General Vocabulary

High-utility words that do not belong cleanly to a narrower subject.

284 words

# General Vocabulary

**Type:** Topic
**Words:** 284

## About
High-utility words that do not belong cleanly to a narrower subject.

## Words by Level

### A1
- Mr. - A title used before a man's name or surname.
- have to
- 'm
- Miss
- 're
- 's

### A2
- swimming costume

### B1
- dustbin - A container for rubbish, kept until it is collected (British English).
- navy blue
- mixture - A combination of different things mixed together.
- disk - A flat, thin, round object or shape.

### B2
- replica - An exact copy of something, especially of a famous object.
- setback - A problem or event that delays progress or makes things worse.
- silverware - Knives, forks, and spoons used for eating.
- paintbrush - A brush used for applying paint.
- stanza - A group of lines in a poem, like a paragraph in writing.
- glacis - A gentle, gradual slope.
- de facto
- debit card
- global warming
- point of view
- well-organized
- madhouse - an extremely noisy, confused, or chaotic place or situation
- mix-up - a mistake or confused situation caused by taking one person or thing for another
- footprint - a mark or impression left by a foot or shoe

### C1
- bliss - Perfect or complete happiness.
- inertia - a disposition to remain inactive or inert
- drawback - A disadvantage or negative feature of something.
- rudiments - The basic facts or principles of a subject.
- apt to
- pertain to
- unscathing
- turn to
- reappearance - the act of someone appearing again or an event happening again
- godsend - a person or thing that arrives unexpectedly and provides urgently needed help or good fortune
- laugher - a person who laughs, especially one with a characteristic or frequent laugh
- depository - a place, building, or institution where things are deposited for storage, safekeeping, or preservation
- tidbit - a small and especially tasty piece of food
- outpouring - a large flow

### C2
- charisma - a personal attractiveness or interestingness that enables you to influence others
- armageddon - the end of the world
- hindsight - Understanding of an event only after it has already happened.
- smudge - a blemish made by dirt
- crutch - anything that serves as an expedient
- salvo - a sudden outburst of cheers
- inkling - a slight suggestion or vague understanding
- libido - a Freudian term for sexual urge or desire
- rummage - a thorough search for something, often causing disorder or confusion
- voyeur - a viewer who enjoys seeing the sex acts or sex organs of others
- zealot - a fervent and even militant proponent of something
- scion - a descendent or heir
- bravura - brilliant and showy technical skill
- joist - beam used to support floors or roofs
- glory in
- bona fide
- dole out
- flatout
- ad lib
- eke out
- cigar - a roll of tobacco leaves made to be smoked
- reinterpretation - a new or different interpretation
- starlight - Light emitted from stars.
- hullo - an expression of greeting
- dem - Clipping of Democrat.
- inconveniency - inconvenience; the quality or fact of causing difficulty or trouble
- jag - a sharp projection or rough point on an edge or surface
- filth - disgusting dirt, refuse, or other foul matter
- smut - sexually explicit or obscene writing, images, or other material, especially when regarded as having little artistic value
- paraphernalia - a collection of miscellaneous equipment or objects used for a particular activity
- trove - a valuable or interesting collection of things, especially one that has been discovered
- appurtenance - an accessory, subordinate part, or piece of equipment belonging to something more important
- cigarillo - a small, narrow cigar, usually only somewhat larger than a cigarette and wrapped in tobacco leaf or tobacco-based material rather than ordinary paper
- rencontre - literary or archaic: a chance or unexpected meeting or encounter
- miscellany - a varied collection or mixture of different kinds of things
- dottle - the partly burned or unburned plug of tobacco left in the bowl of a pipe
- cheroot - a short, narrow cigar with both ends cut flat
- goer - One who, or that which, goes.
- calyx - (botany) the whorl of sepals of a flower collectively forming the outer floral envelope or layer of the perianth enclosing and supporting the developing bud
- hotchpotch - a confused or miscellaneous mixture of different things
- lasciviousness - feeling morbid sexual desire or a propensity to lewdness
- libidinous - driven by lust
- limn - to depict, describe, or delineate clearly in words or images
- loch - in Scotland, a lake or a narrow arm of the sea
- milkmaid - a woman who works in a dairy
- nib - the pointed part of a pen that contacts the writing surface and delivers ink
- penetralia - the innermost parts
- postprandial - following a meal, especially dinner
- promptitude - the characteristic of doing things without delay
- throwback - a reappearance of an ancestral trait or a person or thing resembling an earlier type
- unsaved - not preserved, rescued, or protected from loss or destruction

### C2+
- ruth - compassion or pity for another's suffering (archaic)
- apex - the highest point or culmination of something
- carrion - the decaying flesh of dead animals
- kismet - destiny or fate
- beau - a woman's male admirer or boyfriend; a dandy
- crux - the decisive or most important point at issue
- dusk - the darker stage of twilight before night
- pastime - an activity done regularly for enjoyment
- bloke - (British informal) a man; a fellow
- chap - (British informal) a man or boy; a fellow
- throe - a sharp pang or spasm, especially in struggle or agony
- acme - the highest point of achievement or perfection
- changeling - a child secretly substituted for another in folklore, esp. by fairies
- dame - a woman of rank or, in British usage, a titled honorific equal to a knight
- despect - contempt or disregard (archaic)
- ellipsis - the omission of words, or the mark (…) indicating such omission
- feck - vigor or effectiveness; worth (Scots and Irish dialect)
- hiatus - a pause or gap in a sequence, series, or activity
- interpunct - a centered dot (·) used to separate words or mark a division
- lingo - the specialized vocabulary or jargon of a particular group
- paragon - a model of excellence or perfection
- amplitude - the extent or magnitude of something; the range of a wave
- applesauce - a purée of stewed apples; slang for nonsense
- benj - dialectal name for henbane or, in slang, marijuana used as an intoxicant
- brat - a badly behaved or spoiled child
- cockscomb - the crest of a rooster; a jester's cap; a vain conceited man
- dayspring - literary or archaic term for dawn or daybreak
- lemma - a subsidiary proposition proved as a step toward a theorem; a headword
- ado - fuss, trouble, or commotion over something trivial
- aphrodisia - sexual desire or arousal
- apocalypse - a catastrophic event; a revelation of the end of the world
- bairn - a child (chiefly Scottish and northern English)
- camelopard - an archaic name for the giraffe
- cantrip - a magic spell or mischievous trick
- compendium - a concise but comprehensive summary of a subject
- continuum - a continuous sequence with no sharp divisions
- crossroad - a point where roads intersect; a critical turning point
- curlicue - a fancy twist, curl, or flourish, as in writing
- finale - the closing section of a performance or event
- genesis - the origin or coming into being of something
- mage - a magician or learned practitioner of magic
- onset - the beginning or start of something, often unpleasant
- overview - a general summary or survey of a subject
- rep - an informal term for a representative, reputation, or a repetition
- shortcoming - a fault or failure to meet a standard; a defect
- zucchini - a green summer squash, also called a courgette
- adieu - goodbye; a farewell
- admixture - a mixture, or an additional ingredient mixed into something
- alco - (slang) an alcoholic or heavy drinker
- alehouse - a tavern or establishment where ale is sold and drunk
- antimodel - a negative example showing how something should not be done
- argot - the specialized slang or jargon of a particular group
- atlas - a bound collection of maps
- bah - an exclamation expressing contempt or dismissal
- battercake - a thin cake fried from batter; a pancake (dialectal)
- bayou - a slow-moving marshy creek or backwater, typical of the southern US
- bedlam - a scene of uproar and confusion
- bint - a woman or girl (British slang, often derogatory)
- bluejacket - an enlisted sailor in the navy
- bumbershoot - (US informal, dated) an umbrella
- cad - a man who behaves dishonorably, especially toward women
- certitude - absolute certainty or conviction
- coistril - a knave or base fellow; a groom or knight's attendant (archaic)
- composure - calm self-control, especially under stress
- conspectus - a general survey or summary of a subject
- cosmos - the universe regarded as an ordered, harmonious whole
- denture - a removable plate or frame holding artificial teeth
- dick - a detective (informal, dated slang)
- disinterest - lack of concern or interest; impartiality free from bias
- flapjack - a pancake, or a British oat-and-syrup bar
- grandeur - splendor and impressiveness; magnificence
- gumshoe - a detective, especially a private investigator
- hodgepodge - a confused or jumbled mixture of disparate things
- memorandum - a written note or record, especially in an organization
- merch - merchandise, especially branded products sold to fans
- milestone - a significant stage or event; a roadside marker of distance
- miscarriage - the loss of a pregnancy; a failure or mismanagement of something
- morn - morning (chiefly poetic or archaic)
- nectarine - a smooth-skinned variety of peach
- prof - an informal term for a professor
- setup - the way something is arranged or organized; an arrangement or scheme
- warlock - a man who practices witchcraft; a male sorcerer
- whim - a sudden, capricious desire or impulse
- wreckage - the remains of something that has been badly damaged or destroyed
- aa - basaltic lava with a rough, jagged, clinkery surface
- accoucheuse - a female midwife or woman who assists at childbirth
- adaptitude - aptitude or capacity for adapting; adaptability
- adzooks - an archaic exclamation of surprise or annoyance
- ague - a fever marked by recurring chills and shivering, often malarial
- alkali - a soluble base that neutralizes acids, turning litmus blue
- amanuensis - a literary or artistic assistant who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts
- anglewing - a butterfly with jagged, angular wing margins, of the genus Polygonia
- apophthegm - a terse, pointed saying; a pithy maxim
- arrowleaf - any of various plants having arrow-shaped leaves
- babushka - a headscarf tied under the chin, or an elderly Russian woman
- bakeboard - a board on which dough is kneaded or rolled out
- beambird - a dialectal name for the spotted flycatcher
- bim - dialectal or slang term for a woman, often derogatory; a bimbo
- bingle - Australian slang for a minor crash or collision, especially of vehicles
- blackcoat - archaic term for a clergyman, from the black clerical garb
- bookstall - a stall or stand where books and periodicals are sold
- bub - an informal, often condescending term of address for a man or boy
- cacodemon - an evil spirit or malevolent demon
- carbuncle - a painful cluster of boils; a red gem, especially a garnet
- carrytale - a gossip or tale-bearer who spreads rumors
- cartridge - a case holding a charge and bullet; a sealed replaceable container
- casing - a protective outer cover or shell enclosing something
- cask - a barrel-shaped wooden container for liquids
- chattel - an item of movable personal property
- cheerio - a chiefly British expression used as a farewell
- cig - an informal shortening of cigarette
- cole - any of various brassica plants such as cabbage, kale, or rape
- cologne - a lightly scented perfume made of alcohol and aromatic oils
- corsair - a pirate or privateer, especially of the Barbary Coast
- creatrix - a female creator or originator
- cuke - an informal shortening of cucumber
- dandiprat - an archaic term for an insignificant fellow or urchin
- defeature - defeat or undoing; disfigurement (archaic)
- definiendum - the term that is being defined in a definition
- definiens - the words or expression that define the definiendum
- diaphoresis - profuse perspiration, especially as induced medically
- dictatrix - a female dictator or absolute ruler
- dictum - a formal pronouncement or an authoritative saying
- disequilibrium - a loss or lack of balance or stability
- doddle - something accomplished very easily (British informal)
- downside - the negative aspect or drawback of something
- dragon - a mythical fire-breathing reptilian monster
- emmet - an ant (archaic or dialectal)
- ensign - a flag or standard, or a junior naval officer
- flapcake - a thin flat cake cooked on a griddle; a pancake
- footstall - the base or pedestal of a pillar; a woman's stirrup
- forechoice - a choice made beforehand; predetermination
- fount - a spring or source; a fountain
- fountainhead - the source of a stream; the original source of something
- frankincense - an aromatic gum resin burned as incense
- gadling - a vagabond or idle wanderer; a spike on a gauntlet
- gal - informal term for a girl or woman
- geek - an enthusiast obsessively devoted to a niche interest
- genitalia - the external organs of reproduction
- ghoul - an evil spirit said to rob graves and feed on corpses
- greenhorn - an inexperienced or naive newcomer
- heck - a mild exclamation of surprise, irritation, or emphasis
- hellcat - a spiteful, violent-tempered woman; a fury
- hidrosis - the secretion of sweat, especially in abnormal amounts
- hoodie - a hooded sweatshirt
- icebox - an insulated cabinet cooled by ice; an early or informal term for a refrigerator
- ineptitude - lack of skill or competence; clumsiness
- inflood - a flowing in; an influx or inundation
- inrush - a sudden rushing in or influx
- keeping - care, custody, or harmony with something
- laird - a Scottish landed proprietor or lord of an estate
- laughingstock - an object of general ridicule
- loo - (British informal) a toilet
- masseuse - a woman who provides massage professionally
- mon - a man or fellow, in dialectal or informal address
- naw - a casual or dialectal form of 'no'
- necessitude - necessity or distress; a close bond of obligation (archaic)
- negatron - an electron, especially as opposed to a positron (dated)
- nexus - a connection or link; a central or focal point
- nightfall - the onset of darkness; dusk
- nightie - a woman's or child's nightgown (informal)
- node - a point of connection, intersection, or swelling
- palpebra - an eyelid, in anatomical terminology
- pandemonium - wild and noisy disorder or confusion
- pismire - an ant (archaic or dialectal)
- platitude - a trite or overused remark presented as though it were original or profound
- pol - a politician (informal)
- quietus - something that ends or settles an affair; death or a final discharge
- reliquiae - remains or remnants, especially fossil remains or relics
- ruckus - a noisy disturbance or commotion
- rumpus - a noisy disturbance, uproar, or commotion
- sac - a pouch or bag-like cavity in an organism, often holding fluid
- showdown - a decisive confrontation meant to settle a dispute
- showing - a display, exhibition, or performance of something
- sobriquet - a nickname or familiar epithet
- specs - informal term for spectacles or for technical specifications
- sweetie - a term of endearment, or informally a piece of candy
- tadpole - the aquatic larval stage of a frog or toad
- tosh - British informal term for nonsense or rubbish
- treacle - British term for molasses; cloying sentimentality
- trike - an informal name for a tricycle
- trottoir - a pavement or sidewalk
- tue - a tuyere, the nozzle through which air is forced into a furnace
- umbrage - offense or annoyance, especially at a perceived slight
- upside - the positive or advantageous aspect of a situation
- venom - poisonous fluid secreted by some animals; bitter malice
- vibrato - a slight, rapid wavering of pitch in singing or instrumental playing
- vinculum - a bond or tie; a bar drawn over grouped mathematical terms
- welkin - the sky, the vault of heaven, or the upper air
- witchcraft - the practice of magic, especially involving spells and supernatural powers
- woolgathering - absent-minded daydreaming or aimless musing
- knobble - a small knob
- teddy bear - a soft toy made in the shape of a bear
- copestone - the final or crowning element that completes something

A1 (6)

A2 (1) Pro

B1 (4) Pro

B2 (14) Pro

C1 (14) Pro

C2 (51) Pro

C2+ (194) Pro

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