A band that passes over the back of a horse and holds up the shafts of a carriage.
backbend
backbend
noun
(gymnastics, dance) A move in which the performer bends backwards until the hands touch the floor or catches him/herself with the hands.
verb
To perform such a move.
backbends
backbends
noun
plural of backbend
backberand
backberend
backboned
backboned
adj
Having a spine.
backbrand
backdating
backdating
noun
The act by which something is backdated.
verb
present participle of backdate
backdown
backdown
noun
An act of backing down; a retraction or withdrawal.
backdropping
backdropping
verb
present participle of backdrop
backened
backfriend
backfriend
noun
(UK, dialectal) A friend at one's back; a backer; one who does his best for another; a supporter.
(UK, dialectal) A hangnail.
(UK, dialectal, obsolete) A false friend; a secret enemy.
background
background
adj
Less important or less noticeable in a scene or system.
noun
(computing) A type of activity on a computer that is not normally visible to the user.
(computing) The image or color over which a computer's desktop items are shown (e.g. icons or application windows).
(physics) Clipping of background radiation.
A less important feature of scenery (as opposed to foreground).
A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.
Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.
One's social heritage, or previous life; what one did in the past.
verb
(journalism) To gather and provide background information (on).
To put in a position that is not prominent.
simple past tense and past participle of backgrind
backgrounded
backgrounded
adj
(computing) (of a task) Made non-interactive
Moved to the background
verb
simple past tense and past participle of background
backgrounder
backgrounder
noun
(chiefly US) A briefing or document typically provided prior to a meeting or other event that gives basic details on subjects that are likely to be mentioned.
A cattle farmer or rancher who runs a backgrounding operation.
A person employed to draw backgrounds for a comic or cartoon.
backgrounds
backgrounds
noun
plural of background
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of background
backhand
backhand
adj
(ice hockey) Of a play that uses the back side of the hockey stick
(of handwriting) Slanting to the left.
(of strokes or throws) In the backhand style
noun
(Ultimate Frisbee) the standard throw; a throw during which the disc begins on the off-hand side and travels across the chest to be released from the opposite side.
(surfing) the hand towards the back of the board.
(tennis) a stroke made across the chest from the off-hand side to the racquet hand side; a stroke during which the back of the hand faces the shot.
Handwriting that leans to the left
The reverse side of the human hand.
verb
to execute a backhand stroke or throw
to slap with the back of one's hand
backhanded
backhanded
adj
(of writing) inclining to the left
Backwards, turned around.
Indirect.
Insincere, sarcastic, ironic, or self-contradictory.
Involving a backward flip of the hand.
Retrospective, occurring after the fact rather than in advance.
Self-serving, corrupt, slipshod, or neglectful.
With the back of the hand.
adv
In a backhanded manner.
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backhand
backhandedly
backhandedness
backhandedness
noun
(of writing) Leftward slant.
Backwardness of direction.
Deceit or neglect.
Indirection.
Insincerity, irony, or sarcasm.
The use of a backward flip of the hand.
backhander
backhander
noun
(informal) A bribe, a secret payment.
(racquet sports) A player who plays a backhand shot.
(racquet sports) A shot played backhand, a backhand stroke.
(surfing) A surfer who approaches a swell with the wave behind them ("on their backhand") rather than facing the wave ("on their forehand").
A blow with the back of the hand.
A glass of wine given out of turn, the bottle having been handed backwards.
backhanders
backhanders
noun
plural of backhander
backhanding
backhanding
verb
present participle of backhand
backhands
backhands
noun
plural of backhand
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backhand
backland
backland
noun
Land that lies behind or beyond some primary settlement or development.
backlands
backlands
noun
plural of backland
backliding
backloading
backloading
noun
(transport) The transportation of cargo or shipment on a return trip, using the space already paid for and used for the outward leg.
verb
present participle of backload
backpedaling
backpedaling
noun
The act of distancing oneself from a previously supported idea, action, behaviour, etc.; a U-turn or flip-flop.
verb
(US) present participle of backpedal
backslidden
backslidden
verb
past participle of backslide
backsliding
backsliding
adj
sliding back
noun
An occasion on which one backslides, especially in a moral sense.
verb
present participle of backslide
backslidingness
backswording
backswording
noun
Sport or exercise using a backsword or singlestick.
backswordman
backswordman
noun
(historical) One who fights with a backsword or singlestick.
backswordmen
backswordmen
noun
plural of backswordman
backswordsman
backtender
backwardation
backwardation
noun
(obsolete) In the London Stock Exchange: a fee paid by a seller on settlement day either to the buyer or to a third party who lends stock, when the seller wishes to defer settlement until the next settlement day.
In full normal backwardation: the situation in a futures market where the price for future delivery of a commodity (the forward price) is lower than the price for immediate delivery (the spot price) or nearer delivery, generally arising from a near-term shortage of the commodity.
The situation in a stock market where the offer price for stock is lower than the bid price.
backwardness
backwardness
noun
Reluctance.
The state of being backward.
backwardnesses
backwardnesses
noun
plural of backwardness
backwind
backwind
noun
(nautical) The flow of air so deflected
verb
(nautical) To deflect air into the back of a sail or of a vessel
(transitive) To wind backwards.
backwinded
backwinding
backwinding
verb
present participle of backwind
backwoodsiness
backwoodsiness
noun
The quality of being backwoodsy.
backwoodsman
backwoodsman
noun
(informal, UK politics) A Peer who is seldom present in the House of Lords of the United Kingdom Parliament, who may be encouraged to attend when a very important vote is expected.
A person who is acclimated to living in a forest area that is far removed from civilization or modern conveniences.
An uncivilized person.
backwoodsmen
backwoodsmen
noun
plural of backwoodsman
badakhshan
badakhshan
Proper noun
A region comprising parts of what is now northeastern Afghanistan and southeastern Tajikistan.
A province of Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province.
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province, or Kūhistoni Badakhshon, a province of Tajikistan.
baedekerian
baekeland
bakunda
baldakin
balkanised
balkanised
verb
simple past tense and past participle of balkanise
balkanized
balkanized
verb
simple past tense and past participle of balkanize
bandaka
bandaranaike
bandhook
bandikai
bandkeramik
bandwork
bandwork
noun
(art) Decorative work resembling interlaced bands.
bankcard
bankcard
noun
A card that a bank issues used by the cardholder in the course of authorization to receive bank services.
bankcards
bankcards
noun
plural of bankcard
banked
banked
adj
Of a cheque, deposited in a bank.
Piled high.
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bank
bankerdom
bankerdom
noun
The world of bankers and finance.
bankhead
bankrider
bankrolled
bankrolled
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bankroll
bankrupted
bankrupted
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bankrupt
bankside
bankside
noun
The land by a riverbank.
banksides
banksides
noun
plural of bankside
bankweed
bareknuckled
barenecked
barenecked
adj
Having the neck bare.
barkbound
barkbound
adj
Prevented from growing, by having the bark too firm or close.
barkened
barkened
verb
simple past tense and past participle of barken
baronduki
baudekin
baudekins
baudekins
noun
plural of baudekin
bedarken
bedarken
verb
To make dim, or to darken, or obscure.
bedarkened
bedarkened
adj
Dim, dark, or obscure
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bedarken
bedarkening
bedarkening
verb
present participle of bedarken
bedarkens
bedarkens
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of bedarken
bedmaking
bedmaking
noun
The skill or act of making beds (arranging the sheets, etc.).
benchmarked
benchmarked
verb
simple past tense and past participle of benchmark
benedikta
bepranked
bethanked
bethanked
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bethank
birkenhead
birkenhead
Proper noun
An English topographic surname
Either of F. E. Smith, Frederick Smith or Frederick Smith the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Earls of Birkenhead
the town itself.
birkeniidae
blackband
blackband
noun
(mineralogy) An earthy carbonate of iron containing considerable carbonaceous matter, valuable as an iron ore.
blackbirding
blackbirding
noun
(UK, Australia) The practice of kidnapping Pacific Islanders, or kanakas, for sale as cheap labour.
verb
present participle of blackbird
blackened
blackened
adj
(food) Synonym of charred.
(steel) Synonym of blued.
Darkened to the point of appearing black; as:
verb
simple past tense and past participle of blacken
blackhander
blackhanders
blackhanders
noun
plural of blackhander
blackheartedness
blackheartedness
noun
The state or quality of being blackhearted; villainy.
blackland
blackland
noun
The land making up the Texas Blackland Prairies, a temperate grassland ecoregion in Texas with rich, dark soil.
blankard
blanked
blanked
adj
(euphemistic, dated) damned; accursed (from the euphemistic printed form d—d)
In a state of blankness.
verb
simple past tense and past participle of blank
blanketed
blanketed
verb
simple past tense and past participle of blanket
blanketweed
blanketweed
noun
a filamentous alga often found in ponds
blankminded
blankmindedness
blinkard
blinkard
noun
(obsolete) One with bad eyes.
A dim-witted or stupid person; an idiot.
blinkards
blinkards
noun
plural of blinkard
blockaderunning
blockading
blockading
verb
present participle of blockade
blockheadedness
blockheadedness
noun
The state or condition of being blockheaded.
blockheadishness
bodanzky
bodicemaking
bodymaking
bookland
bookland
noun
(Anglo-Saxon) In Anglo-Saxon society, land held by charter or written title, free from all fief, fee, service, and/or fines. Such was formerly held chiefly by the nobility and denominated freeholders.
bookstand
bookstand
noun
A rack for holding books; a bookrack.
A small stall where books are sold.
A stand, made for holding books open.
borodankov
brackened
brackenridge
bradykinesia
bradykinesia
noun
(medicine) Slowness of movement.
bradykinesis
bradykinesis
noun
Alternative form of bradykinesia
bradykinetic
bradykinetic
adj
Of, pertaining to, or exhibiting bradykinesia
bradykinin
bradykinin
noun
(biochemistry) A compound released in the blood in some circumstances which causes contraction of smooth muscle and dilation of blood vessels. It is a peptide with nine amino-acid residues.
bradykinins
bradykinins
noun
plural of bradykinin
bradyteleokinesis
brakehand
breadmaking
breadmaking
noun
The making of bread.
breakdown
breakdown
noun
(US) Any rapid bluegrass dance tune, especially featuring a five-string banjo.
(US, dated) A noisy, rapid, shuffling dance engaged in competitively by a number of persons or pairs in succession, common in traditional African American music from the Southern United States.
(US, dated) Any noisy dance performed by shuffling the feet, usually by one person at a time.
(chemistry) Breaking of chemical bonds within a compound to produce simpler compounds or elements.
(film, television) A detailed description of a forthcoming project, including the characters and roles required.
(music) The percussion break of songs chosen by a DJ for use in hip-hop music.
(physics) The sudden transition of an electrical insulator to a conductor when subjected to a sufficiently strong voltage, caused by the partial or complete ionization of the insulator.
(sports) A loss of organization (of the parts of a system).
A failure, particularly mechanical in nature.
A musical technique by which the music is stripped down, becoming simpler, varying in heaviness depending on the genre.
A physical collapse or lapse of mental stability.
Listing, division or categorization in great detail.
Something that has experienced a mechanical failure.
breakdowns
breakdowns
noun
plural of breakdown
breakwind
breakwind
noun
(Australia, New Zealand) A windbreak.
bridgemaking
brokenhearted
brokenhearted
adj
Grieved and disappointed, especially with the loss of a beloved person or thing, such as the repudiation of a romantic relationship.
brokenheartedly
brokenheartedly
adv
In a brokenhearted manner.
brokenheartedness
brokenheartedness
noun
The quality of being brokenhearted.
brookeland
brookland
brooklandville
brooktondale
buckland
bucklandite
bulkheading
bulkheading
noun
bulkheads in general
bunchbacked
bundelkhand
bunkload
burkundauze
burkundauze
noun
Alternative form of burkundaz
burkundaz
burkundaz
noun
(India, now historical) An armed guard or watchman.
cankerbird
checkerboarding
checkerboarding
noun
(computer graphics) Synonym of checkerboard rendering
verb
present participle of checkerboard
chickenbreasted
clydebank
clydebank
Proper noun
a town on the north side of the River in council area, Scotland
cockabondy
cockabondy
noun
(fishing, dated) An angler's artificial fly.
codbank
codbank
noun
A region of relatively shallow seawater where cod are fished for
counterblockade
counterblockade
noun
A blockade set up in opposition to another blockade.
counterblockades
counterblockades
noun
plural of counterblockade
crackbrained
crackbrained
adj
Idiotic.
crackbrainedness
crackbrainedness
noun
The quality of being crackbrained; idiocy.
crankbird
crankbird
noun
(dialect, dated) A small European woodpecker (Picus minor).