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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229 words
dolorous
C2
/ˈdɒləɹəs/
Solemnly or ponderously sad.
quiescent
C2
/kwaɪˈɛsənt/
causing no pathological symptoms
debilitation
C2
/dɪˌbɪləˈteɪʃən/
the process of becoming seriously weakened, or a resulting state of weakness and reduced energy
pathognomonic
C2
/ˌpæθəɡnoʊˈmɑnɪk/
so specifically characteristic of a disease or condition that it can establish the diagnosis
hartshorn
C2
/ˈhɑːrtsˌhɔrn/
dated: a solution or preparation of ammonia formerly used as smelling salts
excrescence
C2
/ɪkˈskrɛsəns/
an abnormal growth or projection on a living body or natural object
scarlatina
C2
/ˌskɑːrləˈtiːnə/
an older technical name for scarlet fever, an infectious disease marked by fever and a red rash
dietetics
C2
/ˌdaɪəˈtɛtɪks/
the science and professional practice of planning diets in relation to health and disease
auscultation
C2
/ˌɔːskəlˈteɪʃən/
medical examination by listening to sounds within the body, usually with a stethoscope
aphrodisiacal
C2
/ˌæf.roʊ.dɪˈzaɪ.ə.kəl/
exciting sexual desire
valetudinarian
C2
/ˌvælətudəˈnɛriən/
a person of weak or sickly health, especially one excessively preoccupied with personal ailments
suppurate
C2
/ˈsʌpjəreɪt/
ripen and generate pus
chilblain
C2
/ˈtʃɪlbleɪn/
an itchy, swollen patch of skin caused by an abnormal reaction to cold and damp conditions
tertian
C2
/ˈtɝːʃən/
medical, especially of a fever: recurring every other day, or every third day by inclusive counting
ophthalmia
C2
/ɑfˈθælmiə/
inflammation of the conjunctiva or eyeball; an older general medical term for inflammatory eye disease
stertorous
C2
/ˈstɝ.tɚ.əs/
characterized by heavy, noisy breathing that resembles snoring
sudorific
C2
/ˌsudəˈɹɪfɪk/
That produces sweating.
dropsical
C2
/ˈdrɑpsɪkəl/
dated medicine: affected by or relating to dropsy, an abnormal accumulation of fluid in body tissues or cavities
cicatrix
C2
/ˈsɪkəˌtrɪks/
a scar formed as fibrous tissue replaces or contracts over a healed wound
expectorate
C2
/ɪkˈspɛktəɹeɪt/
to cough up and expel phlegm or other material from the lungs or throat
mormal
C2
/ˈmɔːr.məl/
A bad sore; a gangrene or cancer
suffusion
C2
/səˈfjuːʒən/
the spreading of a bodily fluid, especially blood, into surrounding tissue
tragus
C2
/ˈtreɪɡəs/
the small pointed flap of cartilage immediately in front of the opening of the external ear
exanthem
C2
/ɪɡˈzænθəm/
a widespread skin eruption or rash occurring as a symptom of disease
parturient
C2
/pɑrˈtʊriənt/
In labour, about to give birth, or having recently given birth.
innervate
C2
/ɪˈnɝˌveɪt/
stimulate to action
polydactylism
C2
/ˌpɑːliˈdæktəlɪzəm/
the congenital condition of having more than the usual number of fingers or toes
engraftment
C2
/ɪnˈɡræft.mənt/
medicine: the successful incorporation and growth of transplanted cells or tissue in a recipient
asepsis
C2
/eɪˈsɛpsɪs/
the state of being free from disease-causing microorganisms
invalidism
C2
/ˈɪnvəlɪˌdɪzəm/
a chronic condition of illness, frailty, or incapacity that makes someone an invalid
polypus
C2
/ˈpɑː.lɪ.pəs/
dated medical: a polyp, especially a growth projecting from a mucous membrane
cicatrize
C2
/ˈsɪkəˌtraɪz/
of a wound, to heal through the formation of scar tissue
panniculus
C2
/pəˈnɪkjələs/
a thin sheet or layer of bodily tissue, especially a layer beneath the skin
erethism
C2
/ˈɛrəˌθɪzəm/
an abnormally high degree of irritability or responsiveness to stimulation
galactagogue
C2
/ɡəˈlæk.tə.ɡɑɡ/
a drug, food, herb, or other substance believed to stimulate the production of breast milk
exophthalmos
C2
/ˌɛksɑfˈθælməs/
protrusion of the eyeball from the socket
sphygmogram
C2
/ˈsfɪɡməˌɡræm/
The recording made by a sphygmograph