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
476 words
tile
B1
/ˈtaɪ.əl/
A thin, flat, usually square piece of baked clay, stone, or similar material used to cover floors, walls, or roofs.
gravel
B2
/ˈɡɹævəl/
small loose stones, often used on paths, roads, or driveways
dissolve
B1
/dɪˈzɑlv/
To mix into a liquid and become part of it.
plaque
C1
/plak/
A flat piece of metal, stone, or wood with writing on it, fixed to a wall or monument to remember a person or event.
clot
C2
/klɑt/
to coalesce or unite in a mass
methane
C1
/ˈmɛθeɪn/
the simplest hydrocarbon, CH4, a colorless flammable gas that is the principal component of natural gas and a powerful greenhouse gas
calcium
B1
/ˈkæl.si.əm/
the chemical element with symbol Ca and atomic number 20, a soft, silvery, reactive alkaline-earth metal that occurs naturally only in compounds
plateau
C2
/plæˈtoʊ/
A comparatively stable level after a period of increase. (of a varying quantity)
potassium
B2
/pəˈtæs.i.əm/
the chemical element with symbol K and atomic number 19, a soft, silvery, highly reactive alkali metal that occurs naturally only in compounds
porcelain
C1
/ˈpɔːrsəlɪn/
a hard, fine, usually white and translucent ceramic fired at a high temperature
silicon
B2
/ˈsɪl.ə.kən/
the chemical element with symbol Si and atomic number 14, a hard, brittle semiconductor abundant in rocks as silica and silicates and widely used in electronic devices
slab
C2
/slæb/
A large, flat, thick piece of solid material such as stone, concrete, or wood.
commodity
C2
/kəˈmɑdəti/
A raw material or basic product that is bought and sold in large amounts, such as oil or grain.
wick
C1
/wɪk/
a cord or strip in a candle or lamp that draws fuel upward and burns at its tip
shawl
C2
/ʃɔl/
A square or rectangular piece of cloth worn as a covering for the head, neck, and shoulders, typically by women.
yarn
C2
/jɑɹn/
A story, a tale, especially one that is incredible.
neutralize
C1
/ˈnutɹəˌlaɪz/
To stop something from having an effect by balancing it out.
wad
C1
/wɑːd/
a small, compact mass of soft material, such as cotton, paper, or cloth
garret
C2
/ˈɡæɹɪt/
An attic or semi-finished room just beneath the roof of a house.
nugget
C1
/ˈnʌɡ.ɪt/
a naturally occurring solid lump of a precious metal, especially gold
ammonia
B2
/əˈmoʊn.jə/
A colourless gas made of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH₃) that has a strong, sharp smell.
pebble
B2
/ˈpɛb.əl/
A small, smooth, round stone, especially one shaped by water.
cannonball
B2
/ˈkænənˌbɔːl/
A heavy metal ball that was fired from a cannon in the past.
gunny
C2
/ˈɡʌni/
a coarse, strong fabric made from jute or hemp, especially for sacks
chlorine
C1
/ˈklɔːr.iːn/
the chemical element with atomic number 17, a toxic greenish-yellow halogen gas in its elemental form
asphalt
C1
/ˈæsfɑːlt/
a black, sticky form of bitumen found naturally or left after petroleum is refined
rosewood
C2
/ˈroʊzˌwʊd/
a dense, dark reddish or purplish hardwood with a strongly marked grain, valued for furniture and decorative work
refinery
B2
/rɪˈfaɪnərɪ/
A factory where a raw substance such as oil, sugar, or metal is purified.
opal
C2
/ˈoʊpəl/
a translucent form of hydrated silica, often used as a gemstone and prized for flashes of changing color
cashmere
C2
/ˈkæʃ.mɪr/
very fine, soft fiber obtained from the undercoat of cashmere goats
asbestos
C1
/æzˈbɛs.təs/
a commercial and legal name for a group of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals
chisel
C1
/ˈt͡ʃɪzəl/
A hand tool with a sharp flat blade, used for cutting or shaping wood, stone, or metal.
krypton
C2
/ˈkɹɪp.tɑːn/
the colorless, odorless noble-gas chemical element with symbol Kr and atomic number 36
flannel
C2+
/ˈflænəl/
A soft cloth material originally woven from wool, today often combined with cotton or synthetic fibers.
sawdust
C2
/ˈsɔːˌdʌst/
Food that is unpleasantly powdery and tasteless.
nitrate
C2
/ˈnaɪ.treɪt/
a salt or ester of nitric acid, containing the nitrate ion or nitrate group
keyhole
C2
/ˈkiˌhoʊl/
the hole where a key is inserted
denim
B2
/ˈdɛnəm/
A strong, heavy cotton fabric, usually blue, used to make jeans.
lithium
C1
/ˈlɪθ.i.əm/
the chemical element with symbol Li and atomic number 3, a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive alkali metal and the lightest metal
musk
C2
/mɐsk/
A greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes.
garnet
C1
/ˈɡɑːrnɪt/
any of a group of hard silicate minerals, commonly dark red and often cut as gemstones
beryl
C2
/ˈbɛr.əl/
a hard mineral that is the chief ore of beryllium and occurs in gemstone varieties such as emerald and aquamarine
magnesium
B2
/ˌmæɡˈnizi.əm/
the chemical element with atomic number 12, a light, silvery-white metal that burns with an intense white flame
starch
C1
/stɑɹtʃ/
a complex carbohydrate stored by plants and found abundantly in foods such as grain and potatoes
ebony
C1
/ˈɛbəni/
a dense, hard, usually very dark wood obtained from several tropical trees
amethyst
B2
/ˈæm.ə.θɪst/
a transparent purple or violet variety of quartz used as a gemstone
tweed
C2
/twiːd/
a rough, closely woven woolen cloth, usually in mixed colors and often used for jackets and suits
chloride
B1
/ˈklɔːr.aɪd/
the negatively charged chlorine ion, Cl−, found in many salts and serving as an important electrolyte in body fluids
resin
C1
/ˈɹɛzɪn/
A sticky substance produced by some trees and plants, used in varnishes, glues, and other products.
pyre
C2
/ˈpaɪɚ/
A large pile of wood on which a dead body is burned as a funeral rite.
tinder
C1
/ˈtɪndɚ/
dry, easily combustible material used to start a fire
lint
C2
/lɪnt/
loose short fibers or fuzzy fluff shed by cloth and yarn
wicker
C1
/ˈwɪk.ɚ/
flexible twigs, cane, or similar plant material woven to make baskets, furniture, and other objects, or the woven work itself
varnish
C1
/ˈvɑɹnɪʃ/
a transparent liquid coating that dries to form a hard, protective, usually glossy surface
cobalt
C1
/ˈkoʊbɔlt/
the chemical element with atomic number 27, a hard silvery-blue metal used in alloys, batteries, magnets, and pigments
turquoise
C2
/ˈtɝ.k(w)ɔɪz/
an opaque blue-green mineral containing hydrated copper and aluminium phosphate, valued as a gemstone
crepe
C2
/kɹeɪp/
a light, thin fabric with a finely wrinkled or crinkled surface
pellet
C2
/ˈpel.ɪt/
a solid missile discharged from a firearm
shale
B2
/ʃeɪl/
a fine-grained sedimentary rock formed by compacted clay, mud, or silt, typically laminated and able to split into thin layers
pigment
B2
/ˈpɪɡmənt/
a substance that gives color to animal or plant tissue or to another material
khaki
C2
/xɑki/
a dull yellowish-brown color or sturdy cloth, especially as used for military uniforms
ladle
C2
/ˈleɪdəl/
remove with or as if with a ladle
strychnine
C2
/ˈstrɪk.niːn/
a highly poisonous crystalline alkaloid obtained from plants such as nux vomica and formerly used medicinally and as a pesticide
impervious
C1
/ɪmˈpɝ.vi.əs/
Not affected or influenced by something, such as criticism or emotion.
topaz
C2
/ˈtoʊˌpæz/
a hard aluminium fluorosilicate mineral, often transparent and cut as a gemstone in colorless, yellow, blue, pink, brown, or other varieties
crucible
C2
/ˈkɹuː.sɪ.bəl/
a vessel made of material that does not melt easily
beeswax
C2
/ˈbiːzˌwæks/
the wax produced by honeybees to build honeycomb, used in candles, polish, and other products
brine
C2
/ˈbɹaːn/
to soak in salty water
chiffon
C2
/ʃɪˈfɑːn/
a very light, sheer fabric woven from silk or synthetic fibers
enamel
C2
/ɪˈnæməl/
the hard, white outer covering of the crown of a tooth
turpentine
C2
/ˈtɝː.pən.taɪn/
a volatile liquid distilled from pine resin and used as a solvent, paint thinner, and source of chemical compounds
palladium
C2
/pəˈleɪdiəm/
a rare, lustrous, silvery-white chemical element with atomic number 46 and symbol Pd
corrosive
C2
/kəˈroʊsɪv/
able to destroy or damage a material gradually through chemical action
synthesis
C2
/ˈsənθəsəs/
The combining of separate ideas, things, or influences into a single, coherent whole.
linoleum
C1
/lɪˈnoʊ.li.əm/
a durable floor covering traditionally made from solidified linseed oil on a canvas or similar backing
moonstone
C2
/ˈmuːnˌstoʊn/
a translucent feldspar gemstone that displays a floating pearly or bluish sheen called adularescence
grime
B2
/ɡraɪm/
dirt, soot, or grease that is ingrained and difficult to remove
iridium
C2
/ɪˈɹɪd.i.əm/
a chemical element (symbol Ir) with an atomic number of 77: a very hard, brittle, silvery-white transition metal of the platinum group.
nitroglycerin
C2
/ˌnaɪ.troʊˈɡlɪs.ɚ.ɪn/
a dense, oily, highly explosive liquid made by nitrating glycerol and used in explosives such as dynamite
cellophane
C2
/ˈsɛləfeɪn/
a thin, transparent wrapping film made from regenerated cellulose
alabaster
C2
/ˈæl.əˌbæs.tɚ/
a fine-grained, usually pale and translucent form of gypsum or calcite used for carving
staunch
C2
/stɔn(t)ʃ/
stop the flow of a liquid
lye
C2
/laɪ/
a strongly alkaline solution, traditionally made by leaching water through wood ashes
hydrochloric
C1
/ˌhaɪ.droʊˈklɔːr.ɪk/
of, relating to, or containing hydrochloric acid, the aqueous form of hydrogen chloride
condensation
C2
/kənˌɖɛnˌse.ʃən/
The process by which a gas, especially water vapor, turns into a liquid.
combustible
C2
/kəmˈbʌstəbəl/
capable of catching fire and burning
lapis
C2
/ˈlæp.ɪs/
lapis lazuli, especially when used as a gemstone, pigment source, inlay, or decorative material
graphite
C1
/ˈɡɹæfaɪt/
a soft, dark allotrope of carbon whose atoms form loosely stacked hexagonal layers, used in pencils, lubricants, electrodes, and some nuclear reactors
acetone
C1
/ˈæs.ə.toʊn/
a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid that is the simplest ketone and is widely used as a solvent
alum
C2
/ˈæləm/
any of a class of crystalline double sulfates, especially potassium or ammonium aluminum sulfate, used in dyeing, tanning, water treatment, and as an astringent
sulfate
C2
/ˈsʌlfeɪt/
Any salt or ester of sulfuric acid.
argon
C2
/ˈɑːr.ɡɑːn/
the chemical element with symbol Ar and atomic number 18, a colorless, odorless, largely unreactive noble gas that forms about 0.93 percent of Earth's atmosphere
bookmark
B2
/ˈbʊk.mɑː(ɹ)k/
A saved link to a website that lets you return to it quickly.
myrrh
C2
/mɝː/
a fragrant reddish-brown gum resin obtained from Commiphora trees and used in incense, perfume, and traditional medicine
teak
C2
/tiːk/
a hard, durable, oily, yellowish-brown timber valued for outdoor furniture, flooring, and shipbuilding
rawhide
C2
/ˈrɑː.haɪd/
animal hide, especially cattle hide, that has been cleaned but not tanned