buffer zone 172
'buffer zone n a NEUTRAL area separating opposing forces or groups
buf-fet1 /'bʌfɪt/ v [T often pass.] to strike forcefully or repeatedly: We were buffeted by the wind and the rain. | We were buffeted about (=thrown from side to side) during the rough boat trip. —buffet n
buf-fet2 /'bʊfeɪ||bə'feɪ/ n 1 (a place where one can get) a meal consisting usually of cold food, which people serve for themselves and eat standing up or sitting down nearby 2 AmE a SIDEBOARD
Buf-fet, Jimmy /'bʌfɪt/ (1946–) a US singer and songwriter who was especially popular in the 1970s. His songs are often humorous and include Margaritaville.
Buffet, Warren (1930–) a wealthy US STOCKBROKER (=someone who buys and sells STOCKS and BONDS etc). He bought his first shares when he was 11, and bought land when he was 14 using the money he earned delivering newspapers. He studied at Columbia University after Harvard Business School said they would not take him. He has become one of the richest men in the United States.
buffet car /'bʌfeɪ kɑːr ||bə'feɪ-/ n a carriage in a train where one can get drinks and light meals
buf-foon /bə'fuːn/ n a very stupid person, especially one who is rough and noisy —ery n [U]
Buf-fy the Vam-pire Slay-er /ˌbʌfi ðə ˈvæmpaɪə ˌsleɪər ||-pær-/ a popular television programme about an attractive young woman named Buffy, who hunts and kills VAMPIRES
bug1 /bʌɡ/ n 1 especially AmE any small insect: The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 2 infml a small living thing causing disease; GERM: I'm not feeling well; I must have picked up a bug somewhere. | There's a nasty bug going around. 3 [C] a BEDBUG 4 [C] slang an apparatus for listening secretly to other people's conversations: The police searched the court-room for bugs. 5 infml a fault or difficulty in a machine, system, computer PROGRAM etc: to iron out all the bugs from the new process → see also DEBUG 6 [(the + S) infml an eager but sometimes not lasting interest in the stated thing: bitten by the travel bug | the photography bug
bug2 v -gg- [T] slang 1 to fit with a secret listening apparatus: The police have bugged his office. 2 to annoy; IRRITATE: It bugs me when people come around without telephoning first.
Bug n AmE infml a BEETLE (=type of small Volkswagen car)
bug-a-boo /'bʌɡəbuː/ n pl. -boos infml, especially AmE an imaginary cause of fear: childish bugaboos
bug-bear /'bʌɡbeər/ n something that causes anxiety or concern, perhaps without reason: the bugbear of rising prices
bug-eyed adj having eyes that stick out or BULGE, for example because of lack of sleep
bug-ger1 /'bʌɡər/ n slang, especially BrE 1 taboo an offensive or disagreeable person 2 taboo a SODOMITE 3 a person or animal: The poor bugger broke his leg skiing. | You lucky buggers! | The cheeky little bugger! 4 something that causes a lot of trouble or difficulty: That job's a real bugger! | a bugger of a job
bugger2 v [T] BrE 1 taboo or law to be guilty of SODOMY 2 slang (used for adding force to expressions of displeasure or surprise): Bugger it! I've missed my train! | Bugger the lot of you! | Well bugger me – he's done it!
bugger about phr v BrE taboo slang 1 [I[(with)]] to behave in a silly or foolish way 2 [T[(bugger sbdy. about)]] to cause difficulties to: I wish the tax office would stop buggering me about.
bugger off phr v [I usually imperative] BrE taboo slang to go away: He told me to bugger off!
bugger sthg. ⇔ up phr v [T] BrE taboo slang to spoil; ruin: Losing our luggage really buggered up our holiday.
bugger 'all n [U] BrE taboo slang nothing: Like it or not, there's bugger all we can do about it.
bug-gered /'bʌɡərd||-ərd/ adj [F] BrE taboo slang 1 extremely tired 2 very surprised or shocked: Well, I'm buggered!
bug-ger-y /'bʌɡəri/ n [U] BrE taboo or law for → SODOMY
bug-gy /'bʌɡi/ n 1 BrE a light folding PUSHCHAIR with small wheels 2 a light carriage pulled by one horse 3 also baby buggy — AmE for PRAM
bu-gle /'bjuːɡəl/ n a brass musical instrument, played by blowing, like a TRUMPET but shorter, used especially for army calls —gler n
Bugs 'Bunny a CARTOON rabbit who likes CARROTS and often uses the phrase 'What's up, Doc?'
'bug zapper n AmE infml a special type of light that is designed to attract insects such as MOSQUITOS and kill them with electricity
Bu-ick /'bjuːɪk/ trademark a type of US car made by General Motors
build1 /bɪld/ v built /bɪlt/ [I;T] 1 to make (a structure) by putting pieces together; CONSTRUCT: That house is built of brick(s). | They're building (new houses) in that area now. | to build roads/bridges/computers/aircraft | These birds build their nests out of straw. | [+obj+for] He built me a model ship out of wood. | [+obj+for] He built a model ship for me. 2 [(up)] to (cause to) develop; form: Hard work builds (up) character. | The queue of people waiting for tickets is building fast. | to build a relationship/a business | efforts to build confidence between the two sides 3 build bridges to try to establish a connection or friendly relationship, especially between opposing groups or ideas 4 -built formed in a stated way: a brick-built house | a well-built man
build sthg. ⇔ in/into sthg. phr v [T usually pass.] 1 to make so as to be a fixed part, usually of a room: These cupboards are built in/built into the walls. 2 to cause to be a part of something which cannot be separated or removed from it: The rate of pay was built into her contract. → see also BUILT-IN
build on phr v [T often pass.] 1 [(build sthg. ⇔ on)] to make an additional building: This part of the hospital was built on later. 2 (build on sthg.) to use as a base for further development: In the new job she'll be able to build on her previous experience in marketing. 3 [also build upon —(build sthg. on sthg)] to base on: The company's success is built on its very popular home computers. | His argument is built on facts. 4 [(build on sthg.)] to depend on; BANK on
build up phr v 1 [I;T[(build sthg. ⇔ up)]] to (cause to) increase, develop, or become gradually larger: to build up one's strength again after an illness | The clouds are building up. | He has built up a good business over the years. | Traffic is already building up. 2 [T[(build sbdy/sthg. ⇔ up)]] to praise so as to influence the opinion of others; PROMOTE: The singer has been built up into a great success. → see also BUILDUP, BUILT-UP
build2 n [C;U] shape and size, especially of the human body: a powerful build | My brother and I are of the same build. → see BODY (USAGE)
build-er /'bɪldər/ n 1 also building contractor AmE —a person whose job is building things, especially houses: a firm of local builders 2 (in comb.) something that helps form or develop a quality or condition: Hard work is a great character-builder.
builders' merchant n BrE a person who owns or works in a place (builders' merchant's) where building materials such as bricks, cement, sand etc are sold
build-ing /'bɪldɪŋ/ n 1 [C] a structure, usually with a roof and walls, that is intended to stay in one place and not to be taken down again: Houses and churches are buildings. | The offices are on the top two floors of the building. 2 [U] the process or business of making buildings: the building industry
'building block n 1 blocks of wood or plastic used by young children to play games, especially by placing one on top of another 2 (fig.) any of the pieces out of which something is built: Atoms are the building blocks of the universe.
'building con,tractor /|'|.. .../ n a BUILDER
'building site n a piece of ground where a building is being built
'building so,ciety BrE || savings and loan association AmE — n a business organization into which people put money in order to save it and gain interest, and which lends money to people who want to buy houses
build-up /'bɪld-ʌp/ n 1 [(of, in)] a process of increasing: