English Words Starting With B

• baconian

  adjectivenounC2 / Very Low Frequency
  /beɪˈkəʊ.ni.ən/Relating to Sir Francis Bacon (1561–1626), his philosophy, or his inductive scientific method. Also referring to the theory that Bacon wrote the plays attributed to Shakespeare.
• baconian method

  nounLow
  /beɪˈkəʊ.ni.ən ˈmeθ.əd/The systematic scientific method of inquiry developed by Sir Francis Bacon, emphasizing observation, experimentation, and inductive reasoning, rejecting reliance on prior dogma.
• baconian theory

  nounC2
  /beɪˈkəʊnɪən ˈθɪəri/The theory that Francis Bacon, not William Shakespeare, wrote the works traditionally attributed to Shakespeare.
• bacteraemia

  nounC2
  /bakˌtɪə.ˈriː.mi.ə/The presence of bacteria in the bloodstream.
• bacteremia

  nounlow
  /ˌbaktɪˈriːmɪə/The presence of bacteria in the bloodstream.
• bacteria

  plural-nounHigh (C1)
  /bækˈtɪə.ri.ə/Microscopic, single-celled organisms, some of which can cause disease.
• bacteria bed

  nounTechnical/Low-Frequency
  /bækˈtɪə.riə ˌbed/A layer of sand or gravel through which water is filtered, on the surface of which beneficial bacteria grow to help break down organic waste matter.
• bacterial canker

  nounLow (Technical/Specialist)
  /bækˈtɪə.ri.əl ˈkæŋ.kə/A destructive plant disease caused by bacteria, characterized by necrotic lesions, cankers, and dieback on stems, branches, or trunks.
• bacterial endocarditis

  nounlow
  /bækˈtɪə.ri.əl ˌen.dəʊ.kɑːˈdaɪ.tɪs/An infection and inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves, caused by bacteria.
• bacterial plaque

  nounC1
  /bækˈtɪə.ri.əl plɑːk/A sticky, colourless film of bacteria and sugars that constantly forms on teeth.
• bactericide

  nounC1
  /bækˈtɪər.ɪ.saɪd/A substance that kills bacteria.
• bacterin

  nounVery Low / Technical
  /bakˈtɪər.ɪn/A suspension of killed or attenuated bacteria, used as a vaccine to induce immunity.
• bacteriochlorophyll

  nounC2
  /bakˌtɪə.ri.əʊˈklɒr.ə.fɪl/A type of photosynthetic pigment found in certain bacteria, analogous to chlorophyll in plants.
• bacteriological warfare

  nounLow
  /bækˌtɪə.ri.əˌlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl ˈwɔː.feər/The use of harmful bacteria or other microorganisms as weapons in armed conflict to cause disease, death, or damage to crops and livestock.
• bacteriology

  nounC2+
  /bækˌtɪə.riˈɒl.ə.dʒi/The branch of biology that deals with the study of bacteria.
• bacteriolysis

  nounC2
  /bakˌtɪər.ɪˈɒl.ɪ.sɪs/The destruction or disintegration of bacteria, especially by the rupture of their cell walls.
• bacteriophage

  nounC2
  /bakˈtɪə.ri.əʊˌfeɪdʒ/A virus that infects and replicates within bacteria.
• bacteriorhodopsin

  nounVery Low
  /bakˌtɪə.ri.əʊ.rəʊˈdɒp.sɪn/A light-driven proton pump, a retinal protein, found in the cell membranes of certain halophilic archaea.
• bacterioscopy

  nounC2
  /bakˌtɪərɪˈɒskəpi/The examination of bacteria using a microscope.
• bacteriostasis

  nounLow
  /bakˌtɪərɪə(ʊ)ˈsteɪsɪs/The inhibition or prevention of bacterial growth and reproduction without necessarily killing the bacteria.

Showing 421–440 of 10030 words.