12-letter words starting with b
- basing point — a geographical location from which freight charges are computed by the seller regardless of the point from which the goods are shipped.
- basis weight — the weight in pounds of a ream of paper of a basic size, usually 25 × 38 inches (63 × 96 cm) for book stock, 17 × 22 inches (43 × 55 cm) for writing stock, and 20 × 26 inches (50 × 66 cm) for cover stock.
- basket catch — a catch made with open glove with the palm up and the wrist kept close to and in front of the body.
- basket chair — a chair made of wickerwork; a wicker chair
- basket maker — a member of an early Native American people of the southwestern US, preceding the Pueblo people, known for skill in basket-making
- basket weave — a weave of fabrics resembling the weave used in basket making
- basketballer — (informal) A basketball player; a person who plays basketball.
- basketmaking — The construction of baskets, especially by traditional means.
- basketweaver — a person who advocates simple, natural, and unsophisticated living
- basmati rice — a variety of long-grain rice with slender aromatic grains, used for savoury dishes
- basque shirt — a knitted pullover shirt having a crew neck, long or short sleeves, and a pattern of horizontal stripes.
- basse-taille — of or relating to an enameling technique in which transparent enamels are fused over a background carved in low relief, or to a piece, as of jewelry, so enameled.
- basses-alpes — former name of Alpes-de-Haute Provence.
- 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.
- basset table — a card table of the early 18th century in England.
- bastard file — a file of the commercial grade of coarseness between coarse and second-cut.
- bastard wing — a tuft of feathers attached to the first digit of a bird, distinct from the wing feathers attached to the other digits and the ulna
- bastardizing — Present participle of bastardize.
- bastardsword — Alternative spelling of bastard sword.
- bastel house — (on the Anglo-Scottish border) a partly fortified house, usually with a vaulted ground floor.
- bastille day — (in France) an annual holiday on July 14, commemorating the fall of the Bastille
- bastinadoing — Present participle of bastinado.
- bat printing — ornamenting of ceramics by means of an adhesive substance, as linseed oil, transferred onto the ceramic surface from a sheet of glue or gelatin, dusted with color, and fired.
- bated breath — to moderate or restrain: unable to bate our enthusiasm.
- bathetically — in a bathetic fashion
- bathing suit — A bathing suit is a piece of clothing which people wear when they go swimming.
- bathing wrap — a loose robe to wear after bathing, often made of towelling
- bathmophobia — The fear of stairs and slopes.
- bathochromic — denoting or relating to a shift to a longer wavelength in the absorption spectrum of a compound
- bathophilous — (of an organism) living in very deep water
- bathtub race — a sailing race between bathtubs fitted with outboard motors
- bathygraphic — of or relating to the depths of the ocean
- bathypelagic — of, relating to, or inhabiting the lower depths of the ocean between approximately 1000 and 4000 metres
- bathyscaphes — Plural form of bathyscaphe.
- bathyspheres — Plural form of bathysphere.
- baton charge — A baton charge is an attacking forward movement made by a large group of policemen carrying batons.
- batten plate — (in structural design) a horizontal rectangular plate that is used to connect pairs of steel sections by being riveted or welded across them to form a composite section
- batter board — (at a building site) one of a number of boards set horizontally to support strings for outlining the foundation plan of a building.
- batter brace — a diagonal brace reinforcing one end of a truss.
- batter bread — spoon bread.
- batter's box — box1 (def 16a).
- battery acid — acid used in batteries, esp car batteries
- battery farm — a farm that uses batteries for raising poultry
- battery fire — the firing of a battery of weapons
- battery-park — The, a park at the S end of Manhattan, in New York City.
- batting cage — a screen with three sides and a top, in which batters practice: it keeps missed and fouled pitches within its enclosure
- battle array — the strategic arrangement of fighters and weapons in a battle
- battle clasp — clasp (def 4).
- battle creek — a city in S Michigan.
- battle dress — military field uniform and accouterments, generally camouflaged and stripped of all ornamentation.