Bible Belt, the
118
bicycle
handlebars
bell
brake lever
gear lever BrE/
gear shift AmE
brake
front lamp BrE/
front light AmE
fork
tyre BrE/
tire AmE
axle
spokes
pedal
chain
valve
reflector
rear lamp BrE/
rear light AmE
mudguard BrE/
fender AmE
brake cable
saddle
crossbar
pump
people in ancient times. These 39 parts also form part of the
Christian Bible and are called the Old Testament. The
Christian Bible has another 27 parts called the New Testa-
ment, which tell the story of Jesus Christ. 2 [C] a copy of
this book: There was a Bible on the table next to her
bed. 3 [singular] infml the most useful and important book on
a particular subject: The 'Larousse Gastronomique' is consid-
ered to be the bible for chefs.
'Bible Belt, the an area in the south of the US known for
its very religious Christian people, who follow the teachings
of the Bible very strictly
'bible school also vacation bible school n AmE (in the
US) (a school, often in a church building, where there is) a set
of daily activities for children, usually for a week or more of
the summer holidays, during which children have some
religious education, but mostly play and learn CRAFTS: Jenni-
fer's in bible school this week.
'bible thump-er AmE infml humor or derog a person who tries to
attract people to Christianity in a loud and unpleasant way,
usually by warning them of terrible things that will happen
to them if they do not become Christians
bib-li-cal /'bɪblɪkəl/ adj (sometimes cap.) of, like, or about the
Bible, especially the AUTHORIZED VERSION (=English transla-
tion of 1611): to write English in a biblical style
bib-li-og-ra-pher /ˌbɪbli'ɒɡrəfə||-'ɑːɡ-/ n a person who
makes a bibliography
bib-li-og-ra-phy /ˌbɪbli'ɒɡrəfi||-'ɑːɡ-/ n a list of writings on
a subject, especially a list of all the written materials used in
the preparation of a book or article, usually appearing at the
end
bib-li-o-phile /'bɪbliəfaɪl/ n a person who loves books
'bib overalls n [P] AmE another name for OVERALLS
bib-u-lous /'bɪbjʊləs/ adj humor or pomp liking to drink too
much alcohol
Bic /bɪk/ trademark a type of simple cheap pen; BIRO BrE
bi-cam-er-al leg-is-la-ture /baɪˌkæmərəl 'ledʒɪsleɪtʃə ,
-leɪʃər/ n a law-making body consisting of two parts, like the
Senate and the House of Representatives which make up the
US Congress
bi-car-bon-ate /baɪ'kɑːbəneɪt, -bənɪt||-'kaːr-/ also bi car-
bonate of 'soda, sodium bicarbonate, baking
soda, bi-carb /'baɪkɑːb||-kɑːrb/ infml — n [U] a chemical
substance used especially in baking and taken with water as
a medicine
bi-cen-te-na-ry /baɪsen'tɪənəri||-'tenəri, -'sentəneri/ espe-
cially BrE || bi-cen-ten-ni-al /baɪsen'teniəl/ especially AmE —
n the day or year exactly 200 years after a particular event:
This year is the bicentenary of the school's foundation. | the
bicentennial of the American Revolution —bicentenary adj
bicentenary celebrations
bi-ceps /'baiseɪps/ n pl. biceps [C+sing./pl. v] the large muscle
on the front of the upper arm
bick-er /'bɪkə/ v [I (about, over, with)] to quarrel, especially
about unimportant matters: The two children were always
bickering (with each other) (over/about their toys).
bi-cy-cle¹ /'baɪsɪkəl/ also cycle, bike infml — n a two-
wheeled vehicle which one rides by pushing its PEDALS with
the feet. It has recently become fashionable among people
concerned about the ENVIRONMENT to travel by bicycle
because bicycles do not cause any POLLUTION: She goes to
work on her bicycle/by bicycle.
You ride (on) a bicycle. At the beginning of your
journey you get on (to) it or mount (fml) it. At the end of
your journey you get off it or dismount from (fml) it. →
see also DRIVE (USAGE), STEER (USAGE), TRANSPORT
(USAGE)
bicycle² also cycle, bike infml — v [I+adv/prep] to travel by
bicycle —bicyclist n
'bicycle shed also bike shed n especially BrE a building
where bicycles can be kept for a time under shelter, espe-
cially at a school or factory
CULTURAL NOTE In Britain, people sometimes make jokes
about young people smoking cigarettes or having their
first sexual experiences behind the school bicycle sheds.
bid¹ /bɪd/ v bid, present participle bidding [I;T] 1 [(for)] to offer to
pay (a price) for goods or to charge (a price) for one's work
or services: He bid (£10) for an old book at the auction. | What
am I bid for this old book? (=what price will people offer me
for it?) | Several companies are bidding for the contract to
build the bridge. 2 (in playing cards) to make a BID²: Have
you bid yet? | I bid two hearts. —der n
bid² n 1 [(for)] an offer to pay a certain price at a sale, especially
at an AUCTION: a bid of £5 for the old book 2 [(for)] an offer to
do some work at a certain price; TENDER: Bids for building the
bridge were invited from British and American firms. | Have
they put in a bid for the contract? 3 (a chance or turn to
make) a declaration of the number of TRICKS (=games) a
cardplayer says he/she intends to win: a bid of two hearts