5 to put all your eggs in one basket → see egg
basket|ball /bɑː sk I tbɔːl, bæ s-/ (basketballs )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Basketball is a game in which two teams of five players each try to score goals by throwing a large ball through a circular net fixed to a metal ring at each end of the court.
2 N‑COUNT A basketball is a large ball which is used in the game of basketball.
ba s|ket case (basket cases )
1 N‑COUNT If someone describes a country or organization as a basket case , they mean that its economy or finances are in a seriously bad state. [INFORMAL ] □ The country is an economic basket case with chronic unemployment and rampant crime.
2 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a basket case , you think that they are insane. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ You're going to think I'm a basket case when I tell you this.
bas-relief /bɑː r I liː f, bæ s-/ (bas-reliefs )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Bas-relief is a technique of sculpture in which shapes are carved so that they stand out from the background. □ …a classic white bas-relief design.
2 N‑COUNT A bas-relief is a sculpture carved on a surface so that it stands out from the background. □ …columns decorated with bas-reliefs.
bass ◆◇◇ (basses ) Pronounced /be I s/ for meanings 1 to 4 , and /bæ s/ for meaning 5 . The plural of the noun in meaning 5 is bass . 1 N‑COUNT A bass is a man with a very deep singing voice. □ …the great Russian bass Chaliapin.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A bass drum, guitar, or other musical instrument is one that produces a very deep sound. □ He had found success as a vocalist and bass guitarist with the band.
3 N‑VAR In popular music, a bass is a bass guitar or a double bass . □ …a supporting cast of musicians on bass, drums, guitar and violin.
4 N‑UNCOUNT On a stereo system or radio, the bass is the ability to reproduce the lower musical notes. The bass is also the knob which controls this.
5 N‑VAR Bass are edible fish that are found in rivers and the sea. There are several types of bass. □ They unloaded their catch of cod and bass. ● N‑UNCOUNT [oft n N ] Bass is a piece of this fish eaten as food. □ …a large fresh fillet of sea bass.
bas|set hound /bæ s I t haʊnd/ (basset hounds ) N‑COUNT A basset hound is a dog with short strong legs, a long body, and long ears. It is kept as a pet or used for hunting.
bass|ist /be I s I st/ (bassists ) N‑COUNT A bassist is someone who plays the bass guitar or the double bass.
bas|soon /bəsuː n/ (bassoons ) N‑VAR A bassoon is a large musical instrument of the woodwind family that is shaped like a tube and played by blowing into a curved metal pipe.
bas|soon|ist /bəsuː n I st/ (bassoonists ) N‑COUNT A bassoonist is someone who plays the bassoon.
bas|tard /bɑː stə r d, bæ s-/ (bastards )
1 N‑COUNT Bastard is an insulting word which some people use about a person, especially a man, who has behaved very badly. [RUDE , OFFENSIVE , DISAPPROVAL ]
2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A bastard is a person whose parents were not married to each other at the time that he or she was born. This use could cause offence. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
bas|tard|ized /bɑː stə r da I zd, bæ s-/ in BRIT, also use bastardised ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you refer to something as a bastardized form of something else, you mean that the first thing is similar to or copied from the second thing, but is of much poorer quality. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
baste /be I st/ (bastes , basting , basted ) VERB If you baste meat, you pour hot fat and the juices from the meat itself over it while it is cooking. □ [V n] Pam was in the middle of basting the turkey. □ [V ] Bake for 15-20 minutes, basting occasionally.
bas|ti|on /bæ stiən, [AM ] -tʃən/ (bastions ) N‑COUNT If a system or organization is described as a bastion of a particular way of life, it is seen as being important and effective in defending that way of life. Bastion can be used both when you think that this way of life should be ended and when you think it should be defended. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …a town which had been a bastion of white prejudice. □ The army was still one of the last male bastions.
bat ◆◇◇ /bæ t/ (bats , batting , batted )
1 N‑COUNT A bat is a specially shaped piece of wood that is used for hitting the ball in baseball, softball, cricket, rounders, or table tennis. □ …a baseball bat.
2 VERB When you bat , you have a turn at hitting the ball with a bat in baseball, softball, cricket, or rounders. □ [V ] Australia, put in to bat, made a cautious start. ● bat|ting N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] □ …his batting average. □ He's likely to open the batting.
3 N‑COUNT A bat is a small flying animal that looks like a mouse with wings made of skin. Bats are active at night.
4 → see also old bat
5 PHRASE When something surprising or shocking happens, if someone doesn't bat an eyelid in British English, or doesn't bat an eye in American English, they remain calm and do not show any reaction.
6 PHRASE If someone does something off their own bat , they do it without anyone else suggesting it. [BRIT ] □ Whatever she did, she did off her own bat.
7 PHRASE If something happens right off the bat , it happens immediately. [AM ] □ He learned right off the bat that you can't count on anything in this business.