1 Someone who is blind cannot see.
VERB 2 If something blinds you, it stops you seeing, either for a short time or permanently.
NOUN 3 a roll of cloth or paper that you pull down over a window to keep out the light
blindfold blindfolds
NOUN a strip of cloth tied over someone’s eyes to stop them seeing
blink blinks, blinking, blinked
VERB When you blink, you close your eyes quickly for a moment.
bliss
NOUN a state of complete happiness
blissful ADJECTIVE blissfully ADVERB
blister blisters
NOUN a small bubble on your skin containing watery liquid, caused by a burn or rubbing
blizzard blizzards
NOUN a heavy snowstorm with strong winds
bloated
ADJECTIVE Something that is bloated is much larger than normal, often because there is a lot of liquid or gas inside it.
block blocks, blocking, blocked
NOUN 1 a large building containing flats or offices
2 In a town, a block is an area of land with streets on all its sides.
3 a large, rectangular, three-dimensional piece of something
VERB 4 If someone or something blocks a road or channel, they put something across it so that nothing can get through.
SYNONYM: obstruct
block capitals
PLURAL NOUN large upper-case letters. THESE ARE BLOCK CAPITALS.
block graph block graphs
NOUN another name for bar chart
blog blogs, blogging, blogged
NOUN 1 a person’s online diary that they put on the internet so that other people can read it
VERB 2 If you blog about something, you write about it in a blog. • He blogs about cooking and restaurants.
blonde blondes
ADJECTIVE 1 Blonde hair is pale yellow in colour. The spelling blond is used when referring to men.
NOUN 2 A blonde or blond is a person with pale yellow hair.
blood
NOUN the red liquid that is pumped by the heart round the bodies of human beings and other vertebrates
bloodstream
NOUN the flow of blood through your body
bloodthirsty
ADJECTIVE Someone who is bloodthirsty enjoys using or watching violence.
bloom blooms, blooming, bloomed
NOUN 1 a flower on a plant
VERB 2 When a plant blooms, it produces flowers.
blossom blossoms, blossoming, blossomed
NOUN 1 all the flowers that appear on a tree before the fruit
VERB 2 When a tree blossoms, it produces flowers.
blot blots
NOUN a mark made by a drop of liquid, especially ink
blouse blouses
NOUN a light shirt, worn by a girl or a woman
blow blows, blowing, blew, blown
VERB 1 When the wind blows, the air moves.
2 If you blow, you send a stream of air from your mouth.
3 If you blow your nose, you force air out of it through your nostrils in order to clear it.
NOUN 4 If you receive a blow, someone or something hits you.
blow up
VERB 1 If something blows up, it is destroyed by an explosion.
2 If you blow up a balloon or a tyre, you fill it with air.
blubber
NOUN the layer of fat beneath the skin of animals such as whales and seals that protects them from the cold
blue bluer, bluest
ADJECTIVE OR NOUN the colour of the sky on a clear, sunny day
bluebell bluebells
NOUN a woodland plant with blue, bell-shaped flowers
bluff bluffs, bluffing, bluffed
NOUN 1 an attempt to make someone believe that you will do something when you do not really intend to do it
VERB 2 If you are bluffing, you are trying to make someone believe that you are in a strong position when you are not.
[from Dutch bluffen meaning to boast]
blunder blunders, blundering, blundered
NOUN 1 a silly mistake
VERB 2 If you blunder, you make a silly mistake.
blunt blunter, bluntest
ADJECTIVE 1 A blunt object has a rounded point or edge, rather than a sharp one. • My pencil was blunt so I could not write with it.
2 If you are blunt, you say exactly what you think, without trying to be polite.
SYNONYMS: outspoken, straightforward
blur
NOUN If something is a blur, you can’t see it clearly. • The mountain was a blur through the mist.
blurb blurbs
NOUN the description of a book printed on the back cover
blurt out blurts out, blurting out, blurted out
VERB If you blurt out something, you say it suddenly, after trying to keep it a secret.
blush blushes, blushing, blushed
VERB If you blush, your face becomes red, because you are embarrassed or ashamed.
[from Old English blyscan meaning to glow]
boa boas
NOUN a large snake that kills its prey by coiling round it and crushing it
boar boars
NOUN 1 a male wild pig
2 a male domestic pig used for breeding
board boards, boarding, boarded
NOUN 1 a long, flat piece of wood
2 a flat piece of wood, plastic or cardboard, which is used for a particular purpose • a chessboard • a surfboard
3 the group of people who control a company or organization • My mum is on the board of governors.
4 the meals provided when you stay in a hotel or guesthouse • The price includes full board.
VERB 5 If you board a ship or aircraft, you get on it or in it.
PHRASE 6 If you are on board a ship or aircraft, you are on it or in it.
boarder boarders
NOUN 1 a pupil who lives at school during term
2 a lodger
boast boasts, boasting, boasted
VERB If you boast, you talk proudly about what you have or what you can do.
SYNONYM: brag
boat boats
NOUN