also Insects on page 264
beech beeches NOUN
A beech is a large tree.
beef NOUN
Beef is the meat from a cow.
beehive beehives NOUN
A beehive is a house for bees, where a beekeeper collects the honey.
been VERB
Been is the past participle of be. We have always been good friends.
See be
beer beers NOUN
Beer is a drink made from grain.
beetle beetles NOUN
A beetle is an insect with four wings. The front two act as hard covers to the body when the beetle is not flying.
See Insects on page 264
beetroot beetroots NOUN
Beetroot is a dark red root vegetable.
See Vegetables on page 260
before
PREPOSITION 1 If something happens before something else, it happens earlier. Can I see you before lunch?
ADVERB 2 If you have done something before, it is not the first time.
beg begs, begging, begged VERB
If you beg someone to do something, you ask them very anxiously to do it. Krishna begged his dad to take him to the football match.
begin begins, beginning, began, begun VERB
When you begin, you start. I began school on Thursday.
beginner beginners NOUN
A beginner is someone who has just started to learn something.
beginning beginnings NOUN
The beginning of something is the first part of it.
begun VERB
Begun is the past participle of begin.
behave behaves, behaving, behaved VERB
The way you behave is the way you act.
behaviour NOUN
behind
PREPOSITION 1 Behind means on the other side of something. She was behind the counter.
PREPOSITION 2 If you are behind someone, you are at the back of them.
beige ADJECTIVE
Something that is beige is a pale creamy-brown colour.
See Colours and shapes on page 266
believe believes, believing, believed VERB
If you believe something or someone, you think what is said is true.
bell bells NOUN
A bell is a piece of metal shaped like a cup, which rings when something hits it.
belong belongs, belonging, belonged
VERB 1 If something belongs to you, it is your own.
VERB 2 If you belong to something, like a club, you are a member of it.
below PREPOSITION
If something is below something else, it is underneath it.
belt belts NOUN
A belt is a strip of leather or other material that you put round your waist.
bench benches NOUN
A bench is a long seat, usually made of wood.
bend bends, bending, bent VERB
When something bends, it becomes curved or crooked.
beneath PREPOSITION
If something is beneath something else, it is below it.
bent ADJECTIVE
If something is bent, it has become curved or crooked.
See bend
berry berries NOUN
A berry is a small round soft fruit that grows on a bush or a tree.
beside PREPOSITION
If something is beside something else, it is at the side of it.
best ADJECTIVE
Best means the “most good”, or better than anything else. That’s the best programme I’ve seen.
better
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is better than something else is of a higher standard or quality. Your bicycle is better than mine.
ADJECTIVE 2 Better can also mean more sensible. It would be better to go home.
ADJECTIVE 3 If you are feeling better after an illness, you are not feeling so ill.
between PREPOSITION
If something is between two other things, it is in the space or time that separates them. The toyshop is between the bank and the library.
beware VERB
You tell people to beware if there is danger of some kind. Beware of the bull.
Bible Bibles NOUN
The Bible is the sacred book of the Christian religion.
bicycle bicycles NOUN
A bicycle is a vehicle with two wheels. You sit on it and turn pedals with your feet to make it go.
big bigger, biggest ADJECTIVE
Something or somebody big is large in size or importance.
bike bikes NOUN
Bike is an abbreviation of bicycle.
bill bills
NOUN 1 A bill is a piece of paper saying how much money you owe. Mum’s just had the electricity bill.
NOUN 2 A bird’s bill is its beak.
bin bins NOUN
A bin is a container, usually with a lid, for putting rubbish in.
bind binds, binding, bound VERB
If you bind something, you tie something like string or cloth tightly round it so that it is held in place.
biology NOUN
Biology is the study of living things.
bird birds NOUN
A bird is an animal with two legs, two wings and feathers.
birth births NOUN
The birth of a baby is when it comes out of its mother’s body.
birthday birthdays NOUN
Your birthday is a special date that is remembered every year, because it was the day you were born.
biscuit biscuits NOUN
A