2 FRACTION A billionth is one of a billion equal parts of something. □ …a billionth of a second.
bi ll of fa re (bills of fare ) N‑COUNT The bill of fare at a restaurant is a list of the food for a meal from which you may choose what you want to eat. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
Bi ll of Ri ghts N‑SING A Bill of Rights is a written list of citizens' rights which is usually part of the constitution of a country.
bil|low /b I loʊ/ (billows , billowing , billowed )
1 VERB When something made of cloth billows , it swells out and moves slowly in the wind. □ [V ] The curtains billowed in the breeze. □ [V out ] Her pink dress billowed out around her.
2 VERB When smoke or cloud billows , it moves slowly upwards or across the sky. □ [V prep/adv] Steam billowed from under the bonnet. □ [V -ing] …billowing clouds of cigarette smoke.
3 N‑COUNT A billow of smoke or dust is a large mass of it rising slowly into the air. □ [+ of ] …smoke stacks belching billows of almost solid black smoke.
bil|ly /b I li/ (billies ) N‑COUNT A billy or billy club is a short heavy stick which is sometimes used as a weapon by the police. [AM ] in BRIT, use baton
bil|ly goat /b I li goʊt/ (billy goats ) N‑COUNT A billy goat is a male goat.
bim|bo /b I mboʊ/ (bimbos ) N‑COUNT If someone calls a young woman a bimbo , they think that although she is pretty she is rather stupid. This use could cause offence. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
bi|month|ly /ba I mʌ nθli/ in BRIT, also use bi-monthly ADJ [usu ADJ n] A bimonthly event or publication happens or appears every two months. □ …bimonthly newsletters.
bin /b I n/ (bins , binning , binned )
1 N‑COUNT A bin is a container that you put rubbish in. [mainly BRIT ] □ He screwed the paper small and chucked it in the bin. in AM, usually use garbage can , trash can 2 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A bin is a container that you keep or store things in. □ …a bread bin. □ …big steel storage bins.
3 VERB If you bin something, you throw it away. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V n] He decided to bin his paintings.
bi|na|ry /ba I nəri/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] The binary system expresses numbers using only the two digits 0 and 1. It is used especially in computing.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Binary is the binary system of expressing numbers. □ The machine does the calculations in binary.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Binary describes something that has two different parts. [FORMAL ] □ …a binary star.
bi |na|ry co de (binary codes ) N‑VAR Binary code is a computer code that uses the binary number system. [COMPUTING ] □ The instructions are translated into binary code, a form that computers can easily handle.
bind /ba I nd/ (binds , binding , bound )
1 VERB If something binds people together , it makes them feel as if they are all part of the same group or have something in common. □ [V n with together ] It is the memory and threat of persecution that binds them together. □ [V n prep/adv] …the social and political ties that bind the U.S.A. to Britain. □ [V -ed] …a group of people bound together by shared language, culture, and beliefs. [Also V n]
2 VERB If you are bound by something such as a rule, agreement, or restriction, you are forced or required to act in a certain way. □ [be V -ed + by ] Employers are not bound by law to conduct equal pay reviews. □ [be V -ed to-inf] The authorities will be legally bound to arrest any suspects. □ [V n to-inf] The treaty binds them to respect their neighbour's independence. [Also V n] ● bound ADJ □ [+ by ] Few of them feel bound by any enduring loyalties.
3 VERB If you bind something or someone, you tie rope, string, tape, or other material around them so that they are held firmly. □ [V n adv/prep] Bind the ends of the cord together with thread. □ [V n] …the red tape which was used to bind the files.
4 VERB When a book is bound , the pages are joined together and the cover is put on. □ [be V -ed + in ] Each volume is bound in bright-coloured cloth. □ [V n] Their business came from a few big publishers, all of whose books they bound. □ [V -ed] …four immaculately bound hardbacks. ● -bound COMB □ …leather-bound stamp albums.
5 → see also binding , bound ➊, double bind
▸ bind over PHRASAL VERB If someone is bound over by a court or a judge, they are given an order and must do as the order says for a particular period of time. [LEGAL ] □ On many occasions demonstrators were bound over to keep the peace. □ [V n P ] They put us in a cell, and the next day some bumbling judge bound us over. □ [V P n] The judge refused even to bind over the woman.
bind|er /ba I ndə r / (binders ) N‑COUNT A binder is a hard cover with metal rings inside, which is used to hold loose pieces of paper.
bind|ing /ba I nd I ŋ/ (bindings )
1 ADJ A binding promise, agreement, or decision must be obeyed or carried out. □ …proposals for a legally binding commitment to reduce carbon emissions. □ [+ on ] The panel's decisions are secret and not binding on the government.
2 N‑VAR [oft with poss] The binding of a book is its cover. □ Its books are noted for the quality of their paper and bindings.