Advanced Vocabulary Starting with "B"
79 entries
- bacteriology The branch of microbiology that studies bacteria, including their morphology,...
- bail The temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, sometimes on condi...
- ballistic Relating to the science of projectiles and their flight, or to missiles that ...
- banal So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring; unimaginatively common...
- bandwidth The maximum rate at which data can be transferred over a network connection; ...
- banish To send someone away from a place as an official punishment; to get rid of so...
- bankroll To provide the financial backing for a project, venture, or person, especiall...
- bankruptcy The legal status of a person or organisation that cannot repay its debts; the...
- barometer An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure, used in weather forecasting...
- baroque Relating to the highly ornate and extravagant style of European art, architec...
- bathymetry The measurement and mapping of the depth of bodies of water such as oceans, s...
- bearing A machine component that constrains motion to the desired direction and reduc...
- behavioural Relating to or concerned with the way in which a person, animal, or system ac...
- behaviourist Relating to behaviourism, the psychological theory that all behaviour is lear...
- belligerence Aggressive or warlike behaviour; a readiness to fight or quarrel.
- belligerent Hostile and aggressive; inclined to or engaged in warfare or conflict. As a n...
- benchmark A standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or asse...
- benefactor A person who gives money, resources, or support to a person, institution, or ...
- beneficent Performing acts of kindness and charity; producing good or helpful results.
- beneficiary A person who receives a benefit, especially one designated to receive money o...
- benevolent Well-meaning and kindly; showing goodwill and a desire to do good for others.
- benign In medicine, of a tumour or growth, not cancerous or harmful; more broadly, g...
- bequest A gift of personal property or money left to someone in a will; the act of le...
- bereft Deprived of or lacking something, especially a non-material possession. Also,...
- besiege To surround a place with armed forces in order to capture it or force its sur...
- bespoke Made to order; custom-made to a particular specification. Distinctly British ...
- bibliography A list of books, articles, and other sources consulted or cited in a piece of...
- bicameral Having two legislative chambers or houses, such as the House of Commons and t...
- bijective Describing a function or mapping that is both injective (one-to-one) and surj...
- bilateral Involving or affecting two parties or sides; relating to both sides of someth...
- bilingual Able to speak two languages fluently; relating to or involving two languages.
- bilious Affected by or relating to nausea and digestive upset; bad-tempered and spite...
- bioaccumulation The gradual build-up of a chemical substance in the tissues of a living organ...
- biochar A carbon-rich solid produced by heating organic matter (such as wood, crop wa...
- biodegradable Capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms, thereby av...
- biodiversity The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or in the world ...
- biofuel A fuel derived from biological sources such as plant matter, vegetable oils, ...
- bioinformatics The science of collecting, storing, and analysing large amounts of biological...
- biomagnification The increasing concentration of a toxic substance in the tissues of organisms...
- biomarker A measurable biological indicator used to assess health, disease progression,...
- biomass Organic matter derived from living or recently living organisms, used as a fu...
- biometric Relating to the measurement and analysis of unique physical characteristics, ...
- biopsy A medical procedure in which a small sample of tissue is taken from the body ...
- bioremediation The use of living organisms, typically bacteria or fungi, to break down or ne...
- bipartisan Involving or supported by two political parties, especially opposing ones; ch...
- bipolar Relating to or characterised by two extremes; in psychiatry, a mental health ...
- blackout A suppression or censorship of information, especially by the media or govern...
- blatant Done openly and unashamedly; completely lacking in subtlety or attempt at con...
- bliss Perfect happiness; supreme delight or contentment. Often used to describe a s...
- blockade The sealing off of a place, especially a port or city, to prevent goods or pe...
- blockchain A decentralised digital ledger that records transactions across many computer...
- blueprint A detailed technical drawing or plan, originally produced as a white print on...
- bluff A steep cliff or headland with a broad, vertical face; also an attempt to dec...
- bolster To support, strengthen, or prop up something that is weakening or at risk of ...
- bolt A threaded metal fastener used with a nut to join components together. Also, ...
- bombastic Using high-sounding but empty language; given to inflated, pompous speech or ...
- bon-vivant A person who enjoys a sociable and luxurious lifestyle, with particular appre...
- bona-fide Genuine, real, or authentic; acting in good faith and without intent to deceive.
- borehole A narrow, deep hole drilled into the ground to extract water, oil, gas, or ge...
- bosons A class of subatomic particles that obey Bose-Einstein statistics and have in...
- bot An automated software programme that performs tasks on the internet, such as ...
- bottleneck A point of congestion or blockage that slows down a process; a narrow section...
- bountiful Large in quantity; generously given or available, often with connotations of ...
- bourgeois Relating to or characteristic of the middle class, particularly its conventio...
- bravado A bold manner or show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate.
- breakeven The point at which revenue equals costs, resulting in neither profit nor loss...
- brevity Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech; also, the quality of bei...
- brochure A small, illustrated booklet giving information about a product, service, or ...
- bucolic Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and rural life.
- bulimia An eating disorder characterised by cycles of binge eating followed by compen...
- bureaucracy A system of government or administration characterised by strict procedures, ...
- bureaucrat An official in a government department or large organisation, especially one ...
- bureaucratic Relating to or typical of a bureaucracy; characterised by excessive administr...
- burgeoning Growing or expanding rapidly; beginning to flourish and develop at an acceler...
- bursary A financial award or grant given to a student to help pay for their education...
- butte An isolated, steep-sided, flat-topped hill or rock formation, smaller than a ...
- buttress To strengthen or support an argument, position, or structure, often with addi...
- bystander A person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part, often...
- byzantine Excessively complicated and typically involving intrigue and deception. Also ...