ben

C1 · Advanced Countable noun American English · Slang

n. a one-hundred-dollar bill in the United States.

n. a United States one-hundred-dollar bill, referring to the portrait of Benjamin Franklin.

“He pulled a couple of bens out of his wallet to pay for the new bike.”

“The lyrics frequently reference stacking bens as a metaphor for achieving rapid financial success in the music industry.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun British English · Dialect · Archaic

n. the inner room of a small house or cottage.

n. the inner or principal room of a two-room cottage, traditionally distinguished from the 'but' or outer room.

“The family gathered in the ben where it was warmer and more private.”

“In traditional Scottish architecture, the ben served as the more formal living space, reserved for receiving guests or sleeping.”

C2 · Proficiency British English · Dialect

adv. inside or towards the inner part of a house.

adv. in or towards the inner part of a building; used as a directional adverb.

“She invited the neighbours to come ben and have some tea.”

“The host gestured for the visitors to step ben, away from the cold draft of the open doorway.”

A1 · Beginner Countable noun

n. a short form of the male names Benjamin or Benedict.

n. a common hypocorism or shortened form of the masculine given names Benjamin or Benedict.

“My friend Ben is coming over to help me fix my computer tonight.”

“While his legal name was Benjamin, he preferred to be addressed as Ben in all professional and social contexts.”