hone
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C1 verb /hoʊn/

hone

Meaning
To sharpen a blade or to improve a skill through practice.
Example
She honed her presentation skills before the big meeting.
C2 verb /haɪˈpɒθɪkeɪt/

hypothecate

Meaning
to pledge something, such as property, as security for a debt without giving up possession of it.
Example
The company hypothecated its assets to secure the loan.
A1 verb /hoʊld/

hold

Meaning
to grasp or carry something; to maintain a position
Example
Please hold my hand.
C1 verb /hɔːrd/

hoard

Meaning
to accumulate and hide away a large supply of something, often secretly
Example
During the crisis, many people began to hoard food and water.
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.
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 noun /ˈhɪntərlænd/

hinterland

Meaning
The remote or less developed areas away from the coast or a city.
Example
The farmers came from the rural hinterland to sell their produce in the city.
A1 adverb /hɪr/

here

Meaning
in, at, or to this place
Example
Please come here quickly.
A1 adjective /ˈhʌŋɡri/

Hungry

Meaning
feeling the need for food; having a strong desire or craving
Example
I am very hungry after working all day.
C2 verb /həˈbɪtʃuˌeɪt/

habituate

Meaning
to make someone accustomed to something
Example
The monks habituated themselves to meditation.
C2 adjective /ˈhæŋ.dɔːɡ/

hangdog

Meaning
looking or feeling ashamed, guilty, or defeated.
Example
He gave me a hangdog look after being caught lying.
B1 noun /ˈhæŋ.kər.tʃɪf/

Handkerchief

Meaning
a small piece of cloth used for wiping the nose or face
Example
She always carries a clean handkerchief in her purse.
B2 adverb /hɪˈstɒrɪkli/

historically

Meaning
in a way that relates to history or past events
Example
Historically, this city was a major trade center.
B2 adjective ˈhæzədəs

hazardous

Meaning
Dangerous, risky, or potentially harmful
Example
Hazardous pollutants increase health risks.
A2 adjective /ˈɑːnɪst/

honest

Meaning
free of deceit and untruthfulness; sincere
Example
She is known as an honest and trustworthy person.
C1 adjective /ˈhɔː.ti/

Haughty

Meaning
arrogantly superior and disdainful; showing excessive pride
Example
She gave him a haughty look and walked away.
B1 noun ˌhjuː.mən ˈraɪts

human rights

Meaning
A right that is believed to belong justifiably to every person.
Example
Human rights protect individual freedoms.
A2 pronoun /hɪmˈself/

himself

Meaning
Used to emphasize that a male person does something by his own effort.
Example
He fixed the car himself.
C2 noun /ˈhɛʃ.ən/

Hessian

Meaning
a strong coarse fabric made from jute or hemp, used for sacks and wrapping
Example
The farmer stored grain in hessian sacks.
B1 adjective /ˈhoʊpləs/

Hopeless

Meaning
feeling or causing despair about something; without hope; desperate
Example
The situation seemed hopeless until help arrived.
B2 verb /ˈhʌvər/

hover

Meaning
to remain in the air in one place without moving forward or backward
Example
The helicopter hovered over the city.
C2 noun /hoʊ/

Hoe

Meaning
a gardening tool with a thin metal blade used for breaking up soil and removing weeds
Example
The farmer used a hoe to remove weeds from his vegetable garden.
C1 noun /ˈhæm.lət/

Hamlet

Meaning
a small rural settlement, smaller than a village; a small community
Example
The tiny hamlet nestled in the valley had only a dozen houses and one small church.
C1 adjective /həˈmɑː.dʒə.nəs/

homogenous

Meaning
Similar or uniform in nature; often used interchangeably with 'homogeneous'.
Example
The class was made up of a homogenous group of students.
A2 verb /hʌɡ/

hug

Meaning
to hold someone tightly in your arms to show affection or comfort
Example
She hugged her friend before leaving for the airport.
B2 verb /hætʃ/

hatch

Meaning
to emerge from an egg; to devise or create a plan
Example
The bird will hatch from its egg soon.
C1 noun /ˈhæŋ.ər/

Hangar

Meaning
a large building with extensive floor area, typically for housing aircraft; an aircraft shelter
Example
The airplane was stored safely in the hangar during the severe thunderstorm.
B1 noun /ˈhɔːlweɪ/

hallway

Meaning
a corridor in a building that connects rooms
Example
The kids left their shoes in the hallway.
B1 noun hoʊm əˈplaɪ.ənsɪz

home appliances

Meaning
Electrical devices and machines used in households for daily tasks and convenience.
Example
Modern home appliances enhance convenience.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪd.baʊnd/

hidebound

Meaning
unwilling or unable to change because of tradition or convention
Example
He is too hidebound to accept new ideas.
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 /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.
B1 noun /ˈhɪr.ɪŋ/

Hearing

Meaning
the faculty of perceiving sounds; a session in which testimony and arguments are heard
Example
The elderly man's hearing had deteriorated, so he needed to wear a hearing aid.
C1 noun ˌhaɪ.droʊˈpɒn.ɪks

hydroponics

Meaning
Growing plants using nutrient-rich water instead of soil.
Example
Hydroponics allows crops to grow without soil.
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.
C2 adjective /ˈhæm ˌhændɪd/

ham-handed

Meaning
clumsy or inept in handling things or situations
Example
His ham-handed attempt to fix the computer made it worse.
C1 adjective /hɪpˈnɒtɪk/

hypnotic

Meaning
Producing sleep or a trance-like state; mesmerizing.
Example
The music had a hypnotic effect on the audience.
A1 verb /hoʊp/

hope

Meaning
to expect and desire that something will happen
Example
I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.
A2 noun /ˈhæb.ɪt/

habit

Meaning
A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.
Example
Eye rubbing is a harmful habit.
C2 noun /ˈhɒdʒ.pɒdʒ/

hodgepodge

Meaning
A confusing mixture of different things; a jumble.
Example
The essay was a hodgepodge of unrelated ideas.
A2 noun /hɑːrt/

Heart

Meaning
the organ in the chest that pumps blood through the body; the center of emotions and feelings
Example
The doctor listened to my heart with a stethoscope.
C2 adjective /haɪˈbɜːrnəl/

hibernal

Meaning
Relating to or occurring in winter.
Example
The hibernal season is often harsh in the mountains.
C2 noun /ˌhoʊmə.dʒəˈniːəti/

homogeneity

Meaning
The quality or state of being all the same or all of the same kind.
Example
The cultural homogeneity of the village made it feel unified.
A2 verb /hæŋ/

hang

Meaning
to suspend or be suspended from above; to attach from a higher point
Example
I hang my coat on the hook.
B2 noun /ˈhæb.ɪ.tæt/

habitat

Meaning
The natural environment where an organism lives and meets its needs.
Example
The polar bear's natural habitat is the Arctic region.
C2 noun /ˈhaʊsˌbreɪkɪŋ/

housebreaking

Meaning
the crime of breaking into a house with intent to steal
Example
The thief was arrested for housebreaking.
B2 noun /heɪl/

Hail

Meaning
pellets of frozen rain that fall in showers from cumulonimbus clouds; a greeting or acclaim
Example
The sudden hailstorm damaged many cars in the parking lot with large ice pellets.
C2 adjective/noun /haɪˈbɜːrniən/

hibernian

Meaning
Relating to Ireland or the Irish.
Example
He enjoyed reading about Hibernian culture and history.
C2 verb /ˈhæri/

harry

Meaning
to constantly attack, harass, or annoy
Example
The army harried the enemy with sudden raids.
C1 verb /ˈhaɪdʒæk/

hijack

Meaning
to take control of a vehicle or situation illegally or by force
Example
The criminals attempted to hijack the airplane.
C1 adverb /ˈhʌŋ.ɡrə.li/

Hungrily

Meaning
in a way that shows hunger; greedily; eagerly
Example
The dog ate hungrily after not eating for hours.
B1 noun /ˈhɛlθˌkɛər/

health-care

Meaning
the organized provision of medical services to maintain or improve health
Example
Access to quality health-care is essential for every citizen.
A2 noun /ˈhɒki/

hockey

Meaning
a sport played with sticks and a ball or puck on ice or a field
Example
He plays hockey for the national team.
B2 adjective /ˈhoʊmli/

Homely

Meaning
simple and comfortable; unpretentious; plain in appearance; cozy and familiar
Example
She enjoyed the homely atmosphere of the small café.
A2 adverb /ˈhæpɪli/

happily

Meaning
in a happy manner; with pleasure or satisfaction
Example
The children played happily in the garden.
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.
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.
A1 interjection /heɪ/

hey

Meaning
used to attract attention, express surprise, or greet someone
Example
Hey, how are you doing today?
C1 adjective /ˈhæk.nid/

hackneyed

Meaning
Used too often and therefore lacking originality or freshness.
Example
The speech was filled with hackneyed phrases that failed to inspire the audience.
A2 verb /heɪt/

hate

Meaning
to feel intense dislike or aversion for someone or something
Example
I hate waiting in long lines.
C1 noun /hɒˈstɪləti/

hostility

Meaning
hostile behavior; unfriendliness or opposition
Example
The negotiations ended in an atmosphere of hostility.
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.
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.
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 adjective /ˈhɪd.ən/

Hidden

Meaning
concealed from view; kept secret; not visible or apparent
Example
There was a hidden camera in the room.
C2 adjective /ˈhɔːri/

hoary

Meaning
gray or white with age; very old and respected
Example
The hoary oak tree stood as a witness to centuries of history.
C2 noun /ˌhjuː.mɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

humification

Meaning
The process of organic matter decomposition to form humus in soil.
Example
Humification enhances soil structure and fertility.
A2 adjective /ˈhevi/

Heavy

Meaning
having great weight; intense or severe
Example
The heavy suitcase was difficult to carry up the stairs.
C2 noun /ˈhʌstɪŋz/

hustings

Meaning
the political campaigning and speeches before an election
Example
The candidate gained popularity during the hustings.
B2 adjective /hɑːrˈmoʊ.ni.əs/

harmonious

Meaning
Characterized by agreement or concord; forming a pleasing or consistent whole.
Example
A harmonious work environment boosts productivity.
C2 noun /ˌɒnəˈreəriəm/

honorarium

Meaning
A payment given for professional services that are rendered without a fee.
Example
The guest lecturer received an honorarium for her talk.
C2 noun /ˈhoʊʒəri/

hosiery

Meaning
Stockings, socks, and other knitted clothing for the legs and feet.
Example
She bought new hosiery for the winter season.
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.
A1 noun /hoʊˈtɛl/

hotel

Meaning
A building where people pay to stay and sleep, usually for short periods.
Example
We stayed at a hotel near the beach.
C2 noun /ˈhæbɪtjuːd/

habitude

Meaning
a customary condition or mode of life; habitual practice
Example
He lived in a quiet habitude, avoiding the noise of the city.
C1 noun /ˈhiːdəˌnɪzəm/

hedonism

Meaning
The pursuit of pleasure and self-indulgence as the highest goal.
Example
The lifestyle of the rich is often criticized as pure hedonism.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdroʊdaɪˈnæmɪks/

hydrodynamics

Meaning
The branch of science concerned with the motion of fluids, especially liquids, and the forces acting on solid bodies immersed in fluids.
Example
Hydrodynamics is essential in designing efficient ship hulls.
C2 adjective /ˈhed.i/

Heady

Meaning
having a strong or exhilarating effect; intoxicating; exciting
Example
The heady perfume of jasmine filled the garden.
C2 verb /hjuː/

hew

Meaning
To chop or cut something, especially wood or stone, with a tool.
Example
The workers hewed logs to build the cabin.
C2 noun ˈhɑːrbərɪdʒ

harborage

Meaning
A place of shelter or refuge for pests or animals.
Example
Pests need a harborage site to survive and breed.
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.
A2 noun /ˈhɑː.bi/

Hobby

Meaning
an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure; a pastime or recreation
Example
Photography became her favorite hobby after she received a camera for her birthday.
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.
A1 verb /hæv/

have

Meaning
to possess, own, or hold
Example
They have three children.
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.
C2 noun /ˌhoʊ.mi.oʊˈsteɪ.sɪs/

homeostasis

Meaning
The tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes.
Example
The human body maintains homeostasis through temperature regulation.
C1 adjective ˌhaɪ.pəˈθet.ɪ.kəl

hypothetical

Meaning
Based on or serving as a hypothesis; supposed but not necessarily real or true.
Example
The discussion was based on hypothetical scenarios.
B2 noun /heɪst/

Haste

Meaning
swiftness of motion; urgent need of quick action; excessive speed or urgency
Example
In his haste to catch the train, he forgot to take his wallet from the table.
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.
A1 noun /ˈhɒs.pɪ.təl/

hospital

Meaning
an institution where sick or injured people are given medical treatment
Example
He was taken to the hospital after the accident.
C2 adjective /ˈhiːðənɪʃ/

heathenish

Meaning
Lacking culture or religion; barbaric or uncivilized.
Example
They considered the ancient tribe’s rituals heathenish.
C1 noun /hɑːrp/

Harp

Meaning
a large triangular musical instrument with strings that are plucked
Example
The angel played a beautiful melody on the harp.
B2 noun ˈhoʊmˌskuː.lɪŋ

homeschooling

Meaning
The practice of educating children at home rather than sending them to a school.
Example
Homeschooling allows parents to tailor education to their child's needs.
C1 adjective /ˌhɑːrdˈhɑːrtɪd/

hard-hearted

Meaning
showing no kindness or sympathy; cruel
Example
The landlord was hard-hearted and refused to help the poor family.
C2 noun /ˈhʌmbʌɡ/

humbug

Meaning
Deceptive or false talk or behavior; nonsense.
Example
He dismissed the idea as humbug.
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 noun /ˈhɔːrs.liːt͡ʃ/

Horse-leach

Meaning
a large species of leech that was traditionally used in veterinary medicine
Example
The veterinarian explained that horse-leach was once commonly used to treat horses.
B1 verb /haɪər/

hire

Meaning
to employ someone for wages; to rent or engage services
Example
The company will hire new employees next month.
C1 verb /hiːd/

heed

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

Hassle

Meaning
irritating inconvenience; trouble or difficulty; a situation causing problems
Example
Booking tickets online can save you the hassle of waiting in long queues at the theater.
C2 noun /ˈhʌvəl/

hovel

Meaning
a small, poorly built, and dirty house
Example
The refugees lived in a makeshift hovel.
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.
C1 noun /ˈhɜːrbɪsaɪd/

herbicide

Meaning
A chemical substance used to kill unwanted plants, especially weeds.
Example
Farmers used herbicide to protect their crops from invasive weeds.
A2 noun /ˈhʌni/

Honey

Meaning
a sweet, sticky substance made by bees from flower nectar
Example
I like to add honey to my tea.
C1 noun /ˈhɒl.ə.kɔːst/

holocaust

Meaning
A large-scale destruction, especially by fire; historically, the genocide of Jews during World War II.
Example
Millions of people perished during the Holocaust.
B1 adjective /ˈhoʊmləs/

homeless

Meaning
Without a home, and therefore typically living on the streets.
Example
The organization helps homeless people find shelter.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪˌbraʊ/

highbrow

Meaning
intellectually superior or cultured; often describing art, literature, or activities appealing to intellectual tastes
Example
The museum is known for its highbrow exhibitions.
B1 adjective hɪˈstɔːrɪk

historic

Meaning
Famous or significant in history, or potentially so.
Example
Victory Day is a historic moment for Bangladesh.
C1 verb /ˈhɔːrɪfaɪ/

horrify

Meaning
to fill with horror; to shock or disgust greatly
Example
The violent scene horrified the audience.
B1 noun /hoʊst/

Host

Meaning
a person who receives or entertains other people as guests; a large number of things
Example
The gracious host welcomed all the guests with warm smiles and refreshments.
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.
C2 noun /ˌhɛtərəʤəˈniːɪti/

heterogeneity

Meaning
the quality or state of being diverse in character or content
Example
The cultural heterogeneity of the city makes it vibrant and unique.
C2 noun /ˈhɛdʒɪrə/ or /hɪˈdʒaɪrə/

hegira

Meaning
a journey, especially when undertaken to escape from a dangerous or undesirable situation
Example
The refugees began their hegira across the desert.
C1 adjective /ˌhɛtərəˈʤiːniəs/

heterogeneous

Meaning
consisting of different kinds or diverse elements
Example
The classroom was filled with a heterogeneous group of students.
C1 noun /hʌl/

hull

Meaning
The outer covering of a seed or fruit; also the main body of a ship.
Example
The sailors inspected the ship’s hull for any damage.
C1 noun /hɪpˈnoʊsɪs/

hypnosis

Meaning
A trance-like state of consciousness usually induced by suggestion.
Example
She underwent hypnosis to overcome her fear of flying.
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.
C2 adjective /ˈhɔːrtətɪv/

hortative

Meaning
Giving strong encouragement or urging.
Example
The teacher gave a hortative speech to motivate the students before the exam.
C2 verb /həˈræŋ/

harangue

Meaning
to deliver a long, passionate, and often angry speech
Example
The politician harangued the crowd for over an hour.