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| BREED | | —v. (past and past part. Bred) 1 (of animals) produce young.
- propagate; raise (animals).
- yield; result in.
- arise; spread.
- bring up; train.
- create (fissile material) by nuclear reaction. —n. - stock of similar animals or plants within a species, usu. Developed by deliberate selection.
- race; lineage.
- sort, kind. breeder n. [old english] | |
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| BRENT | | n. (in full brent-goose) small migratory goose. [origin unknown] | |
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| BREVE | | n. - mus. Note twice the length of a semibreve.
- mark ( ) indicating a short or unstressed vowel. [var. Of *brief] | |
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| BRIAR | | var. Of *brier1.
- var. Of *brier2. | |
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| BRIBE | | —v. (-bing) (often foll. By to + infin.) Persuade to act improperly in one's favour by a gift of money etc. —n. Money or services offered in bribing. bribery n. [french briber beg] | |
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| BRICK | | —n. - a small usu. Rectangular block of fired or sun-dried clay used in building. B material of this.
- child's toy block.
- brick-shaped thing.
- slang generous or loyal person. —v. (foll. By in, up) close or block with brickwork. —adj. - built of brick (brick wall).
- (also brick-red) dull red. [low german or dutch] | |
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| BRIDE | | n. Woman on her wedding day and during the period just before and after it. [old english] | |
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| BRIEF | | —adj. - of short duration.
- concise; abrupt, brusque.
- scanty (brief skirt). —n. - (in pl.) Short pants.
- a summary of a case drawn up for counsel. B piece of work for a barrister.
- instructions for a task.
- papal letter on discipline. —v. - instruct (a barrister) by brief.
- inform or instruct in advance. hold a brief for argue in favour of. In brief to sum up. briefly adv. Briefness n. [latin brevis short] | |
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| BRIER | | n. (also briar) wild rose or other prickly bush. [old english]
- n. (also briar) 1 white heath of s. Europe.
- tobacco pipe made from its root. [french bruyère] | |
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| BRILL | | n. (pl. Same) european flat-fish. [origin unknown]
- adj. Colloq. = *brilliant adj. 4. [abbreviation] | |
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