--- title: B — The English dictionary with trees and pragmatics · page 2 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/page/2/) [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 · page 2 [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](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/page/3/) … [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/page/59/) **backache** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A pain in your back.[↗](../../backache/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Carrying my heavy bag gave me backache.[↗](../../backache/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Grandma has a backache after gardening.[↗](../../backache/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Lift with your knees to avoid backache.[↗](../../backache/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Sitting badly can cause backache.[↗](../../backache/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Dad's backache got better with rest.[↗](../../backache/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · A good chair helps prevent backache.[↗](../../backache/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **backbite** — *In Jewish tradition, meaning 1:* to speak badly of someone when they are not there.[↗](../../backbite/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* With the profanest mockeries of backbiting they gnash at me with their teeth.[↗](../../backbite/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") (Writings PSA.35.16, JPS 1917)[↗](../../backbite/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The north wind bringeth forth rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.[↗](../../backbite/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") (Writings PRO.25.23, JPS 1917)[↗](../../backbite/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") **backbone** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* The backbone is the line of bones down the middle of your back, also called the spine.[↗](../../backbone/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* The backbone of something is its most important part, which holds the rest up.[↗](../../backbone/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* Having backbone means being brave and strong enough to do the right thing.[↗](../../backbone/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Your backbone is made of small bones called vertebrae.[↗](../../backbone/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · A fish has a backbone, but a worm does not.[↗](../../backbone/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Sit up straight to look after your backbone.[↗](../../backbone/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Farmers are the backbone of the country.[↗](../../backbone/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · It takes backbone to stand up to a bully.[↗](../../backbone/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The goalkeeper is the backbone of our team.[↗](../../backbone/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Insects are animals without a backbone.[↗](../../backbone/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · Feel the bumps of your backbone down your back.[↗](../../backbone/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") **backfire** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* If a plan backfires, it goes wrong and has the opposite result to what you wanted, often hurting you instead.[↗](../../backfire/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* If a car or engine backfires, it makes a sudden loud bang because fuel explodes in the wrong place.[↗](../../backfire/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* His plan to scare his sister backfired when he got scared.[↗](../../backfire/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The joke backfired, and nobody laughed.[↗](../../backfire/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Lying to your parents can backfire.[↗](../../backfire/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The old car backfired with a loud bang.[↗](../../backfire/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Her trick backfired on her.[↗](../../backfire/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Skipping lunch backfired — I felt sick in the afternoon.[↗](../../backfire/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · The fox's clever plan backfired in the end.[↗](../../backfire/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · The motorbike backfired and the birds flew off.[↗](../../backfire/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") **background** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* The background of a picture or scene is the part behind the main things, furthest from you.[↗](../../background/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Your background is your family, your culture, where you come from, your education and experience.[↗](../../background/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* Background information is the facts you need to understand something.[↗](../../background/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 4:* In the background means present but not the centre of attention: background music, background noise.[↗](../../background/#m4 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* The mountains are in the background of the painting.[↗](../../background/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Our class photo has the school in the background.[↗](../../background/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · There was a lot of background noise in the café.[↗](../../background/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The teacher gave us some background on the war.[↗](../../background/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Children in our class come from many different backgrounds.[↗](../../background/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Soft music played in the background.[↗](../../background/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · I changed the background on my tablet to a picture of my dog.[↗](../../background/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · The app keeps running in the background.[↗](../../background/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") · Fortunately for him the demons did not see him, as the tree was in the background.[↗](../../background/#x9 "tree and pragmatics") **backhand** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A backhand is a shot in tennis, badminton, table tennis or squash, where you hit the ball with your arm across your body and the back of your hand facing the ball.[↗](../../backhand/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Backhand can describe writing that slopes to the left.[↗](../../backhand/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* To backhand is to hit with the back of the hand.[↗](../../backhand/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* She hit a great backhand down the line.[↗](../../backhand/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Practise your backhand against the wall.[↗](../../backhand/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · His backhand is weaker than his forehand.[↗](../../backhand/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · In table tennis, a backhand is played across your body.[↗](../../backhand/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The coach showed us how to hold the racket for a backhand.[↗](../../backhand/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · He caught the frisbee backhand.[↗](../../backhand/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **backlighting** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Light placed behind something, like the light behind a phone or laptop screen, or behind a person in a photo or play.[↗](../../backlighting/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Turn down the backlighting to save battery.[↗](../../backlighting/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Backlighting made her hair glow in the photo.[↗](../../backlighting/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The keyboard has backlighting for the dark.[↗](../../backlighting/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Stage backlighting showed the dancers' shapes.[↗](../../backlighting/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Strong backlighting can make faces look dark.[↗](../../backlighting/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The old e-reader had no backlighting.[↗](../../backlighting/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **backlog** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A pile of work or jobs that should have been done already and are still waiting.[↗](../../backlog/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* A list of things still to be done in order, such as orders, emails or tasks.[↗](../../backlog/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* A backlog is a large log placed at the back of a fireplace to burn slowly.[↗](../../backlog/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* After a week off sick, I had a backlog of homework.[↗](../../backlog/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The post office has a huge backlog of parcels before Christmas.[↗](../../backlog/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The plumbers are busy clearing a backlog of jobs.[↗](../../backlog/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Dad spent Sunday working through his backlog of emails.[↗](../../backlog/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · There is a long backlog of patients waiting at the hospital.[↗](../../backlog/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Our game-making team keeps a backlog of ideas.[↗](../../backlog/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Snow caused a backlog of trains at the station.[↗](../../backlog/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · The next thing she did was to rake back the red embers, and make a hollow place among them, just where the backlog had been.[↗](../../backlog/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") **backpack** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A backpack is a bag with two straps that you carry on your back.[↗](../../backpack/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* To backpack means to travel or hike carrying everything you need in a big backpack.[↗](../../backpack/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Put your lunch box in your backpack.[↗](../../backpack/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Wear both straps of your backpack.[↗](../../backpack/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · My backpack is too heavy with all these books.[↗](../../backpack/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · We packed water and snacks in our backpacks for the hike.[↗](../../backpack/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Her backpack has reflective strips for the dark walk home.[↗](../../backpack/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · They went backpacking around New Zealand.[↗](../../backpack/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · He hung his backpack on the hook.[↗](../../backpack/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · Check your backpack for letters from school.[↗](../../backpack/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") **backside** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* (informal) The part of the body you sit on; your bottom.[↗](../../backside/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* The back part of something (rare): the backside of the building.[↗](../../backside/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* (informal, phrases) Get off your backside: stop being lazy and do something.[↗](../../backside/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* He slipped on the ice and landed on his backside.[↗](../../backside/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · (informal) Get off your backside and tidy your room\![↗](../../backside/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The donkey kicked the farmer in the backside.[↗](../../backside/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · (informal) Doing all this homework is a pain in the backside.[↗](../../backside/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · My backside hurt after the long bike ride.[↗](../../backside/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The mud left a brown patch on her backside.[↗](../../backside/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **backsliding** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Going back to bad old habits after you had been doing better.[↗](../../backsliding/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (church) Falling away from faith or from living as a Christian after having been committed.[↗](../../backsliding/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* After a week of early nights, there was some backsliding at the weekend.[↗](../../backsliding/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The preacher warned the people against backsliding.[↗](../../backsliding/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Toad promised to change, but his backsliding began at once.[↗](../../backsliding/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · We must stop backsliding into old bad habits.[↗](../../backsliding/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Christians believe God forgives the backsliding person who comes back.[↗](../../backsliding/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · My diet lasted two days before the backsliding started.[↗](../../backsliding/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · How long wilt thou turn away coyly, O thou backsliding daughter?[↗](../../backsliding/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") (Prophets JER.31.22, JPS 1917)[↗](../../backsliding/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding?[↗](../../backsliding/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") (Prophets JER.8.5, JPS 1917)[↗](../../backsliding/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") · even the LORD said unto me — backsliding Israel hath proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.[↗](../../backsliding/#x9 "tree and pragmatics") (Prophets JER.3.11, JPS 1917)[↗](../../backsliding/#x9 "tree and pragmatics") **backstage** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Backstage means in the area behind the stage of a theatre, where performers get ready and wait.[↗](../../backstage/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Backstage can mean in private, hidden from the public, where the real planning happens.[↗](../../backstage/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* We waited nervously backstage before the school play.[↗](../../backstage/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The costumes are kept backstage.[↗](../../backstage/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · She got a backstage pass at the concert.[↗](../../backstage/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Lots of helpers work backstage to make the show run.[↗](../../backstage/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Please be quiet backstage during the performance.[↗](../../backstage/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Backstage, the actors were laughing and joking.[↗](../../backstage/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **backstroke** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Backstroke is a way of swimming on your back, moving your arms backwards one after the other over your head and kicking your legs.[↗](../../backstroke/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* A backstroke is one movement of the arm in this style.[↗](../../backstroke/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* I swam two lengths of backstroke today.[↗](../../backstroke/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · In backstroke you float on your back and look at the ceiling.[↗](../../backstroke/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Backstroke races start in the water, not from the blocks.[↗](../../backstroke/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The flags warn backstroke swimmers that the wall is near.[↗](../../backstroke/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · She won the gold medal in the 200 metres backstroke.[↗](../../backstroke/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Keep your tummy up when you do backstroke.[↗](../../backstroke/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Each backstroke pulled him further down the pool.[↗](../../backstroke/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **backup** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* An extra copy of computer files kept safe in case the first copy is lost.[↗](../../backup/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Extra help or support, such as more police or players who can join when needed.[↗](../../backup/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* Something kept ready in case the first plan fails, like a backup plan.[↗](../../backup/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 4:* (US) A traffic jam or a blockage, such as a sink backup.[↗](../../backup/#m4 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Always make a backup of your homework on a memory stick.[↗](../../backup/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · My laptop broke, but I had a backup in the cloud.[↗](../../backup/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · If it rains, our backup plan is the cinema.[↗](../../backup/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The officer called for backup.[↗](../../backup/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The backup goalkeeper came on in the second half.[↗](../../backup/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Please back up your files before the update.[↗](../../backup/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · My friend backed me up when I told the truth.[↗](../../backup/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · There was a backup of cars on the motorway.[↗](../../backup/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") **backward** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Backward means toward the back, or in the direction behind you.[↗](../../backward/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Backward means in the opposite order, from end to start.[↗](../../backward/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* Backward (adjective) can mean slower to change or grow than others.[↗](../../backward/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Count backward from 20 by 2s.[↗](../../backward/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · He took 3 steps backward.[↗](../../backward/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Read the number backward.[↗](../../backward/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The frog jumps 5 feet forward and 2 feet backward.[↗](../../backward/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · She can say the alphabet backwards.[↗](../../backward/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Walk backward slowly and carefully.[↗](../../backward/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · The video played backward.[↗](../../backward/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · Count backward from 10 to 1 for the rocket launch.[↗](../../backward/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") · He fell backward into the pool.[↗](../../backward/#x9 "tree and pragmatics") · She bent over backwards to help us.[↗](../../backward/#x10 "tree and pragmatics") · He moved his head backwards and forwards and flew away.[↗](../../backward/#x11 "tree and pragmatics") · Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake in the path, that biteth the horse's heels, so that his rider falleth backward.[↗](../../backward/#x12 "tree and pragmatics") (Torah GEN.49.17, JPS 1917)[↗](../../backward/#x12 "tree and pragmatics") · And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.[↗](../../backward/#x13 "tree and pragmatics") (Torah GEN.9.23, JPS 1917)[↗](../../backward/#x13 "tree and pragmatics") · Eighth ; He looked backward, and sealed the West (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)[↗](../../backward/#x14 "tree and pragmatics") · The sea saw it, and fled; the Jordan turned backward.[↗](../../backward/#x15 "tree and pragmatics") (Writings PSA.114.3, JPS 1917)[↗](../../backward/#x15 "tree and pragmatics") · Let them be ashamed and turned backward, all they that hate Zion.[↗](../../backward/#x16 "tree and pragmatics") (Writings PSA.129.5, JPS 1917)[↗](../../backward/#x16 "tree and pragmatics") · And He smote His adversaries backward; He put upon them a perpetual reproach.[↗](../../backward/#x17 "tree and pragmatics") (Writings PSA.78.66, JPS 1917)[↗](../../backward/#x17 "tree and pragmatics") **backwater** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A part of a river where the water is still or slow, away from the main current, often behind a bend or a weir.[↗](../../backwater/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* A quiet place, such as a small town, where not much happens and new ideas arrive slowly.[↗](../../backwater/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Ratty steered the boat into a quiet backwater.[↗](../../backwater/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Water lilies grew in the still backwater.[↗](../../backwater/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Ducks dabbled in the backwater, away from the strong current.[↗](../../backwater/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · My uncle says his village is a sleepy backwater.[↗](../../backwater/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The backwater was full of reeds and dragonflies.[↗](../../backwater/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · They tied up the boat in a little backwater for lunch.[↗](../../backwater/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Fish rest in backwaters when the river is in flood.[↗](../../backwater/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **backyard** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A backyard is the yard behind a house, often with grass; in the UK and Australia it is often called the back garden.[↗](../../backyard/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* The backyard is 20 feet long and 15 feet wide.[↗](../../backyard/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · She planted 6 trees in the backyard.[↗](../../backyard/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · A fence goes around the backyard.[↗](../../backyard/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · 9 birds are in the backyard.[↗](../../backyard/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · We camped in the backyard in a tent.[↗](../../backyard/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The dog dug a hole in the backyard.[↗](../../backyard/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Dad grills burgers in the backyard.[↗](../../backyard/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · We grow tomatoes in our backyard.[↗](../../backyard/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") · The kids built a fort in the backyard.[↗](../../backyard/#x9 "tree and pragmatics") · A swing hangs from the tree in the backyard.[↗](../../backyard/#x10 "tree and pragmatics") · The Princess and the gardener's boy were playing in the backyard.[↗](../../backyard/#x11 "tree and pragmatics") **bacon** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Bacon is salty meat from the back or sides of a pig, cut in thin slices and usually fried or grilled.[↗](../../bacon/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (informal, idiom) To bring home the bacon means to earn money for your family.[↗](../../bacon/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* (informal, idiom) To save someone's bacon means to rescue them from trouble.[↗](../../bacon/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 4:* To want someone's bacon means to be after them, wanting to catch or harm them.[↗](../../bacon/#m4 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Dad fried bacon and eggs for breakfast.[↗](../../bacon/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · I'd like a bacon sandwich, please.[↗](../../bacon/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Some people do not eat bacon because of their religion.[↗](../../bacon/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · You saved my bacon by lending me a pen\![↗](../../bacon/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Grandad worked hard to bring home the bacon.[↗](../../bacon/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Crispy bacon smells delicious.[↗](../../bacon/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · But he wants my bacon! gree-ee-ee!"[↗](../../bacon/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **bacteria** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Bacteria are tiny living things, each made of just one cell, too small to see without a microscope.[↗](../../bacteria/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Some bacteria are harmful and cause illness (germs), but many are helpful, for example in your gut, in soil and in making yoghurt and cheese.[↗](../../bacteria/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Bacteria are so small that you need a microscope to see them.[↗](../../bacteria/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Wash your hands with soap to get rid of harmful bacteria.[↗](../../bacteria/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Some bacteria help us digest our food.[↗](../../bacteria/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Keep milk in the fridge so bacteria grow more slowly.[↗](../../bacteria/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Yoghurt is made with the help of bacteria.[↗](../../bacteria/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Brushing your teeth removes bacteria that cause holes.[↗](../../bacteria/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Bacteria can live in very hot springs and in ice.[↗](../../bacteria/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · Cook chicken all the way through to kill the bacteria.[↗](../../bacteria/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") **bacterial** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Bacterial means caused by bacteria or to do with bacteria, the tiny living things too small to see.[↗](../../bacterial/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* She had a bacterial infection and needed antibiotics.[↗](../../bacterial/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Washing your hands reduces bacterial growth.[↗](../../bacterial/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Leaving food out can lead to bacterial growth.[↗](../../bacterial/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Scientists grew bacterial colonies on a dish.[↗](../../bacterial/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Tooth decay is partly bacterial.[↗](../../bacterial/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/page/3/) … [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/page/59/) - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/) - next →: [page 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/page/3/) - ↑ back to [The English dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/)