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`A GENUINE MERRIAM-WEBSTER
`The name Webster alone is no guarantee of excellence. It is used by a
`number of publishers and may serve mainly to mislead an unwary
`buyer.
`
`Merriam-WebsterTM is the name you should look for when you
`consider the purchase of dictionaries or other fine reference books.
`It carries the reputation of a company that has been publishing since
`1831 and is your assurance of quality and authority.
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`Copyright © 2001 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
`
`Philippines Copyright 2001 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
`
`Library of Congress Cataloging in publication Data
`Main entry under title:
`
`10th ed.
`
`Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. -
`p.
`cm.
`Includes index.
`ISBN 0-87779-709-9
`ISBN 0-87779-708-0 (unindexed: alk. paper). -
`(indexed: alk. paper). -
`ISBN 0-87779-710-2 (deluxe indexed: alk. paper).
`_ ISBN 0-87779-707-2 Oaminated cover, unindexed).
`1. English language-Dictionaries. I. Merriam-Webster, Inc.
`PE1628.M36
`1998
`423-dc21
`
`97-41846
`CIP
`
`Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Tenth Edition principal copyright 1993
`
`COLLEGIATE is a registered trademark of Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
`
`All rights reserved. No part of this book covered by the copyrights hereon may be
`reproduced or copied in any form or by any means-graphic, electronic, or me(cid:173)
`chanical, including photocopying, taping, or information storage and retrieval
`systems-without written permission of the publisher.
`
`Made in the United States of America
`
`"30313233RT:WCOI
`
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`me with hollow stems used for building, furniture, or utensils and
`S~UDg shoots used for food
`b~boo curtain n, often cap B&C (1949) : a political, military, and
`'deological barrier isolattng an area of the Orient
`'
`bam boo.zle \bam··bii·z"l\ vt ·boo·zled; -boo.z!ing \··bitz-IiIJ, ··bii·z,,·\
`( ri~n unknown] (1703) : to deceive by underhanded methods: DlJPE,
`bam.boo.z1e.ment \··bii.z:>l·m"nt\ n
`:OODWlNK -
`'ban \'ban\ vb banned; ban.Ding [ME bannen to summon, curse, fr.OE
`bannan to summon; akin to OHG bannan to command, Llan to speak,
`Gk hanai to say, phone sound, voice] vt (12c) 1 archaic: CURSE 2
`. to~rohibit esp. by legal means ( ....... discrimination); also : to prohibit
`tlte use, performance, or distri~u!'ion of ( ....... a book) ( ....... a pesticide)
`,..." vi . to utter curses oJ; maledIctions
`.
`'ban n' (ME partly fro bannen & partly fro OF ban, of Orne origin; akin
`to OHG ba~nan to command] (14c) 1: the summontng in feudal times
`of the king's vassals for military service 2: ANATHEMA, EXCOMMUNI·
`CATION 3: MALEDICl'lON, CURSE 4: legal or formal prohibition 5
`• censure or condemnation esp. through social pressure
`'ban \,bitn\ n, pi ba.ni \'ba-(Jne\ [Rom] (1880) -
`see leu at MONEY tao
`~
`Ba,nach space \·ba·.nak·, -n"k·\ n [Stefan Banach t1945 Pol. mathe·
`matician] (1949) : a normed vector space for which the field of multi·
`pliers comprises the real or complex numbers and tn which every
`CauchY sequence converges to a potnt tn the space
`ba.nal \b,,··nal, ba·, ··na!; ba··nal; ·ba·n'l\ adj [p, fro MF, of compuisory
`feudal service, possessed tn common, commonplace, fro ban] (1840)
`: lacking originality, freshness, or novelty: 'J'RlTE syn see INSIPID -
`ba.naJ.ize \b,,··na·.lrz,
`ba.nal.i.ty \b,,··na·l,,·te also bii· or ba.\ n -
`ba. ··na.; ba··na·; ·bii·n'1-,Yz\ vt - ba·naJ.ly \b,,··nal·le, ba., ·'mU·; ba·
`'nai·· ·ba·n'I·(1)e\ adv
`ba,n8nB \b.··na·n., esp Brit ··na·\ n, of(cid:173)
`tel/ attrib [Sp or Pg; Sp, fro Pg, of Afri·
`can origin; aktn to Wolof baniina ba·
`nana] (1597) 1: an elongated uSU.
`tapering tropical fruit with soft pulpy
`nesh enclosed in a soft usu. yellow rind
`Z : any of several widely cultivated pe·
`rennial herbs (genusMusa of the family
`Musaceae, the banana family) bearing
`bananas in compact pendent bunches
`banana oil n (1926) : a colorless liquid
`acetate C7HI402 of amyl alcohol that
`has a pleasant fruity odor and is used as
`a solvent and in the manufacture of ar·
`tificial fruit essences
`banana republic n (1935) : a small de·
`pendent country usu. of the tropics; esp
`: one run despotically
`ba.nan·as \b.··na·n.z, esp Brit ··na·\ adj
`(1968): CRAZY (go ....... ) (drives me ....... )
`banana seat n (1965) : an elongated bi·
`cycle saddle
`banlUl8S Fos.ter \··fos·t.r, ··fils·\ n
`(Richard Foster, friend of New Orleans restaurateur Owen E. Brennan,
`at whose restaurant the dish was first made] (1976) : a dessert of banan·
`as flamed (as with rum) and served with ice cream
`banana split n (1920) : ice cream served on a banana sliced in half
`lengthWise and usu. garnished with fiavored syrups, fruits, nuts, and
`whipped cream
`ba·nau.sic \b",,·no·sik, ·zik\ adj [Gk banausikos of an artisan, nonintel·
`le~tual, vulgar, fro banausos artisan] (1845) : relating to or concerned
`~Ith earning a livtng - used pejoratively (contempt for the ....... occupa·
`tlons - T. S. Eliot); also : UTILITARIAN, PRACl'lCAL (such mundane
`considerations as comfort and durability -G. B. Boyer)
`,and -
`band \'band\ n [tn senses 1 & 2, fro ME band, bond something that con·
`~tricts, fro ON band; akin to OE bindan to btnd; in other senses, fro ME
`ande s!riP, fro MF, fro (assumed) VL binda, of Ornc origin; akin to
`OHG bmta fIUet; akin to OE bindan to btnd, bend fetter] (12c) 1
`: something that confines or constricts while allowing a degree of
`1II?~ement 2: something that binds or restrains legally, morally, or
`SPlDtUaUy 3: a strip serving to join or hold things together: as a
`~.8ELT 2 b: a cord or strip across the back of a book to which the sec·
`Ions are .sewn 4: a thin flat encircling strip esp. for btndtng: as a: a
`~101h:fitllng strip that confines material at the waist, neck, or cuff of
`CO 109 b: a strip of cloth used to protect a newborn baby's navel -
`alled also bellyband c: a ring of elastic 5 a : a strip (as of living tis·
`1ue or rock) or a stripe (as on an animal) differentiable (as by color,
`I:xture'llor structure) from the adjacent material or area b: a more or
`• ~e ..<fefined range of wavelengths, frequencies, or energies c
`~
`OE 7~ 6: a narrow strip serving chiefly as decoration: as a: a
`• arro~ stnp of material applied as trimmtng to an article of dress bpi
`S:IPalr of strips hanging at the front of the neck as part of a clerical,le·
`le(2)r academic dress c: a ring without raised portions 7: TRACK
`'~~d VI (15c) 1: to afflx a band to or tie up with a band 2: to flnish
`selvecorate with a band 3: to gather together: UNITE ( ....... ed them·
`vi : to unite for a common purpose
`_ :ittogether for protection) -
`the bre~ Used with together (have ...... ed together tn hopes of attacking
`'band Ig t that is common to them all-J. B. Conant) - band.er n
`band n tf1F bande troop, fro OProv banda, of Gmc origin; akin to Goth
`ani 1V0 sign, standard - more at BANNER] (15c) : a group of persons.
`Pla~~ls, or things; esp : a group of musicians organized for ensemble
`lIIents g and using chiefly woodwinds, brass, and percussion instru·
`'han da -
`compare ORCHESTRA
`esp 'to ~e \·ban·dij\ n [MF, fro bande] (1599) 1: a strip of fabric used
`c·
`ress and btnd up wounds 2: a fiexible strip or band used to
`gthen or compress something
`ban.d.iged; ban.dag.ing (1774) : to btnd. dress, or cover
`and- ~ndage
`a gall2~d ~·ban.·dad\ trademark -
`used for a small adhesive strip with
`ban.d Pa for covering mtnor wounds
`So d :.n8 or ban.dana \ban··da·n,,\ n [Hindi bl1dhnu tie·dyeing, cloth
`(J74~) .' fj' btJdhnii to tie, fro Skt badhniiti he ties; akin to OE bindan]
`• a arge often colorfullY patterned handkerchief
`
`banana 2
`
`bamboo curtain • bang
`
`'band.box \·ban(d)·.baks\ n (1631) 1: a usu. cylindrical box of paper·
`board or thin wood for holding light articles of attire 2: a structure
`(as a baseball park) having relativelY small interior dimensions
`'bandbox adj (1844) : exquisitely neat, clean. or ordered as if just taken
`..
`from a bandbox (a ...... perfection of appearance) - bandbox adv
`ban.deau \ban··da\ n, pi ban.deaux \·'daz\ IF, dim. of bande] (1706) 1
`: a fiUet or band esp. for the hair 2: BRASSIERE; also: a band·shaped
`covering for the breasts
`band.ed \·ban·d"d\ adj (1787) : having or marked with bands
`ban.de.rj.lla \,ban·d,,··re(1)·y,,\ n [Sp, dim. of bandera banner] (1797)
`: a decorated barbed dart that the banderillero thrusts into the neck or
`shoulders of the bull in a bullfight
`"
`ban.de·rj.lle.ro \,ban·d,,·(.)re(1)-'yer·(.)a\ n, pI -ros [Sp, fro banderilla]
`(1797) : one who thrusts in the bandertllas in a bullfight
`'
`ban.de.role or ban.de.rol \·ban·d .... ral\ n
`IF banderole,
`fro It
`banderuola, dim. of bandiera banner, of Omc origin; akin to Goth
`bandwo sign] (1562) 1: a long narrow forked flag or streamer l: a
`long scroll bearing an inscription or a device
`ban.di.coot \·ban-di·.kiit\ n [Telugupandikokku] (1813) 1: any ofsev,
`eral very large rats (genera Bandicota and Nesokia) of southern Asia
`destructive to crops 2: any of a family (peramelidae) of small insec·
`tivorous and herbivorous marsupial mammals of Australia, Tasmania;
`and New Guinea
`.,
`ban.dit \'ban·d.t\ n [It bandito, fro pp. of bandire to banish. of Omc or(cid:173)
`igin; akin to OHG bannan to command - more at BAN] (1591) Ipl
`also ban.dit.ti \ban··di·te\ : an outlaw who lives by plunder; esp : a
`member of a band of marauders 2: ROBBER 3: an enemy plane -
`ban·dit.ry \·ban·d,,·tre\ n
`band.lead.er \·band·.le·d"r\ n (1894) : the conductor of a band ('IS a
`dance band)
`,
`band·mas.ter \·ban(d)·.mas·t.r\ n (1858) : BANDLEADER; esp : a con·
`ductor of a military or concert band
`ban.dog \·ban·.dog\ n [ME bandogge, fro band + dogge dog) (14c) : a d()g
`kept tied to serve as a watchdog or because of its ferocity
`"
`ban'do·lier or ban·do.leer \,ban·d,,··lir\ n [MF bandouliere, ultim. fro
`OSp bando band, of Gmc origin; akin to Goth bandwo] (ca. 1577) : a
`belt worn over the shoulder and across the breast often for the sus·
`pending or supporttng of some article (as cartridges) or as a part of im
`official or ceremonial dress
`ban.dore \·ban·.dar, ·.dor\ or ban.do.ra \ban··dar·., ··dor·\ n [Sp
`bandurria or Pg bandurra, fro LL pandura 3-stringed lute, fro Gk pan·
`:
`doura] (1566) : a bass stringed instrument resembling a guitar
`band-pass fllter \·ban(d)·,pas·\ n (1926) : a fIlter that transmits only
`frequencies within a selected band
`'
`band saw n (ca. 1864) : a saw tn the form of an endless steel belt I'UII.
`rung over pulleys; also: a power sawing machine using this device
`band shell n (1926) : a bandstand having at the rear a sounding board
`shaped like a huge concave seashell
`bands.man \·ban(d)z·m.n\ n (ca. 1842) : a member of a musical band
`band.stand \'ban(d)·.stand\ n (1859) 1: a usu. roofed platform on
`which a band or orchestra performs outdoors 2: a platform tn a ball·
`room or nightclub on which musicians perform
`"
`band.wag.on \·band·.wa·g"n\ n (1855) 1: a usu. ornate and high wag·
`on for a band of musicians esp. in a circus parade 2: a popular Pat1Y,
`faction, or cause that attracts growtng support -
`often used tn such
`phrases as climb on the bandwagon 3: a current or fashionable trentl
`band.width \'band·.width\ n (ca. 1937) 1: a range within a band' 'if
`wavelengths, frequencies, or energies; esp : a range of radio frequenci¢s
`which is occupied by a modulated carrier wave, which is assigned to a
`service, or over which a device can operate 2: the capacity for Mia
`transfer of an electronic communications system (graphics consume
`more ....... than text does); esp : the maximum data transfer rate of su""
`.
`aQ~m
`'ban.dy \'ban-de\ vb ban.died; ban.dy.ing [prob. fro MF bander to be
`tight, to bandy, fro bande strip - more at BAND] vt (1577) 1: to bat (as
`a teunis ball) to and fro 2 a : to toss from side to side or pass about
`Ii
`from one to another often tn a careless or inappropriate manner
`: EXCHANGE; esp : to exchange (words) argumentatively c: to disc~
`lightly or banteringly d: to use in a glib or offhand manner -
`often
`used with about ( ........ these statistics about with considerable bravadg
`-Richard Pollak) 3 archaic : to band together -
`vi lobs: CON·
`TEND 2 archaic: UNITE
`.
`'bandy n [perh. fro MF bande, pp. of bander] (1693) : a game similar to
`hockey and believed to be its prototype
`'bandyadj [prob. fro bandy (hockey stick)] (1687) 1 o[ legs: BOWED 2
`ban.dy-Iegged \·ban·de·.legd; .ban·de··le·g"d, ··Ui·\
`: BOWLEGGED -
`adj
`.
`'bane \'bitn\ n [ME, fro OE bana,' akin to OHG bano death] (bef. 12c) 1
`a obs : KILLER. SLAYER b: POISON c: DEATH, DESTRUCl'lON (stop
`the way of those that seek my ........ -Philip Sidney) d: WOE 2: a
`'source of harm or ruin: CURSE (national frontiers have been more of a
`~ than a boon for mankind -D. C. Thomson)
`'bane vt baned; ban.ing (1578) obs : to ki11 esp. with poison
`'bane n [ME (northern dial.) ban, fro OE ban] (bef. 12c) chiefly Scot
`: BONE
`bane.ber.ry \·bitn·.ber·e\ n (1755) : any of several perennial herbs (ge·
`nus Actaea) of the buttercup family having acrid poisonous berries;
`also : one of the berries
`bane·ful \·biin·f"l\ adj (1579) 1: productive of destruction or woe: se·
`riouslY harmful (a ....... influence) 2 archaic: POISONOUS syn see PER·
`bane.fuJ.ly \·f,,·le\ adv
`NICIOUS -
`'bang \,bal)\ vb [prob. of Scand origin; akin to Icel banga to hammer] vt
`(ca. '1550) 1: to strike sharply: BUMP 2: to knock, beat, or thrust
`vigorously often with a sharp noise 3 often vulgar: to have sexual in·
`vi 1: to strike with a sharp noise or thump 2: to
`tercourse with -
`produce a sharp often metallic explosive or percussive noise or series
`of such noises
`'
`
`\"\ abnt \'\ kitten, F table \~r\ further \a\ ash \ii\ ace \a\ mop, mar
`\ali\ out \ch\ chin \e\ bet \e\ eaQ \g\ go
`\i\ hit \i\ ice \j\job
`\1)\ sing \a\ go \0\ law \oi\ boy \th\ thtn \th\ the \ii\ loot \li\foot
`\y\ yet \zh\ vision \,;, k, n, ce, ce, m, te, "\ see Guide to Pronunciation
`
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