# BAL

/ˈbæɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bal
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. medical treatment

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

Stands for British Anti-Lewisite. It is a medicine used to treat people who have been poisoned by heavy metals like arsenic or lead.

For teachers: Abbreviation for British Anti-Lewisite. A pharmacological chelating agent, also known as dimercaprol, used to treat acute poisoning by arsenic, mercury, gold, and lead.

- The doctor administered BAL to the patient to treat the heavy metal poisoning.
- In cases of acute arsenic toxicity, BAL remains a primary chelating agent despite the development of newer, less toxic alternatives.

Usage: Usually treated as an uncountable noun when referring to the substance.

### 2. blood alcohol level

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

Stands for Blood Alcohol Level. This is the amount of alcohol in a person's blood, often measured by the police.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Blood Alcohol Level. A measurement used to determine the concentration of alcohol in a person's bloodstream, typically for legal or medical purposes.

- The driver was arrested because his BAL was over the legal limit.
- Forensic analysts measured the suspect's BAL three hours after the incident to estimate his level of impairment at the time of the crash.

Usage: Commonly used in American English legal and medical contexts.

### 3. astronomy

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

Stands for Broad Absorption Line. It is a term used by scientists to describe specific features in the light coming from distant space objects.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Broad Absorption Line. A characteristic feature in the spectra of certain quasars, indicating high-velocity gas outflows.

- The researchers identified a new BAL quasar in the distant galaxy.
- The presence of a BAL in the spectrum suggests that the quasar is experiencing significant mass loss through powerful galactic winds.

### 4. no hair

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

A short way of writing 'bald', meaning having no hair on the head.

For teachers: A truncated form of 'bald'. Used primarily in shorthand, medical charts, or specific technical descriptions of physical appearance.

- The patient was described as a 60-year-old bal. male in the medical notes.
- The clinical intake form noted the subject as a bal. male with no other distinguishing scalp conditions.

Usage: Almost exclusively found in written shorthand or clinical documentation.

## Examples

- The doctor ordered a BAL to check for lung infection.
- During the bronchoscopy, the medical team performed a BAL to obtain samples from the lower respiratory tract for laboratory analysis.
- The diagnostic yield of a BAL is significantly higher in patients with diffuse lung disease, as the fluid provides a representative sample of the alveolar environment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.