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South Asian Spelling Bee Vocabulary > B words - All > Flashcards

B words - All Flashcards

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1
Q

Baby

A

Definition: A very young child, especially one newly or recently born.

Michelle Obama had a baby.

Etymology: Middle English, from babe

Language of Origin: Middle English

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2
Q

Bath

A

Definition: A contained liquid for a special purpose.

I had to take a bath before going to my mom’s brother’s wedding.

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bæth; akin to Old High German bad bath, Old High German bāen to warm

Language of Origin: Middle english

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3
Q

Bean

A

Definition: A valueless item

I used a bean to plant my new cherries.

Etymology: Middle English bene, from Old English bēan; akin to Old High German bōna bean

Language of Origin: Middle english

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4
Q

Began

A

Definition: to do the first part of an action : go into the first part of a process : START

She began by introducing herself.

Etymology: Middle English beginnen, going back to Old English beginnan, from be- BE- + -ginnan, going back to Germanic *genn-a-, verbal base of uncertain meaning and origin.

Language of Origin: Middle english

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5
Q

Belt

A

Definition: a strip of flexible material worn especially around the waist as an item of clothing or a means of carrying something (such as tools)

Some drunk got mad and threatened to belt me.

Etymology: Middle english , from Old English; akin to Old High German balz belt; both from Latin balteus belt

Language of Origin: Middle english

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6
Q

Bent

A

Definition: changed by bending out of an originally straight or even condition
bent twigs.

Standing with knees slightly bent

Etymology: Middle English, grassy place, bent grass, from Old English beonot-; akin to Old High German binuz rush

Language of origin: Middle English

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7
Q

Bevy

A

Definition: a large group or collection

a bevy of girls

Etymology: Middle English bevey

Language of origin: Middle English

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8
Q

Blanket

A

Definition: a large usually oblong piece of woven fabric used as a bed covering

A horse blanket.

Etymology: Middle English, white woolen cloth, bed covering, from Anglo-French blankete, from blanc white — more at BLANK

Language of origin: Middle English

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9
Q

Boil

A

Definition: to generate bubbles of vapor when heated —used of a liquid

A pot of boiling water

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French buillir, boillir, from Latin bullire to bubble, from bulla bubble

Language of origin: Middle English

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10
Q

Bolt

A

Definition: a lightning stroke

She sat bolt upright, staring straight ahead.

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German bolz crossbow bolt, and perhaps to Lithuanian beldėti to beat

Language of origin: Middle English

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11
Q

Bones

A

Definition: one of the hard parts of the skeleton of a vertebrate

Knew in his bones that it was wrong.

Etymology: Middle English bon, going back to Old English bān, going back to Germanic *baina- (whence also Old Frisian & Old Saxon bēn “bone,” Old High German bein “bone, leg,”

Language of origin: Middle English

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12
Q

Box

A

Definition: a rigid typically rectangular container with or without a cover

a cigar box

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin buxis, from Greek pyxis, from pyxos box tree

Language of origin: Middle English

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13
Q

Brad

A

Definition: a thin nail of the same thickness throughout but tapering in width and having a slight projection at the top of one side instead of a head

Attach wheel to plate with a gold brad.

Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse broddr spike; perhaps akin to Old English byrst bristle — more at BRISTLE

Language of origin: Middle English

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14
Q

Bulb

A

Definition: a rounded or swollen anatomical structure

The bulb of the thermometer

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin bulbus, from Greek bolbos bulbous plant.

Language of origin: Middle English

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15
Q

Bumpy

A

Definition: having or covered with bumps

The road was rough, so we had a bumpy ride.

Etymology: of a road, etc., “marked by bumps,” 1865, from bump + -y (2). Of airplane flights, “uneven because of bumps,” 1911.

Language of origin: Middle English

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16
Q

Baleful

A

Definition: deadly or pernicious in influence

baleful effects

Etymology: Middle English balefull “(of humans or animals) bent upon mischief or destruction, malevolent, (of things) pernicious,” also “wretched, miserable,” going back to Old English bealluful “full of evil, sinful,” from bealu BALE entry 1 + -ful -FUL entry 1

Language of Origin: Middle English

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17
Q

Bandicoot

A

Definition: any of several very large rats (genera Bandicota and Nesokia) of southern Asia destructive to crops

In a conservation first, Australia’s eastern barred bandicoot is back from the brink of extinction.

Etymology: Telugu pandikokku

Language of Origin: Telugu

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18
Q

Beige

A

Definition: cloth made of natural undyed wool

A beige skirt

Etymology:borrowed from French, going back to Middle French baige, noun derivative of Old French bege “uncolored, having the color of natural wool,” of uncertain origin

Language of Origin: French

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19
Q

Benign

A

Definition:of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life

a benign lung tumor

Etymology: Middle English benigne, from Anglo-French, from Latin benignus, from bene + gignere to beget — more at KIN

Language of Origin: Middle English

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20
Q

Bias

A

Definition: to give a settled and often prejudiced outlook to

his background biases him against foreigners

Etymology: Middle French biais

Language of Origin: Middle English

21
Q

Biome

A

Definition: a major ecological community type (such as tropical rainforest, grassland, or desert)

Everyone has a different biome, to the point where two siblings can have completely different biomes.

Etymology: BI+ome

Language of Origin: Spanish

22
Q

Bison

A

Definition:any of several large living or extinct bovine mammals

The castle sits next to Tierpark, Europe’s oldest wildlife park with 80 different species, including bison, wild horses, and penguins.

Etymology: Latin bisont-, bison, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wisant aurochs; akin to Old Prussian wissambrs aurochs

Language of Origin: German

23
Q

Bomb

A

Definition: an explosive device fused to detonate under specified conditions

The planes successfully bombed their target.

Etymology: derivative of BOMB entry 1

Language of Origin: Spanish

24
Q

Bronze

A

Definition: to give the appearance of bronze to

a bronzed sculpture

Etymology: French, from Italian bronzo

Language of Origin: French

25
Q

Butter

A

Definition: any of various fatty oils remaining nearly solid at ordinary temperatures

peanut butter

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English butere, from Latin butyrum, from Greek boutyron, from bous cow + tyros cheese; akin to Avestan tūiri- curds — more at COW

Language of Origin: Middle english

26
Q

Baobab

A

Definition:any of several related trees chiefly of Madagascar and Australia

Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar On a dirt road near Madagascar’s west coast is a stretch of enormous baobab trees, all that remains of a once-dense forest.

Etymology: New latin bahobab

Language of Origin: New latin

27
Q

Barrabora

A

Definition: a sod or turf hut of northern Siberia or of Alaska

There was a big Barrabora for soccer.

Etymology: Russian dialect barabora

Language of origin: Russian

28
Q

Bauhaus

A

Definition: of, relating to, or influenced by a school of design noted especially for a program that synthesized technology, craftsmanship, and design aesthetics

He remained loyal to the Bauhaus emphasis on geometric design principles.

Etymology: German Bauhaus, literally, architecture house, school founded by Walter Gropius

Language of origin: German

29
Q

Beignet

A

Definition: a light square doughnut usually sprinkled with powdered sugar

Additionally, the tantalizing smell of Tiana’s signature beignets will permeate the ride’s queue.

Etymology: American French & French; American French, from French, from Middle French bignet, from buyne bump, bruise

Language of origin: American French, French and Middle French

30
Q

Bezoar

A

Definition: any of various calculi found chiefly in the gastrointestinal organs and formerly believed to possess magical properties

The pendant is backed with an Indian bezoar stone, famous in Europe for its healing properties.

Etymology: Middle French, from Medieval Latin, from Arabic dialect bezuwār, from Arabic bāzahr, from Persian pād-zahr, from pād protecting (against) + zahr poison

Language of origin: Middle French, Medieval Latin and Arabic

31
Q

Bibelot

A

Definition: a small household ornament or decorative object : TRINKET

practically every horizontal surface in the Victorian parlor was blanketed with fussy little bibelots

Etymology: French

Language of origin: French

32
Q

Birkie

A

Definition: a lively smart assertive person

I love the classic look of birkie sandals.

Etymology: Origin Unknown

Language of origin: Origin Unknown

33
Q

Bocaccio

A

Definition: a large rockfish (Sebastes paucispinis) of the Pacific coast locally important as a market fish

Both bocaccio and darkblotched give live birth to their young, rather than lay eggs.

Etymology: perhaps modification of Spanish bocacha, augmentative of boca mouth

Language of origin: Spanish

34
Q

Boudin

A

Definition: a spicy Cajun sausage containing rice and meat (such as pork) or seafood

a spicy Cajun sausage containing rice and meat (such as pork) or seafood

Etymology: Louisiana French & French, sausage

Language of origin: Louisiana French & French

35
Q

Boulevardier

A

Definition: a frequenter of the Parisian boulevards

Try it neat before mixing it into your next boulevardier.

Etymology: French, from boulevard

Language of Origin: French

36
Q

Boulevardier

A

Definition: a frequenter of the Parisian boulevards

Try it neat before mixing it into your next boulevardier.

Etymology: French, from boulevard

Language of origin: French

37
Q

Bruit

A

Definition: REPORT, RUMOR

word of his imminent dismissal was bruited about

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, noise

Language of origin: Middle English

38
Q

Buisson

A

Definition: a fruit tree with a very short stem and a closely pruned head

They went down to the fields, strewn with clumps of trees, and at the end of which was the little wood called Joli- Buisson.

Etymology: French, literally, bush, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German busc bush

Language of origin: German and French

39
Q

Balitao

A

Definition: a Philippine peasant dance in mazurka rhythm and semi-European style depicting work movements

The dancers wore colorful costumes and moved in sync to the beat of the balitao music.

Etymology: native name in the Philippines

Language of origin: Philippines

40
Q

Bandurria

A

Definition: a Spanish stringed instrument of the lute family

The bandurria is a popular instrument in Spanish folk music.

Etymology: Spanish

Language of origin: Spanish

41
Q

Bauno

A

Definition: a wild mango (Mangifera verticillata) found in the Philippines having a juicy rich subacid fruit

Bauno is a name given to a person who is brave and courageous.

Etymology: probably borrowed from Cebuano of Mindanao

Language of origin: Cebuano

42
Q

Bhalu

A

Definition: SLOTH BEAR

George had no idea what bhalu was, but he tried to figure it out.

Etymology: Hindi bhālū, from Sanskrit bhallūka, from bhalla bear

Language of origin: Hindi and Sanskrit

43
Q

Bijou

A

Definition: something delicate, elegant, or highly prized

Following is the Wunderkammer room, focused on the maison’s bijou wonders.

Etymology: French, from Breton bizou ring, from biz finger

Language of origin: French

44
Q

Bilharzia

A

Definition: SCHISTOSOME

Honorine could stay home in the mornings and bilharzia, a disease caused by parasites that live in dirty water, was no longer plaguing the community.

Etymology: New Latin, genus name, from Theodor Bilharz †1862 German zoologist

Language of origin: New Latin and German

45
Q

Binturong

A

Definition: An Asian prehensile-tailed civet (Arctictis binturong)

The bearcat is also known as the binturong.

Etymology: Malay bĕnturong, binturong, binturon

Language of origin: Malay

46
Q

Biscotti

A

Definition: a crisp cookie or biscuit of Italian origin that is flavored usually with anise and filberts or almonds —usually used in plural

“Actually, a biscotti would be nice” “And a biscotti if you’ve got it” “Chett doesn’t strike me as a biscotti guy” “Honey, they got that almond biscotti J.D. loves” “Just don’t want a biscotti anymore” “No, I do not want a biscotti with that”.

Etymology: Italian, biscuit, cookie, from (pane) biscotto, literally, bread baked twice

Language of origin: Italian

47
Q

Blase

A

Definition: UNCONCERNED

People get blasé about their hometown.

Etymology: French

Language of origin: French

48
Q

Bouillabaisse

A

Definition: a highly seasoned fish stew made with at least two kinds of fish

Consider his bouillabaisse, built on a proper fish stock and populated with delicious bites of cod, littleneck clams and scallops — Hokkaido from northern Japan and cured in kombu.

Etymology: French

Language of origin: French

49
Q

Bouquiniste

A

Definition: a dealer in secondhand books

The bouquiniste tricked someone for money.

Etymology: French, from bouquin old book (from obsolete Dutch boeckin little book, diminutive of Dutch boek book) + -iste -ist; akin to Old High German buoh book

Language of origin: French & German

South Asian Spelling Bee Vocabulary (7 decks)

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