boorish
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C2 adjective /ˈbʊərɪʃ/

boorish

Meaning
Rude, insensitive, and lacking manners or refinement.
Example
His boorish behavior ruined the dinner party.
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.
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 /biːt/

Beet

Meaning
a plant with a round dark red root that is eaten as a vegetable
Example
Roasted beet with goat cheese makes a delicious salad.
B1 noun /ˈbæŋkɪŋ/

banking

Meaning
the business or services provided by a bank
Example
Online banking has made financial transactions easier.
C2 noun /ˌbluː ˈblʌd/

Blue-blood

Meaning
a person of noble birth; aristocrat
Example
She came from a family of blue-bloods with centuries of royal heritage.
C2 noun /ˈbækənæl/

bacchanal

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

Bravely

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

behead

Meaning
to cut off a person's or animal's head; to remove the leader or most important part
Example
The historical account describes how the traitor was beheaded as punishment.
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.
C2 noun /bəˈlɛəroʊ/

bolero

Meaning
A Spanish dance in slow triple time, or a short jacket open at the front.
Example
The dancers performed a passionate bolero at the festival.
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 /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 adjective /ˈbɔːdi/

bawdy

Meaning
humorously indecent or obscene, often in a sexual way
Example
The comedian’s bawdy jokes made the audience laugh and blush.
B1 verb /ˈbɔːrdɪŋ/

boarding

Meaning
Getting on or into a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
Example
The explorers were boarding the ship at the port.
C1 noun /bɒɡ/

bog

Meaning
an area of wet, spongy ground; a swamp or marsh
Example
The hikers got stuck in a bog.
C1 adjective /ˈbæʃ.fəl/

Bashful

Meaning
shy; timid; modest; easily embarrassed
Example
The bashful child hid behind her mother when meeting strangers.
B2 noun /ˈbɒtəni/

botany

Meaning
the scientific study of plants
Example
She is studying botany at the university.
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.
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.
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.
C1 noun /bəˈrɑːʒ/

barrage

Meaning
a concentrated outpouring of questions, criticisms, or blows; a rapid, continuous attack
Example
The politician faced a barrage of tough questions from reporters.
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.
B2 verb /boʊlt/

bolt

Meaning
To move suddenly and quickly; also to fasten something with a bolt.
Example
The horse bolted from the stable after hearing a loud noise.
C2 adjective /ˈboʊvaɪn/

bovine

Meaning
relating to cattle; showing a dull or sluggish nature
Example
Her bovine expression revealed no emotions.
C2 adverb /bɪˈtaɪmz/

betimes

Meaning
early; in good time
Example
She rose betimes to finish her work.
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.
C1 noun /ˈblʌd.ʃed/

Bloodshed

Meaning
the killing or wounding of people, typically in large numbers during a conflict
Example
The peace treaty was signed to prevent further bloodshed.
C2 verb /bɪˈtaɪd/

betide

Meaning
to happen or occur, usually of something that befalls someone
Example
Woe betide anyone who breaks the rules.
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.
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.
C2 noun /bɪər/

bier

Meaning
a frame or stand on which a coffin or body is placed before burial or cremation
Example
The coffin was placed on the bier during the funeral service.
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.
B1 verb /briːð/

breathe

Meaning
To take air into the lungs and send it out again.
Example
It was hard to breathe in the smoky room.
C2 noun /bɛk/

beck

Meaning
a gesture of beckoning; a small stream or brook (chiefly Northern English)
Example
The servant came at his master's beck and call.
A1 noun /breɪk/

break

Meaning
A pause in work or during an activity or event.
Example
Short breaks refresh your mind.
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.
A1 noun /ˈbeɪbi/

baby

Meaning
a very young child, especially one newly or recently born
Example
The baby is sleeping peacefully in the crib.
B2 noun ˈbænd.wɪdθ

bandwidth

Meaning
A range of frequencies within a given band, in particular that used for transmitting a signal; the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time.
Example
Increasing bandwidth enhances internet speed.
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 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.
C2 noun /ˈbiːtənd raɪs/

Beatened rice

Meaning
flattened rice; rice that has been parboiled, dried, and beaten into flat flakes
Example
Beaten rice is commonly eaten with milk and sugar for breakfast.
C1 verb /bɔːk/

balk

Meaning
to hesitate or refuse to proceed or comply
Example
She balked at signing the contract without reading it fully.
C2 verb /bɪˈtəʊkən/

betoken

Meaning
to be a sign or indication of something
Example
Dark clouds betoken an approaching storm.
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.
C2 verb /bɪˈθɪŋk/

bethink

Meaning
to cause oneself to consider or remember something
Example
He bethought himself of the promise he had made.
B2 verb /bɪˈfrɛnd/

befriend

Meaning
to act as a friend to someone; to make friends with
Example
She befriended the new student at school.
C2 verb /bɪˈstruː/

bestrew

Meaning
To scatter or cover something with objects or substances.
Example
The ground was bestrewn with autumn leaves.
A2 noun /bænd/

band

Meaning
a group of musicians who play music together
Example
The band performed live at the concert.
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.
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.
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.
C1 noun /blæk plʌm/

Black plum

Meaning
a dark purple or black colored edible fruit with sweet and sour taste
Example
I picked some fresh black plums from the tree in our backyard.
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 verb /bruːt/

bruit

Meaning
to spread a rumor or report widely
Example
The scandal was quickly bruited about the town.
A2 adverb /ˈbjuːtɪfəli/

beautifully

Meaning
in a beautiful or pleasing manner; excellently or skillfully
Example
She sang beautifully at the concert.
C1 noun /blæk sɔːlt/

Black Salt

Meaning
a type of rock salt with a distinctive sulfuric flavor, commonly used in Indian cuisine
Example
Add a pinch of black salt to enhance the flavor of the fruit salad.
B1 adverb /ˈber.li/

Barely

Meaning
scarcely; only just; almost not
Example
I barely passed the exam.
A1 noun /ˈbɛdruːm/

bedroom

Meaning
A room used for sleeping in.
Example
The children were playing in the bedroom.
A2 verb /bɪˈheɪv/

behave

Meaning
to act in a particular way; to conduct oneself
Example
Children should behave well in school.
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 /ˈbriːðɪŋ/

breathing

Meaning
the process of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs.
Example
Deep breathing can help you relax.
C1 adjective/verb /ˈbæntərɪŋ/

bantering

Meaning
characterized by good-humored teasing or joking
Example
They had a bantering conversation at the café.
C2 noun /ˈbiː.təl nʌt/

Betel-nut

Meaning
seed of the areca palm tree, often chewed as a stimulant
Example
Betel-nut is commonly chewed in many South Asian countries.
C2 adjective /bɪˈnɪɡnənt/

benignant

Meaning
Kindly and benevolent in nature.
Example
The teacher’s benignant attitude made the students feel comfortable.
B1 noun /blæk ˈpep.ər/

Black Pepper

Meaning
a hot-tasting spice made from dried peppercorns, widely used for seasoning food
Example
Season the steak with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
C1 noun /ˈbeɪsbɔːrd/

baseboard

Meaning
A narrow board running along the bottom of an interior wall, covering the joint between wall and floor.
Example
The carpenter painted the baseboard white.
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.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪtɪˌsɪzəm/

briticism

Meaning
a word, phrase, or characteristic feature of British English
Example
The word 'lorry' is a well-known Briticism.
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 adjective /ˈbɑːmi/

balmy

Meaning
Mild and pleasantly warm; soothing.
Example
We enjoyed a walk on a balmy summer evening.
B2 noun /ˈbeɪ.zəl/

Basil

Meaning
an aromatic herb with green leaves used in cooking, especially Italian cuisine
Example
The pasta sauce was flavored with fresh basil.
C2 noun /ˈbuː.jɒ̃/

bouillon

Meaning
A clear, seasoned broth made by simmering meat, fish, or vegetables in water.
Example
She added vegetables to the bouillon for extra flavor.
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 verb /ˈbaɪfərˌkeɪt/

bifurcate

Meaning
to divide into two branches or parts
Example
The road bifurcates into two separate paths at the hill.
B2 adverb /ˈbruːtəli/

brutally

Meaning
in a cruel, violent, or harsh manner; in a very direct and blunt way
Example
The prisoners were treated brutally by the guards.
A2 noun /bɪər/

beer

Meaning
An alcoholic drink made from yeast-fermented malt flavored with hops.
Example
He ordered a glass of cold beer at the bar.
C2 adjective /baɪˈkæmərəl/

bicameral

Meaning
Having two branches or chambers, especially in a legislature.
Example
The United States has a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
C1 noun /bɪz/

Biz

Meaning
business (informal); commercial enterprise or activity
Example
He's been in the restaurant biz for twenty years.
A2 noun /ˈbʌt.ər.flaɪ/

Butter-fly

Meaning
a flying insect with large colorful wings
Example
The beautiful butterfly landed on the flower.
C2 noun /boʊl/

boll

Meaning
The rounded seed capsule of plants such as cotton or flax.
Example
The farmer examined the cotton boll to check its quality.
C2 noun /ˈbʌskɪn/

buskin

Meaning
A type of thick-soled boot that reaches halfway to the knee; also associated with tragic drama in ancient times.
Example
The actor wore a buskin as part of his classical costume.
A2 noun /brʌʃ/

Brush

Meaning
a tool with bristles used for cleaning, painting, or grooming
Example
I brush my teeth every morning with a soft brush.
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.
A1 noun /bɔɪ/

boy

Meaning
a male child or young male person
Example
The boy ran across the playground.
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 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.
C2 noun /blæk ˈkɑːr.də.məm/

Black Cardamom

Meaning
a large aromatic spice pod with a smoky flavor, commonly used in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking
Example
Add black cardamom to the curry for a rich, smoky flavor.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪliəs/

bilious

Meaning
Relating to bile or an ill-tempered, irritable disposition.
Example
He became bilious after hearing the unfair criticism.
B1 noun, verb /bʌz/

buzz

Meaning
to make a low continuous humming sound; a feeling of excitement or interest
Example
I could hear the phone buzz during the meeting.
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.
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.
B2 noun /ˈbroʊ.kər/

Broker

Meaning
a person who buys and sells goods or assets for others; an intermediary
Example
The stock broker helped me invest my money wisely.
C1 noun /ˈbjuːɡəl/

Bugle

Meaning
a brass musical instrument similar to a trumpet but without valves, used especially for military calls
Example
The soldier played the bugle to signal the start of the ceremony.
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.
A2 noun /ˈbraʊzər/

browser

Meaning
a software application for accessing information on the World Wide Web.
Example
I use a web browser to search for information online.
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.
A1 interjection /baɪ/

bye

Meaning
used to say goodbye; a short and informal farewell
Example
I said bye to her before leaving.
B2 noun /ˈbælət/

ballot

Meaning
a process of voting, usually in secret; the paper used to record a vote
Example
Voters cast their ballot in the election.
B2 interjection /ˈbrɑː.voʊ/

bravo

Meaning
used to express approval, admiration, or praise
Example
The audience shouted 'Bravo!' after the stunning performance.
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.
A2 noun /ˈbʌtərflaɪ/

butterfly

Meaning
an insect with large, often brightly colored wings that flies during the day
Example
A beautiful butterfly landed on the flower.
C2 adjective /bruːsk/ or /brʌsk/

brusque

Meaning
abrupt or blunt in manner or speech, often seen as rude
Example
His brusque reply ended the conversation.
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.
B2 adverb /bɪˈfɔːr.hænd/

Beforehand

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

bawl

Meaning
to shout or cry loudly
Example
The baby bawled all night, keeping everyone awake.
B2 noun /ˈbɒdiɡɑːrd/

bodyguard

Meaning
a person employed to protect someone from harm
Example
The celebrity arrived with her bodyguard.
A2 noun /brɪdʒ/

Bridge

Meaning
a structure carrying a road, path, railway, etc. across a river, road, or other obstacle
Example
The old stone bridge has connected the two towns for over a century.
C1 noun /ˈbroʊkərɪdʒ/

brokerage

Meaning
A firm that acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers, often charging a fee.
Example
The real estate brokerage helped them find a new home.
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.
C2 adjective /blaɪð/

blithe

Meaning
Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered improper or carefree happiness.
Example
She had a blithe disregard for the rules.
C2 verb /ˈbækˌslaɪd/

backslide

Meaning
To relapse into bad habits, undesirable practices, or moral decline.
Example
After months of progress, he began to backslide into old habits.
C1 adjective /bɪˈleɪtɪd/

belated

Meaning
coming or happening later than expected or usual
Example
She sent me a belated birthday card.
B2 noun /ˈbækˌsaɪd/

backside

Meaning
the rear part or surface of something; informal term for the buttocks
Example
The kids slid down the hill on their backside.
A2 noun /ˈbenɪfɪt/

Benefit

Meaning
an advantage or profit gained from something; a helpful or good effect
Example
Exercise has many health benefits for your body.
C2 adjective /ˈbeɪnfəl/

baneful

Meaning
Causing harm, ruin, or destruction; deadly or poisonous.
Example
His baneful influence ruined the community.
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 verb /bɪˈriːv/

bereave

Meaning
to deprive someone of a loved one through death
Example
She was bereaved of her husband last year.
C1 adjective /ˈbaʊn.tɪ.fəl/

bountiful

Meaning
Large in quantity; abundant; generous in giving.
Example
The farmer was grateful for the bountiful harvest.
C2 verb /ˈbɒtənaɪz/

botanize

Meaning
to study plants in their natural environment
Example
They went to the forest to botanize during their vacation.
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.