B

is the second letter, and the first consonant, in the English language. (See Principles of Pronunciation, § 62.) It is etymologically convertible with m, p, f, v, and w, letters representing sounds having a close organic affinity to its own; as in Welsh baban and maban, babe, Eng. beak and peak; bear and Lat. ferre, silver and Ger. silber, &c.

In Music, B is the nominal of the seventh tone in the model major scale (the scale of C major), or of the second tone in its relative minor scale (that of A minor). B♭ stands for B flat, the tone or half-step, or semitone lower than B.