Glossary
Terms starting with B
312 definitions · page 2 of 6.
- basal body
- A short cylindrical array of microtubules and other proteins, found at the base of a eukaryotic cilium or flagellum, that organises the assembly of the axoneme (the bundle of microtubules and other proteins forming the core of each cilium or flagellum).
- base analogue
- A chemical whose molecular structure mimics that of a DNA base; because of the mimicry, the analogue may act as a mutagen.
- BASE LINE
- The main imaginary line running east and west and crossing a principal meridian at a definite point, used by surveyors for reference in locating and describing land under the rectangular (government) survey system of legal description.
- BASE LOAD
- The lowest level of power production needs during a season or year.
- BASE LOAD UNIT
- A power generating facility that is intended to run constantly at near capacity levels, as much of the time as possible.
- BASE RATE
- That portion of the total electric or gas rate covering the general costs of doing business unrelated to fuel expenses.
- Baseband
- A method of transmission that sends a digital or analog signal in its original form, not changed by modulation. While this form of transmission can be much more reliable than its Broadband counterpart, it is much slower.
- baseline
- the line between two observational points or two telescopes of an interferometer
- BASELINE FORECAST
- A prediction of future energy needs which does not take into account the likely effects of new conservation programs that have not yet been started.
- Basic Rate Interface (BRI)
- A BRI line is one of two access methods for ISDN (the other one is Primary Rate Interface - PRI). A BRI has two 64 Kbps B channels and one 16 Kbps D channel.
- basic set
- The underlying tone row in a serial composition.
- Basil
- A versatile and widely used aromatic herb. There are numerous species of basil; some have scents reminiscent of pineapple, lemon, cinnamon or cloves; others have beautiful purple leaves. The plant grows well in warm climates and is widely used throughout…
- BASIS
- The financial interest that the Internal Revenue Service attributes to an owner of an investment property for the purpose of determining annual depreciation and gain or loss on the sale of the asset. If a property was acquired by purchase, the owner's basis…
- BASIS POINT
- 0.01 percent of the yield of a mortgage, bond or note. The smallest measure used.
- Basmati rice
- Basmati is a long-grain rice from India, considered to be one of the best-quality white rices. It has a distinctive aroma and, when cooked, each grain should remain separate, giving a light, fluffy result. Basmati should be rinsed thoroughly in a few changes…
- Basque waist V-waist
- This dropped waist starts at or just below the natural waistline, and dips in the center creating a "V" shape.
- bass
- (1) The lowest adult male voice; (2) the lowest voice in a polyphonic texture.
- bass clef
- The clef in the upper staff that shows pitches mostly below middle C
- basse danse
- A popular Renaissance court dance for couples.
- Basting
- The process of spooning stock or fat over meat at intervals to prevent it from drying out during roasting. You can buy a bulb baster - a kind of large pipette - for the job. They're made of glass or plastic; although delicate, the glass one tends to be…
- Batch File
- A file that has the .BAT extension. This file usually contains a sequence (or batch) of commands. A batch files set of commands can be executed all at once by the batch file name rather than by each individual command name.
- bateau neck boat neck
- A high, wide, straight neckline that runs straight across the front and back, meeting at the shoulders; the same depth in the front and back.
- Batesian mimicry
- Form of mimicry in which an innocuous mimic species gains protection by resembling noxious or dangerous model species.
- Baton
- In culinary terms, a baton means something - usually a vegetable, such as a carrot, courgette or piece of celery - cut into a long, thin rectangle shape. Vegetables cut into this shape are often steamed or sautéed, or served raw, as in a classic French…
- Batterie de cuisine
- An expression commonly used by chefs to describe the essential equipment that every good cook needs for the preparation of food in the kitchen, from saucepans to knives.
- BATTERY
- A device that stores energy and produces electric current by chemical action.
- Baud
- Pronounced bawd. The term is named after J.M.E. Baudot, the inventor of the Baudot telegraph code. In common usage the baud rate of a modem is how many bits it can send or receive per second. Technically, baud is the number of times per second that the…
- Baud
- The rate at which bits are transmitted over a communication link. Baud is the number of transitions (that are used to encode bits) that take place in one second.
- Bay boletes or boletus
- A robust and meaty wild mushroom, often found in areas where conifers grow. Use in risottos or omelettes or simply fry with a little garlic. Bay boletes are also good for pickling and drying. See also Boletes, boletus.
- Bay leaves
- The aromatic leaf from the bay laurel tree, it is an essential component of the classic bouqet garni: parsley, thyme and a bay leaf. It's one of the few herbs that doesn't lose its flavour when dried. Although fresh leaves are becoming more widely available…
- BBS
- Stands for Bulletin Board Service. A computerized meeting and announcement system that allows people to carry on discussions, upload and download files, and make announcements without the people being connected to the computer at the same time.
- BEACH AND WINDSTORM PLANS
- State-sponsored insurance pools that sell property coverage for the peril of windstorm to people unable to buy it in the voluntary market because of their high exposure to risk. Seven states (AL, FL, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX) offer these plans to cover residential…
- Bead
- A bead is a stone cut into a small sphere shape.
- bead theory
- The disproved hypothesis that genes are arranged on the chromosome like beads on a necklace, indivisible into smaller units of mutation and recombination.
- Beam
- The particle stream injected into an accelerator. These particles travel in clusters.
- Beans
- Beans can be divided into two main groups: those with edible pods (green beans) and those with edible seeds. The former group includes French beans, runner beans and yellow 'wax' beans; the latter includes the likes of cannellini or borlotti beans and a…
- Bearing in out
- A horse who is not running a straight course, due to tiredness or soreness or because of the jockey’s inability to stay a straight course.
- Béarnaise sauce
- A classic French sauce made with a reduction of vinegar, white wine, tarragon, black peppercorns and shallots. It's finished with egg yolks and butter. Delicious served with any plain meat or fish. The Food Standards Agency recommends that pasteurised egg…
- Béchamel sauce
- A white sauce given extra flavour by infusing the milk with carrot, onion, celery, black peppercorns, mace and bay leaf for 30 minutes. Like hollandaise, mayonnaise and créme anglaise, béchamel forms the basis of numerous other sauces. It was named after its…
- BENCH MARK
- A permanent reference mark or point established for use by surveyors in measuring differences in elevation.
- BENEFICIARY
- (1) The person for whom a trust operates or in whose behalf the income from a trust estate is drawn. (2) A lender in a deed of trust loan transaction.
- Beneficiary
- An applicant for a visa as named in a petition from the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS).
- Benefits
- Sometimes called 'perks' or 'fringe benefits', these include: Paid Vacations Personal Leave Days Sick Leave Life Insurance Medical Insurance Pension & Retirement Plans Child Care Stock Options Benefits are a valuable part of the package offered and can be…
- BENZENE
- A type of colorless liquid hydrocarbon that can be used as a motor fuel. Its chemical symbol is C6H6.
- besom pockets
- A pocket sewn inside the garment with access through a welted slit-type opening.
- Beta
- Preliminary or testing stage of a software or hardware product; "a beta version"; "beta software"
- beta-galactosidase
- The enzyme that splits lactose into glucose and galactose (coded by a gene (lac z) in the lac operon of Escherichia coli).
- beta-galactoside acetyltransferase
- An enzyme that is involved in lactose metabolism and encoded by a gene (lac a) in the lac operon of Escherichia coli).
- beta-galactoside permease
- An enzyme involved in concentrating lactose in the cell (coded by a gene (lac y) in the lac operon of Escherichia coli)).
- Beurre manié
- French for 'kneaded butter', beurre manié is a paste of flour and softened butter, usually in equal parts, which is used to thicken sauces and stews.
- Beveled
- Beveled is the name given to an angled part or surface. This is usually an angle other than a right angle.
- Bezel
- A bezel is any part that incorporates a continuous groove to fit something, generally a stone. The metal at the top of the groove is then burnished over the edge of the mounted item to hold it, forming a setting.
- BGP
- The acronym for Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena, three electric, municipal utilities serving those southern California cities. The three are usually grouped statistically, though they are separate entitites.
- BI-FUEL VEHICLE
- A vehicle with two separate fuel systems designed to run on either fuel, using only one fuel at a time. These systems are advantageous for drivers who do not always have access to an alternative fuel refueling station. Bi-fuel systems are usually used in…
- BI-GAS
- A process being developed as a means of making synthetic gas from coal. The synthetic gas would be intended to substitute for natural gas in meeting industrial and home energy needs.
- Bias (recording)
- A high frequency current applied to the record head along with the audio signal. It is necessary for reducing distortion and increasing sensitivity during recording.
- bias cut
- Cut diagonally across the grain of a fabric. Used to create garments that follow the body curves closely.
- Bid Assistants
- Individuals who are positioned throughout the attendees at the auction to assist the auctioneer, spot bidders and assist prospective bidders with information to help them in their buying decision. Also known as ringmen, bid consultants, bid spotters, or…
- Bid Caller
- The person who actually "calls," "cries or "auctions" the property at an auction, recognizing bidders and acknowledging the highest bidder. Commonly known as the auctioneer.
- Bidder Package
- The package of information and instructions pertaining to the property to be sold at an auction event obtained by prospective bidders at an auction. Sometimes called a bidder packet or due diligence package.