12-letter words containing b, l, u
- ballet suite — music written for a ballet but suitable or arranged for performance in an orchestral concert.
- balsamaceous — any of various fragrant exudations from certain trees, especially trees of the genus Commiphora, as balm-of-Gilead. Compare balm (def 1).
- baluchithere — a hornless rhinoceros of the extinct genus Baluchitherium that inhabited central Asia during the Oligocene and early Miocene epochs: the largest land mammal known.
- banner cloud — a plume-shaped cloud extending downwind from an isolated mountain peak. Also called cloud banner. Compare cap cloud (def 1).
- barcalounger — a type of reclinable armchair with an extendable footrest
- bardolatrous — relating to or characterized by bardolatry
- bare-knuckle — without boxing gloves
- barge couple — either of a pair of outside rafters along the gable end of a roof
- barley sugar — Barley sugar is a sweet made from boiled sugar.
- barranquilla — a port in N Colombia, on the Magdalena River. Pop: 1 918 000 (2005 est)
- barratrously — In a barratrous manner.
- barrel vault — a vault in the form of a half cylinder
- base bullion — smelted lead containing impurities, as gold, silver, or zinc, that are later removed.
- bastel house — (on the Anglo-Scottish border) a partly fortified house, usually with a vaulted ground floor.
- bathophilous — (of an organism) living in very deep water
- battle group — a group of warships usually consisting of at least one aircraft carrier, other surface ships, submarines, landing craft, etc
- battleground — A battleground is the same as a battlefield.
- bayonet bulb — an electric light bulb which is inserted into the socket against spring pressure and turned so that pins on its side engage in slots in the socket
- be no slouch — If you say that someone is no slouch at a particular activity, you mean that they are skilful at it or are willing to work hard at it.
- beautifulest — (dated) Most beautiful; more beautiful than anyone or anything else.
- beautifuller — (obsolete) Comparative form of beautiful.
- beauty salon — A beauty salon is the same as a beauty parlour.
- beauty sleep — sleep, esp sleep before midnight
- bechuanaland — former British territory (1884-1966) in S Africa: now the country of Botswana
- bed moulding — a moulding in an entablature between the corona and the frieze
- beer parlour — a room in a tavern, hotel, etc in which beer is served
- befuddlement — to confuse, as with glib statements or arguments: politicians befuddling the public with campaign promises.
- begrudgingly — If you do something begrudgingly, you do it unwillingly.
- beleaguering — to surround with military forces.
- bell housing — A bell housing is a bell-shaped extension of an engine crankcase, that contains the flywheel and the clutch.
- bella figura — a good impression; fine appearance
- belle epoque — the period of comfortable well-established life in Europe before World War I
- belleau wood — a forest in N France: site of a battle (1918) in which the US Marines halted a German advance on Paris
- belly button — Your belly button is the small round thing in the centre of your stomach.
- belly-buster — belly flop.
- below ground — If something is below ground or below the ground, it is in the ground.
- benefit club — a club whose members enjoy certain benefits, such as reduced prices for travel or sporting events
- benzal group — the bivalent group C 7 H 6 –, derived from benzaldehyde.
- benzyl group — the univalent group C 7 H 7 –, derived from toluene.
- bequeathable — capable of being given to or bequeathed
- bermuda lily — a lily, Lilium longiflorum eximium, having white, funnel-shaped flowers, cultivated especially as an Easter lily.
- beurre blanc — an emulsion of cold butter in a white wine or vinegar and shallot reduction
- bevel square — a woodworker's square with an adjustable arm that can be set to mark out an angle or to check the slope of a surface
- bi-quarterly — occurring twice in each quarter of a year.
- biarticulate — having two joints, as the antennae of certain insects.
- biauriculate — having two auricles or earlike parts
- bibb lettuce — a type of butterhead lettuce, formed in loose heads of very crisp, dark-green leaves
- bibliotheque — a library.
- bicycle pump — a hand pump for pumping air into the tyres of a bicycle
- bifunctional — having two functions