vocabulary

All the words that a person knows or uses.

• Reading helps you build your vocabulary.
• Her English vocabulary has grown this year.
• He has a large vocabulary but rarely uses difficult words.

Similar words: word knowledge

Common phrases: expand your vocabulary, limited vocabulary

The words you know or learn, together with their meanings.

• We learned some new vocabulary today.
• Reading helps me improve my vocabulary.
• How much French vocabulary do you know?

Similar words: word knowledge

Common phrases: learn vocabulary, new vocabulary, build vocabulary

The words used by people in a particular group or area of work.

• Medical vocabulary can be difficult.
• The book explains the vocabulary of sailing.
• Different professions have their own vocabularies.

How to use it: the vocabulary of something (She understands the vocabulary of finance.)

Similar words: terminology, lexicon

Common phrases: medical vocabulary, technical vocabulary, vocabulary of science

The shapes, sounds, or methods someone uses to express ideas in art.

• Her visual vocabulary includes circles and bright colours.
• The dancer developed a vocabulary of small movements.
• These buildings share a simple architectural vocabulary.

Common phrases: visual vocabulary, artistic vocabulary, vocabulary of shapes