burn
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN English BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Spanish FR French DE German RU Russian ZH Chinese JA Japanese
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
A2 verb /bɜːrn/

burn

Meaning
to be on fire; to damage with fire or heat
Example
The candle will burn for several hours.
C1 noun/adjective /ˈbæstərd/

bastard

Meaning
a child born to unmarried parents (offensive); also used informally as an insult or to describe something unpleasant
Example
He called him a bastard in anger.
C2 verb /bɪˈmjuːz/

bemuse

Meaning
To confuse or puzzle someone.
Example
The complex instructions bemused the new employees.
B2 adjective /bəˈtænɪkəl/

botanical

Meaning
relating to plants or plant life
Example
She works at the botanical garden.
C1 noun /ˈbærɪˌtoʊn/

baritone

Meaning
a male singing voice between tenor and bass
Example
The singer’s baritone voice impressed the audience.
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 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.
A2 verb /blɒk/

block

Meaning
to obstruct; to prevent passage or progress
Example
The fallen tree blocks the road.
C1 verb /broʊtʃ/

broach

Meaning
to bring up a subject for discussion
Example
She decided to broach the topic of salary with her manager.
C2 verb /ˈbɪloʊ/

billow

Meaning
To swell or rise in large waves or surges; to flow outward in a rolling motion.
Example
Smoke billowed from the burning building.
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.
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.
B2 noun /bætʃ/

batch

Meaning
a quantity of items produced or processed at one time
Example
She baked a fresh batch of cookies this morning.
C1 verb /bɪˈɡɛt/

beget

Meaning
to bring about or give rise to; to father or produce
Example
Violence begets more violence.
C1 noun/verb /ˈbɔɪ/ or /ˈbuːi/

buoy

Meaning
A floating marker on water; to keep something afloat or encourage someone.
Example
The news buoyed their spirits after the loss.
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.
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.
A2 preposition /bɪˈloʊ/

below

Meaning
At a lower level or position than something else.
Example
The basement is below the ground floor.
B2 noun /ˈboʊld.nəs/

Boldness

Meaning
willingness to take risks; confidence and courage in behavior
Example
Her boldness in confronting the problem impressed everyone.
C2 adjective /ˈbɑː.bər.əs/

Barbarous

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

belittle

Meaning
To make someone or something seem less important or less valuable.
Example
He often belittled his coworkers to feel superior.
C2 verb, noun /blæb/

blab

Meaning
to talk too much or reveal secrets carelessly; excessive or foolish talk
Example
He accidentally blabbed the surprise to everyone.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈbeə.rə.bəl/

Bearable

Meaning
able to be endured; tolerable; not too unpleasant or painful
Example
The pain became bearable after taking the medicine.
C2 adjective /ˈboʊvaɪn/

bovine

Meaning
relating to cattle; showing a dull or sluggish nature
Example
Her bovine expression revealed no emotions.
C1 noun /ˈbæs.ti.ən/

bastion

Meaning
a stronghold or fortification; a place or institution strongly defending particular principles
Example
The castle stood as a bastion against enemy attacks.
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.
B2 noun /blæk sneɪk/

Black Snake

Meaning
a snake with dark or black colored skin
Example
The black snake slithered through the grass.
B2 noun /bleɪd/

Blade

Meaning
a sharp flat cutting edge of a knife, sword, or tool
Example
The blade of the knife needs to be sharpened.
B2 noun /buːˈtiːk/

boutique

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

Betrayal

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

botch

Meaning
to carry out a task badly or carelessly
Example
He completely botched the repair job.
C2 adjective /ˈbrɔːni/

brawny

Meaning
Physically strong and muscular.
Example
The brawny man lifted the heavy box with ease.
C2 noun /ˌbʌkəˈnɪər/

buccaneer

Meaning
a pirate, especially one active in the Caribbean during the 17th and 18th centuries
Example
The buccaneer sailed across the Caribbean in search of treasure.
A2 verb /bleɪm/

blame

Meaning
to hold responsible for a fault; to find fault with
Example
Don't blame me for the mistake.
B2 noun ˈbɛriəl saɪt

burial site

Meaning
A place where a dead body is buried.
Example
The burial site of the martyrs was near the riverbank.
B2 noun /bɑnd/

Bond

Meaning
a close connection joining two or more people; a certificate of debt issued by a government or corporation
Example
The strong bond between the mother and child was evident.
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.
B2 noun /ˈbɪʃəp/

bishop

Meaning
a senior member of the Christian clergy, usually in charge of a diocese and empowered to confer holy orders.
Example
The bishop delivered a powerful sermon during Sunday service.
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.
A2 adjective /braɪt/

Bright

Meaning
giving out or reflecting much light; vivid in color
Example
The artist used bright colors in her painting.
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.
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.
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.
C1 noun /ˈbɜːrθraɪt/

birthright

Meaning
A privilege or possession that a person has from birth.
Example
Freedom is considered a birthright of every individual.
B2 adjective /brɪsk/

Brisk

Meaning
quick and energetic; lively; vigorous
Example
She took a brisk walk in the morning to feel energized.
C2 noun /bəˈkuːl/

Bakul

Meaning
a fragrant white flower native to South Asia, scientifically known as Mimusops elengi
Example
The sweet fragrance of bakul flowers filled the evening air in the village.
C2 verb /bɪˈstraɪd/

bestride

Meaning
To sit or stand astride something; to dominate over.
Example
The statue bestrides the city square.
B2 noun ˈbluː.prɪnt

blueprint

Meaning
A detailed plan or framework for a work or project, a pre-planned structure.
Example
The architect presented a blueprint for the new building.
C2 noun /bjuːt/

butte

Meaning
an isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top, common in arid regions
Example
The travelers could see a tall butte rising in the desert.
A1 verb /brɪŋ/

bring

Meaning
to carry or take something to a place; to come with something
Example
Please bring your books to class tomorrow.
A2 adjective /breɪv/

brave

Meaning
showing courage in the face of danger or difficulty
Example
The brave firefighter rushed into the burning building.
B2 noun /biːd/

Bead

Meaning
a small round object with a hole through it for threading
Example
She made a necklace with colorful beads.
A1 noun /bəˈnæn.ə/

Banana

Meaning
a long curved fruit with yellow skin and soft sweet flesh
Example
Bananas are a good source of potassium.
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.
A2 noun /ˈbʊkstɔːr/

bookstore

Meaning
a shop where books are sold
Example
She spent an entire afternoon browsing in the bookstore.
B1 noun ˈbaʊndəri

boundary

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

bark

Meaning
to make a sharp sound like a dog; to speak angrily
Example
The dog barks at strangers.
B1 noun /bʌɡ/

Bug

Meaning
a small insect; a defect in a computer program
Example
I found a bug crawling on my bed sheets.
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.
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.
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 adjective /bəˈnɑːl/ or /ˈbeɪnəl/

banal

Meaning
Lacking originality; boringly obvious and commonplace.
Example
His speech was full of banal clichés.
A2 noun /ˈbætəri/

battery

Meaning
A device that stores and provides electrical energy; also refers to a group of similar things or repeated blows.
Example
The phone battery ran out after a long day.
B2 noun /beɪ liːf/

Bay leaf

Meaning
dried aromatic leaf of the bay laurel tree used as a culinary herb
Example
Add a bay leaf to the soup for extra flavor.
C1 noun /bəˈnɛv.ə.ləns/

benevolence

Meaning
The quality of being well meaning and kindly; the disposition to do good.
Example
His benevolence towards the poor earned him respect.
C2 noun /ˈbræɡərt/

braggart

Meaning
a person who boasts about achievements or possessions
Example
No one liked him because he was such a braggart.
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 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.
A2 noun ˈbræntʃɪz

Branches

Meaning
A part of a tree that grows out from the trunk or from a bough.
Example
Family tree branches show the relationship between family members.
C2 adjective /bɪˈfɒɡd/

befogged

Meaning
Confused or clouded in mind; made unclear like being surrounded by fog.
Example
His mind felt befogged after the long and exhausting meeting.
C2 noun /bɑːrd/

bard

Meaning
a poet, traditionally one reciting epics and associated with oral traditions
Example
Shakespeare is often called the Bard of Avon.
B1 noun /bloʊ/

Blow

Meaning
a powerful stroke with a hand, weapon, or hard object
Example
The boxer delivered a devastating blow to his opponent.
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.
C1 noun, verb /bʌldʒ/

bulge

Meaning
A swelling or protruding part; to swell outward or protrude.
Example
The bag began to bulge with too many books inside.
C1 verb /blɛər/

blare

Meaning
to make a loud, harsh sound
Example
The car horns blared all night.
C2 adjective /ˈbʊərɪʃ/

boorish

Meaning
Rude, insensitive, and lacking manners or refinement.
Example
His boorish behavior ruined the dinner party.
C2 noun /ˈbæs.tərd tiːk/

Bastard teak

Meaning
A flowering tree with bright orange-red flowers, also known as flame of the forest
Example
The bastard teak tree blooms with vibrant orange flowers in spring.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈblʌdləs/

bloodless

Meaning
without bloodshed; lacking violence or vitality
Example
The revolution was surprisingly bloodless.
A2 phrasal verb /bæk ʌp/

back up

Meaning
to support or help someone; to make a copy of data for safety; to move backward
Example
Please back up your files before updating the system.
B2 adjective /ˌben.ɪˈfɪʃ.əl/

beneficial

Meaning
Resulting in good; favorable or advantageous.
Example
Eye rubbing can be beneficial in moderation.
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 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 noun /blʌd/

Blood

Meaning
the red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and animals, carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body
Example
The doctor took a blood sample for testing.
C2 noun /ˈbɔːbəl/

bauble

Meaning
A small, decorative trinket or ornament, often of little value.
Example
She wore a shiny bauble around her neck.
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.
A1 adjective /blæk/

Black

Meaning
having the darkest color; the opposite of white
Example
She wore a beautiful black dress to the party.
A1 adjective /bɛst/

best

Meaning
Of the highest quality, excellence, or standing.
Example
She is the best student in the class.
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.
A2 noun /bɜːrθ/

Birth

Meaning
the emergence of a baby or young from the body of its mother; the beginning or origin of something
Example
The birth of their first child was a joyful moment.
C2 verb /bɪˈleɪbə/

belabour

Meaning
to explain something repeatedly or with excessive detail; to criticize or attack verbally at length
Example
The teacher did not belabour the point once the students understood it.
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.
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 noun /bɑːm/

balm

Meaning
A soothing ointment or something that provides comfort or relief.
Example
The balm helped relieve the pain from her sunburn.
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.
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.
B1 verb /beɪð/

bathe

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

blemish

Meaning
A small mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something.
Example
The mirror had a small blemish on the surface.
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.
A2 noun /bel/

Bell

Meaning
a hollow metal device that makes a ringing sound when struck
Example
The church bell rang at noon.
B1 adverb /ˈbriːf.li/

Briefly

Meaning
in a short and clear way; for a short time
Example
Please explain the problem briefly.
C2 verb /ˈbɒtənaɪz/

botanize

Meaning
to study plants in their natural environment
Example
They went to the forest to botanize during their vacation.
A2 noun /ˈbʌt.ər.flaɪ/

Butter-fly

Meaning
a flying insect with large colorful wings
Example
The beautiful butterfly landed on the flower.
A1 adjective /ˈbjuː.tɪ.fəl/

Beautiful

Meaning
pleasing to the senses; attractive; having qualities that give great pleasure
Example
She has a beautiful voice that captivates everyone.
B1 verb /ˈberi/

bury

Meaning
to put in the ground; to hide; to cover completely
Example
The dog buries its bone in the yard.
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.
B2 noun /ˈbækdrɒp/

backdrop

Meaning
a painted cloth or other structure used behind a stage
Example
The backdrop for the play was a beautiful mountain scene.
B2 verb /ˈbætər/

batter

Meaning
To strike repeatedly with force.
Example
The waves battered the shoreline all night.
A2 verb /bit/

beat

Meaning
to strike repeatedly; to defeat; to pulsate rhythmically
Example
Our team will beat theirs in the final match.
C2 noun /ˈbɪɡ.ə.mi/

bigamy

Meaning
The act of marrying one person while still legally married to another.
Example
He was charged with bigamy after his second marriage was discovered.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈbɪtər/

Bitter

Meaning
having a sharp, pungent taste; feeling or showing anger and disappointment
Example
The medicine had a bitter taste.
A2 noun /ˈbɪljən/

billion

Meaning
the number 1,000,000,000 (one thousand million)
Example
The company is worth more than a billion dollars.