B Flashcards
bare
NO CLOTHES 1. < > without any clothes or not covered by anything • Don’t walk around outside in your bare feet. • There’s no carpet in the room, just bare floorboards. See also barefoot Thesaurus+: ↑Not wearing or removing clothes • She beat the flames out with her bare hands. • The silhouette of the bare tree on the hill was clear against the winter sky. • The walls look a bit bare - can’t we put some pictures up? • During the summer months, the sheep strip the mountains bare. • A glimpse of his bare torso set my pulse racing. BASIC 2. only the most basic or important • I just packed the bare essentials (= the most basic and necessary things) . • There isn’t much time, so I’ll just give you the bare facts/details. Thesaurus+: ↑Crude and basic 3. the bare minimum the least possible amount • She eats only the bare minimum to stay alive. Thesaurus+: ↑Maximum and minimum EMPTY 4. literary If a cupboard or room is bare, there is nothing in it. Thesaurus+: ↑Empty Idiom: with your bare hands verb transitive to uncover something or make it bare • The men bared their heads (= took their hats off as a sign of respect) as they entered the church. • He became nervous when the dog growled and bared its teeth at him (= showed its teeth to him) . Thesaurus+: ↑Not wearing or removing clothes Idiom: bare your soul
barren
barren [ˈbær. ə n] adjective 1. unable to produce plants or fruit • We drove through a barren, rocky landscape. Thesaurus+: ↑Fertile or infertile land ↑Plant reproduction 2. literary unable to have babies Thesaurus+: ↑Animal reproduction 3. not productive • She became very depressed during the barren years when she was unable to paint. Compare fertile Thesaurus+: ↑Unsuccessful (people and things) Derived: barrenness
bathe
bathe [beɪð] verb [bathes bathing bathed] SWIM 1. intransitive to swim, especially in the sea, a river or a lake • Children suffering from the illness had bathed in sea water contaminated by sewage. Thesaurus+: ↑Swimming COVER 2. transitive to cover with a liquid, especially in order to make part of the body feel better • I bathed my feet in salt water. Thesaurus+: ↑Enclosing, surrounding and immersing 3. transitive to cover with something that causes a pleasant feeling or appearance • In the afternoon the sun bathes the city in shades of pink and gold. Thesaurus+: ↑Enclosing, surrounding and immersing WASH 4. transitive US for bath (= to wash) Thesaurus+: ↑Personal hygiene and appearance - general words ↑Cleaning generally noun only singular UK formal an act of bathing, or an occasion when you swim • I went for a bathe every evening.
bead
bead bead [biːd] noun countable [beads] 1. a small coloured often round piece of plastic, wood, glass, etc. with a hole through it. It is usually put on a string with a lot of others to make jewellery • She wore a necklace of brightly coloured wooden beads. Thesaurus+: ↑Jewellery 2. a very small amount of liquid • Beads of sweat stood out on his forehead. Thesaurus+: ↑Spherical, circular and annular objects ↑Geometrical shapes
beak
beak [biːk] noun countable [beaks] BIRD’S MOUTH
beforehand
beforehand be¦fore|hand adverb before an action or event; in advance
beg
beg [beg] [-gg-] verb [begging begged begs] 1. < > intransitive or transitive to make a very strong and urgent request • They begged for mercy. • + speech “Please, please forgive me!” she begged (him). • + object + to infinitive He begged her to stay, but she simply laughed and put her bags in the car. Thesaurus+: ↑Making appeals and requests 2. < > intransitive or transitive to ask for food or money because you are poor • There are more and more homeless people begging on the streets these days. • She had to beg for money and food for her children. Thesaurus+: ↑Making appeals and requests 3. intransitive If a dog begs, it sits with its front legs in the air as if to ask for something • They have trained their dog to sit up and beg. Thesaurus+: ↑Animal (non-human) behaviour 4. I beg your pardon A. a polite way of saying “I am sorry” or “Could you repeat what you just said?”
beggar
beggar [ˈbeg.ə r ] [-ɚ] noun countable [beggars] 1. a poor person who lives by asking others for money or food Thesaurus+: ↑Poor people 2. UK informal a person, especially when you are expressing an opinion about something that they have done, or that has happened to them • You’ve won again, you lucky beggar. • Those children have been running about in my rose garden again, the little beggars (= annoying people) ! Thesaurus+: ↑People in general Idiom: Beggars can’t be choosers
bend
CURVE 1. < > intransitive or transitive to (cause to) curve • I bent down and picked up the coins lying on the road. • Now, bend forward/over and touch your toes! • Make sure you bend your knees when you’re picking up heavy objects. • The road bends to the left after the first set of traffic lights. • After her fall she complained that she couldn’t bend her leg properly. Thesaurus+: ↑Bending, twisting and curving
2. on bended knee in a position in which the knee of one leg is touching the floor
ACCEPT 3. intransitive to unwillingly accept the opinions or decisions of other people • The local council was forced to bend to public pressure. Thesaurus+: ↑Accepting and agreeing reluctantly ↑Accepting and agreeing ↑Approving and approval Idioms: bend somebody’s ear ▪ bend the law
benign
- pleasant and kind • a benign old lady Thesaurus+: ↑Kind and thoughtful 2. describes a growth that is not likely to cause death • a benign tumour Compare malignant Thesaurus+: ↑Cancer Derived: benignly
blare
blare [bleə r ] [bler] verb intransitive or transitive [blares blaring blared] to make an unpleasantly loud noise • The loudspeakers blared across the square. • The radio was blaring (out) martial music. Thesaurus+: ↑Noise and noisy
blaze
blaze blaze [bleɪz] verb intransitive [blazes blazing blazed] 1. to burn brightly and strongly • The sun was blazing down that afternoon. Thesaurus+: ↑Burning, burnt and on fire 2. literary to be brightly lit or full of colour • Isaac’s eyes suddenly blazed with anger. Thesaurus+: ↑Emitting and casting light Idiom: blaze a trail
bleach
bleach bleach [bliːtʃ] noun uncountable a strong chemical used for cleaning things or removing colour from things Thesaurus+: ↑Cleaning agents verb transitive to remove the colour from something or make it lighter using chemicals
bleak
bleak [bliːk] adjective [bleaker bleakest] 1. If weather or a place is bleak, it is cold, empty and not welcoming or attractive • The house stands on a bleak, windswept moor. Thesaurus+: ↑Describing bad weather ↑Not attractive to look at ↑Serious and unpleasant 2. If a situation is bleak, there is little or no hope for the future • The economic outlook is bleak.
bliss
bliss [blɪs] noun uncountable perfect happiness • Lying on a sunny beach is my idea of sheer bliss. • wedded/domestic bliss Thesaurus+: ↑Pleasure and happiness
blizzard
blizzard [ˈblɪz.əd] [-ɚd] noun [blizzards] SNOW 1. countable a severe snow storm with strong winds • We once got stuck in a blizzard for six hours. • In Sussex, blizzard conditions made the main roads almost impassable. Thesaurus+: ↑Stormy weather ↑Wind and winds LARGE AMOUNT 2. only singular informal a large amount of something which arrives or is produced together in a confusing or badly organized way • a blizzard of statistics/handouts
bloke
bloke [bləʊk] [bloʊk] UK informal noun countable [blokes] < > a man, often one who is considered to be ordinary • Paul’s a really good bloke (= I like him a lot) . • He’s a funny (sort of) bloke (= slightly strange) . Thesaurus+: ↑Kinds of men ↑Men and women • He’s a very likeable sort of bloke. • He’s a lovely bloke. • She had a strange conversation with the bloke who’s moved in upstairs. • This Ben bloke - is he fanciable? • I met this really nice bloke in the pub last night.
blot
blot [blɒt] [blɑːt] noun countable [blots] a small area of ink made by mistake • an ink blot Thesaurus+: ↑Dirt and untidiness Idioms: blot on somebody’s character ▪ blot on the landscape
blunt
blunt [blʌnt] adjective [blunter bluntest] NOT SHARP 1. describes a pencil, knife, etc. that is not sharp, and therefore not able to write, cut, etc. well Thesaurus+: ↑Sharp and blunt RUDE 2. saying what you think without trying to be polite or considering other people’s feelings • I’ll be blunt - that last piece of work you did was terrible. Thesaurus+: ↑Blunt and direct in speech and behaviour ↑Not saying much ↑Not being friendly Derived: bluntness verb transitive 1. to make something less sharp Thesaurus+: ↑Sharp and blunt 2. to make a feeling less strong • My recent bad experience has rather blunted my enthusiasm for travel.
blur
blur [blɜː r ] [blɝː] noun only singular 1. something that you cannot see clearly • If I don’t wear my glasses, everything is just a blur. Thesaurus+: ↑Indistinct and invisible 2. something that you cannot remember or understand clearly • It all happened so long ago that it’s just a blur to me now. • The last few days seem to have gone by in a blur. Thesaurus+: ↑Forgetting and forgetfulness
bolster
bolster [ˈbəʊl.stə r ] [ˈboʊl.stɚ] verb transitive [bolsters bolstering bolstered] to support or improve something or make it stronger • More money is needed to bolster the industry. • She tried to bolster my confidence/morale (= encourage me and make me feel stronger) by telling me that I had a special talent. • They need to do something to bolster their image. Thesaurus+: ↑Physical supports and supporting ↑Arches, columns and beams ↑Becoming and making stronger noun countable a long firm cylindrical pillow Thesaurus+: ↑Bed linen and covers
bond
bond [bɒnd] [bɑːnd] noun [bonds] CONNECTION 1. countable a close connection joining two or more people • the bond(s) of friendship/love • There has been a close bond between them ever since she saved him from drowning. • In societies with strong family bonds (= relationships) , people tend to live longer. Thesaurus+: ↑Relationships in general FINANCIAL DOCUMENT 2. countable an official paper given by the government or a company to show that you have lent them money that they will pay back to you at an interest rate that does not change • I invested some money in savings bonds. Thesaurus+: ↑Financial investments and the stock market ↑Bills and invoices PROMISE 3. countable a written agreement or promise • They have entered into a solemn bond. Thesaurus+: ↑Making and breaking promises and commitments 4. countable US legal a sum of money that is paid to formally promise that someone accused of a crime and being kept in prison will appear for trial if released • The judge ordered that he post a $10 000 bond pending his appeal of the verdict. Thesaurus+: ↑Court cases, orders and decisions GLUE 5. countable usually singular a place where single parts of something are joined together, especially with glue, or the type of joint made • When the glue has set, the bond formed is watertight. • a strong/weak/permanent bond Thesaurus+: ↑Glues and gluing and stickiness ROPES 6. bonds plural literary the ropes or chains that hold prisoners and prevent them moving around or escaping • Loose his bonds and set him free.
booth
booth [buːð] [buːθ] noun countable [booths] 1. a small space like a box that a person can go into • a telephone booth • a polling booth Thesaurus+: ↑Telephone equipment 2. a partly closed area, table, or small tent at a fair, exhibition or similar event
bounce
bounce [baʊn t s] verb [bounces bouncing bounced] JUMP 1. < > intransitive or transitive to (cause to) move up or away after hitting a surface • The ball bounced off the post and into the net. • She bounced the ball quickly. • Her bag bounced (= moved up and down) against her side as she walked. • The children had broken the bed by bouncing (= jumping up and down) on it. • He bounced the baby (= lifted it up and down) on his knee. • figurative Television pictures from all over the world are bounced off satellites (= are sent to and returned from) . Thesaurus+: ↑Bouncing ↑Jumping 2. intransitive usually + adverb or preposition to move in an energetic and enthusiastic manner • Tom bounced in, smiling broadly. Thesaurus+: ↑Energetic and lively • He wasn’t even trying to score - the ball just bounced off the jammy beggar’s head into the goal. • He thought the ball had bounced on the line, but the umpire said it was out. • Martha threw back the covers and bounced out of bed. • He bounced into the office, full of the joys of spring. • One of the boys stood there, bouncing a basketball. NOT PAY 3. intransitive or transitive informal to (cause a cheque to) not be paid or accepted by a bank because there is no money in the account • I had to pay a penalty fee when my cheque bounced. • To my horror the bank bounced the cheque. Thesaurus+: ↑Borrowing, lending and debt EMAIL 4. intransitive or transitive If an email that you send bounces or is bounced, it comes back to you because the address is wrong or there is a computer problem. Thesaurus+: ↑Internet terminology and abbreviations PhrasalVerbs: bounce back ▪ bounce somebody into something ▪ bounce something off somebody noun countable or uncountable when something bounces, or the quality that makes something able to bounce • In tennis you must hit the ball before its second bounce. • figurative This shampoo will give your hair bounce (= make it look attractively thick) and shine. Thesaurus+: ↑Bouncing ↑Jumping Idiom: on the bounce
bout
bout [baʊt] noun countable [bouts] SHORT PERIOD 1. a short period of illness or involvement in an activity • She had a bout of flu over Christmas. • He suffered from periodic bouts of insanity. • a drinking bout (= short period of drinking a lot of alcohol) Thesaurus+: ↑Short in time ↑Temporary ↑Disease and illness - general words SPORT 2. a boxing or wrestling match • He’s a former heavyweight champion and is expected to win the bout easily. Thesaurus+: ↑Boxing ↑Competitions, and parts of competitions
bow
1) a knot tied with two loops and two loose ends, used especially for tying shoelaces and decorative ribbons a girl with long hair tied back in a bow ■ a decorative ribbon tied in a bow 2) a weapon for shooting arrows, typically made of a curved piece of wood joined at both ends by a taut string 3) a long, partially curved rod with horsehair stretched along its length, used for playing the violin and other stringed instruments ■ a single passage of a bow over the strings of an instrument 4) a curved stroke forming part of a letter (e.g. b, p) 5) a metal ring forming the handle of a key or pair of scissors ■ a side piece or lens frame of a pair of glasses 2. verb [with obj.] play (a stringed instrument or music) using a bow
brag
brag [bræg] [-gg-] informal disapproving verb intransitive [bragging bragged brags] to speak too proudly about what you have done or what you own
brass
brass noun 1) [mass noun] a yellow alloy of copper and zinc [as modifier] a brass plate on the door ■ [count noun] a decorative object made of brass shining brasses stood on the mantelpiece ■ (also horse brass) [count noun] a round flat brass ornament for the harness of a draught horse ■ [count noun] a memorial, typically a medieval one, consisting of a flat piece of inscribed brass, laid in the floor or set into the wall of a church ■ [count noun] a brass block or die used for stamping a design on a book binding 2) brass wind instruments (including trumpet, horn, and trombone) forming a band or a section of an orchestra the brass were consistently too loud 3) (also top brass) people in authority or of high military rank 4) money they wanted to spend their newly acquired brass •
breach
breach [briːtʃ] noun countable [breaches] BROKEN PROMISE/RULE 1. an act of breaking a law, promise, agreement or relationship • They felt that our discussions with other companies constituted a breach of/in our agreement. • He was sued for breach of contract. • There have been serious security breaches (= breaks in our security system) . Thesaurus+: ↑Obeying and breaking the law ↑Obedient and compliant ↑Disobedient ↑Bad and wrong behaviour ↑Making and breaking promises and commitments 2. (a) breach of the peace legal (an example of) illegal noisy or violent behaviour in a public place Thesaurus+: ↑Social order and disorder 3. be in breach of sth formal to be breaking a particular law or rule • The cinema was in breach of the Health and Safety Act for having no fire doors. Thesaurus+: ↑Obeying and breaking the law ↑Obedient and compliant ↑Disobedient ↑Bad and wrong behaviour
brisk
brisk [brɪsk] adjective [brisker briskest] quick, energetic and active • a brisk walk • He set a brisk pace and we struggled to keep up. • Her tone on the telephone was brisk (= she spoke quickly and used few words) and businesslike.
bruise
bruise [bruːz] noun countable [bruises] < > an injury or mark where the skin has not been broken but is darker in colour, often as a result of being hit by something • His arms and back were covered in bruises. • She had a few cuts and bruises but nothing serious. • One or two of the peaches had bruises on them. Thesaurus+: ↑Skin complaints and blemishes
bud
bud [bʌd] noun countable [buds] PLANT PART 1. a small part of a plant, that develops into a flower or leaf Thesaurus+: ↑Parts of plants ↑New growth in plants 2. in bud covered with buds • It was springtime and the fruit trees were in bud. Thesaurus+: ↑New growth in plants MAN 3. US informal buddy Thesaurus+: ↑Friendly and unfriendly terms of address verb intransitive [-dd-] to produce buds • The unusually cold winter has caused many plants to bud late this year.
bully
bully [ˈbʊl.i] verb transitive [bullies bullying bullied] < > to hurt or frighten someone who is smaller or less powerful than you, often forcing them to do something they do not want to do • Our survey indicates that one in four children is bullied at school. • Don’t let anyone bully you into doing something you don’t want to do. Thesaurus+: ↑Treating people or animals badly ↑Insults and abuse ↑Unkind, cruel and unfeeling ↑Violent or aggressive ↑Causing somebody to act ↑Urging and persuading • He has a strong personality, but don’t let him bully you. • Don’t be bullied, learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. • It is important that you report it to the teacher if you see anyone being bullied. • He bullied me into getting the surgery done, and I’m glad now that he did. • When you are bullied, it can destroy your self-esteem. Derived: bullying
bum
bum [bʌm] noun countable [bums] BODY PART 1. mainly UK informal the part of the body that you sit on; bottom Thesaurus+: ↑The buttocks PERSON 2. US informal someone who has no home or job and lives by asking other people for money Thesaurus+: ↑People who live or settle somewhere adjective before noun slang bad in quality or not useful • He gave us bum directions, but we eventually found the place. Thesaurus+: ↑Informal words for bad ↑Rubbish and waste ↑Serious and unpleasant ↑Not of good quality
bust
bust [bʌst] noun countable [busts] BREASTS 1. a woman’s breasts, or the measurement around a woman’s breasts and back • I couldn’t find anything in the shop in my bust size. Thesaurus+: ↑The breast ↑Weighing and measuring HEAD 2. a statue of the head and shoulders of a person • There was a bust of Mahler on his desk. Thesaurus+: ↑Sculpture ARREST 3. slang an occasion when police arrest people who are thought to have broken the law • In their latest drugs bust police entered a warehouse where cocaine dealers were meeting. Thesaurus+: ↑Arresting and charging
