12-letter words containing u, b, a, 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
- 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
- beleaguering — to surround with military forces.
- benzal group — the bivalent group C 7 H 6 –, derived from benzaldehyde.
- 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
- beurre manie — butterpaste.
- bhubaneshwar — a state in E India. 60,136 sq. mi. (155,752 sq. km). Capital: Bhubaneshwar.
- bifunctional — having two functions
- bilingualism — Bilingualism is the ability to speak two languages equally well.
- bilinguality — the ability to speak two languages fluently.
- binocularity — binocular characteristics
- bioturbation — the stirring of sediment by organisms
- birket karun — a lake in N Egypt. 25 miles (40 km) long; about 5 miles (8 km) wide; 90 sq. mi. (233 sq. km).
- black tongue — canine pellagra.
- black walnut — a North American walnut tree, Juglans nigra, with hard dark wood and edible oily nuts
- blackcurrant — In Europe, blackcurrants are a type of very small, dark purple fruits that grow in bunches on bushes.
- blank cheque — If someone is given a blank cheque, they are given the authority to spend as much money as they need or want.