it by joining things together.
builder builders NOUN
A builder is a person whose job is to build houses and other buildings.
building buildings NOUN
A building is a place like a house that has walls and a roof.
bulb bulbs
NOUN 1 A bulb is the glass part of a lamp that gives out light.
NOUN 2 A bulb is also a root shaped like an onion. Many spring flowers such as daffodils and tulips grow from bulbs.
bulge bulges, bulging, bulged VERB
If something bulges, it sticks out in a lump.
His pockets bulged with conkers.
bull bulls NOUN
A bull is a male cow, elephant or whale.
bulldozer bulldozers NOUN
A bulldozer is a tractor with a steel blade on the front. It is used for moving large amounts of earth or stone.
bullet bullets
NOUN 1 A bullet is a small piece of metal fired from a gun.
NOUN 2 A bullet point is a heavy dot used to draw attention to a piece of text.
bully bullies NOUN
A bully is someone who hurts or frightens other people.
bump bumps, bumping, bumped
VERB 1 If you bump into something, you hit it while you are moving.
NOUN 2 If you hear a bump, it sounds like something falling to the ground.
NOUN 3 A bump is a raised uneven part on a surface such as a road.
bumper bumpers NOUN
Bumpers are bars on the front and back of a vehicle that protect it if there is an accident.
bun buns NOUN
A bun is a small round cake.
bunch bunches NOUN
A bunch is a group of things together, like flowers or grapes.
See Collective nouns on page 268
bundle bundles NOUN
A bundle is a number of small things that have been tied together.
bungalow bungalows NOUN
A bungalow is a house with all its rooms on one floor.
burger burgers NOUN
A burger is a flat piece of minced meat. It is often eaten in a bread roll.
burglar burglars NOUN
A burglar is someone who breaks into buildings to steal things.
burn burns, burning, burned or burnt
VERB 1 If something is burning, it is being spoiled or destroyed by fire.
VERB 2 People often burn fuel, such as coal, to keep warm.
NOUN 3 A burn is an injury caused by heat or fire.
burrow burrows NOUN
A burrow is a hole in the ground that an animal lives in.
burst bursts, bursting, burst VERB
When something like a balloon or tyre bursts, it splits open suddenly.
bury buries, burying, buried VERB
If you bury something, you put it in a hole in the ground and cover it.
bus buses NOUN
A bus is a large motor vehicle. People pay to go on buses.
bush bushes NOUN
A bush is a large woody plant with lots of branches. It is smaller than a tree.
business businesses
NOUN 1 Business is the work of making, buying and selling things or services.
NOUN 2 A business is a group of people who make and sell things.
bus stop bus stops NOUN
A bus stop is a place where people can get on or off buses.
busy busier, busiest
ADJECTIVE 1 When you are busy, you are working hard on something.
ADJECTIVE 2 A place that is busy is full of people doing things or moving about.
but CONJUNCTION
You use but to join two parts of a sentence when the second part is unexpected. Megan likes most green vegetables, but she won’t eat broccoli.
butcher butchers NOUN
A butcher is a shopkeeper who cuts up meat and sells it.
butter NOUN
Butter is a yellow fat made from cream. You spread it on bread or use it for cooking.
See Other foods on page 261
butterfly butterflies NOUN
A butterfly is an insect with four large wings which flies during the day.
See Insects on page 264
button buttons
NOUN 1 A button is a small disc used to fasten clothes.
NOUN 2 A button is also a part of a machine that you press to make it work.
buy buys, buying, bought VERB
When you buy something, you get it by paying money for it.
buzz buzzes, buzzing, buzzed VERB
If something buzzes, it makes a “zzz” sound like a bee.
by
PREPOSITION 1 You use by to show who or what has done something. The announcement was made by the head teacher.
PREPOSITION 2 You use by to show how something is done. He cheered us up by taking us to the cinema.
PREPOSITION 3 You use by to talk about being next to or near to another thing. They live by the park.
PREPOSITION 4 If something happens by a particular time, it happens before that time. We should finish by tea time.
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 5 You use by to talk about going past something. We drove by her house.
cab cabs
NOUN 1 The cab is the place where the driver sits in a bus, truck or train.
NOUN 2 A cab is another word for a taxi.
cabbage cabbages NOUN
A cabbage is a vegetable that looks like a large ball of leaves.
See Vegetables on page 260
cabin cabins
NOUN 1 A cabin is a room in a ship, boat or aeroplane for passengers or crew.
NOUN 2 A cabin is also a small house in a wild place such as a forest.
cable