berserk
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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.
B2 adjective /bliːk/

bleak

Meaning
cold, miserable, or without hope
Example
The future seemed bleak after the economic downturn.
C2 verb /baɪd/

bide

Meaning
to wait patiently for the right time or opportunity
Example
He decided to bide his time before making a move.
C2 verb /bɪˈstraɪd/

bestride

Meaning
To sit or stand astride something; to dominate over.
Example
The statue bestrides the city square.
A2 verb /bɜːrn/

burn

Meaning
to be on fire; to damage with fire or heat
Example
The candle will burn for several hours.
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.
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 /bəˈθɪm.ə.tri/

bathymetry

Meaning
The measurement of depth of water in oceans, seas, or lakes.
Example
Bathymetry is essential for understanding oceanic topography.
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.
A1 verb /bɪˈɡɪn/

begin

Meaning
to start doing something; to commence
Example
I will begin my studies tomorrow.
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.
B1 verb /ˈbɑrɡɪn/

bargain

Meaning
to negotiate terms; to discuss prices; to make a deal
Example
She likes to bargain at the local market.
C2 noun /ˈbæn.jən/

Banian

Meaning
a sleeveless undergarment worn next to the skin; vest
Example
He put on a cotton banian under his shirt.
C2 noun /ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt/

billingsgate

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

betake

Meaning
to go or resort to a place or course of action, especially as a response; to apply oneself
Example
After dinner, she betook herself to her room to read.
C2 adjective /bɪˈhoʊldən/

beholden

Meaning
indebted or obliged to someone for a service or help
Example
He felt beholden to his mentor for all the guidance.
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.
B2 noun ˈbleɪzə

blazer

Meaning
A coloured jacket worn by members of a club, team, or school as part of a uniform.
Example
He looked sharp in his navy blue blazer at the event.
B2 adjective /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/

becoming

Meaning
attractive, suitable, or flattering to the wearer or situation
Example
That dress is very becoming on her.
C1 noun /ˈbenɪˌfæktər/

Benefactor

Meaning
a person who gives money or other help to support a person or cause; a patron
Example
The anonymous benefactor donated millions to the hospital.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːr.nɪ.kəl/

Barnacle

Meaning
a marine crustacean that attaches itself permanently to underwater surfaces
Example
The old ship's hull was covered with barnacles.
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.
C1 verb /ˈbæfəl/

baffle

Meaning
to confuse; to be too difficult to understand
Example
The math problem baffles me completely.
B1 verb /beɪð/

bathe

Meaning
to wash oneself; to clean the body with water
Example
I bathe every morning before going to work.
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.
C1 verb /bʌdʒ/

budge

Meaning
To move slightly; to change one’s opinion or position.
Example
Despite the pressure, he refused to budge from his decision.
C2 noun /ˈbroʊmaɪd/

bromide

Meaning
A trite or unoriginal idea or remark; also a chemical compound of bromine.
Example
His speech was full of old bromides about hard work.
C2 noun /ˌbæstərdaɪˈzeɪʃən/

bastardization

Meaning
the act of corrupting, degrading, or misrepresenting something
Example
Critics called the remake a bastardization of the original film.
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?
B2 noun/verb /ˈbʌfər/

buffer

Meaning
Something that lessens or absorbs the impact of a shock; to act as a protective barrier.
Example
The organization acts as a buffer between workers and management.
C2 noun /ˈbrɛviˌɛri/

breviary

Meaning
A book containing the service for each day, used in Christian liturgy.
Example
The monk read from the breviary during morning prayers.
A1 verb (past participle of 'bear'), adjective /bɔːrn/

born

Meaning
To come into life; brought into existence.
Example
He was born in Dhaka in 1995.
C1 adjective /ˈbloʊtɪd/

bloated

Meaning
swollen or puffed up, often unpleasantly
Example
After the big meal, he felt bloated and uncomfortable.
C1 adjective /ˈbær.ən/

Barren

Meaning
sterile; unable to produce; desolate; unproductive
Example
The barren desert stretched for miles without any vegetation.
C2 adjective /ˌbækəˈneɪliən/

bacchanalian

Meaning
Characterized by or involving drunken revelry.
Example
The students threw a bacchanalian party after the exams.
C2 noun /ˈbroʊmiːn/

bromine

Meaning
a dark red, dense, toxic liquid element used in making dyes, flame retardants, and medications
Example
Bromine is commonly used in water treatment chemicals.
B2 noun /ˈbætʃələr/

Bachelor

Meaning
an unmarried man; a person who holds a first degree from a university
Example
He remained a bachelor all his life and earned a bachelor's degree in engineering.
A2 noun, verb /bɑːr/

bar

Meaning
a counter where drinks are served; to prevent or block
Example
They decided to meet at the bar after work.
A2 adjective /ˈbroʊkən/

Broken

Meaning
damaged; not working; fractured
Example
The broken window needs to be replaced immediately.
C1 noun /bəˈbuːn/

Baboon

Meaning
a large African and Arabian primate with a dog-like snout and colorful buttocks
Example
The baboon troop gathered around the watering hole in the savanna.
B1 noun /bʌntʃ/

Bunch

Meaning
a number of things of the same type fastened together or occurring close together
Example
She picked a bunch of flowers from the garden for her mother.
C1 verb /bɪˈhoʊld/

behold

Meaning
to see or observe something, especially something remarkable or impressive
Example
She stood quietly to behold the sunrise over the hills.
C2 verb /ˈbɜːrdʒən/

burgeon

Meaning
To grow or develop rapidly; to flourish.
Example
The city's population began to burgeon after the new factory opened.
C2 verb /ˈbætn/

batten

Meaning
To fasten or secure something tightly.
Example
They battened down the hatches before the storm.
C2 noun /ˌbækəˈneɪliə/

bacchanalia

Meaning
A Roman festival of Bacchus celebrated with dancing, drinking, and revelry; any occasion of wild and drunken revelry.
Example
The novel describes the party as a bacchanalia of excess and joy.
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 /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 /bɪˈhɑːf/

behalf

Meaning
as a representative of someone; in the interest of someone
Example
She accepted the award on behalf of her team.
C2 verb /ˈbraʊˌbiːt/

browbeat

Meaning
To intimidate or bully someone into doing something
Example
The lawyer tried to browbeat the witness.
C1 noun /bɑːrˈbeəriən/

Barbarian

Meaning
a person from an uncivilized group; someone who is cruel or brutal
Example
The ancient Romans considered anyone outside their empire to be barbarians.
B1 noun, verb /ˈbændɪdʒ/

bandage

Meaning
a strip of material used to cover or protect a wound; to cover or wrap a wound with such material
Example
The nurse carefully bandaged his injured arm.
B2 noun/verb /bʌst/

bust

Meaning
As a noun: A sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and chest; As a verb: To break, smash, or arrest.
Example
The police busted the gang last night.
B2 noun /brɑːnz/

bronze

Meaning
a metal made by combining copper and tin, often used for statues and medals
Example
The statue was made of solid bronze.
C1 noun/adjective/verb /bʌf/

buff

Meaning
A fan or enthusiast; also to polish or shine something.
Example
He is a movie buff who watches films every weekend.
C1 adjective /ˈbed.rɪd.ən/

Bedridden

Meaning
confined to bed; unable to leave one's bed due to illness or infirmity
Example
The elderly man has been bedridden for several months.
A2 noun /ˈbɪs.kɪt/

Biscuit

Meaning
a small, hard, dry cake; a cookie
Example
Children love to eat chocolate biscuits with milk.
C2 noun /ˈbʊlrʌʃ/

bulrush

Meaning
A tall plant with long leaves that grows in or near water, also known as a cattail.
Example
The pond was surrounded by tall bulrushes swaying in the wind.
C1 verb/noun ˈbuːt.stræp

bootstrap

Meaning
To start and develop a business using personal resources without external funding.
Example
He bootstrapped his company with minimal resources.
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.
C1 verb /ˈbəʊl.stər/

bolster

Meaning
To support or strengthen; to prop up.
Example
The new policy aims to bolster economic growth.
C2 noun /ˈbækənæl/

bacchanal

Meaning
A noisy party involving drinking and revelry.
Example
The festival turned into a wild bacchanal by midnight.
B1 noun /ˈbɪldər/

builder

Meaning
a person or company that constructs buildings or other structures
Example
The builder checked the site before starting the construction.
B1 noun /ˈbeɪ.kɪŋ ˈpaʊ.dər/

Baking Powder

Meaning
a dry chemical leavening agent used to increase volume and lighten texture in baked goods
Example
The recipe calls for two teaspoons of baking powder.
C1 noun /ˈbʊl.ək/

Bullock

Meaning
a young bull; a castrated bull used for farm work
Example
The farmer used a bullock to plow the field.
B2 adjective /blʌnt/

blunt

Meaning
not sharp; direct and straightforward in speech
Example
Her blunt remarks offended some people.
C1 verb /bɒmˈbɑːrd/

bombard

Meaning
to attack continuously with bombs, questions, or other forces
Example
Reporters bombarded the minister with difficult questions.
C1 noun/verb /brʊk/

brook

Meaning
As a noun: a small natural stream; As a verb: to tolerate or endure something
Example
The village was built near a clear brook.
B1 noun /ˈbaɪbəl/

bible

Meaning
the Christian scriptures consisting of the Old and New Testaments; also used for any authoritative book
Example
She reads the Bible every morning.
B1 verb /baʊns/

bounce

Meaning
to spring back after hitting something; to rebound.
Example
The ball bounced off the wall and hit the window.
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.
A2 verb /bit/

beat

Meaning
to strike repeatedly; to defeat; to pulsate rhythmically
Example
Our team will beat theirs in the final match.
C2 verb /bɪˈtəʊkən/

betoken

Meaning
to be a sign or indication of something
Example
Dark clouds betoken an approaching storm.
B2 verb /bɪˈtreɪ/

betray

Meaning
to be disloyal to; to reveal secrets
Example
He felt betrayed by his closest friend.
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.
C2 noun /ˈbreɪziər/

Brazier

Meaning
a worker in brass; a portable container for burning charcoal or coal
Example
The brazier crafted beautiful brass ornaments.
C2 noun /bəˈfuːn/

buffoon

Meaning
A ridiculous but amusing person; a clown or jester.
Example
He acted like a buffoon at the party, making everyone laugh.
B2 noun/verb /ˈbrækɪt/

bracket

Meaning
A support attached to a wall for holding something; also, to group things together.
Example
The shelf was held up by a strong metal bracket.
A2 noun/verb /ˈbætəl/

battle

Meaning
A fight between armed forces or a struggle to achieve or resist something.
Example
The soldiers prepared for the final battle.
A1 adjective /bɪɡ/

big

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

bloat

Meaning
to swell or cause to swell, often due to fluid or gas
Example
Eating too much junk food can bloat your stomach.
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 /beɪz/

baize

Meaning
A type of coarse woolen cloth, often green, used for covering tables such as billiard tables.
Example
The old card table was covered with worn baize.
C1 noun /beɪl/

bail

Meaning
the temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, often with a financial guarantee
Example
He was granted bail after his arrest.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌksəm/

buxom

Meaning
Plump, with a full figure and often large-breasted, especially used to describe women.
Example
The actress was described as a cheerful and buxom woman.
B2 noun, verb /ˈbʌŋkər/

bunker

Meaning
a reinforced underground shelter; to place or store something in a protected place
Example
They hid in a bunker during the air raid.
C2 verb /bɪˈfuːl/

befool

Meaning
to deceive or trick someone into believing something false; to make someone appear foolish
Example
The scammer tried to befool innocent people with fake promises.
A1 noun /bæk/

Back

Meaning
the rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips; the spine
Example
She hurt her back while lifting heavy boxes.
C2 noun /ˈbiːlaɪn/

beeline

Meaning
a straight, direct route to a destination
Example
He made a beeline for the food table as soon as he entered the party.
C1 noun /ˈbaɪ.laɪn/

byline

Meaning
A line in a newspaper or magazine article that names the writer.
Example
Her byline appeared on the front page of the newspaper.
A1 noun /boʊt/

Boat

Meaning
a small vessel for traveling over water
Example
We took a small boat to cross the river.
B2 noun /ˈbɪtərnəs/

Bitterness

Meaning
anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly; resentment; a sharp, unpleasant taste
Example
She spoke with bitterness about her former employer.
C1 verb /bɪˈstoʊ/

bestow

Meaning
To give or present something as a gift or honor.
Example
The king bestowed honors upon the brave soldiers.
A1 noun /ˈbɛdruːm/

bedroom

Meaning
A room used for sleeping in.
Example
The children were playing in the bedroom.
C2 noun /ˈboʊsən/

boatswain

Meaning
a ship's officer in charge of equipment and the crew
Example
The boatswain supervised the sailors on deck.
B1 noun /bʌn/

Bun

Meaning
a small round bread roll, often sweet
Example
I bought fresh buns from the bakery this morning.
C2 adjective /bɪˈfʌdld/

befuddled

Meaning
confused, unable to think clearly
Example
He looked befuddled after hearing the complex instructions.
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.
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 /ˈblɒkˌtʃeɪn/

blockchain

Meaning
A system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system
Example
Blockchain technology ensures transparency in financial transactions.
C2 noun /ˌbenɪˈdɪkʃən/

Benediction

Meaning
a blessing, especially a ceremonial one; an expression of good wishes
Example
The priest gave his benediction to the newlyweds.
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 /brif/

Brief

Meaning
a concise statement of the facts; a set of instructions given to a person about a job or task
Example
The lawyer received a detailed brief about the upcoming court case.
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.
A2 noun /brɛθ/

breath

Meaning
The air taken into or expelled from the lungs during breathing.
Example
He took a deep breath before speaking.
A2 adverb /ˈbædli/

badly

Meaning
in a way that is not good; poorly or severely
Example
He performed badly in the exam.
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 verb /bruːd/

brood

Meaning
to think deeply about something that makes one unhappy; also, a group of young birds hatched at the same time
Example
He sat alone, brooding over his failures.
C2 noun /ˈbuːbi/

booby

Meaning
a foolish or gullible person; a silly individual
Example
He felt like a booby after making such a simple mistake.
C1 verb, noun /ˈbrɪsəl/

bristle

Meaning
to react angrily or defensively; a short stiff hair or fiber
Example
The cat bristled when it saw the dog.
C1 adjective /bræʃ/

brash

Meaning
self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overconfident way
Example
His brash comments offended many people at the meeting.
C2 noun /brəˈvjʊrə/

bravura

Meaning
a display of great skill and brilliance, especially in music or performance
Example
The pianist delivered a bravura performance that left the audience spellbound.
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.
C2 noun /ˈbʌt.ər fɪʃ/

Butter-fish

Meaning
a small, smooth-skinned marine fish
Example
The butter-fish is popular in Bengali cuisine.
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.
C1 noun /bəˈtɒn/

baton

Meaning
A thin stick carried by a conductor to direct an orchestra, or used as a symbol of authority.
Example
The conductor raised his baton to begin the symphony.
C1 adjective /ˈblʌdləs/

bloodless

Meaning
without bloodshed; lacking violence or vitality
Example
The revolution was surprisingly bloodless.
A1 verb /bɪˈkʌm/

become

Meaning
to grow to be; to come to be
Example
She became a doctor after years of study.
A2 verb /baɪt/

bite

Meaning
to cut with teeth; to have a sharp effect
Example
The dog might bite if it feels threatened.
B2 noun /ˈbɛərɪŋ/

bearing

Meaning
a person's way of standing or moving; relevance or connection to something
Example
Her calm bearing impressed everyone in the room.
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.
A1 adjective, adverb, verb /ˈbɛtər/

better

Meaning
of a more excellent or effective type or quality; to surpass or improve
Example
He felt better after taking the medicine.