Bake Bake intransitive verb 1. To do the work of baking something; as, she brews, washes, and bakes . Shak.

2. To be baked; to become dry and hard in heat; as, the bread bakes ; the ground bakes in the hot sun.

Bake Bake noun The process, or result, of baking.

Bakehouse Bake"house` (-hous`) noun [ Anglo-Saxon bęchūs . See Bake , transitive verb , and House .] A house for baking; a bakery.

Bakemeat Bake"meat` (bāk"mēt`), Baked"-meat` (bākt"-) noun A pie; baked food. [ Obsolete] Gen. xl. 17. Shak.

Baken Bak"en past participle of Bake . [ Obsolete or Archaic]

Baker Bak"er noun [ Anglo-Saxon bęcere . See Bake , transitive verb ] 1. One whose business it is to bake bread, biscuit, etc.

2. A portable oven in which baking is done. [ U.S.]

A baker's dozen , thirteen. -- Baker foot , a distorted foot. [ Obsolete] Jer. Taylor. -- Baker's itch , a rash on the back of the hand, caused by the irritating properties of yeast. -- Baker's salt , the subcarbonate of ammonia, sometimes used instead of soda, in making bread.

Baker-legged Bak"er-legged` adjective Having legs that bend inward at the knees.

Bakery Bak"er·y noun 1. The trade of a baker. [ R.]

2. A place for baking bread; a bakehouse.

Baking Bak"ing noun 1. The act or process of cooking in an oven, or of drying and hardening by heat or cold.

2. The quantity baked at once; a batch; as, a baking of bread.

Baking powder , a substitute for yeast, usually consisting of an acid, a carbonate, and a little farinaceous matter.

Bakingly Bak"ing·ly adverb In a hot or baking manner.

Bakistre Bak"is·tre noun [ See Baxter .] A baker. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Baksheesh, Bakshish Bak"sheesh`, Bak"shish` noun Same as Backsheesh .

Balaam Ba"laam noun A paragraph describing something wonderful, used to fill out a newspaper column; -- an allusion to the miracle of Balaam's ass speaking. Numb. xxii. 30. [ Cant]

Balaam basket or box (Print.) , the receptacle for rejected articles. Blackw. Mag.

Balachong Bal"a·chong noun [ Malay bālachān .] A condiment formed of small fishes or shrimps, pounded up with salt and spices, and then dried. It is much esteemed in China.

Balance Bal"ance (băl" a ns) noun [ Middle English balaunce , French balance , from Latin bilanx , bilancis , having two scales; bis twice (akin to English two ) + lanx plate, scale.] 1. An apparatus for weighing.

» In its simplest form, a balance consists of a beam or lever supported exactly in the middle, having two scales or basins of equal weight suspended from its extremities. Another form is that of the Roman balance , our steelyard, consisting of a lever or beam, suspended near one of its extremities, on the longer arm of which a counterpoise slides. The name is also given to other forms of apparatus for weighing bodies, as to the combinations of levers making up platform scales; and even to devices for weighing by the elasticity of a spring.

2. Act of weighing mentally; comparison; estimate.

A fair balance of the advantages on either side.
Atterbury.

3. Equipoise between the weights in opposite scales.

4. The state of being in equipoise; equilibrium; even adjustment; steadiness.

And hung a bottle on each side
To make his balance true.
Cowper.

The order and balance of the country were destroyed.
Buckle.

English workmen completely lose their balance .
J. S. Mill.

5. An equality between the sums total of the two sides of an account; as, to bring one's accounts to a balance ; -- also, the excess on either side; as, the balance of an account. "A balance at the banker's." Thackeray.

I still think the balance of probabilities leans towards the account given in the text.
J. Peile.

6. (Horol.) A balance wheel, as of a watch, or clock. See Balance wheel (in the Vocabulary).

7. (Astron.) (a) The constellation Libra . (b) The seventh sign in the Zodiac, called Libra , which the sun enters at the equinox in September.

8. A movement in dancing. See Balance , transitive verb , 8.

Balance electrometer , a kind of balance, with a poised beam, which indicates, by weights suspended from one arm, the mutual attraction of oppositely electrified surfaces. Knight. -- Balance fish . (Zoöl) See Hammerhead . -- Balance knife , a carving or table knife the handle of which overbalances the blade, and so keeps it from contact with the table. -- Balance of power (Politics) , such an adjustment of power among sovereign states that no one state is in a position to interfere with the independence of the others; international equilibrium; also, the ability (of a state or a third party within a state) to control the relations between sovereign states or between dominant parties in a state. -- Balance sheet (Bookkeeping) , a paper showing the balances of the open accounts of a business, the debit and credit balances footing up equally, if the system of accounts be complete and the balances correctly taken. -- Balance thermometer , a thermometer mounted as a balance so that the movement of the mercurial column changes the inclination of the tube. With the aid of electrical or mechanical devices adapted to it, it is used for the automatic regulation of the temperature of rooms warmed artificially, and as a fire alarm. -- Balance of torsion . See Torsion Balance . -- Balance of trade (Pol. Econ.) , an equilibrium between the money values of the exports and imports of a country; or more commonly, the amount required on one side or the other to make such an equilibrium. -- Balance valve , a valve whose surfaces are so arranged that the fluid pressure tending to seat, and that tending to unseat, the valve, are nearly in equilibrium; esp., a puppet valve which is made to operate easily by the admission of steam to both sides. See Puppet valve . -- Hydrostatic balance . See under Hydrostatic . -- To lay in balance , to put up as a pledge or security. [ Obsolete] Chaucer. -- To strike a balance , to find out the difference between the debit and credit sides of an account.

Balance Bal"ance transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Balanced ; present participle & verbal noun Balancing ] [ From Balance , noun : confer French balancer .] 1. To bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights; to weigh in a balance.

2. To support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling; as, to balance a plate on the end of a cane; to balance one's self on a tight rope.

3. To equal in number, weight, force, or proportion; to counterpoise, counterbalance, counteract, or neutralize.

One expression . . . must check and balance another.
Kent.

4. To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.

Balance the good and evil of things.
L'Estrange.

5. To settle and adjust, as an account; to make two accounts equal by paying the difference between them.

I am very well satisfied that it is not in my power to balance accounts with my Maker.
Addison.

6. To make the sums of the debits and credits of an account equal; -- said of an item; as, this payment, or credit, balances the account.

7. To arrange accounts in such a way that the sum total of the debits is equal to the sum total of the credits; as, to balance a set of books.

8. (Dancing) To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally; as, to balance partners.

9. (Nautical) To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass; as, to balance the boom mainsail.

Balanced valve . See Balance valve , under Balance , noun

Syn. -- To poise; weigh; adjust; counteract; neutralize; equalize.

Balance Bal"ance intransitive verb 1. To have equal weight on each side; to be in equipoise; as, the scales balance .

2. To fluctuate between motives which appear of equal force; to waver; to hesitate.

He would not balance or err in the determination of his choice.
Locke.

3. (Dancing) To move toward a person or couple, and then back.

Balance wheel Bal"ance wheel` 1. (Horology) (a) A wheel which regulates the beats or pulses of a watch or chronometer, answering to the pendulum of a clock; -- often called simply a balance . (b) A ratchet-shaped scape wheel, which in some watches is acted upon by the axis of the balance wheel proper (in those watches called a balance ).

2. (Machinery) A wheel which imparts regularity to the movements of any engine or machine; a fly wheel.

Balanceable Bal"ance·a·ble adjective Such as can be balanced.

Balancement Bal"ance·ment noun The act or result of balancing or adjusting; equipoise; even adjustment of forces. [ R.] Darwin.

Balancer Bal"an·cer noun 1. One who balances, or uses a balance.

2. (Zoology) In Diptera, the rudimentary posterior wing.

Balancereef Bal"ance·reef` noun (Nautical) The last reef in a fore-and-aft sail, taken to steady the ship.

Balaniferous Bal`a·nif"er·ous adjective [ Latin balanus acorn + -ferous .] Bearing or producing acorns.

Balanite Bal"a·nite noun [ Latin balanus acorn: confer French balanite .] (Paleon.) A fossil balanoid shell.

Balanoglossus Bal`a·no·glos"sus noun [ New Latin , from Greek ba`lanos acorn + glw^ssa tongue.] (Zoöl) A peculiar marine worm. See Enteropneusta , and Tornaria .

Balanoid Bal"a·noid adjective [ Greek balanos acorn + -oid .] (Zoology) Resembling an acorn; -- applied to a group of barnacles having shells shaped like acorns. See Acornshell , and Barnacle .

Balas ruby Bal"as ru`by [ Middle English bales , balais , French balais , Late Latin balascus , from Arabic balakhsh , so called from Badakhshan , Balashan , or Balaxiam , a place in the neighborhood of Samarcand, where this ruby is found.] (Min.) A variety of spinel ruby, of a pale rose red, or inclining to orange. See Spinel .

Balata Bal"a·ta noun [ Spanish , probably from native name.] 1. A West Indian sapotaceous tree ( Bumelia retusa ).

2. The bully tree ( Minusops globosa ); also, its milky juice ( balata gum ), which when dried constitutes an elastic gum called chicle , or chicle gum .

Balaustine Ba·laus"tine noun [ Latin balaustium , Greek balay`stion .] (Botany) The pomegranate tree ( Punica granatum ). The bark of the root, the rind of the fruit, and the flowers are used medicinally.

Balayeuse Ba`la`yeuse" noun [ French, lit., a female sweeper.] A protecting ruffle or frill, as of silk or lace, sewed close to the lower edge of a skirt on the inside.

Balbutiate, Balbucinate Bal·bu"ti·ate, Bal·bu"ci·nate intransitive verb [ Latin balbutire , from balbus stammering: confer French balbutier .] To stammer. [ Obsolete]

Balbuties Bal·bu"ti·es noun (Medicine) The defect of stammering; also, a kind of incomplete pronunciation.

Balcon Bal"con noun A balcony. [ Obsolete] Pepys.

Balconied Bal"co·nied adjective Having balconies.

Balcony Bal"co·ny (băl"ko*nȳ; 277) noun ; plural Balconies (-nĭz). [ Italian balcone ; confer Italian balco , palco , scaffold, from Old High German balcho , palcho , beam, German balken . See Balk beam.] 1. (Architecture) A platform projecting from the wall of a building, usually resting on brackets or consoles, and inclosed by a parapet; as, a balcony in front of a window. Also, a projecting gallery in places of amusement; as, the balcony in a theater.

2. A projecting gallery once common at the stern of large ships.

» "The accent has shifted from the second to the first syllable within these twenty years." Smart (1836).

Bald Bald (bald) adjective [ Middle English balled , ballid , perhaps the past participle of ball to reduce to the roundness or smoothness of a ball, by removing hair. √85. But confer W. bali whiteness in a horse's forehead.] 1. Destitute of the natural or common covering on the head or top, as of hair, feathers, foliage, trees, etc.; as, a bald head; a bald oak.

On the bald top of an eminence.
Wordsworth.

2. Destitute of ornament; unadorned; bare; literal.

In the preface to his own bald translation.
Dryden.

3. Undisguised. " Bald egotism." Lowell.

4. Destitute of dignity or value; paltry; mean. [ Obsolete]

5. (Botany) Destitute of a beard or awn; as, bald wheat.

6. (Zoology) (a) Destitute of the natural covering. (b) Marked with a white spot on the head; bald-faced.

Bald buzzard (Zoology) , the fishhawk or osprey. -- Bald coot (Zoology) , a name of the European coot ( Fulica atra ), alluding to the bare patch on the front of the head.

Bald eagle Bald" ea"gle (Zoology) The white-headed eagle ( Halięetus leucocephalus ) of America. The young, until several years old, lack the white feathers on the head.

» The bald eagle is represented in the coat of arms, and on the coins, of the United States.

Bald-faced Bald"-faced` adjective Having a white face or a white mark on the face, as a stag.

Baldachin Bal"da·chin noun [ Late Latin baldachinus , baldechinus , a canopy of rich silk carried over the host; from Bagdad , Italian Baldacco , a city in Turkish Asia from whence these rich silks came: confer Italian baldacchino . Confer Baudekin .] 1. A rich brocade; baudekin. [ Obsolete]

2. (Architecture) A structure in form of a canopy, sometimes supported by columns, and sometimes suspended from the roof or projecting from the wall; generally placed over an altar; as, the baldachin in St. Peter's.

3. A portable canopy borne over shrines, etc., in procession.

[ Written also baldachino , baldaquin , etc.]

Balder Bal"der noun [ Icelandic Baldr , akin to English bold .] (Scan. Myth.) The most beautiful and beloved of the gods; the god of peace; the son of Odin and Freya. [ Written also Baldur .]

Balderdash Bal"der·dash noun [ Of uncertain origin: confer Danish balder noise, clatter, and English dash ; hence, perhaps, unmeaning noise, then hodgepodge, mixture; or W. baldorduss a prattling, baldordd , baldorddi , to prattle.] 1. A worthless mixture, especially of liquors.

Indeed beer, by a mixture of wine, hath lost both name and nature, and is called balderdash .
Taylor (Drink and Welcome).

2. Senseless jargon; ribaldry; nonsense; trash.

Balderdash Bal"der·dash transitive verb To mix or adulterate, as liquors.

The wine merchants of Nice brew and balderdash , and even
mix it with pigeon's dung and quicklime.
Smollett.

Baldhead Bald"head` noun 1. A person whose head is bald. 2 Kings ii. 23.

2. (Zoology) A white-headed variety of pigeon.

Baldheaded Bald"head`ed adjective Having a bald head.

Baldly Bald"ly adverb Nakedly; without reserve; inelegantly.

Baldness Bald"ness noun The state or condition of being bald; as, baldness of the head; baldness of style.

This gives to their syntax a peculiar character of simplicity and baldness .
W. D. Whitney.

Baldpate Bald"pate` noun 1. A baldheaded person. Shak.

2. (Zoology) The American widgeon ( Anas Americana ).

Baldpate, Baldpated Bald"pate`, Bald"pat`ed adjective Destitute of hair on the head; baldheaded. Shak.

Baldrib Bald"rib` noun A piece of pork cut lower down than the sparerib, and destitute of fat. [ Eng.] Southey.

Baldric Bal"dric noun [ Middle English baudric , bawdrik , through Old French (cf. French baudrier and Late Latin baldringus , baldrellus ), from Old High German balderich , confer balz , palz , akin to English belt . See Belt , noun ] A broad belt, sometimes richly ornamented, worn over one shoulder, across the breast, and under the opposite arm; less properly, any belt. [ Also spelt bawdrick .]

A radiant baldric o'er his shoulder tied
Sustained the sword that glittered at his side.
Pope.

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