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
476 words
fluoride
C2
/ˈflɔːr.aɪd/
a compound in which fluorine is combined with a more electropositive element or chemical group
woolen
A2
/ˈwʊlən/
made of wool or relating to wool
pumice
C2
/ˈpʌm.ɪs/
a very light, porous volcanic glass formed when gas-rich lava cools rapidly
lacquer
C2
/ˈlæk.ɚ/
a liquid or resinous coating that dries to form a hard, smooth, glossy surface on wood, metal, or another material
brocade
C2
/brəˈkeɪd/
a rich, heavy fabric woven with a raised ornamental design, traditionally using gold or silver thread
inorganic
B1
/ɪnɔɹˈɡænɪk/
relating or belonging to the class of compounds not having a carbon basis
cesium
C2
/ˈsiːziəm/
the soft, highly reactive alkali-metal chemical element with atomic number 55 and symbol Cs
absorbent
B1
/əbˈzɔːrbənt/
able to take in liquid, heat, light, or another substance
chromium
C1
/ˈkroʊ.mi.əm/
the chemical element with atomic number 24 and symbol Cr, a hard, lustrous metal used especially in alloys and protective plating
alkaline
C2
/ˈæl.kə.laɪn/
relating to or containing an alkali
snakeskin
C2
/ˈsneɪkˌskɪn/
the skin shed by or removed from a snake, especially leather prepared from snake skin
phosphate
B2
/ˈfɑsfeɪt/
a salt or ester of phosphoric acid
rasp
C2
/ɹæsp/
The sound made by this tool when used, or any similar sound.
manganese
B2
/ˈmæŋɡəˌniːz/
the chemical element with atomic number 25, a hard gray metal used especially to strengthen steel and in batteries
acetylene
C2
/əˈsɛtəˌlin/
a colorless, highly flammable gas used especially for welding and cutting metals; ethyne
sheepskin
C2
/ˈʃiːpˌskɪn/
the skin of a sheep, especially when tanned as leather or used with the fleece still attached
quicksilver
C2
/ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvɚ/
the metallic element mercury, especially when seen in its mobile liquid form
gypsum
C1
/ˈdʒɪpsəm/
a soft white or colorless mineral consisting of hydrated calcium sulfate, widely used to make plaster, cement, and wallboard
tarpaulin
C2
/tɑrˈpɔlɪn/
a large sheet of strong waterproof material used to cover and protect things
emulsion
C2
/ɪˈmʌl.ʃən/
a dispersion of tiny droplets of one liquid in another liquid with which it does not normally mix
beryllium
C2
/bəˈrɪl.i.əm/
the chemical element with symbol Be and atomic number 4, a hard, gray, low-density alkaline-earth metal valued for its stiffness and transparency to X-rays
patina
C2
/pəˈtiː.nə/
a thin surface layer produced by oxidation or other chemical change, especially the green coating on aged copper or bronze
liquefy
C2
/ˈlɪ.kwɪ.faɪ/
make (a solid substance) liquid, as by heating
sulphuric
C2
Relating to or containing sulphur, as in sulphuric acid.
talc
C2
/tælk/
an extremely soft hydrous magnesium silicate mineral with a greasy or soapy feel, used in ceramics, paint, paper, plastics, and powders
ochre
C2
/ˈoʊkər/
a natural earth pigment containing iron oxide, ranging from yellow to reddish brown
metallurgy
C2
/ˈmɛt.əˌlɝ.dʒi/
the science and technology of extracting metals, refining and alloying them, and controlling their properties during processing
pewter
C2
/ˈpjuːtər/
a grey, workable alloy consisting chiefly of tin mixed with small amounts of other metals
bearskin
C2
/ˈbɛrˌskɪn/
the pelt of a bear, especially when used as a rug or covering
cadmium
C1
/ˈkæd.mi.əm/
the soft, silvery-white, toxic chemical element with symbol Cd and atomic number 48
puce
C2
/pjuːs/
a color varying from dark purplish brown to dark red
droplet
B2
/ˈdrɑːp.lət/
a very small drop of liquid, especially one suspended in a gas or deposited on a surface
vitriol
C2
/ˈvɪtɹiəl/
cruel and bitter criticism; savagely hostile or abusive language
horsehair
C2
/ˈhɔːrs.her/
hair taken from a horse's mane or tail, used in brushes, bows, upholstery, and other products
saltpeter
C2
/ˌsɔːltˈpiː.tɚ/
potassium nitrate, a white crystalline compound used in fertilizers, food preservation, and especially gunpowder
mote
C2
/moʊt/
a tiny particle or speck, especially one visible in the air
fluorine
C2
/ˈflɔːr.iːn/
the chemical element with symbol F and atomic number 9, whose elemental form is an extremely reactive, toxic, pale-yellow halogen gas
corrode
C1
/kəˈɹoʊd/
to destroy or be gradually destroyed by a chemical reaction, especially oxidation or acid
peridot
C2
/ˈpɛɹ.ɪ.dɑt/
a transparent yellow-green or olive-green gem-quality variety of the mineral olivine
carbolic
C2
/kɑrˈbɑlɪk/
phenol, especially when used as an antiseptic or disinfectant
gingham
C1
/ˈɡɪŋ.əm/
a lightweight cotton fabric woven from dyed and white yarn, typically in checks
repellant
C1
A substance used to keep insects or animals away.
earthen
C1
/ˈɝθən/
made of baked clay
crag
C2
/kɹæɡ/
A rocky outcrop; a rugged steep cliff or rock.
reagent
C2
/riˈeɪ.dʒənt/
a substance or mixture used to cause, detect, measure, or investigate a chemical reaction
sackcloth
C2
/ˈsækˌklɔθ/
a coarse, rough fabric like the material traditionally used for sacks
damask
C2
/ˈdæməsk/
a rich fabric whose woven pattern is visible through contrasting textures, often reversible
chloral
C2
/ˈklɔːr.əl/
a pungent, colorless oily aldehyde, CCl3CHO, used to make chloral hydrate and other chemicals
silicate
C2
/ˈsɪlɪkət/
chemistry: a salt or ester derived from a silicic acid and containing silicon and oxygen
amine
C2
/əˈmiːn/
a compound derived from ammonia by replacing hydrogen atoms by univalent hydrocarbon radicals
chintz
C2
/tʃɪnts/
a printed cotton fabric, often glazed and decorated with brightly colored floral patterns
clinker
C2
/ˈklɪŋ.kɚ/
a hard, stony lump of fused ash left after coal or other fuel has burned
vitreous
C2
/ˈvɪtriəs/
made of, resembling, or having the qualities of glass
amyl
C2
/ˈæ.mɪl/
a hydrocarbon radical that occurs in many organic compounds
ambergris
C2
/ˈæm.bɚ.ɡɹɪs/
a waxy substance formed in the digestive tract of a sperm whale and historically prized as a perfume fixative
bismuth
C2
/ˈbɪz.məθ/
the chemical element with symbol Bi and atomic number 83, a dense, brittle, crystalline metal that is silvery white with a pink tinge
sunstone
C2
/ˈsʌnˌstoʊn/
a gem variety of feldspar whose reflective inclusions often produce a glittering optical effect called aventurescence
buckskin
C2
/ˈbʌkˌskɪn/
soft, strong leather traditionally made from deerskin and now also from sheepskin
potash
C1
/ˈpɑːtæʃ/
potassium carbonate or an impure mixture of potassium salts formerly obtained from wood ashes
feldspar
C2
/ˈfɛldˌspɑr/
any mineral in a major group of rock-forming aluminosilicates containing potassium, sodium, or calcium
earthenware
B2
/ˈɝːθənˌwɛr/
a relatively porous ceramic made from clay fired at a lower temperature than stoneware or porcelain
coagulate
C2
/koʊˈæɡ.jə.leɪt/
to change from a liquid to a thickened or solid state
malachite
C2
/ˈmæl.əˌkaɪt/
a bright green copper carbonate mineral used as an ore, pigment, and ornamental stone
gabardine
C2
/ˈɡæbɚdiːn/
a firm, tightly woven fabric with a smooth face and a prominent diagonal twill, used especially for suits and coats
ingot
C1
/ˈɪŋɡət/
metal that is cast in the shape of a block for convenient handling
flinders
C2
/ˈflɪndɚz/
small broken pieces, splinters, or fragments, especially after something has been smashed
skein
C2
/skeɪn/
a length of yarn or thread wound into a loose, elongated coil
astrakhan
C2
/æs.trəˈkæn/
the tightly curled black or gray fleece of a young karakul lamb, used as fur
crystallization
C2
/ˌkɹ̠ɪstəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
The process of becoming clear, definite, or precise.
tritium
C2
/ˈtɹɪt.i.əm/
a radioactive isotope of hydrogen whose nucleus contains one proton and two neutrons; symbol 3H or T
gallium
C1
/ˈɡæliəm/
a chemical element (symbol Ga) with an atomic number of 31; a soft bluish metal.
cowhide
C2
/ˈkaʊˌhaɪd/
strong leather made from the skin of a cow
catgut
C2
/ˈkætˌɡʌt/
a tough cord made from the cleaned and twisted intestines of animals, usually sheep, formerly used for musical strings, racket strings, and surgical sutures
merino
C2
/məˈɹinoʊ/
The fabric made from this wool (or from any similar yarn).
whalebone
C2
/ˈweɪlˌboʊn/
baleen, the flexible keratin plates in certain whales' mouths that filter food from water
papier-mâché
C2
/ˌpeɪ.pɚ məˈʃeɪ/
a moldable material made from paper pulp or strips of paper mixed with glue or paste and hardened when dry
travertine
C2
/ˈtrævɚˌtin/
a light-colored, often porous form of limestone deposited by mineral springs and used as a building or decorative stone
vanadium
C2
/vəˈneɪ.di.əm/
the chemical element with symbol V and atomic number 23, a silvery transition metal used chiefly to strengthen steel and in several industrial catalysts
pollutant
B1
/pəˈl(j)uːtənt/
A substance that makes air, water, or soil dirty or harmful, especially waste from human activity.
molybdenum
C2
/məˈlɪb.dɪ.nəm/
the hard, silvery chemical element with symbol Mo and atomic number 42, used especially to strengthen steel alloys
freestone
C2
/ˈfriːstoʊn/
stone, especially sandstone or limestone, that can be cut and worked easily in any direction
oakum
C2
/ˈoʊkəm/
loose hemp or jute fiber, traditionally made by untwisting old rope and used with pitch to seal seams
carnelian
C2
/kɑɹˈniː.li.ən/
a translucent red, orange, or reddish-brown variety of chalcedony used as a gemstone
nitrite
C1
/ˈnaɪ.tɹaɪt/
the radical -NO2 or any compound containing it (such as a salt or ester of nitrous acid)
bromine
C2
/ˈbroʊ.miːn/
the chemical element with atomic number 35 and symbol Br, a toxic, fuming red-brown halogen that is liquid at room temperature
aqueous
C1
/ˈeɪkwiəs/
consisting of, containing, or dissolved in water
pyrite
C2
/ˈpaɪraɪt/
a common brass-yellow mineral consisting of iron disulfide, often mistaken for gold
pinchbeck
C2
/ˈpɪntʃ.bɛk/
an alloy of copper and zinc formerly used as an imitation of gold
mousseline
C2
/ˌmuː.səˈliːn/
a very fine, soft, semi-transparent fabric resembling muslin, made from silk, wool, or cotton
woodcut
C2
/ˈwʊdˌkʌt/
engraving consisting of a block of wood with a design cut into it
dreg
C2
/dɹɛɡ/
a small amount of sediment or residue left at the bottom of a liquid
marl
C2
/mɑːrl/
a loose earthy deposit made chiefly of clay and calcium carbonate, often containing shell fragments
tole
C2
/toʊl/
decorative sheet-metal ware with a painted, lacquered, or enamelled surface
baize
C2
/beɪz/
a thick, soft woolen cloth resembling felt, often green and used to cover card or billiard tables
promethium
C2
/prəˈmiː.θi.əm/
the radioactive rare-earth chemical element with symbol Pm and atomic number 61, which has no stable isotopes
basaltic
C2
/bəˈsɑːl.tɪk/
geology: relating to, formed from, containing, or resembling basalt