BCE /biː siː iː / Many people now use BCE in dates to indicate a number of years or centuries before AD 1 or before the year in which Jesus is believed to have been born. Compare CE . □ Aristophanes' ancient comedy Lysistrata was performed first in Athens in 411 BCE. □ The first Jewish community settled in Rome in the second century BCE.
be
➊ AUXILIARY VERB USES
➋ OTHER VERB USES
➊ be ◆◆◆ /bi, STRONG biː/ (am , are , is , being , was , were , been ) In spoken English, forms of be are often shortened, for example 'I am' is shortened to 'I'm' and 'was not' is shortened to 'wasn't'. 1 AUX You use be with a present participle to form the continuous tenses of verbs. □ [AUX -ing] This is happening in every school throughout the country. □ [AUX -ing] She didn't always think carefully about what she was doing.
2 be going to → see going
3 AUX You use be with a past participle to form the passive voice. □ [AUX -ed] Forensic experts were called in. □ [AUX -ed] Her husband was killed in a car crash. □ [AUX -ed] The cost of electricity from coal-fired stations is expected to fall. □ [AUX -ed] Similar action is being taken by the U.S. government.
4 AUX You use be with an infinitive to indicate that something is planned to happen, that it will definitely happen, or that it must happen. □ [AUX to-inf] The talks are to begin tomorrow. □ [AUX to-inf] It was to be Johnson's first meeting with the board in nearly a month. □ [AUX to-inf] You are to answer to Brian, to take your orders from him.
5 be about to → see about
6 AUX You use be with an infinitive to say or ask what should happen or be done in a particular situation, how it should happen, or who should do it. □ [AUX to-inf] What am I to do without him? □ [AUX to-inf] Who is to say which of them had more power?
7 AUX You use was and were with an infinitive to talk about something that happened later than the time you are discussing, and was not planned or certain at that time. □ [AUX to-inf] Then he received a phone call that was to change his life. □ [AUX to-inf] A few hours later he was to prove it.
8 AUX You can say that something is to be seen, heard, or found in a particular place to mean that people can see it, hear it, or find it in that place. □ [AUX -ed] Little traffic was to be seen on the streets. □ [AUX -ed] They are to be found all over the world.
➋ be ◆◆◆ /bi, STRONG biː/ (am , are , is , being , was , were , been ) In spoken English, forms of be are often shortened, for example 'I am' is shortened to 'I'm' and 'was not' is shortened to 'wasn't'. 1 V‑LINK You use be to introduce more information about the subject, such as its identity, nature, qualities, or position. □ [V n] She's my mother. □ [V n] He is a very attractive man. □ [V n] My grandfather was a butcher. □ [V adj] The fact that you were willing to pay in the end is all that matters. □ [V adj] The sky was black. □ [V adj] It is 1,267 feet high. □ [V prep/adv] Cheney was in Madrid. □ [V prep/adv] His house is next door. □ [V adj] 'Is it safe?'—'Well of course it is.' □ [V adj] He's still alive isn't he?
2 V‑LINK You use be , with 'it' as the subject, in clauses where you are describing something or giving your judgment of a situation. □ [V adj] It was too chilly for swimming. □ [V adj to-inf] Sometimes it is necessary to say no. □ [V adj that] It is likely that investors will face losses. □ [V adj v-ing] It's nice having friends to chat to. □ [V n that] It's a good thing I brought lots of handkerchiefs. □ [V n v-ing] It's no good just having meetings. □ [V n to-inf] It's a good idea to avoid refined food. □ [V prep to-inf] It's up to us to prove it.
3 V‑LINK You use be with the impersonal pronoun 'there' in expressions like there is and there are to say that something exists or happens. □ Clearly there is a problem here. □ There are very few cars on this street. □ There was nothing new in the letter.
4 V‑LINK You use be as a link between a subject and a clause and in certain other clause structures, as shown below. □ [V n] It was me she didn't like, not what I represented. □ [V to-inf] What the media should not do is to exploit people's natural fears. □ [V v-ing] Our greatest problem is convincing them. □ [V wh] The question was whether protection could be improved. □ [V that] All I knew was that I didn't want to be there. □ [V + as if ] Local residents said it was as if there had been a nuclear explosion.
5 V‑LINK You use be in expressions like the thing is and the point is to introduce a clause in which you make a statement or give your opinion. [SPOKEN ] □ The fact is, the players gave everything they had. □ The plan is good; the problem is it doesn't go far enough.
6 V‑LINK You use be in expressions like to be fair , to be honest , or to be serious to introduce an additional statement or opinion, and to indicate that you are trying to be fair, honest, or serious. □ [V adj] She's always noticed. But then, to be honest, Ghislaine likes being noticed. □ [V adj] I felt as if I was in a dream, or, to be more accurate, a nightmare.
7 V‑LINK The form ' be ' is used occasionally instead of the normal forms of the present tense, especially after 'whether'. [FORMAL ] □ The chemical agent, whether it be mustard gas or nerve gas, can be absorbed by the skin.
8 VERB If something is , it exists. [mainly FORMAL or LITERARY ]
9 V‑LINK To be yourself means to behave in the way that is right and natural for you and your personality. □ [V pron-refl] She'd learnt to be herself and to stand up for her convictions.
10 PHRASE If you talk about what would happen if it wasn't for someone or something, you mean that they are the only thing that is preventing it from happening. □ I could happily move back into a flat if it wasn't for the fact that I'd miss my garden. □ If it hadn't been for her your father would be alive today.
11 PHRASE You say ' Be that as it may ' when you want to move onto another subject or go further with the discussion, without deciding whether what has just been said is right or wrong. [VAGUENESS ] □ My dad was a nice man. A gentleman. Be that as it may, he hated Conservatives.
PREFIX be-
can be added to a noun followed by an '-ed' suffix to form an adjective that indicates that someone or something is covered with or wearing the thing named. For example, a piece of jewellery that is bedecked with diamonds is covered with diamonds.
beach ◆◇◇ /biː tʃ/ (beaches , beaching , beached )
1 N‑COUNT A beach is an area of sand or stones beside the sea. □ …a beautiful sandy beach. □ I just want to lie on the beach in the sun.
2 VERB If something such as a boat beaches , or if it is beached , it is pulled or forced out of the water and onto land. □ [V n] We beached the canoe, running it right up the bank. □ [V ] The boat beached on a mud flat. COLLOCATIONS beach NOUN 1
noun + beach : pebble, sand, shingly
adjective + beach : deserted, pristine, secluded, unspoilt; pebbly, sandy; beautiful, spectacular
bea ch ball (beach balls ) N‑COUNT A beach ball is a large, light ball filled with air, which people play with, especially on the beach.
bea ch bum (beach bums ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a beach bum , you mean that they spend a lot of time enjoying themselves on the beach or in the sea.
beach|comber /biː tʃkoʊmə r / (beachcombers ) also beach-comber N‑COUNT A beachcomber is someone who spends their time wandering along beaches looking for things they can use.
beach|front /biː tʃfrʌnt/ ADJ [ADJ n] A beachfront house, café, shop, or hotel is situated on or by a beach.
beach|head /biː tʃhed/ (beachheads ) also beach-head N‑COUNT A beachhead is an area of land next to the sea or a river where an attacking force has taken control and can prepare to advance further inland.
bea|con /biː kən/ (beacons )
1 N‑COUNT A beacon is a light or a fire, usually on a hill or tower, which acts as a signal or a warning.
2 N‑COUNT If someone acts as a beacon to other people, they inspire or encourage them. □ [+ of ] Our Parliament has been a beacon of hope to the peoples of Europe. □ [+ for ] He acted as a beacon for new immigrants.
bead /biː d/ (beads )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Beads are small pieces of coloured glass, wood, or plastic with a hole through the middle. Beads are often put together on a piece of string or wire to make jewellery. □ …a string of beads.
2 N‑COUNT A bead of liquid or moisture is a small drop of it. □ [+ of ] …beads of blood. □ [+ of ] He wiped away the beads of sweat on his forehead.
bead|ed /biː d I d/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A beaded dress, cushion, or other object is decorated with beads.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ with n] If something is beaded with a liquid, it is covered in small drops of that liquid. □ The man's bald head was beaded with sweat.
bead|ing /biː d I ŋ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Beading is a narrow strip of wood that is used for decorating or edging furniture and doors.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Beading is an arrangement of beads used for decorating clothes. □ …a black velvet bodice with jet black beading.
beady /biː di/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Beady eyes are small, round, and bright.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If someone keeps a beady eye on a person or organization, they watch them carefully and suspiciously. □ The chairman keeps a beady eye on things.
bea|gle /biː g ə l/ (beagles ) N‑COUNT A beagle is a short-haired black and brown dog with long ears and short legs. It is kept as a pet or sometimes used for hunting.
beak /biː k/ (beaks ) N‑COUNT A bird's beak is the hard curved or pointed part of its mouth. □ …a black bird with a yellow beak.
beak|er /biː kə r / (beakers )
1 N‑COUNT A beaker is a plastic cup used for drinking, usually one with no handle. [BRIT ]
2 N‑COUNT A beaker is a large cup or glass. [AM ]
3 N‑COUNT A beaker is a glass or plastic jar which is used in chemistry.
be -all and e nd-all PHRASE If something is the be-all and end-all to you, it is the only important thing in your life, or the only important feature of a particular activity. □ For some people, competing is the be-all and end-all of their running.
beam /biː m/ (beams , beaming , beamed )
1 VERB If you say that someone is beaming , you mean that they have a big smile on their face because they are happy, pleased, or proud about something. [WRITTEN ] □ [V + at/with ] Frances beamed at her friend with undisguised admiration. □ [V with quote] 'Welcome back,' she beamed. □ [V -ing] …the beaming face of a 41-year-old man on the brink of achieving his dreams.
2 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A beam is a line of energy, radiation, or particles sent in a particular direction. □ …high-energy laser beams. □ [+ of ] …a beam of neutrons.
3 VERB If something beams radio signals or television pictures or they are beamed somewhere, they are sent there by means of electronic equipment. □ [be V -ed prep/adv] The interview was beamed live across the state. □ [V prep/adv] The live satellite broadcast was beamed into homes across America. □ [V n prep/adv] …a ship which is due to begin beaming radio broadcasts to South East Asia.
4 N‑COUNT [n N ] A beam of light is a line of light that shines from an object such as a lamp.
5 VERB If something such as the sun or a lamp beams down, it sends light to a place and shines on it. □ [V adv/prep] A sharp white spot-light beamed down on a small stage. □ [V adv/prep] All you see of the outside world is the sunlight beaming through the cracks in the roof.
6 N‑COUNT A beam is a long thick bar of wood, metal, or concrete, especially one used to support the roof of a building. □ The ceilings are supported by oak beams.
7 → see also off-beam
bean ◆◇◇ /biː n/ (beans )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl, usu adj N ] Beans such as green beans , French beans , or broad beans are the seeds of a climbing plant or the long thin cases which contain those seeds.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl, usu n N ] Beans such as soya beans and kidney beans are the dried seeds of a bean plant.
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl, usu n N ] Beans such as coffee beans or cocoa beans are the seeds of plants that are used to produce coffee, cocoa, and chocolate.
4 PHRASE If someone is full of beans , they are very lively and have a lot of energy and enthusiasm. □ Jem was full of beans after a long sleep.
5 PHRASE If you spill the beans , you tell someone something that people have been trying to keep secret.
6 → see also baked beans
bea n bag (bean bags ) also beanbag N‑COUNT A bean bag is a large round cushion filled with tiny pieces of plastic or rubber. It takes the shape of your body when you sit on it.
bea n coun|ter (bean counters ) also bean-counter N‑COUNT You can describe people such as accountants and business managers as bean counters if you disapprove of them because you think they are only interested in money. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …bean counters who tend to focus on controlling expenses.
bea n curd N‑UNCOUNT Bean curd is a soft white or brown food made from soya beans.
bean|feast /biː nfiːst/ (beanfeasts ) N‑COUNT A beanfeast is a party or other social event. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
bean|pole /biː npoʊl/ (beanpoles ) N‑COUNT If you call someone a beanpole , you are criticizing them because you think that they are extremely tall and thin. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
bea n sprout (bean sprouts ) also beansprout N‑COUNT Bean sprouts are small, long, thin shoots grown from beans. They are frequently used in Chinese cookery.
bear
➊ VERB USES
➋ NOUN USES
➊ bear ◆◆◇ /beə r / (bears , bearing , bore , borne )
→ Please look at categories 19 to 24 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB If you bear something somewhere, you carry it there or take it there. [LITERARY ] □ [V n adv/prep] They bore the oblong hardwood box into the kitchen and put it on the table. ● -bearing COMB □ …food-bearing lorries.
2 VERB If you bear something such as a weapon, you hold it or carry it with you. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …the constitutional right to bear arms. ● -bearing COMB □ …rifle-bearing soldiers. □ …hundreds of flag-bearing marchers.
3 VERB If one thing bears the weight of something else, it supports the weight of that thing. □ [V n] The ice was not thick enough to bear the weight of marching men. ● -bearing COMB □ …the load-bearing joints of the body.
4 VERB If something bears a particular mark or characteristic, it has that mark or characteristic. □ [V n] The houses bear the marks of bullet holes. □ [V n] …notepaper bearing the Presidential seal. □ [V n] The room bore all the signs of a violent struggle.
5 VERB If you bear an unpleasant experience, you accept it because you are unable to do anything about it. □ [V n] They will have to bear the misery of living in constant fear of war.
6 VERB [with neg] If you can't bear someone or something, you dislike them very much. □ [V n/v-ing] I can't bear people who make judgements and label me. □ [V to-inf] He can't bear to talk about it, even to me.
7 VERB If someone bears the cost of something, they pay for it. □ [V n] Patients should not have to bear the costs of their own treatment.
8 VERB If you bear the responsibility for something, you accept responsibility for it. □ [V n] If a woman makes a decision to have a child alone, she should bear that responsibility alone.
9 VERB If one thing bears no resemblance or no relationship to another thing, they are not at all similar. □ [V n] Their daily menus bore no resemblance whatsoever to what they were actually fed. □ [V n] For many software packages, the price bears little relation to cost.
10 VERB When a plant or tree bears flowers, fruit, or leaves, it produces them. □ [V n] As the plants grow and start to bear fruit they will need a lot of water. ● -bearing COMB □ …a strong, fruit-bearing apple tree.
11 VERB If something such as a bank account or an investment bears interest, interest is paid on it. [BUSINESS ] □ [V n] The eight-year bond will bear annual interest of 10.5%. ● -bearing COMB □ …interest-bearing current accounts.
12 VERB When a woman bears a child, she gives birth to him or her. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ [V n] Emma bore a son called Karl. □ [V n n] She bore him a daughter, Suzanna.
13 VERB If you bear yourself in a particular way, you move or behave in that way. [LITERARY ] □ [V pron-refl adv/prep] There was elegance and simple dignity in the way he bore himself.
14 VERB If you bear left or bear right when you are driving or walking along, you turn and continue in that direction. □ [V adv] Go left onto the A107 and bear left into Seven Sisters Road.
15 → see also bore , borne
16 PHRASE If you bring something to bear on a situation, you use it to deal with that situation. □ British scientists have brought computer science to bear on this problem.
17 PHRASE If you bring pressure or influence to bear on someone, you use it to try and persuade them to do something. □ His companions brought pressure to bear on him, urging him to stop wasting money.
18 to bear the brunt of → see brunt
19 to bear fruit → see fruit
20 to grin and bear it → see grin
21 to bear in mind → see mind ➊
22 to bear witness to → see witness
▸ bear down
1 PHRASAL VERB If someone or something bears down on you, they move quickly towards you in a threatening way. □ [V P + on ] A group of half a dozen men entered the pub and bore down on the bar. [Also V P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB To bear down on something means to push or press downwards with steady pressure. □ [V P + on ] The roof support structure had collapsed and the entire weight was bearing down on the ceiling. [Also V P ]
▸ bear out PHRASAL VERB If someone or something bears a person out or bears out what that person is saying, they support what that person is saying. □ [V P n] Recent studies have borne out claims that perfumes can cause psychological changes. [Also V n P ]
▸ bear with PHRASAL VERB If you ask someone to bear with you, you are asking them to be patient. □ [V P n] If you'll bear with me, Frank, just let me try to explain.
➋ bear /beə r / (bears )
1 N‑COUNT A bear is a large, strong wild animal with thick fur and sharp claws.
2 → see also polar bear , teddy bear
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] On the stock market, bears are people who sell shares in expectation of a drop in price, in order to make a profit by buying them back again after a short time. Compare bull . [BUSINESS ] SYNONYMS bear VERB
➊1
carry: He carried the plate through to the dining room.
lift: She lifted the last of her drink to her lips.
hold: He held the pistol in his right hand.
➊ 5
accept: Urban dwellers often accept noise as part of city life.
tolerate: he can no longer tolerate the position that she's in.
put up with: They had put up with bad behaviour from their son.
go through: He was going through a very difficult time. COLLOCATIONS bear VERB
➊8
bear + noun : responsibility
➊ 9
bear + noun : relation, relationship, resemblance
bear|able /beə rəb ə l/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something is bearable , you feel that you can accept it or deal with it. □ A cool breeze made the heat pleasantly bearable.
beard /b I ə r d/ (beards ) N‑COUNT A man's beard is the hair that grows on his chin and cheeks. □ He's decided to grow a beard.
beard|ed /b I ə r d I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A bearded man has a beard. □ …a bearded 40-year-old sociology professor.
bear|er /beə rə r / (bearers )
1 N‑COUNT The bearer of something such as a message is the person who brings it to you. □ [+ of ] I hate to be the bearer of bad news.
2 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A bearer of a particular thing is a person who carries it, especially in a ceremony. [FORMAL ] □ …Britain's flag bearer at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
3 N‑COUNT The bearer of something such as a document, a right, or an official position is the person who possesses it or holds it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the traditional bourgeois notion of the citizen as a bearer of rights. □ Spanish identity documents state the bearer's profession.
4 → see also pallbearer , standard bearer
bea r hug (bear hugs ) N‑COUNT A bear hug is a rather rough, tight, affectionate hug.
bear|ing ◆◇◇ /beə r I ŋ/ (bearings )
1 PHRASE If something has a bearing on a situation or event, it is relevant to it. □ Experts generally agree that diet has an important bearing on your general health. □ My father's achievements really don't have any bearing on what I do.
2 N‑SING [usu poss N ] Someone's bearing is the way in which they move or stand. [LITERARY ] □ She later wrote warmly of his bearing and behaviour.
3 N‑COUNT If you take a bearing with a compass, you use it to work out the direction in which a particular place lies or in which something is moving.
4 PHRASE If you get your bearings or find your bearings , you find out where you are or what you should do next. If you lose your bearings , you do not know where you are or what you should do next. □ A sightseeing tour of the city is included to help you get your bearings.
5 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Bearings are small metal balls that are placed between moving parts of a machine in order to make them move smoothly and easily over each other. □ An oil seal was replaced, along with both front wheel bearings.
6 → see also ball bearing
-bearing /-beər I ŋ/ COMB -bearing combines with nouns to form adjectives which describe things that hold the specified substance inside them. □ …oil-bearing rocks. □ …malaria-bearing mosquitos.
bear|ish /beə r I ʃ/ ADJ On the stock market, if there is a bearish mood, prices are expected to fall. Compare bullish . [BUSINESS ] □ Dealers said investors remain bearish.
bea r mar|ket (bear markets ) N‑COUNT A bear market is a situation on the stock market when people are selling a lot of shares because they expect that the shares will decrease in value and that they will be able to make a profit by buying them again after a short time. Compare bull market . [BUSINESS ]
bear|skin /beə r sk I n/ (bearskins )
1 N‑COUNT A bearskin is a tall fur hat that is worn by some British soldiers on ceremonial occasions.
2 N‑COUNT A bearskin is the skin and fur of a bear.
beast /biː st/ (beasts ) N‑COUNT You can refer to an animal as a beast , especially if it is a large, dangerous, or unusual one. [LITERARY ] □ …the threats our ancestors faced from wild beasts.
beast|ly /biː stli/
1 ADJ If you describe something as beastly , you mean that it is very unpleasant. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ]
2 ADJ If you describe someone as beastly , you mean that they are behaving unkindly. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ]
bea st of bu r|den (beasts of burden ) N‑COUNT A beast of burden is an animal such as an ox or a donkey that is used for carrying or pulling things.
beat ◆◆◆ /biː t/ (beats , beating , beaten ) The form beat is used in the present tense and is the past tense. 1 VERB If you beat someone or something, you hit them very hard. □ [V n] My sister tried to stop them and they beat her. □ [be V -ed + to ] They were beaten to death with baseball bats.
2 VERB To beat on , beat at , or beat against something means to hit it hard, usually several times or continuously for a period of time. □ [V + against ] There was dead silence but for a fly beating against the glass. □ [V + at ] Nina managed to free herself and began beating at the flames with a pillow. □ [V + on ] The rain was beating on the windowpanes. [Also V n] ● N‑SING Beat is also a noun. □ …the rhythmic beat of the surf. ● beat|ing N‑SING □ …the silence broken only by the beating of the rain.
3 VERB When your heart or pulse beats , it continually makes regular rhythmic movements. □ [V ] I felt my heart beating faster. ● N‑COUNT Beat is also a noun. □ He could hear the beat of his heart. □ Most people's pulse rate is more than 70 beats per minute. ● beat|ing N‑SING □ I could hear the beating of my heart.
4 VERB If you beat a drum or similar instrument, you hit it in order to make a sound. You can also say that a drum beats . □ [V n] When you beat the drum, you feel good. □ [V ] …drums beating and pipes playing. ● N‑SING Beat is also a noun. □ …the rhythmical beat of the drum.
5 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The beat of a piece of music is the main rhythm that it has. □ …the thumping beat of rock music.
6 N‑COUNT [usu pl] In music, a beat is a unit of measurement. The number of beats in a bar of a piece of music is indicated by two numbers at the beginning of the piece. □ It's got four beats to a bar.
7 → see also upbeat , downbeat
8 VERB If you beat eggs, cream, or butter, you mix them thoroughly using a fork or beater. □ [V n] Beat the eggs and sugar until they start to thicken.
9 VERB When a bird or insect beats its wings or when its wings beat , its wings move up and down. □ [V n] Beating their wings they flew off. □ [V ] Its wings beat slowly.
10 VERB If you beat someone in a competition or election, you defeat them. □ [V n] In yesterday's games, Switzerland beat the United States two-one. □ [be V -ed + into ] She was easily beaten into third place.
11 VERB If someone beats a record or achievement, they do better than it. □ [V n] He was as eager as his Captain to beat the record.
12 VERB If you beat something that you are fighting against, for example an organization, a problem, or a disease, you defeat it. □ [V n] It became clear that the Union was not going to beat the government. □ The doctor gave him the news that he'd beaten cancer.
13 VERB [usu passive] If an attack or an attempt is beaten off or is beaten back , it is stopped, often temporarily. □ [be V -ed adv] The rescuers were beaten back by strong winds and currents. □ [V adv n] …the day after government troops beat off a fierce rebel attack on its capital.
14 VERB [no cont] If you say that one thing beats another, you mean that it is better than it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] Being boss of a software firm beats selling insurance.
15 VERB [no cont] If you say you can't beat a particular thing you mean that it is the best thing of its kind. □ [V n] You can't beat soap and water for cleansing.
16 VERB To beat a time limit or an event means to achieve something before that time or event. □ [V n] They were trying to beat the midnight deadline.
17 N‑COUNT A police officer's or journalist's beat is the area for which he or she is responsible.
18 VERB You use beat in expressions such as 'It beats me' or 'What beats me is' to indicate that you cannot understand or explain something. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ [V n] 'What am I doing wrong, anyway?'—'Beats me, Lewis.'
19 → see also beaten , beaten-up , beating , beat-up
20 PHRASE If you intend to do something but someone beats you to it , they do it before you do. □ Don't be too long about it or you'll find someone has beaten you to it.
21 PHRASE A police officer on the beat is on duty, walking around the area for which he or she is responsible. □ The officer on the beat picks up information; hears cries for help; makes people feel safe.
22 PHRASE If you beat time to a piece of music, you move your hand or foot up and down in time with the music. A conductor beats time to show the choir or orchestra how fast they should sing or play the music. □ He beats time with hands and feet.
23 to beat someone black and blue → see black
24 to beat about the bush → see bush
25 to beat or knock the living daylights out of someone → see daylights
26 to beat the drum for someone or something → see drum
27 to beat someone at their own game → see game
28 to beat a retreat → see retreat
▸ beat down
1 PHRASAL VERB When the sun beats down , it is very hot and bright.
2 PHRASAL VERB When the rain beats down , it rains very hard. □ [V P ] Even in the winter with the rain beating down, it's nice and cosy in there.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you beat down a person who is selling you something, you force them to accept a lower price for it than they wanted to get. □ [V n P ] A fair employer, when arranging for the pay of a carpenter, does not try to beat him down. □ [V P n] Beat down the seller to the price that suits you.
▸ beat out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you beat out sounds on a drum or similar instrument, you make the sounds by hitting the instrument. □ [V P n] Drums and cymbals beat out a solemn rhythm.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you beat out a fire, you cause it to go out by hitting it, usually with an object such as a blanket. □ [V P n] His brother beat out the flames with a blanket. □ [V n P ] She managed to beat the fire out.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you beat out someone in a competition, you defeat them. [mainly AM ] □ [V P n] Indianapolis beat out nearly 100 other cities as the site for a huge United Airlines maintenance center. □ [V n P ] If we are certain a rival will beat us out, we are wide open to jealousy.
▸ beat out of PHRASAL VERB If someone beats another person out of something, they get that thing by deceiving the other person or behaving dishonestly. □ [V n P P n] If he could beat his uncle out of a dollar he'd do it.
▸ beat up
1 PHRASAL VERB If someone beats a person up , they hit or kick the person many times. □ [V n P ] Then they actually beat her up as well. □ [V P n] The government supporters are beating up anyone they suspect of favouring the demonstrators. ● beating-up (beatings-up ) N‑COUNT □ There had been no violence, no beatings-up until then.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you beat yourself up about something, you worry about it a lot or blame yourself for it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n P + about ] Tell them you don't want to do it any more. Don't beat yourself up about it. □ [V n P ] I don't beat myself up. I don't deal with things I can't handle.
▸ beat up on
1 PHRASAL VERB If someone beats up on a person or beats on them, they hit or kick the person many times. [AM ] □ [V P P n] He beat up on my brother's kid one time. [Also V P n]
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone beats up on another person, they threaten them or treat them unkindly. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ [V P P n] She had to beat up on every customer just to get the bills paid. COLLOCATIONS beat NOUN 3
verb + beat : miss, skip VERB
10
beat + noun : rival, side, team
11
beat + noun : record
beat|able /biː təb ə l/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Someone who is beatable can be beaten. □ All teams are beatable, but it's going to be very, very difficult.
beat|en ◆◇◇ /biː t ə n/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Beaten earth has been pressed down, often by people's feet, until it is hard. □ Before you is a well-worn path of beaten earth.
2 PHRASE A place that is off the beaten track is in an area where not many people live or go. □ Tiny secluded beaches can be found off the beaten track.
bea ten-u p ADJ [ADJ n] A beaten-up car or other object is old and in bad condition. □ Her sandals were old and somewhat beaten-up, but very comfortable.
beat|er /biː tə r / (beaters )
1 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A beater is a tool or part of a machine which is used for beating things like eggs and cream. □ Whisk the batter with a wire whisk or hand beater until it is smooth and light.
2 → see also world beater
bea|tif|ic /biː ət I f I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A beatific expression shows or expresses great happiness and calmness. [LITERARY ] □ …a beatific smile.
be|ati|fy /biæ t I fa I / (beatifies , beatifying , beatified ) VERB When the Catholic church beatifies someone who is dead, it declares officially that they were a holy person, usually as the first step towards making them a saint. □ [V n] The Pope beatified 498 priests and nuns killed in the Spanish Civil War. ● be|ati|fi|ca|tion /biæ t I f I ke I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman, the Victorian divine.
beat|ing ◆◇◇ /biː t I ŋ/ (beatings )
1 N‑COUNT If someone is given a beating , they are hit hard many times, especially with something such as a stick. □ …after a savage beating by fellow inmates. □ The team secured pictures of prisoners showing signs of severe beatings.
2 N‑SING If something such as a business, a political party, or a team takes a beating , it is defeated by a large amount in a competition or election. □ Our firm has taken a terrible beating in recent years.
3 PHRASE If you say that something will take some beating , you mean that it is very good and it is unlikely that anything better will be done or made. [INFORMAL ] □ For sheer scale and grandeur, Leeds Castle in Kent takes some beating.
beat|nik /biː tn I k/ (beatniks ) N‑COUNT Beatniks were young people in the late 1950's who rejected traditional ways of living, dressing, and behaving. People sometimes use the word beatnik to refer to anyone who lives in an unconventional way. □ …a beatnik art student.
bea t-u p ADJ [ADJ n] A beat-up car or other object is old and in bad condition. [INFORMAL ] □ …a beat-up old Fiat 131.
beau /boʊ / (beaux or beaus ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] A woman's beau is her boyfriend or lover. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
beaut /bjuː t/ (beauts ) N‑COUNT You describe someone or something as a beaut when you think they are very good. [mainly AM or AUSTRALIAN , INFORMAL ]
beau|te|ous /bjuː tiəs/ ADJ Beauteous means the same as beautiful. [LITERARY ]
beau|ti|cian /bjuːt I ʃ ə n/ (beauticians ) N‑COUNT A beautician is a person whose job is giving people beauty treatments such as doing their nails, treating their skin, and putting on their make-up.
beau|ti|ful ◆◆◇ /bjuː t I fʊl/
1 ADJ A beautiful person is very attractive to look at. □ She was a very beautiful woman. □ To me he is the most beautiful child in the world.
2 ADJ If you describe something as beautiful , you mean that it is very attractive or pleasing. □ New England is beautiful. □ It was a beautiful morning. ● beau|ti|ful|ly /bjuː t I fli/ ADV [usu ADV after v] □ The children behaved beautifully. □ …a beautifully clear, sunny day.
3 ADJ You can describe something that someone does as beautiful when they do it very skilfully. □ That's a beautiful shot! ● beau|ti|ful|ly ADV [ADV after v, ADV -ed] □ Arsenal played beautifully.
beau|ti|fy /bjuː t I fa I / (beautifies , beautifying , beautified ) VERB If you beautify something, you make it look more beautiful. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Claire worked to beautify the garden.
beau|ty ◆◇◇ /bjuː ti/ (beauties )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Beauty is the state or quality of being beautiful. □ …an area of outstanding natural beauty. □ Everyone admired her elegance and her beauty.
2 N‑COUNT A beauty is a beautiful woman. [JOURNALISM ] □ She is known as a great beauty.
3 N‑COUNT You can say that something is a beauty when you think it is very good. [INFORMAL ] □ The pass was a real beauty, but the shot was poor.
4 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The beauties of something are its attractive qualities or features. [LITERARY ] □ He was beginning to enjoy the beauties of nature.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] Beauty is used to describe people, products, and activities that are concerned with making women look beautiful. □ Additional beauty treatments can be booked in advance.
6 N‑COUNT If you say that a particular feature is the beauty of something, you mean that this feature is what makes the thing so good. □ There would be no effect on animals–that's the beauty of such water-based materials.
bea u|^ty con|test (beauty contests ) N‑COUNT A beauty contest is a competition in which young women are judged to decide which one is the most beautiful.
bea u|^ty pag|eant (beauty pageants ) N‑COUNT A beauty pageant is the same as a beauty contest . [AM ]
bea u|^ty par|lour (beauty parlours ) in AM, use beauty parlor N‑COUNT A beauty parlour is a place where women can go to have beauty treatments, for example to have their hair, nails or make-up done.
bea u|^ty queen (beauty queens ) N‑COUNT A beauty queen is a woman who has won a beauty contest.
bea u|^ty sa|lon (beauty salons ) N‑COUNT A beauty salon is the same as a beauty parlour .
bea u|^ty shop (beauty shops ) N‑COUNT A beauty shop is the same as a beauty parlour . [AM ]
bea u|^ty spot (beauty spots )
1 N‑COUNT A beauty spot is a place in the country that is popular because of its beautiful scenery. □ The Valley of Vinales is a lush and fertile valley and one of Cuba's finest beauty spots.
2 N‑COUNT A beauty spot is a small, dark spot on the skin which is supposed to add to a woman's beauty.
bea|ver /biː və r / (beavers , beavering , beavered )
1 N‑COUNT A beaver is a furry animal with a big flat tail and large teeth. Beavers use their teeth to cut wood and build dams in rivers.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Beaver is the fur of a beaver. □ …a coat with a huge beaver collar.
▸ beaver away PHRASAL VERB If you are beavering away at something, you are working very hard at it. □ [V P + at/on ] For more than a decade, Avery has been beavering away at an epic project. □ [V P ] They are beavering away to get everything ready for us.
be|bop /biː bɒp/ N‑UNCOUNT Bebop is a form of jazz music with complex harmonies and rhythms. The abbreviation bop is also used.
be|calmed /b I kɑː md/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If a sailing ship is becalmed , it is unable to move because there is no wind. □ We were becalmed off Dungeness for several hours.
2 ADJ If something such as the economy, a company, or a series of talks is becalmed , it is not progressing at all, although it should be. [LITERARY ] □ …the becalmed peace talks.
be|came /b I ke I m/ Became is the past tense of become .
be|cause ◆◆◆ /b I kɒ z, [AM ] b I kɔː z/
1 CONJ You use because when stating the reason for something. □ He is called Mitch, because his name is Mitchell. □ Because it is an area of outstanding natural beauty, you can't build on it. □ 'Why didn't you tell me, Archie?'—'Because you might have casually mentioned it to somebody else.'
2 CONJ You use because when stating the explanation for a statement you have just made. □ Maybe they didn't want to ask questions, because they rented us a room without even asking to see our papers. □ The President has played a shrewd diplomatic game because from the outset he called for direct talks with the United States.
3 PHRASE If an event or situation occurs because of something, that thing is the reason or cause. □ Many families break up because of a lack of money. □ Because of the law in Ireland, we had to work out a way of getting her over to Britain.
4 PHRASE You use just because when you want to say that a particular situation should not necessarily make you come to a particular conclusion. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ Just because something has always been done a certain way does not make it right.
beck /be k/ PHRASE If one person is at another's beck and call , they have to be constantly available and ready to do whatever is asked, and this often seems unfair or undesirable.
beck|on /be kən/ (beckons , beckoning , beckoned )
1 VERB If you beckon to someone, you signal to them to come to you. □ [V + to ] He beckoned to the waiter. □ [V n adv/prep] I beckoned her over. □ [V n to-inf] Hughes beckoned him to sit down on a sofa. [Also V ]
2 VERB If something beckons , it is so attractive to someone that they feel they must become involved in it. □ [V ] All the attractions of the peninsula beckon. □ [V n] The bright lights of Hollywood beckon many. [Also V + to ]
3 VERB If something beckons for someone, it is very likely to happen to them. □ [V + for ] The big time beckons for him. □ [V ] Old age beckons.
be|come ◆◆◆ /b I kʌ m/ (becomes , becoming , became ) The form become is used in the present tense and is the past participle. 1 V‑LINK If someone or something becomes a particular thing, they start to change and develop into that thing, or start to develop the characteristics mentioned. □ [V adj] I first became interested in Islam while I was doing my nursing training. □ [V adj] As she reached the age of thirty, she became convinced she would remain single all her life. □ [V n] After leaving school, he became a professional footballer.
2 VERB [no passive, no cont] If something becomes someone, it makes them look attractive or it seems right for them. □ [V n] Don't be crude tonight, Bernard, it doesn't become you.
3 PHRASE If you wonder what has become of someone or something, you wonder where they are and what has happened to them. □ She thought constantly about her family; she might never know what had become of them.
be|com|ing /b I kʌ m I ŋ/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] A piece of clothing, a colour, or a hairstyle that is becoming makes the person who is wearing it look attractive. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ Softer fabrics are much more becoming than stiffer ones. ● be|com|ing|ly ADV □ Her dress was of blue silk, quite light, and becomingly open at the neck.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Behaviour that is becoming is appropriate and proper in the circumstances. □ This behaviour is not any more becoming among our politicians than it is among our voters.
bed ◆◆◇ /be d/ (beds )
1 N‑COUNT A bed is a piece of furniture that you lie on when you sleep. □ She went into her bedroom and lay down on the bed. □ We finally went to bed at about 4am. □ By the time we got back from dinner, Nona was already in bed. □ When she had gone, Sam and Robina put the children to bed.
2 N‑COUNT If a place such as a hospital or a hotel has a particular number of beds , it is able to hold that number of patients or guests.
3 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A bed in a garden or park is an area of ground that has been specially prepared so that plants can be grown in it. □ …beds of strawberries and rhubarb.
4 N‑COUNT A bed of shellfish or plants is an area in the sea or in a lake where a particular type of shellfish or plant is found in large quantities. □ The whole lake was rimmed with thick beds of reeds.
5 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The sea bed or a river bed is the ground at the bottom of the sea or of a river. □ For three weeks a big operation went on to recover the wreckage from the sea bed.
6 N‑COUNT A bed of rock is a layer of rock that is found within a larger area of rock. □ Between the white limestone and the greyish pink limestone is a thin bed of clay.
7 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If a recipe or a menu says that something is served on a bed of a food such as rice or vegetables, it means it is served on a layer of that food. □ [+ of ] Heat the curry thoroughly and serve it on a bed of rice.
8 → see also -bedded , bedding
9 PHRASE To go to bed with someone means to have sex with them.
10 PHRASE If you say that someone has made their bed and must lie in it , you mean that since they have chosen to do a particular thing, they must now accept the unpleasant results of their action.
11 PHRASE When you make the bed , you neatly arrange the sheets and covers of a bed so that it is ready to sleep in.
12 bed of roses → see rose
BEd /biː e d/ (BEds ) in AM, use B.Ed. N‑COUNT A BEd is a degree which usually takes four years to complete and which qualifies someone to teach in a school. BEd is an abbreviation for 'Bachelor of Education.' Compare PGCE .
be d and brea k|fast (bed and breakfasts ) also bed-and-breakfast
1 N‑UNCOUNT Bed and breakfast is a system of accommodation in a hotel or guest house, in which you pay for a room for the night and for breakfast the following morning. The abbreviation B&B is also used. [mainly BRIT ] □ Bed and breakfast costs from £30 per person per night.
2 N‑COUNT A bed and breakfast is a guest house that provides bed and breakfast accommodation. The abbreviation B&B is also used. [mainly BRIT ] □ Accommodation can be arranged at local bed and breakfasts.
be|daz|zled /b I dæ z ə ld/ ADJ If you are bedazzled by someone or something, you are so amazed and impressed by them that you feel confused. □ [+ by ] Many people are bedazzled by fame.
bed|bug /be dbʌg/ (bedbugs ) N‑COUNT A bedbug is a small insect with a round body and no wings which lives in dirty houses and feeds by biting people and sucking their blood when they are in bed.
bed|chamber /be dtʃe I mbə r / (bedchambers ) also bed-chamber N‑COUNT A bedchamber is a bedroom . [FORMAL ]
bed|clothes /be dkloʊðz/ N‑PLURAL Bedclothes are the sheets and covers which you put over yourself when you get into bed.
-bedded /-be d I d/
1 COMB [usu ADJ n] -bedded combines with numbers to form adjectives which indicate how many beds a room contains. □ …a four-bedded room.
2 COMB -bedded combines with words such as 'twin' or 'double' to form adjectives which indicate what kind of beds a room contains. □ …twin-bedded cabins.
bed|ding /be d I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Bedding is sheets, duvets, and blankets that are used on beds.
be d|ding plant (bedding plants ) N‑COUNT A bedding plant is a plant which lasts for one year. It is put in a flower bed before it flowers, and is then removed when it has finished flowering.
be|deck /b I de k/ (bedecks , bedecking , bedecked ) VERB If flags or other ornaments bedeck a place, a lot of them have been hung up to decorate it. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] …flags bedecking the balcony.
be|decked /b I de kt/ ADJ [adv ADJ ] If a place is bedecked with flags or other ornaments, these things have been hung up to decorate it. [LITERARY ] □ [+ with/in ] The palace was bedecked with flags. ● COMB -bedecked is also a combining form. □ …a flower-bedecked stage.
be|dev|il /b I de v ə l/ (bedevils , bedevilling , bedevilled ) in AM, use bedeviling , bedeviled VERB If you are bedevilled by something unpleasant, it causes you a lot of problems over a period of time. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] His career was bedevilled by injury. □ [V n] …a problem that has bedevilled service industries for decades.
bed|fellow /be dfeloʊ/ (bedfellows ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] You refer to two things or people as bedfellows when they have become associated or related in some way. □ Sex and death are strange bedfellows.
bed|head /be dhed/ (bedheads ) also bed-head N‑COUNT A bedhead is a board which is fixed to the end of a bed behind your head. [BRIT ] in AM, use headboard
bed|lam /be dləm/ N‑UNCOUNT Bedlam means a great deal of noise and disorder. People often say 'It was bedlam' to mean 'There was bedlam'. □ The crowd went absolutely mad. It was bedlam.
be d lin|en also bed-linen N‑UNCOUNT Bed linen is sheets and pillowcases. □ …crisp white cotton bed linen.
Bedou|in /be dʊ I n/ (Bedouins or Bedouin )
1 N‑COUNT A Bedouin is a member of a particular Arab tribe.
2 ADJ Bedouin means relating to the Bedouin people. □ …Bedouin carpets.
bed|pan /be dpæn/ (bedpans ) also bed-pan N‑COUNT A bedpan is a shallow bowl shaped like a toilet seat, which is used instead of a toilet by people who are too ill to get out of bed.
bed|post /be dpoʊst/ (bedposts ) also bed-post N‑COUNT A bedpost is one of the four vertical supports at the corners of a bed with an old-fashioned wooden or iron frame.
be|drag|gled /b I dræ g ə ld/ ADJ Someone or something that is bedraggled looks untidy because they have got wet or dirty. □ He looked weary and bedraggled. □ …a bedraggled group of journalists.
bed|rid|den /be dr I d ə n/ ADJ Someone who is bedridden is so ill or has such a severe disability that they cannot get out of bed. □ He had to spend two years bedridden with an injury. □ …bedridden patients.
bed|rock /be drɒk/
1 N‑SING The bedrock of something is the principles, ideas, or facts on which it is based. □ Mutual trust is the bedrock of a relationship. □ …the bedrock principles of British democratic socialism.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Bedrock is the solid rock in the ground which supports all the soil above it.
bed|roll /be droʊl/ (bedrolls ) also bed-roll N‑COUNT A bedroll is a rolled-up sleeping bag or other form of bedding, which you can carry with you.
bed|room ◆◇◇ /be druːm/ (bedrooms ) N‑COUNT A bedroom is a room used for sleeping in. □ …the spare bedroom. □ …a two-bedroom apartment.
-bedroomed /-be druːmd/ COMB -bedroomed combines with numbers to form adjectives which indicate how many bedrooms a particular house or flat has. □ …a two-bedroomed flat.
bed|side /be dsa I d/
1 N‑SING [usu N n] Your bedside is the area beside your bed. □ She put a cup of tea down on the bedside table. □ He drew a chair up to the bedside and sat down.
2 N‑SING [usu with poss] If you talk about being at someone's bedside , you are talking about being near them when they are ill in bed. □ She kept vigil at the bedside of her critically ill son.
be d|side ma n|ner N‑SING A doctor's bedside manner is the way in which they talk to their patients.
bed|sit /be ds I t/ (bedsits ) N‑COUNT A bedsit is a room you rent which you use for both living in and sleeping in. [BRIT ] □ He was living alone in a dingy bedsit in London.
bed|sitter /be ds I tə r / (bedsitters ) also bed-sitter N‑COUNT A bedsitter is the same as a bedsit . [BRIT ]
bed|sores /be dsɔː r z/ N‑PLURAL Bedsores are sore places on a person's skin, caused by having to lie in bed for a long time without changing position.
bed|spread /be dspred/ (bedspreads ) N‑COUNT A bedspread is a decorative cover which is put over a bed, on top of the sheets and blankets.
bed|stead /be dsted/ (bedsteads ) N‑COUNT A bedstead is the metal or wooden frame of an old-fashioned bed.
bed|time /be dta I m/ N‑UNCOUNT Your bedtime is the time when you usually go to bed. □ It was eight-thirty, Trevor's bedtime. □ …bedtime stories.
bed|wet|ting /be dwet I ŋ/ also bed-wetting N‑UNCOUNT Bedwetting means urinating in bed, usually by small children.
bee /biː / (bees )
1 N‑COUNT A bee is an insect with a yellow-and-black striped body that makes a buzzing noise as it flies. Bees make honey, and can sting.
2 PHRASE If you have a bee in your bonnet about something, you are so enthusiastic or worried about it that you keep mentioning it or thinking about it. □ [+ about ] He's got a bee in his bonnet about factory farming.
3 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A bee is a social event where people get together for a competition or to do something such as sew. [AM ] □ That year I won first prize in the spelling bee.
Beeb /biː b/ N‑PROPER The BBC is sometimes called the Beeb . [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ He joined the Beeb at 19.
beech /biː tʃ/ (beeches ) N‑VAR A beech or a beech tree is a tree with a smooth grey trunk. □ …the branch of a huge beech. ● N‑UNCOUNT Beech is the wood of this tree. □ The worktop is made of solid beech.
beef /biː f/ (beefs , beefing , beefed )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Beef is the meat of a cow, bull, or ox. □ …roast beef. □ …beef stew.
2 → see also corned beef
▸ beef up PHRASAL VERB If you beef up something, you increase, strengthen, or improve it. □ [V P n] Both sides are still beefing up their military strength. □ [V -ed P ] …a beefed up police presence. [Also V n P ]
beef|bur|ger /biː fbɜː r gə r / (beefburgers ) also beef burger N‑COUNT A beefburger is the same as a hamburger . [BRIT ] □ … beefburgers and chips.
beef|cake /biː fke I k/ (beefcakes ) N‑VAR [oft N n] Attractive men with large muscles can be referred to as beefcake . [INFORMAL ] □ …beefcake photos.
Beef|eater /biː fiːtə/ (Beefeaters ) N‑COUNT Beefeaters are guards at the Tower of London. They wear a uniform made in the style of the sixteenth century. [BRIT ]
beef|steak /biː fste I k/ (beefsteaks ) also beef steak N‑VAR Beefsteak is steak .
beefy /biː fi/ (beefier , beefiest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone, especially a man, who is beefy has a big body and large muscles. □ …a beefy red-faced Englishman.
bee|hive /biː ha I v/ (beehives ) N‑COUNT A beehive is a structure in which bees are kept, designed so that the beekeeper can collect the honey that they produce.
bee|keeper /biː kiːpə r / (beekeepers ) N‑COUNT A beekeeper is a person who owns and takes care of bees.
bee|keeping /biː kiːp I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Beekeeping is the practice of owning and taking care of bees.
bee|line /biː la I n/ also bee-line PHRASE If you make a beeline for a place, you go to it as quickly and directly as possible. [INFORMAL ] □ She made a beeline for the car.
been /b I n, biː n/
1 Been is the past participle of be .
2 VERB If you have been to a place, you have gone to it or visited it. □ [V prep/adv] He's already been to Tunisia, and is to go on to Morocco and Mauritania. □ [V prep/adv] I've been there before.
3 PHRASE People say been there, done that to show that they have had a similar experience to the one that has just been mentioned. □ Rick wants me to go backpacking in India with him, but I've been there, done that. □ 'I've tried so many diets in my life.' —'Oh yeah, been there, done that, got the T-shirt.'
beep /biː p/ (beeps , beeping , beeped )
1 N‑COUNT A beep is a short, loud sound like that made by a car horn or an answering machine.
2 VERB If something such as a horn beeps , or you beep it, it makes a short, harsh sound. □ [V ] The phone beeped and he grabbed it. □ [V n] He beeped the horn.
beep|er /biː pə r / (beepers ) N‑COUNT A beeper is a portable device that makes a beeping noise, usually to tell you to phone someone or to remind you to do something. □ His beeper sounded and he picked up the phone.
beer ◆◇◇ /b I ə r / (beers ) N‑VAR Beer is a bitter alcoholic drink made from grain. □ He sat in the kitchen drinking beer. □ We have quite a good range of beers. ● N‑COUNT A glass of beer can be referred to as a beer . □ Would you like a beer?
bee r bel|ly (beer bellies ) N‑COUNT If a man has a beer belly , he has a fat stomach because of drinking too much beer. □ He was short and fat, with a large beer belly.
bee r gut (beer guts ) also beer-gut N‑COUNT A beer gut is the same as a beer belly .
beer|mat /b I ə r mæt/ (beermats ) also beer mat N‑COUNT A beermat is a cardboard mat for resting your glass of beer on in a bar or pub.
beery /b I ə ri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If a person, especially a man, is described as beery , they have drunk a lot of beer. □ …jolly, beery farmers. □ …beery roars of applause.
bees|wax /biː zwæks/ N‑UNCOUNT Beeswax is wax that is made by bees and used especially for making candles and furniture polish.
beet /biː t/ (beets )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Beet is a crop with a thick round root. It is often used to feed animals, especially cows. □ …fields of sweet corn and beet.
2 → see also sugar beet
3 N‑VAR [usu pl] Beets are dark red roots that are eaten as a vegetable. They are often preserved in vinegar. [AM ] in BRIT, use beetroot
bee|tle /biː t ə l/ (beetles ) N‑COUNT A beetle is an insect with a hard covering to its body.
beet|root /biː truːt/ (beetroots ) N‑VAR Beetroot is a dark red root that is eaten as a vegetable. It is often preserved in vinegar. [BRIT ] in AM, use beet
be|fall /b I fɔː l/ (befalls , befalling , befell , befallen ) VERB If something bad or unlucky befalls you, it happens to you. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] …the disaster that befell the island of Flores.
be|fit /b I f I t/ (befits , befitting , befitted ) VERB If something befits a person or thing, it is suitable or appropriate for them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] They offered him a post befitting his seniority and experience.
be|fore ◆◆◆ /b I fɔː r / In addition to the uses shown below, before is used in the phrasal verbs 'go before' and 'lay before'. 1 PREP If something happens before a particular date, time, or event, it happens earlier than that date, time, or event. □ Annie was born a few weeks before Christmas. □ Before World War II, women were not recruited as intelligence officers. □ Dan rarely comes to bed before 2 or 3am. ● CONJ Before is also a conjunction. □ Stock prices climbed close to the peak they'd registered before the stock market crashed.
2 PREP [PREP v-ing] If you do one thing before doing something else, you do it earlier than the other thing. □ He spent his early life in Sri Lanka before moving to England. □ Before leaving, he went into his office to fill in the daily time sheet. ● CONJ Before is also a conjunction. □ He took a cold shower and then towelled off before he put on fresh clothes.
3 ADV [n ADV ] You use before when you are talking about time. For example, if something happened the day before a particular date or event, it happened during the previous day. □ The war had ended only a month or so before. ● PREP Before is also a preposition. □ It's interesting that he sent me the book twenty days before the deadline for my book. ● CONJ Before is also a conjunction. □ Kelman had a book published in the U.S. more than a decade before a British publisher would touch him.
4 CONJ If you do something before someone else can do something, you do it when they have not yet done it. □ Before he could take another one, she laid her fingertips on his mouth.
5 ADV [ADV after v] If someone has done something before , they have done it on a previous occasion. If someone has not done something before , they have never done it. □ I had met Professor Lown before. □ She had never been to Italy before.
6 CONJ If there is a period of time or if several things are done before something happens, it takes that amount of time or effort for this thing to happen. □ It was some time before the door opened in response to his ring.
7 CONJ If a particular situation has to happen before something else happens, this situation must happen or exist in order for the other thing to happen. □ There was additional work to be done before all the troops would be ready.
8 PREP If someone is before something, they are in front of it. [FORMAL ] □ They drove through a tall iron gate and stopped before a large white villa.
9 PREP If you tell someone that one place is a certain distance before another, you mean that they will come to the first place first. □ The turn is about two kilometres before the roundabout.
10 PREP If you appear or come before an official person or group, you go there and answer questions. □ The Governor will appear before the committee next Tuesday.
11 PREP If something happens before a particular person or group, it is seen by or happens while this person or this group is present. □ The game followed a colourful opening ceremony before a crowd of seventy-four thousand.
12 PREP If you have something such as a journey, a task, or a stage of your life before you, you must do it or live through it in the future. □ Everyone in the room knew it was the single hardest task before them.
13 PREP When you want to say that one person or thing is more important than another, you can say that they come before the other person or thing. □ Life is still a juggling act, but my children come before anything else.
14 before long → see long ➌
before|hand /b I fɔː r hænd/ ADV [usu ADV after v] If you do something beforehand , you do it earlier than a particular event. □ How could she tell beforehand that I was going to go out?
be|friend /b I fre nd/ (befriends , befriending , befriended ) VERB If you befriend someone, especially someone who is lonely or far from home, you make friends with them. □ [V n] The film's about an elderly woman and a young nurse who befriends her.
be|fud|dle /b I fʌ d ə l/ (befuddles , befuddling , befuddled ) VERB If something befuddles you, it confuses your mind or thoughts. □ [V n] …problems that are befuddling them. ● be|fud|dled ADJ □ …his befuddled manner. □ …befuddled with drink.
beg /be g/ (begs , begging , begged )
1 VERB If you beg someone to do something, you ask them very anxiously or eagerly to do it. □ [V n to-inf] I begged him to come back to England with me. □ [V to-inf] I begged to be allowed to leave. □ [V + for ] We are not going to beg for help any more. □ [V n] They dropped to their knees and begged forgiveness. [Also V n with quote]
2 VERB [oft cont] If someone who is poor is begging , they are asking people to give them food or money. □ [V + for ] I was surrounded by people begging for food. □ [V ] There are thousands like him, begging on the streets and sleeping rough. □ [V n] She was living alone, begging food from neighbors.
3 PHRASE You say 'I beg to differ ' when you are politely emphasizing that you disagree with someone. [POLITENESS ]
4 PHRASE If you say that something is going begging , you mean that it is available but no one is using it or accepting it. □ There is other housing going begging in town.
5 PHRASE If you say that something begs a particular question , you mean that it makes people want to ask that question; some people consider that this use is incorrect. □ Hopewell's success begs the question: why aren't more companies doing the same?
6 PHRASE If you say that something begs a particular question , you mean that it assumes that the question has already been answered and so does not deal with it. [WRITTEN ] □ The research begs a number of questions.
7 I beg your pardon → see pardon
be|gan /b I gæ n/ Began is the past tense of begin .
be|get /b I ge t/ (begets , begetting , begot , begotten )
1 VERB To beget something means to cause it to happen or be created. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Poverty begets debt.
2 VERB When a man begets a child, he becomes the father of that child. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
be|get|ter /b I ge tə r / (begetters ) N‑COUNT [with poss] The begetter of something has caused this thing to come into existence. [FORMAL ] □ He was the true begetter of modern youth culture.
beg|gar /be gə r / (beggars , beggaring , beggared )
1 N‑COUNT A beggar is someone who lives by asking people for money or food.
2 VERB If something beggars a person, country, or organization, it makes them very poor. □ [V n] He warned that lifting copyright restrictions could beggar the industry.
3 PHRASE If something beggars belief , it is impossible to believe it. If something beggars description , it is impossible to describe it. □ The statistics beggar belief. □ His courage beggars description.
be g|ging bowl (begging bowls ) N‑COUNT If a country or organization approaches other countries or organizations with a begging bowl , it asks them for money. [mainly BRIT ] □ He said earlier that he is not holding out a begging bowl.
be g|ging le t|ter (begging letters ) N‑COUNT A begging letter is a letter from a person or organization in which they ask you to send some money for a particular purpose. [mainly BRIT , DISAPPROVAL ] □ I wrote hundreds of begging letters to charities and businesses.
be|gin ◆◆◆ /b I g I n/ (begins , beginning , began , begun )
1 VERB To begin to do something means to start doing it. □ [V to-inf] He stood up and began to move around the room. □ [V to-inf] The weight loss began to look more serious. □ [V v-ing] Snow began falling again.
2 VERB When something begins or when you begin it, it takes place from a particular time onwards. □ [V ] The problems began last November. □ [V n] He has just begun his fourth year in hiding. □ [V n] The U.S. is prepared to begin talks immediately.
3 VERB If you begin with something, or begin by doing something, this is the first thing you do. □ [V + with ] Could I begin with a few formalities? □ [V + by ] …a businessman who began by selling golf shirts from the boot of his car. □ [V n prep] He began his career as a sound editor.
4 VERB [no cont] You use begin to mention the first thing that someone says. □ [V with quote] 'Professor Theron,' he began, 'I'm very pleased to see you'. □ [V ] He didn't know how to begin.
5 VERB [no cont] If one thing began as another, it first existed in the form of the second thing. □ [V + as ] What began as a local festival has blossomed into an international event.
6 VERB [no cont] If you say that a thing or place begins somewhere, you are talking about one of its limits or edges. □ [V prep/adv] The fate line begins at the wrist.
7 VERB [no cont] If a word begins with a particular letter, that is the first letter of that word. □ [V + with ] The first word begins with an F.
8 VERB [no cont] If you say that you cannot begin to imagine, understand, or explain something, you are emphasizing that it is almost impossible to explain, understand, or imagine. [EMPHASIS ] □ [V to-inf] You can't begin to imagine how much that saddens me.
9 PHRASE You use to begin with when you are talking about the first stage of a situation, event, or process. □ It was great to begin with but now it's difficult.
10 PHRASE You use to begin with to introduce the first of several things that you want to say. □ 'What do scientists think about that?'—'Well, to begin with, they doubt it's going to work.'
11 to begin life → see life
be|gin|ner /b I g I nə r / (beginners ) N‑COUNT A beginner is someone who has just started learning to do something and cannot do it very well yet. □ The course is suitable for beginners and advanced students.
be|gin|ning ◆◇◇ /b I g I n I ŋ/ (beginnings )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The beginning of an event or process is the first part of it. □ This was also the beginning of her recording career. □ Think of this as a new beginning.
2 N‑PLURAL The beginnings of something are the signs or events which form the first part of it. □ The discussions were the beginnings of a dialogue with Moscow.
3 N‑SING The beginning of a period of time is the time at which it starts. □ The wedding will be at the beginning of March.
4 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The beginning of a piece of written material is the first words or sentences of it. □ [+ of ] …the question which was raised at the beginning of this chapter.
5 N‑PLURAL If you talk about the beginnings of a person, company, or group, you are referring to their backgrounds or origins. □ His views come from his own humble beginnings. SYNONYMS beginning NOUN 1
start: …1918, four years after the start of the Great War.
opening: The opening of the scene depicts Akhnaten and his family in a moment of intimacy.
outset: Decide at the outset what kind of learning programme you want to follow.
onset: With the onset of war, oil prices climbed past $30 a barrel.
be|gonia /b I goʊ niə/ (begonias ) N‑COUNT A begonia is a garden plant which has large brightly coloured leaves.
be|got /b I gɒ t/ Begot is the past tense of beget .
be|got|ten /b I gɒ t ə n/ Begotten is the past participle of beget .
be|grudge /b I grʌ dʒ/ (begrudges , begrudging , begrudged )
1 VERB If you do not begrudge someone something, you do not feel angry, upset, or jealous that they have got it. □ [V n n] I certainly don't begrudge him the Nobel Prize.
2 VERB If you do not begrudge something such as time or money, you do not mind giving it up. □ [V n] I do not begrudge the money I have lost.
be|grudg|ing|ly /b I grʌ dʒ I ŋli/ ADV [ADV with v] If you do something begrudgingly , you do it unwillingly. □ He agreed to her suggestion begrudgingly.
be|guile /b I ga I l/ (beguiles , beguiling , beguiled )
1 VERB If something beguiles you, you are charmed and attracted by it. □ [be V -ed] We are beguiled by the country's beauty and its magnificent cultural past.
2 VERB If someone beguiles you into doing something, they trick you into doing it. □ [V n + into ] He used his newspapers to beguile the readers into buying shares in his company.
be|guil|ing /b I ga I l I ŋ/ ADJ Something that is beguiling is charming and attractive. [WRITTEN ] □ Mombasa is a town with a beguiling Arabic flavour. ● be|guil|ing|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ He was beguilingly boyish and attractive.
be|gun /b I gʌ n/ Begun is the past participle of begin .
be|half ◆◇◇ /b I hɑː f, -hæ f/
1 PHRASE If you do something on someone's behalf , you do it for that person as their representative. The form in someone's behalf is also used, mainly in American English. □ She made an emotional public appeal on her son's behalf. □ Secret Service officer Robin Thompson spoke on behalf of his colleagues.
2 PHRASE If you feel, for example, embarrassed or angry on someone's behalf , you feel embarrassed or angry for them. □ 'What do you mean?' I asked, offended on Liddie's behalf.
be|have ◆◇◇ /b I he I v/ (behaves , behaving , behaved )
1 VERB The way that you behave is the way that you do and say things, and the things that you do and say. □ [V prep/adv] I couldn't believe these people were behaving in this way. □ [V prep/adv] He'd behaved badly.
2 VERB If you behave or behave yourself , you act in the way that people think is correct and proper. □ [V ] You have to behave. □ [V pron-refl] They were expected to behave themselves.
3 VERB In science, the way that something behaves is the things that it does. □ [V prep/adv] Under certain conditions, electrons can behave like waves rather than particles. SYNONYMS behave VERB 1
act: He acted as if he hadn't heard any of it.
react: 'How did he react?'—'Very calmly.'
conduct yourself: The way he conducts himself reflects on the party.
acquit yourself: Most officers and men acquitted themselves well throughout the action.
go about: He went about looking ill and unhappy.
-behaved /-b I he I vd/ COMB -behaved combines with adverbs such as 'well' or 'badly' to form adjectives that describe people's or animals' behaviour. □ The children are well-behaved and keen to learn.
be|hav|iour ◆◆◇ /b I he I vjə r / (behaviours ) in AM, use behavior 1 N‑VAR People's or animals' behaviour is the way that they behave. You can refer to a typical and repeated way of behaving as a behaviour . □ Make sure that good behaviour is rewarded. □ …human sexual behaviour. □ These eating patterns are a learned behavior.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [with poss] In science, the behaviour of something is the way that it behaves. □ It will be many years before anyone can predict a hurricane's behavior with much accuracy.
3 PHRASE If someone is on their best behaviour , they are trying very hard to behave well. COLLOCATIONS behaviour NOUN
1
adjective + behaviour : criminal, human, sexual; aggressive, antisocial, inappropriate, unacceptable
verb + behaviour : change, control, tackle, tolerate; display, exhibit
2
verb + behaviour : monitor, observe SYNONYMS behaviour NOUN 1
conduct: He has trouble understanding that other people judge him by his conduct.
actions: Jack was the sort of man who did not like his actions questioned.
demeanour: …her calm and cheerful demeanour.
ways: He said he was against returning to old authoritarian ways.
be|hav|iour|al /b I he I vjərəl/ in AM, use behavioral ADJ [ADJ n] Behavioural means relating to the behaviour of a person or animal, or to the study of their behaviour. □ …emotional and behavioural problems.
be|hav|iour|ism /b I he I vjər I zəm/ in AM, use behaviorism N‑UNCOUNT Behaviourism is the belief held by some psychologists that the only valid method of studying the psychology of people or animals is to observe how they behave. ● be|hav|iour|ist (behaviourists ) N‑COUNT □ Animal behaviourists have been studying these monkeys for decades.
be|head /b I he d/ (beheads , beheading , beheaded ) VERB [usu passive] If someone is beheaded , their head is cut off, usually because they have been found guilty of a crime. □ [be V -ed] Charles I was beheaded by the Cromwellians.
be|held /b I he ld/ Beheld is the past tense of behold .
be|he|moth /b I hiː mɒθ, [AM ] -məθ/ (behemoths ) N‑COUNT If you refer to something as a behemoth , you mean that it is extremely large, and often that it is unpleasant, inefficient, or difficult to manage. [JOURNALISM , LITERARY , DISAPPROVAL ] □ The city is a sprawling behemoth with no heart. □ …his behemoth 1,047 page book.
be|hest /b I he st/ (behests ) PHRASE If something is done at someone's behest , it is done because they have ordered or requested it. [FORMAL ] □ Both posts were removed at the school's behest.
behind
➊ PREPOSITION AND ADVERB USES
➋ NOUN USE
➊ be|hind ◆◆◆ /b I ha I nd/ In addition to the uses shown below, behind is also used in a few phrasal verbs, such as 'fall behind' and 'lie behind'. → Please look at categories 14 to 17 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 PREP If something is behind a thing or person, it is on the other side of them from you, or nearer their back rather than their front. □ I put one of the cushions behind his head. □ They were parked behind the truck. ● ADV [from ADV ] Behind is also an adverb. □ Rising into the hills behind are 800 acres of parkland. □ She was attacked from behind.
2 PREP If you are walking or travelling behind someone or something, you are following them. □ Keith wandered along behind him. □ Myra and Sam and the children were driving behind them. ● ADV [ADV after v] Behind is also an adverb. □ The troopers followed behind, every muscle tensed for the sudden gunfire.
3 PREP If someone is behind a desk, counter, or bar, they are on the other side of it from where you are. □ The colonel was sitting behind a cheap wooden desk. □ He could just about see the little man behind the counter.
4 PREP When you shut a door or gate behind you, you shut it after you have gone through it. □ I walked out and closed the door behind me. □ He slammed the gate shut behind him.
5 PREP The people, reason, or events behind a situation are the causes of it or are responsible for it. □ It is still not clear who was behind the killing. □ He is embarrassed about the motives behind his decision.
6 PREP If something or someone is behind you, they support you and help you. □ He had the state's judicial power behind him.
7 PREP If you refer to what is behind someone's outside appearance, you are referring to a characteristic which you cannot immediately see or is not obvious, but which you think is there. □ What lay behind his anger was really the hurt he felt at Grace's refusal.
8 PREP If you are behind someone, you are less successful than them, or have done less or advanced less. □ Food production has already fallen behind the population growth. ● ADV [be ADV , ADV after v] Behind is also an adverb. □ The rapid development of technology means that she is now far behind, and will need retraining.
9 PREP If an experience is behind you, it happened in your past and will not happen again, or no longer affects you. □ Maureen put the nightmare behind her.
10 PREP If you have a particular achievement behind you, you have managed to reach this achievement, and other people consider it to be important or valuable. □ He has 20 years of loyal service to Barclays Bank behind him.
11 PREP If something is behind schedule, it is not as far advanced as people had planned. If someone is behind schedule, they are not progressing as quickly at something as they had planned. □ The work is 22 weeks behind schedule.
12 ADV [ADV after v] If you stay behind , you remain in a place after other people have gone. □ About 1,200 personnel will remain behind to take care of the air base.
13 ADV [ADV after v] If you leave something or someone behind , you do not take them with you when you go. □ The rebels fled into the mountains, leaving behind their weapons and supplies.
14 to do something behind someone's back → see back ➋
15 behind bars → see bar
16 behind the scenes → see scene
17 behind the times → see time
➋ be|hind /b I ha I nd/ (behinds ) N‑COUNT Your behind is the part of your body that you sit on. USAGE behind
Don’t use ‘of ’ after behind
. Don’t say, for example, ‘
They parked the motorcycle behind of some bushes
’. Say ‘They parked the motorcycle behind
some bushes’.
behi nd-the-sce nes → see scene
be|hold /b I hoʊ ld/ (beholds , beholding , beheld )
1 VERB If you behold someone or something, you see them. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] She looked into his eyes and beheld madness.
2 lo and behold → see lo
be|hold|en /b I hoʊ ld ə n/ ADJ If you are beholden to someone, you are in debt to them in some way or you feel that you have a duty to them because they have helped you. □ We feel really beholden to them for what they've done.
be|hold|er /b I hoʊ ldə r / (beholders )
1 PHRASE If you say that something such as beauty or art is in the eye of the beholder , you mean that it is a matter of personal opinion. □ Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
2 N‑COUNT The beholder of something is the person who is looking at it. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
be|hove /b I hoʊ v/ (behoves , behoved ) in AM, use behoove VERB If it behoves you to do something, it is right, necessary, or useful for you to do it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n to-inf] It behoves us to think of these dangers.
beige /be I ʒ/ COLOUR Something that is beige is pale brown in colour. □ …a pair of beige shorts. □ …muted shades of white and beige.
be|ing ◆◇◇ /biː I ŋ/ (beings )
1 Being is the present participle of be .
2 V‑LINK Being is used in non-finite clauses where you are giving the reason for something. □ [V n] It being a Sunday, the old men had the day off. □ [V adj] Of course, being young, I did not worry. [Also V prep]
3 N‑COUNT You can refer to any real or imaginary creature as a being . □ …beings from outer space.
4 → see also human being
5 N‑UNCOUNT Being is existence. Something that is in being or comes into being exists or starts to exist. □ Abraham Maslow described psychology as 'the science of being.' □ The Kingdom of Italy formally came into being on 17 March 1861.
6 PHRASE You can use being as to introduce a reason for what you are saying. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ I used to go everywhere with my mother being as I was the youngest.
7 → see also well-being
8 other things being equal → see equal
9 for the time being → see time
be|jew|elled /b I dʒuː ə ld/ in AM, use bejeweled ADJ [usu ADJ n] A bejewelled person or object is wearing a lot of jewellery or is decorated with jewels. □ …bejewelled women. □ …a bejewelled golden tiara.
be|la|bour /b I le I bə r / (belabours , belabouring , belaboured ) in AM, use belabor 1 VERB If you belabour someone or something, you hit them hard and repeatedly. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
2 VERB If you say that someone belabours the point, you mean that they keep on talking about it, perhaps in an annoying or boring way. □ [V n] I won't belabour the point, for this is a familiar story.
be|lat|ed /b I le I t I d/ ADJ A belated action happens later than it should have done. [FORMAL ] □ …the government's belated attempts to alleviate the plight of the poor. □ …a belated birthday present. ● be|lat|ed|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The leaders realized belatedly that the coup would be disastrous for everyone.
belch /be ltʃ/ (belches , belching , belched )
1 VERB If someone belches , they make a sudden noise in their throat because air has risen up from their stomach. □ [V ] Garland covered his mouth with his hand and belched discreetly. ● N‑COUNT Belch is also a noun. □ He drank and stifled a belch.
2 VERB If a machine or chimney belches something such as smoke or fire or if smoke or fire belches from it, large amounts of smoke or fire come from it. □ [V n] Tired old trucks were struggling up the road below us, belching black smoke. □ [V + from/out of ] Suddenly, clouds of steam started to belch from the engine. ● PHRASAL VERB Belch out means the same as belch . □ [V P n] The power-generation plant belched out five tonnes of ash an hour. □ [V P ] …the vast quantities of smoke belching out from the volcano.
▸ belch out → see belch 2
be|lea|guered /b I liː gə r d/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A beleaguered person, organization, or project is experiencing a lot of difficulties, opposition, or criticism. [FORMAL ] □ There have been seven coup attempts against the beleaguered government.
2 ADJ A beleaguered place or army is surrounded by its enemies. [FORMAL ] □ The rebels continue their push towards the beleaguered capital.
bel|fry /be lfri/ (belfries ) N‑COUNT The belfry of a church is the top part of its tower, where the bells are.
Bel|gian /be ldʒ ə n/ (Belgians ) ADJ Belgian means belonging or relating to Belgium or to its people. ● N‑COUNT A Belgian is a person who comes from Belgium.
be|lie /b I la I / (belies , belying , belied )
1 VERB If one thing belies another, it hides the true situation and so creates a false idea or image of someone or something. □ [V n] Her looks belie her 50 years.
2 VERB If one thing belies another, it proves that the other thing is not true or genuine. □ [V n] The facts of the situation belie his testimony.
be|lief ◆◇◇ /b I liː f/ (beliefs )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Belief is a feeling of certainty that something exists, is true, or is good. □ [+ in ] … a traditional eastern belief in reincarnation. □ [+ in ] …a belief in personal liberty.
2 N‑PLURAL Your religious or political beliefs are your views on religious or political matters. □ He refuses to compete on Sundays because of his religious beliefs.
3 N‑SING [usu N that] If it is your belief that something is the case, it is your strong opinion that it is the case. □ It is our belief that improvements in health care will lead to a stronger economy.
4 PHRASE You use beyond belief to emphasize that something is true to a very great degree or that it happened to a very great degree. [EMPHASIS ] □ We are devastated, shocked beyond belief.
5 PHRASE You use contrary to popular belief to introduce a statement that is the opposite to what is thought to be true by most ordinary people. □ Contrary to popular belief, bread is not the best thing for birds.
6 PHRASE If you do one thing in the belief that another thing is true or will happen, you do it because you think, usually wrongly, that it is true or will happen. □ Civilians had broken into the building, apparently in the belief that it contained food.
be|lie f sys|tem (belief systems ) N‑COUNT [oft with poss] The belief system of a person or society is the set of beliefs that they have about what is right and wrong and what is true and false. □ …the belief systems of various ethnic groups.
be|liev|able /b I liː vəb ə l/ ADJ Something that is believable makes you think that it could be true or real. □ This book is full of believable, interesting characters.
be|lieve ◆◆◆ /b I liː v/ (believes , believing , believed )
1 VERB If you believe that something is true, you think that it is true, but you are not sure. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] Experts believe that the coming drought will be extensive. □ [V that] I believe you have something of mine. □ [V ] The main problem, I believe, lies elsewhere. □ [V n to-inf] We believe them to be hidden here in this apartment. □ [V so ] 'You've never heard of him?'—'I don't believe so.' [Also V n adj]
2 VERB If you believe someone or if you believe what they say or write, you accept that they are telling the truth. □ [V n] He did not sound as if he believed her. □ [V n] Don't believe what you read in the papers.
3 VERB If you believe in fairies, ghosts, or miracles, you are sure that they exist or happen. If you believe in a god, you are sure of the existence of that god. □ [V + in ] I don't believe in ghosts. □ [V + in ] Do you believe in magic? [Also V ]
4 VERB If you believe in a way of life or an idea, you are in favour of it because you think it is good or right. □ [V + in ] He believed in marital fidelity.
5 VERB If you believe in someone or what they are doing, you have confidence in them and think that they will be successful. □ [V + in ] If you believe in yourself you can succeed.
6 VERB Believe is used in expressions such as I can't believe how or it's hard to believe that in order to express surprise, for example because something bad has happened or something very difficult has been achieved. [FEELINGS ] □ [V wh] Many officers I spoke to found it hard to believe what was happening around them. [Also V that]
7 PHRASE You can use believe it or not to emphasize that what you have just said is surprising. [EMPHASIS ] □ That's normal, believe it or not.
8 PHRASE If you say would you believe it , you are emphasizing your surprise about something. [EMPHASIS ] □ And would you believe it, he's younger than me!
9 PHRASE You can use believe you me to emphasize that what you are saying is true. [EMPHASIS ] □ It's absolutely amazing, believe you me. USAGE believe
Believe
is not used in the progressive. Don’t say, for example, ‘
I am believing you
’. Say ‘I believe
you’. □
I believe
that these findings should be presented to your readers.
SYNONYMS
believe
VERB
1
suppose: The problem was more complex than he supposed.
consider: I had always considered myself a strong, competent woman.
assume: It is a misconception to assume that the two continents are similar.
gather: I gather his report is highly critical of the trial judge.
presume: 'Had he been home all week?'—'I presume so.'
be|liev|er /b I liː və r / (believers )
1 N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] If you are a great believer in something, you think that it is good, right, or useful. □ [+ in ] Mum was a great believer in herbal medicines.
2 N‑COUNT A believer is someone who is sure that a god exists or that their religion is true. □ I made no secret of the fact that I was not a believer.
be|lit|tle /b I l I t ə l/ (belittles , belittling , belittled ) VERB If you belittle someone or something, you say or imply that they are unimportant or not very good. □ [V n] We mustn't belittle her outstanding achievement.
bell ◆◇◇ /be l/ (bells )
1 N‑COUNT A bell is a device that makes a ringing sound and is used to give a signal or to attract people's attention. □ I've been ringing the door bell, there's no answer.
2 N‑COUNT A bell is a hollow metal object shaped like a cup which has a piece hanging inside it that hits the sides and makes a sound. □ Church bells tolled yesterday in remembrance of the five girls who were killed.
3 PHRASE If something is as clear as a bell , it is very clear indeed. □ There are 80 of these pictures and they're all as clear as a bell.
4 PHRASE If you say that something rings a bell , you mean that it reminds you of something, but you cannot remember exactly what it is. [INFORMAL ] □ The description of one of the lads is definitely familiar. It rings a bell.
be ll-bottoms The form bell-bottom is used as a modifier. N‑PLURAL [oft N n] Bell-bottoms are trousers that are very wide at the bottom of the leg, near your feet. □ Flares, loons and bell-bottoms are back. □ …bell-bottom trousers.
bell|boy /be lbɔ I / (bellboys ) N‑COUNT A bellboy is a man or boy who works in a hotel, carrying bags or bringing things to the guests' rooms. [mainly AM ]
belle /be l/ (belles ) N‑COUNT A belle is a beautiful woman, especially the most beautiful woman at a party or in a group. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
bel|li|cose /be l I koʊs, -koʊz/ ADJ You use bellicose to refer to aggressive actions or behaviour that are likely to start an argument or a fight. [LITERARY ] □ He expressed alarm about the government's increasingly bellicose statements.
-bellied /-belid/
1 COMB -bellied can be added to an adjective to describe someone or something that has a stomach of a particular kind. □ The fat-bellied officer stood near the door. □ …the yellow-bellied sea-snake.
2 → see also pot-bellied
bel|lig|er|ent /b I l I dʒərənt/ ADJ A belligerent person is hostile and aggressive. □ He was almost back to his belligerent mood of twelve months ago. ● bel|lig|er|ent|ly ADV □ 'Why not?' he asked belligerently. ● bel|lig|er|ence N‑UNCOUNT □ He could be accused of passion, but never belligerence.
bel|low /be loʊ/ (bellows , bellowing , bellowed )
1 VERB If someone bellows , they shout angrily in a loud, deep voice. □ [V with quote] 'I didn't ask to be born!' she bellowed. □ [V + at ] She prayed she wouldn't come in and find them there, bellowing at each other. □ [V n prep] He bellowed information into the mouthpiece of the phone. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT Bellow is also a noun. □ [+ of ] I was distraught and let out a bellow of tearful rage.
2 VERB When a large animal such as a bull or an elephant bellows , it makes a loud and deep noise. □ [V ] A heifer bellowed in her stall.
3 N‑COUNT [oft a pair of N ] A bellows is or bellows are a device used for blowing air into a fire in order to make it burn more fiercely.
be ll pep|per (bell peppers ) N‑COUNT A bell pepper is a hollow green, red, or yellow vegetable with seeds. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use pepper
be ll ring|er (bell ringers ) also bell-ringer N‑COUNT A bell ringer is someone who rings church bells or hand bells, especially as a hobby.
bell|wether /be lweðə r / (bellwethers ) N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft N n] If you describe something as a bellwether , you mean that it is an indication of the way a situation is changing. [mainly AM , JOURNALISM ] □ For decades the company was the bellwether of the British economy. □ IBM is considered the bellwether stock on Wall Street.
bel|ly /be li/ (bellies )
1 N‑COUNT [with poss] The belly of a person or animal is their stomach or abdomen. In British English, this is an informal or literary use. □ She laid her hands on her swollen belly. □ You'll eat so much your belly'll be like a barrel.
2 → see also beer belly , pot belly
3 PHRASE If a company goes belly up , it does not have enough money to pay its debts. [INFORMAL ] □ I really can't afford to see this company go belly up.
belly|ache /be lie I k/ (bellyaches , bellyaching , bellyached ) also belly-ache
1 N‑VAR Bellyache is a pain inside your abdomen, especially in your stomach. [INFORMAL ]
2 VERB [usu cont] If you say that someone is bellyaching , you mean they complain loudly and frequently about something and you think this is unreasonable or unjustified. [INFORMAL ] □ [V + about ] …belly-aching about recession. [Also V ]
be l|ly but|ton (belly buttons ) N‑COUNT Your belly button is the small round thing in the centre of your stomach. [INFORMAL ]
be l|ly danc|er (belly dancers ) also belly-dancer N‑COUNT A belly dancer is a woman who performs a Middle Eastern dance in which she moves her hips and abdomen about.
be l|ly laugh (belly laughs ) also belly-laugh N‑COUNT A belly laugh is a very loud, deep laugh. □ Each gag was rewarded with a generous belly-laugh.
be|long ◆◇◇ /b I lɒ ŋ, [AM ] -lɔː ŋ/ (belongs , belonging , belonged )
1 VERB [no cont] If something belongs to you, you own it. □ [V + to ] The house had belonged to her family for three or four generations.
2 VERB [no cont] You say that something belongs to a particular person when you are guessing, discovering, or explaining that it was produced by or is part of that person. □ [V + to ] The handwriting belongs to a male.
3 VERB [no cont] If someone belongs to a particular group, they are a member of that group. □ [V + to ] I used to belong to a youth club.
4 VERB [no cont] If something or someone belongs in or to a particular category, type, or group, they are of that category, type, or group. □ [V + in/to ] The judges could not decide which category it belonged in.
5 VERB [no cont] If something belongs to a particular time, it comes from that time. □ [V + to ] The pictures belong to an era when there was a preoccupation with high society.
6 VERB [no cont] If you say that something belongs to someone, you mean that person has the right to it. □ [V + to ] …but the last word belonged to Rosanne.
7 VERB [no cont] If you say that a time belongs to a particular system or way of doing something, you mean that that time is or will be characterized by it. □ [V + to ] The future belongs to democracy.
8 VERB [no cont] If a baby or child belongs to a particular adult, that adult is his or her parent or the person who is looking after him or her. □ [V + to ] He deduced that the two children belonged to the couple.
9 VERB [no cont] When lovers say that they belong together , they are expressing their closeness or commitment to each other. □ [V together ] I really think that we belong together. □ [V + with ] He belongs with me.
10 VERB [no cont] If a person or thing belongs in a particular place or situation, that is where they should be. □ [V adv/prep] You don't belong here. □ [V adv/prep] I'm so glad to see you back where you belong. □ [V ] They need to feel they belong. ● be|long|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …a man utterly without a sense of belonging. USAGE belong
When belong
is used with meaning 1
, it must be followed by to
. Don’t say, for example, ‘
This bag belongs me
’. Say ‘This bag belongs to
me’. □
Everything you see here belongs to
me.
be|long|ings /b I lɒ ŋ I ŋz, [AM ] -lɔː ŋ-/ N‑PLURAL [usu poss N ] Your belongings are the things that you own, especially things that are small enough to be carried. □ I collected my belongings and left.
be|lov|ed /b I lʌ v I d/ When the adjective is not followed by a noun it is pronounced /b I lʌ vd/ and is hyphenated be|loved. 1 ADJ [usu ADJ n, Also v-link ADJ of/by n] A beloved person, thing, or place is one that you feel great affection for. □ He lost his beloved wife last year.
2 N‑SING [usu poss N ] Your beloved is the person that you love. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ He takes his beloved into his arms.
be|low ◆◆◇ /b I loʊ /
1 PREP If something is below something else, it is in a lower position. □ He appeared from the apartment directly below Leonard's. □ The path runs below a long brick wall. □ The sun had already sunk below the horizon. ● ADV [n ADV , ADV after v] Below is also an adverb. □ …a view to the street below. □ Spread out below was a great crowd.
2 PHRASE If something is below ground or below the ground , it is in the ground. □ They have designed a system which pumps up water from 70m below ground.
3 ADV [n ADV , ADV after v] You use below in a piece of writing to refer to something that is mentioned later. □ Please contact me on the number below.
4 PREP If something is below a particular amount, rate, or level, it is less than that amount, rate, or level. □ Night temperatures can drop below 15 degrees Celsius. □ Rainfall has been below average. ● ADV Below is also an adverb. □ …temperatures at zero or below.
5 PREP If someone is below you in an organization, they are lower in rank. □ Such people often experience less stress than those in the ranks immediately below them.
6 below par → see par
be|low stai rs also below-stairs ADV [n ADV , ADV after v] People sometimes use below stairs to refer to the servants in a rich household and the things that are connected with them. □ …a glimpse of life below stairs at Buckingham Palace. ● ADJ [usu ADJ n] Below-stairs is also an adjective. □ …the below-stairs world of a 1920s country house.
belo w-the-be lt → see belt
belo w-the-li ne pro|mo |tion (below-the-line promotions ) N‑VAR Below-the-line promotion is the use of promotional methods that can be controlled by the company selling the goods or service, such as in-store offers and direct selling. Compare above-the-line promotion . [BUSINESS ] □ The advertising campaign will be supported by a PR and below-the-line promotion.
belt ◆◇◇ /be lt/ (belts , belting , belted )
1 N‑COUNT A belt is a strip of leather or cloth that you fasten round your waist. □ He wore a belt with a large brass buckle.
2 → see also safety belt , seat belt
3 N‑COUNT A belt in a machine is a circular strip of rubber that is used to drive moving parts or to move objects along. □ The turning disc is connected by a drive belt to an electric motor.
4 → see also conveyor belt , fan belt
5 N‑COUNT A belt of land or sea is a long, narrow area of it that has some special feature. □ Miners in Zambia's northern copper belt have gone on strike.
6 → see also Bible Belt , commuter belt , green belt
7 VERB If someone belts you, they hit you very hard. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] 'Is it right she belted old George in the gut?' she asked. ● N‑COUNT Belt is also a noun. □ Father would give you a belt over the head with the scrubbing brush.
8 VERB If you belt somewhere, you move or travel there very fast. [INFORMAL ] □ [V prep/adv] We belted down Iveagh Parade to where the motor was.
9 → see also belted
10 PHRASE Something that is below the belt is cruel and unfair. □ Do you think it's a bit below the belt what they're doing? □ …this kind of below-the-belt discrimination.
11 PHRASE If you have to tighten your belt , you have to spend less money and manage without things because you have less money than you used to have. □ Clearly, if you are spending more than your income, you'll need to tighten your belt.
12 PHRASE If you have something under your belt , you have already achieved it or done it. □ Clare is now a full-time author with six books, including four novels, under her belt.
▸ belt out PHRASAL VERB If you belt out a song, you sing or play it very loudly. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] We shouldn't have opera singers belting out the national anthem before England matches. [Also V n P ]
belt|ed /be lt I d/ ADJ If someone's jacket or coat, for example, is belted , it has a belt fastened round it. □ She wore a brown suede jacket, belted at the waist.
be lt-tightening N‑UNCOUNT If you need to do some belt-tightening , you must spend less money and manage without things because you have less money than you used to have. □ This will cause further belt-tightening in the public services.
belt|way /be ltwe I / (beltways ) N‑COUNT A beltway is a road that goes around a city or town, to keep traffic away from the centre. [AM ] in BRIT, use ring road
be|moan /b I moʊ n/ (bemoans , bemoaning , bemoaned ) VERB If you bemoan something, you express sorrow or dissatisfaction about it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Universities and other research establishments bemoan their lack of funds.
be|muse /b I mjuː z/ (bemuses , bemusing , bemused ) VERB If something bemuses you, it puzzles or confuses you. □ [V n] The sheer quantity of detail would bemuse even the most clear-headed author.
be|mused /b I mjuː zd/ ADJ If you are bemused , you are puzzled or confused. □ He was rather bemused by children. □ Mr. Sebastian was looking at the boys with a bemused expression. ● be|mus|ed|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ He was staring bemusedly at the picture of himself.
be|muse|ment /b I mjuː zmənt/ N‑UNCOUNT Bemusement is the feeling that you have when you are puzzled or confused by something. □ A look of bemusement spread across their faces.
bench ◆◇◇ /be ntʃ/ (benches )
1 N‑COUNT A bench is a long seat of wood or metal that two or more people can sit on. □ He sat down on a park bench.
2 N‑COUNT A bench is a long, narrow table in a factory or laboratory. □ …the laboratory bench.
3 N‑PLURAL In parliament, different groups sit on different benches . For example, the government sits on the government benches . [BRIT ] □ …the opposition benches.
4 → see also backbench , backbencher , backbenches , front bench
5 N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] In a court of law, the bench is the judge or magistrates. □ The chairman of the bench adjourned the case until October 27.
bench|mark /be ntʃmɑː r k/ (benchmarks ) also bench mark N‑COUNT [usu sing] A benchmark is something whose quality or quantity is known and which can therefore be used as a standard with which other things can be compared. □ [+ for ] The truck industry is a benchmark for the economy.
bench|mark|ing /be ntʃmɑː r k I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT In business, benchmarking is a process in which a company compares its products and methods with those of the most successful companies in its field, in order to try to improve its own performance. [BUSINESS ]
bend ◆◇◇ /be nd/ (bends , bending , bent )
1 VERB When you bend , you move the top part of your body downwards and forwards. Plants and trees also bend . □ [V adv/prep] I bent over and kissed her cheek. □ [V ] She bent and picked up a plastic bucket. □ [V -ed] She was bent over the sink washing the dishes.
2 VERB When you bend your head, you move your head forwards and downwards. □ [V n] Rick appeared, bending his head a little to clear the top of the door.
3 VERB When you bend a part of your body such as your arm or leg, or when it bends , you change its position so that it is no longer straight. □ [V n] These cruel devices are designed to stop prisoners bending their legs. □ [V ] As you walk faster, you will find the arms bend naturally and more quickly. ● bent ADJ □ Keep your knees slightly bent.
4 VERB If you bend something that is flat or straight, you use force to make it curved or to put an angle in it. □ [V n prep] Bend the bar into a horseshoe. □ [V n] She'd cut a jagged hole in the tin, bending a knife in the process. ● bent ADJ □ …a length of bent wire.
5 VERB When a road, beam of light, or other long thin thing bends , or when something bends it, it changes direction to form a curve or angle. □ [V ] The road bent slightly to the right. □ [V n] Glass bends light of different colours by different amounts.
6 N‑COUNT A bend in a road, pipe, or other long thin object is a curve or angle in it. □ The crash occurred on a sharp bend.
7 VERB If someone bends to your wishes, they believe or do something different, usually when they do not want to. □ [V + to ] Congress has to bend to his will. □ [V ] Do you think she's likely to bend on her attitude to Europe? [Also V n]
8 VERB If you bend rules or laws, you interpret them in a way that allows you to do something they would not normally allow you to do. □ [V n] A minority of officers were prepared to bend the rules.
9 VERB If you bend the truth or bend the facts, you say something that is not exactly true. □ [V n] Sometimes we bend the truth a little in order to spare them the pain of the real facts.
10 → see also bent , hairpin bend
11 PHRASE If you say that someone is bending over backwards to be helpful or kind, you are emphasizing that they are trying very hard to be helpful or kind. [EMPHASIS ] □ People are bending over backwards to please customers.
12 PHRASE If you say that someone or something drives you round the bend , you mean that you dislike them and they annoy or upset you very much. [BRIT , INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] □ And can you make that tea before your fidgeting drives me completely round the bend?
bend|ed /be nd I d/ PHRASE If you ask someone for something on bended knee , you ask them very seriously for it. [FORMAL ] □ We beg the Government on bended knee not to cut this budget.
bend|er /be ndə r / (benders ) N‑COUNT [usu sing, usu on N ] If someone goes on a bender , they drink a very large amount of alcohol. [INFORMAL ]
bendy /be ndi/ (bendier , bendiest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] A bendy object bends easily into a curved or angled shape. □ …a bendy toy whose limbs bend in every direction.
be|neath ◆◇◇ /b I niː θ/
1 PREP Something that is beneath another thing is under the other thing. □ She could see the muscles of his shoulders beneath his T-shirt. □ She found pleasure in sitting beneath the trees. □ …the frozen grass crunching beneath his feet. ● ADV [n ADV ] Beneath is also an adverb. □ On a shelf beneath he spotted a photo album.
2 PREP If you talk about what is beneath the surface of something, you are talking about the aspects of it which are hidden or not obvious. □ …emotional strains beneath the surface. □ Beneath the festive mood there is an underlying apprehension.
3 PREP If you say that someone or something is beneath you, you feel that they are not good enough for you or not suitable for you. □ They decided she was marrying beneath her. □ Many find themselves having to take jobs far beneath them.
Ben|edic|tine /be n I d I ktin, -tiːn/ (Benedictines ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A Benedictine is a monk or nun who is a member of a Christian religious community that follows the rule of St. Benedict. □ …the famous Benedictine abbey of St Mary.
ben|edic|tion /be n I d I kʃ ə n/ (benedictions )
1 N‑VAR A benediction is a kind of Christian prayer. [FORMAL ] □ The minister pronounced the benediction. □ The Pope's hands were raised in benediction.
2 N‑VAR You can refer to something that makes people feel protected and at peace as a benediction . □ She could only raise her hand in a gesture of benediction.
ben|efac|tor /be n I fæktə r / (benefactors ) N‑COUNT A benefactor is a person who helps a person or organization by giving them money. □ [+ of ] In his old age he became a benefactor of the arts.
be|nefi|cent /b I ne f I s ə nt/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A beneficent person or thing helps people or results in something good. [FORMAL ] □ …optimism about the beneficent effects of new technology.
ben|efi|cial /be n I f I ʃ ə l/ ADJ Something that is beneficial helps people or improves their lives. □ [+ to ] …vitamins which are beneficial to our health. □ Using computers has a beneficial effect on children's learning.
bene|fi|ciary /be n I f I ʃəri, [AM ] -ʃieri/ (beneficiaries )
1 N‑COUNT Someone who is a beneficiary of something is helped by it. □ [+ of ] The main beneficiaries of pension equality so far seem to have been men.
2 N‑COUNT The beneficiaries of a will are legally entitled to receive money or property from someone when that person dies.
ben|efit ◆◆◇ /be n I f I t/ (benefits , benefiting or benefitting , benefited or benefitted )
1 N‑VAR The benefit of something is the help that you get from it or the advantage that results from it. □ [+ of ] Each family farms individually and reaps the benefit of its labor. □ [+ of ] I'm a great believer in the benefits of this form of therapy. □ For maximum benefit, use your treatment every day.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] If something is to your benefit or is of benefit to you, it helps you or improves your life. □ This could now work to Albania's benefit. □ [+ to ] I hope what I have written will be of benefit to someone else who may feel the same way.
3 VERB If you benefit from something or if it benefits you, it helps you or improves your life. □ [V + from ] Both sides have benefited from the talks. □ [V n] …a variety of government programs benefiting children. [Also V ]
4 N‑UNCOUNT If you have the benefit of some information, knowledge, or equipment, you are able to use it so that you can achieve something. □ [+ of ] Steve didn't have the benefit of a formal college education.
5 N‑VAR [oft on N ] Benefit is money that is given by the government to people who are poor, ill, or unemployed. □ …the removal of benefit from school-leavers.
6 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A benefit , or a benefit concert or dinner, is an event that is held in order to raise money for a particular charity or person. □ I am organising a benefit gig in Bristol to raise these funds.
7 → see also fringe benefit , unemployment benefit
8 PHRASE If you give someone the benefit of the doubt , you treat them as if they are telling the truth or as if they have behaved properly, even though you are not sure that this is the case. □ At first I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
9 PHRASE If you say that someone is doing something for the benefit of a particular person, you mean that they are doing it for that person. □ You need people working for the benefit of the community. COLLOCATIONS benefit NOUN
1
verb + benefit : gain, obtain, reap; enjoy
5
noun + benefit : disability, housing, sickness, unemployment, welfare
adjective + benefit : in-work, means-tested, out-of-work
verb + benefit : claim, receive VERB 3
benefit + adverb : enormously, greatly, hugely; financially; disproportionately
Bene|lux /be n I lʌks/ ADJ [ADJ n] The Benelux countries are Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
be|nevo|lent /b I ne vələnt/
1 ADJ If you describe a person in authority as benevolent , you mean that they are kind and fair. □ The company has proved to be a most benevolent employer. ● be|nevo|lent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Thorne nodded his understanding, smiling benevolently. ● be|nevo|lence N‑UNCOUNT □ A bit of benevolence from people in power is not what we need.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Benevolent is used in the names of some organizations that give money and help to people who need it. [BRIT ] □ …the Army Benevolent Fund.
Ben|ga|li /beŋgɔː li/ (Bengalis )
1 ADJ Bengali means belonging or relating to Bengal, or to its people or language. □ She married a Bengali doctor.
2 N‑COUNT A Bengali is a person who comes from Bangladesh or West Bengal.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Bengali is the language that is spoken by people who live in Bangladesh and by many people in West Bengal.
be|night|ed /b I na I t I d/ ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe people or the place where they live as benighted , you think they are unfortunate or do not know anything. [LITERARY , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Famine hit that benighted country once more.
be|nign /b I na I n/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use benign to describe someone who is kind, gentle, and harmless. □ They are normally a more benign audience. ● be|nign|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ I just smiled benignly and stood back.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A benign substance or process does not have any harmful effects. □ We're taking relatively benign medicines and we're turning them into poisons.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A benign tumour will not cause death or serious harm. [MEDICAL ] □ It wasn't cancer, only a benign tumour.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Benign conditions are pleasant or make it easy for something to happen. □ They enjoyed an especially benign climate.
bent /be nt/
1 Bent is the past tense and past participle of bend .
2 ADJ If an object is bent , it is damaged and no longer has its correct shape. □ The trees were all bent and twisted from the wind.
3 ADJ If a person is bent , their body has become curved because of old age or disease. [WRITTEN ] □ …a bent, frail, old man.
4 ADJ If someone is bent on doing something, especially something harmful, they are determined to do it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ on/upon ] He's bent on suicide.
5 N‑SING If you have a bent for something, you have a natural ability to do it or a natural interest in it. □ [+ for ] His bent for natural history directed him towards his first job.
6 N‑SING [adj N ] If someone is of a particular bent , they hold a particular set of beliefs. □ …economists of a socialist bent.
7 ADJ If you say that someone in a position of responsibility is bent , you mean that they are dishonest or do illegal things. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …this bent accountant.
8 PHRASE If someone is bent double , the top part of their body is leaning forward towards their legs, usually because they are in great pain or because they are laughing a lot. In American English, you can also say that someone is bent over double . □ [+ with/in ] He left the courtroom on the first day bent double with stomach pain.
ben|zene /be nziːn/ N‑UNCOUNT Benzene is a clear, colourless liquid which is used to make plastics.
be|queath /b I kwiː ð/ (bequeaths , bequeathing , bequeathed )
1 VERB If you bequeath your money or property to someone, you legally state that they should have it when you die. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + to ] He bequeathed all his silver to his children.
2 VERB If you bequeath an idea or system, you leave it for other people to use or develop. [FORMAL ] □ [V n n] He bequeaths his successor an economy that is doing quite well. □ [V n + to ] It is true that colonialism did not bequeath much to Africa. [Also V n]
be|quest /b I kwe st/ (bequests ) N‑COUNT A bequest is money or property which you legally leave to someone when you die. □ The church here was left a bequest to hire doctors who would work amongst the poor.
be|rate /b I re I t/ (berates , berating , berated ) VERB If you berate someone, you speak to them angrily about something they have done wrong. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + for ] Marion berated Joe for the noise he made. [Also V n]
Ber|ber /bɜː r bə r / (Berbers ) ADJ Berber means belonging or relating to a particular Muslim people in North Africa, or to their language or customs. ● N‑COUNT A Berber is a person from the Berber community.
be|reaved /b I riː vd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A bereaved person is one who has a relative or close friend who has recently died. □ Mr Dinkins visited the bereaved family to offer comfort. ● N‑PLURAL The bereaved are people who are bereaved. □ He wanted to show his sympathy for the bereaved.
be|reave|ment /b I riː vmənt/ (bereavements ) N‑VAR Bereavement is the sorrow you feel or the state you are in when a relative or close friend dies. □ …those who have suffered a bereavement.
be|reft /b I re ft/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If a person or thing is bereft of something, they no longer have it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] The place seemed to be utterly bereft of human life.
be|ret /be re I , [AM ] bəre I / (berets ) N‑COUNT A beret is a circular, flat hat that is made of soft material and has no brim.
berk /bɜː r k/ (berks ) N‑COUNT If you call someone a berk , you think they are stupid or irritating. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
ber|ry /be ri/ (berries ) N‑COUNT Berries are small, round fruit that grow on a bush or a tree. Some berries are edible, for example blackberries and raspberries.
ber|serk /bə r zɜː r k, -sɜː r k/
1 ADJ Berserk means crazy and out of control. □ He tossed back his head in a howl of berserk laughter.
2 PHRASE If someone or something goes berserk , they lose control of themselves and become very angry or violent. □ When I saw him, I went berserk.
berth /bɜː r θ/ (berths , berthing , berthed )
1 PHRASE If you give someone or something a wide berth , you avoid them because you think they are unpleasant, or dangerous, or simply because you do not like them. □ She gives showbiz parties a wide berth.
2 N‑COUNT A berth is a bed on a boat, train, or caravan. □ Goldring booked a berth on the first boat he could.
3 N‑COUNT A berth is a space in a harbour where a ship stays for a period of time.
4 VERB When a ship berths , it sails into harbour and stops at the quay. □ [V ] As the ship berthed in New York, McClintock was with the first immigration officers aboard. ● berthed ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] □ There the Gripsholm was berthed next to another ship.
be|seech /b I siː tʃ/ (beseeches , beseeching , beseeched ) VERB If you beseech someone to do something, you ask them very eagerly and anxiously. [LITERARY ] □ [V n to-inf] She beseeched him to cut his drinking and his smoking. □ [V with quote] 'Please stay and read to me, mummy' he beseeched. [Also V n, V n + for ]
be|seech|ing /b I siː tʃ I ŋ/ ADJ A beseeching expression, gesture, or tone of voice suggests that the person who has or makes it very much wants someone to do something. [WRITTEN ] □ She looked up at him with beseeching eyes. ● be|seech|ing|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ Hugh looked at his father beseechingly.
be|set /b I se t/ (besets , besetting ) The form beset is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle. VERB If someone or something is beset by problems or fears, they have many problems or fears which affect them severely. □ [be V -ed + by/with ] The country is beset by severe economic problems. □ [V n] …the problems now besetting the country.
be|side ◆◇◇ /b I sa I d/
1 PREP Something that is beside something else is at the side of it or next to it. □ On the table beside an empty plate was a pile of books. □ I moved from behind my desk to sit beside her.
2 → see also besides
3 PHRASE If you are beside yourself with anger or excitement, you are extremely angry or excited. □ Cathy was beside herself with excitement.
4 beside the point → see point
be|sides ◆◇◇ /b I sa I dz/
1 PREP [oft PREP v-ing] Besides something or beside something means in addition to it. □ I think she has many good qualities besides being very beautiful. □ There was only one person besides Ford who knew Julia Jameson. ● ADV Besides is also an adverb. □ You get to sample lots of baked things and take home masses of cookies besides.
2 ADV Besides is used to emphasize an additional point that you are making, especially one that you consider to be important. □ The house was too expensive and too big. Besides, I'd grown fond of our little rented house.
be|siege /b I siː dʒ/ (besieges , besieging , besieged )
1 VERB [usu passive] If you are besieged by people, many people want something from you and continually bother you. □ [be V -ed] She was besieged by the press and the public.
2 VERB If soldiers besiege a place, they surround it and wait for the people in it to stop fighting or resisting. □ [V n] The main part of the army moved to Sevastopol to besiege the town. □ [V -ed] The air force was using helicopters to supply the besieged town.
be|smirch /b I smɜː r tʃ/ (besmirches , besmirching , besmirched ) VERB If you besmirch someone or their reputation, you say that they are a bad person or that they have done something wrong, usually when this is not true. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] People were trying to besmirch his reputation.
be|sot|ted /b I sɒ t I d/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are besotted with someone or something, you like them so much that you seem foolish or silly. □ [+ with ] He became so besotted with her that even his children were forgotten.
be|speak /b I spiː k/ (bespeaks , bespeaking , bespoke , bespoken ) VERB If someone's action or behaviour bespeaks a particular quality, feeling, or experience, it shows that quality, feeling, or experience. [LITERARY , OLD-FASHIONED ]
be|spec|ta|cled /b I spe ktək ə ld/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone who is bespectacled is wearing glasses. [WRITTEN ] □ Mr Merrick was a slim, quiet, bespectacled man.
be|spoke /b I spoʊ k/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A bespoke craftsman such as a tailor makes and sells things that are specially made for the customer who ordered them. [BRIT , FORMAL ] □ …suits made by a bespoke tailor.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Bespoke things such as clothes have been specially made for the customer who ordered them. [BRIT , FORMAL ] □ …bespoke coats.
best ◆◆◆ /be st/
1 Best is the superlative of well . □ What's the best thing to do when I get a cold sore? □ It's not the best place to live if you wish to develop your knowledge and love of mountains.
2 Best is the superlative of good . □ He was best known as a writer on mystical subjects.
3 N‑SING The best is used to refer to things of the highest quality or standard. □ We offer only the best to our clients. □ He'll have the best of care.
4 N‑SING [oft poss N ] Someone's best is the greatest effort or highest achievement or standard that they are capable of. □ Miss Blockey was at her best when she played the piano. □ One needs to be a first-class driver to get the best out of that sort of machinery.
5 N‑SING If you say that something is the best that can be done or hoped for, you think it is the most pleasant, successful, or useful thing that can be done or hoped for. □ A draw seems the best they can hope for. □ The best we can do is try to stay cool and muddle through.
6 ADV [ADV after v] If you like something best or like it the best , you prefer it. □ The thing I liked best about the show was the music. □ Mother liked it best when Daniel got money. □ What was the role you loved the best?
7 Best is used to form the superlative of compound adjectives beginning with 'good' and 'well'. For example, the superlative of 'well-known' is 'best-known'.
8 → see also second best , Sunday best
9 CONVENTION You can say ' All the best ' when you are saying goodbye to someone, or at the end of a letter. [FORMULAE ] □ Wish him all the best, and tell him we miss him.
10 PHRASE You use best of all to indicate that what you are about to mention is the thing that you prefer or that has most advantages out of all the things you have mentioned. □ It was comfortable and cheap: best of all, most of the rent was being paid by two American friends.
11 PHRASE If someone does something as best they can , they do it as well as they can, although it is very difficult. □ The older people were left to carry on as best they could.
12 PHRASE You use at best to indicate that even if you describe something as favourably as possible or if it performs as well as it possibly can, it is still not very good. □ This policy, they say, is at best confused and at worst non-existent.
13 PHRASE If you do your best or try your best to do something, you try as hard as you can to do it, or do it as well as you can. □ I'll do my best to find out. □ It wasn't her fault, she was trying her best to help.
14 PHRASE If you say that something is for the best , you mean it is the most desirable or helpful thing that could have happened or could be done, considering all the circumstances. □ Whatever the circumstances, parents are supposed to know what to do for the best.
15 PHRASE If two people are the best of friends , they are close friends, especially when they have had a disagreement or fight in the past. □ Still, it isn't long before the two rivals become the best of friends.
16 PHRASE If you say that a particular person knows best , you mean that they have a lot of experience and should therefore be trusted to make decisions for other people. □ He was convinced that doctors and dentists knew best.
17 PHRASE If you make the best of something, you accept an unsatisfactory situation cheerfully and try to manage as well as you can. In British English, you can also say that you make the best of a bad job . □ …the virtues of good hard work, and making the best of what you have.
18 to the best of your ability → see ability
19 to hope for the best → see hope
20 to the best of your knowledge → see knowledge
21 best of luck → see luck
22 the best part → see part ➊
23 at the best of times → see time
24 the best of both worlds → see world
bes|tial /be stiəl, [AM ] -stʃəl/ ADJ If you describe behaviour or a situation as bestial , you mean that it is very unpleasant or disgusting. □ …the bestial conditions into which the city has sunk.
bes|ti|al|ity /be stiæ l I ti, [AM ] -tʃæ l-/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Bestiality is disgusting behaviour. [FORMAL ] □ It is shocking that humans can behave with such bestiality towards others.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Bestiality is sexual activity in which a person has sex with an animal.
best|ie /be stiː/ (besties ) N‑COUNT Your bestie is your best friend. [INFORMAL ] □ She spent the day hanging out with her bestie.
be st ma n N‑SING The best man at a wedding is the man who assists the bridegroom.
be st of bree d (best of breeds ) also best-of-breed
1 N‑COUNT The best of breed is the animal that wins first prize in its section at a dog show. □ The Queen's Trophy is presented to the best of breed Welsh corgi each February.
2 ADJ Best of breed products or services are the most successful products or services in a particular area. □ Gerstner transformed most of the company into a best of breed systems integration provider.
be|stow /b I stoʊ / (bestows , bestowing , bestowed ) VERB To bestow something on someone means to give or present it to them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + on/upon ] The Queen has bestowed a knighthood on him. [Also V on/upon n n]
be st pra c|tice N‑UNCOUNT Best practice is the way of running a business or providing a service that is recognized as correct or most effective. □ Schools will work together to share best practice.
be|stride /b I stra I d/ (bestrides , bestriding , bestrode , bestridden ) VERB To bestride something means to be the most powerful and important person or thing in it. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] America's media companies bestride the globe.
be st se ll|er (best sellers ) also bestseller N‑COUNT A best seller is a book of which a lot of copies have been sold.
be st-se lling also bestselling
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A best-selling product such as a book is very popular and a large quantity of it has been sold.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A best-selling author is an author who has sold a very large number of copies of his or her book.
bet ◆◇◇ /be t/ (bets , betting ) The form bet is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle. 1 VERB If you bet on the result of a horse race, football game, or other event, you give someone a sum of money which they give you back with extra money if the result is what you predicted, or which they keep if it is not. □ [V + on ] Jockeys are forbidden to bet on the outcome of races. □ [V amount + on ] I bet £10 on a horse called Premonition. □ [V n amount] He bet them £500 they would lose. ● N‑COUNT Bet is also a noun. □ [+ on ] Do you always have a bet on the Grand National? ● bet|ting N‑UNCOUNT □ …his thousand-pound fine for illegal betting. □ …betting shops.
2 N‑COUNT A bet is a sum of money which you give to someone when you bet. □ You can put a bet on almost anything these days.
3 VERB [only cont] If someone is betting that something will happen, they are hoping or expecting that it will happen. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V that] The party is betting that the presidential race will turn into a battle for younger voters. □ [V + on ] People were betting on a further easing of credit conditions.
4 → see also betting
5 PHRASE You use expressions such as ' I bet ', ' I'll bet ', and ' you can bet ' to indicate that you are sure something is true. [INFORMAL ] □ I bet you were good at games when you were at school. □ I'll bet they'll taste out of this world.
6 PHRASE If you tell someone that something is a good bet , you are suggesting that it is the thing or course of action that they should choose. [INFORMAL ] □ Your best bet is to choose a guest house.
7 PHRASE If you say that it is a good bet or a safe bet that something is true or will happen, you are saying that it is extremely likely to be true or to happen. [INFORMAL ] □ It is a safe bet that the current owners will not sell.
8 PHRASE If you hedge your bets , you follow two courses of action to avoid making a decision between two things because you cannot decide which one is right. □ NASA is hedging its bets and adopting both strategies.
9 PHRASE You use I bet or I'll bet in reply to a statement to show that you agree with it or that you expected it to be true, usually when you are annoyed or amused by it. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN , FEELINGS ] □ [PHR that] 'I'd like to ask you something,' I said. 'I bet you would,' she grinned.
10 PHRASE You can use my bet is or it's my bet to give your personal opinion about something, when you are fairly sure that you are right. [INFORMAL ] □ My bet is that next year will be different. □ It's my bet that he's the guy behind this killing.
11 PHRASE If you say don't bet on something or I wouldn't bet on something, you mean that you do not think that something is true or will happen. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ 'We'll never get a table in there'—'Don't bet on it.'
12 CONVENTION If you reply ' Do you want to bet? ' or ' Want a bet? ' to someone, you mean you are certain that what they have said is wrong. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ 'Money can't buy happiness'—'Want to bet?'
13 PHRASE You use ' You bet ' or ' you bet your life ' to say yes in an emphatic way or to emphasize a reply or statement. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN , EMPHASIS ] □ 'It's settled, then?'—'You bet.' □ 'Are you afraid of snakes?'—'You bet your life I'm afraid of snakes.' SYNONYMS bet VERB 1
gamble: John gambled heavily on the horses.
stake: He has staked his reputation on the outcome. NOUN 1
gamble: …the French president's risky gamble in calling a referendum.
stake: The game was usually played for high stakes between two large groups.
beta block|er /biː tə blɒkə r , [AM ] be I tə -/ (beta blockers ) N‑COUNT A beta blocker is a drug which is used to treat people who have high blood pressure or heart problems.
bete noire /bet nwɑː r / also bête noire N‑SING [oft with poss] If you refer to someone or something as your bete noire , you mean that you have a particular dislike for them or that they annoy you a great deal. □ Our real bete noire is the car boot sale.
be|tide /b I ta I d/ PHRASE If you say woe betide anyone who does a particular thing, you mean that something unpleasant will happen to them if they do it. [FORMAL ] □ Woe betide anyone who got in his way.
be|to|ken /b I toʊ kən/ (betokens , betokening , betokened ) VERB If something betokens something else, it is a sign of this thing. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The president alone betokened the national identity.
be|tray /b I tre I / (betrays , betraying , betrayed )
1 VERB If you betray someone who loves or trusts you, your actions hurt and disappoint them. □ [V n] When I tell someone I will not betray his confidence, I keep my word. □ [V n] The President betrayed them when he went back on his promise not to raise taxes. ● be|tray|er (betrayers ) N‑COUNT □ She was her friend and now calls her a betrayer.
2 VERB If someone betrays their country or their friends, they give information to an enemy, putting their country's security or their friends' safety at risk. □ [V n] They offered me money if I would betray my associates. □ [V n + to ] The group were informers, and they betrayed the plan to the Germans. ● be|tray|er N‑COUNT □ [+ of ] 'Traitor!' she screamed. 'Betrayer of England!'
3 VERB If you betray an ideal or your principles, you say or do something which goes against those beliefs. □ [V n] We betray the ideals of our country when we support capital punishment. ● be|tray|er N‑COUNT □ Babearth regarded the middle classes as the betrayers of the Revolution.
4 VERB If you betray a feeling or quality, you show it without intending to. □ [V n] She studied his face, but it betrayed nothing.
be|tray|al /b I tre I əl/ (betrayals ) N‑VAR A betrayal is an action which betrays someone or something, or the fact of being betrayed. □ [+ of ] She felt that what she had done was a betrayal of Patrick.
be|troth|al /b I troʊ ð ə l/ (betrothals ) N‑VAR A betrothal is an agreement to be married. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
be|trothed /b I troʊ ðd/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are betrothed to someone, you have agreed to marry them. [OLD-FASHIONED ] ● N‑SING [usu poss N ] Your betrothed is the person you are betrothed to.
bet|ter ◆◆◆ /be tə r / (betters , bettering , bettered )
1 Better is the comparative of good .
2 Better is the comparative of well .
3 ADV [ADV after v] If you like one thing better than another, you like it more. □ I like your interpretation better than the one I was taught. □ They liked it better when it rained.
4 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are better after an illness or injury, you have recovered from it. If you feel better , you no longer feel so ill. □ He is much better now, he's fine. □ The doctors were saying there wasn't much hope of me getting better.
5 PHRASE You use had better or 'd better when you are advising, warning, or threatening someone, or expressing an opinion about what should happen. □ It's half past two. I think we had better go home. □ You'd better run if you're going to get your ticket. ● In spoken English, people sometimes use better without 'had' or 'be' before it. It has the same meaning. □ You better not say too much aloud.
6 PRON If you say that you expect or deserve better , you mean that you expect or deserve a higher standard of achievement, behaviour, or treatment from people than they have shown you. □ Our long-suffering mining communities deserve better than this.
7 VERB If someone betters a high achievement or standard, they achieve something higher. □ [V n] He recorded a time of 4 minutes 23, bettering the old record of 4-24.
8 VERB If you better your situation, you improve your social status or the quality of your life. If you better yourself , you improve your social status. □ [V n] Others dreamed of owning land and of bettering their social position. □ [V pron-refl] Our parents chose to come here with the hope of bettering themselves.
9 Better is used to form the comparative of compound adjectives beginning with 'good' and 'well.' For example, the comparative of 'well-off' is 'better-off.'
10 PHRASE You can say that someone is better doing one thing than another, or it is better doing one thing than another, to advise someone about what they should do. □ Wouldn't it be better putting a time-limit on the task? □ Subjects like this are better left alone.
11 PHRASE If something changes for the better , it improves. □ He dreams of changing the world for the better.
12 PHRASE If a feeling such as jealousy, curiosity, or anger gets the better of you, it becomes too strong for you to hide or control. □ She didn't allow her emotions to get the better of her.
13 PHRASE If you get the better of someone, you defeat them in a contest, fight, or argument. □ He is used to tough defenders, and he usually gets the better of them.
14 PHRASE If someone knows better than to do something, they are old enough or experienced enough to know it is the wrong thing to do. □ She knew better than to argue with Adeline.
15 PHRASE If you know better than someone, you have more information, knowledge, or experience than them. □ He thought he knew better than I did, though he was much less experienced.
16 PHRASE If you say that someone would be better off doing something, you are advising them to do it or expressing the opinion that it would benefit them to do it. □ If you've got bags, you're better off taking a taxi.
17 PHRASE If you go one better , you do something better than it has been done before or obtain something better than someone else has. □ Now General Electric have gone one better than nature and made a diamond purer than natural diamonds.
18 CONVENTION You say ' That's better ' in order to express your approval of what someone has said or done, or to praise or encourage them. □ 'I came to ask your advice–no, to ask for your help.'—'That's better. And how can I help you?'
19 PHRASE You can say ' so much the better ' or ' all the better ' to indicate that it is desirable that a particular thing is used, done, or available. □ Use strong white flour, and if you can get hold of durum wheat flour, then so much the better.
20 PHRASE You can use expressions like ' The bigger the better ' or ' The sooner the better ' to say that you would prefer it if something is big or happens soon. □ The Irish love a party, the bigger the better.
21 PHRASE If you intend to do something and then think better of it , you decide not to do it because you realize it would not be sensible. □ Alberg opened his mouth, as if to protest. But he thought better of it.
22 PHRASE If you say that something has happened or been done for better or worse , you mean that you are not sure whether the consequences will be good or bad, but they will have to be accepted because the action cannot be changed. □ I married you for better or worse, knowing all about these problems.
23 against your better judgment → see judgment
24 to be better than nothing → see nothing
25 the better part → see part ➊
bet|ter|ment /be tə r mənt/ N‑UNCOUNT The betterment of something is the act or process of improving its standard or status. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] His research is for the betterment of mankind.
bet|ting /be t I ŋ/ PHRASE If you say the betting is that something will happen or is true, you are suggesting that it is very likely to happen or to be true. □ The betting is that the experience will make Japan more competitive still.
be t|ting shop (betting shops ) N‑COUNT A betting shop is a place where people can go to bet on something such as a horse race. [BRIT ]
be|tween ◆◆◆ /b I twiː n/ In addition to the uses shown below, between is used in a few phrasal verbs, such as 'come between'. 1 PREP If something is between two things or is in between them, it has one of the things on one side of it and the other thing on the other side. □ She left the table to stand between the two men. □ Charlie crossed between the traffic to the far side of the street.
2 PREP If people or things travel between two places, they travel regularly from one place to the other and back again. □ I spent a lot of time travelling between London and Bradford.
3 PREP A relationship, discussion, or difference between two people, groups, or things is one that involves them both or relates to them both. □ I think the relationship between patients and doctors has got a lot less personal. □ There has always been a difference between community radio and commercial radio.
4 PREP If something stands between you and what you want, it prevents you from having it. □ His sense of duty often stood between him and the enjoyment of life.
5 PREP If something is between two amounts or ages, it is greater or older than the first one and smaller or younger than the second one. □ Amsterdam is fun–a third of its population is aged between 18 and 30.
6 PREP If something happens between or in between two times or events, it happens after the first time or event and before the second one. □ The canal was built between 1793 and 1797. ● ADV Between is also an adverb. □ They come in peaks lasting two or three minutes, with periods of calm in between.
7 PREP If you must choose between two or more things, you must choose just one of them. □ Students will be able to choose between English, French and Russian as their first foreign language.
8 PREP If people or places have a particular amount of something between them, this is the total amount that they have. □ The three sites employ 12,500 people between them.
9 PREP When something is divided or shared between people, they each have a share of it. □ There is only one bathroom shared between eight bedrooms.
10 PHRASE When you introduce a statement by saying ' between you and me ' or ' between ourselves ', you are indicating that you do not want anyone else to know what you are saying. □ Between you and me, though, it's been awful for business. □ Between ourselves, I know he wants to marry her.
bev|elled /be v ə ld/ in AM, use beveled ADJ [usu ADJ n] If a piece of wood, metal, or glass has bevelled edges, its edges are cut sloping. □ …a huge mirror with deep bevelled edges.
bev|er|age /be vər I dʒ/ (beverages ) N‑COUNT [usu pl, oft adj N ] Beverages are drinks. [FORMAL ] □ Alcoholic beverages are served in the hotel lounge. □ …foods and beverages.
bev|vy /be vi/ (bevvies ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] If you have a few bevvies , you have a few alcoholic drinks. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ It was just one of those things that happens after a few bevvies.
bevy /be vi/ (bevies ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A bevy of people is a group of people all together in one place. □ …a bevy of bright young officers.
be|wail /b I we I l/ (bewails , bewailing , bewailed ) VERB If you bewail something, you express great sorrow about it. [JOURNALISM , LITERARY ] □ [V n] …songs that bewail his dissatisfaction in love.
be|ware /b I weə r / VERB [only imper and inf] If you tell someone to beware of a person or thing, you are warning them that the person or thing may harm them or be dangerous. □ [V + of ] Beware of being too impatient with others. □ [V ] Beware, this recipe is not for slimmers.
be|wil|der /b I w I ldə r / (bewilders , bewildering , bewildered ) VERB If something bewilders you, it is so confusing or difficult that you cannot understand it. □ [V n] The silence from Alex had hurt and bewildered her.
be|wil|dered /b I w I ldə r d/ ADJ If you are bewildered , you are very confused and cannot understand something or decide what you should do. □ Some shoppers looked bewildered by the sheer variety of goods on offer.
be|wil|der|ing /b I w I ldər I ŋ/ ADJ A bewildering thing or situation is very confusing and difficult to understand or to make a decision about. □ A glance along his bookshelves reveals a bewildering array of interests. □ The choice of excursions was bewildering. ● be|wil|der|ing|ly ADV [usu ADV adj/adv] □ The cast of characters in the scandal is bewilderingly large.
be|wil|der|ment /b I w I ldə r mənt/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft in N ] Bewilderment is the feeling of being bewildered. □ He shook his head in bewilderment.
be|witch /b I w I tʃ/ (bewitches , bewitching , bewitched ) VERB If someone or something bewitches you, you are so attracted to them that you cannot think about anything else. □ [V n] She was not moving, as if someone had bewitched her. ● be|witch|ing ADJ □ Frank was a quiet young man with bewitching brown eyes.
be|yond ◆◆◇ /b I jɒ nd/
1 PREP If something is beyond a place or barrier, it is on the other side of it. □ They heard footsteps in the main room, beyond a door. ● ADV [n ADV ] Beyond is also an adverb. □ The house had a fabulous view out to the Strait of Georgia and the Rockies beyond.
2 PREP If something happens beyond a particular time or date, it continues after that time or date has passed. □ Few jockeys continue race-riding beyond the age of 40. ● ADV Beyond is also an adverb. □ She is confident about the company's prospects for the current financial year and beyond.
3 PREP If something extends beyond a particular thing, it affects or includes other things. □ His interests extended beyond the fine arts to international politics and philosophy.
4 PREP You use beyond to introduce an exception to what you are saying. □ I knew nothing beyond a few random facts.
5 PREP [oft PREP v-ing] If something goes beyond a particular point or stage, it progresses or increases so that it passes that point or stage. □ Their five-year relationship was strained beyond breaking point. □ It seems to me he's beyond caring about what anybody does.
6 PREP If something is, for example, beyond understanding or beyond belief, it is so extreme in some way that it cannot be understood or believed. □ What Jock had done was beyond my comprehension. □ Sweden is lovely in summer–cold beyond belief in winter.
7 PREP If you say that something is beyond someone, you mean that they cannot deal with it. □ The situation was beyond her control.
8 beyond the pale → see pale
9 to live beyond your means → see means
10 beyond your wildest dreams → see dream
11 beyond a joke → see joke
bha|ji /bɑː dʒi/ (bhajis ) N‑COUNT A bhaji is a small piece of food of Indian origin, made of vegetables fried in batter with spices. □ …an onion bhaji.
bhan|gra /bæ ŋgrə/ also Bhangra N‑UNCOUNT Bhangra is a form of dance music that comes from India and uses traditional Indian instruments.
bi /ba I / ADJ Bi means the same as bisexual . [INFORMAL ]
PREFIX bi-
forms nouns and adjectives that have two as part of their meaning. For example, if someone is bilingual , they speak two languages.
bi|an|nual /ba I æ njuəl/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A biannual event happens twice a year. □ You will need to have a routine biannual examination. ● bi|an|nu|al|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ Only since 1962 has the show been held biannually.
bias /ba I əs/ (biases , biasing , biased )
1 N‑VAR Bias is a tendency to prefer one person or thing to another, and to favour that person or thing. □ Bias against women permeates every level of the judicial system. □ There were fierce attacks on the BBC for alleged political bias.
2 N‑VAR Bias is a concern with or interest in one thing more than others. □ The Department has a strong bias towards neuroscience.
3 VERB To bias someone means to influence them in favour of a particular choice. □ [V n] We mustn't allow it to bias our teaching.
bi|ased /ba I əst/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If someone is biased , they prefer one group of people to another, and behave unfairly as a result. You can also say that a process or system is biased . □ [+ against/in favour of ] He seemed a bit biased against women in my opinion. □ The judge was biased.
2 ADJ If something is biased towards one thing, it is more concerned with it than with other things. □ University funding was tremendously biased towards scientists.
bib /b I b/ (bibs ) N‑COUNT A bib is a piece of cloth or plastic which is worn by very young children to protect their clothes while they are eating.
Bi|ble ◆◇◇ /ba I b ə l/ (Bibles )
1 N‑PROPER The Bible is the holy book on which the Jewish and Christian religions are based.
2 N‑COUNT A Bible is a copy of the Bible.
Bi |ble Belt also bible belt N‑PROPER Parts of the southern United States are referred to as the Bible Belt because Protestants with strong beliefs have a lot of influence there.
bib|li|cal /b I bl I k ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Biblical means contained in or relating to the Bible. □ The community's links with Syria date back to biblical times.
bib|li|og|ra|phy /b I bliɒ grəfi/ (bibliographies )
1 N‑COUNT A bibliography is a list of books on a particular subject. □ At the end of this chapter there is a select bibliography of useful books.
2 N‑COUNT A bibliography is a list of the books and articles that are referred to in a particular book.
bi|carb /ba I kɑː r b/ N‑UNCOUNT Bicarb is an abbreviation for bicarbonate of soda . [INFORMAL ]
bi|car|bo|nate of soda /ba I kɑː r bəne I t əv soʊ də/ N‑UNCOUNT Bicarbonate of soda is a white powder which is used in baking to make cakes rise, and also as a medicine for your stomach.
bi|cen|tenary /ba I sentiː nəri, [AM ] -te n-/ (bicentenaries ) N‑COUNT A bicentenary is a year in which you celebrate something important that happened exactly two hundred years earlier. [BRIT ] in AM, use bicentennial
bi|cen|ten|nial /ba I sente niəl/ (bicentennials )
1 N‑COUNT A bicentennial is the same as a bicentenary . [mainly AM ]
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Bicentennial celebrations are held to celebrate a bicentenary.
bi|ceps /ba I seps/ (biceps ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Your biceps are the large muscles at the front of the upper part of your arms.
bick|er /b I kə r / (bickers , bickering , bickered ) VERB When people bicker , they argue or quarrel about unimportant things. □ [V + over/about ] I went into medicine to care for patients, not to waste time bickering over budgets. □ [V + over/about ] …as states bicker over territory. □ [V + with ] He is still bickering with the control tower over admissible approach routes. ● bick|er|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ The election will end months of political bickering.
bi|cy|cle /ba I s I k ə l/ (bicycles ) N‑COUNT A bicycle is a vehicle with two wheels which you ride by sitting on it and pushing two pedals with your feet. You steer it by turning a bar that is connected to the front wheel.
bi|cy|clist /ba I s I kl I st/ (bicyclists ) N‑COUNT A bicyclist is someone who enjoys cycling. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
bid
➊ ATTEMPTING OR OFFERING
➋ SAYING SOMETHING
➊ bid ◆◆◇ /b I d/ (bids , bidding ) The form bid is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle. 1 N‑COUNT [N to-inf] A bid for something or a bid to do something is an attempt to obtain it or do it. [JOURNALISM ] □ [+ for ] …the city's successful bid for European City of Culture. □ The company said that it might cut 2,232 jobs in a bid to reduce costs.
2 N‑COUNT A bid is an offer to pay a particular amount of money for something that is being sold. □ Hanson made an agreed takeover bid of £351 million.
3 VERB If you bid for something or bid to do something, you try to obtain it or do it. □ [V + for ] The German private equity group reiterated its interest in bidding for the company. □ [V to-inf] I don't think she is bidding to be Prime Minister again.
4 VERB If you bid for something that is being sold, you offer to pay a particular amount of money for it. □ [V + for ] She decided to bid for a Georgian dressing table. □ [V ] The bank announced its intention to bid. □ [V n] He certainly wasn't going to bid $18 billion for this company. ● bid|ding N‑UNCOUNT □ The bidding starts at £2 million.
➋ bid /b I d/ (bids , bidding , bade , bidden ) American English sometimes uses the form bid for the past tense. 1 VERB If you bid someone farewell, you say goodbye to them. If you bid them goodnight, you say goodnight to them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + to ] She bade farewell to her son. □ [V n n] I bade her goodnight.
2 → see also bidding SYNONYMS bid NOUN ➊1
attempt: …a deliberate attempt to destabilize the defence.
try: After a few tries, Patrick had given up any attempt to reform his brother.
effort: He made no effort to hide his disappointment.
bid|den /b I d ə n/ Bidden is a past participle of bid .
bid|der /b I də r / (bidders )
1 N‑COUNT A bidder is someone who offers to pay a certain amount of money for something that is being sold. If you sell something to the highest bidder , you sell it to the person who offers the most money for it. □ The sale will be made to the highest bidder subject to a reserve price being attained.
2 N‑COUNT A bidder for something is someone who is trying to obtain it or do it. □ [+ for ] French accountancy firms will become eager bidders for a share of the British market.
bid|ding /b I d I ŋ/
1 PHRASE If you do something at someone's bidding , you do it because they have asked you to do it. [FORMAL ] □ At his bidding, the delegates rose and sang the national anthem.
2 PHRASE If you say that someone does another person's bidding , you disapprove of the fact that they do exactly what the other person asks them to do, even when they do not want to. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ She is very clever at getting men to do her bidding!
3 → see also bid ➋
bid|dy /b I di/ (biddies ) N‑COUNT If someone describes an old woman as an old biddy , they are saying in an unkind way that they think she is silly or unpleasant. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ We're not just a lot of old biddies going on about jam.
bide /ba I d/ (bides , biding , bided ) PHRASE If you bide your time , you wait for a good opportunity before doing something. □ He was content to bide his time patiently, waiting for the opportunity to approach her.
bi|det /biː de I , [AM ] biːde I / (bidets ) N‑COUNT A bidet is a low fixed container in a bathroom which you can use to wash your bottom.
bi d price (bid prices ) N‑COUNT The bid price of a particular stock or share is the price that investors are willing to pay for it. [BUSINESS ] □ Speculation centred on a likely bid price of 380p a share.
bi|en|nial /ba I e niəl/ (biennials ) ADJ [ADJ n] A biennial event happens or is done once every two years. □ …the biennial Commonwealth conference.
biff /b I f/ (biffs , biffing , biffed ) VERB If you biff someone, you hit them with your fist. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ]
bi|fo|cals /ba I foʊ k ə lz/ The form bifocal is used as a modifier. N‑PLURAL Bifocals are glasses with lenses made in two halves. The top part is for looking at things some distance away, and the bottom part is for reading and looking at things that are close. □ Mrs Bierce wears thick bifocal lenses.
bi|fur|cate /ba I fɜːke I t/ (bifurcates , bifurcating , bifurcated ) VERB If something such as a line or path bifurcates or is bifurcated , it divides into two parts which go in different directions. □ [V ] A single furrow may bifurcate and form a letter Y. [Also V n] ● bi|fur|ca|tion /ba I fɜːke I ʃən/ (bifurcations ) N‑VAR □ [+ between ] …the bifurcation between high art and popular culture.
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