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.
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67 words
gravity
C1
/ˈɡɹævəti/
The natural force that pulls objects toward the earth or toward each other.
hydrogen
C1
/ˈhaɪdɹəd͡ʒ(ə)n/
The lightest chemical element (symbol H), a colorless, odorless, highly flammable gas.
intercourse
C1
/ˈɪn.tɚˌkɔɹs/
Communication, conversation.
fusion
C1
/ˈfjuːʒən/
The act of joining separate things into one, or the result of doing so.
volcanic
C1
/vɔlˈkænɪk/
of or relating to igneous rock produced by eruption and solidified on or near the earth's surface
thermal
C1
/ˈθɝməl/
relating to heat, temperature, or the transfer of heat
sap
C1
/sæp/
To slowly drain away someone's strength, energy, or determination.
fetus
C1
/ˈfiːtəs/
An unborn or unhatched vertebrate showing signs of the mature animal.
lobe
C1
/ləʊb/
(anatomy) a somewhat rounded subdivision of a bodily organ or part
embryo
C1
/ˈɛmbɹi.oʊ/
a plant, animal, or human in the earliest stages of development
metabolism
C1
/məˈtæb.əˌlɪz.əm/
the set of chemical processes by which a living organism converts substances into energy and materials needed for life, growth, and repair
genome
C1
/ˈd͡ʒiː.noʊm/
The complete set of genetic information in an organism.
bisexual
C1
/baɪˈsɛk.ʃ(əw).əl/
in biology, involving or possessing both male and female sexes or reproductive structures
antimatter
C1
/ˈæn.tiˌmæt.ɚ/
matter composed of antiparticles corresponding to the particles in ordinary matter
interstellar
C1
/ˌɪntɝˈstɛlɝ/
situated, occurring, or traveling between stars
ultraviolet
C1
/ˌʌl.trəˈvaɪə.lət/
relating to electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible violet light, conventionally about 10 to 400 nanometers
pathway
C1
/ˈpæθˌweɪ/
A path or track for walking.
alchemist
C1
/ˈælkəmɪst/
a person who practices alchemy, historically seeking transformations such as turning base metals into gold
gusto
C1
/ˈɡʌstoʊ/
Great energy and enthusiastic enjoyment in doing something.
statistical
C1
/stəˈtɪstɪkəl/
Relating to statistics or the analysis of numerical data.
iodine
C1
/ˈaɪəˌdaɪn/
the chemical element with atomic number 53, a dark halogen that forms a violet vapor when heated
radioactivity
C1
/ˌreɪdɪəʊakˈtɪvɪti/
Spontaneous emission of ionizing radiation as a consequence of a nuclear reaction, or directly from the breakdown of an unstable nucleus.
prism
C1
/ˈprɪzəm/
a transparent optical element with flat faces that refracts light, often separating it into colors
optics
C1
/ˈɑptɪks/
the branch of physics concerned with light, vision, and the behavior of electromagnetic radiation
amino
C1
/əˈmiːnoʊ/
relating to or containing the nitrogen-based amino group, especially in an amino acid
fulcrum
C1
/ˈfʊlkɹəm/
the fixed support or pivot about which a lever turns
empirical
C1
/ˌɛmˈpɪrɪkəl/
Based on observation, experiment, or real experience rather than on theory.
saturation
C1
/ˌsætʃəˈreɪʃən/
the state or process of being completely soaked, filled, or supplied to capacity
biochemical
C1
/ˌbaɪ.oʊˈkem.ɪ.kəl/
relating to biochemistry or to the chemical substances and processes that occur in living organisms
ammonium
C1
/əˈmoʊni.əm/
the ion NH4 derived from ammonia
mutate
C1
/ˈmjuː.teɪt/
to undergo a change in genetic material or another heritable biological change
linguistic
C1
/lɪŋˈgwɪstɪk/
consisting of or related to language
aromatic
C1
/ˌɛɹ.əˈmæt.ɪk/
(chemistry) of or relating to or containing one or more benzene rings
concealment
C1
/kənˈsiːlmənt/
The practice of keeping secrets.
reversible
C1
/ɹəˈvɜː(ɹ)sɪbəl/
capable of assuming or producing either of two states
reliance
C1
/ɹɪˈlaɪ.əns/
certainty based on past experience
linguistics
C1
/lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪks/
the scientific study of human language, including its sounds, structures, meanings, use, acquisition, history, and variation
heredity
C1
/həˈɹɛdəti/
Hereditary transmission of the physical and genetic qualities of parents to their offspring; the biological law by which living beings tend to repeat their characteristics in their descendants.
unrestrained
C1
/ˌənriːˈstreɪnd/
not subject to restraint
fermentation
C1
/ˌfɝmənˈteɪʃən/
a metabolic process in which microorganisms or enzymes convert organic substances, often sugars, without oxygen
decanter
C1
/dɪˈkæntə(ɹ)/
A receptacle for decanted liquor, especially a crystal bottle with a stopper.
rigidity
C1
/ɹɪˈd͡ʒɪdɪti/
The quality or state of being rigid; lack of pliability; the quality of resisting change of physical shape.
stargazer
C1
/ˈstɑːɹˌɡeɪzɚ/
a person who observes the stars, especially an amateur astronomer
unscientific
C1
/ənˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/
not consistent with the methods or principles of science
tertiary
C1
/ˈtɝ.ʃiˌɛɹ.i/
coming next after the second and just before the fourth in position
paleontologist
C1
/ˌpeɪ.li.ənˈtɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
a scientist who studies fossils and life from past geological periods
lackluster
C1
/ˈlæklʌstə(ɹ)/
Not impressive; dull and lacking energy or excitement.
materially
C1
/məˈtɪriːəli/
with respect to material aspects
cathode
C1
/ˈkæθ.oʊd/
a negatively charged electrode that is the source of electrons entering an electrical device
retardation
C1
/ˌɹi.tɑɹˈdeɪ̯.ʃən/
Ellipsis of mental retardation.
resonator
C1
/ˈrɛzəˌneɪtər/
an object, chamber, or part of an instrument that vibrates at particular frequencies and strengthens or shapes a sound
incubate
C1
/ˈɪŋkjʊbeɪt/
to keep eggs warm under conditions that allow embryos to develop and hatch
ionization
C1
/ˌaɪ.ə.nəˈzeɪ.ʃən/
the generation of one or more ions from atoms, molecules, or other chemical entities, for example through electron loss or gain or through dissociation
sunspot
C1
/ˈsʌnˌspɑt/
a temporary dark region on the Sun's photosphere that is cooler than its surroundings and has intense magnetic activity
variability
C1
/ˌvæɹ.i.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
the quality of being subject to variation
experimentally
C1
/ɪkˌspɛrəˈmɛntəli/
in an experimental fashion
unverified
C1
/ˌʌnˈvɛrəˌfaɪd/
not yet checked or confirmed as accurate, authentic, or true
plasticity
C1
/plæsˈtɪsəti/
the capacity of a material to be reshaped permanently without breaking
magnetize
C1
/ˈmæɡnəˌtaɪz/
to give a material the properties of a magnet, or to become magnetic
neutralization
C1
/ˌnuːtɹəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
The act of stopping something from having an effect by balancing it out.
suborbital
C1
/ˌsʌbˈɔːrbɪtəl/
following a trajectory that rises into space but does not complete an orbit
pneumatics
C1
/nuːˈmætɪks/
the branch of mechanics concerned with gases and their use to transmit force, especially through compressed air
attractor
C1
/əˈtræktɚ/
a person, thing, or quality that draws interest, attention, or other things toward it
crustal
C1
/ˈkrʌstəl/
relating to or forming the outer crust of the Earth, Moon, or another planetary body
ionize
C1
/ˈaɪ.ə.naɪz/
to convert an atom, molecule, or other chemical entity into one or more ions
uncharged
C1
/ʌnˈtʃɑːrdʒd/
having no net electric charge; electrically neutral
lethargically
C1
In a slow, tired way, without energy.