<B>
baby
[a newly born creature]
Mary had a baby last night.
back
[(1) the part behind the front; (2) the other way from forward]
The writer's picture is on the back of the book. (1)
She stopped walking away and looked back at me. (2)
bad
[(1) wrong; (2) acting against the law; (3) not good]
Bill made a bad decision. (1)
The prisoner was a bad man for most of his life. (2)
The water was dirty and had a bad taste. (3)
balance
[to make two sides or forces equal]
I balanced my budget by not spending more than I earned.
ball
[something round]
The earth is shaped like a ball.
balloon
[a device of strong, light material that rises when filled with gas lighter than air]
Many hot air balloons race in New Mexico each year.
ballot
[a piece of paper used for voting]
I was asked to count the ballots and announce the winner.
ban
[(1) to not permit; (2) to stop; (3) an official restriction]
Running is banned at our swimming pool. (1)
The curfew bans all night time travel. (2)
The protestors called for a ban on smoking in public buildings. (3)
bank
[an organization that keeps and lends money]
The man said he robbed banks because that is where the money is.
bar
[to prevent or block]
He was barred from competing in the games because he used illegal drugs.
barrier
[anything that blocks or makes an action difficult]
The voting rights law removes most racial barriers to voting.
base
[(1) a military center; (2) to establish as a fact]
My brother is at a military training base. (1)
Her research was based on experiments. (2)
battle
[a fight between opposing armed forces]
Southern forces won the battle but lost the war.
be
[(1) to live; (2) to happen; (3) to exist]
The man is very sick and will not be here much longer. (1)
The wedding will be soon. (2)
Washington, D.C., has been the capital for 200 years. (3)
beat
[to hit again and again]
The prison guards denied they beat the prisoner.
beauty
[that which pleases the eye, ear or spirit]
All fell silent at the beauty of the mountains.
because
[for the reason that]
He left because he was sick.
become
[to come to be]
When did he become sick?
bed
[a sleeping place]
The bed was so hard that I could not sleep.
before
[earlier]
Bill ate before he went to work.
begin
[(1) to do the first part of an action; (2) to start]
He began to laugh when he saw me. (1)
A long walk begins with one step. (2)
behind
[(1) at the back of; (2) in back of]
Our fastest runner was far behind the leader. (1)
I live behind that hill. (2)
believe
[(1) to think; (2) to feel sure of; (3) to accept as true; (4) to trust]
I believe it may rain tonight. (1)
Jim believes his friend is a good writer. (2)
The lawyer believed the suspect's statement. (3)
We believe in God. (4)
bell
[an instrument that makes a musical sound]
Jim says he likes the sound of a church bell.
belong
[(1) to be owned by; (2) to be a member of]
That book belongs to my sister. (1)
My brother belongs to the Boy Scouts. (2)
below
[lower than]
The temperature outside is below freezing.
best
[the most good]
All of our singers are good but Lisa is best.
betray
[(1) to turn against; (2) to be false to]
The spy betrayed his country. (1)
The boy betrayed his mother's trust in him. (2)
better
[more good than]
Zach is a better baseball player than Al.
between
[(1) in the space or time that separates; (2) from one to the other]
I would like to meet with you between two and three o'clock. (1)
Secret talks between the two nations produced an agreement. (2)
big
[(1) of great size; (2) not small]
Texas is a big state. (1)
Melissa was a big baby. (2)
bill
[a legislative proposal]
To become law, a bill must be approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the President.
biology
[the scientific study of life or living things in all their forms]
My school requires one year of study each of biology, physics and chemistry.
bird
[a creature that flies]
I watched the bird fly away until I could no longer see it.
bite
[to cut with the teeth]
My dog sounds aggressive but he will not bite you.
black
[(1) dark; (2) having the color like that of the night sky]
I first saw him on a black and stormy night. (1)
The doctor arrived in a big black car. (2)
blame
[(1) to accuse; (2) to hold responsible]
The police blamed him for the crime. (1)
Don't blame me for your bad decision. (2)
blanket
[a cloth cover used to keep warm]
The flood refugees needed food and warm blankets.
bleed
[to lose blood]
Do you know how to stop your nose from bleeding?
blind
[not able to see]
Being blind did not keep him from becoming a famous singer.
block
[(1) to stop something from being done; (2) to prevent movement]
He blocked any attempt to become friends. (1)
A truck accident blocked the road for an hour. (2)
blood
[red fluid in the body]
A blood test is usually part of a yearly medical examination.
blow
[to move with force, as in air]
The wind blows the autumn leaves.