Star Anise
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
C1 noun /stɑːr ˈæn.ɪs/

Star Anise

Meaning
star-shaped spice pod with a licorice-like flavor used in cooking
Example
She added star anise to the soup for aromatic flavor.
B1 noun /tʃɪn/

Chin

Meaning
the protruding part of the face below the mouth, formed by the apex of the lower jaw
Example
He stroked his beard thoughtfully, resting his hand on his chin.
B2 noun /ˈsɜːr.plʌs/

surplus

Meaning
An amount that is more than what is needed.
Example
The country has a surplus of food this year.
C1 noun /ˈem.ɪ.nəns/

Eminence

Meaning
fame or recognized superiority; high rank or status
Example
The professor achieved eminence in the field of quantum physics.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsˈruːl/

misrule

Meaning
bad or poor governance
Example
The kingdom suffered for decades under misrule.
B1 verb /kəmˈbaɪn/

combine

Meaning
To bring two or more things together to form a single unit.
Example
They decided to combine their resources for the project.
A2 noun ˈɡrænˌpɛrənts

Grandparents

Meaning
The parents of one's father or mother.
Example
Grandparents are an important part of the family tree.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪt.ləs/

Witless

Meaning
lacking intelligence or wisdom; foolish
Example
His witless remarks during the meeting embarrassed everyone present.
A2 verb /bɜːrn/

burn

Meaning
to be on fire; to damage with fire or heat
Example
The candle will burn for several hours.
C2 noun /pɛlf/

pelf

Meaning
Money, especially when gained dishonorably.
Example
The corrupt official was motivated only by pelf.
C1 noun /ˈfaɪər.wɔːl/

firewall

Meaning
A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.
Example
A firewall protects networks from cyber-attacks.
B1 noun /ʃrɪmp/

Shrimp

Meaning
a small marine crustacean with a slender body and long legs
Example
We ordered grilled shrimp with garlic butter for dinner.
C1 noun /sɪˈkriː.ʃən/

Secretion

Meaning
a process by which substances are produced and discharged from a cell or gland
Example
Insulin secretion is crucial for blood sugar regulation.
C2 noun /ˈkaɪrəˌmænsi/

chiromancy

Meaning
The practice of predicting the future by interpreting the lines on the palms of hands; palmistry.
Example
The old woman practiced chiromancy and told fortunes for travelers.
B2 adjective, noun /ˈɛəriəl/

aerial

Meaning
As an adjective: existing or happening in the air. As a noun: an antenna for receiving radio or television signals.
Example
The pilot performed an amazing aerial maneuver.
A2 verb /ɪnˈkri:s/

increase

Meaning
to become or make something larger in amount, number, or degree
Example
The company plans to increase its production this year.
C1 noun /trentʃ/

Trench

Meaning
a long, narrow ditch; a deep furrow in the ground, especially one used for military defense
Example
The soldiers dug a trench for protection during the battle.
B2 verb əˈkwaɪər

acquire

Meaning
To gain or obtain something, especially knowledge or skills, through effort or experience.
Example
Volunteers acquire new skills through their experiences.
A1 pronoun /aʊər/

our

Meaning
belonging to or associated with the speaker and one or more other people
Example
This is our house.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrdʒər/

forger

Meaning
a person who makes fake documents, artworks, or signatures
Example
The police arrested a forger who had been selling counterfeit paintings.
A2 noun, verb /lɪŋk/

link

Meaning
a connection between two things; to connect or associate
Example
The article includes a link to the official website.
C2 verb /kəˈmɪz.ə.reɪt/

commiserate

Meaning
To express sympathy or compassion for someone's misfortune.
Example
She called her friend to commiserate after his loss.
C2 noun /ˌkɒntrəpəˈzɪʃən/

contraposition

Meaning
the act of placing two things in opposition for contrast or comparison
Example
The contraposition of the two theories highlighted their differences.
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.
B2 noun /ˈfræk.ʃən/

Fraction

Meaning
a numerical quantity that is not a whole number; a small or tiny part of something
Example
Only a small fraction of the population voted in the local election.
C2 noun /ˈneɪˌseɪ.ɪŋ/

naysaying

Meaning
The act of expressing negative or pessimistic views.
Example
His constant naysaying discouraged the team.
C1 noun /ˈsʌtlti/

subtlety

Meaning
The quality or state of being subtle.
Example
She understood the subtlety of the situation.
C1 noun /mɒb/

Mob

Meaning
a large crowd of people; a group that acts in a violent way
Example
An angry mob gathered outside the building.
C2 noun /ˈæbɪs/

abbess

Meaning
the woman in charge of a convent of nuns
Example
The abbess welcomed the visitors to the convent.
C1 noun /væt/

vat

Meaning
A large container used for holding liquids such as dye or wine.
Example
The workers filled the vat with freshly pressed grape juice.
C1 noun /ˈkætərækt/

cataract

Meaning
A medical condition causing clouding of the eye's lens; also a large waterfall.
Example
The old man suffered from cataracts in both eyes.
B2 noun /ˈdɛnɪmz/

denims

Meaning
pants or clothes made from denim fabric, usually jeans
Example
He wore blue denims with a white shirt.
A1 number /ˌfɪfˈtiːn/

fifteen

Meaning
the number 15
Example
There are fifteen students in the class.
B2 noun /plʌɡ/

plug

Meaning
a device used to connect or block an opening
Example
She inserted the plug into the socket.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈɪndʒərd/

uninjured

Meaning
Without injury; not physically harmed.
Example
All the passengers were rescued uninjured.
C2 adjective /ˈsuːpaɪn/

supine

Meaning
Lying on the back, face upward; failing to act due to laziness or weakness.
Example
He lay supine on the grass, staring at the stars.
C2 verb /ɛksˈproʊprieɪt/

expropriate

Meaning
To take property from its owner, especially by authority or for public use.
Example
The government decided to expropriate the land for a new highway.
B2 noun /dʒɜːm/

germ

Meaning
a microscopic organism, especially one that causes disease
Example
Washing your hands helps prevent the spread of germs.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈmænɪdʒəbəl/

Unmanageable

Meaning
difficult or impossible to control or handle
Example
The large class became unmanageable without proper supervision.
C2 verb /baɪd/

bide

Meaning
to wait patiently for the right time or opportunity
Example
He decided to bide his time before making a move.
A2 adjective /ɪˌlɛkˈtrɒnɪk/

electronic

Meaning
Operating with or produced by the use of electronic devices.
Example
She bought an electronic keyboard for her music lessons.
C2 verb /kənˈstrɪndʒ/

constringe

Meaning
to cause to shrink or contract; to constrict
Example
The medicine helped constringe the swollen tissues.
C1 noun /ˈstætʃər/

stature

Meaning
A person's natural height or their reputation and importance.
Example
Her intellectual stature made her a respected figure in academia.
B2 adjective /kəˈrɛspɒndɪŋ/

corresponding

Meaning
matching or related to something
Example
The corresponding page in the book explains the process in detail.
C1 noun /ˌsæl.jʊˈteɪ.ʃən/

Salutation

Meaning
a greeting; an expression of goodwill
Example
The letter began with a formal salutation.
B2 verb /ˈraɪpən/

ripen

Meaning
to become or make something ready to eat or fully developed
Example
The bananas ripened quickly in the warm weather.
A1 noun ˈmuːviz

movies

Meaning
A story or event recorded by a camera as a set of moving images and shown in a theater or on television.
Example
Watching movies helps in language learning.
B2 adjective dʒəˈnet.ɪk

genetic

Meaning
Relating to genes or heredity; concerning the transmission of inherited characteristics.
Example
Genetic traits influence physical characteristics.
C1 noun /ˌrɛpəˈreɪʃən/

reparation

Meaning
the making of amends for a wrong done by paying money or helping those who were wronged
Example
The government offered reparations to the victims of the conflict.
B2 noun /stjuːˈpɪdəti/

stupidity

Meaning
lack of intelligence or common sense
Example
His stupidity caused a lot of problems for the team.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈkɒnʃəsli/

unconsciously

Meaning
without being aware of one's actions or surroundings
Example
She unconsciously tapped her foot to the rhythm of the music.
C1 noun /ˈʃæpəroʊn/

chaperon

Meaning
An older person who accompanies and supervises young people in social situations.
Example
The teacher acted as a chaperon during the school dance.
C2 adjective hjʊˈrɪs.tɪk

heuristic

Meaning
Enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves; experimental learning approach.
Example
Teachers use heuristic techniques to encourage self-learning.
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.
A2 noun /ˈjuːnɪt/

unit

Meaning
an individual thing or person regarded as a single and complete entity
Example
Each unit in the production line is carefully tested.
B2 adjective /ˈhoʊl.səm/

Wholesome

Meaning
conducive to or promoting moral or physical well-being; healthy
Example
Eating wholesome food is important for good health.
C1 noun /mɒnˈtɑːʒ/

montage

Meaning
A sequence of film editing or a composite image made by combining several separate pictures.
Example
The film opened with a montage of city life.
C1 noun /moʊˈzeɪɪk/

mosaic

Meaning
A picture or pattern produced by arranging together small pieces of stone, tile, or glass.
Example
The church ceiling was decorated with a beautiful mosaic.
C1 adjective /ɪɡˈzɔːr.bɪ.tənt/

exorbitant

Meaning
Unreasonably high in price or cost; excessive.
Example
The hotel charged an exorbitant price for a basic room.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsˈnoʊmər/

misnomer

Meaning
A wrong or inaccurate name or designation.
Example
Calling the tiny dog a 'giant' is a misnomer.
B2 adjective /ˌnɒnˈprɒfɪt/

nonprofit

Meaning
an organization that does not aim to make a profit, often serving a social or charitable purpose.
Example
She works for a nonprofit organization that helps children.
C2 noun /ˈsʌfrədʒɪst/

suffragist

Meaning
a person advocating the extension of suffrage, especially to women
Example
The suffragists organized rallies to demand voting rights for women.
B2 verb /ˈrʌm.bəl/

rumble

Meaning
to make a continuous deep, resonant sound
Example
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
C2 adjective /ˈɜːrsaɪn/

ursine

Meaning
Relating to or resembling a bear.
Example
The man’s ursine strength amazed everyone.
C1 noun /ˌoʊvərprəˈdʌkʃən/

overproduction

Meaning
The act of producing more of something than is needed or can be consumed.
Example
The economic crisis was caused by the overproduction of goods.
B2 noun ˈbænd.wɪdθ

bandwidth

Meaning
A range of frequencies within a given band, in particular that used for transmitting a signal; the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time.
Example
Increasing bandwidth enhances internet speed.
B1 adjective /ˈkɒn.stənt/

Constant

Meaning
occurring continuously over a period of time; unchanging; steady
Example
The machine runs at a constant speed.
C1 adjective /pərˈpetʃuəl/

perpetual

Meaning
never-ending or continuous
Example
She lived in perpetual fear of being discovered.
A1 adjective /haɪ/

high

Meaning
At or to a great height; greater than normal in amount, degree, or intensity.
Example
The mountain peak is very high.
C2 adjective /ˌɪmpəˈmɪsəbl/

impermissible

Meaning
Not permitted or allowed.
Example
Such behavior is impermissible in the workplace.
C2 adjective /ˈkɔːpjʊlənt/

corpulent

Meaning
fat or obese; having a large bulky body
Example
The corpulent man struggled to fit into the small chair.
A2 verb /səˈpəʊz/

suppose

Meaning
to assume or believe something is true without proof
Example
I suppose she will be here soon.
C1 verb /dɔːnt/

daunt

Meaning
to make someone feel intimidated, discouraged, or less confident
Example
The steep climb did not daunt the experienced hikers.
C1 noun /kiː/

quay

Meaning
A platform lying alongside or projecting into water for loading and unloading ships.
Example
The cargo was unloaded at the quay.
C2 noun /ˌækwəˈpɒnɪks/

aquaponics

Meaning
A system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically.
Example
Aquaponics efficiently utilizes water by integrating fish and plant farming.
B2 noun /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/

accomplishment

Meaning
something that has been achieved successfully
Example
Graduating from university was a major accomplishment for him.
C1 noun /ˈroʊ.lɪŋ bɔːrd/

Rolling board

Meaning
a flat wooden or marble surface used for rolling out dough
Example
She placed the dough on the rolling board.
C1 noun /dɪˌnɒmɪˈneɪʃən/

denomination

Meaning
a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church; a unit of value or currency
Example
The church belongs to a Protestant denomination.
C1 verb /ˈprɒfəsaɪ/

prophesy

Meaning
to state or predict that something will happen in the future, especially as if divinely inspired
Example
The monk prophesied that peace would return to the land.
B2 adjective /ˈkeər.friː/

Carefree

Meaning
free from anxiety or responsibility; lighthearted; worry-free
Example
She lived a carefree life, traveling the world without any worries.
B1 verb /rɪˈvjuː/

review

Meaning
to examine or assess something again; to write a critical evaluation
Example
I need to review my notes before the exam.
C1 noun /rɑk sɔlt/

Rock Salt

Meaning
natural salt crystals formed from evaporated ancient seas; unrefined salt
Example
Rock salt is considered healthier than table salt.
C2 adjective /ˌhɛtərəʊˈmɔːrfɪk/

heteromorphic

Meaning
Having different forms or shapes, especially in the same species or organism.
Example
Butterflies are heteromorphic during their life cycle, changing forms from larva to adult.
C1 noun ˈsɪmbəlɪzəm

symbolism

Meaning
The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
Example
The use of symbolism in the novel is masterful.
B1 adverb /ˈbriːf.li/

Briefly

Meaning
in a short and clear way; for a short time
Example
Please explain the problem briefly.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈkwaɪ.ət/

Unquiet

Meaning
restless; unable to remain still or quiet; anxious or troubled
Example
She spent an unquiet night worrying about the exam results.
C1 noun (plural) /ˈhɪntərlændz/

hinterlands

Meaning
Plural of hinterland; remote or less developed regions.
Example
Explorers traveled deep into the hinterlands of the country.
B2 noun ɪnˈdev.ər

endeavor

Meaning
An attempt to achieve a goal; a serious determined effort.
Example
The endeavor to innovate space tourism is ambitious.
B2 verb /θraɪv/

thrive

Meaning
to grow, develop, or be successful
Example
Small businesses can thrive with proper support.
B1 noun /ˈwæɡən/

wagon

Meaning
a vehicle with four wheels used for carrying loads, often pulled by horses or a motor vehicle used for transporting goods or people
Example
The farmer loaded hay onto the wagon.
C1 adjective /rɪˈpʌɡ.nənt/

Repugnant

Meaning
extremely distasteful; unacceptable; causing disgust or strong dislike
Example
The idea of lying to his parents was repugnant to him.
C1 adjective /ˈbreɪzən/

brazen

Meaning
Bold and without shame; shameless.
Example
She made a brazen attempt to lie in front of everyone.
C1 noun /ˈsɔːjər/

Sawyer

Meaning
a person who saws wood, especially as an occupation
Example
The skilled sawyer cut the logs into planks.
C2 noun /mɪˌsɛdʒəˈneɪʃən/

miscegenation

Meaning
the interbreeding of people considered to be of different racial types
Example
The law once prohibited miscegenation in many countries.
C1 noun /ˈpʌntʃ laɪn/

punch line

Meaning
The final part of a joke or story that makes it funny.
Example
Everyone laughed loudly at the punch line of his joke.
C2 verb /ˈɪntərˌdɪkt/

interdict

Meaning
to prohibit or forbid something by authoritative order, often by law or decree
Example
The court moved to interdict the sale of the illegal goods.
B2 noun /sneɪl/

Snail

Meaning
a small soft creature with a shell on its back that moves very slowly
Example
The snail left a shiny trail as it crawled across the leaf.
A1 noun /tuː/

two

Meaning
the number following one
Example
She has two children.
C2 adjective /daɪˈæfənəs/

diaphanous

Meaning
Light, delicate, and translucent.
Example
She wore a diaphanous dress that shimmered in the sunlight.
A2 noun /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/

drawing

Meaning
a picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen, or crayons rather than paint
Example
She showed me a drawing of her house.
C1 verb /hiːd/

heed

Meaning
to pay attention to; to take notice of
Example
You should heed the teacher's advice.
C1 adjective /ɪˈnɛpt/

inept

Meaning
lacking skill or ability; clumsy or incompetent
Example
His inept handling of the situation made it worse.
C1 verb /ˈblækən/

blacken

Meaning
to make something black or darker; to stain, soil, or tarnish
Example
Smoke from the fire began to blacken the walls.
B2 noun /spæn/

span

Meaning
the full extent or length of something from one end to another
Example
The bridge has a span of over 500 meters.
C1 noun /məˈræŋ/

meringue

Meaning
A light dessert topping made from whipped egg whites and sugar.
Example
She decorated the pie with a fluffy meringue topping.
C1 adjective /ˈpɔɪ.njənt/

poignant

Meaning
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; deeply touching
Example
The movie's ending was so poignant that many in the audience were moved to tears.
C2 adjective ˌɪn.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃəs

inefficacious

Meaning
Not producing any or the desired effect; ineffective.
Example
The treatment was inefficacious in curing the disease.
C1 adjective /θiːˈmætɪk/

thematic

Meaning
Relating to or based on a theme.
Example
The book is organized into thematic chapters.
B2 adjective /ˌæksɪˈdɛntl/

accidental

Meaning
happening by chance, unintentionally
Example
The fire was caused by an accidental spark.
B2 noun /æmˈfɪbiən/

amphibian

Meaning
A cold-blooded vertebrate animal that can live both on land and in water.
Example
A frog is a common amphibian that lives both in water and on land.
C1 adjective /riˈæk.tɪv/

Reactive

Meaning
responding to situations rather than initiating them; chemically active
Example
The company took a reactive approach to customer complaints.
B2 adjective /prɪˈzentəbl/

Presentable

Meaning
neat and suitable for being seen in public; acceptable in appearance
Example
Make sure you look presentable for the job interview.
C2 noun /ɪnˌtɛl.ɪˈdʒɛntsi.ə/

intelligentsia

Meaning
The group of people engaged in intellectual and cultural pursuits in a society.
Example
The intelligentsia played a key role in shaping public opinion.
C2 verb /ˈæntɪdeɪt/

antedate

Meaning
to be earlier in time; to assign a date earlier than the actual one
Example
The manuscript antedates the modern printing press.
C2 adjective /ˈluːpi/

loopy

Meaning
crazy, silly, or eccentric
Example
After working all night, he felt a little loopy.
C1 noun /ˈəʊ.nəs/

onus

Meaning
A duty or responsibility, especially a heavy one.
Example
The onus is on the government to provide relief to the victims.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪdrəs/

hydrous

Meaning
Containing water, especially water of crystallization.
Example
The mineral is hydrous because it contains water molecules in its structure.
A2 noun (plural) /ædz/

ads

Meaning
short for advertisements; promotional messages intended to sell products or services
Example
I often skip ads when watching videos online.
C1 verb /ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/

insinuate

Meaning
To suggest or hint something indirectly and often unpleasantly.
Example
He insinuated that she had lied about her qualifications.
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.
C2 adjective /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪbəl/

exhaustible

Meaning
able to be used up completely; not infinite
Example
Coal and oil are exhaustible resources.