bra|vu|ra /brəvjʊə rə, [AM ] -vʊ rə/
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone is doing something with bravura , you mean that they are using unnecessary extra actions that emphasize their skill or importance. [LITERARY ] □ The film is directed with technical bravura and visual splendour.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A bravura performance or piece of work is done with bravura. [LITERARY ] □ Hampshire's young team gave a bravura performance to see off Essex.
brawl /brɔː l/ (brawls , brawling , brawled )
1 N‑COUNT A brawl is a rough or violent fight. □ He had been in a drunken street brawl.
2 VERB If someone brawls , they fight in a very rough or violent way. □ [V + with ] A bride and groom spent their wedding night in separate police cells after brawling with hotel security guards. □ [V ] Two gangs of youths brawled on the dance floor of the ferry. ● brawl|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ The brawling between the fans and locals last night went on for several hours.
brawn /brɔː n/ N‑UNCOUNT Brawn is physical strength. □ He's got plenty of brains as well as brawn.
brawny /brɔː ni/ ADJ Someone who is brawny is strong and has big muscles. □ …a brawny young man.
bray /bre I / (brays , braying , brayed ) VERB When a donkey brays , it makes a loud harsh sound. □ [V ] The donkey brayed and tried to bolt.
bra|zen /bre I z ə n/ ADJ If you describe a person or their behaviour as brazen , you mean that they are very bold and do not care what other people think about them or their behaviour. □ They're quite brazen about their sexuality, it doesn't worry them. ● bra|zen|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ He was brazenly running a $400,000-a-month drug operation from the prison.
▸ brazen out PHRASAL VERB If you have done something wrong and you brazen it out , you behave confidently in order not to appear ashamed, even though you probably do feel ashamed. □ [V it P ] If you are caught simply argue that 'everyone does it' and brazen it out. □ [V P n] The president brazened out his misdeeds. □ [V n P ] He would brazen the matter out and he would do so in the most robust manner possible.
bra|zi|er /bre I ziə r , [AM ] -ʒər/ (braziers )
1 N‑COUNT A brazier is a large metal container in which coal or charcoal is burned to keep people warm when they are outside in cold weather, for example because of their work.
2 N‑COUNT A brazier is a grill that you use for cooking, usually with charcoal. [AM ]
Bra|zil|ian /brəz I liən/ (Brazilians ) ADJ Brazilian means belonging or relating to Brazil, or to its people or culture. ● N‑COUNT A Brazilian is a person who comes from Brazil.
bra |zil nut (brazil nuts ) N‑COUNT Brazil nuts are large nuts with a woody shell that grow on trees in South America and that you can eat.
breach /briː tʃ/ (breaches , breaching , breached )
1 VERB If you breach an agreement, a law, or a promise, you break it. □ [V n] The newspaper breached the code of conduct on privacy.
2 N‑VAR A breach of an agreement, a law, or a promise is an act of breaking it. □ [+ of ] The congressman was accused of a breach of secrecy rules. □ [+ of ] …a $1 billion breach of contract suit.
3 N‑COUNT A breach in a relationship is a serious disagreement which often results in the relationship ending. [FORMAL ] □ [+ in ] Their actions threatened a serious breach in relations between the two countries. □ [+ between ] Little happens to heal the breach between the two warring factions.
4 VERB If someone or something breaches a barrier, they make an opening in it, usually leaving it weakened or destroyed. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Fire may have breached the cargo tanks and set the oil ablaze.
5 VERB If you breach someone's security or their defences, you manage to get through and attack an area that is heavily guarded and protected. □ [V n] The bomber had breached security by hurling his dynamite from a roof overlooking the building. ● N‑COUNT Breach is also a noun. □ …widespread breaches of security at Ministry of Defence bases.
6 PHRASE If you step into the breach , you do a job or task which someone else was supposed to do or has done in the past, because they are suddenly unable to do it. □ I was persuaded to step into the breach temporarily when they became too ill to continue.
brea ch of the pea ce (breaches of the peace ) N‑VAR A breach of the peace is noisy or violent behaviour in a public place which is illegal because it disturbs other people. [LEGAL ] □ He admitted causing a breach of the peace. □ Four men were found guilty of breach of the peace.
bread ◆◇◇ /bre d/ (breads , breading , breaded )
1 N‑VAR Bread is a very common food made from flour, water, and yeast. □ …a loaf of bread. □ There is more fibre in wholemeal bread than in white bread.
2 VERB [usu passive] If food such as fish or meat is breaded , it is covered in tiny pieces of dry bread called breadcrumbs. It can then be fried or grilled. □ [be V -ed] It is important that food be breaded just minutes before frying. ● bread|ed ADJ □ …breaded fish.
brea d and bu t|ter also bread-and-butter
1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] Something that is the bread and butter of a person or organization is the activity or work that provides the main part of their income. □ The mobile phone business was actually his bread and butter.