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 7 of 57: from “brain” to “burn someone at the stake”.
- brain verb To destroy; to put an end to.
- brain cell noun Taken as a unit of intelligence, especially in small quantities.
- brain cramp noun A temporary mental lapse, such as an inability to remember something, to focus one's attention, to understand something, or to perform some…
- brain damage noun Stupidity.
- brain traffic noun An ability to think, with an emphasis on the limited capacity and speed a person is capable of, analogous to the limits of a road system…
- brain virus noun A mind virus.
- brainwash verb To take from an electronically controlled machine its stored-up information; to erase a computer's programming. (1960)
- brainworm noun A song or melody that keeps playing inside of one's mind.
- brake noun Something used to retard or stop some action, process etc.
- brazen adj Brass-like in appearance or character; bright, ruddy, hard.
- breach noun A difference in opinions, social class, etc.
- breadcrumb noun One in a series of clues leading to a person or place.
- breadline noun The lowest income level at which one's most basic necessities of survival are met; poverty line or subsistence level.
- break down verb To render or to become unstable due to stress, to collapse physically or mentally.
- break ground verb To initiate a new venture, or to advance beyond previous achievements.
- break the Internet verb To overwhelm a web server through organic user-driven demand, such that the server goes offline or is in danger of doing so.
- break up verb To become disorganised.
- breakdown noun A failure in a relationship; a failure or loss of organization in a system.
- breaking point noun The point at which a person or system succumbs to stresses or pressures and descends into crisis.
- breast verb To push against with the breast; to meet full on, oppose, face.
- breath and britches noun physically (implying extreme thinness) or,
- breathe verb To live.
- breeding-ground noun A place or institution seen as creating large numbers of a stated thing, type of person, etc.
- breeze noun Any activity that is easy, not testing or difficult.
- breezy adj With a cheerful, casual, lively and light-hearted manner.
- brethren noun The body of members, especially of a fraternal, religious or military order.
- brew up verb To concoct.
- briar noun Anything that is sharp or unpleasant to the feelings.
- briar-patch noun An intellectual or philosophical issue abounding with seemingly unresolvable problems; a theoretical quandary or impasse.
- brick noun An electronic device, especially a heavy box-shaped one, that has become non-functional or obsolete.
- brick wall noun An obstacle.
- brickbat noun A piece of (sharp) criticism or a (highly) uncomplimentary remark.
- brickbatting noun The act of assailing with (sharp) criticism.
- bricole noun an indirect action or stroke.
- bride noun An object ardently loved.
- bridgeable adj Possible to reconcile.
- bridgemaker noun A person who connects others.
- bridle noun A restraint; a curb; a check.
- brief noun A position of interest or advocacy.
- bright noun Glory, splendour.
- bright shiny object noun Something that attracts a great deal of attention because of its appealing superficial characteristics.
- bright spot noun A good part of something that is otherwise fairly bad or unpleasant.
- brighten verb To make more cheerful and pleasant; to enliven
- brightness noun Intelligence, cleverness.
- brim verb To fill (something) fully.
- brimful noun A large amount.
- bring verb To supply or contribute.
- bring down on verb To cause negative consequences on (somebody or something).
- bring to a boil verb To bring (a debate, etc.) to a peak of activity or emotion.
- bring up short verb To startle or interrupt (someone), causing them to stop or reevaluate what they are doing.
- brink noun The edge or border.
- briny adj Of a person: difficult to get along with or to like; acerbic, prickly, unlikable.
- broach verb To begin discussion about (something).
- broad daylight noun Chiefly preceded by in: the full view of observers during the day.
- Brobdingnagian adj Enormous, huge, far larger than is customary for such a thing.
- brocade noun A decorative pattern.
- brodie noun A risky enterprise; a chance taken.
- broken bird noun A troubled or emotionally fragile person, especially one suffering the aftereffects of a personal trauma.
- broom verb To get rid of someone, like firing an employee or breaking up with a girlfriend, to sweep another out of one's life.
- broom closet noun The metaphorical place in which a Wiccan's religious identity is hidden.
- brow noun Aspect; appearance; facial expression.
- brownnose noun One who sucks up; a bootlicker or sycophant.
- brownout noun A moment or period where something is weakened, diminished or less effective.
- bruise verb To harm or injure somebody's feelings or self-esteem.
- brush back verb To respond to criticism or arguments; to defend oneself against criticism.
- brushback pitch noun An action intended to threaten or frighten someone.
- brushfire noun A war that arises suddenly and is limited in scope or area.
- brutal adj In extreme metal, to describe the speed of the music and the density of riffs.
- bubble verb To churn or foment, as if wishing to rise to the surface.
- bubble wrap verb To excessively protect or shelter someone or something.
- bubblegum adj Sweet, perky, or youthful; (music) poppy.
- Bucephalus noun That which is the greatest of its kind.
- buckaroo noun A headstrong, reckless person; a hothead.
- bucket brigade noun Any process in which something is passed along a chain.
- bucket of sunshine noun Synonym of barrel of sunshine.
- buckle verb To apply (oneself) to, or prepare (oneself) for, a task or work; also (obsolete), to equip (oneself) for a battle, expedition, etc.
- bud noun Something that has begun to develop.
- buddha noun Synonym of know-it-all or smartass, a person who imagines themselves smarter or wiser than they are.
- buff out verb To bring something to proper shape by removing or masking minor defects, by straightening out the residual shortcomings.
- buffer noun A gap that isolates or separates two things.
- buffer zone noun A conceptual space between two things.
- buffet verb To aggressively challenge, denounce, or criticise.
- buggy whip noun An obsolete product or technology.
- building block noun A component that is an essential part of a larger system.
- building site noun A messy, disorganized area.
- bulge noun A sudden rise in value or quantity.
- bullet noun Anything that is projected extremely fast.
- bulletproof adj Reliable, infallible, sturdy or error-tolerant.
- bullionize verb To make or become noble or of high quality.
- bullpen noun A place for someone or something to get ready.
- bulwark noun Any means of defence or security.
- bum note noun A social or conversational mistake; an awkward or inappropriate action.
- bumper sticker noun Canned insight; a slogan or saying that is trite or superficial.
- buoy up verb To uplift, hearten, inspire, or raise the spirits of.
- buoyancy noun Resilience or cheerfulness.
- buoyant adj Lighthearted and lively.
- burden verb To encumber with a burden.
- burn away verb to remove instantly and forcefully; to evaporate
- burn in verb To imprint indelibly on the mind.
- burn someone at the stake verb To criticize (someone) publicly and vehemently; to cancel (someone).