Читать книгу Collins Junior Illustrated Dictionary - Collins Dictionaries - Страница 6
Оглавлениеbaby babies NOUN
A baby is a very young child.
back backs
NOUN 1 The back of something is the part opposite the front.
ADVERB 2 If you go back to a place, you go somewhere you have been before.
NOUN 3 Your back is the part of your body which is behind you, from your neck to the top of your legs.
NOUN 4 The back of an animal is the part on top, between its neck and the beginning of its tail.
back to front PHRASE If you have something on back to front, you are wearing it the wrong way round.
background backgrounds NOUN
The background of a picture is everything behind the main part.
backwards
ADVERB 1 If you move backwards, you move with your back facing in the direction you are going.
ADVERB 2 If you do something backwards, you do it in the opposite of the usual way. Let’s try counting backwards from one hundred.
bacon NOUN
Bacon is salted meat from a pig.
bacteria PLURAL NOUN
Bacteria are very tiny living things which break down waste. They can cause diseases.
bad worse, worst
ADJECTIVE 1 You say somebody is bad if they are naughty or wicked.
ADJECTIVE 2 If something is bad, it can hurt or upset you in some way.
badge badges NOUN
A badge is a sign people wear to show they belong to a school or club.
badger badgers NOUN
A badger is a strongly built animal with short legs and neck. It has long grey fur and a striped head.
badly ADVERB
If something is done badly, it is done in a way that is not successful or effective.
bag bags NOUN
A bag is a soft container for carrying or holding things.
bait NOUN
Bait is food used to trap animals.
bake bakes, baking, baked VERB
When you bake food, you cook it in an oven.
baker bakers NOUN
A baker makes and sells bread, cakes and pies.
balance balances, balancing, balanced VERB
When you balance, you keep steady. She tried to balance on one leg.
balcony balconies NOUN
A balcony is a platform on the outside of a building. Balconies have a railing or wall around them.
bald balder, baldest ADJECTIVE
People who are bald have no hair on the top of their head.
ball balls NOUN
Anything round can be called a ball. You need a ball for lots of games, like tennis and football.
ballet ballets NOUN
A ballet is a sort of play where the story is told with dancing and music.
balloon balloons NOUN
A balloon is a small rubber bag. If you blow hard into it, it gets bigger and makes a very light toy or decoration.
bamboo NOUN
Bamboo is a kind of grass with strong hollow stems which are useful as garden canes or for making furniture.
ban bans, banning, banned VERB
If someone is banned from doing something, they are told by people in charge that they must not do it.
banana bananas NOUN
A banana is a long yellow fruit which grows on trees in hot countries.
See Fruit on page 260
band bands
NOUN 1 A band is a small number of people, like a gang of robbers or a group of musicians.
NOUN 2 A band can also be a strip of material such as iron, cloth or rubber.
bandage bandages NOUN
A bandage is a strip of cloth used to cover a wound.
bang bangs, banging, banged
NOUN 1 A bang is a sudden loud noise.
VERB 2 If something bangs, or you bang it, it makes a loud noise.
bank banks
NOUN 1 A bank is a business that looks after people’s money.
NOUN 2 The bank of a river is the ground either side of the water.
banner banners NOUN
A banner is a long strip of cloth or paper with a message written on it.
bar bars
NOUN 1 A bar is a long piece of something hard, like metal or wood.
NOUN 2 A bar can also be a counter where people can buy drink.
barbecue barbecues NOUN
A barbecue is a grill on which food is cooked outdoors over hot charcoal.
barber barbers NOUN
A barber is someone who cuts men’s hair.
bar code bar codes NOUN
A bar code is a pattern of numbers and lines printed on something that is for sale, so that the price can be read by a machine.
bare barer, barest
ADJECTIVE 1 If part of your body is bare, it is not covered by clothes.
ADJECTIVE 2 If something is bare, it has nothing in it or on it. It was winter and the trees were bare.
bargain bargains NOUN
A bargain is something which is sold at a low price, and which you think is good value.
bark barks, barking, barked
VERB 1 When a dog barks, it makes a sudden rough, loud noise.
NOUN 2 Bark is the outside covering of a tree.
barley NOUN
Barley is a cereal that is grown for food and drink.
bar mitzvah NOUN
A Jewish boy’s bar mitzvah is a ceremony that takes place on his 13th birthday. After this he is regarded as an adult.
barn barns NOUN
A barn is a large building where a farmer stores hay and other crops.
barrel barrels NOUN
A barrel is a large wooden, metal or plastic container for holding liquids.
barrier barriers NOUN
A barrier is something like a fence or wall, that stops people getting past.
base bases
NOUN 1 The base is the bottom of something.
NOUN 2 Number bases are a whole pattern of counting. A base ten counting system uses units, tens and hundreds.
basement basements NOUN
The basement of a building is a floor below ground level.
basic
ADJECTIVE 1 Basic is used to describe things like the food and equipment that people really need in their lives.
ADJECTIVE 2 Basic also means the simplest things you need to know about a subject. I’m not good at this yet, but I’ve got the basic idea.
basically ADVERB
basin basins NOUN
A basin is a wide round container which is open at the top.
basket baskets NOUN
A basket is used for holding or carrying things. It is usually made from strips of thin wood or cane.
basketball NOUN
Basketball is a game between two teams of five players. Each team tries to score by throwing a ball through a circular net fixed to a high board.
bat bats, batting, batted
NOUN 1 In some games, like table tennis, you use a wooden bat to hit the ball.
NOUN 2 A bat is also a small animal like a mouse with leathery wings. Bats fly at night, and sleep hanging upside down.
VERB 3 If you are batting, you are having a turn at hitting the ball with a bat in cricket, baseball or rounders.
bath baths NOUN
A bath is a container for water. It is big enough to sit or lie in, so that you can wash yourself all over.
bathroom bathrooms NOUN
The bathroom is the room where the bath or shower is.
battery batteries NOUN
A battery is an object which stores electric power. There are tiny batteries for things like watches, and larger batteries for torches.
battle battles NOUN
A battle is a fight between enemy forces, on land, at sea or in the air.
bawl bawls, bawling, bawled VERB
If a child is bawling, it is crying very loudly and angrily.
bay bays NOUN
A bay is a deep curve in a coastline.
be am, is, are, being, was, were, been
VERB 1 You use be to say what a person or thing is like. She is very young.
VERB 2 You also use be to say that something is there. There is a tree in the garden.
beach beaches NOUN
The beach is the land covered with sand or pebbles that is next to the sea.
bead beads NOUN
A bead is a small piece of glass or plastic with a hole through it. Beads can be threaded together to make a necklace or bracelet.
beak beaks NOUN
A beak is the hard outside part of a bird’s mouth.
beam beams, beaming, beamed
NOUN 1 A beam is a long thick bar of wood, metal or concrete, used to support part of a building.
NOUN 2 A beam is also a line of light from an object such as a torch or the sun.
VERB 3 If you beam, you give a big smile.
bean beans NOUN
A bean is a vegetable. Its outer covering is called a pod, and inside it has large seeds, also called beans.
See Vegetables on page 260
bear bears, bearing, bore
NOUN 1 A bear is a large, strong animal with thick fur and sharp claws.
VERB 2 If you bear something, you put up with it. I can’t bear all this homework.
beard beards NOUN
A beard is the hair which grows on the lower part of a man’s face.
beat beats, beating, beat, beaten
VERB 1 If you beat someone in a race or competition, you do better than they do.
VERB 2 If someone beats another person or an animal, they hit them hard.
VERB 3 If you beat eggs, you stir them very fast.
VERB 4 Your heart beats with a regular rhythm all the time.
beautiful
ADJECTIVE 1 You say something is beautiful if it gives you great pleasure to look at it or listen to it.
ADJECTIVE 2 You say someone is beautiful if they are lovely to look at.
beaver beavers NOUN
A beaver is a furry animal which lives in or near water.
because CONJUNCTION
You say because when you are going to give a reason for something. I left the party because they were playing silly games.
become becomes, becoming, became, become VERB
To become means to start being different in some way. The smell became stronger.
bed beds
NOUN 1 A bed is a piece of furniture to lie down on when you rest or sleep.
NOUN 2 The bed of the sea or of a river is the ground beneath it.
bedroom bedrooms NOUN
Your bedroom is the room where you sleep.
bee bees NOUN
A bee is a flying insect. People keep bees for the honey that they make.
See beehive
See also Insects on page 264
beech beeches NOUN
A beech is a large tree.
beef NOUN
Beef is the meat from a cow.
beehive beehives NOUN
A beehive is a house for bees, where a beekeeper collects the honey.
been VERB
Been is the past participle of be. We have always been good friends.
See be
beer beers NOUN
Beer is a drink made from grain.
beetle beetles NOUN
A beetle is an insect with four wings. The front two act as hard covers to the body when the beetle is not flying.
See Insects on page 264
beetroot beetroots NOUN
Beetroot is a dark red root vegetable.
See Vegetables on page 260
before
PREPOSITION 1 If something happens before something else, it happens earlier. Can I see you before lunch?
ADVERB 2 If you have done something before, it is not the first time.
beg begs, begging, begged VERB
If you beg someone to do something, you ask them very anxiously to do it. Krishna begged his dad to take him to the football match.
begin begins, beginning, began, begun VERB
When you begin, you start. I began school on Thursday.
beginner beginners NOUN
A beginner is someone who has just started to learn something.
beginning beginnings NOUN
The beginning of something is the first part of it.
begun VERB
Begun is the past participle of begin.
behave behaves, behaving, behaved VERB
The way you behave is the way you act.
behaviour NOUN
behind
PREPOSITION 1 Behind means on the other side of something. She was behind the counter.
PREPOSITION 2 If you are behind someone, you are at the back of them.
beige ADJECTIVE
Something that is beige is a pale creamy-brown colour.
See Colours and shapes on page 266
believe believes, believing, believed VERB
If you believe something or someone, you think what is said is true.
bell bells NOUN
A bell is a piece of metal shaped like a cup, which rings when something hits it.
belong belongs, belonging, belonged
VERB 1 If something belongs to you, it is your own.
VERB 2 If you belong to something, like a club, you are a member of it.
below PREPOSITION
If something is below something else, it is underneath it.
belt belts NOUN
A belt is a strip of leather or other material that you put round your waist.
bench benches NOUN
A bench is a long seat, usually made of wood.
bend bends, bending, bent VERB
When something bends, it becomes curved or crooked.
beneath PREPOSITION
If something is beneath something else, it is below it.
bent ADJECTIVE
If something is bent, it has become curved or crooked.
See bend
berry berries NOUN
A berry is a small round soft fruit that grows on a bush or a tree.
beside PREPOSITION
If something is beside something else, it is at the side of it.
best ADJECTIVE
Best means the “most good”, or better than anything else. That’s the best programme I’ve seen.
better
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is better than something else is of a higher standard or quality. Your bicycle is better than mine.
ADJECTIVE 2 Better can also mean more sensible. It would be better to go home.
ADJECTIVE 3 If you are feeling better after an illness, you are not feeling so ill.
between PREPOSITION
If something is between two other things, it is in the space or time that separates them. The toyshop is between the bank and the library.
beware VERB
You tell people to beware if there is danger of some kind. Beware of the bull.
Bible Bibles NOUN
The Bible is the sacred book of the Christian religion.
bicycle bicycles NOUN
A bicycle is a vehicle with two wheels. You sit on it and turn pedals with your feet to make it go.
big bigger, biggest ADJECTIVE
Something or somebody big is large in size or importance.
bike bikes NOUN
Bike is an abbreviation of bicycle.
bill bills
NOUN 1 A bill is a piece of paper saying how much money you owe. Mum’s just had the electricity bill.
NOUN 2 A bird’s bill is its beak.
bin bins NOUN
A bin is a container, usually with a lid, for putting rubbish in.
bind binds, binding, bound VERB
If you bind something, you tie something like string or cloth tightly round it so that it is held in place.
biology NOUN
Biology is the study of living things.
bird birds NOUN
A bird is an animal with two legs, two wings and feathers.
birth births NOUN
The birth of a baby is when it comes out of its mother’s body.
birthday birthdays NOUN
Your birthday is a special date that is remembered every year, because it was the day you were born.
biscuit biscuits NOUN
A biscuit is a small, flat, crisp kind of cake.
See Other foods on page 261
bit bits
NOUN 1 A bit of something is a small piece of it.
NOUN 2 A bit is a piece of metal that goes in a horse’s mouth.
VERB 3 Bit is also the past tense of bite.
bite bites, biting, bit, bitten VERB
If you bite something, you use your teeth to hold, cut or tear it.
bitter
ADJECTIVE 1 If something has a bitter taste, it tastes sharp and unpleasant.
ADJECTIVE 2 Someone who is bitter feels angry and disappointed.
black blacker, blackest ADJECTIVE
If the colour of something is black, it is the colour of these letters.
See Colours and shapes on page 266
blackberry blackberries NOUN
Blackberries are small, soft, dark purple fruits that grow on brambles.
blackbird blackbirds NOUN
A blackbird is a European songbird.
blackboard blackboards NOUN
A blackboard is a dark board that people can write on in chalk.
blackcurrant blackcurrants NOUN
Blackcurrants are very small, dark purple fruits.
blade blades
NOUN 1 A blade is the sharp edge of a knife or sword.
NOUN 2 A single piece of grass is a blade.
blame blames, blaming, blamed VERB
If somebody blames a person for something bad that happened, they say that person made it happen.
blank blanker, blankest ADJECTIVE
If something is blank, it has nothing written or drawn on it.
blanket blankets NOUN
A blanket is a large warm cloth, often used to cover people in bed.
blaze blazes NOUN
A blaze is a strong bright fire.
blazer blazers NOUN
A blazer is a kind of jacket, often in the colours of a school or sports team.
bleed bleeds, bleeding, bled VERB
If part of your body bleeds, blood comes out of it.
blend blends, blending, blended VERB
When you blend two or more things together, they become a smooth mixture.
blew VERB
Blew is the past tense of blow.
blind blinds
NOUN 1 A blind is rolled material that you pull down to cover a window.
ADJECTIVE 2 Someone who is blind cannot see.
blindness NOUN
blindfold blindfolds NOUN
A blindfold is a strip of cloth tied over someone’s eyes so that they cannot see.
blink blinks, blinking, blinked VERB
When you blink, you shut your eyes and open them again quickly.
blister blisters NOUN
A blister is a small bubble on your skin, containing watery liquid. Blisters are caused by a burn or rubbing.
blizzard blizzards NOUN
A blizzard is a bad snowstorm with strong winds.
block blocks, blocking, blocked
NOUN 1 A block of flats or offices is a large tall building.
NOUN 2 A block of something like stone or wood is a large rectangular piece of it.
VERB 3 To block means to get in the way.
blog blogs NOUN
A blog is a website that describes the daily life of the person who writes it.
blonde or blond ADJECTIVE
Blonde hair is pale yellow in colour. The spelling blond is used when referring to men.
blood NOUN
Blood is the red liquid that your heart pumps round inside your body.
bloom blooms, blooming, bloomed VERB
When a plant blooms, its flowers open.
blossom NOUN
Blossom is the flowers that appear on a tree or bush.
blot blots NOUN
A blot is a mark made by a drop of liquid, especially ink.
blouse blouses NOUN
A blouse is a kind of shirt worn by a girl or a woman.
blow blows, blowing, blew, blown
VERB 1 When the wind blows, the air moves faster.
VERB 2 If you blow, you send out a stream of air from your mouth.
NOUN 3 A blow is a hard hit.
blue bluer, bluest ADJECTIVE
Something that is blue is the colour of the sky on a sunny day.
See Colours and shapes on page 266
bluebell bluebells NOUN
A bluebell is a flower that often grows wild in woods in Europe.
blunt blunter, bluntest
ADJECTIVE 1 A blunt knife is not sharp.
ADJECTIVE 2 Something that is blunt has a rounded, rather than pointed, end.
My pencil’s blunt.
blur blurs NOUN
A blur is a shape that you cannot see clearly.
The car went past so fast it was just a blur.
blurred ADJECTIVE blurry ADJECTIVE
blush blushes, blushing, blushed VERB
When you blush you become red in the face, usually because you are embarrassed.
board boards NOUN
A board is a flat, thin piece of wood.
boast boasts, boasting, boasted VERB
If you boast, you talk too proudly about something.
boat boats NOUN
A boat is a small vessel for travelling on water.
See ship
body bodies
NOUN 1 Your body is every part of you. Some animals, like elephants, have very large bodies.
See The body on page 256
NOUN 2 You can say body when you mean just the main part of a person, not counting head, arms and legs.
NOUN 3 A body is a dead person.
bog bogs NOUN
A bog is an area of land that is always wet and spongy.
boil boils, boiling, boiled
VERB 1 When liquid boils it gets very hot. It bubbles and steam rises from it.
VERB 2 If you boil food, you cook it in boiling water.
NOUN 3 A boil is a painful red swelling on the skin.
bold bolder, boldest
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is bold is not afraid of risk or danger.
ADJECTIVE 2 Letters that are in bold type are thicker than ordinary printed letters.
bolt bolts, bolting, bolted
NOUN 1 A bolt is a long round metal pin with a flat end. It screws into a nut to fasten things.
NOUN 2 A bolt is a metal bar that you can slide across to keep a door shut.
VERB 3 If you bolt a door or window, you lock it with a bolt.
VERB 4 When a person or animal bolts, they suddenly run very fast.
bomb bombs NOUN
A bomb is a weapon which explodes and damages a large area.
bone bones NOUN
Your bones are the hard parts inside your body which make up your skeleton.
bonfire bonfires NOUN
A bonfire is a fire lit outdoors, usually to burn garden rubbish.
bonnet bonnets
NOUN 1 A bonnet is the metal cover over a car’s engine.
NOUN 2 A bonnet is also a baby’s or woman’s hat tied under the chin.
book books, booking, booked
NOUN 1 A book is a number of pages held together inside a cover.
VERB 2 If you book something, you ask someone to keep it for you. We booked seats at the cinema.
boot boots
NOUN 1 Boots are strong shoes that cover your ankle and sometimes your calf.
NOUN 2 The boot of a car is a space for luggage.
border borders
NOUN 1 A border is the line dividing two countries.
NOUN 2 A border is a strip along the edge of something, usually as a decoration.
bore bores, boring, bored
VERB 1 If somebody bores you, you do not find them interesting.
VERB 2 If you bore a hole in something, you make a hole with a drill.
VERB 3 Bore is the past tense of bear.
bored ADJECTIVE
When you are bored, you feel tired and impatient because you have nothing interesting to do.
boredom NOUN
boring ADJECTIVE
Something boring is so dull that you have no interest in it.
born VERB
When a baby is born, it comes out of its mother’s body.
borrow borrows, borrowing, borrowed VERB
When you borrow something, someone lets you have it for a while but they expect you to give it back later.
boss bosses NOUN
Someone’s boss is the head of the place where they work.
bossy ADJECTIVE
A bossy person likes to tell others what to do.
both ADJECTIVE OR PRONOUN
You use both when you are talking about two things or people. He put both books in the drawer.
bother bothers, bothering, bothered
VERB 1 If something bothers you, it annoys you or makes you feel worried.
VERB 2 If you bother about something, you care about it and take trouble over it.
bottle bottles NOUN
A bottle is a container for keeping liquids in. Bottles are usually made of glass or plastic.
bottom bottoms
NOUN 1 The bottom of something is the lowest part of it.
NOUN 2 Your bottom is the part of your body that you sit on.
bought VERB
Bought is the past tense of buy.
boulder boulders NOUN
A boulder is a big rounded rock.
bounce bounces, bouncing, bounced VERB
When something bounces, it springs back in the opposite direction as soon as it hits something hard.
bound bounds, bounding, bounded
VERB 1 When animals or people bound, they move quickly with large leaps.
ADJECTIVE 2 If something is bound to happen, it is sure to happen.
boundary boundaries NOUN
The boundary of an area of land is its outer limit.
bow bows, bowing, bowed
(rhymes with low) NOUN 1 A bow is a kind of knot with two loops used to tie laces and ribbons.
NOUN 2 A bow is also a weapon used for shooting arrows.
NOUN 3 The bow for a stringed musical instrument is a long piece of wood with horsehair stretched along it.
(rhymes with now) VERB 4 When you bow, you bend your body forward.
bowl bowls NOUN
A bowl is an open container used for holding liquid or serving food.
box boxes NOUN
A box is a container with straight sides, made from something stiff, like cardboard, wood or plastic.
boy boys NOUN
A boy is a male child.
bracelet bracelets NOUN
A bracelet is a band or chain which is worn round the wrist or arm as an ornament.
bracket brackets NOUN
Brackets are a pair of written marks ( ) placed round words that are not part of the main text.
See Punctuation on page 270
Braille NOUN
Braille is a form of writing using raised dots that blind people can read by touching the dots with their fingers.
brain brains NOUN
Your brain is inside your head and controls your whole body. It lets you think, feel and remember.
brainy brainier, brainiest ADJECTIVE
Someone who is brainy is clever and good at learning things.
brake brakes NOUN
The brake is the part of a vehicle that slows it down or stops it.
bramble brambles NOUN
A bramble is a wild bush with thorns.
The fruit are called blackberries.
branch branches NOUN
A branch is part of a tree that grows out from the trunk.
brass NOUN
Brass is a yellow metal made from copper and zinc. It is used for making things like ornaments and some musical instruments.
brave braver, bravest ADJECTIVE
If you are brave, you show you can do something even if it is frightening.
bravely ADVERB bravery NOUN
bread NOUN
Bread is a very common food, made with flour and baked in an oven.
See Other foods on page 261
breadth NOUN
The breadth of something is the distance that it measures from one side to the other.
break breaks, breaking, broke, broken
VERB 1 If you break something, it splits into pieces or stops working.
VERB 2 If you break a rule or a promise, you fail to keep it.
breakdown breakdowns NOUN
If someone’s car has a breakdown, it stops working during a journey.
breakfast breakfasts NOUN
Breakfast is the first meal of the day.
breast breasts NOUN
Breasts are the two round parts on the front of a woman’s body, which can produce milk to feed a baby.
breath NOUN
Your breath is the air that you take into and let out of your lungs.
breathe breathes, breathing, breathed VERB
When you breathe, you take air into your lungs through your nose or mouth, and then let it out again.
breed breeds NOUN
A breed of an animal is a particular kind. For example, a labrador is a breed of dog.
breeze breezes NOUN
A breeze is a gentle wind.
brick bricks NOUN
A brick is a block used for building. It is made of baked clay.
bride brides NOUN
A bride is a woman on or near her wedding day.
bridge bridges NOUN
A bridge is something built over things like rivers, railways or roads, so that people or vehicles can get across.
brief briefer, briefest ADJECTIVE
Something that is brief lasts only a short time.
briefly ADVERB
briefcase briefcases NOUN
A briefcase is a flat case used for carrying papers.
bright brighter, brightest
ADJECTIVE 1 Bright colours are clear and easy to see.
ADJECTIVE 2 A light that is bright shines strongly.
ADJECTIVE 3 Someone who is bright is quick at learning or noticing things.
brilliant
ADJECTIVE 1 A brilliant colour or light is extremely bright.
ADJECTIVE 2 Someone who is brilliant is extremely clever or skilful.
brim brims
NOUN 1 If you fill a cup to the brim, you fill it right up to the top.
NOUN 2 The brim of a hat is the part that sticks outwards from the head.
bring brings, bringing, brought
VERB 1 If you bring someone on a visit, they come with you.
VERB 2 If you bring something, you have it with you when you arrive.
bristle bristles NOUN
The bristles of a brush are the thick hairs or thin pieces of plastic which are fixed to the main part of it.
brittle ADJECTIVE
If something is brittle, it is hard but easily broken.
broad broader, broadest ADJECTIVE
Something such as a road or river that is broad is very wide.
broadcast broadcasts NOUN
A broadcast is a programme or announcement on radio or television.
broke VERB
Broke is the past tense of break.
broken VERB
Broken is the past participle of break.
brooch brooches NOUN
A brooch is a small piece of jewellery which is worn pinned to a dress, blouse or coat.
broom brooms NOUN
A broom is a kind of brush with a long handle.
brother brothers NOUN
Someone’s brother is a boy or man who has the same parents as they have.
brought VERB
Brought is the past tense of bring.
brown browner, brownest ADJECTIVE
Something that is brown is the colour of earth or of wood.
See Colours and shapes on page 266
bruise bruises NOUN
A bruise is a purple mark on your skin where something has hit it.
brush brushes NOUN
A brush is a lot of bristles fixed to a handle. Different brushes are used for jobs like cleaning your teeth or painting.
bubble bubbles NOUN
A bubble is a ball of air or gas. You can make bubbles with soapy water. Fizzy lemonade has bubbles, too.
bucket buckets NOUN
A bucket is a container with a handle, often used for carrying water.
buckle buckles NOUN
A buckle is a fastening on the end of a belt or strap.
bud buds NOUN
A bud is a small lump on a plant which will open into a leaf or flower.
Buddhist Buddhists NOUN
A Buddhist is someone who follows the teachings of Buddha.
budgerigar budgerigars NOUN
Budgerigars are small brightly-coloured birds, often kept as pets.
buffalo buffaloes NOUN
A buffalo is an animal like a large cow with long curved horns.
bug bugs
NOUN 1 A bug is an insect.
NOUN 2 A bug is also an illness, such as a flu bug or a stomach bug.
build builds, building, built VERB
If you build something, you make it by joining things together.
builder builders NOUN
A builder is a person whose job is to build houses and other buildings.
building buildings NOUN
A building is a place like a house that has walls and a roof.
bulb bulbs
NOUN 1 A bulb is the glass part of a lamp that gives out light.
NOUN 2 A bulb is also a root shaped like an onion. Many spring flowers such as daffodils and tulips grow from bulbs.
bulge bulges, bulging, bulged VERB
If something bulges, it sticks out in a lump.
His pockets bulged with conkers.
bull bulls NOUN
A bull is a male cow, elephant or whale.
bulldozer bulldozers NOUN
A bulldozer is a tractor with a steel blade on the front. It is used for moving large amounts of earth or stone.
bullet bullets
NOUN 1 A bullet is a small piece of metal fired from a gun.
NOUN 2 A bullet point is a heavy dot used to draw attention to a piece of text.
bully bullies NOUN
A bully is someone who hurts or frightens other people.
bump bumps, bumping, bumped
VERB 1 If you bump into something, you hit it while you are moving.
NOUN 2 If you hear a bump, it sounds like something falling to the ground.
NOUN 3 A bump is a raised uneven part on a surface such as a road.
bumper bumpers NOUN
Bumpers are bars on the front and back of a vehicle that protect it if there is an accident.
bun buns NOUN
A bun is a small round cake.
bunch bunches NOUN
A bunch is a group of things together, like flowers or grapes.
See Collective nouns on page 268
bundle bundles NOUN
A bundle is a number of small things that have been tied together.
bungalow bungalows NOUN
A bungalow is a house with all its rooms on one floor.
burger burgers NOUN
A burger is a flat piece of minced meat. It is often eaten in a bread roll.
burglar burglars NOUN
A burglar is someone who breaks into buildings to steal things.
burn burns, burning, burned or burnt
VERB 1 If something is burning, it is being spoiled or destroyed by fire.
VERB 2 People often burn fuel, such as coal, to keep warm.
NOUN 3 A burn is an injury caused by heat or fire.
burrow burrows NOUN
A burrow is a hole in the ground that an animal lives in.
burst bursts, bursting, burst VERB
When something like a balloon or tyre bursts, it splits open suddenly.
bury buries, burying, buried VERB
If you bury something, you put it in a hole in the ground and cover it.
bus buses NOUN
A bus is a large motor vehicle. People pay to go on buses.
bush bushes NOUN
A bush is a large woody plant with lots of branches. It is smaller than a tree.
business businesses
NOUN 1 Business is the work of making, buying and selling things or services.
NOUN 2 A business is a group of people who make and sell things.
bus stop bus stops NOUN
A bus stop is a place where people can get on or off buses.
busy busier, busiest
ADJECTIVE 1 When you are busy, you are working hard on something.
ADJECTIVE 2 A place that is busy is full of people doing things or moving about.
but CONJUNCTION
You use but to join two parts of a sentence when the second part is unexpected. Megan likes most green vegetables, but she won’t eat broccoli.
butcher butchers NOUN
A butcher is a shopkeeper who cuts up meat and sells it.
butter NOUN
Butter is a yellow fat made from cream. You spread it on bread or use it for cooking.
See Other foods on page 261
butterfly butterflies NOUN
A butterfly is an insect with four large wings which flies during the day.
See Insects on page 264
button buttons
NOUN 1 A button is a small disc used to fasten clothes.
NOUN 2 A button is also a part of a machine that you press to make it work.
buy buys, buying, bought VERB
When you buy something, you get it by paying money for it.
buzz buzzes, buzzing, buzzed VERB
If something buzzes, it makes a “zzz” sound like a bee.
by
PREPOSITION 1 You use by to show who or what has done something. The announcement was made by the head teacher.
PREPOSITION 2 You use by to show how something is done. He cheered us up by taking us to the cinema.
PREPOSITION 3 You use by to talk about being next to or near to another thing. They live by the park.
PREPOSITION 4 If something happens by a particular time, it happens before that time. We should finish by tea time.
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 5 You use by to talk about going past something. We drove by her house.
