Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary

bean beans

NOUN the seed or pod of a plant, eaten as a vegetable or used for other purposes • runner beans • coffee beans • soya beans

bear bears, bearing, bore, borne

NOUN 1 a large, strong, wild mammal with thick fur and sharp claws • polar bear • grizzly bear

VERB 2 If someone or something bears something, they carry it or support its weight. • The ice wasn’t thick enough to bear their weight.

3 If something bears a mark or typical feature, it has it. • The room bore all the signs of a violent struggle.

4 If you bear something difficult, you accept it and are able to deal with it. • The loneliness was hard to bear.

beard beards

NOUN the hair that grows on the lower part of a man’s face

beast beasts

NOUN 1 an old-fashioned word for a large, wild animal

2 INFORMAL If you call someone a beast, you mean that they are cruel or spiteful.

beat beats, beating, beat, beaten

VERB 1 If someone or something beats someone or something else, they hit them hard and repeatedly. • The rain was beating against the window.

2 If you beat someone in a race or game, you defeat them or do better than them.

3 When your heart beats, it pumps blood with a regular rhythm.

NOUN 4 the main rhythm of a piece of music or poetry

beautiful

ADJECTIVE very attractive or pleasing

SYNONYM: lovely

beauty beauties

NOUN 1 the quality of being beautiful • the beauty of the stars on a clear night

2 The beauty of an idea or a plan is what makes it attractive or worth doing. • The beauty of going in September is that the sea will be warmer for swimming.

beaver beavers

NOUN a mammal with a big, flat tail and webbed hind feet. Beavers build dams.

because

CONJUNCTION 1 Because is used with other words to give the reason for something. • I went home because I was tired.

PHRASE 2 Because of is used with a noun that gives the reason for something. • I had to stay late because of detention.

beckon beckons, beckoning, beckoned

VERB If you beckon to someone, you make a sign to them with your hand, asking them to come to you.

become becomes, becoming, became, become

VERB If someone or something becomes something else, they start feeling or being that thing. • I became more and more angry.

[from Old English becuman meaning to happen]

bed beds

NOUN 1 a piece of furniture that you lie on when you sleep

2 an area of ground in a garden which has been dug and prepared for planting

3 The bed of the sea or a river is the bottom of it.

bedraggled

ADJECTIVE If a person or animal is bedraggled, they are wet, dirty and messy.

bedroom bedrooms

NOUN a room for sleeping in

bedtime bedtimes

NOUN the time when you go to bed

bee bees

NOUN a winged insect that makes honey. Many types of bee live in large groups.

beech beeches

NOUN a tree with a smooth, grey trunk and shiny leaves

beef

NOUN the meat of a cow, bull or ox

beehive beehives

NOUN a specially designed structure in which bees are kept so that their honey can be collected

been

VERB the past participle of be

beer beers

NOUN an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavoured with hops

beetle beetles

NOUN a flying insect with hard wings that cover its body when it is not flying

[from Old English bitan meaning to bite]

beetroot beetroots

NOUN a round, dark red root vegetable

before

ADVERB, PREPOSITION OR CONJUNCTION If something happens before, it happens earlier than something else. • Can I see you before you go?

ANTONYM: after

beg begs, begging, begged

VERB 1 When people beg, they ask for food or money, because they are very poor.

2 If you beg someone to do something, you ask them very anxiously to do it. • David begged his dad to take him to the cinema.

began

VERB the past tense of begin

begin begins, beginning, began, begun

VERB If you begin something, you start it.

beginner beginners

NOUN someone who has just started to learn something

SYNONYM: learner

beginning beginnings

NOUN The beginning of something is when or where it starts.

begun

VERB the past participle of begin

behalf

PHRASE If you do something on behalf of someone or something, you do it for them or in their name. • We did the sponsored swim on behalf of various charities.

behave behaves, behaving, behaved

VERB 1 If you behave in a particular way, you act in that way. • He knew that he’d behaved badly.

2 If you behave yourself, you act correctly or properly.

behind

PREPOSITION 1 at the back of • The moon disappeared behind a cloud.

2 supporting someone • The whole school was behind him in the competition.

ADVERB 3 If you stay behind, you remain after other people have gone.

4 If you leave something behind, you do not take it with you.

beige

ADJECTIVE a cream-brown colour

being

VERB the present participle of be

belch belches, belching, belched

VERB 1 If you belch, you make a sudden noise in your throat because air has risen up from your stomach.

2 If something belches smoke or fire, it sends it out in large amounts. • Smoke belched from the factory chimneys.

NOUN 3 the noise you make when you belch

belief beliefs

NOUN If you have a belief in something, you are certain that it is right or true.

believe believes, believing, believed

VERB 1 If you believe that something is true, you think that it is true.

2 If you believe someone, you accept that they are telling the truth.

bell bells

NOUN 1 a cup-shaped metal object with a piece inside it called a clapper that hits the side and makes a ringing sound

2 an electrical device that you can ring or buzz to get attention

bellow bellows, bellowing, bellowed

VERB If a human or other animal bellows, they shout very loudly or make a very loud, deep noise like a roar.

belly bellies

NOUN the part of your body, especially your stomach, that holds and digests food

belong belongs, belonging, belonged

VERB 1 If something belongs to you, it is yours and you own it.

2 If you belong to a group, you are a member of it.

3 If something belongs in a particular place, that is where it should be. • That book belongs on the top shelf.

belongings

PLURAL NOUN Your belongings are all the things that you own.

below

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 If something is below something else, it is in a lower position. • We could hear music coming up from the flat two floors below.

ANTONYM: above

2 If something is below a particular amount or level, it is less than it. • below average rainfall

ANTONYM: above

belt belts

NOUN a strip of leather or cloth that you fasten round your waist to hold your trousers or skirt up

bench benches

NOUN a long seat that two or more people can sit on

bend bends, bending, bent

VERB 1 When you bend something, you use force to make it curved or angular.

2 When you bend, you move your head and shoulders forwards and downwards. • I bent over to pick up my glasses.

NOUN 3 a curved part of something • a bend in the road

beneath

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB FORMAL underneath

benefit benefits, benefiting, benefited

NOUN 1 the advantage that something brings to people • the benefit of a good education

VERB 2 If you benefit from something, it helps you. • He’ll benefit from some extra tuition.

[from Latin benefactum meaning good deed]

bent

ADJECTIVE curved or twisted out of shape

bereaved

ADJECTIVE FORMAL You say that someone is bereaved when a close relative of theirs has recently died.

bereavement NOUN

berry berries

NOUN a small, round fruit that grows on bushes or trees

berserk

ADVERB If somebody goes berserk, they lose control of themselves and become extremely violent.

[from Icelandic berserkr meaning a Viking who wore a shirt made from the skin of a bear and who worked himself into a mad frenzy before going into battle]

berth berths

NOUN 1 a space in a harbour where a ship stays when it is being loaded or unloaded

2 In a boat or caravan, a berth is a bed.

PHRASE 3 If you give someone or something a wide berth, you avoid them because they are unpleasant or dangerous.

beside

PREPOSITION If one thing is beside another thing, it is next to it.

besides

ADVERB also or in addition to

best

ADJECTIVE 1 the superlative of good and well • That was one of the best films I’ve ever seen.

ANTONYM: worst

ADVERB 2 The thing that you like best is the thing that you prefer to everything else.

bet bets, betting, bet

VERB If you bet on the result of an event, you will win money if what you bet on happens and lose money if it does not.

betray betrays, betraying, betrayed

VERB If you betray someone who trusts you, you tell people something secret about them.

better

ADJECTIVE 1 the comparative of good and well • I am feeling better today.

2 If you are better after an illness, you are no longer ill.

SYNONYM: cured

between

PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 If something is between two other things, it is situated or happens in the space or time that separates them. • He was head teacher between 1989 and 2000.

2 A relationship or a difference between two people or two things is one that involves them both. • the difference between frogs and toads

beware

VERB If you tell someone to beware of something, you are warning them that it might be dangerous or harmful.

bewilder bewilders, bewildering, bewildered

VERB If something bewilders you, it confuses and muddles you so that you can’t understand.

bewilderment NOUN

beyond

PREPOSITION 1 If something is beyond a certain place, it is on the other side of it. • Beyond the mountains was the secret valley.

2 If something is beyond you, you cannot do it or understand it.

bi-

PREFIX added to a word to mean two or twice. For example, someone who is bilingual can speak two languages.

bib bibs

NOUN a piece of cloth or plastic put under a baby’s chin to protect its clothes from stains

Bible Bibles

NOUN the sacred book of the Christian religion • I read about Noah and the Ark in the Bible.

bibliography bibliographies

NOUN a list of books or articles

bicycle bicycles

NOUN a two-wheeled vehicle that you ride by pushing two pedals with your feet

bid bids, bidding, bid

VERB If you bid for something, you offer to buy it for a certain sum of money. • He bid for an old bike at the auction.

big bigger, biggest

ADJECTIVE large or important

ANTONYMS: small, tiny, little

bike bikes

NOUN an abbreviation for bicycle

bikini bikinis

NOUN a small, two-piece swimming costume worn by women

bilingual

ADJECTIVE involving or using two languages • bilingual street signs

[from Latin bis meaning two and lingua meaning tongue]

bill bills

NOUN 1 a written statement of how much is owed for goods or services • a phone bill

2 a formal statement of a proposed new law that is discussed and then voted on in Parliament

3 A bill can be a piece of paper money. • a dollar bill

4 A bird’s bill is its beak.

billiards

NOUN a game in which a long stick called a cue is used to move balls on a table

billion billions

NOUN a thousand million • You can write one billion like this: 1,000,000,000.

billow billows, billowing, billowed

VERB 1 When things made of cloth billow, they swell out and flap slowly in the wind.

2 When smoke or cloud billows, it spreads upwards and outwards.

NOUN 3 a large wave

billy goat billy goats

NOUN a male goat

bin bins

NOUN a container, especially one that you put rubbish in

binary

ADJECTIVE The binary system is a number system used when working with computers. It uses only two digits, 0 and 1.

bind binds, binding, bound

VERB 1 If you bind something, you tie rope or string round it so that it is held firmly.

2 If you bind a wound, you wrap bandages round it.

3 When a book is bound, the pages are joined together and a cover is put on.

bingo

NOUN a game in which players aim to match the numbers that someone calls out with the numbers on the card they have been given

binoculars

PLURAL NOUN an instrument with lenses for both eyes, which you look through in order to see objects far away • They used binoculars for bird watching.

biodegradable

ADJECTIVE Biodegradable materials can be broken down naturally, and so they are not dangerous to the environment.

biography biographies

NOUN the history of someone’s life, written by someone else

biology

NOUN the study of living things

[from Greek bios + logos meaning life study]

birch birches

NOUN a tall, deciduous tree with thin branches and thin bark

bird birds

NOUN an egg-laying animal with feathers, two wings, two legs and a beak

birth births

NOUN Your birth was when you were born.

birthday birthdays

NOUN Your birthday is the anniversary of the date on which you were born.

birthmark birthmarks

NOUN a mark on your skin that has been there since you were born

biscuit biscuits

NOUN a small, flat cake that is crisp and usually sweet

bisect bisects, bisecting, bisected

VERB to divide a line or an area in half

bishop bishops

NOUN a high-ranking clergyman in some Christian Churches

bison

NOUN a large, hairy animal, related to cattle, with a large head and shoulders. Bison used to be very common on the prairies in North America, but they are now almost extinct.

bit bits

VERB 1 the past tense of bite • She bit into the toast.

NOUN 2 A bit of something is a small amount of it.

PHRASE 3 INFORMAL A bit means slightly or to a small extent. • That’s a bit difficult.

bitch bitches

NOUN a female dog

bite bites, biting, bit, bitten

VERB If you bite something, you cut into it with your teeth.

bitter bitterest

ADJECTIVE 1 A bitter taste is sharp and unpleasant.

2 A bitter wind is extremely cold.

3 If you are bitter about something, you feel angry and resentful.

bizarre

ADJECTIVE very strange and weird

SYNONYMS: odd, peculiar

black blacker, blackest

NOUN OR ADJECTIVE the darkest possible colour, like the sky at night when there is no light

blackberry blackberries

NOUN a small, soft black fruit that grows on brambles

blackbird blackbirds

NOUN a common European bird, the male of which has black feathers and a yellow beak

blackboard blackboards

NOUN a dark-coloured board in a classroom, which teachers write on using chalk

blackcurrant blackcurrants

NOUN Blackcurrants are very small, dark, purple fruits that grow in bunches on bushes.

black hole black holes

NOUN the empty space made by the collapse of a star

bladder bladders

NOUN the part of your body where urine is held until it leaves your body

blade blades

NOUN 1 the sharp part of a knife, axe or saw

2 a single piece of grass

blame blames, blaming, blamed

VERB If someone blames a person for something bad that has happened, they believe that person caused it.

SYNONYM: accuse

blank blanker, blankest

ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is blank has nothing on it. • a blank sheet of paper

2 If you look blank, your face shows no feeling or interest.

blanket blankets

NOUN a large rectangle of thick cloth that is put on a bed to keep people warm

[from Old French blancquete meaning little white thing]

blare blares, blaring, blared

VERB to make a loud, unpleasant noise • The radio blared from the flat below.

blast blasts, blasting, blasted

VERB 1 When people blast a hole in something, they make a hole with an explosion. • They’re using dynamite to blast away rocks.

NOUN 2 a big explosion, especially one caused by a bomb

blaze blazes, blazing, blazed

NOUN 1 a large, hot fire

VERB 2 If something blazes, it burns or shines brightly. • The fire blazed in the fireplace.

blazer blazers

NOUN a kind of jacket, often in the colours of a school or sports team

bleach bleaches, bleaching, bleached

NOUN 1 a chemical that is used to make material white or to clean thoroughly and kill germs

VERB 2 If you bleach material or hair, you make it white, usually by using a chemical.

bleak bleaker, bleakest

ADJECTIVE 1 If a place is bleak, it is cold, bare and exposed to the wind. • a bleak mountain top

2 If a situation is bleak, it is bad and seems unlikely to improve.

bleat bleats, bleating, bleated

VERB When sheep or goats bleat, they make a high-pitched cry.

bleed bleeds, bleeding, bled

VERB When you bleed, you lose blood as a result of an injury. • My hand bled a lot after I cut it.

blend blends, blending, blended

VERB 1 When you blend substances, you mix them together to form a single substance. • Blend the butter with the sugar.

2 When colours or sounds blend, they combine in a pleasing way.

bless blesses, blessing, blessed or blest

VERB When a priest blesses people or things, he or she asks God to give his protection to them.

[from Old English bloedsian meaning to sprinkle with sacrificial blood]

blew

VERB the past tense of blow

blind blinds, blinding, blinded

ADJECTIVE 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.

Do not confuse board with bored.

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 a small vehicle for travelling across water

body bodies

NOUN 1 Your body is all of you, from your head to your feet.

2 You can say body when you mean just the main part of a human or other animal, not counting head, arms and legs.

bodyguard bodyguards

NOUN a person employed to protect someone

bog bogs

NOUN an area of wet, spongy ground

boil boils, boiling, boiled

VERB 1 When a hot liquid boils, or when you boil it, it starts to bubble and to give off steam.

2 When you boil food, you cook it in boiling water.

boiler boilers

NOUN a piece of equipment that burns fuel to provide hot water

boisterous

ADJECTIVE Someone who is boisterous is noisy and lively.

SYNONYMS: loud, rowdy

boisterously ADVERB

bold bolder, boldest

ADJECTIVE 1 brave or confident • He was bold enough to ask for her autograph.

2 clear and noticeable • The sign was painted in bold colours.

[from Old Norse ballr meaning dangerous or terrible]

bollard bollards

NOUN a short, thick post used to stop vehicles from entering a road

bolt bolts, bolting, bolted

NOUN 1 a metal object that screws into a nut and is used to fasten things together

VERB 2 If you bolt one thing to another, you fasten them together using a bolt. • They bolted the chair to the floor.

3 If you bolt a door or window, you slide a metal bar across in order to fasten it.

bomb bombs, bombing, bombed

NOUN 1 a container filled with material that explodes when it hits something or when it is set off by a timer

VERB 2 If you bomb something, you attack it with a bomb.

[from Greek bombos meaning a booming sound]

bond bonds

NOUN a close relationship between people • the bond between mothers and babies

bone bones

NOUN the hard parts that form the framework of a person’s or animal’s body

bonfire bonfires

NOUN a large fire made outdoors, to burn rubbish or to celebrate something

[from bone + fire – bones were used as fuel in the Middle Ages]

bonnet bonnets

NOUN 1 the metal cover over a car’s engine

2 a baby’s or woman’s hat tied under the chin

bonus bonuses

NOUN 1 an amount of money added to a person’s usual pay

2 a good thing that you get in addition to something else

bony bonier, boniest

ADJECTIVE Bony people or animals are very thin, with not much flesh covering their bones.

book books, booking, booked

NOUN 1 a number of pages held together inside a cover

VERB 2 When you book something, you arrange to have it or use it at a particular time. • Mum booked two rooms at the hotel.

bookcase bookcases

NOUN a piece of furniture where you keep books

booklet booklets

NOUN a small book with a paper cover

boom booms, booming, boomed

NOUN 1 a deep, echoing sound

2 a fast increase in something • There has been a boom in the sale of sun cream this summer.

VERB 3 If something booms, it makes a loud booming sound. • We heard the foghorn boom in the distance.

boomerang boomerangs

NOUN a curved, wooden missile that can be thrown so that it returns to the thrower. Boomerangs were traditionally used as weapons by Australian Aborigines.

boost boosts, boosting, boosted

VERB If someone boosts something, they improve or increase it. • The teacher boosted Juliet’s confidence when she praised her story.

boot boots

NOUN 1 strong shoes that come up over your ankle, and sometimes your calf

2 the covered space in a car, usually at the back, for carrying things in

booth booths

NOUN 1 a small, partly-enclosed area • a telephone booth

2 a stall where you can buy things, for example at a market or a fair

border borders

NOUN 1 the dividing line between two countries

2 a strip or band round the edge of something

3 flower beds round the edges of a garden

borderline borderlines

NOUN If someone or something is on the borderline, they are on the division between two different categories.

bore bores, boring, bored

VERB 1 If something bores you, you find it dull and uninteresting.

2 If you bore a hole in something, you make it using a tool such as a drill.

3 the past tense of bear

NOUN 4 someone or something that bores you

bored

ADJECTIVE If you are bored, you are miserable because you have nothing interesting to do.

Do not confuse bored with board.

boring

ADJECTIVE dull and uninteresting

ANTONYM: interesting

born

VERB When an animal such as a human baby is born, it comes out of its mother’s body and starts to live.

borrow borrows, borrowing, borrowed

VERB If you borrow something that belongs to someone else, they let you have it for a period of time. • I borrowed a book from my friend.

boss bosses, bossing, bossed

NOUN 1 Someone’s boss is the person in charge of the place where they work.

VERB 2 If someone bosses you, they keep telling you what to do.

bossy bossier, bossiest

ADJECTIVE If you are bossy, you like to order other people around.

botany

NOUN the study and classification of plants

both

ADJECTIVE OR PRONOUN Both is used when saying something about two things or two people. • You can both come to my party.

bother bothers, bothering, bothered

VERB 1 If you don’t bother to do something, you don’t do it because it takes too much effort or it’s not important.

2 If something bothers you, you are worried about it.

3 If you are not bothered about something, you don’t care about it.

4 If you bother someone, you interrupt them when they are busy.

NOUN 5 trouble, fuss or difficulty • Mum’s having a bit of bother with the car.

bottle bottles, bottling, bottled

NOUN 1 a glass or plastic container for keeping liquids in

VERB 2 If you bottle something, you put it in a bottle to store it.

bottom bottoms

NOUN 1 the lowest part of something • It sank to the bottom of the pond.

2 Your bottom is the part of your body that you sit on.

bottomless

ADJECTIVE If something is bottomless, it has no bottom or it is very deep.

bough boughs

Rhymes with “cow” NOUN a large branch of a tree

bought

VERB the past tense and past participle of buy

Do not confuse bought with brought.

boulder boulders

NOUN a large, rounded rock

bounce bounces, bouncing, bounced

VERB When an object bounces, it springs back from something after hitting it. • The ball bounced high off the ground.

bound bounds, bounding, bounded

ADJECTIVE 1 If you say that something is bound to happen, you mean that it is certain to happen. • He’s bound to find out.

NOUN 2 a large leap

VERB 3 When humans or other animals bound, they move quickly with large leaps.

boundary boundaries

NOUN the limit of an area

bouquet bouquets

NOUN an attractively arranged bunch of flowers

bout bouts