bi-, bin-, bino-, bis-
(Latin: two, twice, double, twofold; a number; it normally functions as a prefix)
This bi- is used before s, c, or a vowel. Don't confuse this bi- with another one which means "life".
All words except biennial referring to periods of time and prefixed by bi- are potentially ambiguous. Since bi- can be taken to mean either "twice each" or "every two", a word like "biweekly" can be understood as "twice each week" or "every two weeks".
biangular
biannual
1. Happening twice each year; semiannual.
2. Occurring every two years; biennial.
A biannual event occurs twice a year; a biennial event takes place once in two years.
To avoid confusion, it is better to use the prefix semi- to mean "twice each" (semiannual; semimonthly; semiweekly) or the phrase "twice a" or "twice each "(twice a month; twice a week; twice each year ["biannual"]), and for the other sense to use the phrase "every two" (every two months; every two weeks; every two years [or in this case, "biennial"]).
biaruricular
biaxial
bicameral
A bicameral government has two legislative branches or chambers, like the House and the Senate of the United States.
bicentenary
bicentennial
bicentric
bicentricity
bicephalous
Having two heads.
biceps
A muscle with two points of origin; especially, the large muscle at the front of the upper arm that flexes the elbow joint and the large muscle at the back of the thigh that flexes the knee joint.
A person's biceps is a muscle having two heads or two points of attachment.
bicipital
Of or relating to the biceps; having two heads.
bicorpora
bicuspid
Having or terminating in two cusps, or points, as certain teeth.
A person's bicuspids are teeth with two points; located between the incisors and the molars.
bicycle
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