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
All 27,237 words
175 words
parameter
C2
/pəˈɹæm.ə.tɚ/
A factor or limit that defines or sets the boundaries of something.
smartphone
A2
/ˈsmɑɹtfoʊn/
A mobile phone that can run apps, browse the internet, and do many of the things a computer can.
browser
B2
/ˈbɹaʊ.zəɹ/
A computer program used to find and look at pages on the internet
kodak
C2
/ˈkoʊdæk/
a camera, especially a small hand camera (historical generic use of the trademark)
cyberspace
B2
/ˈsaɪ.bəɹˌspeɪs/
The Internet and the online world as a whole.
biometric
C2
/ˌbaɪ.oʊˈmɛt.ɹɪk/
using measurable physical or behavioral characteristics to identify a person
spreadsheet
B2
/ˈspɹɛd.ʃit/
A computer program that organizes data in a grid of rows and columns for calculation and analysis.
electrode
C2
/ˌɪˈlɛktroʊd/
A conductor through which electric current enters or leaves a device, liquid, or circuit.
macro
C2
/ˈmæk.ɹoʊ/
a saved instruction or abbreviation that expands into a longer sequence of computer commands
allocate
C1
/ˈæl.əˌkeɪt/
To give out or set aside money, time, or resources for a particular purpose.
bloat
C2
/bloʊt/
unnecessary size, complexity, or excess, especially in software or organizations
daemon
C2
/ˈdiːmən/
a computer program or process that runs in the background and performs a service without direct user control
facsimile
C2
/fækˈsɪməli/
An exact copy or reproduction of something.
monolith
C2
/ˈmɑn.əˌlɪθ/
a large single block of stone, especially one used as a monument
searchlight
C2+
/ˈsɝːtʃˌlaɪt/
To scan or sweep across like a searchlight.
repeater
C1
/rɪˈpiː.tɚ/
an electronic device that receives a signal and retransmits it, often after amplifying it
cursor
B2
/ˈkɜɹsəɹ/
A small moving mark or arrow on a computer screen that shows where you are typing or pointing.
antivirus
B2
/ˈantɪvʌɪrəs/
Software used to find, block, and remove computer viruses.
selector
B2
/səˈlɛktɚ/
a control or device used to choose one of several settings or inputs
lurker
C2
/ˈlɝ.kɚ/
a person who reads or observes an online community without posting or participating
CD-ROM
B1
/siː.diːˈɹɒm/
A CD that holds computer data which can be read but not changed.
stylus
C2
/ˈstaɪ.ləs/
a pen-shaped device used to write, draw, or select items on a touchscreen or graphics tablet
latency
C1
/ˈleɪtənsi/
delay between a request, signal, or action and the response to it
overwrite
B2
/oʊ.vɚˈɹaɪt/
to replace existing data by writing new data over it
mixin
C2
/ˈmɪksɪn/
a reusable unit of behavior or methods that can be included in a class without ordinary single inheritance
exfiltrate
C2
/ˈɛksfɪltɹeɪt/
to covertly remove data from a computer system or network
cybercrime
B2
Crime that is committed using computers and the Internet, such as stealing data or money.
unlink
B2
/ʌnˈlɪŋk/
to remove or break a connection between linked people, accounts, objects, or pieces of information
hypertext
C2
/ˈhaɪpɚtekst/
digital text containing links that let a reader move non-sequentially between related passages or documents
subclass
C1
/ˈsʌbklæs/
a class derived from another class in object-oriented programming
digitalize
C1
/ˈdi-jə-tə-ˌlīz/
To convert information or processes into a digital form for use on computers.
corrugator
C2
/ˈkɔɹ.əˌɡeɪ.tɚ/
A machine that corrugates material.
digitalization
C1
/ˌdɪdʒɪtəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
The process of converting information or processes into digital form.
accessor
C2
/ˈækˌsɛsɚ/
a method or function that reads a value, usually without changing the underlying data
detectaphone
C2+
/dɪˈtɛktəfoʊn/
a sensitive microphone able to record conversations covertly even through a wall.
programmatically
C1
/pɹoʊɡɹəˈmætɪk(ə)li/
by means of computer code rather than manual action
namespace
C2
/ˈneɪmspeɪs/
a named scope that groups identifiers so they do not conflict with identical names elsewhere
cyberpet
B2
A virtual pet that you look after through a computer program or device.
digital camera
A2
mobile phone
A1
cipher
C2+
/ˈsaɪfər/
a secret code; a zero; a nonentity; to encode or do arithmetic
clasp
C2+
/klæsp/
to grasp or hold tightly; a fastening device
contrivance
C2+
/kənˈtraɪvəns/
a cleverly made device or scheme; an artificial or strained arrangement
jack
C2+
/dʒæk/
a device for raising heavy objects; also, to raise or boost
maze
C2+
/meɪz/
a network of confusing paths; to bewilder
blower
C2+
/ˈbloʊɚ/
a device that produces a current of air; (British slang) a telephone
emulator
C2+
/ˈɛmjəˌleɪtər/
hardware or software that imitates another system, or one who emulates
executable
C2+
/ˈɛksɪkjutəbəl/
able to be carried out or run, especially a computer program file
lookup
C2+
/ˈlʊkˌʌp/
the act of searching for information in a reference or database
algorithm
C2+
/ˈælɡəˌrɪðəm/
a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or computation
bot
C2+
/bɑt/
a software program that runs automated tasks; also a botfly larva
coder
C2+
/ˈkoʊdɚ/
a person who writes computer programs or converts data into code
codify
C2+
/ˈkɑdəˌfaɪ/
to arrange laws or rules into a systematic code
committer
C2+
/kəˈmɪtɚ/
one who commits something, such as code changes or an act
compiler
C2+
/kəmˈpaɪlɚ/
one who compiles; a program that translates source code into machine code
decidable
C2+
/dɪˈsaɪdəbəl/
able to be decided; in logic, solvable by an algorithm
digitally
C2+
/ˈdɪdʒɪtəli/
by means of digital technology; or with the fingers
digitize
C2+
/ˈdɪdʒɪˌtaɪz/
to convert information into digital form
fastener
C2+
/ˈfæsənɚ/
a device that holds or joins things together
flasher
C2+
/ˈflæʃɚ/
a device or thing that flashes, such as a blinking light
gripper
C2+
/ˈɡrɪpɚ/
a device or part that grips or holds firmly
igniter
C2+
/ɪɡˈnaɪtɚ/
a device that sets fire to or starts the combustion of something
ignitor
C2+
/ɪɡˈnaɪtɚ/
a device that ignites a fuel or charge; variant of igniter
meshwork
C2+
/ˈmɛʃˌwɝk/
a network of interlaced threads, fibers, or strands
recursive
C2+
/rɪˈkɝsɪv/
characterized by repeated application of a rule, defined in terms of itself
scanner
C2+
/ˈskænɚ/
a device that examines or digitizes images, codes, or signals
shim
C2+
/ʃɪm/
a thin wedge or strip used to fill a gap or level something
skimmer
C2+
/ˈskɪmər/
a utensil or device for removing matter from a liquid surface
theoretic
C2+
/ˌθiəˈrɛtɪk/
concerned with theory rather than practical application
transformer
C2+
/trænsˈfɔrmɚ/
a device for changing the voltage of an alternating current
crufty
C2
/ˈkrʌfti/
poorly designed or inelegant, often referring to software or code
multiplexer
C2
/ˈmʌltəˌplɛksər/
an electronic device that selects one of several input signals to send to a single output
quine
C2
/kwaɪn/
a self-replicating program or statement that outputs its own source code
reticulate
C2
/rəˈtɪkjəlɪt/
forming or resembling a network; having a net-like structure
exfiltration
C2+
/ˌɛksfɪlˈtreɪʃən/
the secret, covert removal of someone from a dangerous or hostile place
splice
C2+
/splaɪs/
to join two pieces of rope, film, or other material by intertwining or overlapping the strands or ends
microservice
C2
/ˈmaɪkroʊˌsɝvɪs/
a small independently deployed software service that communicates with other services as part of a larger system
visiplate
C2
/ˈvɪz.iˌpleɪt/
in science fiction, an electronic screen capable of displaying images or data
subetherics
C2+
/ˌsʌb.iˈθɛr.ɪks/
in science fiction, devices or systems that communicate through a subether medium, usually faster than light