Tools, Machines & Construction

Tools, machines, building, repairs, and engineered structures.

328 words

# Tools, Machines & Construction

**Type:** Topic
**Words:** 328

## About
Tools, machines, building, repairs, and engineered structures.

## Words by Level

### A1
- saw - To cut something using a saw.
- start - To begin doing something.
- cut - A reduction in the amount, number, or size of something.
- plan - A set of decisions about what you are going to do and how to do it.
- building - A structure with a roof and walls, such as a house or office
- wall - A solid upright structure that forms a side of a room or building, or divides one space from another.
- machine - A device with moving parts that uses power to do a particular job.
- build - To make something by joining materials and parts together

### A2
- kill - To make a person, animal, or plant die.
- knife - A tool with a sharp blade and a handle, used for cutting.
- bridge - A structure built over a river, road, or gap so that people can cross it.
- factory - A building where goods are made, usually using machines.
- tower - A tall, narrow structure, either standing alone or part of a building.
- wheel - A round object that turns on its centre, used to move a vehicle or machine.
- engineer - A person whose job is to design, build, or maintain machines, structures, or systems.
- tool - A device you hold and use to do a particular job.
- dead - No longer alive.
- control - The power to direct, manage, or make decisions about something.
- screw - A small metal pin with a spiral thread, turned to fasten things together.
- roof - The covering on top of a building that protects it from rain and weather.
- castle - A large strong building with thick walls, built in the past to defend against attack.
- elevator - A machine that carries people or goods up and down between the floors of a building.
- tune - A series of musical notes that make a pleasant pattern; a melody.
- frame - A border that surrounds and holds a picture, photo, or mirror.
- remote - Far away from towns, people, or other places; isolated.
- structure - The way the parts of something are arranged or organised.
- instrument - An object used to make music, such as a piano or guitar.
- brake - A device that slows down or stops a wheel or vehicle.
- architecture - The art and practice of designing buildings.
- washing machine
- engine - A machine that turns fuel or power into movement, used to drive vehicles and other machines.
- sewer - an underground pipe or channel that carries away sewage or surface water, or a system of such pipes and channels

### B1
- horn - A hard pointed growth on the head of some animals, such as cows or goats.
- switch - A small device you press or move to turn electricity or a machine on and off.
- governor - The person in charge of running a state or region, especially in the United States.
- equipment - The tools, machines, or items needed for a particular activity.
- device - A piece of equipment made for a particular purpose, especially an electronic or mechanical one.
- construction - The act or process of building something.
- nail - The hard, thin covering at the end of a finger or toe.
- hammer - A tool with a heavy metal head and a handle, used for hitting nails.
- facility - A building or place provided for a particular purpose or service.
- motor - A machine that uses electricity or fuel to produce movement and power something.
- foundation - The solid structure built underground that supports a building.
- needle - A thin, pointed metal tool used for sewing, with a hole at one end for thread.
- motorcycle - A two-wheeled vehicle with an engine and handlebars instead of a steering wheel.
- engineering - The work of using science and maths to design and build machines, structures, and systems.
- plug - The object with metal pins at the end of an electrical wire that you put into a socket.
- maintenance - The work of keeping a machine, building, or system in good condition.
- mechanical - Operated by or relating to machines or tools.
- monument - A structure built to remember a person or event.
- heater - A machine that produces heat to warm a room, building, or water.
- attachment - A file sent together with an email or message.
- loudspeaker - A device that turns an electrical signal into sound loud enough to be heard at a distance.
- skyscraper - A very tall building with many floors.
- photocopy - A copy of a document made by a special machine.
- remote control
- planning - The act of deciding in advance how something will be done.
- tape-measure - a flexible strip marked for measuring length
- burner - a device or part of a device in which fuel burns to produce heat
- pulley - a grooved wheel over which a rope, belt, or chain runs, used to change the direction of a force or help lift a load
- tester - a device or instrument used to test the quality, operation, or properties of something
- binoculars - an optical instrument designed for simultaneous use by both eyes

### B2
- super - Excellent; very good.
- gear - The equipment, clothing, or tools needed for a particular activity.
- blade - The flat, sharp cutting part of a knife, sword, or tool.
- beam - A long, thick piece of wood or metal used to support a building or structure.
- operator - A person who controls a machine or piece of equipment.
- mill - A building or factory where grain is crushed into flour, or where materials like cloth or paper are made.
- superintendent - A person who is in charge of supervising, directing, or managing something.
- jaw - The lower part of the face that holds the teeth and moves when you talk or eat.
- foreman - A person in charge of a group of workers, especially in a factory or on a building site.
- probe - A careful investigation into something, especially something wrong.
- plumber - A person whose job is to fit and repair water pipes, taps, and similar equipment.
- chimney - A vertical pipe or structure that carries smoke from a fire up and out of a building.
- output - The amount of something produced by a person, machine, or factory.
- implement - To put a plan, decision, or system into action.
- installation - The act of putting a piece of equipment or software in place so it is ready to use.
- distributor - A company or person that supplies goods to shops and customers.
- erect - Standing straight up; upright.
- demolish - To knock down or completely destroy a building or structure.
- framework - A basic set of ideas or rules used to plan or decide something.
- lever - a rigid bar that turns around a fixed point and is used to lift or move something
- precut - cut to shape or size before being sold, assembled, or used
- sealer - a liquid or coating applied to make a surface resistant to air, water, stains, or damage
- socket - a hollow or receptacle into which a matching part fits
- thimble - a small hard cap worn over a fingertip to protect it and push a needle while sewing
- drainage - the process of removing excess liquid or allowing it to flow away
- crane - a tall machine with a projecting arm, used to lift and move heavy objects
- tripod - a three-legged stand or support for a camera, instrument, vessel, or other object
- trough - a long, narrow, open container used for food, water, mixing, or holding materials
- woodwork - the wooden parts or fittings of a building, such as doors, frames, and trim
- screwdriver - a hand or power tool shaped to engage a screw head so that the screw can be tightened or loosened
- stilt - one of a pair of tall poles with raised footrests that allow a person to walk high above the ground
- slicer - a knife, utensil, or machine designed to cut food or other material into slices
- finder - a person who finds or discovers someone or something
- crowbar - a strong iron or steel bar, often flattened or curved at one end, used as a lever to force things apart
- roller - a cylindrical object or part that turns, especially one used to move, flatten, press, or apply something
- tongs - a tool with two joined arms used to grip, lift, or hold objects without touching them directly
- mallet - a hammer with a large head, usually made of wood, rubber, or another relatively soft material
- reflector - a surface or device that sends light, heat, sound, or other radiation back
- hose - a long flexible tube used to carry water, gas, or another fluid
- piston - a solid disk or cylinder that moves tightly inside a larger cylinder to transmit pressure or drive a machine
- dispenser - a device or container that releases a substance or item in measured amounts
- embankment - a long raised bank of earth, stone, or other material built to hold back water or support a road or railway
- wheelbarrow - a small cart with one wheel at the front and two handles, pushed by a person to carry loads
- nutcracker - a tool with two hinged arms or another lever mechanism used to crack nutshells
- weld - to join pieces of metal or plastic permanently by heat, pressure, or both
- auger - a tool with a helical cutting bit used for boring holes in wood, soil, ice, or another material
- cleaver - a heavy knife with a broad, usually rectangular blade, used especially for chopping meat and bones
- pincushion - a small stuffed or magnetic holder in which sewing pins and needles are kept
- manhole - a covered opening in a street or other surface through which a worker can enter a sewer, drain, or underground utility space
- cutter - a tool or machine used for cutting a particular material
- divider - a partition, barrier, or other object that separates one area or group from another
- hopper - a funnel-shaped container through which loose material is stored or fed into a machine
- flagpole - a tall pole from which a flag is flown
- compressor - a mechanical device that compresses gases
- catapult - a device or ancient engine that launches a projectile with force

### C1
- mechanism - A part of a machine or a set of moving parts that does a particular job.
- gadget - A small, often clever device or tool that does a particular job.
- timber - Wood prepared for building or making things.
- demolition - The act of deliberately destroying a building or other structure
- apparatus - A complex machine or set of equipment built for a particular job.
- acoustic - (of a musical instrument) producing sound naturally, without electrical amplification.
- architectural - Relating to the design and construction of buildings.
- appliance - A machine or device used in the home, such as a fridge or washing machine.
- temperamental - Having moods that change suddenly and unpredictably.
- sheath - a protective covering for a knife or sword
- fixture - A piece of equipment fixed in place in a building, such as a sink or light, that is sold with the house.
- accumulation - The process of gradually gathering or building up over time.
- structurally - In a way that relates to the way something is built or put together.
- ventilate - To let fresh air move through a room or building.
- stud - a small projecting fastener or ornament, usually made of metal
- lasso - a long rope with a sliding loop used especially to catch cattle or horses
- wedge - a tapered piece used for splitting, tightening, lifting, or securing something
- ratchet - a toothed wheel or bar with a pawl that permits motion in one direction while preventing motion in the other
- moat - a deep, wide defensive ditch, often filled with water, around a castle or fortified place
- penknife - a small folding pocketknife
- pavilion - a light, often open-sided roofed structure used for shelter or recreation in a park, garden, or public place
- vise - a tool with two jaws that close to hold an object firmly while it is being worked on
- nozzle - a projecting tube or spout that directs or controls a stream of liquid, gas, or other material
- jimmy - a short crowbar used for forcing open a door, window, or lock
- aqueduct - an artificial channel or conduit built to carry water from one place to another
- anvil - a heavy iron or steel block on which metal is shaped by hammering
- flagstaff - a pole or staff from which a flag is flown
- trowel - a mason's hand tool with a flat metal blade, used to spread and shape mortar or plaster
- pommel - the raised front part of a saddle, used as a handhold
- manger - an open box or trough in a stable from which horses, cattle, or other animals feed
- spool - a cylinder or spindle around which thread, wire, film, or another flexible material is wound
- trellis - a framework or lattice of wood, metal, or another material used to support climbing plants
- double-barreled - having two barrels, especially a gun with two barrels mounted side by side or one above the other
- digester - a sealed vessel in which plant, animal, or other material is broken down by heat, pressure, chemicals, or enzymes
- silencer - British: a device in a vehicle exhaust system that reduces engine noise
- stucco - a durable plaster-like material used to coat or decorate walls, ceilings, and exterior surfaces
- trestle - a frame with a horizontal bar supported by spreading legs, used alone or in pairs to hold a tabletop, planks, or another work surface

### C2
- armory - A building where weapons and military equipment are stored.
- contraption - A strange or overly complicated machine or device.
- turret - A small tower on a building or castle, often at a corner.
- spire - A tall, pointed structure on top of a tower or church roof.
- brazier - large metal container in which coal or charcoal is burned
- barrow - a small handcart used for carrying loads
- pickaxe - a heavy tool with a long handle and a pointed metal head, used for breaking hard ground or rock
- spade - a digging tool with a flat blade and a handle
- machete - a large heavy knife used for cutting vegetation or as a weapon
- pinion - the smaller of two meshing gears, or a small gear that engages with a rack
- trench - a long, narrow ditch dug in the ground
- actuate - engineering: to cause a machine or mechanism to operate or move
- bolas - a throwing weapon of connected cords and weights that entangles an animal's legs
- pneumatic - operated by compressed air or another gas
- brickwork - bricks set in mortar as part of a wall or building; masonry made from bricks
- repeller - a person, substance, device, or force that repels something or drives it away
- bowie - a Bowie knife: a large, heavy, single-edged sheath knife with a clipped point
- embrasure - the inward-splayed recess around a door or window opening in a thick wall
- flange - a projecting rim, rib, or collar on a pipe, wheel, beam, or other component, used for strength, guidance, or attachment
- jamb - either vertical side of a doorway, window, fireplace, or other opening in a wall
- handspike - a stout bar used as a lever, especially by sailors to turn a capstan or windlass
- stanchion - an upright post, pole, or bar used to support a structure or form part of a barrier
- mattock - a heavy digging tool with a horizontal blade, often paired with a pick or axe blade on the other end
- capstan - a vertical revolving cylinder used to wind a rope or cable and exert heavy pulling force, especially aboard a ship
- belvedere - a raised room, turret, pavilion, or other structure designed to command a fine view
- ligature - a cord, band, or other fastening used to bind things together
- axle - a shaft or pin on which a wheel or other rotating part turns
- ironmongery - tools, metal fittings, and other hardware sold for use in homes, gardens, or buildings
- siphon - a bent tube used to move liquid from a higher container to a lower one through continuous flow
- sidelight - a small light fitted at the side of a vehicle or the red or green navigation light on a vessel
- carboy - a large rigid bottle, traditionally glass, used for storing or transporting liquids such as acids or fermenting drinks
- millstone - one of a pair of large circular stones used for grinding grain
- piggin - a small wooden pail or scoop made with one stave extending upward to form a handle
- stave - one of the narrow strips of wood or metal fitted edge to edge to form a barrel or similar structure
- sieve - a utensil with a mesh or perforated bottom used to separate fine particles from coarse ones
- parti - the central concept or organizing scheme of an architectural design, often expressed in a simple diagram
- nailhead - the flattened or enlarged end of a nail opposite its point, designed to receive the blow of a hammer
- superstructure - a structure, system, or set of ideas built upon an underlying foundation or basis
- hoop - a rigid circular or curved band of metal, wood, or another material, used for holding, fastening, hanging, or forming a framework
- harpoon - a heavy spear with a barbed head, usually attached to a line, thrown or fired to catch whales and other large aquatic animals
- blowtorch - a portable burner that produces a very hot, concentrated flame by mixing fuel gas with air or oxygen
- sluice - an artificial channel or gate that controls a rapid flow of water
- parer - a tool used to remove a thin outer layer from fruit, vegetables, or another object
- cupola - a small dome or domed structure built on top of a roof
- millrace - a channel that carries a current of water to or away from a waterwheel
- metalwork - objects, fittings, or structural parts made of metal
- flagstone - a broad, flat slab of stone used for paving paths, floors, or roofs
- sickle - a short-handled agricultural tool with a curved blade, used for cutting grain or grass
- toothing - bricks or stones left projecting alternately at the end of a wall so that a later extension can be bonded to it
- stone crusher - a machine that breaks stone or rock into smaller pieces, especially for road building, concrete, quarrying, or ore processing
- workbag - a bag used to hold tools or materials needed for work, especially sewing, knitting, or other needlework
- paper cutter - a machine or device for cutting or trimming sheets of paper to a required size, often with a long hinged blade
- collet - a slotted, tapered sleeve that closes around a tool or workpiece to hold it firmly in a machine
- jackknife - a large pocketknife whose blade folds into the handle
- weir - a low dam built across a stream or river to raise the water level, regulate it, or divert its flow
- gargoyle - a grotesquely carved waterspout that carries rainwater away from a building
- aneroid - operating without liquid, especially by using air pressure on a flexible metal chamber
- earthwork - a structure made from piled or shaped earth, especially an embankment or defensive rampart
- postern - a back, side, or private entrance, especially a small gate in a fortification
- watchtower - a tower from which a lookout watches for danger, fire, escape, or approaching people
- bootjack - a forked device that holds the heel of a boot so the wearer can pull the foot out
- cornice - a horizontal moulded projection that crowns a building, wall, or classical entablature
- helve - the handle or haft of a tool or weapon, especially an axe or hammer
- dado - the lower part of an interior wall when it is decorated or finished differently from the area above it
- linchpin - a person or thing essential to the stability or success of a system or plan
- sawpit - a pit over which timber was laid so two workers could saw it lengthwise, one standing above and one below
- sledgehammer - a large, heavy hammer with a long handle, used for powerful blows in demolition or construction
- abutment - a solid structure that supports the end or resists the outward thrust of a bridge, arch, dam, or similar construction
- breakwater - a barrier built offshore or at a harbor entrance to reduce the force of waves and protect the water or coast behind it
- truss - a rigid framework of connected beams that supports a roof, bridge, or other structure
- ferrule - a metal or other strong ring, cap, or sleeve fitted around a shaft to strengthen it or prevent splitting
- smithy - a workshop where a smith heats, shapes, and repairs metal; a forge
- dredge - to remove mud, sand, or other material from the bottom of a body of water with a dredge
- grater - a kitchen tool with a rough or perforated cutting surface used to shred food into small pieces
- culvert - a covered channel or pipe that carries water beneath a road, railway, or embankment
- rockwork - ornamental or structural work made from arranged rocks, especially in a garden
- hasp - a hinged metal strap that fits over a staple and is secured by a pin or padlock
- backboard - a rigid board used to support or straighten a person's back, historically as a posture-training device
- bevel - a sloping edge or surface cut at an angle other than a right angle
- embank - to confine, support, or protect land or water by constructing a raised bank of earth or stone
- mullion - a slender upright bar that divides adjacent panes or sections of a window, door, or screen
- caulk - to fill and seal a seam, crack, or joint so that air or water cannot pass through
- corrugation - the process or state of forming a surface into parallel ridges and grooves
- clasp-knife - dated: a pocketknife whose blade folds into the handle
- waterworks - a system of reservoirs, treatment facilities, pumps, and pipes that supplies water to a community
- bodkin - a blunt, large-eyed needle used to pull cord or ribbon through a hem or casing
- mortise - a rectangular cavity cut in one piece of material to receive a matching tenon and form a joint
- derrick - a crane with a movable boom, especially one used aboard a ship or at a construction site
- purlin - a horizontal or longitudinal structural member in a roof that supports the rafters or roof covering
- scraper - a tool, blade, or implement used to remove material by scraping
- tenon - a projecting piece cut at the end of a length of wood and shaped to fit into a corresponding mortise to form a joint
- blowpipe - a narrow tube used to direct air or gas into a flame, concentrating its heat for chemical tests, metalwork, or mineral analysis
- puncheon - US historical: a split log or heavy slab smoothed on one face and used especially for flooring
- spinning-wheel - a hand- or foot-powered machine that twists fibers into thread or yarn
- spyglass - a small portable telescope, especially a collapsible refracting telescope used at sea
- whetstone - a flat stone or bonded abrasive used to sharpen the edge of a knife or tool
- rowel - the small wheel with projecting points at the end of a rider's spur
- clapboard - a long narrow siding board, usually thinner at one edge, laid horizontally so that each board overlaps the one below
- crupper - a strap or loop passing under a horse's tail to prevent a saddle or harness from sliding forward
- gimlet - a small hand tool with a screw-shaped point, used for boring holes in wood
- weatherboarding - a building's outer covering of long, usually overlapping boards designed to shed rain
- loggia - a roofed gallery or corridor that is open to the air on one or more sides, often along an upper story of a building
- palazzo - an imposing urban residence or public building in Italy, especially one of historical or architectural importance
- apse - a semicircular or polygonal recess in a building, especially the vaulted eastern end of a church behind the altar
- volute - a spiral scroll ornament, especially one forming a characteristic part of an Ionic column capital
- windlass - a machine with a horizontal or vertical rotating drum around which a rope or chain is wound to raise or haul heavy loads, especially a ship's anchor
- pedimented - architecture: furnished, crowned, or decorated with a pediment, or shaped like one
- stylobate - architecture: the uppermost step or platform of a classical building's stepped base, directly supporting its columns
- pilaster - a shallow rectangular column projecting from a wall, usually with a base and capital and often serving a decorative architectural role
- coign - archaic spelling of quoin: an external corner or projecting angle of a wall, especially one emphasized with contrasting masonry
- ashlar - a block of building stone cut or worked into a regular rectangular shape
- whipsaw - a long narrow saw, commonly worked by two people using a handle at each end
- colonnade - a row of regularly spaced columns supporting a roof or entablature
- excavator - a large powered machine with a boom and bucket, used for digging and moving earth
- knop - an ornamental knob or rounded swelling on a stem, post, vessel, or architectural feature
- baluster - a short upright post that supports the handrail of a staircase, balcony, or terrace
- frontage - the face or front of a building
- gallipot - A small, glazed earthenware jar once used by apothecaries for holding medicine and ointment
- gazebo - a small roofed building affording shade and rest
- megaphone - a cone-shaped acoustic device held to the mouth to intensify and direct the human voice
- condenser - an apparatus that converts vapor into liquid
- falsework - a temporary framework used in the building of bridges and arched structures in order to hold items in place until the structure is able to support itself.
- gasket - any mechanical seal that serves to fill the space between two objects, generally to prevent leakage between the two objects while under compression.
- gimbal - a device for suspending something, such as a ship's compass, so that it will remain level when its support is tipped.
- needlepoint - a sharp point resembling the tip of a needle
- periscope - an optical instrument that provides a view of an otherwise obstructed field
- seismograph - an instrument that automatically detects and records the intensity, direction and duration of earthquakes and similar events.
- strop - sharpen on a strop
- penholder - a handle into which a detachable pen nib is fitted
- campanile - a bell tower, especially a freestanding Italian bell tower beside a church or public building
- triglyph - architecture: a tablet with three vertical grooves in a Doric frieze

### C2+
- chopper - a helicopter, or a tool for chopping
- reconstruct - to build again or to piece together how something happened
- crystalline - having the structure or clarity of crystal; transparent
- sturdy - strongly and solidly built; robust
- barrack - a building housing soldiers; also to jeer or to shout support
- intricate - very complicated or detailed in structure or arrangement
- schematic - represented in a simplified diagram showing structure or workings
- shack - a roughly built hut or cabin
- inbuilt - existing as an integral, built-in part of something
- rig - to manipulate dishonestly, or to assemble equipment and apparatus
- underframework - an underlying supporting framework or structure
- violoncello - the full formal name for the cello, a bowed string instrument
- archway - a curved structure forming a passage or entrance beneath an arch
- castellate - to furnish with battlements or build like a castle
- dome - a rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure
- dovecot - a structure for housing pigeons or doves
- foursquare - firm and resolute; squarely; solidly built
- glasshouse - a building with glass walls and roof for growing plants; a greenhouse
- joiner - a craftsman who constructs the wooden fittings of a building
- masonry - stonework or brickwork; the craft of building with such materials
- mechanistic - explaining phenomena by physical causes alone, like a machine
- morphologic - relating to the form and structure of organisms or words
- portico - a roofed structure supported by columns at the entrance of a building
- quoin - an external corner of a building, or a wedge used to lock type
- storehouse - a building or repository where goods are stored
- swingle - a wooden tool for beating flax to separate the fibre from the woody stem
- underbuilding - a structure forming a foundation or substructure beneath another
- viola - a stringed instrument slightly larger and lower-pitched than the violin
- rivet - a metal pin fastened by hammering one end flat
- turnscrew - a screwdriver or similar device for turning screws; now chiefly dated
- jerry-builder - a builder who puts up cheap, poorly made buildings, often quickly and for speculative profit
- capacho - historical, Andean mining: a broad leather basket or backpack used to carry ore from a mine, especially on the back of an apir
- gasogene - historical: a Victorian device with two connected glass globes that generated carbon dioxide and dispensed carbonated water
- ash-hopper - historical: a large container in which water was passed through wood ashes to make lye
- bolthead - the enlarged head of a bolt, shaped to be turned or to hold the bolt in place
- dancette - architecture: a molding or group of moldings arranged in a zigzag or chevron pattern
- unroof - to remove or tear the roof from a building or other covered structure
- rat-trap - a trap designed to catch or kill rats, typically by snapping shut
- sawblade - the toothed cutting blade of a hand saw or powered sawing machine
- uncock - to lower or release the cock or hammer of a firearm from the firing position
- vomitorium - architecture: a passage or entrance through or behind tiers of seats in a theater, amphitheater, or stadium, designed to let crowds enter or leave rapidly
- thible - Northern English and Scots: a stick used for stirring porridge or other food
- machicolate - to furnish a wall, tower, or castle with machicolations for dropping objects on attackers

A1 (8)

A2 (24) Pro

B1 (30) Pro

B2 (55) Pro

C1 (37) Pro

C2 (131) Pro

C2+ (43) Pro

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