| asbestos |
a mineral that separates into fibers and does not catch fire or conduct electricity. Asbestos is used to make fireproof materials and insulation. |
| asleep |
into a condition of sleep. [1/3 definitions] |
| assemble |
to gather into a group. [1/3 definitions] |
| assimilate |
of immigrants or the like, to become absorbed into a new cultural group. [1/3 definitions] |
| atrium |
either of the two upper compartments of the heart; auricle. Blood returning from the body flows into the atria, which pump the blood to the ventricles, the lower compartments of the heart. [1/2 definitions] |
| bagpipe |
a wind instrument made of a leather bag and pipes. It is played by blowing air into the bag and squeezing the bag to force air through pipes that produce musical tones. |
| balance |
to be in or come into a state of balance. [1/6 definitions] |
| balcony |
an upper floor with rows of seats that juts out into a theater or auditorium. [1/2 definitions] |
| band1 |
to come together into a group. [1/3 definitions] |
| bank1 |
to form into a pile. [1/3 definitions] |
| batter2 |
a thick mixture of liquid, flour, eggs, and other ingredients, often baked into bread or cake. |
| bay1 |
a part of a sea or lake that cuts into a coastline and is partly surrounded by land. |
| beaten |
hammered into a new shape, often flat. [1/3 definitions] |
| begin |
to come into being. [1/3 definitions] |
| Berlin |
the capital city of Germany. Between 1945 and 1990 the city was divided into East Berlin and West Berlin. For most of that time the Berlin Wall, a concrete and wire barrier, separated East and West Berlin. |
| billiards |
a game played with long sticks and hard balls on a special table covered with cloth. Players use a stick to hit the balls against each other and into pockets along the edges of the table. |
| birth |
the act of bringing a new baby or baby animal into the world. [1/3 definitions] |
| bisect |
to cut or split into two equal parts. [1/2 definitions] |
| bite |
of insects or similar small creatures, to break into the skin of (a human or other mammal) in order to feed on blood. [1/10 definitions] |
| blacksmith |
a person who forges and shapes iron. Blacksmiths soften the iron with heat and use hammers and anvils to form it into various items. |
| blockade |
the shutting off of traffic into and out of a place. Military forces do this to seaports or cities during wars. [1/2 definitions] |