baby [a newly born creature] Mary had a baby last night.
back [(1) the part behind the front; (2) the other way from forward] The writer's picture is on the back of the book. (1) She stopped walking away and looked back at me. (2) bad [(1) wrong; (2) acting against the law; (3) not good] Bill made a bad decision. (1) The prisoner was a bad man for most of his life. (2) The water was dirty and had a bad taste. (3) balance [to make two sides or forces equal] I balanced my budget by not spending more than I earned. ball [something round] The earth is shaped like a ball.
balloon [a device of strong, light material that rises when filled with gas lighter than air] Many hot air balloons race in New Mexico each year.
ballot [a piece of paper used for voting] I was asked to count the ballots and announce the winner.
ban [(1) to not permit; (2) to stop; (3) an official restriction] Running is banned at our swimming pool. (1) The curfew bans all night time travel. (2) The protestors called for a ban on smoking in public buildings. (3) bank [an organization that keeps and lends money] The man said he robbed banks because that is where the money is. bar [to prevent or block] He was barred from competing in the games because he used illegal drugs.
barrier [anything that blocks or makes an action difficult] The voting rights law removes most racial barriers to voting.
base [(1) a military center; (2) to establish as a fact] My brother is at a military training base. (1) Her research was based on experiments. (2) battle [a fight between opposing armed forces] Southern forces won the battle but lost the war. be [(1) to live; (2) to happen; (3) to exist] The man is very sick and will not be here much longer. (1) The wedding will be soon. (2) Washington, D.C., has been the capital for 200 years. (3) beat [to hit again and again] The prison guards denied they beat the prisoner. beauty [that which pleases the eye, ear or spirit] All fell silent at the beauty of the mountains.
because [for the reason that] He left because he was sick.
become [to come to be] When did he become sick?
bed [a sleeping place] The bed was so hard that I could not sleep.
before [earlier] Bill ate before he went to work.
begin [(1) to do the first part of an action; (2) to start] He began to laugh when he saw me. (1) A long walk begins with one step. (2) behind [(1) at the back of; (2) in back of] Our fastest runner was far behind the leader. (1) I live behind that hill. (2) believe [(1) to think; (2) to feel sure of; (3) to accept as true; (4) to trust] I believe it may rain tonight. (1) Jim believes his friend is a good writer. (2) The lawyer believed the suspect's statement. (3) We believe in God. (4) bell [an instrument that makes a musical sound] Jim says he likes the sound of a church bell. belong [(1) to be owned by; (2) to be a member of] That book belongs to my sister. (1) My brother belongs to the Boy Scouts. (2) below [lower than] The temperature outside is below freezing. best [the most good] All of our singers are good but Lisa is best.
betray [(1) to turn against; (2) to be false to] The spy betrayed his country. (1) The boy betrayed his mother's trust in him. (2) better [more good than] Zach is a better baseball player than Al. between [(1) in the space or time that separates; (2) from one to the other] I would like to meet with you between two and three o'clock. (1) Secret talks between the two nations produced an agreement. (2) big [(1) of great size; (2) not small] Texas is a big state. (1) Melissa was a big baby. (2) bill [a legislative proposal] To become law, a bill must be approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the President. biology [the scientific study of life or living things in all their forms] My school requires one year of study each of biology, physics and chemistry.
bird [a creature that flies] I watched the bird fly away until I could no longer see it.
bite [to cut with the teeth] My dog sounds aggressive but he will not bite you.
black [(1) dark; (2) having the color like that of the night sky] I first saw him on a black and stormy night. (1) The doctor arrived in a big black car. (2) blame [(1) to accuse; (2) to hold responsible] The police blamed him for the crime. (1) Don't blame me for your bad decision. (2) blanket [a cloth cover used to keep warm] The flood refugees needed food and warm blankets. bleed [to lose blood] Do you know how to stop your nose from bleeding?
blind [not able to see] Being blind did not keep him from becoming a famous singer.
block [(1) to stop something from being done; (2) to prevent movement] He blocked any attempt to become friends. (1) A truck accident blocked the road for an hour. (2) blood [red fluid in the body] A blood test is usually part of a yearly medical examination. blow [to move with force, as in air] The wind blows the autumn leaves.
blue [having the color like that of a clear sky] My son has blue eyes.
boat [something built to travel on water that carries people or goods] I like to fish from a boat.
body [(1) all of a person or animal; (2) the remains of a person or animal] Exercise can improve anyone's body. (1) Police found five bodies buried beneath the house. (2) boil [to heat a liquid until it becomes very hot] Boil one cup of water, add frozen vegetables and cook for five minutes. bomb [(1) a device that explodes with great force; (2) to attack or destroy with bombs] The bomb exploded outside the building. (1) The warplanes bombed enemy missile launchers. (2) bone [the hard material in the body] The girl broke a bone in her wrist when she fell. book [a long written work for reading] The professor has written six books about East Asia.
border [a dividing line between nations] Many new factories have been built across the border in Mexico.
(be) born [(1) to come to life; (2) to come into existence] When were you born? (1) The American Revolution was born in Massachusetts. (2) borrow [to take as a loan] The bank refused to let me borrow any more money. both [not just one of two, but the two together] Both of us were educated at the University of Virginia.
bottle [a container, usually made of glass, to hold liquid] He drank the last bottle of water.
bottom [the lowest part of something] The damaged submarine is still at the bottom of the ocean.
box [something to put things into] Put the old books in that box.
boy [a young male person] The boys played together after school.
boycott [to refuse to take part in or deal with] The farm workers union called for a boycott of vegetables picked by foreign workers.
brain [the control center of thought, emotions and body activity of all creatures] Scientists continue to discover new information about the chemistry of the brain.
brave [having no fear] Leaving home was a brave decision.
bread [a food made from grain] We have bread at every meal.
break [(1) to divide into parts by force; (2) to destroy] The glass broke into many pieces. (1) Years of hard work broke his health, but it did not break his spirit. (2) breathe [to take air into the body and let it out again] Breathe deeply before you begin your speech. bridge [a structure built over a waterway, valley or road so people and vehicles can cross from one side to the other] The city needs a new bridge across the river.
brief [(1) short; (2) not long] Many people wish to speak, so please keep your comments brief. (1) The car slowed down briefly, then speeded up. (2) bright [(1) giving much light; (2) strong and clear in color] Bright sunlight hurts my eyes. (1) The new grass is bright green. (2) bring [to come with something] Sam will bring Tracy to the party. broadcast [(1) to send information, stories or music by radio or television; (2) a radio or television program] VOA broadcasts the news in Special English. (1) The Special English broadcast can be heard almost everywhere. (2) brother [a male with the same father or mother as another person] I have three brothers, but no sisters. brown [having the color like that of coffee] Richard has brown hair and brown eyes.
budget [a spending plan] Congress decided to add money to the education budget.
build [to join materials together to make something] Tim plans to build a house for his dog.
building [anything built for use as a house, factory, office, school, store or place of entertainment] My office is in that building next to the hotel.
bullet [a small piece of metal shot from a gun] The bullet hit the exact center of the target.
burn [(1) to be on fire; (2) to destroy or damage by fire] The candles burned brightly enough for me to read the book. (1) The wildfire burned much of the forest. (2) burst [to break open suddenly] The dam burst and sent a wall of water rushing down the valley. bury [to put into the ground and cover with earth] Where do you think they buried the treasure?
bus [a public vehicle to carry people] Ride the A-17 bus to 4th and Independence Avenue.
business [(1) one's work; (2) buying and selling to earn money; (3) trade] My business is writing radio programs. (1) The Internet is creating many new markets for business. (2) I have done business with that company for many years. (3) busy [(1) doing something; (2) very active] Are you busy now? (1) George was very busy this morning with an emergency case. (2) but [(1) however; (2) other than; (3) yet] She knew who called but I did not know. (1) The boy ate nothing but candy. (2) Jean was tired but she could not get to sleep. (3) buy [to get by paying something, usually money] Where did Lila buy those great clothes? by [(1) near; at; (2) next to; (3) from ; (4) not later than] Please sit here by me. (1) They walked by the river. (2) They performed a play by William Shakespeare. (3) Her mother said that she had to be home by midnight. (4)
