B
barricade (BAR I kayd) n.1. a defense barrier hastily thrown up, as in street fight-
ing; 2. any obstacle or barrier —vt.to keep out or in by use of a barrier; to obstruct
- Police put up barricadesto keep the crowd off the parade route.
- Barricadesconsisting of piled-up rubble were used for defense by soldiers in
the cities of post–D-day Europe during World War II. - The people of Stalingrad barricadedthe streets to keep out the invading
Germans.
[-d, barricading]
barter (BAHR toer) vi.to trade goods or services without the use of money —vt.
to swap goods or services in return for other goods and services; trade —n.1. the
act of swapping; 2. anything swapped - In colonial days it was common for settlers to barterknives and hatchets to
Native Americans for beaver pelts. - Barterthat hat for two pairs of socks and a Hershey bar.
- Al and Frank often do business by barter.
- This hat cost me nothing; I got it from Alice by barter.
[-ed, -ing, -er n.]
basic(BAY sik) adj. 1. of or at the beginning; fundamental; essential; 2. making
or being a support or introduction; elementary
•A basiccourse in weaving might be helpful to rug makers.- A knowledge of mathematics is basicto learning physics.
- Honesty is a basicprinciple to live by.
basis (BAY sis) n.1. the start, foundation, or main support of anything; 2. the
main ingredient of anything; 3. the underlying philosophy; 4. a timed plan or pro-
cedure; 5. a certain attitude - “What is the basisfor your accusing me of eating on the job?” Gail asked,
quickly swallowing what was in her mouth. - That all men are created equal is the basisof the U.S. Constitution.
- We pay for cable TV on a monthly basis.
- Mark and Louise are on a friendly basisthese days.
battle(BA tl) n.1. a fight—as that between armed units on the sea, land, or in
the air; 2. war or armed combat; fighting; 3. any conflict or fight —vt. to oppose;
fight —vi.1. to participate in a fight or struggle; 2. to fight - One of the most intense battlesin the Pacific during WWII was for the
island of Iwo Jima. - There was a street battlebetween two rival gangs.
- The landlord and tenant had an ongoing battleover upkeep.
- Nemo’s father battledthe move to expel him from school.
- Geoffrey was in the battlefor human rights in El Salvador.
- Oscar de la Hoya and Ray Mancini were in a real ring battle.
[-d, battling]
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