This page gathers the 5,691 dictionary entries of which at least one sense is labelled “Figuratively” by Wiktionary. The definition shown is that sense; each word leads to its full entry. Page 4 of 57: from “baptize” to “bespatter”.
- baptize verb To Christianize.
- bar noun Any level of achievement regarded as a challenge to be overcome; a standard or expectation.
- bar off verb To prohibit (e.g. a topic of discussion).
- barb noun A hurtful or disparaging remark.
- bare verb To uncover; to reveal.
- bare all verb To reveal everything (particularly as pertaining information of a sensitive or embarrassing nature).
- bare-boned adj Very basic; having only the essentials and nothing else.
- bargain basement adj Inexpensive.
- barium meal noun The deliberate release of traceable information to a suspect to see whether they leak it.
- bark noun An abrupt loud vocal utterance.
- barley sugar adj Very sweet-natured or saccharine; harmless.
- barmy adj Containing, covered with, or pertaining to barm (“foam rising upon beer or other malt liquors when fermenting, used as leaven in brewing…
- barnacled adj Thickly covered in something, as if with barnacles.
- barnyard adj Vulgar; scatological.
- barometer noun Anything used as a gauge or indicator.
- baroque adj Overly and needlessly complicated.
- barracuda noun One who uses harsh or predatory means to compete.
- barricade noun A place of confrontation.
- barrier to entry noun An impediment that prohibits the use, adoption, application, etc. of (something).
- basic training noun A more or less analogous (albeit nonmartial) experience in the civilian world.
- bask verb To take great pleasure or satisfaction; to feel warmth or happiness.
- basket noun A set or collection of intangible things.
- basketweaving noun Any useless, unproductive, or lightweight activity.
- bastille verb To confine (someone or something) in, or as if in, a bastille (noun sense 2.1) or prison; to imprison.
- bastion noun A person, group, or thing, that strongly defends some principle.
- bate verb To cut off, remove, take away.
- bathe verb To cover or surround.
- baton verb To strike with a baton.
- batten verb Followed by on: to prosper or thrive, especially at the expense of others.
- batter verb To defeat soundly; to thrash.
- batteries-included adj Including all possible components required for full usability.
- battering ram noun Something which acts as a powerful tool against something.
- battle line noun Any of those parts of a contest which, as a result of strategic decisions on both sides, are most closely fought and will likely determine…
- battle-tested adj Which has been successfully put to the test in a real-life situation, in conditions of real use.
- battleground noun Any place or situation of dispute or contention.
- bauble noun Anything trivial and worthless.
- bawbee noun A copper; a small amount of money.
- bay noun A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.
- bay window noun A protruding belly.
- bayamo noun A violent force.
- beach ball noun A successful shot on goal that should have been easily blocked.
- beacon noun That which gives notice of danger, hope, etc., or keeps people on the correct path; a source of inspiration.
- beam verb To smile broadly or especially cheerfully.
- beamy adj Radiant; beamsome; joyous; gladsome.
- bean-fed adj Spirited, lively, and full of energy.
- beano noun Any home-made gas or indigestion remedy.
- beanstalk noun A tall, slim person.
- bear noun A rough, unmannerly, uncouth person.
- bearbaiting noun A bloodthirsty free for all.
- beast noun Something unpleasant and difficult.
- beast of burden noun A person who is mistreated by being inappropriately treated like a servant.
- beast of prey noun A predatory person, savagely cruel and ruthless in their treatment of others.
- beat hollow verb To defeat severely.
- beat off verb To drive something away with blows or military force.
- beat on verb To talk at length; to go on and on; to rant or expound.
- beating heart noun The core of a thing; its most essential or important part.
- becloud verb To cast in a negative light, cast a pall over, darken.
- beclout verb To dress up.
- bed noun Marriage.
- bed down verb To or become make permanent, fixed or wedded to a particular setup, way of thinking, style or manner.
- bedizen verb To dress or ornament (someone or something), especially in a gaudy, showy, or tasteless manner.
- bedrock verb To establish on a solid foundation.
- bedung verb To bedaub or defile.
- beef noun Essence, content; the important part of a document or project.
- beefed adj Muscular.
- beehive noun Any place full of activity, or in which people are very busy.
- befoul verb To stain or mar (e.g., with infamy or disgrace).
- befriend verb To become a friend of (someone), to make friends with (someone).
- begetter noun An originator; a creator.
- beggar verb To exhaust the resources of; to outdo or go beyond.
- begging bowl noun Used in reference to a plea for help.
- behemoth noun Something which has the qualities of great power and might, and monstrous proportions.
- behind prep Concealed by (something serving as a facade or disguise).
- behind the scenes prep_phrase In secret; out of public view.
- behind the wheel prep_phrase In control of the situation; in charge.
- beige flag noun A clue or indication (especially on an online dating profile) that a person is boring or unoriginal.
- belated adj Slow to learn or to adopt a trend; hence, lacking education or sophistication; benighted, unenlightened, unsophisticated.
- beleaguered adj Beset by trouble or difficulty.
- bell cow noun A leader; an influencer.
- bellied adj Overblown, exaggerated.
- bellows verb To expand and contract like a bellows.
- bellwether noun Anything that indicates future trends.
- bellyache verb To unnecessarily complain or whine, often about simple matters.
- belting noun A thorough defeat; a thrashing.
- bemerd verb To tarnish or slander.
- bemire verb To stain or mar, as with infamy or disgrace; to tarnish; to sully.
- bemud verb To confuse; muddle.
- bench noun The people who decide on the verdict, collectively; the judiciary.
- bend sinister noun Bastardy, (by extension) a defect or stigma.
- benighted adj Lacking education or knowledge; unenlightened; also, lacking morality; immoral, unscrupulous.
- benumb verb To deaden, dull (the mind, faculties, etc.).
- bepommel verb To assail or criticise in conversation, or in writing.
- beridden adj Beset or besieged (by); plagued or infested (by).
- berth verb To provide (someone) with a berth (noun etymology 1, noun sense 3.1) or appointment, job, or position.
- beset verb Of dangers, difficulties, enemies, etc.: to negatively affect (someone or something); to trouble.
- beshit verb To soil; to spoil; to defile; to befoul.
- beshroud verb To hide in darkness, as with a cloak.
- besiege verb To beleaguer, to vex, to lay siege to, to beset.
- beslaver verb To cover with fulsome flattery.
- bespatter verb To asperse with calumny or reproach; shend.