awe 101 aye

played or won at an opponent’s ground. ~interj. 18. an ax+ile (‘zkstl, -satl) adj. Botany. of, relating to, or attached to
expression of dismissal. [Old English on wea on way] the axis: axile placentation.
awe (9:) n. 1. overwhelming wonder, admiration, respect, or axtiltla (ak'sila) n., pl. +lae (-li:). 1. the technical name for the
dread. 2. Archaic. power to inspire fear or reverence. ~vb. 3. armpit. 2. the area on the undersurface of a bird’s wing
(tr.) to inspire with reverence or dread. [C13: from Old Norse corresponding to the armpit. [C17: from Latin: armpit]
agi; related to Gothic agis fear, Greek akhesthai to be grieved] ax+il-lar-y (ak'stler1) adj. 1. of, relating to, or near the
—'awerless or U.S. 'aw+less adj. armpit. 2, Botany. growing in or related to the axil: an axillary
a-weath+er (a'weda) adv., adj. (postpositive) Nautical. towards bud. ~n., pl. slar-ies. 3. Also called: ax-il+lar (zk'stlo, ‘acksilo).
the weather: with the helm aweather. Compare alee. (usually pl.) one of the feathers growing from the axilla of a
a-weigh (a'wer) adj. (postpositive) Nautical. (of an anchor) no bird’s wing.
longer hooked into the bottom; hanging by its rode. ax-i-ol+o-gy (,ekst'pled31) n. Philosophy. 1. the theory of
awe-in-spir-ing adj. causing or worthy of admiration or values. 2. the study of moral or aesthetic value judgments.
respect; amazing or magnificent. [C20: from Greek axios worthy] —ax-i-o-log-i-eal (,eksia-
awe+some ('o:sam) adj. inspiring or displaying awe. —'awe+ ‘Ind3rk*l) adj. —,ax-i-o-'log-i-cal+ly adv. —,ax-is'ol-o+gist n.
some-+ly adv. —'awe-some-ness n. ax-i-om (‘zksiom) n. 1. a generally accepted proposition or
awe-strick+en or awe-struck adj. overcome or filled with principle, sanctioned by experience; maxim. 2. a universally
awe. established principle or law that is not a necessary truth: the
aw-ful (‘s:ful) adj. 1. nasty or ugly. 2. Archaic. inspiring axioms of politics. 3. Logic, maths. a self-consistent self-
reverence or dread. 3. Archaic. overcome with awe; reveren- evident statement that is a universally accepted truth resting
tial. ~adv. 4. Not standard. (intensifier): an awful cold day. on intuition rather than experience and forming the basis of
[C13: see AWE, -FUL] —'aw-+ful+ness n. reasoning. [C15: from Latin axidma a principle, from Greek,
aw-fultly (‘o:falz, ‘o:flt) adv. 1. in an unpleasant, bad, or from axioun to consider worthy, from axios worthy]
reprehensible manner. 2. Informal. (intensifier): I’m awfully ax-ji-o+mat+ic (,eksie'metrk) or ax-i-o+mat-i-cal adj. 1.
keen to come. 3. Archaic. so as to express or inspire awe. relating to or resembling an axiom; self-evident. 2. containing
a-wheel (a'wi:1) adv. on wheels. maxims; aphoristic. —,ax-i-o+'mat-iscal-ly adv.
a-while (9'warl) adv. for a brief period. ax-is! (‘wksrs) n., pl. ax-es ('wksi:z). 1. a real or imaginary line
awk+ward ('s:kwod) adj. 1. lacking dexterity, proficiency, or about which a body, such as an aircraft, can rotate or about
skill; clumsy; inept: the new recruits were awkward in their which an object, form, composition, or geometrical construc-
exercises. 2. ungainly or inelegant in movements or posture. 3. tion is symmetrical. 2. one of two or three reference lines used
unwieldy; difficult to use: an awkward implement. 4. embar- in coordinate geometry to locate a point in a plane or in
rassing: an awkward moment. 5. embarrassed: he felt awkward space. 3. Anatomy. the second cervical vertebra. Compare
about leaving. 6. difficult to deal with; requiring tact: an atlas (sense 3). 4. Botany. the main central part of a plant,
awkward situation; an awkward customer. 7. dangerous or typically consisting of the stem and root, from which second-
difficult: an awkward ascent of the ridge. 8. Obsolete. perverse. ary branches and other parts develop. 5. an alliance between a
[Cl4: awk, from Old Norse 6fugr turned the wrong way round number of states to coordinate their foreign policy. 6. Also
+-WARD] —'awk+ward+ly adv. —'awk+ward:ness n. called: principal axis. Optics. the line of symmetry of an optical
awl (9:1) n. a pointed hand tool with a fluted blade used for system, such as the line passing through the centre of a lens. 7.
piercing wood, leather, etc. See also bradawl. [Old English Geology. an imaginary line along the crest of an anticline or the
#1; related to Old Norse alr, Old High German 4la, Dutch aal, trough of a syncline. 8. Crystallog. one of three lines passing
Sanskrit ara] through the centre of a crystal and used to characterize its
awl-+wort ('s:1,w3:t) n. a small stemless aquatic plant, Subularia symmetry. [C14: from Latin: axletree, earth’s axis; rélated to
aquatica, of the N hemisphere, having slender sharp-pointed Greek axon axis]
leaves and minute submerged white flowers: family Cruciferae ax-is? (‘zksis) n., pl. ax+is-es. any of several S Asian deer of the
(crucifers). genus Axis, esp. A. axis. They typically have a reddish-brown
awn (9:n) n. any of the bristles growing from the flowering white-spotted coat and slender antlers. [C18: from Latin:
parts of certain grasses and cereals. [Old English agen ear of Indian wild animal, of uncertain identity]
grain; related to Old Norse 6gn chaff, Gothic ahana, Old High Ax-is (‘eksts) n. a. the. the alliance of Nazi Germany, Fascist
German agana, Greek ak6n javelin] —awned adj. —'awn+ Italy, and Japan, established in 1936 and lasting until their
less adj. defeat in World War II. b. (as modifier): the Axis powers.
awning (‘o:n1n) n. a roof of canvas or other material supported ax:le (‘zksoal) n. a bar or shaft on which a wheel, pair of wheels,
by a frame to provide protection from the weather, esp. one or other rotating member revolves. [C17: from Old Norse
placed over a doorway or part of a deck of a ship. [C17: of 6xull; related to German Achse; see AXIS']
uncertain origin] ax-le+tree (‘aksol,tri:) m. a bar fixed across the underpart of a
a-woke (9'wouk) vb. a past tense or (now rare or dialectal) past wagon or carriage that has rounded ends on which the wheels
participle of awake. revolve.
A.W.O.L, or AWOL (when acronym 'erwol) adj. Military. Ax+min+ster car+pet (‘e2ks,mimsta) n. a type of patterned
absent without leave; absent from one’s post or duty without carpet with a cut pile. Often shortened to Axminster. [after
official permission but without intending to desert. Axminster, in Devon, where such carpets are made]
awry (a'rat) adv., adj. (postpositive) 1. with a slant or twist to ax-O+lotl ('zksa,Ipt*l) n. 1. any of several aquatic salamanders
one side; askew. 2. away from the appropriate or right course; of the North American genus Ambystoma, esp. A. mexicanum
amiss. [C14 on wry; see a-', wRY] (Mexican axolotl), in which the larval form (including external
A.W.U. abbrev. for Australian Workers’ Union. gills) is retained throughout life under natural conditions (see
ax. abbrev. for axiom. neoteny): family Ambystomidae. 2. any of various other North
axe or U.S. ax (eks) n., pl. ax-es. 1. a hand tool with one side of American salamanders in which neoteny occurs or is induced.
its head forged and sharpened to a cutting edge, used for felling (C18: from Nahuatl, from at] water + xolot! servant, doll]
trees, splitting timber, etc. See also hatchet. 2. an axe to grind. ax-on ('ekspn) or ax+one (‘xksoun) n. the long threadlike
a. an ulterior motive. b. a grievance. ¢c. a pet subject. 3. the extension of a nerve cell that conducts nerve impulses from the
axe. Informal. a. dismissal, esp. from employment; the sack cell body. Compare dendrite. [C19: via New Latin from Greek:
(esp. in the phrase get the axe). b. Brit. severe cutting down of axis, axle, vertebra] —'ax+onsal adj.
expenditure, esp. the removal of unprofitable sections of a ax+seed (‘zks,si:d) n. another name for crown vetch.
public service. 4. U.S. slang. any musical instrument. ~vb. Ax-um (‘a:ksum) n. a variant spelling of Aksum.
(tr.) 5. to chop or trim with an axe. 6. Informal. to dismiss ay! (er) interj. Archaic, poetic. an expression of misery or
(employees), restrict (expenditure or services), or terminate (a surprise. [C12 ai, from Old Norse ei; related to Old English a
project, etc.). [Old English 2x; related to Old Frisian axa, Old always, Latin aevuman age, Greek aion]
High German acchus, Old Norse 6x, Latin ascia, Greek axiné] ay? or aye (er) adv. Archaic, poetic. ever; always.
axe-break-er n. Austral. an Australian oleaceous tree, ay® (ar) a variant spelling of aye.
Notelaea longifolia, yielding very hard timber. A-ya+cu:cho (Spanish ,aja'kutfo) n. a city in SE Peru: nearby
ax-el (‘eksal) n. Skating. a jump in which the skater takes off is the site of the battle (1824) that won independence for
from the forward outside edge of one skate, makes one and a Peru. Pop.: 26 400 (1970 est.).
half turns in the air, and lands on the backward outside edge of a-yah (‘ara) n. (in the East, Africa, and other parts of the former
the other skate. [C20: named after Axel Paulsen (d. 1938), British Empire) a maidservant, nursemaid, or governess.
Norwegian skater]
[C18: from Hindi aya, from Portuguese aia, from Latin avia
a-xenric (er'zi:ntk) adj. (of a biological culture or culture grandmother]
medium) free from undesirable microorganisms; uncon- a-ya+huas:ca (,ate'wa:ska) n. a Brazilian plant, Banisteriopsis
taminated. [C20: see a-', XENO-, -IC] caapi, that has winged fruits and yields a powerful hallucino-
ax-es! (‘exksi:z) n. the plural of axis!. genic alkaloid sometimes used to treat certain disorders of the
ax-es? (‘zks1z) n. the plural of axe. central nervous system: family Malpighiaceae. [C20: from
ax+i-al (‘aksrol) adj. 1. relating to, forming, or characteristic of Quechua]
an axis. 2. situated in, on, or along an axis. —,ax-i+'al+i-ty Aycliffe (‘erklif) n. a town in Co. Durham: founded as a new
n. —'ax-i+al+ly adv. town in 1947. Pop.: 20 190 (1971).
ax+i-al flow com+pres+sor _n. a device for compressing a gas Ay+din or Ai-din (‘aidin) n. a town in SW Turkey: an ancient
by accelerating it tangentially by means of bladed rotors, to city of Lydia. Pop.: 50551 (1970). Ancient name: Tralles.
increase its kinetic energy, and then diffusing it through static aye or ay (al) sentence substitute. 1. yes: archaic or dialectal
vanes (stators), to increase its pressure. except in voting by voice. 2. aye aye. a. an expression of
ax+i-al skel+e-ton n. the bones that together comprise the compliance, esp, used by seamen. b. Brit. an expression of
skull and the vertebral column. amused surprise, esp. at encountering something that confirms
ax-il (‘zeks1l) n. the angle between the upper surface of a branch one’s suspicions, expectations, etc. ~n. 3. a. a person who
or leaf stalk and the stem from which it grows. [C18: from votes in the affirmative. b. an affirmative vote. ~Compare
Latin axilla armpit] nay. [C16: probably from pronoun /, expressing assent]
 aye-aye 102 azygous
aye-aye (‘al,ar) n. a rare nocturnal arboreal prosimian primate ized by flat bone harpoons and schematically painted pebbles.
of Madagascar, Daubentonia madagascariensis, related to the ~adj. 2. of or relating to this culture.
lemurs: family Daubentoniidae. It has long bony fingers and [C19: named after Mas
rodent-like incisor teeth adapted for feeding on insect larvae d’Azil, France, where artefacts were found]
and bamboo pith. az-i+muth (‘xz1moa0) n. 1. Astronomy, navigation. the angular
[C18: from French, from Malagasay aiay, distance usually measured clockwise from the south point of
probably of imitative origin] the horizon in astronomy or from the north point in navigation
Ayer (co) n. Sir Alfred Jules. born 1910, English positivist to the intersection with the horizon of the vertical circle passing
philosopher, noted particularly for his antimetaphysical work through a celestial body. Compare altitude (sense 3). 2.
Language, Truth, and Logic (1936). Surveying. the horizontal angle of a bearing clockwise from a
Ayers Rock (eaz) n. the world’s largest monolith, in the standard direction, such as north. [C14: from Old French
Northern Territory of Australia. Height: 330 m (1100 ft.). Base azimut, from Arabic as-sumit, plural of as-samt the path, from
circumference: 9 km (5.6 miles). Latin semita path] —az-i+muth-al (zezi'maQal) adj.
A-ye-sha (‘a:i:,fa:) n. a variant spelling of Aisha. —,az-i+
‘muthyal-ly adv.
a-yin or a-in (‘a:jm; Hebrew 'aji:n) n. the 16th letter in the az-i+muth+al pro+jec-tion n. another term for zenithal projec-
Hebrew alphabet (2 ), originally a pharyngeal fricative, that is tion.
now silent and transliterated by a centred period (-). [Hebrew] az+ine (‘erzizn, -zm) n. any organic compound having a six-
Ayles+bur-y (‘erlzbor1, -brr) n. a town in SE central England, membered ring containing at least one nitrogen atom. See also
administrative centre of Buckinghamshire. Pop.: 38 499 (1971). diazine, triazine.
Ay+ma:+ra (aima'ra:) n. 1. (pl. +ras or +ra) a member of a Az-na-vour (French azna'vu:r) n. Charles (farl). original name
South American Indian people of Bolivia and Peru. 2. the Varenagh Aznavourian. born 1924, French singer and film
language of this people, probably related to Quechua. [from actor.
Spanish aimara, of American Indian origin] —,Ay+ma:+ aZ-0 (‘e1zau, 'a-) adj. of, consisting of, or containing the divalent
‘ran adj. group -N:N-: an azo group or radical. See also diazo. [in-
Ay-mé (French e'me) n. Mar-cel (mar'sel). 1902-67, French dependent use of azo-]
writer: noted for his light and witty narratives. aZ-0- or before a vowel az- combining form. indicating the
Ayr (es) n. 1. a port in SW Scotland, in Strathclyde region. presence of an azo group: azobenzene. [from French azote
Pop.: 47 884 (1971). 2. (until 1975) a county of SW Scotland, nitrogen, from Greek azéos lifeless, from A-! + 266 life]
now part of Strathclyde region. az-o+ben+zene (erzau'benzi:n, -ben'zi:n) n. l. a yellow or
Ayrshire (‘ca fro, -[o) n. any one of a hardy breed of brown and orange crystalline solid used mainly in the manufacture of
white dairy cattle. dyes. Formula: CgHsN:NCsHs. 2. any organic compound that
A-yub Khan (ar'ju:b 'ka:n) n. Mo-ham-med. 1907-74, Pakistani is a substituted derivative of azobenzene.
field marshal; president of Pakistan (1958-69). az-o dye _n. any of a class of artificial dyes that contain the azo
A-yur+ve-da (‘a:ju,verde, -,vizda) n. Hinduism. an ancient medi- group. They are usually red, brown, or yellow and are obtained
cal treatise on the art of healing and prolonging life, sometimes from aromatic amines.
regarded as a fifth Veda. [from Sanskrit, from ayur life + veda a-zoric (a'zourk, er-) adj. without life; characteristic of the ages
knowledge] —,A-yur+'ve-dic adj. that have left no evidence of life in the form of organic remains.
A-yut+tha+ya (a:'ju:tojo) n. a city in S Thailand, on the Chao [C19: from Greek azoos lifeless; see AZO-]
Phraya River: capital of the country until 1767; noted for its az+ole (‘erzaul, a'zaul) n. 1. an organic five-membered ring
canals and ruins. Pop.: 501000 (1970). Also: A-yudh+ya compound containing one or more atoms in the ring, the
(a:'ju:djo), A-yu+thi-a (a:'ju:6ra). number usually being specified by a prefix: diazole; triazole. 2.
az. abbrev. forazimuth. a less common name for pyrrole. [from AZO- + -OLE, on the
az-a- or before a vowel az- combining form. denoting the model of diazole]
presence of nitrogen, esp. a nitrogen atom in place of a -CH a-zon+al soil (er'zaun*1) n. soil that has a profile determined
group or an -NH group in place of a -CH2 group: azathioprine. predominantly by factors other than local climate and vegeta-
[C20: from Az(O)- + -a-] tion. Azonal soils include some mountain, alluvial, marine,
a-zal-ea (2'zerlja) n. any ericaceous plant of the group Azalea, glacial, wind-blown, and volcanic soils. Compare intrazonal
formerly a separate genus but now included in the genus soil, zonal soil.
Rhododendron: cultivated for their showy pink or purple A-zores (a'zo:z) pl. n. the. three groups of volcanic islands in
flowers. [C18: via New Latin from Greek, from azaleos dry; the N Atlantic, forming the Portuguese districts of Angra do
from its supposed preference for a dry situation] Heroismo, Horta, and Ponta Delgada: achieved partial
a-Zan (a:'za:n) n. Islam. the call to prayer five times a day, autonomy (1976). Capital: Ponta Delgada (on Sao Miguel).
usually by a muezzin from a minaret. Pop.: 336100 (1970). Area: 2300 sq. km (888 sq. miles).
[from Arabic adhan, Portuguese name: Acéres.
from adhina to proclaim, invite; see MUEZZIN]
A-za-sfla (Spanish a'@ana) n. Ma-nuel (ma'nwel). 1880-1940, A-zo-rin (Spanish aQo'rin) n. pen name of José Martinez Ruiz.
Spanish statesman; president of the Spanish Republic (1936- 1874-1967, Spanish writer: noted for his stories of the Spanish
39) until overthrown by Franco. countryside.
az-a:thi-o+prine (,eza'@aro,prim) n. a synthetic drug that az+ote (‘erzaut, a'zaut) n. an obsolete name for nitrogen, [C18:
suppresses the normal immune responses of the body and is from French, from Greek az6tos ungirded, intended for Greek
administered orally during and after organ transplantation and azoos lifeless]
also in certain types of anaemia and rheumatoid arthritis, az-o+te-mi-a (,2z'ti:zmia) n. Pathol. uraemia. [C20: see AZOTE,
Formula: CsH7N7O2S. [C20: from AZA- + THIO- + P(U)RINE] -EMIA] —az-0+te-mic (,2za'ti:mik) adj.
A-za:zel (a'ze1z°l, 'xza,zel) n. 1. Old Testament. a desert demon az+oth ('ezn0) n. 1. the alchemical name for mercury, regarded
to whom the scapegoat bearing the sins of Israel was sent out as the first principle of all metals. 2. the panacea postulated by
once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:1-28). 2. Paracelsus. [from Arabic az-za’tgq the mercury]
(in later Jewish and Gnostic writings and in Muslim tradition) a-zot+ie (e1'zotrk) adj. of, containing, or concerned with nitro-
a prince of demons. gen.
Az-+bine (zez'bi:n) n. another name for Air. az-o+tize or az-o+tise (‘e1za,taiz) vb. a less common word for
a-zed-a+rach (2'zeda,rak) n. 1.the astringent bark of the china- nitrogenize.
berry'tree, formerly used as an emetic and cathartic. 2. a-zo+to+bac-ter (a'zautau,bekta) n. any bacterium of the family
another name for chinaberry (sense 1). Azotobacteriaceae, important in nitrogen fixation in the soil.
[C18: from French
azédarac, from Persian azad dirakht, from azad free,
[New Latin; see AZOTE, BACTERIA]
noble +
dirakht tree] A-ZOv (‘a:zov) n. Sea of. a shallow arm of the Black Sea, to
a-Ze-o+trope (9'zi:o,traup) n. a mixture of liquids that boils at a which it is connected by the Kerch Strait: almost entirely
constant temperature, at a given
landlocked; fed chiefly by the River Don. Area: about 37 500
pressure, without change of
composition. [C20: from A-' + zeo-, from Greek zein to boil + sq. km (14 500 sq. miles).
-TROPE] > a-ze-o-trop-ic (,erz1e'tropik) adj. Az-rael (‘zzrerl, -rral) n. (in Jewish and Islamic angelology) the
A-zer+bai+jan (,ezobar'd3a:n) n. a mountainous region of NW angel who separates the soul from the body at death.
Iran, separated from Soviet Azerbaijan by the Aras River: Az+tec (‘eztek) n. 1.a member ofa Mexican Indian people who
divided administratively into Eastern Azerbaijan and Western established a great empire, centred on the valley of Mexico,
Azerbaijan. Capitals: Tabriz and Rezaiyeh. Pop.: 3 600 000 that was overthrown by Cortés and his followers in the early
(1977 est.). 16th century. 2. the language of the Aztecs. See also Nahuatl.
~adj. also Az+tec+an, 3. of, relating to, or characteristic of the
A-zer+bai+ja+ni (,ezobar'dsa:nr) n. 1. (pl. +ni or +nis) a native Aztecs, their civilization, or their language.
or inhabitant of Azerbaijan. 2. the language of this people, [C18: from Span-
ish Azteca, from Nahuatl Aztecatl, from Aztlan, their tradi-
belonging to the Turkic branch of the Altaic family.
A-zer+bai+jan So-+vi+et So:cial+ist Re+pub:+lic tional place of origin, literally: near the cranes, from azta
n. an admin- cranes + tlan near]
istrative division of the S Soviet Union, on the Caspian Sea in
the east: consists of dry subtropical steppes around the Aras az+ure ('z39, -3U9, 'eI-) n. 1. a deep blue, occasionally somewhat
and Kura Rivers, surrounded by the Caucasus; contains the purple, similar to the colour of a clear blue sky. 2. Poetic. a
extensive Baku oilfields. Capital: Baku. Pop.: 5 117 081 (1970). clear blue sky. ~adj. 3. of the colour azure; serene. 4.
Area: 86 600 sq. km (33 430 sq. miles). (usually postpositive) Heraldry. of the colour blue. [C14:
aztide (‘e1zaid) n. 1. any compound containing the monovalent from Old French azur, from Old Spanish, from Arabic Jazaward
group N3 or the monovalent ion N3. 2. (modifier) consisting lapis lazuli, from Persian Jazhuward]
az+urtite (‘z3zu,rart) n. a deep-blue secondary mineral consist-
of, containing, or concerned with the group N3 or the ion N3: ing of hydrated basic copper carbonate in monoclinic crystalline
azide group or radical.
A-zi-ki-we Ga:zi:'ki:wer) n. Nnam-di (?n'nemdz). born 1904, form. It is used as an ore of copper and as a gemstone.
Formula: Cu3(OH)2(CO3)2.
Nigerian statesman; first president of Nigeria (1963-66). az-y+gous (‘'xziges) adj. Biology. developing or occurring
A-ziki-an (a'zilien) n. 1. a Palaeolithic culture of Spain and SW
France that can be dated to the 10th millennium B.c., character- singly. [C17: via New Latin from Greek azugos, from A-
+ zugon YOKE]
b or B (bi:) n., pl. b’s, B’s, or Bs. 1. the second letter and first insect-eating birds of the Old World tropics and subtropics that
consonant of the modern English alphabet. 2. a speech sound have a loud incessant song: family Muscicapidae (warblers,
represented by this letter, usually a voiced bilabial stop, as in thrushes, etc.).
bell. 3. Also: beta. the second in a series, esp. the second bab+bler? n. Austral. slang. a cook or chef. [C20: from
highest grade in an examination. 2 babbling brook, rhyming slang for cook]
B symbol for: 1. Music. a. a note having a frequency of 493.88 babe (bertb) n. 1. a baby. 2. Informal. a naive, gullible, or
hertz (B above middle C) or this value multiplied or divided by unsuspecting person (often in the phrase a babe in arms). 3.
any power of 2; the seventh note of the scale of C major. b. a Slang, chiefly U.S. a girl or young woman.
key, string, or pipe producing this note. ¢. the major or minor Ba+bel! (‘berb*1) n. 1. Old Testament. a. Also called: Tower of
key having this note as its tonic. 2. the supporting or less Babel. a tower presumptuously intended to reach from earth to
important of two things: the B side of a record. 3. a human heaven, the building of which was frustrated when Jehovah
blood type of the ABO group, containing the B antigen. 4. (in confused the language of the builders (Genesis 11:1-10). b. the
Britain) a secondary road. 5. Chem. boron. 6. magnetic flux city, probably Babylon, in which this tower was supposedly
density. 7. Chess. bishop. 8. (on Brit. pencils, signifying degree built. 2. (often not cap.) a. a confusion of noises or voices. b. a
of softness of lead) black: B; 2B; 3B. Compare H (sense 5). 9. scene of noise and confusion. [from Hebrew Babhél, from
Also: b Physics. bel. 10. Physics. baryon number. ~11. inter- Akkadian Bab-ilu, literally: gate of God]
national car registration for Belgium. Ba-bel? (Russian 'babrl) n. I-saak Em-ma-nu-i-lo-vich (1'sak
b. or B. abbrev. for: 1. Music. bass or basso. 2. (on maps, etc.) imonu'ilevits). 1894-1941, Russian short-story writer, whose
bay. 3. balboa. 4. belga. 5. (cap.) Bible. 6. bolivar. 7. book. 8. works include Stories from Odessa (1924) and Red Cavalry
born. 9. (not cap.) Cricket. a. bowled. b. bye. 10. breadth. 11. (1926).
(cap.) British.
Bab el Man:deb (‘beb el 'mzndeb) n. a strait between SW
B- (of U.S. military aircraft) abbrev. for bomber: B-52.
Arabia and E Africa, connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of
Ba the chemical symbol for barium. Aden.
Ba (ba:) n. Egyptian myth. the soul, represented as a bird witha Ba-ber, Ba-bar, or Ba-bur (‘ba:ba) n. original name Zahir ud-
human head.
Din Mohammed. 1483-1530, founder of the Mogul Empire:
B.A. abbrev. for: 1. Bachelor of Arts. 2. British Academy. 3. conquered India in 1526.
British Association (for the Advancement of Science).
Ba-beuf (French ba'beef) n. Fran-cois No-él (fraswa no'el).
B.A.A. abbrev. for British Airports Authority. 1760-97, French political agitator: plotted unsuccessfully to
baa (ba:) vb. baas, baa-ing, baaed. 1. (intr.) to make the cry ofa destroy the Directory and establish a communistic system.
sheep; bleat. —~n. 2. the cry made by sheep.
Ba-bi ('ba:br) n. 1. a disciple of the Bab. 2. another word for
Baa-der-Mein-hof Gang (German 'ba:der 'mainho:f) n. the. a Babism.
group of West German guerrillas dedicated to the violent
overthrow of capitalist society; named after its leading ba+biche (ba:'bi:[) n. Canadian. thongs or lacings of rawhide.
members, Andreas Baader (1943-77) and Ulrike Meinhof [C19: from Canadian French, of Algonquian origin]
(1934-76). See also Red Brigades. ba-bies’-breath_n. a variant of baby’s-breath.
Baal (ba:l) n. 1. any of several ancient Semitic fertility gods. 2. bab-i+ru+sa (,ba:br'ru:sa) n. a wild pig, Babyrousa babyrussa,
Phoenician myth. the sun god and supreme national deity. 3. inhabiting marshy forests in Indonesia. It has an almost hair-
(sometimes not cap.) any false god or idol. [from Hebrew less wrinkled skin and enormous curved canine teeth. [C17:
ba‘al lord, master] from Malay, from babi hog + risa deer]
Baal+bek (‘ba:lbek) n. a town in E Lebanon: an important city Bab+ism ('ba:brzam) n. a pantheistic Persian religious sect,
in Phoenician and Roman times; extensive ruins. Pop.: 15 000 founded in 1844 by the Bab, forbidding polygamy, concubinage,
(1973 est.). Ancient name: Heliopolis. begging, trading in slaves, and indulgence in alcohol and drugs.
Baal Shem Tov or Baal Shem Tob (ba:1 'fem tov, 'fa:m) n. Compare Bahaism.
original name Israel ben Eliezer. ?1700-60, Jewish religious ba+boon (ba'bu:n) n. any of several medium-sized omnivorous
leader, teacher, and healer in Poland: founder of modern Old World monkeys of the genus Papio (or Chaeropithecus)
Hasidism. and related genera, inhabiting open rocky ground or wooded
baas (ba:s) n. a South African word for boss: used by Africans regions of Africa. They have an elongated muzzle, large teeth,
and Coloureds in addressing European managers or overseers. and a fairly long tail. See also hamadryas, gelada. [C14
Peg Afrikaans, from Middle Dutch baes master; see babewyn gargoyle, later, baboon, from Old French babouin,
BOSS from baboue grimace; related to Old French babine a thick lip]
baas-kap or baas+skap (‘ba:s,kap) n. (sometimes cap.) (in ba-bu (‘ba:bu:) n. (in India) a title or form of address more or
South Africa) control by Whites of non-Whites. [from less equivalent to Mr., placed before a person’s full name or
Afrikaans, from BAAS + -skap -SHIP] after his first name. [Hindi, literally: father]
Bab (ba:b) n. the. title of Mirza Ali Mohammed. 1819-50, ba+bul (ba:'bu:l, 'ba:bu:l) n. any of several mimosaceous trees
Persian religious leader: founded Babism; executed as a heretic of the genus Acacia, esp. A. arabica of N Africa and India,
ofIslam. [from Persian bab gate, from Arabic] which bear small yellow flowers and are a source of gum
ba-ba ('ba:ba:; French ba'ba) n. a small cake of leavened dough, arabic, tannin, and hardwood. [from Persian babu; related to
sometimes mixed with currants and usually soaked in rum Sanskrit babbila]
(rum baba). [C19: from French, from Polish, literally: old Ba-bur (‘ba:bo) n. a variant spelling of Baber.
woman] ba+bush+ka (ba'bu:fka) n. a headscarf tied under the chin,
Ba-bar ('ba:ba) n. a variant spelling of Baber. worn by Russian peasant women. [Russian: grandmother,
ba+bas+su (,ba:ba'su:) n. a Brazilian palm tree, Orbignya from baba old woman]
martiana (or O. speciosa), having hard edible nuts that yield an ba-by (‘berbr) n., pl. -bies. 1. a. a newborn or recently born
oil used in making soap, margarine, etc. [from Portuguese child; infant. b. (as modifier): baby food. 2. the youngest or
babacu, from a native Amerindian word] smallest of a family or group. 3. a. a newborn or recently born
Bab-bage (‘bebid3) n. Charles. 1792-1871, English mathema- animal. b. (as modifier): baby rabbits. 4. Usually derogatory.
tician and inventor, who built a calculating machine that an immature person. 5. Slang. a young woman or sweetheart:
anticipated the modern electronic computer. often used as a term of address expressing affection. 6. Slang.
bab-+bitt ('bzebrt) vb. (tr.) to line (a bearing) or face (a surface) a project of personal concern. 7. be left holding the baby. to be
with Babbitt metal or a similar soft alloy. left with the responsibility. 8. throw the baby out with the bath
Bab-bitt (‘bebrt) n. U.S. derogatory. a narrow-minded and water. to lose the essential element by indiscriminate rejection.
complacent member of the middle class. [C20: after George ~adj. 9. (prenominal) comparatively small of its type: a baby
Babbitt, central character in the novel Babbitt (1922) by Sinclair grand (piano). ~vb. -bies, +by-+ing, +bied. 10. (tr.) to treat
Lewis] —'Bab+bitt+ry n. with love and attention. [C14: probably childish reduplication;
Bab-bitt met+al n. any of a number of alloys originally based compare MAMA, PAPA] —'ba+by+hood n. —'ba+by-+ish adj.
on tin, antimony, and copper but now often including lead: ba-by bo+nus n. Canadian informal. family allowance.
used esp. in bearings. Sometimes shortened to Babbitt. [C19: Ba-by-bounc-er n. Trademark. a seat on springs suspended
named after Isaac Babbitt (1799-1862), American inventor] from a door frame, etc., in which a baby may be placed for
bab+ble (‘beb*l) vb. 1. to utter (words, sounds, etc.) in an exercise.
incoherent or indistinct jumble. 2. (intr.) to talk foolishly, ba-by bug+gy n. 1. Brit. a kind of child’s light pushchair. 2.
incessantly, or irrelevantly. 3. (tr.) to disclose (secrets, U.S. informal. a pram.
confidences, etc.) carelessly or impulsively. 4. (intr.) (of ba-by car+riage n. the U.S. name for pram!.
streams, birds, etc.) to make a low murmuring or bubbling ba-by-face n. 1. a smooth round face like a baby’s. 2. a person
sound. 5. (intr.) Scot. to snivel; blubber. ~n. 6. incoherent or with such a face.
foolish speech; chatter. 7. a murmuring or bubbling sound. Bab-y+lon (‘bebilen) n. 1. the chief city of ancient Meso-
[C13: compare Dutch babbelen, Swedish babbla, French ba- potamia: first settled around 3000 B.c. See also Hanging
biller to prattle, Latin babulus fool; probably all of imitative Gardens of Babylon. 2. any place of exile. 3. any city of
origin] —'bab+ble+ment n. depravity and luxury. 4. Derogatory. (in Protestant polemic)
bab+bler' (‘bebla) n. 1.a person who babbles. 2. any of various the Roman Catholic Church, regarded as the seat of luxury and
Babylonia 104 back
corruption. [via Latin and Greek from Hebrew Babhel; see Bach-a-rach ('bekorek) n. Burt. born 1928, U.S. composer of
BABEL'] popular songs.
Bab-y+lo+ni-a (,bzb1'lounra) n. the southern kingdom of ancient bach+e-lor (‘beet fale, bet fla) n. 1. a. an unmarried man. b. (as
Mesopotamia: a great empire from about 2200-538 B.c., when modifier): a bachelor flat, 2. a. a person who holds the degree
it was conquered by the Persians. of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc. b. the degree
Bab-y+lo+ni-an (,bzbr'lounion) n. 1. an inhabitant of ancient itself. 3. Also called: bachelor-at-arms. (in the Middle Ages) a
Babylon or Babylonia. 2. the extinct language of Babylonia, young knight serving a great noble. 4. bachelor seal. a young
belonging to the E Semitic subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic family: male seal, esp. a fur seal, that has not yet mated. [C13: from
a dialect of Akkadian. ~adj. 3. of, relating to, or character- Old French bacheler youth, squire, from Vulgar Latin baccalaris
istic of ancient Babylon or Babylonia, its people, or their (unattested) farm worker, of Celtic origin; compare Irish Gaelic
language. 4. decadent or depraved. bachlach peasant] W—'bachre-lor+hood n.
Bab-y-+lo+ni-an cap-tiv-i-ty n. 1. the exile of the Jews in bach-e-lor girl n. a young unmarried woman, esp. one who is
Babylonia from 597 to about 538 B.c. 2. the exile of the seven self-supporting.
popes in Avignon (1309-77). = Bach:e-lor of Arts n. 1. a degree conferred on a person who
ba-by’s-breath or ba-bies’-breath n. 1. a tall Eurasian has successfully completed his undergraduate studies, usually
caryophyllaceous plant, Gypsophila paniculata, bearing small in a branch of the liberal arts or humanities. 2. a person who
white or pink fragrant flowers. 2. any of several other plants, holds this degree.
such as the grape hyacinth and certain bedstraws, that have Bach+e-lor of Sci+ence n. 1. a degree conferred on a person
small scented flowers. who has successfully completed his undergraduate studies in a
ba-by-sit vb. -sits, -sit-ting, -sat. (intr.) to act or work as a branch of the sciences. 2. a person who holds this degree.
baby-sitter. bach-e-lor’s-but-tons n. (functioning as sing. or pl.) any of
ba-by-sit-ter n. a person who takes care of a child or children various plants of the daisy family with button-like flower
while the parents are out. heads, esp. a double-flowered buttercup.
ba-by snatch-er n. Informal. 1. a person who steals a baby Bach trum:pet (bax) n. a modern small three-valved trumpet
from its pram. 2. someone who marries or has an affair with a for playing clarino passages in Bach’s music.
much younger person. ba+cil+lar-y (ba'siler1) or ba+cil+lar (bo'stla) adj. 1. of, relating
ba-by talk n. 1. the speech of very young children learning to to, or caused by bacilli. 2. Also: ba+cil+lisform (ba'stlr,fo:m).
talk. 2. an adult’s imitation of this. shaped like a short rod.
ba-by tooth n. another term for milk tooth. barcil+lus (ba'srlas) n., pl. +cil-li (-'stlaz). 1. any rod-shaped
Ba-by-walk-er n. Trademark. a light frame on casters or bacterium, such as a clostridium bacterium. Compare coccus
wheels to help a baby learn to walk. U.S. equivalent: go-cart. (sense 1), spirillum (sense 1). 2. any of various rodlike spore-
bac+ca-+lau+retate (,bako'lo:rmt) n. 1. the university degree of producing bacteria constituting the family Bacillaceae, esp. of
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc. 2. U.S. a farewell the genus Bacillus. [C19: from Latin: a small staff, from
sermon delivered at the commencement ceremonies in many baculum walking stick]
colleges and universities. [C17: from Medieval Latin bac- bac-i+tra+cin (besr'trersm) n. an antibiotic used mainly in
calaureatus, from baccalaureus advanced student, alteration of treating bacterial skin infections: obtained from the bacterium
baccalarius BACHELOR; influenced in folk etymology by Latin Bacillus subtilis. [C20: BACIK(LLUS) + -trac- from Margaret
baca berry + Jaureus laurel] Tracy (born 1936), American girl in whose blood Bacillus
bac+ea+rat (‘beka,ra:, ibeka'ra:; French baka'ra) n. a card subtilis was found; see -IN]
game in which two or more punters gamble against the banker. back! (bk) n. 1. the posterior part of the human body, extend-
[C19: from French baccara, of unknown origin] ing from the neck to the pelvis. 2. the corresponding or upper
bac:cate ('bekeit) adj. Botany. 1. like a berry in form, texture, part of an animal. 3. the spinal column. 4. the part or side of an
etc. 2. bearing berries. [C19: from Latin baca berry] object opposite the front. 5. the part or side of anything less
Bac+chae (‘beki:) pl. n. the priestesses or female devotees of often seen or used: the back of a carpet; the back of a knife. 6.
the part or side of anything that is furthest from the front or
Bacchus. (Latin, from Greek Bakkhai, plural of Bakkhé from a spectator: the back of the stage. 7. the convex part of
priestess of BACCHUS]
something: the back ofa hill; the back of a ship. 8. something
bac+cha+nal (‘beken"l) n. 1. a follower of Bacchus. 2. a that supports, covers, or strengthens the rear of an object. 9.
drunken and riotous celebration. 3. a Participant in such a Ball games. a. a mainly defensive player behind a forward. b.
celebration; reveller. ~adj. 4. of or relating to Bacchus.
(C16: from Latin Bacchandlis; see BACCHUS] the position of such a player. 10. the part of a book to which
the pages are glued or that joins the covers. 11. Mining. a. the
bae+cha+na+li-a (,beka'nerlra) pl. n. 1. (often cap.) orgiastic side of a passage or layer nearest the surface. b. the earth
rites associated with Bacchus. 2. any drunken revelry. between that level and the next. 12. the upper surface of a
— ,bac-cha:+'na:+li-an adj., n. joist, rafter, slate, tile, etc., when in position. Compare bed
bae+chant (‘bekent) or (fem.) bae+chan+te (ba'kentr) n., pl. (sense 12). 13. at one’s back. behind, esp. in support or
bac+chants, bac+chan-+tes (ba'kentiz) or (fem.) bae-chan- pursuit. 14. at the back of one’s mind. not in one’s conscious
tes. 1. a priest, priestess, or votary of Bacchus. 2. a drunken thoughts. 15. behind one’s back. without one’s knowledge;
reveller. [C17: from Latin bacchans, from bacchari to cel- secretly or deceitfully. 16, break one’s back or (Taboo) balls. to
ebrate the BACCHANALIA] overwork or work very hard. 17. break the back of. to complete
Bac:chic (‘bekrk) adj. 1. of or relating to Bacchus. 2. (often the greatest or hardest part of (a task). 18. (flat) on one’s back.
not cap.) riotously drunk. incapacitated, esp. through illness. 19. get off someone’s back.
bac+chi-us (be'katas) n., pl. +chi-i (-'karar). Prosody. a metri- Informal. to stop criticizing or pestering someone. 20. have on
cal foot of one short syllable followed by two long ones (~~~). one’s back. to be burdened with. 21. put one’s back into. to
Compare dactyl. [C16: from Latin, from Greek Bakkheios devote all one’s strength to (a task). 22. put (or get) someone’s
(pous) a Bacchic (foot)] back up. to annoy someone. 23. see the back of. to be rid of. 24.
Bac-chus (‘bekes) n. (in ancient Greece and Rome) a god of back of beyond. a. the. a very remote place. b. Austral. in such
wine and giver of ecstasy, identified with Dionysus. [C15: a place (esp. in the phrase out back of beyond). 25. turn one’s
from Latin, from Greek Bakkhos; related to Latin baca small back on. a. to turn away from in anger or contempt. b. to
round fruit, berry] refuse to help; abandon. 26. with one’s back to the wall. in a
bae+cif-er+ous (bek'srferas) adj. bearing berries. [C17: from difficult or desperate situation. ~vb. (mainly tr.) 27. (also
Latin bacifer, from baca berry + ferreto bear] intr.) to move or cause to move backwards. 28. to provide
bac+ci-form ('bekst,fo:m) adj. Botany. shaped like a berry. support, money, or encouragement for (a person, enterprise,
bac+civ-or+ous (bek'stvores) adj. feeding on berries. etc.). 29. to bet on the success of: to back a horse. 30. to
bac+cy (‘bekr) n. a Brit. informal name for tobacco. provide with a back, backing, or lining. 31. to provide with a
bach (betf) n. 1. N.Z. a second or holiday house, esp. at the music accompaniment: a soloist backed by an orchestra. 32. to
provide a background for; be at the back of: mountains back
seaside. ~vb. alsobatch. 2. Austral. to live as a bachelor.
the town. 33. to: countersign or endorse. 34. Archaic. to mount
Bach (German bax) n. 1. Jo-hann Chris-tian (‘jo:han 'kristjan),
llth son of J. S. Bach, called the English Bach. 1735-82, the back of. 35. (intr.; foll. by on or onto) to have the back
facing (towards): the house backs onto a river. 36. (intr.) (of
German composer, resident in London from 1762. 2. Jo-hann
the wind) to change direction in an anticlockwise direction.
Chri-stoph ('kristof). 1642-1705, German composer: wrote Compare veer! (sense 3a.). 37. Nautical. to position (a sail) so
oratorios, cantatas, and motets, some of which were falsely that the wind presses on its opposite side. 38. back and fill. a.
attributed to J. S. Bach, of whom he was a distant relative. 3. Nautical. to manoeuvre the sails by alternately filling and
Jo-hann Se-bas-tian (ze'bastjan). 1685-1750, German com- emptying them of wind to navigate in a narrow place. b. to
poser: church organist at Arnstadt (1703-07) and Miihlhausen vacillate in one’s opinion. ~adj. (prenominal) 39. situated
(1707-08); court organist at Weimar (1708-17); musical behind: a back lane. 40. of the past: back issues of a
director for Prince Leopold of Kéthen (1717-28); musical magazine. 41. owing from an earlier date: back rent. 42.
director for the city of Leipzig (1728-50). His output was Chiefly U.S. remote: a back road. 43. moving in a backward
enormous and displays great vigour and invention within the direction: back current. 44. Phonetics. of, relating to, or denot-
northern European polyphonic tradition. His works include ing a vowel articulated with the tongue retracted towards the
nearly 200 cantatas and oratorios, settings of the Passion soft palate, as for the vowels in English hard, fall, hot, full,
according to St. John (1723) and St. Matthew (1729), the six fool. ~adv. 45. at, to, or towards the rear; away from
Brandenburg Concertos (1720-21), the 48 preludes and fugues something considered to be the front; backwards; behind. 46,
of the Well-tempered Clavier (completed 1744), and the Mass in, to, or towards the original starting point, place, or condition:
in B Minor (1733-38). 4. Karl (or Carl) Phil-ipp E-ma-nu-el to go back home; put the book back; my headache has come
(karl ‘fi:lip e'ma:nue:1), 3rd son of J. S. Bach. 1714-88, German back. 47. in or into the past: to look back on one’s child-
composer, chiefly of symphonies, keyboard sonatas, and church hood. 48. in reply, repayment, or retaliation: to hit someone
music. 5. Wil-helm Frie-de-mann (‘vilhelm 'fri:daman), eldest back; pay back a debt; to answer back. 49. in check: the dam
son of J. S. Bach. 1710-84, German composer: wrote nine holds back the water. 50. in concealment; in reserve: to keep
symphonies and much keyboard and religious music. something back; to hold back information. 51. back and forth.
back 105 backsheesh
to and fro. 52. back to front. a. in reverse. b. in disorder. class, education, training, or experience. 5. a. the social,
~See also back down, back out, back up. [Old English bac; historical, or technical circumstances that lead up to or help to
Dae to Old Norse bak, Old Frisian bek, Old High German explain something: the background to the French Revolution.
ah b. (as modifier): background information. 6. a. a low level of
back? (bek) n. a large tub or vat, esp. one used by brewers. sound, lighting, etc., whose purpose is to be an unobtrusive or
(C17: from Dutch bak tub, cistern, from Old French bac, from appropriate accompaniment to something else, such as a social
Vulgar Latin bacca (unattested) vessel for liquids] activity, conversation, or the action of a film. b. (as modifier):
back+ache ('bek,erk) n. an ache or pain in one’s back. background music. 7. Also called: background radiation.
back+bench-er (‘bek'bentfo) n. Brit., Austral, etc. a member Physics. low-intensity radiation from small amounts of radio
of Parliament who does not hold office in the government or isotopes in soil, air, building materials, etc. 8. Electronics. a.
opposition. unwanted effects, such as noise, occurring in a measuring
back+bend (‘bek,bend) n. a gymnastic exercise in which the instrument, electronic device, etc. b. (as modifier): background
trunk is bent backwards until the hands touch the floor. interference.
back+bite (‘bek,bait) vb. «bites, -bit+ing, bit; bit‘ten or bit. to back+hand (‘bek,hend) n. 1. Tennis, squash, etc. a. a stroke
talk i ees iaed about (an absent person). —'back+,bit-er n. made across the body with the back of the hand facing the
back-blocks (‘bek,bloks) pl. n. Austral. sparsely populated direction of the stroke. b. (as modifier): a backhand return. 2.
areas in the remote interior. —'back+,block adj. —'back+ the side on which backhand strokes are made. 3. handwriting
iblock+er n. slanting to the left. ~adv. 4. with a backhand stroke. ~vb.
back+board (‘bek,bo:d) n. 1. a board that is placed behind (tr.) 5. Sport. to play (a shot) backhand.
something to form or support its back. 2. a board worn to back+hand:+ed (,bek'hendrd) adj. 1. (of a blow, shot, stroke,
straighten or support the back, as after surgery. 3. (in basket- etc.) performed with the arm moving across the body. 2.
ball) a flat upright surface supported on a high frame, under double-edged; equivocal: a backhanded compliment. 3. (of
which the basket is attached. handwriting) slanting to the left. 4. (of a rope) twisted in the
back boiler n. a tank or series of pipes at the back of a opposite way from the normal right-handed direction.
fireplace for heating water. U.S. name: water back. ~adv. 5. in a backhanded manner. —,back+'hand+ed+ly adv.
back+bone (‘bek,boun) n. 1. a nontechnical name for spinal —,back+'hand+ed-ness n.
column. 2. something that resembles the spinal column in back+hand+er (‘bek,hendo) n. 1. a backhanded stroke or
function, position, or appearance. 3. strength of character; blow. 2. Informal. an indirect attack. 3. Slang. a bribe.
courage. 4. the main or central mountain range of a country or back+ing (‘bekin) n. 1. support given to a person, cause, or
region. 5. Printing. a less common name for spine (sense 4). 6. enterprise. 2. a body of supporters. 3. something that forms,
Nautical. the main longitudinal members of a vessel, giving protects, supports, or strengthens the back of something. 4.
structural strength. Theatre. a scenic cloth or flat placed behind a window, door,
back+break-er (‘bewk,brerka) n. 1. a wrestling hold in which a etc., in a set to mask the offstage space. 5. musical accom-
wrestler uses his knee or shoulder as a fulcrum to bend his paniment, esp. for a pop singer.
PEpOneHes body backwards, 2. Informal. an extremely arduous back+ing store n. a computer storage device, such as a disk,
task. drum, or magnetic tape, that has a larger capacity but longer
back+break-ing (‘bek,brerkin) adj. demanding great effort; access time than a computer memory.
exhausting. back+lash (‘bek,lef) n. 1. a reaction or recoil between interact-
back+chat (‘bek,tfet) n. Informal. the act of answering back, ing worn or badly fitting parts ina mechanism. 2. the excessive
esp. impudently. play between such parts. 3. a sudden and adverse reaction,
back+cloth (‘bek,kln0) or back+drop n. a large painted esp. to a political or social development: the White backlash to
curtain hanging at the back of a stage set. the Black Power movement.
back+comb (‘bak,koaum) vb. to comb the under layers of (the back+less (‘bekl1s) adj. (of a dress) low-cut at the back.
hair) towards the roots to give more bulk to a hair style. Also: back list n. a publisher’s previously published books that are
tease. still available. :
back coun+try n. Austral. sparsely populated areas. back+log (‘bek,log) n. 1. an accumulation of uncompleted
back+court (‘bek,ko:t) n. 1. Tennis, chiefly U.S. the part of the work, unsold stock, etc., to be dealt with. 2. Chiefly U.S. a
court between the service line and the baseline. 2. (in various large log at the back of a fireplace.
court games) the area nearest the back boundary line. back mark+er n. a competitor who is at the back of a field ina
back:cross ('bek,kros) vb. 1. to mate (a hybrid of the first race.
generation) with one of its parents. ~n. 2. the offspring so back mat+ter n. the parts of a book, such as the index and
produced. 3. the act or process of backcrossing. appendixes, that follow the main text. Also called: end matter.
back+date (,bek'dert) vb. (tr.) to make effective from an back+most ('bek,moust) adj. furthest back.
earlier date: the pay rise was backdated to August. back number n. 1. an issue of a newspaper, magazine, etc.,
back door n. 1. a door at the rear or side of a building. 2. a that appeared on a previous date. 2. Informal. a person or
means of entry to a job, position, etc., that is secret, underhand, thing considered to be old-fashioned.
or obtained through influence. back o’ Bourke (bs:k) adv. Austral. in a remote or backward
back down vb. 1. (intr., adv.) to withdraw an earlier claim. 2. place. [from Bourke, a town in New South Wales]
(tr.) Rowing. to cause (a boat) to move backwards by pushing back out vb. (intr., adv.; often foll. by of) to withdraw (from
rather than pulling on the oars. ~n. back+down. 3. abandon- an agreement, etc.).
ment of an earlier claim. back pack n. 1. Chiefly U.S. a rucksack or knapsack. 2. a
backed (bekt) adj. a. having a back or backing. b. (in pack carried on the back of an astronaut, containing oxygen
combination): high-backed; black-backed. cylinders, essential supplies, etc.
back end n. Northern English dialect. autumn. [from the back pass+age n. the rectum.
phrase the back end of the year] back-ped-al vb. -ped-als, -ped-al-ling, -ped-alled or U.S.
back+er ('beko) n. 1. a person who gives financial or other -ped-als, -ped-al-ing, -ped-aled. (intr.) 1. to turn the pedals of a
support. 2. a person who bets on a competitor or contestant. bicycle backwards. 2. to retract or modify a previous opinion,
back+fill (‘beek,frl) vb. 1. (tr.) to refill an excavated trench, esp. principle, etc. 3. Boxing. to take backward steps.
(in archaeology) at the end of an investigation. ~n. 2. the soil back pro+jec+tion n. a method of projecting pictures onto a
used to do this. translucent screen so that they are viewed from the opposite
back+fire (,bek'fars) vb. (intr.) 1. (of an internal-combustion side, used esp. in films to create the illusion that the actors in
engine) to emit a loud noise as a result of an explosion in the the foreground are moving. Also called: background projection.
inlet manifold or exhaust system. 2. to fail to have the desired back rest n.a support for the back of something.
or expected effect: his plans backfired on him. 3. to start a Back Riv-+er n. a river in N Canada, rising in the Northwest
controlied fire in order to halt an advancing forest or prairie Territories and flowing northeast to the Arctic Ocean. Length:
fire by creating a barren area. ~n. 4. (in an internal- about 966 km (600 miles).
combustion engine) a. an explosion of unburnt gases in the back room n. a. a place where research is done, esp. secret
exhaust system. b. a premature explosion in a cylinder or inlet research in wartime. b. (as modifier): back-room boys.
manifold. 5. a controlled fire started to create a barren area Backs (beks) pl. n. the. the grounds between the River Cam
that will halt an advancing forest or prairie fire. and certain Cambridge colleges.
back for+ma:tion n. 1. the unwitting invention of anew word back saw n. a small handsaw stiffened along its upper edge by
on the assumption that a familiar word is derived from it. The a metal section.
verbs edit and burgle in English were so created from editor back scat+ter n. Physics. 1. the scattering of radiation, such
and burglar. 2.a word formed by this process. as x-rays or alpha-particles, by the atoms of the medium
back four n. Soccer. the defensive players in many modern through which it passes, a proportion of this radiation emerg-
team formations: usually two fullbacks and two centre backs. ing from the surface through which it entered. 2. the radiation
back+gam+mon ('bek,gemoen, bek'gemon) n. 1. a game for so scattered.
two people played on a board with pieces moved according to back+seratch+er (‘bek,skretfo) n. 1. an implement with a
throws of the dice. 2. the most complete form of win in this long handle, used for scratching one’s own back. 2. Informal. a
game. [Cl17: BACK + gammon, variant of GAME] person who provides a service, corporate or public money etc.,
back green or back-ie (‘ba:k1) n. Edinburgh dialect. a yard at for another, in order to receive a similar service or reward in
the back of a house. return.
back+ground ('bek,graund) n. 1. the part of a scene or view back seat n. 1. a seat at the back, esp. of a vehicle. 2. Infor-
furthest from the viewer. 2. a. an inconspicuous or unobtrusive mal. a subordinate or inconspicuous position (esp. in the
position (esp. in the phrase in the background). b. (as modi- phrase take a back seat).
fier): a background influence. 3. Art. a. the plane or ground in back-seat driv+er n. Informal. 1. a passenger in a car who
a picture upon which all other planes or forms appear super- offers unwanted advice to the driver. 2. a person who offers
imposed. b. the parts of a picture that appear most distant. advice on or tries to direct matters that are not his concern.
Compare foreground, middle distance. 4. a person’s social back+sheesh ('bekfi:{) n. a variant spelling of baksheesh.
backside 106 baculum
back+side (,bzk'said) n. 1. the back of something. 2. Informal. engines. 4. a condition resulting from a previous event; reper-
the buttocks. cussion. ~vb. 5. (tr.) to remove oil from (combed wool).
back+sight (‘bek,satt) n. 1. the sight of a rifle nearer the back+wa-ter (‘'bek,wo:ta) n. l. a body of stagnant water
stock. 2. Surveying. a reading taken looking backwards to a connected to a river. 2. water held or driven back, as by a dam,
previously occupied station. Compare foresight (sense 4). flood, or tide. 3. an isolated, backward, or intellectually
back slang n. a type of slang in which words are spelled and, stagnant place or condition. ~vb. back wa+ter. 4. (intr.) to
as far as possible, pronounced backwards. reverse the direction of a boat, esp. to push the oars of a rowing
back-slap-ping adj. energetically jovial; hearty. boat.
back+slide (‘'bek,slard) vb. +slides, +slid+ing, +slid; +slid or back+woods (‘bekwudz) pl.n. 1. Chiefly U.S. partially cleared,
+slid+den. (intr.) to lapse into bad habits or vices from a state sparsely populated forests, 2. any remote sparsely populated
of virtue, religious faith, etc. —'back:,slid+er n. place. 3. (modifier) of, from, or like the backwoods. 4. (modi-
back+space (‘bek,spers) vb. 1. to move a (typewriter carriage, fier) uncouth; rustic.
etc.) backwards. ~n. 2. a typewriter key that can effect such back+woods+man (‘bek,wudzmon) n., pl. +men. 1. a person
a movement. from the backwoods. 2. U.S. informal. an uncouth or rustic
back+spin ('bek,spm) n. Sport. a backward spinning motion person. 3. Brit. informal. a peer who rarely attends the House
imparted to a ball to minimize its bounce. Compare topspin. of Lords.
back:stage (,bek'sterd3) adv. 1. behind'the part of the theatre back yard n. 1. a yard at the back of a house, etc. 2. in one’s
in view of the audience; in the dressing rooms, wings, etc. 2. own back yard. close at hand.
towards the rear of the stage. ~adj. 3. situated backstage. 4. bac+la+va ('ba:kla,va:) n. a variant spelling of baklava.
Informal. away from public view. Ba:+co+lod (ba'kpled) n. a town in the Philippines, on the NW
back:+stairs (‘bek'steoz) pl. n. l. a secondary staircase in a coast of Negros Island. Pop.: 196 492 (1975 est.).
house, esp. one originally for the use of servants. ~adj. also ba+con (‘betken) n. 1. meat from the back and sides of a pig,
back+stair. 2. undérhand: backstairs gossip. dried, salted, and usually smoked. 2. bring home the bacon.
back+stay (‘bek,ster) n. 1. Nautical. a stay leading aft from the Informal. a. to achieve success. b. to provide material
upper part of a mast to the deck or stern. 2. Machinery. a support. 3. save one’s bacon. Brit. informal. to escape from a
supporting piece or arresting part. 3. anything that supports or dangerous or difficult situation. [C12: from Old French bacon,
strengthens the back of something, such as leather covering from a High German bahho; related to Old Saxon baco; see
the back seam of a shoe. BACK
back:stitch (‘bek,stit{) n. 1. a strong sewing stitch made by Ba-con (‘berken) n. 1. Fran-cis, Baron Verulam, Viscount St.
starting the next stitch at the middle or beginning of the Albans. 1561-1626, English philosopher, statesman, and essay-
preceding one. ~vb. 2. to sew using this stitch. ist; described the inductive method of reasoning: his works
back stop n. 1. Sport. a screen or fence to prevent balls leaving include Essays (1625), The Advancement of Learning (1605),
the playing area. 2. a block or catch to prevent excessive and Novum Organum (1620). 2. Fran-cis. born 1909, Irish
backward movement, such as one on the sliding seat of a painter, noted for his distorted, richly coloured human figures,
rowing boat. dogs, and carcasses. 3. Rog-er. ?1214-92, English Franciscan
back straight n.a straight part of a circuit, esp. of an athletics monk, scholar, and scientist: stressed the importance of experi-
track, furthest from the finishing point. ment, demonstrated that air is required for combustion, and
back:street (‘bek,stri:t) n. 1. a street in a town remote from first used lenses to correct vision. His Opus Majus (1266) is a
the main roads. 2. (modifier) denoting illicit activities regarded compendium of all the sciences of his age. —Ba+co-+ni-an
as likely to take place in such a street: a backstreet abortion. (ber'kountan) adj., n.
back stretch n. a horse-racing term for back straight. ba-con-and-eggs n. another name for bird’s-foot trefoil.
back+stroke (‘bek,strauk) n. 1. Also called: back crawl. Swim. barconrer (‘berkona) n. a pig that weighs between 83 and 101
ming.’a. a stroke performed on the back, using backward kg, from which bacon is cut.
circular strokes of each arm and flipper movements of the bact. abbrev. for bacteria(1).
feet. b. (as modifier): the backstroke champion. 2. a return bac-te+rae+mi-a or U.S. bac+te+re+mi-a (,beekto'ri:mra) n.
stroke or blow. 3. Chiefly U.S. a backhanded stroke. 4. Bell- Pathol. the presence of bacteria in the blood.
ringing. the upward movement of the bell rope as the bell bac+te+ri-a (bek'trerie) pl. n., sing. +ri-um (-r1iem). a large
swings back and forth. Compare handstroke. ~vb. 5. (intr.) group of typically unicellular microorganisms, usually classi-
to swim the backstroke. fied as plants. Most bacteria are parasites (many of which
back+swept (‘bek,swept) adj. 1. slanting backwards. 2. cause disease) or saprophytes and reproduce by fission. [C19:
another word for sweptback. plural of New Latin bacterium, from Greek baktérion, literally:
back+sword (‘bek,so:d) n. 1. another name for broadsword. 2. a little stick, from baktron rod, staff] —bae-'te-+ri-al adj.
Also called: back+swords+man. a person who uses the back- —bac:'te+ri+sal+ly adv.
sword. 3.a fencing stick with a basket-like protective hilt. bac+terri-a bed n. a layer of sand or gravel used to expose
back-to-back adj. (usually postpositive) 1. facing in opposite sewage effluent, in its final stages, to air and the action of
directions, often with the backs touching. 2. Chiefly Brit. (of microorganisms. Compare filter bed (sense 1).
urban houses) built so that their backs are adjacent or bac+te+ri-al plaque _n. another term for dental plaque.
separated only by a narrow alley. 3. Informal. consecutive. bac+te+ri+cide (beek'tror1,said) n. a substance able to destroy
~n. 4, a house or terrace built in back-to-back style. bacteria. —bac:+,te+ri+'cid+al adj.
back+track (‘'bek,trek) vb. (intr.) 1. to return by the same bac+te+rin (‘bektorin) n. a vaccine prepared from bacteria.
route by which one has come. 2. to retract or reverse one’s bac-te-ri-o-, bac-te-ri-, or sometimes before a vowel bac-ter-
opinion, action, policy, etc. combining form. indicating bacteria or an action or condition
back up vb. (adv.) 1. (tr.) to support or assist. 2. (intr.) relating to bacteria: bacteriology; bactericide; bacteroid.
Cricket. (of a nonstriking batsman) to move down the wicket [New Latin, from BACTERIA]
in readiness for a run as a ball is bowled. 3. (of water) to bacteriol. abbrev. for: 1. bacteriological. 2. bacteriology.
accumulate. 4. Printing. to print the second side of (a sheet). 5. bac+te+ri-ol-o-gy (bek,trorr'pled3r) n. the branch of science
Computer technol. to make a copy of (a data file), esp. for concerned with the study of bacteria. —bac-te-ri-o+log-i-cal
storage in another place as a security copy. 6. (intr., usually (beck, traria'Indg1k°l) adj. —bac-,te+ri-o+'log-i+cal+ly adv. —bac+
foll. by on) Austral. to repeat an action immediately. w~n. ite+ri+'ol-o+gist n.
back+up. Chiefly U.S. 7. a support or reinforcement. 8. a. a bac+te+ri+ol-y+sis (bek,trort'nlists) n. the destruction of
reserve or substitute. b. (as modifier): backup troops. 9. the bacteria, esp. by antibodies. —bac-te+ri-o-lyt-ie (beek,tror1e-
overflow from a blocked drain or pipe. ‘itik) adj.
back-up light n.a U.S. name for reversing light. bac+te+ri-o+phage (bek'trorte,ferd3) n. a virus that is parasitic
back+veld (‘bekfelt, -velt) n. S. African informal. a remote in a bacterium and multiplies within its host, which is destroyed
sparsely populated rural area. [Afrikaans, from back BACK! + when the new viruses are released. Often shortened to phage.
velt field] —'back-veld+er n. —bac+te+ri-o-phag+ic (beek,trerta'feedgrk) adj. —bac+te+ri+
back+ward (‘bekwad) adj. 1. (usually prenominal) directed oph-a+gous (beek,tror1'pfoges) adj.
towards the rear: a backward glance. 2. retarded in physical, bac+te+ri-o+sta+sis (bek,trorrou'stersis, -'stesis) n., pl. +star
material, or intellectual development: backward countries; a ses (-'stersi:z, -'steesi:z). inhibition of the growth and repro-
backward child. 3. a. of or relating to the past; conservative or duction of bacteria, esp. by the action of a chemical agent.
reactionary. b. (in combination): backward-looking. 4. reluc- —bae+te+ri-o+stat+ie (beek,trartou'stetrk) adj. —bac+,te-+ri-o+
tant or bashful: a backward lover. ~adv. 5. a variant of 'stat-i+cal+ly adv.
backwards. —'back+ward+ly adv. —'back+ward+ness n. bac:te+ri-um (bek'trorrom) n. singular of bacteria.
back+ward-a:tion ( specie Ge /e8) n. 1. (on the London Stock bac+ter+oid (‘bakts,rord) adj. 1. resembling a_ bacterium.
Exchange) postponement, usually speculative, of delivery by a ~n. 2. any rodlike bacterium of the genus Bacteroides,
seller of securities until the next settlement period. 2. the fee occurring in the gut of man and animals.
paid by the seller to the purchaser for such postponement. Bac+tri-a ('bektria) n. an ancient country of SW Asia, between
~Compare contango. the Hindu Kush mountains and the Oxus River: forms the
back+wards ('bekwedz) or back+ward adv. 1. towards the present district of Balkh in N Afghanistan. —'Bac:+tri-an
rear. 2. with the back foremost. 3. in the reverse of usual order adj., n. z
or direction. 4. to or towards the past. 5. into a worse state: Bac+tri-an cam+el n. a two-humped camel, Camelus bac-
the patient was slipping backwards. 6. towards the point of trianus, used as a beast of burden in the cold deserts of central
origin. 7. bend, lean, or fall over backwards. Informal. to make Asia. Compare Arabian camel.
a special effort, esp. in order to please. 8. know backwards. ba+cu+li-form (ba'kju:lt,fo:m, 'bakju:-) adj. Biology. shaped
Brit. informal. to understand completely. like a rod: baculiform fungal spores. [C19: from baculi-, from
back+wash (‘bek,wof) n. 1. a dashing movement of water, Latin baculum walking stick + -FORM] :
such as that of retreating waves. Compare swash. 2. water bac-u+lum (‘bekjulom) n., pi. +la (-lo) or +lums. a bony support
washed backwards by the motion of oars or other propelling in the penis of certain mammals, esp. the carnivores. [C20:
devices. 3. the backward flow of air set up by an aircraft’s New Latin, from Latin: stick, staff]
bad 107 Baghlan
bad! (bad) adj. worse, worst. 1. not good; of poor quality;
inadequate; inferior: bad workmanship; bad soil; bad light for Bae-da (‘bi:da) n. Latin name of Bede.
reading. 2. (often foll. by at) lacking skill or talent; incom- Bae+de:Ker (‘berdika) n. 1. any of a series of travel guidebooks
petent: a bad painter; bad at sports. 3. (often foll. by for) issued by the German publisher Karl Baedeker (1801-59) or his
harmful: bad air; smoking is bad for you. 4. immoral; evil: a firm. 2. any guidebook.
bad life. 5. naughty; mischievous; disobedient: a bad child. 6. Bae+de+ker raid n. Informal. one of the German air raids in-
rotten; decayed; spoiled: a bad egg. 7. Sevére; intense: a bad 1942 on places of cultural and historical importance in England.
headache. 8. incorrect; wrong; faulty: bad pronunciation. 9. ill bael (‘berol) n. 1. a spiny Indian rutaceous tree, Aegle
or in pain (esp. in the phrase feel bad). 10. regretful, sorry, or marmelos. 2. the edible thick-shelled fruit of this tree. [C17:
upset (esp. in the phrase feel bad about). 11. unfavourable; from Hindi bel]
distressing: bad news; a bad _ business. 12. offensive; Bae-yer (German 'bator) n. Jo-hann Frie-drich Wil-helm A-dolf
unpleasant; disagreeable: bad language; bad temper. 13. not von (‘jo:han ‘fri:drrg 'vilhelm '‘a:dolf fon). 1835-1917, German
valid or sound; void: a bad cheque. 14. not recoverable: a bad chemist, noted for the synthesis of indigo: Nobel prize for
debt. 15. go from bad to worse. to deteriorate even more. 16. chemistry 1905.
go bad. to putrefy; spoil. 17. in a bad way. Informal. a. seriously Ba-ez (bar'ez) n. Joan. born 1941, U.S. rock and folk singer,
ill, through sickness or injury. b. in trouble of any kind. 18. in guitarist, and songwriter, noted for the pure quality of her
someone’s bad books. See book (sense 16). 19. make the best of a voice and for her committed pacifist and protest songs.
bad job. to manage as well as possible in unfavourable Baf+fin Bay (‘befm) n. part of the Northwest Passage, situated
circumstances. 20. not bad or not so bad. Informal. passable; between Baffin Island and Greenland. [named after William
fair; fairly good. 21. not half bad. Informal. very good. 22. too Baffin, 17th-century English navigator]
bad. Informal. (often used dismissively) regrettable. 23. Slang. Baf+fin Is+land n. the largest island of the Canadian Arctic,
(chiefly U.S. Negro usage, also found in jazz contexts) good; between Greenland and Hudson Bay. Pop.: about 2000. Area:
fine. ~n. 24. unfortunate or unpleasant events collectively 476 560 sq. km (184 000 sq. miles). [see BAFFIN BAY]
(often in the phrase take the bad with the good). 25. an immoral baf+fle (‘bzf*l) vb. (tr.) 1. to perplex; bewilder; puzzle. 2. to
or degenerate state (often in the phrase go to the bad). 26. the frustrate (plans, efforts, etc.). 3. to check, restrain, or regulate
debit side of an account: £200 to the bad. 27. in bad with, (the flow of a fluid or the emission of sound or light). 4. to
Informal. out of favour with. ~adv. 28. Not standard. badly: provide with a baffle. 5. Obsolete. to cheat or trick. ~n. 6.
to want something bad. [C13: probably from baed-, as the first Also called: baffle board, baffle plate. a plate or mechanical
element of Old English b#ddel hermaphrodite, bé#dling device designed to restrain or regulate the flow of a fluid, the
sodomite] —'bad-dish adj. —'bad:+ness n. emission of light or sound, or the distribution of sound, esp. ina
Usage. See at good. loudspeaker or microphone. [C16: perhaps from Scottish
bad? (bed) vb. a variant spelling of bade. dialect bachlen to condemn publicly] —'baf+fle+ment n. —'baf-+
Ba+da+joz ('bedo,hoz; Spanish ibada'xo9) n. a city in SW fler n. —'baf+fling+ly adv.
Spain: strategically positioned near the frontier with Portugal. bag (beg) n. 1. a flexible container with an opening at one
Pop.: 101 110 (1970). end. 2. Also called: bagful. the contents of or amount contained
Ba+da+lo-na (Spanish ,bada'lona) n. a port in NE Spain: an in such a container. 3. any of various measures of quantity,
industrial suburb of Barcelona. Pop.: 162 888 (1970). such as a bag containing 1 hundredweight of coal. 4.a piece of
bad blood n. a feeling of intense hatred or hostility; enmity. portable luggage. 5. short for handbag. 6. anything that hangs
bad+der+locks (‘bedo,lnoks) n. a seaweed, Alaria esculenta, loosely, sags, or is shaped like a bag, such as a loose fold of skin
that has long brownish-green fronds and is eaten in parts of N under the eyes or the bulging part of a sail. 7. any pouch or sac
Europe. [C18: of unknown origin] forming part of the body of an animal, esp. the udder of a
bad+die or bad+dy (‘bedi) n., pl. +dies. Informal. a bad cow. 8. Hunting. the quantity of quarry taken in a single
character in a story, film, etc., esp. an opponent of the hero. hunting trip or by a single hunter. 9. Derogatory slang. an ugly
bade (bed, berd) orbad vb. the past tense of bid. or bad-tempered woman or girl (often in the phrase old
Ba-+den ('ba:d°n) n. a former state of West Germany, now part bag). 10. Slang. a measure of marijuana, heroin, etc., in folded
of Baden-Wiirttemberg. paper. 11. Slang. a person’s particular taste, field of skill,
Ba-den-Ba-den n. a spa in SW West Germany, in Baden- interest, activity, etc.: blues is his bag. 12. bag and baggage.
Wurttemberg. Pop.: 36 900 (1970). Informal. a. with all one’s belongings. b. entirely. 13. a bag of
Ba-den-Pow-ell (‘berd’n 'pousl, 'paual) n. Rob-ert Ste-phen-son bones. a lean creature. 14. in the bag. Slang. almost assured of
Smyth (smx0, smar1@), lst Baron Baden-Powell. 1857-1941, succeeding or being obtained. 15. the (whole) bag of tricks.
British general, noted for his defence of Mafeking (1899-1900) Informal. every device; everything. ~vb. bags, bag+ging,
in the Boer War; founder of the Boy Scouts (1908) and (with bagged. 16. (tr.) to put into a bag. 17. to bulge or cause to
his sister Agnes) the Girl Guides (1910). bulge; swell. 18. (tr.) to capture or kill, as in hunting. 19. (tr.)
Ba-den-Wiirt-tem+berg (German 'ba:d°n 'vyrtem,berk) n. a to catch, seize, or steal. 20. (intr.) to hang loosely; sag. 21. (tr.)
state of SW West Germany. Capital: Stuttgart. Pop.: 8 895 048 Brit. informal. to reserve or secure the right to do or to have
(1970). Area: 35 742 sq. km (13 800 sq. miles). something: he bagged the best chair. 22. (tr.) Austral. slang. to
badge (bed3) n. 1. a distinguishing emblem or mark worn to criticize; disparage. [C13: probably from Old Norse baggi;
signify membership, employment, achievement, etc. 2. any related to Old French bague bundle, pack, Medieval Latin baga
revealing feature or mark. [C14: from Norman French bage; chest, sack, Flemish bagge]
related to Anglo-Latin bagia] Ba+gan+da (bo'genda, -'ga:n-) n. (functioning as pl.) a Negroid
badg+er (‘bedgo) n. 1. any of various stocky omnivorous people of E Africa living chiefly in Uganda. See also Ganda,
musteline mammals of the subfamily Melinae, such as Meles Luganda.
meles (Eurasian badger), occurring in Europe, Asia, and North ba+gasse (bo'ges) n. 1. the dry pulp remaining after the
America: order Carnivora (carnivores). They are typically extraction of juice from sugar cane or other similar plants:
large burrowing animals, with strong claws and a thick coat used as fuel, for making fibreboard, paper, etc. 2. Also called:
striped black and white on the head. Compare ferret badger, megass, megasse. a type of paper made from bagasse fibres.
hog badger. 2. honey badger. another name for ratel. ~vb. 3. [C19: from French, from Spanish bagazo dregs, refuse, from
(tr.) to pester or harass. [C16: variant of badgeard, probably baga husk, from Latin baca berry]
from BADGE (from the white mark on its forehead) + -ARD] bag-a:telle (,bega'tel) n. 1. something of little value or signi-
Bad Go-+des+berg (German ba:t 'go:dosberk) n. the official ficance; trifle. 2. a board game in which balls are struck into
name for Godesberg. holes, with pins as obstacles; pinball. 3. another name for bar
bad-i+nage (‘bedi,na:3) n. playful or frivolous repartee or billiards. 4. a short light piece of music, esp. for piano. [C17:
banter. [C17: from French, from badiner to jest, banter, from from French, from Italian bagattella, from (dialect) bagatta a
Old Provengal badar to gape] little possession, from baga a possession, probably from Latin
Bad Lands pl. n. a deeply eroded barren region of SW South baca berry]
Dakota and NW Nebraska. Bag:+dad (beg'dad) n. a variant spelling of Baghdad.
bad+lands (‘bzed,lendz) pl. n. any deeply eroded barren area. Bage-hot ('bxd3et) n. Wal-ter. 1826-77, English economist and
bad+ly (‘bedlr) adv. worse, worst. 1. poorly; defectively; in- journalist: editor of The Economist; author of The English
adequately: the chair is badly made. 2, unfavourably; unsuc- Constitution (1867), Physics and Politics (1872), and Lombard
cessfully; unfortunately: our scheme worked out badly. 3. Street (1873).
severely; gravely: he was badly hurt. 4. incorrectly or inac- ba-gel or bei-gel (‘berg*1) n. a hard ring-shaped bread roll,
curately: to speak German badly. 5. improperly; naughtily; characteristic of Jewish baking. [from Yiddish beygel,
wickedly: to behave badly. 6. without humanity; cruelly: to ultimately from Old High German boug ring]
treat badly. 7. very much (esp. in the phrases need badly, badly bag+gage (‘begrd3) n. 1. a. suitcases, bags, etc., packed for a
in need of, want badly). 8. regretfully: he felt badly about it. 9. journey; luggage. b. Chiefly U.S. (as modifier): baggage car. 2.
badly off. poor; impoverished. ~adj. 10. (postpositive) an army’s portable equipment. 3. Informal, old-fashioned. a. a
Northern English dialect. ill; poorly. pert young woman. b.an immoral woman or prostitute. [C15:
bad+man (‘bed,mzn) n., pl. +men. Chiefly U.S. a hired gunman, from Old French bagage, from bague a bundle, perhaps of
outlaw, or criminal. Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse baggi BAG]
bad+min+ton (‘bedminten) n. 1. a game played with rackets bag+ging (‘begin) n. coarse woven cloth; sacking.
and a shuttlecock, which is hit back and forth across a high bagrgy' (‘begr) adj. +gi-er, +gi-est. (of clothes) hanging
net. 2. Also called: badminton cup. a long refreshing drink of loosely; puffed out. —'bag+gi+ly adv. —'bag+gi+ness n.
claret with soda water and sugar. bag-+gy? (‘beegr) n., pl. «gies. a variant spelling of bagie.
bad-mouth vb. (tr.) U.S. slang. to speak unfavourably about. bagh (ba:g) n. (in India and Pakistan) a garden. [Urdu]
bad news n. Slang. someone or something regarded as Bagh+dad or Bag+dad (bzg'ded) n. the capital of Iraq, on the
undesirable: he’s bad news around here. River Tigris: capital of the Abbasid Caliphate (762-1258).
Ba-do-glio (Italian ba'doXo) n. Pie-tro (‘pje:tro). 1871-1956, Pop.: 2 183 760 (1970 est.).
Italian marshal; premier (1943-44) following Mussolini’s Bagh+lan (beg'la:n) n. a city in NE Afghanistan: sugar refining.
downfall: arranged an armistice with the Allies (1943). Pop.: 110 874 (1973 est.).
bagie 108 bait
ba+gie (‘berg1) or bag+gy _n., pl. «gies. Northumbrian dialect. a (for someone). ~vb. (tr.) 6. (often foll. by out) to release or
turnip. [perhaps from RUTABAGA] obtain the release of (a person) from custody, security having
bag+man ('begmon) n., pl. «men. 1. Brit. informal. a travelling been made. ~See also bale out. [C14: from Old French:
salesman. 2. U.S. slang. a person who collects or distributes custody, from baillier to hand over, from Latin bdaiulare to
money for racketeers. 3. Austral. a tramp or swagman, esp. carry burdens, from baiulus carrier, of obscure origin]
one on horseback. , bail? or bale (berl) vb. (often foll. by out) to remove (water)
bag:nette ('bzgnet) n. a variant of baguette (sense 3). from (a boat). [C13: from Old French baille bucket, from Latin
bagn-io (‘ba:njou) n., pl. -ios. 1. a brothel. 2. Obsolete. an baiulus carrier] —'bail+er or'bal+er n.
oriental prison for slaves. 3. Obsolete. an Italian or Turkish bail? (berl) n. 1. Cricket. either of two small wooden bars
bathhouse. [C16: from Italian bagno, from Latin balneum placed across the tops of the stumps to form the wicket. 2.
bath, from Greek balaneion] Agriculture. a. a partition between stalls in a stable or barn, for
bag+pipe ('beg,parp) n. (modifier) of or relating to the horses. b. a portable dairy house built on wheels or skids. 3.
bagpipes. [C14: probably a translation of Low German Austral. a framework in a cowshed used to secure the head of a
sakpipe; see SACK’, PIPE!; related to Dutch zakpijpe] cow during milking. ~vb. 4. See bail up. [C18: from Old
bag:pipes (‘beg,parps) pi. n. any of a family of musical wind French baile stake, fortification, probably from Latin baculum
instruments in which sounds are produced in reed pipes stick]
supplied with air from a bag inflated either by the player’s bail* or bale (berl) n. 1. the semicircular handle of a kettle,
mouth, as in the Irish bagpipes or Highland bagpipes of bucket, etc. 2. a semicircular support for a canopy. 3. a
Scotland, or by arm-operated bellows, as in the Northumbrian movable bar on a typewriter that holds the paper against the
bagpipes. platen. [C15: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old
bags (begz) pl. n. 1. Informal. a lot; a great deal. 2. short for Norse beygja to bend]
Oxford bags. 3. Brit. informal. any pair of trousers. ~#in- bail+a-ble (‘berlab*1) adj. Law. 1. eligible for release on bail. 2.
terj. 4. Also: bags I. Children’s slang, Brit. an indication of the admitting of bail: a bailable offence.
desire to do, be, or have something. bail bond n. a document in which a prisoner and one or more
ba+guette or ba:+guet (be'get) n. 1. a small gem cut as a long sureties guarantee that the prisoner will attend the court
rectangle. 2. the shape of such a gem. 3. Architect. a small hearing of the charges against him if he is released on bail.
moulding having a semicircular cross section. 4. a narrow Baile Atha Cliath (blo:'kli:) n. the Irish Gaelic name for
French stick loaf. [C18: from French, from Italian bacchetta a Dublin.
little stick, from bacchio rod, from Latin baculum walking bail-ee (ber'li:) n. Contract law. a person to whom goods are
stick] entrusted under a contract of bailment.
Ba+gui-o ('begr,2u) n. a city in the N Philippines, on N Luzon: bai+ley (‘beilr) n. the outermost wall or court of a castle.
summer capital of the Republic. Pop.: 84 538 (1970). [C13: from Old French baille enclosed court, from bailler to
bag+wash Cbeg.wof) n. Old-fashioned. 1. a laundry that enclose, from Late Latin bajulare to bear (something heavy);
washes clothes without drying or pressing them. 2. the clothes see BAIL? ]
so washed. Bai-ley (‘berlz) n. Na-than or Na-than-iel. died 1742, English
bag+wig (‘beg,wig) n. an 18th-century wig with hair pushed lexicographer: compiler of An Universal Etymological English
back into a bag. : aor ead (1721-27), on which Dr. Johnson’s dictionary was
bag+worm (‘'beg,w3:m) n. 1. the larva of moths of the family based.
Psychidae, which typically constructs and inhabits a protective Bai-ley bridge n. a temporary bridge made of prefabricated
case of silk covered with grass, leaves, etc. 2. bagworm moth. steel parts that can be rapidly assembled. [C20: named after
any moth of the family Psychidae. Sir Donald Bailey (born 1901), its English designer]
bah (ba:, be) interj. an expression of contempt or disgust. bail-ie (‘berlr) n. 1. (in Scotland) a municipal magistrate. 2. an
ba+ha+dur (ba'ha:do) n. (often in combination) a title formerly obsolete or dialect spelling of bailiff. [C13: from Old French
conferred by the British on distinguished Indians. [C18: from bailli, from earlier baillif BAILIFF]
Hindi bahadur hero, from Persian: valiant] bail-iff (‘berlif) n. 1. Brit. the agent or steward of a landlord or
Barha-i (ba'ha:1) n. 1. an adherent of Bahaism. ~adj. 2. of or landowner. 2. a sheriff’s officer who serves writs and sum-
relating to Bahaism. [from Persian baha’, literally: of glory, monses, makes arrests, and ensures that the sentences of the
from baha’ u’llah glory of God, from Arabic] court are carried out. 3. Chiefly Brit. (formerly) a high official
Ba-ha+ism (ba'ha:rzom) n. a religious system founded in 1863 having judicial powers. 4. Chiefly U.S. an official having
by Baha’ullah, based on Babism and emphasizing the value of custody of prisoners appearing in court. [C13: from Old
all religions and the spiritual unity of all mankind. —Ba+'ha+ French baillif, from bail custody; see BAIL!]
ist or Ba+'ha+ite adj., n. bail-i+wick (‘berlrwik) n. 1. Law. the area over which a bailiff
Ba+ha+mas (bo'ha:moz) or Ba+ha+ma Is+lands pl. n. The. a has jurisdiction. 2. a person’s special field of interest, authority,
group of over 700 coral islands (about 20 of which are or skill. [C15: from BAILIE + WICK]
inhabited) in the West Indies: a British colony from 1783 until Bail-+ly (‘berlz) n. one of the largest craters on the moon, about
1964; an independent nation within the Commonwealth since 293 kilometres in diameter, lying in the SE quadrant.
1973. Language: English. Currency: Bahamian dollar. Capital: bail+ment (‘berlmont) n. 1. Contract law. a contractual delivery
Nassau. Pop.: 175 192 (1970). Area: 11 406 sq. km (4404 sq. of goods in trust to a person for a specific purpose. 2. Criminal
miles). —Ba+ha+mi-an (ba'hermion, -'ha:-) adj., n. Jaw. the act of granting bail.
Ba+ha+sa In-do+ne-si-a (ba:'ha:so) n. the official language of bail+or (‘betla, ber'lo:) n. Contract law. a person who delivers
Indonesia: developed from the form of Malay formerly widely goods to another under a contract of bailment.
used as a trade language in SE Asia. bails+man (‘berlzmen) n., pl. «men. Rare. a person who stands
Ba-ha’-ul-lah (,ba:ha:'ulo) n. title of Mirza Hosein Ali. 1817-92, bail for another; surety.
Persian religious leader: originally a Shiite Muslim, later a bail up vb. (adv.) Austral. 1. to confine (a cow) or (of a cow)
disciple of the Bab: founder of Bahaism. to be confined by the head in a bail. See bail®. 2. (tr.) (of a
Ba-hi-a (ba'hi:o; Portuguese ba'ia) n. a state of E Brazil, on the bushranger) to tie up or hold under guard in order to rob. 3.
Atlantic coast. Capital: Salvador. Pop.: 7 493 470 (1970). Area: (intr.) to submit to robbery without offering resistance. 4. (tr.)
about 562 000 sq. km (217 000 sq. miles). Informal. to accost or detain, esp. in conversation; buttonhole.
Barhi-a Blan+ca (Spanish ba'ia 'blanka) n. a port in E Argen- Bai+ly’s beads n. the brilliant points of sunlight that appear
tina. Pop.: 175 000 (1970). briefly around the moon, just before and after a total eclipse.
Barhi-a de los Co+chi+nos (ba'ia de los ko'tfinos) n. the (C19: named after Francis Baily (died 1844), English astrono-
Spanish name of Bay of Pigs. mer who described them]
Bah:rain or Bah+rein (ba:'remn) n. an independent sheikdom bain+ite (‘bernart) n. a mixture of iron and iron carbide found in
on the Persian Gulf, consisting of several islands: under British incompletely hardened steels, produced when austenite is
protection until the declaration of independence in 1971. It has transformed at temperatures between the pearlite and marten-
large oil reserves. Language: Arabic. Religion: Muslim. site ranges. [C20: named after Edgar C. Bain (1891-1971),
Currency: dinar. Capital: Manama. Pop.: 243 000 (1974 UN American physicist; see -ITE!]
est.). Area: 600 sq. km (232 sq. miles). —Bah:+'rai+ni or Bah: bain-ma-rie French. (bima'ri) n., pl. bains-ma-rie (bima'ri). a
‘rei+ni adj., n. vessel for hoiding hot water, in which sauces and other dishes
baht (ba:t) n., pl. bahts or baht. the standard monetary unit of are gently cooked. [C19: from French, from Medieval Latin
Thailand, divided into 100 satangs. balneum Mariae, literally: bath of Mary, inaccurate translation
ba+hu-+vri+hi (,ba:hu:'vri:hi:) n. Linguistics. 1. a class of of Medieval Greek kaminos Marios, literally: furnace of Miriam,
compound words consisting of two elements the first of which alleged author of a treatise on alchemy]
is a specific feature of the second. 2. a compound word of this Bai+ram (bar'rem, 'barrem) n. either of two Muslim festivals,
type, such as hunchback, bluebell, highbrow. [from Sanskrit one (Lesser Bairam) falling at the end of Ramadan, the other
bahuvrihi, itself this type of compound, from bahu much + (Greater Bairam) 70 days later at the end of the Islamic year.
vrih rice] [from Turkish bayram]
Bai+kal (bar'kail, -'kzl) n. Lake. a lake in the S Soviet Union, in Baird (beed) n. John Lo-gie (‘lougr). 1888-1946, Scottish
SE Siberia: the largest freshwater lake in Eurasia and the engineer: inventor of a 240-line mechanically scanned system
deepest in the world. Greatest depth: over 1500 m (5000 ft.). of television, replaced in 1935 by a 405-line electrically scanned
Area: about 33 670 sq. km (13 000 sq. miles). system.
bail’ (berl) Law. ~n. 1. a sum of money by which a person is bairn (been) n. Scot. a child. [Old English bearn; related to
bound to take responsibility for the appearance in court of bearm lap, Old Norse, Old High German barn child]
another person or himself, forfeited if the person fails to Bairns-fa-ther (‘beonz,fa:d0) n. Bruce. 1888-1959, English
appear. 2. the person or persons so binding themselves; cartoonist, born in India: best known for his cartoons of the
surety. 3. the system permitting release of a person from war in the trenches during World War I.
custody where such security has been taken: he was released bait! (bert) n. 1. something edible, such as soft bread paste,
on bail. 4, jump bail or (formal) forfeit bail. to fail to appear in worms, pieces of meat, etc., fixed to a hook or in a trap to
court to answer to a charge. 5. stand or go bail. to act as surety attract fish or animals. 2. an enticement; temptation. 3. a
bait 109 balcony
variant spelling of bate*. 4. Northern Brit. dialect. food, esp. a alrk'sjejivit{). 1837-1910, Russian composer, whose works
packed lunch. 5. Archaic. a short stop for refreshment during a include two symphonic poems, two symphonies, and many
journey. ~vb. 6. (tr.) to put a piece of food on or in (a hook arrangements of Russian folk songs.
or trap). 7. (tr.) to persecute or tease. 8. (tr.) to entice; Bal-a+kla+va or Bal-a+cla+va (,bzlo'kla:va; Russian bola'kla-
tempt. 9. (tr.) to set dogs upon (a bear, etc.). 10. (tr.) Archaic. vo) n. a small port in the SW Soviet Union, in S Crimea: scene
to feed (a horse), esp. during a break in a journey. 11. (intr.) of an inconclusive battle (1854), which included the charge of
Archaic. to stop for rest and refreshment during a journey. the Light Brigade, during the Crimean War.
(C13: from Old Norse beita to hunt, persecute; related to Old bal-a+lai+ka (,bzlo'larks) n. a plucked musical instrument,
English batan to restrain, hunt, Old High German beizen] usually having a triangular body and three strings: used chiefly
bait? (bert) vb. (intr.) Falconry. a variant spelling of bate?. for Russian folk music. [C18: from Russian]
baize (bez) n. 1. a woollen fabric resembling felt, usually bal-+ance ('belons) n. 1. a weighing device, generally consisting
green, used mainly for the tops of billiard tables. ~vb. 2. (tr.) of a horizontal beam pivoted at its centre, from the ends of
to line or cover with such fabric. [C16: from Old French baies, which two pans are suspended. The substance to be weighed is
plural of baie baize, from bai reddish brown, BAY*, perhaps the placed in one pan and known weights are placed in the other
original colour of the fabric] until the beam returns to the horizontal. See also microbal-
Ba-ja Cal-i-for+nia (‘baha) n. 1. a state of NW Mexico, in the ance. 2. an imagined device for events, actions, motives, etc.,
N part of the Lower California peninsula. Capital: Mexicali. in relation to each other (esp. in the phrases weigh in the
Pop.: 856 773 (1970). Area: about 71 500 sq. km (27600 sq. balance, hang in the balance). 3. a state of equilibrium. 4.
miles). 2. the Spanish name for Lower California. something that brings about such a state. 5. equilibrium of the
Ba-ja Ca+li+for+nia Sur n.astate of NW Mexico, in the S part body; steadiness: to lose one’s balance. 6. emotional stability;
of the Lower California peninsula. Capital: La Paz. Pop.: calmness of mind. 7. harmony in the parts of a whole: balance
128 019 (1970). Area: about 72 500 sq. km (28 000 sq. miles). in an artistic composition. 8. the act of weighing factors,
Ba+jan ('berd3an) Caribbean informal. ~n. 1. a native of quantities, etc., against each other. 9. the power to influence or
Barbados. ~adj. 2. of or relating to Barbados or its control: he held the balance of power. 10. something that
inhabitants. [C20: variant of Badian, a shortened form of remains or is left: Jet me have the balance of what you owe
Barbadian] me. 11. Accounting. a. equality of debit and credit totals in an
bake (berk) vb. 1. (tr.) to cook by dry heat in or as if in an account. b. a difference between such totals. 12. Chem. the
oven. 2. (intr.) to cook bread, pastry, etc., in an oven. 3. to state of a chemical equation in which the number, kind, electri-
make or become hardened by heat. 4. (intr.) Informal. to be cal charges, etc., of the atoms on opposite sides are equal. 13.a
extremely hot, asin the heat of the sun. ~n. 5. U.S.a party at balancing movement. 14. short for spring balance. 15. on
which the main dish is baked. 6. a batch of things baked at one balance. after weighing up all the factors. 16. strike a balance.
time. 7. Scot. a kind of biscuit. 8. Caribbean. a small flat fried to make a compromise. ~vb. 17. (tr.) to weigh in or as ifina
cake. [Old English bacan; related to Old Norse baka, Old High balance. 18. (intr.) to be or come into equilibrium. 19. (tr.) to
German bahhan to bake, Greek phdégein to parch, roast] bring into or hold in equilibrium. 20. (tr.) to assess or compare
the relative weight, importance, etc., of. 21. (tr.) to act so as to
bake+ap-ple (‘berk,xp*l) n. Canadian. the fruit of the cloud-
equalize; be equal to. 22. (tr.) to compose or arrange so as to
berry. create a state of harmony. 23. (tr.) to bring (a chemical or
baked A-las+ka n. a dessert consisting of cake covered with mathematical equation) into balance. 24. (tr.) Accounting. a.
ice cream, with a meringue topping. to compute the credit and debit totals of (an account) in order
baked beans pi. n. haricot beans, baked and tinned in tomato to determine the difference. b. to equalize the credit and debit
sauce. totals of (an account) by making certain entries. ¢. to settle or
bake+house ('berk,haus) n. another word for bakery. adjust (an account) by paying any money due. 25. (intr.) (of a
Ba+ke+lite (‘berks,lart) n. Trademark. any one of a class of business account, balance sheet, etc.) to have the debit and
thermosetting resins used as electric insulators and for making credit totals equal. 26. to match or counter (one’s dancing
plastic ware, telephone receivers, etc. [C20: named after L. H. partner or his or her steps) by moving towards and away from
Baekeland (1863-1944), Belgian-born U.S. inventor; see -ITE!] him or her. (C13: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin bilancia
bak+er (‘berka) n. 1. a person whose business or employment is (unattested), from Late Latin bilanx having two scalepans,
to make or sell bread, cakes, etc. 2. a portable oven. from BI-! + Janxscale] —'bal+ance+a-ble adj.
Ba-ker ('betks) n. 1. Sir Ben-ja-min. 1840-1907, English Bal-+ance (‘belens) n, the. the constellation Libra, the seventh
engineer who, with Sir John Fowler, designed and constructed sign of the zodiac.
much of the London underground railway, the Forth Railway bal+ance of na+ture n. the stable state in which natural
Bridge, and the first Aswan Dam. 2. Dame Jan-et. born 1933, communities of animals and plants exist, maintained by
English mezzo-soprano. 3. Sir Sam-urel White. 1821-93, adaptation, competition, and other interactions between
English explorer: discovered Lake Albert (1864). members of the community and their nonliving environment.
bak+er’s doz+en n. thirteen. [from the bakers’ former prac- bal+ance of pay+ments n. the difference over a given time
tice of giving thirteen rolls where twelve were requested, to between total payments to foreign nations, arising from imports
protect themselves against accusations of giving light weight] of goods and services and transfers abroad of capital, interest,
bak+er-y (‘berkar1) n., pl. +er-ies. 1. Also called: bakehouse. a grants, etc., and total receipts from foreign nations, arising
room or building equipped for baking. 2. a shop in which from exports of goods and services and transfers from abroad
bread, cakes, etc., are sold. of capital, interest, grants, etc.
Bakewell tart (‘berkwel) n. Brit. an open tart having a pastry balsance of pow-er n. 1. the distribution of power among
base and a layer of jam and filled with almond-flavoured countries so that no one nation can seriously threaten the
sponge cake. [named after Bakewell, Derbyshire] fundamental interests of another. 2. any similar distribution of
bak+ing pow+der n. any of various powdered mixtures that power or influence.
contain sodium bicarbonate, starch (usually flour), and one or bal+ance of trade n. the difference in value between total
more slightly acidic compounds, such as cream of tartar: used exports and total imports of goods. Also called: visible balance.
in baking as a substitute for yeast. Compare invisible balance.
bak+la+va or bac+la+va (‘ba:klo,va:) n. a rich cake of Middle bal+anc+er ('balenso) n. 1. a person or thing that balances. 2.
Eastern origin consisting of thin layers of pastry filled with Entomol. another name for haltere.
nuts andhoney. [from Turkish] bal+ance sheet n. a statement that shows the financial position
bak+ra (‘bekra) Caribbean. ~n., pl. +ra or +ras. 1. a White of a business enterprise at a specified date by listing the asset
person, esp. one from Britain. ~adj. 2. (of people) White, balances and the claims on such assets.
esp. British. [of African origin] bal+ance wheel n. a wheel oscillating against the hairspring of
bak+sheesh or back+sheesh (‘beekfi:f) (in some Eastern coun- a timepiece, thereby regulating its beat.
tries, esp. formerly) ~n. 1. money given asa tip, a present, or Bal-an-chine (‘bzlon,t/i:n, ,bzlen'tfi:n) n. George. born 1904 in
alms. ~vb. 2, to give such money to (a person). [C17: from Russia, U.S. choreographer.
Persian bakhshish, from bakhshidan to give; related to Sanskrit bal+as ('bzles, 'ber-) n. a red variety of spinel, used as a
bhaksati he enjoys] gemstone. Also called: balas ruby. [C15: from Old French
Bakst (Russian bakst) n. Le-on Ni-ko-la-ye-vich (l1'on nika- balais, from Arabic balakhsh, from Badhakhshan, region in
‘lajrvitf). 1866-1924, Russian painter and stage designer, noted Afghanistan where the gem is found]
particularly for his richly coloured sets for Diaghilev’s Ballet bal-a+ta (‘beleta) n. 1. a tropical American sapotaceous tree,
Russe (1909-21). Manilkara bidentata, yielding a latex-like sap. 2. a rubber-like
Ba-ku (Russian ba'ku) n. a port in the S Soviet Union, on the gum obtained from this sap: used as a substitute for gutta-
Caspian Sea: the capital of the Azerbaijan SSR: important for percha. [from American Spanish, of Carib origin]
its extensive oilfields. Pop.: 851 547 (1970). Ba+la+ton (Hungarian 'boloton) n. Lake. a large shallow lake in
Ba-ku-nin (Russian ba'kunin) n. Mi-kha-il (mixa'il). 1814-76, W Hungary. Area: 689 sq. km (266 sq. miles).
Russian anarchist and writer: a prominent member of the First Bal-bo (Jtalian 'balbo) n. I-ta-lo (‘i:ta,lo). 1896-1940, Italian
International, expelled from it after conflicts with Marx. Fascist politician and airman: minister of aviation (1929-33).
BAL abbrev. for British anti-lewisite. See dimercaprol. bal+bo-a (bezl'baus) n. the standard currency unit of Panama,
bal. Book-keeping. abbrev. for balance. divided into 100 centesimos.
Bal-a (‘belo) n. Lake. a narrow lake in Gwynedd: the largest Bal-bo-a! (bzl'boue; Spanish bal'Boa) n. Vas-co Nivfiez de
natural lake in Wales. Length: 6 km (4 miles). (‘basko 'nuneO 60). 21475-1519, Spanish explorer, who
Ba-laam ('berlam) n. Old Testament. a Mesopotamian diviner discovered the Pacific Ocean in 1513.
who, when summoned to curse the Israelites, prophesied future Bal+bo-a? (bzl'baua; Spanish bal'Boa) n. a port at the Pacific
glories for them instead, after being reproached by his ass end of the Panama Canal: the administrative centre of the
(Numbers 22-23). Canal Zone. Pop.: 2569 (1970).
Bal-a+cla+va hel+met (,bzlo'kla:va) n. a close-fitting woollen bal+brig+gan (bzl'brigen) n. 1. a knitted unbleached cotton
hood that covers the ears, as originally worn by soldiers in the fabric. 2. (often pl.) underwear made of this. [C19: from
Crimean War. Balbriggan, Ireland, where it was originally made]
Ba-la-ki-rev (Russian ba'lakirif) n. Mi-ly A-lex-e-ye-vich (‘'milij bal+co+ny (‘belkenr) n., pi. «nies. 1. a platform projecting from
 bald 110 balladmonger
the wall of a building with a balustrade or railing along its outer [C20: changed from Baliuag buntal, from Baliuag in the
edge, often with access from a door or window. 2.a gallery ina Philippines, where such hats were made]
theatre or auditorium, above the dress circle. 3. U.S. the dress Ba-lik+pa+pan Gba:ltk'pa:pa:n) n. a city in Indonesia, on
circle in a theatre or auditorium. [C17: from Italian balcone, the
SE coast of Borneo. Pop.: 137 340 (1971 )i
probably from Old High German balko beam; see BALK] Ba:li+nese (,ba:I1'ni:z) adj. 1. of or relating to Bali, its people,
—'bal+co+nied adj. or their language. ~n. 2. (pl. «nese) a native or inhabitant of
bald (bo:ld) adj. 1. having no hair or fur, esp. (of a man) having Bali. 3. the language of the people of Bali, belonging to the
no hair on all or most of the scalp. 2. lacking natural growth or Malayo-Polynesian family.
covering. 3. plain or blunt: a bald statement. 4. bare or simple; Bavli-ol or Bal-li-ol (‘berlral) n. John de. 1249-1315, king
unadorned. 5. Also: bald+faced. (of certain birds and other of
Scotland (1292-96): defeated and imprisoned by Edward I of
animals) having white markings on the head and face. 6. (of a England (1296).
tyre) having a worn tread. [C14 ballede (literally: having a balk or baulk (bo:k, bo:Ik) vb. 1. (intr.; usually foll. by’ at)
white spot); related to Danish b#@ldet, Greek phalaros having a to
stop short, esp. suddenly or unexpectedly; jib: the horse balked
white spot] —'bald+ish adj. —'bald+ly adv. —'bald-ness n. at the jump. 2. (intr.; foll. by at) to turn away abruptly; recoil:
bal-da+chin, bal+da+quin (‘bo:ldekin), or bal+da+chi+no he balked at the idea of murder. 3. (tr.) to thwart, check,
Cbo:lde'ki:nau) n. 1. a richly ornamented silk and gold disappoint, or foil: he was balked in his plans. 4. (tr.) to avoid
brocade. 2. a canopy of fabric or stone over an altar, shrine, or deliberately: he balked the question. 5. (tr.) to miss uninten-
throne in a Christian church or carried in Christian religious tionally. ~n. 6. a roughly squared heavy timber beam. 7. a
processions over an object of veneration. [Old English timber tie beam of a roof. 8. an unploughed ridge to prevent
baldekin, from Italian baldacchino, literally: stuff from Bagh- soil erosion or mark a division on common land. 9. an obstacle;
dad, from Baldacco Baghdad, noted for its brocades] hindrance; disappointment. 10. Baseball. an illegal motion by a
bald cy+press_ n. another name for swamp cypress. pitcher towards the plate or towards the base when there are
bald ea-gle n. a large eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, of runners on base, esp. without delivering the ball. ~See also
North America, having a white head and tail, a yellow bill, and baulk. [Old English balca; related to Old Norse balkr partition,
dark wings and body. It is the U.S. national bird (see also Old High German balcobeam] —'balk-er or 'baulk+er n.
American eagle). Bal+kan (‘bo:lkon) adj. of, denoting, or relating to the Balkan
Bal-der ('bo:ido) n. Norse myth. a god, son of Odin and Frigg, States or their inhabitants, the Balkan Peninsula, or the Balkan
noted for his beauty and sweet nature. He was killed by a Mountains.
bough of mistletoe thrown by the blind god Héd, misled by the Bal+kan+ize or Bal+kan+ise (‘bo:lka,naiz) vb. (tr.) to divide
(a
malicious Loki. territory) into small warring states. —,Bal-kan‘i+'za-tion or
bal-+der+dash (‘bo:lda,def) n. stupid or illogical talk; senseless i\Bal-kan-i+'sa+tion n.
rubbish. [C16: of unknown origin] Bal+kan Moun+-tains pi. n. a mountain range extending across
bald+head ('bo:ld,hed) n. a person with a bald head. Bulgaria from the Black Sea to the Yugoslav border. Highest
bald+head-ed (,bo:ld'hedrd) adj. 1. having a bald head. 2. go peak: Mount Botev, 2376 m (7793 ft.).
baldheaded. (usually foll. by into, for, or at) Informal. to act Bal+kan Pen+in+su:la n. a large peninsula in SE Europe,
impetuously without regard to the consequences. between the Adriatic and Aegean Seas.
balding (‘bo:ld1y) adj. somewhat bald or becoming bald. Bal-kan States pi. n. the countries of the Balkan Peninsula:
bald+mon-ey (‘bo:ld,manz) n. another name for spignel. Yugoslavia, Rumania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, and the Euro-
bald-+pate (‘bo:ld,pert) n. 1. a person with a bald head. 2. pean part of Turkey. Also called: the Balkans.
another name for the American wigeon (see wigeon (sense 2)). Balkh (ba:lk) n. a district of N Afghanistan, corresponding to
bal+dric (‘bo:ldrrk) n. a wide silk sash or leather belt worn over ancient Bactria. Chief town: Mazar-i-Sharif.
the right shoulder to the left hip for carrying a sword, etc. Bal+khash (Russian bal'xaf) n. Lake. a salt lake in the SW
[C13: from Old French baudrei, of Frankish origin] Soviet Union, in SE Kazakhstan: fed by the Ili River. Area:
Bald-win (‘bo:idwin) n. 1. James (Arthur). born 1924, U.S. about 1800 sq. km (7000 sq. miles).
writer, whose works include the novel Go Tell it on the Moun- Bal-kis (‘belkis) n. the name in the Koran of the queen of
tain (1954). 2. Stan-ley, Ist Earl Baldwin of Bewdley. 1867- Sheba.
1947, British Conservative statesman: prime minister (1923- balk-y or baulk-y (‘bo:kz, 'bo:Ikr) adj. balk-i+er, balk-i-est or
24, 1924-29, 1932-37).
baulk-iver, baulk-i+est. inclined to stop abruptly and unex-
Bald-win I n. 1058-1118, crusader and first king of Jerusalem pectedly: a balky horse. —'balk-i-ly or ‘baulk-i+ly adv.
(1100-18), who captured Acre (1104), Beirut (1109), and Sidon —'balk-i+ness or 'baulk-i+ness n.
(1110). ball! (bo:1) n. loa spherical or nearly spherical body or mass:
a
bale! (berl) n. 1. a large bundle, esp. of a raw or partially ball of wool. 2. a round or roundish body, either solid or
hollow, of a size and composition suitable for any of various
processed material, bound by ropes, wires, etc., for storage or games, such as football, golf, billiards, etc. 3. a ball propelled
transportation: bale of hay. 2. U.S. 500 pounds of cotton. 3. a
in a particular way in a sport: a high ball. 4. any of various
group of turtles. ~vb. 4. to make (hay, etc.) into a bale or rudimentary games with a ball: to play ball. 5. Cricket. a single
bales. ~See also bale out. [C14: probably from Old French delivery of the ball by the bowler to the batsman. 6. Baseball
bale, from Old High German balla BALL!] —'bal-er n. a
single delivery of the ball by a pitcher outside certain limits and
bale? (berl) n. Archaic. 1. evil; injury. 2. woe; suffering; pain. not swung at by the batter. 7. a. a solid nonexplosive projectile
[Old English bealu; related to Old Norse bé] evil, Gothic balwa, for a firearm, cannon, etc. Compare shell (sense 6). b. such
Old High German balo] projectiles collectively. 8. any more or less rounded part or
bale? (berl) vb. a variant spelling of bail?. —'bal-+er n. protuberance: the ball of the foot. 9. Taboo slang. a testicle.
bale‘ (berl) n. a variant spelling of bail, See balls. 10. Vet. science. another word for bolus. 11. Horti-
Bale (ba:l) n. the French name for Basel. culture. the hard mass of roots and earth removed with the rest
Bal+e-ar-+ic Is+lands (,belr'errk) pl. n.a group of islands in the of the plant during transplanting. 12, ball of muscle. Austral. a
W Mediterranean, consisting of Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza, very strong, fit, or forceful person. 13. have the ball at one’s
Formentera, Cabrera, and 1] islets: a province of Spain. feet. to have the chance of doing something. 14, keep the ball
Capital: Palma, on Majorca. Pop.: 532 946 (1970). Area: 5012 rolling. to maintain the progress of a project, plan, etc. 15. on
sq. km (1935 sq. miles). Spanish name: Ba:+le-a+res (bale'ares). the ball. Informal. alert; informed. 16. play ball. Informal. to
ba+leen (boa'liin) n. whalebone. [Cl4: from Latin bdlaena cooperate. 17. start or set the ball rolling. to set a project, plan,
whale; related to Greek phalaina whale] etc., in motion; start. 18. the ball is in your court. you are
ba+leen whale _n. another name for whalebone whale. obliged to make the next move. ~vb. (tr.) 19. to make, form,
bale-fire (‘berl,faro) n. Archaic. 1.a bonfire. 2.a beacon fire. 3. wind, etc., into a ball or balls: to ball wool. [C13: from Old
a funeral pyre. [C14 bale, from Old English ba/ pyre; related Norse blir; related to Old High German balla, Italian palla,
to Old Norse bal flame, pyre, Sanskrit bhala brightness] French balle]
bale-ful (‘berlful) adj. 1. harmful, menacing, or vindictive. 2. ball? (bo:1) n. 1. a social function for dancing, esp. one that is
dejected. —'bale-ful:ly adv. —'bale+ful-ness n. lavish or formal. 2. Informal, chiefly U.S.a very enjoyable time
Ba-len-cia-ga (Spanish balen'@jaya) n. Cris-té-bal (kris'to- (esp. in the phrase have a ball). ~vb. 3. Taboo slang, chiefly
Bal). 1895-1972, Spanish couturier. U.S. to copulate (with). [C17: from French bal (n.), from Old
bale out or bail out vb. (adv.) 1. (intr.) to make an emergency French baller (vb.), from Late Latin ballare to dance, from
parachute jump from an aircraft. 2. (tr.) Informal. to help (a Greek ballizein]
person, organization, etc.) out of a predicament: the govern- Ball (bo:1) n. John. died 1381, English priest: executed as one of
ment baled the company out. 3. (intr.) Informal. to escape the leaders of the Peasants’ Revolt (1381).
from a predicament. bal+lad (‘belod) n. 1. a narrative song with a recurrent
bal+er (‘berla) n. an agricultural machine for making bales of refrain. 2. a narrative poem in short stanzas of popular origin,
originally sung to a repeated tune. 3. a slow sentimental song,
hay, etc. Also called: baling machine. esp. a pop song.
Bal-four (‘bzlfs:, -fa, -fue) n. Ar-thur James, 1st Earl of Balfour. [C15: from Old French balade, from Old
Provencal balada song accompanying a dance, from balar to
1848-1930, British Conservative statesman: prime minister dance, from Late Latin ballare; see BALL?]
(1902-05); foreign secretary (1916-19). bal+lade (bz'la:d; French ba'lad) n. 1. Prosody. a verse form
Bal-four Dec+la+ra+tion n. the statement made by Arthur consisting of three stanzas and an envoy, all ending with the
Balfour in 1917 of British support for the setting up of a same line. The first three stanzas commonly have eight or ten
national home for the Jews in Palestine, provided that the lines each and the same rhyme scheme. 2. Music. an instrumen-
rights of “existing non-Jewish communities” in Palestine could tal composition, esp. for piano, based on or intended to evoke a
be safeguarded. narrative.
Ba-li (‘ba:lr) n. an island in Indonesia, east of Java: moun-
bal+lad+eer (,bzls'dra) n. a singer of ballads.
tainous, rising over 3000 m (10 000 ft.). Capital: Singaradja.
Pop.: 2 217 000 (1974 est.). Area: 5558 sq. km (2146 sq. miles). bal+lad mettre n. the metre of a ballad stanza.
bal-lad+mon-ger (‘beled,manga) n. 1. (formerly) a seller of
bal-i-bun-+tal (,bzlr'bant?l) n. 1. closely woven fine straw, used ballads, esp. on broadsheets. 2. Derogatory. a writer of
for making hats in the Philippines. 2. a hat of this straw. mediocre poetry.