b
- n aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil
- n originally thought to be a single vitamin but now separated into several B vitamins
- n a trivalent metalloid element; occurs both in a hard black crystal and in the form of a yellow or brown powder
- n a logarithmic unit of sound intensity equal to 10 decibels
- n (physics) a unit of nuclear cross section; the effective circular area that one particle presents to another as a target for an encounter
- n the 2nd letter of the Roman alphabet
- n the blood group whose red cells carry the B antigen
b-complex vitamin
- n originally thought to be a single vitamin but now separated into several B vitamins
b-girl
- n a woman employed by a bar to act as a companion to men customers
b-horizon
- n immediately below the A-horizon; contains deposits of organic matter leached from surface soils
b-scan ultrasonography
- n the use of ultrasonography to view structure in the back of the eye
b. b. king
- n United States guitar player and singer of the blues (born in 1925)
b. f. skinner
- n United States psychologist and a leading proponent of behaviorism (1904-1990)
b.t.u.
- n a unit of energy equal to the work done by a power of 1000 watts operating for one hour
b.th.u.
- n a unit of heat equal to the amount of heat required to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit at one atmosphere pressure; equivalent to 251.997 calories
b battery
- n battery for supplying a constant positive voltage to the plate of a vacuum tube
b cell
- n a lymphocyte derived from bone marrow that provides humoral immunity; it recognizes free antigen molecules in solution and matures into plasma cells that secrete immunoglobulin (antibodies) that inactivate the antigens
b complex
- n originally thought to be a single vitamin but now separated into several B vitamins
b horizon
- n immediately below the A-horizon; contains deposits of organic matter leached from surface soils
b lymphocyte
- n a lymphocyte derived from bone marrow that provides humoral immunity; it recognizes free antigen molecules in solution and matures into plasma cells that secrete immunoglobulin (antibodies) that inactivate the antigens
b vitamin
- n originally thought to be a single vitamin but now separated into several B vitamins
ba
- n a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group; found in barite
- n a bachelor's degree in arts and sciences