12-letter words containing u, b, o
- 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.
- balsamaceous — any of various fragrant exudations from certain trees, especially trees of the genus Commiphora, as balm-of-Gilead. Compare balm (def 1).
- 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.
- 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
- bardolatrous — relating to or characterized by bardolatry
- barge couple — either of a pair of outside rafters along the gable end of a roof
- barge course — the overhang of the gable end of a roof
- barium oxide — a white or yellowish-white poisonous heavy powder used esp as a dehydrating agent. Formula: BaO
- barquisimeto — a city in NW Venezuela. Pop: 1 009 000 (2005 est)
- barratrously — In a barratrous manner.
- base bullion — smelted lead containing impurities, as gold, silver, or zinc, that are later removed.
- bashi-bazouk — a member of the notoriously brutal 19th-cent. Turkish irregulars
- bashibazouks — Plural form of bashibazouk.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- be queer for — to have a strong liking for; be obsessed with
- 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.
- beat up (on) — to give a beating to; thrash
- beaufort sea — part of the Arctic Ocean off the N coast of North America
- beaumontague — a cement-like substance used to fill in and hide cracks and holes in woodwork and metalwork
- beauty salon — A beauty salon is the same as a beauty parlour.
- 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
- behaviourism — Behaviourism is the belief held by some psychologists that the only valid method of studying the psychology of people or animals is to observe how they behave.
- bell housing — A bell housing is a bell-shaped extension of an engine crankcase, that contains the flywheel and the clutch.
- 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.
- below ground — If something is below ground or below the ground, it is in the ground.
- 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.
- beurre fondu — melted butter.
- beyond doubt — You say that something is beyond doubt or beyond reasonable doubt when you are certain that it is true and it cannot be contradicted or disproved.
- bibliotheque — a library.
- bifunctional — having two functions
- big-sounding — meant to be impressive in scale
- billow cloud — a cloud consisting of broad, parallel bands oriented perpendicularly to the wind.