English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2) — 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.
Choose your level
View all levels
58 words
hank
C1
/hæŋk/
a coil, loop, or bundle of yarn, rope, hair, or other long flexible material
scum
C1
/skʌm/
a film of foam, dirt, impurities, or vegetation that forms on the surface of a liquid
rod
C1
/ɹɑd/
A long, thin, straight bar or stick of wood or metal.
magnetic
C1
/mæɡˈnɛt.ɪk/
Having the properties of a magnet, or able to attract metal such as iron.
grease
C1
/ɡɹis/
a thick oily or fatty substance, especially one used to lubricate machinery
flint
C1
/flɪnt/
a hard gray or black stone that can produce sparks when struck
plumbing
C1
/ˈplʌmɪŋ/
The pipes and fixtures that carry water, gas, or sewage in a building.
duct
C1
/dʌkt/
a bodily passage or tube lined with epithelial cells and conveying a secretion or other substance
synthetic
C1
/sɪnˈθɛtɪk/
Made artificially by chemical processes rather than coming from nature.
morocco
C1
/məˈrɑkoʊ/
a soft, durable leather, traditionally goatskin and often pebble-grained, used for fine bookbindings and luxury goods
pipeline
C1
/ˈpaɪpˌlaɪn/
A long pipe used to carry oil, gas, or water over a distance.
fatigue
C1
/fəˈtiːɡ/
A feeling of being very tired, usually after hard physical or mental effort
plaque
C1
/plak/
A flat piece of metal, stone, or wood with writing on it, fixed to a wall or monument to remember a person or event.
methane
C1
/ˈmɛθeɪn/
the simplest hydrocarbon, CH4, a colorless flammable gas that is the principal component of natural gas and a powerful greenhouse gas
porcelain
C1
/ˈpɔːrsəlɪn/
a hard, fine, usually white and translucent ceramic fired at a high temperature
wick
C1
/wɪk/
a cord or strip in a candle or lamp that draws fuel upward and burns at its tip
neutralize
C1
/ˈnutɹəˌlaɪz/
To stop something from having an effect by balancing it out.
wad
C1
/wɑːd/
a small, compact mass of soft material, such as cotton, paper, or cloth
nugget
C1
/ˈnʌɡ.ɪt/
a naturally occurring solid lump of a precious metal, especially gold
chlorine
C1
/ˈklɔːr.iːn/
the chemical element with atomic number 17, a toxic greenish-yellow halogen gas in its elemental form
asphalt
C1
/ˈæsfɑːlt/
a black, sticky form of bitumen found naturally or left after petroleum is refined
asbestos
C1
/æzˈbɛs.təs/
a commercial and legal name for a group of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals
chisel
C1
/ˈt͡ʃɪzəl/
A hand tool with a sharp flat blade, used for cutting or shaping wood, stone, or metal.
lithium
C1
/ˈlɪθ.i.əm/
the chemical element with symbol Li and atomic number 3, a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive alkali metal and the lightest metal
garnet
C1
/ˈɡɑːrnɪt/
any of a group of hard silicate minerals, commonly dark red and often cut as gemstones
starch
C1
/stɑɹtʃ/
a complex carbohydrate stored by plants and found abundantly in foods such as grain and potatoes
ebony
C1
/ˈɛbəni/
a dense, hard, usually very dark wood obtained from several tropical trees
resin
C1
/ˈɹɛzɪn/
A sticky substance produced by some trees and plants, used in varnishes, glues, and other products.
tinder
C1
/ˈtɪndɚ/
dry, easily combustible material used to start a fire
wicker
C1
/ˈwɪk.ɚ/
flexible twigs, cane, or similar plant material woven to make baskets, furniture, and other objects, or the woven work itself
varnish
C1
/ˈvɑɹnɪʃ/
a transparent liquid coating that dries to form a hard, protective, usually glossy surface
cobalt
C1
/ˈkoʊbɔlt/
the chemical element with atomic number 27, a hard silvery-blue metal used in alloys, batteries, magnets, and pigments
impervious
C1
/ɪmˈpɝ.vi.əs/
Not affected or influenced by something, such as criticism or emotion.
linoleum
C1
/lɪˈnoʊ.li.əm/
a durable floor covering traditionally made from solidified linseed oil on a canvas or similar backing
hydrochloric
C1
/ˌhaɪ.droʊˈklɔːr.ɪk/
of, relating to, or containing hydrochloric acid, the aqueous form of hydrogen chloride
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
acetone
C1
/ˈæs.ə.toʊn/
a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid that is the simplest ketone and is widely used as a solvent
chromium
C1
/ˈkroʊ.mi.əm/
the chemical element with atomic number 24 and symbol Cr, a hard, lustrous metal used especially in alloys and protective plating
gypsum
C1
/ˈdʒɪpsəm/
a soft white or colorless mineral consisting of hydrated calcium sulfate, widely used to make plaster, cement, and wallboard
cadmium
C1
/ˈkæd.mi.əm/
the soft, silvery-white, toxic chemical element with symbol Cd and atomic number 48
corrode
C1
/kəˈɹoʊd/
to destroy or be gradually destroyed by a chemical reaction, especially oxidation or acid
gingham
C1
/ˈɡɪŋ.əm/
a lightweight cotton fabric woven from dyed and white yarn, typically in checks
repellant
C1
A substance used to keep insects or animals away.
earthen
C1
/ˈɝθən/
made of baked clay
potash
C1
/ˈpɑːtæʃ/
potassium carbonate or an impure mixture of potassium salts formerly obtained from wood ashes
ingot
C1
/ˈɪŋɡət/
metal that is cast in the shape of a block for convenient handling
gallium
C1
/ˈɡæliəm/
a chemical element (symbol Ga) with an atomic number of 31; a soft bluish metal.
nitrite
C1
/ˈnaɪ.tɹaɪt/
the radical -NO2 or any compound containing it (such as a salt or ester of nitrous acid)
aqueous
C1
/ˈeɪkwiəs/
consisting of, containing, or dissolved in water
indium
C1
/ˈɪn.di.əm/
the soft, silvery-white chemical element with symbol In and atomic number 49
solidification
C1
/səˌlɪdəfəˈkeɪʃən/
the process by which a liquid or gas becomes solid, especially through cooling, drying, or crystallization
clayey
C1
/ˈkleɪi/
containing a large amount of clay, or having the dense, sticky qualities of clay
einsteinium
C1
/aɪnˈstaɪni.əm/
a synthetic radioactive chemical element with atomic number 99 and symbol Es
lacquerware
C1
/ˈlækərˌwɛr/
decorative objects coated with lacquer for a glossy finish
manacle
C1
/ˈmænəkəl/
a metal band, chain, or shackle for fastening someone's hands or ankles
velveteen
C1
/ˈvɛlvətin/
a cotton fabric with a short, dense pile, resembling velvet
wale
C1
/weɪl/
a ridge on a textured surface, such as fabric or skin, often raised or swollen
nitrous oxide
C1
/ˌnaɪ.trəs ˈɑːk.saɪd/
a colorless, mildly sweet-smelling gas, N2O, used as an anesthetic and propellant and also emitted as a powerful greenhouse gas