B Flashcards
Badinage
Playful; teasing talk
Bacchanalian
Wild with drunkennes
Bagatelle
Thing of little value; trifle
Baleful
Harmful; menacing; pernicious
Balk
To stop short
Balmy
Mild and refreshing;
Mentally unstable (slang)
Banal
Common; ordinary; trite
Bandy
To exchange (as words)
Bane
Cause of ruin, harm, or distress
Banter
Teasing; good-natured joking
Barb
A pointed part, as of an arrow or fishhook
Bard
A poet
Bark
A boat or sailing vessel
Baroque
Overdecorated; showy
Barrage
Heavy attack
Barrister
Lawyer
Bask
To lie in or be exposed to warmth
Bastion
A strong defense; a fort
Bauble
Showy but useless thing; trinket
Bawdy
Indecent; humorously obscene
Bayou
Marshy body of water
Beacon
A light used for warning or guiding
Beatitude
State of bliss
Bedlam
A madhouse; a noisy uproar
Befuddle
To confuse; to perplex
Beget
To produce
Begrudge
To resent another’s success or enjoyment
Beguile
To deceive; to charm
Behemoth
Huge animal
Beholden
Obligated; indebted
Beleaguer
To encircle (with an army); to annoy
Belligerent
Warlike; quarrelsome
Bellow
To yell loudly
Benediction
Blessing
Benefactor
One who helps or supports another
Benignant
Kindly; gentle
Bequeath
To hand down; to pass on to
Berate
To scold severely
Bereave
To leave in a sad or lonely state; to deprive by force
Berserk
Frenzied; violently destructive
Beseech
To beg; appeal to
Beset
To attack
Besiege
To overwhelm; to close in on
Besmirch
To make dirty
Bestial
Savage; brutal
Bestow
To give or present
Bestride
To mount (a horse)
Betrothed
Engaged; pledged to marry
Bevy
A large group
Bibliophile
Lover of books
Bibulous
Absorbent; fond of alcoholic beverages
Bide
(Ones time) to wait for a favorable opportunity
Biennial
Occurring every two years
Bigot
A narrow-minded, prejudiced person
Bilious
Bad-tempered; cross
Bilk
To cheat; to swindle
Biped
Two-legged animal
Bivouac
Temporary shelter
Blanch
To whiten; to make pale
Bland
Mild; tasteless; dull
Blandishment
Flattery
Blasé
Bored with life; unexcited; indifferent
Blasphemy
Disrespect for holy places, people, or things; irreverence
Blatant
Annoyingly conspicuous; offensively noisy and loud
Blazon
To display; to proclaim
Bleak
Unsheltered; gloomy
Bleary
Blurred; dimmed
Blight
Destruction; withering; disease
Blithe
Carefree; lighthearted
Bludgeon
A short, heavy club (n);
To bully or coerce (v)
Bluster
To speak noisily; to boast
Bode
To indicate in advance, as an omen does
Bog
A swamp (n); To sink or become stuck in (v)
Bolster
To prop up; to support
Bombastic
Using impressive but meaningless language
Bon mot
Witty remark
Bona fide
Genuine; in good faith
Bondage
Slavery
Boon
A benefit; a blessing; a favor
Boor
A rude or impolite person
Booty
Stolen money or goods
Boreal
Northern
Borne
Carried; put up with
Botch
To mess up; to perform clumsily
Bounty
Reward; generosity
Bovine
Pertaining to cows or cattle
Bowdlerize
To censor; to remove offensive passages or a play, novel, etc.
Braggart
One who boasts
Brandish
To shake or wave a weapon aggressively
Brash
Offensively bold; rude
Bravado
A show of courage; false bravery
Brawn
Muscular strength
Brazen
Shameless or impudent
Breadth
Width
Brevity
Briefness
Brigand
A robber
Brisk
Lively; quick
Bristling
Showing irritation
Broach
To introduce ( a subject )
Browbeat
To bully; to intimidate
Bruit
To spread the news
Brunt
Shock, force, or impact, as of a blow
Brusque
Abrupt in manner, blunt; rough
Buccaneer
A pirate m
Bucolic
Pertaining to the countryside; rural
Bugbear
Something causing fear
Bulbous
Swollen; shaped like a bulb
Bulwark
A strong defense
Bumptious
Conceited; arrogant
Bungle
To do things clumsily or badly
Buoy
A floating object (n); To encourage (v)
Burgeon
To flourish; to grow rapidly
Burlesque
A speech or action that treats a serious subject with ridicule
Burly
Muscular; husky
Burnish
To polish
Buttress
Any prop or support