Words starting with B — 1,390 entries

The 1,390 dictionary words that begin with the letter B, in alphabetical order, each with its first definition. Accents do not affect filing: an accented initial is shelved under its base letter.

• Barn2 sensesA diminutive of the male given names Barney, Barnabas, Barnaby, or Barnett.
• Barnaby2 sensesA male given name from Hebrew, from the medieval vernacular form of Barnabas.
• Barnes7 sensesA surname.
• Barnett4 sensesAn English surname.
• barney11 sensesA noisy argument.
• Barney11 sensesA male given name: A male given name transferred from the surname.
• baron7 sensesThe male ruler of a barony.
• Baron4 sensesA surname from French
• baroness2 sensesThe wife of a baron.
• barracks3 sensesA group of buildings used by military personnel as housing.
• barred4 sensesHaving bars; striped.
• barrel20 sensesA round (cylindrical) vessel, such as a cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having…
• barren9 sensesNot bearing children, childless; hence also unable to bear children, sterile.
• Barrett7 sensesAn English or Irish surname from Anglo-Norman.
• barricade6 sensesA barrier constructed across a road, especially as a military defence
• barrier8 sensesA structure that bars passage.
• Barrier1 senseA surname from French.
• barrister1 senseA lawyer with the right to speak and argue as an advocate in higher lawcourts.
• barrow8 sensesA hill.
• Barrow14 sensesA surname.
• barry3 sensesA field divided transversely into several equal parts, and consisting of two different tinctures interchangeably disposed.
• Barry15 sensesA male given name from Irish.
• bars2 sensesAny event in gymnastics using the bars.
• BARS1 senseA high-pressure high-temperature apparatus usually used for growing or processing minerals, especially diamond.
• Bart2 sensesAbbreviation or diminutive for baronet, later replaced by Bt. It is a post-nominative title; the pre-nominative is Sir (e.g. Sir John Smith Bart.).
• BART1 senseTo use Bay Area Rapid Transit, to ride on BART.
• bartender1 senseOne who tends a bar or pub; a person preparing and serving drinks at a bar.
• Bartlett12 sensesA surname transferred from the given name from a pet form of Bartholomew.
• barton3 sensesA farmyard.
• Barton17 sensesAny of many places in England: A hamlet in Barton and Pooley Bridge parish, Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, previously in Eden district (OS grid…
• base51 sensesSomething from which other things extend; a foundation.
• Base1 senseA surname transferred from the nickname.
• baseball3 sensesA sport common in North America, the Caribbean, and East Asia, in which the objective is to strike a ball so that one of a nine-person team can run…
• based8 sensesFounded on; having a basis; often used in combining forms.
• basement3 sensesA floor of a building below ground level.
• bash7 sensesTo strike heavily; to beat.
• Bash3 sensesThe Free Software Foundation's command interpreter (the "shell") for UNIX-like operating systems.
• basic7 sensesNecessary, essential for life or some process.
• Basic1 senseA family of third-generation computer programming languages (c.1964 on).
• BASIC1 senseAny of a family of third-generation programming languages.
• basically3 sensesIn a fundamental, essential or basic manner.
• basil8 sensesA plant (Ocimum basilicum).
• Basil1 senseA male given name from Ancient Greek, in quiet but steady use in the UK.
• basin9 sensesA wide bowl for washing, sometimes affixed to a wall.
• Basin2 sensesA census-designated place in Jefferson County, Montana.
• basis8 sensesA physical base or foundation.
• basket21 sensesA lightweight woven container, generally round, open at the top, and tapering toward the bottom.
• basketball4 sensesA sport in which two opposing teams of five players strive to put a ball through a hoop.
• bass11 sensesOf sound, a voice or an instrument, low in pitch or frequency.
• Bass7 sensesA surname.
• bastard27 sensesA mongrel (biological cross between different breeds, groups or varieties).
• Bastard1 senseA surname from Old French.
• bat26 sensesAny flying mammal of the order Chiroptera, usually small and nocturnal, insectivorous or frugivorous.
• BAT1 senseOne or more of the Chinese technology companies Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent.
• batch14 sensesThe quantity of bread or other baked goods baked at one time.
• Batch1 senseA surname.
• Bates7 sensesA surname originating as a patronymic.
• bath10 sensesA tub or pool which is used for bathing: bathtub.
• Bath26 sensesA city in Bath and North East Somerset district, Somerset, England, famous for its baths fed by a hot spring.
• bathe7 sensesTo clean oneself by immersion in water or using water; to take a bath, have a bath.
• bathed1 senseclean after having bathed
• bathing2 sensesThe act of taking a bath.
• bathroom3 sensesA room containing a shower or bathtub, and (typically but not necessarily) a toilet.
• baths1 senseA building containing a public swimming pool or shower facilities; originally a place having individual cubicles where people without bathrooms could…
• bathtub1 senseA large container for holding water in which a person may bathe (take a bath).
• batman7 sensesA servant or valet to a military officer.
• Batman6 sensesA province in the Black Sea region, in northern Turkey.
• baton11 sensesA staff or truncheon, used for various purposes.
• bats1 senseMad, insane.
• Bats3 sensesA Northeast Caucasian language of the Nakh family, spoken in Georgia.
• battalion5 sensesAn army unit having two or more companies, etc. and a headquarters. Traditionally forming part of a regiment.
• batter16 sensesTo hit or strike violently and repeatedly.
• battered4 sensesBeaten up through a lot of use; in rough condition; weathered.
• battery15 sensesA device used to power electric devices, consisting of one or more electrically connected electrochemical cells or (archaically) electrostatic cells.
• Battery1 senseA park in Manhattan, New York City.
• batting4 sensesCotton, wool, silk or synthetic material used to stuff the inside of a mattress, quilt etc.
• battle11 sensesA contest, a struggle.
• Battle5 sensesA habitational surname from Middle English from places in England that have been sites of a battle.
• battlefield1 senseThe area where a land battle is fought, which may not necessarily be a field.
• battleship5 sensesA large capital warship displacing thousands to tens of thousands of tons, heavily armoured and armed with large-caliber guns; now obsolescent and…
• battling7 sensesA growing fat, or the process of causing to grow fat; a fattening.
• bauer2 sensesA German farmer or peasant.
• Bauer1 senseA surname from German.
• baxter1 senseA baker (originally, a female baker).
• Baxter18 sensesA surname originating as an occupation originating in northern England and in Scotland, a variant of Baker.
• bay25 sensesA body of water (especially the sea) contained by a concave shoreline.
• Bay2 sensesA region of Somalia.
• Baylor4 sensesA male given name.
• bazaar3 sensesA marketplace, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia, and often covered with shops and stalls.
• BB2 sensesA type of pellet that can be shot from a BB gun.
• be25 sensesAs an auxiliary verb: Used with past participles of verbs to form the passive voice.
• be-9 sensesBy, near, next to, around, close to.
• Bea2 sensesA diminutive of the female given name Beatrice.
• BEA1 senseBureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile, the French civil aviation accident investigation bureau.
• beach8 sensesThe shore of a body of water, especially when sandy or pebbly.
• Beach9 sensesA surname.
• beacon8 sensesA signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning.
• Beacon5 sensesA town in Western Australia.
• bead16 sensesEach in a string of small balls making up the rosary or paternoster.
• beads1 senseA beaded necklace.
• beak20 sensesA rigid structure projecting from the front of a bird's face, used for pecking, grooming, foraging, carrying items, eating food, etc.
• Beale1 senseA surname.
• beam29 sensesAny large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
• Beam1 senseA surname.
• bean13 sensesAny plant of several genera of the taxonomic family Fabaceae that produces large edible seeds or edible seedpods.
• Bean2 sensesA surname.
• beans6 sensesPills; drugs in pill form.
• bear48 sensesA large, generally omnivorous mammal (a few species are purely carnivorous or herbivorous) of the family Ursidae; having shaggy fur, a very small…
• Bear6 sensesA surname.
• beard21 sensesFacial hair on the chin, cheeks, jaw and neck.
• Beard4 sensesA surname transferred from the nickname.
• bearded5 sensesHaving a beard; involving a beard.
• bearer11 sensesOne who, or that which, bears, sustains, or carries.
• Bearer1 senseA surname originating as an occupation.
• bearing11 sensesThat bears (some specified thing).
• Bears1 senseA surname.
• beast14 sensesAny four-footed land mammal.
• Beast3 sensesA figure in the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse), often identified with Satan or the Antichrist.
• beat46 sensesA stroke; a blow.
• beaten4 sensesDefeated.
• beating3 sensesThe action by which someone or something is beaten.
• Beatles1 senseAn extremely successful and influential British rock music quartet that operated primarily in the 1960s.
• Beatrice2 sensesA female given name from Latin.
• beats1 senseAn assault by beating.
• Beats1 senseA diminutive of the female given names Beatrice or Beatrix.
• beau5 sensesA male escort.
• Beau1 senseA male given name used since mid-twentieth century.
• Beaumont18 sensesA city in Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium.
• beautiful6 sensesPossessing beauty, impressing the eye; attractive.
• beautifully1 senseIn a beautiful manner.
• beauty15 sensesThe quality of being (especially visually) attractive, pleasing, fine or good-looking; comeliness.
• beaver17 sensesA semiaquatic rodent of the genus Castor, having a wide, flat tail and webbed feet, native to the Northern Hemisphere.
• Beaver23 sensesA surname.
• Bebe1 senseA female given name.
• because7 sensesBy or for the cause that; on this account that; for the reason that.
• Becca1 senseA diminutive of the female given name Rebecca, from Hebrew.
• beck4 sensesA stream or small river.
• Beck3 sensesA surname.
• becker1 senseA European fish, Pagrus pagrus
• Becker7 sensesA surname. An English habitational surname from Old Norse from Old Norse bekkr (“brook”).
• Beckett4 sensesA surname.
• Becky3 sensesA diminutive of the female given name Rebecca.
• become6 sensesbegin to be; turn into (often with permanent states).
• becoming3 sensesThe act or process by which something becomes.
• bed40 sensesA piece of furniture, usually flat and soft, on which to rest or sleep.
• Bedford25 sensesA place name: A number of places in the United Kingdom A market town, the county town of Bedfordshire, England.
• bedroom3 sensesA room in a house, apartment, hotel, or other dwelling where a bed is kept for sleeping.
• bedside2 sensesA position at the side of one's bed.
• bedtime1 senseThe time or hour at which one retires to bed in order to sleep.
• bee7 sensesA flying insect, of the clade Anthophila within the hymenopteran superfamily Apoidea, known for its organised societies (though only a minority have…
• Bee3 sensessomeone connected with Barnet Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.
• beef20 sensesThe meat from cattle or other bovines; especially, that from adults.
• been2 sensesremote past form of be.
• beep11 sensesThe sound produced by the horn of a car, or any similar sound.
• beeping1 senseAn instance of beeping; a sound that beeps.
• beer8 sensesAn alcoholic drink fermented from starch material, commonly barley malt; often with hops or some other substance (like gruit) to impart a bitter…
• Beer2 sensesA village in East Devon district, Devon, England.
• Beethoven1 senseA surname from German [in turn from Dutch], usually applying to Ludwig van Beethoven.
• beetle9 sensesAny of numerous species of insect in the order Coleoptera characterized by a pair of hard, shell-like front wings which cover and protect a pair of…
• Beetle1 senseA small car, the Volkswagen Beetle (original version made 1938–2003, similar models made 1997–2010 and since 2011).
• Beets1 senseA surname from Dutch.
• before15 sensesEarlier than (in time).
• beforehand3 sensesAt an earlier or preceding time.
• beg9 sensesTo request the help of someone, often in the form of money.
• Beg1 senseA surname from Hindi.
• beggar7 sensesA person who begs.
• begging2 sensesThe act of one who begs.
• begin3 sensesTo start, to initiate or take the first step into something.
• beginner3 sensesSomeone who is just starting at something, or has only recently started.
• beginning5 sensesThe act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act,…
• begun1 senseHaving began.
• Begun1 senseA surname.
• behalf2 sensesThe interest, benefit, or wellbeing of someone or something.
• behave4 sensesTo conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform.
• behaved1 senseExhibiting the specified kind of behaviour.
• behaving1 senseBehaviour.
• behavior6 sensesHuman conduct relative to social norms.
• behavioral1 senseOf or relating to behavior.
• behaviour1 senseBritish standard spelling of behavior.
• beheaded1 senseHaving had one's head cut off.
• behind25 sensesAt or to the back or far side of.
• behold5 sensesTo look at or see (someone or something), especially appreciatively; to descry, to look upon.
• beige4 sensesA colour, variously defined from a pale brown, to a yellow greyish off-white.
• Beijing2 sensesA direct-administered municipality, the capital city of China.
• bein5 sensesWealthy; well-to-do.
• being6 sensesA living creature.
• Beirut3 sensesThe capital and largest city of Lebanon.
• beka1 sensean ancient Biblical unit of weight, half a shekel
• bel1 senseA measure of relative power, defined as log₁₀(P ₁/P ₂), where P₁ and P₂ are the measured and reference power respectively.
• Bel6 sensesA Babylonian deity, corresponding to the Semitic Baal.
• Belfast17 sensesThe capital and largest city of Northern Ireland.
• Belgian3 sensesA person from Belgium or of Belgian descent.
• Belgium6 sensesA country in Western Europe that has borders with the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France. Official name: Kingdom of Belgium. Capital and…
• Belgrade10 sensesThe capital city of Serbia; the former capital of Yugoslavia; the former capital of Serbia and Montenegro.
• belief6 sensesMental acceptance of a claim as true.
• believable1 senseCapable of being believed; credible.
• believe9 sensesTo accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing).
• believer1 senseA person who believes; especially regarding religion.
• Believers1 senseThe 23rd sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.
• believing2 sensesThe act or process of having faith, trust, or confidence in.