ba nned su b|stance (banned substances ) N‑COUNT In sport, banned substances are drugs that competitors are not allowed to take because they could artificially improve their performance.
ban|ner /bæ nə r / (banners )
1 N‑COUNT A banner is a long strip of cloth with something written on it. Banners are usually attached to two poles and carried during a protest or rally. □ …a large crowd of students carrying banners denouncing the government.
2 PHRASE If someone does something under the banner of a particular cause, idea, or belief, they do it saying that they support that cause, idea, or belief. □ …proposals to impose more taxation upon motorists under the banner of being 'green'.
ba n|ner ad (banner ads ) N‑COUNT A banner ad is a large advertisement on a website that stretches across the top or down the side of the window. It usually contains a link to the advertiser's website. [COMPUTING ]
ba n|ner hea d|line (banner headlines ) N‑COUNT A banner headline is a large headline in a newspaper that stretches across the front page. □ Today's front page carries a banner headline 'The adulterer, the bungler and the joker.'
bannister /bæ n I stə r / → see banister
banns /bæ nz/ N‑PLURAL When a minister or priest reads or publishes the banns , he or she makes a public announcement in church that two people are going to be married.
ban|quet /bæ ŋkw I t/ (banquets ) N‑COUNT A banquet is a grand formal dinner. □ Last night he attended a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
ban|quet|ing /bæ ŋkw I t I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] A banqueting hall or room is a large room where banquets are held.
ban|quette /bæŋke t/ (banquettes ) N‑COUNT A banquette is a long, low, cushioned seat. Banquettes are usually long enough for more than one person to sit on at a time.
ban|shee /bæ nʃiː/ (banshees ) N‑COUNT In Irish folk stories, a banshee is a female spirit who warns you by her long, sad cry that someone in your family is going to die.
ban|tam /bæ ntəm/ (bantams ) N‑COUNT A bantam is a breed of small chicken.
bantam|weight /bæ ntəmwe I t/ (bantamweights ) N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft N n] A bantamweight is a boxer who weighs between 51 and 53.5 kilograms, or a wrestler who weighs between 52 and 57 kilograms. A bantamweight is heavier than a flyweight but lighter than a featherweight. □ …the European bantamweight title-holder.
ban|ter /bæ ntə r / (banters , bantering , bantered )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Banter is teasing or joking talk that is amusing and friendly. □ She heard Tom exchanging good-natured banter with Jane.
2 VERB If you banter with someone, you tease them or joke with them in an amusing, friendly way. □ [V + with ] The soldiers bantered with him as though he was a kid brother. □ [V ] We bantered a bit while I tried to get the car started.
Ban|tu /bæ ntuː , -tuː/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Bantu means belonging or relating to a group of peoples in central and southern Africa. This use could cause offence.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Bantu languages belong to a group of languages spoken in central and southern Africa. This use could cause offence.
bap /bæ p/ (baps ) N‑COUNT In some dialects of British English, a bap is a soft flat bread roll.
bap|tise /bæpta I z/ → see baptize
bap|tism /bæ pt I zəm/ (baptisms ) N‑VAR A baptism is a Christian ceremony in which a person is baptized. Compare christening .
bap|tis|mal /bæpt I zməl/ ADJ [ADJ n] Baptismal means relating to or connected with baptism. [FORMAL ] □ …the baptismal ceremony.
ba p|tism of fi re (baptisms of fire ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If someone who has just begun a new job has a baptism of fire , they immediately have to cope with very many severe difficulties and obstacles. □ It was Mark's first introduction to royal duties and he came through his baptism of fire unscathed.
Bap|tist /bæ pt I st/ (Baptists )
1 N‑COUNT A Baptist is a Christian who believes that people should not be baptized until they are old enough to understand the meaning of baptism.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Baptist means belonging or relating to Baptists. □ …a Baptist church.
bap|tize /bæpta I z/ (baptizes , baptizing , baptized ) in BRIT, also use baptise VERB [usu passive] When someone is baptized , water is put on their heads or they are covered with water as a sign that their sins have been forgiven and that they have become a member of the Christian Church. Compare christen . □ [be V -ed] At this time she decided to become a Christian and was baptised.
bar ◆◆◇ /bɑː r / (bars , barring , barred )
1 N‑COUNT A bar is a place where you can buy and drink alcoholic drinks. [mainly AM ] □ …Devil's Herd, the city's most popular country-western bar.
2 N‑COUNT A bar is a room in a pub or hotel where alcoholic drinks are served. [BRIT ] □ I'll see you in the bar later. □ On the ship there are lounges, a bar and a small duty-free shop.
3 N‑COUNT A bar is a counter on which alcoholic drinks are served. □ Michael was standing alone by the bar when Brian rejoined him. □ He leaned forward across the bar.
4 → see also coffee bar , public bar , singles bar , snack bar , wine bar
5 N‑COUNT A bar is a long, straight, stiff piece of metal. □ …a brick building with bars across the ground floor windows. □ …a crowd throwing stones and iron bars.