Gre "B" Flashcards
(27 cards)
Base
Morally low, dishonorable, contemptible, or lacking in principles.
When the definition of this word came into existence, there were some obvious biases against the lower classes (assuming that lexicographers were not lower class). It was assumed that those from the base,
or the lowest, class were without any moral principles. They were contemptible and ignoble. Hence, we have this second definition of base
“base” = bottom of morality → the lowest someone can go ethically.
🔹 The king condemned the traitor’s base intentions.
🔹 It was a base act, driven by greed and jealousy.
🔹 She refused to stoop to such a base level of discourse.
She was not so base as to begrudge the beggar the unwanted crumbs from her dinner plate.
Balk
to refuse to proceed or to hesitate
horse says “balk, go away”
The horse balked at jumping on the fence
Investors balked at the risky proposal
Banal
Lacking originality, boring, or overused to the point of being uninteresting or meaningless.
Blah + Null → Boring and empty.
🔹 The movie was filled with banal dialogue and predictable plot twists.
🔹 His speech was well-meaning but ultimately banal and forgettable.
Bane
A cause of great distress, harm, or ruin; something that consistently brings misery or destruction.
Bane rhymes with “pain”
🔹 Procrastination was the bane of his academic success.
🔹 The bane of modern cities is traffic congestion.
Baying
Demanding insistently (like hounds barking)
Baying (🐺 howling wolf)
Loudly demanding
The mob was baying for the politician’s resignation.
Protesters were baying for justice
Reporters bayed for answers about the scandal.
Benign
Kind, gentle, or harmless — often describing people, actions, or medical conditions that are not threatening or dangerous.
Be + Nice → someone who’s kind and not dangerous.
🔹 Though stern in appearance, the professor was quite benign.
🔹 The climate here is benign, with mild winters and cool summers.
🔹 Fortunately, the tumor was diagnosed as benign and not malignant.
Besiege
To surround a place, person, or group with the intent of capturing or overwhelming
Be + Siege → “to be under siege”.
🔹 The army besieged the fortress for weeks without breaking through.
🔹 She was besieged by reporters after the shocking announcement.
Bevy
Large group (usually of people)
Bevy = Bunch (both start with “B”)
🔹 A bevy of swans glided across the lake.
🔹 She was surrounded by a bevy of admirers at the gala.
🔹 The startup pitched a bevy of new ideas to investors.
Bifuracate
To divide into two branches
“To split in two” (🚦 road splitting)
The trail bifurcates ahead - take the left path.
The company bifurcated into separate divisions.
Bilk
To cheat, defraud, Deceive
It usually implies dishonest avoidance of payment or trickery for personal gain.
Bilk = Bill + Trick → trick someone over a bill or payment.
🔹 He tried to bilk the government by filing fake tax returns.
🔹 Tourists are often bilked by overpriced souvenirs.
Blight
A disease, ruin, or curse that causes destruction or decay.
Blight = Blight bulbs (dead, rotting plants)
🔹 A mysterious fungus blighted the crops across the region.
🔹 Corruption is the blight of many governments.
🔹 The potato blight caused widespread famine.
Blithe
Joyous, merry, excessively carefree
Blithe = Blissfully indifferent
🔹 She strolled in with a blithe smile, ignoring the chaos around her.
🔹 His blithe disregard for safety protocols worried the team.
Bleak
If one has a very depressing take on life, we say that person has a bleak outlook. Landscapes can be bleak
Cold, harsh, or depressing Gloomy
when excitement leaks, we get bleak, cheerless , cold, depressing
Unremitting overcast skies tend to lead people to create bleak literature and lugubrious music—
compare England’s band Radiohead to any band from Southern California.
bleak winds of the North Atlantic
Life in the Aran Islands has always been bleak and difficult
🔹 After the layoffs, morale in the office was bleak.
🔹 Their chances of survival seemed increasingly bleak.
Bogus
Fake, fraudulent, or not genuine.
Bogus = “Broke-us” with fake stuff
🔹 He was arrested for using a bogus credit card.
🔹 The politician dismissed the allegations as bogus.
Bolster
To support or strengthen
Bolster (🛏️ pillow support)
She brought evidence to bolster her case.
The coach tried to bolster the team’s morale.
Bonhomie
Cheerful friendliness
Bonhomie (🤗 group hugging) = like HOMIE
The party was full of warmth and bonhomie.
His natural bonhomie made him popular.
Boor
A rude, ill-mannered, or uncultured person — especially someone lacking social grace or refinement.
Boor sounds like “bore” — but a boor is worse: rude and obnoxious.
🔹 Only a boor would interrupt someone mid-sentence during a serious conversation.
🔹 He acted like a boor at the formal dinner, chewing loudly and making offensive jokes.
Brandish
Wave or flourish (especially a weapon)
Context: Threats, displays
The robber brandished a knife.
Protesters brandished signs outside the courthouse.
Brook
Tolerate or allow
“Brook no nonsense” is a classic phrase = tolerate no nonsense.
The principal brooks no nonsense from students.
His pride could brook no insult.
Buffer
Protective barrier
Buffer (🛡️ shield icon)
The trees act as a buffer against the wind.
Savings provide a financial buffer.
Burgeon
Grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds or
shoots (of a plant)
Burgeon (🌱 sprouting plant)
The tech startup burgeoned into a multinational corporation.
Spring flowers burgeon after the first rain.
Burnish
To polish or enhance
Burnish (✨ shiny metal)
He burnished the silver teapot to a mirror finish.
The CEO sought to burnish the company’s tarnished image.
Buttress
To support or reinforce (literally or figuratively)
Butt” (strong end) + “ress” (like “dress” for support)
New evidence buttressed the scientist’s theory.
The lawyer buttressed her case with precedents.
Blinkered
If you blink a lot you are likely to miss something. Indeed, your view would be very limited. Extending this meaning, we get the definition of blinkered: means to have a limited outlook or understanding.
Having a narrow or limited outlook; unwilling or unable to consider alternative ideas or perspectives.
racing horses use blinkers to prevent them from being distracted.
In gambling, the addict is easily blinkered by past successes and/or past failures, forgetting that the outcome of any one game is independent of the games that preceded it.
🔹 His blinkered views on education prevented any meaningful reform.
🔹 They were blinkered by tradition, refusing to adopt new technologies.
