Word List 5 Flashcards
bewilder
to cause to lose one’s bearings
to perplex or confuse especially by a complexity, variety, or multitude of objects or considerations
e.g. The change in policy seems to have bewildered many of our customers.
bibliophile
a lover of books especially for qualities of format; also a book collector
e.g. For bibliophiles, no electronic device could possibly give the tactile pleasure of a beautifully bound book.
bicker
to engage in a petulant or petty quarrel
e.g. bickering over money
bifurcate
to (also cause to) divide into two branches or parts
e.g. The stream bifurcated into two narrow winding channels.
bifurcate a beam of light
coalesce
to grow together
to unite into a whole, fuse; to unite for a common end
to arise from the combination of distinct elements
e.g. a group of young reformers who gradually coalesced into a political movement
An organized and a popular resistance immediately coalesced.
bigotry
the state of mind of a bigot
acts or beliefs characteristic of a bigot
e.g. A deeply ingrained bigotry prevented her from even considering the counterarguments.
bile
a yellow or greenish viscid alkaline fluid secreted by the liver
inclination to anger; acrimony, vitriol
e.g. With considerable bile, the author recounts a childhood filled with misery and loneliness.
bilk
to block the free development of; frustrate
to cheat out of something valuable; defraud
to evade payment of or to
to slip away from
e.g. Fate bilks their hopes.
An investigation revealed that the garage had been bilking motorists for repairs that had never been made.
to bilk his creditors
She bilked her pursuers.
billowy
similar to wave, especially a great wave or surge of water
resembling a rolling mass (as of flame or smoke)
biped
a two-footed animal
podiatry
the medical care and treatment of the human foot
bit
the biting or cutting edge or part of a tool
blanch
to bleach
to make ashen or pale
e.g. She blanched and remained silent when the store owner accused her of taking the money.
bland
dull, insipid
smooth and soothing in manner or quality
exhibiting no personal concern or embarrassment; unperturbed
e.g. The diplomat’s bland statement did nothing to calm the situation.
bland soup
blandish
to coax with flattery; cajole
to act or speak in a flattering or coaxing manner
e.g. They blandished her into doing their work for them by complimenting her shamelessly.
blatant
noisy especially in a vulgar or offensive manner; clamorous
completely obvious, conspicuous, or obtrusive especially in a crass or offensive manner; brazen
e.g. a blatant clamor for the impeachment of the scandal-plagued governor
blatant disregard for the rules
blatter
to talk noisily and fast
blazon
armorial bearings ostentatious display to publish widely; proclaim to pain or depict with accurate details display, adorn
e.g. Their public canoodling has pretty much blazoned the fact that they are having an affair.
The city’s waterfront has been blazoned with banners celebrating the festival of tall ships.
bleak
exposed and barren and often windswept
cold, raw; lacking in warmth, life, or kindliness; grim
not hopeful or encouraging; depressing
severely simple or austere
e.g. a bleak November evening
a bleak outlook for the team for the rest of the season
blemish
to spoil by a flaw
a noticeable imperfection, especially one that seriously impairs appearance
e.g. The incident blemished his reputation.
The book fails to mention any of the organization’s many blemishes.
blight
a disease or injury of plans marked by the formation of lesions, withering, and deaths of parts
something that frustrates plans or hopes
to damage
e.g. The expanding urban sprawl is a blight on the countryside.
Builders blighted the land with malls and parking lots.
blithe
of a happy lighthearted character or disposition
lacking due thought or consideration; casual, heedless
e.g. a blithe spirit
He showed blithe disregard for the rights of others.
blotch
to mark or mar with blotches
imperfection, blemish
a spot or mark (as of color or ink) especially when large and irregular
e.g. He blotched the bedroom walls with various shades of blue to give them a textured effect.
a dog with a single small blotch of black
blowhard
braggart
windbag, an exhaustively talkative person
e.g. a politician who is the stereotypical backslapping blowhard
blue
depressed, melancholy
blueprint
photographic print of building plans
detailed plan
blunder
to move unsteadily or confusedly
to make a mistake (in) through stupidity, ignorance, or carelessness
e.g. We blundered along through the woods until we finally found the trail.
The government blundered by not acting sooner.
blunt
slow or deficient in feeling; insensitive
obtuse in understanding or discernment; dull
having an edge or point that is not sharp
abrupt in speech or manner; being straight to the point; direct
e.g. a blunt instrument
He was blunt about needing more space.
hone
to sharpen or smooth with a whetstone
to make more acute, intense, or effective; whet
e.g. to hone one’s skills
whet
to sharpen by rubbing on or with something (as a stone)
to make keen or more acute; excite, stimulate
e.g. whet a knife
We had some wine to whet our appetites.
blurb
a short publicity notice (as on a book jacket)
lush
growing vigorously especially with luxuriant foliage
appealing to senses; savory, delicious; opulent, sumptuous
e.g. The frequent rainfall encourages the lush growth of trees, ferns, and shrubs.
lush accommodations/sounds of the orchestra
bluster
to talk or act with noisy swaggering threats
to blow in stormy noisy gusts; to be windy and boisterous
e.g. He brags and blusters, but he never does what he says he’ll do.
The wind blustered through the valley.
bog
wet spongy ground
to cause to sink into or as if into a bog; impede, mire (usually used with down)
e.g. They can bog down any other agency by encumbering agency rules or policies.
boggle
to start with fright or amazement; be overwhelmed
to hesitate because of doubt, fear, scruples
mishandle, bungle
e.g. The mind boggles at the research needed.
She boggled her first effort to make cookies.
bogus
not genuine; counterfeit, sham
e.g. The museum quickly discovered that the painting was bogus.
boisterous
noisily turbulent; rowdy
marked by or expressive of exuberance and high spirits
stormy, tumultuous
e.g. The fans at the baseball game became particularly boisterous after the home run.
bolster
a long pillow or cushion; a structural part designed to eliminate friction or provide support or bearing
to support with or as if with a bolster; reinforce
to give a boost to
e.g. a convincing argument that was bolstered by the speaker’s reputation
bolt
a wood or metal bar used to fasten a door
a metal rod or pin for fastening objects together
to move suddenly or nervously; start
to move or proceed rapidly; dash
to dart off or away; flee
preposterous
contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd
bombast
pretentious inflated speech or writing
e.g. The other world leaders at the international conference had little interest in being subjected to the president’s bombast.
bonnet
a brimless Scottish cap of seamless woolen fabric
a metal covering
bonny
attractive, fair; fine, excellent
