COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Collins Cobuild)

7 → see also goose bumps

8 PHRASE If someone comes down to earth with a bump , they suddenly start recognizing unpleasant facts after a period of time when they have not been doing this. [EMPHASIS ] □ [+ after ] We were brought back to earth with a bump by financial reality.

▸ bump into PHRASAL VERB If you bump into someone you know, you meet them unexpectedly. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] I happened to bump into Mervyn Johns in the hallway.

▸ bump off PHRASAL VERB To bump someone off means to kill them. [often HUMOROUS , INFORMAL ] □ [V n P ] They will probably bump you off anyway! □ [V P n] …a vigilante killer who is bumping off criminals.

bump|er /bʌ mpə ^r / (bumpers )

1 N‑COUNT Bumpers are bars at the front and back of a vehicle which protect it if it bumps into something.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] A bumper crop or harvest is one that is larger than usual. □ …a bumper crop of rice. □ In the state of Iowa, it's been a bumper year for corn.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] If you say that something is bumper size, you mean that it is very large. □ …bumper profits. □ …a bumper pack of matches.

bu mp|er car (bumper cars ) N‑COUNT A bumper car is a small electric car with a wide rubber bumper all round. People drive bumper cars around a special enclosure at a fairground.

bu mp|er stick|er (bumper stickers ) N‑COUNT A bumper sticker is a small piece of paper or plastic with words or pictures on it, designed for sticking onto the back of your car. It usually has a political, religious, or humorous message. □ …a bumper sticker that said, 'Happiness Is Being a Grandmother'.

bumph /bʌ mf/ → see bumf

bump|kin /bʌ mpk I n/ (bumpkins ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a bumpkin , you think they are uneducated and stupid because they come from the countryside. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …unsophisticated country bumpkins.

bump|tious /bʌ mpʃəs/ ADJ If you say that someone is bumptious , you are criticizing them because they are very pleased with themselves and their opinions. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a bumptious bureaucrat.

bumpy /bʌ mpi/ (bumpier , bumpiest )

1 ADJ A bumpy road or path has a lot of bumps on it. □ …bumpy cobbled streets.

2 ADJ A bumpy journey is uncomfortable and rough, usually because you are travelling over an uneven surface. □ …a hot and bumpy ride across the desert.

bun /bʌ n/ (buns )

1 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] Buns are small bread rolls. They are sometimes sweet and may contain dried fruit or spices. □ …a currant bun.

2 N‑COUNT Buns are small sweet cakes. They often have icing on the top. [BRIT ]

3 N‑COUNT If a woman has her hair in a bun , she has fastened it tightly on top of her head or at the back of her head in the shape of a ball.

4 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Your buns are your buttocks. [mainly AM , INFORMAL ] □ I'd pinch his buns and kiss his neck.

bunch ◆◇◇ /bʌ ntʃ/ (bunches , bunching , bunched )

1 N‑COUNT [usu sing, adj N ] A bunch of people is a group of people who share one or more characteristics or who are doing something together. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] My neighbours are a bunch of busybodies. □ [+ of ] We were a pretty inexperienced bunch of people really. □ The players were a great bunch.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A bunch of flowers is a number of flowers with their stalks held or tied together. □ [+ of ] He had left a huge bunch of flowers in her hotel room.

3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A bunch of bananas or grapes is a group of them growing on the same stem. □ [+ of ] Lili had fallen asleep clutching a fat bunch of grapes.

4 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A bunch of keys is a set of keys kept together on a metal ring. □ [+ of ] George took out a bunch of keys and went to work on the complicated lock.

5 QUANT A bunch of things is a number of things, especially a large number. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] We did a bunch of songs together. ● PRON Bunch is also a pronoun. □ I'd like to adopt a multi-racial child. In fact, I'd love a whole bunch.

6 N‑PLURAL [usu in N ] If a girl has her hair in bunches , it is parted down the middle and tied on each side of her head. [BRIT ]

7 VERB If clothing bunches around a part of your body, it forms a set of creases around it. □ [V + around ] She clutches the sides of her skirt until it bunches around her waist.

▸ bunch up or bunch together PHRASAL VERB If people or things bunch up or bunch together , or if you bunch them up or bunch them together , they move close to each other so that they form a small tight group. □ [V P ] They were bunching up, almost treading upon each other's heels. □ [V -ed P ] People were bunched up at all the exits. □ [V n P ] If they need to bunch aircraft more closely together, they will do so.

bun|dle /bʌ nd ^ə l/ (bundles , bundling , bundled )

1 N‑COUNT A bundle of things is a number of them that are tied together or wrapped in a cloth or bag so that they can be carried or stored. □ [+ of ] He gathered the bundles of clothing into his arms. □ I have about 20 year's magazines tied up in bundles.

2 N‑SING If you describe someone as, for example, a bundle of fun, you are emphasizing that they are full of fun. If you describe someone as a bundle of nerves, you are emphasizing that they are very nervous. [EMPHASIS ] □ [+ of ] I remember Mickey as a bundle of fun, great to have around. □ [+ of ] Life at high school wasn't a bundle of laughs, either.

3 N‑COUNT If you refer to a bundle of things, you are emphasizing that there is a wide range of them. [EMPHASIS ] □ [+ of ] The profession offers a bundle of benefits, not least of which is extensive training.

4 VERB If someone is bundled somewhere, someone pushes them there in a rough and hurried way. □ [be V -ed prep/adv] He was bundled into a car and driven 50 miles to a police station. [Also V n prep/adv]

5 VERB To bundle software means to sell it together with a computer, or with other hardware or software, as part of a set. [COMPUTING ] □ [V -ed] It's cheaper to buy software bundled with a PC than separately.

bung /bʌ ŋ/ (bungs , bunging , bunged )

1 N‑COUNT A bung is a round piece of wood, cork, or rubber which you use to close the hole in a container such as a barrel or flask.

2 VERB If you bung something somewhere, you put it there in a quick and careless way. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V n prep/adv] Pour a whole lot of cold water over the rice, and bung it in the oven.

3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something is bunged up , it is blocked. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ The sink's bunged up again. □ My nose is all bunged up.

bun|ga|low /bʌ ŋgəloʊ/ (bungalows ) N‑COUNT A bungalow is a house which has only one level, and no stairs. WORD HISTORY bungalow

Bungalow comes from Hindi banglā meaning 'of Bengal'. A bungalow was originally a house of the style generally occupied by Europeans in Bengal, a one-storey house with a verandah round it and a thatched roof.

bungee jump|ing /bʌ ndʒi dʒʌmp I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT If someone goes bungee jumping , they jump from a high place such as a bridge or cliff with a long piece of strong elastic cord tied around their ankle connecting them to the bridge or cliff.

bun|gle /bʌ ŋg ^ə l/ (bungles , bungling , bungled ) VERB If you bungle something, you fail to do it properly, because you make mistakes or are clumsy. □ [V n] Two prisoners bungled an escape bid after running either side of a lamp-post while handcuffed. □ [V -ed] …the FBI's bungled attempt to end the 51 day siege. ● N‑COUNT Bungle is also a noun. □ …an appalling administrative bungle. ● bun|gling ADJ □ …a bungling burglar.

bun|gler /bʌ ŋglə ^r / (bunglers ) N‑COUNT A bungler is a person who often fails to do things properly because they make mistakes or are clumsy.

bun|ion /bʌ njən/ (bunions ) N‑COUNT A bunion is a large painful lump on the first joint of a person's big toe.

bunk /bʌ ŋk/ (bunks )

1 N‑COUNT A bunk is a bed that is fixed to a wall, especially in a ship or caravan. □ He left his bunk and went up on deck again.

2 N‑UNCOUNT If you describe something as bunk , you think that it is foolish or untrue. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Even those who think psychoanalysis is bunk might find that lying on a couch being listened to is worthwhile.

bu nk bed (bunk beds ) N‑COUNT Bunk beds are two beds fixed one above the other in a frame.

bun|ker /bʌ ŋkə ^r / (bunkers )

1 N‑COUNT A bunker is a place, usually underground, that has been built with strong walls to protect it against heavy gunfire and bombing. □ …an extensive network of fortified underground bunkers.

2 N‑COUNT A bunker is a container for coal or other fuel.

3 N‑COUNT On a golf course, a bunker is a large area filled with sand, which is deliberately put there as an obstacle that golfers must try to avoid.

bun|kum /bʌ ŋkəm/ N‑UNCOUNT If you say that something that has been said or written is bunkum , you mean that you think it is completely untrue or very stupid. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED , DISAPPROVAL ]

bun|ny /bʌ ni/ (bunnies ) N‑COUNT A bunny or a bunny rabbit is a child's word for a rabbit. [INFORMAL ]

bunt|ing /bʌ nt I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Bunting consists of rows of small coloured flags that are used to decorate streets and buildings on special occasions. □ Red, white and blue bunting hung in the city's renovated train station.

buoy /bɔ I , [AM ] buː i/ (buoys , buoying , buoyed )

1 N‑COUNT A buoy is a floating object that is used to show ships and boats where they can go and to warn them of danger.

2 VERB If someone in a difficult situation is buoyed by something, it makes them feel more cheerful and optimistic. □ [be V -ed + by ] In May they danced in the streets, buoyed by their victory. □ [V n] German domestic consumption buoyed the German economy. ● PHRASAL VERB Buoy up means the same as buoy . □ [be V -ed P ] They are buoyed up by a sense of hope. [Also V n P ]

buoy|an|cy /bɔ I ənsi/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Buoyancy is the ability that something has to float on a liquid or in the air. □ Air can be pumped into the diving suit to increase buoyancy.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Buoyancy is a feeling of cheerfulness. □ …a mood of buoyancy and optimism.

3 N‑UNCOUNT There is economic buoyancy when the economy is growing. □ The likelihood is that the slump will be followed by a period of buoyancy.

buoy|ant /bɔ I ənt/

1 ADJ If you are in a buoyant mood, you feel cheerful and behave in a lively way. □ You will feel more buoyant and optimistic about the future than you have for a long time.

2 ADJ A buoyant economy is a successful one in which there is a lot of trade and economic activity. □ We have a buoyant economy and unemployment is considerably lower than the regional average. □ Analysts expect the share price to remain buoyant.

3 ADJ A buoyant object floats on a liquid. □ This was such a small and buoyant boat.

bur|ble /bɜː ^r b ^ə l/ (burbles , burbling , burbled )

1 VERB If something burbles , it makes a low continuous bubbling sound. □ [V prep] The water burbled over gravel. □ [V ] The river gurgled and burbled.

2 VERB If you say that someone is burbling , you mean that they are talking in a confused way. □ [V n] He burbled something incomprehensible. □ [V + about ] Key burbled about the wonderful people who contribute to tourism. □ [V + on about ] He burbles on about freedom. [Also V that, V with quote]

bur|den ◆◇◇ /bɜː ^r d ^ə n/ (burdens , burdening , burdened )

1 N‑COUNT If you describe a problem or a responsibility as a burden , you mean that it causes someone a lot of difficulty, worry, or hard work. □ [+ of ] The developing countries bear the burden of an enormous external debt. □ Her death will be an impossible burden on Paul. □ The financial burden will be more evenly shared. [Also + on ]

2 N‑COUNT A burden is a heavy load that is difficult to carry. [FORMAL ]

3 VERB If someone burdens you with something that is likely to worry you, for example a problem or a difficult decision, they tell you about it. □ [V n + with ] We decided not to burden him with the news. [Also V n]

4 → see also beast of burden COLLOCATIONS burden NOUN 1

noun + burden : debt, tax

adjective + burden : heavy, huge, intolerable, unsustainable; administrative, economic, financial

verb + burden : impose, increase, place; bear, carry, share, shoulder; ease, lift, reduce, shift

bur|dened /bɜː ^r d ^ə nd/

1 ADJ If you are burdened with something, it causes you a lot of worry or hard work. □ [+ with ] Nicaragua was burdened with a foreign debt of $11 billion. □ [+ by ] They may be burdened by guilt and regret.

2 ADJ If you describe someone as burdened with a heavy load, you are emphasizing that it is very heavy and that they are holding it or carrying it with difficulty. [EMPHASIS ] □ [+ by ] Anna and Rosemary arrived, burdened by bags and food baskets. [Also + with ]

bur|den|some /bɜː ^r d ^ə nsəm/ ADJ If you describe something as burdensome , you mean it is worrying or hard to deal with. [WRITTEN ] □ …a burdensome debt. □ The load was too burdensome.

bu|reau /bjʊə roʊ/ The usual plural in British English is bureaux . The usual plural in American English is bureaus . 1 N‑COUNT A bureau is an office, organization, or government department that collects and distributes information. □ [+ of ] …the Federal Bureau of Investigation. □ …the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

2 N‑COUNT A bureau is an office of a company or organization which has its main office in another town or country. [mainly AM , BUSINESS ] □ …the Wall Street Journal's Washington bureau.

3 N‑COUNT A bureau is a writing desk with shelves and drawers and a lid that opens to form the writing surface. [BRIT ]

4 N‑COUNT A bureau is a chest of drawers. [AM ]

bu|reau|cra|cy /bjʊrɒ krəsi/ (bureaucracies )

1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A bureaucracy is an administrative system operated by a large number of officials. □ State bureaucracies can tend to stifle enterprise and initiative.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Bureaucracy refers to all the rules and procedures followed by government departments and similar organizations, especially when you think that these are complicated and cause long delays. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ People usually complain about having to deal with too much bureaucracy.

bu|reau|crat /bjʊə rəkræt/ (bureaucrats ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Bureaucrats are officials who work in a large administrative system. You can refer to officials as bureaucrats especially if you disapprove of them because they seem to follow rules and procedures too strictly. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The economy is still controlled by bureaucrats.

bu|reau|crat|ic /bjʊə rəkræ t I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Bureaucratic means involving complicated rules and procedures which can cause long delays. □ Diplomats believe that bureaucratic delays are inevitable. □ The department has become a bureaucratic nightmare.

bu|reaux /bjʊə roʊz/ Bureaux is a plural form of bureau .

bur|geon /bɜː ^r dʒ ^ə n/ (burgeons , burgeoning , burgeoned ) VERB If something burgeons , it grows or develops rapidly. [LITERARY ] □ [V ] My confidence began to burgeon later in life. □ [V -ing] …Japan's burgeoning satellite-TV industry.

burg|er /bɜː ^r gə ^r / (burgers ) N‑COUNT A burger is a flat round mass of minced meat or vegetables, which is fried and often eaten in a bread roll. □ …burger and chips. □ …vegetable burgers.

burgh|er /bɜː ^r gə ^r / (burghers ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] The burghers of a town or city are the people who live there, especially the richer or more respectable people. [OLD-FASHIONED ]

bur|glar /bɜː ^r glə ^r / (burglars ) N‑COUNT A burglar is a thief who enters a house or other building by force. □ Burglars broke into their home.

bu r|glar alarm (burglar alarms ) N‑COUNT A burglar alarm is an electric device that makes a bell ring loudly if someone tries to enter a building by force.

bur|glar|ize /bɜː ^r gləra I z/ (burglarizes , burglarizing , burglarized ) VERB [usu passive] If a building is burglarized , a thief enters it by force and steals things. [AM ] □ [be V -ed] Her home was burglarized. in BRIT, use burgle

bur|gla|ry /bɜː ^r gləri/ (burglaries ) N‑VAR If someone commits a burglary , they enter a building by force and steal things. Burglary is the act of doing this. □ An 11-year-old boy committed a burglary. □ He's been arrested for burglary.

bur|gle /bɜː ^r g ^ə l/ (burgles , burgling , burgled ) VERB If a building is burgled , a thief enters it by force and steals things. [BRIT ] □ [be V -ed] I found that my flat had been burgled. □ [V n] Two teenagers burgled the home of Mr Jones's mother. in AM, use burglarize

bur|gun|dy /bɜː ^r gəndi/ (burgundies )

1 COLOUR Burgundy is used to describe things that are purplish-red in colour. □ He was wearing a burgundy polyester jacket. □ …burgundy-coloured armchairs.

2 N‑VAR Burgundy is a type of wine. It can be white or red in colour and comes from the region of France called Burgundy. □ …a bottle of white burgundy.

bur|ial /be riəl/ (burials ) N‑VAR A burial is the act or ceremony of putting a dead body into a grave in the ground. □ The priest prepared the body for burial. □ He can have a decent burial.

bu r|ial ground (burial grounds ) N‑COUNT A burial ground is a place where bodies are buried, especially an ancient place. □ …an ancient burial ground.

bur|lap /bɜː ^r læp/ N‑UNCOUNT Burlap is a thick, rough fabric that is used for making sacks. [AM ] □ …a burlap sack. in BRIT, use hessian

bur|lesque /bɜː ^r le sk/ (burlesques ) N‑VAR A burlesque is a performance or a piece of writing that makes fun of something by copying it in an exaggerated way. You can also use burlesque to refer to a situation in real life that is like this. □ The book read like a black comic burlesque. □ …a trio of burlesque Moscow stereotypes.

bur|ly /bɜː ^r li/ (burlier , burliest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] A burly man has a broad body and strong muscles. □ He was a big, burly man.

Bur|mese /bɜː ^r miː z/ (Burmese )

1 ADJ Burmese means belonging or relating to Burma, or to its people, language, or culture. Burma is now known as Myanmar.

2 N‑COUNT A Burmese is a person who comes from Burma.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Burmese is the main language spoken by the people who live in Burma, now known as Myanmar.

burn ◆◆◇ /bɜː ^r n/ (burns , burning , burned , burnt ) The past tense and past participle is burned in American English, and burned or burnt in British English. 1 VERB If there is a fire or a flame somewhere, you say that there is a fire or flame burning there. □ [V ] Fires were burning out of control in the center of the city. □ [V ] There was a fire burning in the large fireplace.

2 VERB If something is burning , it is on fire. □ [V ] When I arrived one of the vehicles was still burning. □ [V -ing] That boy was rescued from a burning house. ● burn|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ When we arrived in our village there was a terrible smell of burning.

3 VERB If you burn something, you destroy or damage it with fire. □ [V n] Protesters set cars on fire and burned a building. □ [V n] Coal fell out of the fire, and burned the carpet. ● burn|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the burning of the great library at Alexandria.

4 VERB If you burn a fuel or if it burns , it is used to produce heat, light, or energy. □ [V n] The power stations burn coal from the Ruhr region. □ [V ] Manufacturers are working with new fuels to find one that burns more cleanly than petrol.

5 VERB If you burn something that you are cooking or if it burns , you spoil it by using too much heat or cooking it for too long. □ [V n] I burnt the toast. □ [V ] Watch them carefully as they finish cooking because they can burn easily. ● burnt ADJ □ …the smell of burnt toast.

6 VERB If you burn part of your body, burn yourself , or are burnt , you are injured by fire or by something very hot. □ [V n] Take care not to burn your fingers. □ [be V -ed] If you are badly burnt, seek medical attention. [Also V pron-refl] ● N‑COUNT Burn is also a noun. □ She suffered appalling burns to her back.

7 VERB [usu passive] If someone is burnt or burnt to death, they are killed by fire. □ [be V -ed + as ] Women were burned as witches in the middle ages. □ [be V -ed + to ] At least 80 people were burnt to death when their bus caught fire.

8 VERB If a light is burning , it is shining. [LITERARY ] □ [V ] The building was darkened except for a single light burning in a third-story window.

9 VERB [usu cont] If your face is burning , it is red because you are embarrassed or upset. □ [V ] Liz's face was burning.

10 VERB If you are burning with an emotion or are burning to do something, you feel that emotion or the desire to do that thing very strongly. □ [V + with ] The young boy was burning with a fierce ambition. □ [V to-inf] Dan burned to know what the reason could be.

11 VERB If you burn or get burned in the sun, the sun makes your skin become red and sore. □ [V ] Build up your tan slowly and don't allow your skin to burn. □ [V n] Summer sun can burn fair skin in minutes.

12 VERB If a part of your body burns or if something burns it, it has a painful, hot, or stinging feeling. □ [V ] My eyes burn from staring at the needle. □ [V + with ] His face was burning with cold. □ [V n] …delicious Indian recipes which won't burn your throat.

13 VERB To burn a CD-ROM means to write or copy data onto it. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n] You can use this software to burn custom compilations of your favorite tunes.

14 → see also burning

15 to burn the candle at both ends → see candle

16 to get your fingers burned → see finger

17 to burn something to the ground → see ground

18 to burn the midnight oil → see midnight

19 to have money to burn → see money

▸ burn down PHRASAL VERB If a building burns down or if someone burns it down , it is completely destroyed by fire. □ [V P ] Six months after Bud died, the house burned down. □ [V P n] Anarchists burnt down a restaurant. [Also V n P ]

▸ burn off PHRASAL VERB If someone burns off energy, they use it. □ [V P n] This will improve your performance and help you burn off calories. [Also V n P ]

▸ burn out

1 PHRASAL VERB If a fire burns itself out , it stops burning because there is nothing left to burn. □ [V pron-refl P ] Fire officials let the fire burn itself out.

2 → see also burnout , burnt-out

▸ burn up

1 PHRASAL VERB If something burns up or if fire burns it up , it is completely destroyed by fire or strong heat. □ [V P ] The satellite re-entered the atmosphere and burned up. □ [V P n] Fires have burned up 180,000 acres of timber. [Also V n P ]

2 PHRASAL VERB If something burns up fuel or energy, it uses it. □ [V P n] Brisk walking burns up more calories than slow jogging. [Also V n P ] COLLOCATIONS burn VERB 2

burn + adverb : brightly, fiercely NOUN 6

adjective + burn : horrific, serious, severe; minor

verb + burn : suffer

bu rned-ou t → see burnt-out

burn|er /bɜː ^r nə ^r / (burners )

1 N‑COUNT A burner is a device which produces heat or a flame, especially as part of a cooker, stove, or heater. □ He put the frying pan on the gas burner.

2 → see also back burner , front burner

burn|ing /bɜː ^r n I ŋ/

1 ADJ You use burning to describe something that is extremely hot. □ …the burning desert of Central Asia. ● ADV [ADV adj] Burning is also an adverb. □ He touched the boy's forehead. It was burning hot.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you have a burning interest in something or a burning desire to do something, you are extremely interested in it or want to do it very much. □ I had a burning ambition to become a journalist. □ She had a burning desire to wreak revenge.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] A burning issue or question is a very important or urgent one that people feel very strongly about. □ The burning question is: whose taxes should be raised?

bur|nish /bɜː ^r n I ʃ/ (burnishes , burnishing , burnished ) VERB To burnish the image of someone or something means to improve their image. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] It was a move that has burnished Mr Hu's populist credentials.

bur|nished /bɜː ^r n I ʃt/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can describe something as burnished when it is bright or smooth. [LITERARY ] □ The clouds glowed like burnished gold.

burn|out /bɜː ^r naʊt/ also burn-out N‑UNCOUNT If someone suffers burnout , they exhaust themselves at an early stage in their life or career because they have achieved too much too quickly. [INFORMAL ]

burnt /bɜː ^r nt/ Burnt is a past tense and past participle of burn .

bu rnt-out also burned-out

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Burnt-out vehicles or buildings have been so badly damaged by fire that they can no longer be used. □ …a burnt-out car.

2 ADJ If someone is burnt-out , they exhaust themselves at an early stage in their life or career because they have achieved too much too quickly. [INFORMAL ] □ But everyone I know who kept it up at that intensity is burnt out.

burp /bɜː ^r p/ (burps , burping , burped ) VERB When someone burps , they make a noise because air from their stomach has been forced up through their throat. □ [V ] Charlie burped loudly. ● N‑COUNT Burp is also a noun. □ There followed a barely audible burp.

burqa /bɜː ^r kə/ also burka (burqas ) N‑COUNT A burqa is a long garment that covers the head and body and is traditionally worn by women in Islamic countries.

burr /bɜː ^r / (burrs ) The spelling bur is also used for meaning 1 . 1 N‑COUNT A burr is the part of some plants which contains seeds and which has little hooks on the outside so that it sticks to clothes or fur.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If someone has a burr , they speak English with a regional accent in which 'r' sounds are pronounced more strongly than in the standard British way of speaking. □ …a warm West Country burr.

bur|row /bʌ roʊ, [AM ] bɜː -/ (burrows , burrowing , burrowed )

1 N‑COUNT A burrow is a tunnel or hole in the ground that is dug by an animal such as a rabbit.

2 VERB If an animal burrows into the ground or into a surface, it moves through it by making a tunnel or hole. □ [V prep/adv] The larvae burrow into cracks in the floor.

3 VERB If you burrow in a container or pile of things, you search there for something using your hands. □ [V prep/adv] He burrowed into the pile of charts feverishly.

4 VERB If you burrow into something, you move underneath it or press against it, usually in order to feel warmer or safer. □ [V prep/adv] She turned her face away from him, burrowing into her heap of covers.

bur|sar /bɜː ^r sə ^r / (bursars ) N‑COUNT The bursar of a school or college is the person who is in charge of its finance or general administration.

bur|sa|ry /bɜː ^r səri/ (bursaries ) N‑COUNT A bursary is a sum of money which is given to someone to allow them to study in a college or university. [mainly BRIT ]

burst ◆◇◇ /bɜː ^r st/ (bursts , bursting ) The form burst is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle. 1 VERB If something bursts or if you burst it, it suddenly breaks open or splits open and the air or other substance inside it comes out. □ [V ] The driver lost control when a tyre burst. □ [V n] It is not a good idea to burst a blister. □ [V -ed] …a flood caused by a burst pipe.

2 VERB If a dam bursts , or if something bursts it, it breaks apart because the force of the river is too great. □ [V ] A dam burst and flooded their villages. [Also V n]

3 VERB If a river bursts its banks, the water rises and goes on to the land. □ [V n] Monsoons caused the river to burst its banks.

4 VERB When a door or lid bursts open, it opens very suddenly and violently because someone pushes it or there is great pressure behind it. □ [V open ] The door burst open and an angry young nurse appeared. [Also V apart ]

5 VERB To burst into or out of a place means to enter or leave it suddenly with a lot of energy or force. □ [V prep/adv] Gunmen burst into his home and opened fire.

6 VERB If you say that something bursts onto the scene, you mean that it suddenly starts or becomes active, usually after developing quietly for some time. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V + onto/upon ] He burst onto the fashion scene in the early 1980s.

7 N‑COUNT A burst of something is a sudden short period of it. □ [+ of ] …a burst of machine-gun fire. □ The current flows in little bursts.

▸ burst into

1 PHRASAL VERB If you burst into tears, laughter, or song, you suddenly begin to cry, laugh, or sing. □ [V P n] She burst into tears and ran from the kitchen. □ [V P n] …books that cause adults to burst into helpless laughter.

2 PHRASAL VERB If you say that something bursts into a particular situation or state, you mean that it suddenly changes into that situation or state. □ [V P n] This weekend's fighting is threatening to burst into full-scale war.

3 to burst into flames → see flame

▸ burst out PHRASAL VERB If someone bursts out laughing, crying, or making another noise, they suddenly start making that noise. You can also say that a noise bursts out . □ [V P v-ing] The class burst out laughing. □ [V P ] Then the applause burst out. □ [V P + into/in ] Everyone burst out into conversation.

burst|ing /bɜː ^r st I ŋ/

1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a place is bursting with people or things, it is full of them. □ [+ with ] The place appears to be bursting with young directors. □ [+ with ] …a terraced vegetable garden, bursting with produce.

2 ADJ [v-link ADJ with n] If you say that someone is bursting with a feeling or quality, you mean that they have a great deal of it. □ [+ with ] I was bursting with curiosity. □ [+ with ] …a character bursting with energy and vivacity.

3 ADJ If you are bursting to do something, you are very eager to do it. [INFORMAL ] □ She was bursting to tell everyone.

4 → see also burst

bury ◆◇◇ /be ri/ (buries , burying , buried )

1 VERB To bury something means to put it into a hole in the ground and cover it up with earth. □ [V n prep/adv] They make the charcoal by burying wood in the ground and then slowly burning it. □ [V n] …squirrels who bury nuts and seeds. □ [V -ed] …buried treasure.

2 VERB To bury a dead person means to put their body into a grave and cover it with earth. □ [V n] …soldiers who helped to bury the dead in large communal graves. □ [V n adj] I was horrified that people would think I was dead and bury me alive. □ [V -ed] More than 9,000 men lie buried here.

3 VERB If someone says they have buried one of their relatives, they mean that one of their relatives has died. □ [V n] He had buried his wife some two years before he retired.

4 VERB If you bury something under a large quantity of things, you put it there, often in order to hide it. □ [be V -ed prep/adv] I was looking for my handbag, which was buried under a pile of old newspapers.

5 VERB If something buries a place or person, it falls on top of them so that it completely covers them and often harms them in some way. □ [V n] Latest reports say that mud slides buried entire villages. □ [V -ed] He was buried under the debris for several hours.

6 VERB If you bury your head or face in something, you press your head or face against it, often because you are unhappy. □ [V n prep/adv] She buried her face in the pillows.

7 VERB If something buries itself somewhere, or if you bury it there, it is pushed very deeply in there. □ [V pron-refl prep/adv] The missile buried itself deep in the grassy hillside. □ [V -ed] He stood on the sidewalk with his hands buried in the pockets of his dark overcoat. [Also V n prep/adv]

8 to bury the hatchet → see hatchet

bus ◆◇◇ /bʌ s/ (buses , busses , bussing , bussed ) The plural form of the noun is buses . The third person singular of the verb is busses . American English uses the spellings buses , busing , bused for the verb. 1 N‑COUNT [oft by N ] A bus is a large motor vehicle which carries passengers from one place to another. Buses drive along particular routes, and you have to pay to travel in them. □ He missed his last bus home. □ They had to travel everywhere by bus.

2 VERB When someone is bussed to a particular place or when they bus there, they travel there on a bus. □ [be V -ed adv/prep] Students from around the country are being bussed in for the protest. □ [V adv/prep] To get our Colombian visas we bussed back to Medellin. □ [V -ed] Essential services were provided by Serbian workers bussed in from outside the province.

3 VERB [usu passive] In some parts of the United States, when children are bused to school, they are transported by bus to a school in a different area so that children of different races can be educated together. □ [be V -ed adv/prep] Many schools were in danger of closing because the children were bused out to other areas. ● bus|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ The courts ordered busing to desegregate the schools.

bu s boy (bus boys ) N‑COUNT A bus boy is someone whose job is to set or clear tables in a restaurant. [AM ]

bush /bʊ ʃ/ (bushes )

1 N‑COUNT A bush is a large plant which is smaller than a tree and has a lot of branches. □ Trees and bushes grew down to the water's edge.

2 N‑SING [oft N n] The wild, uncultivated parts of some hot countries are referred to as the bush . □ They walked through the dense Mozambican bush for thirty six hours.

3 PHRASE If you tell someone not to beat about the bush , you mean that you want them to tell you something immediately and quickly, rather than in a complicated, indirect way. □ Stop beating about the bush. What's he done?

bushed /bʊ ʃt/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that you are bushed , you mean that you are extremely tired. [INFORMAL ] □ I'm bushed. I'm going to bed.

bush|el /bʊ ʃ ^ə l/ (bushels ) N‑COUNT A bushel is a unit of volume that is used for measuring agricultural produce such as corn or beans. A bushel is equivalent in volume to eight gallons.

Bush|man /bʊ ʃmæn/ (Bushmen ) N‑COUNT A Bushman is an aboriginal person from the southwestern part of Africa, especially the Kalahari desert region.

bushy /bʊ ʃi/ (bushier , bushiest )

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Bushy hair or fur is very thick. □ …bushy eyebrows. □ …a bushy tail.

2 ADJ A bushy plant has a lot of leaves very close together. □ …strong, sturdy, bushy plants.

busi|ly /b I z I li/ ADV [ADV with v] If you do something busily , you do it in a very active way. □ The two saleswomen were busily trying to keep up with the demand.

busi|ness ◆◆◆ /b I zn I s/ (businesses )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Business is work relating to the production, buying, and selling of goods or services. □ …young people seeking a career in business. □ Jennifer has an impressive academic and business background. □ …Harvard Business School.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Business is used when talking about how many products or services a company is able to sell. If business is good, a lot of products or services are being sold and if business is bad, few of them are being sold. □ They worried that German companies would lose business. □ Business is booming.

3 N‑COUNT A business is an organization which produces and sells goods or which provides a service. □ The company was a family business. □ The majority of small businesses go broke within the first twenty-four months. □ He was short of cash after the collapse of his business.

4 N‑UNCOUNT [oft on N ] Business is work or some other activity that you do as part of your job and not for pleasure. □ I'm here on business. □ You can't mix business with pleasure. □ …business trips.

5 N‑SING You can use business to refer to a particular area of work or activity in which the aim is to make a profit. □ May I ask you what business you're in? □ …the music business.

6 N‑SING You can use business to refer to something that you are doing or concerning yourself with. □ …recording Ben as he goes about his business. □ [+ of ] There was nothing left for the teams to do but get on with the business of racing.

7 N‑UNCOUNT You can use business to refer to important matters that you have to deal with. □ The most important business was left to the last. □ I've got some unfinished business to attend to.

8 N‑UNCOUNT [with poss] If you say that something is your business , you mean that it concerns you personally and that other people have no right to ask questions about it or disagree with it. □ My sex life is my business. □ If she doesn't want the police involved, that's her business. □ It's not our business.

9 N‑SING You can use business to refer in a general way to an event, situation, or activity. For example, you can say something is 'a wretched business' or you can refer to 'this assassination business'. □ We have sorted out this wretched business at last. □ This whole business is very puzzling.

10 N‑SING You can use business when describing a task that is unpleasant in some way. For example, if you say that doing something is a costly business , you mean that it costs a lot. [INFORMAL ] □ Coastal defence is a costly business. □ Parenting can be a stressful business.

11 → see also big business , show business

12 PHRASE If two people or companies do business with each other, one sells goods or services to the other. □ [+ with ] I was fascinated by the different people who did business with me.

13 PHRASE If you say that someone has no business to be in a place or to do something, you mean that they have no right to be there or to do it. □ Really I had no business to be there at all.

14 PHRASE A company that is in business is operating and trading. □ You can't stay in business without cash.

15 PHRASE If you say you are in business , you mean you have everything you need to start something immediately. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ All you need is a microphone, and you're in business.

16 PHRASE If you say that someone means business , you mean they are serious and determined about what they are doing. [INFORMAL ] □ Now people are starting to realise that he means business.

17 PHRASE If you say to someone ' mind your own business ' or ' it's none of your business ', you are rudely telling them not to ask about something that does not concern them. [INFORMAL ] □ I asked Laura what was wrong and she told me to mind my own business.

18 PHRASE If a shop or company goes out of business or is put out of business , it has to stop trading because it is not making enough money. □ Thousands of firms could go out of business.

19 PHRASE In a difficult situation, if you say it is business as usual , you mean that people will continue doing what they normally do. □ The Queen was determined to show it was business as usual. USAGE business

When you use business in the sense of making, buying, and selling goods or services, don’t say ‘a business’. Don’t say, for example, ‘ We’ve got a business to do ’. Say ‘We’ve got some business to do’. □ Are you in San Francisco for business or pleasure? COLLOCATIONS business NOUN

2

business + be + adjective : booming, brisk, good; slow

verb + business : lose

3

noun + business : family; investment

adjective + business : local, small; profitable, successful

verb + business : expand, run, set up, start; buy, sell; value

5

noun + business : entertainment, music

7

adjective + business : important, unfinished

bu si|ness a n|gel (business angels ) N‑COUNT A business angel is a person who gives financial support to a commercial venture and receives a share of any profits from it, but who does not expect to be involved in its management.

bu si|ness card (business cards ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] A person's business card or their card is a small card which they give to other people, and which has their name and details of their job and company printed on it.

bu si|ness cla ss ADJ [ADJ n] Business class seating on an aeroplane costs less than first class but more than economy class. □ You can pay to be upgraded to a business class seat. ● ADV [ADV after v] Business class is also an adverb. □ They flew business class. ● N‑UNCOUNT Business class is the business class seating on an aeroplane. □ The Australian team will be seated in business class.

bu si|ness end N‑SING The business end of a tool or weapon is the end of it which does the work or causes damage rather than the end that you hold. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the business end of a vacuum cleaner.

bu si|ness hours N‑PLURAL Business hours are the hours of the day in which a shop or a company is open for business. □ All showrooms are staffed during business hours.

business|like /b I znəsla I k/ ADJ If you describe someone as businesslike , you mean that they deal with things in an efficient way without wasting time. □ Mr. Penn sounds quite businesslike. □ This activity was carried on in a businesslike manner.

business|man ◆◇◇ /b I zn I smæn/ (businessmen ) N‑COUNT A businessman is a man who works in business.

bu si|ness per|son (business people ) N‑COUNT Business people are people who work in business. □ …a self-employed business person.

bu si|ness plan (business plans ) N‑COUNT A business plan is a detailed plan for setting up or developing a business, especially one that is written in order to borrow money. □ [+ for ] She learned how to write a business plan for the catering business she wanted to launch.

bu si|ness school (business schools ) N‑COUNT A business school is a school or college which teaches business subjects such as economics and management.

business|woman /b I zn I swʊmən/ (businesswomen ) N‑COUNT A businesswoman is a woman who works in business.

busk /bʌ sk/ (busks , busking , busked ) VERB People who busk play music or sing for money in the streets or other public places. [BRIT ] □ [V ] They spent their free time in Glasgow busking in Argyle Street. ● busk|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ Passers-by in the area have been treated to some high-quality busking.

busk|er /bʌ skə ^r / (buskers ) N‑COUNT A busker is a person who sings or plays music for money in streets and other public places. [BRIT ]

bu s lane (bus lanes ) N‑COUNT A bus lane is a part of the road which is intended to be used only by buses.

bus|load /bʌ sloʊd/ (busloads ) N‑COUNT A busload of people is a large number of passengers on a bus. □ [+ of ] …a busload of Japanese tourists.

bus|man's holi|day /bʌ smənz hɒ l I de I / N‑SING If you have a holiday, but spend it doing something similar to your usual work, you can refer to it as a busman's holiday .

bu s shel|ter (bus shelters ) N‑COUNT A bus shelter is a bus stop that has a roof and at least one open side.

bu s stop (bus stops ) N‑COUNT A bus stop is a place on a road where buses stop to let passengers on and off.

bust /bʌ st/ (busts , busting , busted ) The form bust is used as the present tense of the verb, and can also be used as the past tense and past participle. 1 VERB If you bust something, you break it or damage it so badly that it cannot be used. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] They will have to bust the door to get him out.

2 VERB [usu passive] If someone is busted , the police arrest them. [INFORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] They were busted for possession of cannabis.

3 VERB If police bust a place, they go to it in order to arrest people who are doing something illegal. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] …police success in busting UK-based drug factories. ● N‑COUNT Bust is also a noun. □ Six tons of cocaine were seized last week in Panama's biggest drug bust.

4 ADJ A company or fund that is bust has no money left and has been forced to close down. [INFORMAL , BUSINESS ] □ It is taxpayers who will pay most of the bill for bailing out bust banks.

5 PHRASE If a company goes bust , it loses so much money that it is forced to close down. [INFORMAL , BUSINESS ] □ …a Swiss company which went bust last May.

6 N‑COUNT A bust is a statue of the head and shoulders of a person. □ [+ of ] …a bronze bust of the Queen.

7 N‑COUNT You can use bust to refer to a woman's breasts, especially when you are describing their size. □ Good posture also helps your bust look bigger.

-buster /-bʌstə ^r / (-busters )

1 COMB -buster combines with nouns to form new nouns which refer to someone who breaks a particular law. □ The Security Council will consider taking future actions against sanction-busters. □ …copyright-busters.

2 COMB -buster combines with nouns to form new nouns which refer to someone or something that fights or overcomes the specified crime or undesirable activity. □ Hoover was building his reputation as a crime-buster. □ …fraud-busters.

bust|ier /bʌ stiə ^r / (bustiers ) N‑COUNT A bustier is a type of close-fitting strapless top worn by women.

bus|tle /bʌ s ^ə l/ (bustles , bustling , bustled )

1 VERB If someone bustles somewhere, they move there in a hurried way, often because they are very busy. □ [V prep/adv] She bustled about, turning on lights, moving pillows around on the sofa.

2 VERB A place that is bustling with people or activity is full of people who are very busy or lively. □ [V + with ] The sidewalks are bustling with people. □ [V -ing] The main attraction was the bustling market.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Bustle is busy, noisy activity. □ [+ of ] …the hustle and bustle of modern life.

bu st-up (bust-ups )

1 N‑COUNT A bust-up is a serious quarrel, often resulting in the end of a relationship. [INFORMAL ] □ She had had this bust-up with her family.

2 N‑COUNT A bust-up is a fight. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …a bust-up which she says left her seriously hurt.

busty /bʌ sti/ ADJ If you describe a woman as busty , you mean that she has large breasts. [INFORMAL ]

busy ◆◇◇ /b I zi/ (busier , busiest , busies , busying , busied )

1 ADJ [oft ADJ v-ing] When you are busy , you are working hard or concentrating on a task, so that you are not free to do anything else. □ What is it? I'm busy. □ They are busy preparing for a hectic day's activity on Saturday. □ Rachel said she would be too busy to come. □ Phil Martin is an exceptionally busy man.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A busy time is a period of time during which you have a lot of things to do. □ It'll have to wait. This is our busiest time. □ Even with her busy schedule she finds time to watch TV. □ I had a busy day and was rather tired.

3 ADJ [v-link ADJ , oft ADJ -ing] If you say that someone is busy thinking or worrying about something, you mean that it is taking all their attention, often to such an extent that they are unable to think about anything else. □ I'm so busy worrying about all the wrong things that I'm not focusing on the right ones. □ [+ with ] Most people are too busy with their own troubles to give much help.

4 VERB If you busy yourself with something, you occupy yourself by dealing with it. □ [V pron-refl + with ] He busied himself with the camera. □ [V pron-refl v-ing] She busied herself getting towels ready. □ [V pron-refl] For a while Kathryn busied herself in the kitchen.

5 ADJ A busy place is full of people who are doing things or moving about. □ The Strand is one of London's busiest and most affluent streets. □ The ward was busy and Amy hardly had time to talk.

6 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] When a telephone line is busy , you cannot make your call because the line is already being used by someone else. [mainly AM ] □ I tried to reach him, but the line was busy.

7 → see also busily

busy|body /b I zibɒdi/ (busybodies ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a busybody , you are criticizing the way they interfere in other people's affairs. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ This government is full of interfering busybodies.

but ◆◆◆ /bət, STRONG bʌt/

1 CONJ You use but to introduce something which contrasts with what you have just said, or to introduce something which adds to what you have just said. □ 'You said you'd stay till tomorrow.'—'I know, Bel, but I think I would rather go back.' □ Place the saucepan over moderate heat until the cider is very hot but not boiling. □ He not only wants to be taken seriously as a musician, but as a poet too.

2 CONJ You use but when you are about to add something further in a discussion or to change the subject. □ They need to recruit more people into the prison service. But another point I'd like to make is that many prisons were built in the nineteenth century.

3 CONJ You use but after you have made an excuse or apologized for what you are just about to say. □ Please excuse me, but there is something I must say. □ I'm sorry, but it's nothing to do with you. □ Forgive my asking, but you're not very happy, are you?

4 CONJ You use but to introduce a reply to someone when you want to indicate surprise, disbelief, refusal, or protest. [FEELINGS ] □ 'I don't think I should stay in this house.'—'But why?' □ 'Somebody wants you on the telephone'—'But no one knows I'm here!'

5 PREP But is used to mean 'except'. □ Europe will be represented in all but two of the seven races. □ He didn't speak anything but Greek. □ The crew of the ship gave them nothing but bread to eat.

6 ADV [ADV n] But is used to mean 'only'. [FORMAL ] □ Orbit is but one of the sculptor's striking creations. □ Lots of interesting different flavours combine - mixed spice and wild berries to name but two.

7 N‑PLURAL You use buts in expressions like ' no buts ' and ' ifs and buts ' to refer to reasons someone gives for not doing something, especially when you do not think that they are good reasons. □ 'B-b-b-b-but' I stuttered.—'Never mind the buts,' she ranted. □ He committed a crime, no ifs or buts about it.

8 PHRASE You use cannot but , could not but , and cannot help but when you want to emphasize that you believe something must be true and that there is no possibility of anything else being the case. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ The pistol was positioned where I couldn't help but see it. □ She could not but congratulate him.

9 PHRASE You use but for to introduce the only factor that causes a particular thing not to happen or not to be completely true. □ …the small square below, empty but for a delivery van and a clump of palm trees.

10 PHRASE You use but then or but then again before a remark which slightly contradicts what you have just said. □ Rob spends hours in the bathroom, but then again so do I.

11 PHRASE You use but then before a remark which suggests that what you have just said should not be regarded as surprising. □ He was a fine young man, but then so had his father been. □ Sonia might not speak the English language well, but then who did?

12 all but → see all

13 anything but → see anything

bu|tane /bjuː te I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Butane is a gas that is obtained from petroleum and is used as a fuel.

butch /bʊ tʃ/

1 ADJ If you describe a woman as butch , you mean that she behaves or dresses in a masculine way. This use could cause offence. [INFORMAL ]

2 ADJ If you describe a man as butch , you mean that he behaves in an extremely masculine way. [INFORMAL ]

butch|er /bʊ tʃə ^r / (butchers , butchering , butchered )

1 N‑COUNT A butcher is a shopkeeper who cuts up and sells meat. Some butchers also kill animals for meat and make foods such as sausages and meat pies.

2 N‑COUNT A butcher or a butcher's is a shop where meat is sold.

3 VERB To butcher an animal means to kill it and cut it up for meat. □ [be V -ed] All his meat is butchered on site before being sold in the farm shop.

4 N‑COUNT You can refer to someone as a butcher when they have killed a lot of people in a very cruel way, and you want to express your horror and disgust. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] …the Duke of Cumberland, infamous still as the butcher of Culloden.

5 VERB You can say that someone has butchered people when they have killed a lot of people in a very cruel way, and you want to express your horror and disgust. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] Guards butchered 1,350 prisoners.

butch|ery /bʊ tʃəri/

1 N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to the cruel killing of a lot of people as butchery when you want to express your horror and disgust at this. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ In her view, war is simply a legalised form of butchery.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Butchery is the work of cutting up meat and preparing it for sale. □ …a carcass hung up for butchery.

but|ler /bʌ tlə ^r / (butlers ) N‑COUNT A butler is the most important male servant in a wealthy house.

butt /bʌ t/ (butts , butting , butted )

1 N‑COUNT Someone's butt is their bottom. [mainly AM , INFORMAL ] □ Frieda grinned, pinching him on the butt.

2 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] The butt or the butt end of a weapon or tool is the thick end of its handle. □ Troops used tear gas and rifle butts to break up the protests.

3 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] The butt of a cigarette or cigar is the small part of it that is left when someone has finished smoking it.

4 N‑COUNT A butt is a large barrel used for collecting or storing liquid.

5 N‑SING If someone or something is the butt of jokes or criticism, people often make fun of them or criticize them. □ [+ of ] He is still the butt of cruel jokes about his humble origins.

6 VERB If a person or animal butts you, they hit you with the top of their head. □ [V n] Lawrence kept on butting me but the referee did not warn him. [Also V n prep]

7 → see also head-butt , water butt

▸ butt in PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone is butting in , you are criticizing the fact that they are joining in a conversation or activity without being asked to. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P ] Sorry, I don't mean to butt in. □ [V P with quote] 'I should think not,' Sarah butted in. [Also + on ]

but|ter ◆◇◇ /bʌ tə ^r / (butters , buttering , buttered )

1 N‑VAR Butter is a soft yellow substance made from cream. You spread it on bread or use it in cooking. □ …bread and butter. □ Pour the melted butter into a large mixing bowl.

2 VERB If you butter something such as bread or toast, you spread butter on it. □ [V n] She spread pieces of bread on the counter and began buttering them. □ [V -ed] …buttered scones.

3 → see also bread and butter , peanut butter

▸ butter up PHRASAL VERB If someone butters you up , they try to please you because they want you to help or support them. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] The bank has to butter up investors because it is in a fiercely competitive market. □ [V n P ] I tried buttering her up. 'I've always admired people with these sorts of talents.'

bu t|ter bean (butter beans ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Butter beans are the yellowish flat round seeds of a kind of bean plant. They are eaten as a vegetable, and in Britain they are usually sold dried rather than fresh.

butter|cup /bʌ tə ^r kʌp/ (buttercups ) N‑COUNT A buttercup is a small plant with bright yellow flowers.

butter|fly /bʌ tə ^r fla I / (butterflies )

1 N‑COUNT A butterfly is an insect with large colourful wings and a thin body.

2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N ] Butterfly is a swimming stroke which you do on your front, kicking your legs and bringing your arms over your head together.

3 PHRASE If you have butterflies in your stomach or have butterflies , you are very nervous or excited about something. [INFORMAL ] □ An exam, or even an exciting social event may produce butterflies in the stomach.

butter|milk /bʌ tə ^r m I lk/ N‑UNCOUNT Buttermilk is the liquid that remains when fat has been removed from cream when butter is being made. You can drink buttermilk or use it in cooking.

butter|scotch /bʌ tə ^r skɒtʃ/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Butterscotch is a hard yellowish-brown sweet made from butter and sugar boiled together.

2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] A butterscotch flavoured or coloured thing has the flavour or colour of butterscotch. □ …butterscotch sauce.

but|tery /bʌ təri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Buttery food contains butter or is covered with butter. □ …buttery new potatoes. □ …the buttery taste of the pastry.

but|tock /bʌ tək/ (buttocks ) N‑COUNT Your buttocks are the two rounded fleshy parts of your body that you sit on.

but|ton ◆◇◇ /bʌ t ^ə n/ (buttons , buttoning , buttoned )

1 N‑COUNT Buttons are small hard objects sewn on to shirts, coats, or other pieces of clothing. You fasten the clothing by pushing the buttons through holes called buttonholes. □ …a coat with brass buttons.

2 VERB If you button a shirt, coat, or other piece of clothing, you fasten it by pushing its buttons through the buttonholes. □ [V n] Ferguson stood up and buttoned his coat. ● PHRASAL VERB Button up means the same as button . □ [V P n] I buttoned up my coat; it was chilly. □ [V n P ] The young man slipped on the shirt and buttoned it up. □ [V -ed P ] It was freezing out there even in his buttoned-up overcoat.

3 N‑COUNT A button is a small object on a machine or electrical device that you press in order to operate it. □ He reached for the remote control and pressed the 'play' button.

4 N‑COUNT A button is a small piece of metal or plastic which you wear in order to show that you support a particular movement, organization, or person. You fasten a button to your clothes with a pin. [AM ] in BRIT, use badge

▸ button up → see button 2

bu tton-down ADJ [ADJ n] A button-down shirt or a shirt with a button-down collar has a button under each end of the collar which you can fasten.

bu t|toned u p also buttoned-up ADJ If you say that someone is buttoned up , you mean that they do not usually talk about their thoughts and feelings. [INFORMAL ] □ …the buttoned-up wife of an English clergyman.

button|hole /bʌ t ^ə nhoʊl/ (buttonholes , buttonholing , buttonholed )

1 N‑COUNT A buttonhole is a hole that you push a button through in order to fasten a shirt, coat, or other piece of clothing.

2 N‑COUNT A buttonhole is a flower that you wear on your coat or dress. [BRIT ]

3 VERB If you buttonhole someone, you stop them and make them listen to you. □ [V n] This fearsome woman buttonholed me in the first week and said she was very unhappy.

bu t|ton mu sh|room (button mushrooms ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Button mushrooms are small mushrooms used in cooking.

but|tress /bʌ trəs/ (buttresses ) N‑COUNT Buttresses are supports, usually made of stone or brick, that support a wall.

but|ty /bʌ ti/ (butties ) N‑COUNT A butty is a sandwich . [BRIT , INFORMAL ]

bux|om /bʌ ksəm/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a woman as buxom , you mean that she looks healthy and attractive and has a rounded body and big breasts. □ Melissa was a tall, buxom blonde.

buy ◆◆◆ /ba I / (buys , buying , bought )

1 VERB If you buy something, you obtain it by paying money for it. □ [V n] He could not afford to buy a house. □ [V pron-refl n] Lizzie bought herself a mountain bike. □ [V n n] I'd like to buy him lunch.

2 VERB If you talk about the quantity or standard of goods an amount of money buys , you are referring to the price of the goods or the value of the money. □ [V n] About £70,000 buys a habitable house around here. □ [V n n] If the pound's value is high, British investors will spend their money abroad because the pound will buy them more.

3 VERB If you buy something like time, freedom, or victory, you obtain it but only by offering or giving up something in return. □ [V n] It was a risky operation, but might buy more time. □ [V n] For them, affluence was bought at the price of less freedom in their work environment.

4 VERB [usu passive] If you say that a person can be bought , you are criticizing the fact that they will give their help or loyalty to someone in return for money. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [be V -ed] Once he shows he can be bought, they settle down to a regular payment.

5 VERB If you buy an idea or a theory, you believe and accept it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] I'm not buying any of that nonsense. ● PHRASAL VERB Buy into means the same as buy . □ [V P n] I bought into the popular myth that when I got the next house, I'd finally be happy.

6 N‑COUNT If something is a good buy , it is of good quality and not very expensive. □ This was still a good buy even at the higher price.

▸ buy into

1 PHRASAL VERB If you buy into a company or an organization, you buy part of it, often in order to gain some control of it. [BUSINESS ] □ [V P n] Other companies could buy into the firm.

2 → see also buy 5

▸ buy off PHRASAL VERB If you say that a person or organization buys off another person or group, you are criticizing the fact that they are giving them something such as money so that they will not complain or cause trouble. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P n] …policies designed to buy off the working-class vote. □ [V n P ] In buying your children all these things, you are in a sense buying them off.

▸ buy out

1 PHRASAL VERB If you buy someone out , you buy their share of something such as a company or piece of property that you previously owned together. □ [V P n] The bank had to pay to buy out most of the 200 former partners. □ [V n P ] He bought his brother out for $17 million.

2 → see also buyout

▸ buy up PHRASAL VERB If you buy up land, property, or a commodity, you buy large amounts of it, or all that is available. □ [V P n] The mention of price rises sent citizens out to their shops to buy up as much as they could. □ [V n P ] The tickets will be on sale from somewhere else because the agencies have bought them up.

bu y-back (buy-backs ) N‑COUNT A buy-back is a situation in which a company buys shares back from its investors. [BUSINESS ] □ …a share buy-back scheme. □ The company announced an extensive stock buy-back program.

buy|er ◆◇◇ /ba I ə ^r / (buyers )

1 N‑COUNT A buyer is a person who is buying something or who intends to buy it. □ Car buyers are more interested in safety and reliability than speed.

2 N‑COUNT A buyer is a person who works for a large store deciding what goods will be bought from manufacturers to be sold in the store.

bu y|er's ma r|ket N‑SING When there is a buyer's market for a particular product, there are more of the products for sale than there are people who want to buy them, so buyers have a lot of choice and can make prices come down. Compare seller's market . [BUSINESS ]

buy|out /ba I aʊt/ (buyouts )

1 N‑COUNT A buyout is the buying of a company, especially by its managers or employees. [BUSINESS ] □ It is thought that a management buyout is one option.

2 → see also MBO

buzz /bʌ z/ (buzzes , buzzing , buzzed )

1 VERB If something buzzes or buzzes somewhere, it makes a long continuous sound, like the noise a bee makes when it is flying. □ [V ] The intercom buzzed and he pressed down the appropriate switch. □ [V prep/adv] Attack helicopters buzzed across the city. ● N‑COUNT Buzz is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the irritating buzz of an insect. ● buzz|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ He switched off the transformer and the buzzing stopped.

2 VERB If people are buzzing around , they are moving around quickly and busily. [WRITTEN ] □ [V adv/prep] A few tourists were buzzing about.

3 VERB If questions or ideas are buzzing around your head, or if your head is buzzing with questions or ideas, you are thinking about a lot of things, often in a confused way. □ [V + around in ] Many more questions were buzzing around in my head. □ [V + with ] Top style consultants will leave you buzzing with new ideas. [Also V ]

4 VERB [usu cont] If a place is buzzing with activity or conversation, there is a lot of activity or conversation there, especially because something important or exciting is about to happen. □ [V + with ] The rehearsal studio is buzzing with lunchtime activity. □ [V -ing] …Hong Kong's buzzing, pulsating atmosphere. [Also V , V prep]

5 N‑SING You can use buzz to refer to a long continuous sound, usually caused by lots of people talking at once. □ [+ of ] A buzz of excitement filled the courtroom as the defendant was led in. □ [+ of ] …the excited buzz of conversation.

6 N‑SING If something gives you a buzz , it makes you feel very happy or excited for a short time. [INFORMAL ] □ Performing still gives him a buzz. □ [+ from ] He got a buzz from creating confrontations.

7 N‑SING If a place or event has a buzz , it has a lively, interesting, and modern atmosphere. □ [+ about ] The girls fell in love with Dublin on previous visits. They said that what they liked was the buzz about the place.

8 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use buzz to refer to a word, idea, or activity which has recently become extremely popular. □ …the latest buzz phrase in garden design circles. □ Sex education in schools was the buzz topic.

9 VERB If an aircraft buzzes a place, it flies low over it, usually in a threatening way. □ [V n] American fighter planes buzzed the city.

buz|zard /bʌ zə ^r d/ (buzzards ) N‑COUNT A buzzard is a large bird of prey.

buzz|er /bʌ zə ^r / (buzzers ) N‑COUNT A buzzer is an electrical device that is used to make a buzzing sound for example, to attract someone's attention.

buzz|saw /bʌ zsɔː/ (buzzsaws ) N‑COUNT A buzzsaw is an electric saw consisting of a round metal disk with a sharp serrated edge. It is powered by an electric motor and is used for cutting wood and other materials. [AM ] in BRIT, use circular saw

buzz|word /bʌ zwɜː ^r d/ (buzzwords ) also buzz word N‑COUNT A buzzword is a word or expression that has become fashionable in a particular field and is being used a lot by the media. □ [+ of ] Biodiversity was the buzzword of the Rio Earth Summit.

buzzy /bʌ zi/ (buzzier , buzziest ) ADJ If a place, event, or atmosphere is buzzy , it is lively, interesting, and modern. [INFORMAL ] □ The cafe has an intimate but buzzy atmosphere.

by ◆◆◆ The preposition is pronounced /ba I /. The adverb is pronounced /ba I /. In addition to the uses shown below, by is used in phrasal verbs such as 'abide by', 'put by', and 'stand by'. 1 PREP If something is done by a person or thing, that person or thing does it. □ The feast was served by his mother and sisters. □ I was amazed by their discourtesy and lack of professionalism. □ The town has been under attack by rebel groups for a week now.

2 PREP If you say that something such as a book, a piece of music, or a painting is by a particular person, you mean that this person wrote it or created it. □ …a painting by Van Gogh. □ He read Enobarbus's speech from Anthony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare.

3 PREP If you do something by a particular means, you do it using that thing. □ We'll be travelling by car. □ …dinners by candlelight.

4 PREP [PREP v-ing] If you achieve one thing by doing another thing, your action enables you to achieve the first thing. □ Make the sauce by boiling the cream and stock together in a pan. □ The all-female yacht crew made history by becoming the first to sail round the world. □ By using the air ambulance to transport patients, they can save up to £15,000 per patient.

5 PREP You use by in phrases such as 'by chance' or 'by accident' to indicate whether or not an event was planned. □ I met him by chance out walking yesterday. □ He opened Ingrid's letter by mistake. □ Whether by design or accident his timing was perfect.

6 PREP If someone is a particular type of person by nature, by profession, or by birth, they are that type of person because of their nature, their profession, or the family they were born into. □ I am certainly lucky to have a kind wife who is loving by nature. □ She's a nurse by profession and now runs a counselling service for women. □ Her parents were in fact American by birth.

7 PREP If something must be done by law, it happens according to the law. If something is the case by particular standards, it is the case according to the standards. □ Pharmacists are required by law to give the medicine prescribed by the doctor. □ …evening wear that was discreet by his standards.

8 PREP If you say what someone means by a particular word or expression, you are saying what they intend the word or expression to refer to. □ Stella knew what he meant by 'start again'. □ 'You're unbelievably lucky'—'What do you mean by that?'

9 PREP If you hold someone or something by a particular part of them, you hold that part. □ He caught her by the shoulder and turned her around. □ She was led by the arm to a small room at the far end of the corridor. □ He picked up the photocopy by one corner and put it in his wallet.

10 PREP Someone or something that is by something else is beside it and close to it. □ Judith was sitting in a rocking-chair by the window. □ They stood by the side of the road. □ Emma was by the door. ● ADV [ADV after v] By is also an adverb. □ Large numbers of security police stood by.

11 PREP If a person or vehicle goes by you, they move past you without stopping. □ A few cars passed close by me. □ He kept walking and passed by me on his side of the street. ● ADV [ADV after v] By is also an adverb. □ The bomb went off as a police patrol went by.

12 PREP If you stop by a place, you visit it for a short time. □ We had made arrangements to stop by her house in Pacific Grove. ● ADV [ADV after v] By is also an adverb. □ I'll stop by after dinner and we'll have that talk.

13 PREP If something happens by a particular time, it happens at or before that time. □ By eight o'clock he had arrived at my hotel. □ We all knew by then that the affair was practically over.

14 PREP If you do something by day, you do it during the day. If you do it by night, you do it during the night. □ By day a woman could safely walk the streets, but at night the pavements became dangerous. □ She had no wish to hurry alone through the streets of London by night.

15 PREP In arithmetic, you use by before the second number in a multiplication or division sum. □ …an apparent annual rate of 22.8 per cent (1.9 multiplied by 12). □ 230cm divided by 22cm is 10.45cm.

16 PREP You use by to talk about measurements of area. For example, if a room is twenty feet by fourteen feet, it measures twenty feet in one direction and fourteen feet in the other direction. □ Three prisoners were sharing one small cell 3 metres by 2 metres.

17 PREP If something increases or decreases by a particular amount, that amount is gained or lost. □ Violent crime has increased by 10 percent since last year. □ Their pay has been cut by one-third.

18 PREP Things that are made or sold by the million or by the dozen are made or sold in those quantities. □ Parcels arrived by the dozen from America. □ Liberty fabrics, both for furnishing and for dress-making, are sold by the metre.

19 PREP You use by in expressions such as 'minute by minute' and 'drop by drop' to talk about things that happen gradually, not all at once. □ His father began to lose his memory bit by bit, becoming increasingly forgetful.

20 PHRASE If you are by yourself , you are alone. □ …a dark-haired man sitting by himself in a corner.

21 PHRASE If you do something by yourself , you succeed in doing it without anyone helping you. □ I didn't know if I could raise a child by myself. USAGE by

Don’t use ‘by’ with the names of towns or cities. Use near instead. □ Winston Churchill was born near Oxford.

bye ◆◇◇ /ba I / also bye-bye CONVENTION Bye and bye-bye are informal ways of saying goodbye.

bye -law → see bylaw

by -election (by-elections ) N‑COUNT A by-election is an election that is held to choose a new member of parliament when a member has resigned or died. [BRIT ]

Bye|lo|rus|sian /bie loʊrʌ ʃ ^ə n/ (Byelorussians )

1 ADJ Byelorussian means belonging or relating to Byelorussia or to its people or culture.

2 N‑COUNT A Byelorussian is a Byelorussian citizen, or a person of Byelorussian origin.

by|gone /ba I gɒn, [AM ] -gɔːn/ (bygones )

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Bygone means happening or existing a very long time ago. □ The book recalls other memories of a bygone age. □ …bygone generations.

2 PHRASE If two people let bygones be bygones , they decide to forget about unpleasant things that have happened between them in the past.

by|law /ba I lɔː/ (bylaws ) also bye-law , by-law

1 N‑COUNT A bylaw is a law which is made by a local authority and which applies only in their area. [BRIT ] □ The by-law makes it illegal to drink in certain areas.

2 N‑COUNT A bylaw is a rule which controls the way an organization is run. [AM ] □ Under the company's bylaws, he can continue as chairman until the age of 70.

by |line /ba I la I n/ (bylines ) also by-line N‑COUNT A byline is a line at the top of an article in a newspaper or magazine giving the author's name. [TECHNICAL ]

BYOD /biː wa I oʊ diː / N‑UNCOUNT BYOD is the practice of allowing employees to use their own computers and smart phones to connect to company information. BYOD is an abbreviation for 'bring your own device'. □ The firm has a BYOD policy.

by|pass /ba I pɑːs, -pæs/ (bypasses , bypassing , bypassed )

1 VERB If you bypass someone or something that you would normally have to get involved with, you ignore them, often because you want to achieve something more quickly. □ [V n] A growing number of employers are trying to bypass the unions altogether. □ [be V -ed] Regulators worry that controls could easily be bypassed.

2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A bypass is a surgical operation performed on or near the heart, in which the flow of blood is redirected so that it does not flow through a part of the heart which is diseased or blocked. □ …heart bypass surgery.

3 VERB If a surgeon bypasses a diseased artery or other part of the body, he or she performs an operation so that blood or other bodily fluids do not flow through it. □ [V n] Small veins are removed from the leg and used to bypass the blocked stretch of coronary arteries.

4 N‑COUNT [oft in names] A bypass is a main road which takes traffic around the edge of a town rather than through its centre. □ A new bypass around the city is being built. □ …the Hereford bypass.

5 VERB If a road bypasses a place, it goes around it rather than through it. □ [V n] …money for new roads to bypass cities.

6 VERB If you bypass a place when you are travelling, you avoid going through it. □ [V n] The rebel forces simply bypassed Zwedru on their way further south.

by -product (by-products ) also byproduct

1 N‑COUNT A by-product is something which is produced during the manufacture or processing of another product. □ [+ of ] The raw material for the tyre is a by-product of petrol refining.

2 N‑COUNT Something that is a by-product of an event or situation happens as a result of it, although it is usually not expected or planned. □ [+ of ] A by-product of their meeting was the release of these fourteen men.

byre /ba I ə ^r / (byres ) N‑COUNT A byre is a cowshed. [BRIT , LITERARY or OLD-FASHIONED ]

by|stander /ba I stændə ^r / (bystanders ) N‑COUNT A bystander is a person who is present when something happens and who sees it but does not take part in it. □ It looks like an innocent bystander was killed instead of you.

byte /ba I t/ (bytes ) N‑COUNT In computing, a byte is a unit of storage approximately equivalent to one printed character. [COMPUTING ] □ …two million bytes of data.

by|way /ba I we I / (byways )

1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A byway is a small road which is not used by many cars or people. □ [+ of ] …the highways and byways of America.

2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The byways of a subject are the less important or less well-known areas of it. □ [+ of ] My research focuses on the byways of children's literature.

by|word /ba I wɜː ^r d/ (bywords )

1 N‑COUNT Someone or something that is a byword for a particular quality is well-known for having that quality. □ [+ for ] …the Rolls-Royce brand name, a byword for quality.

2 N‑COUNT A byword is a word or phrase which people often use. □ [+ of ] Loyalty and support became the bywords of the day.

byz|an|tine /b I zæ nta I n, [AM ] b I zəntiːn/ also Byzantine

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Byzantine means related to or connected with the Byzantine Empire. □ …Byzantine civilisation. □ There are also several well-preserved Byzantine frescoes.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a system or process as byzantine , you are criticizing it because it seems complicated or secretive. [DISAPPROVAL ]