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1birch noun 1 : any of a genus of mostly short-lived deciduous shrubs and trees with membranous outer bark and pale close-grained wood; also : this wood

2 : a birch rod or bundle of twigs for flogging

— birch or birch·en adjective

2birch verb : to beat with or as if with a birch : WHIP

1bird noun : any of a class of warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates having the body feathered and the forelimbs modified to form wings

2bird verb : to observe or identify wild birds in their native habitat

— bird·er noun

bird·bath noun : a usu. ornamental basin set up for birds to bathe in

bird·house noun : an artificial nesting place for birds; also : AVIARY

bird·ie noun : a score of one under par on a hole in golf

bird·lime noun : a sticky substance smeared on twigs to snare small birds

bird of prey : a carnivorous bird (as a hawk, falcon, or vulture) that feeds wholly or chiefly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion

bird·seed noun : a mixture of small seeds (as of hemp or millet) used for feeding birds

bird's–eye adjective 1 : marked with spots resembling birds' eyes <~ maple>

2 a : seen from above as if by a flying bird <~ view>

b : having or involving a bird's-eye view : CURSORY

Synonyms

all-around, broad, cursory, general, nonspecific, overall—more at GENERAL

bi·ret·ta noun : a square cap with three ridges on top worn esp. by Roman Catholic clergymen

birth noun 1 : the act or fact of being born or of bringing forth young

2 : descent in a line from a common progenitor : LINEAGE

3 : rise, beginning, or derivation from a source

Synonyms

[2] ancestry, blood, bloodline, breeding, descent, extraction, family tree, genealogy, line, lineage, origin, parentage, pedigree, stock, strain—more at ANCESTRY

[3] beginning, commencement, dawn, genesis, launch, morning, onset, outset, start, threshold—more at BEGINNING

birth canal noun : the channel formed by the cervix, vagina, and vulva through which the fetus passes during birth

birth control noun : control of the number of children born esp. by preventing or lessening the frequency of conception

birth·day noun : the day or anniversary of one's birth

birth defect noun : a physical or biochemical defect present at birth and inherited or environmentally induced

birth·mark noun : an unusual mark or blemish on the skin at birth

birth·place noun : place of birth or origin

birth·rate noun : the number of births per number of individuals in a given area or group during a given time

birth·right noun : a right, privilege, or possession to which one is entitled by birth

Synonyms

prerogative, right—more at RIGHT

birth·stone noun : a gemstone associated symbolically with the month of one's birth

bis·cuit noun [ORIGIN: ME bisquite, fr. AF besquit, fr. (pain) besquit twice-cooked bread]

1 : a crisp flat cake; especially British : CRACKER 2

2 : a small quick bread made from dough that has been rolled and cut or dropped from a spoon

bi·sect verb : to divide into two usu. equal parts; also : CROSS, INTERSECT

— bi·sec·tion noun

— bi·sec·tor noun

bi·sex·u·al adjective 1 : possessing characters of or having sexual desire for both sexes

2 : of, relating to, or involving both sexes

— bisexual noun

— bi·sex·u·al·i·ty noun

bish·op noun [ORIGIN: ME bisshop, fr. OE bisceop, fr. LL episcopus, fr. Gk episkopos, lit., overseer, fr. epi- on, over + skeptesthai to look]

1 : a member of the clergy ranking above a priest and typically governing a diocese

2 : any of various Protestant church officials who superintend other clergy

3 : a chess piece that can move diagonally across any number of adjoining unoccupied squares

bish·op·ric noun 1 : DIOCESE

2 : the office of bishop

bis·muth noun : a heavy brittle grayish white metallic chemical element used in alloys and medicine

bi·son noun, plural bison : BUFFALO 2

bisque noun : a thick cream soup

bis·tro noun, plural bistros [ORIGIN: F]