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Breadfruit

The fruit of a tree (Artocarpus incisa) found in the islands of the Pacific, esp. the South Sea islands. It is of a roundish form, from four to six or seven inches in diameter, and, when baked, somewhat resembles bread, and is eaten as food, whence the name.

breadline

a queue of people waiting for free food.

Breadroot

The root of a leguminous plant (Psoralea esculenta), found near the Rocky Mountains. It is usually oval in form, and abounds in farinaceous matter, affording sweet and palatable food.

Breadstuff

Grain, flour, or meal of which bread is made.

Breadwinner

The member of a family whose labor supplies the food of the family; one who works for his living.

Break

An opening made by fracture or disruption.

break dancing

a type of solo dancing in which the dancer performs elaborate footwork, pantomime, and various acrobatic movements, such as spinning head stands or spinning on the back, and usually containing much improvization. It was first performed by male teenagers in the 1970's, in small informal groups on the streets, and is often performed to the accompaniment of rap music or other rock music with a rapid, strong beat.

Break-circuit

A key or other device for breaking an electrical circuit.

break-in

an act of trespassing into a closed structure such as a house or place of busineess for an unlawful purpose, usually as part of a burglary.

Break-up Breakup

Disruption; coming apart; a separation and dispersion of the parts or members; as, a break-up of a meeting, assembly, or dinner party; the break-up of a spacecraft on re-entry into the atmosphere.

breakability

the quality of being easily damaged or destroyed.

Breakage

The act of breaking; a break; a breaking; also, articles broken.

Breakaway

A wild rush of sheep, cattle, horses, or camels (especially at the smell or the sight of water); a stampede.

breakaxe

a West Indian timber tree (Sloanea jamaicensis) having very hard wood.

Breakdown

The act or result of breaking down, as of a carriage; downfall.

Breaker

One who, or that which, breaks.

Breakneck

Producing danger of a broken neck; as, breakneck speed.

breakstone

Any of various plants of the genus Saxifraga.

Breakwater

Any structure or contrivance, as a mole, or a wall at the mouth of a harbor, to break the force of waves, and afford protection from their violence.

Bream

To clean, as a ship's bottom of adherent shells, seaweed, etc., by the application of fire and scraping.

Breast

To meet, with the breast; to struggle with or oppose manfully; as, to breast the storm or waves.

Breast-deep

Deep as from the breast to the feet; as high as the breast.

Breastband

A band for the breast. Specifically: (Naut.) A band of canvas, or a rope, fastened at both ends to the rigging, to support the man who heaves the lead in sounding.

Breastbeam

The front transverse beam of a locomotive.

Breasted

Having a breast; -- used in composition with qualifying words, in either a literal or a metaphorical sense; as, a single-breasted coat.

Breastfast

A large rope to fasten the midship part of a ship to a wharf, or to another vessel.

Breastheight

The interior slope of a fortification, against which the garrison lean in firing.

Breasthook

A thick piece of timber in the form of a knee, placed across the stem of a ship to strengthen the fore part and unite the bows on each side.

Breasting

The curved channel in which a breast wheel turns. It is closely adapted to the curve of the wheel through about a quarter of its circumference, and prevents the escape of the water until it has spent its force upon the wheel. See Breast wheel.

Breastpin

A pin worn on the breast for a fastening, or for ornament; a brooch.

Breastplate

A plate of metal covering the breast as defensive armor.

Breastrail

The upper rail of any parapet of ordinary height, as of a balcony; the railing of a quarter-deck, etc.

Breastsummer

A summer or girder extending across a building flush with, and supporting, the upper part of a front or external wall; a long lintel; a girder; -- used principally above shop windows.

Breastwheel

A water wheel, on which the stream of water strikes neither so high as in the overshot wheel, nor so low as in the undershot, but generally at about half the height of the wheel, being kept in contact with it by the breasting. The water acts on the float boards partly by impulse, partly by its weight.

Breastwork

A defensive work of moderate height, hastily thrown up, of earth or other material.

Breath

The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration; air which, in the process of respiration, has parted with oxygen and has received carbonic acid, aqueous vapor, warmth, etc.

breathalyze

to test the alcohol content of someone's blood by means of a breathalyzer.

breathalyzer

a device that measures alcohol content of a person's breath.

Breathe

To inhale and exhale in the process of respiration; to respire.

Breather

One who breathes. One who lives. One who utters. One who animates or inspires.

Breathful

Full of breath; full of odor; fragrant.

Breathing

Respiration; the act of inhaling and exhaling air.

Breathless

Spent with labor or violent action; out of breath.

Breccia

A rock composed of angular fragments either of the same mineral or of different minerals, etc., united by a cement, and commonly presenting a variety of colors.

Brecciated

Consisting of angular fragments cemented together; resembling breccia in appearance.

Bred

imp. p. p. of Breed.

Breech

To put into, or clothe with, breeches.

Breech-loading

Receiving the charge at the breech instead of at the muzzle.

Breechblock

The movable piece which closes the breech of a breech-loading firearm, and resists the backward force of the discharge. It is withdrawn for the insertion of a cartridge, and closed again before the gun is fired.

Breeches

A garment worn by men, covering the hips and thighs; smallclothes.

Breeching

A whipping on the breech, or the act of whipping on the breech.

Breechloader

A firearm which receives its load at the breech.

Breed

A race or variety of men or other animals (or of plants), perpetuating its special or distinctive characteristics by inheritance.

Breedbate

One who breeds or originates quarrels.

Breeder

One who, or that which, breeds, produces, brings up, etc.

Breeding

The act or process of generating or bearing.

Breeze fly Breeze

A fly of various species, of the family Tabanid/, noted for buzzing about animals, and tormenting them by sucking their blood; -- called also horsefly, and gadfly. They are among the largest of two-winged or dipterous insects. The name is also given to different species of botflies.

Breezy

Characterized by, or having, breezes; airy.

Bregma

The point of junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures of the skull.

Brehon

An ancient Irish or Scotch judge.

Brelan

A French gambling game somewhat like poker. In French games, a pair royal, or triplet.

Breloque

A seal or charm for a watch chain.

Breme

Fierce; sharp; severe; cruel.

Brennage

A tribute which tenants paid to their lord, in lieu of bran, which they were obliged to furnish for his hounds.

brenschluss

the time at which the engines of a rocket stop firing; the termination of the firing of the rocket engines, whether due to intentional shutdown of the engines or exhaustion of the fuel. This term was used mostly in the early days of rocketry when only one firing sequence occurred for rockets, which were used as ballistic missiles or for experiments in rocketry or atmospheric science.

Breton

Of or relating to Brittany, or Bretagne, in France. A native or inhabitant of Brittany, or Bretagne, in France; also, the ancient language of Brittany; Armorican.

Brettice

The wooden boarding used in supporting the roofs and walls of coal mines. See Brattice.

Bretwalda

The official title applied to that one of the Anglo-Saxon chieftains who was chosen by the other chiefs to lead them in their warfare against the British tribes.

Breve

A note or character of time, equivalent to two semibreves or four minims. When dotted, it is equal to three semibreves. It was formerly of a square figure (as thus: / ), but is now made oval, with a line perpendicular to the staff on each of its sides; -- formerly much used for choir service.

Brevet

Taking or conferring rank by brevet; as, a brevet colonel; a brevet commission.

Brevetcy

The rank or condition of a brevet officer.

Breviary

An abridgment; a compend; an epitome; a brief account or summary.

Brevier

A size of type between bourgeois and minion.

Breviped

Having short legs. A breviped bird.

Brevipennate

Short-winged; -- applied to birds which can not fly, owing to their short wings, as the ostrich, cassowary, and emu.

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