Materials & Substances

hook B2

/hʊk/ A curved piece of metal or plastic used to hang, hold, or catch things. M S

cast B2

/kast/ To choose an actor for a role in a film or play. M S

punch B2

/pʌnt͡ʃ/ A hard hit with the fist. M S

seal B2

/siːl/ A sea animal with smooth fur and flippers that lives partly in water and partly on land. M S

jet B2

/ˈd͡ʒɛt/ A fast aircraft powered by jet engines instead of propellers. M S

badge B2

/bæd͡ʒ/ A small piece of metal, plastic, or cloth worn to show who you are, your rank, or that you belong to a group. M S

leak B2

/liːk/ A hole or crack that lets liquid or gas pass through by accident. M S

sack B2

/ˈsæk/ A large bag made of strong material like cloth or paper, used for carrying things. M S

ruby B2

/ˈɹuː.bi/ a deep red precious stone, a variety of corundum M S

shield B2

/ˈʃiːld/ A broad piece of metal, wood, or other material held in the hand to protect the body in battle. M S

beam B2

/biːm/ A long, thick piece of wood or metal used to support a building or structure. M S

acid B2

/ˈæsəd/ A chemical substance, often sour or corrosive, that reacts with bases and can dissolve metals. M S

concrete B2

/ˌkɑnˈkɹit/ a hard building material made by mixing cement, sand, and water M S

reed B2

/ɹiːd/ A tall, thin plant with a hollow stem that grows in or near water. M S

drain B2

/dɹeɪn/ A pipe or channel that carries away waste water or liquid. M S

draft B2

/ˈdræft/ An early version of a piece of writing that you may still change. M S

fluid B2

/ˈfluɪd/ A liquid; a substance that flows. M S

pad B2

/pæd/ A thick, soft piece of material used for protection, comfort, or to absorb liquid. M S

thread B2

/θɹɛd/ A thin strand of cotton, silk, or other material used for sewing. M S

fabric B2

/ˈfæb.ɹɪk/ Cloth or material made by weaving or knitting threads together. M S

lens B2

/lɛnz/ A curved piece of glass or plastic that focuses light, used in cameras, glasses, and microscopes. M S

mold B2

/moʊld/ To shape a soft material into a particular form. M S

discharge B2

/dɪsˈtʃɑːdʒ/ To officially allow or order someone to leave, especially a hospital, the army, or a job. M S

pint B2

/paɪnt/ A unit for measuring liquid, equal to about half a litre. M S

mercury B2

/ˈmɜɹkjəɹi/ a heavy, silvery chemical element that is liquid at ordinary temperatures M S

soaked B2

/səʊkt/ Completely wet with water or another liquid. M S

extract B2

/ˈɛkstɹækt/ To remove or pull something out, often with effort or force. M S

salty B2

/sɔl.ti/ Tasting of salt. M S

cocoa B2

/ˈkoʊ.koʊ/ A hot drink made with milk or water, cocoa powder, and sugar. M S

dye B2

/daɪ/ To change the color of something, such as hair or cloth, using a colored liquid. M S

prospect B2

/ˈpɹɑspɛkt/ The chance or likelihood that something will happen, often something good. M S

ax B2

/æks/ A tool with a heavy metal blade on a handle, used for cutting wood. M S

clarify B2

/ˈklɛɹ.ɪ.faɪ/ To make something easier to understand by explaining it more clearly. M S

metallic B2

/ˈmɛʈælɪk/ made of, containing, or resembling metal M S

carve B2

/kɑɹv/ To make an object or shape by cutting away pieces of wood, stone, or other material. M S

screening B2

/ˈskɹiːnɪŋ/ The process of testing or checking people or things to find any with a particular feature or problem. M S

cardboard B2

/ˈkɑɹdˌbɔɹd/ A thick, stiff material like heavy paper, used to make boxes. M S

soaking B2

/ˈsoʊkɪŋ/ Extremely wet; completely wet through. M S

weave B2

/wiːv/ To make cloth or other material by crossing threads over and under each other. M S

pulp B2

/pʊlp/ a soft, wet, shapeless mass made by crushing or breaking down material M S

suspend B2

/səsˈpɛnd/ To stop something for a period of time before it continues again. M S

aluminum B2

/əˈlu.mɪ.nəm/ A light, silvery metal used to make cans, foil, and many other products. M S

gravel B2

/ˈɡɹævəl/ small loose stones, often used on paths, roads, or driveways M S

potassium B2

/pəˈtæs.i.əm/ the chemical element with symbol K and atomic number 19, a soft, silvery, highly reactive alkali metal that occurs naturally only in compounds M S

silicon B2

/ˈsɪl.ə.kən/ the chemical element with symbol Si and atomic number 14, a hard, brittle semiconductor abundant in rocks as silica and silicates and widely used in electronic devices M S

ammonia B2

/əˈmoʊn.jə/ A colourless gas made of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH₃) that has a strong, sharp smell. M S

pebble B2

/ˈpɛb.əl/ A small, smooth, round stone, especially one shaped by water. M S

cannonball B2

/ˈkænənˌbɔːl/ A heavy metal ball that was fired from a cannon in the past. M S

supplement B2

/ˈsʌp.lə.mənt/ Something added to make up for what is missing or to improve something. M S

refinery B2

/rɪˈfaɪnərɪ/ A factory where a raw substance such as oil, sugar, or metal is purified. M S

catalyst B2

/ˈkæt.ə.lɪst/ Something or someone that causes an important change or event to happen. M S

denim B2

/ˈdɛnəm/ A strong, heavy cotton fabric, usually blue, used to make jeans. M S

magnesium B2

/ˌmæɡˈnizi.əm/ the chemical element with atomic number 12, a light, silvery-white metal that burns with an intense white flame M S

amethyst B2

/ˈæm.ə.θɪst/ a transparent purple or violet variety of quartz used as a gemstone M S

thickness B2

/ˈθɪknəs/ How thick something is; the distance between its two opposite surfaces. M S

shale B2

/ʃeɪl/ a fine-grained sedimentary rock formed by compacted clay, mud, or silt, typically laminated and able to split into thin layers M S

sliver B2

/ˈslɪv.ɚ/ A thin, narrow piece cut or broken off something. M S

pigment B2

/ˈpɪɡmənt/ a substance that gives color to animal or plant tissue or to another material M S

grime B2

/ɡraɪm/ dirt, soot, or grease that is ingrained and difficult to remove M S

bookmark B2

/ˈbʊk.mɑː(ɹ)k/ A saved link to a website that lets you return to it quickly. M S

phosphate B2

/ˈfɑsfeɪt/ a salt or ester of phosphoric acid M S

manganese B2

/ˈmæŋɡəˌniːz/ the chemical element with atomic number 25, a hard gray metal used especially to strengthen steel and in batteries M S

droplet B2

/ˈdrɑːp.lət/ a very small drop of liquid, especially one suspended in a gas or deposited on a surface M S

earthenware B2

/ˈɝːθənˌwɛr/ a relatively porous ceramic made from clay fired at a lower temperature than stoneware or porcelain M S

wallboard B2

/ˈwɔlˌbɔrd/ Flat boards, often made with a plaster core and paper surface, used to cover walls and ceilings. M S

antistatic B2

Preventing the buildup of static electricity. M S

soot B2

/sʊt/ a black powdery or flaky substance produced by incomplete combustion of coal, wood, oil, etc. M S