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.

• branch19 sensesThe woody part of a tree arising from the trunk and usually dividing.
• Branch8 sensesA surname from Old French.
• brand19 sensesA mark or scar made by burning with a hot iron, especially to mark cattle or to classify the contents of a cask.
• Brand5 sensesA surname.
• branded2 sensesMarked by branding
• Brandi1 senseA female given name from English, variant of Brandy.
• Brandon29 sensesAn English habitational surname from Old English from any of several places of that name.
• Brandt1 senseA surname from German.
• brandy4 sensesAn alcoholic liquor distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice.
• Brandy1 senseA female given name from English derived from brandy, an alcoholic liquor. Mostly seen in American usage during the 1970s and 1980s.
• brass18 sensesA metallic alloy of copper and zinc used in many industrial and plumbing applications. A memorial or sepulchral tablet usually made of brass or…
• brat13 sensesA human child.
• Braun1 senseA surname from German.
• brave9 sensesStrong in the face of fear; courageous.
• Brave2 sensesA surname.
• bravely1 senseIn a brave manner.
• bravery3 sensesBeing brave, courageousness.
• bravest1 senseFirefighters.
• bravo4 sensesA hired soldier; an assassin; a desperado.
• Bravo1 senseA surname from Spanish.
• brawl7 sensesA disorderly argument or fight, usually with a large number of people involved.
• brazil4 sensesThe hard, brown wood of a certain species of the tribe Caesalpinieae; originally sappan (Biancaea sappan), of the East Indies, and later brazilwood,…
• Brazil2 sensesA large Portuguese-speaking country in South America. Official name: Federative Republic of Brazil. Capital: Brasília.
• Brazilian3 sensesA person from Brazil or of Brazilian descent.
• breach15 sensesA gap or opening made by breaking or battering, as in a wall, fortification or levee / embankment; the space between the parts of a solid body rent…
• BREACH1 senseA particular security exploit against HTTPS when using HTTP compression, based on the CRIME exploit.
• bread9 sensesA foodstuff made by baking dough made from cereals.
• break88 sensesTo separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.
• break-in2 sensesThe act of entering a place with the intent to steal or commit some other offense; an instance of breaking and entering.
• breakdown17 sensesA failure, particularly one which is mechanical in nature.
• breaker8 sensesSomething that breaks (something else).
• breakfast6 sensesThe first meal of the day, usually eaten in the morning.
• breaking4 sensesThe act by which something is broken.
• breakthrough7 sensesCharacterized by major progress or overcoming some obstacle.
• breakup4 sensesThe act of breaking up; disintegration or division.
• breast15 sensesEither of the two organs on the front of a female human's chest, which contain the mammary glands; also the analogous organs in males.
• breath8 sensesThe act or process of breathing.
• breathe17 sensesTo draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.
• breathed2 sensesHaving a specified kind of breath.
• Breathed1 senseA surname.
• breather6 sensesSomething or someone that breathes.
• breathing5 sensesA diacritical mark indicating aspiration or lack thereof.
• breathless5 sensesHaving difficulty breathing; gasping.
• breathtaking2 sensesstunningly beautiful; amazing
• bree4 sensesThe brow; forehead.
• Bree2 sensesA diminutive of the female given names Breanna or Breyon.
• breed16 sensesTo produce offspring sexually; to bear young.
• Breed2 sensesA surname.
• breeding8 sensesPropagation of offspring through sexual reproduction.
• Breeding1 senseA surname.
• breeze12 sensesA light, gentle wind.
• Breeze1 senseA surname.
• bren1 senseTo burn (to set ablaze).
• Bren3 sensesA surname from Czech.
• Brenda3 sensesA female given name.
• Brendan1 senseA male given name from Irish.
• Brennan3 sensesA surname from Irish.
• Brenner3 sensesA surname.
• Brent11 sensesA habitational surname from Old English.
• Bret1 senseA male given name transferred from the surname, variant of Brett, ultimately meaning "a Breton".
• brethren3 senseskinsmen
• Brethren2 sensesMembers of any congregation in the Anabaptist tradition of the Schwarzenau Brethren, practicing credobaptism and committed to nonresistance and…
• brett2 sensesA fault in wine caused by Brettanomyces yeast.
• Brett4 sensesA surname transferred from the nickname meaning "Breton, an inhabitant of Brittany".
• brew13 sensesTo make tea or coffee by mixing tea leaves or coffee beans with hot water.
• Brew1 senseA surname.
• brewery2 sensesA building where beer is produced.
• brewing4 sensesThe production of alcoholic beverages, such as beer, by fermentation; the process of being brewed.
• brewster3 sensesA unit of stress optical coefficient which is equal to 10⁻¹² m²/N or 10⁻¹² Pa⁻¹. Symbol: B.
• Brewster10 sensesA surname originating as an occupation. An English and Scottish occupational surname for a brewer of ale.
• Bri2 sensesA diminutive of the female given name Brianna, or Bridget, or Britney, or, rarely, Britannia or Sabrina.
• brian1 senseTo keep fire at the mouth of (as of an oven), to give light or to preserve heat.
• Brian2 sensesA male given name from Irish.
• Brianna1 senseA female given name, variant of Briana.
• bribe5 sensesSomething (usually money) given in exchange for influence or as an inducement to breaking the law.
• bribery2 sensesThe act of giving an illegal payment (a bribe) to a person in an official position as a means of influencing their decisions.
• brick24 sensesA hardened rectangular block of mud, clay etc., used for building.
• Brick2 sensesA surname.
• bridal2 sensesOf or pertaining to a bride, or to wedding; nuptial.
• bride4 sensesA woman in the context of her own wedding; one who is going to marry or has just been married.
• Bride2 sensesA surname.
• bridegroom1 senseA man in the context of his own wedding; one who is going to marry or has just been married.
• bridesmaid3 sensesA woman who attends a bride during her wedding ceremony, as part of the main wedding party.
• bridge39 sensesA construction or natural feature that spans a divide. A construction spanning a waterway, ravine, or valley from a height, allowing for the passage…
• Bridge5 sensesA surname. An occupational surname for a bridgekeeper
• Bridges7 sensesA surname. A habitational surname for someone living near a bridge or at a location called Bridge or Bridges
• Bridget2 sensesA female given name from Irish.
• brief22 sensesOf short duration; happening quickly.
• briefcase2 sensesA case used for carrying documents, especially for business.
• briefed6 sensesWearing briefs
• briefing2 sensesA concise summary of a current situation
• briefly3 sensesIn a brief manner, summarily.
• briefs4 sensesA very short, close-fitting type of underpants.
• brig6 sensesA two-masted vessel, square-rigged on both foremast and mainmast.
• Brig2 sensesA district in Valais canton, Switzerland.
• brigade6 sensesA group of people organized for a common purpose.
• brigadier3 sensesAn army rank; an officer commanding a brigade.
• Briggs7 sensesA topographic surname from Middle English.
• bright37 sensesEmitting much light; visually dazzling; luminous, lucent, radiant.
• Bright7 sensesA surname.
• brighten5 sensesTo make bright or brighter in color.
• brightly1 senseIn a bright manner.
• Brighton39 sensesA placename: A coastal city in East Sussex, England.
• brilliance3 sensesThe quality of being exceptionally effulgent (giving off light).
• brilliant11 sensesShining brightly.
• brilliantly1 senseIn a brilliant manner; with brilliance.
• bring9 sensesTo transport toward somebody/somewhere.
• Bring1 senseA surname from German or Swedish.
• bringing1 senseThe act by which something is brought.
• brink2 sensesThe edge, margin, or border of a steep place, as of a precipice; a bank or edge.
• Brink1 senseA surname.
• Briscoe5 sensesA hamlet in Cumbria, England (OS grid ref NY022114).
• bristol1 senseA woman's breast
• Bristol37 sensesA city, ceremonial county, and unitary authority in southwest England bordering Gloucestershire, Somerset and The River Severn.
• Britain9 sensesThe United Kingdom, a kingdom and country in Northern Europe including the island of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland on the northeastern…
• British13 sensesThe residents or inhabitants of Great Britain.
• Britney2 sensesA female given name transferred from the place name, variant of Brittany.
• Brits1 senseThe Brit Awards, an annual award ceremony for British popular musicians.
• Britt4 sensesA surname.
• Brittany6 sensesA cultural region, historical province, and peninsula in northwest France.
• brittle10 sensesInflexible; liable to break, snap, or shatter easily under stress, pressure, or impact.
• Brittle1 senseA surname.
• bro5 sensesBrother (a male sibling).
• Bro1 senseA surname.
• broad18 sensesWide in extent or scope.
• Broad1 senseA surname.
• broadcast13 sensesCast or scattered widely in all directions; cast abroad.
• broadcasting4 sensesSending in all directions.
• Broads1 senseA network of mostly navigable rivers and lakes in the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk.
• broadway2 sensesAn esplanade.
• Broadway22 sensesA street name, typically for a wide road: a specific broad way.
• broccoli2 sensesA plant, Brassica oleracea var. italica, of the cabbage family, Brassicaceae; especially, the tree-shaped flower and stalk that are eaten as a…
• Broccoli1 senseA surname from Italian.
• brochure1 senseA booklet of printed informational matter, like a pamphlet, often for promotional purposes.
• brock4 sensesA male badger.
• Brock12 sensesAn English and Scottish surname from Middle English, a variant of Brook, or originally a nickname for someone thought to resemble a badger (Middle…
• brodie1 senseA close male friend, or a man deserving of respect; a bro.
• Brodie5 sensesA surname from Scottish Gaelic.
• brody1 senseIntentionally spinning in circles and sliding in an automobile.
• Brody3 sensesA surname from Scottish Gaelic, a variant of Brodie.
• broke9 sensesFinancially ruined, bankrupt.
• Broke1 senseA locality in the Singleton council area, eastern New South Wales, Australia.
• broken17 sensesFragmented; in separate pieces.
• Broken1 senseTorres Strait Creole.
• broker6 sensesA mediator between a buyer and seller.
• Broker1 senseA surname.
• Bronson7 sensesA surname transferred from the given name.
• Bronx3 sensesA borough in New York City, New York, United States.
• bronze13 sensesA naturally occurring or man-made alloy of copper, usually in combination with tin, but also with one or more other metals.
• Bronze2 sensesA surname.
• brooch3 sensesA piece of ornamental jewellery having a pin allowing it to be fixed to garments worn on the upper body.
• brood13 sensesThe young of certain animals, especially a group of young birds or fowl hatched at one time by the same mother.
• brooding3 sensesBroody; incubating eggs by sitting on them.
• brook5 sensesTo bear; endure; support; put up with; tolerate.
• Brook14 sensesA habitational surname from Middle English for someone living by a brook.
• Brooke3 sensesA surname from Middle English.
• Brooklyn18 sensesA number of places in the United States: A borough in New York City, New York. It is located on the western end of Long Island.
• Brooks18 sensesA topographic surname from Middle English, variant of Brook.
• broom9 sensesA domestic utensil with fibers bound together at the end of a long handle, used for sweeping.
• Broom8 sensesA number of places in England: A village in Southill parish, Central Bedfordshire district, Bedfordshire (OS grid ref TL1743).
• broth2 sensesWater in which food (meat, vegetable, etc.) has been boiled.
• brothel2 sensesA house of prostitution.
• brother10 sensesSon of the same parents as another person.
• Brother3 sensesTitle of respect for an adult male member of a religious or fraternal order.
• brother-in-law4 sensesA male relative of one's generation, separated by one degree of marriage: The brother of one's spouse.
• brotherhood4 sensesThe state of being brothers or a brother (also figuratively).
• brow10 sensesThe bony ridge over the eyes, upon which the eyebrows are located.
• Brow1 senseA surname.
• brown23 sensesA colour like that of chocolate or coffee.
• Brown10 sensesA surname.
• brownie10 sensesA small square piece of rich cake, usually made with chocolate.
• Brownie3 sensesA junior Girl Guide.
• browning4 sensesThe act or operation of giving a brown colour, as to gun barrels, cooked food, etc.
• Browning14 sensesA surname from Old English.
• bruce1 senseA man.
• Bruce11 sensesA Scottish surname, most notably of Robert the Bruce.
• bruise9 sensesTo strike (a person), originally with something flat or heavy, but now specifically in such a way as to discolour the skin without breaking it; to…
• bruised1 senseSynonym of debruised.
• bruising4 sensesThat bruises.
• brunch2 sensesA meal eaten later in the day than breakfast and earlier than lunch, often in a leisurely, festive, and/or social way, and often consisting of…
• brunette6 sensesOf a brown color or tone.
• Brunette1 senseA surname from French.
• Bruno7 sensesA male given name from the Germanic languages.
• brush21 sensesAn implement consisting of multiple more or less flexible bristles or other filaments attached to a handle, used for any of various purposes…
• Brush1 senseA surname.
• brushed7 sensesRoughened by rubbing with an abrasive brushes, especially as a finish.
• brushing4 sensesAn instance of brushing.
• Brussels9 sensesThe capital city of Belgium. Official name: City of Brussels.
• brutal6 sensesSavagely violent, vicious, ruthless, or cruel, often in an unintelligent manner.
• brutality3 sensesThe state of being brutal.
• brutally3 sensesIn a brutal manner; viciously, barbarically.
• brute11 sensesWithout reason or intelligence (of animals).
• Brutus4 sensesa Roman cognomen.
• bruv1 senseBrother, mate, friend.
• Bryan4 sensesA male given name from Irish, a less common alternative spelling of Brian.
• Bryant17 sensesA surname from Irish [in turn originating as a patronymic] derived from Brian.
• Bryce2 sensesA male given name from the Celtic languages, variant of Brice.
• bub6 sensesA woman's breast.
• Bub1 senseA surname from German.
• bubba2 sensesBrother; used as term of familiar address.