Learn About English Vocabulary
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What is Vocabulary?
The term vocabulary refers to the words and phrases that a person or group of people knows. When you start off learning a language you won't know many words and you will therefore have a small vocabulary. As your knowledge of a language grows, your vocabulary will grow too. Someone who is fluent in a language will have a large vocabulary.
Active and Passive Vocabulary
Your active vocabulary is the words you use regularly, and your passive vocabulary consists of the words that you recognise and understand, but do not use regularly. Many native speakers use a relatively small active vocabuary- a few thousand words is common, but most have a considerably bigger passive vocabulary, which the use when reading or listening. One mistake that learners make is to think that if they acquire a huge vocabulary, they will master the language. In most cases, spending more time on learning the different uses of common and useful words would be better than learning obscure words. The word set has over a hundred meanings, so learning a fair few of them might be more useful than knowing what a sesquipedalian (a big word for someone who uses big words) is. An individual's vocabulary is called their idiolect.
Technical Vocabulary
You might also hear the term Technical Vocabulary, which is words or phrases that are used primarily in a specific line of work or profession.
For example, people who work in the steel industry often use words like "Rockwell", "Olsen", "cup test", and "camber". These words have special meanings pertaining to the manufacture of steel.
Similarly, an electrician needs to know technical words such as "capacitor", "impedance", and "surge capacity"; words which most people outside of that industry never use.
Vocabulary Reference
Expand your vocabulary by learning useful English words and phrases, including phrasal verbs, idioms, irregular verbs, slang and more …
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Dictionary of current English idioms and idiomatic expressions.7,231 Entries
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Dictionary of English Phrasal Verbs, with definitions and examples3,603 Entries
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Irregular verb list, including definitions of rare and antiquated forms.623 Entries
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771 EntriesCockney Rhyming Slang Members OnlyA reference of Cockney Rhyming Slang expressions.
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1,736 EntriesEnglish Slang Members OnlyA reference of English slang expressions.
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Extensive glossary of football/soccer vocabulary.1,736 Entries
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Search all the leading online dictionaries and English reference resources from one place.
Latest Vocabulary Exercises
Test your vocabulary by taking these language quizzes.
| Level | Quiz |
|---|---|
| Advanced | Easily Confused Words |
| Beginner | Lend & Borrow |
| Advanced | Approve, Object, Oppose, etc. |
| Advanced | Legs, Feet, Walk, etc |
| Intermediate | Ban, Forbid & Prohibit |
| Beginner | Explain & Tell |
| Intermediate | Ache, Hurt, Pain & Sore |
| Beginner | Units & Containers |
| Advanced | Newspaper Headlines |
| Beginner | Sport- Play, Go & Do |
Browse all vocabulary quizzes.
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