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
476 words
rhodium
C2
/ˈɹoʊ.di.əm/
the rare, hard, silvery-white chemical element with symbol Rh and atomic number 45, belonging to the platinum group
oilcloth
C2
/ˈɔɪlˌklɔːθ/
cloth coated with oil, resin, or another waterproof material, formerly used for floors, tables, shelves, and coverings
sulfurous
C2
/ˈsʌl.fjʊr.əs/
containing, resembling, or smelling of sulfur
emulsifier
C2
/ɪˈmʌlsəˌfaɪɝ/
A substance that helps two liquids mix into a smooth blend and keeps them from separating.
verdigris
C2
/ˈvɝdəˌɡris/
the blue-green patina that forms on copper, brass, or bronze exposed to air and moisture
ormolu
C2
/ˈɔɹ.məˌluː/
gilt bronze or brass, especially mercury-gilded decorative mounts used on fine European furniture, clocks, and ornaments
porphyry
C2
/ˈpɔɹ.fɪ.ɹi/
an igneous rock containing conspicuous large crystals within a much finer-grained groundmass
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
actinium
C2
/ækˈtɪn.i.əm/
the radioactive metallic chemical element with symbol Ac and atomic number 89, the first element of the actinide series
nacre
C2
/ˈneɪ.kɚ/
the hard, smooth, iridescent substance lining many mollusc shells and forming the outer coating of pearls
gneiss
C2
/ˈnaɪs/
a coarse-grained metamorphic rock with distinct light and dark mineral bands, commonly formed under high temperature and pressure
pasteboard
C2
/ˈpeɪstˌbɔrd/
stiff cardboard made by pasting together layers or sheets of paper
ammoniac
C2
/əˈmoʊ.ni.æk/
relating to, containing, or resembling ammonia
broadcloth
C2
/ˈbrɔdˌklɔθ/
a dense, smooth woolen cloth, historically woven wider than ordinary cloth and used for fine garments
indium
C1
/ˈɪn.di.əm/
the soft, silvery-white chemical element with symbol In and atomic number 49
cambric
C2
/ˈkeɪmbrɪk/
a fine, closely woven white fabric originally made of linen and now also made of cotton
solferino
C2
/ˌsoʊlfəˈɹiːnəʊ/
a vivid purplish-red or magenta color, originally the name of an aniline dye
mendelevium
C2+
/ˌmɛn.dəˈli.vi.əm/
a synthetic radioactive metallic chemical element with atomic number 101 and symbol Md
selenite
C2
/ˈsɛl.əˌnaɪt/
a transparent or translucent crystalline variety of gypsum
emulsify
C2
/ɪˈmʊlsɪfaɪ/
To mix two liquids that normally separate, such as oil and water, into a smooth blend.
technetium
C2
/tɛkˈniː.ʃi.əm/
the radioactive metallic chemical element with symbol Tc and atomic number 43, all of whose isotopes are unstable
ironstone
C2
/ˈaɪ.ɚnˌstoʊn/
an iron-rich sedimentary rock or ore
matchwood
C2
/ˈmætʃˌwʊd/
wood reduced to small splinters, especially by violent damage
solidification
C1
/səˌlɪdəfəˈkeɪʃən/
the process by which a liquid or gas becomes solid, especially through cooling, drying, or crystallization
bituminous
C2
/bɪˈtuːmɪnəs/
containing, resembling, or having the tar-like qualities of bitumen
wallboard
B2
/ˈwɔlˌbɔrd/
Flat boards, often made with a plaster core and paper surface, used to cover walls and ceilings.
concretion
C2
/kənˈkriːʃən/
a hard, often rounded mineral mass formed by material accumulating within sediment or sedimentary rock
leathern
C2
/ˈlɛðɚn/
made of leather; now chiefly archaic or literary
neptunium
C2
/nɛpˈtjuːniəm/
the radioactive transuranic chemical element with symbol Np and atomic number 93
cretonne
C2
/ˈkriː.tɑːn/
a strong, often printed fabric of cotton, linen, or rayon used especially for curtains, slipcovers, and upholstery
viscid
C2
/ˈvɪsɪd/
having the sticky properties of an adhesive
granule
C2
/ˈɡrænjuːl/
a very small grain or particle of a substance
leavening
C2
/ˈlɛvənɪŋ/
A substance, such as yeast, that makes dough or batter rise.
satinwood
C2
/ˈsæt.ənˌwʊd/
a smooth, hard, lustrous yellowish wood used for fine furniture, veneers, marquetry, and cabinetwork
protactinium
C2
/ˌproʊ.tækˈtɪn.i.əm/
the chemical element with symbol Pa and atomic number 91, a dense, silvery, highly radioactive actinide metal with no stable isotopes
syenite
C2
/ˈsaɪəˌnaɪt/
a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock composed mainly of alkali feldspar with minerals such as hornblende or biotite and little or no quartz
castoreum
C2
/kæˈstɔːriəm/
a strong-smelling secretion from a beaver's castor sacs, used in scent marking and historically in medicine and perfumery
india-rubber
C2
/ˌɪndiə ˈrʌbər/
an old-fashioned name for natural rubber, the elastic waterproof material obtained from plant latex
curium
C2
/ˈkjʊə.ɹi.əm/
a synthetic radioactive metallic chemical element with atomic number 96 and symbol Cm
iodoform
C2
/aɪˈoʊ.də.fɔːrm/
a pale yellow crystalline compound, CHI₃, with a strong odor, formerly used as an antiseptic
vitrify
C2
/ˈvɪtrəˌfaɪ/
to convert a material into glass or a glasslike substance by heat and fusion, or to undergo that change
efflorescence
C2
/ˌefləˈresəns/
a powdery or crystalline deposit left on a surface when dissolved salts migrate and the water evaporates
sleave
C2
/sliːv/
archaic: to separate or spread into fine threads, strands, or filaments
clayey
C1
/ˈkleɪi/
containing a large amount of clay, or having the dense, sticky qualities of clay
carborundum
C2
/ˌkɑːrbəˈrʌndəm/
silicon carbide, an extremely hard crystalline material used as an abrasive and in industrial ceramics
greenstone
C2
/ˈɡriːnˌstoʊn/
any of various compact dark-green rocks, especially altered basic igneous rocks such as diabase or diorite
emulsification
C2
The process of mixing two liquids that normally separate, such as oil and water, into a smooth blend.
lambswool
C2+
/ˈlæmz.wʊl/
soft wool or woolen fabric from the first shearing of young sheep
einsteinium
C1
/aɪnˈstaɪni.əm/
a synthetic radioactive chemical element with atomic number 99 and symbol Es
encrust
C2
/ɪnˈkɹʌst/
to cover or become covered with a hard crust or deposited layer
fusible
C2
/ˈfjuːzəbəl/
capable of being melted or fused by heat
siliceous
C2
/səˈlɪʃəs/
of, relating to, containing, or resembling silica or a silicate
picric
C2
/ˈpɪkɹɪk/
designating a type of bitter yellow acid.
aragonite
C2
/əˈræɡəˌnaɪt/
an orthorhombic mineral form of calcium carbonate, denser than calcite and common in shells, pearls, coral skeletons, and some cave deposits
fermium
C2
/ˈfɜːɹmiəm/
a synthetic radioactive chemical element with atomic number 100 and symbol Fm
bombazine
C2
/ˌbɑmbəˈzin/
a twilled fabric traditionally made with a silk warp and worsted weft, often dyed black for mourning clothes
antistatic
B2
Preventing the buildup of static electricity.
whipcord
C2
/ˈwɪpˌkɔrd/
a thin, strong, tightly twisted cord, originally used for the lash of a whip
chrysolite
C2
/ˈkɹɪs.əˌlaɪt/
a yellow-green or golden-green gem variety of olivine, now generally called peridot
metalled
C2
(Of a road) surfaced with crushed stone or gravel.
argillaceous
C2
/ˌɑrdʒɪˈleɪʃəs/
made of, containing, or resembling clay
lawrencium
C2
/ləˈɹɛnsiəm/
a synthetic radioactive chemical element with atomic number 103 and symbol Lr
corrugate
C2
/ˈkɔːr.əˌɡeɪt/
to form a material into parallel ridges, folds, or grooves
sardius
C2
/ˈsɑːɹ.di.əs/
historical or biblical: sard, a translucent brownish-red to deep orange-red variety of chalcedony used as a gemstone
silex
C2
/ˈsaɪleks/
silica or a hard siliceous material, especially flint
lawny
C2+
/ˈlɔni/
made of or resembling lawn, a fine, lightweight linen or cotton fabric
balas
C2
/ˈbaləs/
a pale red or rose-coloured spinel historically called a balas ruby and often mistaken for true ruby
spinel
C2
/spɪˈnɛl/
a hard, glassy magnesium aluminium oxide mineral that crystallizes in the cubic system and occurs in many colors
linsey-woolsey
C2+
/ˌlɪnziˈwʊlzi/
a coarse, sturdy fabric woven with a linen or cotton warp and a woolen weft
cherty
C2+
/ˈtʃɝːti/
containing, resembling, or composed largely of chert, a hard fine-grained siliceous rock
jacinth
C2
/ˈdʒæ.sɪnθ/
a transparent reddish-orange or reddish-brown variety of zircon used as a gemstone
ammoniacal
C2
/aməˈnʌɪəkəl/
pertaining to or containing or similar to ammonia
tussore
C2
/ˈtʌs.ɔɹ/
a strong, naturally tan or brownish silk produced by the larvae of several wild Asian saturniid moths
ferruginous
C2
/fəˈruːdʒənəs/
containing iron or an iron compound
gumwood
C2
/ˈɡʌmwʊd/
the wood of a gum tree, especially eucalyptus or sweetgum, used for timber and other products
silvern
C2
/ˈsɪlvɚn/
having the white lustrous sheen of silver
rutherfordium
C2+
/ˌɹʌðəɹˈfɔːɹdiəm/
a synthetic radioactive chemical element with atomic number 104 and symbol Rf
spilth
C2+
/spɪlθ/
Spillage; spilled material
litharge
C2
/ˈlɪθɑrdʒ/
lead monoxide, especially the fused yellow or reddish material produced during the refining of lead or silver
fusibility
C2
/ˌfjuːzəˈbɪləti/
the quality or degree of being capable of melting or being fused by heat
peltry
C2
/ˈpɛltri/
animal pelts or furs collectively, especially raw, undressed skins traded as a commodity
steatite
C2
/ˈstiːəˌtaɪt/
a soft, dense variety of talc with a soapy feel, commonly called soapstone
castor oil
C2
/ˌkæs.tɚ ˈɔɪl/
a pale, thick oil pressed from castor beans, used medicinally as a laxative and industrially as a lubricant, plasticizer, and chemical feedstock
orrisroot
C2+
/ˈɔɹ.ɪsˌɹuːt/
the dried, fragrant rhizome of certain irises, especially Iris pallida and Iris germanica
moreen
C2
/moʊˈrin/
historical: a heavy woolen or wool-and-cotton furnishing fabric, often with a ribbed or watered finish
feldspathic
C2
/feldˈspæθɪk/
relating to, containing, or rich in feldspar
mineral water
A2
olive oil
A2
repellent
C2+
/rɪˈpɛlənt/
causing disgust or aversion; a substance that drives something away
alloy
C2+
/ˈælɔɪ/
a metal made by combining two or more elements
condense
C2+
/kənˈdɛns/
to make denser or more concise; to change from gas to liquid
inhalation
C2+
/ˌɪnhəˈleɪʃən/
the act of breathing air or another substance into the lungs
wring
C2+
/rɪŋ/
to squeeze and twist something to force out liquid
precipitate
C2+
/prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt/
to cause to happen suddenly; hasty; a solid separated from a solution
boracic
C2+
/bəˈræsɪk/
of or containing boric acid; British rhyming slang for penniless
dematerialization
C2+
/diˌmətɪriəˌləˈzeɪʃən/
the process of losing or seeming to lose material form or substance