This week on The Missing Workbook
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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.
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All 27,899 wordsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
272 words
potentiometer
C2
/pəˌtɛn(t)ʃiˈɑmɪtəɹ/
a measuring instrument for measuring direct current electromotive forces
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heliograph
C2
/ˈhiːliəˌɡræf/
an instrument that sends coded signals over a distance by reflecting flashes of sunlight with a mirror
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calorimeter
C2
/ˌkæl.əˈɹɪm.ə.t̬ɚ/
an instrument for measuring heat absorbed or released during a chemical reaction, phase change, or other physical process
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tin opener
B1
/ˈtɪn ˌoʊ.pən.ɚ/
a handheld or electric device for cutting open sealed metal food tins
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hygrometer
C2
/haɪˈɡrɑːmətər/
an instrument for measuring humidity, especially the relative humidity of the air
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nailhead
C2
/ˈneɪlˌhɛd/
the flattened or enlarged end of a nail opposite its point, designed to receive the blow of a hammer
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spinning-wheel
C2
/ˈspɪnɪŋˌwiːl/
a hand- or foot-powered machine that twists fibers into thread or yarn
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corrugator
C2
/ˈkɔɹ.əˌɡeɪ.tɚ/
A machine that corrugates material.
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caltrop
C2
/ˈkæl.trəp/
a small metal device with four spikes arranged so that one point always faces upward, used to injure feet, hooves, or tires
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appurtenance
C2
/əˈpɝtənəns/
an accessory, subordinate part, or piece of equipment belonging to something more important
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bootjack
C2
/ˈbuːtˌdʒæk/
a forked device that holds the heel of a boot so the wearer can pull the foot out
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hautboy
C2
/ˈhoʊˌbɔɪ/
archaic: an oboe or an early form of that treble double-reed woodwind instrument
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sawblade
C2+
/ˈsɔːˌbleɪd/
the toothed cutting blade of a hand saw or powered sawing machine
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helve
C2
/hɛlv/
the handle or haft of a tool or weapon, especially an axe or hammer
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Jew's harp
C2
/ˈdʒuːzˌhɑrp/
a small plucked instrument held against the teeth or lips, whose flexible tongue vibrates while the player's mouth changes the tone
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remote control
B1
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contrivance
C2+
/kənˈtraɪvəns/
a cleverly made device or scheme; an artificial or strained arrangement
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chopper
C2+
/ˈtʃɑpɚ/
a helicopter, or a tool for chopping
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jack
C2+
/dʒæk/
a device for raising heavy objects; also, to raise or boost
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chiller
C2+
/ˈtʃɪlɚ/
a machine for cooling, or a frightening story or film
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automaton
C2+
/ɔˈtɑmətən/
a self-operating machine, or a person acting mechanically without thought
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blower
C2+
/ˈbloʊɚ/
a device that produces a current of air; (British slang) a telephone
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fob
C2+
/fɑb/
a small ornament or device attached to a key ring or watch chain
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knapsack
C2+
/ˈnæpˌsæk/
a bag carried on the back for provisions or equipment
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mixer
C2+
/ˈmɪksɚ/
a device or person that mixes; a social gathering for meeting people
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noodle
C2+
/ˈnudəl/
a strip or string of pasta; to improvise idly, especially on an instrument
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vibrator
C2+
/ˈvaɪbreɪtɚ/
a device that produces a vibrating motion
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violoncello
C2+
/ˌviːələnˈtʃɛloʊ/
the full formal name for the cello, a bowed string instrument
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accelerator
C2+
/əkˈsɛləreɪtɚ/
a device or thing that increases speed, especially a car's gas pedal
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adapter
C2+
/əˈdæptər/
a device or person that adapts one thing to fit another
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chronograph
C2+
/ˈkrɑnəˌɡræf/
an instrument or watch for recording precise intervals of time
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compiler
C2+
/kəmˈpaɪlɚ/
one who compiles; a program that translates source code into machine code
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economizer
C2+
/ɪˈkɑnəˌmaɪzɚ/
a device that saves energy or fuel, especially in a boiler
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fastener
C2+
/ˈfæsənɚ/
a device that holds or joins things together
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flasher
C2+
/ˈflæʃɚ/
a device or thing that flashes, such as a blinking light
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gauge
C2+
/ɡeɪdʒ/
an instrument for measuring; to estimate or measure
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gimmick
C2+
/ˈɡɪmɪk/
a trick or device intended to attract attention rather than serve a real purpose
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glasshouse
C2+
/ˈɡlæsˌhaʊs/
a building with glass walls and roof for growing plants; a greenhouse
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gripper
C2+
/ˈɡrɪpɚ/
a device or part that grips or holds firmly
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hinge
C2+
/hɪndʒ/
a jointed device on which a door turns; to depend on something
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hooter
C2+
/ˈhutɚ/
a device that makes a hooting sound, such as a horn or siren
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igniter
C2+
/ɪɡˈnaɪtɚ/
a device that sets fire to or starts the combustion of something
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ignitor
C2+
/ɪɡˈnaɪtɚ/
a device that ignites a fuel or charge; variant of igniter
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lathe
C2+
/leɪð/
a machine that rotates a workpiece to shape it with cutting tools
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locator
C2+
/ˈloʊˌkeɪtɚ/
a device or system that finds the position of something
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scanner
C2+
/ˈskænɚ/
a device that examines or digitizes images, codes, or signals
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shank
C2+
/ʃæŋk/
the part of the leg between the knee and ankle, or a long narrow stem of a tool
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skimmer
C2+
/ˈskɪmər/
a utensil or device for removing matter from a liquid surface
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stimulator
C2+
/ˈstɪmjəˌleɪtɚ/
a thing or device that excites activity or response
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swingle
C2+
/ˈswɪŋɡl/
a wooden tool for beating flax to separate the fibre from the woody stem
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transformer
C2+
/trænsˈfɔrmɚ/
a device for changing the voltage of an alternating current
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treadle
C2+
/ˈtrɛdəl/
a lever worked by the foot to drive a machine
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viola
C2+
/viˈoʊlə/
a stringed instrument slightly larger and lower-pitched than the violin
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whirligig
C2+
/ˈwɝ.lɪ.ɡɪɡ/
a spinning toy or device, or something in constant whirling motion
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mnemonic
C1
/nɪˈmɑnɪk/
a device or technique used to aid memory retention
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multiplexer
C2
/ˈmʌltəˌplɛksər/
an electronic device that selects one of several input signals to send to a single output
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stellarator
C2
/ˈstel.əˌreɪ.tɚ/
a device that confines hot plasma for nuclear-fusion research using a twisted arrangement of external magnetic coils
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stone crusher
C2
/ˈstoʊn ˌkrʌʃ.ɚ/
a machine that breaks stone or rock into smaller pieces, especially for road building, concrete, quarrying, or ore processing
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clarin
C2+
/kləˈriːn/
historical: a very long, trumpetlike wind instrument of Indigenous Mexico; the acocotl type is sounded by drawing air inward through its mouthpiece
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palette knife
C2
/ˈpæl.ət ˌnaɪf/
a blunt, flexible, flat-bladed artist's tool used to mix colors on a palette and sometimes to apply or remove paint
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paper cutter
C2
/ˈpeɪ.pɚ ˌkʌt̬.ɚ/
a machine or device for cutting or trimming sheets of paper to a required size, often with a long hinged blade
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upperworks
C2
/ˈʌpərˌwɝks/
the structures and equipment above the hull or main deck of a ship, or above the main body of a vehicle or machine
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gasogene
C2+
/ˈɡæs.ə.dʒiːn/
historical: a Victorian device with two connected glass globes that generated carbon dioxide and dispensed carbonated water
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plunkety-plunk
C2+
/ˌplʌŋkətiˈplʌŋk/
onomatopoeic: a repeated dull plunking or clopping sound, such as hoofbeats or notes on a stringed instrument
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stylobate
C2
/ˈstaɪ.lə.beɪt/
architecture: the uppermost step or platform of a classical building's stepped base, directly supporting its columns
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falsework
C2
/ˈfɔlsˌwɝk/
a temporary framework used in the building of bridges and arched structures in order to hold items in place until the structure is able to support itself.
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cantilever
C2
/ˈkæntɪˌlivɚ/
a beam or other structure fixed at one end and projecting outward without support at its other end
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finial
C2
/ˈfɪn.i.əl/
a decorative feature at the top of a roof, spire, or other part of a building
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caisson
C2
/ˈkeɪ.sɑn/
a watertight structure used to keep water out of an underwater construction site or to form part of its foundations
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clap together
B2
to assemble something quickly and carelessly
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hew out
C1
to form or carve something by cutting with heavy blows
Phrasal verb
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knock over
A2
to hit or push something so that it falls from an upright position
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prop up
C1
to support something by placing a solid object against or beneath it
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roll over
A2
to turn the body or an object onto another side
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shut off
A2
to stop the flow or supply of something
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stake out
B2
to mark the boundaries or route of something with posts
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tear out
A2
to remove something forcefully from where it is attached or embedded
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tie up
A2
to secure something with string, rope, or a similar fastening
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turn off
A1
to stop a machine or electrical device from working
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whittle down
C2
to reduce the size of something by cutting small pieces from it
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