Collins Dictionaries - Collins Junior Illustrated Dictionary

See Punctuation on page 270

Braille NOUN

Braille is a form of writing using raised dots that blind people can read by touching the dots with their fingers.

brain brains NOUN

Your brain is inside your head and controls your whole body. It lets you think, feel and remember.

brainy brainier, brainiest ADJECTIVE

Someone who is brainy is clever and good at learning things.

brake brakes NOUN

The brake is the part of a vehicle that slows it down or stops it.

bramble brambles NOUN

A bramble is a wild bush with thorns.

The fruit are called blackberries.

branch branches NOUN

A branch is part of a tree that grows out from the trunk.

brass NOUN

Brass is a yellow metal made from copper and zinc. It is used for making things like ornaments and some musical instruments.

brave braver, bravest ADJECTIVE

If you are brave, you show you can do something even if it is frightening.

bravely ADVERB bravery NOUN

bread NOUN

Bread is a very common food, made with flour and baked in an oven.

See Other foods on page 261

breadth NOUN

The breadth of something is the distance that it measures from one side to the other.

break breaks, breaking, broke, broken

VERB 1 If you break something, it splits into pieces or stops working.

VERB 2 If you break a rule or a promise, you fail to keep it.

breakdown breakdowns NOUN

If someone’s car has a breakdown, it stops working during a journey.

breakfast breakfasts NOUN

Breakfast is the first meal of the day.

breast breasts NOUN

Breasts are the two round parts on the front of a woman’s body, which can produce milk to feed a baby.

breath NOUN

Your breath is the air that you take into and let out of your lungs.

breathe breathes, breathing, breathed VERB

When you breathe, you take air into your lungs through your nose or mouth, and then let it out again.

breed breeds NOUN

A breed of an animal is a particular kind. For example, a labrador is a breed of dog.

breeze breezes NOUN

A breeze is a gentle wind.

brick bricks NOUN

A brick is a block used for building. It is made of baked clay.

bride brides NOUN

A bride is a woman on or near her wedding day.

bridge bridges NOUN

A bridge is something built over things like rivers, railways or roads, so that people or vehicles can get across.

brief briefer, briefest ADJECTIVE

Something that is brief lasts only a short time.

briefly ADVERB

briefcase briefcases NOUN

A briefcase is a flat case used for carrying papers.

bright brighter, brightest

ADJECTIVE 1 Bright colours are clear and easy to see.

ADJECTIVE 2 A light that is bright shines strongly.

ADJECTIVE 3 Someone who is bright is quick at learning or noticing things.

brilliant

ADJECTIVE 1 A brilliant colour or light is extremely bright.

ADJECTIVE 2 Someone who is brilliant is extremely clever or skilful.

brim brims

NOUN 1 If you fill a cup to the brim, you fill it right up to the top.

NOUN 2 The brim of a hat is the part that sticks outwards from the head.

bring brings, bringing, brought

VERB 1 If you bring someone on a visit, they come with you.

VERB 2 If you bring something, you have it with you when you arrive.

bristle bristles NOUN

The bristles of a brush are the thick hairs or thin pieces of plastic which are fixed to the main part of it.

brittle ADJECTIVE

If something is brittle, it is hard but easily broken.

broad broader, broadest ADJECTIVE

Something such as a road or river that is broad is very wide.

broadcast broadcasts NOUN

A broadcast is a programme or announcement on radio or television.

broke VERB

Broke is the past tense of break.

broken VERB

Broken is the past participle of break.

brooch brooches NOUN

A brooch is a small piece of jewellery which is worn pinned to a dress, blouse or coat.

broom brooms NOUN

A broom is a kind of brush with a long handle.

brother brothers NOUN

Someone’s brother is a boy or man who has the same parents as they have.

brought VERB

Brought is the past tense of bring.

brown browner, brownest ADJECTIVE

Something that is brown is the colour of earth or of wood.

See Colours and shapes on page 266

bruise bruises NOUN

A bruise is a purple mark on your skin where something has hit it.

brush brushes NOUN

A brush is a lot of bristles fixed to a handle. Different brushes are used for jobs like cleaning your teeth or painting.

bubble bubbles NOUN

A bubble is a ball of air or gas. You can make bubbles with soapy water. Fizzy lemonade has bubbles, too.

bucket buckets NOUN

A bucket is a container with a handle, often used for carrying water.

buckle buckles NOUN

A buckle is a fastening on the end of a belt or strap.

bud buds NOUN

A bud is a small lump on a plant which will open into a leaf or flower.

Buddhist Buddhists NOUN

A Buddhist is someone who follows the teachings of Buddha.

budgerigar budgerigars NOUN

Budgerigars are small brightly-coloured birds, often kept as pets.

buffalo buffaloes NOUN

A buffalo is an animal like a large cow with long curved horns.

bug bugs

NOUN 1 A bug is an insect.

NOUN 2 A bug is also an illness, such as a flu bug or a stomach bug.

build builds, building, built VERB

If you build something, you make it by joining things together.

builder builders NOUN

A builder is a person whose job is to build houses and other buildings.

building buildings NOUN

A building is a place like a house that has walls and a roof.

bulb bulbs

NOUN 1 A bulb is the glass part of a lamp that gives out light.

NOUN 2 A bulb is also a root shaped like an onion. Many spring flowers such as daffodils and tulips grow from bulbs.

bulge bulges, bulging, bulged VERB

If something bulges, it sticks out in a lump.

His pockets bulged with conkers.

bull bulls NOUN

A bull is a male cow, elephant or whale.

bulldozer bulldozers NOUN

A bulldozer is a tractor with a steel blade on the front. It is used for moving large amounts of earth or stone.

bullet bullets

NOUN 1 A bullet is a small piece of metal fired from a gun.

NOUN 2 A bullet point is a heavy dot used to draw attention to a piece of text.

bully bullies NOUN

A bully is someone who hurts or frightens other people.

bump bumps, bumping, bumped

VERB 1 If you bump into something, you hit it while you are moving.

NOUN 2 If you hear a bump, it sounds like something falling to the ground.

NOUN 3 A bump is a raised uneven part on a surface such as a road.

bumper bumpers NOUN

Bumpers are bars on the front and back of a vehicle that protect it if there is an accident.

bun buns NOUN

A bun is a small round cake.

bunch bunches NOUN

A bunch is a group of things together, like flowers or grapes.

See Collective nouns on page 268

bundle bundles NOUN

A bundle is a number of small things that have been tied together.

bungalow bungalows NOUN

A bungalow is a house with all its rooms on one floor.

burger burgers NOUN

A burger is a flat piece of minced meat. It is often eaten in a bread roll.

burglar burglars NOUN

A burglar is someone who breaks into buildings to steal things.

burn burns, burning, burned or burnt

VERB 1 If something is burning, it is being spoiled or destroyed by fire.