CEFR Level
an act of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving
"The navy set up a blockade around the harbor."
an obstruction that makes movement or flow difficult or impossible
"The drain blockage caused water to overflow in the kitchen."
an event in which a lot of people are killed or injured, especially in a violent conflict
"The war turned into a bloody bloodbath."
without bloodshed; lacking violence or vitality
"The revolution was surprisingly bloodless."
the killing or wounding of people, typically in large numbers during a conflict
"The peace treaty was signed to prevent further bloodshed."
a short promotional description of a book, product, or service
"The back cover had a blurb praising the novel."
to say something suddenly and without careful consideration
"He blurted out the secret before he could stop himself."
a large non-venomous snake that kills prey by constriction
"The boa constrictor wrapped around its prey."
an area of wet, spongy ground; a swamp or marsh
"The hikers got stuck in a bog."
to overwhelm or confuse; to be astonished or puzzled by something
"The complexity of the puzzle boggled his mind."
false, fake, or not genuine
"The police arrested him for using a bogus ID card."
noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy
"The children were boisterous during the birthday party."
To support, strengthen, or reinforce something.
"The manager bolstered the team's confidence with encouraging words."
to attack continuously with bombs, questions, or other forces
"Reporters bombarded the minister with difficult questions."
a continuous attack with bombs or other projectiles
"The city endured a heavy bombardment during the war."
genuine; authentic; legitimate
"She is a bonafide expert in her field."
a situation or event that creates a sudden increase in wealth, good fortune, or profits
"The oil discovery was a bonanza for the small country."
the state of being a slave; the state of being under the control of a force or influence
"The people fought to escape from the bondage of oppression."
a person whose job is to fasten the pages of books together and put covers on them
"The old book binder carefully restored the antique manuscript."
Spending much time reading or studying; scholarly but lacking practical experience.
"He was too bookish to enjoy outdoor activities."
A thing that is helpful or beneficial.
"The internet is a boon to modern education."
To start and develop a business using personal resources without external funding.
"He bootstrapped his company with minimal resources."
Self-funding business, self-reliant effort.
"The startup used bootstrapping to grow."
alcoholic drink, especially strong liquor; to drink alcohol, often excessively
"They bought some booze for the party."
containing or involving a lot of alcohol; slightly drunk from alcohol
"The party became boozy as the night went on."
A town, district, or administrative division, especially one with its own local government.
"Brooklyn is a borough of New York City."
the human chest, especially a woman’s breast; also used metaphorically to refer to closeness or intimacy
"She kept the secret close to her bosom."
to carry out a task badly or carelessly
"He completely botched the repair job."
a dark green color similar to that of a green glass bottle
"She wore a beautiful bottle-green dress to the evening party."
Large in quantity; abundant; generous in giving.
"The farmer was grateful for the bountiful harvest."
Relating to the middle class, often with materialistic values or conventional attitudes.
"The novel criticizes the bourgeois lifestyle of the city dwellers."
a short period of intense activity or a contest, especially in sports or illness
"He had a severe bout of flu last winter."
to manipulate someone into adopting certain beliefs by repeated pressure or propaganda; the act or process of such manipulation
"The group tried to brainwash new members with constant propaganda."
to wave or flourish something, especially a weapon, in a threatening or showy way
"He brandished a sword to scare off the intruders."
self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overconfident way
"His brash comments offended many people at the meeting."
a woman's undergarment designed to support the breasts
"She bought a comfortable brassiere for daily wear."
a noisy fight in a public place
"A brawl broke out outside the bar late at night."
Bold and without shame; shameless.
"She made a brazen attempt to lie in front of everyone."
The distance or measurement from side to side; width; a wide range.
"The breadth of his knowledge impressed everyone."
A person or thing that breaks something; a large sea wave that breaks into foam near the shore; a device that interrupts an electric circuit.
"The breaker tripped during the storm, cutting off electricity."
Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.
"The brevity of the speech kept the audience engaged."
A bridle is a piece of equipment used to control a horse; as a verb, it means to show anger or to restrain.
"The rider tightened the bridle before setting off."
A large group of people organized for a specific purpose, especially a military unit.
"The fire brigade arrived quickly to put out the flames."
The edge of a container; as a verb, to be full to the point of overflowing.
"Her eyes brimmed with tears of joy."
Water saturated with salt, often used for preserving food.
"The olives were stored in brine to keep them fresh."
to react angrily or defensively; a short stiff hair or fiber
"The cat bristled when it saw the dog."
full of energy, anger, or excitement; showing bristles standing up
"He entered the room bristling with confidence."
easily broken or cracked; hard but liable to break
"The glass was so brittle that it cracked easily."
to bring up a subject for discussion
"She decided to broach the topic of salary with her manager."
To cook food by direct heat, usually under a grill or over a fire.
"She broiled the chicken until it was golden brown."
