12-letter words containing a, b, i, n
- boudin blanc — a boiled sausage made with light-colored meat, as veal or chicken, and without blood
- bougainville — an island in the W Pacific, in Papua New Guinea: the largest of the Solomon Islands: unilaterally declared independence in 1990; occupied by government troops in 1992, and granted autonomy in 2001. Chief town: Kieta. Area: 10 049 sq km (3880 sq miles)
- boulangerite — a bluish lead-gray mineral, lead antimony sulfide, Pb 5 Sb 4 S 11 , a minor ore of lead.
- bowling ball — a round, heavy ball for bowling, usually made of hard rubber or plastic, with holes drilled into it for the bowler's thumb and two fingers.
- box magazine — a rectangular cartridge holder in a submachine or light machine gun.
- boxing match — a competition between two boxers
- brachycranic — having a cranial index of 81.0–85.4.
- bradykinesia — abnormal slowness of physical movement, esp as an effect of Parkinson's disease
- bradykinetic — slowness of movement, as found, for example, in Parkinson's disease.
- brain damage — If someone suffers brain damage, their brain is damaged by an illness or injury so that they cannot function normally.
- brain freeze — Also called ice-cream headache. a pain in the temples and forehead brought on by quickly consuming very cold food or drink.
- brain teaser — A brain teaser is a question, problem, or puzzle that is difficult to answer or solve, but is not serious or important.
- brain tumour — a tumour that is situated in the brain
- brain-picker — the act of obtaining information or ideas by questioning another person.
- brain-teaser — a puzzle or problem whose solution requires great ingenuity.
- brains trust — a group of knowledgeable people who discuss topics in public or on radio or television
- brainstormer — a person who brainstorms
- brainwashing — the process of brainwashing.
- brake lining — a curved thin strip of an asbestos composition riveted to a brake shoe to provide it with a renewable surface
- branch point — Electricity. a point in an electric network at which three or more conductors meet.
- braunschweig — Brunswick
- brazilianite — a mineral, sodium aluminum phosphate, Na 2 Al 6 P 4 O 16 (OH) 8 , occurring in yellow-green crystals with a vitreous luster: used as a gem.
- breadwinning — a person who earns a livelihood, especially one who also supports dependents.
- breakdancing — a type of vigorous dance
- breathtaking — If you say that something is breathtaking, you are emphasizing that it is extremely beautiful or amazing.
- brevipennate — (of flightless birds) short-winged
- brilliantine — a perfumed oil used to make the hair smooth and shiny
- bring action — to start a lawsuit
- bring around — If you bring someone around when they are unconscious, you make them become conscious again.
- bring to bay — to force into a position from which retreat is impossible
- brinkmanship — Brinkmanship is a method of behaviour, especially in politics, in which you deliberately get into dangerous situations which could result in disaster but which could also bring success.
- brisbane box — a broad-leaved evergreen tree, Tristania conferta, native to Australia, having a deciduous outer bark.
- broad-minded — If you describe someone as broad-minded, you approve of them because they are willing to accept types of behaviour which other people consider immoral.
- broadcasting — Broadcasting is the making and sending out of television and radio programmes.
- brown bag it — to bring (one's own liquor) to a restaurant or club, especially one that has no liquor license.
- buccaneering — If you describe someone as buccaneering, you mean that they enjoy being involved in risky or even dishonest activities, especially in order to make money.
- buccaneerish — of or relating to a buccaneer
- buccolingual — of or relating to the cheek and tongue.
- bud mutation — a variation produced by a genetic alteration in the bud such that the seeds produced by the resulting growth perpetuate the change in succeeding generations.
- buenos aires — the capital of Argentina, a major port and industrial city on the Río de la Plata estuary: became capital in 1880; university (1821). Pop: 13 349 000 (2005 est)
- bull-baiting — the setting of dogs on a chained or confined bull, formerly a popular pastime in England
- bullet train — a passenger train that travels at very high speed
- bumping race — (esp at Oxford and Cambridge) a race in which rowing eights start an equal distance one behind the other and each tries to bump the boat in front
- bunco artist — a confidence trickster or con artist
- bunny rabbit — rabbit
- buoyancy aid — a type of usually foam-filled lifejacket designed for use in sports such as canoeing
- burial mound — a barrow
- burkina faso — an inland republic in W Africa: dominated by Mossi kingdoms (10th–19th centuries); French protectorate established in 1896; became an independent republic in 1960; consists mainly of a flat savanna plateau. Official language: French; Mossi and other African languages also widely spoken. Religion: mostly animist, with a large Muslim minority. Currency: franc. Capital: Ouagadougou. Pop: 17 812 961 (2013 est). Area: 273 200 sq km (105 900 sq miles)
- burning ghat — a platform at the top of a riverside ghat where Hindus cremate their dead.
- burnt sienna — a reddish-brown dye or pigment obtained by roasting raw sienna in a furnace