English dictionary — definitions & meanings

besmear

verb

To smear over, to smear all over, to daub.

besmirch

verb

To make dirty.

besom

noun

A broom made from a bundle of twigs tied onto a shaft.

besoothe

verb

To soothe about or all over; comfort.

besotted

adj

Completely infatuated with someone, often foolishly so.

besottedness

noun

The state or quality of being besotted, infatuation, intellectual or moral blindness.

bespatter

verb

To spatter or cover with something; sprinkle with anything liquid, or with any wet or adhesive substance.

bespeak

verb

To speak about; tell of; relate; discuss.

bespell

verb

To cast a spell upon; to enchant, bewitch.

bespelled

adj

Endued with magical power; enchanted; charmed.

bespoke

adj

Made specifically to a customer's own requirements, especially clothing.

Bess

name

A feminine given name, a diminutive of Elizabeth.

Bessie

name

A feminine given name, a diminutive of Elizabeth also used as a formal name in its own right.

bessy

name

A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth; today more often spelled Bessie.

best

adj

Of the highest quality, or most suitable; superlative of "good."

best friend

noun

The one person you are closest to outside your family, whom you trust most, tell things you tell nobody else, and choose to spend the most time with.

bestand

verb

To stand by or near; stand around.

bestead

verb

To help, assist.

bestest

adjective

Informal, playful intensifier meaning "the very best," used for emphasis rather than correct grammar.

bestial

adj

Savage, cruel, or animal-like in a shocking or brutal way.

bestiality

noun

Sexual activity between a human and an animal.

bestie

noun

A very close, best friend.

bestill

verb

To make quiet or still; calm; pacify.

bestir

verb

To put into brisk or vigorous action; to move with life and vigor.

bestow

verb

To give something formally or ceremonially, often as an honour.

bestride

verb

To be astride something, to stand over or sit on with legs on either side, especially to sit on a horse.

bestseller

noun

A book or other product that sells in very large numbers.

besully

verb

To make sullied or soiled; defile.

bet

noun

An agreement to risk money or something else on the outcome of an uncertain event.

beta

noun

The second letter of the Greek alphabet.

betadine

noun

A brand-name antiseptic solution containing iodine, used to clean wounds and skin before surgery.

betalk

verb

To talk about; discuss; tell; count; give an account (of).

Betcha

name

A feminine given name.

betel

noun

The leaf of a tropical vine chewed together with areca nut in parts of Asia.

betell

verb

To speak or tell about; declare; narrate; describe.

beth

noun

The second letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Bethany

noun

A village near Jerusalem mentioned in the New Testament as the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.

bethel

noun

A place of worship, especially a small chapel, often one used by sailors.

Bethesda

name

A pool in Jerusalem mentioned in the New Testament, associated with a healing miracle.

bethink

verb

To think about, to recollect.

Bethlehem

name

A city in the West Bank traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Jesus.

betide

verb

To happen to someone or something; to befall, especially in warnings or predictions.

betimber

verb

To furnish with timber; timber.

betimes

adv

In good season or time; early, especially in the morning; seasonably.

Beto

name

A masculine given name of Spanish origin, often a short form of Alberto or Roberto.

betoken

verb

To signify by some visible object; show by signs or tokens.

betone

verb

To endow with a tone; give a special tone to; place stress upon; accentuate; emphasise.

betrap

verb

To catch in a trap; entrap; ensnare; enclose.

betray

verb

To be disloyal to someone who trusts you, especially by helping their enemies or breaking a promise.

betrayal

noun

An act of breaking someone's trust or loyalty.

betrayed

adj

Feeling hurt after someone has broken your trust.

betrayee

noun

One who has been betrayed.

betrayer

noun

A person who betrays someone, or who gives away secrets to those who shouldn't have them; an informer.

betraying

verb

Present participle of betray — breaking someone's trust, giving away a secret, or acting disloyally.

betrim

verb

To trim (“decorate”); to adorn, deck, or embellish.

betroth

verb

Of a man: to promise to take (a woman) as a future spouse; to plight one's troth to.

betrothal

noun

A formal agreement or promise between two people to marry in the future; an engagement.

betrothed

adj

Formally promised in marriage; engaged.

betrothment

noun

The act of betrothing, or the state of being betrothed.

Bets

name

A pet form of the name Elizabeth.

Betsey

name

A pet form of the female name Elizabeth.

Betsy

name

A pet form of the female name Elizabeth.

Bette

name

A variant spelling of Betty, itself a pet form of Elizabeth.

better

adj

Of higher quality, more suitable, or more desirable than something else being compared.

betterhood

noun

The state or condition of being better; superiority.

betterment

noun

An overall improvement in condition or quality.

betterness

noun

The state or quality of being better; superiority.

Bettie

name

A pet form of the female name Elizabeth.

Bettina

name

A female given name of German origin.

betting

noun

The activity of placing bets or wagers on an outcome.

bettor

noun

A person who makes a bet, such as a wager on the outcome of a game of chance or a sporting event.

Betts

name

A surname.

betty

noun

A short metal bar used to force open a lock or door; a burglar's jimmy.

between

prep

In the space, time, or range that separates two things.

betwixt

prep

An old-fashioned word for "between."

Beulah

name

A female given name of Hebrew origin.

Bev

name

A pet form of the names Beverly or Beverley.

Bevan

name

A surname of Welsh origin, also used as a male given name.

beverage

noun

Any drink prepared for consumption, such as tea, coffee, juice, or a soft drink.

beveridge

name

A surname from Middle English.

Beverley

name

A market town in East Yorkshire, England.

Beverly

name

A unisex given name, popular for girls in the US from the 1930s to 1950s, and also used as a surname.

bevy

noun

A group of birds, especially quail, gathered together.

bewail

verb

To wail over; to feel or express deep sorrow for.

beward

verb

To guard about or completely; protect.

beware

verb

To be cautious or watchful, often about a specific danger.

bewatered

adj

Watered about or all over; wet; hydrated.

bewed

verb

To pledge oneself to; betroth; wed; marry.

beweep

verb

To weep over; weep for; weep about; deplore; lament.

bewilder

verb

To confuse, disorientate, or puzzle someone, especially with many different choices.

bewildered

adj

Confused, puzzled, or unable to think clearly, often because of too much information or an unexpected situation.

bewildering

adj

So confusing or complicated that it's hard to make sense of, often because of too many options.

bewilderment

noun

The state of being bewildered.

bewitch

verb

To cast a spell upon.

bewitched

adj

Placed under a magic spell.

bewitcher

noun

One who bewitches; an enchanter.

bewitchery

noun

The power of bewitching or fascinating; charm; witchcraft.

bewitching

adj

So charming or attractive that it seems almost magical.

bewitchment

noun

The characteristic of being bewitched.

bewray

verb

To accuse; malign; speak evil of.

bewreck

verb

To wreck completely; ruin; destroy.

Bex

name

A pet form of the female name Rebecca.

bey

noun

A governor or high-ranking official in parts of the former Ottoman Empire.

beyond

prep

Further away than, or on the far side of, a place or point.

beyrout

name

Dated spelling of Beirut.

bezant

noun

A coin made of gold or silver, minted at Byzantium and used in currency throughout mediaeval Europe.

bezique

noun

A trick-taking card game for two players.

bezoar

noun

A mass, usually of hair or undigested vegetable matter, found in a human or animal's intestines, similar to a hairball.

BFF

noun

A person's closest and most trusted friend, especially one they expect to stay close to indefinitely.

Bhabhi

name

A term used in South Asian families for a sister-in-law, especially an elder brother's wife.

bhagat

noun

A devout or holy figure in Sikh or Hindu tradition.

bhai

noun

A friendly, informal term for a brother.

bhang

noun

A traditional South Asian preparation made from the leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant, consumed in food or drink.

bhangra

noun

An energetic style of music and dance from the Punjab region, traditionally performed at harvest celebrations.

Bharat

name

The Hindi and constitutional name for India.

Bhaskar

name

A surname of Hindi origin.

Bhavani

name

An epithet of a Hindu goddess associated with Durga and Parvati.

bhindi

noun

Synonym of okra: the plant or its edible capsules.

Bhola

name

A surname found in South Asia.

Bhopal

noun

Used generically to refer to a catastrophic industrial accident, after the 1984 gas leak disaster in Bhopal, India, that killed thousands.

bhoy

noun

Eye dialect spelling of boy.

Bhutan

name

A small kingdom in South Asia, in the eastern Himalayas, with Thimphu as its capital.

bi

noun

Short for "bisexual"; a person attracted to more than one gender.

Bianca

name

A feminine given name of Italian origin, meaning "white," equivalent to the English name Blanche.

Bianchi

name

An Italian surname, from the Italian word for "white."

biannual

adjective

Happening twice a year.

Biarritz

name

A coastal resort city in southwestern France, on the Bay of Biscay.

bias

noun

An unfair leaning toward or against something, often without a person even realizing it.

biased

adj

Unfairly favoring one side; showing prejudice.

biathlon

noun

Racing combining cross-country skiing and rifle shooting

bib

noun

A piece of cloth or plastic tied under a baby's chin to catch food and drink.

bibacious

adj

Addicted to drinking alcohol; alcoholic

bibber

noun

One given to drinking alcoholic beverages too freely; a tippler.

bibbey

name

A surname originating as a matronymic.

bibble

verb

To eat and/or drink noisily.

bibbs

noun

Pieces of timber bolted to certain parts of a mast to support the trestletrees.

bibby

name

A surname originating as a matronymic.

bibi

noun

In South Asian English, an affectionate term for a grandmother.

bibiji

noun

grandmother (as a respectful term of address)

Bible

name

The central sacred text of Judaism and Christianity, made up of the Old and New Testaments (or the Old Testament alone, for Jewish tradition).

biblic

adj

Alternative letter-case form of biblic.

biblical

adj

Relating to, or found in, the Bible.

bibliography

noun

A list of the books, articles and other sources used or consulted for a piece of writing, usually placed at the end.

bibliophile

noun

One who loves books.

bibulous

adj

Very absorbent.

Bic

noun

Informal name for a disposable ballpoint pen, from the brand.

bicarb

noun

Informal short form of sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda.

bice

noun

A pale blue pigment, prepared from the native blue carbonate of copper, or from smalt.

bicentenary

noun

Synonym of bicentennial (“a 200th anniversary”).

bicentennial

adj

Relating to the 200th anniversary of an event or happening.