Thursday, August 27, 2009

Bas-relief

Bas-relief-n
1-a type of sculpture in which the design projects slightly from a flat background, but without any part being totally detached from the background
Also called basso-relievo
Also called basso-rilievo
Also called low relief
Also called high relief
2-an example or piece of bas-relief sculpture

Basilica

Basilica-n
1-A Roman Catholic church or cathedral given ceremonial privileges by the Pope
2-a type of Ancient Roman building that had a central nave with an aisle on each side formed by 2 rows of columns, and typically a terminal semicircular apse
3-a Christian church building forme out of a Roman basilica or built to a similar design

Synonyms
church
cathedral
minster

Bashful

Bashful-adj
shy, self-conscious, or modest

Synonyms
shy
self-conscius
coy
withdrawn
timid
blushing
reserved
forward (antonym)

Basal

Basal-adj
1-at or forming the bottom of something
2-basic or fundamental

Barter

Barter-v
1-(vti) to exchange goods or services in return for other goods or services
2-(vi) to negotiate or argue over teh terms of a transaction

n
1-the practice or system of bartering
2-goods or services that are bartered

Synonyms
exchange
trade
switch
swap
negotiate
bargain
haggle

Barrister

Barrister-n
1. U.K. a lawyer who is qualified to represent clients in the higher law courts in England and Wales
2. Canada a lawyer who represents clients in any law court in Canada

Barrage

Barrage-n
1-a long continous burst of gunfire
2-a rapid attacking outpouring of something
3-an artificial barrier built across a river or canal to provide water or prevent flooding

vt
1-to attack an enemy with rapid and continuous gunfire
2-to subject somebody to a relentless onslaught

Synonyms
bombardment
salvo
volley

Barracks

Barracks-n (takes a singular or plural verb)
1-a building used to accomodate military personnel
2-any temporary accomodation

Synonyms
quarters
garrison
camp
billet

Baroque

Baroque-n
1-a highly ornamental style of European architecture and art that lasted from the mid 16th to the early 18th centuries, or this period in European history
2-classical music of the 17th century, the period of such composers as Purcell, Vivaldi, and Telemann

Synonyms
ornate
decorative
elaborate
rococo
plain (antonym)

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Baroque

Baroque-adj
1-bizarre or highly exaggerated in style
2-in the Baroque style of art or architecture

Synonyms
ornate
decorative
elaborate
rococo
plain (antonym)

Baronage

Baronage-n
1-barons considered collectively
2-a baron's rank or position

Barnacle Goose

Barnacle Goose-n
a wild goose found in northern Europe and Greenland that has gray wings and a black-and-white head and body
Latin name: Branta leucopsis

Barnacle

Barnacle-n
1-a small marine organism with a shell that clings to rocks and ships and draws food by using slender hairs (cirri) Subclass: corripedia
2-see barnacle goose
3-a clinging or dependent person or thing

Barker (2)

Barker-n
a person or machine that strips bark off trees and logs or prepares bark for tanning

Barker (1)

Barker-n
1-somebody who stands outside the entrance to a fiar, carnival, or other place of enternaitment and shouts out its attractions
2-a dog that barks, especially on that barks a lot

Barge

Barge-n
1-a long narrow flat-bottomed boat used for transporting freight on rivers or canals
2-a large open boat used during ceremonies
3-a motorboat used by a high-ranking naval officer for ceremonial occasions

v
1-(vti) to move roughly, colliding with other people
2-(vti) to push somebody or something roughly
3-(vt) to transport freight by horse

Bard (2)

Bard-n
a piece of armor for a horse

vt
1-to put a bard on a horse
2-to cover meat with fat before roasting it to prevent it from drying out

Bard (1)

Bard-n
1-in ancient Celtic culture, a poet who composed and recited epic poems describing important events
2-a poet, especially on of national importance (literary or humorous)

Synonyms
poet
writer
lyricist
rhymester
versifier

Barbarous

Barbarous-adj
1-showing extreme cruelty
2-characterized by an uncivilized culture
3-lacking sophistication or refinement
4-using ungrammatical language

Barbarity

Barbarity-n
1-a cruel act
2-a primitive or uncivilized condition

Barb (3)

Barb-n
a barbiturate (slang)

Barbarism

Barbarism-n
1-a cruel or brutal act
2-the uncivilized nature of a culture or civilization
3-a word or expression considered to be grammatically incorrect
4-something that breaks rules of convention or good taste

Barb (2)

Barb-n
a horse belonging to a breed originally from North Africa, noted for speed and stamina

Barb (1)

Barb-n
1-a sharp point facing away from the head of an arrow, fish hook, or harpoon, designed to make it difficult to remove
2-a pointed or wounding remark
3-a small fish often kept in aquariums. Genara: Barbus Puntius
4-a white cloth headdress covering the chin and throat, worn by women in the Middle Ages
5-a stiff filament that forms the framework of a feather. The barbs stick out on each side of the main shaft.
6-a growth on an animal's head like a beard or whisker.
7-a hooked projection on some plants and fruits

vt
to provide something with a barb or barbs

Synonyms
gibe
insult
dig
taunt
cutting remark
sting

Bantamweight/bantom

Bantamweight/bantom-n
1-a professional boxer weighing 112-118 pounds, or an amateur weighing 112-119 pounds
2-a wrestler weighing 115-126 pounds

Bantam

Bantam-n
1-a bird belonging to a breed of small domestic fowl
2-see bantam weight
3-Canada in hockey and softball, a category of players from 13 to 15 years of age, or a player in this category

Banshee

Banshee-n
1-in Gaelic folklore, a spirit of a woman who appears, wailing, to signal that somebody in the household is going to die
2-Ireland a female fairy

Synonyms
phantom
spirit
ghoul
specter
poltergeist

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Bane

Bane-n
1-something that continually causes problems or misery
2-something that causes death, destruction, or ruin (literary or archaic)
3-a fatal poison (often used in combination in the names of poisonous plants)

Synonyms
nuisance
pest
blight
curse
bother
irritation
annoyance

Bandy

Bandy-vt
to toss words back and forth casually often without caring whether they are true or what effect they may have

adj
used to describe legs that curve outward so that the knees cannot meet

Banal

Banal-adj
boringly ordinary and lacking in originality

Synonyms
commonplace
trite
hackneyed
prosaic
predictable
ordinary
dull
boring
cliched
trivial
facile
original (antonym)

Baluster

Baluster-n
1-an upright post supporting a handrail, for example, in the banister of a staircase
2-a support, for example, a chair leg or the stem of a glass, that is shaped like a long narrow vase

Balsam

Balsam-n
1-an oily resinous substance (oleoresin) obtained from plants, especially one containing benzoic acid or cinnamic acid, that is used in making perfume and medicine
2-a preparation containing or resembling balsam
3-a plant of the family that includes impatiens and garden balsam. Family: Balsaminaceae

Synonyms
ointment
cream
balm
liniment
unguent

Balsa

Balsa-n
1-a South American tree that yields a lightweight softwood. Genus: Ochroma
2-balsa/balsa wood a lightweight wood obtained from the balsa tree, used in making rafts and doy models and as insulation

Ballyhoo

Ballyhoo-n
1-sensational, lound, or sustained advertising
2-a noisy argument or disturbance

vt
to advertise or publicize something loudly and insistently

Synonyms
uproar
to-do
racket
hullabaloo
commotion
ruckus

Balky

Balky-adj
difficult and uncooperative

Ballistics

Ballistics-n
1-the study of the movements and forces involved in the propulsion of objects through the air (takes a singular verb)
2-the study of firearms and ammunition (takes a singular verb)
3-the characteristics of a firearm that affect the way missiles are fired (takes a singular or plural verb)

Balk/baulk

Balk/baulk-v
1-to stop suddenly and refuse to go on, especially when faced with an obstacle
2-to hesitate or be unwilling to do something, usually because of a natural revulsion or moral scruples
3-to refuse to deal with something that presents a difficulty
4-to prevent somebody from carrying out a plan or intention (often passive)
5-to make an illegial motion in baseball, by pretending to pitch but not actually pitching

n
1-a large squared piece of wood
2-a wooden tie beam in the roof of a house
3-a ridge of land left unplowed to serve as a boundary or to counter erosion
4-an illegal motion by the pitcher when there are runners on base
5-something that hinders or frustrates
6-the area between the balk line and the bottom cushion on a billiard table, or in balk-line billiards between and balk line and the cushion

Synonyms
recoil
start
cringe
shy away
draw back

Baldric

Baldric-n
a sash or belt worn from one shoulder to the opposite hip, used to support a sword

Baleen

Baleen-n
a horny substance that grows as fringed plates from the upper jaws of certain whales, acting to strain food, especially small crustaceans, from the water.
Also called whalebone

Balderdash

Balderdash-n
senseless or pointless talk or writing

Synonyms
nonsense
baloney
twaddle
garbage
rubbish
tripe
drivel
claptrap
sense (antonym)

Balalaika

Balalaika-n
a Russian musical instrument with a triangular sound box and three strings that produces sounds similar to a mandolin when plucked or strummed

Baksheesh

Baksheesh-n
in the Middle East, money given as a tip or bribe, or as charity

Bailiwick

Bailiwick-n
an area of activity in which somebody has particular responsibility, or in which he or she has specialized knowledge or ability

Baguette

Baguette-n
1-a long thin loaf of French bread
2-a gem cut into a long rectangular shape
3-the long narrow rectangular shape that a baguette gem is cut into
4-a small narrow rounded convex molding on a wall or column

Bagatelle

Bagatelle-n
1-a short piece of classical music, usually for piano, written in a playful style
2- a game played on a board or table, in which balls have to be propelled by a cue or spring-loaded launcher past obstacles and into numbered holes
3-a thing of little importance (formal)

Badinage

Badinage-n
the exchange of playful or joking remarks between people in conversation

Baffle

Baffle-vt
1-to prove too difficult or complicated for somebody to understand, solve, or deal with, and cause a feeling of confusion or helplessness
2-to hinder or thwart an action or intention (formal)
3-to impede or control the movement of a fluid or gas or the emission of sound or light waves

n
1-a device used to control or impede the flow or emission of something and reduce its force
2-a partition in a loudspeaker or microphone intended to prevent sound waves of different frequencies from interfering with one another

Synonyms
confuse
perplex
puzzle
flummox
stump
nonplus
mystify
confound
bewilder
bemuse
befuddle

Bactericide

Bactericide-n
a substance or agent that destroys bacteria

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Backwater

Backwater-n
1-a still body of water connected to a river but not affected by its current
2-a still body of water held back by a dam, obstruction, or prevailing countercurrent
3-a place or situation regarded as cut off from the mainstream of activity or development and consequently seen as quiet and uneventful or unimportant and dull

Synonyms
remote place
the boondocks
teh backwoods
the back of beyond
the sticks
the middle of nowhere

Backer

Backer-n
1-somebody who gives moral or financial support to somebody or something
2-somebody who bets on somebody or something

Synonyms
sponsor
supporter
patron
promoter
benefactor
financier
champion

Babel

Babel-n (literary)
1-a confused noise, especially the noise of loud unintelligible voices all talking at once
2-a scene or place of noisy confusion

Bacchanal

Bacchanal-n
1-somebody who took part in the orgiastic rites of the god Bacchus
2-a riotus drunken reveler (literary)
3-a noisy drunken celebration or spree (literary)

adj
relating to Bacchus or the worship of Bacchus

Babble

Babble-v
1-to say something rapidly and incoherently without pausing, usually because of excitement or fear
2-to talk rapidly or at length in a way people find irrelevant
3-to make a continuous low murmuring or bubbling sound
4-to reveal something thoughtlessly or impulsively that is supposed to be secret or confidential

n
1-the sound of voices speaking too excitedly and rapidly to be heard properly
2-irrelevant chatter
3-the low continuous murmuring or bubbling sound made by weater as it flows along

Synonyms
jabber
gibber
prattle
talk nonsense
blather
chat

Azoic

Azoic-adj
1-belonging to a geologic period before the appearance of living organisms on Earth
2-without any trace of life or organic remains

Axiom

Axiom-n
1-a statement or idea that people accept as self-evidently true
2-a basic proposition of a system that, athough unproven, is used to prove the other propositions in the system

Synonyms
maxim
adage
saying
saw
proverb
truism

Axial

Axial-adj
1-relating to or forming an axis
2-located on or in the plane of an axis of a crystal
3-located in or relating to the axis of an organism

Axiology

Axiology-n
the study of the nature, types, and governing criteria of values and value judgments

Awry

Awry-adj
1-not in the proper position but turned or twisted to one side
2-not in keeping with plans or expectations

Synonyms
skewed
askew
crooked
off beam
out of kilter
twisted
off-center

Awn

Awn-n
a plastic, canvas, or metal porch or shade supported by a frame and often foldable, that is placed over a storefront, doorway, window, or side of a recreational vehicle

Synonyms
canopy
sunshade
sun shelter
blind

Awestruck/awestricken

Awestruck/awestricken-adj
filled with a feeling of awe

Synonyms
enthralled
fascinated
rapt
captivated
mesmerized

Awl

Awl-n
a tool consisting of a handle and a slim metal shaft wit ha sharp point, used for punching small holes in leather or wood

Synonyms
tool
bit
bradawl
borer

Awe

Awe-n
1-a feeling of amazement and respect mixed with fear that is often couple with a feeling of personal insignificance or powerlessness
2-the ability to inspire dread or reverence (archaic)

vt
to make somebody feel awe (usually passive)

Synonyms
fear
terror
dread
fright
trepadition
fearfulness

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Avuncular

Avuncular-adj
1-resembling an uncle, especially one who is friendly, helpful, or good-humored
2-relating to or deriving from an uncle (formal or humorous)

Avowal

Avowal-n
a frank statement or admission (formal)

Synonyms
affirmation
statement
confirmation
acknowledgement
admission
denial (antonym)

Avow

Avow-vt
to state or affirm that something is a fact (formal)

Synonyms
affirm
state
confirm
declare
admit
acknowledge
maintain
aver
deny (antonym)

Avoirdupois Weight

Avoirdupois Weight-n
a system for measuring weights based on the pound

Avoirdupois

Avoirdupois-n
1-see avoirdupois weight
2-the amount that somebody weighs (humorous)

Avocation

Avocation-n
1-a calling or occupation (formal)
2-a hobby or pastime (formal)
3-something that distracts or diverts somebody from what he or she is doing (archaic)

Avid

Avid-adj
eager for, dedicated to, or enthusiastic about something

Synonyms
keen
enthusiastic
passionate
eager
devoted
ardent
fervent
lukewarm (antonym)
apathetic (antonym)

Aversion

Aversion-n
1-a strong feeling of dislike or hatred of somebody or something (formal)
2-somebody or something strongly disliked

Synonyms
dislike
hatred
loathing
repugnance
distaste
hate
liking (antonym)

Averse

Averse-adj
1-strongly opposed to or disliking something (formal)
2-used to describe a leaf or flower that is turned away from the main stem or axis

Synonyms
reluctant
disinclined
loath
indisposed
unenthusiastic
inclined (antonym)

Aver

Aver-vt
1-to assert or allege something confidently (formal)
2-to state or allege that something is true

Synonyms
avow
state
claim
declare
assert
affirm
profess
swear
refute (antonym)

Avatar

Avatar-n
1-an incarnation of a Hindu diety in human or animal form, especially one of the incarnations of Vishnu such as Rama and Krishna
2-a movable three-dimensional image that can be used to represent somebody in cyberspace, for example, an Internet user

Avarice

Avarice-n
an unreasonably strong desire to obtain and keep money

Synonyms
greed
greediness
materialism
covetousness
acquisitiveness
avariciousness
cupidity
generocity (antonym)

Avant-Garde

Avant-Garde-n
writers, artists, filmmakers, or musicians whose work is innovative, experimental, or unconventional

adj
1-artistically new, experimental, or unconventional
2-belonging to the artistically inovative

Synonyms
ultramodern
activist
forward-thinking
advanced
ahead of its time
way-out
far-out
futuristic
forward-looking
modern

Avail

Avail-v
1-(vr) to make use of something useful or helpful while you have the opportunity
2-(vti) to be helpful or useful to somebody or to help somebody succeed

n
help, advantage, or success in achieving something (use in negative statements)

npl-Avails
profits or proceeds from something (archaic)

Synonyms
benefit
advantage
reward
gain
purpose
aim

Auxiliary Verb

Auxiliary Verb-n
a verb that is used with another verb to indicate person, number, mood, tense, or aspect. Some auxiliary verbs in English are "be," "have," "will," and "do."

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Auxiliary

Auxiliary-adj
1-acting to support or supplement a group of people
2-available as backup for a system, process, or piece of equipment
3-secondary to something larger
4-used to describe a boat with an engine to supplement or replace the sails

n
1-somebody who or something that acts in a supporting, backup, or supplementary role
2-see auxiliary verb
3-a member of a separate troop, often from another country, that fights with an army as allies or mercenaries and has its own command structure (often used in the plural)
4-a sailing ship equipped with an engine
5-a naval vessel, for example, a tug or transport ship, that does not engage in combat

Synonyms
supplementary
secondary
support
backup
supporting
assisting
main (antonym)

Autonomy

Autonomy-n
1-political independence and self-government
2-personal independence and the capacity to make moral decisions and act on them
3-the status of a text as an aesthetic object not to be judged or commented on in the light of external knowledge, for example, of the biography of the author

Synonyms
independence
self-sufficiency
self-rule
self-government
sovereignty
dependence (antonym)

Monday, August 3, 2009

Autonomous

Autonomous-adj
1-politically independent and self-governing
2-able to make decisions and act on them as a free and independent moral agent
3-existing, reacting, or developing as an independent, self-regulating organism

Synonyms
independent
self-directed
self-sufficient
self-governing
sovereign
self-ruling
dependent (antonym)

Autonomic

Autonomic-adj
1-used to describe functions of the nervous system not under the voluntary control of the individual, for example, the regulation of heartbeat or gland secretions
2-used to describe an action or response that occurs without conscious control
3-produced or caused by internal stimuli

Automaton

Automaton-n
1-a machine that contains its own power source and can perform a complicated series of actions, including responses to external stimuli, without human intervention
2-somebody who resembles a machine by obeying instructions automatically, performing repetetive actions, or showing no emotion

Synonyms
robot
machine
android

Autocrat

Autocrat-n
1-a ruler who holds unlimited power and is answerable to no other person
2-somebody who dominates other people

Synonyms
dictator
absulute ruler
tyrant
despot