be la bour (BrE) (NAmE be-la-bor) /bi'leiba(r)/ verb [VN] IR71 belabour the point (formal) to repeat an idea, argument, etc. many times to emphasize it, especially when it has already been mentioned or understood

(IMI)

be lated /bi'leitid/ adj. coming or happening late

(ft; Bfc fh M : a belated birthday present i§ A: ifl 4 0 $1 ► be-lated-ly adv.

belay /‘biilei; bi'lei/ verb [V, VN] (technical A if) (in climbing IP^) to attach a rope to a rock, etc. ; to make a person safe while climbing by attaching a rope to the person and to a rock, etc. fE ( h;

ffi () mmt

bel canto /,bel 'kaentau; NAmE -tou/ noun [u] (music it) a style of opera or opera singing in the 19th century in which producing a beautiful tone was considered very important ( 19 )

belch /beltJV verb 1 [V] to let air come up noisily from your stomach and out through your mouth ff ® : He wiped his hand across his mouth, then belched loudly.

SCIburp

2 [V, VN] ~ (out/forth) (sth) to send out large amounts of smoke, flames, etc.; to come out of sth in large amounts (AM)^#, RttB Em spew out ► belch noun: He sat back and gave a loud belch. f& HIij ft #

±, XrtST

be lea guered /bi'liigad; NAmE -gard/ adj. 1 (formal) experiencing a lot of criticism and difficulties tfi^flt if A IS it 1$ : The beleaguered party leader was

forced to resign. gPfvt&Sfs w 2 surrounded by an enemy ^ 3\ ffl IS ( M H ) ifj: supplies for the beleaguered city ISMAnn

belfry /'belfri/ noun (pi. -ies) a tower in which bells hang, especially as part of a church ( % ft ffc # (ft ) It

m, m

belie /bi'lai/ verb (be lies, be ly ing, be lied, be lied) [VN] (formal) 1 to give a false impression of sb/sth f𝔣 if. ft; • • • in AIM fg ^ : Her energy and youthful good

looks belie her 65 years. A#A*

tfef 65 ^ 7, 2 to show that sth cannot be true or correct ) AlEfil; SE W ( ) i£i£:

Government claims that there is no poverty are belied by the number of homeless people on the streets. AfirAAit

belief 0h» /biiiif/ noun

1 [U] ~ (in sth/sb) a strong feeling that sth/sb exists or is true; confidence that sth/sb is good or right fg fa ; ft A': I admire his passionate belief in what he is doing.

0 belief in God/

democracy M±#J^ft 2 [sing., U] ~ (that ... )

an opinion about sth; sth that you think is true If if; ft ff._: She acted in the belief that she was doing good.

EMfEii&Uft-o 0 Contrary to popular belief (= in spite of what people may think), he was not responsible for the tragedy. -% it W. (ft If fk fg Mfil&fmffo 0 There is a general belief that things will soon get better. AlClfitiA AltW&fkWt ₀ 3 [C, usually pi.] something that you believe,

especially as part of your religion ft fffl; M tfc fit W : religious/political beliefs A fit / ?o ft ffp — compare disbelief, UNBELIEF Ml beyond be'lief (in a way that is) too great, difficult, etc. to be believed ^A^ilA If fa : Dissatisfaction with the government has grown

beyond belief. A*t WSfiftf)

0 icy air that was cold beyond belief f# A A A ft M — more at beggar v., best n.

believable /bi'lirvabl/ adj. that can be believed bJ fg ft (ft ; Rf ft fi (ft Em plausible : Her explanation

certainly sounded believable. (ft H # Djf ^2 ^ (ft bJ fa ₀

0 a play with believable characters &| A A Jl of ft (ft

GH3 UNBELIEVABLE

be lieve Or* /bi'lifV/ verb (not used in the progressive tenses ^fff AiffiSrft')

► FEEL CERTAIN fg f| 1 to feel certain that sth is true or that sb is telling you the truth fgft; iA[VN]

1 don’t believe you! fS^fgftfftlftit! 0 I believed his lies

for years. i£ft ItAAJB 0 The man

claimed to be a social worker and the old woman believed