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.
Choose your level
View all levels
130 words
trench
C2
/tɹɛnt͡ʃ/
a long, narrow ditch dug in the ground
derrick
C2
/ˈdɛrɪk/
a crane with a movable boom, especially one used aboard a ship or at a construction site
spade
C2
/speɪ̯d/
a digging tool with a flat blade and a handle
bowie
C2
/ˈbuːi/
a Bowie knife: a large, heavy, single-edged sheath knife with a clipped point
barrow
C2
/ˈbæɹoʊ/
a small handcart used for carrying loads
hoop
C2
/huːp/
a rigid circular or curved band of metal, wood, or another material, used for holding, fastening, hanging, or forming a framework
machete
C2
/məˈʃɛ.ti/
a large heavy knife used for cutting vegetation or as a weapon
armory
C2
/ˈɑːrmɝi/
A building where weapons and military equipment are stored.
contraption
C2
/kənˈtræpʃən/
A strange or overly complicated machine or device.
dredge
C2
/drɛdʒ/
to remove mud, sand, or other material from the bottom of a body of water with a dredge
weir
C2
/wɪɹ/
a low dam built across a stream or river to raise the water level, regulate it, or divert its flow
sickle
C2
/ˈsɪkəl/
a short-handled agricultural tool with a curved blade, used for cutting grain or grass
axle
C2
/ˈæk.səl/
a shaft or pin on which a wheel or other rotating part turns
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
periscope
C2
/ˈpɛɹɪskəʊp/
an optical instrument that provides a view of an otherwise obstructed field
ligature
C2
/ˈlɪɡ.ə.tʃɚ/
a cord, band, or other fastening used to bind things together
blowtorch
C2
/ˈbloʊˌtɔɹtʃ/
a portable burner that produces a very hot, concentrated flame by mixing fuel gas with air or oxygen
sledgehammer
C2
/ˈslɛd͡ʒhæmɚ/
a large, heavy hammer with a long handle, used for powerful blows in demolition or construction
gazebo
C2
/ɡəˈziːboʊ/
a small roofed building affording shade and rest
megaphone
C2
/ˈmɛɡəˌfoʊn/
a cone-shaped acoustic device held to the mouth to intensify and direct the human voice
gargoyle
C2
/ˈɡɑrɡɔɪl/
a grotesquely carved waterspout that carries rainwater away from a building
sluice
C2
/sluːs/
an artificial channel or gate that controls a rapid flow of water
sieve
C2
/sɪv/
a utensil with a mesh or perforated bottom used to separate fine particles from coarse ones
smithy
C2
/ˈsmɪði/
a workshop where a smith heats, shapes, and repairs metal; a forge
gasket
C2
/ˈɡæs.kɪt/
any mechanical seal that serves to fill the space between two objects, generally to prevent leakage between the two objects while under compression.
watchtower
C2
/ˈwɑːtʃˌtaʊər/
a tower from which a lookout watches for danger, fire, escape, or approaching people
belvedere
C2
/ˈbɛl.vəˌdɪr/
a raised room, turret, pavilion, or other structure designed to command a fine view
siphon
C2
/ˈsaɪ.fən/
a bent tube used to move liquid from a higher container to a lower one through continuous flow
waterworks
C2
/ˈwɑːt̬ɚwɝːks/
a system of reservoirs, treatment facilities, pumps, and pipes that supplies water to a community
palazzo
C2
/pəˈlɑːt.soʊ/
an imposing urban residence or public building in Italy, especially one of historical or architectural importance
excavator
C2
/ˈɛkskəˌveɪtɚ/
a large powered machine with a boom and bucket, used for digging and moving earth
millstone
C2
/ˈmɪl.stoʊn/
one of a pair of large circular stones used for grinding grain
pneumatic
C2
/nuˈmætɪk/
operated by compressed air or another gas
truss
C2
/tɹʊs/
a rigid framework of connected beams that supports a roof, bridge, or other structure
stave
C2
/steɪv/
one of the narrow strips of wood or metal fitted edge to edge to form a barrel or similar structure
spire
C2
/ˈspaɪ.ɚ/
A tall, pointed structure on top of a tower or church roof.
backboard
C2
/ˈbækˌbɔrd/
a rigid board used to support or straighten a person's back, historically as a posture-training device
grater
C2
/ˈɡɹeɪtɚ/
a kitchen tool with a rough or perforated cutting surface used to shred food into small pieces
pickaxe
C2
/ˈpɪkˌæks/
a heavy tool with a long handle and a pointed metal head, used for breaking hard ground or rock
needlepoint
C2
/ˈniːdl̩ˌpɔɪnt/
a sharp point resembling the tip of a needle
condenser
C2
/ˈkʰəndɛnsɚ/
an apparatus that converts vapor into liquid
dado
C2
/ˈdeɪdoʊ/
the lower part of an interior wall when it is decorated or finished differently from the area above it
flange
C2
/flændʒ/
a projecting rim, rib, or collar on a pipe, wheel, beam, or other component, used for strength, guidance, or attachment
linchpin
C2
/ˈlɪnt͡ʃˌpɪn/
a person or thing essential to the stability or success of a system or plan
scraper
C2
/ˈskreɪpɚ/
a tool, blade, or implement used to remove material by scraping
culvert
C2
/ˈkʌlvɚt/
a covered channel or pipe that carries water beneath a road, railway, or embankment
gimlet
C2
/ˈɡɪmlət/
a small hand tool with a screw-shaped point, used for boring holes in wood
spyglass
C2
/ˈspaɪˌɡlæs/
a small portable telescope, especially a collapsible refracting telescope used at sea
superstructure
C2
/ˈsuːpɚˌstɹʌktʃɚ/
a structure, system, or set of ideas built upon an underlying foundation or basis
jackknife
C2
/ˈdʒækˌnaɪf/
a large pocketknife whose blade folds into the handle
brazier
C2
/ˈbɹeɪʒəɹ/
large metal container in which coal or charcoal is burned
postern
C2
/ˈpoʊstɚn/
a back, side, or private entrance, especially a small gate in a fortification
breakwater
C2
/ˈbreɪkˌwɔtɚ/
a barrier built offshore or at a harbor entrance to reduce the force of waves and protect the water or coast behind it
metalwork
C2
/ˈmɛtəlˌwɝk/
objects, fittings, or structural parts made of metal
flagstone
C2
/ˈflæɡˌstoʊn/
a broad, flat slab of stone used for paving paths, floors, or roofs
caulk
C2
/kɔk/
to fill and seal a seam, crack, or joint so that air or water cannot pass through
strop
C2
/stɹɑp/
sharpen on a strop
seismograph
C2
/ˈsaɪz.mə.ɡɹæf/
an instrument that automatically detects and records the intensity, direction and duration of earthquakes and similar events.
frontage
C2
/ˈfɹʌn.tɪd͡ʒ/
the face or front of a building
colonnade
C2
/ˌkɒləˈneɪd/
a row of regularly spaced columns supporting a roof or entablature
pinion
C2
/ˈpɪnjən/
the smaller of two meshing gears, or a small gear that engages with a rack
brickwork
C2
/ˈbrɪkwɝːk/
bricks set in mortar as part of a wall or building; masonry made from bricks
cornice
C2
/ˈkoɹnɪs/
a horizontal moulded projection that crowns a building, wall, or classical entablature
cupola
C2
/ˈkuːpələ/
a small dome or domed structure built on top of a roof
bevel
C2
/ˈbɛvəl/
a sloping edge or surface cut at an angle other than a right angle
loggia
C2
/ˈloʊdʒə/
a roofed gallery or corridor that is open to the air on one or more sides, often along an upper story of a building
bodkin
C2
/ˈbɑːdkɪn/
a blunt, large-eyed needle used to pull cord or ribbon through a hem or casing
whetstone
C2
/ˈwɛtˌstoʊn/
a flat stone or bonded abrasive used to sharpen the edge of a knife or tool
stanchion
C2
/ˈstæn.tʃən/
an upright post, pole, or bar used to support a structure or form part of a barrier
parti
C2
/pɑrˈtiː/
the central concept or organizing scheme of an architectural design, often expressed in a simple diagram
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.
collet
C2
/ˈkɑlɪt/
a slotted, tapered sleeve that closes around a tool or workpiece to hold it firmly in a machine
capstan
C2
/ˈkæpstən/
a vertical revolving cylinder used to wind a rope or cable and exert heavy pulling force, especially aboard a ship
blowpipe
C2
/ˈbloʊˌpaɪp/
a narrow tube used to direct air or gas into a flame, concentrating its heat for chemical tests, metalwork, or mineral analysis
jamb
C2
/dʒæm/
either vertical side of a doorway, window, fireplace, or other opening in a wall
mullion
C2
/ˈmʌl.jən/
a slender upright bar that divides adjacent panes or sections of a window, door, or screen
mortise
C2
/ˈmɔrtɪs/
a rectangular cavity cut in one piece of material to receive a matching tenon and form a joint
apse
C2
/æps/
a semicircular or polygonal recess in a building, especially the vaulted eastern end of a church behind the altar
campanile
C2
/ˌkæm.pəˈniː.li/
a bell tower, especially a freestanding Italian bell tower beside a church or public building
bolas
C2
/ˈboʊ.ləs/
a throwing weapon of connected cords and weights that entangles an animal's legs
abutment
C2
/əˈbʌt.mn̩t/
a solid structure that supports the end or resists the outward thrust of a bridge, arch, dam, or similar construction
mattock
C2
/ˈmætək/
a heavy digging tool with a horizontal blade, often paired with a pick or axe blade on the other end
hasp
C2
/hæsp/
a hinged metal strap that fits over a staple and is secured by a pin or padlock
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
puncheon
C2
/ˈpʌntʃən/
US historical: a split log or heavy slab smoothed on one face and used especially for flooring
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
clapboard
C2
/ˈklæpˌbɔɹd/
a long narrow siding board, usually thinner at one edge, laid horizontally so that each board overlaps the one below
ironmongery
C2
/ˈaɪrnˌmʌŋ.ɡɚ.i/
tools, metal fittings, and other hardware sold for use in homes, gardens, or buildings
earthwork
C2
/ˈɝθˌwɝk/
a structure made from piled or shaped earth, especially an embankment or defensive rampart
parer
C2
/ˈpɛr.ɚ/
a tool used to remove a thin outer layer from fruit, vegetables, or another object
repeller
C2
/rɪˈpɛlər/
a person, substance, device, or force that repels something or drives it away
sidelight
C2
/ˈsaɪdˌlaɪt/
a small light fitted at the side of a vehicle or the red or green navigation light on a vessel
actuate
C2
/ˈæk.tʃuˌeɪt/
engineering: to cause a machine or mechanism to operate or move
crupper
C2
/ˈkrʌpər/
a strap or loop passing under a horse's tail to prevent a saddle or harness from sliding forward
whipsaw
C2
/ˈwɪpˌsɔ/
a long narrow saw, commonly worked by two people using a handle at each end
aneroid
C2
/ˈænərɔɪd/
operating without liquid, especially by using air pressure on a flexible metal chamber