13-letter words containing r, a, b
- binary search — (algorithm) A search algorithm which repeatedly divides an ordered search space in half according to how the required (key) value compares with the middle element. The following pseudo-C routine performs a binary search return the index of the element of vector "thing[first..last]" equal to "target": if (target < thing[first] || target > thing[last]) return NOT_FOUND; while (first < last) { mid = (first+last)/2; /* truncate to integer */ if (target == thing[mid]) return mid; if (target < thing[mid]) last = mid-1; else first = mid+1; } if (target == thing[last]) return last; return NOT_FOUND; (2003-01-14)
- binary system — a system involving only two elements, as 0 and 1 or yes and no.
- binary weapon — a chemical weapon consisting of a projectile containing two substances separately that mix to produce a lethal agent when the projectile is fired
- bio-autograph — an analytical technique in which organic compounds are separated by chromatography and identified by studying their effects on microorganisms.
- bioautography — an analytical technique in which organic compounds are separated by chromatography and identified by studying their effects on microorganisms.
- biobehavioral — of or relating to the application of biological methods and ideas to the study of behavior in an attempt to understand emotions and reactions in terms of brain and physiological function.
- biodegradable — Something that is biodegradable breaks down or decays naturally without any special scientific treatment, and can therefore be thrown away without causing pollution.
- bioelectrical — relating to electrical current generated by biological activity
- biogeographer — a person who is knowledgeable about biogeography
- biotic factor — a living thing, as an animal or plant, that influences or affects an ecosystem: How do humans affect other biotic factors? Weather is not a biotic factor because it is not alive.
- bipartisanism — the quality of being bipartisan
- bird of peace — a dove.
- bird-watching — Bird-watching is the activity of watching and studying wild birds in their natural surroundings.
- birectangular — having two right angles.
- birth parents — a child's biological parents, regardless of whether they subsequently bring up the child
- birthday bash — a birthday party
- birthday cake — a special cake eaten at a birthday party
- birthday card — a greeting card sent on someone's birthday
- birthday girl — the girl or woman whose birthday is being celebrated
- birthday suit — If you are in your birthday suit, you are not wearing any clothes.
- birthing ball — a large soft rubber ball used by women during childbirth to give support and to aid pain relief
- 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.
- black country — a district in the English Midlands, around Birmingham: so called from the soot and grime produced by the many local industries.
- black crappie — a dark, spotted crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
- black currant — the small, round, blackish, edible fruit of a widely cultivated shrub, Ribes nigrum, of the saxifrage family.
- black hickory — a species of smooth-barked hickory, Carya tomentosa, with fragrant foliage that turns bright yellow in autumn
- black margate — a grayish grunt, Anisotremus surinamensis, of the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Brazil.
- black mustard — a Eurasian plant, Brassica (or Sinapsis) nigra, with clusters of yellow flowers and pungent seeds from which the condiment mustard is made: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)
- black panther — (in the US) a member of a militant Black political party (1965–82) founded to end the political dominance of White people
- black quarter — blackleg (def 1).
- black russian — a drink made from one part coffee liqueur and two parts vodka, served over ice.
- black skimmer — a black and white New World skimmer, Rynchops nigra, having a bill with a reddish-orange base.
- black tracker — an Aboriginal tracker working for the police
- black treacle — molasses
- black vulture — the Eurasian vulture, Aegypius monachus, of the family Accipitridae
- black-hearted — evil, malicious, or wicked
- bladder senna — a Eurasian leguminous plant, Colutea arborescens, with yellow and red flowers and membranous inflated pods
- bladder wrack — any of various brown algae (genera Ascophyllum and Fucus), having a flattened body and conspicuous air bladders
- blair's babes — (in Britain) the female Members of Parliament elected as part of Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour government in 1997
- blame culture — the tendency to look for one person or organization that can be held responsible for a bad state of affairs, an accident, etc
- blamestorming — a discussion or meeting for the purpose of assigning blame.
- blanketflower — a hardy flowering plant, Gaillardia aristata, that grows in the US
- blarney stone — a stone in Blarney Castle, in the SW Republic of Ireland, said to endow whoever kisses it with the gift of the gab and skill in flattery
- blast furnace — A blast furnace is a large structure in which iron ore is heated under pressure so that it melts and the pure iron metal separates out and can be collected.
- blaze a trail — to explore new territories, areas of knowledge, etc, in such a way that others can follow
- blepharoplast — a cylindrical cytoplasmic body in protozoa
- blepharospasm — spasm of the muscle of the eyelids, causing the eyes to shut tightly, either as a response to painful stimuli or occurring as a form of dystonia
- block diagram — a diagram showing the interconnections between the parts of an industrial process