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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257 words
yardstick
C2
/ˈjɑɹdˌstɪk/
a straight measuring stick one yard, or thirty-six inches, long
geometrical
C2
/ˌd͡ʒi.oʊˈmɛt.ɹɪk.əl/
Of, or relating to geometry; geometric.
hexagonal
C2
/hɛkˈsæɡ.ə.nəl/
Having six edges, or having a cross-section in the form of a hexagon.
crinkle
C2
/ˈkɹɪŋkəl/
To fold, crease, crumple, or wad.
iridescent
C2
/ˌɪɹ.ɪˈdɛs.ənt/
having a play of lustrous rainbow colors
cavernous
C2
/ˈkæv.ɚ.nəs/
being or suggesting a cavern
immeasurably
C2
/ˌɪˈmɛʒɝˌæbli/
In a manner that is not measurable, in a way that cannot be measured.
quintet
C2
/kwɪnˈtɛt/
a musical composition for five performers
kilowatt
C2
/ˈkɪləˌwɑːt/
a unit of power equal to one thousand watts; symbol kW
windowpane
C2
/ˈwɪndoʊˌpeɪn/
A fabric pattern of widely-spaced intersecting vertical and horizontal lines forming large squares.
mammalian
C2
/məˈmeɪl.jən/
Of, or pertaining to, mammals.
sunlit
C2
/ˈsʌnˌlɪt/
lighted by sunlight
condescension
C2
/kɑndiˈsɛnʃən/
affability to your inferiors and temporary disregard for differences of position or rank
asymmetry
C2
/eɪˈsɪmɪtɹi/
An absence of symmetry or proportion between the parts of a thing, or a distinction that produces such a lack of symmetry.
cosine
C2
/ˈkoʊ.saɪn/
in a right triangle, the ratio of the side adjacent to an angle to the hypotenuse; more generally, the corresponding trigonometric function
thorium
C2
/ˈθɔːɹiəm/
a soft silvery-white tetravalent radioactive metallic element
oligarchy
C2
/ˈɑːlɪˌɡɑɹki/
a political system governed by a few people
concave
C2
/ˈkɑn.keɪv/
curved inward, like the inner surface of a bowl or sphere
hillock
C2
/ˈhɪlək/
A small hill.
subspecies
C2
/ˈsʌbspiːʃiːz/
A rank in the classification of organisms, below species.
isosceles
C2
/aɪˈsɑsəliz/
of a triangle, having two sides of equal length
alternately
C2
/ˈɔl.tɚ.nət.li/
in an alternating sequence or position
promontory
C2
/ˈpɹɑməntɔɹi/
A high point of land extending into a body of water, headland; cliff.
sodden
C2
/ˈsɑ.dən/
Soaked or drenched with liquid; soggy, saturated.
parabola
C2
/pəˈræbələ/
a symmetrical open curve whose points are equally distant from a fixed point and a fixed line
insufficiency
C2
/ɪnsəˈfɪʃənsi/
lack of an adequate quantity or number
florid
C2
/ˈfloɹɪd/
In a blatant, vivid, or highly disorganized state.
semicircle
C2
/ˈsem.iˌsɝː.kəl/
one half of a circle, bounded by a diameter and the arc joining its endpoints
geometrically
C2
/ˌdʒiːəˈmɛtrɪkli/
in a geometric fashion
oligarch
C2
/ˈɑləɡɑɹk/
A very wealthy business owner who wields political power.
multiplicity
C2
/ˌmʌltɪˈplɪsɪti/
The state of being made of multiple diverse elements.
associative
C2
/əˈsoʊ.si.ə.tɪv/
in mathematics, having the property that regrouping operands does not change the result
equidistant
C2
/ˌi.kwəˈdɪs.tənt/
the same distance apart at every point
cubit
C2
/ˈkjuː.bɪt/
any of several ancient units of length based on the forearm from elbow to fingertip, commonly about 18 inches or 46 centimetres
octagonal
C2
/ɑkˈtæɡənəl/
having the shape of an octagon, with eight sides and eight angles
quintal
C2
/ˈkwɪntəl/
a metric unit of mass equal to 100 kilograms
ampere
C2
/ˈæmˌpɪəɹ/
a unit of electrical current, the standard base unit in the International System of Units; colloquially amp. Abbreviation: amp, Symbol: A
polygon
C2
/ˈpɑːliɡɑːn/
a closed plane figure bounded by three or more straight sides
foramen
C2
/fəˈɹeɪ.mən/
An opening, an orifice, or a short passage, especially in a bone.
geodesic
C2
/ˌd͡ʒiː.əˈdɛs.ɪk/
of or relating to or determined by geodesy
symmetrically
C2
/səˈmɛtrɪkli/
in a symmetrical manner
erg
C2
/ɝɡ/
the centimeter-gram-second unit of work or energy, equal to one dyne-centimeter or 10^-7 joule
vertex
C2
/ˈvɝː.teks/
a point where two or more lines, edges, or curves meet, especially a corner of a geometric figure
obliquely
C2
/əˈbliːkli/
In an oblique manner; sideways.
vivacity
C2
/vɪˈvæsɪti/
The quality or state of being vivacious.
prudential
C2
/pɹuˈdɛn.ʃəl/
arising from or characterized by prudence especially in business matters
mandrill
C2
/ˈmæn.dɹɪl/
A primate, Mandrillus sphinx, with a colorful face and rump.
hundredweight
C2
/ˈhʌndrədˌweɪt/
in the United States, a unit of weight equal to 100 pounds, or about 45.36 kilograms
logarithm
C2
/ˈlɑː.ɡəˌrɪ.ðəm/
the exponent to which a specified base must be raised to produce a given number
diffraction
C2
/dɪˈfɹækʃən/
when light passes sharp edges or goes through narrow slits the rays are deflected and produce fringes of light and dark bands
rhythmical
C2
/ˈɹɪð.mɪ.kəl/
rhythmic
equilateral
C2
/ˌiːkwəˈlæt̬ɚəl/
having all sides of equal length
abatement
C2
/əˈbeɪtmənt/
the act of abating
anthropoid
C2
/ˈænθɹəpɔɪd/
Having characteristics of a human, usually in terms of shape or appearance.
tensor
C2
/ˈtɛn.sɚ/
A mathematical object that describes linear relations on scalars, vectors, matrices and other algebraic objects, and is represented as a multidimensional array.
aquiline
C2
/ˈæk.wɪˌlaɪn/
Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of eagles; resembling that of an eagle.
parallelogram
C2
/ˌpæ.ɹəˈlɛl.əˌɡɹæm/
either of two rectangular areas (respectively the large parallelogram and the small parallelogram) abutting the goal line in front of the goal. (Since 1986 officially named the large rectangle and small rectangle, though the older names are still occasionally used.)
conic
C2
/ˈkɑ.nɪk/
of, relating to, or shaped like a cone
theodolite
C2
/θiˈɑ.dəˌlaɪt/
a surveying instrument with a movable telescope for precisely measuring horizontal and vertical angles
cordiality
C2
/koɹˈd͡ʒæl.ɪ.ti/
The quality of being cordial.
cacique
C2
/kəˈsiːk/
A tribal chief in the Spanish West Indies.
superposition
C2
/ˌsu.pɚ.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/
the geologic principle that in a series of stratified sedimentary rocks the lowest stratum is the oldest
assize
C2
/əˈsaɪz/
A statute or ordinance, especially one regulating weights and measures.
declension
C2
/dɪˈklɛn.ʃən/
a class of nouns or pronouns or adjectives in Indo-European languages having the same (or very similar) inflectional forms
pluralism
C2
/ˈplʊrəˌlɪzəm/
The quality or state of being plural, or in the plural number.
brushwood
C2
/ˈbɹʌʃˌwʊd/
the wood from bushes or small branches
determinate
C2
/dɪˈtɝːməˌneɪt/
not continuing to grow indefinitely at the apex
roentgen
C2
/ˈrent.ɡən/
a non-SI unit of exposure to X-rays or gamma rays, equal to 0.000258 coulomb per kilogram of dry air
multitudinous
C2
/ˌməltəˈt(j)ud(ɪ)n̩əs/
Existing in multitudes or great numbers; very numerous; innumerable.
lineal
C2
/ˈlɪni.əl/
in a straight unbroken line of descent from parent to child
irreducible
C2
/ˌɪɹɪˈdjuːsɪbəl/
incapable of being made smaller or simpler
convergent
C2
/kənˈvɝ.dʒənt/
tending to come together, meet, or become more alike from different directions
miscalculate
C2
/mɪsˈkælkjəleɪt/
to calculate a number, amount, distance, or other quantity incorrectly
trigonometric
C2
/ˌtrɪɡənəˈmɛtrɪk/
relating to trigonometry or calculated by using the relations between the sides and angles of triangles
hogshead
C2
/ˈhɑɡzˌhɛd/
a large barrel or cask, especially one used for alcoholic drink or other liquids
quadrilateral
C2
/ˌkwɑdɹəˈlætəɹəl/
An area defended by four fortresses supporting each other.
verdure
C2
/ˈvɝd͡ʒɚ/
The greenness of lush or growing vegetation (greenery); also: the vegetation itself.
supernumerary
C2
/ˌsupɚˈn(j)uməˌɹɛɹi/
A person who works in a group, association, or public office without forming part of the regular staff (the numerary).
interpolate
C2
/ɪnˈtɝ.pəˌleɪt/
to insert words or other material into a text, especially material added later or regarded as spurious
measurer
C2
/ˈmɛʒ.ɚ.ɚ/
a person who measures something or determines its dimensions, amount, or degree
steersman
C2
/ˈstiɹz.mən/
One who steers a ship or other vessel; the helmsman.
projective
C2
/prɑːˈdʒɛktɪv/
Of or related to projective geometry:
situs
C2
/ˈsaɪtəs/
The position, especially the usual, normal position, of a body part or part of a plant.
minim
C2
/ˈmɪnɪm/
a historical apothecaries' unit of liquid volume equal to one sixtieth of a fluid dram, roughly 0.06 milliliters
topological
C2
/təpəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
Of or relating to topology.
rectilinear
C2
/ˌɹɛktɪˈlɪniɚ/
characterized by a straight line or lines
polygonal
C2
/pɑˈlɪɡənəl/
having the shape or angular form of a polygon
luxuriance
C2
/lʌɡˈʒʊəɹiəns/
The property of being luxuriant.
calculable
C2
/ˈkælkjələbəl/
able to be calculated, measured, or estimated with reasonable accuracy
acuteness
C2
/əˈkjuːtnəs/
a quick and penetrating intelligence
quaternary
C2
/ˈkwɑ.tɚˌnɛɹ.i/
consisting of four parts or arranged in groups of four
chronometric
C2
/ˌkrɑːnəˈmɛtrɪk/
relating to the precise measurement of time or to chronometers and other accurate timekeeping instruments
sensorium
C2
/sɛnˈsoɹ.i.jəm/
The entire sensory apparatus of an organism.
enumeration
C2
/ɪˌnjuːməˈɹeɪʃən/
A list; especially, a numbered list.
geometer
C2
/dʒiˈɑmətɚ/
a mathematician who specializes in geometry
obliquity
C2
/əˈblɪkwɪti/
The quality of being oblique in direction, deviating from the horizontal or vertical; or the angle created by such a deviation.