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.
