--- title: B — The English dictionary with trees and pragmatics description: The 1119 words of the English dictionary under B, every meaning for a pupil and every example with its dependency tree and pragmatics. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [English dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/) / B # B — The English dictionary The words of the English dictionary under B: 1119 words, every meaning and example parsed by Mova; the ↗ after a sentence leads to the word's page, with every sentence's syntax tree and pragmatics. [A](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/A/) · [B](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/) · [C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/C/) · [D](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/D/) · [E](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/E/) · [F](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/F/) · [G](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/G/) · [H](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/H/) · [I](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/I/) · [J](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/J/) · [K](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/K/) · [L](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/L/) · [M](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/M/) · [N](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/N/) · [O](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/O/) · [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/P/) · [Q](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/Q/) · [R](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/R/) · [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/S/) · [T](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/T/) · [U](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/U/) · [V](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/V/) · [W](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/W/) · [X](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/X/) · [Y](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/Y/) · [Z](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/Z/) **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/page/2/) … [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/page/59/) **ba** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* (Mandarin, pinyin) «Bā» means «eight» in Mandarin; «ba» with no tone goes at the end of a sentence to make a suggestion: «wǒmen zǒu ba» means «let's go».[↗](ba/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (abbreviation) A BA is a Bachelor of Arts, a first university degree.[↗](ba/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* (abbreviation) BA is short for British Airways, an airline.[↗](ba/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 4:* (science) «Ba» is the chemical symbol for barium.[↗](ba/#m4 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 5:* The sound a sheep makes is spelt «baa», not «ba».[↗](ba/#m5 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 6:* Ba can also be a name, such as the name of a pet reindeer.[↗](ba/#m6 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* In Mandarin, «bā» means «eight».[↗](ba/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · «Wǒmen zǒu ba» means «let's go».[↗](ba/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · My aunt has a BA in English.[↗](ba/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · We flew to London with BA.[↗](ba/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Ba is the symbol for barium.[↗](ba/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Eight is a lucky number in China.[↗](ba/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · The sheep said «baa».[↗](ba/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **baa** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* The sound a sheep or lamb makes.[↗](baa/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (verb) To make this sound; to bleat.[↗](baa/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* Baa San is a Japanese term of address meaning "old woman" or "grandmother".[↗](baa/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* «Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?»[↗](baa/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The lambs baaed for their mothers.[↗](baa/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · We heard a loud «baa» from the field.[↗](baa/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The sheep went «baa» when the dog barked.[↗](baa/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Little Tom can say «baa» like a sheep.[↗](baa/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The baaing of sheep woke us early.[↗](baa/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **baba** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* (Ukrainian) «Baba» means grandmother or granny; also an old woman.[↗](baba/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") It sounds like «BAH-bah» and is not an English word.[↗](baba/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* A baba (rum baba) is a small sweet sponge cake soaked in syrup or rum.[↗](baba/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* Baba Yaga is a witch in Slavic fairy tales who lives in a hut on chicken legs (a name).[↗](baba/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 4:* Baby talk: «baba» can mean a baby or a bottle.[↗](baba/#m4 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 5:* In Turkish, Persian and Arabic, "baba" means father or dad.[↗](baba/#m5 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* We visit Baba every Sunday and she makes varenyky.[↗](baba/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · «Baba» is the Ukrainian word for granny.[↗](baba/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Baba Yaga's hut stood on chicken legs.[↗](baba/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The bakery sold a rum baba with cream.[↗](baba/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · My baby brother points at his bottle and says «baba».[↗](baba/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Baba told us stories about her village.[↗](baba/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **babble** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* To talk quickly in a way that is hard to understand or silly: «She babbled about her holiday.».[↗](babble/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (of a baby) To make speech-like sounds before real words: «ba-ba-ba».[↗](babble/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* (of water) To make a soft, bubbling sound: «a babbling brook».[↗](babble/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 4:* (noun) A noise of many voices at once, or silly talk.[↗](babble/#m4 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* The baby babbled happily in her cot.[↗](babble/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Stop babbling and tell me what happened\![↗](babble/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · We sat by a babbling brook.[↗](babble/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · A babble of voices filled the canteen.[↗](babble/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · He babbled on about his new game for ages.[↗](babble/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Babies babble before they say their first word.[↗](babble/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Then broke forth a rippling, laughing babble among the cone-shaped teepees.[↗](babble/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **babbling** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Babbling is talking quickly in a silly, excited or confusing way, so it is hard to understand or not very sensible.[↗](babbling/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Babbling is the sound babies make — «ba-ba-ba, da-da» — before they can say real words.[↗](babbling/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* A babbling brook or stream makes a soft, bubbling, continuous sound as water runs over stones.[↗](babbling/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* The baby was babbling happily in her cot.[↗](babbling/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · He was so nervous he started babbling.[↗](babbling/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · We sat beside a babbling brook.[↗](babbling/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Stop babbling and tell me slowly.[↗](babbling/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Babbling is how babies practise sounds.[↗](babbling/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The excited children were babbling about the trip.[↗](babbling/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · I could hear the stream babbling under the bridge.[↗](babbling/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **babe** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* (old-fashioned, literary or Bible) A babe is a baby: «a babe in arms», the baby Jesus «the babe in the manger».[↗](babe/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (informal) «Babe» is a loving name people call their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife or child, like «darling» or «honey».[↗](babe/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* (slang, can be rude) A «babe» is a word for an attractive person, especially a young woman; many people find this disrespectful.[↗](babe/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 4:* «A babe in the woods» means someone innocent who does not know how the world works.[↗](babe/#m4 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* The shepherds found the babe lying in a manger.[↗](babe/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · She was only a babe in arms when they moved to Ireland.[↗](babe/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · «Thanks, babe,» Mum said to Dad.[↗](babe/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · (informal) «Night night, babe,» said Mum as she switched off the light.[↗](babe/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · He was a babe in the woods when it came to money.[↗](babe/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The carol tells of the babe born in Bethlehem.[↗](babe/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · (slang) Calling a stranger «babe» can sound rude.[↗](babe/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · Babe is also the name of a famous film about a pig.[↗](babe/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") · When the morning sun arose, the babe awoke.[↗](babe/#x9 "tree and pragmatics") · As for My people, a babe is their master, and women rule over them.[↗](babe/#x10 "tree and pragmatics") (Prophets ISA.3.12, JPS 1917)[↗](babe/#x10 "tree and pragmatics") · And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.[↗](babe/#x11 "tree and pragmatics") (Prophets ISA.3.4, JPS 1917)[↗](babe/#x11 "tree and pragmatics") · Their babes also shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.[↗](babe/#x12 "tree and pragmatics") (Prophets ISA.13.16, JPS 1917)[↗](babe/#x12 "tree and pragmatics") **babel** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* (Bible) The Tower of Babel is a story in Genesis where people tried to build a tower up to heaven; God mixed up their language so they could not understand each other, and they spread over the earth.[↗](babel/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* A babel is a confused noise of many voices talking at once.[↗](babel/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* The people of Babel wanted a tower that reached the sky.[↗](babel/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · God confused their language, and work on the tower stopped.[↗](babel/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The station was a babel of voices in many languages.[↗](babel/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Our classroom became a babel when the teacher left.[↗](babel/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · We built a Tower of Babel from paper cups.[↗](babel/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The story of Babel explains why people speak different languages.[↗](babel/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.[↗](babel/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") (Torah GEN.10.10, JPS 1917)[↗](babel/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth; and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.[↗](babel/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") (Torah GEN.11.9, JPS 1917)[↗](babel/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") **baboon** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A baboon is a large monkey from Africa and Arabia with a dog-like face, long jaws and big teeth, living in large groups called troops.[↗](baboon/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (informal, insult) Calling someone a baboon means they are acting rough or silly; it is rude.[↗](baboon/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* A troop of baboons crossed the road.[↗](baboon/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Baboons are monkeys, not apes.[↗](baboon/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The baboon showed its long teeth.[↗](baboon/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Baboons in Cape Town sometimes steal picnic food.[↗](baboon/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Baby baboons ride on their mothers' backs.[↗](baboon/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Ancient Egyptians honoured baboons.[↗](baboon/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · One day, when the sun was hotter even than usual, the rabbit awoke from his midday sleep, and saw Gudu the baboon standing beside him.[↗](baboon/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **baby** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A very young child who cannot yet walk or talk much.[↗](baby/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* A very young animal.[↗](baby/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *e.g.* "a baby bird".[↗](baby/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* The youngest person in a family.[↗](baby/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 4:* As an adjective, very small or young.[↗](baby/#m4 "tree and pragmatics") *e.g.* "baby teeth".[↗](baby/#m4 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* My aunt just had a baby.[↗](baby/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The baby is sleeping.[↗](baby/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · A baby kangaroo is called a joey.[↗](baby/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Hold the baby gently.[↗](baby/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · She is the baby of the family.[↗](baby/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Baby teeth fall out.[↗](baby/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · The bird fed its babies worms.[↗](baby/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · Our babysitter reads us stories.[↗](baby/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") · "It's only the baby," said John.[↗](baby/#x9 "tree and pragmatics") **babyhood** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Babyhood is the time in your life when you are a baby, usually the first year or two.[↗](babyhood/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Most people cannot remember their babyhood.[↗](babyhood/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · These photos show my babyhood.[↗](babyhood/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · In babyhood we learn to sit, crawl and stand.[↗](babyhood/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Babyhood comes before childhood.[↗](babyhood/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The bear kept his blanket from babyhood.[↗](babyhood/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · During babyhood, babies sleep for most of the day.[↗](babyhood/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **babyish** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Babyish means like a baby or suitable for a baby, too young for someone older.[↗](babyish/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Babyish behaviour is acting in a silly or childish way that is not right for your age.[↗](babyish/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* My brother thinks that cartoon is babyish.[↗](babyish/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Stop being babyish and share the toy.[↗](babyish/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · These books are a bit babyish for me now.[↗](babyish/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · It isn't babyish to cuddle a teddy at night.[↗](babyish/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The wallpaper in her room looked babyish.[↗](babyish/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · He was embarrassed by his babyish haircut.[↗](babyish/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Throwing a tantrum is babyish.[↗](babyish/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · Some big kids still like babyish games, and that's fine.[↗](babyish/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") **babylonian** — *In Jewish tradition, meaning 1:* Having to do with Babylon, an ancient land and city in what is now Iraq, or its people and language.[↗](babylonian/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* It was apparently originally invented to represent the Assyrian-Babylonian language, which consisted of seventeen or eighteen sounds.[↗](babylonian/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))[↗](babylonian/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The earliest known use of this symbol in Babylonian in- scriptions belongs to the third century B. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))[↗](babylonian/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") **babysit** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* To babysit is to look after a baby or a child for a while when their parents are out.[↗](babysit/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* To babysit can also be used jokingly for watching over something, like a pet or a house.[↗](babysit/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* My big cousin will babysit us tonight.[↗](babysit/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Grandma babysits my little brother on Tuesdays.[↗](babysit/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · She babysat for the neighbours last weekend.[↗](babysit/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Can you babysit my hamster while I'm away?[↗](babysit/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · You must be old enough and trusted to babysit.[↗](babysit/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · When Mum babysits, she reads us a story.[↗](babysit/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **babysitter** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A babysitter is a person who looks after children in their home while the parents are out, usually for a few hours and often for money.[↗](babysitter/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (informal) Something that keeps children busy so adults can rest, like a TV used as «a babysitter».[↗](babysitter/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Our babysitter reads us stories before bed.[↗](babysitter/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Mum and Dad hired a babysitter for Saturday night.[↗](babysitter/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The babysitter has the emergency phone numbers.[↗](babysitter/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · My cousin earns money as a babysitter.[↗](babysitter/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The babysitter said bedtime was eight o'clock.[↗](babysitter/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Be polite to the babysitter.[↗](babysitter/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Can you be our babysitter on Friday?[↗](babysitter/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · The TV shouldn't be your babysitter all day.[↗](babysitter/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") **babysitting** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Babysitting is the -ing form of «babysit»: looking after a child while their parents are out.[↗](babysitting/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Babysitting is also the job or activity of doing that, often for pay.[↗](babysitting/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* She earns pocket money from babysitting.[↗](babysitting/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · I'm babysitting my little sister tonight.[↗](babysitting/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · He did a babysitting course to learn first aid.[↗](babysitting/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Mia was paid £8 an hour for babysitting, so 3 hours earned her £24.[↗](babysitting/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Babysitting twins is hard work\![↗](babysitting/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Thanks for babysitting, we'll be home by ten.[↗](babysitting/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **baccy** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* (informal, UK) Baccy is short for tobacco, the dried leaves people smoke in pipes and cigarettes.[↗](baccy/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Grandad kept his baccy in a tin.[↗](baccy/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The old sailor filled his pipe with baccy.[↗](baccy/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · «Got any baccy?» asked the tramp.[↗](baccy/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The shop sold sweets and baccy.[↗](baccy/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · He ran out of baccy and grumbled.[↗](baccy/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Baccy is slang for tobacco.[↗](baccy/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **bach** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Bach is the surname of Johann Sebastian Bach, a famous German composer of classical and church music who lived long ago (a name).[↗](bach/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (New Zealand) A bach is a small, simple holiday house, often by the beach or a lake.[↗](bach/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* (informal, US, old) To bach it means to live alone as a bachelor (rare).[↗](bach/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* We listened to a piece by Bach in music class.[↗](bach/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Bach wrote a lot of music for church organs.[↗](bach/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Every summer we stay at our bach in the Coromandel.[↗](bach/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The bach has no TV, just a deck and the beach.[↗](bach/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Johann Sebastian Bach came from a family of musicians.[↗](bach/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Gran's bach is by the lake.[↗](bach/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **bachelor** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A man who is not married and never has been.[↗](bachelor/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (school) A first university degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc).[↗](bachelor/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* (informal) A bachelor pad is a flat where an unmarried man lives.[↗](bachelor/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* My uncle is a bachelor who lives with three cats.[↗](bachelor/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · My sister is studying for a bachelor's degree in science.[↗](bachelor/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · She has a Bachelor of Arts in history.[↗](bachelor/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The prince was the most famous bachelor in the land.[↗](bachelor/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The bachelor finally married at fifty.[↗](bachelor/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Dad's friends threw him a bachelor party before the wedding.[↗](bachelor/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · A bachelor's degree usually takes three or four years.[↗](bachelor/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · And the butterfly became what is called an old bachelor.[↗](bachelor/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") **back** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* The back is the part that is last or farthest from the front: the back of the line.[↗](back/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Your back is the part of your body from your neck to your bottom.[↗](back/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* Back as an adverb means to where someone or something was before: «come back», «give it back».[↗](back/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 4:* To back someone is to help or support them; to back up is to move backwards.[↗](back/#m4 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 5:* Back means earlier in time: «three years back», «back then».[↗](back/#m5 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 6:* In football and rugby a back is a player near your own goal.[↗](back/#m6 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 7:* (casual) «Got your back» means I'll protect you; «back in a sec» means I'll return soon.[↗](back/#m7 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 8:* (rude) «Back off!», «get off my back!» mean stop bothering me; «talk behind someone's back» is gossip they do not hear.[↗](back/#m8 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 9:* (formal) Exams say «return», «reimburse», «refund», «the rear» and «previously».[↗](back/#m9 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Anna is the 6th from the front and the 11th from the back.[↗](back/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Tom stands at the back of the line.[↗](back/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Sam gave 2 cards back to Ben.[↗](back/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Write your name on the back of the page.[↗](back/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Lie on your back and look at the stars.[↗](back/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Come back before it gets dark.[↗](back/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Dad backed the car out of the garage.[↗](back/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · back in 5 mins, save me a seat[↗](back/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") · Give it back or else, that's my 10 bucks\![↗](back/#x9 "tree and pragmatics") · She talks about everyone behind their back.[↗](back/#x10 "tree and pragmatics") · A refund of 4 dollars is subsequently remitted to the purchaser.[↗](back/#x11 "tree and pragmatics") Determine the net expenditure.[↗](back/#x11 "tree and pragmatics") · Count the 4th seat from the rear of the bus.[↗](back/#x12 "tree and pragmatics") · He went back to his work.[↗](back/#x13 "tree and pragmatics") · But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.[↗](back/#x14 "tree and pragmatics") (Torah GEN.19.26, JPS 1917)[↗](back/#x14 "tree and pragmatics") · And Abraham said unto him: 'Beware thou that thou bring not my son back thither.[↗](back/#x15 "tree and pragmatics") (Torah GEN.24.6, JPS 1917)[↗](back/#x15 "tree and pragmatics") · Behold, I am bidden to bless; and when He hath blessed, I cannot call it back.[↗](back/#x16 "tree and pragmatics") (Torah NUM.23.20, JPS 1917)[↗](back/#x16 "tree and pragmatics") · Wherefore they came back, and told him.[↗](back/#x17 "tree and pragmatics") (Prophets 2KI.9.36, JPS 1917)[↗](back/#x17 "tree and pragmatics") · The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.[↗](back/#x18 "tree and pragmatics") (Writings PSA.129.3, JPS 1917)[↗](back/#x18 "tree and pragmatics") · Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.[↗](back/#x19 "tree and pragmatics") (Writings PRO.19.29, JPS 1917)[↗](back/#x19 "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/page/2/) … [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/page/59/) - ← previous: [A](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/A/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/page/2/) - ↑ back to [The English dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/)