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English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

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“B” Words

buttonhole
noun
A small slit in a garment through which a button is fastened.
buttonhook
noun
A small hook used to pull a button on a glove or shoe through its hole.
buttons
noun
Informal British slang for a police officer.
buttress
noun
A support made of brick, concrete or stone, set against a structure to hold it up.
butty
noun
(informal) A soft bread roll with a filling such as chips, bacon, sausage or egg.
butyraceous
adj
Relating to butter, or having the taste or texture of butter.
buxom
adj
Describes a woman with a curvy figure and a large chest.
Buxton
name
An English surname and the name of a spa town in Derbyshire, England.
buy
verb
To get something by paying money for it.
buycott
noun
The act of deliberately buying from a company or country to show support for it, often in answer to a boycott.
buyer
noun
A person who buys something.
buying
noun
The act of purchasing something.
buyout
noun
The purchase of a controlling share of a company.
Buys
name
A Dutch surname.
buzgut
noun
(informal) Someone who eats or drinks a large amount.
buzz
noun
A continuous humming sound, like that of an insect or low conversation.
buzzard
noun
A broad-winged bird of prey in the hawk family.
buzzed
adj
Mildly drunk or high.
buzzer
noun
An electronic device that makes a buzzing sound as a signal or alarm.
buzzing
adj
Full of lively activity or excitement.
buzzkill
noun
Someone or something that ruins the mood of an enjoyable moment.
buzzy
adj
Generating a lot of excited public attention.
bwana
noun
A term meaning "boss" or "important man," used especially in East Africa.
by
prep
Near or next to something.
by the way
adverb
Used to introduce a remark that is not part of the main subject, or to add a piece of information as an aside.
bydweller
noun
(archaic) Someone who lives close by; a neighbour.
bye
intj
An informal way of saying goodbye.
Bye, Felicia
interjection
A dismissive farewell used to brush off someone considered irrelevant or not worth the attention, roughly meaning 'goodbye, and I don't care'.
Byers
name
A surname, and the name of several small places in the United States.
bygone
adj
Belonging to a time long past.
bygones
noun
Past disagreements or grievances, especially in the phrase "let bygones be bygones."
bylaw
noun
A traditional rule that applies only within one town or district.
byline
noun
The line at the top of a news article giving the author's name.
byname
noun
Another name used alongside a person's main name.
bypass
noun
A road built to route traffic around a town or busy area.
byplay
noun
Small actions on stage that happen alongside the main scene, rather than being part of it.
Byrd
name
An English surname, notably borne by polar explorer Richard Byrd.
byre
noun
A farm building used mainly for housing cows.
byrlady
intj
(archaic) A word once used to show surprise or anger.
Byrne
name
An Irish surname, from a name meaning "descendant of Bran (raven)."
Byrnes
name
An Irish surname, related to Byrne.
Byron
name
An English surname and male given name, famously borne by the Romantic poet Lord Byron.
bystander
noun
A person who is present at an event but does not take part in it.
byte
noun
A unit of computer storage equal to eight bits, able to represent 256 different values.
Byun
name
A Korean surname.
byword
noun
A well-known saying or phrase that people repeat often.
byzant
noun
An alternative letter-case form of byzant.
Byzantine
adj
Relating to the Byzantine Empire or its art and architecture.
Byzantium
name
The ancient city that became Constantinople and is now Istanbul.