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.
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All 27,237 words
493 words
lichen
C2
/ˈlaɪ.kən/
Any of many symbiotic organisms, being associations of algae and fungi, often found as white or yellow-to-blue–green patches on rocks, old walls, etc.
geranium
C2
/dʒəˈreɪniəm/
a flowering plant of the genus Geranium, commonly called a cranesbill and often grown as a hardy garden perennial
seedling
C1
/ˈsiːdlɪŋ/
A young plant that has just grown from a seed.
treetop
B1
/ˈtriˌtɑp/
the highest part of a tree, formed by its uppermost branches and leaves
patchouli
C2
/pəˈt͡ʃuli/
a tropical aromatic plant, or the strong-scented oil and perfume obtained from it
wigwam
C2+
/ˈwɪɡwɑːm/
Any more or less similar dwelling used by indigenous people in other parts of the world.
yucca
C2
/ˈjʌkə/
any of a genus of evergreen plants with stiff sword-shaped leaves and tall clusters of white flowers, native chiefly to warm, dry parts of North and Central America
farmyard
C2
/ˈfɑɹmˌjɑɹd/
the open area beside or among the buildings of a farm
bramble
C2
/ˈbɹæm.bəl/
a rough, thorny shrub or vine, especially a blackberry bush
cowshed
C2
/ˈkaʊˌʃɛd/
a farm building in which cows are kept
dryness
C1
/ˈdraɪnəs/
objectivity and detachment
larch
C2
/lɑːrtʃ/
a coniferous tree of the genus Larix that bears soft needles in clusters and sheds them each autumn
fetid
C2
/ˈfɛtɪd/
Foul-smelling, stinking.
sprig
C2
/sprɪɡ/
a small shoot, twig, or cluster cut from a plant
unproductive
C1
/ˌʌn.pɹəˈdʌk.tɪv/
not producing desired results
expediency
C2
/ɛkˈspiː.dɪ.ən.si/
The quality of being fit or suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended; suitability for particular circumstance or situation.
boll
C2
/boʊl/
the rounded seed capsule of a plant such as cotton or flax
arable
C2
/ˈer.ə.bəl/
suitable for or used in growing crops
succour
C2
/ˈsʌkɚ/
Aid, assistance, or relief given to one in distress; ministration.
sassafras
C2
/ˈsæsəfræs/
an aromatic deciduous tree of the genus Sassafras, especially the eastern North American species Sassafras albidum
oleander
C2
/ˌoʊliˈændɚ/
a poisonous evergreen shrub with narrow leathery leaves and clusters of white, pink, or red flowers, widely grown in warm regions
copse
C1
/kɒps/
Any thicket of small trees or shrubs, coppiced or not.
mallow
C2
/ˈmæl.oʊ/
a plant of the family Malvaceae, often with soft hairy leaves and pink, purple, or white flowers
eglantine
C2
/ˈɛɡlənˌtaɪn/
a prickly Eurasian wild rose with fragrant leaves, pink flowers, and red hips; sweetbrier
manioc
C2
/ˈmæniˌɑːk/
the tropical plant Manihot esculenta, cultivated for its large starchy roots
cottonwood
C2
/ˈkɑːtənˌwʊd/
any of several North American poplar trees whose seeds have tufts of cottonlike hairs
toadstool
C2
/ˈtoʊdˌstuːl/
a mushroom, especially one regarded as poisonous or unsuitable for eating
agave
C2
/əˈɡɑːveɪ/
any of a genus of succulent plants with a rosette of thick, often spiny leaves and a tall flowering stalk
ginkgo
C2
/ˈɡɪŋkoʊ/
a deciduous East Asian tree with distinctive fan-shaped leaves and fleshy seeds
loam
B2
/loʊm/
fertile soil containing a balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay, often with organic matter
horticultural
B2
/ˌhɔɹ.təˈkʌl.tʃɚ.əl/
relating to the science or practice of growing fruit, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants
cassava
C2
/kəˈsɑ.və/
a tropical American plant, Manihot esculenta, cultivated for its large starchy roots
copra
C2
/ˈkɑːprə/
the dried white flesh or kernel of a coconut, from which coconut oil is extracted
begonia
C2
/bɪˈɡoʊniə/
a plant of the genus Begonia, often grown for its colorful flowers or ornamental asymmetrical leaves
rosebush
C2
/ˈɹoʊzˌbʊʃ/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
rhododendron
C2
/ˌroʊdəˈdɛndrən/
an evergreen or deciduous shrub or small tree of the genus Rhododendron, often grown for clusters of showy flowers
woodbine
C2
/ˈwʊdˌbaɪn/
British: honeysuckle, especially the fragrant climbing species Lonicera periclymenum
laith
C2
/leɪθ/
Northern English dialect: a barn or agricultural shed
reverently
C1
/ˈrɛvɝəntli/
in a reverent manner.
foxglove
C2
/ˈfɑːksˌɡlʌv/
a tall plant of the genus Digitalis with spikes of tubular, usually purple, pink, or white flowers
obliteration
C2
/əˌblɪtɝˈeɪʃən/
The total destruction of something.
verbena
C2
/vɚˈbinə/
any of numerous tropical or subtropical American plants of the genus Verbena grown for their showy spikes of variously colored flowers
seedless
C2
/ˈsiːdləs/
having no seeds, or no hard, noticeable, or mature seeds
restlessly
C1
/ˈrɛstləsli/
in a restless manner
incompatibility
C2
/ˌɪnkəmˌpætɪˈbɪlɪti/
the quality of being unable to exist or work in congenial combination
dogwood
C2
/ˈdɔɡˌwʊd/
any of various trees or shrubs of the genus Cornus, often bearing showy flowerlike bracts and red or dark fruit
tuber
B2
/ˈtuːbɚ/
a thickened underground plant stem or root that stores nutrients and can produce new growth
hydrangea
C2
/haɪˈdreɪndʒə/
a shrub of the genus Hydrangea, grown for its large rounded or flat clusters of white, pink, blue, or purple flowers
nard
C2
/nɑɹd/
an aromatic ointment used in antiquity
sumac
C2
/ˈsuːmæk/
any of various shrubs or small trees with divided leaves and dense clusters of reddish fruit
polygamous
C2
/pəˈlɪɡəməs/
Of, relating to, or practicing polygamy.
sheaf
C2
/ʃiːf/
A bundle of cut stalks of grain tied together.
withe
C2
/wɪð/
a slender, flexible twig or shoot, especially one used for binding
arum
C2
/ˈerəm/
a plant of the genus Arum, having arrow-shaped leaves and a club-shaped spadix partly enclosed by a hoodlike spathe
milkweed
C2
/ˈmɪlkˌwiːd/
any of various plants, especially of the genus Asclepias, with milky sap and pods containing silky-tufted seeds
milch
C2
/mɪltʃ/
of a cow or other female animal: producing milk, especially when kept for dairy use
dunghill
C2
/ˈdʌŋˌhɪl/
a heap of animal dung or refuse, especially one kept for use as manure
privet
C2
/ˈprɪvɪt/
an evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub with small leaves and white flowers, often planted as a hedge
hayfield
B2
/ˈheɪfiːld/
a field in which grass or another crop is grown, cut, or lying for use as hay
purposeless
C2
/ˈpɝːpəsləs/
Without purpose.
steeply
C2
/ˈstiːpli/
in a steep manner
swineherd
C2
/ˈswaɪnˌhɝd/
a person who herds, tends, and cares for pigs
gorse
C2
/ɡɔrs/
a dense evergreen shrub with spiny leaves and bright yellow flowers, common on open land in western Europe
bergamot
C2
/ˈbɝɡəˌmɑt/
small tree with pear-shaped fruit whose oil is used in perfumery
balustrade
C2
/ˈbæl.ə.stɹeɪd/
A row of balusters topped by a rail, serving as an open parapet, as along the edge of a balcony, terrace, bridge, staircase, or the eaves of a building.
goldenrod
C2
/ˈɡoʊldənrɑːd/
a tall plant of the genus Solidago or a related genus, bearing clusters of small yellow flowers
liber
C1
/ˈlaɪbɚ/
the living inner bark of a plant, especially the tissue that conducts food; phloem
crocus
C2
/ˈkɹoʊ.kəs/
a low-growing perennial plant with narrow leaves and cup-shaped white, yellow, or purple flowers
burnet
C2
/ˈbɝːnɪt/
any herb of the genus Sanguisorba, especially salad burnet, with divided leaves and dense clusters of small flowers
heliotrope
C2
/ˈhiːliəˌtroʊp/
a plant of the genus Heliotropium, often grown for clusters of fragrant purple flowers
crabapple
C2
/ˈkræbˌæpəl/
a small, hard, sour apple borne by a wild or ornamental apple tree
stile
C2
/ˈstaɪl/
A set of one or more steps surmounting a fence or wall, or a narrow gate or contrived passage through a fence or wall, which in either case allows people but not livestock to pass.
snapdragon
C2
/ˈsnæpdɹæɡən/
a garden plant of the genus Antirrhinum with brightly colored flowers shaped like a dragon's mouth
bole
C2
/boʊl/
the main trunk or stem of a tree
beechwood
C2
/ˈbiːtʃwʊd/
the hard, pale wood of a beech tree
herbaceous
C2
/ɝˈbeɪʃəs/
having soft green stems rather than persistent woody tissue, especially of a plant or plant part
anther
C2
/ˈænθɚ/
the pollen-producing part at the tip of a flower's stamen
sedge
C2
/sɛdʒ/
a grasslike plant of the family Cyperaceae, typically with solid triangular stems and growing in wet ground
haymaker
C2
/ˈheɪˌmeɪkɚ/
a powerful, often wide-swinging punch intended to knock an opponent down
stamen
C1
/ˈsteɪmən/
the pollen-producing male organ of a flower, typically consisting of an anther on a filament
thresh
C2
/θrɛʃ/
to separate grain or seeds from harvested plants by beating or by machine
jimson
C2
/ˈdʒɪmsən/
US: jimsonweed, a poisonous annual plant with trumpet-shaped flowers and prickly seed capsules
hornbeam
C2
/ˈhɔrnbiːm/
a deciduous tree or shrub of the genus Carpinus, noted for smooth bark and very hard wood
hollyhock
C2
/ˈhɑliˌhɑk/
a tall garden mallow of the genus Alcea, grown for spikes of large colourful flowers
fazenda
C2
/fəˈzɛndə/
a large Brazilian farm or plantation, especially one producing coffee
herbarium
C2
/hɝːˈberiəm/
a systematically arranged collection of preserved plant specimens kept for scientific study
puffball
C2
/ˈpʌfˌbɔːl/
a round fungus that releases a cloud of powdery spores when its mature fruiting body is pressed or broken
cowslip
C2
/ˈkaʊslɪp/
a low-growing European primrose with clusters of fragrant yellow flowers, Primula veris
arboreal
C2
/ɑɹˈbɔɹi.əl/
inhabiting or frequenting trees
vetch
C2
/vɛtʃ/
a twining leguminous plant of the genus Vicia or a related genus, often grown for fodder, seed, or green manure
coppice
C2
/ˈkɑː.pɪs/
an area of woodland managed by periodically cutting trees or shrubs near the base so that new shoots provide a recurring supply of wood
floret
C2
/fləˈɹɛt/
a diminutive flower (especially one that is part of a composite flower)
subsoil
B2
/ˈsʌbsɔɪl/
the layer of soil beneath the topsoil and above the underlying rock or parent material
leafless
C2
/ˈliːfləs/
Of plants or trees, without leaves.
gladiolus
C2
/ˌɡlædiˈoʊləs/
a flowering plant with sword-shaped leaves and tall spikes of large, brightly colored flowers
sweetbriar
C2
/ˈswiːtˌbraɪər/
a Eurasian wild rose with prickly stems, fragrant leaves, pink flowers, and red hips