Designating or conforming to either of the scales used by the French chemist, Antoine Baume (1728-1804). One scale, which is used with liquids heavier than water, sinks to 0 degrees (B or Be, symbols for Baume) in pure water and to 15 degrees (B or Be) in a 15% salt solution. The other scale, for liquids lighter than water, sinks to 0 degrees (B or Be) in a 10% salt solution and to 10 degrees (B or Be) in pure water.