B

B, [Mus.] n. 7th note in C MAJOR scale. (bi:).

baa, n., v.i. Sheep's cry. (ba:).

'babble, v.i.&t., n. Make unclear sounds,
like baby; say foolish things; let out
secrets; (of water) make noise going
over stones. ('babl).

babe, [Let.] n. Baby. (beib).

'babel, n. Loud noise, sp. of voices, in
which nothing is clear. ('beibl).

ba'boon, n. Dog-like monkey of S. Asia
and Africa. (bə'bu:n).

ba'bu, n. Hindu for "Mr."; Indian office-worker
writing English. (ba:'bu:).

'baby, n. Very. young person before stage
of walking; anything small of its sort
(baby car). ('beibi).

'baccara(t), n. Form of card-play.
('bakəra:).

Baccha'nalia, n. FESTIVAL of Bacchus,
the Rom. Higher Being representative of
wine; night etc. of drink and pleasure.
(bakə'neiljə).

'bachelor, n. Unmarried man. Bachelor's
button, sorts of button-like flower; Bachelor of
Arts, Science, lowest university DEGREES.
('batʃələ).

ba'cillus (bacilli), n. Sorts of BACTERIUM.
(bə'siləs).

back, 1. n. Opp. front; part of animal body
opposite stomach and chest. Back of book,
sp., part where pages are joined to cover;
back of hand, side on which nails are. 2. a. At
the back; opp. forward; (of payment etc.)
made, done, after the right time. 3. adv.
Opp. forward; at a distance (from the road
etc.); in, to, earlier position, condition
(freq. back again); in, to, the past; before
this time; (as) in answer to. Back and forth,
forward and back; give, pay, (something) back,
to person who has let one have it; go back
on, be false to; keep back, sp., keep from development;
keep secret. 4. v.t.&i. Put
on as back; give support to; go or make go
back in opp. direction. Back a bill, put one's
name on back as undertaking to make payment
if necessary; back a horse, put money
on; back down, sp., give up a position; back out
of, sp., get out of (undertaking); back up,
sp., give support to. 'backbite, v.i.&t. Say
unkind things about person not present.
'backbone, n. Line of bones down middle of
back, chief supporting structure of body;
chief support of anything. 'backer, n. Sp.,
one who puts money on horse etc. 'backfire,
n., v.i. Loud noise caused by firing of
gas in automobile engine at wrong time.
'background, n. Part of view farthest away;
that on or against which something is
pictured, seen; past experience and education.
'backhand(ed), a. Done with back
of hand facing forward (sp. in TENNIS).
A backhand compliment, one which may be taken
as the opposite. 'backing, n. Sp., support.
backside, n. Seat of body. 'backslide, v.i. Go
back to one's old (bad) ways. 'backstitch,
n., v. Stitch starting at middle of one
before. 'backward, a. Sp., slow, not up to
normal development. 'backward(s), adv.
Sp., with back part first. 'backwash, n.
Motion of wave going back from land.
'backwater, n. Part of river cut off from
current; any place cut off from events.
'backwoods, n. pl. Still untouched woodland
far from any town. (bak).

back'gammon, n. Form of play in which
bits of wood are moved on board.
(bak'gamən).

'bacon, n. Salted or smoked meat of pig.
('beikən).

bac'terium (bacteria), n. Any of group of
smallest and simplest plant bodies,
having existence in almost all substance
living or dead, and frequently a cause of
disease. bacteri'ology, n. (bak'tiəriəm).

bad (worse, worst), a. Of no value, of poor
quality; with wrong qualities for purpose;
unpleasing; (of money) false; full
of errors; damaging, serious; acting
against law, rules of right behaviour;
(of food) chemically changed so that it
isno longer of use. Go bad (of food),
become bad; not bad, sp., [Com.] quite good.
'badly, adv. Sp., very much. (bad (wə:s)).

bade. See BID.

badge, n. Bit of metal, cloth etc. as mark
of person's position, gen. on clothing;
sign (of quality, business etc.). (badʒ).

'badger, 1. n. Small grey animal living
in holes in the earth and going about
at night. 2. v.t. Keep troubling with
questions etc. ('badʒə).

'badinage, [F.] n. Good-humoured talk
making sport of person. ('badina:ʒ).

'badminton, n. Sport in which feathered
half-ball is sent over highnet.
('badmintən).

'baffle, v.t. Keep (person) from doing
something which he is attempting;
make uncertain, at a loss. ('bafl).

bag, n. Pocket of soft material opening at
top, in which things are taken about;
number of animals or birds put to death
by sportsman on one day. Bags,
[Hum.] trousers; let the cat out of the bag,
give away the secret; put him out bag and
baggage, with all his things; whole bag of
tricks, everything needed for some purpose.
2. v.i.&t.
Be hanging loosely,
like a bag; put in a
bag; [Hum.] take
(sp. another's property).
'baggage
(bagidʒ), n. Bags,
boxes, etc. taken on
journey; woman
forward in behaviour.
'bagman, n.
One who goes
round to stores to
get orders for goods.
'bagpipe(s), n. Scot. wind instrument of
music. 'baggy, a. (Of clothing, etc.)
bagging. (bag).

baga'telle, n. Unimportant thing; form
of sport like BILLIARDS. (bagə'tel).

bah, int. Used as sign of disgust. (ba:).

bail, 1. n. Offer of payment made in support
of prisoner's undertaking that if he
is let free he will come before judge on a
named day. Go bail for (person), make oneself
responsible for bail for; on bail, having
been bailed out. 2. v.t. Go bail for. Bail out,
get (person) out of prison by going bail
for him. (beil).

bail, n. One or other of the two bits of
wood forming top of WICKET.

bail, v.t. Get water out of (boat etc.)
with buckets etc.

'bailey, n. Outer wall of strong building;
part inside this. Old Bailey, chief COURT in
London for judging crimes. ('beili).

'bailiff, n. Law authority under SHERIFF;
landowner's manager. ('beilif).

bairn, [Scot.] n. Small boy or girl.
(beən).

bait, 1. n. Food put on hook, in net etc.
to get fish, animals; something used as
an attraction. 2. v.t. Put bait on, in; give
food to (horses) on a journey; make
sport of to make angry. (beit).

baize, n. Rough wool cloth, gen. green,
for covering tables etc. (beiz).

bake, v.t.&i. Get cooked by dry heat in
an oven; make hard by heat. 'bake-house,
n. Place where bread, cakes, etc. are
made. 'baker, n. One who makes bread for
trade. Baker's dozen, 13. 'bakery, n. Sp., bread
store. (beik).

'baksheesh, n. (In E.) GRATUITY. ('bakʃi:ʃ).

'balance, 1. n. Apparatus for measuring
weight; control apparatus of clock or
watch; condition in which weights,
amounts, etc., are equal; condition in
which there is no tendency to have a
fall; quality of seeing things in their
right relations; amount by which two
sides of an account etc. are different;
amount over. Balance sheet, statement of
debts and credit; bank balance, money to one's
credit at bank; hanging in the balance, (of outcome)
uncertain. 2. v.i.&t. Keep, put,
in condition of balance; put (one argument
etc.) against (another). ('baləns).

'balcony, n. Railed stage coming out from
wall of building higher than street-level;
highest or second highest range of seats
in theatre. ('balkəni).

bald, a. Without normal growth of hair,
feathers, etc., sp. on head; unornamented;
(of bad quality) open. 'baldhead,
'baldpate, nn. Person with bald head. (bɔ:ld).

'balderdash, n. Foolish talk or writing.
('bɔ:ldədaʃ).

bale, n. Parcel of goods, gen. done up in
canvas and corded. (beil).

bale, v.t. BAIL.

'baleful, a. Bad, full of bate, causing
destruction. ('beilful).

balk, 1. n. Thick, roughly-squared wood
used as support in building; narrow bit
of unploughed land between fields.
2. v.t.&i. Get in the way of purposes,
hopes etc., of; come to a sudden stop
(sp. of horses), be unready to do. (bɔ:k).

ball, n. A great dance. (bɔ:l).

ball, n. Solid or hollow body or mass of
completely round form, sp., used in
sport; metal ball sent from gun. Keep the ball
rolling, keep the talk etc. going.

'ballad, n. Simple song with a number of
verses; story in short verses. bal'lade
(ba'la:d), n. Special verse form. ('baləd).

'ballast, v.t., n. (Put) material in (ship
etc.), to keep it from rolling. ('baləst).

'ballet, n. Stage dancing in
which number of dancers
take part. ('balei).

bal'listics, n. Science of the
motion of bodies sent
through the air (sp. by
guns). (bə'listiks).

bal'loon, n. Bag of gas for
sending up in air, sp., to take
persons. Balloon barrage, balloons kept
up over town etc. to keep off
air attacks. (bə'lu:n).

'ballot, n., v.i. Making
selection (sp. of government)
or decision by secret
marking of papers, etc.;
paper(s) etc. so marked. 'ballot-box, n.
Box into which ballots are put. ('balət).

'ballyrag, v.t.&i. Make rough sport of.
('balirag).

balm, n. Sweet-smelling oil from certain
trees, used medically; paste with oil in
it, used on wounds; something giving
peace or taking away pain. 'balmy, a. Sp.
(of air etc.) soft. (ba:m).

'balsam, n. BALM; tree giving balsam; a flowering
plant. ('bɔlsəm).

'baluster, n. Upright supporting a rail.
balus'trade, n. Line of balusters with
rail on top. ('baləstə).

bam'boo, n. A tall, wood-stemmed grass
of warm countries; its wood. (bam'bu:).

bam'boozle, v.t. Get the better of (person)
by trick. (bam'bu:zl).

ban, 1. v.t. Keep by authority from being
used, said, done. 2. n. Statement banning.
(ban).

ba'nal, a. Common, uninteresting. (bə'nal).

ba'nana, n. A long, curved, yellow-skinned
fruit; tree giving this. (bə'na:nə).

band, 1. n. Long, thin, narrow bit of
material, sp. for putting round things
or forming part of clothing; wide line of
colour etc.; group of persons united for
some purpose, sp., for playing music.
2. v.t.&i. Put band(s) on; get together in
a band (freq. band together). 'bandage, 1. n. Band
of material for covering wound, etc.
2. v.t. Put a bandage on. 'banded, a. Sp., regularly
marked with bands. 'band-saw, n. Band-like
SAW moving over wheels. 'bandsman,
n. Player in band. 'bandstand, n. Stage
for band. (band).

ban'danna, n. Brightly coloured, printed
square of silk or cotton, for putting
round neck etc. (ban'danə).

'bandbox, n. Cardboard hat-box.
('bandbɔks).

'bandeau, n. Band for hair. ('bandou).

'bandicoot, n. (India) great rat; (Australia)
rat-like animal with pocket for
young. ('bandiku:t).

'bandit, n. One (freq. of band) taking
property by armed attacks. ('bandit).

bando'leer, n. Wide band going down
across chest for CARTRIDGES.
(bandou'liə).

'bandy, v.t. Send back and forward, from
one to another (freq. bandy about); make an
exchange of (words, blows). ('bandi).

'bandy, a. (Of legs) curving out at knee.

bane, n. (Cause of) destruction, trouble.
(bein).

bang, 1. n. Violent blow; loud noise (as) of
blow, gun etc. 2. v.t.&i. Give bang(s) to;
make a bang (with) sp., by shutting. 3.
adv. With a bang. Bang in the middle, in the
very middle; go bang, go off, as gun etc.
(baŋ).

'bangle, n. Ring for arm or leg. ('baŋgl).

'banian, n. Indian trader; Indian coat of
wool; Indian tree whose branches come
down to earth and take root. ('banjən).

'banish, v.t. Send away, sp. from one's
country, as punishment; put out of (one's
mind, etc.). ('baniʃ).

'banister, n. Upright(s) supporting rail at
side of steps. Banisters, banisters and handrail.
('banistə).

'banjo, n. Instrument of music played
with fingers, having from 5 to 9 cords
and soundbox covered with tightly
stretched skin. ('bandʒou).

bank, 1. n. Slope of earth, sp. forming the
side of anything; land at side of river;
part of sea or river bed at higher level;
flat-topped mass of cloud. 2. v.t.&i.
Put inside, make into, bank(s); (of airplanes)
go with one side higher than the
other. Bank up, sp., get material massed on
(fire) for slow burning. (baŋk).

bank, 1. n. Organization, place, for safekeeping
of money, which may be taken
out on signed orders. Bank holiday, day
on which banks are shut by law. 2. v.t.&i.
Put (money) in bank; keep one's money
(in certain bank). Banking on, basing one's
hopes on. 'banker, n. Owner or controller of
a bank. 'banking, n. Sp., business of keeping
a bank. 'bank-note, n. Paper money for
whose value bank is responsible.

'bankrupt, 1. a. Judged in law to be
unable to make full payment of debts.
Bankrupt in, completely without. 2. n. Bankrupt
person. 3. v.t. Make bankrupt. 4. adv. Go bankrupt,
become bankrupt. ('baŋkrʌpt).

'banner, n. Flag of ruler, army, nation;
flag (sp. on 2 supports or in frame) representative
of some special cause, organization.
('banə).

'bannock, n. Scot. flat cake of bread.
('banək).

banns, n. pl. Public statement in church
that 2 persons are to be married. Publish,
put up, the banns, make such statement.
(banz).

'banquet, n., v.i. Meal where there is much
food and drink, freq. marking special
event. ('baŋkwit).

'banshee, [Irish, Scot. Fict.] n. Shade whose
cry is sign of death in a family. ('banʃi:).

bant, v.i. Make attempts to get thin, gen.
by limiting one's food. (bant).

'bantam, n. Small sort of fowl, the male of
which is a fighter. ('bantəm).

'banter, v.t.&i., n. (Make) good-humoured
sport of (person) in talk. ('bantə).

'Bantu, n. S. African family of languages;
persons talking these. ('ba:ntu:).

'banyan, n. BANIAN. ('banjən).

baptism, n. Form of taking person into
Christian Church by washing with
water, gen. with name-giving. 'baptist,
n. One who gives baptism; one of
certain church giving baptism only to
those old enough to make public statement
of belief in Christ (Baptist). 'baptistry,
n. Part of church used for baptism. bap'tize,
v.t. Give baptism to. ('baptizm).

bar, 1. n. Long bit of hard material, sp., rail
across way out or in; anything in the
way of, stopping from doing; line of
sand across mouth of river or harbour;
narrow band (of colour etc.); [Mus.] upright
line making division of notes into
equal time-spaces; such a space and, or,
the notes in it; (place in hotel etc. with)
long, high structure at which drinks are
taken; place for prisoner when before
judge. The bar, men of law acting in HIGH
COURT as group; be called to the bar, be
made a BARRISTER. 2. v.t. Put bar(s)
across; keep (person from doing); put
bar(s) on; be very much against. 3. prep.
But for. 'barmaid, 'barman, nn. Woman,
man, waiting on persons in bar. 'barring,
prep. But for. (ba:).

barb, 1. n. Back-curving point (as on
ARROW, fishhook etc.); side branch of
feather. 2. v.t. Put barb(s) on. Barbed wire,
wire with sharp points on it. (ba:b).

bar'barian, n., a. (Person) of society at
low stage of development; (person)
without taste or education; [Hist.]
one outside Greece or Rome, or not a
Christian. bar'baric, 'barbarous, aa.
Sp., cruel, rough. 'barbarism, n. Sp.,
word or form wrongly used. bar'barity,
n. Sp., cruel behaviour. (ba:'beəriən).

'barbecue, n. Framework for cooking animals
over fire; cow, pig etc. cooked on
barbecue; [Am.] great outdoor meal at which
barbecues are cooked. ('ba:bikju:).

'barbel, n. Great European river fish.
('ba:bl).

'barber, n. One whose trade is cutting
and dressing hair on face and head.
('ba:bə).

'barberry, n. Tree-like plant with yellow
flowers; its red berry. ('ba:bəri).

'barbican, n. Strong outer building, sp.
over doorway, for keeping off attack.
('ba:bikən).

bard, [Let.] n. Maker of verse and song.
(ba:d).

bare, 1. a. Unclothed, uncovered; unornamented;
not more than. Lay bare,
make clear, public. 2. v.t. Make unclothed,
uncovered; lay bare. 'bareback(ed),
a., adv. Seated on bare back of horse.
'barefaced, a. Without shame. 'barefoot(ed), a.,
adv. With bare feet. bare-headed, a.,
adv. Without a hat. 'barely, adv. Not quite,
almost not. (beə).

'bargain, 1. n. Agreement to make exchange,
etc.; thing got by bargain; thing
offered very cheap. Into the bargain, in addition.
2. v.i. Have argument for purpose
of getting better bargain; make condition
(that). Not bargain for, not be looking, ready,
for. ('ba:gin).

barge, 1. n. Boat with flat base for river
transport. 2. v.i. Go violently (into,
against). bar'gee, n. Man in control of
trading barge. 'barge-pole, n. Long stick
for guiding barge. (ba:dʒ).

'baritone, [Mus.] n. Voice between
TENOR and BASS; person having this.
('baritoun).

'barium, n. A silver-white metal.
('beəriəm).

bark, 1. n. Outer skin of tree-stems. 2. v.t.
Take bark off; take skin off (leg, etc.) by
blow against something. (ba:k).

bark, barque, nn. Sort of ship with 3
sail-supports; [Let.] ship.

bark, 1. n. Cry of dog or other such
animal; sharp, hard sound, as of gun,
cough. 2. v.i.&t. Give a bark; say sharply
and shortly.

'barley, n. Sort of grain used for food and
making beer, etc.; plant producing this.
Pearl barley, barley grain crushed small. 'barleycorn,
n. Grain of barley. ('ba:1i).

barm, n. YEAST produced in making beer,
etc. 'barmy, a. Sp., [Hum.] off one's head.
(ba:m).

barn, n. Covered building for storing
grain, etc., on farm. Barn-door fowl,
common fowl of no named sort. (ba:n).

'barnacle, n. Small sea-animal with hard
outer cover, which gets fixed onto
things under water, sp. ships. ('ba:nəkl).

ba'rometer, n. Instrument for getting
knowledge of coming weather by measuring
weight of the air. (bə'rɔmitə).

'baron, n. Great chief, NOBLEMAN; (England)
lowest sort of PEER. 'baronage, n. The
barons as a body. 'baroness, n. Woman
married to a baron. 'baronet, n. Man having
lowest English TITLE handed down from
father to son. ('barən).

ba'roque, n., a. Highly ornamented form
of building, design. (bə/rouk).

ba'rouche, n. Sort of 4-wheeled horse carriage.
(bə'ru:ʃ).

'barrack, n. Building housing military
(gen. barracks); any barrack-like building. ('barək).

'barrack, v.t. Makenoises, cries of protest,
at (players etc.).

'barrage, n. Rain of
gunfire against
given line. ('bara:ʒ).

'barrel, 1. n. Round,
flat-ended wood
vessel with curved
sides kept together
by rings of metal
or wood; any barrel-like
thing; pipe of gun.
2. v.t. Put in barrel(s).
'barrel-organ, n. Instrument
of street
music played by turning hand-part.
('barəl).

'barren, a. Unable to have plants, fruit,
young, produce; effecting nothing,
without value. ('barən).

barri'cade, v.t., n. (Put up) wall of things
across or in front of (something) to keep
back attack. (bari'keid).

'barrier, n. Wall, rails etc. put up to keep
persons etc. out, back; anything acting
as barrier, coming between. ('bariə).

barrister, n. Man of law having right of
acting in higher COURTS. ('baristə).

'barrow, n. Earth structure made in early
times over places for dead. ('barou).

'barrow, n. One- or two-wheeled cart, gen.
pushed by hand.

'barter, v.t.&i., n. (Make) exchange of
(goods or property). ('ba:tə).

'barytone, n. BARITONE. ('baritoun).

'basalt, n. Green or brown stone forming
COLUMNS in earth. ('basəlt).

base, 1. n. Lowest, supporting, part of
anything; anything forming greater part
of mixed substance; starting-point for
runners; place from which army in field
gets stores, medical help, etc.; [Sc.]
chemical substance forming a salt when
acted on by an acid. Base metals, those
other than PRECIOUS ones. 2. v.t. Base on,
be supporting (argument etc.) on. 'baseball,
n. Am. form of sport with ball. 'baseless, a.
Without good reason, cause. 'basement, n.
Floor of building under street level. (beis).

base, a. Bad, low; poor, of low value. Base
coin, false money.

bash, v.t. Get crushed by hard blow. (baʃ).

'bashful, a. At a loss with strange persons,
made unhappy by attention.
('baʃfəl).

'basic, a. Of, at, forming, a base; first,
most necessary (of rules, stages, etc.).
Basic English, international form of English
worked out by C. K. Ogden. ('beisik).

'basil, n. Sweet-smelling plant. ('bazl).

ba'silica, n. [Rom.] Long room round at
one end with roof resting on two lines
of stone supports, used for law purposes;
early Christian church of basilica-like form.
(bə'zilikə).

'basilisk, [Fict.] n. Strange snake with
power of causing death by its look or
breath. ('bazilisk).

'basin, n. Wide, round, open vessel used
for liquids, etc.; thing like a basin, such as
hollow among mountains, land-locked
harbour; land drained by river. ('beisn).

'basis, n. Facts etc. on which something
is based; chief part of mixed substance.
('beisis).

bask, v.i. Be warming oneself with
pleasure (in sun, firelight, approval,
etc.). (ba:sk).

'basket, n. Vessel made of sticks, grasses,
etc., twisted together. 'basketry, 'basket-work,
nn. Basket-making;
things
material, made by
this process.
('ba:skit).

basque, n. Very
short overskirt on
woman's dress.
(bask).

'bas-relief, n.
Picture, design,
cut on flat stone
etc., so as to come
out a little from
the face of it. ('basrili:f).

bass, n. A fish used for food. (bas).

bass, bast, nn. Inner part of outer
skin of LIME-tree, used for covering floors,
basket-work, etc. (bas, bast).

bass, 1. a. Low, deep-sounding. 2. [Mus.]
n. Lowest part in music; (person having)
lowest male voice. (beis).

bassi'net, n. Baby's basket-work carriage,
bed, covered at one end. (basi'net).

bas'soon, n. Wood wind-instrument of
music, producing low notes. (bə'su:n).

bastard, 1. a. Having mother not
married to one's father; false, without
authority. 2. n. Bastard person or thing.
('bastəd).

baste, v.t. Put liquid fat over (meat etc.)
while cooking; give hard blows to with
a stick; put roughly together with long
stitches. (beist).

basti'nado, v.t., n. (Give) blows on under
part of feet as punishment. (basti'na:do).

'bastion, n. 5-sided part coming out from
strong military structure. ('bastiən).

bat, n. Rat-likenight animal with wings
of skin stretched over bones. (bat).

bat, 1. n. Instrument with flat-fronted
blade used in sport, sp. CRICKET, for
giving blow to ball; stick used in BASEBALL;
batsman. 2. v.i.&t. Make use of
bat; send with bat. Off his own bat, without
outside suggestion. 'batsman, n. Player
batting.

batch, n. Group of things given attention
at one time, sp. amount of bread cooked
at one time. (batʃ).

bate, v.t.&i. ABATE. With bated breath,
keeping back one's breath (in fear, etc.).
(beit).

bath, 1. n. A washing of all the body, sp.
by putting completely in water etc.;
water etc. for bath; vessel, room, or building
in which baths are taken. Bath chair,
wheeled seat for old or feeble person;
sun bath, a rest in the sun without clothing.
2. v.t.&i. Give, have, a bath. (ba:θ).

bathe, 1. v.i.&t. BATH, sp., in sea, river
etc. for pleasure; make wet, bright etc.,
all over. 2. n. Act of bathing, sp. in
river, sea. 'bather, n. Person having bathe.
'bathing-machine, n. Wheeled dressing-room
for sea-bathing. (beiθ).

'bathos, n. Sudden fall, change, in talk,
writing, etc., from what is deeply
moving to what is common, unimportant.
('beiθɔs).

ba'tiste, n. Very thin, smooth, linen or
cotton material. (ba'ti:st).

'batman, n. Military servant. ('batmən).

'baton, n. Stick used as sign of authority;
policeman's stick; [Mus.] stick used in
keeping time for band. ('batn).

bat'talion, n. Great body of men ready
for fighting; division of Brit. army of
about 1,000 men. (bə'taljən).

'batten, n. Floor-board; board across
others, keeping them in place; bit of
wood used to keep down canvas over
opening into lower part of ship. 2. v.t.
Make strong with battens. Batten down the hatches,
get openings into lower part of ship shut
tight. ('batn).

'batten, v.i. Get fat (on), sp. to the damage
of others.

'batter, v.t.&i. Give violent blows to so
as to get crushed, broken (freq. batter at,
down etc.). 'battering-ram, n. Instrument for
battering down walls etc. 'battery, [Law] n.
Giving of blows. ('batə).

'batter, n. Meal, salt, and eggs mixed
with liquid, and used in cooking.

'battery, n. [Mil.] Unit of guns, with its
men and horses; group of guns on ship
etc.; group of electric CELLS; see
BATTER. ('batəri).

'battle, v.i., n. (Have) fight, sp. in a war.
Battle royal, great fight, argument, etc.;
pitched battle, battle for which the two sides
have taken up their positions. 'battlefield, n.
Place of battle. 'battleship, n. Most strongly
armed sort of warship. ('batl).

'battledore, n. BAT with round blade, used
in BADMINTON etc. ('batldɔ:).

'battlement, n. Top part of wall of old
military buildings with openings for
firing through. ('batlmənt).

'bauble, n. Ornament, jewel, pleasing to
the eye, but of little value; thing without
true value; JESTER's stick. ('bɔ:bl).

baulk, v.t.&i. BALK. (bɔ:k).

'bawbee, [Scot.] n. Halfpenny. ('bɔ:bi:).

'bawdy, a. Dirty, disgusting (of talk etc.).
('bɔ:di).

bawl, v.t.&i. Say very loudly, be crying
loudly. (bɔ:l).

bay, n. Division of wall between two supports;
part of room made by building
out window from wall-line. Bay window,
one in a bay. (bei).

bay, n. Wide-mouthed inlet of sea etc.

bay, n., v.i. Deep cry of great dog. At bay,
pushed to point of turning on attackers;
bring to bay, get animal, etc., at bay; hold
at bay, keep (attackers) off.

bay, n. Sort of tree with dark green
leaves. Bays, sp., circle of bay leaves put
on heads of great fighters, verse-writers
etc. in old times; bay rum, sweet-smelling
liquid for hair. 'bayberry, n. W.-Indian
tree; N.-Am. tree-like plant with grey
berries.

bay, a., n. Red-brown (horse etc.).

'bayonet, 1. n. Short blade to be fixed to
mouth of gun for hand-to-hand fighting.
2. v.t. Give wound to with bayonet. ('beiənit).

ba'zaar, n. Part of town in E. where
stores are; special SALE of goods, to get
money for some cause; store keeping all
sorts of cheap things. (bə'za:).

be (am, is, are, was, were, been), 1. v.
Have existence; take place; have (certain
quality, position, relation, etc.) (be
sad, be in Africa, be in favour of); make,
come to (twice 2 is 4); have the name,
qualities, of (this is Mary, an apple is
a fruit). Apples are 6d. a pound, their
price is 6d. a pound; has anyone been?,
has anyone come and gone?; he has
been to London, he has made a journey
to London; let it be, sp., let it go on
as it is. 2. v.aux. Used before: past
forms of vv.t., such as taken, sung,
washed, to give them force of adjs. (the
medicine is taken, the song has been sung,
the clothing was washed); "-ing" forms to
make it clear that an act is in process
(he is (was, etc.) working); to and a v. as
sign that the act is ordered, designed,
or possible (you are to come back here, the
King is to be there, they are to be found
in the drawer). If I were to do that, if, let
us say for purposes of argument, I did
that. 'being, n. Existence; living thing;
self. (bi: (wɔz, wə:, bi:n)).

be-, All over (be'dabble (v.), be'daub (v.),
be'deck (v.), be'smear (v.), be'spatter (v.),
be'sprinkle (v.)); put on all over (be'dew
(v.), be'grime (v.), be'jewel (v.), be'spangle
(v.)). (bi-).

beach, 1. n. Stretch of sand, stones, at
edge of sea. 2. v.t. Get (boat) up on
to beach. 'beachcomber, n. Long wave rolling in
from sea; waster living on what he
comes across on beach. (bi:tʃ).

'beacon, n. Fire lighted as sign of news on
high place to be seen from a distance;
lighthouse. ('bi:kən).

bead, 1. n. Small ball of glass etc. with
hole through, for threading on cord
with others as an ornament; any bead-like
thing, drop. Beads, sp., threaded beads for
neck; tell one's beads, go through PRAYERS
with help of special beads, touching one for
every PRAYER. 2. v.t. Put beads on. 'beadsman,
[Hist.] n. Poor person supported by someone
in exchange for his PRAYERS. 'beading,
n. Sp., ornament on stone, wood, etc., in
form of line of beads. 'beady, a. (Sp. of eyes)
small, round and bright. (bi:d).

'beadle, n. Man whose business is to give
help in keeping order in church, etc., for
PARISH. ('bi:dl).

'beagle, n. Small dog for sport, sp. for
going after HARES. 'beagling, n. Sport
with beagles. ('bi:gl).

beak, n. Hard mouth-part of bird;
[Hum.] judge, school-teacher. (bi:k).

'beaker, n. Great drinking-cup; [Sc.]
lipped glass vessel. ('bi:kə).

beam, 1. n. Long bit of squared wood
going across structure; rod joining upright
parts of machine etc.; ray, parcel
of rays, of light. Beam ends, side of ship; be
on one's beam ends, be without money, in
serious need; broad in the beam, wide across
(of ship, person). 2. v.t.&i. Give out
(light); give bright smile (at). (bi:m).

bean, n. Sorts of plant with KIDNEY-form
seeds in PODS, used for food; bean seed; bean-like
seed of other plants, as coffee. Full of
beans, [Com.] sp., in great good humour;
give a person beans, [Hum.] sp., be very
angry with; old bean, [Hum.] old boy, dear
man. 'bean-feast, 'beano, nn. A good time,
with food and drink. (bi:n).

bear, 1. n. Great,
thick-haired, flat-footed
animal, living on animals
and plants; person
of rough behaviour;
one forcing price of
STOCKS down to
get them cheap.
Great Bear, Little Bear,
two groups of stars
in the north sky. 2. v.i.&t. Do bear
operations on STOCKS. 'bear-garden, n.
Place where there is no order and great
noise. 'bearskin, n. Sp., tall military hat
made of skin. (beə).

bear (bore, borne), v.t.&i. Take, be transporting,
(on one's back, in one's hands,
etc.); have on one; keep up, be support
to; put up with; be able to undergo without
damage (won't bear investigation); give
birth to (be given birth = be born); get
(fruit etc.) produced; be pushing (in certain
direction). Bear a grudge, keep up bad
feeling against; bear a hand, give help with
work; bear arms, be in the army; bear down
on, sp., come straight at; bear him company,
go, be, with him; bear on, sp. (of fact,
etc.) have a connection with; bear oneself
(like), be in behaviour (like); bear out, sp.,
give support to (idea, etc.); bear up, sp.,
not give way; bear with, sp., put up with
kindly; bear witness that, to, give EVIDENCE
that. 'bearable, a. Able to be put up with.
'bearer, n. Sp., servant-porter in E. for
journeys; one supporting box for dead
body; one taking cheque to bank for
payment. 'bearing, n. Sp., air, behaviour;
connection; part of machine against
which another part is supported while
moving. Bearings, sp., design etc. on COAT OF
ARMS; ball bear(s), (of machine bearing) (with)
small balls for keeping parts from rubbing;
lose one's bearings, become uncertain
where one is; take one's bearings, get one's
position worked out. (beə (bɔ:, bɔ:n)).

beard, 1. n. Growth of hair on chin; any
beard-like growth on plants or animals. 2.
v.t. Go to without fear, for purpose of
making protest etc. (biəd).

beast, n. Animal, sp., four-footed one;
disgusting person. Beast of burden, animal
for transporting goods. 'beastly, 1. a. Sp.,
dirty, disgusting. 2. adv. [Com.] Disgustingly,
very. (bi:st).

beat (beat, beaten), 1. v.t.&i. Give blows
to; get (food) mixed and full of air by
use of fork etc.; (of sun, rain etc.) come
down straight and hard (on); get the better
of in fight etc., be better than; have
regular motion (as of wings, heart, etc.).
Beat a retreat, go back, get away; beat it!
[Am. Com.] get out i; beat person, price,
down, get person to put price down; beat
time, keep time by regular motion of hand
etc.; this beats me, puts me completely at
a loss. 2. n. Sound of DRUM; regular
motion, rhythm; unit of such motion,
rhythm; regular way taken by policeman
etc. on watch. 'beaten, a. Keep on the
beaten track, sp., do nothing new. 'beater, n. Sp.,
man driving birds etc. to those waiting
with guns, by beating cover. 'beating, n.
Sp., blows, a whipping. (bi:t).

bea'tific, a. BLESSED, very happy. be'atify,
v.t. Make beatific. be'atitude,
n. Condition of being beatified.
(biə'tifik).

beau, n. Man with great interest in dress;
girl's lover. (bou).

'beau i'deal, n. One's idea of the best.
('bou ai'diəl).

'beauty, n. Quality of being very pleasing
to eye, ear, or mind; very good-looking
woman; a very good example of something.
Beauty parlour, place for care of
women's faces, hair etc.; beauty sleep,
sleep taken in early hours of night; beauty
spot, place noted for its beauty; small, round
bit of black material put on face.
'beauteous, [Let.] a. 'beautiful, a. Sp.,
good of its sort. ('bju:ti).

'beaver, n. Water and land animal of the
rat family, a great builder; skin of beaver;
man's high beaver hat. ('bi:və).

'beaver, n. Metal chin-plate forming part
of old military head-dress.

be'calmed, a. (Of sailing-ship) stopped
because there is no wind. (bi'ka:md).

be'came. See BECOME.

be'cause, conj. For the reason that. Because of,
by reason of. (bi'kɔz).

beck, n. Small, sp. mountain, river. (bek).

'beckon, v.i.&t. Make sign to (someone)
to come. beck, n. [Old] Beckoning
motion. At the beck (and call) of, ordered
about by. ('bekən).

be'come (became, become), v.i.&t. Get to
be; be right behaviour for; (of clothing)
be becoming to. What has become of it?, where
is it? what is its condition now? be'coming,
a. Right for, looking well on.
(bi'kʌm (bi'keim)).

bed, 1. n. Structure for sleeping on; sleeping-place;
stretch of earth for plants in
garden etc.; floor of river, sea, etc.;
flat base on which thing is resting;
stretch of stone etc. forming part of
earth's structure. Bed of roses, sp., condition
of comfort. 2. v.t. Get bed ready for
(horse etc.); put (plants) in bed. 'bed-clothcs,
n. Covers for bed. 'bedding, n.
Sp., bed-clothes. 'bedfellow, n. Person
sleeping in same bed as another. 'bedridden,
a. Unable to get up from one's bed.
bed-rock, n. Hard stone under looser
material; facts etc. at base of something.
'bedroom, n. 'bedspread, n. Top cover for
bed. 'bedstead, n. Frame of bed. (bed).

be'dim, v.t. Make (eyes) clouded. (bi'dim).

be'dizen, v.t. Put loud ornaments, dress,
on. (bi'daizn).

'bedlam, n. Place of noise, rough behaviour;
[Hist.] noted hospital for persons
off their heads (Bedlam). ('bedləm).

'Bedouin, n., a. Person of the sand wastes
of Arabia etc., having no fixed living-place.
('beduin).

be'draggle, v.t. Let (dress etc.) get wet
and dirty. (bi'dragl).

bee, n. Four-winged insect, producing wax
and HONEY. Have a bee in one's bonnet, be
taken up with foolish idea. 'bee-hive, n.
Structure for keeping bees in. 'bee-line,
n. Straightest way between two points
(make a bee-line for). 'beeswax, n. (bi:).

beech, n. Smooth-stemmed tree producing
three-sided nuts; its wood. 'beechmast, n.
Nuts of beech. (bi:tʃ).

beef, n. Meat of animal of cow family.
Beef tea, liquid made from beef for ill persons
etc. 'beefeater, n. One of the keepers of the
TOWER of London, dressed as in time of
Henry VII. 'beefy, a. Sp., [Hum.] strong,
solid (of person). (bi:f).

been. See BE.

beer, n. Strong drink made from grain and
HOPS; sorts of drink made from certain
roots. Small beer, sp., unimportant thing(s).
'beery, a. Sp., smelling etc. of beer. (biə).

beet, n. Sorts of plant with sweet root.
Red beet, used for food; white beet, used for
sugar-making. 'beetroot, n. Root of beet.
(bi:t).

'beetle, n. Sorts of hammering-instrument
with great head for crushing, levelling
etc. ('bi:tl).

'beetle, n. Sorts of insect with hard wing-covers.

'beetle, v.i. Come out over, be
overhanging. 'beetle-browed, a. Having very thick
EYEBROWS.

be'fall (befell, befallen), v.i.&t. Come
about, take place; (of events) come to
(person). (bi'fɔ:l (bi'fel)).

be'fit, v.t. Be right for. (bi'fit).

be'fogged, a. Covered by mist; (of person)
not clear about something. (bi'fɔgd).

be'fore, 1. prep. In front of; earlier than;
under, by, the force of. (before the wind). 2.
adv. In front; earlier. 3. conj. Earlier
than; more readily than (I will die before I
will submit). be'forehand, adv. Before, to be
ready for, coming event. (bi'fɔ:).

be'foul, v.t. Make dirty. (bi'faul).

be'friend, v.t. Be a friend to in time of
need. (bi'frend).

beg, v.t.&i. Make a request to (person) for,
that, with great feeling; make a living by
begging for money in streets. Beg the question,
be basing an argument on the very
fact which is being questioned; go begging,
sp., not be desired by anyone; I beg your
pardon, please FORGIVE me; please say
that again. 'beggar, 1. n. One living by
begging; very poor person; [Hum.]
person. 2. v.t. Make poor. Beggar description,
be so good (bad etc.) that there areno
words for it. 'beggarly, a. Poor, small,
unimportant. 'beggary, n. Condition of
being very poor. (beg).

be'gan. See BEGIN.

be'get (begot, begotten), v.t. Give being
to (as father), be the father of; be the
cause of. (bi'get (bi'gɔt)).

be'gin (began, begun), v.t.&i. Make a
start at, on; come into existence; be the
first to do. be'ginner, n. Sp., one first
learning anything. be'ginning, n. Sp., the
start, first part. (bi'gin (bi'gan, bi'gʌn)).

be'gone, int. Go! (bi'gɔn).

be'gonia, n. Plant with brightly coloured
flowers and leaves. (bi'gouniə).

be'got, be'gotten. See BEGET.

be'grudge, v.t. GRUDGE. (bi'grʌdʒ).

be'guile, v.t. Get to do etc. by tricks;
give amusement to; make (time) go
quickly, happily. (bi'gail).

'begum, n. Indian QUEEN or woman of
high birth. ('bi:gəm).

be'gun. See BEGIN.

be'half, n. Only on or in behalf of, as the representative
of, in the interest of, for.
(bi'ha:f).

be'have, v.i. Do, be acting; (of things) have
reactions; behave in way pleasing to society,
be good (freq. behave oneself). Badly etc. behaved,
bad etc. in behaviour. be'haviour
(bi'heivjə), n. Way of behaving.
be'havio(u)rism, n. Theory of psychology
as a science of physical reaction and
behaviour. (bi'heiv).

be'head, v.t. Take head off, sp. as form of
punishment by death. (bi'bed).

be'held. See BEHOLD.

be'hest, [Old] n. Request, order. (bi'hest).

be'hind, 1. prep., adv. To, at, the back
of, sp., kept from view by; farther back
than; less forward in development etc.
than. Behind in (with), late with; behind time,
late; have someone behind one, sp., giving one
support; leave (stay) behind, in a place from
which one has (others have) gone. 2. n.
Backside. be'hindhand, adv. Late (in, with),
not ready. (bi'haind).

be'hold (beheld), v.t. See.
(bi'hould (bi'held)).

be'holden, a. In debt (to person for).
(bi'houldən).

be'hoof, n. Interest (only to, for, person's behoof;
on behoof of). (bi'hu:f).

be'ho(o)ve, v.t. Only it behoves (person) to,
is right, necessary, for (him) to. (bi'houv,
bi'hu:v).

beige, n. Sand colour. (beiʒ).

'being. See BE.

be'labour, v.t. Give hard blows to.
(bi'leibə).

be'lated, a. Overtaken by night; late.
(bi'leitid).

be'lay, v.t. Make turns with (cord) round
pin etc. for purpose of getting it fixed;
Stop! Enough! (sailor's use). be'laying-pin,
n. (bi'lei).

belch, 1. v.i.&t. Let out gas from stomach
through mouth with (loud) noise; send
out (smoke, etc.). 2. n. Sound of belching.
(beltʃ).

'beldam(e), [Old] n. Old woman, gen.
bad-humoured. ('beldam).

be'leaguer, v.t. BESIEGE. (bi'li:gə).

'belfry, n. High building for bell(s); place
for bell(s) at top of church. ('belfri).

be'lie, v.t. Give false idea of; not come up
to (hopes, etc.). (bi'lai).

be'lief, n. Believing, sp., a religion; anything
taken as true, sp., a religion.
Belief in, sp., belief that (thing, person) has
existence or is right, good, will do well;
to the best of my belief, as far as my knowledge
goes. be'lieve, v.t. Have no doubt
that (statement etc.) is true, (person) is
saying what is true; believe some system of
religion; be of the opinion (that). Believe in,
have belief in. be'liever, n. Sp., in
religion. (bi'li:f).

be'like, [Old] adv. Possibly. (bi'laik).

be'little, v.t. Make seem unimportant, of
little value. (bi'litl).

bell, 1. n. Metal instrument, gen. in form
of an upside-down cup with tongue
inside it, sounding note when given a
shake or a blow; thing in form of bell,
such as flower; apparatus by which, when
button is pushed or cord pulled in one
part of a house, a sound is made in
another, as a door-bell. 1 to 8 bells, half-hour
divisions of watch on ship. 2.
v.t. Put bell on. 'bell-boy, 'bellhop, [Am.]
nn. Boy servant in hotel. 'bell-pull, n.
Cord etc. for pulling house-bell. bell-wether,
n. Sheep at head of others,
with bell on neck. (bel).

bella'donna, n. Plant with red flowers
and black berries; poison from this,
having special effect on the eyes, and
used medically. (belə'dɔnə).

belle, n. Beautiful woman. (bel).

'belles-'lettres, n. Polished writings, freq.
about art or letters. ('bel'letr).

'bellicose, a. Desiring a fight. ('belikous).

bel'ligerent, n., a. (Person ornation) at
war; BELLICOSE.
(bi'lidʒərənt).

'bellow, n., v.i.&t.
Loud noise made
by cows, etc.; loud,
sp. angry, cry.
('belou).

'bellows, n. Instrument
for producing
air-current for
blowing up fire or
working certain instruments
of music. ('belouz).

'belly, 1. n. Lower part of body in which
is the stomach etc.; stomach. 2. v.t.&i.
(Sp. of sails full of wind) make, get,
curved out like belly. ('beli).

be'long, v.i. Only belong here etc., be living
here etc.; be rightly placed under this
heading etc.; belong to, be the property of; go
with, be part of. be'longings, n. pl. Person's
property. (bi'lɔŋ).

be'loved, n., a. (One) much loved. (bilʌvd).

be'low, adv., prep. At, to, lower level
(than); lower in position, authority,
amount, degree, (than); later in book
etc. (bi'lou).

belt, 1. n. Band put round middle of body,
to keep clothing in place; band; driving-band
round two wheels. 2. v.t. Put belt
round; give blows to with belt. (belt).

be'moan, v.t. Be crying, sad, about.
(bi'moun).

be'muse, v.t. Make (brain) clouded, slow.
(bi'mju:z).

bench, n. Long hard seat; judge's seat;
judges as a body; work-table. back-bencher,
n. Less important M.P. with
seat on back bench. (bentʃ).

bend (bent), 1. v.t.&i. Get, become,
forced into curve or angle; get (steps,
mind, eyes) turned (to); (make) give
way. Bent on, with fixed purpose of.
2. n. Curve or angle. bent, 1. a. 2. n.
Natural tendency. (bend (bent)).

be'neath, adv., prep. Under, lower (than);
not good enough for (beneath notice, beneath a
person). (bi'ni:θ).

bene'diction, n. (Act of giving a) BLESSING.
bene'dictory, a. (beni'dikʃn).

bene'faction, n. Doing good; something
given (to poor etc.). 'benefactor, n.
One giving kind help to person etc., sp.
money. (beni'fakʃn).

'benefice, n. Position in Church with
payment. ('benifis).

be'neficent, a. Doing good; acting kindly.
bene'flcial (beni'fiʃl), a. Having good
effect. bene'flciary, n. Person getting
money, rights etc., sp, by WILL.
(bi'nefisnt).

'benefit, 1. n. Good done to, got from,
something. Benefit performance, special giving
of play etc., profits of which go to one
of the actors. 2. v.t.&i. Do good to. Benefit
by, get good from. ('benifit).

be'nevolent, a. Kind, doing good.
(bi'nevoulant).

be'nighted, a. Overtaken by dark; without
light of knowledge. (bi'naitid).

be'nign, a. Kind, soft-hearted; having
good effect; (of diseases) not very serious.
be'nignant (bi'nignant), a. Kind, sp. to those
in lower position. (bi'nain).

'benison, [Old] n. A BLESSING. ('benizn).

bent. See BEND.

'Benthamism, n. Bentham's theory of
making the greatest good of the greatest
number the guiding rule of right behaviour.
('benθəmizm).

be'numb, v.t. Take feeling from. (bi'nʌm).

ben'zene, 'benzol, nn. Readily-burning
chemical got from coal. (ben'zi:n,
'benzɔl).

ben'zine, n. Chemical substance got from
PETROLEUM, used for cleaning, painting,
etc. (ben'zi:n).

be'queath, v.t. Give (property) at death to;
give, be handing down, to those coming
after. be'quest, n. Bequeathing; thing
bequeathed. (bi'kwi:ð).

be'rate, v.t. Say angry words to. (bi'reit).

be'reave (bereaved or bereft), v.t. Make
unhappy by taking away (of hope etc.).
be'reaved, a. Having undergone loss of relation,
friend, by death. (bi'ri:v (bi'reft)).

'beret, n. Flat soft head-dress used by
Basques. ('berei).

'beri'beri, n. Disease caused by living on
such food as polished rice. ('beri'beri).

'berry, n. Any small fruit without a stone.
('beri).

'berserk(er), n. [Hist.] Violent NORSE
fighting man. Go berserk, become suddenly
violent, out of control. ('bə:sə:k(ə)).

berth, 1. n. Place for ship in harbour;
sleeping-place in ship or train; work,
position. Give a wide berth to, keep out of
the way of. 2. v.t. Get (ship) into berth.
(bə:θ).

'beryl, n. Sort of jewel stone, light green,
blue, yellow, or white. ('beril).

be'seech (besought), v.t. Make a strong
request to (for, that). (bi'si:tʃ (bi'sɔ:t)).

be'set (beset), v.t. Make attacks on
(person) from all sides; make (way etc.)
hard to get through. Besetting sin, one
to which person has special tendency.
(bi'set).

be'side, prep. At the side of, near; in
comparison with. Beside oneself, at the end of
one's self-control; beside the mark (question),
away from the point. be'sides, prep., adv. In
addition to; other than. (bi'said).

be'siege, v.t. Get, keep, armed forces
round (town etc.) for purpose of attack.
Besiege with requests etc., keep on making
requests etc. to. (bi'si:dʒ).

be'smirch, v.t. SMIRCH. (bi'smə:tʃ).

'besom, n. Number of small branches fixed
on to end of stick as brush. ('bi:zəm).

be'sotted, a. Made foolish by drink, love
etc. (bi'sɔtid).

be'sought. See BESEECH.

be'speak (bespoke, bespoken), v.t. Give
order for, make request for, before the
time; be sign of. be'spoke, a. Made to
order. Bespoke bootmaker etc., one who makes
to order. (bi'spi:k (bi'spouk)).

best, 1. a., adv., n. Most good (well).
Best man, sp., friend acting as supporter to
man getting married; best seller, book
which has very good market; put one's
best foot forward, go (do) as quickly as
possible; do it for the best, do it in belief
that it is the right thing; do one's best, do
as well as one is able; it's all for the best,
it's all working for a good outcome;
moke the best of, see the best side of, not let
oneself be made unhappy by. 2. v.t.
Get the better of. (best).

'bestial, a. Of, like, animals; (of behaviour)
low. ('bestjəl).

be'stir, v. Only bestir oneself, make a move;
get going, working. (bi'stə:).

be'stow, v.t. Give as offering (bestow thing on);
put (in a place). (bi'stou).

be'stride (bestrode, bestridden), v.t.
Have, put, one leg on one side of (a
thing) and one on the other. (bi'straid
(bi'stroud, bi'stridn)).

bet, 1. v.t. Make an offer of (money etc.)
in support of one's opinion about something
uncertain. Bet a penny to a pound,
etc., bet penny against other person's
pound; bet on, in support of; you bet, you
may be certain. 2. n. Betting offer, agreement;
money etc. bet on anything. (bet).

be'take (betook, betaken), v. Only betake oneself
to, go to; take up (interest etc.).
(bi'teik (bi'tuk)).

'betel, n. Leaf which, in India, is put
round bits of nut and slowly crushed
between the teeth. 'betel-nut, n. The nut
used with betel-nut. ('bi:tl).

'bête 'noire, [F.] n. Thing or person specially
hated by one. ('beit 'nwa:).

'bethel, n. Small church used by certain
PROTESTANT groups. ('beθəl).

be'think (bethought), v. Only bethink oneself,
have a sudden memory, idea (of, that).
(bi'θiŋk (bi'θɔ:t)).

be'tide, v.i. Come about (chiefly in
whatever may betide, woe betide you!). (bi'taid).

be'times, adv. Early. (bi'taimz).

be'token, v.t. Be a sign of. (bi'toukən).

be'took. See BETAKE.

be'tray, v.t. Be false to (person); give
(person) up to those against him; give
away (secret); give sign of. (bi'trei).

be'troth, v.t. Make agreement for (one's
daughter etc.) to be married (to). be'trothed,
1. a. 2. n. Betrothed person. (bi'trouð).

'better, 1. a., adv., n. More good (well);
less or no longer ill. Be better than one's
word, do more than one has said one
will; I had better go, it would be wise for me to
go; for better for worse, whatever may come;
get the better of, overcome; one's better half, the
person one is married to; one's betters, those
higher in society than oneself; the better part,
sp., the greater part; think better of, sp., take
back, make change in, one's decision
about. 2. v.t. Make better. Better oneself; get a
better position. ('betə).

be'tween, prep., adv. In or into space,
time etc. marked off by two or more
named limits (between England and France, between
Tuesday and Thursday); to and from
(sailing between Cherbourg and New York);
taken part in by the things or persons
named (an agreement between); having some
of the qualities of two or more named
things (a feeling between love and hate). Choose
between, make a selection of one or the other
of. (bi'twi:n).

be'twixt, [Old] prep., adv. Between.
(bi'twikst).

'bevel, 1. v.t.
Make (square
edge) sloping
by taking off
right angle.
2. n. Edge so
made; instrument
for
bevelling.
('bevl).

'beverage, n.
Any sort of drink. ('bevəridʒ).

'bevy, n. Group (of women, birds). ('bevi).

be'wail, v.t.&i. Be regretting, crying
about. (bi'weil).

be'ware, v.t.&i. Be watching against,
keep away from (freq. beware of); take care.
(bi'weə).

be'wilder, v.t. Put at a loss, make
uncertain, mixed up. (bi'wildə).

be'witch, v.t. Put a SPELL on; be full of
attraction for. be'witching, a. Very beautiful
or pleasing. (bi'witʃ).

be'wray, [Old] v.t. Give sign of, sp. unconsciously.
(bi'rei).

bey, n. A Turkish ruler. (bei).

be'yond, adv., prep. At, to, the farther
side (of); farther on (than); outside
limit or range (of); in addition (to).
Beyond me, sp., beyond my powers; the back of beyond,
place far away from everything, hard
to get at. (bi'jɔnd).

be'zique, n. Form of card-play. (bi'zi:k).

bi-, Having two (bipolar); being in two
ways (biconcave); (coming) every two or
twice in one (bicentennial, bi-weekly).
(bai-).

'bias, 1. n. (Tendency to take) curving,
sloping, direction; weight in ball
causing bias; fixed idea, tendency, sp.
against something. Cut on the bias, cut in
a sloping direction across. 2. v.t. Give
a bias to. ('baiəs).

bib, n. Cloth put under baby's chin to keep
dress clean; top part of APRON. (bib).

'Bible, n. Book on which Christian belief
is based; any book taken as authority.
'biblical ('biblikl), a. ('baibl).

'biblio-, Of books. bibli'ography, n.
History of books; list of books by one
writer or on one question etc. 'bibliophile, n.
Book-lover. ('bibliou-).

'bibulous, a. Given to drink. ('bibjuləs).

bi'carbonate, n. CARBONATE with twice
normal amount of acid. (bai'ka:bənit).

'biceps, n. A muscle in top part of the
arm. ('baiseps).

'bicker, v.i. Have bad-humoured argument
(about unimportant things). ('bikə).

'bicycle, 1. n. 2-wheeled machine for
getting about on, worked by the legs.
2. v.i. Go on a bicycle. ('baisikl).

bid (bid or bade, bid(den)), 1. v.t. Give
order to; say (good day, etc.); (never
bade or bidden) make offer of (price).
2. n. Offer of price, sp. at AUCTION.
'bidding, n. Sp., order; offering of prices.
(bid (beid)).

bide, v.t.&i. [Old] ABIDE. Bide one's time,
be waiting for one's chance. (baid).

bi'ennial, 1. a. Taking place every two
years; going on for two years. 2. n.
Plant living two years, and flowering
only in second. (bai'eniəl).

bier, n. Table or stretcher on which dead
body is placed. (biə).

biff, [Hum.] v.t., n. (Give) a blow. (bif).

'bifurcate, 1. v.t.&i. Make division of into 2
branches; be bifurcate. 2. a. Forked. ('baifə:keit).

big, a. Of great size; important. Big pot,
bigwig. 'bigwig, n. Important person. (big).

'bigamy, n. (Crime of) being married to
two persons at same time. ('bigəmi).

bight, n. A circling turn in middle of cord;
inlet, curve, of sea, river. (bait).

'bigot, n. Violent and narrow-minded
supporter of a belief. 'bigoted, a. Being a
bigot. ('bigət).

'bijou, a. Small and pleasing (bijou villa etc.).
('bi:ʒu:).

bike, [Com.] n. BICYCLE. (baik).

bi'lateral, a. Of, on, with, two sides; (of
agreements, etc.) in force between two
persons (groups). (bai'latərəl).

'bilberry, n. Small blue-black fruit of tree-like
plant of N. Europe. ('bilbəri).

bile, n. Bitter yellow-green Liquid produced
by LIVER as help to digestion;
bad-humour. 'bilious ('biljəs), a. Sp.,
having tendency to, or caused by,
trouble with bile. (bail).

bilge, n. Flat base of ship, inside or out;
[Com.] writing, theory etc. which is
quite without value. 'bilge-water, n. Dirty
water in bilge. (bildʒ).

bilk, v.t. Get out of making payment to
or of, sp. by running away. (bilk).

bill(hook), n. Instrument with curved
blade for cutting off branches. (bil(huk)).

bill, 1. n. Hard mouth-part of bird.
2. v.i. Put bill to bill in love-making
(freq. bill and coo).

bill, 1. n. Form of new law as put before
PARLIAMENT for discussion; account
sent in for goods or work; advertisement
put up on wall or handed round.
Bill of exchange, order in writing to bank,
etc. to make payment of certain amount
to a named person in exchange for goods,
etc.; bill of fare, list of food which may be
had at restaurant; bill of health, statement
by medical authority that ship is, or is
not, free from disease at time of sailing
(give a clean bill of health); bill of lading,
detailed receipt given to trader for goods
sent on ship. 2. v.t. Put names of on bill
or programme. 'bill-board, n. Board for
pasting advertisements on. 'bill-poster,
'bill-sticker, nn. Man whose business is
putting up bills.

'billet, 1. n. Private house giving rooms
and food to military by order; position,
work. 2. v.t. Send to billets. ('bilit).

'billet, n. Thick stick of firewood.

'billet-'doux, [F.] n. Love-letter.
('bili-'du:).

'billiards, n. An indoor sport, played with
balls and long sticks on cloth-covered
table with 6 pockets round. 'billiard-marker,
n. Person marking points at
billiards. ('biljədz).

'Billingsgate, n. A London fish-market;
very bad language. ('biliŋzgit).

'billion, n. [Brit.] 1,000,000,000,000;
[Am.] 1,000,000,000. ('biljən).

'billow, v.i., n. (Come up in) great wave(s).
('bilou).

'billy, n. Tin vessel used as a kettle or
cooking-pot. ('bili).

'billycock, n. Man's hard, round-topped
hat, gen. black. ('bilikɔk).

'billy-goat, n. Male goat. ('biligout).

'biltong, n. Meat made dry in sun.
('biltɔŋ).

bi'metallism, n. Money system in which
values of gold and silver have a fixed
relation to one another. (bai'metəlizm).

bin, n. Great wide-mouthed box or vessel
for grain, coal, etc. (bin).

bind (bound), v.t. Put cord etc. round;
get, keep fixed (to, on, together), sp., with
cord etc.; (sp. Law) have effect of forcing
(person) to do or not do; get pages of
(book) fixed into cover; put material
round and over edge of. Bind oneself to, give
an undertaking to; bind (person) over (to keep
the peace, etc.), give order that if person
makes trouble, he has to come before
judge again; bind up, sp., put dressing on
(wound etc.); bound to be, certain to be.
'binding, 1. a. Sp., (of agreements etc.) making
bound. 2. n. Sp., book cover; material
for binding edge. 'bindweed, n. Sorts of
plant twisting themselves round others.
(baind (baund)).

'binnacle, n. Box on ship in which direction
instrument is fixed. ('binəkl).

bi'nocular, a. For, with, two eyes.
bi'noculars, n. pl. Long-distance binocular glasses
for theatre, sport, etc. (bai'nɔkjulə).

bi'nomial, [Math.] a., n. (Made up of)
two numbers, letters, etc., with the sign
+ or - between. (bai'noumiəl).

bi'ography, n. History of person by
another; this branch of letters.
(bai'ɔgrəfi).

bi'ology, n. Science
of plants and
animals.
(bai'ɔlədʒi).

'biped, a., n. 2-legged
(animal). ('baiped).

'biplane, n. Airplane
with 2 PLANES.
('baiplein).

birch, 1. n. Smooth-skinned tree common
in N.; its wood; mass of small birch sticks
for whipping schoolboys. 2. v.t. Give
blows with a birch. (bə:tʃ).

bird, n. Any feathered animal. Bird of
passage, bird (person) who comes and
goes; bird's-eye view, wide view, (as if) seen
from very high up; birds of a feather, persons
of the
same sort; give (an actor) the
bird, [Hum.] make unkind noises at. 'bird-lime,
n. Sticky substance put on
branches to get birds. 'bird-seed, n. Seed
given as food to birds. (bə:d).

birth, n. Process by which animal, baby
comes into separate existence; start
coming into existence, of thing; position
in society by birth, sp. high. Give birth to,
become the mother of. 'birthday, n. Day of
the year on which one's birth took
place. 'birth-mark, n. Mark on body from
birth. 'birth-rate, n. Number of births in a
year for every 1,000 persons. 'birthright, n.
Right one has by birth. (bə:θ).

'biscuit, n. Thin, hard, fiat cake, freq.
sweet; material of cups, plates, etc.
before GLAZE is put on. ('biskit).

bi'sect, v.t. Make division into 2 (gen. equal)
parts. bi'sector, n. Line bisecting. (bai'sekt).

'bishop, n. One in Christian Church with
authority over number of churches;
sort of CHESSMAN. 'bishopric, n. Position of a
bishop; part of country under a bishop.
('biʃəp).

'bismuth, n. Light-red metal with medical
use; substance with bismuth in it used for
stomach troubles. ('bizməθ).

'bison, n. Great animal of cow family not
kept for use by man. ('baisn).

bit, n. Small part or amount. A bit (better,
etc.), a little, somewhat; bit by bit, by
degrees; do one's bit, do one's part; for a
bit, for a little time; give person a bit
of one's mind, make clear to a person
one's poor opinion of him; come to (in)
bits, get (be) broken; threepenny bit, bit of
silver money having value of 3d. (bit).

bit, n. Cutting or gripping part of certain
instruments, such as DRILL, plane; bit
of metal put in horse's mouth for control.
Take the bit between (in) one's teeth,
get out of control.

bit, bitten. See BITE.

bitch, n. Female of dog or WOLF. (bitʃ).

bite (bit, bitten), 1. v.t.&i. Make a cut
in or take a bit off with the teeth; make
a wound with the teeth or (of insects,
snakes etc.) mouth-parts; (of fish) take
food on hook; (of acid etc.) make hole(s)
in. Bite the dust, come to violent end in
fight; be shamed, made low. 2. n. An act
of biting; part bitten off; wound made by
biting. 'biting, a. Sp., cutting, cruel.
(bait (bit)).

'bitter, a. Opp. sweet, tasting like BILE;
unhappy, bad-humoured; (of words etc..)
sharp, biting. 'bitters, n. pl. Liquids made
bitter with certain plants, taken as help
to digestion. ('bitə).

'bittern, n. Sorts of water-bird with a sad
cry. ('bitə:n).

bi'tumen, n. Name of certain readily-burning
natural substances. bi'tumin-ous,
a. (bi'tju:min).

'bivalve, n. Water-animal with hard outer
cover in two parts. ('baivalv).

'bivouac, 1. v.i. (Of army, etc.) take short
rest in the open without cover. 2. n.
(Place of) bivouacking army. ('bivuak).

bi'zarre, a. Very strange, uncommon.
(bi'za:).

blab, [Com.] v.t.&i. Let out (secret) in
talk. (blab).

black, 1. a. Of the colour of coal, opp.
white; very dark; (of person) having
dark brown skin; bad, wrong. Black and
blue, sp., with skin marked (as) by blows;
Black Arts, bad MAGIC; Black Jack, black flag of
sea outlaw; black looks, angry looks;
black sheep, sp., good-for-nothing person.
2. n. Black colour; black person, sp. African.
3. v.t. Make black; put black polish on.
'blackamoor, n. Black person. 'black-ball, v.t.
Keep (person) from joining club, by
giving VOTE against him. blackbeetle, n.
Dark brown house BEETLE coming out
at night. 'blackberry, n. (A low, tree-like
plant with) small fruit formed of berry-like
divisions. 'blackbird, n. Song-bird
common in Europe. 'black-board, n. Board
used in schools etc. for writing on with
chalk. 'blackguard ('blaga:d), n. Low,
rough person. 'black-head, n. Substance
stopping up PORE and forming dark
point on skin. 'blacking, n. Sp., black shoe
polish. 'blackjack, n. Leather wine bottle;
short, metal-headed instrument used for
attack. black-lead, 1. n. Black substance for
polishing fireplaces etc. 2. v.t. Put black-lead on.
'blackleg, n. Person doing work of men on
STRIKE. 'black-list, 1. n. List of persons
looked on as a danger or marked for
punishment. 2. v.t. Put on black-list. 'blackmail, 1.
v.t. Make (person) give one money to
keep thing secret. 2. n. Blackmailing.
'blackout, n. Keeping of town(s) dark in wartime.
'blackshirt, n. FASCIST. 'blacksmith, n.
Iron-worker, sp. shoer of horses. (blak).

'bladder, n. Bag-like part in body, sp. that
for waste liquid; skin of bladder, or other
bladder-like bag. ('bladə).

blade, n. Flat, narrow leaf, sp. of grass;
flat or cutting part of any instrument;
SWORD; pleasure-loving young man.
(bleid).

blah, [Hum.] n. High-sounding talk or
writing with nothing in it. (bla:).

blame, 1. v.t. Say (person) is responsible
for error, wrongdoing. Be to blame (for), be
responsible (for). 2. n. Blaming; condition
of being responsible for en or etc. 'blameless,
a. Sp., doing no wrong. 'blameworthy, a.
Rightly to be blamed. (bieim).

blanch, v.t.&i. Make white by taking
colour out of, skin off (nuts), or keeping
light from (plants); (make) become
white-faced, through fear etc. (bla:ntʃ).

blanc'mange, n. Jelly made with milk.
(blə'mɔnʒ).

bland, a. Kind, smooth, (in talk, behaviour);
[Med.] comforting. (bland).

'blandishment, n. Pleasing ways used to
get person to do something (gen. blandishments).
('blandiʃmənt).

blank, 1. a. Without writing, print, etc.;
(of face) without sign of interest, feeling.
Blank cartridge, one without ball in it; blank
cheque, one without amount on it; blank
verse, verse in lines of 5 rhythm units,
without RHYME. 2. n. Blank space in writing
etc. Draw a blank, sp., get nothing (when
hoping for something); my mind is a blank,
is without an idea. (blank).

'blanket, n. Wool cloth used as bed-cover,
horse-cloth, or clothing. Blanket instructions,
general directions covering everything;
wet blanket, person taking the pleasure out
of things for others. ('blaŋkit).

blare, v.i.&t., n. (Make) loud sound (as)
of brass instruments of music. (bleə).

'blarney, 1. v.t.&i. Say pleasing things to,
to give pleasure. 2. n. Blameying talk.
('bla:ni).

'blasé, [F.] a. Tired of, over-used to,
pleasure. ('bla:zei).

blas'pheme, v.i.&t. Say things without
respect (about Higher Being or religion).
'blasphemy,
n. Blaspheming; blaspheming word(s). (blas'fi:m).

blast, 1. n. Strong current of air, wind;
sound of wind-instrument; the amount
of gunpowder used at one time to get
earth, stone, broken up. 2. v.t. Get
(earth, stone) broken up with gunpowder;
make come to nothing. Blast (it) !, word(s)
used when angry. 'blasted, a. Sp., [Com.]
word used of something about which one
is angry. 'blast-furnace, n. One into which
heated current of air is forced. (bla:st).

'blatant, a. Pushing, loud, without shame.
('bleitnt).

'blather, n., v.i. Foolish talk. ('blaðə).

blaze, 1. n. Bright flame or fire; strong
light; violent outburst. Go to blazes!, get
out! 2. v.i. Be burning with bright
flame; be bright (with light, colour);
have angry outburst. (bleiz).

blaze, 1. v.t. Make cut, etc. on (tree) as
sign of way; get (way) so marked. 2. n.
Such mark; white mark on horse's face.

'blazer, n. (Bright) sports coat. ('bleizə).

'blazon, v.t. Make public; put (COAT OF ARMS,
coloured design on); blazon design on. ('bleizn).

bleach, v.t.&i. Make, become, white by
effect of sun, or by chemical process.
(bli:tʃ).

bleak, a. Cold; unfertile; without comfort,
ornament. (bli:k).

blear, 1. v.t. Make (eyes) feeble, red and
watering; make seen as in mist. 2. a.
Bleared. 'bleary, a. Blear. (bliə).

bleat, 1. n. Cry of sheep. 2. v.i.&t. Give
bleat(s); say feebly, foolishly. (bli:t).

bleed (bled), v.i.&t. Undergo loss of, let
out, blood; [Med.] take blood from; get
much money out of. (bli:d (bled)).

'blemish, 1. n. Damaging mark etc. 2. v.t.
Make blemish on, do damage to. ('blemiʃ).

blench, v.i. Make a quick move of fear.
(blentʃ).

blend, 1. v.t.&i. Get mixed so as to become
one; (of colours, etc.) have no clear
line of division between them; go well
together. 2. n. Blended substance. (blend).

bless, v.t. (Sp. of Higher Power) give approval
or help to, make happy; make
request to Higher Power that he will bless;
make great the name of (Higher Power)
for his loving care etc. Bless me (my soul) !
cry of good-humoured surprise; bless one's
stars, be conscious of one's debt to
chance; blessed with, happy in having.
'blessed ('blesid), blest, aa. Sp., completely
good, very happy; greatly valued; with
GOD (sp. the Blest); [Hum.] troubling. 'blessedness,
n. Single blessedness, unmarried condition.
'blessing, n. Act or words blessing; thing
making happy; happy chance. (bles).

blew. See BLOW.

blight, 1. n. Sorts of plant disease; thing
putting an end to development, hope,
pleasure. 2. v.t. Be a blight to. 'blighter, [Hum.]
n. Foolish, troubling person. (blait).

'Blighty, [Hum.] n. Army word for England
used when away from it. ('blaiti).

blimey, [Com.], int. Used as sign of surprise.
('bleimi).

blind, 1. a. Unable to see; not seeing what
effects will be; not controlled by purpose,
reason. Blind alley, one with no way
out at far end; blind drunk, blind to the world,
very much the worse for drink; blind
turning, one hard to see. 2. v.t. Make blind.
'blindfold, 1. v.t. Put band over eyes of. 2.
a., adv. Blindfolded. 'blind-man's-'buff, n.
Form of play in which blindfold player
goes after others. (blaind).

blind, n. Window cover on roller; thing
used as cover for acts, designs.

blink, 1. v.t.&i. Make motion(s) of opening
and shutting (eyes) quickly; (of light)
come and go. Blink the facts, keep the mind
shut to them. 2. n. Motion of blinking
'blinking, a. Sp., [Hum.] word used of something
giving trouble etc. 'blinkers, n. pl.
Square of leather to keep horse from seeing
sideways. (blink).

bliss, n. Completely happy condition. (blis).

'blister, 1. n. Pocket of liquid formed on
skin, caused by rubbing, burning, etc.;
small blister-like place on paint, etc. 2. v.t.&i.
Make blister(s) on; get blister(s). ('blistə).

'blizzard, n. Great fall of snow with very
strong, cold wind. ('blizəd).

bloat, v.t.&i. Make, become, great in size
as if full of air. 'bloated, a. Unhealthily fat.
'bloater, n. Salt, smoked HERRING. (blout).

blob, n. Drop of liquid; small round mass
or mark. (blɔb).

block, 1. n. Solid mass of stone, wood etc.;
square etc. of building-stone; bit of wood
etc. on which pictures, letters, are cut
for printing; hat-making form; group of
buildings limited by (gen. 4) streets; group
(of seats etc.) forming unit; apparatus for
lifting, pulling, formed of hollow-edged
wheel(s) and cord(s) (block and tackle); mass of
carts, automobiles etc., stopped by something
in the way. Go to the block, have one's
head cut off as punishment. 2. v.t. Get,
put something, in the way of; get formed
on block. Block in, out, make rough picture of,
without details. 'blockage, n. Condition of
being blocked, stopped up by something.
'blockhead, n. Foolish, slow person. 'blockhouse,
n. Strong house of wood with holes for
firing through. (blɔk).

bloc'kade, 1. n. The cutting off of a place
by ships, army, etc., to keep goods, help,
out. Raise a blockade, put a stop to a blockade; run a blockade,
get through blockading force. 2. v.t. Put
a blockade into operation against. (blɔ'keid).

bloke, [Hum.] n. Man. (blouk).

blond(e), 1. a. Light (of hair, skin). 2. n.
Blond person. (blɔnd).

blood, 1. n. Red liquid in body of higher
animals; family, birth; pleasure-loving
young man. Bad blood between, bad feeling
between; blood horse, one of good birth;
blue blood, high birth; in cold blood, not in
the heat of feeling, not on impulse; own
flesh and blood, one's relations. 2. v.t. Give
first taste of blood to (dog etc.). 'blood-curdling,
a. Sending cold feeling of fear through
one. 'bloodhound, n. Great dog used for
looking for persons etc. by smell. 'bloodless,
a. Sp., without power of strong feeling.
Bloodless revolution etc., one with no deaths.
'blood-money, n. Reward for handing
person over to be put to death. 'bloodshed,
n. Putting to death. 'bloodshot, a. (Of eyes)
with whites red. 'bloodstone, n. Dark green
jewel stone with red marks. 'blood-sucker,
n. LEECH; one using power over another
to get money from him. 'bloodthirsty, a.
Cruel, taking pleasure in causing death.
'blood-vessel, n. Any of pipes taking blood
through body. 'bloody, a. Sp., causing bloodshed,
cruel; word used as outlet for
strong feeling against. (blʌd).

bloom, 1. n. Flower; flowering; best stage;
mist-like powder on certain fruits when
at their best. 2. v.i. Have flowers, be in
flower; be healthy, beautiful, at one's
best. 'blooming, a. Sp., [Hum.] word used of
something giving trouble etc. (blu:m).

'bloomer, [Hum.] n. Foolish error.
('blu:mə).

'bloomers, n. pl. Women's short, full
trousers, tight at knee. ('blu:məz).

'blossom, 1. n. Flower; mass of flowers on
tree. 2. v.i. Come into flower. ('blɔsəm).

blot, 1. n. Dirty mark made by ink etc.;
thing or quality making value less.
2. v.t.&i. Make blot(s) on; put special
paper on (writing etc.) to make ink dry.
Blot out, keep from
view; put out of
existence. 'blotter, n.
Bit of paper for
blotting. 'blotting-paper,
n. (blɔt).

blotch, n. Red place
on skin; dirty ink-mark
etc. (blɔtʃ).

blouse, n. Clothing for
top part of body,
kept in place by
band, sp. of skirt.
(blauz).

blow (blew, blown), 1. v.i.&t. Be moving as
air-current (the wind blows); send out
strong current of air from mouth; give
motion to by blowing; make sound with
(wind-instrument) by blowing into; give
form to (glass etc.) by blowing; get
clear by blowing (nose etc.); [Let.] be
in flower. Blowed if I will!, [Hum.] I
certainly will not; blow out (light), put out
by blowing; blow out one's brains, put an
end to oneself by firing into one's head;
blow up, make full of air; put or come to
destruction by gunpowder. 2. n. A blowing.
'blower, n. Apparatus for sending current
of air through fire etc. 'blowfly, n. Common
meat fly. blown, a. Sp., out of breath.
'blowpipe, n. Pipe for heating flame by
sending air etc. into it. 'blowy, a. With wind.
(blou (blu:)).

blow, n. Sudden coming against something
with hand, instrument etc.; shock.
Come to blows, have a fight.

'blowzy, a. Red-faced, rough-looking,
badly-dressed (of woman). ('blauzi).

'blubber, v.i. WEEP loudly. ('blʌbə).

'blubber, n. Fat of WHALE.

'bludgeon, v.t., n. (Give blows to with)
stick with weighted head. ('blʌdʒn).

blue, 1. a. Coloured like clear sky or deep
sea; unhappy. Blue ribbon, riband, sign of
highest place in any field of competition;
once in a blue moon, almost never; out of
the blue, coming as a complete surprise.
2. n. Blue colour; blue powder used in washing
linen. Cambridge (Oxford) blue, sportsman
playing for Cambridge (Oxford); the blues,
[Hum.] condition of feeling low, unhappy.
3. v.t. Put (linen etc.) into blue-water after
washing. 'bluebell, n. Woodland flower.
'blue-book, n. Book put out by Government
on some question. 'bluebottle, n. Common
meat fly. 'bluejacket, n. Sailor in sea force.
'bluestocking, [Hum.] n. Woman of learning.
(blu:).

bluff, 1. a. (Of headland, ships) having
wide, straight up-and-down front; (of
person, behaviour) open, good-humoured,
simple. 2. n. Bluff headland. (blʌf).

bluff, 1. v.t.&i. Make oneself seem stronger
than one is, for purpose of tricking (person).
2. n. Bluffing behaviour. Call
person's bluff, get person's bluff uncovered.

'blunder, 1. n. Foolish error. 2. v.i. Make blunder;
go uncertainly, as if not seeing. ('blʌndə).

'blunderbuss, [Hist.] n. Gun with wide
opening and short range. ('blʌndəbʌs).

blunt, 1. a. Not sharp; straightforward,
unpolished. 2. v.t. Make less sharp. (blʌnt).

blur, 1. n. Dirty, rubbed mark; something
seen without sharp outline. 2. v.t.&i.
Make blur on; make, become, unclear. (blə:).

blurb, [Com.] n. Account of book given on
cover or in advertisement. (blə:b).

blurt, v.t. Say suddenly (sp. something
secret) (freq. blurt out). (blə:t).

blush, 1. v.i. Become red with shame, etc.
2. n. Wave of red coming into face. At
first blush, at first look. (blʌʃ).

'bluster, v.i.&t., n. Be violent, rough;
say loudly, angrily. ('blʌstə).

'boa, n. Sort of great snake crushing
animals to death in its folds (freq. boa
constrictor); long band of feathers etc.
for woman's neck. ('bouə).

boar, n. Male pig. (bɔ:).

board, 1. n. Long, thin, flat bit of wood
with squared edges; fiat structure made
of, or like, boards; thick, stiff paper used
for book-covers etc.; table with food
(groaning board); meals day by day (board and
lodging); controlling committee. Above
board, openly; go by the board, sp., be dropped
(out of account); on board, on or in (to) ship;
on the boards, sp., on the stage. 2. v.t.&i.
Put board(s) over (board up, board over); get or give
regular meals, and gen. room, for payment;
get onto (ship, train etc.). 'boarder, n.
One boarding somewhere. 'boarding, n. Sp.,
boards fixed together. 'boarding-house,
'boarding-school, nn. Such taking boarders.
'board-school, n. One controlled by Board
formed in 1870. (bɔ:d).

boast, 1. v.i.&t. Make much of one's
acts, property, etc.; be in the happy
position of having. 2. n. Boasting statement;
fact boasted about. (boust).

boat, n. Small open vessel, fishing-vessel,
or small steamer; [loosely] any ship.
In the same boat, in the same condition,
position. 'boater, n. Sp., man's hard
summer hat. 'boat-hook, n. Long hooked
stick for moving boats. 'boating, n. Going
in open boat for pleasure. 'boatman, n. One
who takes persons out in boat for payment.
'boatswain ('bousn), n. Chief of
common seamen on ship. (bout).

bob, v.i.&t., n. (Make) quick motion up
and down, sp. as mark of respect. (bɔb).

bob, 1. n. Woman's hair cut short and hanging
loose. 2. v.t. Get (hair) so cut. 'bobtailed,
a. With tail cut short.

bob, [Hum.] n. Shilling.

'bobbin, n. Small roller round which
thread etc. is twisted. ('bɔbin).

'bobby, [Hum.] n. Policeman. ('bɔbi).

'bobolink, n. N. Am. song-bird. ('bɔbəliŋk).

'bobsled, 'bobsleigh, nn. SLEIGH formed
of 2 short ones joined. ('bɔbsled, '-slei).

bode, v.t.&i. Be sign, have feeling, of
(future trouble). Bode well, ill, be good,
bad, sign. (boud).

'bodice, n. Tight top part of woman's
dress or underclothing. ('bɔdis).

'bodkin, n. Thick needle for putting elastic
etc. through clothing. ('bɔdkin).

'body, n. Physical structure of man or
animal, living or dead (freq. as opp.
mind); part of body to which head, arms,
and legs are joined; chief, middle part of
thing; [Com.] a person; group of persons
acting together; a material thing, substance.
The body politic, the body of persons
living under a government, the nation;
wine of good body, wine of full, strong quality.
'bodily, 1. a. To do with the body. 2. adv.
As a mass, completely. 'bodyguard, n. Man,
body of men, keeping watch over important
person. ('bɔdi).

'Boer, n., a. Dutch S. African. ('buə).

bog, n. Wet sponge-like land. 'bogged (bɔgd),
a. Unable to get on, as in bog. (bɔg).

'bog(e)y, n. Bad FAIRY; thing causing
unnecessary fear. ('bougi).

'boggle, v.i. Make uncertain motions.
Boggle at, be unready to do. ('bɔgl).

'bogus, a. False, not what it seems.
('bougəs).

bo'hemian, n., a. (Person) without respect
for normal ways of society.
(bou'hi:miən).

boil, n. Hard, red, poisoned growth
bursting out on skin. (bɔil).

boil, 1. v.i.&t. (Of liquid) be heated to
point of becoming gas; get (liquid),
or liquid in (vessel), boiling; get cooked
in boiling liquid; be moved like boiling
water. Boil down, make less by boiling;
make (book etc.) shorter; one's blood
boils, one is very angry. 2. n. Condition
of boiling (to, at, on, the boil). 'boiler, n. Sp.,
great vessel for boiling in; apparatus for
producing steam for engine. 'boiling-point,
n. Degree of heat at which liquid
boils.

'boisterous, a. Violent, rough, loud;
loudly good-humoured. ('bɔistərəs).

bold, a. Without fear; forward in behaviour;
strongly marked. (bould).

bole, n. Tree stem. (boul).

bo'lero, n. Spanish dance; woman's very
short coat. (boulearou).

boll, n. Round seed-vessel of cotton and
other plants. (boul).

'Bolshevik, n. Supporter of system of
government by SOVIETS in Russia; anyone
desiring great or violent change.
('bɔlʃəvik).

'bolster, 1. n. Long under-cushion put at
head of bed. 2. v.t. Bolster up, give (sp.
seeming) support to. ('boutstə).

bolt, 1. n. Metal pin, gen. with screw end,
for keeping
machine-parts
etc.
together; rod
pushed across
door to keep
it shut;
short, thick
ARROW. Bolt
from the blue,
complete
surprise (gen.
a shock). 2.
v.t. Get fixed together or shut with blot(s).
(boult).