The second letter in order in the English alphabet, as it was in the Phenician, and has been in most other alphabets derived from the Phenician. (See A.)
As a numeral, B was used by the Hebrews and Greeks, as now by the Arabians, for 2.
As a symbol: In music, the seventh tone, or “leading tone,” of the model diatonic scale, or scale of C.
In chem., the symbol of boron.
In ornithology, the accessory femorocaudal muscle, one of the chief classificatory muscles of the leg.
In mathematics, see A, 2 .
In abstract reasoning, suppositions, etc., the second or other person or thing mentioned: as, if A strike B.
In general, the second in any series: as, Company B (of a regiment), schedule B, etc.; in the form b, or b, the second column of a page, in a book printed in columns.
As an abbreviation, B. stands for— Bachelor (or Middle Latin Baccalaureus), in B. A. or A. B., B. C. E., B. D., B. L., B. M., etc. See these abbreviations. In dates, before, as in B. C. or B. C., and born, as in b. 1813. In a ship's log-book, in the form b., blue sky. In hydrometric measurements, Baumé: as, 8° B. See Baumé's hydrometer, under hydrometer. Also Bé.
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