English Words From Voice of America (Charles Kelly)

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baby a newly born creature

back the part behind the front; ad. the other way from forward

bacteria living things that are one cell and can be seen only through a microscope; some cause disease

bad wrong; acting against the law; not good

balance to make two sides or forces equal

ball something round

balloon a device of strong, light material that rises when filled with gas lighter than air

ballot a piece of paper used for voting

ban to not permit; to stop; n. an official restriction

bank an organization that keeps and lends money

bar to prevent or block

barrier anything that blocks or makes an action difficult

base a military center; v. to establish as a fact ("Her research was based on experiments.")

battle a fight between opposing armed forces

be to live; to happen; to exist

beat to hit again and again

beauty that which pleases the eye, ear or spirit

because for the reason that ("He left because he was sick.")

become to come to be

bed a sleeping place

before earlier

begin to do the first part of an action; to start

behind at the back of; in back of

believe to think; to feel sure of; to accept as true; to trust

bell an instrument that makes a musical sound ("a church bell")

belong to be owned by; to be a member of

below lower than

best the most good

betray to turn against; to be false to

better more good than

between in the space or time that separates; from one to the other ("talks between two nations")

big of great size; not small

bill a legislative proposal

biology the scientific study of life or living things in all their forms

bird a creature that flies

bite to cut with the teeth

black dark; having the color like that of the night sky

blame to accuse; to hold responsible

blanket a cloth cover used to keep warm

bleed to lose blood

blind not able to see

block to stop something from being done; to prevent movement

blood red fluid in the body

blow to move with force, as in air ("The wind blows.")

blue having the color like that of a clear sky

boat something built to travel on water that carries people or goods

body all of a person or animal; the remains of a person or animal

boil to heat a liquid until it becomes very hot

bomb a device that explodes with great force; v. to attack or destroy with bombs

bone the hard material in the body

book a long written work for reading

border a dividing line between nations

born to come to life; to come into existence

borrow to take as a loan

both not just one of two, but the two together

bottle a container, usually made of glass, to hold liquid

bottom the lowest part of something

box something to put things into; a container, usually made of paper or wood

boy a young male person

boycott to refuse to take part in or deal with

brain the control center of thought, emotions and body activity of all creatures

brave having no fear

bread a food made from grain

break to divide into parts by force; to destroy

breathe to take air into the body and let it out again

bridge a structure built over a waterway, valley or road so people and vehicles can cross from one side to the other

brief short; not long

bright giving much light; strong and clear in color

bring to come with something

broadcast to send information, stories or music by radio or television; n. a radio or television program

brother a male with the same father or mother as another person

brown having the color like that of coffee

budget a spending plan

build to join materials together to make something

building anything built for use as a house, factory, office, school, store or place of entertainment

bullet a small piece of metal shot from a gun

burn to be on fire; to destroy or damage by fire

burst to break open suddenly

bury to put into the ground and cover with earth

bus a public vehicle to carry people

business one's work; buying and selling to earn money; trade

busy doing something; very active

but however; other than; yet

buy to get by paying something, usually money

by near; at; next to ("by the road"); from ("a play by William Shakespeare"); not later than ("by midnight")

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