Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary

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

NOUN 1 something that lasts for a short period of time • I had a bout of flu.

2 a boxing or wrestling match

boutique boutiques

NOUN a small shop that sells fashionable clothes

bow bows, bowing, bowed

Rhymes with “now” VERB 1 When you bow, you bend your body or lower your head as a sign of respect or greeting.

NOUN 2 the movement you make when you bow

3 the front part of a ship

Rhymes with “low” NOUN 4 a knot with two loops and two loose ends • The ribbon was tied in a bow.

5 a long, thin piece of wood with horsehair strings stretched along it, used to play some stringed instruments, such as the violin and the cello

6 a long, flexible piece of wood used for shooting arrows

bowel bowels

NOUN the tubes leading from your stomach, through which waste passes before it leaves your body

[from Latin botellus meaning little sausage]

bowl bowls, bowling, bowled

NOUN 1 a round container with a wide, uncovered top, used for holding liquid or for serving food • a bowl of soup

2 the hollow, rounded part of something • a toilet bowl

VERB 3 When you bowl in cricket and rounders, you throw the ball towards the batsman.

bowling

NOUN a game in which you roll a heavy ball down a narrow track towards a set of wooden objects called pins, and try to knock them down

bowls

NOUN a game in which the players try to roll large wooden balls as near as possible to a small ball

box boxes, boxing, boxed

NOUN 1 a container with a firm base and sides, and usually a lid

VERB 2 If someone boxes, they fight according to special rules.

boxer boxers

NOUN 1 a person who boxes

2 a medium-sized, smooth-haired dog with a flat face

Boxing Day

NOUN the day after Christmas Day

boy boys

NOUN a male child

boyfriend boyfriends

NOUN Someone’s boyfriend is the man or boy with whom they are having a romantic relationship.

bra bras

NOUN a piece of underwear worn by a woman to support her breasts

brace braces, bracing, braced

NOUN 1 an object fixed to something to straighten or support it • I wore a brace on my teeth for two years.

PLURAL NOUN 2 Braces are elastic straps worn over the shoulders to hold trousers up.

VERB 3 If you brace yourself, you stiffen your body to steady yourself. • We braced ourselves as the bus went round the corner.

4 If you brace yourself for something unpleasant, you prepare yourself to deal with it.

bracelet bracelets

NOUN a chain or band worn around someone’s wrist as an ornament

[from Old French bracel meaning little arm]

bracken

NOUN a plant like a large fern that grows on hills and in woods

bracket brackets

NOUN a pair of written marks, ( ), { } or [ ], placed round a word or sentence that is not part of the main text, or to show that the items inside the brackets belong together

brag brags, bragging, bragged

VERB If you brag, you boast about something.

Braille

NOUN a system of printing for blind people in which letters are represented by raised dots that can be felt with the fingers

brain brains

NOUN the organ inside your head that controls your body and enables you to think and feel

brainstorm brainstorms

NOUN 1 a clever idea that you think of suddenly

2 If you have a brainstorm, you become confused and cannot think clearly.

brainy brainier, brainiest

ADJECTIVE clever and good at learning things

brake brakes, braking, braked

NOUN 1 a device for making a vehicle stop or slow down

VERB 2 When drivers brake, they make a vehicle stop or slow down by using its brakes.

bramble brambles

NOUN a wild, trailing bush with thorns, which produces blackberries

branch branches, branching, branched

NOUN 1 part of a tree that grows out from the trunk

2 A branch of a business or organization is one of its offices or shops.

VERB 3 A road that branches off from another road splits off from it to lead in a different direction.

brand brands

NOUN a particular kind or make of something

brandy

NOUN a strong, alcoholic drink, often drunk after a meal

[from Dutch brandewijn meaning burnt wine]

brass

NOUN OR ADJECTIVE 1 a yellow-coloured metal made from copper and zinc

2 In an orchestra, the brass section consists of instruments such as trumpets and trombones.

brave braver, bravest; braves, braving, braved

ADJECTIVE 1 A brave person is willing to do dangerous things and does not show any fear.

SYNONYMS: courageous, daring

VERB 2 If you brave an unpleasant or dangerous situation, you face up to it in order to do something. • We braved the snow to go to the party.

[from Italian bravo meaning courageous or wild]

brawl brawls, brawling, brawled

NOUN 1 a rough fight

VERB 2 When people brawl, they take part in a rough fight.

bread

NOUN a very common food made from flour, and baked in an oven

breadth breadths

NOUN the distance between two sides of something • I can swim the breadth of the pool.

See width

break breaks, breaking, broke, broken

VERB 1 When an object breaks, or when you break it, it becomes damaged or separates into pieces.

2 If you break a rule or promise, you fail to keep it.

3 To break a record means to do better than the previous recorded best. • She broke the record for the long jump.

NOUN 4 a short period during which you rest or do something different

break down

VERB When a machine or a vehicle breaks down, it stops working.

break up

VERB When schools break up, the term ends. • We break up on Thursday.

breakable

ADJECTIVE easy to break

breakdown breakdowns

NOUN If there is a breakdown in a system, it stops working.

breakfast breakfasts

NOUN the first meal of the day

breast breasts

NOUN A woman’s breasts are the two soft, fleshy parts on her chest, which produce milk after she has had a baby.

breast-feed breast-feeds, breast-feeding, breast-fed

VERB If a woman breast-feeds her baby, she feeds it with milk from her breasts.

breath breaths

NOUN 1 the air you take into your lungs and let out again when you breathe • He took a deep breath before jumping into the pool.

PHRASE 2 If you are out of breath, you are breathing with difficulty after doing something energetic.

breathe breathes, breathing, breathed

VERB When you breathe, you take air into your lungs and let it out again.

breathless

ADJECTIVE If you are breathless, you are breathing very fast or with difficulty. • I was breathless after running to catch the bus.

breathlessly ADVERB

breathlessness NOUN

breed breeds, breeding, bred

NOUN 1 a particular type of animal. For example, an Alsatian is a breed of dog.

VERB 2 Someone who breeds animals or plants keeps them in order to produce more animals or plants with particular qualities. • He used to breed dogs for the police.

3 When animals breed, they produce young.

SYNONYM: reproduce

breeze breezes

NOUN a gentle wind

breezy ADJECTIVE

brewery breweries

NOUN a place where beer is made, or a company that makes beer

bribe bribes, bribing, bribed

NOUN 1 a gift or money given to an official to persuade them to allow you to do something

VERB 2 If someone bribes someone else, they give them a bribe.

brick bricks

NOUN a rectangular block of baked clay used in building

bride brides

NOUN a woman who is getting married or who has just got married

bridegroom bridegrooms

NOUN a man on or near his wedding day

bridesmaid bridesmaids

NOUN a woman or girl who helps a bride on her wedding day

bridge bridges

NOUN 1 a structure built over a river, road or railway so that vehicles and people can cross

2 a card game for four players

bridle bridles

NOUN a set of straps round a horse’s head and mouth, which the rider uses to control the horse

brief briefer, briefest; briefs, briefing, briefed

ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is brief lasts only a short time. • We only had time for a brief visit.

VERB 2 When you brief someone on a task, you give them all the necessary instructions or information about it.

briefcase briefcases

NOUN a small, flat case for carrying papers

bright brighter, brightest

ADJECTIVE 1 strong and startling • a bright light

SYNONYMS: brilliant, dazzling

2 clever • That’s a bright idea.

SYNONYMS: intelligent, quick

brighten brightens, brightening, brightened

VERB If something brightens, it becomes brighter.

brighten up

VERB If you brighten up something, you make it look brighter and more attractive.

brilliant

ADJECTIVE 1 A brilliant person is extremely clever.

2 INFORMAL Something that is brilliant is extremely good or enjoyable.

3 A brilliant colour or light is extremely bright.

brim brims

NOUN 1 the wide part of a hat that sticks outwards from the head

2 If a container is filled to the brim, it is filled right to the top.

bring brings, bringing, brought

VERB If you bring something or someone with you when you go to a place, you take them with you.

bring up

VERB When someone brings up children, they look after them while they grow up.

brink

NOUN 1 the edge of a deep hole, cliff or ravine

PHRASE 2 If you are on the brink of something, you are about to do it. • They were on the brink of discovering a cure for the common cold.

brisk brisker, briskest

ADJECTIVE 1 quick and energetic • a brisk walk

2 If someone’s manner is brisk, it shows that they want to get things done quickly and efficiently.

briskly ADVERB briskness NOUN

bristle bristles, bristling, bristled

NOUN 1 Bristles are strong animal hairs used to make brushes.

VERB 2 If the hairs on an animal’s body bristle, they rise up because it is frightened.

bristly ADJECTIVE

brittle

ADJECTIVE An object that is brittle is hard but breaks easily.

broad broader, broadest

ADJECTIVE 1 A broad river is wide.

2 The broad outline of a story gives the main points, but no details.

broadband

NOUN a digital system for sending data to and from televisions, computers and telephones • What is the broadband speed like here?

broadcast broadcasts, broadcasting, broadcast

NOUN 1 a programme or announcement on radio or television

VERB 2 When someone broadcasts something, they send it out by radio waves, so that it can be seen on television or heard on radio.

broccoli

NOUN a vegetable with green stalks and green or purple flower buds

brochure brochures

NOUN a booklet that gives information about a product or a service • holiday brochure

broke

VERB 1 the past tense of break

ADJECTIVE 2 If you are broke, you have no money.

broken

ADJECTIVE A broken object is damaged in some way.

bronchitis

NOUN an illness in which the tubes connecting your windpipe to your lungs become infected, making you cough

brontosaurus brontosauruses

NOUN a very large, plant-eating dinosaur

bronze

NOUN a yellowish-brown metal that is a mixture of copper and tin

brooch brooches

Rhymes with “coach” NOUN a piece of jewellery with a pin at the back for attaching to clothes

brood broods, brooding, brooded

NOUN 1 a family of baby birds