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
454 words
lanugo
C2
/ləˈnuːɡoʊ/
the fine, soft hair that temporarily covers a human fetus and may still be present on a newborn
parotid
C2
/pəˈrɑtɪd/
relating to or situated near the parotid gland, the large salivary gland in front of and below the ear
scintillation
C2
/ˌsɪn.təˈleɪ.ʃən/
The twinkling of a star or other celestial body caused by turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere.
snuffle
C2
/ˈsnʌf.əl/
to breathe, sniff, or sniffle noisily through the nose
zygoma
C2
/zaɪˈɡoʊmə/
anatomy: either zygomatic bone, forming the prominence of the cheek below and beside the eye
orbicularis
C2
/ɔɹˌbɪk.jəˈlɛɹ.ɪs/
A muscle surrounding an opening.
cornu
C2
/ˈkɔɹnuː/
a horn-shaped anatomical part, such as a projection of a bone, organ, or region of the spinal cord
lacrimal
C2
/ˈlæk.ɹəm.əl/
anatomy: relating to tears or to the organs that produce or drain them
osseous
C2
/ˈɑːsiəs/
consisting of, containing, or relating to bone
nasolabial
C2
/ˌneɪzoʊˈleɪbiəl/
Relating to the nose and lips.
deliberative
C2
/dɪˈlɪbɝˌeɪtɪv/
involved in or characterized by deliberation and discussion and examination
diastema
C2
/ˌdaɪəˈstiːmə/
a gap between adjacent teeth, especially between the upper front incisors
dolichocephalic
C2
/ˌdɑːlɪkoʊsəˈfælɪk/
having a head or skull that is relatively long from front to back compared with its width
papilla
C2
/pəˈpɪlə/
a small nipple-shaped projection of tissue, such as one on the tongue or at the base of a hair, tooth, or feather
tuberosity
C2
/ˌtuːbəˈrɑːsəti/
anatomy: a large, rough, rounded prominence on a bone, commonly serving as an attachment site for a muscle, tendon, or ligament
left-handedness
C2+
/ˌleftˈhæn.dɪd.nəs/
the tendency or preference to use the left hand rather than the right for skilled actions
teethe
C2+
/tiːð/
to grow or cut teeth
tympanum
C2
/ˈtɪmpənəm/
the eardrum or tympanic membrane, and historically the middle-ear cavity behind it
zygomaticus
C2
/ˌzaɪ.ɡəˈmæt.ək.əs/
One of several small subcutaneous facial muscles arising from or in relation with the zygomatic bone.
lacrimation
C2
/ˌlækrəˈmeɪʃən/
shedding tears
frontalis
C2
/ˌfɹʌnˈteɪ.lɪs/
A muscle of the forehead, sometimes considered to be part of the occipitofrontalis muscle.
brachycephalic
C2
/ˌbræki səˈfælɪk/
having a skull that is relatively short from front to back and broad from side to side
viscus
C2
/ˈvɪskəs/
anatomy: an internal organ located in one of the body's major cavities
palpebral
C2
/pælˈpi.bɹəl/
Of, pertaining to, or located on or near the eyelids.
tonus
C2
/ˈtoʊnəs/
the normal continuous tension or readiness of living muscles, arteries, or other tissue
luteum
C2
corpus luteum
risorius
C2+
/ɹɪˈsɔɹ.i.əs/
A narrow band of facial muscle arising from the fascia over the masseter and inserting into the tissues at the corner of the mouth, which it draws laterally, as is used when smiling.
filum
C2
/ˈfaɪləm/
anatomy and biology: a slender thread-like structure or filament
commissure
C2
/ˈkɑm.əˌʃʊɹ/
a bundle of nerve fibers passing from one side to the other of the brain or spinal cord
metatarsus
C2
/ˌmɛtəˈtɑːrsəs/
the part of a vertebrate foot between the tarsus and the toes, consisting in humans of five metatarsal bones
conduce
C2
/kənˈd(j)us/
To cause (something) to occur; to bring about.
frenum
C2
/ˈfriːnəm/
an anatomical fold of tissue that restrains or anchors the movement of an organ; a frenulum
prognathous
C2
/ˈprɑɡnəθəs/
having jaws that project forward beyond the upper part of the face
platysma
C2
/pləˈtɪz.mə/
either of two broad muscles located on either side of the neck and innervated by the facial nerve
orbicular
C2
/ɔɹˈbɪk.ju.lɚ/
Circular or spherical in shape; round.
sensorimotor
C2
/ˌsɛnsəriˈmoʊtər/
relating jointly to sensory input and motor activity or their coordination
intercondylar
C2
/ˌɪntərkənˈdɪlər/
anatomy: situated or occurring between two condyles
supracondylar
C2
/ˌsuːprəˈkɑːndəlɚ/
anatomy and medicine: situated above, relating to, or affecting the area above a condyle of a bone
naris
C2+
/ˈner.ɪs/
either external opening of the nose or either corresponding opening into the nasal cavity; a nostril
subcostal
C2
/sʌbˈkɑːstəl/
anatomy: situated or occurring beneath a rib or the ribs
deglutition
C2
/ˌdiɡluˈtɪʃ(ə)n/
the act or physiological process of swallowing
antihelix
C2
/ˌæn.tɪˈhi.lɪks/
anatomy: the curved ridge of cartilage inside and roughly parallel to the helix of the outer ear
fasciculus
C2
/fəˈsɪkjʊləs/
anatomy: a small bundle of nerve, muscle, tendon, or other parallel fibers
vasomotor
C2+
/ˌveɪzoʊˈmoʊtər/
relating to the nerves and muscles that cause the blood vessels to constrict or dilate
caruncle
C2
/ˈkærəŋkəl/
a small fleshy outgrowth forming a normal part of an animal, such as a bird's wattle or a growth near the eye
irid
C2+
/ˈaɪrɪd/
archaic: the iris, or colored ring surrounding the pupil of the eye
pneumogastric
C2
/ˌnuːmoʊˈɡæstrɪk/
dated: relating to the vagus nerve
underlip
C2
/ˈʌndɚˌlɪp/
the lower lip of a person or animal
callosity
C2
/kəˈlɑːsəti/
an area of skin or other tissue that has become thick and hard, especially through repeated pressure or friction
chyle
C2
/kaɪl/
a milky digestive fluid made of lymph and absorbed fats, formed in the small intestine
semilunar
C1
/ˌsɛmiˈluːnɚ/
shaped like a half-moon or crescent, especially of an anatomical structure
plication
C2
/plaɪˈkeɪʃən/
the act or process of folding, especially into parallel folds
antitragus
C2
/ˌæn.tɪˈtɹeɪ.ɡəs/
anatomy: a small cartilaginous projection of the outer ear opposite and just above the tragus
heart attack
B1
eclipse
C2+
/ɪˈklɪps/
the obscuring of one celestial body by another; to outshine
fracture
C2+
/ˈfræktʃɚ/
a break or crack, especially in bone or rock
backbone
C2+
/ˈbækboʊn/
the spine; the chief support or strength of something
bodily
C2+
/ˈbɑdəli/
relating to the body; as a whole physical entity
butt
C2+
/bʌt/
the thicker or blunt end of something; to strike with the head
canonical
C2+
/kəˈnɑnɪkəl/
conforming to an accepted rule, standard, or authoritative body of texts
chappy
C2+
/ˈtʃæpi/
marked by cracks or chaps in the skin; British informal for a fellow
corporeal
C2+
/kɔrˈpɔriəl/
relating to a material body; physical rather than spiritual
fillip
C2+
/ˈfɪləp/
a stimulus or boost; a quick flick of a finger
kicking
C2+
/ˈkɪkɪŋ/
striking with the foot; informally, lively or still active
sect
C2+
/sɛkt/
a group with distinct beliefs that has separated from a larger body
stricture
C2+
/ˈstrɪktʃɚ/
a severe criticism, or an abnormal narrowing of a passage in the body
abdomen
C2+
/ˈæbdəmən/
the part of the body containing the digestive organs; the belly
amalgamate
C2+
/əˈmælɡəmeɪt/
to combine or unite into one organization or body
azygous
C2+
/ˈæzɪɡəs/
occurring singly; not one of a pair, especially in anatomy
buffet
C2+
/ˈbʌfɪt/
to strike repeatedly; a blow, as from a hand or wind
carcass
C2+
/ˈkɑrkəs/
the dead body of an animal; a framework or ruined remains
cleft
C2+
/klɛft/
a split, crack, or fissure, especially in rock or skin
extraneous
C2+
/ɪkˈstreɪniəs/
irrelevant or unrelated to the matter at hand
eyeball
C2+
/ˈaɪˌbɔl/
the spherical body of the eye; to look at or estimate roughly
irrelevance
C2+
/ɪˈrɛləvəns/
the state of having no bearing on the matter at hand
judiciary
C2+
/dʒuˈdɪʃiɛri/
the branch of government, or the body of judges, that administers justice
orb
C2+
/ɔrb/
a spherical object or body, especially a celestial one
paunch
C2+
/pɔntʃ/
a protruding belly or stomach
rupture
C2+
/ˈrʌptʃər/
a break, burst, or breach, as of tissue, a pipe, or relations
systemic
C2+
/sɪˈstɛmɪk/
affecting an entire system or body rather than a single part
weariness
C2+
/ˈwɪrinəs/
the state of being tired; fatigue of body or spirit
airway
C2+
/ˈɛrˌweɪ/
a passage for air, especially the breathing passages of the body
anatomy
C2+
/əˈnætəmi/
the bodily structure of an organism, or its study
appendage
C2+
/əˈpɛndɪdʒ/
a part attached or subordinate to a larger body
bonce
C2+
/bɑns/
(British slang) the head
brainpan
C2+
/ˈbreɪnˌpæn/
(informal) the skull, especially the part enclosing the brain
cursive
C2+
/ˈkɝsɪv/
written with the letters joined together in a flowing hand
drool
C2+
/drul/
to let saliva drip from the mouth; to show excessive admiration
effector
C2+
/ɪˈfɛktər/
an organ, cell, or molecule that produces a response to a stimulus
gob
C2+
/ɡɑb/
a lump or mass; also slang for the mouth
jugglery
C2+
/ˈdʒʌɡləri/
trickery or deception, especially by sleight of hand
lesion
C2+
/ˈliʒən/
a region of damaged or abnormal tissue in the body
outgrowth
C2+
/ˈaʊtɡroʊθ/
a natural development or result; something that grows out from a main body
ovum
C2+
/ˈoʊvəm/
a mature female reproductive cell; an egg cell
pelt
C2+
/pɛlt/
to strike repeatedly with thrown objects, or the skin of an animal
pith
C2+
/pɪθ/
the essential or central part of something; spongy plant tissue