English Words Starting With B

• backrub

  nounC1/C2
  /ˈbæk.rʌb/A massage of the back.
• backrush

  nounLow
  /ˈbæk.rʌʃ/A sudden, powerful backward flow of water, especially following the breaking of a wave on a beach.
• backs

  plural-nounA1/A2
  /bæks/the plural form of 'back', referring to the rear surface of the human body from shoulders to hips, or the reverse side of something.
• backsaw

  nounC2
  /ˈbæk.sɔː/A saw with a reinforced spine along its top edge that keeps the blade rigid, used for precise woodworking cuts.
• backscatter

  nounC1
  /ˈbækˌskæt.ə/The deflection of particles, waves (like light or radar), or radiation backwards, towards the direction from which they came.
• backscratcher

  nounC1
  /ˈbækˌskrætʃ.ər/A long, slender tool with a handle at one end and a device for scratching one's own back at the other.
• backseat

  nounB2
  /ˌbækˈsiːt/The rear seat in a vehicle, especially a car.
• backseat driver

  nounMedium
  /ˌbæk.siːt ˈdraɪ.vər/A passenger in a vehicle who gives unwanted or persistent advice to the driver about how to drive.
• backset

  nounLow/Obsolete
  /ˈbaksɛt/A reversal, setback, or check in progress.
• backsheesh

  nounC1/C2
  /ˈbakʃiːʃ/A small sum of money given as a tip, gratuity, or alms, especially in the Middle East or South Asia.
• backshore

  nounVery Rare (Specialised Technical Term)
  /ˈbæk.ʃɔː(ɹ)/The area of a beach above the high-tide line, not regularly washed by waves except during storms.
• backside

  nounC2
  /ˌbækˈsaɪd/The posterior part of the human body; the buttocks.
• backsight

  nounLow Frequency / Specialized
  /ˈbæksaɪt/The sight of a rifle, surveyor's level, or similar instrument, that is nearest the user's eye when aiming or measuring; a rear sight.
• backslap

  nounverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveC1
  /ˈbæk.slæp/To slap someone on the back in a hearty, congratulatory, or overly familiar manner.
• backslapping

  nounC1
  /ˈbækˌslæp.ɪŋ/The act of enthusiastically praising or congratulating someone, often in a loud, physical, and insincere manner.
• backslash

  nounMedium
  /ˈbæk.slæʃ/A punctuation mark ( \) used in computing to separate directories in file paths and as an escape character in many programming languages.
• backslide

  nounverbverb-intransitiveC1
  /ˈbæk.slaɪd/to revert to a worse condition, behavior, or belief after a period of improvement
• backsource

  verb-ambitransitiveLow
  /ˈbæk.sɔːs/To transfer a business function or service back to an internal team or department after it had been outsourced to an external provider.
• backspace

  nounverbverb-intransitiveC1
  ˈbækˌspeɪsA key on a keyboard that moves the cursor backwards one space, typically deleting the preceding character.
• backspin

  nounC1
  /ˈbæk.spɪn/A spin imparted to a ball so that its front edge rotates upward, causing it to bounce or roll backward or stay low after landing.

Showing 361–380 of 10030 words.