English Words Starting With B

• bacteriostat

  nounC1/C2
  /bakˈtɪə.ri.ə(ʊ)ˌstat/A substance or agent that inhibits or slows down the growth and reproduction of bacteria without necessarily killing them.
• bacteriotoxin

  nounC2
  /bakˌtɪərɪə(ʊ)ˈtɒksɪn/A toxin produced by, and harmful to, bacteria.
• bacterium

  nounB2
  /bakˈtɪərɪəm/A microscopic single-celled organism, often causing disease or involved in fermentation and decay.
• bacteriuria

  nounLow
  /bakˌtɪərɪˈjʊərɪə/The presence of bacteria in the urine.
• bacterize

  verb-transitiveVery Low / Technical
  /ˈbæk.tə.raɪz/To subject to the action of bacteria; to convert organic matter through bacterial action.
• bacteroid

  adjectivenounLow (Technical/Scientific)
  /ˈbæktɪˌrɔɪd/A rod-shaped or branched form of certain bacteria; also describing something resembling bacteria in shape.
• bacteroides

  nounC2
  /bækˌtɪə.ˈrɔɪ.diːz/A genus of anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that are normally found in the human intestine.
• bactria

  nounLow
  /ˈbæktriə/An ancient historical region and empire in Central Asia, located between the Hindu Kush mountains and the Amu Darya river, roughly corresponding to modern-day northern Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
• bactrian

  adjectivenounC2
  /ˈbæk.tri.ən/Relating to the ancient region of Bactria (Central Asia) or the distinctive two-humped camel native to that region.
• bactrian camel

  nounC1
  /ˌbæk.tri.ən ˈkæm.əl/A large, two-humped camel (Camelus bactrianus) native to the steppes of Central Asia.
• baculite

  nounVery Low
  /ˈbækjʊlaɪt/A type of extinct marine mollusk (ammonite) characterized by its long, straight, rod-like shell.
• baculum

  nounVery low/C2
  /ˈbækjʊləm/The penile bone found in many placental mammals.
• bad

  adjectiveadverbnounA1
  /bæd/Not good; of low quality or poor standard.
• bad actor

  nounC1
  /ˈbæd ˈæk.tə/A person or organization that behaves in a harmful, malicious, or deceitful way, especially one operating within a system.
• bad apple

  nounB2
  /ˌbæd ˈæp.l̩/A single bad or corrupt person in a group.
• bad bank

  nounC1
  /ˌbæd ˈbæŋk/A financial institution created specifically to hold and manage non-performing or toxic assets (such as bad loans) taken off the balance sheet of a struggling bank or financial system, to allow the original institution to recover.
• bad blood

  nounB2
  /ˌbæd ˈblʌd/Longstanding feelings of animosity, resentment, or bitter hostility between people or groups.
• bad cholesterol

  nounB2
  /ˌbæd kəˈlestərɒl/Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is considered harmful as it can build up in arteries and increase the risk of heart disease.
• bad conduct discharge

  nounC1+
  /ˌbæd ˈkɒn.dʌkt ˈdɪs.tʃɑːdʒ/A punitive administrative discharge from military service, typically imposed for a pattern of misconduct (e.g., repeated petty offenses, insubordination) that is serious but not as severe as that warranting a dishonorable discharge. It is a specific classification under the military justice system.
• bad egg

  nounC1
  /ˌbæd ˈeɡ/A person who is dishonest, untrustworthy, or morally corrupt.

Showing 441–460 of 10030 words.