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VOCABULARY LISTS > USER LISTS

B-list 154 words

February 8, 2008 By andrea S.

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Definitions Notes & Examples Words Only
  1. bar
    a rigid piece of metal or wood; usually used as a fastening or obstruction or weapon
  2. blunder
    an embarrassing mistake
  3. bristly
    having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
  4. baronial
    impressive in appearance
  5. bore
    make a hole, especially with a pointed power or hand tool
  6. blind
    unable to see
  7. buckle under
    consent reluctantly
  8. byword
    a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
  9. briskness
    liveliness and eagerness
  10. bait
    something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed
  11. badinage
    frivolous banter
  12. banter
    light teasing repartee
  13. bagatelle
    something of little value or significance
  14. bailiwick
    the area over which a bailiff has jurisdiction
  15. baleen
    a horny material from the upper jaws of certain whales; used as the ribs of fans or as stays in corsets
  16. baleful
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
  17. baneful
    deadly or sinister
  18. balk
    refuse to comply
  19. balky
    stopping short and refusing to go on
  20. ballad
    a narrative poem of popular origin
  21. ballast
    any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
  22. ballistics
    the science of flight dynamics
  23. balm
    semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation
  24. banal
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  25. bandy
    discuss lightly
  26. bane
    something causing misery or death
  27. barbarian
    a member of an uncivilized people
  28. bard
    a lyric poet
  29. baroque
    of or relating to or characteristic of the elaborately ornamented style of architecture, art, and music popular in Europe between 1600 and 1750
  30. barrister
    a British or Canadian lawyer who speaks in the higher courts of law on behalf of either the defense or prosecution
  31. bask
    be exposed
  32. basso
    the lowest adult male singing voice
  33. bastion
    projecting part of a rampart or other fortification
  34. bathos
    a change from a serious subject to a disappointing one
  35. batten
    a strip fixed to something to hold it firm
  36. battery
    a collection of related things intended for use together
  37. barrage
    the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area rather than hit a specific target
  38. bangle
    jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration
  39. bauble
    cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing
  40. beatify
    make blessedly happy
  41. beatitude
    a state of supreme happiness
  42. beckon
    summon with a wave, nod, or some other gesture
  43. becoming
    according with custom or propriety
  44. bedlam
    a state of extreme confusion and disorder
  45. befit
    accord or comport with
  46. beget
    make children
  47. begrudge
    be envious of; set one's heart on
  48. becharm
    control by magic spells, as by practicing witchcraft
  49. beguile
    attract; cause to be enamored
  50. behemoth
    someone or something that is abnormally large and powerful
  51. behest
    an authoritative command or request
  52. beholden
    under a moral obligation to someone
  53. belabor
    beat soundly
  54. belated
    after the expected or usual time; delayed
  55. beleaguer
    annoy persistently
  56. besiege
    surround so as to force to give up
  57. belfry
    a bell tower; usually stands alone unattached to a building
  58. belie
    be in contradiction with
  59. belittle
    cause to seem less serious; play down
  60. bellicose
    having or showing a ready disposition to fight
  61. belligerent
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
  62. bellow
    make a loud noise, as of animal
  63. bawl
    cry loudly
  64. bellwether
    sheep that leads the herd often wearing a bell
  65. bemoan
    regret strongly
  66. bemused
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
  67. benchmark
    a surveyor's mark on a permanent object of predetermined position and elevation used as a reference point
  68. benediction
    a ceremonial prayer invoking divine protection
  69. benefactor
    a person who helps people or institutions (especially with financial help)
  70. benevolent
    showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
  71. benign
    kindness of disposition or manner
  72. bent
    used of the back and knees; stooped
  73. bequeath
    leave or give by will after one's death
  74. bequest
    (law) a gift of personal property by will
  75. berate
    censure severely or angrily
  76. bereave
    deprive through death
  77. bereft
    sorrowful through loss or deprivation
  78. berserk
    one of the ancient Norse warriors legendary for working themselves into a frenzy before a battle and fighting with reckless savagery and insane fury
  79. beseech
    ask for or request earnestly
  80. beset
    assail or attack on all sides: "The zebra was beset by leopards"
  81. besmirch
    smear so as to make dirty or stained
  82. bespeak
    be a signal for or a symptom of
  83. bestial
    resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility
  84. bestow
    give as a gift
  85. betrothed
    pledged to be married
  86. bevy
    a flock of birds (especially when gathered close together on the ground)
  87. bibliography
    a list of writings with time and place of publication (such as the writings of a single author or the works referred to in preparing a document etc.)
  88. bicameral
    consisting of two chambers
  89. bicker
    argue over petty things
  90. biennial
    occurring every second year
  91. bilateral
    having two sides or parts
  92. bilious
    relating to or containing bile
  93. bilk
    cheat somebody out of what is due, especially money
  94. biodegradable
    capable of being decomposed by e.g. bacteria
  95. biopsy
    examination of tissues or liquids from the living body to determine the existence or cause of a disease
  96. biped
    an animal with two feet
  97. bistro
    a small informal restaurant; serves wine
  98. bivouac
    temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
  99. blandish
    praise somewhat dishonestly
  100. blase
    nonchalantly unconcerned
  101. blasphemy
    blasphemous language (expressing disrespect for God or for something sacred)
  102. bleak
    unpleasantly cold and damp
  103. blight
    any plant disease resulting in withering without rotting
  104. bliss
    a state of extreme happiness
  105. blithe
    carefree and happy and lighthearted
  106. bloated
  107. bode
    indicate by signs
  108. bogus
    fraudulent; having a misleading appearance
  109. bogy
    an evil spirit
  110. boisterous
    full of rough and exuberant animal spirits
  111. bolt
    a screw that screws into a nut to form a fastener
  112. bombast
    pompous or pretentious talk or writing
  113. bon vivant
    a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink)
  114. bona fide
    not counterfeit or copied
  115. bonanza
    an especially rich vein of precious ore
  116. boon
    a desirable state
  117. boor
    a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement
  118. bootless
    unproductive of success
  119. booty
    goods or money obtained illegally
  120. botch
    make a mess of, destroy or ruin
  121. bourgeois
    (according to Marxist thought) being of the property-owning class and exploitive of the working class
  122. bovine
    any of various members of the genus Bos
  123. boycott
    a group's refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization in protest against its policies
  124. bracing
    a structural member used to stiffen a framework
  125. brisk
    quick and energetic
  126. brackish
    slightly salty (especially from containing a mixture of seawater and fresh water)
  127. briny
    slightly salty (especially from containing a mixture of seawater and fresh water)
  128. brandish
    move or swing back and forth
  129. bravado
    a swaggering show of courage
  130. bravura
    brilliant and showy technical skill
  131. brawn
    possessing muscular strength
  132. brevity
    the attribute of being brief or fleeting
  133. brigand
    an armed thief who is (usually) a member of a band
  134. brink
    the edge of a steep place
  135. broach
    bring up a topic for discussion
  136. bromide
    a trite or obvious remark
  137. brook
    a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
  138. browbeat
    discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate
  139. brusque
    marked by rude or peremptory shortness
  140. bucolic
    relating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle
  141. buffet
    a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers
  142. buffoon
    a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior
  143. bulwark
    an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
  144. buncombe
    unacceptable behavior (especially ludicrously false statements)
  145. buoyant
    tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas
  146. burgeon
    grow and flourish
  147. burlesque
    a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor; consists of comic skits and short turns (and sometimes striptease)
  148. burly
    muscular and heavily built
  149. buttress
    a support usually of stone or brick; supports the wall of a building
  150. blunt
    used of a knife or other blade; not sharp
  151. bluntly
    in a blunt direct manner
  152. brazier
    large metal container in which coal or charcoal is burned; warms people who must stay outside for long times
  153. bridle
    headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control
  154. blanch
    turn pale, as if in fear