A person who says nasty things about another person behind the second person's back: that is, out of their sight and hearing.
backbiters
backbiters
noun
plural of backbiter
backcountry
backcountry
noun
A remote region; countryside that is relatively inaccessible; the boondocks.
backcourt
backcourt
noun
(basketball) A team's defensive half of the court; the part of the court where the other team's basket is located, or the guards playing in that area.
(chiefly Scotland) A courtyard behind a housing block or tenement building.
backcourtman
backcourtman
noun
(basketball) A backcourt player.
backcourtmen
backcourtmen
noun
plural of backcourtman
backfatter
backfatter
noun
A pig yielding significant backfat.
backlotter
backpointer
backpointers
backrest
backrest
noun
A guide attached to the slide rest of a lathe, and placed in contact with the work to steady it in turning.
The back piece of a chair, used to support the sitter's back.
backrests
backrests
noun
plural of backrest
backscatter
backscatter
noun
(computing) The sending of IP packets to essentially random addresses in response to incoming packets that have a spoofed origin.
(military) A portion of the energy of electromagnetic radiation such as a laser or radio waves that is scattered back in the direction of the source of radiation by an obscurant.
(physics) The deflection of particles and/or radiation through angles greater than 90 degrees to the original direction of travel.
The particles and/or radiation deflected in this manner.
verb
To scatter particles and/or radiation back to the direction from which they come.
backscattered
backscattered
verb
past participle of backscatter
backscattering
backscattering
noun
(physics) The scattering of waves, particles, or signals back in the direction of their source.
verb
present participle of backscatter
backscatters
backscatters
noun
plural of backscatter
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backscatter
backscratcher
backscratcher
noun
A long slender rod with a rake-like device on one end, sometimes in the form of a human hand, designed to let a person scratch their own back.
backscratching
backscratching
verb
present participle of backscratch
backsettler
backsettler
noun
One living in the back or outlying districts of a community.
backstabber
backstabber
noun
A traitor or hypocrite, such as a co-worker or friend assumed trustworthy but who figuratively attacks when one's back is turned.
backstabbers
backstabbers
noun
plural of backstabber
backstair
backstair
adj
clandestine, secret or furtive
noun
The backstairs (stairs at the rear of a building).
backstairs
backstairs
adj
Secret or furtive.
noun
A staircase at the rear of a building or one normally only used by servants and tradesmen.
An indirect or furtive means of access or intercourse.
backster
backster
noun
(obsolete) A baker.
backstories
backstories
noun
plural of backstory
backstrap
backstrap
noun
(drugs) The rolling a marijuana cigarette in a certain fashion
(firearms) The rearmost surface applied to the grip especially of a pistol below a possible beavertail.
A loin of meat consisting of the muscle on each side of the spine.
A pull strap extending the backstay of a boot or shoe.
An anchoring strap, passed around the waist or hips, for a small loom.
The backbone of a book.
verb
To apply or make into a backstrap.
backstrapped
backstreet
backstreet
adj
(figuratively) Done in poor and unsanitary conditions, secretly and illegally; back-alley.
Associated with neighborhoods on back streets, often in older neighborhoods, with poorer residents.
noun
Alternative spelling of back street
backstreets
backstreets
noun
plural of backstreet
backstretch
backstretch
noun
(athletics, horse racing, car racing) Synonym of back straight (“straight part of a racetrack, running track, etc., opposite the finishing line”).
(exercise) An exercise that stretches the muscles of the back.
(figuratively) The middle part of an event.
(horse racing) An area next to a racetrack used to stable the racehorses and house employees.
backstretches
backstretches
noun
plural of backstretch.
backstring
backstrip
backstroke
backstroke
noun
(bellringing) The pull on the tail of the rope that swings the bell through a full circle (compare handstroke)
(swimming) A stroke swum lying on one's back, while rotating both arms through the water as to propel the swimmer backwards.
A backhanded stroke or blow.
verb
To swim the backstroke.
backstroked
backstroked
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backstroke
backstrokes
backstrokes
noun
plural of backstroke
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backstroke
backstroking
backstroking
verb
present participle of backstroke
backstromite
backstromite
noun
(mineralogy) Synonym of hydrohausmannite
backtender
backtenter
backtrace
backtrace
noun
(computing) A stack trace.
verb
(by extension) To find the cause of something by examining past events
(computing) To examine a stack trace
backtrack
backtrack
noun
the act of backtracking
verb
(aviation) To taxi down an active runway in the opposite direction to that being used for takeoff.
To exercise a racehorse around the racetrack in the opposite direction to that in which races are run.
To repeat or review work already done.
To retrace one's steps.
backtracked
backtracked
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backtrack
backtracker
backtracker
noun
One who, or that which, backtracks.
backtrackers
backtrackers
noun
plural of backtracker
backtracking
backtracking
noun
(aviation) The usage of a runway as a taxiway, especially at private strips and smaller airports.
(computer science) The act of building all possible solutions to a problem incrementally, abandoning any candidate solution if it cannot lead to a valid solution.
(countable, uncountable) The act of one who, or that which, backtracks; a retracing of one's steps.
verb
present participle of backtrack
backtracks
backtracks
noun
plural of backtrack
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backtrack
backtrail
backtrail
noun
A small path or trail that is not used regularly.
The path over which one has already traveled.
verb
To backtrack along a trail.
backtrick
backwardation
backwardation
noun
(obsolete) In the London Stock Exchange: a fee paid by a seller on settlement day either to the buyer or to a third party who lends stock, when the seller wishes to defer settlement until the next settlement day.
In full normal backwardation: the situation in a futures market where the price for future delivery of a commodity (the forward price) is lower than the price for immediate delivery (the spot price) or nearer delivery, generally arising from a near-term shortage of the commodity.
The situation in a stock market where the offer price for stock is lower than the bid price.
backwater
backwater
noun
(idiomatic) A remote place; somewhere that remains unaffected by new events, progresses, ideas, etc.
(paper industry) Water used in the papermaking process. Recycled to reduce usage of fresh water, and usually containing residual amounts of chemicals and fibres.
A rowing stroke in which the oar is pushed forward to stop the boat; see back water
The water held back by a dam or other obstruction
verb
(idiomatic) To vacillate on a long-held position.
To row or paddle a backwater stroke.
backwatered
backwatered
verb
simple past tense and past participle of backwater
backwaters
backwaters
noun
plural of backwater
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of backwater
backwort
bankruptcies
bankruptcies
noun
plural of bankruptcy
bankruptcy
bankruptcy
noun
(finance, law) A legally declared or recognized condition of insolvency of a person or organization.
barkcutter
barkevikitic
barkevikitic
adj
Of or relating to the mineral barkevikite.
barnstock
battercake
battercake
noun
A kind of flat cake similar to a pancake.
batterdock
betuckered
bickart
billsticker
billsticker
noun
Someone who sticks up advertisements on billboards, walls, and similar surfaces.
biscuitmaker
blackbreast
blackcurrant
blackcurrant
noun
A shrub, Ribes nigrum, that produces small, very dark purple, edible berries.
The berry borne by this shrub.
blacketeer
blacketeer
noun
Short for black marketeer.
blackheart
blackheart
noun
A cruel and remorseless person.
A heart-shaped cherry with a very dark skin.
A type of malleable cast iron with minimum tensile strength of 350 N/mm².
Any of various plant diseases that cause darkening of the central tissue.
blackhearted
blackhearted
adj
Alternative form of black-hearted
blackheartedly
blackheartedness
blackheartedness
noun
The state or quality of being blackhearted; villainy.
blackhearts
blackhearts
noun
plural of blackheart
blacklister
blacklister
noun
One who blacklists.
blacklisters
blacklisters
noun
plural of blacklister
blackprint
blackroot
blackroot
noun
Colicroot, Aletris farinosa
Culver's root, Veronicastrum virginicum
Either of two species in the genus Pterocaulon: Pterocaulon pycnostachyum and Pterocaulon virgatum
Several plant diseases caused by fungi in the genus Aphanomyces causing that cause roots to rot and turn black.
blackshirt
blackshirt
noun
(by extension) Any member of a fascist party.
(historical, chiefly in the plural) A uniformed member of a paramilitary wing of the Italian Fascist Party.
blackshirted
blackstrap
blackstrap
noun
(obsolete) A mixture of spirituous liquor (usually rum) and molasses.
(obsolete, nautical, slang) Bad port wine; any common wine of the Mediterranean.
The dark, viscous molasses remaining after maximum extraction of sugar from raw sugar cane, used in manufacturing and cattle feed.
blackthorn
blackthorn
noun
A large shrub or small tree, Prunus spinosa, that is native to Europe, western Asia, and north Africa. It has a dark bark and bears thorns.
A stick or staff taken from this tree.
blackthorns
blackthorns
noun
plural of blackthorn
blacktree
blackwater
blackwater
noun
Blackwater fever; malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum.
Waste from domestic toilets; water containing fecal matter.
Water containing loam, tannins, etc., giving it a very dark appearance.
blackwaters
blackwaters
noun
plural of blackwater
blackwort
blockbuster
blockbuster
noun
(US) One who engages in blockbusting (technique encouraging people to sell property).
(informal) Something, especially an event or a film, book or other creative work, that is intended to achieve high sales (perhaps indicated by large budgets or high advertising spending) or that is conceived on a large or epic scale
(informal) Something, such as a film or book, that sustains exceptional and widespread popularity and achieves enormous sales, as opposed to a box office bomb.
(slang) Anything very large or powerful; a whopper.
A high-explosive bomb used for the purposes of demolishing extensive areas, such as a city block.
A large firework of the firecracker type; an M-80.
blockbusters
blockbusters
noun
plural of blockbuster
bockeret
bookcraft
bookcraft
noun
(archaic) Authorship; literary skill.
bootlicker
bootlicker
noun
(by extension, derogatory) Anyone who is seen as supporting authoritarianism.
(derogatory) A person who behaves in a servile or obsequious manner; a toady
bootlickers
bootlickers
noun
plural of bootlicker
borickite
borickite
noun
(mineralogy) Alternate name for delvauxite.
botchwork
botchwork
noun
Inferior and shoddy work.
brackebuschite
brackebuschite
noun
(mineralogy) A monoclinic-prismatic mineral containing hydrogen, iron, lead, manganese, oxygen, vanadium, and zinc.
bracket
bracket
noun
(UK) "(" and ")" specifically, the other forms above requiring adjectives for disambiguation.
(US) "[" and "]" specifically - as opposed to the other forms, which have their own technical names.
(algebra) A pair of values that represent the smallest and largest elements of a range.
(engineering) Any intermediate object that connects a smaller part to a larger part, the smaller part typically projecting sideways from the larger part.
(land surveying, 19th century) a mark cut into a stone by land surveyors to secure a bench.
(military) The cheek or side of an ordnance carriage, supporting the trunnions.
(military) Typically of stationary weapons, the zone enclosed by one long and one short shot impact expected to be hit very accurately.
(nautical) A short crooked timber, resembling a knee, used as a support.
(sports) A prediction of the outcome of games in a tournament, used for betting purposes.
(sports) A printed diagram of games in a tournament.
(typography) The small curved or angular corner formed by a serif and a stroke in a letter.
A fixture attached to a wall to hold up a shelf.
Alternative form of bragget (“drink made with ale and honey”)
One of several ranges of numbers.
verb
(military) To gauge the range of a target by firing equally short and long of it and ranging the weapon between the two to achieve a very accurate hit.
(philosophy, phenomenology) In the philosophical system of Edmund Husserl and his followers, to set aside metaphysical theories and existential questions concerning what is real in order to focus philosophical attention simply on the actual content of experience.
(photography) To take multiple images of the same subject, using a range of exposure settings, in order to help ensure that a satisfactory image is obtained.
To bound on both sides, to surround, as enclosing with brackets.
To enclose in typographical brackets.
To mark distinctly for special treatment.
To place in the same category.
To set aside, discount, ignore.
To support by means of mechanical brackets.
bracketed
bracketed
verb
simple past tense and past participle of bracket
bracketing
bracketing
noun
(architecture) A series or group of brackets; brackets, collectively.
The act of enclosing (text, etc.) in brackets.
verb
present participle of bracket
brackets
brackets
noun
plural of bracket
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of bracket
brackett
bracketted
brackettville
bracketwise
bracketwise
adv
In terms of brackets (in various senses).
bradykinetic
bradykinetic
adj
Of, pertaining to, or exhibiting bradykinesia
branstock
brickbat
brickbat
noun
(figurative) A criticism or uncomplimentary remark.
A piece of brick used as a weapon, especially if thrown, or placed in something like a sock and used as a club.
verb
(transitive) To attack by throwing brickbats.
(transitive, figurative) To assail with criticism.
brickbats
brickbats
noun
plural of brickbat
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of brickbat
brickbatted
brickbatted
verb
simple past tense and past participle of brickbat
brickbatting
brickbatting
noun
The act of assailing with criticism.
The act of attacking by throwing brickbats.
verb
present participle of brickbat
brickcroft
brickiest
brickiest
adj
superlative form of bricky: most bricky
brickset
bricksetter
bricktimber
bricktop
britchka
britchka
noun
(now chiefly historical) A type of horse-drawn carriage, with a foldable roof covering.
brocket
brocket
noun
A genus, Mazama, of short-horned deer from Brazil.
A stag in its second year, before its horns have started branching.
brockets
brockets
noun
plural of brocket
brockport
brockton
brockton
Proper noun
a city in Massachusetts, USA, which is one of the two county seats of
a small town in Montana, USA.
an unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, USA.
a town in Ontario, Canada. The name is formed from Brant, Greenock and Walkerton, places that merged into Brockton.
a township in parish, Shropshire, England
broomstick
broomstick
noun
(slang, rare) A gun.
A broom imbued with magic, enabling one to fly astride the handle.
The handle of a broom (sweeping tool).
verb
(intransitive) To fly on a broomstick, as witches are said to.
broomsticks
broomsticks
noun
plural of broomstick
verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of broomstick
bucketeer
bucketeer
noun
The operator of a bucket shop; a fraudulent or deceptive trader.
bucketer
bucketer
noun
(finance) A bucket shop operator.
A person employed to use a bucket in some capacity.
bucketmaker
bucketmaker
noun
A manufacturer of buckets.
bucksport
buckthorn
buckthorn
noun
Hippophae (family Elaeagnaceae), the sea buckthorn.
also genus Frangula, especially Frangula alnus, the alder buckthorn.
especially genus Rhamnus,
especially the common buckthorn or purging buckthorn; Rhamnus cathartica.
buckwheater
buckwheater
noun
A poor and unskilled farmer.
bullsticker
burckhardt
butterback
buttocker
buttocker
noun
(mining, historical) A worker who gets coal off at a longwall face.
(wrestling) One who uses the cross-buttock throw.
buttrick
cabinetmaker
cabinetmaker
noun
A skilled woodworker who makes high-quality wooden furniture
cabinetmakers
cabinetmakers
noun
plural of cabinetmaker
cabinetwork
cabinetwork
noun
cabinetmaking
furniture made by a cabinetmaker
cabinetworker
cabinetworker
noun
One who makes cabinets; a practitioner of cabinetwork.
cabinetworking
cabinetworks
checkerbreast
chickenbreasted
counterblockade
counterblockade
noun
A blockade set up in opposition to another blockade.
counterblockades
counterblockades
noun
plural of counterblockade
counterbreastwork
crabstick
crabstick
noun
(now rare) A cudgel, originally made of the wood of a crabapple tree, hence any similar club.
(obsolete) A crabby, ill-tempered person.
A processed food, made of surimi to somewhat resemble the legs of a crab.
crackability
crackability
noun
Quality or degree of being crackable.
dumbstricken
dumbstruck
dumbstruck
adj
so shocked as to be unable to speak
featherback
featherback
noun
Any fish of the family Notopteridae.
hackbuteer
hackbuteer
noun
An arquebusier.
hackbutter
hackbutter
Noun
An arquebusier.
heartblock
interblock
interblock
adj
Between blocks.
noun
A space or interval between two adjacent blocks or cells on a grid.
jackrabbit
jackrabbit
noun
any of several large North American hares of the genus Lepus
verb
(US) To make a sudden, rapid movement
jackrabbits
jackrabbits
noun
plural of jackrabbit
kilbrickenite
kilbrickenite
noun
(mineralogy) A mixed sulphide and antimonide of lead.