bloom
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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.
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.
C2 adjective /ˈblɪŋkəd/

blinkered

Meaning
Having a limited or narrow outlook; unable or unwilling to consider other perspectives.
Example
His blinkered attitude stopped him from seeing the bigger picture.
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.
C2 adjective /bɪˈsɒtɪd/

besotted

Meaning
strongly infatuated or obsessed with someone or something
Example
He was completely besotted with her charm.
C1 noun /ˈbærɪstər/

barrister

Meaning
A type of lawyer in certain legal systems who specializes in courtroom advocacy and litigation.
Example
The barrister argued the case passionately before the judge.
A2 noun /ˈbɑt.əm/

Bottom

Meaning
the lowest point or part of something; the ground under a body of water
Example
The treasure chest was lying at the bottom of the ocean.
B2 noun bjʊəˈrɒk.rə.si

bureaucracy

Meaning
A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
Example
Excessive bureaucracy can slow down decision-making.
C1 noun /blɪs/

Bliss

Meaning
perfect happiness; great joy
Example
She felt pure bliss while watching the beautiful sunset.
C1 adjective ˈbɜːdʒənɪŋ

burgeoning

Meaning
Beginning to grow or increase rapidly; flourishing.
Example
The burgeoning tech industry has attracted many investors.
C2 verb /bɪˈsiːtʃ/

beseech

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

Balsam

Meaning
a flowering plant with colorful blooms that often open in the evening; also refers to aromatic resin
Example
The garden balsam flowers bloomed beautifully in various shades of pink and purple.
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.
B2 noun /blæk sneɪk/

Black Snake

Meaning
a snake with dark or black colored skin
Example
The black snake slithered through the grass.
C1 verb /bɪˈstoʊ/

bestow

Meaning
To give or present something as a gift or honor.
Example
The king bestowed honors upon the brave soldiers.
A2 noun /biː/

Bee

Meaning
a flying insect that produces honey and can sting
Example
The bee collected nectar from the flower.
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.
C2 noun, verb /ˈbɛvəl/

bevel

Meaning
A sloping edge or surface; to cut or shape an edge at an angle.
Example
The carpenter beveled the edges of the table.
B1 noun /ˈbæɡɪdʒ/

Baggage

Meaning
suitcases and bags containing personal belongings; past experiences or problems that affect behavior
Example
Please collect your baggage from the conveyor belt at the airport.
B2 adverb /ˈbəʊld.li/

Boldly

Meaning
in a confident and brave way; without fear
Example
She boldly stepped forward to face the challenge.
B2 adjective /ˈbʌmpi/

Bumpy

Meaning
having an uneven surface; rough; jolting
Example
The bumpy road made the car ride very uncomfortable.
C2 verb /ˈbaʊdləˌraɪz/

bowdlerize

Meaning
to remove or modify parts of a text considered offensive or inappropriate
Example
The editor bowdlerized the novel to make it suitable for children.
C1 noun /ˈblɒk.ɪdʒ/

Blockage

Meaning
an obstruction that makes movement or flow difficult or impossible
Example
The drain blockage caused water to overflow in the kitchen.
B2 adjective /ˌbaɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/

bilingual

Meaning
Able to speak two languages fluently.
Example
She grew up in a bilingual household speaking both English and Spanish.
C2 noun /ˈbuːt.leɪs/

Boot-lace

Meaning
a cord or string used to fasten a boot or shoe
Example
I need to tie my boot-lace before going for a walk.
C2 noun /bɪˈtroʊðəl/

betrothal

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

burnish

Meaning
To polish something by rubbing; to enhance or improve.
Example
He burnished the old table until it shone.
C2 verb /bɪˈdɛk/

bedeck

Meaning
to decorate or adorn something in a showy way
Example
The hall was bedecked with flowers for the wedding.
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.
C2 noun /bəˈfuːnəri/

buffoonery

Meaning
Foolish or ridiculous behavior intended to amuse.
Example
His constant buffoonery irritated the serious audience.
C2 noun /briːtʃ/

breech

Meaning
The back part of a gun barrel; a position of a baby in the womb where the buttocks or feet come out first at birth.
Example
The rifle was loaded through the breech.
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.
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.
C1 preposition /ˈbɑːrɪŋ/

barring

Meaning
except for; if not for
Example
Barring a miracle, the team will not win the championship.
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.
C2 adjective /ˈbɛərˌfeɪst/

barefaced

Meaning
shameless and undisguised; openly bold or unashamed
Example
He told a barefaced lie in front of everyone.
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.
A2 verb /bæt/

bat

Meaning
to hit with a bat; to flutter eyelids
Example
She bats her eyelashes flirtatiously.
B2 noun/adjective /ˈbʌmpər/

bumper

Meaning
A protective bar at the front or back of a vehicle; also used to describe something unusually large or successful.
Example
The farmer celebrated a bumper harvest this year.
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 /bluːz/

blues

Meaning
a feeling of sadness; a style of music with melancholy themes
Example
Listening to blues music always calms him down.
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 /blɑːtʃ/

blotch

Meaning
a large, irregular spot or stain, often on skin or fabric
Example
His shirt had a red blotch from the spilled juice.
A2 noun /bɪɡ boʊl/

Big bowl

Meaning
a large, round, shallow container used for serving food, mixing ingredients, or washing
Example
She mixed the ingredients in a big bowl.
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.
C1 adjective, noun /ˈbʊrʒ.wɑː/

bourgeois

Meaning
Relating to the middle class, often with materialistic values or conventional attitudes.
Example
The novel criticizes the bourgeois lifestyle of the city dwellers.
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.
C1 noun /beɪl/

bale

Meaning
A large bundle of goods tightly wrapped and bound.
Example
The workers loaded the bale of cotton onto the truck.
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 verb /bɪˈtreɪ/

betray

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

benefice

Meaning
a permanent church appointment for which property and income are provided
Example
The bishop appointed him to a wealthy benefice.
B2 noun /ˈbɒtəni/

botany

Meaning
the scientific study of plants
Example
She is studying botany at the university.
B2 adverb /ˈbɪt.ə.li/

Bitterly

Meaning
in an angry, hurt, or resentful way; extremely; severely
Example
She complained bitterly about the unfair treatment.
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 /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.
A1 noun /ˈbɔɪˌfrɛnd/

boyfriend

Meaning
a man or boy that someone is having a romantic or close relationship with
Example
She introduced her boyfriend to her parents.
C1 noun /ˈbɔɪənsi/ or /ˈbuːjənsi/

buoyancy

Meaning
The ability to float in a liquid; cheerfulness and optimism.
Example
Her natural buoyancy lifted the mood of the group.
A2 verb /baɪt/

bite

Meaning
to cut with teeth; to have a sharp effect
Example
The dog might bite if it feels threatened.
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 adverb /bɪˈfɔːr.hænd/

Beforehand

Meaning
in advance; ahead of time; earlier
Example
We prepared everything beforehand.
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.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈbreɪzən/

brazen

Meaning
Bold and without shame; shameless.
Example
She made a brazen attempt to lie in front of everyone.
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.
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.
B1 noun ˈbaʊndəri

boundary

Meaning
A line that marks the limits of an area; a dividing line.
Example
The river marks the boundary.
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.
C2 verb /bɪˈsmɜːrtʃ/

besmirch

Meaning
to damage someone's reputation; to make dirty or stained
Example
He tried to besmirch her good name with false rumors.
B2 noun /ˈbætəlˌfiːld/

battlefield

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

Breeze

Meaning
a gentle wind; something that is achieved with ease
Example
The cool ocean breeze made the hot summer day more pleasant.
A2 verb; adjective /broʊk/

broke

Meaning
past tense of break; having no money or being financially poor
Example
I broke my phone last night and now I’m completely broke.
B2 noun /bent/

Bent

Meaning
a natural inclination or talent; a strong interest or liking for something
Example
She has a natural bent for music and art.
C1 noun /bɪˈriːvmənt/

bereavement

Meaning
The state of having lost a loved one through death.
Example
She received many letters of sympathy during her time of bereavement.
B2 adjective /ˈbɪtər/

Bitter

Meaning
having a sharp, pungent taste; feeling or showing anger and disappointment
Example
The medicine had a bitter taste.
C1 verb /blɛər/

blare

Meaning
to make a loud, harsh sound
Example
The car horns blared all night.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪn.dʒəl/

Brinjal

Meaning
a large purple vegetable that is white inside; also called eggplant
Example
My mother cooked brinjal curry for lunch.
C2 verb /bɪˈdɔːb/

bedaub

Meaning
to smear or cover with a sticky or dirty substance
Example
The children bedaubed the wall with paint.
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.
B1 noun /bɔɪl/

Boil

Meaning
a painful, pus-filled bump under the skin caused by infected hair follicles
Example
The painful boil on his neck required medical treatment.
C1 adjective /ˈbuːzi/

boozy

Meaning
containing or involving a lot of alcohol; slightly drunk from alcohol
Example
The party became boozy as the night went on.
C2 noun /bænˈdænə/

bandanna

Meaning
A large, often brightly colored handkerchief, typically worn on the head or around the neck.
Example
He tied a red bandanna around his neck.
C1 noun /brɪˈɡeɪd/

brigade

Meaning
A large group of people organized for a specific purpose, especially a military unit.
Example
The fire brigade arrived quickly to put out the flames.
B2 noun, verb /ˈblækmeɪl/

blackmail

Meaning
the act of demanding money or advantage by threatening to reveal secrets; to force someone to act by using such threats
Example
He tried to blackmail her by threatening to reveal the documents.
B2 noun /ˈbaɪoʊ ˌdeɪtə/

Bio-data

Meaning
biographical data; a resume or curriculum vitae containing personal and professional information
Example
Please submit your bio-data along with the job application.
B2 noun /ˈbʊlɪt/

Bullet

Meaning
a metal projectile fired from a gun
Example
The bullet missed its target and hit the wall.
C1 noun /bruːˈtæləti/

brutality

Meaning
extreme cruelty or violence; savage or inhumane treatment
Example
The brutality of the attack shocked the entire community.
B2 verb /ˈbætər/

batter

Meaning
To strike repeatedly with force.
Example
The waves battered the shoreline all night.
C2 noun /ˈbroʊɡən/

brogan

Meaning
A heavy, sturdy shoe, often made of leather.
Example
The farmer wore old brogans while working in the field.
A1 noun /boʊt/

Boat

Meaning
a small vessel for traveling over water
Example
We took a small boat to cross the river.
C2 verb /bɪˈtroʊð/

betroth

Meaning
To formally promise to marry someone; to engage.
Example
He was betrothed to the princess at a young age.
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.
B2 noun /ˈbrændɪŋ/

branding

Meaning
The process of creating and promoting a brand or company identity.
Example
Effective branding is key to building customer loyalty.
A2 adjective /blaɪnd/

blind

Meaning
Unable to see because of injury, disease, or a congenital condition.
Example
He has been blind since birth.
B1 noun /ˈbed ˌkʌv.ər/

Bed cover

Meaning
a protective covering for a bed, typically a bedspread or comforter
Example
She pulled the bed cover up to her chin to stay warm.
B1 noun ˈbreɪvəri

bravery

Meaning
Courageous behavior or character; the quality of being brave.
Example
The bravery of our soldiers is unforgettable.
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 /ˈbʌt.ər.flaɪ/

Butter-fly

Meaning
a flying insect with large colorful wings
Example
The beautiful butterfly landed on the flower.
A1 noun /ˈbɑːθruːm/

bathroom

Meaning
a room containing a toilet and usually a sink or shower
Example
The bathroom is on the second floor.
C2 noun /ˈbɛlfri/

belfry

Meaning
A bell tower, especially one attached to a church or building.
Example
The church belfry housed a large bronze bell.
B1 noun /bend/

Bend

Meaning
a curved or angled part of something; a turning point in a road or river
Example
There is a sharp bend in the river ahead.
B2 noun /ˈbɒmɪŋ/

bombing

Meaning
an attack using bombs or explosives
Example
The city was devastated by the bombing.
C2 noun /ˌbrɪɡ.əˈdɪər/

brigadier

Meaning
A military officer rank, usually commanding a brigade.
Example
The brigadier inspected the troops before the parade.
C2 adjective /ˈbɑː.bər.əs/

Barbarous

Meaning
extremely cruel; uncivilized; savage
Example
The barbarous treatment of prisoners was condemned by human rights organizations.
C1 noun /ˌbɪbliˈɒɡrəfi/

bibliography

Meaning
a list of books, articles, or other sources used or referred to in scholarly work
Example
The report includes a detailed bibliography at the end.
B2 noun /bækˈtɪəriəm/

bacterium

Meaning
A single microscopic organism belonging to the group of bacteria.
Example
The doctor explained that a single bacterium can multiply rapidly under the right conditions.
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 verb /bɪˈsmɪər/

besmear

Meaning
to smear or cover with a sticky or dirty substance; to soil
Example
His clothes were besmeared with mud.
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 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 noun /ˌbaɪ.oʊ.rɪˌmiː.diˈeɪ.ʃən/

bioremediation

Meaning
The use of living organisms to neutralize or remove environmental contaminants.
Example
Bioremediation helps remove toxins from polluted soil.
B2 noun /bɪˈtreɪəl/

Betrayal

Meaning
the action of betraying one's country, group, or person; disloyalty
Example
His betrayal of their friendship hurt her deeply.
B1 noun /ˈbriːðɪŋ/

breathing

Meaning
the process of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs.
Example
Deep breathing can help you relax.
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.
B1 noun /ˈbɒksər/

boxer

Meaning
a person who fights in the sport of boxing; a type of short loose-fitting underwear; a breed of medium-to-large dog
Example
The boxer trained hard every morning before the championship match.
C2 adjective /ˈbiːstiəl/

bestial

Meaning
Relating to beasts; showing savagery, brutality, or lacking human sensibility.
Example
The prisoners were treated in a bestial manner.
C2 adjective /bɒmˈbæstɪk/

bombastic

Meaning
using pompous or inflated language with little meaning
Example
The professor’s bombastic lecture impressed no one.
C1 adjective ˌbjʊə.rəˈkræt.ɪk

bureaucratic

Meaning
Involving or characterized by complex rules and procedures that can delay the achievement of goals.
Example
Bureaucratic red tape often delays project approvals.
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 /bædʒ/

badge

Meaning
A small emblem or sign worn to show membership, authority, or achievement.
Example
The police officer showed his badge to identify himself.
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.
B2 adjective /blænd/

bland

Meaning
lacking strong features, flavor, or character; dull or uninteresting
Example
The soup was too bland for my taste.