Main definitions of B in English

: b¹ B² B³

B¹

Translate B into Spanish

nounplural noun Bs, plural noun B's

(also b)

1The second letter of the alphabet.
1. 1.1The second highest class of academic mark.
  ‘my grade on that first paper was a B’
2. 1.2Denoting the second-highest-earning socioeconomic category for marketing purposes, including intermediate management and professional personnel.
3. 1.3bChess Denoting the second file from the left, as viewed from White's side of the board.
4. 1.4usually bThe second constant to appear in an algebraic equation.
5. 1.5Geology Denoting a soil horizon of intermediate depth, typically the subsoil.
6. 1.6The human blood type (in the ABO system) containing the B antigen and lacking the A.
2usually BMusic
The seventh note of the diatonic scale of C major.
1. 2.1A key based on a scale with B as its keynote.

Pronunciation

B

/bē/ /bi/

Phrases

plan B

An alternative strategy.
‘it's time I put plan B into action’
- ‘Highly agitated by the display before her Felicia fled to the house and began to strategize her plan B for winning back her former husband.’
- ‘So now you're falling back on plan B - demanding that I turn him over so you can bring him to Dominic.’
- ‘And our job is to work with them and help them come up with a plan A, a plan B, to define goals and to attain those goals.’
- ‘It's a good idea to have a plan B, so if the dotcom millionaire scheme doesn't come off you have something to fall back on.’
- ‘While Scotland's great outdoors can be very beautiful and romantic, we do want couples to have a plan B in case the weather turns nasty.’
- ‘The human race is conducting a gigantic and unpredictable experiment with planet Earth with potentially horrendous consequences and no plan B in sight.’
- ‘If not, they will revert to plan B which is using the same system as last year.’
- ‘So I keep wondering: What is the Democrats' plan B?’
- ‘But really, if this writing thing doesn't work out, I realize that if I don't come up with a plan B I actually am going to work in an office for the rest of my life.’
- ‘With bigger vessels unfortunately absent, the society turned to plan B, launching five smaller boats into the quay, including a 1943 vintage dinghy used by the Royal Navy.’
- ‘‘It is not surprising there was no plan B,’ he said, ‘because it is very difficult to work out what it would be.’’
- ‘Calling a few used-car dealerships is probably still not a bad idea - it will take some of the pressure off the sale if I know I have a viable plan B for selling it.’
- ‘It's called plan B, you know, when you make a pact with a friend to get married if neither one of you finds anyone by the time you're 40.’
- ‘What if I hadn't rushed into a semi-academic job and had pursued my plan B, which was to work as a library assistant and write in every spare moment of the day?’
- ‘I hope she has a plan B if vet school doesn't take her!’
- ‘I'm afraid it's plan B - I've ordered the donuts - he likes those doesn't he?’
- ‘The iconoclastic inclinations of Ireland's youth are understandable, but there's no plan B.’
- ‘After months of reassuring everyone that there was no plan B if the French reject the constitution - guess what?’
- ‘Everyone realises that there is no plan B in the event of failure.’
- ‘All week, our game plan had been to throw it wide but I thought plan B worked well.’