<B>bath salts,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any of various compounds, especially a scented mixture of sea salts and borax, by which the water of a bath is softened and made fragrant. </DL>
<A NAME="bathsheba">
<B>Bathsheba, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the mother of Solomon. King David married her after sending her first husband, Uriah, to his death in combat (in the Bible, II Samuel 11:3-27). </DL>
<A NAME="bathsponge">
<B>bath sponge,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a sponge used for bathing. </DL>
<A NAME="bath">
<B>Bath</B> or <B>bath stone,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a building stone quarried from oolitic formations. </DL>
<A NAME="bathtowel">
<B>bath towel,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a large, usually thick, towel made of terry cloth for use after bathing. </DL>
<A NAME="bathtub">
<B>bathtub, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a tub to bathe in, especially one permanently fixed in a bathroom. </DL>
<A NAME="bathtubgin">
<B>bathtub gin,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S. Slang.) any homemade gin, especially during the period of national prohibition. </DL>
<A NAME="bathwater">
<B>bathwater, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> water for a bath. </DL>
<A NAME="bathyal">
<B>bathyal, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with the deeper levels of the ocean, especially depths of approximately 600 to 6000 feet. </DL>
<A NAME="bathybic">
<B>bathybic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> living in deep water. <BR> <I>Ex. bathybic plankton.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="bathygram">
<B>bathygram, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a graphic record of water depth obtained from an echo sounder. </DL>
<A NAME="bathymetric">
<B>bathymetric, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having to do with bathymetry. </DL>
<A NAME="bathymetry">
<B>bathymetry, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the science of depth measurement, especially of the sea. <DD><B> 2. </B>the study of the vertical distribution of animal life in the sea. </DL>
<A NAME="bathypelagic">
<B>bathypelagic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with the depths of the sea. </DL>
<A NAME="bathyphotometer">
<B>bathyphotometer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an instrument for measuring the intensity of light in the sea, especially at a relatively deep level. </DL>
<A NAME="bathypitometer">
<B>bathypitometer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an instrument for measuring the temperature, depth, and rate of movement of a marine current. </DL>
<A NAME="bathyscaph">
<B>bathyscaph</B> or <B>bathyscaphe, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a diving craft consisting of a round steel chamber attached to a hull that can be navigated underwater to explore the depths of the sea. <BR> <I>Ex. The bathyscaph's basic idea is to imitate underwater the free-flying balloon of the air (Manchester Guardian).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="bathysphere">
<B>bathysphere, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a watertight steel ball with observation windows, lowered by cables from a ship, formerly used to study the depths of the sea and deep-sea life. </DL>
<A NAME="bathythermograph">
<B>bathythermograph, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an instrument for measuring the temperature of the sea, especially at a deep level. </DL>
<A NAME="batik">
<B>batik, </B>noun, adjective, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>the art and method of making designs on cloth by dyeing only part at a time, the rest being protected by a removable coating of wax. <DD><B> 2. </B>a cloth dyed in this way. <DD><B> 3. </B>a design formed in this way. <DD><B> 4. </B>a design, consisting of a medley of colors, characteristic of or patterned on that of this art. <DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>made by batik; made of batik. <DD><B> 2. </B>like batik; brightly or gaily colored. <DD><I>v.t. </I> to dye by batik. Also, <B>battik.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="bating">
<B>bating, </B>preposition.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Archaic.) leaving out of account; excepting; except. </DL>
<A NAME="batiste">
<B>batiste, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a fine, thin cloth made of cotton, rayon, or wool. It has the same texture as cambric but is differently finished. </DL>
<A NAME="batman">
<B>batman, </B>noun, pl. <B>-men.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (British.) an enlisted man assigned to act as an officer's orderly. </DL>
<A NAME="batmitzvah">
<B>bat mitzvah, =bas mitzvah.</B></DL>
<A NAME="baton">
<B>baton, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the light stick or wand used by the leader of an orchestra, chorus, or band to indicate the beat and direct the performance. <BR> <I>Ex. As the conductor lowered the baton the band began to play.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a staff or stick used as a mark of office or authority. <BR> <I>Ex. a marshal's baton.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>a light, hollow metal rod twirled rapidly by a drum major or majorette as a showy display. <DD><B> 4. </B>the light stick passed from runner to runner in a relay race. Each member of the team carries it for part of the race, passing it on to the next runner as he completes his part of a race. <DD><B> 5. </B>(Heraldry.) (in England) a sign of illegitimacy. It is a truncheon with the ends cut off so as not to reach the edges of the shield, placed diagonally on a coat of arms, its upper end on the bearer's left. </DL>
<A NAME="batongun">
<B>baton gun,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a weapon shaped somewhat like a baton, designed to shoot bullets made of hard rubber and used especially in riot control. </DL>
<A NAME="batonist">
<B>batonist, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the conductor of an orchestra or band. </DL>
<A NAME="batrachian">
<B>batrachian, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>of or having to do with the division of vertebrate animals consisting of tailless amphibians, typified by the frogs and toads. <DD><B> 2. </B>like frogs and toads. <DD><B> 3. </B>of frogs and toads. <DD><I>noun </I> a tailless amphibian. </DL>
<B>bats, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Slang.) batty; crazy. <BR> <I>Ex. Every time I go some place, it's who are you going with, ... when did you do the dishes last, etc., it's driving me bats (Newsweek).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="batsman">
<B>batsman, </B>noun, pl. <B>-men.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (British.) the player whose turn it is to bat in cricket; batter. </DL>
<A NAME="batsmanship">
<B>batsmanship, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (British.) the art of batting at cricket; batting performance. </DL>
<A NAME="batswana">
<B>Batswana, </B>noun, pl. <B>-na</B> or <B>-nas.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a member of the native people of Botswana; Bechuana; Tswana. </DL>
<B>battalia, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Archaic.) <DD><B> 1. </B>order of battle; battle array. <DD><B> 2. </B>a large body of men in battle array or on the march; a marshaled force. <DD><B> 3. </B>the main body or center of an army. </DL>
<A NAME="battalion">
<B>battalion, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a tactical unit made up of a headquarters and two or more companies, batteries, or similar organizations. It may be part of a regiment, but separate battalions exist that are administrative as well as tactical units. <DD><B> 2. </B>any large division of an army organized to act together. (Abbr:) bn. <DD><B> 3. </B>an army. <DD><B> 4. </B>any large group organized to work together. <BR> <I>Ex. A battalion of volunteers helped to rescue the flood victims.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>battalions,</B> </I>a large number. <BR> <I>Ex. battalions of teachers. The soldier-settlers ... came to plant battalions of coffee trees (Manchester Guardian Weekly).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="batteau">
<B>batteau, </B>noun, pl. <B>-teaux.</B> <B>=bateau.</B></DL>
<A NAME="battel">
<B>battel, </B>intransitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD> (at Oxford and Durham universities) to have a college account for board and provisions. noun <B>batteler.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="battels">
<B>battels, </B>noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD> at Oxford and Durham universities: <DD><B> 1. </B>college accounts for board and provisions. <DD><B> 2. </B>all one's college accounts. </DL>
<A NAME="battement">
<B>battement, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Ballet.) a movement or pose in which one leg is lifted either high or low. </DL>
<A NAME="batten">
<B>batten</B> (1), noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a strip of wood nailed over the adjoining edges of parallel boards of a door, wall, etc., to strengthen them or cover the cracks. <DD><B> 2. </B>a board used for flooring, usually 6 or more feet long, 7 inches wide, and 2 1/2 inches thick. Battens may be found in barns, and in some early American houses. <DD><B> 3. </B>a narrow strip of wood used in any of various ways on shipboard, such as to protect a mast or spar, to keep a sail flat, or to fasten tarpaulins over hatchways. <BR> <I>Ex. The sailors nailed battens over the hatches to hold the covers during the storm.</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> to strengthen or cover with battens. <BR><I>expr. <B>batten down,</B></I> to fasten down with or as if with strips of wood. <BR> <I>Ex. to batten down the hatches before a storm.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="batten">
<B>batten</B> (2), intransitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to grow fat; thrive. <BR> <I>Ex. The cattle battened on the plentiful fodder. (Figurative.) Melancholy sceptics ... who batten on the hideous facts in history (Emerson).</I> (SYN) prosper. <DD><B> 2. </B>to feed greedily; glut oneself. <DD><I>v.t. </I> (Obsolete.) to feed to advantage; fatten up; fatten. noun <B>battener.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="batten">
<B>batten</B> (3), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a movable bar or arm in a loom which strikes in or closes the weft. </DL>
