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
454 words
plumage
C2
/ˈpljuːmɪd͡ʒ/
The feathers covering a bird's body.
waterway
C2
/ˈwɔtɝˌweɪ/
A body of water, such as a river, channel or canal, that is navigable.
slobber
C2
/ˈslɑː.bɚ/
to let saliva or partly chewed food run out of the mouth
inwards
C2+
/ˈɪnwɚdz/
toward the center or interior
gristle
C2
/ˈɡrɪsəl/
tough, flexible cartilage, especially when encountered in meat
scruff
C2
/skɹʌf/
the back of the neck, especially the loose skin or fur there on an animal
dismember
C2
/ˌdɪsˈmɛmbə(ɹ)/
separate the limbs from the body
tarsus
C2
/ˈtɑɹsəs/
anatomy: the ankle region of a vertebrate foot between the leg and metatarsus, including its small bones
redness
C1
/ˈrɛdnəs/
a response of body tissues to injury or irritation
cheekbone
B2
/ˈtʃiːkˌboʊn/
the prominent bone below and beside the eye that forms the upper part of the cheek and part of the eye socket
hamstring
C1
/ˈhæmstrɪŋ/
any of the muscles and tendons at the back of the thigh that bend the knee
plexus
C2
/ˈplɛk.səs/
a network of intersecting blood vessels or intersecting nerves or intersecting lymph vessels
scapula
C2
/ˈskæpjələ/
either of the two large, flat, roughly triangular bones at the back of the shoulder; a shoulder blade
cerebellum
C2
/ˌsɛrəˈbɛləm/
the part of the vertebrate hindbrain that coordinates movement, balance, posture, and motor learning
forefinger
C2
/ˈfɔɹˌfɪŋ.ɡɚ/
the finger next to the thumb; the index finger
centrifugal
C2
/sɛnˈtɹɪf.(j)ə.ɡl̩/
tending to move away from a center
bier
C1
/bɪɚ/
a coffin along with its stand
pericardium
C2
/ˌperɪˈkɑːrdiəm/
the double-walled membranous sac that encloses the heart and contains lubricating fluid
spittle
C2
/ˈspɪtəl/
saliva, especially when expelled from the mouth or appearing as froth or drool
epidermis
C2
/ˌepəˈdɝmɪs/
the outer layer of the skin in vertebrate animals, lying above the dermis
musculature
C2
/ˈmʌs.kjə.lə.tʃɚ/
the muscles of a body or body part considered together, especially their arrangement and development
follicle
C1
/ˈfɑlɪkəl/
A small cavity or sac, such as a hair follicle.
disembowel
C2
/ˌdɪsɪmˈbaʊəl/
to remove the internal organs or contents from a person, animal, or object
pectoral
C2
/ˈpektɔːrəl/
of or relating to the chest, breast, or corresponding front region of an animal's body
zygomatic
C2
/ˌzaɪ.ɡəˈmæt.ɪk/
Of, relating to, or located in the area of the zygomatic bone or zygomatic arch.
perspire
C2
/pɚˈspaɪr/
to produce sweat through the pores of the skin; a formal word for sweat
dermal
C2
/ˈdɝːməl/
relating to or existing on or affecting the skin
physiologically
C2
/ˌfɪziːəˈlɑːdʒɪkli/
In a way that relates to how the body normally functions.
lymphatic
C1
/lɪmˈfæt.ɪk/
relating to lymph or to the network of vessels and tissues that carries it through the body
duodenum
C2
/ˌduːəˈdiːnəm/
the first and shortest section of the small intestine, between the stomach and the jejunum
sinew
C2
/ˈsɪny/
a tough cord or tendon connecting muscle to bone
cuticle
C2
/ˈkjuːtɪkəl/
the thin layer of dead skin at the base and sides of a fingernail or toenail
laterally
C1
/ˈlæ.tə.ɹə.li/
in a lateral direction or location
retch
C2
/rɛtʃ/
to make involuntary movements and sounds as if vomiting, often without bringing anything up
instep
B2
/ˈɪnˌstɛp/
the arched upper part of the foot between the toes and the ankle
tonsil
B2
/ˈtɑːn.səl/
either of the two visible masses of lymphatic tissue at the back of the throat
fascia
C2
/ˈfæʃə/
a sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue that surrounds, separates, or binds muscles and organs
rigidly
C1
/ˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪd.li/
in a rigid manner
talus
C2
/ˈteɪləs/
anatomy: the ankle bone that articulates with the tibia and fibula above and the calcaneus below
convex
C2+
/ˈkɑn.vɛks/
Curved or bowed outward like the outside of a bowl, circle, or sphere.
excrete
C2
/ɪkˈskriːt/
to discharge waste matter or another substance from a body, organ, cell, or biological system
astringent
C2
/əˈstɹɪn.d͡ʒənt/
Causing a dry, puckering feeling in the mouth, as some unripe fruits do.
handicraft
B2
/ˈhændɪkɹæft/
The skill of making things by hand, such as pottery or weaving.
haunch
C2
/hɑntʃ/
the hip, buttock, and upper thigh on one side of a person or animal
malar
C2
/ˈmeɪlə/
Pertaining to the cheek.
maxilla
C2
/mækˈsɪlə/
either of the paired bones forming the upper jaw and supporting the upper teeth in vertebrates
cerebrospinal
C2
/ˌsɛrəbroʊˈspaɪnəl/
of or relating to the brain and spinal cord
mastoid
C2
/ˈmæ.stɔɪd/
relating to the mastoid process or the region of the skull directly behind the ear
maxillary
C2
/ˈmæk.səˌlɛɹ.i/
of or relating to the upper jaw
jowl
C2
/dʒaʊl/
the loose flesh of the lower cheek or jaw, especially when it hangs with age
exhalation
C1
/ˌɛkshəˈleɪʃən/
the act of breathing air out of the lungs, or a breath that is breathed out
flexor
C2
/ˈflɛksɚ/
a muscle whose contraction bends a joint or reduces the angle between body parts
ganglion
C2
/ˈɡæŋ.ɡli.ən/
a cluster of nerve-cell bodies, usually outside the brain and spinal cord, that acts as a relay point for nerve signals
auricular
C2
/ɔˈɹɪkjəlɚ/
of, relating to, or situated near the ear
excretion
C1
/ɪkˈskriːʃən/
the biological process by which an organism removes metabolic waste or discharges a substance
metatarsal
C2
/ˌmɛtəˈtɑːɹsəl/
relating to the metatarsus, the part of the foot between the ankle and toes
cutaneous
C2
/kjuˈteɪniəs/
of, relating to, existing on, or affecting the skin
ramus
C2
/ˈɹeɪməs/
a branch or branchlike projecting part of an anatomical structure
dentition
C2
/dɛnˈtɪʃən/
the number, kinds, and arrangement of teeth in a person or animal
gyrus
C2
/ˈdʒaɪ.rəs/
an anatomical ridge between grooves, especially one of the folds on the surface of the brain
gula
C2
/ˈɡjulə/
anatomy and zoology: the upper front of the neck beneath the chin; the throat region
gonad
C2
/ˈɡoʊ.næd/
an organ, such as an ovary or testis, that produces reproductive cells
sagittal
C2
/ˈsædʒətəl/
anatomy: relating to a vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions
magistracy
C2
/ˈmæd͡ʒəstɹəsi/
The dignity or office of a magistrate.
labyrinthine
C2
/ˌlæb.əˈɹɪn.θɪn/
resembling a labyrinth in form or complexity
slat
C2
/slæt/
informal: a rib of the body, especially in the plural slats
axillary
C2
/ˈæksəˌlɛri/
relating to or situated in the axilla or armpit
bronchus
C2
/ˈbrɑːŋkəs/
either of the two main airways branching from the trachea into the lungs, or one of their larger branches
depressor
C2
/dɪˈpɹɛsɚ/
an anatomical muscle that lowers or draws down a body part
pharynx
C2
/ˈfer.ɪŋks/
the muscular passage behind the nose and mouth that leads toward the larynx and esophagus
fleshly
B2
/ˈflɛʃli/
relating to the physical body or to flesh rather than the mind or spirit
gruesomely
C1
In an extremely shocking or horrifying way, often involving violence or blood.
extensor
C2
/ɪkˈstɛnsɚ/
a muscle whose contraction straightens a limb or increases the angle at a joint
scapular
C2
/ˈskæpjələr/
relating to the scapula or shoulder blade
axilla
C2
/ækˈsɪlə/
anatomy: the armpit, especially the space beneath the shoulder joint through which major nerves and blood vessels pass
tubercle
C2
/ˈtuːbɚkəl/
a small rounded projection on a bone, tooth, animal surface, or other anatomical structure
reconnoitre
C2
/ˌɹɛkəˈnɔɪtɚ/
To perform a reconnaissance (of an area; an enemy position); to scout with the aim of gaining information.
sulcus
C2
/ˈsʌl.kəs/
in anatomy, a narrow groove or furrow in an organ or tissue, especially on the surface of the brain
sacral
C2
/ˈsækɹəl/
relating to or situated near the sacrum at the base of the spine
cecum
C2
/ˈsiːkəm/
a pouch at the beginning of the large intestine, where the ileum opens into it
macula
C2
/ˈmækjʊlə/
a patch of skin that is discolored but not usually elevated
yawl
C2+
/jɔl/
A fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel with two masts, main and mizzen, the mizzen stepped abaft the rudder post.
tympanic
C2
/tɪmˈpænɪk/
relating to the eardrum, middle ear, or tympanum
centrum
C2
/ˈsɛntrəm/
the thick central body of a vertebra, to which the vertebral arch and other processes attach
contortion
C2
/kənˈtɔr.ʃən/
a twisted, strained, or unnatural position or movement of the body or face
peristalsis
C2
/ˌpɛrəˈstælsɪs/
rhythmic, wave-like muscular contractions that move contents through a tube, especially the digestive tract
diverticulum
C2
/ˌdaɪvɚˈtɪkjələm/
a pouch, sac, or blind branch projecting from the wall of a hollow or tubular organ
glottis
C2
/ˈɡlɑtɪs/
the opening between the vocal folds in the larynx, whose changing width helps control breathing and voice
testis
C2
/ˈtes.tɪs/
either of the male reproductive glands that produce sperm and secrete hormones such as testosterone
premolar
C1
/ˌpriːˈmoʊlɚ/
a tooth situated between a canine and a molar; in an adult human, one of the eight teeth also called bicuspids
sternocleidomastoid
C2
/ˌstɝ.nəˌklaɪ.dəˈmæˌstɔɪd/
one of two thick muscles running from the sternum and clavicle to the mastoid and occipital bone
levator
C2
/lɪˈveɪtɚ/
an anatomical muscle that raises the body part to which it is attached
sylvian
C2
/ˈsɪlviən/
relating to the lateral fissure or adjacent structures of the brain
eustachian
C2
/juːˈsteɪ.ʃən/
relating to the auditory tube that connects the middle ear with the upper throat
conjunctiva
C2
/ˌkɑnˌd͡ʒʌŋ(k)ˈtaɪ.və/
a transparent lubricating mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and the under surface of the eyelid
occiput
C2
/ˈɑːksɪˌpʌt/
the back part of the head or skull