Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

8 PHRASE You use cannot but , could not but , and cannot help but when you want to emphasize that you believe something must be true and that there is no possibility of anything else being the case. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □  The pistol was positioned where I couldn't help but see it. □  She could not but congratulate him.

9 PHRASE You use but for to introduce the only factor that causes a particular thing not to happen or not to be completely true. □  …the small square below, empty but for a delivery van and a clump of palm trees.

10 PHRASE You use but then or but then again before a remark which slightly contradicts what you have just said. □  Rob spends hours in the bathroom, but then again so do I.

11 PHRASE You use but then before a remark which suggests that what you have just said should not be regarded as surprising. □  He was a fine young man, but then so had his father been. □  Sonia might not speak the English language well, but then who did?

12all but → see all

13anything but → see anything

bu|tane /bjuː te I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Butane is a gas that is obtained from petroleum and is used as a fuel.

butch /bʊ tʃ/

1 ADJ If you describe a woman as butch , you mean that she behaves or dresses in a masculine way. This use could cause offence. [INFORMAL ]

2 ADJ If you describe a man as butch , you mean that he behaves in an extremely masculine way. [INFORMAL ]

butch|er /bʊ tʃə ^r / (butchers , butchering , butchered )

1 N‑COUNT A butcher is a shopkeeper who cuts up and sells meat. Some butchers also kill animals for meat and make foods such as sausages and meat pies.

2 N‑COUNT A butcher or a butcher's is a shop where meat is sold.

3 VERB To butcher an animal means to kill it and cut it up for meat. □ [be V -ed] All his meat is butchered on site before being sold in the farm shop.

4 N‑COUNT You can refer to someone as a butcher when they have killed a lot of people in a very cruel way, and you want to express your horror and disgust. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] …the Duke of Cumberland, infamous still as the butcher of Culloden.

5 VERB You can say that someone has butchered people when they have killed a lot of people in a very cruel way, and you want to express your horror and disgust. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] Guards butchered 1,350 prisoners.

butch|ery /bʊ tʃəri/

1 N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to the cruel killing of a lot of people as butchery when you want to express your horror and disgust at this. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  In her view, war is simply a legalised form of butchery.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Butchery is the work of cutting up meat and preparing it for sale. □  …a carcass hung up for butchery.

but|ler /bʌ tlə ^r / (butlers ) N‑COUNT A butler is the most important male servant in a wealthy house.

butt /bʌ t/ (butts , butting , butted )

1 N‑COUNT Someone's butt is their bottom. [mainly AM , INFORMAL ] □  Frieda grinned, pinching him on the butt.

2 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] The butt or the butt end of a weapon or tool is the thick end of its handle. □  Troops used tear gas and rifle butts to break up the protests.

3 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] The butt of a cigarette or cigar is the small part of it that is left when someone has finished smoking it.

4 N‑COUNT A butt is a large barrel used for collecting or storing liquid.

5 N‑SING If someone or something is the butt of jokes or criticism, people often make fun of them or criticize them. □ [+ of ] He is still the butt of cruel jokes about his humble origins.

6 VERB If a person or animal butts you, they hit you with the top of their head. □ [V n] Lawrence kept on butting me but the referee did not warn him. [Also V n prep]

7 → see also head-butt , water butt