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 ...