is new and different and therefore interesting and exciting\n  the breath of life to / for sb (literary) an essential part of a person’s existence:\nPlaying the violin has been the breath of life to her for over 20 years.\n  get your breath (again / back) (BrE) (also catch your breath AmE, BrE) to breathe normally again after running or doing some tiring exercise\n  hold your breath\n1 to stop breathing for a short time:\nHold your breath and count to ten.\n2 to be anxious while you are waiting for sth that you are worried about:\nHe held his breath while the results were read out.\n3 (informal) people say don’t hold your breath! to emphasize that sth will take a long time or may not happen:\nShe said she’d do it this week, but don’t hold your breath!\n  in the same breath immediately after saying sth that suggests the opposite intention or meaning:\nHe praised my work and in the same breath told me I would have to leave.\n  his / her last / dying breath the last moment of a person’s life\n  out of breath having difficulty breathing after exercise:\nWe were out of breath after only five minutes.\n  say sth, speak, etc. under your breath to say sth quietly so that people cannot hear:\n’Rubbish!’ he murmured under his breath.\n  take sb’s breath away to be very surprising or beautiful:\nMy first view of the island from the air took my breath away.\nmore at BATED, CATCH v., DRAW v., SAVE v., WASTE v.


Words: breath test
Meaning:
noun\na test used by the police to show the amount of alcohol in a driver’s breath:\nAll drivers may be given random breath tests.


Words: breathable
Meaning:
adjective\n(technical) (of fabric used in making clothes) allowing air to pass through:\nBreathable, waterproof clothing is essential for most outdoor sports.


Words: breathalyse
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE breathalyze)  verb\n[VN] [usually passive] to check how much alcohol a driver has drunk by making him or her breathe into a breathalyser:\nBoth drivers were breathalysed at the scene of the accident.


Words: breathalyser
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE Breathalyzer)  noun\na device used by the police to measure the amount of alcohol in a driver’s breath


Words: breathe
Meaning:
verb\n  air / breath\n  1  to take air into your lungs and send it out again through your nose or mouth:\n[V] He breathed deeply before speaking again. * The air was so cold we could hardly breathe. * She was beginning to breathe more easily. * He was breathing heavily after his exertions. * [VN] Most people don’t realize that they are breathing polluted air.\n  2  [VN] to send air, smoke or a particular smell out of your mouth:\nHe came up close, breathing alcohol fumes all over me.\n  say quietly\n  3  (literary) to say sth quietly:\n[V speech] ’I’m over here,’ she breathed. [also VN]\n  of wine\n  4  [V] if you allow wine to breathe, you open the bottle and let air get in before you drink it\n  of fabric / skin\n  5  [V] if fabric, leather, skin, etc. can breathe, air can move around or through it:\nCotton clothing allows your skin to breathe.\n  feeling / quality\n  6  [VN] (formal) to be full of a particular feeling or quality:\nHer performance breathed wit and charm.\n IDIOMS \n  breathe (easily / freely) again to feel calm again after sth unpleasant or frightening has ended:\nOnce he was safely back in prison, she was able to breathe easily again.\n  breathe down sb’s neck (informal) to watch closely what sb is doing in a way that makes them feel anxious and/or annoyed:\nI can’t get any work done with you breathing down my neck.\n  breathe (new) life into sth to improve sth by introducing new ideas and making people more interested in it:\nThe results of their research have breathed new life into the debate.\n  breathe your last (literary) to die\nmore at LIVE\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  breathe in to take air into your lungs through your nose or mouth:\nI want you to breathe in and hold your breath for as long as possible.\n  breathe sth<->in to take air, smoke, etc. into your lungs through your nose or mouth:\nHis illness is a result of breathing in paint fumes over many years.\n  breathe out to send air out of your lungs through your nose or mouth:\nTake a deep breath and then breathe out when I tell you.\n  breathe sth<->out to send air, smoke, etc. out of your lungs through your nose or mouth:\nHumans take in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide.


Words: breather
Meaning:
noun\n(informal) a short pause for rest or to relax:\nTell me when you need a breather. * to take / have a five-minute breather\nsee also HEAVY BREATHER


Words: breathing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the action of taking air into the lungs and sending it out again:\nHer breathing became steady and she fell asleep. * Deep breathing exercises will help you relax. * Heavy (= loud) breathing was all I could hear.


Words: breathing space
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] a short rest in the middle of a period of mental or physical effort:\nAfter finishing one job she needed a breathing space before starting the next.


Words: breathless
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  having difficulty in breathing; making it difficult for sb to breathe:\nHe arrived breathless at the top of the stairs. * They maintained a breathless (= very fast) pace for half an hour. * The dance left her feeling breathless and weak.\n  2  ~ (with sth) (written) experiencing, or making sb experience, a strong emotional reaction:\nbreathless with terror * the breathless excitement of seeing each other again\n  3  (written) with no air or wind:\nthe breathless heat of a summer afternoon\n    breathlessly adverb\n    breathlessness noun [U]


Words: breathtaking
Meaning:
adjective\nvery exciting or impressive (usually in a pleasant way); very surprising:\na breathtaking view of the mountains * The scene was one of breathtaking beauty. * He spoke with breathtaking arrogance.\n    breathtakingly adverb:\na breathtakingly expensive diamond


Words: breech birth
Meaning:
(also breech delivery) noun\na birth in which the baby’s bottom or feet come out of the mother first


Words: breeches
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] short trousers/pants fastened just below the knee:\na pair of breeches * riding breeches


Words: breed
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (bred, bred )\n  1  [V] (of animals) to have sex and produce young:\nMany animals breed only at certain times of the year.\nsee also INTERBREED\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (for / as sth) to keep animals or plants in order to produce young ones in a controlled way:\nThe rabbits are bred for their long coats. * Greyhounds were originally bred as hunting dogs. * the first panda to be bred in captivity\nsee also CROSS-BREED, PURE-BRED, THOROUGHBRED\n  3  [VN] to be the cause of sth:\nNothing breeds success like success.\n  4  [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth into sb to educate sb in a particular way as they are growing up:\nFear of failure was bred into him at an early age.\nsee also WELL BRED\n IDIOMS  see BORN v., FAMILIARITY\n    noun\n  1  a particular type of animal that has been developed by people in a controlled way, especially a type of dog, cat or farm animal:\nLabradors and other large breeds of dog * a breed of cattle / sheep\n  2  [usually sing.] a type of person:\nHe represents a new breed of politician. * Players as skilful as this are a rare breed.


Words: breeding
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the keeping of animals in order to breed from them:\nthe breeding of horses * a breeding programme\n  2  the producing of young animals, plants, etc:\nthe breeding season\n  3  the family or social background that is thought to result in good manners:\na sign of good breeding


Words: breeding ground
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [usually pl.] a place where wild animals go to produce their young:\nSome birds fly south to find good breeding grounds.\n  2  ~ (for sth) [usually sing.] a place where sth, especially sth bad, is able to develop:\nThis area of the city has become a breeding ground for violent crime.


Words: breeze
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] a light wind:\na sea breeze * The flowers were gently swaying in the breeze. * A light breeze was blowing.\n  2  [sing.] (informal) a thing that is easy to do:\nIt was a breeze. * Going down the hill would be a breeze after the long climb up!\n IDIOMS  see SHOOT v.\n    verb [V +adv./prep.] to move in a cheerful and confident way in a particular direction:\nShe just breezed in and asked me to help.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  breeze through sth to do sth successfully and easily:\nHe breezed through the tests.


Words: breezy
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  with the wind blowing quite strongly:\nIt was a bright, breezy day. * the breezy east coast\n  2  having or showing a cheerful and relaxed manner:\nYou’re very bright and breezy today!\n    breezily  adverb:\n’Hi folks,’ he said breezily.\n    breeziness  noun [U]


Words: brethren
Meaning:
noun [pl.] (old-fashioned)\n  1  used to talk to people in church or to talk about the members of a male religious group:\nLet us pray, brethren.\n  2  people who are part of the same society as yourself:\nWe should do all we can to help our less fortunate brethren.


Words: brevity
Meaning:
noun [U] (formal)\n  1  the quality of using few words when speaking or writing:\nThe report is a masterpiece of brevity. * Charles Dickens was not known for his brevity. * For the sake of brevity, I’d like to make just two points.\n  2  the fact of lasting a short time:\nthe brevity of human life\nsee also BRIEF


Words: brew
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  to make beer:\n[VN] The beer is brewed in the Czech Republic. [also V]\n  2  [VN] to make a hot drink of tea or coffee:\nfreshly brewed coffee\n  3  [V] (especially BrE) (of tea or coffee) to mix with hot water and become ready to drink:\nAlways let tea brew for a few minutes.\n  4  [V] ~ (up) (usually used in the progressive tenses) if sth unpleasant is brewing or brewing up, it seems likely to happen soon:\nTrouble has been brewing for some time now. * A storm was brewing up out at sea.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  brew up | brew sth<->up (BrE, informal) to make a hot drink of tea or coffee:\nWhose turn is it to brew up?\nrelated noun BREW-UP\n    noun\n  1  [C, U] a type of beer, especially one made in a particular place:\nI thought I’d try the local brew. * home brew (= beer made at home)\n  2  [C, usually sing.] (BrE, informal) an amount of tea made at one time:\nI’ll make a fresh brew. * Let’s have a brew.\n  3  [C, usually sing.] a mixture of different ideas, circumstances, events, etc:\nThe movie is a potent brew of adventure, sex and comedy. * His music is a heady brew (= a powerful mixture) of heavy metal and punk.\n IDIOMS \n  a witch’s / an evil brew (BrE) an unpleasant drink that is a mixture of different things


Words: brewer
Meaning:
noun\na person or company that makes beer:\nSix big brewers account for about 75% of total beer sales in the UK.


Words: briar
Meaning:
(also brier)  noun\n  1  any prickly wild bush, especially a wild rose bush\n  2  a bush with a hard root that is used for making tobacco pipes; a tobacco pipe made from this root


Words: bribe
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a sum of money or sth valuable that you give or offer to sb to persuade them to help you, especially by doing sth dishonest:\nIt was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. * She had been offered a $50 000 bribe to drop the charges.\n    verb ~ sb (with sth) | ~ sb (into doing sth) to give sb money or sth valuable in order to persuade them to help you, especially by doing sth dishonest: [VN] They bribed the guards with cigarettes. * She was bribed into handing over secret information. * He managed to bribe his way onto the ship. [also VN to inf]


Words: bribery
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the giving or taking of bribes:\nShe was arrested on bribery charges. * allegations of bribery and corruption


Words: bric-a-brac
Meaning:
noun\n[U] ornaments and other small decorative objects of little value:\nmarket stalls selling cheap bric-a-brac


Words: brick
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C, U] baked clay used for building walls, houses and other buildings; an individual block of this:\nThe school is built of brick. * a pile of bricks * a brick wall\nsee also RED-BRICK\n \n  2  [C] a plastic or wooden block, used as a toy for young children to build things with\n \n  3  [C, usually sing.] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a friend that you can rely on when you need help:\nThanks for looking after the children today - you’re a real brick.\n \n IDIOMS \n  be up against a brick wall to be unable to make any progress because there is a difficulty that stops you\n  bricks and mortar a building, when you are thinking of it in connection with how much it cost to build or how much it is worth:\nA home isn’t just bricks and mortar. * The new college will cost about ｣37 million in bricks and mortar.\n  make bricks without straw (BrE) to try to work without the necessary material, money, information, etc.\nmore at CAT n., DROP v., HEAD n., TON n.\n    verb\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  brick sth<->in / up to fill an opening in a wall with bricks:\nThe windows had been bricked up.


Words: brickbat
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] an insulting remark made in public:\nThe president has received many brickbats in the press recently. * Each side in the dispute has been throwing brickbats at the other.


Words: bricklayer
Meaning:
(also BrE informal brickie) noun\na person whose job is to build walls, etc. with bricks\n \n    bricklaying noun [U]


Words: brickwork
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the bricks in a wall, building, etc:\nPlaster had fallen away in places, exposing the brickwork.\n  2  (brickworks) [C] (plural brickworks) (BrE) a place where bricks are made


Words: bridal
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] connected with a BRIDE or a wedding:\na bridal gown * the bridal party (= the bride and the people helping her at her wedding) * a bridal suite (= a set of rooms in a hotel for a couple who have just got married) * (AmE) a bridal shower (= a party for a woman who will get married soon)


Words: bride
Meaning:
noun\na woman on her wedding day, or just before or just after it:\na toast to the bride and groom * He introduced his new bride.


Words: bridegroom
Meaning:
(also groom) noun\na man on his wedding day, or just before or just after it:\nI enjoyed the bridegroom’s speech.


Words: bridesmaid
Meaning:
noun\na young woman or girl who helps a BRIDE before and during the marriage ceremony:\nJo asked her sister to be (a) bridesmaid.\ncompare BEST MAN, PAGEBOY


Words: bridge
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  over road / river\n \n  1  [C] a structure that is built over a road, railway/railroad, river, etc. so that people or vehicles can cross from one side to the other:\nWe crossed the bridge over the river Windrush.\nsee also SUSPENSION BRIDGE, SWING BRIDGE\n \n  connection\n \n  2  [C] a thing that provides a connection or contact between two different things:\nThe book serves as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science. * Cultural exchanges are a way of building bridges between countries.\n \n  of ship\n  3  (usually the bridge) the part of a ship where the captain and other officers stand when they are controlling and steering the ship:\nWho was on the bridge when the collision took place?\n  card game\n  4  [U] a card game for two pairs of players who have to predict how many cards they will win. They score points if they succeed in winning that number of cards and lose points if they fail.\n  of nose\n  5  the ~ of sb’s nose [sing.] the hard part at the top of the nose, between the eyes\n  of glasses\n  6  [C] the part of a pair of glasses that rests on your nose\n  of guitar / violin\n  7  [C] a small piece of wood on a guitar, violin, etc. over which the strings are stretched\n  false teeth\n  8  [C] a false tooth or false teeth that are held permanently in place by being fastened to natural teeth on either side\n IDIOMS  see BURN v., CROSS v., WATER n.\n    verb\n  build / form bridge [VN] to build or form a bridge over sth:\nThe valley was originally bridged by the Romans. * A plank of wood bridged the stream.\n IDIOMS \n  bridge the gap / gulf / divide (between A and B) to reduce or get rid of the differences that exist between two things or groups of people


Words: bridgehead
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a strong position that an army has captured in enemy land, from which it can go forward or attack the enemy\n  2  [usually sing.] (written) a good position from which to make progress:\nThis agreement will be a bridgehead for further talks.


Words: bridging loan
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) an amount of money that a bank lends you for a short time, especially so that you can buy a new house while you are waiting to sell your old one


Words: bridle
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n a set of leather bands, attached to REINS, which is put around a horse’s head and used for controlling it\n    verb\n  1  [VN] to put a bridle on a horse\n  2  [V] ~ (at sth) (literary) to show that you are annoyed and/or offended at sth, especially by moving your head up and backwards in a proud way:\nShe bridled at the suggestion that she was lying.


Words: bridle path
Meaning:
(BrE also bridleway) noun\na rough path that is suitable for people riding horses or walking, but not for cars


Words: brief
Meaning:
adjective, noun, verb \n    adjective (briefer, briefest)\n  1  lasting only a short time; short:\na brief visit / meeting / conversation * a brief pause / silence * Mozart’s life was brief.\n  2  using few words:\na brief description / summary / account * Please be brief (= say what you want to say quickly).\n  3  (of clothes) short and not covering much of the body:\na brief skirt\nsee also BREVITY, BRIEFLY\n IDIOMS \n  in brief in a few words, without details:\nIn brief, the meeting was a disaster. * Now the rest of the news in brief.\n    noun-see also BRIEFS\n  1  (BrE) the instructions that a person is given explaining what their job is and what their duties are:\nIt wasn’t part of his brief to speak to the press. * I was given the brief of reorganizing the department. * to stick to your brief (= to only do what you are asked to do) * to prepare / produce a brief for sb\n  2  (BrE, law) a legal case that is given to a lawyer to argue in court; a piece of work for a BARRISTER:\nWill you accept this brief?\n  3  (AmE, law) a written summary of the facts that support one side of a legal case, that will be presented to a court\n  4  (BrE, informal) a SOLICITOR or a defence lawyer:\nI want to see my brief.\n IDIOMS \n  hold no brief for sb/sth (BrE, formal) to not support or be in favour of sb/sth:\nI hold no brief for either side in this war.\n    verb\n  1  ~ sb (on / about sth) to give sb information about sth so that they are prepared to deal with it:\n[VN] The officer briefed her on what to expect. * I expect to be kept fully briefed at all times. [also VN to inf] \ncompare DEBRIEF\n  2  [VN, VN to inf] (BrE, law) to give a lawyer, especially a BARRISTER, the main facts of a legal case so that it can be argued in a court of law


Words: briefing
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a meeting in which people are given instructions or information:\na press briefing\n  2  [C, U] the detailed instructions or information that are given at such a meeting:\nCaptain Trent gave his men a full briefing. * a briefing session / paper


Words: briefly
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  for a short time:\nHe had spoken to Emma only briefly. * She met John briefly on Friday night.\n  2  in few words:\nBriefly, the argument is as follows ... * Let me tell you briefly what happened.


Words: brig
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a ship with two MASTS (= posts that support the sails) and square sails\n  2  (AmE) a prison, especially one on a WARSHIP


Words: brigade
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a large group of soldiers that forms a unit of an army\n  2  [usually sing.] (often disapproving) used, always with a word or phrase in front of it, to describe a group of people who share the same opinions or are similar in some other way:\nthe anti-smoking brigade\nsee also FIRE BRIGADE\n IDIOMS  see HEAVY adj.


Words: brigand
Meaning:
noun\n(old-fashioned) a member of a group of criminals that robs people, especially one that attacks travellers


Words: bright
Meaning:
adjective, adverb \n    adjective (brighter, brightest)\n  1  full of light; shining strongly:\nbright light / sunshine * a bright room * Her eyes were bright with tears. * a bright morning (= with the sun shining)\n  2  (of a colour) strong and easy to see:\nI like bright colours. * a bright yellow dress * Jack’s face turned bright red.\n  3  cheerful and lively:\nHis eyes were bright and excited. * She gave me a bright smile. * Why are you so bright and cheerful today? * His face was bright with excitement.\n  4  intelligent; quick to learn:\nthe brightest pupil in the class * Do you have any bright ideas (= clever ideas)?\n  5  hopeful; likely to be successful:\nThis young musician has a bright future. * Prospects for the coming year look bright. * a bright start to the week\n    brightly adverb:\na brightly lit room * ’Hi!’ she called brightly.\n    brightness noun [U]\n IDIOMS \n  bright and early very early in the morning:\nYou’re up bright and early today!\n  (as) bright as a button (BrE) intelligent and quick to understand\n  the bright lights the excitement of city life:\nAlthough he grew up in the country, he’s always had a taste for the bright lights.\n  a bright spark (BrE, informal, often ironic) a lively and intelligent person, especially sb young:\nSome bright spark (= stupid person) left the tap running all night.\n  a / the bright spot a good or pleasant part of sth that is unpleasant or bad in all other ways:\nThe win last week was the only bright spot in their last ten games.\n  look on the bright side to be cheerful or hopeful about a bad situation, for example by thinking only of the advantages and not the disadvantages\n    adverb (brighter, brightest) (literary) (usually with the verbs burn and shine) brightly:\nThe stars were shining bright.


Words: bright-eyed
Meaning:
(also less frequent bright-eyed and bushy-tailed) adjective\n(of a person) full of interest and enthusiasm:\nFresh-faced and bright-eyed, the five-year-olds trooped off to school.


Words: brighten
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to become or make sth lighter or brighter in colour:\n[V] In the distance, the sky was beginning to brighten. * [VN] a shampoo to brighten and condition your hair\n  2  ~ (sth) (up) to become, feel or look happier; to make sb look happier:\n[V] Her eyes brightened. * He brightened up at their words of encouragement. * [VN] A smile brightened her face.\n  3  ~ (sth) (up) to become or make sth become more pleasant, enjoyable or hopeful:\n[VN] A personal letter will usually brighten up a person’s day. [also V]\n  4  [VN] ~ sth (up) to make sth look more colourful and attractive:\nFresh flowers will brighten up any room in the house.\n  5  [V] ~ (up) (of the weather) to improve and become brighter:\nAccording to the forecast, it should brighten up later.


Words: brilliant
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  extremely clever or impressive:\nWhat a brilliant idea! * a brilliant performance / invention\n  2  very successful:\na brilliant career * The play was a brilliant success.\n  3  very intelligent or skilful:\na brilliant young scientist * She has one of the most brilliant minds in the country.\n  4  (of light or colours) very bright:\nbrilliant sunshine * brilliant blue eyes\n  5  (BrE, spoken) very good; excellent:\n’How was it?’ ’Brilliant!’ * Thanks. You’ve been brilliant (= very kind).\n    brilliance  noun [U]:\nThere were flashes of brilliance from the soloists, but generally the playing and singing lacked sparkle.\n    brilliantly adverb:\nThe plan worked brilliantly. * It was brilliantly sunny.


Words: brim
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  the top edge of a cup, bowl, glass, etc:\ntwo wine glasses, filled to the brim * (figurative) She felt suddenly alive and full to the brim with enthusiasm.\n \n  2  the flat edge around the bottom of a hat that sticks out\n \n  3  (-brimmed) (in adjectives) having the type of brim mentioned:\na wide-brimmed hat\n    verb (-mm-) [V] ~ (with sth) to be full of sth; to fill sth:\nHer eyes brimmed with tears. * Tears brimmed in her eyes. * The team were brimming with confidence before the game.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  brim over (with sth) (of a cup, container, etc.) to be so full of a liquid that it flows over the edge\nSYN OVERFLOW: (figurative) Her heart was brimming over with happiness.


Words: brimful
Meaning:
adjective\n(especially BrE) ~ of sth completely full of sth:\nShe’s certainly brimful of energy. * a jug brimful of cream


Words: brine
Meaning:
noun\n[U] very salty water, used especially for preserving food:\na can of tuna in brine\nsee also BRINY


Words: bring
Meaning:
come with sb / sth\n  1  ~ sb/sth (with you) | ~ sth (for sb) | ~ (sb) sth to come to a place with sb/sth:\n[VN] Don’t forget to bring your books with you. * She brought her boyfriend to the party. * [VN, VNN] Bring a present for Helen. * Bring Helen a present.\n  provide\n  2  ~ sb/sth sth | ~ sth to sb/sth to provide sb/sth with sth:\n[VNN] His writing brings him $10 000 a year. * [VN] The team’s new manager brings ten years’ experience to the job.\n  cause\n  3  [VN] to cause sth:\nThe revolution brought many changes. * The news brought tears to his eyes (= made him cry). * Retirement usually brings with it a massive drop in income.\n  4  [VN +adv./prep.] to cause sb/sth to be in a particular condition or place:\nto bring a meeting to an end / a close / a conclusion * Bring the water to the boil. * Mismanagement had brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy. * The article brought her into conflict with the authorities. * Hello Simon! What brings you here?\n  make sb / sth move\n  5  to make sb/sth move in a particular direction or way: [VN, +adv./prep.] The judge brought his hammer down on the table. * [VN -ing] Her cries brought the neighbours running (= made them run to her).\n  accusation\n  6  [VN] ~ sth (against sb) to officially accuse sb of a crime:\nto bring a charge / a legal action / an accusation against sb\n  force yourself\n  7  [VN to inf] ~ yourself to do sth to force yourself to do sth:\nShe could not bring herself to tell him the news.\n IDIOMS \n  Idioms containing bring are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example bring sb/sth to heel is at heel.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bring sth<->about to make sth happen\nSYN CAUSE:\nWhat brought about the change in his attitude?\n  bring sb around (AmE) = BRING SB ROUND\n  bring sth around (AmE) = BRING STH ROUND\n  bring sb/sth<->back to return sb/sth:\nPlease bring back all library books by the end of the week. * He brought me back (= gave me a ride home) in his car.\n  bring sth<->back\n1 to make sb remember sth or think about it again:\nThe photographs brought back many pleasant memories.\n2 to make sth that existed before be introduced again\nSYN REINTRODUCE:\nMost people are against bringing back the death penalty.\n  bring sb sth<->back | bring sth<->back (for sb) to return with sth for sb:\nWhat did you bring the kids back from Italy? * I brought a T-shirt back for Mark.\n  bring sb/sth before sb (formal) to present sb/sth for discussion or judgement:\nThe matter will be brought before the committee. * He was brought before the court and found guilty.\n  bring sb<->down\n1 to make sb lose power or be defeated:\nThe scandal may bring down the government.\n2 (in football and rugby) to make sb fall over:\nHe was brought down in the penalty area.\n  bring sth<->down\n1 to lower or reduce sth:\nWe aim to bring down prices on all our computers.\n2 to land an aircraft:\nThe pilot managed to bring the plane down in a field.\n3 to make an aircraft fall out of the sky:\nTwelve enemy fighters had been brought down.\n4 to make an animal or a bird fall down or fall out of the sky by killing or wounding it:\nHe brought down the bear with a single shot.\n  bring sb/sth<->forth (old use or formal) to give birth to sb; to produce sth:\nShe brought forth a son. * trees bringing forth fruit\n  bring sth<->forward\n1 to move sth to an earlier date or time:\nThe meeting has been brought forward from 10 May to 3 May.\n2 to suggest sth for discussion:\nPlease bring the matter forward at the next meeting.\n3 to move a total sum from the bottom of one page or column of numbers to the top of the next:\nA credit balance of $50 was brought forward from his September account.\n  bring sb<->in\n1 to ask sb to do a particular job or to be involved in sth:\nLocal residents were angry at not being brought in on (= asked for their opinion about) the new housing proposal. * [+ to inf] Experts were brought in to advise the government.\n2 (of the police) to bring sb to a police station in order to ask them questions or arrest them:\nTwo men were brought in for questioning.\n  bring sth<->in\n1 to introduce a new law:\nThey want to bring in a bill to limit arms exports.\n2 to attract sb/sth to a place or business:\nWe need to bring in a lot more new business.\n3 to give a decision in a court of law:\nThe jury brought in a verdict of guilty.\n  bring sb in sth | bring in sth to make or earn a particular amount of money:\nHis freelance work brings him in about $20 000 a year. * The garage sale brought in about ｣200. * How much does she bring in now?\n  bring sth<->off to succeed in doing sth difficult:\nIt was a difficult task but we brought it off. * The goalie brought off a superb save.\n  bring sb<->on to help sb develop or improve while they are learning to do sth\n  bring sth<->on\n1 to make sth develop, usually sth unpleasant\nSYN CAUSE:\nHe was suffering from stress brought on by overwork.\n2 to make crops, fruit, etc. grow well\n  bring sth on yourself / sb to be responsible for sth unpleasant that happens to you/sb:\nI have no sympathy-you brought it all on yourself. * He has brought shame and disgrace on the whole family.\n  bring sb<->out (BrE) to make people go on strike\n  bring sb out of himself, herself, etc. to help sb to feel more confident:\nShe’s a shy girl who needs friends to bring her out of herself.\n  bring sth<->out\n1 to make sth appear:\nA crisis brings out the best in her.\n2 to make sth easy to see or understand:\nThat dress really brings out the colour of your eyes.\n3 to produce sth; to publish sth:\nThe band have just brought out their second album.\n  bring sth out in sth to make sb’s skin be covered in spots, etc:\nThe heat brought him out in a rash.\n  bring sb round (BrE) (AmE bring sb around) (also bring sb to) to make sb who is unconscious become conscious again\n  bring sb round (to ...) (BrE) (AmE bring sb around) to bring sb to sb’s house:\nBring the family round one evening; we’d love to meet them.\n  bring sb round (to sth) (BrE) (AmE bring sb around) to persuade sb to agree to sth:\nHe didn’t like the plan at first, but we managed to bring him round.\n  bring sth round to sth (BrE) (AmE bring sth around to sth) to direct a conversation to a particular subject\n  bring sb to = BRING SB ROUND\n  bring A and B together to help two people or groups to end a quarrel:\nThe loss of their son brought the two of them together.\n  bring sb<->up\n1 [often passive] to care for a child, teaching him or her how to behave, etc:\nShe brought up five children. * He was brought up by his aunt. * a well / badly brought up child * [+ to inf] They were brought up to (= taught as children to) respect authority. * [+N] I was brought up a Catholic.\ncompare RAISE\nrelated noun UPBRINGING\n2 (law) to make sb appear for trial:\nHe was brought up on a charge of drunken driving.\n  bring sth<->up\n1 to mention a subject or start to talk about it\nSYN RAISE:\nBring it up at the meeting.\n2 (BrE) to VOMIT:\nto bring up your lunch\n3 to make sth appear on a computer screen:\nClick with the right mouse button to bring up a new menu.\n  bring sb up against sth to force sb to know about sth and have to deal with it:\nWorking in the slums brought her up against the realities of poverty.


Words: bring-and-buy sale
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a sale, usually for charity, at which people bring things for sale and buy those brought by others


Words: brink
Meaning:
noun [sing.]\n  1  the ~ (of sth) if you are on the brink of sth, you are almost in a very new, dangerous or exciting situation:\non the brink of collapse / war / death / disaster * Scientists are on the brink of making a major new discovery. * He’s pulled the company back from the brink (= he has saved it from disaster). * teetering / poised / hovering on the brink of adventure\n  2  (literary) the extreme edge of land, for example at the top of a cliff or by a river:\nthe brink of the precipice\n IDIOMS  see TEETER


Words: brinkmanship
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the activity, especially in politics, of getting into a situation that could be very dangerous in order to frighten people and make them do what you want:\nengaged in a deadly game of political brinkmanship


Words: brioche
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] a type of sweet bread made from flour, eggs and butter, usually in the shape of a small bread roll


Words: brisk
Meaning:
adjective (comparative brisker no superlative)\n  1  quick; busy:\na brisk walk * to set off at a brisk pace * Ice-cream vendors were doing a brisk trade (= selling a lot of ice cream).\n  2  (of a person, their voice or manner) practical and confident; showing a desire to get things done quickly:\nHis tone became brisk and businesslike.\n  3  (of wind and the weather) cold but pleasantly fresh:\na brisk wind / breeze\n    briskly adverb:\n’Never mind!’ said Sybil briskly.\n    briskness noun [U]


Words: bristle
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a short stiff hair:\nthe bristles on his chin\n \n  2  one of the short stiff hairs or wires in a brush\n    verb [V] \n  1  ~ (with sth) (at sth) to suddenly become very annoyed or offended at what sb says or does:\nHis lies made her bristle with rage.\n  2  (of an animal’s fur) to stand up on the back and neck because the animal is frightened or angry\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bristle with sth (written) to contain a large number of sth:\nThe whole subject bristles with problems. * The newspapers bristled with tributes to the general.


Words: bristly
Meaning:
adjective\nlike or full of bristles; rough:\na bristly chin / moustache * tussocks of bristly dry grass


Words: British
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (abbreviation Br.) connected with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or the people who live there:\nthe British Government * He was born in France but his parents are British. * British-based / British-born / British-made\n  2  (the British) noun [pl.] the people of the United Kingdom\n    Britishness noun [U]\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nBritish / English / Briton / Brit\nThere is no noun which is commonly used to refer to the people of Britain. Instead the adjective British is used: She’s British. * The British have a very odd sense of humour. The adjective English refers only to people from England, not the rest of the United Kingdom.\nThe noun Briton is used mainly in newspapers: The survivors of the avalanche included 12 Britons. It also describes the early inhabitants of Britain: the ancient Britons. Brit is informal and can sound negative. Britisher is now very old-fashioned.\n-> note at SCOTTISH\n______________________________


Words: Briton
Meaning:
noun\n(formal) a person from Britain:\nthe ancient Britons * the first Briton to climb Everest without oxygen -> BRITISH


Words: Britpop
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a type of popular music played by British groups in the 1990s, influenced by a variety of British musical traditions


Words: brittle
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  hard but easily broken:\nbrittle bones / nails * The paint was brittle with age.\n  2  a brittle mood or state of mind is one that appears to be happy or strong but is actually nervous and easily damaged:\nbrittle confidence / gaiety * a brittle temperament\n  3  (of a sound) hard and sharp in an unpleasant way:\na brittle laugh * ’Not at all,’ she said in a brittle voice, avoiding his eye.\n    brittleness noun [U]:\nthe hardness and brittleness of coal * There was a brittleness to his tone.


Words: bro
Meaning:
noun (plural bros) (spoken)\n  1  a brother:\nHugo’s bro Jebb played bass guitar.\n  2  (especially AmE) a friendly way of addressing a male person:\nThanks, bro!


Words: broach
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ (sth) (to / with sb) to begin talking about a subject that is difficult to discuss, especially because it is embarrassing or because people disagree about it:\nShe was dreading having to broach the subject of money to her father. * The report fails to broach some important questions.


Words: broad
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective (broader, broadest)\n  wide\n  1  wide:\na broad street / avenue / river * broad shoulders * He is tall, broad and muscular. * a broad smile / grin (= one in which your mouth is stretched very wide because you are very pleased or amused)\nOPP NARROW (1)\n  2  used after a measurement of distance to show how wide sth is:\ntwo metres broad and one metre high\n  wide range\n  3  including a great variety of people or things:\na broad range of products * a broad spectrum of interests * There is broad support for the government’s policies. * She took a broad view of the duties of being a teacher (= she believed her duties included a wide range of things). * a broad and balanced curriculum * We must ensure the project is of advantage to the broader community and does not just benefit a few individuals.\nOPP NARROW\n  general\n  4  [only before noun] general; not detailed:\nthe broad outline of a proposal * The negotiators were in broad agreement on the main issues. * She’s a feminist, in the broadest sense of the word. * In broad terms, the paper argues that each country should develop its own policy. * Computer viruses fall into three broad categories.\nOPP NARROW\n  land / water\n  5  covering a wide area:\na broad expanse of water * the broad plains of the American West\n  accent\n  6  if sb has a broad accent, you can hear very easily which area they come from:\na broad Yorkshire accent\n  hint\n  7  if sb gives a broad hint, they make it very clear what they are thinking or what they want\nsee also BREADTH, BROADLY -> WIDE\n IDIOMS \n  a broad church (BrE) an organization that accepts a wide range of opinions:\nThe party aims to be a broad church with members from all sections of society.\n  (in) broad daylight (in) the clear light of day, when it is easy to see:\nThe robbery occurred in broad daylight, in a crowded street.\n  it’s as broad as it’s long (BrE, spoken) it makes no real difference which of two possible choices you make\nmore at PAINT v.\n    noun (old-fashioned, AmE, slang) an offensive way of referring to a woman


Words: broad-based
Meaning:
(also broadly-based) adjective\nbased on a wide variety of people, things or ideas; not limited:\nbroad-based support


Words: broad-brush
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] dealing with a subject or problem in a general way rather than considering details:\na broad-brush approach


Words: broad-minded
Meaning:
adjective\nwilling to listen to other people’s opinions and accept behaviour that is different from your own\nSYN TOLERANT\nOPP NARROW-MINDED\n    broad-mindedness noun [U]


Words: broadcast
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (broadcast, broadcast)\n  1  to send out programmes on television or radio:\n[VN] The concert will be broadcast live (= at the same time as it takes place) tomorrow evening. * Most of the programmes are broadcast in English. * [V] They began broadcasting in 1922.\n  2  [VN] to tell a lot of people about sth:\nI don’t like to broadcast the fact that my father owns the company.\n    noun a radio or television programme: (BrE) a party political broadcast (= for example, before an election) * We watched a live broadcast of the speech (= one shown at the same time as the speech was made).


Words: broadcaster
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person whose job is presenting or talking on television or radio programmes\n  2  a company that sends out television or radio programmes:\nthe new Australian rugby broadcaster, Channel Ten


Words: broadcasting
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the business of making and sending out radio and television programmes:\nto work in broadcasting * the British Broadcasting Corporation (= the BBC)


Words: broaden
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V] to become wider:\nHer smile broadened.\n  2  to affect or make sth affect more people or things:\n[VN] a promise to broaden access to higher education * The party needs to broaden its appeal to voters. [also V]\n  3  [VN] to increase your experience, knowledge, etc:\nFew would disagree that travel broadens the mind (= helps you to understand other people’s beliefs, customs, etc.) * Spending a year working in the city helped to broaden his horizons.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  broaden out (of a road, river, etc.) to become wider


Words: broadly
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  generally, without considering details:\nBroadly speaking, I agree with you. * broadly similar / comparable / equivalent / consistent\n  2  if you smile broadly, you smile with your mouth stretched very wide because you are very pleased or amused


Words: broadsheet
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a newspaper printed on a large size of paper, generally considered more serious than smaller newspapers\ncompare TABLOID\n  2  a large piece of paper printed on one side only with information or an advertisement


Words: broadside
Meaning:
noun, adverb, verb \n    noun a fierce attack in words, whether written or spoken:\nThe prime minister fired a broadside at his critics.\n    adverb with one side facing sth\nSYN SIDEWAYS:\nThe car skidded and crashed broadside into another car. * (BrE) The boat swung broadside on to the current of the river.\n    verb [VN] (AmE) to crash into the side of sth:\nThe driver ran a stop light and broadsided the truck.


Words: brocade
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] a thick heavy fabric with a raised pattern woven especially from gold or silver silk thread:\nbrocade curtains * rich velvets and brocades


Words: brochure
Meaning:
noun\na small magazine or book containing pictures and information about sth or advertising sth:\na travel brochure * Send for a free colour brochure today!


Words: brogue
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [usually pl.] a strong shoe which usually has a pattern in the leather:\na pair of brogues\n  2  [usually sing.] the ACCENT that sb has when they are speaking, especially the accent of Irish or Scottish speakers of English


Words: broil
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] (AmE) to cook meat or fish under direct heat or over heat on metal bars:\nbroiled chicken\ncompare BARBECUE, GRILL\n  2  to become or make sb become very hot:\n[V] They lay broiling in the sun. [also VN]


Words: broiler
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (also broiler chicken) (especially AmE) a young chicken suitable for broiling or ROASTING\n  2  (AmE) the part inside the oven of a cooker/stove that directs heat downwards to cook food that is placed underneath it\ncompare GRILL


Words: broke
Meaning:
adjective\n[not before noun] (informal) having no money:\nI’m always broke by the end of the month. * During the recession thousands of small businesses went broke (= had to stop doing business). * flat / stony broke (= completely broke)\nsee also BREAK\n IDIOMS \n  go for broke (informal) to risk everything in one determined effort to do sth


Words: broken
Meaning:
adjective\n \n  damaged\n \n  1  that has been damaged or injured; no longer whole or working correctly:\na broken window / plate * a broken leg / arm * pieces of broken glass * How did this dish get broken? * The TV’s broken.\nsee also BROKEN HEART\n \n  relationship\n \n  2  [usually before noun] ended or destroyed:\na broken marriage / engagement\nsee also BROKEN HOME\n  promise / agreement\n  3  [usually before noun] not kept\n  not continuous\n  4  [usually before noun] not continuous; disturbed or interrupted:\na night of broken sleep * a single broken white line across the road\n  person\n  5  [only before noun] made weak and tired by illness or difficulties:\nHe was a broken man after the failure of his business.\n  language\n  6  [only before noun] (of a language that is not your own) spoken slowly and with a lot of mistakes; not FLUENT:\nto speak in broken English\n  ground\n  7  having a rough surface:\nan area of broken, rocky ground\nsee also BREAK, BROKE, BROKEN v.


Words: broken heart
Meaning:
noun\na feeling of great sadness, especially when sb you love has died or left you:\nNo one ever died of a broken heart.\n    broken-hearted adjective:\nHe was broken-hearted when his wife died.\ncompare HEARTBROKEN


Words: broken-down
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] in a very bad condition; not working correctly; very tired and sick:\na broken-down old car / horse


Words: brokenly
Meaning:
adverb\n(formal) (of sb’s manner of speaking) in phrases that are very short or not complete, with a lot of pauses; not FLUENTLY:\n’I’m sorry,’ she murmured brokenly, ’Please don’t go! Please ...’


Words: broker
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a person who buys and sells things, for example, shares in a business, for other people:\nan insurance broker\n  2  = STOCKBROKER\nsee also HONEST BROKER, PAWNBROKER, POWER BROKER\n    verb [VN] to arrange the details of an agreement, especially between different countries:\na peace plan brokered by the UN


Words: broker-dealer
Meaning:
noun\n(finance) a person who works on the Stock Exchange buying shares from and selling shares to BROKERS and the public\ncompare JOBBER


Words: brokerage
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the business of being a broker:\na brokerage firm / house\n  2  an amount of money charged by a broker for work that he/she does


Words: bronchial
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (medical) of or affecting the two main branches of the WINDPIPE (called bronchial tubes) leading to the lungs:\nbronchial pneumonia * bronchial asthma


Words: bronchitis
Meaning:
noun\n[U] an illness that affects the bronchial tubes leading to the lungs:\nHe was suffering from chronic bronchitis.\n    bronchitic  adjective:\na bronchitic cough


Words: brontosaurus
Meaning:
noun\na very large DINOSAUR (= a reptile that lived millions of years ago) with a long neck and tail


Words: bronze
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun\n  1  [U] a dark reddish-brown metal made by mixing COPPER and tin:\na bronze statue * a figure cast in bronze\n  2  [U] a dark reddish-brown colour, like bronze\n  3  [C] a work of art made of bronze, for example a statue:\na fine collection of bronzes\n  4  [C, U] = BRONZE MEDAL\n    adjective dark reddish-brown in colour:\nbronze skin


Words: bronze medal
Meaning:
(also bronze) noun\n[C, U] a medal given as third prize in a competition or race:\nan Olympic bronze medal winner * She won (a) bronze at the Olympics.\ncompare GOLD MEDAL, SILVER MEDAL\n    bronze medallist (BrE) (AmE bronze medalist) noun:\nShe’s an Olympic bronze medallist.


Words: bronzed
Meaning:
adjective\nhaving skin that has been turned brown in an attractive way by the sun:\nstrong bronzed arms


Words: brooch
Meaning:
(especially BrE) (AmE usually pin) noun a piece of jewellery with a pin on the back of it, that can be fastened to your clothes


Words: brood
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  [V] ~ (over / on / about sth) to think a lot about sth that makes you annoyed, anxious or upset:\nYou’re not still brooding over what he said, are you?\n  2  [V, VN] if a bird broods, or broods its eggs, it sits on the eggs in order to HATCH them (= make the young come out of them)\n    noun [C+sing./pl. v.]\n  1  all the young birds or creatures that a mother produces at one time\n  2  (humorous) a large family of children:\nShe grew up amidst a lively brood of brothers and sisters.


Words: brooding
Meaning:
adjective\n(literary) sad and mysterious or threatening:\ndark, brooding eyes * a brooding silence * Ireland’s brooding landscape


Words: broody
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of a woman) wanting very much to have a baby:\nI reached the age of 27 and suddenly started to feel broody.\n  2  (of a female bird) wanting to lay eggs and sit on them:\na broody hen\n  3  silent and thinking about sth because you are unhappy or disappointed\n    broodiness noun [U]


Words: brook
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a small stream\n    verb (not brook sth / brook no) (formal) to not allow sth\nSYN TOLERATE:\n[VN] The tone in his voice brooked no argument. * She would brook no criticism of her son. [also VN -ing]


Words: broom
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [C] a brush on the end of a long handle, used for SWEEPING floors\nsee also NEW BROOM\n \n  2  [U] a wild bush with small yellow flowers


Words: broom cupboard
Meaning:
noun (BrE)\n  1  a large built-in cupboard used for keeping cleaning equipment, etc. in\n  2  (often humorous) a very small room:\nI couldn’t afford more than a broom cupboard to set up office in.


Words: broomstick
Meaning:
noun\na broom with a long handle and small thin sticks at the end, or the handle of a broom. In stories WITCHES (= women with evil magic powers) ride through the air on broomsticks.


Words: broth
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] thick soup made by boiling meat or fish and vegetables in water:\nchicken broth\nsee also SCOTCH BROTH\n IDIOMS  see COOK n.


Words: brother
Meaning:
noun, exclamation \n    noun\n  in family\n  1  a boy or man who has the same mother and father as another person:\nWe’re brothers. * He’s my brother. * an older / younger brother * a twin brother * Does she have any brothers and sisters? * Edward was the youngest of the Kennedy brothers. * He was like a brother to me (= very close).\nsee also HALF-BROTHER, STEPBROTHER\n  other men\n  2  (plural brothers or old-fashioned brethren) used for talking to or talking about other male members of an organization or other men who have the same ideas, purpose, etc. as yourself:\nWe must work together, brothers! * We are all brothers in the fight against injustice. * He was greatly respected by his brother officers. * We must support our weaker brethren.\n  in religious group\n  3  (also Brother) (plural brethren or brothers) a male member of a religious group, especially a MONK:\nBrother Luke * The Brethren meet regularly for prayer.\n  form of address\n  4  (AmE, informal) used by black people as a form of address for a black man\n  at college / university\n  5  (in the US) a member of a FRATERNITY (= a club for a group of male students at a college or university)\n    exclamation (old-fashioned, especially AmE) used to express the fact that you are annoyed or surprised:\nOh brother!


Words: brother-in-law
Meaning:
(plural brothers-in-law) noun\nthe brother of your husband or wife; your sister’s husband; the husband of your husband or wife’s sister\ncompare SISTER-IN-LAW


Words: brotherhood
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] friendship and understanding between people:\nto live in peace and brotherhood\n  2  [C+sing./pl. v.] an organization formed for a particular purpose, especially a religious society or political organization:\nthe Russian Orthodox Brotherhood\n  3  [U] the relationship of brothers:\nthe ties of brotherhood


Words: brotherly
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] showing feelings of affection and kindness that you would expect a brother to show:\nbrotherly love / advice * He gave her a brotherly kiss on the cheek.


Words: brougham
Meaning:
noun\na type of carriage used in the past, which had a closed roof and four wheels and was pulled by one horse


Words: brow
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the part of the face above the eyes and below the hair\nSYN FOREHEAD:\nThe nurse mopped his fevered brow. * Her brow furrowed in concentration.\n  2  [usually pl.] = EYEBROW:\nOne dark brow rose in surprise.\n  3  [usually sing.] the top part of a hill:\nThe path disappeared over the brow of the hill.\nsee also HIGHBROW, MIDDLEBROW, LOWBROW\n IDIOMS  see KNIT v.


Words: browbeat
Meaning:
verb\n(browbeat, browbeaten ) [VN] ~ sb (into doing sth) to frighten or threaten sb in order to make them do sth\nSYN INTIMIDATE:\nThey were browbeaten into accepting the offer.


Words: brown
Meaning:
adjective, noun, verb \n    adjective (browner, brownest)\n  1  having the colour of earth, or coffee mixed with milk:\nbrown eyes * brown bread * dark brown shoe polish * a package wrapped in brown paper\n  2  (especially BrE) having skin that is naturally brown or has been made brown by the sun:\nI don’t go brown very easily. * After the summer in Spain, the children were brown as berries.\n IDIOMS \n  in a brown study (BrE, old-fashioned) thinking deeply so that you do not notice what is happening around you\n    noun [U, C] the colour of earth, or coffee mixed with milk:\nleaves of various shades of brown * Brown doesn’t (= brown clothes don’t) suit you.\n    verb to become brown; to make sth brown: [V] Heat the butter until it browns. * The grass was browning in patches. * [VN] Brown the onions before adding the meat.\n IDIOMS \n  browned off (with sb) (BrE, informal) bored, unhappy and/or annoyed:\nBy now the passengers were getting browned off with the delay.


Words: brown ale
Meaning:
noun (BrE)\n  1  [U, C] a type of mild sweet dark beer sold in bottles\n  2  [C] a bottle or glass of brown ale


Words: brown sugar
Meaning:
noun\n[U] sugar that has a brown colour and has only been partly REFINED (= it is not completely pure)


Words: brown-nose
Meaning:
verb\n[V] (slang, disapproving) to treat sb in authority with special respect in order to make them approve of you or treat you better:\nHe got that promotion by brown-nosing.


Words: brownfield
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (BrE) used to describe an area of land in a city that was used by industry or for offices in the past and that may now be cleared for new building development:\na brownfield site


Words: brownie
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a thick soft flat cake made with chocolate and sometimes nuts:\na fudge brownie\n  2  (the Brownies) [pl.] a branch of the SCOUT ASSOCIATION for girls between the ages of seven and ten or eleven:\nto join the Brownies\n  3  [C] (Brownie) (BrE also Brownie Guide) a member of the Brownies\ncompare CUB, GUIDE, SCOUT


Words: brownie point
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] (informal) if sb does sth to earn brownie points, they do it to make sb in authority have a good opinion of them:\nShe’s just trying to win brownie points with the boss.


Words: brownish
Meaning:
adjective\nfairly brown in colour:\nYou can’t see in this light, but my new coat is a sort of brownish colour.


Words: brownstone
Meaning:
noun\n(AmE) a house built of, or with a front made of, a type of reddish-brown stone, which is also called brownstone:\nNew York brownstones


Words: browse
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to look at a lot of things in a shop/store rather than looking for one particular thing:\n[V] You are welcome to come in and browse. * [VN] She browsed the shelves for something interesting to read.\n  2  ~ (through sth) to look through the pages of a book, newspaper, etc. without reading everything:\n[V] I found the article while I was browsing through some old magazines. [also VN]\n  3  [V, VN] (computing) to look for information on a computer\n  4  [V] ~ (on sth) (of cows, goats, etc.) to eat leaves, etc. that are growing high up\n    browse noun [sing.]:\nThe gift shop is well worth a browse.


Words: browser
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (computing) a program that lets you look at or read documents on the Internet:\na Web browser\n  2  a person who looks through books, magazines, etc. or at things for sale, but may not seriously intend to buy anything:\nThere were one or two browsers in the bookstore.


Words: bruise
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  to develop a bruise, or make a bruise or bruises appear on the skin of sb/sth:\n[V] Strawberries bruise easily. * [VN] She had slipped and badly bruised her face.\n  2  [VN] [usually passive] to affect sb badly and make them feel unhappy and less confident:\nThey had been badly bruised by the defeat.\n    bruised adjective:\nHe suffered badly bruised ribs in the crash. * bruised fruit * a bruised ego\n    bruising noun [U]:\nShe suffered severe bruising, but no bones were broken. * internal bruising\nsee also BRUISING adj.\n    noun\n  1  a blue, brown or purple mark that appears on the skin after sb has fallen, been hit, etc:\nto be covered in bruises * cuts and bruises * a huge bruise over his eye\n  2  a mark on a fruit or vegetable where it is damaged


Words: bruising
Meaning:
adjective\ndifficult and unpleasant, making you feel tired or weak:\na bruising meeting / experience


Words: Brummie
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE, informal) a person from the city of Birmingham in England\n    Brummie adjective:\na Brummie accent


Words: brunch
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (informal) a meal that you eat in the late morning as a combination of breakfast and lunch


Words: brunt
Meaning:
noun\n IDIOMS \n  bear, take, etc. the brunt of sth to receive the main force of sth unpleasant:\nSchools will bear the brunt of cuts in government spending.


Words: brush
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] an object made of short stiff hairs (called BRISTLES) or wires set in a block of wood or plastic, usually attached to a handle. Brushes are used for many different jobs, such as cleaning, painting and tidying your hair:\na paintbrush * a hairbrush * a toothbrush * brush strokes (= the marks left by a brush when painting) * a dustpan and brush * Apply the paint with a fine brush.\n \n  2  [sing.] an act of brushing:\nto give your hair / teeth a good brush\n \n  3  [sing.] a light touch made in passing sth/sb:\nthe brush of his lips on her cheek\n \n  4  [C] ~ with sb/sth a short unfriendly meeting with sb; an occasion when you nearly experience sth unpleasant:\nShe had a nasty brush with her boss this morning. * In his job he’s had frequent brushes with death. * a brush with the law\n  5  [U] land covered by small trees or bushes:\na brush fire\n  6  [C] the tail of a FOX\n IDIOMS  see DAFT adj., PAINT v., TAR v.\n    verb\n\n \n  1  to clean, polish, or make smooth with a brush:\n[VN] to brush your hair / teeth / shoes * [VN-ADJ] A tiled floor is easy to brush clean.\n \n  2  [VN] ~ A with B | ~ B over A to put sth, for example oil, milk or egg, on sth using a brush:\nBrush the pastry with beaten egg. * Brush beaten egg over the pastry.\n \n  3  [VN +adv./prep.] to remove sth from a surface with a brush or with your hand:\nHe brushed the dirt off his jacket. * She brushed the fly away.\n \n  4  ~ (against / by / past) sb/sth to touch sb/sth lightly while moving close to them/it:\n[V] She brushed past him. * His hand accidentally brushed against hers. * [VN] The leaves brushed her cheek. * He brushed her lips with his.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  brush sb/sth<->aside to ignore sb/sth; to treat sb/sth as unimportant\nSYN DISMISS:\nHe brushed aside my fears.\n  brush sb / yourself down (BrE) = BRUSH SB / YOURSELF OFF\n  brush sth<->down to clean sth by brushing it:\nto brush a coat / horse down\n  brush off to be removed by brushing:\nMud brushes off easily when it is dry.\n  brush sb<->off to rudely ignore sb or refuse to listen to them:\nShe brushed him off impatiently.\nrelated noun BRUSH-OFF\n  brush sb / yourself off to make sb/yourself tidy, especially after you have fallen, by brushing your clothes, etc. with your hands\n  brush sth<->up | brush up on sth to quickly improve a skill, especially when you have not used it for a time:\nI must brush up on my Spanish before I go to Seville.


Words: brush-off
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (informal) rude or unfriendly behaviour that shows that a person is not interested in sb:\nPaul asked Tara out to dinner but she gave him the brush-off.


Words: brushwork
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the particular way in which an artist uses a brush to paint:\nthe bold brushwork of her abstract paintings


Words: brusque
Meaning:
adjective\nusing very few words and sounding rude:\nThe doctor spoke in a brusque tone.\n    brusquely adverb:\n’What’s your name?’ he asked brusquely.\n    brusqueness noun [U]


Words: brutal
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  violent and cruel:\na brutal attack / murder / rape / killing * a brutal and repressive regime\n  2  direct and clear about sth unpleasant; not thinking of people’s feelings:\nWith brutal honesty she told him she did not love him.\n    brutality  noun [U, C] (plural brutalities):\npolice brutality * the brutalities of war\n    brutally  adverb:\nHe was brutally assaulted. * Let me be brutally frank about this.


Words: brutalize
Meaning:
(BrE also brutalise)  verb [VN] \n  1  [usually passive] to make sb unable to feel normal human emotions such as pity:\nsoldiers brutalized by war\n  2  to treat sb in a cruel or violent way:\nThe prisoners were brutalized and deprived of basic rights.


Words: brute
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun\n  1  (sometimes humorous) a man who treats people in an unkind, cruel way:\nHis father was a drunken brute. * You’ve forgotten my birthday again, you brute! * an ugly brute\n  2  a large strong animal\n    adjective [only before noun]\n  1  involving physical strength only and not thought or intelligence:\nbrute force / strength\n  2  basic, simple and unpleasant:\nthe brute facts of inequality * Their desire for independence has to do with brute economics.


Words: brutish
Meaning:
adjective\nunkind and violent and not showing thought or intelligence:\nLife for our early ancestors was nasty, brutish and short, according to the evidence.\n    brutishness noun [U]


Words: BS
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE B.S.)  abbreviation\n  1  (AmE) = BSC\n  2  (BrE) the abbreviation for ’Bachelor of Surgery’ (a university degree in medicine)\n  3  British Standard (used on labels, etc. showing a number given by the British Standards Institution which controls the quality of products):\nproduced to BS4353\n  4  (AmE, !!!, slang) BULLSHIT:\nThat guy’s full of BS.


Words: BSc
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE B.S.) noun\nthe abbreviation for ’Bachelor of Science’ (a first university degree in science):\nto be / have / do a BSc in Zoology * (BrE) Jill Ayres BSc


Words: BSE
Meaning:
(also informal mad cow disease) noun\n[U] the abbreviation for ’bovine spongiform encephalopathy’ (a brain disease of cows that causes death)


Words: BTEC
Meaning:
noun\nused to refer to any of a large group of British qualifications that can be taken in many different subjects at several levels (the abbreviation for ’Business and Technician Education Council’):\na BTEC Higher National Diploma in Public Service Studies


Words: bubble
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a ball of air or gas in a liquid, or a ball of air inside a solid substance such as glass:\nchampagne bubbles * a bubble of oxygen * blowing bubbles into water through a straw\n \n  2  a round ball of liquid, containing air, produced by soap and water:\nThe children like to have bubbles in their bath.\n \n  3  a small amount of a feeling that sb wants to express:\na bubble of laughter / hope / enthusiasm\nsee also SPEECH BUBBLE\n IDIOMS \n  the bubble bursts there is a sudden end to a good or lucky situation:\nWhen the bubble finally burst, hundreds of people lost their jobs. * The optimistic bubble has now burst and economists agree the recession will continue.\nmore at BURST v.\n    verb [V] \n  1  to form bubbles:\nThe water in the pan was beginning to bubble. * Add the white wine and let it bubble up. * Cook until the cheese is golden and bubbling.\n  2  [usually +adv./prep.] to make a bubbling sound, especially when moving in the direction mentioned:\nI could hear the soup bubbling away. * A stream came bubbling between the stones. * Mike’s laugh bubbled down the line.\n  3  ~ (over) with sth to be full of a particular feeling:\nShe was bubbling over with excitement.\n  4  [+adv./prep.] (of a feeling) to be felt strongly by a person; to be present in a situation:\nLaughter bubbled up inside him. * the anger that bubbled beneath the surface


Words: bubble and squeak
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a type of British food made from cold cooked potatoes and CABBAGE that are mixed together and fried


Words: bubble bath
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] a liquid soap that smells pleasant and makes a lot of bubbles when it is added to bath water\n  2  [C] a bath with bubble bath in the water:\nLie back in a relaxing bubble bath.


Words: bubblejet printer
Meaning:
noun\na type of printer that uses bubbles of air to blow small dots of ink in order to form letters, numbers, etc. on paper


Words: bubbly
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  full of bubbles\n  2  (of a person) always cheerful, friendly and enthusiastic:\nJulie’s bright, bubbly personality\n    noun [U] (informal) CHAMPAGNE:\na bottle of bubbly


Words: bubonic plague
Meaning:
(also the plague) noun\n[U] a disease spread by rats that causes fever, swellings on the body and usually death


Words: buccaneer
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (in the past) a sailor who attacked and robbed ships at sea\nSYN PIRATE\n  2  (especially in business) a person who achieves success in a skilful but not always honest way


Words: buck
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] (informal, especially AmE) a US or an Australian dollar:\nThey cost ten bucks. * We’re talking big bucks (= a lot of money) here.\n  2  [C] a male deer, HARE or rabbit (also called a buck rabbit)\ncompare DOE, HART, STAG\n  3  [C] (old-fashioned, informal) a young man\n  4  (the buck) [sing.] used in some expressions to refer to the responsibility or blame for sth:\nIt was my decision. The buck stops here (= nobody else can be blamed). * I was tempted to pass the buck (= make sb else responsible).\n ORIGIN  From buck, an object which in a poker game is placed in front of the player whose turn it is to deal.\n IDIOMS \n  make a fast / quick buck (informal, often disapproving) to earn money quickly and easily:\nThis is a long-term project. We are not out to make a quick buck.\nmore at MILLION\n    verb\n  1  [V] (of a horse) to jump with the two back feet or all four feet off the ground\n  2  [V] to move up and down suddenly or in a way that is not controlled:\nThe boat bucked and heaved beneath them. * The shotgun bucked in his hands.\n  3  [VN] (informal) to resist or oppose sth:\nOne or two companies have managed to buck the trend of the recession. * He admired her willingness to buck the system (= oppose authority or rules). * The President is unlikely to buck pressure from the public.\n IDIOMS \n  buck your ideas up (BrE, informal) to start behaving in a more acceptable way, so that work gets done better, etc.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  buck up (informal)\n1 (often in orders) to become more cheerful:\nBuck up kid! It’s not the end of the game.\n2 (buck up!) (old-fashioned) used to tell sb to hurry\n  buck sb up (BrE, informal) to make sb more cheerful:\nThe good news bucked us all up.


Words: bucket
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  (AmE also pail) [C] a round open container with a handle, used for carrying or holding liquids, sand, etc:\na plastic bucket * They were playing on the beach with their buckets and spades.\n \n  2  (also bucketful ) (AmE also pail, pailful) [C] the amount contained in a bucket:\ntwo buckets / bucketfuls of water * They used to drink tea by the bucket / bucketful (= in large quantities).\n \n  3  (buckets) [pl.] (informal) a large amount:\nTo succeed in show business, you need buckets of confidence. * We wept buckets. * He was sweating buckets by the end of the race. * The rain was coming down in buckets (= it was raining very heavily).\n \n IDIOMS  see DROP n., KICK v.\n    verb\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bucket down (BrE, informal) to rain heavily:\nIt’s bucketing down.


Words: buckle
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  ~ (sth on / up) to fasten sth or be fastened with a buckle:\n[VN] She buckled her belt. * He buckled on his sword. * [V] These shoes buckle at the side.\n  2  to become crushed or bent under a weight or force; to crush or bend sth in this way:\n[V] The steel frames began to buckle under the strain. * (figurative) A weaker man would have buckled under the pressure. * [VN] The crash buckled the front of my car.\n  3  [V] when your knees or legs buckle or when you buckle at the knees, your knees become weak and you start to fall\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  buckle down (to sth) (informal) to start to do sth seriously:\nI’d better buckle down to those reports.\n  buckle up (AmE) = belt up at BELT v.\n    noun\n a piece of metal or plastic used for joining the ends of a belt or for fastening a strap on a bag, shoe, etc.


Words: buckram
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a stiff fabric made especially from cotton or LINEN, used in the past for covering books and for making clothes stiffer


Words: bucolic
Meaning:
adjective\n(literary) connected with the countryside or country life:\na stream winding through stately parks and bucolic meadows


Words: bud
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a small lump that grows on a plant and from which a flower, leaf or stem develops:\nthe first buds appearing in spring * The magnolia tree is in bud already.\n \n  2  a flower or leaf that is not fully open\n \n  3  (AmE, informal) = BUDDY:\nListen, bud, enough of the wisecracks, OK?\nsee also COTTON BUD, ROSEBUD, TASTE BUD\n \n IDIOMS  see NIP v.\n    verb [V] to produce buds


Words: Buddhism
Meaning:
noun\n[U] an Asian religion based on the teaching of Gautama Siddhartha (or Buddha)\n    Buddhist  noun:\na devout Buddhist\n    Buddhist  adjective [usually before noun]:\na Buddhist monk / temple


Words: budding
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] beginning to develop or become successful:\na budding artist / writer * our budding romance * The budding young star is now hot property in Hollywood.


Words: buddy
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun (plural buddies)\n  1  (AmE also bud) (informal) a friend:\nan old college buddy of mine * Howard and Mick were drinking buddies.\n  2  (also bud) (both AmE) used to speak to a man you do not know:\n’Where to, buddy?’ the driver asked.\n  3  (especially AmE) a partner who does an activity with you so that you can help each other:\nThe school uses a buddy system to pair newcomers with older students. * Her driving buddy was in trouble.\n    verb (buddies, buddying, buddied, buddied)\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  buddy up (to / with sb) (AmE)\n1 = PAL UP (WITH SB):\nYou and your neighbour might want to buddy up to make the trip more enjoyable.\n2 to become friendly with sb in order to get an advantage for yourself


Words: budge
Meaning:
verb (usually used in negative sentences)\n  1  to move slightly; to make sth/sb move slightly:\n[V] She pushed at the door but it wouldn’t budge. * The dog refused to budge. * [VN] I heaved with all my might but still couldn’t budge it.\n  2  to change your opinion about sth; to make sb change their opinion:\n[V] He won’t budge an inch on the issue. * [VN] He was not to be budged on the issue.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  budge up (BrE, informal) to move, so that there is room for other people:\nBudge up a bit!


Words: budgerigar
Meaning:
noun\n(also informal budgie) (both BrE) a small bird of the PARROT family, often kept in a cage as a pet


Words: budget
Meaning:
noun, verb, adjective \n    noun\n  1  [C, U] the money that is available to a person or an organization and a plan of how it will be spent over a period of time:\na monthly / an annual / a family budget * the education / defence budget (= the amount of money that can be spent on this) * an advertising budget of $2 million * a big-budget movie * We decorated the house on a tight budget (= without much money to spend). * The work was finished on time and within budget (= did not cost more money than was planned). * They went over budget (= spent too much money). * budget cuts\n  2  (BrE also Budget) an official statement by the government of a country’s income from taxes, etc. and how it will be spent:\ntax cuts in this year’s budget * a budget deficit (= when the government spends more money than it earns)\n    verb ~ (sth) (for sth) | ~ sth (at sth) to be careful about the amount of money you spend; to plan to spend an amount of money for a particular purpose: [V] If we budget carefully we’ll be able to afford the trip. * I’ve budgeted for two new members of staff. * [VN] Ten million francs has been budgeted for the project. * The project has been budgeted at ten million francs.\n    budgeting noun [U] \n    adjective [only before noun] (used in advertising, etc.) low in price:\na budget flight / hotel


Words: budget account
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) an arrangement with a shop/store or company to pay your bills in fixed regular amounts and not as one large payment


Words: buff
Meaning:
noun, adjective, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] (used in compounds) a person who is very interested in a particular subject or activity and knows a lot about it:\na computer / opera / wine buff\n  2  [U] a pale yellow-brown colour\n  3  [U] soft strong yellowish-brown leather made especially from the skin of BUFFALO and OXEN\nsee also BLIND MAN’S BUFF\n IDIOMS \n  in the buff (informal) wearing no clothes\n    adjective pale yellow-brown in colour:\na buff envelope\n    verb [VN] ~ sth (up) to polish sth with a soft cloth:\nShe buffed up the brass with a cloth.


Words: buffalo
Meaning:
noun (plural buffalo or buffaloes)\n \n  1  a large animal of the cow family. There are two types of buffalo, the African and the Asian, which has wide, curved horns.\n \n  2  = BISON\nsee also WATER BUFFALO


Words: buffer
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  ~ (against sth) | ~ (between sth and sth) a thing or person that reduces a shock or protects sb/sth against difficulties:\nSupport from family and friends acts as a buffer against stress. * She often had to act as a buffer between father and son. * a buffer state (= a small country between two powerful states that helps keep peace between them) * a buffer zone (= an area of land between two opposing armies or countries)\n  2  (BrE) one of two round metal devices on the front or end of a train, or at the end of a railway track, that reduce the shock if the train hits sth\n  3  (also old buffer) (old-fashioned, BrE) a silly old man\n IDIOMS  see HIT v.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to reduce the harmful effects of sth:\nto buffer the effects of stress on health\n  2  ~ sb (against sth) to protect sb from sth:\nThey tried to buffer themselves against problems and uncertainties.


Words: buffet
Meaning:
noun-see also BUFFET\n  1  a meal at which people serve themselves from a table and then stand or sit somewhere else to eat:\na buffet lunch / supper * Dinner will be a cold buffet, not a sit-down meal. * a finger buffet (= food that you can eat with your hands, not with a knife and fork)\n  2  a place, for example in a train or bus station, where you can buy food and drinks to eat or drink there, or to take away\n  3  (BrE) = BUFFET CAR\n  4  (especially AmE) = SIDEBOARD (1)\n\n verb\n[VN] [often passive] to knock or push sb/sth roughly from side to side:\nto be buffeted by the wind * (figurative, formal) The nation had been buffeted by a wave of strikes.\nsee also BUFFET\n    buffeting noun [U, C, usually sing.]:\nThe tiny boat was ill-equipped for the buffeting it got from the wind and the rain.


Words: bug
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] (especially AmE) any small insect\n  2  [C] (informal) an infectious illness that is usually fairly mild:\na flu bug * There’s a stomach bug going round (= people are catching it from each other). * I picked up a bug in the office.\n  3  (usually the ...bug) [sing.] (informal) an enthusiastic interest in sth such as a sport or a hobby:\nthe travel bug * She was never interested in fitness before but now she’s been bitten by the bug.\n  4  [C] (informal) a small hidden device for listening to other people’s conversations:\nThey planted a bug in his hotel room.\n  5  [C] a fault in a machine, especially in a computer system or program\nsee also THE MILLENNIUM BUG\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to put a special device (= a bug) somewhere in order to listen secretly to other people’s conversations:\nThey bugged her hotel room. * They were bugging his telephone conversations. * a bugging device\n  2  (informal) to annoy or irritate sb:\nStop bugging me! * It’s something that’s been bugging me a lot recently. * She’s really beginning to bug me.\n IDIOMS \n  bug off! (AmE, spoken) a rude way of telling sb to go away


Words: bugbear
Meaning:
noun\n(especially BrE) a thing that annoys people and that they worry about:\nInflation is the government’s main bugbear.


Words: bugger
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun (BrE, !!!, slang)\n  1  an offensive word used to insult sb, especially a man, and to show anger or dislike:\nCome here, you little bugger! * You stupid bugger! You could have run me over! * Don’t let the buggers get you down.\n  2  used to refer to a person, especially a man, that you like or feel sympathy for:\nPoor bugger! His wife left him last week. * He’s a tough old bugger. * You daft bugger!\n  3  a thing that is difficult or causes problems:\nThis door’s a bugger to open. * Question 6 is a real bugger. * It’s a bugger trying to remember the lines.\n IDIOMS  see SILLY adj.\n    verb\n  1  (BrE, !!!, slang) used as a swear word when sb is annoyed about sth or to show that they do not care about sth at all:\n[V] Bugger! I’ve left my keys at home. * [VN] Bugger it! I’ve burnt the toast. * Oh, bugger the cost! Let’s get it anyway. * So I thought, bugger this for a lark.\n  2  [VN] (BrE, !!!, slang) to break or ruin sth:\nI think I’ve buggered the computer. * This will bugger the rear suspension.\n  3  [VN] (!!! or law) to have ANAL sex with sb\n IDIOMS \n  bugger me (BrE, !!!, spoken) used to express surprise:\nBugger me! Did you see that?\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  bugger about / around (BrE, !!!, slang) to waste time by behaving in a silly way or with no clear purpose:\nStop buggering about and get back to work.\n HELP NOTE  A more polite, informal way of saying this is mess about (BrE) or mess around (AmE,BrE).\n  bugger sb about / around (BrE, !!!, slang) to treat sb in a way that is deliberately not helpful to them or wastes their time:\nI’m sick of being buggered about by the company.\n HELP NOTE  A more polite, informal way of saying this is mess sb about / around (BrE).\n  bugger off (BrE, !!!, slang) (often used in orders) to go away:\nBugger off and leave me alone. * Where is everyone? They’ve all buggered off.\n  bugger sth<->up (BrE, !!!, slang) to do sth badly or spoil sth:\nI buggered up the exam. * Sorry for buggering up your plans.\n HELP NOTE  A more polite, informal way of saying this is foul sth up, cock sth up (slang), mess sth up or bungle sth.


