English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
a small carnivorous mammal known for its ability to kill venomous snakes
"The mongoose quickly attacked the cobra to protect its young."
A photograph, painting, or screen image in black and white or varying tones of one color.
"The old film was shot entirely in monochrome."
Growing the same species of crop in a particular area for a long time.
"Monoculture can lead to soil depletion and pest outbreaks."
The practice of being married to or in a relationship with only one person at a time.
"Many cultures encourage monogamy as the ideal form of marriage."
A large single upright block of stone, or a large, powerful, indivisible organization or system.
"The ancient monolith stood in the desert for centuries."
Massive, uniform, and indivisible; resembling a large single stone or structure.
"The company maintained a monolithic structure resistant to change."
A long speech by one person, often in a play or performance.
"The actor delivered a powerful monologue on stage."
Control exclusively, dominate market.
"The company tried to monopolize the market."
Exclusive control over a market, product, or service.
"The company gained a monopoly over the mobile phone industry."
The belief in the existence of only one God.
"Islam and Christianity are religions based on monotheism."
A continuous sound, especially of a person's voice, that does not rise and fall in pitch.
"The teacher's monotone made the lecture hard to follow."
Dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest.
"The monotonous routine of office work tired him out."
Lack of variety and interest; tedious repetition and routine.
"He was tired of the monotony of daily commuting."
extremely large; shockingly evil or wrong; abnormal or unnatural
"The monstrous crime shocked the entire community."
A sequence of film editing or a composite image made by combining several separate pictures.
"The film opened with a montage of city life."
Great in importance, extent, or size; resembling or serving as a monument.
"The project was a monumental achievement for the team."
The state of being frequently subject to changes in mood, especially irritability or sadness.
"Her moodiness made it difficult to predict how she would react."
As a verb: to tie a ship so that it stays in place. As a noun: open, uncultivated land.
"The sailors moored the ship at the dock."
Adjective: subject to debate or irrelevant. Verb: to suggest an idea for discussion.
"The issue of funding became a moot point after the project was canceled."
The confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group at a particular time.
"The team's morale improved after their recent victory."
A temporary suspension or delay of an activity, law, or obligation.
"The government announced a moratorium on new mining licenses."
Having an abnormal interest in disturbing or unpleasant subjects such as death or disease.
"She had a morbid fascination with crime stories."
a place where dead bodies are kept, especially to be identified or claimed
"The police took the body to the morgue for identification."
to change smoothly from one form, shape, or character into another
"The caterpillar will morph into a butterfly."
the study of the form and structure of things, especially in language and biology
"Morphology studies the structure of words and how they are formed."
subject to death; having a limited lifespan; human
"All human beings are mortal and will eventually die."
the state of being subject to death; the death rate of a population
"Advancements in medicine have reduced child mortality significantly."
a mixture used in building to bond bricks or stones together; also, a small cannon for firing shells
"The workers applied mortar between the bricks."
a bowl and grinding tool used to crush and grind spices, herbs, and other substances
"She ground the spices using a mortar and pestle."
a legal agreement where a person borrows money to buy property and pays it back over time
"They applied for a mortgage to buy their new house."
A picture or pattern produced by arranging together small pieces of stone, tile, or glass.
"The church ceiling was decorated with a beautiful mosaic."
a small flowerless plant that grows in clumps in moist places
"Green moss covered the old stone wall."
covered with moss; having moss growing on it
"The old tree trunk was mossy and covered with green vegetation."
A country that is highly exposed to risks and lacks adequate protection or resilience.
"Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable nations to climate change."
having qualities characteristic of a mother; caring and protective
"She showed motherly care and affection towards all the children."
A recurring theme, subject, or idea in a work of art or literature.
"The motif of love is central to the novel."
a large motor vehicle used for transporting goods; truck
"The motor lorry delivered fresh vegetables to the market."
a hollow container used to give shape to molten material; fungus
"She poured chocolate into the mould to make candies."
A person who climbs mountains as a sport or profession.
"The mountaineer reached the summit after a long climb."
Having many mountains; very large or huge in size.
"They traveled through a mountainous region of Nepal."
a person who attends a funeral or shows grief for someone who has died
"The mourners gathered at the cemetery to pay their respects."
feeling, expressing, or causing sadness or grief
"The mournful song reminded her of lost loved ones."
the amount of food or drink that fills the mouth, or a long and difficult word or phrase
"He took a big mouthful of water after the run."
capable of being moved; not fixed in position
"The furniture is movable so we can rearrange the room easily."
to mix things up in a confused way or to make a mess of something
"He muddled the papers and couldn’t find the report."
a device on a vehicle's exhaust to reduce noise; also a scarf worn around the neck for warmth
"The car's muffler needs to be replaced."
having many different aspects or features
"Her career is multifaceted, involving teaching, research, and writing."
A large number or variety of something.
"The project faced a multiplicity of challenges."
a number or factor by which another number is multiplied; something that increases the effect or value of something else
"In economics, government spending can act as a multiplier for economic growth."