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bomb NOUN There were two bomb explosions in the city overnight. = explosive, charge, mine, shell, missile, device, rocket, grenade, torpedo, bombshell, projectile ▸ VERB Airforce jets bombed the city at night. = blow up, attack, destroy, assault, shell, blast, blitz, bombard, torpedo, open fire on, strafe, fire upon, blow sky-highbombard VERB 1 The media bombards us with images of celebrity culture. = attack, assault, batter, barrage, besiege, beset, assail 2 Rebel artillery units have regularly bombarded the airport. = bomb, shell, blast, blitz, open fire, strafe, fire uponbombardment NOUN = bombing, attack, fire, assault, shelling, blitz, barrage, flak, strafe, fusillade, cannonadebombast NOUN = pomposity, ranting, bragging, hot air (informal), bluster, grandiosity, braggadocio, grandiloquence, rodomontade (literary), gasconade (rare), extravagant boasting, magniloquencebombastic ADJECTIVE = grandiloquent, inflated, ranting, windy, high-flown, pompous, grandiose, histrionic, wordy, verbose, declamatory, fustian, magniloquentbona fide ADJECTIVE = genuine, real, true, legal, actual, legitimate, authentic, honest, veritable, lawful, on the level (informal), kosher (informal), dinkum (Austral. & N.Z. informal), the real McCoy ◼ OPPOSITE: bogusbond NOUN 1 the bond that linked them = tie, union, coupling, link, association, relation, connection, alliance, attachment, affinity, affiliation 2 He managed to break free of his bonds. = fastening, band, tie, binding, chain, cord, shackle, fetter, manacle 3 I'm not about to betray my bond with my brother. = agreement, word, promise, contract, guarantee, pledge, obligation, compact, covenant ▸ VERB 1 They all bonded while working together. = form friendships, connect 2 Strips of wood are bonded together and moulded by machine. = fix, hold, bind, connect, glue, gum, fuse, stick, paste, fastenbondage NOUN = slavery, imprisonment, captivity, confinement, yoke, duress, servitude, enslavement, subjugation, serfdom, subjection, vassalage, thraldom, enthralmentbonny ADJECTIVE = beautiful, pretty, fair, sweet, appealing, attractive, lovely, charming, handsome, good-looking, gorgeous (informal), radiant, alluring, comely (old-fashioned)bonus NOUN 1 a special end-of-year bonus = extra, benefit, commission, prize, gift, reward, premium, dividend, hand-out, perk (Brit. informal), bounty, gratuity, honorarium 2 Anything else would be a bonus. = advantage, benefit, gain, extra, plus (informal), asset, perk (Brit. informal), icing on the cakebony ADJECTIVE = thin, lean, skinny, angular, gaunt, skeletal, haggard, emaciated, scrawny, undernourished, cadaverous, rawboned, macilent (rare)book NOUN 1 a book about witches = work, title, volume, publication, manual, paperback, textbook, tract, hardback, tome, e-book or ebook, blook 2 I had several names in my little black book that I called regularly. = notebook, album, journal, diary, pad, record book, Filofax (trademark), notepad, exercise book, jotter, memorandum book, e-book or ebook, blook ▸ VERB She booked herself a flight home last night. = reserve, schedule, engage, line up, organize, charter, arrange for, procure, make reservations, e-book or ebook ● book in We were happy to book in at the Royal Pavilion Hotel. = register, enter, enrolbooking NOUN = reservation, date, appointmentbookish ADJECTIVE = studious, learned, academic, intellectual, literary, scholarly, erudite, pedantic, well-read, donnishbooklet NOUN = brochure, leaflet, hand-out, pamphlet, folder, mailshot, handbillboom NOUN 1 an economic boom = expansion, increase, development, growth, advance, jump, boost, improvement, spurt, upsurge, upturn, upswing ◼ OPPOSITE: decline 2 The stillness of the night was broken by the boom of a cannon. = bang, report, shot, crash, clash, blast, burst, explosion, roar, thunder, rumble, clap, peal, detonation ▸ VERB 1 Lipstick sales have boomed even more. = increase, flourish, grow, develop, succeed, expand, strengthen, do well, swell, thrive, intensify, prosper, burgeon, spurt ◼ OPPOSITE: fall 2 Thunder boomed like battlefield cannons over Crooked Mountain. = bang, roll, crash, blast, echo, drum, explode, roar, thunder, rumble, resound, reverberate, pealboomerang VERB = rebound, backfire, come home to roostboon NOUN 1 This battery booster is a boon for photographers. = benefit, advantage, blessing, godsend, gift 2 She begged him to grant her one boon. = gift, present, grant, favour, donation, hand-out, gratuity, benefactionboorish ADJECTIVE = loutish, gross, crude, rude, hick (informal, chiefly U.S. & Canad.), coarse, vulgar, rustic, barbaric, churlish, uneducated, bearish, uncouth, unrefined, uncivilized, clownish, oafish, lubberly ◼ OPPOSITE: refinedboost VERB They need to take action to boost sales. = increase, develop, raise, expand, add to, build up, heighten, enlarge, inflate, magnify, amplify, augment, jack up ◼ OPPOSITE: decrease ▸ NOUN 1 The paper is enjoying a boost in circulation. = rise, increase, advance, jump, addition, improvement, expansion, upsurge, upturn, increment, upswing, upward turn ◼ OPPOSITE: fall 2 It did give me a boost to win such an event. = encouragement, helpboot VERB One guy booted the door down. = kick, punt, put the boot in(to) (slang), drop-kick ● boot someone out Committee members may be booted out if they fail to attend meetings. = dismiss, sack (informal), expel, throw out, oust, relegate, kick out, eject, kiss off (slang, chiefly U.S. & Canad.), show (someone) the door, give (someone) the boot (slang), give (someone) their marching orders, give (someone) the bullet (Brit. slang), give (someone) the bum's rush (slang), throw (someone) out on their ear (informal), give (someone) the heave or push (informal)bootleg ADJECTIVE = illicit, illegal, outlawed, pirate, unofficial, black-market, unlicensed, under-the-table, unauthorized, contraband, hooky (slang), under-the-counter ◼ OPPOSITE: officialbooty NOUN = plunder, winnings, gains, haul, spoils, prey, loot, takings, pillage, swag (slang), boodle (slang, chiefly U.S.)booze VERB a load of drunken people who had been boozing all afternoon = drink, indulge, get drunk, tipple, imbibe (formal), tope (literary), carouse, bevvy (dialect), get plastered, drink like a fish, get soused, get tanked up (informal), go on a binge or bender (informal), hit the booze or bottle (informal)boozer NOUN 1 I just popped into the boozer for a drink. = pub, local (Brit. informal), bar (informal, chiefly Brit.), inn, tavern, beer parlour (Canad.), beverage room (Canad.), public house, watering hole (facetious, slang), roadhouse, hostelry, alehouse (archaic), taproom 2 We always thought he was a bit of a boozer. = drinker, toper (literary), drunk, soak (slang), alcoholic, lush (slang), drunkard, sot, tippler, wino (informal), alko or alco (Austral. slang), inebriateborder NOUN 1 Clifford is enjoying life north of the border. = frontier, line, marches, limit, bounds, boundary, perimeter, borderline, borderland 2 pillowcases trimmed with a hand-crocheted border = edge, lip, margin, skirt, verge (Brit.), rim, hem, brim, flange ▸ VERB white sand bordered by palm trees and tropical flowers = edge, bound, decorate, trim, fringe, rim, hem ● border on something The atmosphere borders on the surreal. = come close to, approach, be like, resemble, be similar to, approximate, come nearborderline ADJECTIVE = marginal, bordering, doubtful, peripheral, indefinite, indeterminate, equivocal, inexact, unclassifiablebore1 VERB Get the special drill bit to bore the correct-size hole. = drill, mine, sink, tunnel, pierce, penetrate, burrow, puncture, perforate, gouge outbore2 VERB Dickie bored him all through the meal with stories of the Navy. = tire, exhaust, annoy, fatigue, weary, wear out, jade, wear down, be tedious, pall on, send to sleep ◼ OPPOSITE: excite ▸ NOUN He's a bore and a fool. = nuisance, pain (informal), drag (informal), headache (informal), yawn (informal), anorak (informal), pain in the neck (informal), dullard, dull person, tiresome person, wearisome talkerbored ADJECTIVE = fed up, tired, hacked (off) (U.S. slang), wearied, weary, uninterested, sick and tired (informal), listless, browned-off (informal), brassed off (Brit. slang), ennuied, hoha (N.Z.)boredom NOUN = tedium, apathy, doldrums, weariness, monotony, dullness, sameness, ennui (literary), flatness, world-weariness, tediousness, irksomeness ◼ OPPOSITE: excitementboring ADJECTIVE = uninteresting, dull, tedious, stale, tiresome, monotonous, old, dead, flat, routine, humdrum, insipid, mind-numbing, unexciting, ho-hum (informal), repetitious, wearisome, unvaried, yawnsomeborn VERB She was born in London on April 29, 1923. = brought into this world, delivered

borrow VERB 1 Can I borrow a pen please? = take on loan, touch (someone) for (slang), scrounge (informal), blag (slang), mooch (slang), cadge, use temporarily, take and return ◼ OPPOSITE: lend 2 I borrowed his words for my book's title. = steal, take, use, copy, adopt, appropriate, acquire, pinch (informal), pirate, poach, pilfer, filch, plagiarizebosom NOUN 1 a flattering style that accentuates the bosom = breast, chest, front, bust, thorax 2 He went back to the snug bosom of his family. = midst, centre, heart, protection, circle, shelter 3 Something gentle seemed to move in her bosom. = heart, feelings, spirit, soul, emotions, sympathies, sentiments, affections ▸ ADJECTIVE They were bosom friends. = intimate, close, warm, dear, friendly, confidential, cherished, boon, very dearboss NOUN He cannot stand his boss. = manager, head, leader, director, chief, executive, owner, master, governor (informal), employer, administrator, supervisor, superintendent, gaffer (informal, chiefly Brit.), foreman or woman or person, overseer, kingpin, big cheese (old-fashioned, slang), numero uno (informal), Mister Big (slang, chiefly U.S.), sherang (Austral. & N.Z.) ● boss someone around He started bossing people around and I didn't like it. = order around, dominate, bully, intimidate, oppress, dictate to, terrorize, put upon, push around (slang), browbeat, ride roughshod over, tyrannize, rule with an iron handbossy ADJECTIVE = domineering, lordly, arrogant, authoritarian, oppressive, hectoring, autocratic, dictatorial, coercive, imperious, overbearing, tyrannical, despotic, high-handedbotch VERB It's a silly idea, and he has botched it. = spoil, mar, bungle, fumble, screw up (informal), mess up, cock up (Brit. slang), mismanage, muff, make a nonsense of (informal), bodge (informal), make a pig's ear of (informal), flub (U.S. slang), crool or cruel (Austral. slang) ▸ NOUN I rather made a botch of that whole thing. = mess, failure, blunder, miscarriage, bungle, bungling, fumble, hash, cock-up (Brit. slang), pig's ear (informal), pig's breakfast (informal)bother VERB 1 That kind of jealousy doesn't bother me. = trouble, concern, worry, upset, alarm, disturb, distress, annoy, dismay, gall, disconcert, vex, perturb, faze, put or get someone's back up 2 I don't know why he bothers me with this kind of rubbish. = pester, plague, irritate, put out, harass, nag, hassle (informal), inconvenience, molest, breathe down someone's neck, get on your nerves (informal), nark (Brit. & Austral. & N.Z. slang), bend someone's ear (informal), give someone grief (Brit. & S. African), get on your wick (Brit. slang) ◼ OPPOSITE: help ▸ NOUN Most men hate the bother of shaving. = trouble, problem, worry, difficulty, strain, grief (Brit. & S. African), fuss, pest, irritation, hassle (informal), nuisance, flurry, uphill (S. African), inconvenience, annoyance, aggravation (informal), vexation ◼ OPPOSITE: helpbottleneck NOUN = block, hold-up, obstacle, congestion, obstruction, impediment, blockage, snarl-up (informal, chiefly Brit.), (traffic) jambottle shop NOUN (Austral. & N.Z.) = off-licence (Brit.), liquor store (U.S. & Canad.), bottle store (S. African), package store (U.S. & Canad.), offie or offy (Brit. informal)bottle store NOUN (S. African) = off-licence (Brit.), liquor store (U.S. & Canad.), bottle shop (Austral. & N.Z.), package store (U.S. & Canad.), offie or offy (Brit. informal)bottom NOUN 1 He sat at the bottom of the stairs. = lowest part, base, foot, bed, floor, basis, foundation, depths, support, pedestal, deepest part ◼ OPPOSITE: top 2 the bottom of their shoes = underside, sole, underneath, lower side 3 He moved his bottom on the window-seat. = buttocks, behind (informal), rear, butt (informal), bum (Brit. slang), buns (U.S. slang), backside, rump, seat, tail (informal), rear end (informal), posterior, derrière (euphemistic), tush (U.S. slang), fundament (euphemistic), jacksy (Brit. slang) ▸ ADJECTIVE the bottom drawer of the cupboard = lowest, last, base, ground, basement, undermost ◼ OPPOSITE: higherbottomless ADJECTIVE 1 She does not have a bottomless purse. = unlimited, endless, infinite, limitless, boundless, inexhaustible, immeasurable, unbounded, illimitable 2 His eyes were like bottomless brown pools. = deep, profound, yawning, boundless, unfathomable, immeasurable, fathomless, abyssalbounce VERB 1 The ball bounced past the right-hand post. = rebound, return, thump, recoil, ricochet, spring back, resile 2 Moira bounced into the office. = bound, spring, jump, leap, skip, caper, prance, gambol, jounce 3 He was bounced from two programmes for unbecoming conduct. = throw out, fire (informal), turn out, expel, oust, relegate, kick out (informal), drive out, eject, evict, boot out (informal), show someone the door, give someone the bum's rush (slang), throw out on your ear (informal) ▸ NOUN 1 the pace and steep bounce of the pitch = springiness, give, spring, bound, rebound, resilience, elasticity, recoil 2 the natural bounce of youth = life, go (informal), energy, pep, sparkle, zip (informal), vitality, animation, vigour, exuberance, dynamism, brio, vivacity, liveliness, vim, lustiness, vivaciousnessbouncing ADJECTIVE = lively, healthy, thriving, blooming, robust, vigorous, energetic, perky, sprightly, alive and kicking, fighting fit, full of beans (informal), fit as a fiddle (informal), bright-eyed and bushy-tailedbouncy ADJECTIVE 1 She was bouncy and full of energy. = lively, active, enthusiastic, energetic, bubbly, exuberant, irrepressible, ebullient, perky, chirpy (informal), sprightly, vivacious, effervescent, chipper (informal), full of beans (informal), zestful, full of pep (informal), bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ◼ OPPOSITE: listless 2 a bouncy chair = springy, flexible, elastic, resilient, rubbery, spongy ◼ OPPOSITE: flatbound1 ADJECTIVE 1 All members are bound by an oath of secrecy. = compelled, obliged, forced, committed, pledged, constrained, obligated, beholden, duty-bound 2 His arms were bound to his sides. = tied, fixed, secured, attached, lashed, tied up, fastened, trussed, pinioned, made fast 3 There are bound to be price increases next year. = certain, sure, fated, doomed, destinedbound2 VERB He bounded up the steps and pushed the bell of the door. = leap, bob, spring, jump, bounce, skip, vault, pounce ▸ NOUN With one bound Jack was free. = leap, bob, spring, jump, bounce, hurdle, skip, vault, pounce, caper, prance, lope, frisk, gambolbound3 VERB 1 the trees that bounded the car park = surround, confine, enclose, terminate, encircle, circumscribe, hem in, demarcate, delimit 2 Our lives are bounded by work, family and television. = limit, fix, define, restrict, confine, restrain, circumscribe, demarcate, delimitboundary NOUN 1 Our organization now operates across national boundaries. = frontier, edge, border, march, barrier, margin, brink 2 the western boundary of the wood = edges, limits, bounds, pale, confines, fringes, verges, precinct, extremities 3 the boundary between childhood and adulthood = dividing line, borderlineboundless ADJECTIVE = unlimited, vast, endless, immense, infinite, untold, limitless, unending, inexhaustible, incalculable, immeasurable, unbounded, unconfined, measureless, illimitable ◼ OPPOSITE: limitedbounds PLURAL NOUN The bounds of the empire continued to expand. = boundary, line, limit, edge, border, march, margin, pale, confines, fringe, verge, rim, perimeter, peripherybountiful ADJECTIVE 1 The land is bountiful and no one starves. = plentiful, generous, lavish, ample, prolific, abundant, exuberant, copious, luxuriant, bounteous, plenteous 2 Their bountiful host was serving a variety of wonderful dishes. = generous, kind, princely, liberal, charitable, hospitable, prodigal, open-handed, unstinting, beneficent, bounteous, munificent, ungrudgingbounty NOUN 1 The aid organization would not allow such bounty. = generosity, charity, assistance, kindness, philanthropy, benevolence, beneficence, liberality, almsgiving, open-handedness, largesse or largess 2 autumn's bounty of fruits, seeds and berries = abundance, plenty, exuberance, profusion, affluence, plenitude, copiousness, plenteousness 3 They paid bounties for people to give up their weapons. = reward, present, grant, prize, payment, gift, compensation, bonus, premium, donation, recompense, gratuity, meed (archaic), largesse or largess, koha (N.Z.)bouquet NOUN 1 a bouquet of dried violets = bunch of flowers, spray, garland, wreath, posy, buttonhole, corsage, nosegay, boutonniere 2 a perfume with a bouquet of lavender and rose = aroma, smell, scent, perfume, fragrance, savour, odour, redolencebourgeois ADJECTIVE = middle-class, traditional, conventional, materialistic, hidebound, Pooterishbout NOUN 1 I was suffering with a bout of nerves. = period, time, term, fit, session, stretch, spell, turn, patch, interval, stint 2 The latest bout of violence has claimed ten lives. = round, run, course, series, session, cycle, sequence, stint, spree 3 This will be his eighth title bout in 19 months. = fight, match, battle, competition, struggle, contest, set-to (informal), encounter, engagement, head-to-head, boxing matchbovine ADJECTIVE = dull, heavy, slow, thick, stupid, dense, sluggish, lifeless, inactive, inert, lethargic, dozy (Brit. informal), listless, unresponsive, stolid, torpid, slothful (formal)bow1 VERB He bowed slightly before taking her bag. = bend, bob, nod, incline, stoop, droop, genuflect, make obeisance ▸ NOUN I gave a theatrical bow and waved. = bending, bob, nod, inclination, salaam, obeisance, kowtow, genuflection ● bow out He bowed out gracefully when his successor was appointed. = give up, retire, withdraw, get out, resign, quit, pull out, step down (informal), back out, throw in the towel, cop out (slang), throw in the sponge, call it a day or night ● bow to something or someone She is having to bow to their terms. = give in to, accept, comply with, succumb to, submit to, surrender to, yield to, defer to, concede to, acquiesce to, kowtow tobow2 NOUN spray from the ship's bow = prow, head, stem, fore, beakbowels PLURAL NOUN 1 I had a relentless pain in my bowels. = guts, insides (informal), intestines, innards (informal), entrails, viscera, vitals 2 deep in the bowels of the earth = depths, hold, middle, inside (informal), deep, interior, core, belly, midst, remotest part, deepest part, furthest part, innermost partbower NOUN = arbour, grotto, alcove, summerhouse, shady recess, leafy shelterbowl1 NOUN Put all the ingredients into a large bowl. = basin, plate, dish, vesselbowl2 VERB 1 He bowled each ball so well that we won two matches. = throw, hurl, launch, cast, pitch, toss, fling, chuck (informal), lob (informal) 2 (often with along) It felt just like old times, to bowl down to Knightsbridge. = drive, shoot, speed, tear, barrel (along) (informal), trundle ● bowl someone over 1 People clung to trees as the flash flood bowled them over. = knock down, fell, floor, deck (slang), overturn, overthrow, bring down 2 (informal) I was bowled over by India. = surprise, amaze, stun, overwhelm, astonish, stagger, startle, astound, take (someone) aback, stupefy, strike (someone) dumb, throw off balance, sweep off your feet, dumbfoundbox1 NOUN They sat on wooden boxes. = container, case, chest, trunk, pack, package, carton, casket, receptacle, ark (dialect), portmanteau, coffret, kist (Scot. & Northern English dialect) ▸ VERB He boxed the test pieces and shipped them back to Berlin. = pack, package, wrap, encase, bundle up ● box something or someone in He was boxed in with 300 metres to go. = confine, contain, surround, trap, restrict, isolate, cage, enclose, restrain, imprison, shut up, incarcerate, hem in, shut in, coop upbox2 VERB 1 At school I boxed and played rugby. = fight, spar, exchange blows 2 They slapped my face and boxed my ears. = punch, hit, strike, belt (informal), deck (slang), slap, sock (slang), buffet, clout (informal), cuff, whack (informal), wallop (informal), chin (slang), tonk (informal), thwack (informal), lay one on (slang)boxer NOUN = fighter, pugilist, prizefighter, sparrerboxing NOUN = prizefighting, the ring, sparring, fisticuffs, the fight game (informal), pugilismboy NOUN = lad, kid (informal), youth, fellow (old-fashioned), youngster, chap (informal), schoolboy, junior, laddie (Scot.), striplingboycott VERB = embargo, reject, snub, refrain from, spurn, blacklist, black, cold-shoulder, ostracize, blackball ◼ OPPOSITE: supportboyfriend NOUN = sweetheart, man, lover, young man, steady, beloved, valentine, admirer, suitor, beau (old-fashioned), date, swain (archaic), toy boy, truelove, leman (archaic), inamorato, BF or bf (informal), bae (U.S. informal)boyish ADJECTIVE = youthful, young, innocent, adolescent, juvenile, childish, immaturebrace VERB 1 He braced his back against the wall. = steady, support, balance, secure, stabilize 2 The lights showed the old timbers, used to brace the roof. = support, strengthen, steady, prop, reinforce, hold up, tighten, shove, bolster, fortify, buttress, shove up ▸ NOUN She wears a neck brace. = support, stay, prop, bracer, bolster, bracket, reinforcement, strut, truss, buttress, stanchionbracing ADJECTIVE = refreshing, fresh, cool, stimulating, reviving, lively, crisp, vigorous, rousing, brisk, uplifting, exhilarating, fortifying, chilly, rejuvenating, invigorating, energizing, healthful, restorative, tonic, rejuvenative ◼ OPPOSITE: tiringbrag VERB = boast, crow, swagger, vaunt, bluster, talk big (slang), blow your own trumpet, blow your own horn (U.S. & Canad.)braid VERB = interweave, weave, lace, intertwine, plait, entwine, twine, ravel, interlacebrain NOUN 1 The eye grows independently of the brain. = cerebrum, mind, grey matter (informal) 2 I've never been much of a brain myself. = intellectual, genius, scholar, sage, pundit, mastermind, intellect (informal), prodigy, highbrow, egghead (informal), brainbox, bluestocking (usually derogatory) ▸ PLURAL NOUN They were not the only ones to have brains and ambition. = intelligence, mind, reason, understanding, sense, capacity, smarts (slang, chiefly U.S.), wit, intellect, savvy (slang), nous (Brit. slang), suss (slang), shrewdness, sagacity ◼ RELATED WORD: adjective cerebralbrainwashing NOUN = indoctrination, conditioning, persuasion, re-educationbrainwave NOUN = idea, thought, bright idea, stroke of geniusbrainy ADJECTIVE = intelligent, quick, bright, sharp, brilliant, acute, smart, alert, clever, rational, knowing, quick-wittedbrake NOUN Illness had put a brake on his progress. = control, check, curb, restraint, constraint, rein ▸ VERB She braked to a halt and switched off. = slow, decelerate, reduce speedbranch NOUN 1 the low, overhanging branches of a giant pine tree = bough, shoot, arm, spray, limb, sprig, offshoot, prong, ramification 2 The local branch is handling the accounts. = office, department, unit, wing, chapter, bureau, local office 3 He had a fascination for submarines and joined this branch of the service. = division, part, section, subdivision, subsection 4 an experimental branch of naturopathic medicine = discipline, section, subdivision ● branch out I continued studying moths, and branched out to other insects. = expand, diversifybrand NOUN 1 a supermarket's own brand = trademark 2 The brand on the barrel stood for Elbert Anderson and Uncle Sam. = label, mark, sign, stamp, symbol, logo, trademark, marker, hallmark (Brit.), emblem 3 the brand of shame = stigma, mark, stain, disgrace, taint, slur, blot, infamy, smirch ▸ VERB 1 I was instantly branded as a rebel. = stigmatize, mark, label, expose, denounce, disgrace, discredit, censure, pillory, defame 2 The owner couldn't be bothered to brand the cattle. = mark, burn, label, stamp, scarbrandish VERB = wave, raise, display, shake, swing, exhibit, flourish, wield, flauntbrash ADJECTIVE = bold, forward, rude, arrogant, cocky, pushy (informal), brazen, presumptuous, impertinent, insolent, impudent, bumptious, cocksure, overconfident, hubristic, full of yourself ◼ OPPOSITE: timidbrassy ADJECTIVE 1 Musicians blast their brassy jazz from street corners. = strident, loud, harsh, piercing, jarring, noisy, grating, raucous, blaring, shrill, jangling, dissonant, cacophonous 2 brash and brassy advertising campaigns = brazen, forward, bold, brash, saucy, pushy (informal), pert, insolent, impudent, loud-mouthed, barefaced 3 big brassy ear-rings = flashy, loud, blatant, vulgar, gaudy, garish, jazzy (informal), showy, obtrusive ◼ OPPOSITE: discreetbrat NOUN = youngster, kid (informal), urchin, imp, rascal, spoilt child, devil, puppy (informal), cub, scallywag (informal), whippersnapper, guttersnipebravado NOUN = swagger, boast, boasting, swaggering, vaunting, bluster, swashbuckling, bombast, braggadocio, boastfulness, fanfaronade (rare)brave ADJECTIVE brave people who dare to challenge the tyrannical regimes = courageous, daring, bold, heroic, adventurous, gritty, fearless, resolute, gallant, gutsy (slang), audacious, intrepid, valiant, plucky, undaunted, unafraid, unflinching, dauntless, lion-hearted, valorous ◼ OPPOSITE: timid ▸ VERB They had to brave her anger and confess. = confront, face, suffer, challenge, bear, tackle, dare, endure, defy, withstand, stand up to ◼ OPPOSITE: give in tobravery NOUN = courage, nerve, daring, pluck, spirit, bottle (Brit. slang), guts (informal), grit, fortitude, heroism, mettle, boldness, bravura, gallantry, valour, spunk (informal), hardiness, fearlessness, intrepidity, indomitability, hardihood, dauntlessness, doughtiness, pluckiness, lion-heartedness ◼ OPPOSITE: cowardicebravo INTERJECTION = congratulations, well donebravura NOUN = brilliance, energy, spirit, display, punch (informal), dash, animation, vigour, verve, panache, boldness, virtuosity, élan, exhibitionism, brio, ostentationbrawl NOUN He had been in a street brawl. = fight, battle, row (informal), clash, disorder, scrap (informal), fray, squabble, wrangle, skirmish, scuffle, punch-up (Brit. informal), free-for-all (informal), fracas, altercation, rumpus, broil, tumult, affray (Law), shindig (informal), donnybrook, ruckus (informal), scrimmage, shindy (informal), biffo (Austral. slang), bagarre (French), melee or mêlée ▸ VERB They brawled in the street. = fight, battle, scrap (informal), wrestle, wrangle, tussle, scuffle, go at it hammer and tongs, fight like Kilkenny cats, altercatebrawn NOUN = muscle, might, power, strength, muscles, beef (informal), flesh, vigour, robustness, muscularity, beefiness (informal), brawninessbray VERB 1 The donkey brayed and tried to bolt. = neigh, bellow, screech, heehaw 2 Pavel brayed with angry laughter. = roar, trumpet, bellow, hoot ▸ NOUN 1 It was a strange laugh, like the bray of a donkey. = neigh, bellow, screech, heehaw 2 She cut him off with a bray of laughter. = roar, cry, shout, bellow, screech, hoot, bawl, harsh soundbrazen ADJECTIVE a brazen dive to win a free-kick = bold, forward, defiant, brash, saucy, audacious, pushy (informal), shameless, unabashed, pert, unashamed, insolent, impudent, immodest, barefaced, brassy (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: shy ● brazen it out As for the scandal, he is as determined as ever to brazen it out. = be unashamed, persevere, be defiant, confront something, be impenitent, outface, outstarebreach NOUN 1 The congressman was accused of a breach of secrecy laws. = nonobservance, abuse, violation, infringement, trespass, disobedience, transgression, contravention, infraction, noncompliance ◼ OPPOSITE: compliance 2 the breach between Tito and Stalin = disagreement, difference, division, separation, falling-out (informal), quarrel, alienation, variance, severance, disaffection, schism, parting of the ways, estrangement, dissension 3 A large battering ram hammered a breach in the wall. = opening, crack, break, hole, split, gap, rent, rift, rupture, aperture, chasm, cleft, fissurebread NOUN 1 I go to work, I put bread on the table, I pay the mortgage. = food, provisions, fare, necessities, subsistence, kai (N.Z. informal), nourishment, sustenance, victuals, nutriment, viands, aliment 2 a period in which you could earn your bread by the sweat of your brow = money, funds, cash, finance, necessary (informal), silver, tin (slang), brass (Northern English dialect), dough (slang), dosh (Brit. & Austral. slang), needful (informal), shekels (informal), dibs (slang), ackers (slang), spondulicks (slang), rhino (Brit. slang)breadth NOUN 1 The breadth of the whole camp was 400 metres. = width, spread, beam, span, latitude, broadness, wideness 2 The breadth of his knowledge filled me with admiration. = extent, area, reach, range, measure, size, scale, spread, sweep, scope, magnitude, compass, expanse, vastness, amplitude, comprehensiveness, extensivenessbreak VERB 1 He fell through the window, breaking the glass. = shatter, separate, destroy, split, divide, crack, snap, smash, crush, fragment, demolish, sever, trash (slang), disintegrate, splinter, smash to smithereens, shiver (archaic, literary) ◼ OPPOSITE: repair 2 She broke her leg in a skiing accident. = fracture, crack, smash 3 The bandage must be put on when the blister breaks. = burst, tear, split 4 We didn't know we were breaking the law. = disobey, breach, defy, violate, disregard, flout, infringe, contravene (formal), transgress, go counter to, infract (Law) ◼ OPPOSITE: obey 5 He aims to break the vicious cycle. = stop, cut, check, suspend, interrupt, cut short, discontinue 6 The noise broke my concentration. = disturb, interrupt 7 They have yet to break the link with the trade unions. = end, stop, cut, drop, give up, abandon, suspend, interrupt, terminate, put an end to, discontinue, pull the plug on 8 He never let his jailers break him. = weaken, undermine, cow, tame, subdue, demoralize, dispirit 9 The newspapers can make or break you. = ruin, destroy, crush, humiliate, bring down, bankrupt, degrade, impoverish, demote, make bankrupt, bring to ruin 10 They broke for lunch. = pause, stop briefly, stop, rest, halt, cease, take a break, have a breather (informal) 11 We broke our journey at a small country hotel. = interrupt, stop, suspend 12 She was saved by bushes which broke her fall. = cushion, reduce, ease, moderate, diminish, temper, soften, lessen, alleviate, lighten 13 He resigned his post as Bishop when the scandal broke. = be revealed, come out, be reported, be published, be announced, be made public, be proclaimed, be let out, be imparted, be divulged, come out in the wash 14 I worried for ages and decided I had better break the news. = reveal, tell, announce, declare, disclose, proclaim, divulge, make known 15 The film has broken all box office records. = beat, top, better, exceed, go beyond, excel, surpass, outstrip, outdo, cap (informal) 16 (of dawn) They continued their search as dawn broke. = happen, appear, emerge, occur, erupt, burst out, come forth suddenly ▸ NOUN 1 a break in the earth's surface = fracture, opening, tear, hole, split, crack, gap, rent, breach, rift, rupture, gash, cleft, fissure 2 They always play that music during the break. = interval, pause, recess, interlude, intermission, entr'acte 3 They are currently taking a short break in Spain. = holiday, leave, vacation, time off, recess, awayday, schoolie (Austral.), accumulated day off or ADO (Austral.) 4 (informal) The rain was a lucky break for the American. = stroke of luck, chance, opportunity, advantage, fortune, opening 5 There is some threat of a break in relations between them. = breach, split, dispute, separation, rift, rupture, alienation, disaffection, schism, estrangement ● break away I broke away from him and rushed out into the hall. = get away, escape, flee, run away, break free, break loose, make your escape ● break down 1 Their car broke down. = stop working, stop, seize up, conk out (informal), go kaput (informal), go phut, cark it (Austral. & N.Z. slang) 2 Their partnership broke down after too many disagreements. = fail, collapse, fall through, be unsuccessful, come unstuck, run aground, come to grief, come a cropper (informal), turn out badly 3 The young man broke down and cried. = be overcome, crack up (informal), go to pieces ● break in 1 The thief had broken in through a first-floor window. = break and enter, enter, gain access 2 Suddenly, O'Leary broke in with a suggestion. = interrupt, intervene, interfere, intrude, burst in, interject, butt in, barge in, interpose, put your oar in, put your two cents in (U.S. slang) ● break off He broke off in mid-sentence. = stop talking, pause, stumble, falter, fumble, hem and haw or hum and haw ● break out 1 He was 29 when war broke out. = begin, start, happen, occur, arise, set in, commence, spring up 2 The two men broke out and cut through a perimeter fence. = escape, flee, bolt, burst out, get free, break loose, abscond, do a bunk (Brit. slang), do a Skase (Austral. informal) 3 A line of sweat broke out on her forehead. = erupt, gush, flare up, burst out, burst forth, pour forth ● break someone in The band are breaking in a new backing vocalist. = initiate, train, accustom, habituate ● break something in I'm breaking in these new boots. = prepare, condition, tame ● break something off I broke off a large piece of the clay. = detach, separate, divide, cut off, pull off, sever, part, remove, splinter, tear off, snap off ● break something up Police used tear gas to break up a demonstration. = stop, end, suspend, disrupt, dismantle, disperse, terminate, disband, diffuse ● break through There is still scope for new writers to break through. = succeed, make it (informal), achieve, do well, flourish, cut it (informal), get to the top, crack it (informal), make your mark (informal), shine forth ● break through something Protesters tried to break through a police cordon. = penetrate, go through, get past, burst through ● break up 1 The meeting broke up half an hour later. = finish, be suspended, adjourn, recess 2 My partner and I have broken up. = split up, separate, part, divorce, end a relationship 3 The crowd broke up reluctantly. = scatter, separate, divide, dissolve ● break with something or someone It was a tough decision for him to break with Leeds. = separate from, drop (informal), reject, ditch (slang), renounce, depart from, break away from, part company with, repudiate, jiltbreakage NOUN = break, cut, tear, crack, rent, breach, fracture, rift, rupture, cleft, fissurebreakaway ADJECTIVE = rebel, revolutionary, rebellious, dissenting, insurgent, seceding, secessionist, heretical, mutinous, insubordinate, insurrectionary, schismaticbreakdown NOUN 1 They often seem depressed and close to breakdown. = collapse, crackup (informal) 2 The organisers were given a breakdown of the costs. = analysis, classification, dissection, categorization, detailed list, itemizationbreaker NOUN = wave, roller, comber, billow, white horse, whitecapbreak-in NOUN = burglary, robbery, breaking and entering, home invasion (Austral. & N.Z.)breakneck ADJECTIVE = dangerous, rapid, excessive, rash, reckless, precipitate, headlong, expressbreakthrough NOUN = development, advance, progress, improvement, discovery, find, finding, invention, step forward, leap forwards, turn of events, quantum leapbreak-up NOUN 1 a marital break-up = separation, split, divorce, breakdown, ending, parting, breaking, splitting, wind-up, rift, disintegration, dissolution, termination 2 the break-up of the Soviet Union = dissolution, division, splitting, disintegrationbreakwater NOUN = sea wall, spur, mole, jetty, groynebreast NOUN 1 Happiness flowered in her breast. = heart, feelings, thoughts, soul, being, emotions, core, sentiments, seat of the affections 2 A sports bra provides support for the breasts. = bosom, boob (slang), booby (slang), tit (vulgar, slang) ◼ RELATED WORD: adjective mammarybreath NOUN 1 He took a deep breath and began to climb the stairs. = inhalation, breathing, pant, gasp, gulp, wheeze, exhalation, respiration 2 Not even a breath of wind stirred the pine branches. = gust, sigh, puff, flutter, flurry, whiff, draught, waft, zephyr, slight movement, faint breeze 3 It was left to her to add a breath of common sense. = trace, suggestion, hint, whisper, suspicion, murmur, undertone, intimation 4 He had to stop for breath. = rest, breather (informal) 5 Here is no light, no breath, no warm flesh. = life, energy, existence, vitality, animation, life force, lifeblood, mauri (N.Z.)breathe VERB 1 Always breathe through your nose. = inhale and exhale, pant, gasp, puff, gulp, wheeze, respire, draw in breath 2 He never breathed a word about our conversation. = whisper, say, voice, express, sigh, utter, articulate, murmur 3 It is the readers who breathe life into a newspaper. = instil, inspire, pass on, inject, impart, infuse, imbuebreather NOUN = rest, break, halt, pause, recess, breathing space, breath of airbreathless ADJECTIVE 1 I was a little breathless and my heartbeat was fast. = out of breath, winded, exhausted, panting, gasping, choking, gulping, wheezing, out of whack (informal), short-winded 2 We were breathless with anticipation. = excited, anxious, curious, eager, enthusiastic, impatient, agog, on tenterhooks, in suspensebreathtaking ADJECTIVE = amazing, striking, exciting, brilliant, dramatic, stunning (informal), impressive, thrilling, overwhelming, magnificent, astonishing, sensational, eye-popping (informal), awesome, wondrous (archaic, literary), awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, heart-stirringbreed NOUN 1 rare breeds of cattle = variety, race, stock, type, species, strain, pedigree 2 the new breed of walking holidays = kind, sort, type, variety, brand, stamp ▸ VERB 1 He lived alone, breeding horses and dogs. = rear, tend, keep, raise, maintain, farm, look after, care for, bring up, nurture, nourish 2 Frogs will usually breed in any convenient pond. = reproduce, multiply, propagate, procreate (formal), produce offspring, bear young, bring forth young, generate offspring, beget offspring, develop 3 If they are overlooked, it's bound to breed resentment. = produce, cause, create, occasion (formal), generate, bring about, arouse, originate, give rise to, stir upbreeding NOUN = refinement, style, culture, taste, manners, polish, grace, courtesy, elegance, sophistication, delicacy, cultivation, politeness, civility, gentility, graciousness, urbanity, politessebreeze NOUN a cool summer breeze = light wind, air, whiff, draught, gust, waft, zephyr, breath of wind, current of air, puff of air, capful of wind ▸ VERB Lopez breezed into the room. = sweep, move briskly, pass, trip, sail, hurry, sally, glide, flitbreezy ADJECTIVE 1 his bright and breezy personality = carefree, casual, lively, sparkling, sunny, informal, cheerful, animated, upbeat (informal), buoyant, airy, easy-going, genial, jaunty, chirpy (informal), sparky, sprightly, vivacious, debonair, blithe, free and easy, full of beans (informal), light, light-hearted ◼ OPPOSITE: serious 2 The day was breezy and warm. = windy, fresh, airy, blustery, blowing, gusty, squally, blowy, blusterous ◼ OPPOSITE: calmbrevity NOUN 1 The bonus of this homely soup is the brevity of its cooking time. = shortness, transience, impermanence, ephemerality, briefness, transitoriness 2 The brevity of the letter concerned me. = conciseness, economy, crispness, concision, terseness, succinctness, curtness, pithiness ◼ OPPOSITE: wordinessbrew VERB 1 He brewed a pot of coffee. = boil, make, soak, steep, stew, infuse (tea) 2 I brew my own iced tea. = make, ferment, prepare by fermentation 3 At home a crisis was brewing. = start, develop, gather, foment 4 We'd seen the storm brewing when we were out on the boat. = develop, form, gather, foment ▸ NOUN a mild herbal brew = drink, preparation, mixture, blend, liquor, beverage, infusion, concoction, fermentation, distillation