bellicose
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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 noun /ˈbɪɡ.ə.mɪst/

bigamist

bigame
Meaning
A person who commits the crime of marrying someone while already married to another.
Example
The man was arrested for being a bigamist.
L'homme a été arrêté pour être un bigame.
C2 verb /ˈbækˌslaɪd/

backslide

rétrograder
Meaning
To relapse into bad habits, undesirable practices, or moral decline.
Example
After months of progress, he began to backslide into old habits.
Après des mois de progrès, il a commencé à revenir à ses anciennes habitudes.
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 /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 /bəˈfuːn/

buffoon

bouffon
Meaning
A ridiculous but amusing person; a clown or jester.
Example
He acted like a buffoon at the party, making everyone laugh.
Il a agi comme un bouffon à la fête, faisant rire tout le monde.
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 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 adjective /ˈbaɪ.fərˌkeɪ.tɪd/

bifurcated

divisé en deux parties
Meaning
Divided into two branches or parts.
Example
The river became bifurcated as it flowed around the island.
Le fleuve est devenu bifurqué en deux parties lorsqu'il a traversé l'île.
C2 verb /beɪst/

baste

verser ou badigeonner de la graisse fondue, du jus ou du liquide sur la viande pendant la cuisson pour la garder humide
Meaning
to pour or brush melted fat, juices, or liquid over meat during cooking to keep it moist
Example
She basted the turkey every 30 minutes to keep it juicy.
Elle a badigeonné la dinde toutes les 30 minutes pour la garder juteuse.
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 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 /ˈbɔːlsəm/

Balsam

fleur de baume
Meaning
a flowering plant with colorful blooms that often open in the evening; also refers to aromatic resin
Example
The garden balsam flowers bloomed beautifully in various shades of pink and purple.
Les fleurs de baume du jardin ont fleuri magnifiquement dans des nuances de rose et de violet.
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 verb /bɪˈliːɡər/

beleaguer

assiéger, harceler
Meaning
to cause difficulties, troubles, or harassment; to surround with military forces
Example
The company was beleaguered by constant complaints from its customers.
L'entreprise était assiégée par des plaintes constantes de ses clients.
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 noun /ˈbɔːl.səm ˈæp.əl/

Balsam apple

melon amer
Meaning
a bitter gourd vegetable with a bumpy green skin, also known as bitter melon
Example
Balsam apple is cooked with spices to reduce its bitter taste.
Le melon amer est cuit avec des épices pour réduire son goût amer.
C2 noun /ˈbæn.jən/

Banian

sous-vêtement sans manches
Meaning
a sleeveless undergarment worn next to the skin; vest
Example
He put on a cotton banian under his shirt.
Il a mis un banian en coton sous sa chemise.
C2 noun /ˌbɒmbərˈdɪər/

bombardier

bombardier
Meaning
a member of a bomber crew responsible for releasing bombs
Example
The bombardier released the bombs with precision.
Le bombardier a largué les bombes avec précision.
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 /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 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 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 noun /ˈbeɪleɪ/

Bele

poisson bele
Meaning
a type of freshwater fish found in South Asian rivers, known for its distinctive appearance
Example
The bele fish is commonly caught in the rivers of Bangladesh.
Le poisson bele est couramment pêché dans les rivières du Bangladesh.
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 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 /ˈbrɔːdˌsaɪd/

broadside

attaque violente
Meaning
a strong verbal attack or a sheet of paper printed on one side
Example
The politician launched a broadside against his opponent.
Le politicien a lancé une attaque violente contre son opposant.
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 /ˈbrɪndl̩d/

brindled

bringé
Meaning
Having a brownish or tawny color with streaks or spots of another color.
Example
The farmer owned a brindled cow with distinctive stripes.
L'agriculteur possédait une vache bringée avec des rayures distinctes.
C2 adjective /ˈboʊvaɪn/

bovine

lié au bétail
Meaning
relating to cattle; showing a dull or sluggish nature
Example
Her bovine expression revealed no emotions.
Son expression bovine n'a révélé aucune émotion.
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 /ˈbɒdɪs/

bodice

corsage
Meaning
the part of a woman's dress that covers the body from the neck to the waist
Example
She wore a dress with an embroidered bodice.
Elle portait une robe avec un corsage brodé.
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 noun /ˈbuːt.leɪs/

Boot-lace

lacet de botte
Meaning
a cord or string used to fasten a boot or shoe
Example
I need to tie my boot-lace before going for a walk.
Je dois attacher mon lacet de botte avant de partir en promenade.
C2 adjective /bjuːˈkɒlɪk/

bucolic

bucolique
Meaning
Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
Example
They enjoyed a bucolic picnic by the river.
Ils ont apprécié un pique-nique bucolique au bord de la rivière.
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 verb /blæsˈfiːm/

blaspheme

blasphémer
Meaning
to speak irreverently about God or sacred things
Example
He was accused of blaspheming during the heated argument.
Il a été accusé de blasphémer pendant la dispute intense.
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 /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 /bɪˈhoʊldən/

beholden

reconnaissant ou endetté
Meaning
indebted or obliged to someone for a service or help
Example
He felt beholden to his mentor for all the guidance.
Il se sentait reconnaissant envers son mentor pour toute l'orientation.
C2 noun /ˈbærəˌɡræf/

barograph

instrument qui enregistre les variations de pression atmosphérique
Meaning
an instrument that records changes in atmospheric pressure
Example
The scientist checked the barograph for pressure variations.
Le scientifique a vérifié le barographe pour les variations de pression.
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 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 noun /ˈbɛnɪsən/

benison

bénédiction
Meaning
A blessing or benefit.
Example
The rain was a benison for the drought-stricken farmers.
La pluie était une bénédiction pour les agriculteurs frappés par la sécheresse.
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 /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 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 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 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 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 verb /bɪˈteɪk/

betake

se rendre à; recourir à
Meaning
to go or resort to a place or course of action, especially as a response; to apply oneself
Example
After dinner, she betook herself to her room to read.
Après le dîner, elle se rendit dans sa chambre pour lire.
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 /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 /ˌbædɪˈnɑːʒ/

badinage

badinage, conversation plaisante
Meaning
Playful and humorous conversation; banter.
Example
The friends enjoyed a light badinage over coffee.
Les amis ont apprécié une légère badinage autour du café.
C2 noun /ˌbʌkəˈnɪər/

buccaneer

pirate
Meaning
a pirate, especially one active in the Caribbean during the 17th and 18th centuries
Example
The buccaneer sailed across the Caribbean in search of treasure.
Le pirate a navigué à travers les Caraïbes à la recherche de trésors.
C2 noun /bɒmˈbeɪ dʌk/

Bombay duck

poisson Bombay
Meaning
a type of lizardfish found in coastal waters, commonly eaten dried and salted in South Asia
Example
Bombay duck is a popular delicacy when dried and fried.
Le poisson Bombay est un mets populaire lorsqu'il est séché et frit.
C2 verb /ˈbætn/

batten

fixer
Meaning
To fasten or secure something tightly.
Example
They battened down the hatches before the storm.
Ils ont fixé les écoutilles avant la tempête.
C2 noun /ˈbloʊˌhɑrd/

blowhard

personne prétentieuse
Meaning
a person who brags a lot or talks in a boastful way
Example
Everyone avoided the blowhard at the party because he wouldn't stop bragging.
Tout le monde évitait le prétentieux à la fête car il n'arrêtait pas de se vanter.
C2 noun /bəˈlɛəroʊ/

bolero

boléro (une danse espagnole ou une veste courte ouverte à l'avant)
Meaning
A Spanish dance in slow triple time, or a short jacket open at the front.
Example
The dancers performed a passionate bolero at the festival.
Les danseurs ont exécuté un boléro passionné lors du festival.
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 /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 /ˌbɪbliəʊˈmeɪniə/

bibliomania

bibliomanie
Meaning
An extreme obsession with collecting or possessing books.
Example
His bibliomania led him to fill every room with books.
Sa bibliomanie l'a poussé à remplir chaque pièce de livres.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːr.nɪ.kəl/

Barnacle

balane
Meaning
a marine crustacean that attaches itself permanently to underwater surfaces
Example
The old ship's hull was covered with barnacles.
La coque du vieux navire était couverte de balanes.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪtɪˌsɪzəm/

briticism

mot ou caractéristique de l'anglais britannique
Meaning
a word, phrase, or characteristic feature of British English
Example
The word 'lorry' is a well-known Briticism.
Le mot 'lorry' est un briticisme bien connu.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːr.kəˌroʊl/

barcarole

barcarole
Meaning
a traditional Venetian boat song, often in 6/8 time
Example
The orchestra played a beautiful barcarole that reminded me of Venice.
L'orchestre a joué une belle barcarole qui m'a rappelé Venise.
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 verb /bɪˈtəʊkən/

betoken

présager
Meaning
to be a sign or indication of something
Example
Dark clouds betoken an approaching storm.
Les nuages sombres présagent une tempête qui approche.
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 verb /breɪz/

braze

braser
Meaning
To join two pieces of metal by heating and melting a filler metal into the joint.
Example
The mechanic brazed the broken pipe to fix the leak.
Le mécanicien a brasé le tuyau cassé pour réparer la fuite.
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 verb /bɪˈdɔːb/

bedaub

barbouiller
Meaning
to smear or cover with a sticky or dirty substance
Example
The children bedaubed the wall with paint.
Les enfants ont barbouillé le mur avec de la peinture.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌmblɪŋ/

bumbling

maladroit
Meaning
Acting in a clumsy, awkward, or confused way.
Example
The bumbling waiter spilled the drinks on the table.
Le serveur maladroit a renversé les boissons sur la table.
C2 verb /bɪˈθɪŋk/

bethink

se souvenir
Meaning
to cause oneself to consider or remember something
Example
He bethought himself of the promise he had made.
Il se souvint de la promesse qu'il avait faite.
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 /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 verb /bruːt/

bruit

répandre une rumeur
Meaning
to spread a rumor or report widely
Example
The scandal was quickly bruited about the town.
Le scandale s'est rapidement propagé dans la ville.
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 /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 adjective /ˈbɪbjələs/

bibulous

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

burgeon

croître rapidement
Meaning
To grow or develop rapidly; to flourish.
Example
The city's population began to burgeon after the new factory opened.
La population de la ville a commencé à croître rapidement après l'ouverture de la nouvelle usine.
C2 adjective /bruːsk/ or /brʌsk/

brusque

brusque
Meaning
abrupt or blunt in manner or speech, often seen as rude
Example
His brusque reply ended the conversation.
Sa réponse brusque a mis fin à la conversation.
C2 noun /ˈbɪvuˌæk/

bivouac

bivouac
Meaning
a temporary camp without tents or cover, usually used by soldiers or mountaineers
Example
The climbers set up a bivouac on the mountainside.
Les grimpeurs ont installé un bivouac sur le flanc de la montagne.
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 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 /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 /ˈbroʊmaɪd/

bromide

idée banale
Meaning
A trite or unoriginal idea or remark; also a chemical compound of bromine.
Example
His speech was full of old bromides about hard work.
Son discours était rempli de vieilles idées banales sur le travail acharné.
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 verb /bɪˈhuːvz/

behooves

il est nécessaire
Meaning
third person singular form of 'behoove'; means it is proper or necessary
Example
It behooves every citizen to follow the law.
Il est nécessaire que chaque citoyen suive la loi.
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 adjective /bɪˈfɒɡd/

befogged

confus, embrouillé
Meaning
Confused or clouded in mind; made unclear like being surrounded by fog.
Example
His mind felt befogged after the long and exhausting meeting.
Son esprit se sentait embrouillé après la longue réunion épuisante.
C2 noun /ˈbræɡərt/

braggart

vaniteux
Meaning
a person who boasts about achievements or possessions
Example
No one liked him because he was such a braggart.
Personne ne l'aimait car c'était un vaniteux.
C2 noun /ˈbɒmbæst/

bombast

langage pompeux
Meaning
speech or writing that is overly pompous and inflated
Example
His campaign speech was full of bombast but lacked real substance.
Son discours de campagne était rempli de bombast mais manquait de véritable substance.
C2 verb /ˈblækˌbɔːl/

blackball

exclure
Meaning
to exclude someone socially or vote against their membership in a group or club
Example
He was blackballed from the club after the controversy.
Il a été exclu du club après la controverse.
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 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 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 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 /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 noun /boʊl/

boll

capsule arrondie de graines (comme celles de coton ou de lin)
Meaning
The rounded seed capsule of plants such as cotton or flax.
Example
The farmer examined the cotton boll to check its quality.
L'agriculteur a examiné le bol de coton pour vérifier sa qualité.
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 /bɪˈdræɡəl/

bedraggle

rendre quelque chose mouillé, sale et en désordre en le traînant dans la boue ou l'eau
Meaning
to make something wet, dirty, and untidy by dragging it through mud or water
Example
The children came home bedraggled after playing in the rain.
Les enfants sont rentrés à la maison trempés et sales après avoir joué sous la pluie.
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 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 /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 /ˈbælæst/

ballast

ballast
Meaning
heavy material used to stabilize a ship or vehicle
Example
The ship was loaded with ballast to remain steady in the storm.
Le navire a été chargé de ballast pour rester stable dans la tempête.
C2 noun /ˈbroʊɡən/

brogan

chaussure lourde
Meaning
A heavy, sturdy shoe, often made of leather.
Example
The farmer wore old brogans while working in the field.
Le fermier portait de vieux brogans pendant qu'il travaillait dans le champ.
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 noun /bɪˈhiː.mɒθ/

behemoth

colosse
Meaning
Something enormous, especially a large and powerful organization.
Example
The company grew into a corporate behemoth.
L'entreprise est devenue un colosse corporatif.
C2 noun /ˈbʌt.ər fɪʃ/

Butter-fish

poisson beurre
Meaning
a small, smooth-skinned marine fish
Example
The butter-fish is popular in Bengali cuisine.
Le poisson beurre est populaire dans la cuisine bengalie.
C2 verb /bɪˈfɪt/

befit

convenir à
Meaning
to be suitable for; to be appropriate to
Example
Formal attire befits the seriousness of the occasion.
Une tenue formelle convient au sérieux de l’occasion.
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 noun /ˈblændɪʃmənt/

blandishment

flatterie
Meaning
flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently
Example
She used every blandishment to win his support.
Elle a utilisé toutes les flatteries pour gagner son soutien.
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 /ˈbriːzˌweɪ/

breezeway

passage couvert
Meaning
A roofed outdoor passage, often connecting two buildings.
Example
The breezeway connected the house to the garage.
Le passage couvert reliait la maison au garage.
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 adjective /ˈbrætɪʃ/

brattish

gâté
Meaning
acting like a spoiled child; behaving in an annoying, self-centered way
Example
The brattish boy threw a tantrum when he didn’t get his toy.
Le garçon gâté a fait une crise de colère lorsqu'il n'a pas eu son jouet.
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 /breɪ/

brae

versant
Meaning
A hillside or slope, especially in Scotland.
Example
They climbed up the grassy brae to see the sunset.
Ils ont grimpé la lisière herbeuse pour voir le coucher du soleil.
C2 noun /biˈætɪtjuːd/

beatitude

béatitude, une grande bénédiction ou bonheur, souvent en référence aux paroles de Jésus dans le Sermon sur la Montagne
Meaning
supreme blessedness or happiness, often used in reference to the sayings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount
Example
She felt a state of beatitude after receiving the good news.
Elle se sentait dans un état de béatitude après avoir reçu la bonne nouvelle.
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 verb /bɪˈwɪtʃ/

bewitch

envoûter
Meaning
to enchant or fascinate someone as if by magic
Example
The dancer's performance bewitched the audience.
La performance de la danseuse a enchanté le public.