Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

belt|way /be ltwe I / (beltways ) N‑COUNT A beltway is a road that goes around a city or town, to keep traffic away from the centre. [AM ] in BRIT, use ring road

be|moan /b I moʊ n/ (bemoans , bemoaning , bemoaned ) VERB If you bemoan something, you express sorrow or dissatisfaction about it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Universities and other research establishments bemoan their lack of funds.

be|muse /b I mjuː z/ (bemuses , bemusing , bemused ) VERB If something bemuses you, it puzzles or confuses you. □ [V n] The sheer quantity of detail would bemuse even the most clear-headed author.

be|mused /b I mjuː zd/ ADJ If you are bemused , you are puzzled or confused. □  He was rather bemused by children. □  Mr. Sebastian was looking at the boys with a bemused expression. ●  be|mus|ed|ly ADV [ADV after v] □  He was staring bemusedly at the picture of himself.

be|muse|ment /b I mjuː zmənt/ N‑UNCOUNT Bemusement is the feeling that you have when you are puzzled or confused by something. □  A look of bemusement spread across their faces.

bench ◆◇◇ /be ntʃ/ (benches )

1 N‑COUNT A bench is a long seat of wood or metal that two or more people can sit on. □  He sat down on a park bench.

2 N‑COUNT A bench is a long, narrow table in a factory or laboratory. □  …the laboratory bench.

3 N‑PLURAL In parliament, different groups sit on different benches . For example, the government sits on the government benches . [BRIT ] □  …the opposition benches.

4 → see also backbench , backbencher , backbenches , front bench

5 N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] In a court of law, the bench is the judge or magistrates. □  The chairman of the bench adjourned the case until October 27.

bench|mark /be ntʃmɑː ^r k/ (benchmarks ) also bench mark N‑COUNT [usu sing] A benchmark is something whose quality or quantity is known and which can therefore be used as a standard with which other things can be compared. □ [+ for ] The truck industry is a benchmark for the economy.

bench|mark|ing /be ntʃmɑː ^r k I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT In business, benchmarking is a process in which a company compares its products and methods with those of the most successful companies in its field, in order to try to improve its own performance. [BUSINESS ]

bend ◆◇◇ /be nd/ (bends , bending , bent )

1 VERB When you bend , you move the top part of your body downwards and forwards. Plants and trees also bend . □ [V adv/prep] I bent over and kissed her cheek. □ [V ] She bent and picked up a plastic bucket. □ [V -ed] She was bent over the sink washing the dishes.

2 VERB When you bend your head, you move your head forwards and downwards. □ [V n] Rick appeared, bending his head a little to clear the top of the door.

3 VERB When you bend a part of your body such as your arm or leg, or when it bends , you change its position so that it is no longer straight. □ [V n] These cruel devices are designed to stop prisoners bending their legs. □ [V ] As you walk faster, you will find the arms bend naturally and more quickly. ●  bent ADJ □  Keep your knees slightly bent.

4 VERB If you bend something that is flat or straight, you use force to make it curved or to put an angle in it. □ [V n prep] Bend the bar into a horseshoe. □ [V n] She'd cut a jagged hole in the tin, bending a knife in the process. ●  bent ADJ □  …a length of bent wire.

5 VERB When a road, beam of light, or other long thin thing bends , or when something bends it, it changes direction to form a curve or angle. □ [V ] The road bent slightly to the right. □ [V n] Glass bends light of different colours by different amounts.