0                  He took a step backwards. llJ5br2frb EH3 forward

2 in the opposite direction to the usual one IHS.At|h| ; #Jlr: *Ambulance’ is written backwards so you can read it in the mirror. * ambulance JiHSJ If 5? W , IA il! |E H A iA iH o 0 In the movie they take a journey backwards through time. j§Ł ft <4 W A it Rl A; /ifc fr„ 3 towards a worse state    I felt that going to live with my

parents would be a step backwards.      AfUlS

—EHa forward 4 {NAmE) = back to front at back n. fTiTOl ,backward(s) and forward(s) from one place or position to another and back again many times A A 0 [si :  She rocked backwards and

forwards on her chair. bend/

lean over backwards (to do sth) to make a great effort, especially in order to be helpful or fair J^fj; Mil: I’ve bent over backwards to help him. 5SEJ§-liA — more at know v.

.backwards com patible (also backward com­patible) adj. (computing if) able to be used with systems, machines or programs which are older [o] js^

m-,   hm/w

back-wash /‘baekwDj’; NAmE -wa:J'; -wo:J7 noun [sing.]

1                  the unpleasant result of an event AE; X

X 2 waves caused by a boat moving through water; the movement of water back into the sea after a wave has hit the beach ( ) ME, ME; (

W&fS® ) «

back-water /'baekwD:ta(r)/ noun 1 a part of a river away from the main part, where the water only moves slowly ( MI65 ) iA, 8       , 0 4c 2 (often disap­

proving) a place that is away from the places where most things happen, and is therefore not affected by events, progress, new ideas, etc.

AW,  ) ±fe[X: a sleepy/quiet/rural backwater

back-woods /‘baekwudz/ noun [pi.] a place that is away from any big towns and from the influence of modern life iiSSfpUfclX

back-woodsman /‘baekwudzman/ noun {pi. -men /-man/) (NAmE) a person who lives in a region far from towns where not many people live, especially one who does not have much education or good manners ( jt

back-yard /.baek'jaid; NAmE -'jaird/ noun 1 (6rŁ) an area with a hard surface behind a house, often surrounded by a wall ( Min W ) c 2 {NAmE) the whole

area behind and belonging to a house, including an area of grass and the garden (        W ) Mis

Pft IS Ufa 4?: a backyard barbecue /§ ^       [4 f? $— see

also yard CT in your (own) backyard in or near the place where you live or work # g BX ?r§ ( t&X# ) W A P4 iŁ;  The residents didn’t want a

new factory in their backyard. Jg K X # M ftfe ill Pff ifi H §r X C o o The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard (= from his own members).

#iŁl*l A±WM*fo — see also nimby

bac-lava = baklava

bacon /'beikan/ noun [U] meat from the back or sides of a pig that has been cured (= preserved using salt or smoke), usually served in thin slices |Łj;      :

a rasher of bacon — fr $1 0 bacon and eggs jiŁ |Ł) 111 0 smoked/unsmoked bacon HjljjlW./ AH® W$f$l — compare gammon, ham(1), pork 17*7771 see home adv., save v.

bac-teria 0-w /baek'tiaria; NAmE -'tir-/ noun [pi.] {sing. bac-ter-ium /-iam/)

the simplest and smallest forms of life. Bacteria exist in large numbers in air, water and soil, and also in living and dead creatures and plants, and are often a cause of disease. M ft ► bac-ter-ial /-rial/ adj. :    bacterial

infections/growth     / XA

bac teri cide /baek'tiarisaid; NAmE -'tir-/ noun [U, C] {technical Ain) a substance which is used to kill bacteria

$nm,

bacteriology /baek,tiari'Dlad3i; NAmE -.tiri'ail-/ noun [U] the scientific study of bacteria Iff