China box
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C2 noun /ˈtʃaɪ.nə bɑːks/

China box

Meaning
a small evergreen shrub with tiny white fragrant flowers
Example
The China box plant produced clusters of small white flowers.
C2 noun /ˈtoʊ.di/

Toady

Meaning
a person who acts obsequiously to gain favor; a sycophant
Example
He was known as a toady who always agreed with the boss.
A2 noun, verb /kəˈrɪər/

career

Meaning
As a noun: a person’s course of professional life; as a verb: to move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way.
Example
She built a successful career in medicine.
C1 adjective /kəˈlæpsəbl̩/

collapsible

Meaning
able to be folded down or reduced in size
Example
She bought a collapsible chair for camping.
C1 verb /ˈɒfsɛt/

offset

Meaning
To counterbalance or compensate for something.
Example
The company's losses were offset by gains in other departments.
C2 adjective /ˈhed.i/

Heady

Meaning
having a strong or exhilarating effect; intoxicating; exciting
Example
The heady perfume of jasmine filled the garden.
B2 verb /ˈkaʊnsəl/

counsel

Meaning
to give professional advice or guidance to someone
Example
The teacher counseled the students on their career choices.
C2 noun /aɪˈoʊtə/

iota

Meaning
An extremely small amount.
Example
He did not show an iota of fear.
A2 verb /ɪɡˈnɔːr/

ignore

Meaning
to refuse to take notice of; to disregard intentionally
Example
She decided to ignore the rude comments.
B1 noun /ˌdes.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Destination

Meaning
the place to which someone or something is going; the ultimate purpose or end point
Example
Paris was their dream destination for their honeymoon trip.
C1 noun /dɪˈspɜːrʒən/

dispersion

Meaning
The action or process of distributing things or people over a wide area.
Example
The dispersion of seeds by the wind helps plants reproduce.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈlaɪ.tənd/

Enlightened

Meaning
having or showing a rational, modern outlook; having spiritual knowledge or understanding
Example
The enlightened teacher shared wisdom with all her students.
C2 adjective /ˈθrɛdˌbɛr/

threadbare

Meaning
Worn out and thin from too much use; shabby.
Example
His threadbare coat could not keep him warm in winter.
C1 noun /ˈtræpɪŋz/

trappings

Meaning
the outward signs, features, or objects associated with a role, event, or status
Example
The king appeared with all the trappings of royalty.
C1 verb /kɑːrp/

carp

Meaning
to complain or find fault continually, often about trivial matters
Example
She tends to carp about the smallest inconveniences.
A1 adjective /lɑːrdʒ/

Large

Meaning
of considerable size, extent, or intensity; big
Example
The large building dominated the city skyline.
C1 verb /ɪnˈstɪl/

instill

Meaning
to gradually but firmly establish an idea, attitude, or habit in someone's mind
Example
Parents try to instill good values in their children.
B2 verb /pərˈsuː/

pursue

Meaning
to follow or chase with the intent to catch or achieve something
Example
She decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a doctor.
C1 verb /lʌl/

lull

Meaning
to soothe or calm; to cause to sleep or rest
Example
The gentle music lulled the baby to sleep.
B1 adjective /ˈiːvəl/

evil

Meaning
Profoundly immoral and wicked.
Example
They believed the villain was the embodiment of evil.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛndrɔɪd/

dendroid

Meaning
tree-shaped or branching like a tree
Example
The coral has a dendroid structure.
A1 adjective /twɛlv/

twelve

Meaning
the number equivalent to 12
Example
There are twelve months in a year.
C2 adjective /ˌsæsərˈdoʊtl/

sacerdotal

Meaning
Relating to priests or the priesthood.
Example
The ritual had a distinctly sacerdotal character.
C1 noun /ˈhɛzɪtənsi/

hesitancy

Meaning
The tendency to pause or delay due to uncertainty or fear.
Example
His hesitancy in answering made everyone doubt his confidence.
C2 noun /ˈɪntərˌveɪl/

intervale

Meaning
A low-lying tract of land along a river, usually fertile and flat.
Example
The farmers cultivated crops on the lush intervale by the river.
C2 verb /ɪnˈɡrɑːft/

ingraft

Meaning
To implant or fix deeply, often used in the sense of grafting an idea or quality.
Example
The teacher tried to ingraft good manners in the students.
C2 noun /ˈiːɡlət/

eaglet

Meaning
A young eagle.
Example
The eaglet waited in the nest for its mother to return.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈstrɪkəbl/

inextricable

Meaning
Impossible to separate or escape from.
Example
The two friends shared an inextricable bond.
C1 verb /ɡrʌnt/

grunt

Meaning
to make a low, rough sound, often when exerting effort or expressing annoyance
Example
He grunted as he lifted the heavy box.
C1 noun /ˌaɪ.diˈɒl.ə.dʒi/

ideology

Meaning
A system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Example
Democracy is based on the ideology of freedom and equality.
C2 noun /ɡæf/

gaff

Meaning
A social blunder or mistake; also a hook or device used in fishing or theater.
Example
He made a major gaff during the meeting by forgetting the client's name.
C2 noun /ˈʌndərlɪŋ/

underling

Meaning
a person of low rank or importance; a subordinate
Example
The manager ordered his underlings to finish the task quickly.
A2 adjective /ˈjuːʒəl/

usual

Meaning
habitually or typically occurring or done
Example
It’s our usual meeting spot.
B2 adjective /stɪf/

Stiff

Meaning
not easily bent or changed; rigid; firm
Example
The old wooden board was too stiff to bend.
B1 noun /ˈɑː.kɪ.tekt/

architect

Meaning
a person who designs buildings and oversees their construction
Example
The architect designed a modern office building.
C2 verb /ˌkaʊntərˈveɪl/

countervail

Meaning
to offset or counteract the effect of something
Example
The benefits of the new policy countervail its drawbacks.
C2 noun /ˈaɪ.sɔːr/

Eyesore

Meaning
something that is very ugly and unpleasant to look at
Example
The abandoned building has become an eyesore in the neighborhood.
C2 adjective /dɪˈskrɛpənt/

discrepant

Meaning
showing a difference or inconsistency
Example
The witnesses gave discrepant accounts of the incident.
B1 noun ˈwɔː.mɪŋ

warming

Meaning
The process of becoming warmer; an increase in temperature.
Example
Warming is accelerating due to greenhouse gases.
B2 noun /kɜːrl/

Curl

Meaning
a piece of hair that curves or coils; something with a spiral or curved shape
Example
She had beautiful natural curls that framed her face perfectly.
A2 noun /kraʊd/

crowd

Meaning
a large number of people gathered together
Example
A huge crowd gathered to watch the concert.
C2 noun /laɪər/

lyre

Meaning
a stringed musical instrument of ancient Greece
Example
The musician played a melody on the lyre.
C1 adjective /ˈpɛnsɪv/

pensive

Meaning
Engaged in deep or serious thought.
Example
She looked pensive as she stared out of the window.
A1 pronoun/noun /lɒts/

lots

Meaning
A large number or amount of something.
Example
She has lots of friends in the city.
B1 noun /ˈhaɪdʒiːn/

hygiene

Meaning
Conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease.
Example
Good hygiene is essential for preventing the spread of infections.
A1 noun /biːtʃ/

beach

Meaning
An area of sand or small stones beside the sea or a lake.
Example
They spent the day relaxing on the beach.
A2 noun /ˈketʃ.ʌp/

Ketch-up

Meaning
a thick sauce made chiefly from tomatoes, vinegar, and spices
Example
She squeezed some ketchup on her french fries before eating them.
C1 verb /ˌpoʊstˈdeɪt/

postdate

Meaning
To assign a date later than the actual date to a document or event.
Example
She postdated the check to next month.
B2 adjective /ˈaɪ.dəl/

Idle

Meaning
lazy; inactive; not working or being used
Example
The factory workers were idle during the strike.
C1 noun /ˈæbət/

abbot

Meaning
The head of a monastery for monks.
Example
The abbot welcomed the visitors to the monastery.
C1 noun /rɪft/

rift

Meaning
a serious break in a relationship; a split or crack
Example
A rift developed between the two friends after the argument.
C1 adjective ɪˌlektrəʊmæɡˈnetɪk

electromagnetic

Meaning
Relating to both electricity and magnetism or their interaction.
Example
Electromagnetic forces repel protons.
C1 adjective /ˈplæsɪd/

placid

Meaning
calm and peaceful, not easily disturbed
Example
She had a placid expression despite the chaos around her.
B2 adjective /ˌmɛtrəˈpɑːlɪtən/

metropolitan

Meaning
Relating to a large city, its surrounding areas, or its lifestyle.
Example
She moved to a metropolitan area for better job opportunities.
C1 noun sælˈveɪʃən

salvation

Meaning
Deliverance from sin and its consequences, believed by Christians to be brought about by faith in Christ.
Example
The story revolves around the theme of salvation.
C2 noun, adjective, verb /ˈrɛprəˌbeɪt/

reprobate

Meaning
A person of immoral character; to express disapproval of; morally corrupt.
Example
The old reprobate spent his days gambling and drinking.
B2 noun /ˈbeə.rər/

Bearer

Meaning
a person who carries or brings something; holder of a document
Example
The bearer of this message must deliver it quickly.
C2 noun /ˌkiː ˈviːv/

qui vive

Meaning
A state of alertness or vigilance.
Example
The guards were on the qui vive during the night.
B1 noun /ˈmɑː.kɪ.tɪŋ/

Marketing

Meaning
The activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.
Example
Digital marketing has transformed business strategies.
C1 noun /ˌɪməˈrælɪti/

immorality

Meaning
the quality of being immoral; behavior that violates accepted moral standards
Example
The community condemned the immorality of the corrupt officials.
C1 noun /ˈkɜːrfjuː/

curfew

Meaning
a rule requiring people to stay indoors after a certain time, usually at night
Example
The city imposed a curfew during the unrest.
B2 noun /ˈtes.tɪ.moʊ.ni/

Testimony

Meaning
a formal written or spoken statement given in a court of law; evidence or proof
Example
The witness gave compelling testimony during the trial.
C2 verb /həˈbɪtʃuˌeɪt/

habituate

Meaning
to make someone accustomed to something
Example
The monks habituated themselves to meditation.
A2 adjective, noun /ˈfeɪvərɪt/

favorite

Meaning
Preferred over all others; something or someone especially liked.
Example
Chocolate is my favorite ice cream flavor.
A2 noun /ˈbʌt.ər.flaɪ/

Butter-fly

Meaning
a flying insect with large colorful wings
Example
The beautiful butterfly landed on the flower.
C1 noun /kəˈlɪɡrəfi/

calligraphy

Meaning
The art of beautiful and decorative handwriting.
Example
She took a course to improve her calligraphy skills.
A2 noun /haɪt/

height

Meaning
the measurement of someone or something from base to top
Example
The height of the tower impressed the visitors.
C2 verb /kəˈlʌmnieɪt/

calumniate

Meaning
To make false and damaging statements about someone; to slander.
Example
He was furious when he realized they had calumniated his reputation.
B2 adverb /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkli/

economically

Meaning
in a way that relates to economics or is efficient and not wasteful.
Example
The company is trying to operate more economically this year.
B1 verb /ˈdekəreɪt/

decorate

Meaning
to make something look more attractive by adding ornaments
Example
We will decorate the room for the party.
B2 noun /ˈaʊtbɜːrst/

outburst

Meaning
a sudden release of strong emotion or activity
Example
She had an angry outburst during the meeting.
C2 noun /ˌræproʊʃˈmɑːn/

rapprochement

Meaning
The establishment or resumption of harmonious relations.
Example
The two countries signed an agreement that marked a new rapprochement.
C2 noun /kwiːn kreɪp ˈmɜːrtəl/

Queen crape myrtle

Meaning
A flowering tree with colorful, crepe-like flowers, scientifically known as Lagerstroemia
Example
The Queen crape myrtle bloomed beautifully in the garden with its purple flowers.
C2 adjective /əˈfɪʃəs/

officious

Meaning
Excessively eager to offer unwanted help or advice; meddlesome.
Example
The officious guard kept interrupting the visitors with unnecessary instructions.
C1 noun /ˈsɪtrɪk ˈæsɪd/

Citric Acid

Meaning
a natural acid found in citrus fruits, used as a food preservative and flavoring agent
Example
Add a pinch of citric acid to preserve the color of the fruit jam.
C2 adjective ˌlæb.əˈrɪn.θaɪn

labyrinthine

Meaning
Like a labyrinth; complicated and confusing; having many interconnected paths or passages.
Example
The old city streets were labyrinthine.
C1 verb /ˈɡlædən/

gladden

Meaning
to make someone happy or bring joy
Example
The news of her recovery gladdened everyone.
C1 adjective/noun /fəˈrɛns.ɪk/

forensic

Meaning
Scientific analysis applied to criminal or legal matters
Example
Forensic experts analyze cybercrimes using advanced tools.
C1 noun /ˈkɒb.lər/

Cobbler

Meaning
a person who repairs shoes and other leather goods
Example
The cobbler fixed my broken shoes perfectly.
C2 noun /juː/

Ewe

Meaning
a female sheep
Example
The ewe gave birth to twin lambs.
B2 verb, noun, adjective /ˈtɛndər/

tender

Meaning
to offer formally; soft and delicate in texture or character; a formal offer or proposal
Example
The company tendered its resignation to the board.
B2 adjective /ˈɡreɪs.fəl/

Graceful

Meaning
elegant; smooth; refined; having beauty of movement or manner
Example
The dancer moved with graceful elegance.
B2 noun /drɪl/

drill

Meaning
a tool or exercise used for making holes or practicing skills
Example
The students took part in a fire drill at school.
C2 noun /ˈspɛndˌθrɪft/

spendthrift

Meaning
A person who spends money extravagantly or wastefully.
Example
The young prince was known as a spendthrift, wasting his fortune on lavish parties.
C1 adjective /aʊtˈmoʊdɪd/

outmoded

Meaning
No longer in fashion or useful; outdated.
Example
That old computer is completely outmoded.
C2 noun /ˈæpəˌsteɪt/

apostate

Meaning
A person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle.
Example
He was labeled an apostate after abandoning the faith of his community.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsəʊʃəbl/

unsociable

Meaning
not enjoying the company of others; avoiding social interaction
Example
He became unsociable after moving to a new city.
C2 noun /ɒkˈteɪvoʊ/

octavo

Meaning
A size of book page resulting from folding a sheet of paper into eight leaves (sixteen pages).
Example
The old library contained rare octavo editions of Shakespeare.
A2 noun/verb /sɛns/

sense

Meaning
A faculty by which the body perceives external stimuli; or to perceive something without being told.
Example
She had a strong sense of responsibility.
A1 noun /aɪ/

Eye

Meaning
the organ of sight; the ability to see
Example
Her eyes sparkled with joy.
C1 noun /ˈlɛɡɪŋ/

legging

Meaning
tight-fitting stretch pants, typically worn by women for exercise or casual wear
Example
She bought a new pair of black leggings for the gym.
C2 adjective /ˈmiːliˌmaʊðd/

mealymouthed

Meaning
not willing to speak directly and honestly; evasive in speech
Example
The politician gave a mealymouthed response to the tough question.
C1 noun /ˈeɪθiɪzəm/

atheism

Meaning
The belief that there is no God or gods.
Example
He declared his atheism openly despite social pressure.
A2 adjective /maɪld/

mild

Meaning
not severe or strong; gentle in nature
Example
The patient had only mild symptoms.
A2 noun /ˈbiː.ɪŋ/

Being

Meaning
existence; a living creature; the state of existing
Example
Every human being deserves respect and dignity.
B1 noun /ruːt/

route

Meaning
a way or course taken to get from one place to another
Example
The best route to the airport is through the highway.
B2 noun /ˈdʒel.i fɪʃ/

Jelly fish

Meaning
a soft-bodied marine animal with a gelatinous umbrella-shaped body and trailing tentacles
Example
The jellyfish floated gracefully through the water with its translucent body.
C2 adjective /ˈmʌsti/

musty

Meaning
having a stale, moldy, or damp smell
Example
The old books had a musty odor.
C1 adjective /ˈmiːɡər/

meager

Meaning
Lacking in quantity or quality; inadequate.
Example
He could barely survive on his meager salary.
C1 adjective /kræs/

crass

Meaning
lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence
Example
His crass remarks offended everyone at the meeting.
C1 verb /tiːm/

teem

Meaning
to be full of or swarming with
Example
The forest teems with wildlife.
B1 noun ˌkriː.eɪˈtɪv.ɪ.ti

creativity

Meaning
The ability to use imagination to produce original ideas or to make something new or imaginative.
Example
His creativity was evident in his artwork.
C1 verb /smɪr/

smear

Meaning
to spread or apply a substance messily; to damage someone's reputation with false or unfair words
Example
The child smeared paint across the wall.
C1 adjective /ˌɪntərˈtwaɪnd/

intertwined

Meaning
closely connected or twisted together
Example
Their lives became deeply intertwined after the accident.
C1 noun /ˈɔr.ə.kəl/

Oracle

Meaning
a person regarded as a source of wise counsel; in ancient times, a priest or priestess acting as a medium
Example
The ancient Greeks consulted the oracle at Delphi.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈflɛdʒd/

unfledged

Meaning
Inexperienced, immature, or not fully developed.
Example
The unfledged writer struggled to complete his first novel.
C2 noun /ˈrɛtɪnjuː/

retinue

Meaning
A group of attendants or followers accompanying an important person.
Example
The king entered the hall followed by his retinue.
B2 noun kəˈmɒd.ə.ti

commodity

Meaning
A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold.
Example
Oil is a valuable commodity in the global market.
C1 adjective /ˌzɛnəˈfoʊbɪk/

xenophobic

Meaning
having or showing a dislike or fear of people from other countries
Example
The leader’s xenophobic comments sparked outrage across the country.
A2 noun /flaʊər/

Flour

Meaning
fine powder made by grinding wheat or other grains; used for making bread, cakes, and pastry
Example
She mixed flour with water to make dough for bread.
C1 verb /sʌlk/

sulk

Meaning
to be silent and bad-tempered because you are angry or disappointed
Example
She sulked in her room after the argument.
A1 interjection /ɑː/

ah

Meaning
used to express realization, surprise, or relief
Example
Ah, now I understand what you mean.
C2 verb /dʒaʊst/

joust

Meaning
to engage in a medieval contest on horseback with lances; to compete or argue
Example
The knights prepared to joust in front of the cheering crowd.
C2 adjective /ˌnɒnˈtrɪviəl/

nontrivial

Meaning
Not simple or easy; requiring effort or significant thought.
Example
Solving the equation turned out to be a nontrivial task.
C1 noun /ˈpær.ə.kiːt/

Parakeet

Meaning
a small colorful parrot with a long tail, often kept as a pet
Example
The green parakeet learned to say hello.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈdɪstæf/

distaff

Meaning
Relating to women or the maternal side of a family; also a tool for spinning thread.
Example
She came from the distaff side of a noble family.
A2 verb /ˈbɑroʊ/

borrow

Meaning
to take temporarily with intention to return; to take on loan
Example
Can I borrow your pen for a moment?
C2 adjective /əˈsɜːrbɪk/

acerbic

Meaning
sharp, harsh, or bitter in tone or taste
Example
His acerbic comments offended many people in the meeting.
B2 noun /ˌɪntərˈfɪərəns/

interference

Meaning
the action of interfering with something
Example
The radio signal was disrupted due to interference from nearby electronics.
B2 adjective /ˈsɛl.əˌbreɪ.tɪd/

celebrated

Meaning
Widely known and praised; famous for an achievement.
Example
He is a celebrated author in the field of literature.
C2 adjective /ˈtɛsəleɪtɪd/

tessellated

Meaning
arranged in a pattern of repeated shapes fitting together without gaps
Example
The tessellated floor was made of colorful tiles arranged in perfect symmetry.