boondoggle [boon-dog-uhl, -daw-guhl]

noun1 a wasteful and worthless project undertaken for political, corporate, or personal gain, typically a government project funded by taxpayers ( Read more... )

Borborygmus - noun.

Borborygmus's popularity peaked in 1884, despite being coined around 1724. We've all had borborygmus guts--it's the rumble and bubbling sound our intestines make. It's derived from Greek, borboryzein, meaning "to rumble". Click here for a pronunciation.

behemoth [bih-hee-muhth, bee-uh-]

noun:
1 a mighty animal described in Job 40:15-24 as an example of the power of God
2 any creature or thing of monstrous size or power

Examples:

He praised the Strand for "standing up against a behemoth like Amazon. I mean, the fact that they still exist is impressive." (Micah Hauser, Is the Strand a ( Read more... )

braggadocio [brag-uh-doh-shee-oh]

noun:
1 empty boasting; bragging
2 a boasting person; braggart

Examples:

Cruz spins these operations into digital content ranging from tips for aspiring investors to plain old-fashioned yacht-flaunting braggadocio. (Michael Friedrich, The Landlords of Social Media Seem Happy to Play the Villain, The New ( Read more... )

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Bewitch (verb)
be·witch [bih-wich]

verb (used with object)
1. to affect by witchcraft or magic; cast a spell over.
2. to enchant; charm; fascinate: The painter bewitched the crowd with his latest work.

verb (used without object)
3. to cause someone to be enchanted; cast a spell over someone: She lost her power to bewitch.

( Read more... )

Bletting - noun

We've all seen bletting in action, whether we realize it or not. Certain fruits are inedible until they ripen--and bletting describes a stage past ripening. You've probably noticed the change in taste as tannins and acids decrease--these make fruit firm--and an increase in sugars.


( Read more... )

Bezique - noun.

Bésigue, anglicized as bezique is a card game originating in France. I don't dare summarize the rules, so you can watch the video below or read up on them here.

Click to view

Breedbate - noun.

There's nothing quite like obsolete slang to make oneself stand out, especially in the online world :-D To be a breedbate is to be a troublemaker or someone who instigates quarrels and disagreements.

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023

Bestow (verb)
be·stow [bih-stoh]

verb (used with object)
1. to present as a gift; give; confer (usually followed by on or upon): The trophy was bestowed upon the winner.
2. to put to some use; apply: Time spent in study is time well bestowed.
3. Archaic. a. to provide quarters for; house; lodge ( Read more... )

Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023

Bellwether (noun)
bell·weth·er [bel-weth-er]

noun
1. a wether or other male sheep that leads the flock, usually bearing a bell.
2. a person or thing that assumes the leadership or forefront, as of a profession or industry: Paris is a bellwether of the fashion industry.3. a person or thing that shows the existence or ( Read more... )