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Barbie doll
bap /bæp/ n BrE a large soft bread ROLL usually with a fine covering of flour on top
bap·tis·m /'bæptızəm/ n 1 [C;U] a Christian religious ceremony in which a person is touched or covered with water to make them pure and free from guilt or SIN and show that they have been accepted as a member of the Church. Baptism is often also used as a ceremony for officially giving a name to a baby. -> see also CHRISTEN, GODPARENT 2 baptism of fire a difficult or unpleasant first experience of something —mal /bæp'tızməl/ adj
Bap·tist /'bæptıst/ n a member of a Christian religious group which believes that BAPTISM should only be for people who are old enough to understand its meaning, and that they should be completely covered by water. The Baptists are the largest Protestant group in the US, especially in the South. -> see also SOUTHERN BAPTIST —Baptist adj: a Baptist church
bap·tize also -tise BrE /bæp'taız/ v [T] 1 to perform the ceremony of baptism on (a person). In many Christian Churches babies are baptized when they are quite young, but some Churches believe that only adults can be baptized, when they are able to make their own choice to do it. 2 [+obj+n] to admit as a member of the stated church by baptism: He was baptized a Catholic. 3 [+obj+n] to give (someone) a name at baptism: She was baptized Sheila Jane.
bar¹ /bɑːr/ n 1 a piece of solid material that is longer than it is wide: a bar of soap/chocolate/gold/iron 2 a length of wood or metal across a door, gate, or window to keep it shut or prevent movement through it: There were bars across the windows of the prison. | (fig.) His bad English is a bar to (=prevents) his getting a job. | (fig.) The government has announced a total bar on imports of luxury cars. 3 (a place with) a COUNTER where a) alcoholic drinks are served: There are several bars in the hotel. | There were no free tables, so they stood at the bar. | What time does the bar close? b) a particular kind of food or drink is served: a coffee bar | a snack bar | a sandwich bar -> see also WINE BAR 4 (in a court of law) a division between the part in which the business of the court is carried on and the part intended for the prisoner or the public: the prisoner at the bar (=the person being tried) | (fig.) Your policies will be judged at the bar of public opinion. (=by the public) -> see also The BAR 5 a group of notes and rests in music that add up to a particular time value: She sang a few bars of the song, and then stopped. 6 a bank of sand or stones under the water parallel to a shore, at the entrance to a HARBOUR etc 7 especially lit a narrow band of colour or light: bars of sunlight 8 a narrow band of metal or cloth worn on a military uniform to show rank, service, or good performance 9 a CROSSBAR 10 behind bars in prison -> see also BARRED, COLOUR bars
bar² v -rr- [T] 1 [(UP)] to close firmly with a bar: to bar the door | The empty house was barred up for the winter. (=closed completely) -> opposite UNBAR 2 [+obj+adv/prep] to keep in or out by barring a door, gate etc: They barred themselves in. | She barred them out of her room. 3 [often pass.] to prevent movement through or into; block: After the bombing, the whole area was barred to the public. | The road ahead was barred by a solid line of policemen. 4 [(from)] a) to prevent from entering; keep out: The members voted to bar women from the club. | Traffic has been barred from the city centre. b) to forbid; PROHIBIT: He has been barred from playing for two weeks because of bad behaviour. -> see also no holds barred (HOLD²)
bar³ prep except: The whole group was at the party, bar John. | He's the best singer in the country bar none. (=without any exceptions) -> see also BARRING
Bar, the n 1 BrE the profession of being a BARRISTER, or the members of this profession: He retired after 25 years at the Bar. 2 AmE the profession of being a lawyer, or the members of this profession: the State Bar of California 3 AmE infml the exam that you must take to become a lawyer 4 be called to the Bar BrE to become a barrister
barb /bɑːb||bɑːrb/ n 1 the sharp point of a fish hook, ARROW etc, with a curved shape which prevents it from being easily pulled out 2 a remark that is clever or amusing but also cruel and sharp -> see also BARBED
Bar·ba·dos /bɑː'beıdos||bɑːr'beıdas, -das/ an island in the Caribbean Sea. Population: 277,264 (2003). Capital: Bridge-town. Barbados used to belong to the UK, but has been an independent member of the British COMMONWEALTH since 1966. It is a popular place for tourists.
bar·bar·i·an /bɑː'bɛəriən||bɑːr-/ n often derog an uncivilized person, especially one who is rough and wild in behaviour: The barbarians conquered Rome. | (fig.) barbarians who had never even heard of the great composer —barbarian adj: barbarian manners
Bar·bar·i·ans, the /bɑː'bɛəriənz||bɑːr-/ a Rugby Union team based in Britain, with other players from several countries. Teams from other countries which come to Britain often play against the Barbarians.
bar·bar·ic /bɑː'bærık||bɑːr-/ adj usually derog 1 very cruel; BRUTAL: a barbaric act of terrorism | barbaric tortures 2 of or like a barbarian; BARBAROUS: barbaric people/customs —ally /klı/ adv
bar·bar·ism /'bɑːbərızəm||'bɑːr-/ n usually derog 1 [U] the rough uncivilized condition of being a barbarian: At that time, most of the peoples of northern Europe were in a state of barbarism. 2 [C] fml an offensive word or action, especially a mistake in the use of language
bar·bar·i·ty /bɑː'bærɪti||bɑːr-/ n [C;U] (an example of) cruelty of the worst kind: The barbarities of the last war must not be repeated.
bar·bar·ous /'bɑːbərəs||'bɑːr-/ adj usually derog 1 rough and uncivilized: barbarous people 2 very cruel; BARBARIC 3 fml offensive in behaviour or manners, especially by making mistakes in the use of language: a barbarous writer/style —ly adv
bar·be·cue¹ /'bɑːbıkjuː||'bɑːr-/ also barbie AustrE and BrE infml, bbq AmE infml —n 1 a metal frame on which to cook food, especially meat, over an open fire, usually outdoors 2 a party at which food is prepared in this way and eaten: We had a barbecue on the beach.
barbecue² v [T] to cook (meat) a) on a barbecue: barbecued chicken b) in a very hot SAUCE
barbed /bɑːbd||bɑːrbd/ adj 1 with one or more BARBS or short sharp points: a barbed hook 2 (of something spoken or written) sharp and unkind, especially in judging a person, their ideas etc: a barbed remark
barbed 'wire also barbwire AmE —n [U] wire with short sharp points on it: a barbed-wire fence to keep the cattle in
bar·bell /'bɑːbel||'bɑːr-/ n AmE a metal stick with round weights at each end which is lifted to build strength
bar·ber /'bɑːbə||'bɑːr-/ n a person (usually a man) who cuts men's hair, sometimes SHAVES them, and who usually works in a shop (barber's BrE || barbershop AmE): I've got an appointment at the barber's. -> compare HAIRDRESSER
Bar·ber, Sam·u·el /'sæmjuəl/ (1910-81) a US COMPOSER who is known especially for his Adagio for Strings (1936), which was used in the film Platoon (1986)
Barbera -> see HANNA BARBERA
Bar·ber of Se'ville, The an OPERA by Rossini, based on a French play by Beaumarchais
bar·ber·shop /'bɑːbəʃɒp||-bɑːrʃɑːp/ adj describing a style of singing popular songs in four parts in close HARMONY (=with the notes of each part close together in sound): a barbershop quartet
barber's 'pole n a pole painted in red and white STRIPES used as a street sign outside an old-fashioned men's hairdresser's (HAIRDRESSER)
bar·bi·can /'bɑːbıkən||'bɑːr-/ n a tower for defence at a gate or bridge -> see picture at CASTLE
Barbican, the also the Barbican Centre a large group of buildings in central London, which includes two theatres, two cinemas, a concert hall, an ART GALLERY, restaurants, and shops: There's a new Royal Shakespeare Company production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' at the Barbican.
bar·bie /'bɑːbi||'bɑːr-/ n AustrE and BrE infml a BARBECUE
'Barbie doll trademark a popular type of DOLL in the shape of an attractive young woman, used as a child's toy. There is a male doll called Ken, who is Barbie's BOYFRIEND, and there is also a large variety of fashionable clothes, cars, furniture etc