| basketball |
a game played by two teams of five players each, with points scored by shooting the ball through a raised metal hoop and net at the opponent's end of the court. [1/2 definitions] |
| benzene ring |
the graphic representation of the benzene molecule or its derivatives as a hexagon with a carbon atom at each of its six points, and with attached atoms of hydrogen or other elements. |
| berkelium |
a radioactive synthetic metal element of the actinide series that has ninety-seven protons in each nucleus. (symbol: Bk) |
| beryllium |
a chemical element of the alkaline-earth group that has four protons in each nucleus and occurs in pure form as a hard, light, gray solid, chiefly used in alloys with copper and in aerospace material. (symbol: Be) |
| best-ball |
of or designating a system of scoring in golf competition in which, on each hole, the lower score of either partner is recorded as the score for that team. |
| bestiary |
a medieval collection of descriptions of or fables about real or mythical animals, in which each animal's nature is used to draw a moral point. |
| bezique |
a card game similar to pinochle but using two of each card higher than a six. |
| bichloride |
a chemical compound in which there are two atoms of chlorine for each atom of another element or group; dichloride. |
| bifocal |
of eyeglasses or contact lenses, having two sections in each lens, one correcting for near vision and one for distant vision. [1/3 definitions] |
| bimetallism |
the use of two metals, usu. gold and silver, at fixed values in relation to each other, as the monetary standard of currency and value. [1/2 definitions] |
| bird's-eye |
a woven, repeated fabric pattern of diamonds, each with a dot in the center, or a fabric with such a pattern. [1/4 definitions] |
| bireme |
a galley of ancient times, with two tiers of oarsmen on each side. |
| bismuth |
a chemical element that has eighty-three protons in each nucleus and is a white brittle crystalline metal with very low thermal and electrical conductivity, used chiefly in alloys and medicines. (symbol: Bi) |
| blend |
two or more consonants that are next to each other in a word and that are pronounced together. [1/9 definitions] |
| blood group |
any of several types in which human blood can be classed, each with its own inherited immunological and agglutinative characteristics; blood type. |
| bootstrap |
a loop attached to the rear or to each side of a boot top, by which the boot is pulled on. [1/5 definitions] |
| boron |
a chemical element that has five protons in each nucleus and that occurs naturally only in compounds such as boric acid and borax. (symbol: B) |
| box pleat |
a double pleat with edges folded toward each other. |
| box score |
a statistical summary in table form of each player's performance in a game, esp. baseball or basketball. |
| bromine |
a chemical element of the halogen group that has thirty-five protons in each nucleus, occurring as a toxic, volatile, dark reddish brown liquid or in various compounds such as acids and salts. (symbol: Br) |
| bros. |
abbreviation of "brothers," two males having one or both parents in common with each other; male siblings. |