<B>browse, </B>verb, <B>browsed,</B> <B>browsing,</B> noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.i. </I> <B>1. </B>to feed on grass or leaves by nibbling and eating here and there; graze. <BR> <I>Ex. The sheep browsed in the meadow.</I> (SYN) nibble, crop. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) <DD><B> a. </B>to read here and there in a book or in books. <BR> <I>Ex. He browsed reading snatches in a book of poems.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>to pass the time looking at books in a library or bookstore. <BR> <I>Ex. He spent the afternoon browsing in the bookstores. The lending library is starting off with sixty thousand shiny new volumes, all on open shelves, among which one may browse at will (New Yorker).</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> to feed on (grass, twigs, or leaves); graze. <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>the tender shoots of trees and shrubs; green food for cattle and other livestock. <BR> <I>Ex. Certain woody bushes and low trees are being planted to hold the soil and furnish browse for livestock (Scientific American).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>the act of browsing. noun <B>browser.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="brucella">
<B>brucella, </B>noun, pl. <B>-cellae,</B> <B>-cellas.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any one of the bacteria that cause brucellosis. </DL>
<A NAME="brucellosis">
<B>brucellosis, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a contagious disease affecting cattle, goats, swine, and, to a lesser extent, other animals and man, caused by bacteria, usually infecting the reproductive organs and leading to abortion and sterility; Bang's disease. In persons, it is usually called <I>undulant fever.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="bruchid">
<B>bruchid, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of or belonging to a group of weevils that feed on the seeds of vetches and other plants of the pea family. <DD><I>noun </I> a weevil of this group, such as the vetch bruchid. </DL>
<A NAME="brucin">
<B>brucin, </B>noun. <B>=brucine.</B></DL>
<A NAME="brucine">
<B>brucine, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a poisonous alkaloid obtained, with strychnine, from the seeds of the nux vomica and other closely related trees. </DL>
<A NAME="brucite">
<B>brucite, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> hydrated oxide of magnesia, a source of magnesium, occurring naturally in parts of Quebec, Ontario, and Nevada. </DL>
<A NAME="brucke">
<B>Brucke, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a group of early (1904-1913) expressionist artists in Germany who used thick, pure colors and enclosed them with heavy outlines. </DL>
<A NAME="brucknerian">
<B>Brucknerian, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with the Austrian composer Anton Bruckner (1824-1896), his symphonies, or his musical style. </DL>
<B>Bruin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a name for the bear, originally in the medieval epic of "Reynard the Fox." </DL>
<A NAME="bruise">
<B>bruise, </B>noun, verb, <B>bruised,</B> <B>bruising.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1a. </B>an injury to the body, caused by a fall or blow, that breaks blood vessels without breaking the skin; contusion. <BR> <I>Ex. The bruise on my arm turned black and blue.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>an injury to the outside of a fruit, vegetable, or plant. <BR> <I>Ex. The pear had bruises of ugly dark spots.</I> <DD><B> c. </B>(Figurative.) a hurt to the feelings. <DD><B> 2. </B>a dent. <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1a. </B>to injure the outside of. <BR> <I>Ex. Though not cut, his knees were bruised when he fell. Rough handling bruised the apples before they could be sold.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>(Figurative:) <BR> <I>Ex. Harsh words bruised her feelings.</I> (SYN) injure, hurt. <DD><B> 2. </B>to pound or crush (drugs or food); grind; pulverize. <BR> <I>Ex. Oats are bruised for horses.</I> <DD><I>v.i. </I> to become bruised. <BR> <I>Ex. Her flesh bruises easily.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="bruiser">
<B>bruiser, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Informal.) <DD><B> 1. </B>a prizefighter or boxer. <DD><B> 2a. </B>a bully. <DD><B> b. </B>a very muscular person. <BR> <I>Ex. young jut-jawed bruisers wearing leather coats (New Yorker).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="bruit">
<B>bruit, </B>verb, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to spread a report or rumor of. <BR> <I>Ex. News of the girl's engagement was bruited about.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>to spread the fame of. <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>(Archaic.) report; rumor. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Archaic.) noise or din. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Obsolete.) fame. </DL>
<A NAME="bruja">
<B>bruja, </B>noun, pl. <B>-jas.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Spanish.) a sorceress; witch. </DL>
<A NAME="brujo">
<B>brujo, </B>noun, pl. <B>-jos.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Spanish.) a witch doctor; sorcerer. </DL>
<A NAME="brumaire">
<B>Brumaire, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the second month (October 22 to November 20) in the calendar instituted in 1793 by the first French republic. </DL>
<B>brummagem, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Informal.) <DD><I>adj. </I> cheap and showy; tawdry. <DD><I>noun </I> anything cheap and showy. </DL>
<A NAME="brummie">
<B>Brummie</B> or <B>Brummy, </B>noun, pl. <B>-mies,</B> adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (British Informal.) <DD><I>noun </I> a native or inhabitant of Birmingham, England. <DD><I>adj. </I> of or from Birmingham, England. </DL>
<B>brunch, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a meal taken late in the morning and intended to combine breakfast with lunch. </DL>
<A NAME="brune">
<B>brune, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a dark-complexioned girl or woman; brunette. </DL>
<A NAME="bruneian">
<B>Bruneian, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a native or inhabitant of Brunei, a small country on the northern coast of Borneo. </DL>
<A NAME="brunette">
<B>brunette</B> or <B>brunet, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>dark-colored. <BR> <I>Ex. brunette hair.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>having dark-brown or black hair, brown or black eyes, and a dark skin. <BR> <I>Ex. a brunette actress.</I> <DD><I>noun </I> a person having a dark skin, dark-brown or black hair, and brown or black eyes. A man with this complexion is a brunet; a woman is a brunette. <BR> <I>Ex. Many Spanish women are brunettes; many Swedish women are blondes.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="brunhild">
<B>Brunhild, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (German Legend.) a legendary queen in the <I>Nibelungenlied,</I> the wife of King Gunther, for whom she is won by Siegfried. In the Old Norse legend she is a Valkyrie, won by Sigurd for Gunnar. Also, <B>Brynhild.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="brunhildestrain">
<B>Brunhilde strain,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> one of the three known types of virus causing polio. The other two are the Lansing and Leon strains. </DL>
<A NAME="brunizem">
<B>brunizem, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a grassland soil similar to chernozem. </DL>
<A NAME="brunnhilde">
<B>Brunnhilde, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a Valkyrie, in Wagner's <I>Die Walkure,</I> cast into a magic sleep by Wotan, from which Siegfried awakens her. See also <B>Brunhild.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="brunonian">
<B>Brunonian, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having to do with some person or thing bearing the name of Brown, such as Brown University. </DL>
<A NAME="brunt">
<B>brunt, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the main force or violence; hardest part. <BR> <I>Ex. The island felt the brunt of the hurricane. The infantry bore the brunt of the battle.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Obsolete.) an assault; attack. </DL>
<A NAME="brush">
<B>brush</B> (1), noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a tool for cleaning, sweeping, or scrubbing, or for putting on paint. A brush is made of bristles, hair, or wires set in a stiff back or fastened to a handle. <DD><B> 2. </B>a brushing; a rub with a brush. <BR> <I>Ex. He gave his puppy a good brush.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>a light touch in passing. <BR> <I>Ex. Give the desk a brush with the cloth.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>a short, brisk fight or quarrel. <BR> <I>Ex. The hunter had a sharp brush with an old bear and her cubs.</I> (SYN) skirmish. <DD><B> 5. </B>the bushy tail of an animal, especially of a fox. <BR> <I>Ex. The last we saw of the fox was his brush disappearing into his burrow.</I> <DD><B> 6a. </B>a piece of carbon or copper used to connect the electricity from the revolving part of an electric motor or generator to the outside circuit. <DD><B> b. </B><B>=brush discharge.</B> <DD><B> 7. </B>the art or skill of an artist. <DD><B> 8. </B>(Figurative.) a mild reproof. <BR> <I>Ex. I have given them a brush through Colonel Pater (Duke of Wellington).</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to clean, sweep, scrub, or paint with a brush; use a brush on. <BR> <I>Ex. She brushed her hair until it was shiny.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>to wipe away; remove. <BR> <I>Ex. The child brushed the tears from his eyes.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>to touch lightly in passing. <BR> <I>Ex. No harm was done--your bumper just brushed our fender.</I> <DD><I>v.i. </I> <B>1. </B>to move quickly. <DD><B> 2. </B>to touch (against) something lightly, as if with a brush. <BR> <I>Ex. A man brushed against him in the crowded lobby.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>brush aside</B> (or <B>away</B>), </I>to put aside; refuse to consider. <BR> <I>Ex. The captain of the ship brushed aside warnings of a hurricane and kept on.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>brush off,</B> (Informal.) <DD><B> a. </B>to refuse to see or listen to (someone). </I> <I>Ex. The mayor hurried into his office, brushing off the reporters.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>to dismiss as unimportant; make light of. <BR> <I>Ex. The mayor brushed off the reporter's question with a joke.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>brush up on</B> (or <B>up</B>), </I>(Figurative.) to refresh one's knowledge of; review. <BR> <I>Ex. He brushed up on fractions before taking the arithmetic test.</I> noun <B>brusher.</B> adj. <B>brushlike.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="brush">
<B>brush</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>(U.S.) branches broken or cut off; brushwood. <BR> <I>Ex. After the storm the lawn was littered with brush.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>shrubs, bushes, and small trees growing thickly in the woods; brushwood. <BR> <I>Ex. They found the snake where it had crawled off into the brush.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(U.S.) thinly settled country; backwoods. </DL>
<A NAME="brushcut">
<B>brush cut,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a short haircut for men and boys, resembling the bristles of a hairbrush. </DL>
<A NAME="brushdischarge">
<B>brush discharge,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a brush-shaped, visible discharge around a wire carrying a current of high potential; corona. </DL>
