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.
855 words
innuendo
C2
/ˌɪnjuˈɛndəʊ/
An indirect remark that hints at something, often something rude or unkind.
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sluice
C2
/sluːs/
an artificial channel or gate that controls a rapid flow of water
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makeshift
C2
/ˈmeɪkˌʃɪft/
A temporary (usually insubstantial) substitution.
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rancho
C2
/ˈɹɑːnt͡ʃoʊ/
a simple rural hut or shelter, especially one used by herders or farm workers in Spanish America
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zephyr
C2
/ˈzɛfɚ/
a slight wind, usually refreshing
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headlight
C2
/ˈhɛdˌlaɪt/
a powerful light with reflector
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redwood
C2
/ˈrɛdˌwʊd/
a very tall conifer, especially the coast redwood or giant sequoia of western North America
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sprite
C2
/spɹaɪt/
a small supernatural being such as an elf, fairy, or spirit
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cranium
C2
/ˈkɹeɪ.ni.əm/
the part of the skull that encloses the brain
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turret
C2
/ˈtɝ.ɪt/
A small tower on a building or castle, often at a corner.
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punt
C2
/pʌnt/
(football) a kick in which the football is dropped from the hands and kicked before it touches the ground
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smithereens
C2
/ˌsmɪðəˈriːnz/
very small fragments produced when something is shattered or destroyed
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stockade
C2
/stɑːˈkeɪd/
a defensive fence or barrier made from a line of stout upright posts
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snipe
C2
/snaɪp/
A fool; a blockhead.
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rummage
C2
/ˈrʌmɪdʒ/
a thorough search for something, often causing disorder or confusion
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ricochet
C2
/ˈrɪk.əˌʃeɪ/
a glancing rebound from a surface, especially by a bullet or other projectile
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chimera
C2
/kaɪˈmɪɹə/
Anything composed of very disparate parts.
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breech
C2
/britʃ/
the rear part of a firearm barrel, behind the chamber, where ammunition is loaded
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mantel
C2
/ˈmæn.təl/
a shelf above a fireplace
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chevron
C2
/ˈʃɛvrən/
a V-shaped or inverted-V-shaped mark, pattern, or structure
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windpipe
C2
/ˈwɪnd.paɪp/
the tube strengthened by rings of cartilage that carries inhaled air from the larynx toward the lungs; the trachea
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pterodactyl
C2
/ˌtɛɹəˈdæktl̩/
Any pterosaur.
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goblet
C2
/ˈɡɒblət/
A drinking vessel with a foot and stem.
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strychnine
C2
/ˈstrɪk.niːn/
a highly poisonous crystalline alkaloid obtained from plants such as nux vomica and formerly used medicinally and as a pesticide
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hubris
C2
/ˈhjubɹɪs/
Excessive arrogance or pride, or presumption; originally (Greek mythology) toward the gods.
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babel
C2
/ˈbeɪbəl/
a confused mixture of voices, languages, or other sounds
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obelisk
C2
/ˈɑbəlɪsk/
a tall, four-sided stone pillar that tapers to a pyramidal point, often erected as a monument
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underside
C2
/ˈʌndɚˌsaɪd/
the lower or underneath surface of something
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shire
C2
/ʃaɪ(ə)ɹ/
a county or traditional administrative district, especially in Britain
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hubbub
C2
/ˈhʌbəb/
a loud, confused mixture of voices or other sounds; noisy commotion
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echelon
C2
/ˈɛʃ.ə.lɒn/
A line of riders seeking maximum drafting in a crosswind, resulting in a diagonal line across the road.
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cantaloupe
C2
/ˈkæn.tə.loʊp/
a sweet muskmelon with orange flesh and, especially in North America, a rough netted rind
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hippopotamus
C2
/ˌhɪp.əˈpɑ.tə.məs/
The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
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drawbridge
C2
/ˈdɹɑbɹɪd͡ʒ/
A hinged bridge which can be raised (to prevent its being crossed, as across a moat, or to allow watercraft to travel beneath it).
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bosh
C2
/bɑʃ/
foolish, untrue, or pretentious talk or writing; nonsense
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matchbox
C2
/ˈmætʃˌbɑːks/
a small box made to hold matches, often with a rough striking surface on one side
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voyeur
C2
/vɔɪˈjɜɹ/
a viewer who enjoys seeing the sex acts or sex organs of others
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requiem
C2
/ˈrɛkwiəm/
a Christian Mass or other service for the repose of the dead
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turnpike
C2
/ˈtɜː(ɹ)npaɪk/
an expressway on which tolls are collected
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slouch
C2
/ˈslɐʊ̯t͡ʃ/
A hanging down of the head; a drooping posture; a limp appearance
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stratosphere
C2
/ˈstrætəsˌfɪr/
The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, where the ozone layer absorbs the sun's ultraviolet rays.
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dreamland
C2
/ˈdriːmˌlænd/
an imaginary world experienced in dreams or created by the imagination
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archipelago
C2
/ˌɑɹkəˈpɛləˌɡoʊ/
a group or chain of islands
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phlegm
C2
/flɛm/
thick mucus produced in the respiratory passages, especially when coughed up
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enamel
C2
/ɪˈnæməl/
the hard, white outer covering of the crown of a tooth
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bonne
C2
/ˈbɑːn/
a French nursemaid or children's governess, especially in an English-speaking household
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interlude
C2
/ˈɪntə(ɹ)luːd/
A short period or event that comes between two longer ones.
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guile
C2
/ɡaɪl/
Deceptiveness, deceit, fraud, duplicity, dishonesty.
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orifice
C2
/ˈɔɹəfɪs/
an aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity
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conclave
C2
/ˈkɑnˌkleɪv/
a private, confidential, or secret meeting of a select group
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mantelpiece
C2
/ˈmæntlpiːs/
A shelf that is affixed to the wall above a fireplace.
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sleight
C2
/slaɪt/
skillful use of the hands, especially in performing tricks
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churchyard
C2
/ˈt͡ʃɝt͡ʃ.jɑɹd/
land beside or around a church, often used as a burial ground
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mimosa
C2
/mɪˈmoʊsə/
a cocktail made with sparkling wine and orange juice
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tuff
C2
/tʌf/
rock formed from compacted or cemented volcanic ash and other fine volcanic fragments
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synthesis
C2
/ˈsənθəsəs/
The combining of separate ideas, things, or influences into a single, coherent whole.
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laudanum
C2
/ˈlɔːdənəm/
an alcoholic tincture of opium formerly used as a painkiller, sedative, and sleep aid
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tomahawk
C2
/ˈtɑːməˌhɔːk/
a light axe or hatchet associated historically with Indigenous peoples of North America and later made in many specialized forms
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monocle
C2
/ˈmɑnəkəl/
lens for correcting defective vision in one eye
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stiletto
C2
/stɪˈlɛtoʊ/
a small dagger with a tapered blade
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nuance
C2
/ˈnju.ɑns/
a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
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bandana
C2
/bænˈdænə/
a large, usually colorful square of cloth worn around the head or neck
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crevice
C2
/ˈkrɛvəs/
A narrow crack or fissure, as in a rock or wall.
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fantasia
C2
/fænˈteɪ.zi.ə/
a free-form instrumental composition, often weaving together several themes
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tussle
C2
/ˈtʌsəl/
a vigorous physical struggle, scuffle, or contest
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ingratitude
C2
/ɪnˈɡɹætɪtud/
A lack or absence of gratitude; thanklessness.
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sunstroke
C2
/ˈsʌnˌstɹoʊk/
heatstroke caused by prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or intense heat
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purview
C2
/ˈpɜː(ɹ)vjuː/
Scope or range of interest or control.
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cellophane
C2
/ˈsɛləfeɪn/
a thin, transparent wrapping film made from regenerated cellulose
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cutlass
C2
/ˈkʌtləs/
a short, heavy sword with a broad, curved, single-edged blade, formerly used especially by sailors
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avarice
C2
/ˈævəɹɪs/
reprehensible acquisitiveness
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alameda
C2
/ˌæləˈmeɪdə/
a public promenade or broad avenue bordered with trees, especially in Spain or Spanish-speaking America
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hullo
C2
/hʌˈləʊ/
an expression of greeting
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juggernaut
C2
/ˈd͡ʒʌɡ.ɚ.nɔt/
a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way
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eardrum
C2
/ˈiɚˌdɹʌm/
the membrane in the ear that vibrates to sound
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troubadour
C2
/ˈtrubəˌdɔr/
a medieval lyric poet and musician, especially one composing in Occitan and singing of courtly love
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chrysalis
C2
/ˈkɹɪsəlɪs/
The hard case in which a caterpillar changes into a butterfly or moth.
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twinge
C2
/twɪndʒ/
a sudden, brief, sharp pain
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teatime
C2
/ˈtiːˌtaɪm/
the customary time in the afternoon or early evening when tea is served
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kaleidoscope
C2
/kəˈlaɪdəˌskoʊp/
a tube containing mirrors and loose colored pieces that form changing symmetrical patterns when rotated
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mot
C2
/moʊ/
a short, pithy, or witty remark; a bon mot
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commode
C2
/kəˈməʊd/
A toilet, or a chair with a built-in chamber pot.
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woodchuck
C2
/ˈwʊd.t͡ʃʌk/
reddish brown North American marmot
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whir
C2
/wɝ/
A low, continuous buzzing sound made by something moving fast.
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guardhouse
C2
/ˈɡɑɹdˌhaʊs/
a building occupied by guards, often containing rooms for detained prisoners
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guano
C2
/ˈɡwɑːnoʊ/
the accumulated excrement of seabirds or bats, especially when collected and used as fertilizer
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alum
C2
/ˈæləm/
any of a class of crystalline double sulfates, especially potassium or ammonium aluminum sulfate, used in dyeing, tanning, water treatment, and as an astringent
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nave
C2
/neɪv/
The navel.
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thicket
C2
/ˈθɪkɪt/
A dense group of bushes, shrubs, or small trees.
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fireside
C2
/ˈfaɪɝˌsaɪd/
A supplementary meeting in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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glitz
C2
/ɡlɪts/
Showy, glamorous style that may seem cheap or shallow.
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scabbard
C2
/ˈskæb.ɚd/
a protective sheath for the blade of a sword, dagger, or bayonet
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hippocampus
C2
/ˌhɪpoʊˈkæmpəs/
a curved structure deep in each temporal lobe of the brain that is central to memory, learning, and spatial navigation
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harlequin
C2
/ˈhɑːrlɪkwɪn/
the agile, mischievous servant-clown of Italian commedia dell'arte, traditionally dressed in a diamond-patterned costume
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grindstone
C2
/ˈɡɹaɪn(d)ˌstoʊn/
a revolving stone shaped like a disk
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rosette
C2
/roʊˈzɛt/
a circular ornament, mark, or arrangement resembling a rose
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