Head-on
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C1 adverb /ˈhed ɑn/

Head-on

Meaning
directly facing; in direct confrontation or collision
Example
The two cars collided head-on at the intersection.
C1 noun /ˈheɪvən/

haven

Meaning
a safe place or shelter
Example
The library became a haven for students during exams.
C1 adjective /ˌhɔːrtɪˈkʌltʃərəl/

horticultural

Meaning
Relating to the art or practice of garden cultivation and management.
Example
She studied horticultural science at the university.
B1 noun /ˈhʌntər/

hunter

Meaning
a person or animal that hunts animals for food or sport
Example
The hunter tracked the deer through the forest.
B2 noun /ˈheɪ.trəd/

Hatred

Meaning
intense dislike or ill will; a feeling of strong aversion
Example
His hatred for injustice motivated him to become a human rights lawyer.
A2 noun ˈhɪs.tər.i

History

Meaning
The study of past events; a chronological record of events and heritage.
Example
The history of ancient civilizations fascinates scholars.
C2 adverb /hərˈmɛtɪkli/

hermetically

Meaning
In a way that is completely airtight or sealed off.
Example
The jars were hermetically sealed to preserve freshness.
B2 noun /ˈhɑːrd.ʃɪp/

Hardship

Meaning
severe suffering or privation; difficulty or distress
Example
Despite facing many hardships during the war, the family remained united and hopeful.
C2 noun /ˈhɛksəˌpɒd/

hexapod

Meaning
An insect or other organism with six legs.
Example
The scientist observed a hexapod crawling on the leaf.
B1 noun /ˈhaʊshoʊld/

household

Meaning
All the people living together in one house, considered as a unit.
Example
There are five people in our household.
A1 noun /hoʊm/

home

Meaning
the place where one lives, especially with family; a residence
Example
She finally returned home after a long journey.
B1 noun /ˈhɔːlweɪ/

hallway

Meaning
a corridor in a building that connects rooms
Example
The kids left their shoes in the hallway.
B2 noun /ˈhɔːr.ər/

Horror

Meaning
an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust; something that causes such feelings
Example
The survivors described the horror of the earthquake that destroyed their entire village.
C1 verb /hiːd/

heed

Meaning
to pay attention to; to take notice of
Example
You should heed the teacher's advice.
B2 noun /ˈhæz.ərd/

Hazard

Meaning
a danger or risk; something that poses a threat to safety
Example
Smoking is a serious health hazard that can lead to lung cancer and heart disease.
B2 adjective; past participle /ˈɒnəd/

honoured

Meaning
treated with respect or distinction; feeling proud and privileged
Example
She felt deeply honoured to receive the award.
B2 adjective /ˈhelp.ləs/

Helpless

Meaning
unable to defend oneself or act without help; powerless; vulnerable
Example
The child felt helpless when lost in the crowded market.
C1 noun ˌhaɪ.drəˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl ˈsaɪ.kəl

hydrological cycle

Meaning
The cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land.
Example
The hydrological cycle ensures continuous water movement in nature.
C2 noun /ˈhjuːməs/

humus

Meaning
The dark, organic material in soil formed from decayed plants and animals.
Example
The gardener enriched the soil with humus to improve plant growth.
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.
C2 verb /ˈhæroʊ/

harrow

Meaning
to cause distress or torment; also to break up and smooth soil with a farm tool
Example
The tragic news harrowed the entire family.
C1 noun /ˈhɪpnətɪzəm/

hypnotism

Meaning
The practice or act of inducing hypnosis.
Example
He studied hypnotism as part of his psychology degree.
C1 adjective /ˌhaɪ.drəˈpɒn.ɪk/

hydroponic

Meaning
Relating to the process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, with added nutrients but without soil.
Example
Hydroponic farming allows crops to grow without soil.
C2 noun /ˈhæbɪtənt/

habitant

Meaning
An inhabitant; a person or animal that lives in a particular place.
Example
The habitants of the village were friendly and welcoming.
B1 noun /ˈhɛdˌlaɪn/

headline

Meaning
The title of a newspaper article printed in large letters.
Example
The scandal made front-page headlines.
B2 adjective /ˈhoʊm.sɪk/

Homesick

Meaning
experiencing a longing for one's home during a period of absence from it; missing home
Example
After three months studying abroad, Maria felt increasingly homesick for her family.
B2 adjective /ˈhɜː.bəl/

herbal

Meaning
Made from or containing herbs, especially for medicinal purposes.
Example
Herbal remedies were widely used here.
C1 adjective /hɜːrˈbɪv.ər.əs/

Herbivorous

Meaning
feeding on plants; plant-eating
Example
Cows are herbivorous animals that graze on grass.
A2 adjective /hjuːdʒ/

huge

Meaning
extremely large in size or amount
Example
The stadium was filled with a huge crowd.
C1 adjective /ˈhɛdˌstrɔŋ/

headstrong

Meaning
Determined to do what one wants, even if it is not sensible.
Example
The headstrong child refused to listen to anyone.
C2 noun /ˈhɒthɛd/

hothead

Meaning
a person who acts quickly and without thinking when angry
Example
He is such a hothead that he often starts arguments.
B2 noun /haɪˈiː.nə/

Hyena

Meaning
a wild animal of Africa and Asia that looks like a dog and makes a sound like laughter
Example
The hyena laughed in the darkness of the night.
B2 adjective ˈhæzədəs

hazardous

Meaning
Dangerous, risky, or potentially harmful
Example
Hazardous pollutants increase health risks.
B1 adjective /ˈhoʊpfəl/

Hopeful

Meaning
feeling or inspiring optimism about a future event; confident; optimistic
Example
He remained hopeful despite the challenges.
B1 verb /hʊk/

hook

Meaning
to catch with a hook; to fasten
Example
He hooked the fish successfully.
B2 noun, verb /ˈhɑːrbər/

harbor

Meaning
noun: a place on the coast where ships may find shelter; verb: to keep (a thought or feeling, often negative) in one's mind
Example
He continued to harbor resentment towards his former boss.
C2 noun /ˈhaɪdrə/

hydra

Meaning
a many-headed serpent in Greek mythology; a problem that seems to grow worse when attempts are made to solve it
Example
Corruption is like a hydra, hard to defeat completely.
B2 adjective /ˈɒnərəbəl/

honourable

Meaning
deserving respect or admiration because of moral integrity; showing honesty and fairness
Example
She is known as an honourable leader who always keeps her promises.
C1 adjective /ˌhæpi ɡoʊ ˈlʌki/

happy-go-lucky

Meaning
cheerfully unconcerned about the future; carefree
Example
She has a happy-go-lucky attitude and never worries about tomorrow.
C2 noun /ˈhæŋ.kər.ɪŋ/

hankering

Meaning
a strong desire or craving for something.
Example
She had a hankering for chocolate late at night.
A2 noun /ˈhɛlɪˌkɒptər/

helicopter

Meaning
an aircraft with rotating blades that can take off and land vertically
Example
The helicopter landed safely on the hospital roof.
C1 verb /ˈhæmpər/

hamper

Meaning
to hinder or impede the movement or progress of
Example
The heavy rain hampered our travel plans.
A1 interjection /həˈloʊ/

hello

Meaning
a greeting or expression used when meeting someone or starting a conversation
Example
She answered the phone with a cheerful hello.
C2 adjective /ˈhɜːrsuːt/

hirsute

Meaning
Having a lot of hair, especially in an unusual place.
Example
The hirsute man stood out in the crowd with his long beard.
C2 noun /ˈhɜːrmɪtɪdʒ/

hermitage

Meaning
A secluded residence or retreat, often for a hermit or religious recluse.
Example
The monk spent years in a hermitage deep in the forest.
C1 adjective /həˈbɪtʃuəl/

habitual

Meaning
Done or doing constantly or as a habit; customary.
Example
He was a habitual latecomer to class.
C2 adjective/noun /ˌhaɪərəˈɡlɪfɪk/

hieroglyphic

Meaning
Relating to or written in hieroglyphs; symbols or writing that is difficult to understand.
Example
The archaeologists studied the hieroglyphic inscriptions carefully.
B2 noun /ˌhɑː.spɪˈtæl.ə.ti/

Hospitality

Meaning
the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests or strangers
Example
The hotel staff's exceptional hospitality made our vacation truly memorable and enjoyable.
B2 noun /ˈhaɪdrədʒən/

hydrogen

Meaning
a colorless, odorless, highly flammable gas that is the lightest and most abundant chemical element in the universe
Example
Hydrogen is used as a clean fuel in many energy systems.
B1 adjective /ˈhæn.səm/

handsome

Meaning
attractive in appearance, usually referring to men; also can mean generous or impressive in size.
Example
He looked very handsome in his new suit.
B2 noun hɛdʒ

hedge

Meaning
A way of protecting oneself against financial loss or other adverse circumstances.
Example
Investors use hedging strategies to protect against market volatility.
A1 interjection /hɑː/

ha

Meaning
used to express amusement, surprise, or triumph
Example
Ha! I knew you couldn’t resist joining us.
C2 noun /ˈhɛptɑːrki/

heptarchy

Meaning
A group of seven rulers or governments, especially the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in early England.
Example
The history book described the heptarchy of Anglo-Saxon England.
A1 noun, numeral /ˈhʌndrəd/

hundred

Meaning
the number 100
Example
There are a hundred students in the hall.
C2 adjective /ˌhɪstriˈɒnɪk/

histrionic

Meaning
Overly dramatic or theatrical in behavior or style.
Example
Her histrionic reaction to the small problem surprised everyone.
C1 adjective /həˈred.ɪ.ter.i/

Hereditary

Meaning
passed down through family genes; inherited from ancestors
Example
The hereditary disease was passed down through generations.
C1 adjective /ˈheɪ.zi/

Hazy

Meaning
covered with haze; unclear or vague; lacking clarity
Example
The mountain tops were hazy in the morning mist.
B1 adverb /ˌhæfˈweɪ/

halfway

Meaning
at or to a point equal in distance between two points
Example
We met halfway between the two towns.
C2 noun /ˌhæŋ.ər ˈɒn/

hanger-on

Meaning
a person who spends time with a powerful or famous person to gain benefits.
Example
The celebrity was always surrounded by hangers-on.
C1 noun /ˈhɛrəsi/

heresy

Meaning
belief or opinion that goes against established religious doctrine or accepted beliefs.
Example
In medieval times, heresy was often punished severely.
C1 noun/verb /ˈhɛmərɪdʒ/

hemorrhage

Meaning
A significant loss of blood from a ruptured blood vessel, or to lose blood heavily.
Example
The patient suffered a severe brain hemorrhage.
C2 noun /hæˈʃiːʃ/

hashish

Meaning
a drug made from the resin of the cannabis plant
Example
The police arrested him for possessing hashish.
C1 adjective /ˈhɔː.ti/

Haughty

Meaning
arrogantly superior and disdainful; showing excessive pride
Example
She gave him a haughty look and walked away.
C2 noun /hɪˈdʒɛməni/ or /ˈhɛdʒəmoʊni/

hegemony

Meaning
leadership or dominance, especially by one state or group over others
Example
The empire maintained its hegemony over neighboring states.
A1 noun /ˈhɒlɪdeɪ/

holiday

Meaning
A day of celebration or rest when most people do not work.
Example
We are planning a trip during the summer holiday.
C1 noun /hɒˈstɪləti/

hostility

Meaning
hostile behavior; unfriendliness or opposition
Example
The negotiations ended in an atmosphere of hostility.
C2 adjective /ˈhæŋ.dɔːɡ/

hangdog

Meaning
looking or feeling ashamed, guilty, or defeated.
Example
He gave me a hangdog look after being caught lying.
C1 noun /həˌluː.sɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Hallucination

Meaning
an experience involving the apparent perception of something not present; a false or distorted perception
Example
The patient experienced visual hallucinations as a side effect of the medication.
C2 adjective /ˈhæriːd/

harried

Meaning
feeling strained or stressed due to being overworked or constantly bothered
Example
The harried teacher struggled to calm the noisy classroom.
B2 adjective /ˈhevənli/

Heavenly

Meaning
relating to heaven; extremely pleasant or beautiful
Example
The chocolate cake had a heavenly taste that melted in my mouth.
A1 adjective /ˈhæpi/

happy

Meaning
feeling or showing pleasure, contentment, or joy
Example
She was very happy to receive the gift.
B2 adjective /hɪˈstɛrɪkəl/

hysterical

Meaning
Extremely funny or uncontrollably emotional.
Example
The comedian's jokes were absolutely hysterical.
C2 noun /haɪnd/

Hind

Meaning
a female deer, especially a red deer
Example
The hind protected her fawn from predators.
C1 adverb/noun /ˌhɪərˈæftər/

hereafter

Meaning
from now on; in the future; also refers to life after death.
Example
Hereafter, all reports must be submitted electronically.
C1 noun /ˈhaɪ.drəʊˌpaʊər ˌdʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

hydropower generation

Meaning
The production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water.
Example
Hydropower generation promotes green energy.
C2 adjective /ˈhiːðənɪʃ/

heathenish

Meaning
Lacking culture or religion; barbaric or uncivilized.
Example
They considered the ancient tribe’s rituals heathenish.
B2 noun /ˈhɑːr.mə.ni/

harmony

Meaning
A pleasing combination of different elements or a state of peaceful coexistence.
Example
A society thrives when there is harmony among its people.
C2 adjective /ˌhɑːrdˈbɪtn̩/

hard-bitten

Meaning
tough and experienced, not easily affected by emotions or hardship
Example
The hard-bitten detective showed no sign of surprise at the crime scene.
B1 adverb /ˈhaɪli/

highly

Meaning
to a great degree; very
Example
She is highly respected in her field.
C2 adjective /heɪl/

hale

Meaning
strong and healthy, especially of an elderly person
Example
Despite his age, the man remained hale and active.
B2 adjective /hoʊˈlɪs.tɪk/

holistic

Meaning
Understanding or analyzing something through a comprehensive, integrated whole perspective.
Example
A holistic approach to health considers both body and mind.
C2 adjective /ˈhʌski/

husky

Meaning
deep, rough, and slightly hoarse voice; also refers to a strong and sturdy build
Example
He spoke in a husky voice after shouting all day.
B1 verb /ˈhɛdɪŋ/

heading

Meaning
Moving in a particular direction.
Example
The ship is heading toward Antarctica.
C1 noun /haɪˈpɜːrbəli/

hyperbole

Meaning
Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Example
Saying he could run a thousand miles in a day is pure hyperbole.
C1 noun /ˌhɑːmənaɪˈzeɪʃən/

harmonization

Meaning
The process of making things compatible or consistent with one another.
Example
The harmonization of different policies ensures consistent results.
C1 noun /huːf/

Hoof

Meaning
the hard part covering the foot of horses, cattle, sheep, and other animals
Example
The horse's hoof was injured after stepping on a sharp rock.
B2 adjective /ˈhɑːrtˌbreɪkɪŋ/

Heartbreaking

Meaning
causing overwhelming distress; very sad or disappointing
Example
The documentary showed heartbreaking scenes of children in poverty.
B2 adverb /hɛns/

hence

Meaning
for this reason; as a result
Example
She was the best candidate, hence she was chosen for the job.
A2 verb /ˈhɜːri/

hurry

Meaning
to move or act with great speed; to rush
Example
We need to hurry or we'll be late.
C1 noun /ˈɛər.luːm/

heirloom

Meaning
a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations
Example
The ring is a family heirloom passed down from her grandmother.
B2 noun /ˈhaʊs boʊt/

House boat

Meaning
a boat that has been designed or modified to be used primarily as a home
Example
They spent their vacation on a beautiful house boat in the lake.
B2 noun/verb /hɜːrd/

herd

Meaning
a large group of animals of the same type that live and feed together; or to gather animals into a group.
Example
The shepherd herded the sheep into the pen.
C2 noun /hɜːrs/

Hearse

Meaning
a vehicle for conveying the coffin at a funeral; a funeral car
Example
The black hearse slowly made its way to the cemetery, followed by a procession of mourners.
C1 adjective /ˈhæloʊd/

hallowed

Meaning
regarded as holy or greatly respected
Example
They walked across the hallowed halls of the old university.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːrn.bɪl/

Hornbill

Meaning
a large tropical bird with a large curved beak and often a horn-like projection
Example
The colorful hornbill perched on the highest branch.
C1 noun /ˈherən/

Heron

Meaning
large wading bird with long legs and neck that feeds on fish
Example
The heron stood motionless by the water's edge, waiting for fish.
B2 noun /hoʊm ˈdɪstrɪkt/

home district

Meaning
the district where a person was born or originally comes from
Example
He returned to his home district after many years abroad.
C2 adjective /ˈhɛtərəˌdɒks/

heterodox

Meaning
not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs
Example
The professor was known for his heterodox views on religion.
B2 noun /hʌm/

Hum

Meaning
a low continuous sound; to make a low continuous droning sound
Example
The constant hum of the air conditioner helped her fall asleep peacefully.
C2 noun /ˈhaɪərəˌɡlɪf/

hieroglyph

Meaning
A picture or symbol used in ancient writing systems, especially Egyptian writing.
Example
The walls of the temple were covered in hieroglyphs.
C2 noun, verb /ˈhæmstrɪŋ/

hamstring

Meaning
a tendon at the back of the thigh; as a verb, to cripple or severely restrict the effectiveness of someone or something.
Example
Budget cuts hamstrung the organization’s plans.
A1 pronoun /hɪm/

him

Meaning
Used to refer to a male person or animal already mentioned.
Example
I saw him at the park yesterday.
B2 noun /həˈraɪ.zən/

horizon

Meaning
the line where the earth seems to meet the sky; the limit of one's knowledge, experience, or interest
Example
The sun disappeared below the horizon.
B2 noun /hɔːk/

Hawk

Meaning
a bird of prey with broad wings and strong talons used for hunting
Example
The hawk soared high above the field hunting for prey.
C2 noun /ˈhɑːr.bɪn.dʒər/

Harbinger

Meaning
a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; a forerunner of something
Example
The first robin of spring is often considered a harbinger of warmer weather to come.
C1 noun /ˈhɑː.mə.nɪm/

homonym

Meaning
A word that is spelled and pronounced like another word but has a different meaning.
Example
The word 'bat' is a homonym because it can mean an animal or a sports tool.
C2 noun /hɜːrˈbɛəriəm/

herbarium

Meaning
A collection of preserved plant specimens and associated data used for scientific study.
Example
The university maintains a large herbarium for research and education.
C2 noun /hɑrˈmoʊniəm/

Harmonium

Meaning
a keyboard musical instrument similar to an organ, using air to produce sound
Example
She played devotional songs on the harmonium at the temple.
C2 noun /ˈhɑːdɪhʊd/

hardihood

Meaning
Courage, boldness, or daring behavior; also physical robustness.
Example
The mountaineer's hardihood impressed the entire team.
B1 verb /hiːl/

heal

Meaning
to cure; to become healthy again
Example
Time will heal all wounds.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːtɪnəs/

haughtiness

Meaning
The appearance or quality of being arrogantly superior and disdainful.
Example
His haughtiness made him unpopular among his peers.
A1 pronoun /hɜːr/

her

Meaning
used to refer to a female person or animal already mentioned or easily identified
Example
I saw her at the park yesterday.
A2 verb /hʌnt/

hunt

Meaning
to chase and kill wild animals; to search for something
Example
The tigers hunt their prey at night.
B2 adjective /hɑːrʃ/

Harsh

Meaning
unpleasantly hard or rough in texture; cruel or severe
Example
The teacher gave harsh criticism about my work.
B2 adjective /ˈhɑːrmləs/

Harmless

Meaning
not able or likely to cause harm; innocent; safe
Example
The snake looks dangerous but it's actually harmless.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːzər/

hawser

Meaning
A thick rope or cable used in mooring or towing a ship.
Example
The sailors secured the ship to the dock with a heavy hawser.
C1 adjective /ˈhɑːrdi/

hardy

Meaning
Strong, robust, and capable of enduring difficult conditions.
Example
Hardy plants can survive the harsh winter.
C2 adjective /hɪk/

Hick

Meaning
unsophisticated person from a rural area; country bumpkin
Example
He had a hick accent from growing up in a small town.
C2 noun /ˈhʌvəl/

hovel

Meaning
a small, poorly built, and dirty house
Example
The refugees lived in a makeshift hovel.
B2 noun /həˈraɪ.zənz/

horizons

Meaning
The limit of a person's mental perception, experience, or interest.
Example
The telescope opens new horizons for astronomy.
B1 noun /ˈhjuː.mər/

humor

Meaning
The quality of being amusing or entertaining.
Example
His sense of humor always lightens the mood.