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1ballot noun [ORIGIN: It ballotta small ball used in secret voting, fr. It dial., dim. of balla ball]

1 : a piece of paper used to cast a vote

2 : the action or a system of voting; also : the right to vote

2ballot verb : to decide by ballot : VOTE

1ballpark noun : a park in which ball games are played

2ballpark adjective : approximately correct <~ estimate>

ball·point noun : a pen whose writing point is a small rotating metal ball that inks itself from an inner container

ball·room noun : a large room for dances

1ballyhoo noun, plural -hoos : extravagant statements and claims made for publicity

2ballyhoo verb bal·ly·hoo·ed; bal·ly·hoo·ing; bal·ly·hoos : to drum up interest in by means of ballyhoo : PUBLICIZE

Synonyms

boast, plug, promote, publicize, tout—more at PUBLICIZE

balm noun 1 : a fragrant healing or soothing lotion or ointment

2 : any of several spicy fragrant herbs of the mint family

3 : something that comforts or soothes

balm·i·ness noun : the quality or state of being balmy

Synonyms

absurdity, asininity, craziness, daftness, fatuity, folly, foolishness, inanity, insanity, lunacy, madness, silliness, simplicity, zaniness

balmy adjective balm·i·er; -est 1 a : gently soothing : MILD

b : being pleasant and not too cool or too hot

2 a : disordered in mind

b : lacking in judgment : FOOLISH

Synonyms

[1a] benign, bland, delicate, gentle, light, mellow, mild, soft, soothing, tender—more at GENTLE

[1b] clement, equable, gentle, mild, moderate, temperate—more at CLEMENT

[2a, b] crazy, cuckoo, daft, foolish, kooky, lunatic, mad, nonsensical, nutty, silly

ba·lo·ney noun : NONSENSE

bal·sa noun : the extremely light strong wood of a tropical American tree; also : the tree

bal·sam noun 1 : a fragrant aromatic and usu. resinous substance oozing from various plants; also : a preparation containing or smelling like balsam

2 : a balsam-yielding tree (as balsam fir)

3 : a common garden ornamental plant

— bal·sam·ic adjective

balsam fir noun : a resinous American evergreen tree that is widely used for pulpwood and as a Christmas tree

balsamic vinegar noun : an aged Italian vinegar made from white grapes

Bal·ti·more oriole noun : a common American oriole in which the male is brightly colored with orange, black, and white

bal·us·ter noun [ORIGIN: F balustre, fr. It balaustro, fr. balaustra wild pomegranate flower, fr. L balaustium; fr. its shape]

: an upright support for a rail (as of a staircase)

bal·us·trade noun : a row of balusters topped by a rail

bam·boo noun, plural bamboos : any of various woody mostly tall tropical grasses including some with strong hollow stems used for building, furniture, or utensils

bamboo curtain noun, often cap B&C : a political, military, and ideological barrier in eastern Asia

bam·boo·zle verb -boo·zled; -boo·zling : TRICK, HOODWINK

1ban verb banned; ban·ning : to hinder or prevent by authority

Synonyms

bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prohibit, proscribe—more at FORBID

2ban noun 1 : CURSE

2 : a legal or formal prohibition

Synonyms

embargo, interdict, interdiction, prohibition, proscription, veto—more at PROHIBITION

ba·nal adjective [ORIGIN: F]

: lacking originality, freshness, or novelty : COMMONPLACE, TRITE

Synonyms

commonplace, hackneyed, musty, stale, stereotyped, threadbare, tired, trite—more at STALE

ba·nal·i·ty noun : something banal : COMMONPLACE

Synonyms

cliché, commonplace, platitude, shibboleth—more at COMMONPLACE

ba·nana noun : a treelike tropical plant bearing thick clusters of yellow or reddish finger-shaped fruit; also : this fruit

1band noun 1 : something that binds, ties, or goes around

2 : a strip or stripe that can be distinguished (as by color or texture) from nearby matter

3 : a range of wavelengths (as in radio)

Synonyms

[1] bond, chain, fetter, irons, ligature, manacle, shackle—more at BOND

[2] circle, eye, hoop, loop,