Materials
38 English words (level B2) with a simple English definition and an example sentence. In the app you can hear every word and practise with flashcards, a quiz, spelling and listening.
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| English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| acid | a chemical substance that can burn things | Lemon juice contains acid. |
| aluminum | a light silver metal | The cans are made of aluminum. |
| ammonia | a gas with a strong smell, used in cleaning products | This cleaner contains ammonia. |
| ash | the grey powder left after something burns; also a type of tree | There was ash in the fireplace. |
| carbon | a chemical element found in all living things | Coal is mostly carbon. |
| carbon dioxide | a gas produced when people breathe out or fuel burns | Trees absorb carbon dioxide. |
| carbon monoxide | a dangerous gas with no smell | Carbon monoxide can kill. |
| cardboard | thick stiff paper used for boxes | The toys came in a cardboard box. |
| catalyst | something that causes a change; also a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction | The protest was a catalyst for change. |
| concrete | a hard grey building material | The floor is made of concrete. |
| copper | a reddish-brown metal | The pipes are made of copper. |
| DNA | the chemical in cells that carries genetic information | DNA tests can identify people. |
| dye | a substance used to change the colour of hair or cloth | She bought black hair dye. |
| exhaust | the gas from an engine; also the pipe it comes out of | Car exhaust pollutes the air. |
| extract | a short part of a book or film; also a concentrated substance | Read this extract from the novel. |
| fat | the soft substance under the skin; also oil from animals or plants | This food is high in fat. |
| fiber | a thin thread; also the part of food that helps digestion | Eat food high in fiber. |
| flax | a plant used to make cloth and oil | Linen is made from flax. |
| gook | a thick sticky dirty substance (informal) | There's some gook on the bottom of the pan. |
| hemp | a plant used to make rope and cloth | The bag is made of hemp. |
| incense | a substance that smells nice when burned | The room smelled of incense. |
| kerosene | a fuel oil used in lamps and heaters | The lamp burns kerosene. |
| lava | hot liquid rock from a volcano | Lava poured down the mountain. |
| leopard | a large wild cat with dark spots | The leopard climbed the tree. |
| mixture | a combination of different things | Pour the mixture into a pan. |
| ozone | a gas in the air that protects the earth from the sun's harmful rays | The ozone layer is getting thinner. |
| pad | a set of sheets of paper; also a soft piece of material | Write it on the note pad. |
| particle | a very small piece | There are dust particles in the air. |
| radical | a person with extreme political views | The radicals want big changes. |
| radium | a radioactive chemical element | Marie Curie discovered radium. |
| rubble | broken stones and bricks from a destroyed building | People searched the rubble for survivors. |
| sandstone | a soft rock made of sand | The church is built of sandstone. |
| solvent | a liquid that dissolves other substances | Use a solvent to remove the paint. |
| spray | liquid in very small drops; also a can that sprays liquid | We felt the spray from the waves. |
| sulfur | a yellow chemical with a strong smell | The volcano smelled of sulfur. |
| tortoiseshell | the brown and yellow shell of a turtle; also a material that looks like it | She wore tortoiseshell glasses. |
| vitamin | a natural substance in food that keeps you healthy | Oranges contain vitamin C. |
| vomit | food that comes back up from the stomach | There was vomit on the floor. |