CEFR Level
a continuous attack with bombs or other projectiles
"The city endured a heavy bombardment during the war."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
A firm that acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers, often charging a fee.
"The real estate brokerage helped them find a new home."
inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs
"The doctor diagnosed him with acute bronchitis."
to think deeply about something that makes one unhappy; also, a group of young birds hatched at the same time
"He sat alone, brooding over his failures."
As a noun: a small natural stream; As a verb: to tolerate or endure something
"The village was built near a clear brook."
the worst part or main impact of something unpleasant
"The small town bore the brunt of the storm."
to treat someone with extreme violence or cruelty; to make something harsh or cruel
"The regime was accused of brutalizing innocent civilians."
To move slightly; to change one’s opinion or position.
"Despite the pressure, he refused to budge from his decision."
A fan or enthusiast; also to polish or shine something.
"He is a movie buff who watches films every weekend."
a brass musical instrument similar to a trumpet but without valves, used especially for military calls
"The soldier played the bugle to signal the start of the ceremony."
A swelling or protruding part; to swell outward or protrude.
"The bag began to bulge with too many books inside."
A young bull, especially a castrated one, raised for work or meat.
"The farmer used a bullock to plow the field."
informal term for the buttocks; also a homeless or lazy person
"He sat on his bum all day doing nothing."
To carry out a task clumsily or incompetently.
"He bungled the presentation and confused the audience."
