This week on The Missing Workbook
1 new learner
12 reviews
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.
Choose your level
All 27,899 wordsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
2331 words
billhook
C2+
/ˈbɪlˌhʊk/
a curved blade on a handle, used for pruning and cutting brush
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
billow
C2+
/ˈbɪloʊ/
a large rolling wave; to swell or surge outward
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bloc
C2+
/blɑk/
a group of countries or parties united by a common interest or purpose
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bludgeon
C2+
/ˈblʌdʒən/
a short heavy club; to strike repeatedly or to coerce forcefully
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bogue
C2+
/boʊɡ/
a small sea bream of the genus Boops; dialectally to slink or sneak off
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bookstall
C2+
/ˈbʊkstɔl/
a stall or stand where books and periodicals are sold
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
borachio
C2+
/bəˈrɑtʃioʊ/
a leather wine bottle or wineskin; archaically a drunkard
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
braid
C2+
/breɪd/
a length of interwoven strands; to weave such strands together
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bravo
C2+
/ˈbrɑvoʊ/
a shout of approval; also a hired assassin or daring villain
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
breakout
C2+
/ˈbreɪkaʊt/
a sudden escape, outbreak, or surge into prominence
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
brickbat
C2+
/ˈbrɪkbæt/
a piece of brick used as a missile; a blunt verbal insult or criticism
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
broadsheet
C2+
/ˈbrɔdʃit/
a large-format newspaper, traditionally one regarded as serious
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
buckle
C2+
/ˈbʌkəl/
a clasp for fastening a strap; to fasten, bend, or collapse under strain
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cache
C2+
/kæʃ/
a hidden store of supplies; to store away or in fast-access memory
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cacodemon
C2+
/ˌkækoʊˈdimən/
an evil spirit or malevolent demon
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
calaboose
C2+
/ˈkæləˌbus/
a local jail or lockup
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
canard
C2+
/kəˈnɑrd/
a false or baseless rumor or fabricated story
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
candelabrum
C2+
/ˌkændəˈlɑbrəm/
a large branched candlestick or lamp holder
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
candlestick
C2+
/ˈkændəlˌstɪk/
a holder for one or more candles
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
candock
C2+
/ˈkænˌdɑk/
a water lily or pondweed, especially the yellow water lily
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cape
C2+
/keɪp/
a sleeveless cloak; a headland jutting into the sea
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
caravanserai
C2+
/ˌkærəˈvænsəˌraɪ/
an inn with a central court for caravans along Eastern trade routes
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
carbuncle
C2+
/ˈkɑrˌbʌŋkəl/
a painful cluster of boils; a red gem, especially a garnet
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
carrytale
C2+
/ˈkæriˌteɪl/
a gossip or tale-bearer who spreads rumors
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cartridge
C2+
/ˈkɑrtrɪdʒ/
a case holding a charge and bullet; a sealed replaceable container
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cask
C2+
/kæsk/
a barrel-shaped wooden container for liquids
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
casket
C2+
/ˈkæskɪt/
a coffin; a small ornamental box for valuables
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cavern
C2+
/ˈkævɚn/
a large, often underground, chamber or cave
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
celluloid
C2+
/ˈsɛljəˌlɔɪd/
a transparent flammable plastic once used for film and photographic stock
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
centage
C2+
/ˈsɛntɪdʒ/
rate or proportion reckoned by the hundred; percentage
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cervix
C2+
/ˈsɝvɪks/
the narrow neck-like passage at the lower end of the uterus
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
chagrin
C2+
/ʃəˈɡrɪn/
distress or vexation caused by disappointment or humiliation
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
chalk
C2+
/tʃɔk/
a soft white limestone used for writing or marking
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
chancel
C2+
/ˈtʃænsəl/
the part of a church near the altar, reserved for clergy and choir
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
chattel
C2+
/ˈtʃætəl/
an item of movable personal property
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
chink
C2+
/tʃɪŋk/
a narrow crack or opening; a sharp ringing sound
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
chokedamp
C2+
/ˈtʃoʊkˌdæmp/
suffocating carbon-dioxide-laden air in a mine
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
christmastide
C2+
/ˈkrɪsməsˌtaɪd/
the festive season extending from Christmas through Epiphany
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
chute
C2+
/ʃut/
a sloping channel for conveying things downward
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
clansfolk
C2+
/ˈklænzˌfoʊk/
the members of a clan collectively
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cloture
C2+
/ˈkloʊtʃɚ/
a procedure for ending debate and forcing an immediate vote
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
clout
C2+
/klaʊt/
influence or power; informally, a heavy blow
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
clubhouse
C2+
/ˈklʌbˌhaʊs/
a building used by the members of a club or team
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cocket
C2+
/ˈkɑkɪt/
a customs seal or sealed document certifying that duty has been paid on goods
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cogwheel
C2+
/ˈkɑɡˌwil/
a wheel with teeth on its rim that meshes with another to transmit motion
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cohort
C2+
/ˈkoʊhɔrt/
a group sharing a common feature, especially a statistical or age band
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
coil
C2+
/kɔɪl/
a length of something wound into rings; to wind into such loops
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cole
C2+
/koʊl/
any of various brassica plants such as cabbage, kale, or rape
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
collum
C2+
/ˈkɑləm/
a neck or neck-like part of a structure in anatomy
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cologne
C2+
/kəˈloʊn/
a lightly scented perfume made of alcohol and aromatic oils
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
commune
C2+
/ˈkɑmjun/
a community sharing possessions; also to converse intimately
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
comrade
C2+
/ˈkɑmræd/
a companion who shares one's activities or beliefs
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
concourse
C2+
/ˈkɑnkɔrs/
a large open space where crowds gather, as in a station
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
contour
C2+
/ˈkɑntʊr/
the outline or shape of an object's surface or boundary
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cork
C2+
/kɔrk/
the buoyant bark of the cork oak, used to stopper bottles
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
coronet
C2+
/ˈkɔrəˌnɛt/
a small crown worn by nobility below the rank of sovereign
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
corsair
C2+
/ˈkɔrsɛr/
a pirate or privateer, especially of the Barbary Coast
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
countersign
C2+
/ˈkaʊntɚˌsaɪn/
a secret password, or to add a second signature for authentication
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
counterweight
C2+
/ˈkaʊntɚˌweɪt/
a weight that balances another force or load
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cowardice
C2+
/ˈkaʊɚdɪs/
a lack of bravery; shameful fear in the face of danger
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
creatrix
C2+
/kriˈeɪtrɪks/
a female creator or originator
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cropland
C2+
/ˈkrɑpˌlænd/
land used or suitable for growing crops
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
crotch
C2+
/krɑtʃ/
the angle where the legs or two branches fork apart
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
crucifix
C2+
/ˈkrusəˌfɪks/
a cross bearing a figure of the crucified Christ
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
crumblet
C2+
/ˈkrʌmblət/
a small crumb or fragment
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cupcake
C2+
/ˈkʌpˌkeɪk/
a small cake baked in a cup-shaped container
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
daybook
C2+
/ˈdeɪˌbʊk/
a book for recording daily transactions or events
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
deadlock
C2+
/ˈdɛdˌlɑk/
a situation in which no progress can be made; a standstill
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
decuplet
C2+
/ˈdɛkjəplɪt/
a group or set of ten; ten notes played in one beat
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
definiens
C2+
/dɪˈfɪniˌɛnz/
the words or expression that define the definiendum
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
demerit
C2+
/diˈmɛrɪt/
a fault or a mark against one's record
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
demesne
C2+
/dɪˈmeɪn/
land attached to a manor and held for the owner's own use
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
demigod
C2+
/ˈdɛmiˌɡɑd/
a being part divine and part mortal
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
desperado
C2+
/ˌdɛspəˈrɑdoʊ/
a bold, reckless criminal or outlaw, especially of the old West
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
diaphoresis
C2+
/ˌdaɪəfəˈrisɪs/
profuse perspiration, especially as induced medically
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dictatrix
C2+
/dɪkˈteɪtrɪks/
a female dictator or absolute ruler
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dirge
C2+
/dɝdʒ/
a mournful song or lament for the dead
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
disequilibrium
C2+
/ˌdɪsikwɪˈlɪbriəm/
a loss or lack of balance or stability
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
ditch
C2+
/dɪtʃ/
a narrow channel dug to hold or carry water; to discard
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
donjon
C2+
/ˈdɑndʒən/
the great central tower or keep of a medieval castle
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dovecot
C2+
/ˈdʌvkɑt/
a structure for housing pigeons or doves
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
downside
C2+
/ˈdaʊnsaɪd/
the negative aspect or drawback of something
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dragnet
C2+
/ˈdræɡnɛt/
a systematic search for criminals; a net drawn along the bottom
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dragon
C2+
/ˈdræɡən/
a mythical fire-breathing reptilian monster
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dreadnought
C2+
/ˈdrɛdnɔt/
a heavily armed early-20th-century battleship
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
drivel
C2+
/ˈdrɪvəl/
silly nonsense; foolish talk
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
drove
C2+
/droʊv/
a herd or flock driven together; a large moving crowd
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
drumhead
C2+
/ˈdrʌmhɛd/
the tightly stretched membrane of a drum; summary, as in a field trial
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
duplet
C2+
/ˈduplət/
a group of two notes played in the time of three
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
e
C2+
/i/
the fifth letter of the English alphabet
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
earphone
C2+
/ˈɪrˌfoʊn/
a small speaker worn in or over the ear for private listening
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
eh
C2+
/eɪ/
used to express inquiry, surprise, or to invite agreement
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
ellipse
C2+
/ɪˈlɪps/
a regular oval closed curve, a flattened circle
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
emerald
C2+
/ˈɛmɚəld/
a bright green precious gemstone, or its color
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
encephalon
C2+
/ɛnˈsɛfəˌlɑn/
the brain, considered as the contents of the cranium
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
ensign
C2+
/ˈɛnsən/
a flag or standard, or a junior naval officer
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off