(figuratively) Any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure.
(figuratively) Courage, fortitude, or strength.
The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals.
backboned
backboned
adj
Having a spine.
backboneless
backboneless
adj
Cowardly, spineless.
Without a backbone; invertebrate.
backbonelessness
backbonelessness
noun
cowardice; spinelessness
backbones
backbones
noun
plural of backbone
backcourtmen
backcourtmen
noun
plural of backcourtman
backcrossed
backcrossed
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backcross
backcrosses
backcrosses
noun
plural of backcross
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backcross
backdropped
backdropped
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backdrop
backgrounded
backgrounded
adj
(computing) (of a task) Made non-interactive
Moved to the background
verb
simple past tense and past participle of background
backgrounder
backgrounder
noun
(chiefly US) A briefing or document typically provided prior to a meeting or other event that gives basic details on subjects that are likely to be mentioned.
A cattle farmer or rancher who runs a backgrounding operation.
A person employed to draw backgrounds for a comic or cartoon.
backhoe
backhoe
noun
(chiefly US, Canada, Australia) A multi-purpose tractor with a front-mounted loading bucket and a rear-mounted digging bucket. The tractor combines a front-end loader/loader and an excavator/digger.
A piece of excavating equipment consisting of a digging bucket or scoop on the end of an articulated arm, drawn backwards to move earth. Used in excavator/digger and backhoe tractors.
verb
To excavate using such equipment.
backhoes
backhoes
noun
plural of backhoe
backhooker
backhouse
backhouse
noun
(US, Canada, euphemistic) An outhouse: an outbuilding used as a lavatory.
(now dialect) An outbuilding behind the main building.
backhouses
backhouses
noun
plural of backhouse
backlogged
backlogged
adj
Having an excessive list of tasks to do, especially tasks that should have already been performed.
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backlog
backlotter
backorder
backorder
noun
An order that cannot be currently filled or shipped, but is requested nonetheless for when the item becomes available again.
verb
To place such an order
backpointer
backpointers
backrope
backropes
backstone
backstopped
backstopped
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backstop
backstories
backstories
noun
plural of backstory
backstroke
backstroke
noun
(bellringing) The pull on the tail of the rope that swings the bell through a full circle (compare handstroke)
(swimming) A stroke swum lying on one's back, while rotating both arms through the water as to propel the swimmer backwards.
A backhanded stroke or blow.
verb
To swim the backstroke.
backstroked
backstroked
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backstroke
backstrokes
backstrokes
noun
plural of backstroke
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backstroke
backstromite
backstromite
noun
(mineralogy) Synonym of hydrohausmannite
backswordmen
backswordmen
noun
plural of backswordman
backwoodser
backwoodsiness
backwoodsiness
noun
The quality of being backwoodsy.
backwoodsmen
backwoodsmen
noun
plural of backwoodsman
badderlocks
badderlocks
noun
(Scotland) The edible seaweed Alaria esculenta
baloskionaceae
batterdock
becassocked
becassocked
adj
Wearing a cassock.
beckford
beckiron
beckon
beckon
noun
A children's game similar to hide and seek in which children who have been "caught" may escape if they see another hider beckon to them.
A sign made without words; a beck.
verb
(transitive, intransitive) To seem attractive and inviting
(transitive, intransitive) To wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer.
beckoned
beckoned
verb
simple past tense and past participle of beckon
beckoner
beckoner
noun
One who, or that which, beckons.
beckoners
beckoners
noun
plural of beckoner
beckoning
beckoning
adj
That beckons.
noun
Such a wave or similar action.
verb
present participle of beckon
beckoningly
beckoningly
adv
So as to beckon or call near; enticingly.
beckons
beckons
noun
plural of beckon
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of beckon
becloak
becloak
verb
(transitive, literally, figurative) To cover or surround, as with a cloak.
becloaked
becloaked
verb
simple past tense and past participle of becloak
becloaking
becloaking
verb
present participle of becloak
becloaks
becloaks
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of becloak
becroak
bedrock
bedrock
noun
(figurative) A basis or foundation.
(uncountable, geology, mining, engineering, construction) The solid rock that exists at some depth below the ground surface. Bedrock is rock "in place", as opposed to material that has been transported from another location by weathering and erosion.
verb
(transitive, figurative) To establish on a solid foundation.
bedrocks
bedrocks
noun
plural of bedrock
bedsock
bedsock
noun
A sock worn in bed, to keep the feet warm.
bedstock
bedstock
noun
(obsolete) The front or back part of the frame of a bedstead.
beetlestock
befrocked
befrocked
adj
Wearing a frock.
belock
belock
verb
(archaic, transitive) To lock up or lock in place; hold tight; fasten.
belowdecks
belowdecks
adv
(nautical) Below the main deck of a ship.
bemock
bemock
verb
(archaic) To ridicule or mock.
(transitive) To cause to appear as if mock or unreal; excel or surpass, as the genuine surpasses the counterfeit.
(transitive) To mock repeatedly; flout.
(transitive, archaic) To make up as something else, to make into an imitation or semblance
bemocked
bemocked
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bemock
bemocking
bemocking
verb
present participle of bemock
bemocks
bemocks
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of bemock
benchwork
benchwork
noun
the structure supporting a model railway layout
work performed at a workbench
bestock
bestock
verb
(transitive) to stock; furnish
bibliokleptomaniac
bibliokleptomaniac
noun
Someone who suffers from bibliokleptomania.
bickleton
bickmore
bikhaconitine
bikhaconitine
noun
(organic chemistry) An alkaloid found in bikh (Aconitum spicatum).
biofeedback
biofeedback
noun
A technique consisting of measuring a person's quantifiable bodily functions, such as blood pressure, heart rate, skin temperature, sweat gland activity, and muscle tension, then conveying the information to the person in real-time.
biofeedbacks
biofeedbacks
noun
plural of biofeedback
biokinetics
biokinetics
noun
(medical biology) The study of movements of or within organisms
bivouacked
bivouacked
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bivouac
blackbodies
blackbodies
noun
plural of blackbody
blackfellow
blackfellow
noun
(Australia, now usually considered offensive) A (male) Australian Aborigine.
blackfellows
blackfellows
noun
plural of blackfellow
blackmore
blackstone
blacktongue
blacktopped
blacktopped
verb
simple past tense and past participle of blacktop
blagoveshchensk
bleachworks
bleachworks
noun
A factory that manufactures bleach.
blockade
blockade
noun
(by extension) Any form of formal isolation of something, especially with the force of law or arms.
(chess) Preventing an opponent's pawn moving by placing a piece in front of it
(nautical) The ships or other forces used to effect a naval blockade.
The physical blocking or surrounding of a place, especially a port, in order to prevent commerce and traffic in or out.
verb
(transitive) To create a blockade against.
blockaded
blockaded
verb
simple past tense and past participle of blockade
blockader
blockader
noun
A person who blockades
A ship used in blockading
blockaders
blockaders
noun
plural of blockader
blockaderunning
blockades
blockades
noun
plural of blockade
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of blockade
blockage
blockage
noun
A thing that is blocking; an obstruction.
The state of being blocked.
constipation
blockages
blockages
noun
plural of blockage
blockbusted
blockbuster
blockbuster
noun
(US) One who engages in blockbusting (technique encouraging people to sell property).
(informal) Something, especially an event or a film, book or other creative work, that is intended to achieve high sales (perhaps indicated by large budgets or high advertising spending) or that is conceived on a large or epic scale
(informal) Something, such as a film or book, that sustains exceptional and widespread popularity and achieves enormous sales, as opposed to a box office bomb.
(slang) Anything very large or powerful; a whopper.
A high-explosive bomb used for the purposes of demolishing extensive areas, such as a city block.
A large firework of the firecracker type; an M-80.
blockbusters
blockbusters
noun
plural of blockbuster
blocked
blocked
adj
(Ireland, slang) Drunk
(of a computer account or similar) Disabled or disconnected, so as to prevent access.
(of a person, telephone number, IP address, etc.) Banned or barred from connecting or logging on.
Obstructed, so that through movement or flow is prevented or impeded.
Unable to move owing to an obstruction.
verb
simple past tense and past participle of block
blocker
blocker
noun
(card games) A playing card, needed by one player, that is held by another.
(computing) A bug or issue that prevents software from being released.
(computing) An application that stops / impedes unauthorised access to a programme.
(computing) One who prevents another user from contacting them electronically.
(marketing) A gatekeeper who refuses the marketer access to the person they wish to contact.
(poker) A blocker bet.
(sports) One who blocks or impedes the movement of an opponent.
A close-fitting rectangular glove worn by a goalie in multiple forms of hockey.
A person who blocks (stretches or moulds) hats.
A puberty blocker.
blockers
blockers
noun
plural of blocker
blockhead
blockhead
noun
(colloquial) A stupid person.
A sideshow performer who hammers nails or similar items through his or her nostril into the nasal cavity; human blockhead.
verb
(rare) To behave in a stupid manner.
To perform as a human blockhead.
blockheaded
blockheaded
adj
Resembling a blockhead; stupid
verb
simple past tense and past participle of blockhead
blockheadedly
blockheadedly
adv
In a blockheaded way.
blockheadedness
blockheadedness
noun
The state or condition of being blockheaded.
blockheadish
blockheadish
adj
stupid
blockheadishness
blockheadism
blockheadism
noun
The character or behaviour of a blockhead; stupidity.
blockheads
blockheads
noun
plural of blockhead
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of blockhead
blockhole
blockhole
noun
(by extension) The approximate place where the toe of the bat touches the pitch when a batsman is taking guard.
(cricket) A small depression in the pitch caused by batsmen tapping their bats on the point where they have taken block.
blockholer
blockhouse
blockhouse
noun
(dated) A temporary wooden fortification with a projecting upper story.
A reinforced building from which to control hazardous operations, such as an explosion or a rocket launch.
A sturdy military fortification, often of concrete, with gunports.
blockhouses
blockhouses
noun
plural of blockhouse
blockier
blockier
adj
comparative form of blocky: more blocky
blockiest
blockiest
adj
superlative form of blocky: most blocky
blockiness
blockiness
noun
The state or condition of being blocky.
blockishness
blockishness
noun
The state or quality of being blockish.
blocklayer
blocklayer
noun
A person employed to lay down blocks of material, for example as a road surface.
blocklike
blocklike
adj
Having an oblong shape
blockline
blockmaker
blockmaker
noun
A manufacturer of blocks for use in printing.
A manufacturer of nautical blocks.
blockpate
bloodsucker
bloodsucker
noun
(by extension) Any parasite.
(by extension) One who attempts to take as much from others as possible; a leech.
A vampire.
An animal that drinks the blood of others, especially by sucking blood through a puncture wound; a hemovore.
The changeable lizard (Calotes versicolor).
bloodsuckers
bloodsuckers
noun
plural of bloodsucker
bluestocking
bluestocking
noun
(historical) A member of an 18th-century Blue Stockings Society.
(historical) The English parliament of 1653, more commonly called the Barebones Parliament
(usually derogatory) A scholarly, literary, or cultured woman.
bluestockingish
bluestockingish
adj
Like a bluestocking, or scholarly woman.
bluestockingism
bluestockingism
noun
(colloquial) The character or manner of a bluestocking; female pedantry.
bluestockings
bluestockings
noun
plural of bluestocking
bockerel
bockeret
bockey
bockey
noun
(US, dialect, archaic, New York) A large basket woven from oak splints.
bocklogged
bockstein
bodicemaker
bodicemaking
bodycheck
bodycheck
noun
Alternative spelling of body check
bodychecked
bodychecked
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bodycheck
bodychecking
bodychecking
verb
present participle of bodycheck
bogsucker
bogsucker
noun
The American woodcock.
bombernickel
boneblack
boneblack
noun
Alternative form of bone black
bontebuck
bontebuck
noun
Alternative form of bontebok (“South African antelope”)
bontebucks
bontebucks
noun
plural of bontebuck
bookcase
bookcase
noun
A piece of furniture for the storage and display of books.
bookcases
bookcases
noun
plural of bookcase
booklice
booklice
noun
plural of booklouse
boondocker
boondocker
noun
A kind of combat boot worn in the US Marine Corps.
bootlicked
bootlicked
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bootlick
bootlicker
bootlicker
noun
(by extension, derogatory) Anyone who is seen as supporting authoritarianism.
(derogatory) A person who behaves in a servile or obsequious manner; a toady
bootlickers
bootlickers
noun
plural of bootlicker
borickite
borickite
noun
(mineralogy) Alternate name for delvauxite.
bottleneck
bottleneck
noun
(by extension) The part of a process that is too slow or cumbersome.
(figurative) In traffic, any narrowing of the road, especially resulting in a delay.
The narrow portion that forms the pouring spout of a bottle; the neck of a bottle.
verb
(intransitive) To form a bottleneck.
(transitive) To slow by causing a bottleneck.
bottlenecked
bottlenecked
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bottleneck
bottlenecks
bottlenecks
noun
plural of bottleneck
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of bottleneck