| aspect |
in grammar, a category of verb inflections, such as past perfect and past progressive, that indicate whether an action or state is ended or continues, is singular or repeated, and the like. [1/5 definitions] |
| astronautics |
(used with a sing. verb) the science and technology of space travel. |
| astrophysics |
(used with a sing. verb) the branch of physics that deals with the physical and chemical properties of heavenly bodies and interstellar space. |
| athletics |
(usually used with a plural verb) sports and physical activities. |
| atmospherics |
(used with a sing. verb) static in radio reception caused by atmospheric electrical activity. [1/2 definitions] |
| autonetics |
(used with a sing. verb) the science of the use and development of automated devices used for control and guidance. |
| auxiliary |
see "auxiliary verb." [1/3 definitions] |
| auxiliary verb |
a part of the verb phrase in a sentence that supports or adds information to the verb. In the phrases "She is sleeping" and "Do you like it?", "is" and "do" are auxiliary verbs. |
| avionics |
(used with a sing. verb) the study or science of the application of electricity to flying; aviation electronics. |
| backwoods |
(often used with a sing. verb) an area that is mostly covered with trees and that has few inhabitants. [2/4 definitions] |
| Bahamas |
(used with a plural verb) a chain of islands southeast of Florida. [1/2 definitions] |
| Balkan |
(pl.; sometimes used with a sing. verb) the Balkan States or the Balkan Peninsula (usu. prec. by "the"). [1/3 definitions] |
| ballistics |
(used with a sing. verb) the scientific study of the motion and properties of missiles such as bullets and rockets. [1/3 definitions] |
| bariatrics |
(used with a sing. verb) the study of obesity and its medical or surgical treatment. |
| be |
used before the past participle of another verb to connect the subject of the sentence to actions done to it. [1/6 definitions] |
| beestings |
(used with a sing. or pl. verb) the first milk of a mammal, esp. a cow, after giving birth; colostrum. |
| be going to |
used as an auxiliary verb to express that someone has a plan to do something or that some action or state seems likely based on certain evidence. |
| belles-lettres |
(used with a sing. verb) elegant or polished writing; literature regarded as having an aesthetic function, as distinguished from informative or persuasive writing. |
| bellows |
(used with a singular or plural verb) a bag that can be expanded to draw air in and squeezed to force air out. Bellows are used to blow air on a fire or produce sound on a musical instrument. |
| billiards |
(used with a sing. verb) a game played on a cloth-covered rectangular table that has a cushioned rim, in which players use a long cue stick to drive hard balls against one another or into pockets at the edges and corners of the table. (Cf. pool2.) |
| bioastronautics |
(used with a sing. verb) the science of the effects of outer space and space travel on living organisms. |