biological clock
124
famous biography of Dr Johnson. 2 [U] this branch of
literature → compare AUTOBIOGRAPHY —phical
/ˌbaɪəˈɡræfɪkəl/ —phic adj —phically /kli/ adv
biological clock /ˌbaɪəlɒdʒɪkəl ˈklɒk|ˌlaːdʒɪkəl ˈklɑk/
also body clock n [S] the system in plants, animals, and
humans which controls some types of behaviour. In animals,
this includes sleeping, eating, and biological events such as
the MENSTRUAL CYCLE in females. Women sometimes talk
about being conscious of their biological clock when they
realise that they will soon be too old to have children.
biological con'trol n [U] the control of PESTS (=usually
small animals or insects which harm or destroy food sup-
plies) by biological means (for example by the introduction
of something harmless to humans and crops which eats,
lives on, or competes against the pest)
biological 'warfare also germ warfare n [U] methods of
fighting a war in which living things such as BACTERIA are
used to poison, spread disease, damage crops etc → compare
CHEMICAL WARFARE
bi·ol·o·gy /baɪˈɒlədʒi|ˈɑːl-/ n [U] 1 the scientific study of
living things: She has a degree in biology. | a biology les-
son 2 the scientific laws of the life of a certain type of living
thing: the biology of bacteria —gist n —gical
/ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl | l-ˈlɑː-/ adj —gically /kli/ adv: Biologically
speaking, they're plants.
bi·o·mass /ˈbaɪəʊmæs/ n [U] tech matter from dead or living
plants or animals; organic matter, especially when burned to
provide heat: cow dung, wood, and other biomass fuels
bi·o·met·ric /ˌbaɪəʊˈmetrk/ adj relating to technology that
can be used to check a person's IDENTITY. The technology uses
computers to measure things such as people's eyes or FINGER-
PRINTS, and is much more accurate than traditional methods
such as passport photographs for making sure who someone
is. Many authorities want to include biometric information
on passports, driving licences etc as a way of preventing
TERRORISM.
bi·on·ic /baɪˈɒnɪk|l-ˈɑːn-/ adj infml having greater than human
powers (such as speed, strength etc)
bi·o·phys·ics /ˌbaɪəʊˈfɪzɪks/ n [U] the science concerned
with the study of matter and natural forces in living things
bi·o·pic /ˈbaɪəʊˌpɪk/ n a film that tells the story of someone's
life: a biopic about Gandhi
bi·op·sy /ˈbaɪɒpsi|ˈɑːp-/ n the removal of cells, liquids etc
from the body of a sick person to discover the nature of the
disease or to find out which parts of the body are infected
bi·o·rhythms /ˈbaɪəʊˌrɪðəmz/ n [P] the supposed regular
increases and decreases in the activity of the living processes
of a person or animal, that are believed to influence behav-
iour and feelings
bi·o·scope /ˈbaɪəskəʊp/ n S AfrE a cinema
bi·o·sphere /ˈbaɪəʊsfɪər/ n [the] tech the part of the world in
which life can exist
bi·o·tech·nol·o·gy /ˌbaɪəʊtekˈnɒlədi|l-ˈnɑː-/ n [U] 1 the
use in science and industry of living things such as cells and
bacteria to make drugs and chemicals, destroy waste matter
etc 2 AmE ERGONOMICS
bi·par·ti·san /ˌbaɪpɑːˈtɪzən|ˌbaɪˈpɑːrt̬ɪzən/ adj of or repre-
senting two political parties: a bipartisan committee | The
new law has bipartisan support.
bi·par·tite /baɪˈpɑːtaɪt|l-ˈpɑːr-/ adj 1 having two parts: a
bipartite leaf 2 agreed upon or shared by two groups: a
bipartite treaty → compare TRIPARTITE
bi·ped /ˈbaɪped/ n tech a two-legged animal → compare
QUADRUPED
bi·plane /ˈbaɪpleɪn/ n an aircraft, especially of a type built in
the early 20th century, with two sets of wings, one above
the other → compare MONOPLANE
bi·po·lar /baɪˈpələr/ adj 1 involving two opposing coun-
tries, groups etc: the bipolar view of the world during the Cold
War 2 bipolar disorder tech MANIC DEPRESSION
birch¹ /bɜːtʃ|bːrtʃ/ n 1 [C,U] (wood from) a tree, common
in northern countries, with a smooth BARK and thin
branches → see also SILVER BIRCH 2 [C; the] a stick made
from birch wood, used for punishing
CULTURAL NOTE The birch is still available as a punishment
on the Isle of Man, but nowhere else in Britain or the US.
Some older people in Britain would like to 'bring back the
birch' for football HOOLIGANS and VANDALS.
birch² v [T] to whip or hit, especially with a birch, as
punishment
birds
swallow
robin
sparrow
thrush
pigeon
woodpecker
beak
breast
wing
claw
pheasant
tail
kingfisher
bird /bɜːd|bɜːrd/ n 1 a creature with wings and feathers
which can usually fly in the air 2 BrE slang, becoming old-fash
young woman (usually considered offensive to women):
Who was that bird I saw you with last night? 3 old-fash infml
person, especially one who is odd or remarkable: He's
strange old bird. 4 a bird in the hand (is worth two in the
bush) saying something you already have or are sure of
getting (is better than something else which you may not
get in the end) 5 birds of a feather infml people of the same
kind (often bad): I'm not surprised those two are such friends
they're birds of a feather! 6 do bird BrE slang to spend a
period of time in prison 7 (strictly) for the birds old-fash infml
worthless; silly 8 the bird has flown infml the person needed
or wanted has gone away or escaped 9 the birds and bees
euph or humor the facts about sex, especially as told to children
FACTS OF LIFE: He knows all about the birds and the bees.
see also EARLY BIRD, WATER BIRD, eat like a bird (EAT), kill
two birds with one stone (KILL¹) 10 give someone the bird
also flip (someone) the bird a) AmE to make a very rude sign
by putting your middle finger up and your other fingers in a
fist, when someone has done something that makes you
angry: The guy in the blue Mustang just gave me the bird.
What's his problem? | The ad shows Graham flipping the bird
during an outdoor concert in San Francisco. b) BrE to show
strong disapproval of someone who is singing, acting, or
speaking in public: He wasn't much good, and the audience
really gave him the bird. | When he put forward these ideas, he
was given the bird, even by the socialist delegates.
Bird, Lar·ry /ˈlæri/ (1956-) a US BASKETBALL player who led
the Boston Celtics to win the NBA (=National Basketball
Association) CHAMPIONSHIP three times. He was considered
one of the best players of the 1980s, and he stopped playing
in 1992.
bird·bath /ˈbɜːdbɑːθ|ˈbɜːrdbæθ/ n a small, usually round
bath that is not very deep and is put in a garden for birds to
bathe in
'bird-brained adj infml stupid; silly
'bird dog n AmE for GUNDOG