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brass
system of forceful continuous persuading: to brainwash political prisoners | (infrml) Don't let those television advertisements brainwash you into buying that soap. —ing n [U]
brain·wave /'breinweiv/ n 1 infrml || also brainstorm AmE a sudden clever idea: I've just had a brainwave. Here's what we should do! 2 [usually pl.] tech an electrical force that is produced by the brain and can be measured
brain·y /'breini/ adj infrml clever; INTELLIGENT -> see CLEVER (USAGE) —iness n [U]
braise /breiz/ v [T] to cook (meat or vegetables) slowly in fat and a little liquid in a covered dish: braised celery -> see COOK (USAGE)
'braising steak n [U] cow meat that is cheaper and lower in quality than steak, usually used in small pieces and cooked in liquid to make it tender
brake¹ /breik/ n an apparatus for reducing movement of a vehicle and bringing it to a stop, especially by means of pressure on the wheels: emergency brakes | to step hard on the brake | (fig.) The rise in interest rates acted as a brake on expenditure. -> see also DISC BRAKES; see picture at CAR
brake² v [I;T] to (cause to) slow or stop by using a brake: She braked suddenly to avoid the dog.
brake³ n an area of rough or wet land with many low-growing wild bushes and plants
brake light n a usually red light at the back of a vehicle, which lights up when the driver presses the brake
brake shoe n either of a pair of curved plates next to the wheel of a vehicle that may be pressed against it to stop it or slow it down
bram·ble /'bræmbəl/ n a common wild prickly bush of the rose family, especially the wild BLACKBERRY
Bram·ley /'bræmli/ n a type of green apple with a firm juicy flesh, used for cooking
bran /bræn/ n [U] the crushed skin of wheat and other grain separated from the flour. It is believed that bran is healthy, because it contains a lot of FIBRE and some people like to add it to their breakfast CEREAL.
Bran·agh, Ken·neth /'brænə, 'kenɪθ/ (1960–) a British theatre and film actor and DIRECTOR, known especially for his films of Shakespeare plays such as Much Ado about Nothing, Hamlet, and Henry V. He has also appeared in the British television drama Shackleton and other films, including Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
branch¹ /brɑːntʃ||bræntʃ/ n 1 an armline stem growing from the trunk of a tree or from another such stem: monkeys swinging from the branches | an overhanging branch 2 [(of)] a separate and usually less important part of something larger: a branch of a river | a branch line on a railway network 3 [(of)] a part or division of a large organization, group, area of knowledge etc: Psychiatry is a branch of medicine. | The bank has branches all over the country. | He's the chairman of the local branch of the union.
branch² v [I] to form or become divided into branches: Turn right where the road branches.
branch off phr v [I(from)] to leave a main road, an established course of action etc: They branched off from the main road and turned down a country lane.
branch out phr v [I(into)] to add to the range of one's interests or activities: The bookshop has decided to branch out into selling records and tapes.
Branch Da·vid·i·an /ˌbrɑːntʃ dəˈvɪdiən||ˌbræntʃ-/ a religious group that split from the Seventh Day Adventist church. They believe that they are God's chosen people, and that there will always be a PROPHET to teach them. -> see also WACO
brand¹ /brænd/ n 1 [(of)] a class of goods which is the product of a particular company or producer: What is your favourite brand of cigarettes? | The brand name of this soap is 'Flower'. | This type of coffee is the brand leader. (=the brand that is sold in the largest quantities) | (fig.) He has his own brand (=special kind) of humour: -> see MAKE (USAGE) 2 a mark made, especially by burning, usually to show the owner of something: These cattle have my brand on them. 3 # a piece of burnt or burning wood 4 poet a sword
brand² v [T] 1 to mark (something) by or as if by burning, especially to show who owns it: The cattle are branded with the farmer's initials. | (fig.) His unhappy childhood has branded him for life. (=had a lasting effect on his character) 2 [(as)] to give a lasting bad name to; STIGMATIZE: It's unfair to brand all football supporters as troublemakers. | [+obj+n] The press branded him a liar.
Brand, Jo /dʒəu/ (1958–) a British COMEDIAN, known for her jokes about men, sex, and being fat but not caring about it
brand·ing /'brændɪŋ/ n [U] a practice which involves a company giving a group of their products the same brand name, so that the name becomes well-known
bran·dish /'brændɪʃ/ v [T] to shake or wave (something, especially a weapon) about, often in a threatening way: He brandished a newspaper at me and said, 'Have you seen the news?'
'brand name n a TRADE NAME
,brand-'new adj new and completely unused: Be careful with that record – it's brand-new! | a brand-new car
Brando, Mar·lon /'brændou, 'mɑːrlən||'mɑːrlən/ (1924–2004) a US actor who was regarded as one of the best actors in the history of the cinema. His films included On the Waterfront (1954), for which he won an Oscar, The Godfather (1972), and Apocalypse Now (1979). He was known for using the style of acting called METHOD ACTING. -> see colour photo on page A32
Brands Hatch /,brændz 'hætʃ/ a motor-racing CIRCUIT in Kent, England
Brandt, Wil·ly /'brænt, 'vili/ (1913–92) a German politician who was CHANCELLOR of West Germany from 1969 to 1974. He is known especially for trying to improve relations between East and West Germany and for his support for the European Union.
bran·dy /'brændi/ n [C;U] (a glass of) a strong alcoholic drink made from wine, also called COGNAC
,brandy 'butter n [U] a sweet mixture of butter, sugar, and brandy, usually eaten with CHRISTMAS PUDDING or MINCE PIES
'brandy snap n a sweet thin BISCUIT in the shape of a tube, sometimes filled with cream
Bran·son, Richard /'brænsən/ (1950–) a British BUSINESSMAN who started the Virgin companies, which include a record company, an AIRLINE, a train company, and a FINANCIAL SERVICES company which sells and provides advice about INVESTMENTS. He is seen as different from the typical businessman, because he has long hair and does not wear a suit. He has also made several attempts to go around the world in a BALLOON. His official title is Sir Richard Branson.
Bran·ston Pick·le /,brænstən 'pɪkəl/ trademark a type of CHUTNEY, which is very popular in the UK and is often eaten in SANDWICHES with cheese.
'bran tub n BrE a TUB (=large round open container) filled with bran and containing small presents. Children pay a small amount of money and can then put their hand into the bran tub to find a surprise present.
Braque, Georges /brak, ʒːʒ||ʒɔːrʒ/ (1882–1963) a French painter who worked with PICASSO and was one of those who started the movement known as CUBISM
brash /bræʃ/ adj derog 1 showing a disrespectful or showy self-confidence: a loud, brash young man | The new part of the city, with its brash and vulgar buildings 2 hasty and too confident, especially from lack of experience; RASH —ly adv —ness n [U]
Bra·sil·i·a /brə'zɪliə/ the capital city of Brazil. Brasilia is a new city, which was built in 1960. Before that, the capital of Brazil was RIO DE JANEIRO.
brass /brɑːs||bræs/ n 1 [U] a very hard bright yellow metal, a mixture of COPPER and ZINC 2 [the+sing./pl. v] (the players of) the set of musical instruments in an ORCHESTRA or band that