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.
181 words
flounce
C2
/flaʊns/
a wide strip of gathered or pleated fabric sewn on a garment or furnishing as decoration
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mortise
C2
/ˈmɔrtɪs/
a rectangular cavity cut in one piece of material to receive a matching tenon and form a joint
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plectrum
C2
/ˈplɛktɹəm/
a small flat piece of plastic, metal, or other material used to pluck the strings of an instrument
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stalactite
C2
/stəˈlæktaɪt/
an icicle-shaped mineral deposit that hangs from the roof of a cave
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censer
C2
/ˈsɛn.sɚ/
a vessel in which incense is burned, especially a covered metal container swung on chains during a religious ceremony
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pyrite
C2
/ˈpaɪraɪt/
a common brass-yellow mineral consisting of iron disulfide, often mistaken for gold
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mordant
C2
/ˈmoɹd(ə)nt/
Any substance used to facilitate the fixing of a dye to a fibre; usually a metallic compound which reacts with the dye using chelation.
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chaplet
C2
/ˈtʃæplət/
a garland or circlet of flowers, leaves, or other material worn on the head or around the neck
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cestus
C2
/ˈsɛstəs/
an ancient Greek or Roman fighting glove made of leather strips and sometimes weighted with metal
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mousseline
C2
/ˌmuː.səˈliːn/
a very fine, soft, semi-transparent fabric resembling muslin, made from silk, wool, or cotton
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dreg
C2
/dɹɛɡ/
a small amount of sediment or residue left at the bottom of a liquid
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tole
C2
/toʊl/
decorative sheet-metal ware with a painted, lacquered, or enamelled surface
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formalism
C2
/ˈfɔrməˌlɪzəm/
strict adherence to prescribed forms, rules, or procedures, sometimes at the expense of substance
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abutment
C2
/əˈbʌt.mn̩t/
a solid structure that supports the end or resists the outward thrust of a bridge, arch, dam, or similar construction
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sweatband
C2
/ˈswɛtˌbænd/
a strip of absorbent material worn around the head or wrist during exercise
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hasp
C2
/hæsp/
a hinged metal strap that fits over a staple and is secured by a pin or padlock
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festoon
C2
/fesˈtuːn/
a decorative chain of flowers, paper, fabric, or lights hung in a curve between two points
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rhodium
C2
/ˈɹoʊ.di.əm/
the rare, hard, silvery-white chemical element with symbol Rh and atomic number 45, belonging to the platinum group
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oilcloth
C2
/ˈɔɪlˌklɔːθ/
cloth coated with oil, resin, or another waterproof material, formerly used for floors, tables, shelves, and coverings
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phlogiston
C2
/floʊˈdʒɪstɑn/
a hypothetical fire-like substance once thought to exist in combustible materials and to be released during burning
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emulsifier
C2
/ɪˈmʌlsəˌfaɪɝ/
A substance that helps two liquids mix into a smooth blend and keeps them from separating.
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phosphorescence
C2
/ˌfɑsfəˈrɛsəns/
the emission of light by a substance that continues after the source of excitation has been removed
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carpetbag
C2
/ˈkɑrpətˌbæɡ/
a traveling bag made from carpet fabric, especially one used in the nineteenth century
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lamina
C2
/ˈlæm.ɪ.nə/
a thin layer, plate, sheet, or scale of material
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cruse
C2
/kruːs/
a small earthenware vessel for holding liquids, especially oil or water
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spermaceti
C2
/spɚ.məˈsiː.ti/
a white waxy substance from the spermaceti organ in a sperm whale's head, historically used in candles, cosmetics, ointments, and lubricants
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clavichord
C2
/ˈklævɪˌkɔɹd/
an early keyboard instrument whose strings are struck by small metal blades, producing a soft, expressive sound
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ironmongery
C2
/ˈaɪrnˌmʌŋ.ɡɚ.i/
tools, metal fittings, and other hardware sold for use in homes, gardens, or buildings
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nacre
C2
/ˈneɪ.kɚ/
the hard, smooth, iridescent substance lining many mollusc shells and forming the outer coating of pearls
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globule
C2
/ˈɡlɑːbjuːl/
a very small round mass, particle, or drop of a liquid or softened solid
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gneiss
C2
/ˈnaɪs/
a coarse-grained metamorphic rock with distinct light and dark mineral bands, commonly formed under high temperature and pressure
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spume
C2
/spjuːm/
foam or froth formed on a liquid, especially on breaking waves
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minim
C2
/ˈmɪnɪm/
a historical apothecaries' unit of liquid volume equal to one sixtieth of a fluid dram, roughly 0.06 milliliters
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salver
C2
/ˈsæl.vɚ/
a flat tray, often made of silver or another metal, used for formally serving or presenting things
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pabulum
C2
/ˈpæbjʊləm/
bland, simplistic, or intellectually undemanding material offered as if it were nourishing
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cambric
C2
/ˈkeɪmbrɪk/
a fine, closely woven white fabric originally made of linen and now also made of cotton
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porringer
C2
/ˈpɔrɪndʒər/
a shallow metal bowl (usually with a handle)
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circlet
C2
/ˈsɝklət/
a narrow circular band, often of precious metal or flowers, worn around the head
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tracery
C2
/ˈtɹeɪsɚi/
ornamental stone, wood, or metalwork forming interlacing ribs or branching patterns, especially in a window
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battledore
C2
/ˈbæ.tɫ̩.dɔɹ/
a light, solid-faced racket formerly used to keep a shuttlecock in the air
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concretion
C2
/kənˈkriːʃən/
a hard, often rounded mineral mass formed by material accumulating within sediment or sedimentary rock
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cretonne
C2
/ˈkriː.tɑːn/
a strong, often printed fabric of cotton, linen, or rayon used especially for curtains, slipcovers, and upholstery
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marquetry
C2
/ˈmɑːɹ.kə.tɹi/
the decorative craft of fitting thin pieces of differently colored wood, shell, metal, or other veneer into a surface to form a design
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ferrule
C2
/ˈfɛrəl/
a metal or other strong ring, cap, or sleeve fitted around a shaft to strengthen it or prevent splitting
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substratum
C2
/ˈsʌbstreɪtəm/
a layer of material, especially rock or soil, lying beneath another layer
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andiron
C2
/ˈændˌaɪɚn/
one of a pair of metal supports used to hold burning logs above the hearth of a fireplace
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leavening
C2
/ˈlɛvənɪŋ/
A substance, such as yeast, that makes dough or batter rise.
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lamella
C2
/ləˈmɛlə/
a thin plate, layer, membrane, or sheet forming part of a biological, mineral, or manufactured structure
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india-rubber
C2
/ˌɪndiə ˈrʌbər/
an old-fashioned name for natural rubber, the elastic waterproof material obtained from plant latex
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carborundum
C2
/ˌkɑːrbəˈrʌndəm/
silicon carbide, an extremely hard crystalline material used as an abrasive and in industrial ceramics
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aragonite
C2
/əˈræɡəˌnaɪt/
an orthorhombic mineral form of calcium carbonate, denser than calcite and common in shells, pearls, coral skeletons, and some cave deposits
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spadeful
C2
/ˈspeɪd.fʊl/
the amount of earth or other material that a spade can hold or move at one time
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floorcloth
C2
/ˈflɔrˌklɔθ/
a piece of cloth, oilcloth, or similar material used as a floor covering in place of or beneath a carpet
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bombazine
C2
/ˌbɑmbəˈzin/
a twilled fabric traditionally made with a silk warp and worsted weft, often dyed black for mourning clothes
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ordure
C2
/ˈɔːr.dʒɚ/
solid bodily waste; dung or excrement; literary or formal
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percolation
C2
/pɝkəˈleɪʃən/
the slow passage of a liquid through pores or small spaces in soil, rock, or another material
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selvage
C2
/ˈsɛlvɪdʒ/
the narrow finished edge of woven fabric that prevents it from fraying
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scoria
C2
/ˈskɔɹ.i.ə/
rough, dark, porous lava formed when gas-rich molten rock cools
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silex
C2
/ˈsaɪleks/
silica or a hard siliceous material, especially flint
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pannikin
C2
/ˈpænɪkɪn/
chiefly British or Australian: a small metal cup or pan, especially one used outdoors
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pseudopod
C2
/ˈsuː.dəˌpɑd/
a temporary projection of a cell's cytoplasm used for movement, feeding, or engulfing material
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tinware
C2
/ˈtɪnˌwɛr/
household utensils and other articles made from tin or tin-plated metal
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spinel
C2
/spɪˈnɛl/
a hard, glassy magnesium aluminium oxide mineral that crystallizes in the cubic system and occurs in many colors
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mezzotint
C2
/ˈmɛzoʊˌtɪnt/
a printmaking technique in which a metal plate is roughened to print dark tones and then scraped or burnished to create lighter areas
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litharge
C2
/ˈlɪθɑrdʒ/
lead monoxide, especially the fused yellow or reddish material produced during the refining of lead or silver
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castor oil
C2
/ˌkæs.tɚ ˈɔɪl/
a pale, thick oil pressed from castor beans, used medicinally as a laxative and industrially as a lubricant, plasticizer, and chemical feedstock
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moreen
C2
/moʊˈrin/
historical: a heavy woolen or wool-and-cotton furnishing fabric, often with a ribbed or watered finish
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object-matter
C2
/ˈɑbdʒɛktˌmætər/
the object or material under consideration in an inquiry
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vitalist
C2
/ˈvaɪtəlɪst/
an adherent of vitalism, the doctrine that life cannot be explained entirely by physical and chemical processes
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expurgation
C2
/ˌek.spɚˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
the removal of material considered offensive, objectionable, or unsuitable from a text or other work
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swim bladder
C2
/ˈswɪm ˌblæd.ɚ/
a gas-filled internal sac present in many bony fishes, used chiefly to regulate buoyancy and maintain depth and, in some species, also involved in respiration, hearing, or sound production
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louis
C2
/ˈluːi/
historical: any of several French gold or silver coins issued under kings named Louis, especially the louis d'or
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shruff
C2
/ʃrʌf/
historical metalworking: old or broken brass or copper, filings, dross, and similar metal refuse kept for remelting
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bimetallism
C2
/baɪˈmɛtəlˌɪzəm/
a monetary standard in which two metals, usually gold and silver, are legal tender at a fixed ratio of value
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greensand
C2
/ˈɡriːnˌsænd/
greenish sand or sandstone containing the mineral glauconite
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iron mould
C2
/ˈaɪərn ˌmoʊld/
a yellow, brown, or reddish stain on cloth, paper, or a similar material caused by rusty iron or an iron-based ink
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baryta
C2
/bəˈraɪ.tə/
an older chemical name for barium oxide, or more broadly for certain barium compounds such as barium hydroxide
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gasfitter
C2
/ˈɡæsˌfɪt.ɚ/
a tradesperson who installs, connects, maintains, or repairs gas pipes, fixtures, and appliances
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muriate
C2
/ˈmjʊriət/
an obsolete chemical name for a chloride, a salt regarded as derived from muriatic acid
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chrysoberyl
C2
/ˈkɹɪs.əˌbɛɹ.əl/
a very hard beryllium aluminium oxide mineral, commonly yellow to green and used as a gemstone
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hypophosphite
C2
/ˌhaɪ.poʊˈfɑːs.faɪt/
Any salt of hypophosphorous acid
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carabiner
C2
/ˌkærəˈbiːnər/
a metal loop with a spring-loaded gate, used to connect ropes and gear in climbing, mountaineering, and rescue work
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jadeite
C2
/ˈd͡ʒeɪˌdaɪt/
a hard pyroxene mineral rich in sodium and aluminium, one of the two main materials called jade
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nephrite
C2
/ˈnɛfˌɹaɪt/
a tough, fine-grained calcium magnesium silicate material, one of the two main stones called jade
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chalcedony
C2
/kælˈsɛd.ə.ni/
a form of quartz made of very small crystals, often translucent and used as a decorative stone
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