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Bell, Alexander Graham
being with a mind) 3 [U] the central qualities or nature of a thing, especially a living thing: The news shook me to the very roots of my being.
being² present participle of BE: They're being photographed. | All being well (=if everything goes well) we should arrive by tomorrow. → see also for the time being (TIME¹)
Bei·rut /beɪˈruːt/ the capital and largest city of Lebanon. It was badly damaged during the CIVIL WAR of the 1970s and 1980s
be-jew·elled BrE || bejeweled AmE /bɪˈdʒuːəld/ adj lit wearing jewels or decorated with jewels
Be-kaa Val·ley /ˌbiːkɑː ˈvæli/ a long valley in Lebanon and Syria, which has been fought for in many wars
be-la-bour BrE || -bor AmE /bɪˈleɪbəʳ/ v [T(with)] old use to beat severely
Bel·a·rus /ˌbeləruːs, bjelə-/ a country in Eastern Europe, surrounded by Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, and Poland. It used to be part of the Soviet Union. Population: 10,322,151 (2003). Capital: Minsk. —Belarusian adj
be-lat-ed /bɪˈleɪtɪd/ adj delayed; happening or arriving (too) late: a belated apology/birthday card —ly adv: The letter arrived belatedly, when the wedding was over.
be-lay /bɪˈleɪ/ v [I;T] tech (on ships) to fix (a rope) by winding under and over in the shape of the figure 8 onto a special hook (a belaying pin)
belch /beltʃ/ v 1 [I] (of a person) to pass gas noisily from the stomach through the mouth 2 [T(OUT)] to throw out with force or in large quantities: factory chimneys belching (out) smoke —belch n: He gave a loud belch.
be-lea-guer /bɪˈliːgəʳ/ v [T usually pass.] fml 1 to surround with an army so as to prevent escape; BESIEGE: a beleaguered city 2 to worry and annoy continuously; HARASS: beleaguered parents
Bel·fast /ˌbelˈfɑst◂ ˈbelfɑːst||ˈbelfæst/ the capital city of Northern Ireland. Belfast is often mentioned in the news because of arguments between the political parties and because of problems with the PEACE PROCESS (=attempts to stop violence between Catholics and Protestants).
bel·fry /ˈbelfri/ n a tower for a bell, especially on a church → see also be/have bats in the belfry (BAT³)
Bel·gian /ˈbeldʒən/ n someone who comes from Belgium
—Belgian adj: the Belgian football team
Bel·gium /ˈbeldʒəm/ a country in northwest Europe between France and Germany. It is a member of the EU. Population: 10,289,088 (2003). Capital: Brussels.
Bel·grade /belˈgreɪd/ the capital city of Serbia, on the river Danube
Bel·gra-no Af·fair, the /ˌbelˈgrɑːnəʊ əˌfeəʳ/ a political argument that followed the British government's order to sink a ship called the General Belgrano, belonging to Argentina's navy, during the FALKLANDS WAR. The ship was sailing away from the Falkland Islands, not towards them, at the time when it was sunk, and some people criticized the British government's action.
Bel·gra-vi-a /ˌbelˈgreɪviə/ a part of west central London where there are many expensive houses and shops, and many foreign embassies (EMBASSY)
be-lie /bɪˈlaɪ/ v [T] fml 1 to give a false idea of: Her smile belied her true feelings of displeasure. 2 to show (hopes, promises etc) to be false or mistaken: The poor sales of the product belied our high hopes for it.
be-lief /bɪˈliːf/ n 1 [S;U[in]] the feeling that something is true or that something really exists: (a) belief in God | [+that] It's my belief that (=I believe that) her death was not an accident. | She started taking money from her employer, in the mistaken belief that she would not be discovered. | His story is beyond belief. (=too strange to be believed) → compare DISBELIEF, UNBELIEF 2 [S;U[in]] a feeling that someone or something is good or can be depended on; trust or confidence: The failure of the operation has shaken my belief (=weakened my trust) in doctors. 3 [C] an idea which is considered true, often one which is part of a system of ideas: religious/political beliefs → see also to the best of one's belief (BEST³)
be-liev-a-ble /bɪˈliːvəbəl/ adj that can be believed → see also UNBELIEVABLE —bly adv
be-lieve /bɪˈliːv/ v [not in progressive forms] 1 [T] to consider to be true, honest, or real: You can't believe anything she says. | The police didn't believe him/his account of the accident. | I asked my boss for a month's holiday and believe it or not she agreed! | He says he's given up smoking. ' 'Don't you believe it – I saw him having a cigarette only ten minutes ago!' | [+(that)] It's hard to believe that she's only 25. | 'I can't believe (=I'm extremely surprised) he's getting married after all these years. | He said I needed a face-lift – would/can you believe it! (=expresses surprise or shock) | He tore up the contract and stormed out – I could hardly believe my eyes! (=I was extremely surprised) → see CAN (USAGE), DISBELIEVE (USAGE) and see also make believe (MAKE¹) 2 [T] to hold as an opinion; think; suppose: [+(that)] I believe they're getting married. | 'Has he arrived yet?' 'I believe so.' | According to the poll, 65% of the public believes the President's economic policies are right. | [+obj+to-v] The banks are widely believed to be planning a cut in interest rates. | The jury believed her to be innocent. 3 [I] to have a firm religious faith
believe in sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] 1 to think that (something) exists: Do you believe in fairies/magic? 2 to have faith or trust in: Christians believe in Jesus. | I don't believe in astrology. 3 to have confidence in the value of: I don't believe in all these so-called health foods. | [+v-ing] He believes in taking plenty of exercise.
be-liev-er /bɪˈliːvəʳ/ n 1 a person who has faith, especially religious faith → opposite UNBELIEVER 2 [+in] a person who believes in (something or perhaps someone): I'm a great believer in fresh air as a cure for illness.
Be·li·sha beacon /bəˌliːʃə biːkən/ n in the UK, a flashing orange light on a pole at a ZEBRA CROSSING (=place where people can walk across a busy street)
be-lit-tle /bɪˈlɪtl/ v [T] fml to cause to seem small or unimportant; DISPARAGE: Don't belittle yourself/your efforts.
Be-lize /bəˈliːz/ a country in Central America on the Caribbean Sea, which was a British COLONY until it became independent in 1981. Population: 240,204 (2000). Capital: Belmopan.
bell /bel/ n 1 a round hollow metal object, usually open-ended, which makes a ringing sound when struck, or an electrical instrument which makes a similar sound: church bells | a bicycle bell | a doorbell → see picture at BICYCLE
CULTURAL NOTE Many of the larger and older Christian churches in both the US and the UK have large bells, which are traditionally rung on Sundays to tell people that a church SERVICE (=religious ceremony) will begin soon. Some churches also ring their bells at weddings or when someone from the church has died. → see also BIG BEN, LIBERTY BELL
2 [C usually sing.] the sound of a bell, especially as a signal or warning: the dinner bell 3 something shaped like a bell, hollow and widening towards the end: the bell of a flower/of a musical instrument 4 Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee quote a slightly changed phrase from a work by John Donne, used when saying that every person should feel involved in the misfortunes of others. The words he actually wrote are: 'Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.' The phrase 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' was used as the title of a novel by Ernest Hemingway. 5 give someone a bell BrE infml to telephone someone → see also DIVING BELL, ring a bell (RING³), as sound as a bell (SOUND³) 6 saved by the bell spoken said when you realize that you will not have to do something difficult, because there will not be time or something unexpected has happened: We'll have to postpone the last item on the agenda – saved by the bell, Jim. | 'I haven't brought my diary, so we'll set the whole thing up later.' 'Saved by the bell.'
Bell, Al-ex-an-der Gra-ham /ˌælɪɡˈzɑːndəʳ ˈɡreəm|| -ˈzæn-/ (1847–1922) a Scottish scientist and inventor who lived