bust
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B2 noun/verb /bʌst/

bust

Meaning
As a noun: A sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and chest; As a verb: To break, smash, or arrest.
Example
The police busted the gang last night.
B2 noun, verb /blæst/

blast

Meaning
a strong gust of wind, an explosion, or a loud sound; to destroy or shatter by explosion
Example
The explosion sent a powerful blast through the building.
C2 noun /boʊl/

boll

Meaning
The rounded seed capsule of plants such as cotton or flax.
Example
The farmer examined the cotton boll to check its quality.
C2 verb /ˈbætn/

batten

Meaning
To fasten or secure something tightly.
Example
They battened down the hatches before the storm.
A2 noun /ˈbæskɪtbɔːl/

basketball

Meaning
a game played by two teams who try to score points by throwing a ball through a hoop
Example
He loves playing basketball with his friends.
C2 adjective /ˈblɪŋkəd/

blinkered

Meaning
Having a limited or narrow outlook; unable or unwilling to consider other perspectives.
Example
His blinkered attitude stopped him from seeing the bigger picture.
C2 adjective /ˈboʊvaɪn/

bovine

Meaning
relating to cattle; showing a dull or sluggish nature
Example
Her bovine expression revealed no emotions.
B1 adjective /brɔːd/

Broad

Meaning
wide; extensive; covering a large area
Example
The river is very broad at this point.
B2 noun ˈbaɪ.əʊˌfjuː.əl

biofuel

Meaning
A fuel derived immediately from living matter, as opposed to fossil fuels derived from long-dead biological matter.
Example
Biofuels reduce dependence on conventional energy sources.
B2 noun /ˈbɛərɪŋ/

bearing

Meaning
a person's way of standing or moving; relevance or connection to something
Example
Her calm bearing impressed everyone in the room.
B2 noun /ˈbærəl/

barrel

Meaning
a large cylindrical container used to hold liquids
Example
The wine was stored in a wooden barrel.
C2 adjective /bəˈθɛt.ɪk/

bathetic

Meaning
displaying insincere or trivial emotion; producing an unintended ridiculous effect through sudden change from serious to silly
Example
The movie's ending was unintentionally bathetic rather than tragic.
C2 noun /ˈbɒnəmi/

bonhomie

Meaning
Cheerful friendliness and geniality.
Example
The meeting was filled with laughter and bonhomie.
A2 phrasal verb /bæk ʌp/

back up

Meaning
to support or help someone; to make a copy of data for safety; to move backward
Example
Please back up your files before updating the system.
C2 adjective /baɪˈɛniəl/

biennial

Meaning
happening every two years
Example
The biennial festival attracts thousands of visitors.
C1 adjective /bəˈlɪdʒ.ər.ənt/

belligerent

Meaning
Hostile and aggressive, ready to fight or argue.
Example
His belligerent attitude often leads to conflicts.
B1 noun /bʌɡ/

Bug

Meaning
a small insect; a defect in a computer program
Example
I found a bug crawling on my bed sheets.
B2 verb baɪnd

bind

Meaning
To tie, fasten, or hold together securely.
Example
This force binds quarks together.
C1 noun /ˈbrɛvɪti/

brevity

Meaning
Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.
Example
The brevity of the speech kept the audience engaged.
A1 adverb /bɪˈhaɪnd/

Behind

Meaning
at the back of; following; lagging
Example
The car behind us was honking.
A1 noun /bred/

Bread

Meaning
a food made from flour, water, and yeast mixed together and baked
Example
She bought fresh bread from the bakery.
C1 adjective /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/

Biting

Meaning
extremely cold; sharply critical or harsh
Example
The biting cold made everyone shiver.
C2 adjective /bruːsk/ or /brʌsk/

brusque

Meaning
abrupt or blunt in manner or speech, often seen as rude
Example
His brusque reply ended the conversation.
B2 verb /ˈbɔɪkɑt/

boycott

Meaning
to refuse to buy, use, or participate in something as a protest
Example
They decided to boycott the company's products.
B2 noun/verb /ˈbrækɪt/

bracket

Meaning
A support attached to a wall for holding something; also, to group things together.
Example
The shelf was held up by a strong metal bracket.
A2 noun /boʊl/

Bowl

Meaning
a round, deep dish or basin used for food or liquid
Example
She served the soup in a large ceramic bowl.
B2 noun /ˈbʊlɪt/

Bullet

Meaning
a metal projectile fired from a gun
Example
The bullet missed its target and hit the wall.
C1 verb /bɒtʃ/

botch

Meaning
to carry out a task badly or carelessly
Example
He completely botched the repair job.
B2 adjective /bliːk/

bleak

Meaning
cold, miserable, or without hope
Example
The future seemed bleak after the economic downturn.
B2 noun /baɪˈɒɡrəfi/

Biography

Meaning
an account of someone's life written by someone else; the story of a person's life
Example
I'm reading a fascinating biography of Albert Einstein.
A2 noun ˈbæl.əns

balance

Meaning
A condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.
Example
Balance among powers prevents conflicts.
C2 noun /bleɪn/

Blain

Meaning
an inflammatory swelling or sore on the skin; a blister or pustule
Example
The doctor examined the blain on his arm.
B2 noun /ˈbrɔːdˌkæstər/

broadcaster

Meaning
a person or organization that transmits a broadcast program.
Example
The broadcaster aired the match live to millions of viewers.
C2 verb /breɪz/

braze

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.
A1 adjective, adverb, verb /ˈbɛtər/

better

Meaning
of a more excellent or effective type or quality; to surpass or improve
Example
He felt better after taking the medicine.
A2 verb /bit/

beat

Meaning
to strike repeatedly; to defeat; to pulsate rhythmically
Example
Our team will beat theirs in the final match.
B2 noun /ˈbɪʃəp/

bishop

Meaning
a senior member of the Christian clergy, usually in charge of a diocese and empowered to confer holy orders.
Example
The bishop delivered a powerful sermon during Sunday service.
C2 noun /ˈbɔːl.səm ˈæp.əl/

Balsam apple

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.
A1 noun /bʌs/

Bus

Meaning
a large motor vehicle carrying passengers by road
Example
I take the bus to work every morning.
B2 noun /ˈbɒdiɡɑːrd/

bodyguard

Meaning
a person employed to protect someone from harm
Example
The celebrity arrived with her bodyguard.
C2 verb /bɪˈtəʊkən/

betoken

Meaning
to be a sign or indication of something
Example
Dark clouds betoken an approaching storm.
C1 adjective /bɪˈnaɪn/

benign

Meaning
Gentle, kind, or not harmful (especially of a disease or tumor).
Example
The doctor assured her that the tumor was benign.
B2 noun /ˈblʌn.dər/

blunder

Meaning
A stupid or careless mistake; a serious error in judgment.
Example
His blunder cost the company a fortune.
C2 adjective /ˈbɑː.bər.əs/

Barbarous

Meaning
extremely cruel; uncivilized; savage
Example
The barbarous treatment of prisoners was condemned by human rights organizations.
C2 verb /boʊd/

bode

Meaning
to be an omen of a particular outcome, often something bad
Example
The dark clouds bode a heavy storm.
C1 verb, noun /ˈbrɪsəl/

bristle

Meaning
to react angrily or defensively; a short stiff hair or fiber
Example
The cat bristled when it saw the dog.
A1 noun /breɪk/

break

Meaning
A pause in work or during an activity or event.
Example
Short breaks refresh your mind.
C2 adjective /ˈbɒni/

Bonny

Meaning
cheerful; pretty; attractive
Example
The bonny child played happily in the garden.
B2 noun /ˈbɒtəni/

botany

Meaning
the scientific study of plants
Example
She is studying botany at the university.
B2 noun /ˈbʌn.dəl/

Bundle

Meaning
a collection of things or quantity of material tied or wrapped up together
Example
The mailman delivered a bundle of letters to our house.
B2 noun /bʌlk/

Bulk

Meaning
the mass or size of something large; the greater part or majority of something
Example
The bulk of the work was completed before the deadline.
A1 noun, verb /bʊk/

book

Meaning
A set of written, printed, or blank pages fastened together; to arrange for someone to have a seat, room, or ticket in advance.
Example
I booked a table at the restaurant for dinner.
C2 noun /ˈbriːtʃɪz/

Breeckes

Meaning
knee-length trousers; short pants
Example
He wore riding breeches for the equestrian event.
B2 verb /ˈbjuːtɪfaɪ/

beautify

Meaning
to make something more beautiful or attractive
Example
The city plans to beautify the old park with trees and lights.
A2 noun /brɪdʒ/

Bridge

Meaning
a structure carrying a road, path, railway, etc. across a river, road, or other obstacle
Example
The old stone bridge has connected the two towns for over a century.
B2 noun, verb /bluːm/

bloom

Meaning
to produce flowers; to develop or flourish; a flower or the state of flowering
Example
The roses bloom beautifully every spring.
C1 verb /bɪˈsɛt/

beset

Meaning
to trouble, harass, or attack on all sides
Example
The village was beset by constant floods.
C2 noun /ˈbɛlfri/

belfry

Meaning
A bell tower, especially one attached to a church or building.
Example
The church belfry housed a large bronze bell.
B2 adverb /ˈbəʊld.li/

Boldly

Meaning
in a confident and brave way; without fear
Example
She boldly stepped forward to face the challenge.
B2 noun ˈbluː.prɪnt

blueprint

Meaning
A detailed plan or framework for a work or project, a pre-planned structure.
Example
The architect presented a blueprint for the new building.
C2 noun /ˌbræɡəˈdoʊʃioʊ/

braggadocio

Meaning
boastful or arrogant behavior; empty boasting
Example
His endless braggadocio annoyed everyone at the party.
C2 noun /ˈbɔːlsəm/

Balsam

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.
A2 adjective /braɪt/

Bright

Meaning
giving out or reflecting much light; vivid in color
Example
The artist used bright colors in her painting.
B2 noun /bɑnd/

Bond

Meaning
a close connection joining two or more people; a certificate of debt issued by a government or corporation
Example
The strong bond between the mother and child was evident.
C1 noun /ˈbʊl.ək/

Bullock

Meaning
a young bull; a castrated bull used for farm work
Example
The farmer used a bullock to plow the field.
A2 verb /bɪld/

build

Meaning
to make something by putting materials together; to construct
Example
They will build a new school in our neighborhood.
A1 noun /ˈbɔɪˌfrɛnd/

boyfriend

Meaning
a man or boy that someone is having a romantic or close relationship with
Example
She introduced her boyfriend to her parents.
B2 noun /biːm/

beam

Meaning
a ray or shaft of light; a long piece of wood or metal used to support weight
Example
A beam of sunlight entered through the window.
B1 noun /bæŋ/

Bang

Meaning
a sudden loud noise; a hard blow or hit
Example
The door closed with a loud bang that woke everyone up.
B1 noun /broʊˈʃʊr/

brochure

Meaning
a small booklet or pamphlet containing information or advertising
Example
The travel agent gave us a brochure about the holiday package.
B1 noun /ˈbɜː.nɪŋ/

burning

Meaning
The process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (typically) smoke.
Example
Burning garbage exacerbates air pollution.
B2 verb /ˈbætər/

batter

Meaning
To strike repeatedly with force.
Example
The waves battered the shoreline all night.
C2 noun /ˈblændɪʃmənt/

blandishment

Meaning
flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently
Example
She used every blandishment to win his support.
C1 noun /ˈbɜːrθraɪt/

birthright

Meaning
A privilege or possession that a person has from birth.
Example
Freedom is considered a birthright of every individual.
C2 noun /bel ˈæp.əl/

Bell apple

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.
B1 noun /bɪˈheɪ.vjər/

Behaviour

Meaning
the way a person or animal acts or conducts themselves
Example
His behaviour at the meeting was very professional.
C1 adjective /ˈbeɪs.ləs/

Baseless

Meaning
without foundation; groundless; unfounded
Example
The accusations against him were completely baseless.
B1 noun /blæk ˈber.i/

Black berry

Meaning
a small dark purple or black fruit that grows on bushes
Example
We picked fresh blackberries from the garden for our pie.
A2 noun /brɪk/

brick

Meaning
A rectangular block of clay or similar material used in building walls and other structures.
Example
The workers laid brick after brick to build the wall.
A2 adjective /ˈbrɪtɪʃ/

british

Meaning
relating to Great Britain or its people
Example
She loves British culture and traditions.
A2 noun /bɪər/

beer

Meaning
An alcoholic drink made from yeast-fermented malt flavored with hops.
Example
He ordered a glass of cold beer at the bar.
C1 adjective /ˈbaʊn.tɪ.fəl/

bountiful

Meaning
Large in quantity; abundant; generous in giving.
Example
The farmer was grateful for the bountiful harvest.
A1 verb /bɪˈliːv/

believe

Meaning
to think that something is true; to have faith in
Example
I believe in hard work and dedication.
B2 noun /biːk/

Beak

Meaning
the hard pointed part of a bird's mouth
Example
The eagle has a sharp beak for tearing meat.
B2 noun /ˈbrɔːd.bænd/

broadband

Meaning
a high-capacity transmission technique using a wide range of frequencies.
Example
Broadband internet has become a necessity in modern homes.
B1 noun /ˈbɒksər/

boxer

Meaning
a person who fights in the sport of boxing; a type of short loose-fitting underwear; a breed of medium-to-large dog
Example
The boxer trained hard every morning before the championship match.
A1 adjective /ˈbɔːrɪŋ/

boring

Meaning
not interesting or exciting; dull.
Example
The lecture was so boring that several students fell asleep.
C1 noun /ˈblʌd.ʃed/

Bloodshed

Meaning
the killing or wounding of people, typically in large numbers during a conflict
Example
The peace treaty was signed to prevent further bloodshed.
C1 noun /ˌbɪbliˈɒɡrəfi/

bibliography

Meaning
a list of books, articles, or other sources used or referred to in scholarly work
Example
The report includes a detailed bibliography at the end.
B1 noun /brif/

Brief

Meaning
a concise statement of the facts; a set of instructions given to a person about a job or task
Example
The lawyer received a detailed brief about the upcoming court case.
C2 noun /bɛl/

belle

Meaning
A beautiful woman, especially the most attractive woman at a gathering.
Example
She was the belle of the ball that evening.
B1 verb /breɪk/

brake

Meaning
to slow down or stop a vehicle by applying a brake
Example
He braked suddenly to avoid hitting the dog.
A2 noun /bel/

Bell

Meaning
a hollow metal device that makes a ringing sound when struck
Example
The church bell rang at noon.
B2 noun /ˈbriː.ðɪŋ tɛkˌniːks/

breathing techniques

Meaning
Methods of controlling breathing to achieve relaxation and improve health.
Example
Breathing techniques help in reducing stress and anxiety.
C2 adjective /blaɪð/

blithe

Meaning
Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered improper or carefree happiness.
Example
She had a blithe disregard for the rules.
A2 noun/verb /ˈbʌdʒɪt/

budget

Meaning
An estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time; to plan expenses and income.
Example
The family created a budget to manage their expenses.
C1 verb /ˈbæbəl/

babble

Meaning
to talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish way
Example
The baby babbles all day long.
B2 noun ˈbɪz.nɪs ˈfaɪ.næns

business finance

Meaning
The area of finance that deals with sources of funding and the capital structure of corporations.
Example
Effective business finance enhances profitability.
C1 noun /ˈbærɪstər/

barrister

Meaning
A type of lawyer in certain legal systems who specializes in courtroom advocacy and litigation.
Example
The barrister argued the case passionately before the judge.
A2 noun /biːn/

Bean

Meaning
an edible seed, typically kidney-shaped, growing in long pods on certain leguminous plants
Example
We planted green beans in our vegetable garden this spring.
B1 noun /ˈbæŋkər/

banker

Meaning
a person who works in or manages a bank
Example
The banker approved the loan after reviewing the documents.
C1 noun /bəˈrɒmɪtər/

barometer

Meaning
an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure
Example
The barometer indicated a storm was approaching.
C1 noun /blaɪt/

blight

Meaning
A disease or condition that causes plants to wither; something that spoils or damages.
Example
The drought was a blight on the farmer’s crops.
B2 noun /bɪtʃ/

Bitch

Meaning
a female dog; an unpleasant or spiteful woman (offensive)
Example
The bitch gave birth to five puppies.
B2 noun, verb /bɒb/

bob

Meaning
a short sudden movement up and down; to move quickly up and down
Example
The small boat began to bob on the waves.
C2 verb /bɪˈfɒɡ/

befog

Meaning
to confuse or make unclear; to cover with fog or mist
Example
His mind was befogged by exhaustion.
B1 noun /ˈbeɪsɪs/

basis

Meaning
the underlying support or foundation for an idea, argument, or process
Example
Trust is the basis of any strong relationship.
C2 verb /bɪˈhuːvz/

behooves

Meaning
third person singular form of 'behoove'; means it is proper or necessary
Example
It behooves every citizen to follow the law.
B1 noun /ˈbæɡɪdʒ/

Baggage

Meaning
suitcases and bags containing personal belongings; past experiences or problems that affect behavior
Example
Please collect your baggage from the conveyor belt at the airport.
B2 noun /briz/

Breeze

Meaning
a gentle wind; something that is achieved with ease
Example
The cool ocean breeze made the hot summer day more pleasant.
B2 verb /blɜːr/

blur

Meaning
to make something unclear or difficult to see
Example
Tears blurred her vision.
B2 noun ˈbaɪ.əs

bias

Meaning
Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
Example
The judge must remain free from bias.
B2 noun /biːd/

Bead

Meaning
a small round object with a hole through it for threading
Example
She made a necklace with colorful beads.
A2 noun /ˈbeɪsˌbɔːl/

baseball

Meaning
a sport in which two teams try to score runs by hitting a ball and running around bases
Example
He loves watching baseball games on TV.
C2 noun /bɪˈtroʊðəl/

betrothal

Meaning
The formal engagement to be married.
Example
Their betrothal was announced to the whole village.
C2 adjective /bɪˈfɒɡd/

befogged

Meaning
Confused or clouded in mind; made unclear like being surrounded by fog.
Example
His mind felt befogged after the long and exhausting meeting.
C1 noun /ˈbænɪstər/

banister

Meaning
a railing supported by posts at the side of a staircase or balcony
Example
She held the banister tightly while going down the stairs.
A1 conjunction /bɪˈkɔːz/

because

Meaning
for the reason that; since
Example
He stayed home because it was raining.
C2 adverb /ˈbruːskli/ or /ˈbrʌskli/

brusquely

Meaning
in a blunt, abrupt, or rude manner
Example
She brusquely dismissed the suggestion.
B2 verb /bɪˈwɛər/

beware

Meaning
to be cautious or alert about a potential danger or problem
Example
Beware of the dog near the gate.
C1 adjective/verb /ˈbæntərɪŋ/

bantering

Meaning
characterized by good-humored teasing or joking
Example
They had a bantering conversation at the café.