| B cell |
a type of white blood cell, produced in the bone marrow, that makes antibodies that fight off disease. |
| bd. ft. |
abbreviation of "board foot," or "board feet," a unit of measure for lumber, equal to one foot square and one inch thick. |
| Be |
symbol of the chemical element beryllium. |
| be |
to remain in a state of existence; have reality; exist. [8 definitions] |
| be- |
to cause to be; treat as; make (used to change nouns, adjectives, and intransitive verbs into transitive verbs). [3 definitions] |
| beach |
the land at the edge of a body of water, usu. sandy and sometimes part of a swimming area; shore. [2 definitions] |
| beach ball |
a large inflatable ball of brightly colored plastic, usu. used for games played in or near the water. |
| beachcomber |
a person who lives by finding and selling miscellaneous items that wash ashore or are discarded there. [2 definitions] |
| beach grass |
any of several tough, deeply rooted perennial grasses that grow wild on beaches and are sometimes planted there to combat erosion. |
| beachhead |
the initial position or area that invading troops try to secure when landing on an enemy shore. [2 definitions] |
| beacon |
a signal of light that guides or gives warning, often located in an elevated position. [7 definitions] |
| bead |
a small, generally round object, usu. made of glass, wood, or the like with a hole through its center for stringing to make necklaces or for decorating clothing. [8 definitions] |
| beading |
the decorative use of beads, as on dresses or purses; beadwork. [4 definitions] |
| beadle |
an official of an English church who ushers and maintains order during church services. |
| beadwork |
art or craft work with beads, or the beaded products themselves; beading. |
| beady |
small, round, and bright or shiny; beadlike. [2 definitions] |
| beagle |
a small, short-legged hound with long ears and a smooth coat, usu. having black, tan, and white markings. |
| beak |
the hard structures forming a bird's bill. [3 definitions] |
| beaker |
a wide-mouthed drinking cup or container. [3 definitions] |
| be-all and end-all |
a thing or person of utmost importance or significance. |
| beam |
a long, heavy timber or piece of metal or stone used as a major support in a building. [8 definitions] |