Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

3 ADV [ADV after v, n ADV ] You use backwards to indicate that something changes or develops in a way that is not an improvement, but is a return to old ideas or methods. □  Greater government intervention in businesses would represent a step backwards. □  …the blaming that keeps us looking backward.

4 → see also backward

5 PHRASE If someone or something moves backwards and forwards , they move repeatedly first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. □  Draw the floss backwards and forwards between the teeth. □  …people travelling backwards and forwards to and from London.

6to bend over backwards → see bend

back|wash /bæ kwɒʃ/ N‑SING The backwash of an event or situation is an unpleasant situation that exists after it and as a result of it. □  …the backwash of the tragedy.

back|water /bæ kwɔːtə ^r / (backwaters )

1 N‑COUNT A backwater is a place that is isolated. □  …a quiet rural backwater.

2 N‑COUNT If you refer to a place or institution as a backwater , you think it is not developing properly because it is isolated from ideas and events in other places and institutions. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  Britain could become a political backwater with no serious influence in the world.

back|woods /bæ kwʊdz/ N‑PLURAL If you refer to an area as the backwoods , you mean that it is a long way from large towns and is isolated from modern life. □  …the backwoods of Louisiana.

back|woods|man /bæ kwʊdzmən/ (backwoodsmen ) N‑COUNT Backwoodsmen are people, especially politicians, who like the old ways of doing things, or who are involved in an organization at a local level. [mainly BRIT ] □  …Republican Party backwoodsmen in the United States.

back|yard /bæ kjɑː ^r d/ (backyards ) also back yard

1 N‑COUNT A backyard is an area of land at the back of a house.

2 N‑COUNT [with poss] If you refer to a country's own backyard , you are referring to its own territory or to somewhere that is very close and where that country wants to influence events. □  Economics will not stop Europe's politicians complaining when jobs are lost in their own backyard.

ba|con /be I kən/ N‑UNCOUNT Bacon is salted or smoked meat which comes from the back or sides of a pig.

bac|te|ria /bækt I ə riə/ N‑PLURAL Bacteria are very small organisms. Some bacteria can cause disease. □  Chlorine is added to kill bacteria.

bac|te|rial /bækt I ə riəl/ ADJ [ADJ n] Bacterial is used to describe things that relate to or are caused by bacteria. □  Cholera is a bacterial infection.

bac|te|ri|ol|ogy /bækt I ə riɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Bacteriology is the science and the study of bacteria. ●  bac|te|rio|logi|cal /bækt I ə riəlɒ dʒ I k ^ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] □  …the national bacteriological laboratory.

bac|te|rium /bækt I ə r I ʊm/ Bacterium is the singular of bacteria .

bad ◆◆◆ /bæ d/ (worse , worst )

1 ADJ Something that is bad is unpleasant, harmful, or undesirable. □  The bad weather conditions prevented the plane from landing. □  We have been going through a bad time. □  I've had a bad day at work. □  Divorce is bad for children. □  Analysts fear the situation is even worse than the leadership admits.

2 ADJ You use bad to indicate that something unpleasant or undesirable is severe or great in degree. □  He had a bad accident two years ago and had to give up farming. □  This was a bad case of dangerous driving. □  The pain is often so bad she wants to scream. □  The floods are described as the worst in nearly fifty years.