12-letter words containing b, u, n
- backgrounded — Simple past tense and past participle of background.
- backgrounder — A backgrounder is a short article in a newspaper or magazine that provides background information about a particular subject.
- backsolution — The process or result of backsolving.
- badger skunk — hog-nosed skunk (def 1).
- badger-skunk — Also called badger skunk, rooter skunk. a large, naked-muzzled skunk, Conepatus mesoleucus, common in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, having a black coat with one broad white stripe down the back and tail.
- ball turning — the turning of arms or legs on furniture to make them resemble a continuous row of balls.
- banana shrub — a tall Chinese shrub, Michelia figo, of the magnolia family, having cream-yellow flowers with a reddish edge and a strong banana odor.
- banbury cake — a cake consisting of a pastry base filled with currants, raisins, candied peel, and sugar, with a crisscross pattern on the top
- banbury tart — a tart filled with a lemon-flavored mixture of currants, raisins, or the like.
- bank account — A bank account is an arrangement with a bank which allows you to keep your money in the bank and to take some out when you need it.
- bankruptcies — Plural form of bankruptcy.
- banner cloud — a plume-shaped cloud extending downwind from an isolated mountain peak. Also called cloud banner. Compare cap cloud (def 1).
- banquet room — A banquet room is a room in a hotel where large formal meals for many people can be held.
- barbados nut — an ornamental, tropical American tree, Jatropha curcas, of the spurge family, having ivylike leaves, small, yellow or greenish-yellow flowers, and olive-shaped fruit yielding a purgative, poisonous oil.
- barcalounger — a type of reclinable armchair with an extendable footrest
- bare-knuckle — without boxing gloves
- barium enema — an injection into the rectum of a preparation of barium sulphate, which is opaque to X-rays, before X-raying the lower alimentary canal
- barranquilla — a port in N Colombia, on the Magdalena River. Pop: 1 918 000 (2005 est)
- base bullion — smelted lead containing impurities, as gold, silver, or zinc, that are later removed.
- base jumping — a sport in which a participant parachutes from any of a variety of fixed objects such as high buildings, cliffs, etc
- basset hound — A basset hound is a dog with short strong legs, a long body, and long ears. It is kept as a pet or used for hunting.
- bathing suit — A bathing suit is a piece of clothing which people wear when they go swimming.
- battleground — A battleground is the same as a battlefield.
- bay of fundy — an inlet of the Atlantic in SE Canada, between S New Brunswick and W Nova Scotia: remarkable for its swift tides of up to 21 m (70 ft)
- 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.
- bean counter — You can describe people such as accountants and business managers as bean counters if you disapprove of them because you think they are only interested in money.
- bean sprouts — the sprouts of newly germinated mung beans, eaten as a vegetable, esp in Chinese dishes
- beardtongues — Plural form of beardtongue.
- bearskin rug — the pelt of a bear, used as a rug
- beat up (on) — to give a beating to; thrash
- beaumontague — a cement-like substance used to fill in and hide cracks and holes in woodwork and metalwork
- beauty queen — A beauty queen is a woman who has won a beauty contest.
- beauty salon — A beauty salon is the same as a beauty parlour.
- 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
- 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.
- beijing duck — a roasted duck prized for its crisp skin, prepared by forcing air between skin and meat, brushing with sugar water, and hanging up to dry before final cooking.
- 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.
- belly button — Your belly button is the small round thing in the centre of your stomach.
- 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
- benumbedness — the condition of being benumbed
- benzal group — the bivalent group C 7 H 6 –, derived from benzaldehyde.
- benzoquinone — a yellow crystalline water-soluble unsaturated ketone manufactured from aniline and used in the production of dyestuffs. Formula: C6H4O2
- benzyl group — the univalent group C 7 H 7 –, derived from toluene.
- bequeathment — to dispose of (personal property, especially money) by last will: She bequeathed her half of the company to her niece.
- beurre blanc — an emulsion of cold butter in a white wine or vinegar and shallot reduction