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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
tinware
C2
/ˈtɪnˌwɛr/
household utensils and other articles made from tin or tin-plated metal
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spinel
C2
/spɪˈnɛl/
a hard, glassy magnesium aluminium oxide mineral that crystallizes in the cubic system and occurs in many colors
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linsey-woolsey
C2+
/ˌlɪnziˈwʊlzi/
a coarse, sturdy fabric woven with a linen or cotton warp and a woolen weft
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germplasm
C2+
/ˈdʒɝːmˌplæzəm/
the hereditary material of a species or breeding line, especially as transmitted through reproductive cells
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mezzotint
C2
/ˈmɛzoʊˌtɪnt/
a printmaking technique in which a metal plate is roughened to print dark tones and then scraped or burnished to create lighter areas
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spilth
C2+
/spɪlθ/
Spillage; spilled material
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litharge
C2
/ˈlɪθɑrdʒ/
lead monoxide, especially the fused yellow or reddish material produced during the refining of lead or silver
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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
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moreen
C2
/moʊˈrin/
historical: a heavy woolen or wool-and-cotton furnishing fabric, often with a ribbed or watered finish
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mineral water
A2
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alloy
C2+
/ˈælɔɪ/
a metal made by combining two or more elements
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impurity
C2+
/ɪmˈpjʊrəti/
a contaminating substance, or the state of being impure
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billy
C2+
/ˈbɪli/
a metal cooking pot or pail used over a campfire; also a short club
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consistence
C2+
/kənˈsɪstəns/
the degree of firmness or density of a substance; consistency
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foodstuff
C2+
/ˈfudˌstʌf/
any substance used or suitable as food
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mat
C2+
/mæt/
a piece of coarse fabric for the floor; also to become tangled
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textile
C2+
/ˈtɛkstaɪl/
a type of cloth or woven fabric
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adhesive
C2+
/ədˈhiːsɪv/
a substance used to stick objects together; sticky
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affluence
C2+
/ˈæfluəns/
an abundance of wealth or material possessions
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precipitant
C2+
/prɪˈsɪpɪtənt/
a substance causing a precipitate; acting with sudden haste
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scoop
C2+
/skup/
a utensil for lifting loose material, or an exclusive news story
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tierce
C2+
/tɪrs/
a third in fencing, music, or cards; an old liquid measure of a cask
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adulterant
C2+
/əˈdʌltərənt/
a substance added to dilute or debase something, especially a foodstuff
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agonist
C2+
/ˈæɡənɪst/
a contender or protagonist; (pharmacology) a substance that triggers a response
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alcoholicity
C2+
/ˌælkəhɔˈlɪsəti/
the degree or strength of alcoholic content in a liquid
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coating
C2+
/ˈkoʊtɪŋ/
a thin layer of substance spread over a surface
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contaminant
C2+
/kənˈtæmənənt/
a substance that pollutes or makes something impure
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dyestuff
C2+
/ˈdaɪˌstʌf/
a material yielding a dye, especially a synthetic coloring agent
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flooring
C2+
/ˈflɔrɪŋ/
the material used to make the floor of a room
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fodder
C2+
/ˈfɑdɚ/
food for livestock; also raw material readily used for a purpose
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glue
C2+
/ɡlu/
an adhesive substance for joining things; to stick fast
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hydrometeor
C2+
/ˌhaɪdroʊˈmitiɚ/
any atmospheric water in liquid or solid form, such as rain, snow, or fog
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insulation
C2+
/ˌɪnsəˈleɪʃən/
material used to prevent the passage of heat, sound, or electricity
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medicament
C2+
/məˈdɪkəmənt/
a substance used in medical treatment; a medicine
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mound
C2+
/maʊnd/
a rounded heap or pile of earth or other material
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shard
C2+
/ʃɑrd/
a sharp fragment of broken pottery, glass, or other brittle material
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spout
C2+
/spaʊt/
a tube or lip for pouring liquid; to eject liquid forcibly
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stratum
C2+
/ˈstreɪtəm/
a layer of material, especially rock, or a level of society
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ticking
C2+
/ˈtɪkɪŋ/
the rhythmic sound of a clock; strong fabric for mattress covers
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torrent
C2+
/ˈtɔrənt/
a strong, fast-moving stream of water or other liquid
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veil
C2+
/veɪl/
a piece of fine fabric worn to conceal or protect the face
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amalgam
C2+
/əˈmælɡəm/
a blend or mixture, especially an alloy of mercury with another metal
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bead
C2+
/bid/
a small pierced ball strung as ornament; also a drop of liquid
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bedrock
C2+
/ˈbɛdˌrɑk/
the solid rock beneath soil; figuratively, a fundamental basis
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blot
C2+
/blɑt/
a dark stain or spot; to stain or to soak up liquid
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buttermilk
C2+
/ˈbʌtɚˌmɪlk/
the tangy liquid left after churning butter, used in baking
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clunk
C2+
/klʌŋk/
a dull heavy sound, as of metal striking metal
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counterpoison
C2+
/ˈkaʊntɚˌpɔɪzən/
a substance that neutralizes a poison; an antidote
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cowling
C2+
/ˈkaʊlɪŋ/
a removable metal cover over an engine, especially an aircraft's
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dissolvent
C2+
/dɪˈzɑlvənt/
a substance capable of dissolving another; a solvent
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excitant
C2+
/ɪkˈsaɪtənt/
a substance or agent that stimulates a bodily function
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firmament
C2+
/ˈfɜrməmənt/
the vault of the sky regarded as a solid expanse; the heavens
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flatus
C2+
/ˈfleɪtəs/
gas generated in the stomach or intestines
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fluff
C2+
/flʌf/
soft light downy material; trivial or inconsequential content
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grillwork
C2+
/ˈɡrɪlˌwɚk/
ornamental work made of crossed metal bars
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herbicide
C2+
/ˈhɜːrbəˌsaɪd/
a chemical substance used to destroy unwanted plants
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impregnant
C2+
/ɪmˈprɛɡnənt/
a substance used to impregnate or saturate something
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inhibitor
C2+
/ɪnˈhɪbɪtɚ/
a substance or agent that slows or prevents a reaction or process
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leakage
C2+
/ˈlikɪdʒ/
the gradual escape of a fluid, gas, or information through a flaw or opening
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lox
C2+
/lɑks/
brine-cured salmon; also liquid oxygen
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paving
C2+
/ˈpeɪvɪŋ/
the hard surface material of a road, path, or area
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quart
C2+
/kwɔrt/
a unit of liquid measure equal to two pints
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sacking
C2+
/ˈsækɪŋ/
coarse fabric used to make sacks; dismissal from a job; plunder of a place
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slop
C2+
/slɑp/
spilled or unappetizing liquid food; to spill carelessly
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spike
C2+
/spaɪk/
a thin pointed piece of metal, or a sharp sudden increase
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swarf
C2+
/swɔrf/
the fine chips or filings produced by machining or grinding metal
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thatch
C2+
/θætʃ/
straw or reeds used to make a roof; to roof with such material
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toxicant
C2+
/ˈtɑksɪkənt/
a poisonous substance, especially a man-made one
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unguent
C2+
/ˈʌŋɡwənt/
a soft greasy substance used as ointment or for lubrication
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vacuity
C2+
/væˈkjuɪti/
emptiness of mind, content, or space; lack of substance
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waistband
C2+
/ˈweɪst.bænd/
a strip of fabric encircling the waist at the top of trousers or a skirt
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soot
B2
/sʊt/
a black powdery or flaky substance produced by incomplete combustion of coal, wood, oil, etc.
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inoculation
C1
/ɪˌnɑːkjəˈleɪʃən/
the action of immunizing someone against a disease by introducing infective material, microorganisms, or vaccine into the body
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manacle
C1
/ˈmænəkəl/
a metal band, chain, or shackle for fastening someone's hands or ankles
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squelch
C1
/skwɛltʃ/
a soft, sucking sound made when pressure is applied to liquid or mud
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swab
B2
/swɑb/
a small piece of absorbent material used for cleaning or taking samples
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velveteen
C1
/ˈvɛlvətin/
a cotton fabric with a short, dense pile, resembling velvet
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wale
C1
/weɪl/
a ridge on a textured surface, such as fabric or skin, often raised or swollen
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subject-matter
C1
/ˈsʌbdʒɛktˌmætər/
the topic or material being discussed, studied, or represented
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object-matter
C2
/ˈɑbdʒɛktˌmætər/
the object or material under consideration in an inquiry
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vitalist
C2
/ˈvaɪtəlɪst/
an adherent of vitalism, the doctrine that life cannot be explained entirely by physical and chemical processes
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expurgation
C2
/ˌek.spɚˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
the removal of material considered offensive, objectionable, or unsuitable from a text or other work
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parmacety
C2+
/ˌpɑːr.məˈsiː.ti/
obsolete: spermaceti, the white waxy substance obtained from the head of a sperm whale
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sourcebook
C2+
/ˈsɔrsˌbʊk/
a book that collects primary documents, readings, or reference material on a particular subject
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nitrous oxide
C1
/ˌnaɪ.trəs ˈɑːk.saɪd/
a colorless, mildly sweet-smelling gas, N2O, used as an anesthetic and propellant and also emitted as a powerful greenhouse gas
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swim bladder
C2
/ˈswɪm ˌblæd.ɚ/
a gas-filled internal sac present in many bony fishes, used chiefly to regulate buoyancy and maintain depth and, in some species, also involved in respiration, hearing, or sound production
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louis
C2
/ˈluːi/
historical: any of several French gold or silver coins issued under kings named Louis, especially the louis d'or
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mundic
C2+
/ˈmʌndɪk/
Cornish and mining usage: pyrite or arsenopyrite, especially when occurring as a sulfurous mineral in an ore
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shruff
C2
/ʃrʌf/
historical metalworking: old or broken brass or copper, filings, dross, and similar metal refuse kept for remelting
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laetation
C2+
/liːˈteɪʃən/
obsolete: manure or other material used to fertilize soil
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bimetallism
C2
/baɪˈmɛtəlˌɪzəm/
a monetary standard in which two metals, usually gold and silver, are legal tender at a fixed ratio of value
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greensand
C2
/ˈɡriːnˌsænd/
greenish sand or sandstone containing the mineral glauconite
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iron mould
C2
/ˈaɪərn ˌmoʊld/
a yellow, brown, or reddish stain on cloth, paper, or a similar material caused by rusty iron or an iron-based ink
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baryta
C2
/bəˈraɪ.tə/
an older chemical name for barium oxide, or more broadly for certain barium compounds such as barium hydroxide
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carbonic acid
C2+
/kɑːrˌbɑːnɪk ˈæsɪd/
a weak acid, H2CO3, formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water
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gasfitter
C2
/ˈɡæsˌfɪt.ɚ/
a tradesperson who installs, connects, maintains, or repairs gas pipes, fixtures, and appliances
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