Meaning: A type of excavating equipment with a digging bucket on the end of a two-part arm.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The construction crew used a backhoe to dig the foundation.

Category: Technology › Construction Equipment

Synonyms: excavator

Meaning: Having no back or support at the back.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: She wore a stylish backless dress to the party.

Category: Fashion › Clothing

Synonyms: back-free

Meaning: A passenger who gives unwanted advice to the driver.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He's such a back-seat driver; he always tells me how to drive.

Category: Transportation › Driving

Synonyms: passenger advisor

Meaning: In the area behind the stage in a theater.

Part of speech: adverb

Example: The actors waited backstage before their performance.

Category: Arts › Theater

Synonyms: behind the scenes

Meaning: Social groups that are economically or educationally disadvantaged.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The government provides scholarships for students from backward classes.

Category: Social Sciences › Sociology

Synonyms:

• disadvantaged groups
• underprivileged classes

Meaning: Remote, rural areas that are often undeveloped.

Part of speech: noun

Example: They live in the backwoods, far from the city.

Category: Geography › Rural Studies

Synonyms:

• wilderness
• frontier

Antonyms:

• urban area
• city

Meaning: Microscopic single-celled organisms that can be found everywhere.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Bacteria can be harmful or beneficial to humans.

Category: Science › Microbiology

Synonyms:

• germs
• microbes

Meaning: Relating to bacteria.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The bacterial infection required antibiotics.

Category: Science › Microbiology

Synonyms:

• microbial
• germ-related

Meaning: A tough or impressive person.

Part of speech: noun

Example: She is a bad ass in the business world.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• tough guy
• bad boy

Meaning: A cheque that cannot be processed due to insufficient funds.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He wrote a bad cheque and was charged a fee.

Category: Finance › Banking

Synonyms:

• bounced cheque
• NSF cheque

Meaning: Money owed that is unlikely to be paid back.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The company had to write off a significant amount of bad debt.

Category: Finance › Banking

Synonyms:

• uncollectible debt
• defaulted loan

Meaning: A villain or antagonist in a story or situation.

Part of speech: noun

Example: In the movie, the bad guy was finally caught.

Category: Arts › Film

Synonyms:

• villain
• antagonist

Meaning: Offensive or inappropriate words.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He was reprimanded for using bad language in class.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• profanity
• swearing

Meaning: A villain or bad person in a story or movie.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The baddy in the film was very clever.

Category: Arts › Film

Synonyms:

• villain
• antagonist

Meaning: To repeatedly ask someone to do something.

Part of speech: verb

Example: She badgered him until he agreed to help.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• pester
• nag

Meaning: In a poor financial situation.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: Many families are badly off due to the economic crisis.

Category: Finance › Economics

Synonyms:

• impoverished
• destitute

Meaning: To speak negatively about someone or something.

Part of speech: verb

Example: He bad-mouthed his former employer during the interview.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• slander
• defame

Meaning: Easily annoyed or angered.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: He is known for being bad-tempered when he's tired.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• irritable
• grumpy

Antonyms:

• good-natured
• pleasant

Meaning: The nickname for the South African national football team.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Bafana Bafana played well in the last match.

Category: Sports › Football

Synonyms: South African football team

Meaning: To confuse or perplex someone.

Part of speech: verb

Example: The complex puzzle baffled the children.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• confuse
• mystify

Antonyms:

• clarify
• explain

Meaning: A railway car used for transporting luggage.

Part of speech: noun

Example: We placed our suitcases in the baggage car.

Category: Travel › Railway

Synonyms:

• luggage car
• baggage compartment

Meaning: An area in an airport where passengers collect their luggage.

Part of speech: noun

Example: After landing, we headed to baggage reclaim.

Category: Travel › Air Travel

Synonyms:

• luggage claim
• baggage area

Meaning: A musical instrument consisting of a bag and pipes, often associated with Scottish music.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He played the bagpipes at the wedding.

Category: Arts › Music

Synonyms:

• musical instrument
• pipe

Meaning: Relating to the Bahamas or its people.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The Bahamian culture is rich in history.

Category: Geography › Countries

Synonyms: Bahama-related

Meaning: The official language of Indonesia.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Bahasa Indonesia is spoken by millions of people.

Category: Language › Languages

Synonyms: Indonesian language

Meaning: The official language of Malaysia.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Bahasa Malaysia is used in government and education.

Category: Language › Languages

Synonyms: Malay language

Meaning: Money paid to release someone from jail until their trial.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He was released on bail after a few hours.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms:

• bond
• security

Meaning: To help someone out of a difficult situation, often financially.

Part of speech: verb

Example: The government decided to bail out the failing bank.

Category: Finance › Banking

Synonyms:

• rescue
• assist

Meaning: A child or young person, often used in Scottish English.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The bairn was playing in the garden.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• child
• kid

Meaning: An event where baked goods are sold to raise money for a cause.

Part of speech: noun

Example: We organized a bake sale to support the school.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• fundraiser
• charity sale

Meaning: A small gratuity or tip, often given in some Middle Eastern cultures.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He offered a baksheesh to the waiter for good service.

Category: Culture › Customs

Synonyms: tip

Meaning: A musical instrument similar to a xylophone, used in African music.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The balafon produces a beautiful sound.

Category: Arts › Music

Synonyms: xylophone

Meaning: A Russian stringed musical instrument with a triangular body.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He played the balalaika at the concert.

Category: Arts › Music

Synonyms: string instrument

Meaning: To make equal or to offset something.

Part of speech: verb

Example: We need to balance out our expenses with our income.

Category: General

Synonyms: equalize

Meaning: A situation in which one must manage competing demands or interests.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Being a parent is often a balancing act between work and family.

Category: General

Synonyms: juggling act

Meaning: A nickname for a bald person.

Part of speech: noun

Example: They called him Baldy as a joke.

Category: General

Synonyms: bald person

Meaning: A large bundle of goods, often tied with twine.

Part of speech: noun

Example: They stacked the bales of hay in the barn.

Category: Agriculture › Farming

Synonyms: bundle

Meaning: A machine used to compress and bind agricultural products into bales.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The farmer used a baler to package the hay.

Category: Agriculture › Farming Equipment

Synonyms: hay baler

Meaning: To hesitate or refuse to proceed with something.

Part of speech: verb

Example: He balked at the idea of working late.

Category: General

Synonyms: hesitate

Antonyms: proceed

Meaning: Relating to the Balkans region.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: Balkan cuisine is known for its flavors.

Category: Geography › Regions

Synonyms: Southeast European