befuddle
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C2 verb /bɪˈfʌdəl/

befuddle

embrouiller
Meaning
to confuse someone completely; to make someone unable to think clearly
Example
The complex instructions befuddled the students.
Les instructions complexes ont embrouillé les étudiants.
C2 noun /boʊl/

bole

tronc d'arbre
Meaning
the trunk of a tree
Example
The bole of the tree was thick and strong.
Le tronc de l'arbre était épais et solide.
C2 noun /boʊ/

beau

amant
Meaning
a male admirer or boyfriend; a fashionable young man
Example
She arrived at the party with her beau.
Elle est arrivée à la fête avec son amant.
C2 adjective /blɑːˈzeɪ/

blase

blasé, indifférent
Meaning
unimpressed or indifferent to something because it has been experienced so often before
Example
After years of luxury travel, she felt blase about another trip to Paris.
Après des années de voyages de luxe, elle se sentit blasée par un autre voyage à Paris.
C2 adjective /bɪˈfʌdld/

befuddled

dérouté
Meaning
confused, unable to think clearly
Example
He looked befuddled after hearing the complex instructions.
Il avait l'air dérouté après avoir entendu les instructions complexes.
C2 noun /ˈbʊljən/

bullion

or ou argent en vrac
Meaning
Gold or silver in bulk before being coined or made into jewelry.
Example
The bank stores gold bullion in its vaults.
La banque conserve de l'or en vrac dans ses coffres.
C2 verb /bɪˈstruː/

bestrew

répandre
Meaning
To scatter or cover something with objects or substances.
Example
The ground was bestrewn with autumn leaves.
Le sol était couvert de feuilles d'automne.
C2 noun /ˈbiːlaɪn/

beeline

ligne droite
Meaning
a straight, direct route to a destination
Example
He made a beeline for the food table as soon as he entered the party.
Il a fait une ligne droite vers la table de nourriture dès qu'il est entré à la fête.
C2 adjective /ˈbɛərˌfeɪst/

barefaced

effronté
Meaning
shameless and undisguised; openly bold or unashamed
Example
He told a barefaced lie in front of everyone.
Il a raconté un mensonge effronté devant tout le monde.
C2 noun /ˈbɜːrɡər/

burgher

bourgeois
Meaning
A citizen of a town, typically a member of the wealthy middle class.
Example
The burgher was respected as a prosperous merchant in the city.
Le bourgeois était respecté comme un marchand prospère dans la ville.
C2 adjective /ˌbiːəˈtɪfɪk/

beatific

béatifique
Meaning
blissfully happy or showing great joy
Example
She had a beatific smile after hearing the good news.
Elle avait un sourire béatifique après avoir entendu les bonnes nouvelles.
C2 verb /bɪˈdɛk/

bedeck

décorer
Meaning
to decorate or adorn something in a showy way
Example
The hall was bedecked with flowers for the wedding.
La salle a été décorée de fleurs pour le mariage.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːrtərər/

barterer

barteur
Meaning
A person who trades goods or services without using money.
Example
The barterer exchanged fruits for some pottery.
Le barteur a échangé des fruits contre des pots.
C2 verb /bɪˈleɪt/

belate

retarder
Meaning
to delay or make late
Example
Heavy traffic belated our arrival at the party.
Le trafic lourd a retardé notre arrivée à la fête.
C2 noun /ˌbenɪˈdɪkʃən/

Benediction

bénédiction
Meaning
a blessing, especially a ceremonial one; an expression of good wishes
Example
The priest gave his benediction to the newlyweds.
Le prêtre a donné sa bénédiction aux nouveaux mariés.
C2 verb /bɪˈsiːtʃ/

beseech

supplier
Meaning
To ask someone urgently and fervently to do something; to beg.
Example
He beseeched the judge for mercy.
Il supplia le juge pour la clémence.
C2 verb /ˈbaɪfərˌkeɪt/

bifurcate

diviser en deux parties
Meaning
to divide into two branches or parts
Example
The road bifurcates into two separate paths at the hill.
La route bifurque en deux chemins séparés au sommet de la colline.
C2 adjective /boʊˈhiːmiən/

bohemian

bohémien
Meaning
unconventional, artistic, and free-spirited in lifestyle or appearance
Example
She decorated her apartment in a bohemian style with colorful fabrics.
Elle a décoré son appartement dans un style bohémien avec des tissus colorés.
C2 noun /ˈbuːbi/

booby

idiot
Meaning
a foolish or gullible person; a silly individual
Example
He felt like a booby after making such a simple mistake.
Il s'est senti idiot après avoir fait une erreur si simple.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌksəm/

buxom

femme ronde et attrayante
Meaning
Plump, with a full figure and often large-breasted, especially used to describe women.
Example
The actress was described as a cheerful and buxom woman.
L'actrice a été décrite comme une femme joyeuse et ronde.
C2 adjective /ˈbeɪlfəl/

baleful

menaçant
Meaning
Threatening harm; menacing or expressing hatred.
Example
She gave him a baleful look after the insult.
Après l'insulte, elle lui lança un regard menaçant.
C2 verb /bɪˈnʌm/

benumb

engourdir
Meaning
to make physically numb or without sensation; to make mentally dull or insensitive
Example
The freezing wind seemed to benumb his fingers within minutes.
Le vent glacial semblait lui engourdir les doigts en quelques minutes.
C2 noun /bɪər/

bier

châssis funéraire
Meaning
a frame or stand on which a coffin or body is placed before burial or cremation
Example
The coffin was placed on the bier during the funeral service.
Le cercueil a été placé sur le châssis funéraire pendant le service funéraire.
C2 adjective /bɪˈnaɪtɪd/

benighted

obscur, ignorant
Meaning
In a state of intellectual or moral ignorance; overtaken by darkness.
Example
The explorers were lost in the benighted forest without any guide.
Les explorateurs se sont perdus dans la forêt obscure sans guide.
C2 verb /beɪt/

bate

réduire, atténuer
Meaning
to lessen or restrain; to diminish the force or intensity of something
Example
He spoke with bated breath as he waited for the result.
Il parla avec une respiration retenue en attendant le résultat.
C2 noun /ˌbæstərdaɪˈzeɪʃən/

bastardization

dégénérescence / altération
Meaning
the act of corrupting, degrading, or misrepresenting something
Example
Critics called the remake a bastardization of the original film.
Les critiques ont qualifié le remake de bastardisation du film original.
C2 adjective /bəˈnɛfɪsənt/

beneficent

bénévole, généreux
Meaning
generous or doing good
Example
The beneficent leader donated funds to build a hospital.
Le leader bénéfique a donné des fonds pour construire un hôpital.
C2 verb /bɪˈmjuːz/

bemuse

déranger
Meaning
To confuse or puzzle someone.
Example
The complex instructions bemused the new employees.
Les instructions complexes ont déconcerté les nouveaux employés.
C2 verb /ˈbɪloʊ/

billow

se gonfler comme des vagues
Meaning
To swell or rise in large waves or surges; to flow outward in a rolling motion.
Example
Smoke billowed from the burning building.
La fumée se gonflait comme des vagues depuis le bâtiment en feu.
C2 verb /biˈætɪfaɪ/

beatify

béatifier
Meaning
to make blessed or holy, especially in the Roman Catholic Church, to declare a deceased person to be among the blessed
Example
The pope decided to beatify the martyr for his faith and sacrifice.
Le pape a décidé de béatifier le martyr pour sa foi et son sacrifice.
C2 adjective /ˈbreɪsɪŋ/

bracing

revigorant
Meaning
Invigorating, refreshing, or providing strength and energy.
Example
The hikers enjoyed the bracing mountain air.
Les randonneurs ont apprécié l'air vivifiant de la montagne.
C2 noun /bəˈnæləti/

banality

banalité
Meaning
The condition of being unoriginal, boring, or obvious; trite remark or quality.
Example
The speech was criticized for its banality and lack of originality.
Le discours a été critiqué pour sa banalité et son manque d'originalité.
C2 noun /bel ˈæp.əl/

Bell apple

pomme cloche
Meaning
a tropical fruit with a crisp texture and sweet taste, scientifically known as Syzygium malaccense
Example
The bell apple tree produces beautiful red fruits that are popular in tropical regions.
L'arbre de pomme cloche produit de beaux fruits rouges populaires dans les régions tropicales
C2 adjective /ˈbɔːlki/

balky

têtu
Meaning
difficult, uncooperative, or stubborn
Example
The balky printer refused to work when needed most.
L'imprimante têtue a refusé de fonctionner quand elle en avait le plus besoin.
C2 verb /ˈbaʊdləˌraɪz/

bowdlerize

supprimer les parties offensantes
Meaning
to remove or modify parts of a text considered offensive or inappropriate
Example
The editor bowdlerized the novel to make it suitable for children.
L'éditeur a baudelérisé le roman pour le rendre adapté aux enfants.
C2 noun /brɪˈtæniə/

britannia

Britannia
Meaning
the personification of Britain, often shown as a woman with a helmet and shield
Example
Britannia has been a symbol of Britain since Roman times.
Britania est un symbole de la Grande-Bretagne depuis l'époque romaine.
C2 noun /bɜːrˈlɛsk/

burlesque

burlesque
Meaning
A humorous and exaggerated imitation of a serious work; a type of theatrical entertainment involving comedy and parody.
Example
The play was a clever burlesque of traditional opera.
La pièce était une burlesque ingénieuse de l'opéra traditionnel.
C2 noun /bleɪn/

Blain

cloque
Meaning
an inflammatory swelling or sore on the skin; a blister or pustule
Example
The doctor examined the blain on his arm.
Le médecin a examiné la cloque sur son bras.
C2 verb /ˈblʌstər/

bluster

vantes
Meaning
to speak loudly in an aggressive or threatening way, often without real power
Example
The manager blustered about firing people but did nothing.
Le manager a menacé de renvoyer des gens mais n'a rien fait.
C2 adjective /ˈbæti/

batty

fou
Meaning
crazy or eccentric in behavior
Example
The old man down the street is a bit batty but harmless.
Le vieil homme dans la rue est un peu fou mais inoffensif.
C2 noun /ˈbrɒŋkəs/

bronchus

bronche
Meaning
either of the two main branches of the trachea that lead directly into the lungs
Example
The left bronchus carries air into the left lung.
Le bronchus gauche transporte l'air dans le poumon gauche.
C2 noun /ˈbækənæl/

bacchanal

fête sauvage
Meaning
A noisy party involving drinking and revelry.
Example
The festival turned into a wild bacchanal by midnight.
Le festival s'est transformé en une fête sauvage à minuit.
C2 verb /ˈbændi/

bandy

échanger
Meaning
To pass (words, ideas, or gossip) back and forth in a casual or argumentative way.
Example
They bandied jokes across the table.
Ils échangeaient des blagues à travers la table.
C2 adjective /bɪˈnɪɡnənt/

benignant

bienveillant, généreux
Meaning
Kindly and benevolent in nature.
Example
The teacher’s benignant attitude made the students feel comfortable.
L'attitude bénigne du professeur a rendu les étudiants à l'aise.
C2 noun /ˈbiː.təl nʌt/

Betel-nut

noix de bétel
Meaning
seed of the areca palm tree, often chewed as a stimulant
Example
Betel-nut is commonly chewed in many South Asian countries.
La noix de bétel est couramment mâchée dans de nombreux pays d'Asie du Sud.
C2 noun ˌbaɪ.oʊ.əˈveɪ.lə.bɪl.ə.ti

bioavailability

capacité d'absorption du corps
Meaning
The degree to which a substance can be absorbed and used by the body.
Example
Turmeric's bioavailability increases when consumed with black pepper.
La biodisponibilité du curcuma augmente lorsqu'il est consommé avec du poivre noir.
C2 verb /bɪˈfaʊl/

befoul

souiller
Meaning
to make dirty or polluted; to disgrace or corrupt
Example
The factory waste befouled the river.
Les déchets de l’usine ont souillé la rivière.
C2 noun /ˈbed.ləm/

Bedlam

chaos; confusion bruyante
Meaning
a scene of noisy confusion; chaos and disorder
Example
The classroom was complete bedlam after the fire alarm.
La salle de classe était un véritable chaos après l'alarme incendie.
C2 noun /beɪz/

baize

un type de tissu en laine épais
Meaning
A type of coarse woolen cloth, often green, used for covering tables such as billiard tables.
Example
The old card table was covered with worn baize.
La vieille table de cartes était recouverte de baize usé.
C2 noun /ˌbuː.ɡənˈvɪl.i.ə/

Bougainvillea

bougainvillée
Meaning
a tropical climbing plant with colorful bracts surrounding small flowers
Example
The bougainvillea climbing over the garden wall creates a beautiful purple display.
La bougainvillée grimpant sur le mur du jardin crée une belle exposition violette.
C2 adjective /ˈbeɪnfəl/

baneful

nuisible
Meaning
Causing harm, ruin, or destruction; deadly or poisonous.
Example
His baneful influence ruined the community.
Son influence nuisible a ruiné la communauté.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːr.bər/

Barbar

coiffeur
Meaning
a person whose job is to cut men's hair and shave or trim beards
Example
The barber gave him a perfect haircut for his wedding.
Le coiffeur lui a donné une coupe de cheveux parfaite pour son mariage.
C2 adjective /baɪˈkæmərəl/

bicameral

bicaméral
Meaning
Having two branches or chambers, especially in a legislature.
Example
The United States has a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Les États-Unis ont une législature bicamérale composée du Sénat et de la Chambre des représentants.
C2 verb /ˈbækbaɪt/

backbite

médire
Meaning
to speak negatively about someone who is not present; to slander behind someone’s back
Example
It is wrong to backbite your colleagues behind their backs.
Il est mal de médire de ses collègues en leur absence.
C2 noun /ˈbaɪpɛd/

biped

bipède
Meaning
An animal that walks on two feet.
Example
Humans are examples of biped creatures.
Les humains sont des exemples d'êtres bipèdes.
C2 noun /ˈbɒnəmi/

bonhomie

bonhomie
Meaning
Cheerful friendliness and geniality.
Example
The meeting was filled with laughter and bonhomie.
La réunion était pleine de rires et de bonhomie.
C2 noun /ˈbuː.jɒ̃/

bouillon

bouillon
Meaning
A clear, seasoned broth made by simmering meat, fish, or vegetables in water.
Example
She added vegetables to the bouillon for extra flavor.
Elle a ajouté des légumes au bouillon pour plus de saveur.
C2 adjective /ˈbrækɪʃ/

brackish

salé
Meaning
Slightly salty, often describing water that is a mix of fresh and seawater.
Example
The river estuary contained brackish water.
L'estuaire du fleuve contenait de l'eau salée.
C2 verb /bɪˈhəʊv/

behove

être approprié
Meaning
British spelling of 'behoove'; to be appropriate or necessary
Example
It would behove the company to listen to its customers.
Il serait approprié que l'entreprise écoute ses clients.
C2 adjective /bɒmˈbæstɪk/

bombastic

pompeux
Meaning
using pompous or inflated language with little meaning
Example
The professor’s bombastic lecture impressed no one.
Le discours pompeux du professeur n'a impressionné personne.
C2 noun /blæk ˈkɑːr.də.məm/

Black Cardamom

cardamome noir
Meaning
a large aromatic spice pod with a smoky flavor, commonly used in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking
Example
Add black cardamom to the curry for a rich, smoky flavor.
Ajoutez du cardamome noir au curry pour une saveur riche et fumée.
C2 verb /bɪˈleɪbə/

belabour

s'appesantir sur
Meaning
to explain something repeatedly or with excessive detail; to criticize or attack verbally at length
Example
The teacher did not belabour the point once the students understood it.
Le professeur ne s'est pas appesanti sur le point une fois que les élèves ont compris.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪɡ.ənd/

brigand

brigand
Meaning
A member of a gang that ambushes and robs people in forests or mountains; a bandit.
Example
The travelers were attacked by brigands in the mountains.
Les voyageurs ont été attaqués par des brigands dans les montagnes.
C2 verb /boʊd/

bode

présager
Meaning
to be an omen of a particular outcome, often something bad
Example
The dark clouds bode a heavy storm.
Les nuages sombres annoncent une tempête violente.
C2 noun /bəˈsuːn/

bassoon

un type de hautbois (instrument à vent en bois de grande taille)
Meaning
a large woodwind instrument with a deep sound
Example
The orchestra featured a beautiful bassoon solo.
L'orchestre a présenté un magnifique solo de basson.
C2 noun ˈbaɪəʊˌsaɪd

biocide

biocide
Meaning
A chemical substance or microorganism intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, or exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism.
Example
Biocides help control pests and reduce the spread of diseases.
Les biocides aident à contrôler les ravageurs et à réduire la propagation des maladies.
C2 noun brəˈvɑː.dəʊ

bravado

un geste de courage ou de confiance qui n'est pas réel
Meaning
Show of courage or confidence that is not real.
Example
His bravado masked his nervousness before the performance.
Son bravado masquait son nervosité avant la performance.
C2 verb, noun /blæb/

blab

bavarder; divulguer un secret
Meaning
to talk too much or reveal secrets carelessly; excessive or foolish talk
Example
He accidentally blabbed the surprise to everyone.
Il a révélé la surprise par erreur.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪmˌstoʊn/

brimstone

soufre
Meaning
Sulfur, especially when considered as fiery and associated with hell or divine punishment.
Example
The preacher spoke of fire and brimstone to warn the congregation.
The preacher spoke of fire and brimstone to warn the congregation.
C2 verb /ˈbɒtənaɪz/

botanize

étudier les plantes
Meaning
to study plants in their natural environment
Example
They went to the forest to botanize during their vacation.
Ils sont allés dans la forêt pour étudier les plantes pendant leurs vacances.
C2 noun /ˈbɜːrdʒɪs/

burgess

citoyen de la ville
Meaning
A citizen of a town or borough with full rights of citizenship.
Example
In medieval times, a burgess had the right to vote and hold property.
Au Moyen Âge, un bourgeois avait le droit de voter et de posséder des biens.
C2 verb /bɪˈhuːv/

behoove

être nécessaire ou approprié pour que quelqu'un fasse quelque chose
Meaning
to be necessary, proper, or appropriate for someone to do
Example
It would behoove you to study before the exam.
Il serait approprié que tu étudies avant l'examen.
C2 verb /bɪˈleɪ/

belay

sécuriser une corde
Meaning
to secure a rope by winding it around an object; to stop or cancel an order (nautical/military use)
Example
The climber asked his partner to belay the rope tightly.
L'escaladeur a demandé à son partenaire de sécuriser la corde serrée.
C2 verb /bɪlk/

bilk

escroquer
Meaning
To cheat or defraud someone of money or rights.
Example
The scammer tried to bilk elderly people out of their savings.
L'escroc a essayé de soutirer de l'argent aux personnes âgées en leur volant leurs économies.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌmpʃəs/

bumptious

prétentieux
Meaning
Arrogantly self-assertive or conceited.
Example
The bumptious student interrupted the teacher several times.
L'étudiant prétentieux a interrompu le professeur plusieurs fois.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌsti/

busty

à forte poitrine
Meaning
having a large or full bust; describing a woman with a prominent chest
Example
The actress was often described as busty in fashion magazines.
L’actrice était souvent décrite comme à forte poitrine dans les magazines de mode.
C2 adjective /ˈbræsi/

brassy

tapageur
Meaning
loud and showy in a way that lacks good taste; resembling brass in color or sound
Example
She wore a brassy necklace that caught everyone’s attention.
Elle portait un collier tapageur qui attirait l'attention de tout le monde.
C2 verb /bɪˈɡaɪl/

beguile

charmer / séduire par la tromperie
Meaning
to charm or enchant someone, often in a deceptive way
Example
She beguiled the audience with her storytelling.
Elle a charmé l'auditoire avec ses récits.
C2 noun /bjuːt/

butte

butte
Meaning
an isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top, common in arid regions
Example
The travelers could see a tall butte rising in the desert.
Les voyageurs pouvaient voir une haute butte se dresser dans le désert.
C2 verb /bɪˈfuːl/

befool

tromper
Meaning
to deceive or trick someone into believing something false; to make someone appear foolish
Example
The scammer tried to befool innocent people with fake promises.
L'escroc a essayé de tromper des personnes innocentes avec de fausses promesses.
C2 noun /blɑːtʃ/

blotch

tache
Meaning
a large, irregular spot or stain, often on skin or fabric
Example
His shirt had a red blotch from the spilled juice.
Sa chemise avait une tache rouge due au jus renversé.
C2 noun /ˈbreɪziər/

Brazier

ouvrier en laiton
Meaning
a worker in brass; a portable container for burning charcoal or coal
Example
The brazier crafted beautiful brass ornaments.
L'ouvrier en laiton a fabriqué de magnifiques bijoux en laiton.
C2 adjective /ˈblaɪðsəm/

blithesome

joyeux
Meaning
cheerful, carefree, and full of joy
Example
She entered the room with a blithesome smile that lifted everyone's spirits.
Elle entra dans la pièce avec un sourire joyeux qui remonta le moral de tout le monde.
C2 noun /brəˈkeɪd/

brocade

tissu brodé
Meaning
a rich fabric woven with a raised pattern, often in gold or silver thread
Example
She wore a beautiful brocade dress to the wedding.
Elle portait une belle robe en brocart au mariage.
C2 adjective /bɪˈwɪtʃɪŋ/

bewitching

ensorcelant
Meaning
charming, enchanting, or captivating in a magical or irresistible way
Example
She wore a bewitching smile that captivated everyone in the room.
Elle portait un sourire ensorcelant qui a captivé tout le monde dans la pièce.
C2 noun /ˌbluː ˈblʌd/

Blue-blood

sang bleu
Meaning
a person of noble birth; aristocrat
Example
She came from a family of blue-bloods with centuries of royal heritage.
Elle venait d'une famille de sang bleu avec des siècles d'héritage royal.
C2 noun /ˌbrɪɡ.əˈdɪər/

brigadier

brigadier
Meaning
A military officer rank, usually commanding a brigade.
Example
The brigadier inspected the troops before the parade.
Le brigadier a inspecté les troupes avant le défilé.
C2 noun /ˈbæs.tərd tiːk/

Bastard teak

teck bâtard
Meaning
A flowering tree with bright orange-red flowers, also known as flame of the forest
Example
The bastard teak tree blooms with vibrant orange flowers in spring.
L'arbre de teck bâtard fleurit avec des fleurs orange vibrantes au printemps.
C2 verb /bɪˈtroʊð/

betroth

se fiancer
Meaning
To formally promise to marry someone; to engage.
Example
He was betrothed to the princess at a young age.
Il a été fiancé à la princesse à un jeune âge.
C2 noun /ˌbeɪt ˈnwɑːr/

bete noire

une chose détestée
Meaning
A person or thing that one particularly dislikes or fears.
Example
Grammar has always been his bete noire.
La grammaire a toujours été sa bête noire.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪz.ən.taɪn/ or /ˈbaɪ.zənˌtiːn/

byzantine

complexe
Meaning
Extremely complicated and detailed; relating to the Byzantine Empire or its style.
Example
The new tax regulations are so byzantine that few understand them.
Les nouvelles réglementations fiscales sont tellement complexes que peu de gens les comprennent.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪliəs/

bilious

bilieux
Meaning
Relating to bile or an ill-tempered, irritable disposition.
Example
He became bilious after hearing the unfair criticism.
Il est devenu bilieux après avoir entendu la critique injuste.
C2 noun /ˈbɔːbəl/

bauble

bibelot
Meaning
A small, decorative trinket or ornament, often of little value.
Example
She wore a shiny bauble around her neck.
Elle portait un bibelot brillant autour de son cou.
C2 noun /ˈbɛlfri/

belfry

clocher
Meaning
A bell tower, especially one attached to a church or building.
Example
The church belfry housed a large bronze bell.
Le clocher de l'église abritait une grande cloche en bronze.
C2 verb /bɪˈweɪl/

bewail

déplorer
Meaning
to express deep sorrow or regret over something; to mourn openly
Example
She bewailed the loss of her childhood home.
Elle a déploré la perte de sa maison d’enfance.
C2 noun /ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt/

billingsgate

langage grossier ou abusif
Meaning
Coarse or abusive language; vulgar or offensive speech.
Example
The heated argument quickly descended into billingsgate.
La discussion animée est rapidement descendue dans un langage grossier.
C2 adjective /ˈbiːstiəl/

bestial

bestial
Meaning
Relating to beasts; showing savagery, brutality, or lacking human sensibility.
Example
The prisoners were treated in a bestial manner.
Les prisonniers ont été traités de manière bestiale.
C2 noun /bɪˈtroʊðəl/

betrothal

fiançailles
Meaning
The formal engagement to be married.
Example
Their betrothal was announced to the whole village.
Leurs fiançailles ont été annoncées à tout le village.
C2 verb /bɪˈtaɪd/

betide

arriver
Meaning
to happen or occur, usually of something that befalls someone
Example
Woe betide anyone who breaks the rules.
Quiconque enfreint les règles, subira les conséquences.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪn.dʒəl/

Brinjal

aubergine
Meaning
a large purple vegetable that is white inside; also called eggplant
Example
My mother cooked brinjal curry for lunch.
Ma mère a cuisiné un curry d'aubergine pour le déjeuner.
C2 verb /bɪˈfɒɡ/

befog

embrouiller
Meaning
to confuse or make unclear; to cover with fog or mist
Example
His mind was befogged by exhaustion.
Son esprit était embrouillé par l'épuisement.
C2 verb /ˈbraʊˌbiːt/

browbeat

intimider / contraindre
Meaning
To intimidate or bully someone into doing something
Example
The lawyer tried to browbeat the witness.
L'avocat a essayé d'intimider le témoin.
C2 verb /ˈblændɪʃ/

blandish

flatter
Meaning
to flatter or coax someone with kind words or praise in order to influence them
Example
He blandished the officials with compliments to gain their support.
Il a flatté les responsables pour obtenir leur soutien.
C2 adjective /ˈbɛlɪˌkoʊs/

bellicose

belliqueux
Meaning
Showing a tendency to argue or fight; aggressive.
Example
His bellicose attitude often got him into unnecessary conflicts.
Son attitude belliqueuse le mettait souvent dans des conflits inutiles.
C2 verb /ˈbæstərdaɪz/

bastardize

dénaturer
Meaning
to corrupt or debase something by altering it from its original form; to change in a way that reduces quality or purity
Example
Critics argue that the remake bastardized the original novel.
Les critiques disent que le remake a dénaturé l’œuvre originale.
C2 verb /ˈbeɪɪŋ/

baying

aboyer
Meaning
making a loud, prolonged barking or howling sound, especially of dogs
Example
The baying of the hounds echoed through the forest.
Les aboiements des chiens résonnaient à travers la forêt.
C2 noun /blæk biː/

Black-bee

abeille noire
Meaning
a large dark-colored bee that makes a loud buzzing sound
Example
The black-bee was buzzing around the flowers in the garden.
L'abeille noire bourdonnait autour des fleurs dans le jardin.
C2 verb /bɪˈdaɪzən/

bedizen

orner de manière ostentatoire
Meaning
to dress up or decorate in a showy or tasteless way
Example
She was bedizened with cheap jewelry.
Elle était ornée de bijoux bon marché.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːrbərɪzəm/

Barbarism

barbarie
Meaning
extreme cruelty or brutality; absence of culture and civilization
Example
The barbarism of the war crimes shocked the entire international community.
Le barbarisme des crimes de guerre a choqué la communauté internationale.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪloʊɪŋ/

billowing

ondulant
Meaning
Describing something that swells or surges outward in waves or large masses.
Example
She walked through the billowing curtains.
Elle marcha à travers les rideaux ondulants.
C2 noun /ˈblʌfər/

bluffer

bluffeur
Meaning
a person who pretends to be more confident, skilled, or knowledgeable than they really are; someone who deceives others by bluffing
Example
Everyone eventually realized that he was just a bluffer with no real experience.
Tout le monde a compris qu’il était un simple bluffeur.
C2 noun /bəˈθɪm.ə.tri/

bathymetry

bathymétrie
Meaning
The measurement of depth of water in oceans, seas, or lakes.
Example
Bathymetry is essential for understanding oceanic topography.
La bathymétrie est essentielle pour comprendre la topographie océanique.
C2 noun /ˈbʊlwərk/

bulwark

rempart
Meaning
A strong wall or defensive structure; something that provides protection or support.
Example
The fortress walls served as a bulwark against enemy attacks.
Les murs du fort ont servi de rempart contre les attaques ennemies.
C2 noun /ˈbʊlrʌʃ/

bulrush

jonc
Meaning
A tall plant with long leaves that grows in or near water, also known as a cattail.
Example
The pond was surrounded by tall bulrushes swaying in the wind.
L'étang était entouré de hauts jonc swaying dans le vent.
C2 noun /bɪsk/

bisque

soupe de fruits de mer
Meaning
A rich, creamy soup made from shellfish.
Example
We ordered lobster bisque at the restaurant.
Nous avons commandé une bisque de homard au restaurant.
C2 adjective /blaɪð/

blithe

insouciant
Meaning
Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered improper or carefree happiness.
Example
She had a blithe disregard for the rules.
Elle avait un mépris insouciant pour les règles.
C2 adverb /ˈbruːskli/ or /ˈbrʌskli/

brusquely

brusquement
Meaning
in a blunt, abrupt, or rude manner
Example
She brusquely dismissed the suggestion.
Elle a rejeté la suggestion brusquement.
C2 verb /ˈblʌdʒən/

bludgeon

frapper avec un gourdin
Meaning
to hit someone with a heavy object; to force someone into doing something
Example
The guard was bludgeoned by the attacker in the alley.
Le garde a été frappé avec un gourdin par l'attaquant dans la ruelle.
C2 noun /ˌbræɡəˈdoʊʃioʊ/

braggadocio

comportement prétentieux
Meaning
boastful or arrogant behavior; empty boasting
Example
His endless braggadocio annoyed everyone at the party.
Son comportement prétentieux sans fin agaçait tout le monde à la fête.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪbjələs/

bibulous

ivrogne
Meaning
Excessively fond of drinking alcohol.
Example
His bibulous habits worried his family.
Ses habitudes ivrognes inquiétaient sa famille.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌlbəs/

bulbous

bulbeux / arrondi
Meaning
Bulging, round, or swollen in shape; resembling a bulb.
Example
The frog had a bulbous nose and big eyes.
La grenouille avait un nez bulbeux et de grands yeux.