ba y leaf (bay leaves ) N‑COUNT A bay leaf is a leaf of an evergreen tree that can be dried and used as a herb in cooking.
bayo|net /be I ənət/ (bayonets , bayoneting , bayoneted )
1 N‑COUNT A bayonet is a long, sharp blade that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon.
2 VERB To bayonet someone means to push a bayonet into them. □ [V n] The soldiers were ordered to bayonet every man they could find.
bayou /ba I uː/ (bayous ) N‑COUNT A bayou is a slow-moving, marshy area of water in the southern United States, especially Louisiana.
ba y wi n|dow (bay windows ) N‑COUNT A bay window is a window that sticks out from the outside wall of a house.
ba|zaar /bəzɑː r / (bazaars )
1 N‑COUNT In areas such as the Middle East and India, a bazaar is a place where there are many small shops and stalls. □ Kamal was a vendor in Egypt's open-air bazaar.
2 N‑COUNT A bazaar is a sale to raise money for charity. □ …a church bazaar.
ba|zoo|ka /bəzuː kə/ (bazookas ) N‑COUNT A bazooka is a long, tube-shaped gun that is held on the shoulder and fires rockets.
BBC /biː biː siː / N‑PROPER The BBC is a British organization which broadcasts programmes on radio and television. BBC is an abbreviation for 'British Broadcasting Corporation'. □ The concert will be broadcast live by the BBC. □ …the BBC correspondent in Tunis.
BBQ BBQ is the written abbreviation for barbecue .
BC /biː siː / You use BC in dates to indicate a number of years or centuries before the year in which Jesus Christ is believed to have been born. Compare AD . □ The brooch dates back to the fourth century BC.
BCE /biː siː iː / Many people now use BCE in dates to indicate a number of years or centuries before AD 1 or before the year in which Jesus is believed to have been born. Compare CE . □ Aristophanes' ancient comedy Lysistrata was performed first in Athens in 411 BCE. □ The first Jewish community settled in Rome in the second century BCE.
be
➊ AUXILIARY VERB USES
➋ OTHER VERB USES
➊ be ◆◆◆ /bi, STRONG biː/ (am , are , is , being , was , were , been ) In spoken English, forms of be are often shortened, for example 'I am' is shortened to 'I'm' and 'was not' is shortened to 'wasn't'. 1 AUX You use be with a present participle to form the continuous tenses of verbs. □ [AUX -ing] This is happening in every school throughout the country. □ [AUX -ing] She didn't always think carefully about what she was doing.
2 be going to → see going
3 AUX You use be with a past participle to form the passive voice. □ [AUX -ed] Forensic experts were called in. □ [AUX -ed] Her husband was killed in a car crash. □ [AUX -ed] The cost of electricity from coal-fired stations is expected to fall. □ [AUX -ed] Similar action is being taken by the U.S. government.
4 AUX You use be with an infinitive to indicate that something is planned to happen, that it will definitely happen, or that it must happen. □ [AUX to-inf] The talks are to begin tomorrow. □ [AUX to-inf] It was to be Johnson's first meeting with the board in nearly a month. □ [AUX to-inf] You are to answer to Brian, to take your orders from him.
5 be about to → see about
6 AUX You use be with an infinitive to say or ask what should happen or be done in a particular situation, how it should happen, or who should do it. □ [AUX to-inf] What am I to do without him? □ [AUX to-inf] Who is to say which of them had more power?
7 AUX You use was and were with an infinitive to talk about something that happened later than the time you are discussing, and was not planned or certain at that time. □ [AUX to-inf] Then he received a phone call that was to change his life. □ [AUX to-inf] A few hours later he was to prove it.
8 AUX You can say that something is to be seen, heard, or found in a particular place to mean that people can see it, hear it, or find it in that place. □ [AUX -ed] Little traffic was to be seen on the streets. □ [AUX -ed] They are to be found all over the world.
➋ be ◆◆◆ /bi, STRONG biː/ (am , are , is , being , was , were , been ) In spoken English, forms of be are often shortened, for example 'I am' is shortened to 'I'm' and 'was not' is shortened to 'wasn't'. 1 V‑LINK You use be to introduce more information about the subject, such as its identity, nature, qualities, or position. □ [V n] She's my mother. □ [V n] He is a very attractive man. □ [V n] My grandfather was a butcher. □ [V adj] The fact that you were willing to pay in the end is all that matters. □ [V adj] The sky was black. □ [V adj] It is 1,267 feet high. □ [V prep/adv] Cheney was in Madrid. □ [V prep/adv] His house is next door. □ [V adj] 'Is it safe?'—'Well of course it is.' □ [V adj] He's still alive isn't he?
2 V‑LINK You use be , with 'it' as the subject, in clauses where you are describing something or giving your judgment of a situation. □ [V adj] It was too chilly for swimming. □ [V adj to-inf] Sometimes it is necessary to say no. □ [V adj that] It is likely that investors will face losses. □ [V adj v-ing] It's nice having friends to chat to. □ [V n that] It's a good thing I brought lots of handkerchiefs. □ [V n v-ing] It's no good just having meetings. □ [V n to-inf] It's a good idea to avoid refined food. □ [V prep to-inf] It's up to us to prove it.