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
526 words
atavism
C2
/ˈætəˌvɪzəm/
the reappearance in an organism of a trait associated with a remote ancestor
well-nigh
C2+
/ˌwɛlˈnaɪ/
Almost, nearly.
phlogiston
C2
/floʊˈdʒɪstɑn/
a hypothetical fire-like substance once thought to exist in combustible materials and to be released during burning
vibratory
C2
/ˈvaɪbrətɔːri/
involving, characterized by, or causing rapid back-and-forth motion or vibration
paleontological
C2
/ˌpeɪliəntəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
relating to paleontology or to the study of life in the geological past through fossils
mineralogist
C2
/ˌmɪn.əˈrɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
a scientist who studies the formation, composition, properties, and classification of minerals
synchrotron
C2
/ˈsɪŋ.krəˌtrɑːn/
a circular particle accelerator in which radiofrequency electric fields accelerate charged particles while a synchronized magnetic field keeps them on a fixed closed path as their energy increases
engram
C2
/ˈɛnˌɡɹæm/
A postulated physical or biochemical change in neural tissue that represents a memory.
phosphorescence
C2
/ˌfɑsfəˈrɛsəns/
the emission of light by a substance that continues after the source of excitation has been removed
Eocene
C2
/ˈiːəˌsiːn/
relating to the geological epoch from about 56 to 34 million years ago, between the Paleocene and Oligocene
epistemology
C2
/ɪˌpɪstəˈmɑləd͡ʒi/
The branch of philosophy dealing with the study of knowledge; the theory of knowledge, asking such questions as "What is knowledge?", "How is knowledge acquired?", "What do people know?", "How do we know what we know?", "How do we know it is true?", and so on.
lamina
C2
/ˈlæm.ɪ.nə/
a thin layer, plate, sheet, or scale of material
anode
C2
/ˈæn.oʊd/
the electrode at which oxidation occurs in an electrochemical cell; it is negative in a cell supplying current and positive when external power drives the reaction
gibbous
C2
/ˈɡɪbəs/
having more than half but less than all of the visible disk illuminated, especially of the moon
radioisotope
C2
/ˌreɪ.di.oʊˈaɪ.sə.toʊp/
a radioactive isotope of an element, whose unstable nuclei decay and emit radiation
ionize
C1
/ˈaɪ.ə.naɪz/
to convert an atom, molecule, or other chemical entity into one or more ions
albumen
C2
/ˈælbjʊmən/
the white part of an egg
inhere
C2
/ɪnˈhɪə/
To be inherent; to be an essential or intrinsic part of; to be fixed or permanently incorporated with something.
perihelion
C2
/ˌpɛɹ.əˈhiː.li.ən/
The point in the elliptical orbit of a comet, planet, etc., where it is nearest to the Sun.
unfertilized
B2
/ʌnˈfɝːtəlaɪzd/
biology: not fertilized by the fusion of male and female reproductive cells
paleozoic
C2
/ˈpeɪl.iəˌzəʊɪk/
of or relating to or denoting the Paleozoic era
evolutionist
C2
/ˌɛvəˈluʃənɪst/
a person who accepts, studies, or advocates the theory of biological evolution
embryology
C2
/ˌɛmbriːˈɑːlədʒi/
the branch of biology that studies the formation and early development of living organisms
meiosis
C2
/maɪˈoʊ.sɪs/
cell division in which one diploid cell undergoes two divisions to produce four haploid cells
mineralogy
C2
/ˌmɪnəˈɹɑlədʒi/
the branch of geology that studies minerals, including their composition, structure, properties, and classification
globule
C2
/ˈɡlɑːbjuːl/
a very small round mass, particle, or drop of a liquid or softened solid
bacteriologist
C2
/bækˌtɪriˈɑlədʒɪst/
a scientist who specializes in the study of bacteria
polestar
C2
/ˈpoʊlˌstɑɹ/
the North Star, used as a fixed point for finding direction
periodicity
C2
/ˌpɪriəˈdɪsəti/
the quality of recurring at regular intervals
pliocene
C2
/ˈplaɪəˌsiːn/
the geological epoch about 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago, immediately before the Pleistocene
geocentric
C2
/ˌd͡ʒioʊˈsɛntɹɪk/
treating Earth as the center, especially in an astronomical model of the universe
fulgurite
C2+
/ˈfʌlɡjəraɪt/
a glassy, often branching tube or crust formed when lightning fuses sand, soil, or rock
autosomal
C2
/ˌɔːtoʊˈsoʊməl/
relating to an autosome, or inherited through a chromosome other than a sex chromosome
vivisect
C2
/ˈvɪv.ə.sekt/
to operate on or dissect a living animal for scientific investigation
vivisectionist
C2
/ˌvɪv.ɪˈsek.ʃən.ɪst/
a person who practices, advocates, or defends vivisection
reflexion
C2
/ɹɪˈflɛkʃ(ə)n/
Uncommon spelling of reflection.
dualism
C2
/ˈduːəˌlɪzəm/
Duality; the condition of being double.
dynamical
C2
/daɪˈnæmɪkəl/
relating to dynamics, forces, or the laws governing motion and change
undulation
C2
/ˌʌndjʊˈleɪʃən/
a smooth rising-and-falling or back-and-forth movement like a wave
polypeptide
C2
/ˌpɑliˈpɛpˌtaɪd/
a chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds, forming all or part of a protein
capitation
C2
/kapɪˈteɪʃən/
A system of remuneration for providers of health care, in which providers enroll patients as permanent clients and receive a fixed (and capped) periodic payment for each enrollee (i.e., per capita).
antiproton
C2
/ˌæn.tiˈproʊ.tɑːn/
the antiparticle of the proton, with the same mass but a negative electric charge
luminiferous
C2
/ˌluːmɪˈnɪfərəs/
producing or transmitting light; luminous.
compressive
C2
/kəmˈpɹɛsɪv/
that compresses
orrery
C2
/ˈɔɹəɹi/
a mechanical model that shows the relative positions and movements of bodies in the solar system
biophysical
C2
/ˌbaɪ.oʊˈfɪz.ɪ.kəl/
relating to biophysics or to the application of physical principles and methods to biological systems
heliocentric
C2
/ˌhiːlioʊˈsɛntɹɪk/
treating the sun as the center, especially in an astronomical model of the solar system
calorific
C2
/ˌkæləˈɹɪf.ɪk/
Containing a lot of calories and likely to be fattening.
kinematic
C2
/ˌkɪnəˈmætɪk/
relating to motion considered without reference to the forces or masses that cause it
unobservable
C2
/ˌʌnəbˈzɝvəbəl/
not capable of being directly seen, measured, detected, or otherwise observed
vesicle
C2
/ˈvɛsɪkəl/
a small membrane-bound sac or cavity in a cell or organism, often containing fluid or another substance
uncharged
C1
/ʌnˈtʃɑːrdʒd/
having no net electric charge; electrically neutral
extrinsic
C2
/ɛksˈtɹɪn.zɪk/
not forming an essential part of a thing or arising or originating from the outside
plasm
C2
/ˈplæzəm/
biology, now rare: the living substance of a cell; protoplasm
transuranic
C2
/ˌtrænz.jʊˈræn.ɪk/
of a chemical element, having an atomic number greater than uranium's atomic number of 92
anatomize
C2
/əˈnætəmaɪz/
to analyze a subject, argument, or character in minute detail
effervesce
C2
/ˌɛfɚˈvɛs/
to give off bubbles of gas; to fizz or foam
lenticular
C2
/lɛnˈtɪkjəlɚ/
shaped like a lens, especially convex on both sides
calcareous
C2
/kælˈkɛəɹi.əs/
Resembling, containing, or composed of calcium carbonate or limestone; chalky.
karyotype
C2
/ˈker.i.oʊ.taɪp/
the complete chromosome set of an individual or species, considered by number and visible structure
tapetum
C2
/təˈpiː.təm/
a reflective or pigmented layer of tissue behind or within the retina of the eye
hermaphroditism
C2
/hɚˈmæfɹədaɪˌtɪzəm/
in biology, the condition of having both male and female reproductive organs, either simultaneously or at different life stages
supernatant
C2
/ˌsuː.pɚˈneɪ.tənt/
lying or floating above a denser liquid, sediment, or precipitate
antiparticle
C2
/ˈæntiˌpɑ(ɹ)tɪkəl/
a subatomic particle with the same mass and spin as another particle but opposite charge or other quantum numbers
hybridize
C2
/ˈhaɪbrəˌdaɪz/
to cross genetically different organisms, varieties, or species, or to produce hybrid offspring
substratum
C2
/ˈsʌbstreɪtəm/
a layer of material, especially rock or soil, lying beneath another layer
aphelion
C2
/əˈfiːliən/
the point in the orbit of a planet, comet, or other body at which it is farthest from the Sun
submicroscopic
C2
/ˌsʌb.maɪ.krəˈskɑː.pɪk/
too small to be seen with an ordinary microscope; smaller than microscopic scale
homologous
C2
/həˈmɒləɡəs/
similar in position, structure, or origin, especially because of shared ancestry
lamella
C2
/ləˈmɛlə/
a thin plate, layer, membrane, or sheet forming part of a biological, mineral, or manufactured structure
antihydrogen
C2+
/ˌæn.tiˈhaɪ.drə.dʒən/
the antimatter counterpart of hydrogen, whose atom consists of a positron bound to an antiproton
pubescence
C2
/pjuːˈbɛsəns/
A covering of fine, soft hairs.
metaphase
C2
/ˈmɛtəˌfeɪz/
the stage of mitosis or meiosis in which condensed chromosomes align before being separated
Miocene
C2
/ˈmaɪəˌsiːn/
the geological epoch from about 23 million to 5.3 million years ago, within the Neogene Period
suborder
C2
/ˈsʌbˌɔːrdɚ/
taxonomy: a rank below an order and above an infraorder, used to divide a biological order into smaller groups
integument
C2
/ˌɪnˈtɛɡ.jə.mənt/
a natural outer covering that protects an organism or one of its parts, such as skin, a shell, or a seed coat
homology
C2
/həˈmɑlədʒi/
similarity between structures, genes, or features because they derive from a common evolutionary ancestor
convolution
C2
/ˌkɑːn.vəˈluː.ʃən/
a twist, coil, or fold, especially one of the folds on the surface of the brain
deuteron
C2
/ˈduː.təˌrɑːn/
the nucleus of a deuterium, or hydrogen-2, atom, consisting of one proton bound to one neutron
homozygous
C2
/ˌhoʊ.məˈzaɪ.ɡəs/
having two identical alleles at a particular gene locus
branchial
C2
/ˈbɹæŋ.ki.əl/
relating to, resembling, or serving as gills
polymorphism
C2
/pɑliˈmɔɹfɪzəm/
the occurrence of two or more distinct forms or genetic variants within a population
hygrometer
C2
/haɪˈɡrɑːmətər/
an instrument for measuring humidity, especially the relative humidity of the air
coccus
C2
/ˈkɑːkəs/
a bacterium with a spherical or roughly spherical shape
exogenous
C2
/ɛkˈsɑdʒənəs/
originating outside an organism, system, or process
contiguity
C2
/ˌkɑn.tɪˈɡju.ɪ.ti/
A state in which two or more physical objects are physically touching one another or in which sections of a plane border on one another.
quantize
C2
/ˈkwɑːn.taɪz/
physics: to restrict a physical quantity or system to discrete allowed values or states
positronium
C2
/ˌpɒzɪˈtɹɒniəm/
an unstable exotic atom consisting of an electron bound to its antiparticle, a positron, with no atomic nucleus
evolutionism
C2
/ˌev.əˈluː.ʃənˌɪz.əm/
a philosophical or social doctrine that treats evolution as a universal process, often identified with progress
psychophysiology
C2
/ˌsaɪkoʊˌfɪziˈɑlədʒi/
the study of relationships between psychological processes and physiological activity
arachnologist
C2+
/əˌrækˈnɑːlədʒɪst/
a scientist who specializes in the study of spiders and other arachnids
scoria
C2
/ˈskɔɹ.i.ə/
rough, dark, porous lava formed when gas-rich molten rock cools
monism
C2
/ˈmɑnɪzəm/
The doctrine that there is a single source of political authority, especially that the church is subordinate to the state or vice versa.
fecundate
C2+
/ˈfɛkənˌdeɪt/
formal: to make an organism, egg, or reproductive structure fertile; to fertilize or impregnate
geocentrism
C2
/ˌdʒiːoʊˈsɛntrɪzəm/
the astronomical model or belief that Earth is stationary at the center of the universe or of the motions of the heavenly bodies
fecundation
C2
/ˌfɛkənˈdeɪʃən/
fertilization through the union of male and female reproductive cells