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
woad
C2
/woʊd/
a Eurasian plant, Isatis tinctoria, formerly cultivated as a source of blue dye
pistil
C2
/ˈpɪstəl/
the female reproductive organ of a flower, made up of the stigma, style, and ovary
pyramidal
C2
/pɪˈɹæm.ɪ.dl̩/
Pyramid-shaped.
clematis
C2
/ˈklɛmətɪs/
a plant of a large genus of mostly climbing vines grown for their conspicuous flowers and feathery seed heads
hellebore
C2
/ˈhɛləˌbɔr/
a flowering plant of the genus Helleborus, several species of which are poisonous and were formerly medicinal
laburnum
C2
/ləˈbɝː.nəm/
a small tree or shrub of the genus Laburnum, bearing hanging clusters of bright yellow flowers
tendril
C2
/ˈtɛndrəl/
a slender, curling part of a climbing plant that coils around a support
piggery
C2
/ˈpɪɡəri/
a place where pigs are kept or raised
estancia
C2
/eˈstɑːn.si.ə/
a large ranch or rural estate in Spanish-speaking South America, especially Argentina or Uruguay
asphodel
C2
/ˈæs.fəˌdel/
a Mediterranean plant with tall spikes of white, pink, or yellow flowers, especially one of the genus Asphodelus
purslane
C2
/ˈpɝːslən/
a low-growing succulent plant, especially Portulaca oleracea, whose fleshy leaves may be eaten as a vegetable or salad herb
grazier
C2
/ˈɡreɪziər/
a farmer or landholder who raises grazing livestock, especially cattle or sheep
groundnut
C2
/ˈɡraʊndnʌt/
a peanut, especially when regarded as a crop or used to make oil
jonquil
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɑŋ.kwəl/
a fragrant daffodil, Narcissus jonquilla, with narrow rushlike leaves and clusters of yellow or white flowers
sundew
C2
/ˈsʌnˌduː/
a small carnivorous bog plant of the genus Drosera whose leaves bear sticky, glistening hairs that trap and digest insects
frangipani
C2
/ˌfrændʒɪˈpɑːni/
a tropical American shrub or small tree of the genus Plumeria, grown for its clusters of strongly fragrant flowers
tillage
C2
/ˈtɪlɪd͡ʒ/
Land cultivated in this way.
agriculturist
C2
/ˌæɡrɪˈkʌltʃərɪst/
a specialist trained in the science, practice, or management of agriculture
parterre
C2
/pɑːɹˈtɛɚ/
a formal ornamental garden laid out in symmetrical flowerbeds divided by paths
thornbush
C2
/ˈθɔːrnˌbʊʃ/
a bush or shrub that bears thorns, spines, or other sharp projections
herbage
C2
/ˈ(h)ɚbɪd͡ʒ/
Herbaceous plant growth, especially grass.
hayrick
C2
/ˈheɪˌrɪk/
a large stack of hay, usually built outdoors for storage
byre
C2
/ˈbaɪɚ/
a farm building in which cattle are housed
medlar
C2
/ˈmɛdlɚ/
a small Eurasian tree, Mespilus germanica, cultivated for its brown apple-like fruit
furze
C2
/fɝz/
a dense, thorny evergreen shrub with bright yellow flowers; gorse
disputable
C2
/dɪˈspju.tə.bəɫ/
capable of being disproved
charlock
C2
/ˈtʃɑɹˌlɑk/
a yellow-flowered Eurasian wild mustard that commonly grows as a weed in grain fields
bilberry
C2
/ˈbɪl.bɛr.i/
a small dark-blue edible berry resembling a blueberry and growing wild in northern Europe
whorl
C2
/(h)wɔː(ɹ)l/
To form a pattern of concentric circles.
arbutus
C2
/ɑːrˈbjuːtəs/
an evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Arbutus, especially the strawberry tree, with bell-shaped flowers and red fruit
spikenard
C2
/ˈspaɪkˌnɑːɹd/
a Himalayan aromatic plant, Nardostachys jatamansi, whose rhizome yields fragrant oil
paradigmatic
C1
/ˌpɛɹ.ə.dɪ(ɡ)ˈmæ.tɪk/
related as members of a substitution class
acanthus
C2
/əˈkæn.θəs/
a plant of the genus Acanthus, with large deeply cut or spiny leaves and tall spikes of flowers
landholder
C2
/ˈlændˌhoʊldɝ/
a person or organization that owns or legally holds land, especially an agricultural estate
fructify
C2
/ˈfrʌktəˌfaɪ/
to bear fruit or become fruitful
orris
C2
/ˈɔɹ.ɪs/
the fragrant dried rhizome of certain irises, used especially in perfumery, potpourri, and flavoring
withy
C2
/ˈwɪð.i/
a tough, flexible willow twig or branch, especially one used for binding or weaving
hairiness
C2
/ˈhɛriːnəs/
The characteristic of being hairy.
orchis
C2
/ˈɔɹ.kɪs/
a terrestrial orchid, especially a plant of the genus Orchis
gnarl
C2
/nɑɹl/
to twist or deform something into a rough, knotted shape
overgrow
C1
/ˌoʊvərˈɡroʊ/
to grow over and cover a surface, place, or other vegetation
canebrake
C2
/ˈkeɪn.breɪk/
a dense thicket of cane, bamboo, or similar tall plants
pelargonium
C2
/ˌpɛlɑɹˈɡoʊniəm/
a flowering plant of the genus Pelargonium, often cultivated as a tender ornamental and commonly called a geranium
opuntia
C2
/əˈpʌntiə/
botany: any cactus of the genus Opuntia, whose members typically have flattened jointed pads and include the prickly pears
carex
C2
/ˈkɛrɛks/
a sedge belonging to the large genus Carex, whose small fruits are enclosed in saclike structures
teasel
C2
/ˈtiːzəl/
a tall prickly plant of the genus Dipsacus with spiny, cone-shaped flower heads
barberry
C2
/ˈbɑɹbɛɹi/
a thorny shrub of the genus Berberis, typically bearing yellow flowers and red or dark berries
haycock
C2
/ˈheɪkɑːk/
a small conical pile of hay left in a field to dry
plowshare
C2
/ˈplaʊˌʃer/
the sharp cutting blade of a plow that slices horizontally through the soil
heartsease
C2
/ˈhɑɹtsˌiz/
the European wild pansy, Viola tricolor, a small flower with petals commonly marked in three colors
agrimony
C2
/ˈæɡ.rɪˌmoʊ.ni/
a perennial herb of the genus Agrimonia, with spikes of small yellow flowers and bristly fruits
thallus
C2
/ˈθæləs/
a plantlike vegetative body, such as that of an alga, fungus, or lichen, which is not differentiated into true stems, leaves, and roots
mulga
C2
/ˈmɐlɡə/
Any of a number of small acacia trees, especially Acacia aneura, forming dense scrub in dry inland areas of Australia.
thistledown
C2
/ˈθɪs.əlˌdaʊn/
the soft, feathery hairs attached to ripe thistle seeds that help the wind carry them
kauri
C2
/ˈkaʊɹi/
a large Australasian conifer of the genus Agathis, especially the New Zealand tree Agathis australis
métayer
C2
/ˌmɛtəˈjeɪ/
historical: a sharecropper who cultivates a landlord's land for a portion, often half, of the harvest while the landlord supplies stock, seed, or tools
ombu
C2+
/ɑːmˈbuː/
a massive, fast-growing South American plant, Phytolacca dioica, with a broad trunk of soft water-rich tissue and a wide evergreen crown
araucaria
C2
/ærɔˈkɛriə/
an evergreen coniferous tree of the genus Araucaria, which includes the monkey puzzle, bunya pine, and hoop pine
pasturage
C2
/ˈpæs.tʃɚ.ɪdʒ/
land used or suitable for grazing livestock
scabious
C2
/ˈskeɪ.bi.əs/
a plant with pincushion-like flower heads, especially one of the genera Scabiosa or Knautia
buttonwood
C2
/ˈbʌtənˌwʊd/
the American sycamore, a large North American plane tree with round buttonlike fruiting heads
cotyledon
C2
/ˌkɑtəˈliːdən/
an embryonic leaf in a seed, often serving as the seedling's first leaf or food store
arborescent
C2
/ɑɹbəˈɹɛsənt/
resembling a tree in form, growth, or branching structure
stook
C2
/stʊk/
chiefly British: a group of sheaves of grain set upright together in a field to dry
ovule
C2
/ˈɑː.vjuːl/
in seed plants, the structure that contains the female reproductive cells and develops into a seed after fertilization
betony
C2
/ˈbɛtəni/
a perennial herb, especially Stachys officinalis, with spikes of purple flowers and a history of medicinal use
maidenhair
C2
/ˈmeɪdənˌhɛr/
a fern of the genus Adiantum, with delicate fan-shaped leaflets on slender dark stalks
pigweed
C2
/ˈpɪɡˌwiːd/
any of various common weedy plants, especially amaranths or goosefoots, some formerly used as pig fodder or leafy food
allamanda
C2
/ˌæləˈmændə/
a tropical American shrub or woody vine of the genus Allamanda, grown for its large funnel-shaped flowers
axil
C2
/ˈæksəl/
in botany, the upper angle between a leaf, branch, or leafstalk and the stem or axis from which it grows
sapwood
C2
/ˈsæpwʊd/
the younger, living outer wood of a tree trunk or branch, through which water and minerals are conducted
nectary
C2
/ˈnɛk.təɹi/
a gland or specialized plant structure that secretes nectar
corncrib
C2
/ˈkɔrnˌkrɪb/
a ventilated farm building or bin used to store and dry ears of maize
strophanthus
C2
/stroʊˈfænθəs/
a tropical African or Asian tree, shrub, or woody vine of the genus Strophanthus, often with long twisted petals
mullein
C2
/ˈmʌlɪn/
a plant of the genus Verbascum, typically having woolly leaves and a tall spike of yellow flowers
liverwort
C2
/ˈlɪv.ɚˌwɝːt/
a small nonvascular plant related to mosses, usually growing in damp places as a leafy shoot or flat thallus
sepal
C1
/ˈsɛpəl/
one of the usually green, leaflike parts that enclose a flower bud and together form the calyx
ilex
C2
/ˈaɪlɛks/
an evergreen Mediterranean oak with leathery leaves; the holm oak
germen
C2
/ˈdʒɝːmən/
historical botany: the ovary of a flower, containing the ovules and developing into the fruit after fertilization
cowpath
C2+
/ˈkaʊˌpæθ/
a path made or regularly used by cows, especially between pasture and barnyard
epiphyte
C2
/ˈɛpəˌfaɪt/
a plant that grows on another plant for physical support without drawing nourishment from it as a parasite
harebell
C2
/ˈhɛɚˌbɛl/
A perennial flowering plant, Campanula rotundifolia, native to the Northern Hemisphere, with blue, bell-like flowers.
antirrhinum
C2
/ˌæntəˈraɪnəm/
a snapdragon plant of the genus Antirrhinum
piny
C2
/ˈpaɪni/
covered with, full of, resembling, or characteristic of pine trees
serrate
C2
/ˈsɛɹˌeɪt/
having a saw-like edge with a row of sharp, tooth-like projections, especially of a leaf
cardoon
C2
/kɑː(ɹ)ˈduːn/
Any of species Cynara cardunculus of prickly perennial plants which has leaf stalks eaten as a vegetable, related to the artichoke.
sheepcote
C2
/ˈʃiːpˌkoʊt/
chiefly British or historical: a pen or small shelter for sheep
convolvulus
C2
/kənˈvɑlvjələs/
a trailing or twining plant of the genus Convolvulus, typically with trumpet-shaped flowers; a bindweed
odontoglossum
C2
/oʊˌdɑːntəˈɡlɑːsəm/
a showy tropical American orchid formerly classified in the genus Odontoglossum, now generally placed within Oncidium
polyandrous
C2
/ˌpɑːˌliːˈændrəs/
having numerous stamens, especially stamens inserted on the receptacle of a flower
fruitage
C2
/ˈfruː.tɪdʒ/
the fruit produced by a plant, or the amount of fruit it yields
cottar
C2
/ˈkɑːtər/
Scottish history: a peasant or farm laborer who occupied a cottage and sometimes a small plot, usually in return for labor services
papilionaceous
C2
/pəˌpɪliəˈneɪʃəs/
having a butterfly-shaped corolla, as in many flowers of the pea family
bulrush
C2
/ˈbʊlˌrʌʃ/
any of several tall, rushlike wetland plants, especially a cattail or reedmace with a cylindrical flower spike
pinnate
C2
/pɪnˈneɪt/
having leaflets, lobes, veins, or branches arranged in two rows along a central axis
foliate
C2
/ˈfoʊ.li.ət/
having, resembling, or arranged in thin leaflike layers