companies
batter batters, battering, battered
NOUN 1 a mixture of flour, eggs and milk, used to make pancakes, or to coat food before frying it
VERB 2 When someone or something batters someone or something, they hit them many times. • The waves battered the sides of the ship.
battery batteries
NOUN a device for storing energy and producing electricity, for example in a torch or a car
battle battles
NOUN a fight between armed forces, or a struggle between two people or groups with different aims
battlefield battlefields
NOUN a place where a battle has been fought or is being fought
battlements
PLURAL NOUN the top part of a castle where there are openings through which arrows or guns could be fired
battleship battleships
NOUN a large fighting ship carrying powerful guns
bawl bawls, bawling, bawled
VERB If someone bawls, they shout or cry loudly.
bay bays, baying, bayed
NOUN 1 part of the coastline where the land curves
2 a space or an area used for a particular purpose • a loading bay
3 a tree with dark green leaves. The leaves are used for flavouring food.
VERB 4 When a dog or a wolf bays, it makes a deep, howling sound.
PHRASE 5 If you keep something at bay, you stop it hurting you. • Try eating an orange to keep a cold at bay.
bayonet bayonets
NOUN a sharp blade that can be fixed to the end of a rifle
bazaar bazaars
NOUN 1 an area with many small shops and stalls, especially in Eastern countries
2 a sale to raise money for charity • a Christmas bazaar
[from Persian bazar meaning market]
BC
ADJECTIVE You use BC to show the dates before the birth of Jesus Christ. It is an abbreviation for before Christ.
be am, is, are; being; was, were; been
VERB 1 You can use be with the present participle of other verbs. • Look! I am riding on my own!
2 You can also use be to say that something will happen. • I will be nine in November.
3 You use be to say more about something or somebody. • His name is Tom.
beach beaches
NOUN an area of sand or pebbles beside the sea
beacon beacons
NOUN In the past, a beacon was a light or fire on a hill, which acted as a signal or warning.
bead beads
NOUN 1 a small, shaped piece of glass, stone or wood with a hole through the middle. Beads are strung together with others to make necklaces or bracelets.
2 a drop of liquid • beads of perspiration
beak beaks
NOUN the hard part of a bird’s mouth that sticks out. It is used for pecking up food and for carrying things such as twigs.
beam beams, beaming, beamed
NOUN 1 a long, thick bar of wood or metal, especially one that supports a roof
2 a band of light that shines from something such as a torch or the sun
VERB 3 If you beam, you smile broadly.
bean beans
NOUN the seed or pod of a plant, eaten as a vegetable or used for other purposes • runner beans • coffee beans • soya beans
bear bears, bearing, bore, borne
NOUN 1 a large, strong, wild mammal with thick fur and sharp claws • polar bear • grizzly bear
VERB 2 If someone or something bears something, they carry it or support its weight. • The ice wasn’t thick enough to bear their weight.
3 If something bears a mark or typical feature, it has it. • The room bore all the signs of a violent struggle.
4 If you bear something difficult, you accept it and are able to deal with it. • The loneliness was hard to bear.
beard beards
NOUN the hair that grows on the lower part of a man’s face
beast beasts
NOUN 1 an old-fashioned word for a large, wild animal
2 INFORMAL If you call someone a beast, you mean that they are cruel or spiteful.
beat beats, beating, beat, beaten
VERB 1 If someone or something beats someone or something else, they hit them hard and repeatedly. • The rain was beating against the window.
2 If you beat someone in a race or game, you defeat them or do better than them.
3 When your heart beats, it pumps blood with a regular rhythm.
NOUN 4 the main rhythm of a piece of music or poetry
beautiful
ADJECTIVE very attractive or pleasing
SYNONYM: lovely
beauty beauties
NOUN 1 the quality of being beautiful • the beauty of the stars on a clear night
2 The beauty of an idea or a plan is what makes it attractive or worth doing. • The beauty of going in September is that the sea will be warmer for swimming.
beaver beavers
NOUN a mammal with a big, flat tail and webbed hind feet. Beavers build dams.
because
CONJUNCTION 1 Because is used with other words to give the reason for something. • I went home because I was tired.
PHRASE 2 Because of is used with a noun that gives the reason for something. • I had to stay late because of detention.
beckon beckons, beckoning, beckoned
VERB
