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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.
499 words
ambergris
C2
/ˈæm.bɚ.ɡɹɪs/
a waxy substance formed in the digestive tract of a sperm whale and historically prized as a perfume fixative
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ducat
C2
/ˈdʌk.ət/
historical: a gold or silver coin formerly issued by many European states, especially the widely traded gold ducat
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stovepipe
C2
/ˈstoʊvˌpaɪp/
a metal pipe that carries smoke and gases from a stove to a chimney or flue
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jerkin
C2
/ˈdʒɝː.kɪn/
a close-fitting jacket, often sleeveless and made of leather or rich fabric, worn especially by men in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
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feldspar
C2
/ˈfɛldˌspɑr/
any mineral in a major group of rock-forming aluminosilicates containing potassium, sodium, or calcium
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murk
C2
/mɝk/
an atmosphere in which visibility is reduced because of a cloud of some substance
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portcullis
C2
/pɔrtˈkʌlɪs/
a heavy gate made of a wood or metal grating that slides vertically to block a fortified entrance
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briquette
C2
/bɹɪˈkɛt/
a small compressed block of combustible material, especially charcoal or coal dust, used as fuel
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leaven
C2
/ˈlev.ən/
A substance, such as yeast, added to dough to make it rise.
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placer
C2
/ˈplæsɚ/
a surface or near-surface deposit of sand or gravel containing particles of a valuable mineral, especially gold
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malachite
C2
/ˈmæl.əˌkaɪt/
a bright green copper carbonate mineral used as an ore, pigment, and ornamental stone
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gasworks
C2
/ˈɡæs.wɝːks/
a factory where fuel gas is produced, stored, or distributed
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gabardine
C2
/ˈɡæbɚdiːn/
a firm, tightly woven fabric with a smooth face and a prominent diagonal twill, used especially for suits and coats
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ingot
C1
/ˈɪŋɡət/
metal that is cast in the shape of a block for convenient handling
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emetic
C2
/ɪˈmɛtɪk/
a substance or medicine that causes vomiting
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wagonload
C2
/ˈwæɡənˌloʊd/
the amount of goods or material that a wagon carries or can hold
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frill
C1
/ˈfrɪl/
a narrow strip of gathered or pleated fabric used as a decorative edge
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streamer
B1
/ˈstɹiːmɚ/
a long narrow strip of cloth, paper, or similar material used as decoration or a flag
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fluorescence
C2
/flʊˈɹɛsəns/
The emission of light (or other electromagnetic radiation) by a material when stimulated by the absorption of radiation or of a subatomic particle.
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sealer
B2
/ˈsiːlɚ/
a liquid or coating applied to make a surface resistant to air, water, stains, or damage
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merino
C2
/məˈɹinoʊ/
The fabric made from this wool (or from any similar yarn).
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decoction
C2
/dɪˈkɑkʃən/
a medicinal or herbal liquid made by boiling plant material in water
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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
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travertine
C2
/ˈtrævɚˌtin/
a light-colored, often porous form of limestone deposited by mineral springs and used as a building or decorative stone
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plasticity
C1
/plæsˈtɪsəti/
the capacity of a material to be reshaped permanently without breaking
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phosphor
C2
/ˈfɑs.fɚ/
a substance that emits light after being excited by radiation or another form of energy, as in fluorescent lamps and display screens
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tortoiseshell
B2
/ˈtɔː(ɹ)təˌʃɛl/
The hard, mottled brown and yellow material from a turtle's shell, used for ornaments.
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pollutant
B1
/pəˈl(j)uːtənt/
A substance that makes air, water, or soil dirty or harmful, especially waste from human activity.
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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
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molybdenum
C2
/məˈlɪb.dɪ.nəm/
the hard, silvery chemical element with symbol Mo and atomic number 42, used especially to strengthen steel alloys
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flounce
C2
/flaʊns/
a wide strip of gathered or pleated fabric sewn on a garment or furnishing as decoration
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mortise
C2
/ˈmɔrtɪs/
a rectangular cavity cut in one piece of material to receive a matching tenon and form a joint
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nitrite
C1
/ˈnaɪ.tɹaɪt/
the radical -NO2 or any compound containing it (such as a salt or ester of nitrous acid)
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plectrum
C2
/ˈplɛktɹəm/
a small flat piece of plastic, metal, or other material used to pluck the strings of an instrument
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stalactite
C2
/stəˈlæktaɪt/
an icicle-shaped mineral deposit that hangs from the roof of a cave
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censer
C2
/ˈsɛn.sɚ/
a vessel in which incense is burned, especially a covered metal container swung on chains during a religious ceremony
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pyrite
C2
/ˈpaɪraɪt/
a common brass-yellow mineral consisting of iron disulfide, often mistaken for gold
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mordant
C2
/ˈmoɹd(ə)nt/
Any substance used to facilitate the fixing of a dye to a fibre; usually a metallic compound which reacts with the dye using chelation.
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chaplet
C2
/ˈtʃæplət/
a garland or circlet of flowers, leaves, or other material worn on the head or around the neck
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cestus
C2
/ˈsɛstəs/
an ancient Greek or Roman fighting glove made of leather strips and sometimes weighted with metal
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mousseline
C2
/ˌmuː.səˈliːn/
a very fine, soft, semi-transparent fabric resembling muslin, made from silk, wool, or cotton
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dreg
C2
/dɹɛɡ/
a small amount of sediment or residue left at the bottom of a liquid
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tole
C2
/toʊl/
decorative sheet-metal ware with a painted, lacquered, or enamelled surface
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formalism
C2
/ˈfɔrməˌlɪzəm/
strict adherence to prescribed forms, rules, or procedures, sometimes at the expense of substance
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abutment
C2
/əˈbʌt.mn̩t/
a solid structure that supports the end or resists the outward thrust of a bridge, arch, dam, or similar construction
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sweatband
C2
/ˈswɛtˌbænd/
a strip of absorbent material worn around the head or wrist during exercise
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hasp
C2
/hæsp/
a hinged metal strap that fits over a staple and is secured by a pin or padlock
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festoon
C2
/fesˈtuːn/
a decorative chain of flowers, paper, fabric, or lights hung in a curve between two points
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rhodium
C2
/ˈɹoʊ.di.əm/
the rare, hard, silvery-white chemical element with symbol Rh and atomic number 45, belonging to the platinum group
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oilcloth
C2
/ˈɔɪlˌklɔːθ/
cloth coated with oil, resin, or another waterproof material, formerly used for floors, tables, shelves, and coverings
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phlogiston
C2
/floʊˈdʒɪstɑn/
a hypothetical fire-like substance once thought to exist in combustible materials and to be released during burning
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emulsifier
C2
/ɪˈmʌlsəˌfaɪɝ/
A substance that helps two liquids mix into a smooth blend and keeps them from separating.
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phosphorescence
C2
/ˌfɑsfəˈrɛsəns/
the emission of light by a substance that continues after the source of excitation has been removed
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carpetbag
C2
/ˈkɑrpətˌbæɡ/
a traveling bag made from carpet fabric, especially one used in the nineteenth century
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glassful
B2
/ˈɡlæsfʊl/
the amount of liquid or other material that one drinking glass can hold
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lamina
C2
/ˈlæm.ɪ.nə/
a thin layer, plate, sheet, or scale of material
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cruse
C2
/kruːs/
a small earthenware vessel for holding liquids, especially oil or water
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spermaceti
C2
/spɚ.məˈsiː.ti/
a white waxy substance from the spermaceti organ in a sperm whale's head, historically used in candles, cosmetics, ointments, and lubricants
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clavichord
C2
/ˈklævɪˌkɔɹd/
an early keyboard instrument whose strings are struck by small metal blades, producing a soft, expressive sound
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ironmongery
C2
/ˈaɪrnˌmʌŋ.ɡɚ.i/
tools, metal fittings, and other hardware sold for use in homes, gardens, or buildings
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nacre
C2
/ˈneɪ.kɚ/
the hard, smooth, iridescent substance lining many mollusc shells and forming the outer coating of pearls
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globule
C2
/ˈɡlɑːbjuːl/
a very small round mass, particle, or drop of a liquid or softened solid
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gneiss
C2
/ˈnaɪs/
a coarse-grained metamorphic rock with distinct light and dark mineral bands, commonly formed under high temperature and pressure
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spume
C2
/spjuːm/
foam or froth formed on a liquid, especially on breaking waves
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minim
C2
/ˈmɪnɪm/
a historical apothecaries' unit of liquid volume equal to one sixtieth of a fluid dram, roughly 0.06 milliliters
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salver
C2
/ˈsæl.vɚ/
a flat tray, often made of silver or another metal, used for formally serving or presenting things
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indium
C1
/ˈɪn.di.əm/
the soft, silvery-white chemical element with symbol In and atomic number 49
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pabulum
C2
/ˈpæbjʊləm/
bland, simplistic, or intellectually undemanding material offered as if it were nourishing
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cambric
C2
/ˈkeɪmbrɪk/
a fine, closely woven white fabric originally made of linen and now also made of cotton
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porringer
C2
/ˈpɔrɪndʒər/
a shallow metal bowl (usually with a handle)
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circlet
C2
/ˈsɝklət/
a narrow circular band, often of precious metal or flowers, worn around the head
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tracery
C2
/ˈtɹeɪsɚi/
ornamental stone, wood, or metalwork forming interlacing ribs or branching patterns, especially in a window
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battledore
C2
/ˈbæ.tɫ̩.dɔɹ/
a light, solid-faced racket formerly used to keep a shuttlecock in the air
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concretion
C2
/kənˈkriːʃən/
a hard, often rounded mineral mass formed by material accumulating within sediment or sedimentary rock
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cretonne
C2
/ˈkriː.tɑːn/
a strong, often printed fabric of cotton, linen, or rayon used especially for curtains, slipcovers, and upholstery
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marquetry
C2
/ˈmɑːɹ.kə.tɹi/
the decorative craft of fitting thin pieces of differently colored wood, shell, metal, or other veneer into a surface to form a design
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ferrule
C2
/ˈfɛrəl/
a metal or other strong ring, cap, or sleeve fitted around a shaft to strengthen it or prevent splitting
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substratum
C2
/ˈsʌbstreɪtəm/
a layer of material, especially rock or soil, lying beneath another layer
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andiron
C2
/ˈændˌaɪɚn/
one of a pair of metal supports used to hold burning logs above the hearth of a fireplace
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leavening
C2
/ˈlɛvənɪŋ/
A substance, such as yeast, that makes dough or batter rise.
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lamella
C2
/ləˈmɛlə/
a thin plate, layer, membrane, or sheet forming part of a biological, mineral, or manufactured structure
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india-rubber
C2
/ˌɪndiə ˈrʌbər/
an old-fashioned name for natural rubber, the elastic waterproof material obtained from plant latex
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carborundum
C2
/ˌkɑːrbəˈrʌndəm/
silicon carbide, an extremely hard crystalline material used as an abrasive and in industrial ceramics
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lambswool
C2+
/ˈlæmz.wʊl/
soft wool or woolen fabric from the first shearing of young sheep
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trousering
C2+
/ˈtraʊ.zɚ.ɪŋ/
cloth suitable for making trousers, especially material sold or discussed for that purpose
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aragonite
C2
/əˈræɡəˌnaɪt/
an orthorhombic mineral form of calcium carbonate, denser than calcite and common in shells, pearls, coral skeletons, and some cave deposits
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spadeful
C2
/ˈspeɪd.fʊl/
the amount of earth or other material that a spade can hold or move at one time
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floorcloth
C2
/ˈflɔrˌklɔθ/
a piece of cloth, oilcloth, or similar material used as a floor covering in place of or beneath a carpet
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bombazine
C2
/ˌbɑmbəˈzin/
a twilled fabric traditionally made with a silk warp and worsted weft, often dyed black for mourning clothes
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ordure
C2
/ˈɔːr.dʒɚ/
solid bodily waste; dung or excrement; literary or formal
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percolation
C2
/pɝkəˈleɪʃən/
the slow passage of a liquid through pores or small spaces in soil, rock, or another material
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selvage
C2
/ˈsɛlvɪdʒ/
the narrow finished edge of woven fabric that prevents it from fraying
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scoria
C2
/ˈskɔɹ.i.ə/
rough, dark, porous lava formed when gas-rich molten rock cools
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silex
C2
/ˈsaɪleks/
silica or a hard siliceous material, especially flint
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pannikin
C2
/ˈpænɪkɪn/
chiefly British or Australian: a small metal cup or pan, especially one used outdoors
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pseudopod
C2
/ˈsuː.dəˌpɑd/
a temporary projection of a cell's cytoplasm used for movement, feeding, or engulfing material
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