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
collet
C2
/ˈkɑlɪt/
a slotted, tapered sleeve that closes around a tool or workpiece to hold it firmly in a machine
capstan
C2
/ˈkæpstən/
a vertical revolving cylinder used to wind a rope or cable and exert heavy pulling force, especially aboard a ship
double-barreled
C1
/ˌdʌbəlˈbærəld/
having two barrels, especially a gun with two barrels mounted side by side or one above the other
blowpipe
C2
/ˈbloʊˌpaɪp/
a narrow tube used to direct air or gas into a flame, concentrating its heat for chemical tests, metalwork, or mineral analysis
jamb
C2
/dʒæm/
either vertical side of a doorway, window, fireplace, or other opening in a wall
mullion
C2
/ˈmʌl.jən/
a slender upright bar that divides adjacent panes or sections of a window, door, or screen
mortise
C2
/ˈmɔrtɪs/
a rectangular cavity cut in one piece of material to receive a matching tenon and form a joint
apse
C2
/æps/
a semicircular or polygonal recess in a building, especially the vaulted eastern end of a church behind the altar
campanile
C2
/ˌkæm.pəˈniː.li/
a bell tower, especially a freestanding Italian bell tower beside a church or public building
bolas
C2
/ˈboʊ.ləs/
a throwing weapon of connected cords and weights that entangles an animal's legs
abutment
C2
/əˈbʌt.mn̩t/
a solid structure that supports the end or resists the outward thrust of a bridge, arch, dam, or similar construction
mattock
C2
/ˈmætək/
a heavy digging tool with a horizontal blade, often paired with a pick or axe blade on the other end
hasp
C2
/hæsp/
a hinged metal strap that fits over a staple and is secured by a pin or padlock
windlass
C2
/ˈwɪndləs/
a machine with a horizontal or vertical rotating drum around which a rope or chain is wound to raise or haul heavy loads, especially a ship's anchor
puncheon
C2
/ˈpʌntʃən/
US historical: a split log or heavy slab smoothed on one face and used especially for flooring
rat-trap
C2+
/ˈrætˌtræp/
a trap designed to catch or kill rats, typically by snapping shut
tenon
C2
/ˈtɛnən/
a projecting piece cut at the end of a length of wood and shaped to fit into a corresponding mortise to form a joint
clapboard
C2
/ˈklæpˌbɔɹd/
a long narrow siding board, usually thinner at one edge, laid horizontally so that each board overlaps the one below
ironmongery
C2
/ˈaɪrnˌmʌŋ.ɡɚ.i/
tools, metal fittings, and other hardware sold for use in homes, gardens, or buildings
vomitorium
C2+
/ˌvɑː.məˈtɔːr.i.əm/
architecture: a passage or entrance through or behind tiers of seats in a theater, amphitheater, or stadium, designed to let crowds enter or leave rapidly
earthwork
C2
/ˈɝθˌwɝk/
a structure made from piled or shaped earth, especially an embankment or defensive rampart
digester
C1
/daɪˈdʒestər/
a sealed vessel in which plant, animal, or other material is broken down by heat, pressure, chemicals, or enzymes
parer
C2
/ˈpɛr.ɚ/
a tool used to remove a thin outer layer from fruit, vegetables, or another object
repeller
C2
/rɪˈpɛlər/
a person, substance, device, or force that repels something or drives it away
turnscrew
C2+
/ˈtɝnˌskru/
a screwdriver or similar device for turning screws; now chiefly dated
sidelight
C2
/ˈsaɪdˌlaɪt/
a small light fitted at the side of a vehicle or the red or green navigation light on a vessel
actuate
C2
/ˈæk.tʃuˌeɪt/
engineering: to cause a machine or mechanism to operate or move
crupper
C2
/ˈkrʌpər/
a strap or loop passing under a horse's tail to prevent a saddle or harness from sliding forward
whipsaw
C2
/ˈwɪpˌsɔ/
a long narrow saw, commonly worked by two people using a handle at each end
precut
B2
/ˌpɹiˈkʌt/
cut to shape or size before being sold, assembled, or used
aneroid
C2
/ˈænərɔɪd/
operating without liquid, especially by using air pressure on a flexible metal chamber
ferrule
C2
/ˈfɛrəl/
a metal or other strong ring, cap, or sleeve fitted around a shaft to strengthen it or prevent splitting
penholder
C2
/ˈpɛnˌhoʊl.dər/
a handle into which a detachable pen nib is fitted
rowel
C2
/ˈraʊəl/
the small wheel with projecting points at the end of a rider's spur
toothing
C2
/ˈtuːθɪŋ/
bricks or stones left projecting alternately at the end of a wall so that a later extension can be bonded to it
ashlar
C2
/ˈæʃ.lɚ/
a block of building stone cut or worked into a regular rectangular shape
piggin
C2
/ˈpɪɡɪn/
a small wooden pail or scoop made with one stave extending upward to form a handle
embrasure
C2
/ɪmˈbreɪʒɚ/
the inward-splayed recess around a door or window opening in a thick wall
handspike
C2
/ˈhænd.spaɪk/
a stout bar used as a lever, especially by sailors to turn a capstan or windlass
pilaster
C2
/pɪˈlæstɚ/
a shallow rectangular column projecting from a wall, usually with a base and capital and often serving a decorative architectural role
nailhead
C2
/ˈneɪlˌhɛd/
the flattened or enlarged end of a nail opposite its point, designed to receive the blow of a hammer
coign
C2
/kɔɪn/
archaic spelling of quoin: an external corner or projecting angle of a wall, especially one emphasized with contrasting masonry
spinning-wheel
C2
/ˈspɪnɪŋˌwiːl/
a hand- or foot-powered machine that twists fibers into thread or yarn
uncock
C2+
/ʌnˈkɑk/
to lower or release the cock or hammer of a firearm from the firing position
bootjack
C2
/ˈbuːtˌdʒæk/
a forked device that holds the heel of a boot so the wearer can pull the foot out
millrace
C2
/ˈmɪlreɪs/
a channel that carries a current of water to or away from a waterwheel
clasp-knife
C2
/ˈklæspˌnaɪf/
dated: a pocketknife whose blade folds into the handle
carboy
C2
/ˈkɑːr.bɔɪ/
a large rigid bottle, traditionally glass, used for storing or transporting liquids such as acids or fermenting drinks
rockwork
C2
/ˈrɑkˌwɝk/
ornamental or structural work made from arranged rocks, especially in a garden
purlin
C2
/ˈpɝːlɪn/
a horizontal or longitudinal structural member in a roof that supports the rafters or roof covering
corrugation
C2
/ˌkɔrəˈɡeɪʃən/
the process or state of forming a surface into parallel ridges and grooves
triglyph
C2
/ˈtraɪɡlɪf/
architecture: a tablet with three vertical grooves in a Doric frieze
workbag
C2
/ˈwɝːkˌbæɡ/
a bag used to hold tools or materials needed for work, especially sewing, knitting, or other needlework
knop
C2
/nɑp/
an ornamental knob or rounded swelling on a stem, post, vessel, or architectural feature
dancette
C2+
/dænˈsɛt/
architecture: a molding or group of moldings arranged in a zigzag or chevron pattern
jerry-builder
C2+
/ˈd͡ʒɛɹiˌbɪldɚ/
a builder who puts up cheap, poorly made buildings, often quickly and for speculative profit
unroof
C2+
/ʌnˈruːf/
to remove or tear the roof from a building or other covered structure
baluster
C2
/ˈbælɪstɚ/
a short upright post that supports the handrail of a staircase, balcony, or terrace
thible
C2+
/ˈθaɪbəl/
Northern English and Scots: a stick used for stirring porridge or other food
weatherboarding
C2
/ˈwɛðɚˌbɔrdɪŋ/
a building's outer covering of long, usually overlapping boards designed to shed rain
sawblade
C2+
/ˈsɔːˌbleɪd/
the toothed cutting blade of a hand saw or powered sawing machine
helve
C2
/hɛlv/
the handle or haft of a tool or weapon, especially an axe or hammer
bolthead
C2+
/ˈboʊltˌhɛd/
the enlarged head of a bolt, shaped to be turned or to hold the bolt in place
pedimented
C2
/ˈpɛd.əˌmɛn.tɪd/
architecture: furnished, crowned, or decorated with a pediment, or shaped like one
embank
C2
/ɪmˈbæŋk/
to confine, support, or protect land or water by constructing a raised bank of earth or stone
remote control
B1
washing machine
A2
chopper
C2+
/ˈtʃɑpɚ/
a helicopter, or a tool for chopping
reconstruct
C2+
/ˌrikənˈstrʌkt/
to build again or to piece together how something happened
crystalline
C2+
/ˈkrɪstəlɪn/
having the structure or clarity of crystal; transparent
sturdy
C2+
/ˈstɝdi/
strongly and solidly built; robust
barrack
C2+
/ˈbærək/
a building housing soldiers; also to jeer or to shout support
intricate
C2+
/ˈɪntrɪkət/
very complicated or detailed in structure or arrangement
schematic
C2+
/skɪˈmætɪk/
represented in a simplified diagram showing structure or workings
shack
C2+
/ʃæk/
a roughly built hut or cabin
inbuilt
C2+
/ˈɪnˌbɪlt/
existing as an integral, built-in part of something
rig
C2+
/rɪɡ/
to manipulate dishonestly, or to assemble equipment and apparatus
underframework
C2+
/ˈʌndərˌfreɪmwɜrk/
an underlying supporting framework or structure
violoncello
C2+
/ˌviːələnˈtʃɛloʊ/
the full formal name for the cello, a bowed string instrument
archway
C2+
/ˈɑrtʃˌweɪ/
a curved structure forming a passage or entrance beneath an arch
castellate
C2+
/ˈkæstəˌleɪt/
to furnish with battlements or build like a castle
dome
C2+
/doʊm/
a rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure
dovecot
C2+
/ˈdʌvkɑt/
a structure for housing pigeons or doves
foursquare
C2+
/ˈfɔrskwɛr/
firm and resolute; squarely; solidly built
glasshouse
C2+
/ˈɡlæsˌhaʊs/
a building with glass walls and roof for growing plants; a greenhouse
joiner
C2+
/ˈdʒɔɪnər/
a craftsman who constructs the wooden fittings of a building
masonry
C2+
/ˈmeɪsənri/
stonework or brickwork; the craft of building with such materials
mechanistic
C2+
/ˌmɛkəˈnɪstɪk/
explaining phenomena by physical causes alone, like a machine
morphologic
C2+
/ˌmɔrfəˈlɑdʒɪk/
relating to the form and structure of organisms or words
portico
C2+
/ˈpɔrtɪˌkoʊ/
a roofed structure supported by columns at the entrance of a building
quoin
C2+
/kɔɪn/
an external corner of a building, or a wedge used to lock type
storehouse
C2+
/ˈstɔrˌhaʊs/
a building or repository where goods are stored
swingle
C2+
/ˈswɪŋɡl/
a wooden tool for beating flax to separate the fibre from the woody stem
underbuilding
C2+
/ˈʌndɚˌbɪldɪŋ/
a structure forming a foundation or substructure beneath another
viola
C2+
/viˈoʊlə/
a stringed instrument slightly larger and lower-pitched than the violin
tape-measure
B1
/ˈteɪpˌmɛʒər/
a flexible strip marked for measuring length