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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.
C2 verb /bɪˈsmɪər/

besmear

Meaning
to smear or cover with a sticky or dirty substance; to soil
Example
His clothes were besmeared with mud.
B2 verb /ˈbraɪtən/

brighten

Meaning
to make something lighter or more colorful; to improve mood or make happier
Example
A few kind words can brighten someone's day.
C2 verb /bɪˈliːɡər/

beleaguer

Meaning
to cause difficulties, troubles, or harassment; to surround with military forces
Example
The company was beleaguered by constant complaints from its customers.
B2 noun /ˈbɜːrdn/

burden

Meaning
a heavy load, especially one that is difficult to carry
Example
The financial burden was too heavy for him to bear.
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.
B1 noun ˈbaʊndəri

boundary

Meaning
A line that marks the limits of an area; a dividing line.
Example
The river marks the boundary.
B2 verb /bɪˈtreɪ/

betray

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

blowhard

Meaning
a person who brags a lot or talks in a boastful way
Example
Everyone avoided the blowhard at the party because he wouldn't stop bragging.
C1 verb /ˈbruːtəlaɪz/

brutalize

Meaning
to treat someone with extreme violence or cruelty; to make something harsh or cruel
Example
The regime was accused of brutalizing innocent civilians.
C2 noun /breɪ/

brae

Meaning
A hillside or slope, especially in Scotland.
Example
They climbed up the grassy brae to see the sunset.
B2 noun /ˈbriː.ðɪŋ tɛkˌniːks/

breathing techniques

Meaning
Methods of controlling breathing to achieve relaxation and improve health.
Example
Breathing techniques help in reducing stress and anxiety.
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.
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.
C2 verb /bɪˈsiːtʃ/

beseech

Meaning
To ask someone urgently and fervently to do something; to beg.
Example
He beseeched the judge for mercy.
B1 noun /ˈbʌb.əl/

bubble

Meaning
a thin sphere of liquid enclosing air or gas; a temporary state of inflated value or excitement
Example
The children chased the bubbles in the air.
C1 noun /ˈbɪɡ.ət/

bigot

Meaning
A person who is intolerant toward those holding different opinions or beliefs.
Example
He was called a bigot for refusing to listen to others' views.
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 /boʊl/

bole

Meaning
the trunk of a tree
Example
The bole of the tree was thick and strong.
C2 verb /bɪˈhuːvz/

behooves

Meaning
third person singular form of 'behoove'; means it is proper or necessary
Example
It behooves every citizen to follow the law.
C1 noun /ˈbeɪ.zəl siːdz/

Basil Seeds

Meaning
small black seeds from the basil plant, often used in drinks and desserts
Example
I added basil seeds to my lemonade for a refreshing drink.
B1 verb /braʊz/

browse

Meaning
To look at or skim through casually, especially online or in a store
Example
She likes to browse books in the library.
C2 verb /bɪˈtaɪd/

betide

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

bellwether

Meaning
A person or thing that leads or indicates a trend.
Example
The company is seen as a bellwether of the technology industry.
A2 noun /bel/

Bell

Meaning
a hollow metal device that makes a ringing sound when struck
Example
The church bell rang at noon.
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.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈbaɪəst/

Biased

Meaning
showing prejudice for or against someone or something unfairly
Example
The judge was accused of being biased against the defendant.
B2 noun /ˈbʊlɪt/

Bullet

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

blurt

Meaning
to say something suddenly without thinking
Example
He blurts out the secret accidentally.
C1 adjective /ˈbleɪmləs/

blameless

Meaning
innocent of wrongdoing; not deserving blame
Example
She remained calm and blameless throughout the investigation.
C2 verb /bɪˈweɪl/

bewail

Meaning
to express deep sorrow or regret over something; to mourn openly
Example
She bewailed the loss of her childhood home.
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.
B1 noun /bɑːn/

barn

Meaning
a large building used for storing grain or housing farm animals
Example
The farmer keeps his cows in the barn.
C2 noun /bʊr/

Boor

Meaning
a rough and bad-mannered person; someone who lacks refinement or culture
Example
The wealthy businessman was actually a boor who showed no respect for others.
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 /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.
B1 verb /beɪð/

bathe

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

bulwark

Meaning
A strong wall or defensive structure; something that provides protection or support.
Example
The fortress walls served as a bulwark against enemy attacks.
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.
C1 noun /buːn/

boon

Meaning
A thing that is helpful or beneficial.
Example
The internet is a boon to modern education.
C2 verb /bɪˈwɪtʃ/

bewitch

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

birthright

Meaning
A privilege or possession that a person has from birth.
Example
Freedom is considered a birthright of every individual.
C1 adjective /ˈboʊɡəs/

bogus

Meaning
false, fake, or not genuine
Example
The police arrested him for using a bogus ID card.
C2 adjective /bɪˈnɪɡnənt/

benignant

Meaning
Kindly and benevolent in nature.
Example
The teacher’s benignant attitude made the students feel comfortable.
B2 noun /ˈbætəlˌfiːld/

battlefield

Meaning
a place where a battle is fought
Example
The battlefield was covered with the remnants of the fight.
B1 noun /ˈbed ʃiːt/

Bed sheet

Meaning
a large rectangular piece of cloth used as bedding to lie on or under
Example
The clean white bed sheet felt soft against her skin.
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 adjective /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/

Biting

Meaning
extremely cold; sharply critical or harsh
Example
The biting cold made everyone shiver.
C1 adjective /ˈbeɪs.ləs/

Baseless

Meaning
without foundation; groundless; unfounded
Example
The accusations against him were completely baseless.
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.
B2 verb /ˈbrɪdʒɪŋ/

bridging

Meaning
The action of building a bridge over something; connecting or reducing the distance between two things.
Example
The new initiative is bridging the gap between urban and rural development.
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.
A1 adjective /bæd/

bad

Meaning
not good; unpleasant, harmful, or of poor quality
Example
The milk smells bad, so don’t drink it.
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.
C2 adjective /ˈbʊərɪʃ/

boorish

Meaning
Rude, insensitive, and lacking manners or refinement.
Example
His boorish behavior ruined the dinner party.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪz.ən.taɪn/ or /ˈbaɪ.zənˌtiːn/

byzantine

Meaning
Extremely complicated and detailed; relating to the Byzantine Empire or its style.
Example
The new tax regulations are so byzantine that few understand them.
C1 noun /bruːˈtæləti/

brutality

Meaning
extreme cruelty or violence; savage or inhumane treatment
Example
The brutality of the attack shocked the entire community.
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.
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.
B1 adverb /ˈbraɪtli/

brightly

Meaning
in a way that gives off a lot of light; in a vivid, cheerful, or intelligent manner
Example
The stars shone brightly in the clear night sky.
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.
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.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈbʌmpi/

Bumpy

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

bumbling

Meaning
Acting in a clumsy, awkward, or confused way.
Example
The bumbling waiter spilled the drinks on the table.
B2 adjective /bɪˈzɑːr/

bizarre

Meaning
very strange or unusual, especially so as to cause interest or amusement
Example
He told a bizarre story that no one could believe.
C2 noun /ˈbeɪleɪ/

Bele

Meaning
a type of freshwater fish found in South Asian rivers, known for its distinctive appearance
Example
The bele fish is commonly caught in the rivers of Bangladesh.
C2 noun /ˈbroʊɡən/

brogan

Meaning
A heavy, sturdy shoe, often made of leather.
Example
The farmer wore old brogans while working in the field.
B2 noun /ˈbjʊəroʊ/

bureau

Meaning
An office or agency that provides services or manages specific duties.
Example
The travel bureau helped them plan their vacation.
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 /ˈbækɪŋ/

Backing

Meaning
help or support; financial or material support
Example
The project received backing from several major investors.
C1 noun /ˈbʊzəm/

bosom

Meaning
the human chest, especially a woman’s breast; also used metaphorically to refer to closeness or intimacy
Example
She kept the secret close to her bosom.
A1 noun /ˈbrʌðər/

brother

Meaning
a male sibling
Example
My brother is two years older than me.
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.
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 adjective /bɪɡ/

big

Meaning
large in size, extent, or importance
Example
They moved into a big house with plenty of space.
B2 noun ˈbʌtərflaɪ ˌpɒpjəˈleɪʃən

Butterfly Population

Meaning
The total number of butterflies in a particular area or ecosystem.
Example
The butterfly population is declining due to habitat loss.
B2 noun /buːθ/

booth

Meaning
a small enclosed space or area used for a specific purpose, such as voting or selling.
Example
He went into the voting booth to cast his ballot.
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.
B2 noun ˈbɪz.nɪs ˈfaɪ.næns

business finance

Meaning
The area of finance that deals with sources of funding and the capital structure of corporations.
Example
Effective business finance enhances profitability.
C2 noun /ˈbɪvuˌæk/

bivouac

Meaning
a temporary camp without tents or cover, usually used by soldiers or mountaineers
Example
The climbers set up a bivouac on the mountainside.
C2 adjective /ˌbiːəˈtɪfɪk/

beatific

Meaning
blissfully happy or showing great joy
Example
She had a beatific smile after hearing the good news.
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.
B2 adjective /ˌbaɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/

bilingual

Meaning
Able to speak two languages fluently.
Example
She grew up in a bilingual household speaking both English and Spanish.
B2 noun /ˈbɛriəl/

burial

Meaning
the act of placing a dead body into the ground.
Example
The burial ceremony took place in the afternoon.
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 verb /ˈbɔɪkɑt/

boycott

Meaning
to refuse to buy, use, or participate in something as a protest
Example
They decided to boycott the company's products.
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 adjective /bliːk/

bleak

Meaning
cold, miserable, or without hope
Example
The future seemed bleak after the economic downturn.
C1 noun /braɪn/

brine

Meaning
Water saturated with salt, often used for preserving food.
Example
The olives were stored in brine to keep them fresh.
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 /buːˈtiːk/

boutique

Meaning
a small shop that sells fashionable clothes or accessories
Example
She bought a beautiful dress from a boutique downtown.
C1 adjective /ˈbreɪzən/

brazen

Meaning
Bold and without shame; shameless.
Example
She made a brazen attempt to lie in front of everyone.
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.
C2 verb /bɪˈfɒɡ/

befog

Meaning
to confuse or make unclear; to cover with fog or mist
Example
His mind was befogged by exhaustion.
B2 noun /ˈblʌn.dər/

blunder

Meaning
A stupid or careless mistake; a serious error in judgment.
Example
His blunder cost the company a fortune.
B2 noun ˈbaɪ.əs

bias

Meaning
Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
Example
The judge must remain free from bias.
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.
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.
A1 noun /breɪk/

break

Meaning
A pause in work or during an activity or event.
Example
Short breaks refresh your mind.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈbruː.təl/

brutal

Meaning
extremely cruel or harsh; violent and without feeling
Example
The dictator’s rule was marked by brutal violence.
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 verb /bɪˈleɪt/

belate

Meaning
to delay or make late
Example
Heavy traffic belated our arrival at the party.
B2 noun /ˈbærəl/

barrel

Meaning
a large cylindrical container used to hold liquids
Example
The wine was stored in a wooden barrel.
C2 verb /bɪˈhəʊv/

behove

Meaning
British spelling of 'behoove'; to be appropriate or necessary
Example
It would behove the company to listen to its customers.
A2 verb /bɛr/

bear

Meaning
to carry; to endure; to give birth to; to support
Example
She cannot bear the pain anymore.
C1 noun/verb /ˈbæntər/

banter

Meaning
playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks
Example
The colleagues enjoyed some light banter during the meeting.
C2 adjective, noun /bɪˈtroʊðd/

betrothed

Meaning
Engaged to be married; a person who is engaged.
Example
She introduced him as her betrothed.
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.
A2 noun /ˈbɪznəsˌwʊmən/

businesswoman

Meaning
a woman who works in business, especially one who owns or manages a company
Example
The businesswoman expanded her company into international markets.
A1 verb /bɪˈkʌm/

become

Meaning
to grow to be; to come to be
Example
She became a doctor after years of study.
C1 noun /ˈbed sted/

Bed stead

Meaning
the framework of a bed; a bed frame without bedding
Example
The wooden bed stead was very sturdy.
C2 noun /bəˈfuːnəri/

buffoonery

Meaning
Foolish or ridiculous behavior intended to amuse.
Example
His constant buffoonery irritated the serious audience.
C1 verb; noun /beltʃ/

belch

Meaning
to expel air noisily from the stomach through the mouth; to emit or pour out suddenly and forcefully
Example
After drinking the soda, he belched loudly.
A2 noun ˈbæl.əns

balance

Meaning
A condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.
Example
Balance among powers prevents conflicts.