13-letter words containing a, b, t, e, r
- batch-process — to perform batch processing on (files)
- bathtub curve — Common term for the curve (resembling an end-to-end section of one of those claw-footed antique bathtubs) that describes the expected failure rate of electronics with time: initially high, dropping to near 0 for most of the system's lifetime, then rising again as it "tires out". See also burn-in period, infant mortality.
- baton twirler — someone who twirls a baton, esp a drum major or majorette
- battered wife — See under battered woman syndrome.
- battering ram — A battering ram is a long heavy piece of wood that is used to knock down the locked doors of buildings.
- battering-ram — an ancient military device with a heavy horizontal ram for battering down walls, gates, etc.
- batting order — the sequence in which hitters will bat in a given game, determined in advance by the team manager.
- battlecruiser — A large warship of a type built in the early 20th century, carrying similar armament to a battleship but faster and more lightly armored.
- battlegrounds — Plural form of battleground.
- beam splitter — a system that divides a beam of light, electrons, etc, into two or more paths
- bear the palm — to be the winner; take the prize
- bearing plate — a heavy metal plate for receiving and distributing concentrated weight, as from a column or one end of a truss.
- beast of prey — any animal that hunts other animals for food
- beat the drum — a musical percussion instrument consisting of a hollow, usually cylindrical, body covered at one or both ends with a tightly stretched membrane, or head, which is struck with the hand, a stick, or a pair of sticks, and typically produces a booming, tapping, or hollow sound.
- beauty editor — the person in charge of a section of newspaper or magazine devoted to cosmetics, etc
- beauty parlor — A beauty parlor is a place where women can go to have beauty treatments, for example, to have their hair, nails, or makeup done.
- beaux esprits — bel esprit
- beaux-esprits — plural of bel-esprit.
- beetlebrained — stupid
- behavioristic — the theory or doctrine that human or animal psychology can be accurately studied only through the examination and analysis of objectively observable and quantifiable behavioral events, in contrast with subjective mental states.
- beige toaster — Macintosh
- beleaguerment — a blockade or siege
- bench warrant — a warrant issued by a judge or court directing that an offender be apprehended
- benefit fraud — the illegal activity of claiming benefit payments which a person is not entitled to
- benito juarez — Benito (Pablo) [be-nee-taw pah-vlaw] /bɛˈni tɔ ˈpɑ vlɔ/ (Show IPA), 1806–72, president of Mexico 1857–72.
- benton harbor — a city in SW Michigan, on Lake Michigan.
- berber carpet — a type of plain coloured carpeting, usually cream, oatmeal or light brown
- berchtesgaden — a town in Germany, in SE Bavaria: site of the fortified mountain retreat of Adolf Hitler. Pop: 7667 (2003 est)
- bergamot mint — an aromatic herb, Mentha piperita citrata, having a lemonlike odor when crushed.
- bering strait — a strait between Alaska and Russia, connecting the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean
- best practice — Best practice is the way of running a business or providing a service that is recognized as correct or most effective.
- beta carotene — a yellowish form of carotene: a dietary deficiency of this is associated with a greater risk of certain cancers
- beta particle — a high-speed electron or positron emitted by a nucleus during radioactive decay or nuclear fission
- beta receptor — a receptor, found on the surface of some cells of the sympathetic nervous system, that is stimulated by certain adrenergic substances: such stimulation results in certain physiological responses, such as acceleration of the action of the heart and dilatation of the arteries supplying heart and skeletal muscles
- beta-carotene — the most abundant of various isomers of carotene, C 40 H 56 , that can be converted by the body to vitamin A.
- beta-receptor — a site on a cell, as of the heart, that, upon interaction with epinephrine or norepinephrine, controls heartbeat and heart contractability, vasodilation, smooth muscle inhibition, and other physiological processes.
- bethnal green — a former borough of London, England, N of the Thames.
- bias-ply tire — a vehicle tire in which the main plies or cords run across the bead.
- bibliothecary — a librarian
- bibliotherapy — the use of reading as therapy
- bidirectional — (of a printhead) capable of printing from left to right and from right to left
- big-heartedly — in a big-hearted manner
- binary system — a system involving only two elements, as 0 and 1 or yes and no.
- bioelectrical — relating to electrical current generated by biological activity
- birectangular — having two right angles.
- birth parents — a child's biological parents, regardless of whether they subsequently bring up the child
- birthday cake — a special cake eaten at a birthday party
- biscuit bread — biscuits or a biscuit: I like biscuit bread more than corn bread for supper.
- bitter almond — a variety of almond whose bitter seeds yield hydrocyanic acid upon hydrolysis
- bitter orange — a globose, reddish-yellow, bitter or sweet, edible citrus fruit.