Buoy
Buoy (�), n. [D. boei buoy, fetter, fr. OF. boie, buie, chain, fetter, F. bouée a buoy, from L. boia. “Boiae genus vinculorum tam ferreae quam ligneae.” Festus. So called becaus...
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, C. & G. Merriam Co., 1913.
5.996 entries
Buoy (�), n. [D. boei buoy, fetter, fr. OF. boie, buie, chain, fetter, F. bouée a buoy, from L. boia. “Boiae genus vinculorum tam ferreae quam ligneae.” Festus. So called becaus...
Buoy, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Buoyed (�); p. pr. & vb. n.Buoying.] 1. To keep from sinking in a fluid, as in water or air; to keep afloat; — with up.2. To support or sustain; to pres...
Buoy, v. i. To float; to rise like a buoy. “Rising merit will buoy up at last.” Pope.
Buoy″age (�), n. Buoys, taken collectively; a series of buoys, as for the guidance of vessels into or out of port; the providing of buoys.
Buoy″ance (�), n. Buoyancy.
Buoy″an‐cy (�), n.; pl.Buoyancies (�). 1. The property of floating on the surface of a liquid, or in a fluid, as in the atmosphere; specific lightness, which is inversely as the...
Buoy″ant (�), a. [From Buoy, v. t. & i.] 1. Having the quality of rising or floating in a fluid; tending to rise or float; as, iron is buoyant in mercury. “Buoyant on the flood....
Bu‐pres″ti‐dan (�), n. [L. buprestis, Gr. �, a poisonous beetle, which, being eaten by cattle in the grass, caused them to swell up and and die; � ox, cow + � to blow up, swell ...
{ Bur, Burr } (�), n. [OE. burre burdock; cf. Dan. borre, OSw. borra, burdock, thistle; perh. akin to E. bristle (burr- for burz-), or perh. to F. bourre hair, wool, stuff; also...
Bur″ fish′ (�). (Zoöl.) A spinose, plectognath fish of the Allantic coast of the United States (esp. Chilo mycterus geometricus) having the power of distending its body with wat...
Bur″ mar″i‐gold (�). See Beggar's ticks.
Bur″bolt′ (�), n. A birdbolt. Ford.
Bur″bot (�), n. [F. barbote, fr. barbe beard. See 1st Barb.] (Zoöl.) A fresh-water fish of the genus Lota, having on the nose two very small barbels, and a larger one on the chi...
Bur′de‐lais″ (�), n. [F. bourdelais, prob. fr. bordelais. See Bordelais.] A sort of grape. Jonson.
Bur″den (bû″d'n), n. [Written also burthen.] [OE. burden, burthen, birthen, birden, AS. byrðen; akin to Icel. byrði, Dan. byrde, Sw. börda, G. bürde, OHG. burdi, Goth. baúrþei, ...
Bur″den, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Burdened (�); p. pr. & vb. n.Burdening (�).] 1. To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy load upon; to load.I mean not that ot...
Bur″den (bûr″d'n), n. [OE. burdoun the bass in music, F. bourdon; cf. LL. burdo drone, a long organ pipe, a staff, a mule. Prob. of imitative origin. Cf. Bourdon.] 1. The verse ...
Bur″den, n. [See Burdon.] A club. Spenser.
Bur″den‐er (�), n. One who loads; an oppressor.
Bur″den‐ous (�), a. Burdensome. “Burdenous taxations.” Shak.
Bur″den‐some (�), a. Grievous to be borne; causing uneasiness or fatigue; oppressive.The debt immense of endless gratitudeSo burdensome.Milton.Syn. — Heavy; weighty; cumbersome;...
Bur″dock (�), n. [Bur + dock the plant.] (Bot.) A genus of coarse biennial herbs (Lappa), bearing small burs which adhere tenaciously to clothes, or to the fur or wool of animal...
Bur″don (�), n. [See Bourdon.] A pilgrim's staff. [Written also burden.] Rom. of R.
Bu″reau (�), n.; pl. E. Bureaus (�), F. Bureaux (�). [F. bureau a writing table, desk, office, OF., drugget, with which a writing table was often covered, equiv. to F. bure, and...
Bu‐reau″cra‐cy (�), n. [Bureau + Gr. � to be strong, to govern, � strength: cf. F. bureaucratie.] 1. A system of carrying on the business of government by means of departments o...
Bu‐reau″crat (�), n. An official of a bureau; esp. an official confirmed in a narrow and arbitrary routine. C. Kingsley.
{ Bu′reau‐crat″ic (�), Bu′reau‐crat″ic‐al (�), } a. [Cf. F. bureaucratique.] Of, relating to, or resembling, a bureaucracy.