This week on The Missing Workbook
1 new learner
12 reviews
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.
Choose your level
View all levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
226 words
shepherd
C2
/ˈʃɛpəɹd/
a herder of sheep, often on an open range
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
lizard
C2
/ˈlɪz.ɚd/
Any reptile of the order Squamata that is not a snake or part of Mosasauria — typically characterised by a rounded torso, a short neck with an elevated head, four limbs and a long tail, although some species are legless.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
coop
C2
/kuːp/
a small enclosure or shelter for poultry or other small animals
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
weasel
C2
/ˈwizəl/
a small slender carnivorous mammal of the genus Mustela or a related genus
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cobra
C2
/ˈkoʊbrə/
any of several venomous Asian or African elapid snakes that can spread the ribs of the neck to form a hood, especially a snake of the genus Naja
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
hare
C2
/hɛɚ/
swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
tit
C2
/tɪt/
a small, active songbird that often feeds on insects and seeds
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
tweet
C2
/ˈtwit/
a short, high-pitched chirping sound, especially one made by a small bird
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
skunk
C2
/skʌŋk/
a small black-and-white American mammal that can spray a powerful-smelling defensive fluid
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
moth
C2
/mɔθ/
Any flying insect of the order Lepidoptera not in the superfamily Papilionoidea, most species of which are nocturnal and can be distinguished from butterflies by feather-like antennae.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
unicorn
C2
/ˈju.nɪ.kɔɹn/
A mythical horse, widely believed to exist until the 17th century, with a single, straight, spiraled horn projecting from its forehead.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
noose
C2
/nuːs/
a trap for birds or small mammals
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
vermin
C2
/ˈvɝmɪn/
Small harmful animals or insects, such as rats, mice, or fleas, that are hard to control.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
raccoon
C2
/ræˈkuːn/
a nocturnal North American mammal with a black facial mask, dexterous forepaws, and a ringed tail
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
hutch
C2
/hʌtʃ/
a cage or enclosed box in which rabbits or other small animals are kept
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
eel
C2
/iːl/
Any freshwater fish of the order Anguilliformes, which are elongated and resemble snakes.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
fern
C2
/fɝn/
Any of a group of some twenty thousand species of vascular plants classified in the division Pteridophyta that lack seeds and reproduce by shedding spores to initiate an alternation of generations.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
roach
C2
/roʊtʃ/
a silvery-green European freshwater fish, or any of several related fishes
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
carmine
C2
/ˈkɑɹmaɪn/
a vivid purplish-red pigment or dye traditionally made from cochineal insects
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
runt
C2
/rʌnt/
the smallest or weakest animal in a litter
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
mackerel
C2
/ˈmækərəl/
a streamlined sea fish with dark wavy markings, commonly caught for food
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
ostrich
C2
/ˈɔs.tɹɪt͡ʃ/
fast-running African flightless bird with two-toed feet
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
ferret
C2
/ˈfɛɹɪt/
domesticated albino variety of the European polecat bred for hunting rats and rabbits
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
mantis
C2
/ˈmæntɪs/
a predatory insect of the order Mantodea, with a mobile triangular head and powerful grasping forelegs held as if in prayer
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
chameleon
C2
/kəˈmi.li.ən/
A small to mid-size reptile, of the family Chamaeleonidae, and one of the best known lizard families able to change color and project its long tongue.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
coney
C2
/ˈkoʊni/
archaic or historical: a rabbit, especially the European rabbit, or its fur
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
snout
C2
/snaʊt/
The long, projecting nose, mouth, and jaw of a beast, as of pigs.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pug
C2
/pʌɡ/
a small, sturdy dog with a short muzzle, broad wrinkled face, smooth coat, and tightly curled tail
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
scavenger
C2
/ˈskævəndʒɝ/
An animal that feeds on dead bodies or rotting matter.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
gallop
C2
/ˈɡæləp/
a fast gait of a horse
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
hock
C2
/hɑːk/
the joint in the hind leg of a horse or other hoofed animal between the knee and the fetlock
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
filly
C2
/ˈfɪli/
a young female horse, especially one below the age at which it is called a mare
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
rhea
C2
/ˈriːə/
a large, fast-running, flightless bird native to South America, with long legs and three-toed feet
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
yelp
C2
/jɛlp/
a sharp, high-pitched cry, especially by a dog
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dragonfly
C2
/ˈdræɡənˌflaɪ/
a predatory insect with a long body, very large eyes, and two pairs of transparent wings held open at rest, especially one of the infraorder Anisoptera
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
rump
C2
/ˈɹʌmp/
the hindquarters of an animal, or informally the buttocks of a person
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
albatross
C2
/ˈæl.bəˌtɹɔs/
a very large oceanic bird with long, narrow wings adapted for gliding great distances
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
roost
C2
/ɹuːst/
a perch on which a bird rests or sleeps
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
greyhound
C2
/ˈɡɹeɪhaʊnd/
a tall slender dog of an ancient breed noted for swiftness and keen sight
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
harpoon
C2
/hɑːrˈpuːn/
a heavy spear with a barbed head, usually attached to a line, thrown or fired to catch whales and other large aquatic animals
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
sardine
C2
/sɑrˈdiːn/
any of several small, oily, silvery fish related to herrings, especially a pilchard
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
wildcat
C2
/ˈwaɪ.əldˌkæt/
a small or medium-sized cat that lives in the wild, especially a species resembling the domestic cat
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
yoke
C2
/joʊk/
stable gear that joins two draft animals at the neck so they can work together as a team
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
venomous
C2
/ˈvɛnəməs/
Of an animal: producing venom and able to inject it by biting or stinging.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
llama
C2
/ˈlɑː.mə/
a domesticated South American camelid kept as a pack animal and for its wool and meat
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cob
C2
/kɑb/
a strong, compact horse with short legs, commonly used for riding or pulling a carriage
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
gar
C2
/ɡɑɹ/
any of several large North American freshwater fish with an armored body and long, toothed jaws
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
primate
C2
/ˈpraɪˌmeɪt/
any mammal of the order Primates, including humans, apes, monkeys, lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
buzzard
C2
/ˈbʌzəɹd/
A large bird of prey with broad wings and a broad tail, common in Europe.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
magpie
C2
/ˈmæɡˌpaɪ/
A noisy black-and-white bird with a long tail, related to the crow.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
mew
C2
/mjuː/
a short, high-pitched cry made by a cat or similar animal
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
foal
C2
/foʊl/
a young horse or other equine, especially one less than a year old
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cur
C2
/kɝ/
a dog regarded as aggressive, inferior, or of mixed breed; now usually contemptuous
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
heron
C2
/ˈhɛɹən/
grey or white wading bird with long neck and long legs and (usually) long bill
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
thoroughbred
C2
/ˈθɝːəbred/
a horse of the Thoroughbred breed, developed chiefly for racing from English mares and imported Arabian, Barb, and Turkoman stallions
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
reptilian
C2
/ɹɛpˈtɪljən/
Relating to reptiles such as snakes, lizards, and crocodiles.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
retriever
C2
/ɹiˈtɹivəɹ/
a gun dog trained to find and bring back shot game, or a dog belonging to one of the breeds developed for that work
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
larva
C2
/ˈlɑɹ.və/
an immature form of an insect, amphibian, or other animal, usually very different from the adult
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
carnivorous
C2
/kɑɹˈnɪv.ə.ɹəs/
relating to or characteristic of carnivores
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cheep
C2
/tʃiːp/
a short, high-pitched cry made by a young bird or another small animal
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
songbird
C2
/ˈsɔŋˌbɝd/
a bird known for a musical call or song
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
carnivore
C2
/ˈkɑɹ.nɪ.voɹ/
any animal that feeds on flesh
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
shoal
C2
/ʃəʊl/
A large group of fish swimming together.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
whinny
C2
/ˈwɪn.i/
a gentle or relatively high-pitched neigh made by a horse
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
girth
C2
/ɡɝθ/
stable gear consisting of a band around a horse's belly that holds the saddle in place
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
lapdog
C2
/ˈlæpˌdɔɡ/
a small, tame dog that can be held comfortably on a person's lap
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
anchovy
C2
/ˈænt͡ʃoʊ.vi/
a small marine fish, especially one preserved in salt or oil and used for its strong savory flavor
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
basset
C2
/ˈbæsɪt/
a basset hound, a short-legged dog with long ears and a strong sense of smell
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
woodcock
C2
/ˈwʊdˌkɑk/
a stocky woodland wading bird of the genus Scolopax, with mottled plumage and a long slender bill
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bloodsucker
C2
/ˈblʌdˌsʌkɚ/
an animal, especially a leech or biting insect, that feeds by sucking blood
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
peregrine
C2
/ˈperɪɡrɪn/
the peregrine falcon, a powerful and widely distributed bird of prey noted for its extremely fast dive
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
teat
C2
/tiːt/
the projecting part of a mammary gland through which milk is drawn by a young mammal
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
menagerie
C2
/məˈnædʒ.ɚ.i/
a collection of wild or unusual animals kept for exhibition
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
horner
C2
/ˈhɔrnɚ/
historical: a craftsperson who works animal horn into combs, vessels, handles, or other goods
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
mastodon
C2
/ˈmæs.tə.dɑn/
an extinct elephant-like mammal of the genus Mammut, distinguished from mammoths and elephants by the cone-shaped cusps on its molar teeth
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
gaucho
C2
/ˈɡaʊ.tʃoʊ/
a skilled horseman and cattle worker of the South American pampas, especially in Argentina and Uruguay
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
emu
C2
/ˈim(j)u/
large Australian flightless bird similar to the ostrich but smaller
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
furlong
C2
/ˈfɝː.lɔːŋ/
a unit of distance equal to one eighth of a mile, 220 yards, or 201.168 metres, now used chiefly in horse racing
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
avian
C2
/ˈeɪvi.ən/
Relating to or typical of birds.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
meagre
C2
/ˈmiːɡɚ/
An edible fish, of species Argyrosomus regius, of the family Sciaenidae, found from the Black Sea to the eastern Atlantic.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bevy
C2
/ˈbɛvi/
a flock of birds, especially when gathered close together on the ground
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
rawhide
C2
/ˈrɑː.haɪd/
animal hide, especially cattle hide, that has been cleaned but not tanned
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
echidna
C2
/əˈkɪdnə/
a spiny, toothless, egg-laying mammal of Australia and New Guinea that feeds mainly on ants and termites
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dachshund
C2
/ˈdɑksˌhʊnt/
a small dog of a German breed with a long body, very short legs, and long drooping ears
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
minnow
C2
/ˈmɪnoʊ/
a very small freshwater fish, especially the common Eurasian minnow Phoxinus phoxinus
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bonito
C2
/bəˈniːtoʊ/
any of several swift marine fishes of the genus Sarda, related to mackerel and tuna and valued as food and sport fish
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cicada
C2
/sɪˈkeɪdə/
a stout-bodied insect with large transparent wings, whose males produce a loud buzzing or clicking call
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
offal
C2
/ˈɔːfəl/
the edible internal organs and other trimmings of a butchered animal
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
whelp
C2
/wɛlp/
a young dog or wolf, or the young of certain other carnivorous mammals
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
entomologist
C2
/ˌen.t̬əˈmɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
a scientist who specializes in the study of insects
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
zoological
C2
/zoʊəˈlɑd͡ʒɪkl̩/
of or relating to animals or animal groups
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dobbin
C2
/ˈdɑbɪn/
dated: a quiet, patient horse used for ordinary farm work or transport
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
anemone
C2
/əˈnem.ə.ni/
a sea animal related to coral, with a cylindrical body and a ring of stinging tentacles
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
zoologist
C2
/zoʊˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
A scientist who studies animals.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
asp
C2
/æsp/
a venomous snake of North Africa traditionally identified with the cobra said to have killed Cleopatra
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bedbug
C2
/ˈbɛdˌbʌɡ/
a small, flat, nocturnal insect that hides near sleeping places and feeds on the blood of people or other warm-blooded animals
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off