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.
92 words
gong
C2
/ɡɔŋ/
a percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned bells that are struck with a hammer
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transmitter
C2
/trænˈsmɪtɝ/
A device that sends out radio, television, or other signals.
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bugle
C2
/ˈbjuːɡəl/
a simple brass instrument, usually without valves, used especially for military signals
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contraption
C2
/kənˈtræpʃən/
A strange or overly complicated machine or device.
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plough
C2
/plaʊ/
a farm tool used to cut and turn over soil before planting
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ventilator
C2
/ˈvɛntɪleɪtə/
a device that facilitates breathing in cases of respiratory failure
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clarinet
C2
/ˌklæɹɪˈnɛt/
A woodwind musical instrument that has a distinctive liquid tone whose characteristics vary among its three registers: chalumeau (low), clarion (medium), and altissimo (high).
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pacemaker
C2
/ˈpeɪsˌmeɪkər/
a small implanted electronic device that regulates an abnormal heartbeat
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sickle
C2
/ˈsɪkəl/
a short-handled agricultural tool with a curved blade, used for cutting grain or grass
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periscope
C2
/ˈpɛɹɪskəʊp/
an optical instrument that provides a view of an otherwise obstructed field
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lute
C2
/luːt/
a plucked string instrument with a rounded back, flat front, fretted neck, and usually a bent-back pegbox
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forceps
C2
/ˈfɔɹ.sɛps/
a medical or surgical instrument with two blades or pincers, used for grasping, holding, or extracting something
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stethoscope
C2
/ˈstɛθəsˌkoʊp/
a medical instrument used to listen to sounds made by the heart, lungs, and other internal organs
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boathouse
C2
/ˈboʊtˌhaʊs/
a building beside or over water in which boats and boating equipment are kept
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megaphone
C2
/ˈmɛɡəˌfoʊn/
a cone-shaped acoustic device held to the mouth to intensify and direct the human voice
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dynamo
C2
/ˈdaɪnəmoʊ/
An electricity generator; a dynamo-electric machine.
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pitchfork
C2
/ˈpɪt͡ʃˌfɔɹk/
a long-handled hand tool with sharp widely spaced prongs for lifting and pitching hay
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steroid
C2
/ˈstɛɹɔɪd/
any of a class of organic compounds built around a characteristic structure of four fused carbon rings
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oboe
C2
/ˈoʊ.boʊ/
a high-pitched woodwind instrument with a narrow conical bore and a double reed, used especially in orchestras and chamber music
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paraphernalia
C2
/ˌpɛɹəfɚˈneɪli.ə/
a collection of miscellaneous equipment or objects used for a particular activity
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shaver
C2
/ˈʃeɪvɚ/
a tool or machine used for shaving, especially an electric razor
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excavator
C2
/ˈɛkskəˌveɪtɚ/
a large powered machine with a boom and bucket, used for digging and moving earth
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truss
C2
/tɹʊs/
a rigid framework of connected beams that supports a roof, bridge, or other structure
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harpsichord
C2
/ˈhɑːrp.sɪ.kɔːrd/
a keyboard instrument in which pressing a key plucks a string, producing a bright, crisp tone
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collider
C2
/kəˈlaɪdɚ/
A machine that speeds up particles and makes two beams of them crash into each other for research.
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bagpipe
C2
/ˈbæɡpaɪp/
a wind instrument whose pipes are sounded from air stored in a bag, usually referred to in the plural as bagpipes
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spacesuit
C2
/ˈspeɪs.suːt/
a sealed protective suit with life-support equipment that allows an astronaut to survive and work in space or a near-vacuum
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spectrometer
C2
/spekˈtrɑː.mə.t̬ɚ/
an instrument that separates radiation, particles, or signals into a spectrum and measures their intensity or abundance by wavelength, frequency, energy, or mass-to-charge ratio
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electrode
C2
/ˌɪˈlɛktroʊd/
A conductor through which electric current enters or leaves a device, liquid, or circuit.
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grater
C2
/ˈɡɹeɪtɚ/
a kitchen tool with a rough or perforated cutting surface used to shred food into small pieces
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pickaxe
C2
/ˈpɪkˌæks/
a heavy tool with a long handle and a pointed metal head, used for breaking hard ground or rock
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harmonium
C2
/hɑːrˈmoʊ.ni.əm/
a small keyboard instrument whose free reeds are sounded by air supplied through bellows
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timepiece
C2
/ˈtaɪmˌpiːs/
an instrument for measuring and showing time, especially a clock or watch
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rasp
C2
/ɹæsp/
The sound made by this tool when used, or any similar sound.
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scraper
C2
/ˈskreɪpɚ/
a tool, blade, or implement used to remove material by scraping
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sextant
C2
/ˈsɛk.stənt/
A navigational device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to determine latitude and longitude.
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masher
C2
/ˈmæʃər/
a utensil or machine used to crush food or another material into a soft mass
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concertina
C2
/ˌkɑːnsərˈtiːnə/
a small free-reed musical instrument with bellows between two end boards, played by pressing buttons while expanding and compressing it
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gimlet
C2
/ˈɡɪmlət/
a small hand tool with a screw-shaped point, used for boring holes in wood
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chronometer
C2
/krə(ʊ)ˈnɒmɪtər/
A device for measuring time, particularly a precision mechanism for measuring time of day.
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speculum
C2
/ˈspɛkjələm/
a medical instrument used to hold open a body passage so that its interior can be examined
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lean-to
C2
/ˈliːn.tuː/
a simple shelter or extension with a roof that slopes in one direction, often built against another structure
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colliery
C2
/ˈkɑljəri/
a coal mine together with its surface buildings and equipment
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zither
C2
/ˈzɪ.ðɚ/
a stringed instrument with many strings stretched across a flat, usually horizontal soundbox and played by plucking or strumming
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trope
C2
/tɹoʊp/
a familiar theme, device, or convention that recurs in a type of story, art, or discussion
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seismograph
C2
/ˈsaɪz.mə.ɡɹæf/
an instrument that automatically detects and records the intensity, direction and duration of earthquakes and similar events.
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stylus
C2
/ˈstaɪ.ləs/
a pen-shaped device used to write, draw, or select items on a touchscreen or graphics tablet
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pianoforte
C2
/piˌænoʊˈfɔrteɪ/
the full or historical name for a piano, a keyboard instrument whose hammers strike strings and whose volume varies with the player's touch
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bourdon
C2
/ˈbʊɹdən/
a continuous low drone or bass tone, especially one produced by a bagpipe, hurdy-gurdy, or similar instrument
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cupola
C2
/ˈkuːpələ/
a small dome or domed structure built on top of a roof
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balustrade
C2
/ˈbæl.ə.stɹeɪd/
A row of balusters topped by a rail, serving as an open parapet, as along the edge of a balcony, terrace, bridge, staircase, or the eaves of a building.
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spectroscope
C2
/ˈspɛktɹəˌskoʊp/
an instrument that disperses electromagnetic radiation into its component wavelengths so that the resulting spectrum can be viewed or examined, especially in visible light
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whetstone
C2
/ˈwɛtˌstoʊn/
a flat stone or bonded abrasive used to sharpen the edge of a knife or tool
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spectrograph
C2
/ˈspɛk.trəˌɡræf/
an instrument that separates radiation, sound, or charged particles into a spectrum and records or maps the resulting distribution
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gimbal
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɪmbəl/
a device for suspending something, such as a ship's compass, so that it will remain level when its support is tipped.
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collet
C2
/ˈkɑlɪt/
a slotted, tapered sleeve that closes around a tool or workpiece to hold it firmly in a machine
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dulcimer
C2
/ˈdʌl.sɪ.mɚ/
a stringed instrument with strings stretched over a usually trapezoidal soundboard and struck with small hammers
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interferometer
C2
/ˌɪn.tɚ.fəˈrɑː.mə.tɚ/
an instrument that superimposes two or more waves and analyzes their interference pattern to make precise measurements of distance, wavelength, refractive index, or related quantities
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theodolite
C2
/θiˈɑ.dəˌlaɪt/
a surveying instrument with a movable telescope for precisely measuring horizontal and vertical angles
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skulduggery
C2
/ˌskʌlˈdʌɡəɹi/
A devious device or trick.
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mattock
C2
/ˈmætək/
a heavy digging tool with a horizontal blade, often paired with a pick or axe blade on the other end
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windlass
C2
/ˈwɪndləs/
a machine with a horizontal or vertical rotating drum around which a rope or chain is wound to raise or haul heavy loads, especially a ship's anchor
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accoutrement
C2
/əˈkuː.tɚ.mənt/
an item of equipment, clothing, or decoration used for a particular activity or role, most often in the plural
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downstroke
C2
/ˈdaʊnˌstɹoʊk/
a stroke or movement made downward, especially with a pen, brush, tool, or musical plectrum
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trephine
C2
/tɹɪˈfaɪn/
a surgical instrument with a cylindrical cutting edge for removing a circular section of bone or other tissue
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parer
C2
/ˈpɛr.ɚ/
a tool used to remove a thin outer layer from fruit, vegetables, or another object
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organon
C2
/ˈɔɹ.ɡəˌnɑn/
an instrument of thought or a systematic body of principles used in scientific or philosophical inquiry
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potentiometer
C2
/pəˌtɛn(t)ʃiˈɑmɪtəɹ/
a measuring instrument for measuring direct current electromotive forces
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heliograph
C2
/ˈhiːliəˌɡræf/
an instrument that sends coded signals over a distance by reflecting flashes of sunlight with a mirror
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calorimeter
C2
/ˌkæl.əˈɹɪm.ə.t̬ɚ/
an instrument for measuring heat absorbed or released during a chemical reaction, phase change, or other physical process
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hygrometer
C2
/haɪˈɡrɑːmətər/
an instrument for measuring humidity, especially the relative humidity of the air
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nailhead
C2
/ˈneɪlˌhɛd/
the flattened or enlarged end of a nail opposite its point, designed to receive the blow of a hammer
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spinning-wheel
C2
/ˈspɪnɪŋˌwiːl/
a hand- or foot-powered machine that twists fibers into thread or yarn
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corrugator
C2
/ˈkɔɹ.əˌɡeɪ.tɚ/
A machine that corrugates material.
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caltrop
C2
/ˈkæl.trəp/
a small metal device with four spikes arranged so that one point always faces upward, used to injure feet, hooves, or tires
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appurtenance
C2
/əˈpɝtənəns/
an accessory, subordinate part, or piece of equipment belonging to something more important
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bootjack
C2
/ˈbuːtˌdʒæk/
a forked device that holds the heel of a boot so the wearer can pull the foot out
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hautboy
C2
/ˈhoʊˌbɔɪ/
archaic: an oboe or an early form of that treble double-reed woodwind instrument
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helve
C2
/hɛlv/
the handle or haft of a tool or weapon, especially an axe or hammer
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Jew's harp
C2
/ˈdʒuːzˌhɑrp/
a small plucked instrument held against the teeth or lips, whose flexible tongue vibrates while the player's mouth changes the tone
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multiplexer
C2
/ˈmʌltəˌplɛksər/
an electronic device that selects one of several input signals to send to a single output
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stellarator
C2
/ˈstel.əˌreɪ.tɚ/
a device that confines hot plasma for nuclear-fusion research using a twisted arrangement of external magnetic coils
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stone crusher
C2
/ˈstoʊn ˌkrʌʃ.ɚ/
a machine that breaks stone or rock into smaller pieces, especially for road building, concrete, quarrying, or ore processing
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palette knife
C2
/ˈpæl.ət ˌnaɪf/
a blunt, flexible, flat-bladed artist's tool used to mix colors on a palette and sometimes to apply or remove paint
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paper cutter
C2
/ˈpeɪ.pɚ ˌkʌt̬.ɚ/
a machine or device for cutting or trimming sheets of paper to a required size, often with a long hinged blade
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upperworks
C2
/ˈʌpərˌwɝks/
the structures and equipment above the hull or main deck of a ship, or above the main body of a vehicle or machine
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stylobate
C2
/ˈstaɪ.lə.beɪt/
architecture: the uppermost step or platform of a classical building's stepped base, directly supporting its columns
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falsework
C2
/ˈfɔlsˌwɝk/
a temporary framework used in the building of bridges and arched structures in order to hold items in place until the structure is able to support itself.
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cantilever
C2
/ˈkæntɪˌlivɚ/
a beam or other structure fixed at one end and projecting outward without support at its other end
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finial
C2
/ˈfɪn.i.əl/
a decorative feature at the top of a roof, spire, or other part of a building
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caisson
C2
/ˈkeɪ.sɑn/
a watertight structure used to keep water out of an underwater construction site or to form part of its foundations
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whittle down
C2
to reduce the size of something by cutting small pieces from it
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