Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • A common Middle English form of the preposition by.
  • The chemical symbol of bismuth.
  • A Middle English and Anglo-Saxon form of be- or be-.
  • A prefix of Latin origin, cognate with di- and twi-, meaning two, two-, twice, double, twofold, as in biaxial, bicornous, bimanous, biped, bifurcate, etc.: especially in chemical terms, where it denotes two parts or equivalents of the ingredient referred to, as in bicarbonate, bichromate, etc.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • In most branches of science bi- in composition denotes two, twice, or doubly
  • (Chem.) In the composition of chemical names bi- denotes two atoms, parts, or equivalents of that constituent to the name of which it is prefixed, to one of the other component, or that such constituent is present in double the ordinary proportion. Be- and di- are often used interchangeably.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • prefix two
  • prefix chemistry, proscribed half

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a heavy brittle diamagnetic trivalent metallic element (resembles arsenic and antimony chemically); usually recovered as a by-product from ores of other metals

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin bis ("twice").

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Examples

  • I think it's extremely important that whatever follows the MDGs moves beyond a list of non-binding, broad objectives, and that any targets agreed are better linked to binding international bi- tri- and multilateral agreements.

    The voices of people with disabilities must be heard loud and clear | AK Dube 2011

  • He wiggled his fingers, occasionally bent forward to stretch out his calves and thighs, or reached overhead with one hand to touch the other shoulder, stretching bi- and triceps.

    A Bob Lee Swagger eBook Boxed Set Stephen Hunter 2009

  • He wiggled his fingers, occasionally bent forward to stretch out his calves and thighs, or reached overhead with one hand to touch the other shoulder, stretching bi- and triceps.

    A Bob Lee Swagger eBook Boxed Set Stephen Hunter 2009

  • He wiggled his fingers, occasionally bent forward to stretch out his calves and thighs, or reached overhead with one hand to touch the other shoulder, stretching bi- and triceps.

    A Bob Lee Swagger eBook Boxed Set Stephen Hunter 2009

  • The visible result of this phenomenon is the bulge of the bi- and triceps when we flex our muscles.

    THE HIDDEN FACE OF GOD GERALD L. SCHROEDER 2001

  • The visible result of this phenomenon is the bulge of the bi- and triceps when we flex our muscles.

    THE HIDDEN FACE OF GOD GERALD L. SCHROEDER 2001

  • A multigoal and conflict-acknowledging model of the firm is more compatible with the bi- or multiple utility conception and the I&We paradigm.

    THE MORAL DIMENSION Amitai Etzioni 1988

  • A multigoal and conflict-acknowledging model of the firm is more compatible with the bi- or multiple utility conception and the I&We paradigm.

    THE MORAL DIMENSION Amitai Etzioni 1988

  • Although the agency didn't mention any risks to its bond rating in its statement, Governors Andrew Cuomo of New York and Chris Christie of New Jersey, who share oversight of the bi- state agency, released a joint statement in which they said agency officials may have such worries.

    BusinessWeek.com -- Top News 2011

  • Last month, Najib said the government would establish a bi- partisan parliamentary committee to review changes to electoral rules, and that authorities would also consider amending laws governing censorship of print media.

    BusinessWeek.com -- Top News 2011

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