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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
Terai
C2
/təˈraɪ/
a low, often marshy belt of plains and grasslands along the southern foothills of the Himalayas, especially in Nepal and northern India
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weathercock
C2
/ˈwɛðɚˌkɑk/
a weather vane, traditionally shaped like a rooster
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braggadocio
C2
/ˌbræɡəˈdoʊtʃioʊ/
arrogant or exaggerated boasting intended to impress others
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analgesia
C2
/ˌæn.əlˈd͡ʒiː.ʒə/
The inability to feel pain.
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badinage
C2
/ˌbɑdɪˈnɑʒ/
playful, lighthearted teasing or witty conversation
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synchrotron
C2
/ˈsɪŋ.krəˌtrɑːn/
a circular particle accelerator in which radiofrequency electric fields accelerate charged particles while a synchronized magnetic field keeps them on a fixed closed path as their energy increases
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inkpot
C2
/ˈɪŋkˌpɑt/
a small pot or container for holding writing ink, especially for use with a dip pen or quill
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aitch
C2
/eɪtʃ/
the name of the Latin-script letter H or h
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peristalsis
C2
/ˌpɛrəˈstælsɪs/
rhythmic, wave-like muscular contractions that move contents through a tube, especially the digestive tract
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flexure
C2
/ˈflɛkʃər/
a bend, curve, or fold in a structure or surface
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quire
C2
/ˈkwaɪɚ/
a set of twenty-four or twenty-five sheets of paper, traditionally one twentieth of a ream
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logorrhea
C2
/ˌlɔ.ɡəˈɹi.ə/
Excessive and often uncontrollable speaking due to a mental disorder.
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verdigris
C2
/ˈvɝdəˌɡris/
the blue-green patina that forms on copper, brass, or bronze exposed to air and moisture
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anode
C2
/ˈæn.oʊd/
the electrode at which oxidation occurs in an electrochemical cell; it is negative in a cell supplying current and positive when external power drives the reaction
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jonquil
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɑŋ.kwəl/
a fragrant daffodil, Narcissus jonquilla, with narrow rushlike leaves and clusters of yellow or white flowers
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corncrake
C2
/ˈkɔːrnkreɪk/
a secretive migratory rail that breeds in European and western Asian meadows and has a rasping repeated call
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rheum
C2
/ruːm/
a thin watery discharge of mucus or serum, especially from the eyes or nose
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woodcraft
C2
/ˈwʊdˌkræft/
knowledge and skill in living, traveling, hunting, or finding one's way in woodland
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paresis
C2
/pəˈriːsəs/
slight or partial paralysis; weakness of voluntary movement without complete loss of it
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megatherium
C2
/ˌmɛɡəˈθɪriəm/
an extinct giant ground sloth of the genus Megatherium, native to South America during the Pliocene and Pleistocene
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tenon
C2
/ˈtɛnən/
a projecting piece cut at the end of a length of wood and shaped to fit into a corresponding mortise to form a joint
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glottis
C2
/ˈɡlɑtɪs/
the opening between the vocal folds in the larynx, whose changing width helps control breathing and voice
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fumarole
C2
/ˈfjuːməˌroʊl/
an opening in or near a volcano through which steam and hot gases escape
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tillage
C2
/ˈtɪlɪd͡ʒ/
Land cultivated in this way.
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ductus
C2
/ˈdʌktəs/
the characteristic direction, order, speed, and manner of the strokes used in handwriting or calligraphy
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verdure
C2
/ˈvɝd͡ʒɚ/
The greenness of lush or growing vegetation (greenery); also: the vegetation itself.
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outwork
C2
/ˈaʊtˌwɝk/
a subsidiary defensive fortification built beyond a fortress's main enclosure
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testis
C2
/ˈtes.tɪs/
either of the male reproductive glands that produce sperm and secrete hormones such as testosterone
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hypertext
C2
/ˈhaɪpɚtekst/
digital text containing links that let a reader move non-sequentially between related passages or documents
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vaunt
C2
/vɔnt/
extravagant self-praise
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earthwork
C2
/ˈɝθˌwɝk/
a structure made from piled or shaped earth, especially an embankment or defensive rampart
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pasteboard
C2
/ˈpeɪstˌbɔrd/
stiff cardboard made by pasting together layers or sheets of paper
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thornbush
C2
/ˈθɔːrnˌbʊʃ/
a bush or shrub that bears thorns, spines, or other sharp projections
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bathos
C2
/ˈbeɪθɑs/
an abrupt descent from an elevated or serious style to something trivial, ordinary, or ridiculous
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doorpost
C2
/ˈdɔrˌpoʊst/
Either of the upright posts on either side of a door, which together support a lintel; doorjamb.
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denarius
C2
/dɪˈner.i.əs/
the principal silver coin of ancient Rome, originally worth ten asses and later sixteen, and equal to four sesterces
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pliocene
C2
/ˈplaɪəˌsiːn/
the geological epoch about 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago, immediately before the Pleistocene
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soutane
C2
/suːˈtɑːn/
a long, close-fitting robe worn by some Christian clergy
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escritoire
C2
/ˌɛskrɪˈtwɑr/
a writing desk, especially one with a hinged panel that opens to form the writing surface
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siskin
C2
/ˈsɪskɪn/
a small greenish-yellow Eurasian finch, Spinus spinus, related to the goldfinch
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conjunctiva
C2
/ˌkɑnˌd͡ʒʌŋ(k)ˈtaɪ.və/
a transparent lubricating mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and the under surface of the eyelid
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sward
C2
/swɔːrd/
the surface layer of soil held together by grass and its roots; turf
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occiput
C2
/ˈɑːksɪˌpʌt/
the back part of the head or skull
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hayrick
C2
/ˈheɪˌrɪk/
a large stack of hay, usually built outdoors for storage
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pharmacopoeia
C2
/ˌfɑrməkəˈpiə/
an official reference work that lists medicines and standards or instructions for their preparation, identification, and use
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ichneumon
C2
/ɪkˈnjuːmən/
an ichneumon wasp, a usually slender parasitoid wasp whose larvae develop in or on other arthropods
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dottle
C2
/ˈdɑː.təl/
the partly burned or unburned plug of tobacco left in the bowl of a pipe
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gibe
C2
/dʒaɪb/
a mocking or insulting remark intended to wound or provoke
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mool
C2
/muːl/
Scots and Northern English: loose earth or soil, especially the earth of a grave
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foxhound
C2
/ˈfɑksˌhaʊnd/
a medium-sized scent hound of the English or American breed developed for pursuing foxes and noted for its stamina
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ewer
C2
/ˈju.ɚ/
a wide-mouthed jug with a handle and spout, traditionally used for holding and pouring water
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effluvium
C2
/ɪˈfluːvi.əm/
A gaseous or vaporous emission, especially a foul-smelling one.
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furze
C2
/fɝz/
a dense, thorny evergreen shrub with bright yellow flowers; gorse
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saltire
C2
/ˈsælˌtaɪr/
heraldry: an X-shaped charge formed by a diagonal cross extending across a shield or flag
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haint
C2
/heɪnt/
an eye-dialect spelling of hain’t or ain’t, meaning has not, have not, am not, is not, or are not
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politesse
C2
/pɑləˈtɛs/
Civility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry; genteel politeness or an instance of this.
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inkstand
C2
/ˈɪŋkˌstænd/
a small stand or tray made to hold an inkwell and writing implements; sometimes, the inkwell itself
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armlet
C2
/ˈɑːrm.lət/
a band worn around the upper arm for ornament or identification
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pichi
C2
/ˈpiːtʃi/
a small hairy armadillo, Zaedyus pichiy, native to the dry grasslands and scrub of Argentina and Chile
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wainscot
C2
/ˈweɪnˌskɑt/
paneling, traditionally wooden, covering the lower part of an interior wall
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antipode
C2
/ˈæn.tɪ.poʊd/
direct opposite
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tumulus
C2
/ˈtuːmjələs/
a mound of earth or stones raised over a grave, especially a prehistoric burial mound
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upstroke
C2
/ˈʌpˌstɹoʊk/
a stroke or movement made upward, especially with a pen, brush, piston, or musical plectrum
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paraclete
C2
/ˈpæɹəkliːt/
An advocate or helper
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solferino
C2
/ˌsoʊlfəˈɹiːnəʊ/
a vivid purplish-red or magenta color, originally the name of an aniline dye
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orison
C2
/ˈɒɹɪsən/
A prayer.
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lorgnette
C2
/lɔːrˈnjet/
a pair of eyeglasses mounted in a frame with a handle and held in front of the eyes rather than worn
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polypeptide
C2
/ˌpɑliˈpɛpˌtaɪd/
a chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds, forming all or part of a protein
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antiproton
C2
/ˌæn.tiˈproʊ.tɑːn/
the antiparticle of the proton, with the same mass but a negative electric charge
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selenite
C2
/ˈsɛl.əˌnaɪt/
a transparent or translucent crystalline variety of gypsum
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shikari
C2
/ʃɪˈkɑː.riː/
a hunter or skilled tracker, especially in the Indian subcontinent
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proem
C2
/ˈproʊɛm/
an introduction, preface, or preamble to a work or discourse
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overspill
C2
/ˈoʊvɚˌspɪl/
something that spills, flows, or extends beyond a container, boundary, or available capacity
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hearthstone
C2
/ˈhɑɹθˌstoʊn/
a flat stone forming part or all of a hearth
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carnivora
C2
Carnivorans.
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mortmain
C2
/ˈmɔɹt.meɪn/
the permanent and inalienable ownership of land or other property by a corporation, historically especially a church
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ironstone
C2
/ˈaɪ.ɚnˌstoʊn/
an iron-rich sedimentary rock or ore
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matchwood
C2
/ˈmætʃˌwʊd/
wood reduced to small splinters, especially by violent damage
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asafoetida
C2
/ˌæsəˈfɛtɪdə/
the brownish gum resin of various plants
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tussock
C2
/ˈtʌsək/
a compact tuft or clump of grass or similar vegetation, often forming a small raised mound
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mamaliga
C2
/məməˈliɡə/
a Romanian maize porridge, similar to polenta
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bandeau
C2
/ˈbændəʊ/
a band for the hair.
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pastille
C2
/pæsˈtil/
a small medicated lozenge sucked to soothe the throat or release medicinal vapors
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sangfroid
C2
/sɑŋˈfɹɑ/
Composure, self-possession or imperturbability especially when in a dangerous situation.
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handsel
C2
/ˈhænsəl/
a gift or token given at the beginning of a new year, enterprise, or situation as a sign of good luck
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moorside
C2
/ˈmʊrˌsaɪd/
the side, slope, or edge of a moor
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gaur
C2
/ˈɡaʊər/
a very large wild bovine, Bos gaurus, native to forests of South and Southeast Asia
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tricorne
C2
/ˈtraɪ.kɔːrn/
a hat with the brim turned up on three sides to form three points; a tricorn
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counterpane
C2
/ˈkaʊntərpeɪn/
a decorative cover spread over the top of a bed; a bedspread
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castanet
C2
/ˌkæs.təˈnɛt/
one of a pair of small shell-shaped percussion instruments clicked together by the fingers, especially in Spanish dance
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dithyramb
C2
/ˈdɪθɪˌræm/
an ancient Greek choral hymn sung with passionate intensity in honor of Dionysus
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orris
C2
/ˈɔɹ.ɪs/
the fragrant dried rhizome of certain irises, used especially in perfumery, potpourri, and flavoring
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shirtsleeve
C2
/ˈʃɝːtˌsliːv/
the sleeve of a shirt
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annelid
C2
/ˈænəlɪd/
a segmented worm of the phylum Annelida, such as an earthworm, leech, or ragworm
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guanaco
C2
/ɡwəˈnɑːkəʊ/
wild llama
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hymnbook
C2
/ˈhɪmˌbʊk/
a book containing a collection of hymns for worship or communal singing
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