bal|co|ny /bæ lkəni/ (balconies )
1 N‑COUNT A balcony is a platform on the outside of a building, above ground level, with a wall or railing around it.
2 N‑SING The balcony in a theatre or cinema is an area of seats above the main seating area.
bald /bɔː ld/ (balder , baldest )
1 ADJ Someone who is bald has little or no hair on the top of their head. □ The man's bald head was beaded with sweat. ● bald|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ He wears a cap to cover a spot of baldness.
2 ADJ If a tyre is bald , its surface has worn down and it is no longer safe to use.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] A bald statement is in plain language and contains no extra explanation or information. □ The announcement came in a bald statement from the official news agency. □ The bald truth is he's just not happy. ● bald|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'The leaders are outdated,' he stated baldly. 'They don't relate to young people.'
ba ld ea gle (bald eagles ) N‑COUNT A bald eagle is a large eagle with a white head that lives in North America. It is the national bird of the United States of America.
bal|der|dash /bɔː ldə r dæʃ/ N‑UNCOUNT If you say that something that has been said or written is balderdash , you think it is completely untrue or very stupid. [OLD-FASHIONED , DISAPPROVAL ]
bald|ing /bɔː ld I ŋ/ ADJ Someone who is balding is beginning to lose the hair on the top of their head. □ He wore a straw hat to keep his balding head from getting sunburned.
baldy /bɔː ldi/ (baldies ) N‑COUNT People sometimes refer to a bald person as a baldy , especially if they are talking about them or to them in a friendly or humorous way. Some people might find this offensive. [INFORMAL ] □ More than three-quarters of baldies and redheads had been teased.
bale /be I l/ (bales , baling , baled )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A bale is a large quantity of something such as hay, cloth, or paper, tied together tightly. □ …bales of hay.
2 VERB If something such as hay, cloth, or paper is baled , it is tied together tightly. □ [be V -ed] Once hay has been cut and baled it has to go through some chemical processes. [Also V n]
3 → see also bail
bale|ful /be I lfʊl/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Baleful means harmful, or expressing harmful intentions. [LITERARY ] □ …a baleful look. ● bale|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He watched her balefully.
balk /bɔː lk, [AM ] bɔː k/ (balks , balking , balked ) also baulk VERB If you balk at something, you definitely do not want to do it or to let it happen. □ [V + at ] Even biology undergraduates may balk at animal experiments. □ [V ] Last October the bank balked, alarmed that a $24m profit had turned into a $20m deficit.
Bal|kani|za|tion /bɔː lkəna I ze I ʃ ə n/ The spellings balkanization , and in British English balkanisation are also used. N‑UNCOUNT If you disapprove of the division of a country into separate independent states, you can refer to the Balkanization of the country. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ We can't accept the fragmentation or balkanization of the country.
ball ◆◆◇ /bɔː l/ (balls , balling , balled )
1 N‑COUNT A ball is a round object that is used in games such as tennis, baseball, football, basketball, and cricket. □ …a golf ball. □ …a tennis ball.
2 N‑COUNT A ball is something or an amount of something that has a round shape. □ Thomas screwed the letter up into a ball. □ [+ of ] They heard a loud explosion and saw a ball of fire go up.
3 VERB When you ball something or when it balls , it becomes round. □ [V n adv/prep] He picked up the sheets of paper, and balled them tightly in his fists. □ [V adv/prep] His hands balled into fists.
4 N‑COUNT The ball of your foot or the ball of your thumb is the rounded part where your toes join your foot or where your thumb joins your hand.
5 N‑COUNT A ball is a large formal social event at which people dance.
6 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A man's balls are his testicles. [INFORMAL , RUDE ]
7 → see also balls
8 PHRASE If you say that the ball is in someone's court , you mean that it is his or her responsibility to take the next action or decision in a situation. □ The ball's now in your court–you have to decide what you're going to do.
9 PHRASE If you get the ball rolling , set the ball rolling , or start the ball rolling , you start something happening. □ He will try to get the ball rolling again on peace talks.
10 PHRASE If someone is on the ball , they are very alert and aware of what is happening. □ She really is on the ball; she's bought houses at auctions so she knows what she's doing.
11 PHRASE If someone refuses to play ball , they are unwilling to do what someone wants them to do. [INFORMAL ] □ The association has threatened to withdraw its support if the banks refuse to play ball.
bal|lad /bæ ləd/ (ballads )
1 N‑COUNT A ballad is a long song or poem which tells a story in simple language.
2 N‑COUNT A ballad is a slow, romantic, popular song.
bal|last /bæ ləst/ N‑UNCOUNT Ballast is any substance that is used in ships or hot-air balloons to make them heavier and more stable. Ballast usually consists of water, sand, or iron.