Copy of `Princeton University - WordNet - a lexical database for the English language`

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Princeton University - WordNet - a lexical database for the English language Category: General Date & country: 27/01/2008, USA Words: 85192

background processing
backgrounding noun the execution of low priority programs while higher priority programs are not using the processing system

background radiation
noun radiation coming from sources other than those being observed

backgrounder
noun a press conference or interview in which a government official explains to reporters the background of an action or policy; `the secretary gave us a backgrounder on public health issues`

backhand
left-slanting adjective (of handwriting) having the letters slanting from left down to right

backhand drive
noun a hard straight return made on the backhand side

backhand(a)
backhanded adjective (of racket strokes) made across the body with back of hand facing direction of stroke

backhanded
adjective roundabout or ambiguous; `attacks from that source amounted to a backhanded compliment to his integrity`; `a backhanded and dishonest way of reaching his goal`

backhander
noun a backhanded blow

backhoe
noun an excavator whose shovel bucket is attached to a hinged boom and is drawn backward to move earth

backing
backup noun the act of providing approval and support; `his vigorous backing of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives`

backlash
noun an adverse reaction to some political or social occurrence; `there was a backlash of intolerance`

backless
adjective lacking a back; `a stool is a backless and armless seat`

backlighting
noun lighting from behind

backlog
noun an accumulation of jobs not done or materials not processed that are yet to be dealt with (especially unfilled customer orders for products or services)

backmost
hindermost adjective located farthest to the rear

backpack
back pack noun a bag carried by a strap on your back or shoulder

backpacker
noun a hiker who wears a backpack

backpacking
noun carrying something in a pack on the back; `the backpacking of oxygen is essential for astronauts`

backpacking tent
pack tent noun a tent that can be carried in a backpack

backpedal
verb modify one`s opinion, make it less strong

backplate
noun plate armor protecting the back; worn as part of a cuirass

backrest
noun a support that you can lean against while sitting; `the back of the dental chair was adjustable`

backroom boy
brain truster noun an expert adviser involved in making important decisions but usually lacking official status

backsaw
back saw noun a handsaw that is stiffened by metal reinforcement along the upper edge

backscatter
verb scatter (radiation) by the atoms of the medium through which it passes

backscratcher
noun a long-handled scratcher for scratching your back

backseat
noun a seat at the back of a vehicle (especially the seat at the back of an automobile)

backseat driver
noun a meddler who insists on giving unwanted advice

backslap
verb display excessive cordiality (towards); `he is always backslapping his colleagues at staff meetings`

backslapper
noun someone who demonstrates enthusiastic or excessive cordiality

backsliding
lapse 1 lapsing noun a failure to maintain a higher state

backspace
verb hit the backspace key on a computer or typewriter keyboard; `To erase, you must backspace`

backspace character
noun a control character that indicates moving a space to the left

backspace key
backspace noun the typewriter key used for back spacing

backspin
noun spin (usually of a moving ball) that retards or reverses the forward motion

backstage
adjective concealed from the public audience

backstair
backstairs adjective secret and sly or sordid; `backstairs gossip`; `his low backstairs cunning`- A.L.Guerard; `backstairs intimacies`; `furtive behavior`

backstairs
noun a second staircase at the rear of a building

backstay
noun a stay that supports the back of something

backstitch
noun overlapping stitch made by starting next stitch at middle of preceding one

backstop
noun (baseball) a fence or screen (as behind home plate) to prevent the ball from traveling out of the playing field

backstroke
noun a swimming stroke that resembles the crawl except the swimmer lies on his or her back

backstroker
noun someone who swims the backstroke

backswept
sweptback adjective used of hair

backswimmer
Notonecta undulata noun predaceous aquatic insect that swims on its back and may inflict painful bites

backsword
noun a sword with only one cutting edge

backtrack
turn back verb retrace one`s course; `The hikers got into a storm and had to turn back`

backup
computer backup noun (computer science) a copy of a file or directory on a separate storage device; `he made a backup in case the original was accidentally damaged or erased`

backup file
noun (computer science) a computer file dedicated to storing and updating computer backups

backup system
noun a computer system for making backups

backward
feebleminded adjective retarded in intellectual development

backwater
noun any backward region that is isolated from the world and resists progress

backwoods
back country noun a remote and undeveloped area

backyard
noun the grounds in back of a house

bacon
noun back and sides of a hog salted and dried or smoked; usually sliced thin and fried

Bacon
noun English scientist and Franciscan monk who stressed the importance of experimentation; first showed that air is required for combustion and first used lenses to correct vision (1220-1292)

bacon and eggs
noun eggs (fried or scrambled) served with bacon

bacon rind
noun the rind of bacon

bacon strip
noun a slice of bacon

bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich
BLT noun sandwich filled with slices of bacon and tomato with lettuce

bacteremia
bacteriemia noun transient presence of bacteria (or other microorganisms) in the blood

bacteremic
adjective of or relating to or having bacteremia

bacteria
bacterium noun (microbiology) single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral or rod-shaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that reproduce by fission; important as pathogens and for biochemical properties; taxonomy is difficult; often considered plants

bacteria bed
noun layer of sand or gravel used to expose sewage effluent to air and the action of microorganisms

bacteria family
noun a family of bacteria

bacteria genus
noun a genus of bacteria

bacteria order
noun an order of bacteria

bacteria species
noun a species of bacteria

bacterial
adjective relating to or caused by bacteria; `bacterial infection`

bacterial toxin
noun any endotoxin or exotoxin formed in or elaborated by bacterial cells

bacterially
adverb by bacteria; `spreads bacterially`

bactericidal
disinfectant adjective preventing infection by inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms

bactericide
bacteriacide noun any chemical agent that destroys bacteria

bacteriochlorophyll
noun a substance in photosensitive bacteria that is related to but different from chlorophyll of higher plants

bacteriological
bacteriologic adjective of or relating to bacteriology

bacteriologist
noun a biologist who studies bacteria

bacteriology
noun the branch of medical science that studies bacteria in relation to disease

bacteriolysis
noun dissolution or destruction of bacteria

bacteriolytic
adjective of or relating to or causing bacteriolysis

bacteriophage
phage noun a virus that is parasitic in bacteria; `phage uses the bacterium`s machinery and energy to produce more phage until the bacterium is destroyed and phage is released to invade surrounding bacteria`

bacteriophagic
bacteriophagous adjective of or relating to bacteriophages

bacteriostasis
noun inhibition of the growth of bacteria

bacteriostat
noun a chemical or biological material that inhibits bacterial growth

bacteriostatic
adjective of or relating to or causing bacteriostasis

bacterize
bacterise verb subject to the action of bacteria

bacteroid
noun a rodlike bacterium (especially any of the rod-shaped or branched bacteria in the root nodules of nitrogen-fixing plants)

Bacteroidaceae
family Bacteroidaceae noun family of bacteria living usually in the alimentary canal or on mucous surfaces of warm-blooded animals; sometimes associated with acute infective processes

bacteroidal
bacteroid adjective resembling bacteria

Bacteroides
genus Bacteroides noun type genus of Bacteroidaceae; genus of Gram-negative rodlike anaerobic bacteria producing no endospores and no pigment and living in the gut of man and animals

Bactrian camel
Camelus bactrianus noun two-humped camel of the cold deserts of central Asia

bad
big adjective very intense; `a bad headache`; `in a big rage`; `had a big (or bad) shock`; `a bad earthquake`; `a bad storm`

bad
high-risk adjective not financially safe or secure; `a bad investment`; `high risk investments`; `anything that promises to pay too much can`t help being risky`; `speculative business enterprises`

bad block
noun (computer science) a block (usually one sector) that cannot reliably hold data

bad check
bad cheque noun a check that is dishonored on presentation because of insufficient funds; `issuing a bad check is a form of larceny`

bad debt
noun a debt that is unlikely to be repaid

bad egg
noun (old-fashioned slang) a bad person

bad fairy
noun a fairy that tends to cause harm

bad guy
noun any person who is not on your side

Bad Lands
Badlands noun an eroded and barren region in southwestern South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska

bad luck
noun an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate; `if I didn`t have bad luck I wouldn`t have any luck at all`