GRE 

word list - B
babble to utter meaningless or unintelligible sounds
backhanded INDIRECT, DEVIOUS; especially:SARCASTIC
backset SETBACK
badge a device or token especially of membership in a society or group
badger to harass or annoy persistently
badinage playful repartee:BANTER
baffle to check or break the force or flow of by or as if by a baffle
ENTICE, LUREto attack in speech or writing as by derision or insult; to gall or
bait
exasperate by repeated wanton attacks
baleful deadly or pernicious in influence
balk to check or stop by or as if by an obstacle:BLOCK
refusing or likely to refuse to proceed, act, or function as directed or
balky
expected
ballad a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing
Heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship or the gondola of a balloon
ballast
to enhance stability.
a theatrical art form using dancing, music, and scenery to convey a story,
ballet
theme, or atmosphere
balm a balsamic resin, especially:one from small tropical evergreen trees
balmy having the qualities of balm:SOOTHING
bamboozle to deceive by underhanded methods:DUPE, HOODWINK
ban to prohibit especially by legal means ban:protect
banal lacking originality, freshness, or novelty:TRITE
baneful productive of destruction or woe:seriously harmful
to drive out or remove from a home or place of usual resort or continuance,
banish
especially compulsory removal from a country not necessarily one's own
banister a handrail with its supporting posts
a sumptuous feast; especially :an elaborate and often ceremonious meal for
banquet
numerous people often in honor of a person
barb a biting or pointedly critical remark or comment
barbarous mercilessly harsh or cruel
bareface Having no covering over the face.
barefaced OPEN, UNCONCEALED
bargain to negotiate over the terms of a purchase, agreement, or contract:HAGGLE
baroque characterized by grotesqueness, extravagance, complexity, or flamboyance
barren lacking vegetation, especially useful vegetation
barter to trade by exchanging one commodity for another
base being of comparatively low value and having relatively inferior properties
baseboard a molding covering the joint of a wall and the adjoining floor
bathetic exceptional commonplaceness:TRITENESS
bedeck to clothe with finery:DECK
bedlam a place, scene, or state of uproar and confusion
belabor to explain or insist on excessively
beleaguer TROUBLE, HARASS
belie to show (something) to be false or wrong
belittle to speak slightingly of:DISPARAGE
bellicose favoring or inclined to start quarrels or wars
belligerence an aggressive or truculent attitude, atmosphere, or disposition
bellwether One that serves as a leader or as a leading indicator of future trends
bemoan to express deep grief or distress over
bend to make submissive:SUBDUE,COMPROMISE
benediction the invocation of a blessing
beneficent doing or producing good; especially :performing acts of kindness and charity
benign a:showing kindness and gentleness b:FAVORABLE, WHOLESOME
bent a strong inclination or interest:BIAS
bequest something bequeathed:LEGACY
berate to scold or condemn vehemently and at length
beseech to request earnestly:IMPLORE
besmirch SULLY, SOIL
betray to deliver to an enemy by treachery
a list of writings with time and place of publication (such as the writings of a
bibliography
single author or the works referred to in preparing a document etc.)
bibliophile a lover of books especially for qualities of format; also :a book collector
a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and
bigot
prejudices
bit the jaws of tongs or pincers
bland not irritating, stimulating, or invigorating:SOOTHING
blandishment something that tends to coax or cajole:ALLUREMENT
blase bored with pleasure or dissipation
blaspheme to speak of or address with irreverence
blast a violent gust of wind
completely obvious, conspicuous, or obtrusive especially in a crass or
blatant
offensive manner:BRAZEN
blazon to publish widely:PROCLAIM
bleach to remove color or stains from
blemish to spoil by a flaw
a disease or injury of plants resulting in withering, cessation of growth, and
blight
death of parts without rotting
bliss complete happiness
a gross error or mistake resulting usually from stupidity, ignorance, or
blunder
carelessness
blunt to make less sharp or definite
blur to make indistinct and hazy in outline or appearance;obscure
blurb A brief publicity notice, as on a book jacket.
blurt to utter abruptly and impulsively ? usually used with out
bluster to talk or act with noisy swaggering threats
an omen, prediction, or presentiment especially of coming evil:PORTENT
boding
,FOREBODING
boggle to hesitate because of doubt, fear, or scruples
boisterous noisily turbulent:ROWDY
bolster a structural part designed to eliminate friction or provide support or bearing
bombast pretentious inflated speech or writing
bonhomie good-natured easy friendliness
bonus something in addition to what is expected or strictly due
boo to deride especially by uttering boo
boon BENEFIT, FAVOR
boor a rude or insensitive person
bootless USELESS, UNPROFITABLE
bore to make a hole by or as if by boring
bottleneck NARROW {bottleneck:indefinite} ??????
bough a branch of a tree; especially :a main branch
 a:to make secure by tying b:to confine, restrain, or restrict as if with bonds
bound
c:to put under an obligation d:to constrain with legal authority
box to fight with the fists:engage in boxing box:fight:debate:argue
bracing giving strength, vigor, or freshness
an overhanging member that projects from a structure (as a wall) and is
bracket
usually designed to support a vertical load or to strengthen an angle
brackish REPULSIVE
braggadocio a:empty boasting b:arrogant pretension:COCKINESS
braid made by intertwining three or more strands
braided Produced by or as if by braiding
brake to retard or stop by a brake
brash done in haste without regard for consequences
brassy being shamelessly bold
brattish an ill-mannered annoying child
bravura marked by an ostentatious display of skill
bray to emit (an utterance or a sound) loudly and harshly
brazen marked by contemptuous boldness
breach to make a breach in
a roofed often open passage connecting two buildings (as a house and
breezeway
garage) or halves of a building
brevity shortness or conciseness of expression
bribe to induce or influence by or as if by bribery
bridle to restrain, check, or control with or as if with a bridle
brisk keenly alert:LIVELY
bristle to take on an aggressive attitude or appearance (as in response to a slight)
brittle easily broken, cracked, or snapped
broach to open for the first time
bromide a commonplace or hackneyed statement or notion
browbeat to intimidate by a stern manner or arrogant speech
bruit to noise abroad:REPORT
buck to refuse assent:BALK
bucolic relating to or typical of rural life
budge to give way:YIELD
buffer to lessen the shock of:CUSHION
buffoon a ludicrous figure:CLOWN
bulge a protuberant or swollen part or place
bully one habitually cruel to others who are weaker
bumper a device for absorbing shock or preventing damage
bumptious presumptuously, obtusely, and often noisily self-assertive:OBTRUSIVE
bungle to act or work clumsily and awkwardly
buoy support;uplift
buoyant a:capable of floating b:CHEERFUL, GAY
burgeon to grow and expand rapidly:FLOURISH
burial the act or process of burying
burlesque mockery usually by caricature
to make shiny or lustrous especially by rubbing
burnish
numb:insensible:burnish:lustrous
burrow to construct by tunneling
busybody an officious or inquisitive person
butt to thrust or push head foremost:strike with the head or horns
1. to furnish or shore up with a buttress; also :SUPPORT, STRENGTHEN 2. a
buttress projecting structure of masonry or wood for supporting or giving stability to
a wall or building
bygone gone by:PAST; especially:OUTMODED
a line at the beginning of a news story, magazine article, or book giving the
byline
writer's name