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Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
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View all levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
306 words
snowflake
B2
/ˈsnoʊ.fleɪk/
a small crystal or flake of snow, often with six-sided symmetry
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cornerstone
B2
/ˈkɔrnɝˌstoʊn/
The most important part of something, on which everything else depends.
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amethyst
B2
/ˈæm.ə.θɪst/
a transparent purple or violet variety of quartz used as a gemstone
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vocalist
B2
/ˈvoʊkəlɪst/
A singer, especially in a band or group.
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corona
B2
/kəˈɹoʊ.nə/
The glowing outer layer of the Sun or another star, best seen during a total solar eclipse.
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voucher
B2
/ˈvaʊtʃɚ/
a printed or electronic token that can be exchanged for goods or services or used to obtain a discount
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pointer
B2
/ˈpɔɪn.təɹ/
Anything that points or is used for pointing.
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tightrope
B2
/ˈtaɪtˌɹoʊp/
A tightly stretched rope or wire on which acrobats perform high above the ground.
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strait
B2
/stɹeɪt/
A narrow channel of sea connecting two larger areas of water.
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athletics
B2
/æθˈlɛtɪks/
Sports such as running, jumping, and throwing.
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outback
B2
/ˈaʊtbæk/
The remote, dry inland regions of Australia, far from towns and cities.
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beehive
B2
/ˈbiːhaɪv/
a structure or container in which a colony of bees lives
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anklet
B2
/ˈæŋ.klət/
an ornamental band or chain worn around the ankle
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paprika
B2
/pəˈpɹiːkə/
a red powdered spice made from dried sweet peppers or chili peppers
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bathhouse
B2
/ˈbæθˌhaʊs/
A building with baths that the public can use to wash or relax.
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flagpole
B2
/ˈflæɡˌpoʊl/
a tall pole from which a flag is flown
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foothold
B2
/ˈfʊthoʊld/
a secure initial position or basis from which further progress can be made
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cascade
B2
/kæsˈkeɪd/
A small waterfall, or a series of small waterfalls.
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fib
B2
/fɪb/
a small or relatively harmless lie
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priory
B2
/ˈpɹaɪəɹi/
a monastery or convent governed by a prior or prioress, or the buildings occupied by that community
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advent
B2
/ˈæd.vɛnt/
The arrival or beginning of something important, especially something new.
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stopwatch
B2
/ˈstɑːpˌwɑːtʃ/
A watch that can be started and stopped to measure exactly how long something takes.
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padlock
B2
/ˈpædˌlɑk/
a removable lock with a curved or sliding shackle that passes through a fastening
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bunting
B2
/ˈbʌntɪŋ/
coloured flags, cloth, or paper hung as festive decoration
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shale
B2
/ʃeɪl/
a fine-grained sedimentary rock formed by compacted clay, mud, or silt, typically laminated and able to split into thin layers
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sliver
B2
/ˈslɪv.ɚ/
A thin, narrow piece cut or broken off something.
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statesman
B2
/ˈsteɪtsmən/
A respected and experienced political leader.
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booklet
B2
/ˈbʊk.lət/
A small thin book, usually with a paper cover, that gives information.
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steppe
B2
/stɛp/
a vast, largely treeless grassland, especially the dry temperate plains of southeastern Europe and central Asia
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nostril
B2
/ˈnɑ.stɹəl/
Either of the two openings at the bottom of the nose, used for breathing and smelling.
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eyesore
B2
/ˈaɪsɔɹ/
a thing that is conspicuously ugly or unpleasant to look at
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toenail
B2
/ˈtəʊˌneɪl/
The hard covering at the end of a toe.
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eyelash
B2
/ˈaɪlæʃ/
One of the short curved hairs that grow on the edge of the eyelids.
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sandstone
B2
/ˈsændˌstoʊn/
A soft rock formed from pressed sand, often used in building.
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stockpile
B2
/ˈstɑkˌpaɪl/
A large supply of something kept for future use.
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leaflet
B2
/ˈliːflɪt/
A small printed sheet of paper that gives information or advertises something.
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colic
B2
/ˈkɑlɪk/
severe, often spasmodic pain in the abdomen, especially pain arising from the intestines
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nought
B2
/nʊt/
The number zero.
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downpour
B2
/ˈdaʊn.pɔːr/
a sudden or heavy fall of rain
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baritone
B2
/ˈbɛrəˌtoʊn/
the adult male singing voice between tenor and bass in range
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soloist
B2
/ˈsoʊˌloʊəst/
a musician who performs a solo
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conceit
B2
/kənˈsiːt/
too much pride in yourself and what you can do
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cornea
B2
/ˈkɔːrniə/
the transparent curved layer at the front of the eye that covers the iris and pupil and helps focus light
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tonne
B2
/tʌn/
A unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms.
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footnote
B2
/ˈfʊtˌnoʊt/
A short note at the bottom of a page that gives extra information or a source.
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impressionist
B2
/ˌɪmˈprɛʃənəst/
A painter who works in the Impressionist style.
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grime
B2
/ɡraɪm/
dirt, soot, or grease that is ingrained and difficult to remove
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wafer
B2
/ˈweɪfɚ/
a thin disk of unleavened bread used in the Eucharist or Communion
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honeycomb
B2
/ˈhʌniˌkoʊm/
a structure of hexagonal wax cells made by bees to hold honey, pollen, and developing young
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pallet
B2
/ˈpælɪt/
A flat wooden platform on which goods are stacked for storing or moving.
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icicle
B2
/ˈaɪsɪkəl/
a hanging, tapering piece of ice formed when dripping water freezes
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banister
B2
/ˈbænɪstɚ/
the handrail or complete railing beside a staircase or balcony
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paintbrush
B2
/ˈpeɪntˌbɹʌʃ/
A brush used for applying paint.
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naturalist
B2
/ˈnætʃɝələst/
a biologist knowledgeable about natural history (especially botany and zoology)
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fairway
B2
/ˈfɛɹweɪ/
golf: the closely mown strip between the tee and the putting green
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broadband
B2
/ˈbɹɔdbænd/
A high-speed connection to the internet.
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moonbeam
B2
/ˈmuːn.biːm/
a ray or shaft of light from the moon
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orator
B2
/ˈɑɹ.ə.tɚ/
A skilled and persuasive public speaker.
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sunbeam
B2
/ˈsʌnˌbiːm/
A narrow ray of sunlight, especially one you can see shining through an opening.
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apostrophe
B2
/əˈpɑs.tɹə.fi/
The punctuation mark ('), used to show missing letters or possession.
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lampshade
B2
/ˈlæmp.ʃeɪd/
a covering around a lamp that softens, reduces, or directs its light
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chlorophyll
B2
/ˈklɔɹ.ə.fɪl/
any of the green pigments that absorb light for photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria
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seashell
B2
/ˈsiːˌʃɛl/
the hard shell of a marine mollusk, especially an empty shell found on a shore
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bedpost
B2
/ˈbɛdˌpoʊst/
one of the upright posts at the corners of a bedstead
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dustpan
B2
/ˈdʌstˌpæn/
a flat, shallow container with a handle into which dirt is swept
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guideline
B2
/ˈɡaɪdˌlaɪn/
A general rule or piece of advice that tells you how something should be done.
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workbench
B2
/ˈwɝk.bɛnt͡ʃ/
A strong table used for doing manual work, such as by a carpenter or mechanic.
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subculture
B2
/ˈsʌbˌkʌltʃɚ/
A group within a society whose customs, tastes, or beliefs differ from the main culture.
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misprint
B2
/ˈmɪspɹɪnt/
an accidental error in printed or published text
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handrail
B2
/ˈhændˌɹeɪl/
A rail along a staircase, ramp, or path that you hold for support.
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peerage
B2
/ˈpɪr.ɪdʒ/
the rank, title, or dignity of a British peer
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postscript
B2
/ˈpoʊstˌskrɪpt/
a note added to a letter after the signature, usually introduced by P.S.
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pincushion
B2
/ˈpɪnˌkʊʃ(ə)n/
a small stuffed or magnetic holder in which sewing pins and needles are kept
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instep
B2
/ˈɪnˌstɛp/
the arched upper part of the foot between the toes and the ankle
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ecologist
B2
/iːˈkɒləd͡ʒɪst/
A scientist who studies the relationships between living things and their environment.
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stonework
B2
The parts of a building made of stone.
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drapery
B2
/ˈdɹeɪpəɹi/
Long, heavy cloth hung in folds, especially as a curtain.
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armful
B2
/ˈɑɹmˌfəl/
The amount that you can hold in one or both arms.
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keystroke
B2
/ˈkiːˌstroʊk/
A single press of a key on a keyboard.
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semicolon
B2
/ˈsɛmikoʊlən/
The punctuation mark ( ; ), used to link two related sentences or to separate items in a complex list.
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misbehavior
B2
/ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪvjɚ/
behavior that is improper, unacceptable, or contrary to rules
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shuttlecock
B2
/ˈʃʌtəlˌkɑk/
the lightweight, cone-shaped object with a rounded cork or rubber base that players hit in badminton
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speeder
B2
/ˈspiːdɝ/
A driver who goes faster than the legal speed limit.
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handicraft
B2
/ˈhændɪkɹæft/
The skill of making things by hand, such as pottery or weaving.
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woodpile
B2
/ˈwʊdˌpaɪl/
a stack of cut wood, especially wood kept for fuel
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earthenware
B2
/ˈɝːθənˌwɛr/
a relatively porous ceramic made from clay fired at a lower temperature than stoneware or porcelain
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predictor
B2
/pɹɪˈdɪk.tɚ/
Something that helps you know or guess what is likely to happen.
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rafter
B2
/ˈɹæftəɹ/
One of the sloping wooden beams that support a roof.
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bleacher
B2
/ˈbliːtʃɚ/
usually plural: a raised structure with rows of simple seats for spectators
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wineglass
B2
/ˈwaɪnˌɡlæs/
a drinking glass, typically with a bowl, stem, and foot, designed for serving wine
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inset
B2
/ˈɪnˌsɛt/
a small picture, map, panel, or passage placed within a larger one
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outbuilding
B2
/ˈaʊtˌbɪldɪŋ/
a smaller building, such as a shed, barn, or garage, that is separate from but associated with a main building
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microscopy
B2
/maɪˈkɹɑ.skə.pi/
The use of microscopes to study very small objects.
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boxful
B2
/ˈbɑksˌfʊl/
the amount that a box can contain
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overtone
B2
/ˈoʊvɚˌtoʊn/
a musical or acoustic tone sounding above a fundamental tone as part of a complex sound
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subgroup
B2
/ˈsʌbˌɡɹuːp/
(mathematics) a subset (that is not empty) of a mathematical group
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