This week on The Missing Workbook
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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.
154 words
drawback
C1
/ˈdɹɔˌbæk/
A disadvantage or negative feature of something.
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ammonium
C1
/əˈmoʊni.əm/
the ion NH4 derived from ammonia
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kiln
C1
/kɪln/
a furnace or heated chamber used to fire, bake, calcine, or dry materials such as pottery, bricks, lime, timber, or grain
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curvature
C1
/ˈkɜɹ.və.tʃəɹ/
The shape of something curved.
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linoleum
C1
/lɪˈnoʊ.li.əm/
a durable floor covering traditionally made from solidified linseed oil on a canvas or similar backing
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regalia
C1
/rɪˈɡeɪ.li.ə/
ceremonial emblems, ornaments, or objects that indicate royalty, office, or membership
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wayside
C1
/ˈweɪsaɪd/
The edge or side of a road or path.
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gnat
C1
/næt/
a very small two-winged fly, especially one that swarms or bites
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flagstaff
C1
/ˈflæɡˌstæf/
a pole or staff from which a flag is flown
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marionette
C1
/ˌmæɹiəˈnɛt/
a puppet moved from above by strings attached to its limbs
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graphite
C1
/ˈɡɹæfaɪt/
a soft, dark allotrope of carbon whose atoms form loosely stacked hexagonal layers, used in pencils, lubricants, electrodes, and some nuclear reactors
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penknife
C1
/ˈpɛnˌnaɪf/
a small folding pocketknife
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nape
C1
/neɪp/
The back part of the neck.
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benchmark
C1
/ˈbɛn(t)ʃmɑːk/
A standard or point of reference against which things can be measured or judged.
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diorama
C1
/ˌdaɪəˈrɑmə/
a three-dimensional model or display of a scene, often with figures arranged before a painted background
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upshot
C1
/ˈʌpʃɑt/
A concise summary.
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soc
C1
/soʊʃ/
A society (circle, club, interest group).
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sketchbook
C1
/ˈskɛt͡ʃˌbʊk/
A book of blank pages used for drawing sketches.
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hookah
C1
/ˈhuːkə/
a pipe in which smoke is drawn through water and then inhaled through a long flexible tube
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misadventure
C1
/ˌmɪsədˈvɛntʃɚ/
an unlucky accident or mishap, often caused without deliberate wrongdoing
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tassel
C1
/ˈtæsəl/
a decorative bunch of threads or cords tied together at one end and left hanging at the other
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constraint
C1
/kənˈstɹæɪnt/
Something that limits or restricts what you can do.
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rote
C1
/ɹoʊt/
memorization or learning through repetition, often without full understanding
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synopsis
C1
/sɪˈnɑpsɪs/
A short summary of the main points of a book, film, or other work.
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bier
C1
/bɪɚ/
a coffin along with its stand
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stencil
C1
/ˈstɛn.səl/
a thin sheet with letters, shapes, or a design cut from it, used to reproduce the pattern on another surface
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sunburst
C1
/ˈsʌnˌbɝst/
a sudden strong appearance or outburst of sunlight, especially through clouds
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follicle
C1
/ˈfɑlɪkəl/
A small cavity or sac, such as a hair follicle.
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quip
C1
/kwɪp/
A clever, witty remark.
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detritus
C1
/dɪˈtɹaɪ.təs/
Scattered waste, rubbish, or leftover fragments.
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afterglow
C1
/ˈæftərˌɡloʊ/
light or color remaining in the sky after the sun has set
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verve
C1
/vɝv/
Great energy, enthusiasm, and style, especially in art or performance.
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hobgoblin
C1
/ˈhɑːbˌɡɑːblɪn/
a small, grotesque supernatural creature in folklore, often mischievous or frightening
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copse
C1
/kɒps/
Any thicket of small trees or shrubs, coppiced or not.
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trestle
C1
/ˈtrɛs.əl/
a frame with a horizontal bar supported by spreading legs, used alone or in pairs to hold a tabletop, planks, or another work surface
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torchlight
C1
/ˈtɔːrtʃˌlaɪt/
light cast by a burning torch or, especially in British English, a handheld flashlight
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pommel
C1
/ˈpɑməl/
the raised front part of a saddle, used as a handhold
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quadrangle
C1
/ˈkwɑːdˌræŋɡəl/
a plane figure with four straight sides and four angles
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monograph
C1
/ˈmɑnəˌɡræf/
a detailed scholarly work devoted to one subject or a closely related group of subjects
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blotch
C1
/blɑtʃ/
an irregular patch or spot of color, staining, or discoloration
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snowshoe
C1
/ˈsnoʊˌʃuː/
a broad, lightweight frame or platform attached to the foot to distribute weight when walking over deep snow
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anticlimax
C1
/ˈæn.tiˌklaɪ.mæks/
a disappointing or unimportant ending after a buildup that created expectations of something exciting or impressive
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loess
C1
/ˈloʊ.əs/
a fine-grained unstratified accumulation of clay and silt deposited by the wind
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axolotl
C1
/ˈæk.səˌlɑː.təl/
a critically endangered Mexican salamander, Ambystoma mexicanum, that normally remains aquatic and retains larval features such as external gills as an adult
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unconcern
C1
/ˌʌnkənˈsɝn/
a lack of interest, care, or involvement; indifference
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leasehold
C1
/ˈliːsˌhoʊld/
a right or estate in land or property held for a fixed period under a lease
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subclass
C1
/ˈsʌbklæs/
a class derived from another class in object-oriented programming
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cockatrice
C1
/ˈkɒkətɹaɪs/
a legendary monster with features of a rooster and serpent, traditionally said to kill with its gaze
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tastebud
C1
/ˈteɪstbʌd/
One of the tiny organs on the tongue that let you taste flavours.
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contraband
C1
/ˈkɑntrəbænd/
goods that are imported or exported illegally
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inquest
C1
/ˈɪnkwɛst/
a judicial inquiry to ascertain the facts relating to an incident, such as a death
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insignia
C1
/ɪnˈsɪɡniə/
a badge or emblem of authority or honor
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lacquerware
C1
/ˈlækərˌwɛr/
decorative objects coated with lacquer for a glossy finish
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limpet
C1
/ˈlɪmpɪt/
a marine mollusk with a conical shell that clings tightly to rocks
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mire
C1
/ˈmaɪər/
a stretch of swampy or boggy ground
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pastiche
C1
/pæˈstiʃ/
an artistic work that imitates the style of another work, artist, or period
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rout
C1
/ɹaʊt/
a disorderly retreat of defeated troops
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vertebra
C1
/ˈvɜrtəbrə/
one of the bones that make up the spine
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