benchmarking
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B2 noun ˈbɛntʃˌmɑːr.kɪŋ

benchmarking

Meaning
Comparing with a specific industry or competitor to set the best standards.
Example
Companies use benchmarking to assess their performance.
B1 noun /bʌn/

Bun

Meaning
a small round bread roll, often sweet
Example
I bought fresh buns from the bakery this morning.
C1 verb /bɪˈsɛt/

beset

Meaning
to trouble, harass, or attack on all sides
Example
The village was beset by constant floods.
B2 noun /ˈblæk.smɪθ/

Blacksmith

Meaning
a person who makes and repairs things made of iron
Example
The blacksmith hammered the hot iron into a horseshoe.
C1 verb /ˈbɑːrtər/

barter

Meaning
To exchange goods or services without using money.
Example
They bartered their crops for handmade tools.
C2 noun /bəˈsuːn/

bassoon

Meaning
a large woodwind instrument with a deep sound
Example
The orchestra featured a beautiful bassoon solo.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪɡ.ənd/

brigand

Meaning
A member of a gang that ambushes and robs people in forests or mountains; a bandit.
Example
The travelers were attacked by brigands in the mountains.
A2 adjective /blaɪnd/

blind

Meaning
Unable to see because of injury, disease, or a congenital condition.
Example
He has been blind since birth.
C1 noun /ˈboʊ.ə/

Boa

Meaning
a large non-venomous snake that kills prey by constriction
Example
The boa constrictor wrapped around its prey.
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.
B2 verb /ˈbænɪʃ/

banish

Meaning
to send someone away from a place as punishment; to get rid of
Example
The king banished the traitor from the kingdom.
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.
A2 noun /bɪl/

Bill

Meaning
the beak of a bird, especially when it is broad and flat
Example
The duck used its bill to filter food from the water.
A2 noun /ˈbɪznəsmæn/

businessman

Meaning
a person engaged in commercial or industrial business activities
Example
The businessman invested heavily in new technology.
A1 noun /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

beginning

Meaning
The start or first part of something.
Example
The beginning of the story was very interesting.
B2 adjective /bɪˈheɪvjərəl/

behavioral

Meaning
relating to the way a person or animal acts
Example
The psychologist studied the child's behavioral patterns.
B1 noun /boʊ/

Bow

Meaning
a weapon for shooting arrows, made of a curved piece of wood
Example
The archer drew his bow and aimed at the target.
C2 verb /bɪˈwɪtʃ/

bewitch

Meaning
to enchant or fascinate someone as if by magic
Example
The dancer's performance bewitched the audience.
A1 adjective /braʊn/

Brown

Meaning
having the color of earth or wood; dark colored
Example
She has beautiful brown eyes that sparkle in the sunlight.
B2 noun /ˈbæŋ.ɡəl/

Bangle

Meaning
a rigid bracelet or anklet worn as jewelry
Example
She wore beautiful gold bangles on her wrists.
B2 noun /boʊst/

Boast

Meaning
an act of talking with excessive pride about one's achievements
Example
His constant boast about his wealth annoyed everyone.
C2 verb /ˈblʌdʒən/

bludgeon

Meaning
to hit someone with a heavy object; to force someone into doing something
Example
The guard was bludgeoned by the attacker in the alley.
B1 noun /bʊl/

bull

Meaning
a male animal of the cattle family; sometimes refers to a strong or aggressive man
Example
The bull charged across the field towards the red flag.
C2 verb /ˈbændi/

bandy

Meaning
To pass (words, ideas, or gossip) back and forth in a casual or argumentative way.
Example
They bandied jokes across the table.
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.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌlbəs/

bulbous

Meaning
Bulging, round, or swollen in shape; resembling a bulb.
Example
The frog had a bulbous nose and big eyes.
C2 verb /ˈbæstərdaɪz/

bastardize

Meaning
to corrupt or debase something by altering it from its original form; to change in a way that reduces quality or purity
Example
Critics argue that the remake bastardized the original novel.
C1 adjective /ˈblaɪtɪd/

blighted

Meaning
Spoiled, damaged, or destroyed.
Example
The blighted neighborhood was abandoned by most residents.
B2 noun /ˈbæŋkrʌpt/

Bankrupt

Meaning
a person unable to pay debts; having no money; completely lacking in something
Example
The company went bankrupt after years of poor financial management.
B2 noun, verb /bɒb/

bob

Meaning
a short sudden movement up and down; to move quickly up and down
Example
The small boat began to bob on the waves.
C1 adjective /bɪˈrɛft/

bereft

Meaning
Deprived of or lacking something, especially a nonmaterial asset.
Example
After the betrayal, he felt bereft of hope and trust.
B2 adjective /bɪˈlʌvɪd/

beloved

Meaning
dearly loved, highly regarded
Example
She was the beloved queen of the kingdom.
B2 adverb /ˈbrɔːdli/

broadly

Meaning
in a general or wide manner.
Example
The rules are broadly similar across all regions.
C2 adjective /boʊˈhiːmiən/

bohemian

Meaning
unconventional, artistic, and free-spirited in lifestyle or appearance
Example
She decorated her apartment in a bohemian style with colorful fabrics.
B1 noun /broʊˈʃʊr/

brochure

Meaning
a small booklet or pamphlet containing information or advertising
Example
The travel agent gave us a brochure about the holiday package.
B2 noun /brest/

Breast

Meaning
the front surface of a person's or animal's body between the neck and the stomach
Example
The baby fell asleep on her mother's breast.
C1 verb /ˈbɛkən/

beckon

Meaning
to signal or call someone to come closer, often with a gesture; to attract or invite
Example
She beckoned him to come closer with a wave of her hand.
A1 adjective /ˈbɪɡɪst/

biggest

Meaning
largest in size, amount, degree, or importance; superlative form of big
Example
This is the biggest challenge we have ever faced.
B2 adverb /ˈbəʊld.li/

Boldly

Meaning
in a confident and brave way; without fear
Example
She boldly stepped forward to face the challenge.
C1 adjective /bəˈzɜːrk/

berserk

Meaning
Out of control with anger or excitement; wild or frenzied.
Example
The fans went berserk when their team won the championship.
A1 preposition, adverb /bɪˈtwiːn/

between

Meaning
at, into, or across the space separating two objects or regions
Example
She sat between her two friends.
B1 noun /ˈbluː.ber.i/

Blueberry

Meaning
a small round blue fruit that grows on bushes
Example
She picked fresh blueberries for the pie.
C2 noun /ˈbælæst/

ballast

Meaning
heavy material used to stabilize a ship or vehicle
Example
The ship was loaded with ballast to remain steady in the storm.
B2 verb /buːm/

boom

Meaning
to make a loud deep sound; to grow or increase rapidly
Example
The thunder boomed across the sky.
C2 noun /ˈbed.ləm/

Bedlam

Meaning
a scene of noisy confusion; chaos and disorder
Example
The classroom was complete bedlam after the fire alarm.
C1 noun /blaɪt/

blight

Meaning
A disease or condition that causes plants to wither; something that spoils or damages.
Example
The drought was a blight on the farmer’s crops.
C2 noun /baɪt/

bight

Meaning
A bend or curve in a geographical feature, especially a coastline, or a loop in a rope.
Example
The sailors anchored in the calm waters of the bight.
C2 adjective /ˈbrækɪʃ/

brackish

Meaning
Slightly salty, often describing water that is a mix of fresh and seawater.
Example
The river estuary contained brackish water.
B2 noun /brum/

Broom

Meaning
a long-handled brush of bristles or twigs, used for sweeping
Example
She used an old broom to sweep the fallen leaves from the porch.
C2 noun /buːb/

boob

Meaning
a foolish or clumsy person; an informal and sometimes rude term for a woman's breast
Example
He felt like a complete boob after forgetting the meeting.
A2 noun /ˈbeɪsˌbɔːl/

baseball

Meaning
a sport in which two teams try to score runs by hitting a ball and running around bases
Example
He loves watching baseball games on TV.
B1 adjective /bɔɪld/

Boiled

Meaning
cooked in boiling water
Example
She served boiled eggs for breakfast.
B1 noun /ˈbreɪs.lət/

Bracelet

Meaning
an ornamental band worn around the wrist
Example
She received a gold bracelet as a birthday gift.
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.
C1 verb, noun /ˈbreɪnˌwɒʃ/

brainwash

Meaning
to manipulate someone into adopting certain beliefs by repeated pressure or propaganda; the act or process of such manipulation
Example
The group tried to brainwash new members with constant propaganda.
C2 noun /bɪˈtroʊðəl/

betrothal

Meaning
The formal engagement to be married.
Example
Their betrothal was announced to the whole village.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪbjələs/

bibulous

Meaning
Excessively fond of drinking alcohol.
Example
His bibulous habits worried his family.
B2 noun /ˈbætəlˌfiːld/

battlefield

Meaning
a place where a battle is fought
Example
The battlefield was covered with the remnants of the fight.
B2 verb /ˈbjuːtɪfaɪ/

beautify

Meaning
to make something more beautiful or attractive
Example
The city plans to beautify the old park with trees and lights.
A1 verb /bʌt/

but

Meaning
to hit or push with the head or horns; to strike forcefully
Example
The goat butted against the fence.
C1 noun /beɪn/

bane

Meaning
A cause of great distress, harm, or annoyance.
Example
Traffic jams are the bane of city life.
B2 noun; verb /breɪs/

brace

Meaning
a device that supports or strengthens something; to prepare mentally or physically for something difficult
Example
She braced herself for the strong wind.
C1 noun /ˈbaɪoʊˌsfɪr/

Biosphere

Meaning
the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the earth occupied by living organisms
Example
Climate change is affecting the entire biosphere.
B2 noun /ˈbiː.təl/

Beetle

Meaning
a hard-bodied insect with wing covers
Example
The black beetle scurried across the garden path.
C1 verb /ˈbæfəl/

baffle

Meaning
to confuse; to be too difficult to understand
Example
The math problem baffles me completely.
A1 noun /ˈbaɪ.sɪ.kəl/

Bicycle

Meaning
A vehicle with two wheels that you pedal to make it move
Example
She rides her bicycle to work every day.
C2 noun /ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt/

billingsgate

Meaning
Coarse or abusive language; vulgar or offensive speech.
Example
The heated argument quickly descended into billingsgate.
C2 noun /ˈbaɪəˌɡræf/

biograph

Meaning
A written account of a person's life; an early motion-picture projector (historical use).
Example
The library holds an old biograph of the poet.
A2 noun /bɒs/

boss

Meaning
a person who is in charge of a worker, group, or organization
Example
Her boss gave her a new project to complete.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌsti/

busty

Meaning
having a large or full bust; describing a woman with a prominent chest
Example
The actress was often described as busty in fashion magazines.
C2 verb /bɪˈmjuːz/

bemuse

Meaning
To confuse or puzzle someone.
Example
The complex instructions bemused the new employees.
C1 verb /bɪˈɡɛt/

beget

Meaning
to bring about or give rise to; to father or produce
Example
Violence begets more violence.
B1 verb /breɪk/

brake

Meaning
to slow down or stop a vehicle by applying a brake
Example
He braked suddenly to avoid hitting the dog.
B1 adjective /ˈblʌdi/

bloody

Meaning
covered in, involving, or containing blood; also used informally for emphasis in British English.
Example
The soldier returned from battle with a bloody arm.
C1 noun /baɪl/

Bile

Meaning
a bitter greenish-brown alkaline fluid that aids digestion and is secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder
Example
The liver produces bile to help digest fats.
C1 noun /ˈbaɪ.lɔː/

by-law

Meaning
A rule made by a company, organization, or local authority to control the actions of its members.
Example
The city council passed a new by-law regulating street vendors.
B1 noun /ˈbɜː.nɪŋ/

burning

Meaning
The process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (typically) smoke.
Example
Burning garbage exacerbates air pollution.
C1 noun/verb /ˈbæntər/

banter

Meaning
playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks
Example
The colleagues enjoyed some light banter during the meeting.
C1 adjective /ˈbrɪtl/

brittle

Meaning
easily broken or cracked; hard but liable to break
Example
The glass was so brittle that it cracked easily.
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.
B2 noun /braɪb/

Bribe

Meaning
a sum of money or something valuable given to someone to persuade them to do something dishonest or illegal
Example
The corrupt official was caught accepting a bribe from the construction company.
C2 adjective /ˈbreɪsɪŋ/

bracing

Meaning
Invigorating, refreshing, or providing strength and energy.
Example
The hikers enjoyed the bracing mountain air.
B1 verb /bæn/

ban

Meaning
to officially forbid something; to prohibit
Example
The government banned smoking in public places.
C1 verb /ˈbəʊl.stər/

bolster

Meaning
To support or strengthen; to prop up.
Example
The new policy aims to bolster economic growth.
A2 verb /bleɪm/

blame

Meaning
to hold responsible for a fault; to find fault with
Example
Don't blame me for the mistake.
B1 noun /ˈbeɪ.kɪŋ ˈsoʊ.də/

Baking Soda

Meaning
sodium bicarbonate used in cooking and baking as a leavening agent
Example
Add a teaspoon of baking soda to make the cake fluffy.
A1 noun /ˈbɑːθruːm/

bathroom

Meaning
a room containing a toilet and usually a sink or shower
Example
The bathroom is on the second floor.
B2 verb /breɪd/

braid

Meaning
to weave together strands of hair or material
Example
She braided her hair before going to school.
A2 noun /ˈbʌt.ər.flaɪ/

Butter-fly

Meaning
a flying insect with large colorful wings
Example
The beautiful butterfly landed on the flower.
C1 verb /ˈblækən/

blacken

Meaning
to make something black or darker; to stain, soil, or tarnish
Example
Smoke from the fire began to blacken the walls.
C2 verb /bɪˈθɪŋk/

bethink

Meaning
to cause oneself to consider or remember something
Example
He bethought himself of the promise he had made.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːr.bər/

Barbar

Meaning
a person whose job is to cut men's hair and shave or trim beards
Example
The barber gave him a perfect haircut for his wedding.
C2 noun /bɪsk/

bisque

Meaning
A rich, creamy soup made from shellfish.
Example
We ordered lobster bisque at the restaurant.
B2 verb/noun /buː/

boo

Meaning
To show disapproval by shouting 'boo'; or a sound made to surprise or scare.
Example
The audience began to boo the bad performance.
B1 noun /biːst/

Beast

Meaning
a large or dangerous animal; a cruel or unpleasant person
Example
The lion is a fierce beast of the jungle.
C1 noun, verb /ˈbʌtrəs/

buttress

Meaning
a structure built against a wall for support; to support or strengthen
Example
The cathedral walls were buttressed to prevent collapse.
B2 noun ˈbaɪ.əʊˌfjuː.əl

biofuel

Meaning
A fuel derived immediately from living matter, as opposed to fossil fuels derived from long-dead biological matter.
Example
Biofuels reduce dependence on conventional energy sources.
C2 noun /ˈbʌt.ə.flaɪ piː/

Butterfly Pea

Meaning
a blue flowering plant with butterfly-shaped flowers, used to make herbal tea
Example
Butterfly pea flowers turn tea into a beautiful blue color.
C1 noun /bɪˈtreɪər/

Betrayer

Meaning
a person who betrays someone or something; one who is disloyal
Example
The betrayer was exposed and faced severe consequences.
C1 verb /blɛər/

blare

Meaning
to make a loud, harsh sound
Example
The car horns blared all night.
B2 noun /ˈbækɪŋ/

Backing

Meaning
help or support; financial or material support
Example
The project received backing from several major investors.
A2 noun ˈbʌt.ən

button

Meaning
A small disk or knob sewn onto a garment, either to fasten it by being pushed through a slit made for the purpose, or for decoration.
Example
Press the button to activate the device.
B2 noun, verb /blæst/

blast

Meaning
a strong gust of wind, an explosion, or a loud sound; to destroy or shatter by explosion
Example
The explosion sent a powerful blast through the building.
C1 verb /bɔːl/

bawl

Meaning
to shout or cry loudly
Example
The baby bawled all night, keeping everyone awake.
C2 noun /ˈbʌɡəˌbuː/

bugaboo

Meaning
An object of fear or worry; an imagined cause of anxiety.
Example
The threat of inflation became a political bugaboo.
B2 noun /ˈbɒt.əl.nek/

bottleneck

Meaning
Narrow path or obstruction, a place or situation where flow becomes slow.
Example
The narrow bridge is a major bottleneck during rush hour.
C2 verb /bɪˈkɑːm/

becalm

Meaning
to make calm or still; to deprive a sailing vessel of wind
Example
The captain tried to becalm the anxious crew.
A2 adverb /ˈbæk.wərdz/

Backwards

Meaning
in the direction that is behind; in reverse order
Example
He counted backwards from ten to one.
C2 noun /brəˈkeɪd/

brocade

Meaning
a rich fabric woven with a raised pattern, often in gold or silver thread
Example
She wore a beautiful brocade dress to the wedding.
B1 noun /ˈbraɪd.ɡrʊm/

Bridegroom

Meaning
a man on his wedding day or just before and after the event
Example
The nervous bridegroom waited at the altar for his bride to arrive.
C2 noun /ˌbɪbliəʊˈmeɪniə/

bibliomania

Meaning
An extreme obsession with collecting or possessing books.
Example
His bibliomania led him to fill every room with books.
C2 noun /bɒmˈbeɪ dʌk/

Bombay duck

Meaning
a type of lizardfish found in coastal waters, commonly eaten dried and salted in South Asia
Example
Bombay duck is a popular delicacy when dried and fried.
C1 noun /bɜːrθ/

Berth

Meaning
a sleeping place in a ship, train, or other vehicle; a place where a ship can dock
Example
I booked an upper berth on the overnight train.
C1 noun /blɜːrb/

blurb

Meaning
a short promotional description of a book, product, or service
Example
The back cover had a blurb praising the novel.
B2 verb /buːst/

boost

Meaning
To increase, improve, or raise something.
Example
The company launched a campaign to boost sales.
B1 adverb /ˈbreɪv.li/

Bravely

Meaning
in a way that shows courage and determination
Example
The firefighter bravely entered the burning building.
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.
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.
C1 verb /bɒmˈbɑːrd/

bombard

Meaning
to attack continuously with bombs, questions, or other forces
Example
Reporters bombarded the minister with difficult questions.
C2 verb /ˈbleɪzən/

blazon

Meaning
to display prominently or vividly
Example
The slogan was blazoned across the banner in bold letters.
C1 verb /ˈbæbəl/

babble

Meaning
to talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish way
Example
The baby babbles all day long.