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