noun 1 [C] (used especially in newspapers        a

very large fire, especially a dangerous one £&X; XX\ Five people died in the blaze. 2 [sing.]

strong bright flames in a fire X fa: Dry wood makes a good blaze, f       Bf„ 3 [sing.] a ~ of sth a very

bright show of lights or colour; an impressive or notice­able show of sth ( ) M.M: The gardens

are a blaze of colour. £ @111&i!ZM£L <, 0 a blaze of lights in the city centre rfi 43 7 il $ £1A 0 the bright blaze of the sun APB $0 a blaze of glory 0 o They got married in a blaze of publicity.

3\74 [sing.] (a) ~ of sth a sudden show of very strong feeling ( ilti$ ) i£A,          ablaze

of anger/passion/hate 0 XI Ml 'If / \\          $ it A

5 [C, usually sing.] a white mark on an animal’s face ( zjb mm) mi USTTil what/where/who the ‘blazes ...? {old-fashioned, informal) used to emphasize that you are annoyed and surprised, to avoid using the word ‘hell’ ( mmm,        5 hell mx ) :          What the

blazes have you done?  like blazes

{old-fashioned, informal) very hard; very fast S %!l ifi; ifi

mm

blazer /'bleiza(r)/ noun a jacket, not worn with match­ing trousers/pants, often showing the colours or badge of a club, school, team, etc.   is

) %%

blaz ing /'bleizirj/ adj. [only before noun] 1 (also .blazing 'hot) extremely hot g§  : blazing heat f jf

0 a blazing hot day XffltX 2 extremely angry or full of strong emotion M ft 0 $ ; ill If ‘SM $ : She had a blazing row with Eddie and stormed out of the house.

blazon /'bleizn/ verb [VN] 1 [usually passive] ~ sth (on/across/over sth) = emblazon :      He had the word

‘Cool’ blazoned across his chest, ftk$tfp7f Cool $7 #0 2 = blaze(4)

bleach /bli:tj/ verb, noun

» verb to make sth white or pale by a chemical process or by the effect of light from the sun; to become white or pale in this way (      BBS, ilfe: [VN]

His hair was bleached by the sun. #,$ AAfeAPBBgU ‘MSo O bleached cotton/paper IftgfS /       0 [VN-ADJ] She

bleached her hair blonde.        0 [V]

bones of animals bleaching in the sun

mm

■ noun [U, C] a chemical that is used to make sth become white or pale and as a disinfectant (= to prevent infection from spreading)

bleach ers /'bliitjaz; NAmE -tjarz/ noun [pi.] (NAmE) rows of seats at a sports ground ( is zft ^ $ ) IB iff ®

{±L, i^fp

bleak/bliik/ adj. (bleaker, bleakest) 1 (of a situation ift) not encouraging or giving any reason to have hope a bleak outlook/prospect Bf $ fu iS: / B!] ^ 0 The future looks bleak for the fishing industry. illikfjuJlBi^o 0 The medical prognosis was bleak.      2 (of the weather A<H) cold

and unpleasant $: a bleak winter’s day $# 0 3 (of a place i&A) exposed, empty, or with no pleasant features ft it If $; 1n!U§flKl;        a

bleak landscape/hillside/moor / il|$? / ¥fi&

0 bleak concrete housing

► bleak ly adv.: ‘There seems no hope,’ she said bleakly.

” IHiiii o bleakly lit corridors bleak ness noun [U]

blearily /'bliarali; NAmE 'blir-/ adv. with bleary eyes; in a tired way Bf IB tl Yk i&; ® ftk:     ‘I was asleep, ’ she

explained blearily. ito ”

bleary /‘bliari; NAmE 'bhri/ adj. (of eyes BIBf) not able to see clearly, especially because you are tired ( 0 fM M A IfkM $, #7ft $: she had bleary red eyes from lack of sleep.    ^ ii

ifllMo

.bleary-1 eyed adj. with bleary eyes and seeming tired '■ He appeared at breakfast bleary-eyed and with a hangover.

bleat /bli:t/ verb 1 [V] to make the sound that sheep and goats make # t# pl| 2 ~ (on) (about sth) to speak in a