NOUN 1 the edge of a deep hole, cliff or ravine
PHRASE 2 If you are on the brink of something, you are about to do it. • They were on the brink of discovering a cure for the common cold.
brisk brisker, briskest
ADJECTIVE 1 quick and energetic • a brisk walk
2 If someone’s manner is brisk, it shows that they want to get things done quickly and efficiently.
briskly ADVERB briskness NOUN
bristle bristles, bristling, bristled
NOUN 1 Bristles are strong animal hairs used to make brushes.
VERB 2 If the hairs on an animal’s body bristle, they rise up because it is frightened.
bristly ADJECTIVE
brittle
ADJECTIVE An object that is brittle is hard but breaks easily.
broad broader, broadest
ADJECTIVE 1 A broad river is wide.
2 The broad outline of a story gives the main points, but no details.
broadband
NOUN a digital system for sending data to and from televisions, computers and telephones • What is the broadband speed like here?
broadcast broadcasts, broadcasting, broadcast
NOUN 1 a programme or announcement on radio or television
VERB 2 When someone broadcasts something, they send it out by radio waves, so that it can be seen on television or heard on radio.
broccoli
NOUN a vegetable with green stalks and green or purple flower buds
brochure brochures
NOUN a booklet that gives information about a product or a service • holiday brochure
broke
VERB 1 the past tense of break
ADJECTIVE 2 If you are broke, you have no money.
broken
ADJECTIVE A broken object is damaged in some way.
bronchitis
NOUN an illness in which the tubes connecting your windpipe to your lungs become infected, making you cough
brontosaurus brontosauruses
NOUN a very large, plant-eating dinosaur
bronze
NOUN a yellowish-brown metal that is a mixture of copper and tin
brooch brooches
Rhymes with “coach” NOUN a piece of jewellery with a pin at the back for attaching to clothes
brood broods, brooding, brooded
NOUN 1 a family of baby birds
VERB 2 If you brood about something, you are worried about it and can’t stop thinking about it.
brook brooks
NOUN a stream
broom brooms
NOUN a long-handled brush
brother brothers
NOUN Your brother is a boy or man who has the same parents as you.
brother-in-law brothers-in-law
NOUN Someone’s brother-in-law is the brother of their husband or wife, or their sister’s husband.
brought
VERB the past tense and past participle of bring
brown browner, brownest
ADJECTIVE OR NOUN the colour of earth or wood
Brownie Brownies
NOUN a junior member of the Girl Guides
bruise bruises, bruising, bruised
NOUN 1 a purple mark that appears on your skin after something has hit it
VERB 2 If something bruises you, it hits you so that a bruise appears on your skin.
brunette brunettes
NOUN a girl or a woman with dark brown hair
brush brushes, brushing, brushed
NOUN 1 an object with bristles. There are brushes for cleaning things, painting or tidying your hair.
VERB 2 If you brush something, you clean it or tidy it with a brush.
Brussels sprout Brussels sprouts
NOUN a vegetable that looks like a tiny cabbage
brutal
ADJECTIVE Brutal behaviour is violent and cruel.
brutally ADVERB brutality NOUN
bubble bubbles, bubbling, bubbled
NOUN 1 a ball of air in a liquid
VERB 2 When a liquid bubbles, bubbles form in it.
buck bucks, bucking, bucked
NOUN 1 the male of various animals, including deer and rabbits
VERB 2 If a horse bucks, it jumps into the air with all four feet off the ground.
bucket buckets
NOUN a deep, round container with an open top and a handle
buckle buckles, buckling, buckled
NOUN 1 a fastening on the end of a belt or strap
VERB 2 If you buckle a belt or strap, you fasten it.
3 If metal buckles, it crumples up.
bud buds
NOUN a small, tight swelling on a tree or plant, which develops into a flower or leaf
Buddhist
NOUN someone who follows the religious teachings of Buddha, who taught in India in the fifth century. Buddhists believe that the way to end suffering is by overcoming our desires.
Buddhism NOUN
budgerigar budgerigars
NOUN a small, brightly-coloured pet bird. Budgerigars originated in Australia.
[an Australian Aboriginal name, from budgeri + gar meaning good cockatoo]
budget budgets, budgeting, budgeted
NOUN 1 a plan showing how much money will be available and how it will be spent
VERB 2 If you budget for something, you plan how you use your money carefully, so as to be able to afford what you want.
buffalo buffaloes
NOUN 1 a wild animal like a large cow with long curved horns
2 another word for bison
buffet buffets
NOUN 1 a café at a station or on a train
2 a meal at which people serve themselves
bug bugs, bugging, bugged
NOUN 1 a small insect, especially one that causes damage
2 an