Cache

Cache-n
1-a hidden store of things, especially weapons or valuables
2-a secret place where a store of things is kept hidden
3-an area of high-speed computer memory used for the temporary storage of frequently used date to allow faster access
    Also called cache memory

vt
1-to store a hidden supply of things, especially weapons or valuables, in a secret place
2-to store data in a cache

Synonyms
hoard
store
supply
accumulation
reserve
collection

Cabriolet

Cabriolet-n
1-a two-door convertible automobile
2-a two-wheeled, two-seater, horse-drawn carriage with a folding roof

Caboodle

Caboodle-n
a lot of things, or a group of things or people (informal)

Cabana

Cabana-n
a shelter in which swimmers or sunbathers can changer their clothes, on a beach or by a swimming pool

Synonyms
bath house
shelter
change room

Cabala/Kabbalah/Caballa/Kabala/Kabbala

Cabala/Kabbalah/Cabbala/Kabala/Kabbala-n
1-a body of mystical Jewish teachings based on on interpretation of hidden meanings in the Hebrew Scriptures
2-a set of secret or mystical beliefs

Cabal

Cabal-n
1-a group of conspirators or plotters, particularly one formed for political purposes
2-a secret plot or conspiracy, especially a political one
3-an exclusive group of peoploe

vi
to form a group and plot together against somebody or something

Synonyms
group
unit
sect
faction
section

Buxom

Buxom-adj
1-used to describe a woman with a full figure (dated)
2-used to describe a woman who is plump, attractive, and healthy-looking (archaic)

Buttress

Buttress-n
1-a solid structure, usually made of brick or stone, that is built against a wall to support it
2-somebody or something that acts as a source of support, help, and reinforcement
3-a large projecting rock mass that appears to support the rock above it
4-the pointed horny re3ar part of a horse's hoof

vt
1-to support a wall with a buttress
2-to support or reinforce something, especially an argument, piece of analysis, or point of view

Busybody

Busybody-n
somebody who tends to meddle with other people's business (informal)

Synonyms
chatterer
big mouth
blabbermouth
gossip

Busywork

Busywork-n
activities assigned or undertaken that take up time but do not necessarily yield productive results

Buss

Buss-n
a kiss (dated) (regional)

vti
to kiss somebody or something (dated) (regional)

Bushwack

Bushwack-v
1-(vt) to ambush somebody (informal)
2-(vi) U.S., Canada, Australia  to cut a way through thick woods or forest
3-(vi) U.S., Canada, Australia  to travel through woos, forest, or the bush
4-(vi) to fight as a guerilla

Synonyms
ambush
lie in wait for
waylay
hold up

Bushing

Bushing-n
1-a cylindrical metal sleeve used to prevent abraision, as a bearing, or as a guide for tool parts such as valve rods
    Also called bush
    U.K. term bush 2
2-a layer of electrical insulation that allows a live conductor to pass through a grounded wall
3-an adaptor or screw-piece for connecting two different sizes of pipe

Bushel (2)

Bushel-vt
to mend or alter an articl of clothing (archaic) (regional)

Bushel (1)

Bushel-n
1-a unit of measure in the U.S. Customary System used for measuring dry goods, equal to 64 U.S. pints (35.24 liters)
2-a unit of dry or liquid measure in the British Imperial System, equal to 8 imperial gallons (36.37 liters), formerly used for measuring items such as wheat, fruit, and liquids
3-a container that has a capacity of one bushel
4-a large amount (dated informal)

synonyms
load
lot
mass
mountain
heap
stack
oceans

Bushed

Bushed-adj
exhausted from overwork or lack of sleep (informal)

Synonyms
exhausted
tired
worn-out
done in
whacked
dog-tired
beat
all-in
dead-on-your-feet
refreshed (antonym)

Bursar

Bursar-n
an official who has charge of funds, particularly in a university, college, schoool, or monastery

Burnoose/Burnous/Burnouse

Burnoose/Burnous/Burnouse-n
a long hooded cloak worn by some Arabs, or a fashionable imitation of this

Burly

Burly-adj
1-strong and with a broad sturdy frame
2-rough and robust

Synonyms
heavily built
strongly built
brawny
broad-shouldered
husky
muscular
strong
hefty
robust
beefy
slight (antonym)

Burlesque

Burlesque-n
1-the mocking of a serious matter or style by imitating in in an incongruous way
2-a literary or dramatic work that uses burlesque
3-an incongruous imitation of something
4-a variety show of a type that often includes striptease

vt
to mock something serious by imitating it in an incongruous way

Synonyms
parody
caricature
travesty
mockery
send-up
lampoon
skit
imitation
distortion
satire

Burgeon

Burgeon-vi (literary)
1-to produce new buds and leaves or to swell and develop into leaves and flowers
2-to flourish or develop rapidly

Synonyms
mushroom
multiply
prosper
proliferate
flourish
grow rapidly
dwindle (antonym)

Burg

Burg-n
1- a city or town (informal)
2-an ancient fortress or walled town

Bureaucratize

Bureaucratize-vt
1-to change a system into a bureaucracy
2-to make a system or procedure rigid or complex

Bureaucratic

Bureaucratic-adj
1-relating to the way administrative systems are organized
2-used to describe an administratve system or official that applies rules rigidly

Synonyms
technical
practical
routine
ritual
ceremonial

Bunting (2)

Bunting-2
strings of cloth or paper decorations for hanging outdoors

Synonyms
streamer
streamers
flags
decorations
decoration

Bunting (1)

Bunting-n
a small seed-eating songbird related to the finch, with a short stout bill and usually brown or gray feathers. Family: Emberizidae

Bungalow

Bungalow-n
1-a single-story house
2-a simply-built one-story house with a veranda and a wide, gently sloping room in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific

Malaysia, Singapore a house, usually of two or more stories

Synonyms
hut
small house
log cabin
cottage
chalet
lodge

Bung

Bung-n
1-a stopper or plug, especially one made of cork or rubber
2-U.K. an illicit fee paid to a soccer player, manager, or agent to facilitate a player transer (slang)

vt
to plug or seal a hole with a bang

Synonyms
stop
cap
cork
block
close
plug up

Bumpkin/bumpkin (2)

Bumpkin/bumpkin-n
a pole at the back of a ship or boat to which a sail is attached by a rope

Bumptious

Bumptious-adj
stating opinions aggressively or self-importantly

Synonyms
full of yourself
pleased with yourself
self-satisfied
self-important
boastful
arogant
overbearing
brash
modest (antonym)

Bumpkin (1)

Bumpkin-n
a country person regarded as unsophisticated (informal)

Bulwark

Bulwark-n
1-a wall-like structure built to keep out attackers
2-a person or thing that gives protection or support
3-a wall built in the sea to shelter a harbor

npl-bulwarks
the sides of a ship projecting above the deck

vt
1-to fortify or protect a place by building walls around it
2-to defend or support somebody or something strongly

Synonyms
fortification
embankment
earthwork
barricade
rampart
wall

Bullock

Bullock-n
1-a young domestic bull
2-a castrated domestic bull

Bullion

Bullion-n
1-gold or silver in the form of bars or ingots
2-any metal in the form of an unshaped mass
3-ornamental fringing or braid made of twisted gold or silver thread and used, for example, to edge curtains

Synonyms
gold
gold bars
gold ingots

Bulkhead

Bulkhead-n
1-a partition inside a ship, aircraft, or large vehicle
2-a wall built to hold back something, for example, water or soil

Synonyms
partition
wall
dividing wall

Bulbous

Bulbous-adj
1-rounded and swollen-looking
2-growing from a plant bulb

Synonyms
round
rounded
spherical
bulging
globular
swollen

Bugaboo

Bugaboo-n
something that causes fear, annoyance, or trouble, especially an imagined threat or problem

Buffoon

Buffoon-n
1-somebody who amuses others by clowning, by joking, or by ridiculous behavior
2-somebody who is regarded as behaving in a mildly inappropriate way

Synonyms
clown
joker
comedian

Bucolic

Bucolic-adj
1-relating to or characteristic of the countryside, country people, or country life
2-relating to or characteristic of shepherds, herdsmen, or flocks

n
1-a poem about the countryside or country life
2-a farmer, shepherd, or other person from the country

Synonyms
rural
pastoral
rustic
country
countrified
urban (antonym)

Buckshot

Buckshot-n
a large size or lead shot used in shotgun shells, especially for hunting games

Synonyms
projectile shot
pellet
slug shell
shotgun shell
cartridge
ball
rubber bullet

Buckram

Buckram-n
a coarse cotton or linen fabric that has been stiffened with starch, gum, or latex. It is used in bookbinding and for stiffening garments.

adj
resembling buckram in rigidity

vt
to stiffen or straighten something with buckram

Brutish

Brutish-adj
1-relating to or characteristic of lower animals
2-cruel, ruthless, or insensitive
3-coarse, crude, unintelligent, or lacking sensitivity
4-animalistically carnal or sensual

Synonyms
rough
animal
wild
violent
bestial
refined (antonym)

Brute

Brute-n
1-somebody who is very cruel, ruthless, or insensitive
2-an animal other than a human being (literary)

adj
1-purely physical or instinctive, rather than intellectual or reasoned
2-displaying extreme cruelty and savagery
3-unremitingly harsh or severe
4-used to describe behavior, actions, or instincts that are considered crude, especially those prompted by physical desire and hunger
5-relating or belonging to lower animals, as opposed to human beings

Synonyms
beast
creature
monster
animal

Brusque

Brusque-adj
abrubt, blunt, or curt in manner or speech

Synonyms
abrubt
curt
offhand
rough
brisk
gruff
civil (antonym)

Bruiser

Bruiser-n
a large, strong man or youth, for example, a boxer, body guard, bar bouncer, or football player (informal)

Browbeat

Browbeat-vt
to bully or intimidate somebody sternly

Synonyms
badger
bully
cudgel
dragoon
nage
twist somebody's arm
push
pester
threaten force
coerce

Brothel

Brothel-n
a place where people pay to have sexual intercourse with prostitutes

Brogue (2)

Brogue-n
1-see wing tip
2- a simple heavy untanned shoe formerly worn in Ireland and Scotland

Brogue (1)

Brogue-n
a regional accent, especially the accent of Irish people speaking English

Synonyms
pronunciation
inflection
intonation
tone of voice
enunciation
drawl
twang
burr

Brocade

Brocade-n
a heavy fabric of silk, cotton, or wool woven with a raised design, often using metallic threads

vt
to weave fabric with a raised design

Brigantine

Brigantine-n
a two-masted sailing ship with square-rigged sails on the foremost and fore-and-aft sails on the mainmast

Bridle

Bridle-n
1-a set of leather straps fitted to a horse's head and incorporating the bit and the reins
2-something that acts as a control or restraint

v
1-(vt) to provide a horse with a bridle
2-(vi) to react with slight anger or indignation, sometimes by rearing the head
3-(vt) to show restraint in expressing a feeling or control or in curbing something

Synonyms
bristle
get angry
become annoyed
become indignant
prickle
get your hackles up

Brickbat

Brickbat-n
1-harshly unfavorable criticism
2-a broken fragment of something hard, for example, a piece of brick, used as a missile

Synonyms
insult
criticism
flak
insinuation
suggestion
comment

Brevity

Brevity-n
1-shortness in time
2-the economical use of words in speech or writing

Synonyms
shortness
briefness
consciousness
succinctness
concision
pithiness
terseness
length (antonym)

Brimstone

Brimstone-n
sulfur (archaic)

Brethren

(archaic) plural of brother

npl
1-members of the same family, group, class, or community (literary or humorous)
2-the members, especialloy men, of a particular church or other religious group, especially a Protestant Christian denomination (archaic or literery)

Breaker (2)

a small cask for water, used especially on life boats

Breaker (1)

Breaker-n
1-see circuit breaker
2-a large, usually white-capped, wave that is cresting or breaking, especially onto the shore
3-somebody who does breakdancing (slang)
4-something, for example, a machine, that is used to crush or break up rocks, fibers, or other substances
5-somebody who trains horses so that they can be ridden

interj
used by CB radio operators to announce that they are beginning to transmit on a channel

Synonyms
wave roller
surf
tide
tidal wave

Breadth

Breadth-n
1-the distance or measurement of something, from one side to the other
2-a standardized width that something, especially fabric, is produced or available in, or a piece of fabric in a standardized width
3-the extent of something, especially when it is impressively great
4-an open and tolerant view of life and the world

Synonyms
width
span
wideness
extent
size
girth
length (antonym)

Breech

Breech-v
1-(vt) to break down an obstruction to allow something to pass through it
2-(vt) to go beyone a target or limit
3-(vt) to fail to obey, keep, or preserve something, for example, a law or trust
4-(vi) to leap above the surface of the water (refers to whales)

n
1-a hole in something that is caused by something else forcing its way through
2-a gap that results when something or somebody leaves
3-a failure to obey, keep, preserve something, for example, a law, a trust, or a promise
4-a breakdown in friendly relations
5-a leap out of the water by a whale

Synonyms
break
violate
contravene
infringe
commit a breech
fall foul of
honor (antonym)

Bray (2)

Bray-vt
1-to crush something to a fine powder or consistency
2-to spread ink in a thin layer on a surface

Brazen

Brazen-adj
1-showing or expressing boldness and complete lack of shame
2-with an unpleasantly loud and resonant sound
3-made of brass or resembling it, especially in color or hardness (literary)

Synonyms
bold
barefaced
shameless
brash
unabashed
blatent
bald-faced
audacious
forward
discreet (antonym)

Bray (1)

Bray-n
1-the sound a donkey makes
2-a harsh high-pitched rasping voice or laugh

v
1-(vi) to make the sound a donkey makes
2-(vti) to speak, laugh, or say something in a harsh, high-pitched rasping voice

Brawn

Brawn-n
1-very strong muscles, especially on the arms and legs
2-physical strength, especially as opposed to intellectual power
3-see head cheese

Synonyms
strength
muscle
muscles
brute force
power
physique

Bravado

Bravado-interj n
a shout of approval for a woman or girl performer

Bavura

Bravura-n
1-a great skill that is shown when something artistic is done in an exciting or innovative way
2-showy style or behavior

adj
displaying or requiring great artistic skill and style

Synonyms
brilliant
magnificent
exceptional
dazzling
outstanding
superlative
virtuoso
unexceptional (antonym)

Brash (2)

Brash-adj
easily cracked or broken

Brash (3)

Brash-n
a pile of loose trash, for example, broken rocks or garden refuse

Brash (1)

Brash-adj
1-self-assertive in an aggressive or rude way
2-acting or made in a hasty or impulsive fashion

Synonyms
hasty
impetuous
rash
foolhardy
slapdash
hurried
impatient
slow (antonym)

Braggart

Braggart-n
somebody who talks immodestly, shamelessly, or with excessive pride about his or her achievements or possessions

Brackish

Brackish-adj
somewhat salty, especially from being a mixutre of resh and salt water

Synonyms
salty
salt
briny

Braggadocio

Braggadocio-n
1-empty boasting and swaggering slef-aggrandizement
2-somebody who makes overblown claims or empty boasts

Bracket

Bracket-n
1-an L-shaped structure that is attached to a wall to hold up something, for example, a shelf or speaker
2-a shelf that usually has an integral part that attaches to the wall as its support and can sometimes be swiveled
3-either one of a pair of symbols, [ ], used in keying or printing to indicate the insertion of special commentary, such as that made by an editor
Also called square bracket
U.K. term square bracket
4-U.K. (often used in plural) see parenthesis
5. a section of a population or group that falls within specific defined limits

vt
1-to attach brackets to something, especially a wall, or to support something with brackets
2-to put something, especially text or a mathematical equation, inside brackets
3-to group or class things or people together, usually because they are similar in some way

Synonyms
group
set
range
cohort
band
collection
category
grade
rank
sort
kind

Bracken

Bracken-n
a large fern, common in most temperate and tropical regions, with extensive underground stems and large triangular fronds. Latin name: Pteridium aquilinum
Also called brake

Bout-n

Bout-n
1-a temporary or short-lived attack of illness, usually a common and not very serious illness
2-a short time spent doing something, often something considered distasteful
3-a boxing or wrestling match

Synonyms
short period
attack
short time
fit
session
stretch
spell
stint

Bourgeoisie

Bourgeoisie-n
1-the social class that, according to Marxist theory, owns the means of producing wealth and exploits the working class
2-affluent middle-class people characterized as conventional, conservative, or materialistic in outlook

Bourgeois

Bourgeoius-adj
1-according to Marxist theory, relating to the social class that owns most of the wealth and is regarded as exploiting the working class
2-typical of affluent middle-class people, who are often characterized as conventional, conservative, or materialistic in outlook

n
1-in Marxist analysis, a member of the bourgeois social class
2-somebody with bourgeois outlook

Boulevard

Boulevard-n
1-a wide st reet, especially one lined by trees (often used in place names)
2-Midwestern U.S. ground between the lands of a divided highway

Synonyms
avenue
road
thoroughfare drive
concourse

Bouffant

Bouffant-adj
used to describe as woman's hairstyle in which hair is backcombed or teased to give fullness and height

n
a full, high hairstyle for women

Botch

Botch-vt
to do something very badly out of clumsiness or lack of care

n
a job or task that has to be done very badly (informal)

Synonyms
spoil
damage
do something badly
make a botch of
make a mess of
make a has of
fail
mess up
foul up
correct (antonym)

Botany

Botany-n
1-the scientific study of plants
2-the plant life that exists whithin a particular area
3-the biological description of a single plant or group of plants

Bossism

Bossism-n
political control, especially the control of a big city's political machine, by one person who is usually not an office holder and whose methods are usually corrupt

Borough

Borough-n
1-an administrative division of a large city, responsible for running local services such as housing and education
2-in some states, a town that has formed itself into a legal corporation and overns itself
3-in England, a town that once had specil privileges granted to it by royal charter

Synonyms
area
region
municipality
district

Booty

Booty-n
money or valuables seized or stolen, especially by soldiers in war

Synonyms
loot
swag
plunder
ill-gotten gains
valuables
pickings
proceeds
treasure
spoils

Bootleg

Bootleg-v
1-(vti) to make, transport, or sell illegal goods, especially illegally copied or recorded material
2-(vi) in football, to pretend to pass the ball to another player while running with the ball concealed against the hip

n
1-an illegally made product, especially an illegal recording
2-alcohol or an alcoholic beverage that has been smuggled or illegally distilled
3-in football, a move in which a player fakes a pass, but runs on with the ball concealed next to the hip

Synonyms
copy illegally
plagiarize
reproduce
lift

Boor

Boor-n
somebody who behaves in a cross, insensitive, or ill-mannered way

Synonyms
klutz
oaf
fool
lout

Boondoggle

Boondoggle-n (informal)
1-an activity or project that is trivial and wasteful of time or money
2-a government project of little practical value funded to gain political favor

vi (informal)
1-to do something unimportant or impractical
2-to deceive or attempt to deceive somebody

Bookie

Bookie-n
a bookmaker (informal)

Boon

Boon-n
1-something that functions as a blessing or benefit to somebody
2-a gift or favor from somebody (archaic or literary)

Synonyms
benefit
advantage
bonus
help
gain
godsend
fortunate thing
windfall
blessing
disadvantage (antonym)

Bonanza

Bonanza-n
1-a source that yields great riches or success
2-an extremely valuable mineral deposit

Synonyms
top prize
prize
roll-over prize

Bona Fide

Bona fide-adj
1-authentic and genuine in nature
2-without any intention to deceive

Synonyms
genuine
authentic
real
true
valid
above-board
legitimate
legal
authenticated
bogus (antonym)

Bollix

Bollix-n
a mess or muddle, especially one caused by bungling (slang)

vt
to make a mess or muddle of something (slang)

Bohemian

Bohemian-n
1-somebody who was born or raised in Bohemia
2-the Czech language (dated)

adj
belonging to Bohemai, or its people or culture

Boisterous

Boisterous-adj
1-full of noisy enthusiasm and energy, and often roughness or wildness
2-wild, rough, or stormy

Synonyms
energetic
lively
active
animated
rowdy
unruly
noisy
overexcited
placid (antonym)

Blunt

Blunt-adj
1-having a cutting edge or point that is not sharp
2-very franki or straightforward and showing no delicacy or consideration

v
1-(vti) to make the point or cutting edge of something dull rather than sharp
2-(vt) to make something such as a sense or an emotion less effective or less intense

Synonyms
dull
rounded
dulled
blunted
sharp (antonym)

Blunder

Blunder-n
a serious or embarrassing mistake, usually the result of carelessness or ignorance

v
1-(vi) to make a serious or embarrassing mistake as a result of carelessness or ignorance
2-(vi) to stumble or move clumsily
3-(vti) to act in a manner that is clumsy, ignorant, or thoughtless
4-(vti) to say or write something in a clumsy or thoughtless way

Synonyms
mistake
slip-up
error
mix-up
gaffe
bungle
wrong step
howler
clanger

Bluff (2)

Bluff-n
a high steep bank, cliff, or headland, especially one with a broad face

adj
1-having a broad, flattened, or rounded steep front
2-cheerful and friendly but outspoken and often insensitive to others' feelings

Bluff (1)

Bluff-v
1-(vti) to pretend to have strength, confidence, or the intention of doing something, in order to deceive somebody
2-(vti) to try to deceive other players in a card game about the true value of your hand
3-(vt) Malaysia, Singapore to try to mislead somebody about something relatively unimportant (informal)

n
1-a pretense of strengh, confidence, or of the intention of doing something
2-somebody who pretends to be strogner or more confident than he or she really is

Synonyms
trick
con
fake it
lie
pretend
deceive
pass off

Bloodletting

Bloodletting-n
1-see phlebotomy
2-bitter violent fighting between rival groups
3-the large-scale ejection, or laying off, of human resources in a corporation (formal)

Blooded

Blooded-adj
belonging to a superior breed

Bloc

Bloc-n
1-a group of countries with a shared aim
2-a usually temporary grouping within a legislature, made up of diverse members acting together for a common interest or purpose

Synonyms
community
coalition
union
alliance
federation
league
syndicate

Blithe

blithe-adj
1-happy, cheerful, and carefree (literary)
2-casually indifferent

Synonyms
carefree
casual
unconcerned
unthinking
happy
merry
happy-go-lucky
amiable
uptight (antonym)

Blight

Blight-n
1-something that spoils or damages things severely
2-a severely spoiled or ruined state, especially of an urban area
3-a plant disease, caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses, in which symptoms range from brownish blotches on the foliage to withering of the entire plant without rotting
4-U.K. see potato blight
5-a bacterium, fungus, or virus that causes blight in plants

v
1-(vt) to spoil or damage something severely
2-to cause a plant to wither without rotting

Synonyms
disfigurement
disease
stain
scar
blot
affliction

Bleat

Bleat-v
1-(vi) to make the wavering cry of a sheep, goat, or calf
2-(vti) to complain about something in an irritating way (informal)

n
the wavering cry of a sheep, goat, or calf

Synonyms
moan
fuss
whine
complain
nag
bellyache
gripe

Bleary

Bleary-adj
1-not seeing clearly owing to mistiness or blurring, especially that associated with sleepiness
2-obsured and not easy to see

Synonyms
hazy
watery
unfocused
fuzzy
blurry
groggy
sleepy
clear (antonym)

Blatant

Blatant-adj
1-so obvious or conspicuous as to be impossible to hide
2-excessively or offensively noisy (literary)

Synonyms
obvious
imconcealed
barefaced
unashamed
deliberate
transparent
patent
manifest
palpable
furtive (antonym)

Blasphemy

Blasphemy-n
1-disrespect for God or sacred things
2-something done or said that shows disrespect for God or sacred things

Synonyms
profanity
sacrilege
wickedness
irreverence
piety (antonym)

Blaspheme

Blaspheme-v
1-to swear in a way that insults religion
2-(vt) to treat God or sacred things disrespectfully through words or actions

Synonyms
curse
swear
issue oaths
use foul language
commit blasphemy

Blase

blase-adj
not impressed or worried by something usually because of having experienced it before

Synonyms
nonchalant
laid back
cool
relaxed
unmoved
unconcerned
carefree
offhand
uptight (antonym)