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English Words Starting With B

10,030 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

bastard
adjectivenounMedium to High
/ˈbɑː.stəd/A person whose parents were not married at the time of their birth, historically.
bastard amber
nounLow
/ˈbɑːs.təd ˈæm.bə/A type of amber-coloured stage lighting filter used in theatre and film, with a slightly orange or yellowish tint.
bastard culverin
nounVery Low
/ˈbɑːstəd ˈkʌlvərɪn/A specific type of early modern European cannon intermediate in size and range between a standard culverin and a smaller cannon.
bastard eigne
nounVery rare/archaic
/ˈbɑːstəd ˈeɪn/The eldest legitimate son born before his parents' marriage but later legitimized.
bastard file
nounLow (Technical)
/ˈbɑːstəd faɪl/A single-cut metalworking file with a coarse-toothed surface cut at a diagonal angle, suitable for rough shaping and rapid material removal.
bastard indigo
nounLow (Specialist/Botanical)
/ˈbɑːstəd ˈɪndɪɡəʊ/A common name for several leguminous plants, especially Amorpha fruticosa, a shrub native to North America with small purple flowers and compound leaves.
bastard mahogany
nounLow
/ˌbɑː.stəd məˈhɒɡ.ə.ni/A common name for various trees that resemble true mahogany but belong to different, often inferior, botanical genera.
bastard measles
nounvery low
/ˈbɑːstəd ˈmiːzəlz/An outdated and now offensive colloquial term for rubella (German measles).
bastard pointing
nounC2+ (Very Low Frequency)
/ˈbɑːstəd ˈpɔɪntɪŋ/A bricklaying technique where the mortar joint is recessed to create a decorative shadow effect.
bastard title
nounC2
/ˈbɑːstəd ˌtaɪtl/A brief title page preceding the main title page in a book, usually containing only the book's title.
bastard toadflax
nounVery Low
/ˈbɑːstəd ˈtəʊdflæks/A common name for a small, herbaceous, parasitic flowering plant of the genus Comandra, found in North America and Eurasia.
bastard wing
nounC2
/ˈbɑːstəd wɪŋ/A small, feathered projection on the wing of a bird, specifically the alula or group of feathers attached to the bird's thumb bone.
bastard-saw
verb-transitiveLow (specialised technical term)
/ˈbɑːs.təd ˌsɔː/A type of saw with a coarse tooth pattern, intermediate in coarseness between a crosscut and a ripsaw, used for general-purpose cutting of wood.
bastardization
nounLow
/ˌbɑːstədaɪˈzeɪʃn/The act of corrupting or degrading something from its original, pure, or standard form, making it inferior or illegitimate.
bastardize
verbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveC1
/ˈbɑːstədʌɪz/To corrupt or debase something from its original or pure state; to lower its quality, standard, or character.
bastardry
nounLow (C2+)
/ˈbɑːstədri/The quality or condition of being illegitimate or born out of wedlock (now rare or archaic); also, cruel, unfair, or contemptible behavior.
bastardy
nounC2
/ˈbɑː.stə.di/The state or condition of being born to parents who are not married to each other; illegitimacy.
baste
verbverb-transitiveC1
/beɪst/To pour juices or fat over meat while cooking to keep it moist.
bastel house
nounVery Low (Specialist/Regional Historical Term)
/ˈbæsəl haʊs/A type of fortified farmhouse found in the English-Scottish border region, built for defence against raids.
baster
nounLow
/ˈbeɪstə(r)/A kitchen utensil used for pouring meat juices or melted fat over roasting meat to keep it moist during cooking.

Showing 1981–2000 of 10030 words.