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
299 words
wheelbarrow
B2
/ˈʍil.bæɹ.oʊ/
a small cart with one wheel at the front and two handles, pushed by a person to carry loads
tripod
B2
/ˈtɹaɪpɑd/
a three-legged stand or support for a camera, instrument, vessel, or other object
blowtorch
C2
/ˈbloʊˌtɔɹtʃ/
a portable burner that produces a very hot, concentrated flame by mixing fuel gas with air or oxygen
mallet
B2
/ˈmælɪt/
a hammer with a large head, usually made of wood, rubber, or another relatively soft material
skyscraper
B1
/ˈskaɪˌskɹeɪpɚ/
A very tall building with many floors.
manhole
B2
/ˈmænhoʊl/
a covered opening in a street or other surface through which a worker can enter a sewer, drain, or underground utility space
sledgehammer
C2
/ˈslɛd͡ʒhæmɚ/
a large, heavy hammer with a long handle, used for powerful blows in demolition or construction
temperamental
C1
/ˌtɛmp(ə)ɹəˈmɛntl̩/
Having moods that change suddenly and unpredictably.
nozzle
C1
/ˈnɑː.zəl/
a projecting tube or spout that directs or controls a stream of liquid, gas, or other material
tongs
B2
/tɔŋz/
a tool with two joined arms used to grip, lift, or hold objects without touching them directly
gazebo
C2
/ɡəˈziːboʊ/
a small roofed building affording shade and rest
piston
B2
/ˈpɪstən/
a solid disk or cylinder that moves tightly inside a larger cylinder to transmit pressure or drive a machine
photocopy
B1
/ˈfəʊtəˌkɒpi/
A copy of a document made by a special machine.
anvil
C1
/ˈænvəl/
a heavy iron or steel block on which metal is shaped by hammering
flagpole
B2
/ˈflæɡˌpoʊl/
a tall pole from which a flag is flown
nutcracker
B2
/ˈnʌtˌkɹækɚ/
a tool with two hinged arms or another lever mechanism used to crack nutshells
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
dispenser
B2
/dɪˈspɛnsər/
a device or container that releases a substance or item in measured amounts
lasso
C1
/ˈlæs.oʊ/
a long rope with a sliding loop used especially to catch cattle or horses
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
sheath
C1
/ʃiθ/
a protective covering for a knife or sword
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
aqueduct
C1
/ˈækwəˌdʌkt/
an artificial channel or conduit built to carry water from one place to another
belvedere
C2
/ˈbɛl.vəˌdɪr/
a raised room, turret, pavilion, or other structure designed to command a fine view
compressor
B2
/kəmˈprɛsɝ/
a mechanical device that compresses gases
tester
B1
/ˈtɛstəɹ/
a device or instrument used to test the quality, operation, or properties of something
embankment
B2
/ɪmˈbæŋkmənt/
a long raised bank of earth, stone, or other material built to hold back water or support a road or railway
siphon
C2
/ˈsaɪ.fən/
a bent tube used to move liquid from a higher container to a lower one through continuous flow
pulley
B1
/ˈpʊli/
a grooved wheel over which a rope, belt, or chain runs, used to change the direction of a force or help lift a load
accumulation
C1
/əˌkjuːm.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/
The process of gradually gathering or building up over time.
waterworks
C2
/ˈwɑːt̬ɚwɝːks/
a system of reservoirs, treatment facilities, pumps, and pipes that supplies water to a community
thimble
B2
/ˈθɪmbəl/
a small hard cap worn over a fingertip to protect it and push a needle while sewing
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
flagstaff
C1
/ˈflæɡˌstæf/
a pole or staff from which a flag is flown
spool
C1
/spuːl/
a cylinder or spindle around which thread, wire, film, or another flexible material is wound
reflector
B2
/rɪˈflɛktɚ/
a surface or device that sends light, heat, sound, or other radiation back
spire
C2
/ˈspaɪ.ɚ/
A tall, pointed structure on top of a tower or church roof.
vise
C1
/vaɪs/
a tool with two jaws that close to hold an object firmly while it is being worked on
backboard
C2
/ˈbækˌbɔrd/
a rigid board used to support or straighten a person's back, historically as a posture-training device
trowel
C1
/ˈtraʊəl/
a mason's hand tool with a flat metal blade, used to spread and shape mortar or plaster
penknife
C1
/ˈpɛnˌnaɪf/
a small folding pocketknife
grater
C2
/ˈɡɹeɪtɚ/
a kitchen tool with a rough or perforated cutting surface used to shred food into small pieces
structurally
C1
/ˈstrʌktʃɝəli/
In a way that relates to the way something is built or put together.
rivet
C2+
/ˈɹɪvət/
a metal pin fastened by hammering one end flat
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
trellis
C1
/ˈtrɛl.ɪs/
a framework or lattice of wood, metal, or another material used to support climbing plants
slicer
B2
/ˈslaɪ.sɚ/
a knife, utensil, or machine designed to cut food or other material into slices
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
stucco
C1
/ˈstʌkoʊ/
a durable plaster-like material used to coat or decorate walls, ceilings, and exterior surfaces
divider
B2
/dɪˈvaɪdər/
a partition, barrier, or other object that separates one area or group from another
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
pincushion
B2
/ˈpɪnˌkʊʃ(ə)n/
a small stuffed or magnetic holder in which sewing pins and needles are kept
brazier
C2
/ˈbɹeɪʒəɹ/
large metal container in which coal or charcoal is burned
trestle
C1
/ˈtrɛs.əl/
a frame with a horizontal bar supported by spreading legs, used alone or in pairs to hold a tabletop, planks, or another work surface
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
auger
B2
/ˈɔ.ɡɚ/
a tool with a helical cutting bit used for boring holes in wood, soil, ice, or another material
metalwork
C2
/ˈmɛtəlˌwɝk/
objects, fittings, or structural parts made of metal
pommel
C1
/ˈpɑməl/
the raised front part of a saddle, used as a handhold
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
stilt
B2
/stɪlt/
one of a pair of tall poles with raised footrests that allow a person to walk high above the ground
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
sealer
B2
/ˈsiːlɚ/
a liquid or coating applied to make a surface resistant to air, water, stains, or damage
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.