GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR DICTIONARY

Elements of the Dictionary

BThe symbol for the element boron.--------------------------- symbol entry

Ba The symbol for the element barium.

B.A. abbr. An abbreviation of Bachelor of Arts.
entry word----------- backward (bak'word) adj. 1. In the direction of the rear: a backward glance; a backward tumble. 2. Less

advanced than others, as in economic or social progress: backward technology, -adv. or back«wards
definition________ (bak'wordz). 1. To or toward the back or rear: He kept glancing backward to see who was coming. 2. With the

back or rear first: With its hind legs a toad can dig its way into the ground backward. 3. In reverse order or

direction: count backward from 100. 4. Toward a worse condition: As prices rise, poor people slip backward. ♦

idiom-

• bend over backward, lo make an effort greater than is required: They bent over backward to be fair, know backward and forward or backwards and forwards. To know sthg. very well or perfectly: We know the play backward and forward.

bad (bad) adj. worse (wtirs), worst (wiirst). 1. Being below an acceptable standard; poor: a bad book; a bad painter. 2. Evil or wicked: a bad man. 3. Disobedient; naughty: bad behavior. 4. Unfavorable: bad luck; bad weather. 5. Disagreeable or unpleasant: a bad odor; bad news. 6. Incorrect; improper: a bad choice of words. 7.

Not working properly; defective: a bad telephone connection, -n. [U] Something bad: You must learn to accep
the bad with the good. ♦ not half bador not so bad.Informal. Reasonably good: That meal was not half bad.
too bad. Regrettable; unfortunate: It's too bad you can't come along, -bad'ness n. [U]--------------------------------------

Usage: badYou should avoid using badas an adverb. Instead of We need water bad, use We need water badly. Instead of My tooth hurt bad, use My tooth hurt badly

Homonyms: bad, bade (past of bid).__________________________________________

baUliS'tics (ba lTs'ttks) n. |U] (used with a singular verb). The scientific study of the characteristics of

projectiles, such as bullets or missiles, and the way they move in flight. baUloon^- (ba loon') n. 1. A large flexible bag filled with helium, hot air, or some other gas^frat is lighter than the surrounding air and designed to rise and float in the atmos­phere, often with a gondola or scientific instruments. 2. A small brightly colored rubber or plastic bag that is inflated and used as a toy. 3. A rounded or irregularly shaped outline containing the words that a character in a cartoon is represented to be saying, -intr.v. 1. To swell out like a baloon: The tire ballooned as it was inflated with air. 2. To ride in a gon­dola suspended from a balloon: scenic ballooning over the town.

bar'i«Uffl--- <"har'e am orhar'r am) n. [I J] Symhnl.Ha A soft, silvery-white, metallic ele- balloon

ment that occurs only in combination with other elements. Barium compounds are used Hot-air balloons

in making pigments and safety matches. Atomic number 56. See table at element. —---------------------------------------

be-qin (bT gin') v. be«gan (bi gan'), begun (bT gun'), be»gin«ning, be»gins. -intr. 1. To take the first

step in doing sthg.; start; commence: We began with the kitchen and cleaned the whole house. 2. To come into

being; originate: Education begins at home. 3. To accomplish in the least way; come near: The little bit of -paint won't begin to cover the ceiling, -tr. 1. To start doing (sthg.): If we begin our work now, we'll have time to

enjoy ourselves later. 2. To bring (sthg.) into being; originate: The owner's grandfather began the newspaper

many years ago. 3. To come first in (sthg.): The letter A begins the alphabet.

be* sides(bT si[mc]dz') adv. In addition; also: We had dinner and a late-night snack besides, -prep. In addi-
_tion to: Demists do other things besides drilling cavities. —See Note at together.----------------------------------------

Synonyms: besides, too, also, likewise, furthermore.These adverbs mean in addition to sthg. else. Besidesoften introduces sthg. that reinforces what has gone before it: We don't feel like cooking; besides, there is no food in the house. Toois the most casual, used in every­day speech: If you're going to the library today, I'd like to go too. Alsois more formal than too:My brother is usually very friendly, but he is also capable of holding a grudge. Likewiseis even more formal: Their parents were likewise attending the ceremony. Furthermoreoften stresses the clause following it as more important than the clause before it: / don't want you to go to that place; furthermore, I forbid it.

-bio— or bi- pref A prefix that means: 1. Life or living organism: biography. 2. Biology or biological: bio­
physics. ___

Word Building: bio-The prefix bio-means "life." When used to form words in English, bio-generally refers to living organisms or to biology, the science of living organisms. Many of the words that begin with bio-, such as bioethicsand biotechnology,have only come into being in the 20th century. Sometimes before an o bio-becomes bi-: biopsy.

Status label_____ breath«er (bte'thsr) n. Informal. A short period of rest: After this chore, let's take a breather.

sense number

uncountable

label

uncountable label

homonyms

- table cross-reference

Note cross-reference

Word Building Note

Essential Academic Vocabulary

Study the preceding dictionary page. Choose the sentences.

1. A synonym for besides is_____

a. next to

b. beside

c. furthermore

2. Bad is a(n)______

a. adverb

b. adjective

c. verb

3. The symbol for the element barium is______

a. B

b. Ba

c. B.A.

4. The prefix bio- means______

a. two

b. again

c. life

5. The word breather is used______

a. in informal situations

b. in formal situations

c. rarely

6. The verb begin is______

a. transitive

b. intransitive

c. both transitive and intransitive

7. The opposite of backward is______

a. ballistics

b. forward

c. start

8. Breather rhymes with______

a. leather

b. father

c. freezer

9. Begin, commence, and start are_____

a. antonyms

b. synonyms

c. homonyms

ord or phrase that completes each of the following

10. Balloon is a_____

a. verb

b. noun

c. verb and a noun

11. Ballistics takes a____

a. singular verb

b. plural verb

c. passive verb

12. Not half bad means_____

a. excellent

b. terrible

c. fairly good

13. The word with the most syllables is----------

a. backward

b. besides

c. barium

14. Bend over backward is a(n)_____

a. idiom

b. part of speech

c. definition

15. The adjective bad has_____

a. 1 meaning

b. 7 meanings

c. 11 meanings

16. Badness has_____

a. three syllables

b. no plural form

c. two meanings

17. B.A. isa(n)______

a. abbreviation

b. symbol

c. caption

18. The word biotechnology includes a_____

a. verb

b. plural form

c. prefix

Appendix II

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1271