Beggar
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B1 noun /ˈbeɡər/

Beggar

Meaning
a person who lives by asking for money or food
Example
The beggar sat by the temple asking for alms.
C1 noun /ˈbɑːr.tər ˌsɪs.təm/

barter system

Meaning
A system of exchange where goods and services are traded directly without using money.
Example
Ancient civilizations used the barter system for trade.
A1 adjective /bɪɡ/

big

Meaning
large in size, extent, or importance
Example
They moved into a big house with plenty of space.
C1 noun /blɪs/

Bliss

Meaning
perfect happiness; great joy
Example
She felt pure bliss while watching the beautiful sunset.
C2 noun /ˌbeɪt ˈnwɑːr/

bete noire

Meaning
A person or thing that one particularly dislikes or fears.
Example
Grammar has always been his bete noire.
C2 verb /bɪˈsmɪər/

besmear

Meaning
to smear or cover with a sticky or dirty substance; to soil
Example
His clothes were besmeared with mud.
C1 noun /bʌm/

bum

Meaning
informal term for the buttocks; also a homeless or lazy person
Example
He sat on his bum all day doing nothing.
C2 noun /broʊɡ/

brogue

Meaning
A strong outdoor shoe; also a marked accent, especially Irish or Scottish.
Example
He bought a pair of stylish brogues for the wedding.
C2 verb /bɪˈstruː/

bestrew

Meaning
To scatter or cover something with objects or substances.
Example
The ground was bestrewn with autumn leaves.
C1 verb /bɔːk/

balk

Meaning
to hesitate or refuse to proceed or comply
Example
She balked at signing the contract without reading it fully.
C1 noun /baʊt/

Bout

Meaning
a short period of intense activity of a specified kind; a wrestling or boxing match
Example
After a bout of illness, she finally recovered and returned to work.
C2 verb /bɪˈtroʊð/

betroth

Meaning
To formally promise to marry someone; to engage.
Example
He was betrothed to the princess at a young age.
C2 noun /ˈbɒdɪs/

bodice

Meaning
the part of a woman's dress that covers the body from the neck to the waist
Example
She wore a dress with an embroidered bodice.
C2 noun /bəˈsuːn/

bassoon

Meaning
a large woodwind instrument with a deep sound
Example
The orchestra featured a beautiful bassoon solo.
B2 noun /ˈboʊlər/

bowler

Meaning
a person who delivers the ball in cricket; also a type of hard felt hat with a rounded crown
Example
The bowler took three wickets in the first over.
B2 noun, verb /bʌt/

butt

Meaning
to hit or push with the head or horns; the end part of something, especially a cigarette
Example
The goat butted the fence with its horns.
C2 adjective /ˈbreɪsɪŋ/

bracing

Meaning
Invigorating, refreshing, or providing strength and energy.
Example
The hikers enjoyed the bracing mountain air.
A1 noun /bred/

Bread

Meaning
a food made from flour, water, and yeast mixed together and baked
Example
She bought fresh bread from the bakery.
B2 noun /buˈkeɪ/

Bouquet

Meaning
an attractively arranged bunch of flowers, especially one presented as a gift or carried at a ceremony
Example
The bride carried a beautiful bouquet of white roses down the aisle.
C2 noun /ˌbædɪˈnɑːʒ/

badinage

Meaning
Playful and humorous conversation; banter.
Example
The friends enjoyed a light badinage over coffee.
C1 adjective /ˈblʌdləs/

bloodless

Meaning
without bloodshed; lacking violence or vitality
Example
The revolution was surprisingly bloodless.
B2 noun /ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəri/

beneficiary

Meaning
a person who receives something, especially money or property, from a will or insurance policy
Example
She is the sole beneficiary of her father’s estate.
C2 verb /bɪˈɡaɪl/

beguile

Meaning
to charm or enchant someone, often in a deceptive way
Example
She beguiled the audience with her storytelling.
C2 noun /biˈætɪtjuːd/

beatitude

Meaning
supreme blessedness or happiness, often used in reference to the sayings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount
Example
She felt a state of beatitude after receiving the good news.
A1 noun /bəˈnæn.ə/

Banana

Meaning
a long curved fruit with yellow skin and soft sweet flesh
Example
Bananas are a good source of potassium.
C2 verb /boʊd/

bode

Meaning
to be an omen of a particular outcome, often something bad
Example
The dark clouds bode a heavy storm.
C2 noun /ˈbreɪziər/

Brazier

Meaning
a worker in brass; a portable container for burning charcoal or coal
Example
The brazier crafted beautiful brass ornaments.
B1 noun /bɪərd/

Beard

Meaning
hair that grows on the chin and lower cheeks of a man's face
Example
He grew a long beard during the winter months.
B2 noun, verb /bluːm/

bloom

Meaning
to produce flowers; to develop or flourish; a flower or the state of flowering
Example
The roses bloom beautifully every spring.
C1 noun /ˈbrɛvɪti/

brevity

Meaning
Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.
Example
The brevity of the speech kept the audience engaged.
B2 noun /ˈblʌn.dər/

blunder

Meaning
A stupid or careless mistake; a serious error in judgment.
Example
His blunder cost the company a fortune.
A2 verb /bɛɡ/

beg

Meaning
to ask for something earnestly; to request humbly
Example
The child begged for a new toy.
A1 preposition /baɪ/

by

Meaning
indicating the agent performing an action, or the means of achieving something
Example
The book was written by a famous author.
B1 noun /ˈbluː.ber.i/

Blueberry

Meaning
a small round blue fruit that grows on bushes
Example
She picked fresh blueberries for the pie.
B1 noun /bʊk ˈsel.ər/

Book seller

Meaning
a person who sells books, especially as a business
Example
The book seller recommended a great novel for my summer reading.
A1 noun, verb /baɪk/

bike

Meaning
a bicycle or motorcycle; to ride a bicycle
Example
He biked to school every day.
C2 adjective /ˈbrætɪʃ/

brattish

Meaning
acting like a spoiled child; behaving in an annoying, self-centered way
Example
The brattish boy threw a tantrum when he didn’t get his toy.
B1 adjective /blæŋk/

blank

Meaning
showing no expression or containing nothing written, printed, or recorded.
Example
Her face went blank when she heard the bad news.
C1 noun /ˈbɛd.rɒk/

bedrock

Meaning
the solid rock layer beneath the soil; the fundamental basis of something
Example
Trust is the bedrock of a healthy relationship.
A1 interjection /baɪ/

bye

Meaning
used to say goodbye; a short and informal farewell
Example
I said bye to her before leaving.
C2 adjective /ˈbræsi/

brassy

Meaning
loud and showy in a way that lacks good taste; resembling brass in color or sound
Example
She wore a brassy necklace that caught everyone’s attention.
B1 noun /bʌlb/

bulb

Meaning
a rounded glass part of an electric lamp that produces light when lit; also an underground storage organ in some plants
Example
The light bulb burned out, so she replaced it with a new one.
B1 noun /bɪˈheɪvjər/

behavior

Meaning
The way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially toward others.
Example
The teacher praised her good behavior in class.
B2 noun /ˈbrɔːdˌkæstər/

broadcaster

Meaning
a person or organization that transmits a broadcast program.
Example
The broadcaster aired the match live to millions of viewers.
B2 adjective /bɪˈlʌvɪd/

beloved

Meaning
dearly loved, highly regarded
Example
She was the beloved queen of the kingdom.
C1 noun /ˈblɪs.tər/

Blister

Meaning
a small bubble on the skin filled with serum and caused by friction, burning, or other damage
Example
The new shoes gave her a painful blister on her heel.
A2 noun /buːt/

Boot

Meaning
sturdy footwear covering the foot and ankle or lower leg
Example
He laced up his hiking boots before the mountain trek.
A2 verb /bet/

bet

Meaning
to risk money on the outcome of something; to be confident
Example
I bet it will rain tomorrow.
C1 noun /bɑːm/

balm

Meaning
A soothing ointment or something that provides comfort or relief.
Example
The balm helped relieve the pain from her sunburn.
A2 noun /bel/

Bell

Meaning
a hollow metal device that makes a ringing sound when struck
Example
The church bell rang at noon.
A1 adjective /bɔːrd/

bored

Meaning
feeling weary or uninterested because of lack of activity or excitement
Example
She felt bored during the long meeting.
C2 noun /ˌbɪbliəʊˈmeɪniə/

bibliomania

Meaning
An extreme obsession with collecting or possessing books.
Example
His bibliomania led him to fill every room with books.
C1 adjective /ˈbrɪslɪŋ/

bristling

Meaning
full of energy, anger, or excitement; showing bristles standing up
Example
He entered the room bristling with confidence.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪk.bæt/

Brickbat

Meaning
a piece of brick, especially one used as a missile; harsh criticism or censure
Example
The angry protesters threw brickbats at the building windows.
C2 noun brəˈvɑː.dəʊ

bravado

Meaning
Show of courage or confidence that is not real.
Example
His bravado masked his nervousness before the performance.
B2 noun/verb /bʌk/

buck

Meaning
A male deer; also to resist or oppose strongly.
Example
The horse began to buck wildly as the rider tried to hold on.
A1 noun /biːtʃ/

beach

Meaning
An area of sand or small stones beside the sea or a lake.
Example
They spent the day relaxing on the beach.
B1 noun /braɪd/

Bride

Meaning
a woman on her wedding day or just before and after the event
Example
The beautiful bride walked down the aisle in her white wedding dress.
C2 noun /bɪˈnɪɡnɪti/

Benignity

Meaning
kindness; gentleness; the quality of being benign or gracious
Example
Her benignity towards all people made her beloved by everyone.
C2 noun /ˈblændɪʃmənt/

blandishment

Meaning
flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently
Example
She used every blandishment to win his support.
C2 verb /bɪˈdaɪzən/

bedizen

Meaning
to dress up or decorate in a showy or tasteless way
Example
She was bedizened with cheap jewelry.
A1 conjunction /bɪˈkɔːz/

because

Meaning
for the reason that; since
Example
He stayed home because it was raining.
B2 noun/verb /beɪt/

bait

Meaning
Food or lure used to attract fish or animals; to deliberately provoke or annoy.
Example
He used worms as bait to catch fish.
C2 verb /bɪˈsiːtʃ/

beseech

Meaning
To ask someone urgently and fervently to do something; to beg.
Example
He beseeched the judge for mercy.
C2 verb /bɪlk/

bilk

Meaning
To cheat or defraud someone of money or rights.
Example
The scammer tried to bilk elderly people out of their savings.
B1 noun /ˈbʊt.ʃər/

Butcher

Meaning
a person whose job is cutting up and selling meat in a shop
Example
The butcher recommended the best cut of beef for our dinner.
B2 adjective /ˈbraʊn.ɪʃ/

Brownish

Meaning
having a color somewhat like brown; tending toward brown
Example
The old paper had a brownish tint from age.
B1 noun /ˈbæŋkər/

banker

Meaning
a person who works in or manages a bank
Example
The banker approved the loan after reviewing the documents.
A2 preposition /bɪˈsaɪd/

beside

Meaning
next to or at the side of someone or something
Example
She sat beside her best friend during the ceremony.
B2 adjective /ˌbaɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/

bilingual

Meaning
Able to speak two languages fluently.
Example
She grew up in a bilingual household speaking both English and Spanish.
A2 noun /brɪk/

brick

Meaning
A rectangular block of clay or similar material used in building walls and other structures.
Example
The workers laid brick after brick to build the wall.
A1 adjective /ˈbɪzi/

busy

Meaning
actively engaged in work or activity; occupied
Example
He is too busy to answer the phone.
C1 noun /ˈbɪtər ɡɔːrd/

Bitter Gourd

Meaning
a green, bumpy vegetable with a very bitter taste, known for its medicinal properties
Example
Bitter gourd is excellent for controlling blood sugar levels.
C2 noun /ˈbriːtʃɪz/

Breeckes

Meaning
knee-length trousers; short pants
Example
He wore riding breeches for the equestrian event.
B2 noun /ˈbɑː.li/

Barley

Meaning
a cereal grain used for food, brewing beer, and animal feed
Example
The farmer harvested barley from his fields in autumn.
B2 verb /blɪŋk/

blink

Meaning
to close and open the eyes quickly.
Example
She blinked rapidly to clear the dust from her eyes.
B1 noun /ˈbɔr.dər/

Border

Meaning
a line separating two political or geographical areas, especially countries
Example
They crossed the border between France and Spain by train.
C2 noun /bɛl/

belle

Meaning
A beautiful woman, especially the most attractive woman at a gathering.
Example
She was the belle of the ball that evening.
C2 noun /ˈbɛnɪsən/

benison

Meaning
A blessing or benefit.
Example
The rain was a benison for the drought-stricken farmers.
C2 adjective /bəˈθɛt.ɪk/

bathetic

Meaning
displaying insincere or trivial emotion; producing an unintended ridiculous effect through sudden change from serious to silly
Example
The movie's ending was unintentionally bathetic rather than tragic.
B2 noun bækˈtɪə.ri.ə

bacteria

Meaning
A member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus.
Example
Specialized bacteria aid in waste decomposition.
B2 noun /ˈbev.ər.ɪdʒ/

Beverage

Meaning
a drink, especially one other than water
Example
Would you like a hot or cold beverage with your meal?
A2 verb /bɛr/

bear

Meaning
to carry; to endure; to give birth to; to support
Example
She cannot bear the pain anymore.
C2 verb /ˈblækˌbɔːl/

blackball

Meaning
to exclude someone socially or vote against their membership in a group or club
Example
He was blackballed from the club after the controversy.
A2 noun/verb /bəˈluːn/

balloon

Meaning
A small bag made of thin rubber or similar material that can be inflated with air or gas; as a verb, to expand rapidly.
Example
The children played with a red balloon at the party.
C2 adjective /ˈbɛlɪˌkoʊs/

bellicose

Meaning
Showing a tendency to argue or fight; aggressive.
Example
His bellicose attitude often got him into unnecessary conflicts.
B2 verb /bræɡ/

brag

Meaning
to talk proudly about oneself or one's achievements in an annoying way
Example
He always brags about his expensive car.
B1 verb /bæn/

ban

Meaning
to officially forbid something; to prohibit
Example
The government banned smoking in public places.
C2 noun /ˌbeɪˈliː/

bailee

Meaning
a person or party who temporarily receives possession of goods or property from another under a legal agreement
Example
The bailee must take reasonable care of the goods while they are in his possession.
C2 verb /biˈætɪfaɪ/

beatify

Meaning
to make blessed or holy, especially in the Roman Catholic Church, to declare a deceased person to be among the blessed
Example
The pope decided to beatify the martyr for his faith and sacrifice.
C1 verb /bɪˈwɪldər/

bewilder

Meaning
to cause someone to be confused or puzzled
Example
The complex instructions bewildered the students.
B1 adjective /blɒnd/

blond

Meaning
having light-colored hair, typically pale yellow or golden.
Example
She has long blond hair that shines in the sunlight.
C2 noun /bɪˈtroʊðəl/

betrothal

Meaning
The formal engagement to be married.
Example
Their betrothal was announced to the whole village.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːr.kəˌroʊl/

barcarole

Meaning
a traditional Venetian boat song, often in 6/8 time
Example
The orchestra played a beautiful barcarole that reminded me of Venice.
B1 noun ˈbæl.ənst daɪ.ət

balanced diet

Meaning
A diet consisting of the proper quantities and proportions of foods needed to maintain health or growth.
Example
A balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health.
A1 verb /baɪ/

buy

Meaning
to get something by paying money for it; to purchase
Example
I want to buy a new car this year.
B2 noun /ˈbrʌðərhʊd/

brotherhood

Meaning
The relationship between brothers; an association of people with common interests
Example
The soldiers shared a strong sense of brotherhood.
B1 verb /bɜːrst/

burst

Meaning
to break open suddenly; to be full of something
Example
The balloon bursts with a loud pop.
C1 adjective /bəˈnɑːl/ or /ˈbeɪnəl/

banal

Meaning
Lacking originality; boringly obvious and commonplace.
Example
His speech was full of banal clichés.
C2 verb /ˈblændɪʃ/

blandish

Meaning
to flatter or coax someone with kind words or praise in order to influence them
Example
He blandished the officials with compliments to gain their support.
A2 noun /ˈbæskɪt/

basket

Meaning
a container made of woven materials used for carrying or storing things
Example
She carried the apples in a basket.
A2 noun /ˈbɪznəsmæn/

businessman

Meaning
a person engaged in commercial or industrial business activities
Example
The businessman invested heavily in new technology.
A2 verb /beɪk/

bake

Meaning
to cook food using dry heat, usually in an oven
Example
She baked a cake for her friend's birthday.
A2 noun /bɔːrd/

board

Meaning
a flat, thin, rectangular piece of material such as wood; also a group of people managing an organization
Example
The board decided to increase the budget.
C1 verb /bɒmˈbɑːrd/

bombard

Meaning
to attack continuously with bombs, questions, or other forces
Example
Reporters bombarded the minister with difficult questions.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪk ə ˌbræk/

bric-a-brac

Meaning
Small decorative objects or ornaments, often of little value.
Example
The shelves were filled with old bric-a-brac from her travels.
C1 noun /brɒŋˈkaɪtɪs/

bronchitis

Meaning
inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs
Example
The doctor diagnosed him with acute bronchitis.
B2 noun /ˈbeə.rər/

Bearer

Meaning
a person who carries or brings something; holder of a document
Example
The bearer of this message must deliver it quickly.
C2 adjective /ˈblaɪðsəm/

blithesome

Meaning
cheerful, carefree, and full of joy
Example
She entered the room with a blithesome smile that lifted everyone's spirits.
A2 verb /bɪˈlɒŋ/

belong

Meaning
to be in the right place or to be a member of a group
Example
She felt she truly belonged to the team.
A2 adjective /ˈbeɪ.sɪk/

Basic

Meaning
fundamental; essential; forming the foundation or starting point
Example
Learning basic English grammar is essential for beginners.
C2 noun /ˈbɒmbæst/

bombast

Meaning
speech or writing that is overly pompous and inflated
Example
His campaign speech was full of bombast but lacked real substance.
B2 noun /beɪ/

Bay

Meaning
a broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward
Example
The boats are anchored in the bay.
C2 noun /ˈbɔːl.səm ˈæp.əl/

Balsam apple

Meaning
a bitter gourd vegetable with a bumpy green skin, also known as bitter melon
Example
Balsam apple is cooked with spices to reduce its bitter taste.
C2 noun /ˌbɒmbərˈdɪər/

bombardier

Meaning
a member of a bomber crew responsible for releasing bombs
Example
The bombardier released the bombs with precision.
A1 adverb /bɪˈhaɪnd/

Behind

Meaning
at the back of; following; lagging
Example
The car behind us was honking.
B1 noun /baɪˈɒlədʒi/

biology

Meaning
The scientific study of living organisms.
Example
Biology explains how plants and animals function.
C2 verb /beɪst/

baste

Meaning
to pour or brush melted fat, juices, or liquid over meat during cooking to keep it moist
Example
She basted the turkey every 30 minutes to keep it juicy.
B2 noun /baɪˈɒɡrəfi/

Biography

Meaning
an account of someone's life written by someone else; the story of a person's life
Example
I'm reading a fascinating biography of Albert Einstein.
B1 phrase bɛst ˈɛf.ərt

best effort

Meaning
The maximum amount of effort or energy that someone can give.
Example
He gave his best effort to complete the task on time.
C1 adjective /ˈbleɪtənt/

blatant

Meaning
done openly and unashamedly; obvious and offensive
Example
The company's blatant disregard for safety regulations angered the public.