English Words Starting With B

• barbarity

  nounC1/C2
  /bɑːˈbærəti/Extreme cruelty and brutality.
• barbarize

  verbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveC2
  /ˈbɑːbərʌɪz/To make something crude, uncivilized, or less refined; to corrupt a language or culture by introducing inferior elements.
• barbarossa

  nounC1/C2
  /ˌbɑːbəˈrɒsə/A proper name historically referring to the 12th-century Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, and later to the WWII German military operation against the Soviet Union.
• barbarossa i

  nounLow
  /ˌbɑːbəˈrɒsə/A historical nickname meaning 'Red Beard' in Italian, most famously applied to two figures: Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (c.1122–1190) and the German admiral and privateer Hayreddin Barbarossa (c.1478–1546).
• barbarossa ii

  nounC2
  /ˌbɑː.bəˈrɒs.ə ˌtuː/A historical reference to Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor (c. 1122–1190), nicknamed 'Barbarossa' (Italian for 'Redbeard'). As 'Barbarossa II', it refers to a later figure attempting to emulate or being compared to him.
• barbary

  nounC2 / Very Low Frequency / Historical/Literary
  /ˈbɑːbəri/A historical and geographical term referring to the coastal regions of North Africa (modern-day Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya), particularly from the 16th to 19th centuries, associated with the Barbary Coast, its corsairs (pirates), and the 'Barbary states'.
• barbary ape

  nounLow
  /ˌbɑː.bər.i ˈeɪp/A tailless monkey, specifically the species Macaca sylvanus, native to the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco and introduced to Gibraltar.
• barbary coast

  nounC1
  /ˌbɑː.bər.i ˈkəʊst/1. A historical term for the Mediterranean coastline of North Africa, associated with piracy and slave-trading from the 16th to 19th centuries. 2. A specific waterfront area of San Francisco, infamous for its crime, prostitution and lawlessness during the late 19th and early 20th century.
• barbary coast wars

  plural-nounVery Low
  /ˌbɑː.bə.ri ˈkəʊst ˈwɔːz/A series of naval conflicts in the early 19th century between the United States and various North African states known as the Barbary States, which demanded tribute and ransoms for safe passage of merchant ships.
• barbary fig

  nounLow
  /ˈbɑːbəri fɪɡ/A type of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) with edible fruit, also known as prickly pear or Indian fig.
• barbary sheep

  nounC2
  /ˈbɑːbəri ʃiːp/A large, wild sheep native to the rocky mountains of North Africa, with long, curved horns.
• barbary states

  plural-nounLow
  /ˈbɑːbəri steɪts/The historic collective name for the North African Muslim states (c. 16th–19th centuries) along the Mediterranean coast, known for piracy and the Barbary slave trade.
• barbasco

  nounC2
  /bɑːˈbæskəʊ/A tropical plant, specifically a vine or shrub, whose roots contain rotenone and are used as a fish poison.
• barbastelle

  nounVery low
  /ˌbɑːbəˈstɛl/a type of European bat with distinctive, forward-pointing ears and dark fur.
• barbe

  nounRare / Historical
  /bɑːb/A piece of white linen cloth formerly worn by nuns over the chest and chin.
• barbecue

  nounverbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveHigh
  /ˈbɑː.bɪ.kjuː/A method of cooking food, especially meat, over an open fire or on a grill, typically outdoors.
• barbecue pit

  nounB2
  /ˈbɑːbɪkjuː pɪt/A structure, often dug into the ground or built as a low masonry enclosure, designed for containing a fire over which food is grilled or smoked.
• barbecue sauce

  nounHigh
  /ˌbɑː.bɪˈkjuː ˌsɔːs/A liquid or semi-liquid condiment, typically tangy, sweet, and savory, applied to meat or other foods during grilling, roasting, or as a finishing sauce.
• barbecue stopper

  nounLow
  /ˈbɑː.bɪ.kjuː ˈstɒp.ər/A highly controversial or divisive topic of conversation that dominates social gatherings, like a barbecue, halting other light conversation.
• barbed tributary

  nounVery Low / Technical
  /bɑːbd ˈtrɪbjʊt(ə)ri/A smaller river or stream that flows into a larger one, characterized by having sharp projections or points (barbs).

Showing 1341–1360 of 10030 words.