IELTS Exam Vocabulary List - C
- cabal n. A number of persons secretly united for effecting by intrigue some private purpose.
- cabalism n. Superstitious devotion to one's religion.
- cabinet n. The body of men constituting the official advisors of the executive head of a nation.
- cacophony n. A disagreeable, harsh, or discordant sound or combination of sounds or tones.
- cadaverous adj. Resembling a corpse.
- cadence n. Rhythmical or measured flow or movement, as in poetry or the time and pace of marching troops.
- cadenza n. An embellishment or flourish, prepared or improvised, for a solo voice or instrument.
- caitiff adj. Cowardly.
- cajole v. To impose on or dupe by flattering speech.
- cajolery n. Delusive speech.
- calculable adj. That may be estimated by reckoning.
- calculus n. A concretion formed in various parts of the body resembling a pebble in hardness.
- callosity n. The state of being hard and insensible.
- callow adj. Without experience of the world.
- calorie n. Amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 degree centigrade.
- calumny n. Slander.
- Calvary n. The place where Christ was crucified.
- Calvinism n. The system of doctrine taught by John Calvin.
- Calvinize v. To teach or imbue with the doctrines of Calvinism.
- came n. A leaden sash-bar or grooved strip for fastening panes in stained-glass windows.
- cameo n. Any small engraved or carved work in relief.
- campaign n. A complete series of connected military operations.
- Canaanite n. A member of one of the three tribes that dwelt in the land of Canaan, or western Palestine.
- canary adj. Of a bright but delicate yellow.
- candid adj. Straightforward.
- candor n. The quality of frankness or outspokenness.
- canine adj. Characteristic of a dog.
- canon n. Any rule or law.
- cant v. To talk in a singsong, preaching tone with affected solemnity.
- cantata n. A choral composition.
- canto n. One of the divisions of an extended poem.
- cantonment n. The part of the town or district in which the troops are quartered.
- capacious adj. Roomy.
- capillary n. A minute vessel having walls composed of a single layer of cells.
- capitulate v. To surrender or stipulate terms.
- caprice n. A whim.
- caption n. A heading, as of a chapter, section, document, etc.
- captious adj. Hypercritical.
- captivate v. To fascinate, as by excellence. eloquence, or beauty.
- carcass n. The dead body of an animal.
- cardiac adj. Pertaining to the heart.
- cardinal adj. Of prime or special importance.
- caret n. A sign (^) placed below a line, indicating where omitted words, etc., should be inserted.
- caricature n. a picture or description in which natural characteristics are exaggerated or distorted.
- carnage n. Massacre.
- carnal adj. Sensual.
- carnivorous adj. Eating or living on flesh.
- carouse v. To drink deeply and in boisterous or jovial manner.
- carrion n. Dead and putrefying flesh.
- cartilage n. An elastic animal tissue of firm consistence.
- cartridge n. A charge for a firearm, or for blasting.
- caste n. The division of society on artificial grounds.
- castigate v. To punish.
- casual adj. Accidental, by chance.
- casualty n. A fatal or serious accident or disaster.
- cataclysm n. Any overwhelming flood of water.
- cataract n. Opacity of the lens of the eye resulting in complete or partial blindness.
- catastrophe n. Any great and sudden misfortune or calamity.
- cathode n. The negative pole or electrode of a galvanic battery.
- Catholicism n. The system, doctrine, and practice of the Roman Catholic Church.
- catholicity n. Universal prevalence or acceptance.
- cat-o-nine-tails n. An instrument consisting of nine pieces of cord, formerly used for flogging in the army and navy.
- caucus n. A private meeting of members of a political party to select candidates.
- causal adj. Indicating or expressing a cause.
- caustic adj. Sarcastic and severe.
- cauterize v. To burn or sear as with a heated iron.
- cede v. To pass title to.
- censor n. An official examiner of manuscripts empowered to prohibit their publication.
- censorious adj. Judging severely or harshly.
- census n. An official numbering of the people of a country or district.
- centenary adj. Pertaining to a hundred years or a period of a hundred years.
- centiliter n. A hundredth of a liter.
- centimeter n. A length of one hundredth of a meter.
- centurion n. A captain of a company of one hundred infantry in the ancient Roman army.
- cereal adj. Pertaining to edible grain or farinaceous seeds.
- ceremonial adj. Characterized by outward form or ceremony.
- ceremonious adj. Observant of ritual.
- cessation n. Discontinuance, as of action or motion.
- cession n. Surrender, as of possessions or rights.
- chagrin n. Keen vexation, annoyance, or mortification, as at one's failures or errors.
- chameleon adj. Changeable in appearance.
- chancery n. A court of equity, as distinguished from a common-law court.
- chaos n. Any condition of which the elements or parts are in utter disorder and confusion.
- characteristic n. A distinctive feature.
- characterize v. To describe by distinctive marks or peculiarities.
- charlatan n. A quack.
- chasm n. A yawning hollow, as in the earth's surface.
- chasten v. To purify by affliction.
- chastise v. To subject to punitive measures.
- chastity n. Sexual or moral purity.
- chateau n. A castle or manor-house.
- chattel n. Any article of personal property.
- check v. To hold back.
- chiffon n. A very thin gauze used for trimmings, evening dress, etc.
- chivalry n. The knightly system of feudal times with its code, usages and practices.
- cholera n. An acute epidemic disease.
- choleric adj. Easily provoked to anger.
- choral adj. Pertaining to, intended for, or performed by a chorus or choir.
- Christ n. A title of Jesus
- christen v. To name in baptism.
- Christendom n. That part of the world where Christianity is generally professed.
- chromatic adj. Belonging, relating to, or abounding in color.
- chronology n. The science that treats of computation of time or of investigation and arrangement of events.
- chronometer n. A portable timekeeper of the highest attainable precision.
- cipher v. To calculate arithmetically. (also a noun meaning zero or nothing)
- circulate v. To disseminate.
- circumference n. The boundary-line of a circle.
- circumlocution n. Indirect or roundabout expression.
- circumnavigate v. To sail quite around.
- circumscribe v. To confine within bounds.
- circumspect adj. Showing watchfulness, caution, or careful consideration.
- citadel n. Any strong fortress.
- cite v. To refer to specifically.
- claimant n. One who makes a claim or demand, as of right.
- clairvoyance n. Intuitive sagacity or perception.
- clamorous adj. Urgent in complaint or demand.
- clan n. A tribe.
- clandestine adj. Surreptitious.
- clangor n. Clanking or a ringing, as of arms, chains, or bells; clamor.
- clarify v. To render intelligible.
- clarion n. A small shrill trumpet or bugle.
- classify v. To arrange in a class or classes on the basis of observed resemblance; and differences.
- clearance n. A certificate from the proper authorities that a vessel has complied with the law and may sail.
- clemency n. Mercy.
- clement adj. Compassionate.
- close-hauled adj. Having the sails set for sailing as close to the wind as possible.
- clothier n. One who makes or sells cloth or clothing.
- clumsy adj. Awkward of movement.
- coagulate v. To change into a clot or a jelly, as by heat, by chemical action, or by a ferment.
- coagulant adj. Producing coagulation.
- coalescence n. The act or process of coming together so as to form one body, combination, or product.
- coalition n. Combination in a body or mass.
- coddle v. To treat as a baby or an invalid.
- codicil n. A supplement adding to, revoking, or explaining in the body of a will.
- coerce v. To force.
- coercion n. Forcible constraint or restraint, moral or physical.
- coercive adj. Serving or tending to force.
- cogent adj. Appealing strongly to the reason or conscience.
- cognate adj. Akin.
- cognizant adj. Taking notice.
- cohere v. To stick together.
- cohesion n. Consistency.
- cohesive adj. Having the property of consistency.
- coincide v. To correspond.
- coincidence n. A circumstance so agreeing with another: often implying accident.
- coincident adj. Taking place at the same time.
- collaborate v. To labor or cooperate with another or others, especially in literary or scientific pursuits.
- collapse v. To cause to shrink, fall in, or fail.
- collapsible adj. That may or can collapse.
- colleague n. An associate in professional employment.
- collective adj. Consisting of a number of persons or objects considered as gathered into a mass, or sum.
- collector n. One who makes a collection, as of objects of art, books, or the like.
- collegian n. A college student.
- collide v. To meet and strike violently.
- collier n. One who works in a coal-mine.
- collision n. Violent contact.
- colloquial adj. Pertaining or peculiar to common speech as distinguished from literary.
- colloquialism n. Form of speech used only or chiefly in conversation.
- colloquy n. Conversation.
- collusion n. A secret agreement for a wrongful purpose.
- colossus n. Any strikingly great person or object.
- comely adj. Handsome.
- comestible adj. Fit to be eaten.
- comical adj. Funny.
- commemorate v. To serve as a remembrance of.
- commentary n. A series of illustrative or explanatory notes on any important work.
- commingle v. To blend.
- commissariat n. The department of an army charged with the provision of its food and water and daily needs.
- commission v. To empower.
- commitment n. The act or process of entrusting or consigning for safe-keeping.
- committal n. The act, fact, or result of committing, or the state of being
- commodity n. Something that is bought and sold.
- commotion n. A disturbance or violent agitation.
- commute v. To put something, especially something less severe, in place of.
- comparable adj. Fit to be compared.
- comparative adj. Relative.
- comparison n. Examination of two or more objects with reference to their likeness or unlikeness.
- compensate v. To remunerate.
- competence n. Adequate qualification or capacity.
- competent adj. Qualified.
- competitive adj. characterized by rivalry.
- competitor n. A rival.
- complacence n. Satisfaction with one's acts or surroundings.
- complacent adj. Pleased or satisfied with oneself.
- complaisance n. Politeness.
- complaisant adj. Agreeable.
- complement v. To make complete.
- complex adj. Complicated.
- compliant adj. Yielding.
- complicate v. To make complex, difficult, or hard to deal with.
- complication n. An intermingling or combination of things or parts, especially in a perplexing manner.
- complicity n. Participation or partnership, as in wrong-doing or with a wrong-doer.
- compliment v. To address or gratify with expressions of delicate praise.
- component n. A constituent element or part.
- comport v. To conduct or behave (oneself).
- composure n. Calmness.
- comprehensible adj. Intelligible.
- comprehension n. Ability to know.
- comprehensive adj. Large in scope or content.
- compress v. To press together or into smaller space.
- compressible adj. Capable of being pressed into smaller compass.
- compression n. Constraint, as by force or authority.
- comprise v. To consist of.
- compulsion n. Coercion.
- compulsory adj. Forced.
- compunction n. Remorseful feeling.
- compute v. To ascertain by mathematical calculation.
- concede v. To surrender.
- conceit n. Self-flattering opinion.
- conceive v. To form an idea, mental image or thought of.
- concerto n. A musical composition.
- concession n. Anything granted or yielded, or admitted in response to a demand, petition, or claim.
- conciliate v. To obtain the friendship of.
- conciliatory adj. Tending to reconcile.
- conclusive adj. Sufficient to convince or decide.
- concord n. Harmony.
- concordance n. Harmony.
- concur v. To agree.
- concurrence n. Agreement.
- concurrent adj. Occurring or acting together.
- concussion n. A violent shock to some organ by a fall or a sudden blow.
- condensation n. The act or process of making dense or denser.
- condense v. To abridge.
- condescend v. To come down voluntarily to equal terms with inferiors.
- condolence n. Expression of sympathy with a person in pain, sorrow, or misfortune.
- conduce v. To bring about.
- conducive adj. Contributing to an end.
- conductible adj. Capable of being conducted or transmitted.
- conduit n. A means for conducting something, particularly a tube, pipe, or passageway for a fluid.
- confectionery n. The candy collectively that a confectioner makes or sells, as candy.
- confederacy n. A number of states or persons in compact or league with each other, as for mutual aid.
- confederate n. One who is united with others in a league, compact, or agreement.
- confer v. To bestow.
- conferee n. A person with whom another confers.
- confessor n. A spiritual adviser.
- confidant n. One to whom secrets are entrusted.
- confide v. To reveal in trust or confidence.
- confidence n. The state or feeling of trust in or reliance upon another.
- confident adj. Assured.
- confinement n. Restriction within limits or boundaries.
- confiscate v. To appropriate (private property) as forfeited to the public use or treasury.
- conflagration n. A great fire, as of many buildings, a forest, or the like.
- confluence n. The place where streams meet.
- confluent n. A stream that unites with another.
- conformance n. The act or state or conforming.
- conformable adj. Harmonious.
- conformation n. General structure, form, or outline.
- conformity n. Correspondence in form, manner, or use.
- confront v. To encounter, as difficulties or obstacles.
- congeal v. To coagulate.
- congenial adj. Having kindred character or tastes.
- congest v. To collect into a mass.
- congregate v. To bring together into a crowd.
- coniferous adj. Cone-bearing trees.
- conjecture n. A guess.
- conjoin v. To unite.
- conjugal adj. Pertaining to marriage, marital rights, or married persons.
- conjugate adj. Joined together in pairs.
- conjugation n. The state or condition of being joined together.
- conjunction n. The state of being joined together, or the things so joined.
- connive v. To be in collusion.
- connoisseur n. A critical judge of art, especially one with thorough knowledge and sound judgment of art.
- connote v. To mean; signify.
- connubial adj. Pertaining to marriage or matrimony.
- conquer v. To overcome by force.
- consanguineous adj. Descended from the same parent or ancestor.
- conscience n. The faculty in man by which he distinguishes between right and wrong in character and conduct.
- conscientious adj. Governed by moral standard.
- conscious adj. Aware that one lives, feels, and thinks.
- conscript v. To force into military service.
- consecrate v. To set apart as sacred.
- consecutive adj. Following in uninterrupted succession.
- consensus n. A collective unanimous opinion of a number of persons.
- conservatism n. Tendency to adhere to the existing order of things.
- conservative adj. Adhering to the existing order of things.
- conservatory n. An institution for instruction and training in music and declamation.
- consign v. To entrust.
- consignee n. A person to whom goods or other property has been entrusted.
- consignor n. One who entrusts.
- consistency n. A state of permanence.
- console v. To comfort.
- consolidate v. To combine into one body or system.
- consonance n. The state or quality of being in accord with.
- consonant adj. Being in agreement or harmony with.
- consort n. A companion or associate.
- conspicuous adj. Clearly visible.
- conspirator n. One who agrees with others to cooperate in accomplishing some unlawful purpose.
- conspire v. To plot.
- constable n. An officer whose duty is to maintain the peace.
- constellation n. An arbitrary assemblage or group of stars.
- consternation n. Panic.
- constituency n. The inhabitants or voters in a district represented in a legislative body.
- constituent n. One who has the right to vote at an election.
- constrict v. To bind.
- consul n. An officer appointed to reside in a foreign city, chiefly to represent his country.
- consulate n. The place in which a consul transacts official business.
- consummate v. To bring to completion.
- consumption n. Gradual destruction, as by burning, eating, etc., or by using up, wearing out, etc.
- consumptive adj. Designed for gradual destruction.
- contagion n. The communication of disease from person to person.
- contagious adj. Transmitting disease.
- contaminate v. To pollute.
- contemplate v. To consider thoughtfully.
- contemporaneous adj. Living, occurring, or existing at the same time.
- contemporary adj. Living or existing at the same time.
- contemptible adj. Worthy of scorn or disdain.
- contemptuous adj. Disdainful.
- contender n. One who exerts oneself in opposition or rivalry.
- contiguity n. Proximity.
- contiguous adj. Touching or joining at the edge or boundary.
- continence n. Self-restraint with respect to desires, appetites, and passion.
- contingency n. Possibility of happening.
- contingent adj. Not predictable.
- continuance n. Permanence.
- continuation n. Prolongation.
- continuity n. Uninterrupted connection in space, time, operation, or development.
- continuous adj. Connected, extended, or prolonged without separation or interruption sequence.
- contort v. To twist into a misshapen form.
- contraband n. Trade forbidden by law or treaty.
- contradiction n. The assertion of the opposite of that which has been said.
- contradictory adj. Inconsistent with itself.
- contraposition n. A placing opposite.
- contravene v. To prevent or obstruct the operation of.
- contribution n. The act of giving for a common purpose.
- contributor n. One who gives or furnishes, in common with others, for a common
- contrite adj. Broken in spirit because of a sense of sin.
- contrivance n. The act planning, devising, inventing, or adapting something to or special purpose.
- contrive v. To manage or carry through by some device or scheme.
- control v. To exercise a directing, restraining, or governing influence over.
- controller n. One who or that which regulates or directs.
- contumacious adj. Rebellious.
- contumacy n. Contemptuous disregard of the requirements of rightful authority.
- contuse v. To bruise by a blow, either with or without the breaking of the skin.
- contusion n. A bruise.
- convalesce v. To recover after a sickness.
- convalescence n. The state of progressive restoration to health and strength after cessation of disease.
- convalescent adj. Recovering health after sickness.
- convene v. To summon or cause to assemble.
- convenience n. Fitness, as of time or place.
- converge v. To cause to incline and approach nearer together.
- convergent adj. Tending to one point.
- conversant adj. Thoroughly informed.
- conversion n. Change from one state or position to another, or from one form to another.
- convertible adj. Interchangeable.
- convex adj. Curving like the segment of the globe or of the surface of a circle.
- conveyance n. That by which anything is transported.
- convivial adj. Devoted to feasting, or to good-fellowship in eating or drinking.
- convolution n. A winding motion.
- convolve v. To move with a circling or winding motion.
- convoy n. A protecting force accompanying property in course of transportation.
- convulse v. To cause spasms in.
- convulsion n. A violent and abnormal muscular contraction of the body.
- copious adj. Plenteous.
- coquette n. A flirt.
- cornice n. An ornamental molding running round the walls of a room close to the ceiling.
- cornucopia n. The horn of plenty, symbolizing peace and prosperity.
- corollary n. A proposition following so obviously from another that it requires little demonstration.
- coronation n. The act or ceremony of crowning a monarch.
- coronet n. Inferior crown denoting, according to its form, various degrees of noble rank less than sovereign.
- corporal adj. Belonging or relating to the body as opposed to the mind.
- corporate adj. Belonging to a corporation.
- corporeal adj. Of a material nature; physical.
- corps n. A number or body of persons in some way associated or acting together.
- corpse n. A dead body.
- corpulent adj. Obese.
- corpuscle n. A minute particle of matter.
- correlate v. To put in some relation of connection or correspondence.
- correlative adj. Mutually involving or implying one another.
- corrigible adj. Capable of reformation.
- corroborate v. To strengthen, as proof or conviction.
- corroboration n. Confirmation.
- corrode v. To ruin or destroy little by little.
- corrosion n. Gradual decay by crumbling or surface disintegration.
- corrosive n. That which causes gradual decay by crumbling or surface disintegration.
- corruptible adj. Open to bribery.
- corruption n. Loss of purity or integrity.
- cosmetic adj. Pertaining to the art of beautifying, especially the complexion.
- cosmic adj. Pertaining to the universe.
- cosmogony n. A doctrine of creation or of the origin of the universe.
- cosmography n. The science that describes the universe, including astronomy, geography, and geology.
- cosmology n. The general science of the universe.
- cosmopolitan adj. Common to all the world.
- cosmopolitanism n. A cosmopolitan character.
- cosmos n. The world or universe considered as a system, perfect in order and arrangement.
- counter-claim n. A cross-demand alleged by a defendant in his favor against the plaintiff.
- counteract v. To act in opposition to.
- counterbalance v. To oppose with an equal force.
- counter-charge v. To accuse in return.
- counterfeit adj. Made to resemble something else.
- counterpart n. Something taken with another for the completion of either.
- countervail v. To offset.
- counting-house n. A house or office used for transacting business, bookkeeping, correspondence, etc.
- countryman n. A rustic.
- courageous adj. Brave.
- course n. Line of motion or direction.
- courser n. A fleet and spirited horse.
- courtesy n. Politeness originating in kindness and exercised habitually.
- covenant n. An agreement entered into by two or more persons or parties.
- covert adj. Concealed, especially for an evil purpose.
- covey n. A flock of quails or partridges.
- cower v. To crouch down tremblingly, as through fear or shame.
- coxswain n. One who steers a rowboat, or one who has charge of a ship's boat and its crew under an officer.
- crag n. A rugged, rocky projection on a cliff or ledge.
- cranium n. The skull of an animal, especially that part enclosing the brain.
- crass adj. Coarse or thick in nature or structure, as opposed to thin or fine.
- craving n. A vehement desire.
- creak n. A sharp, harsh, squeaking sound.
- creamery n. A butter-making establishment.
- creamy adj. Resembling or containing cream.
- credence n. Belief.
- credible adj. Believable.
- credulous adj. Easily deceived.
- creed n. A formal summary of fundamental points of religious belief.
- crematory adj. A place for cremating dead bodies.
- crevasse n. A deep crack or fissure in the ice of a glacier.
- crevice n. A small fissure, as between two contiguous surfaces.
- criterion n. A standard by which to determine the correctness of a judgment or conclusion.
- critique n. A criticism or critical review.
- crockery n. Earthenware made from baked clay.
- crucible n. A trying and purifying test or agency.
- crusade n. Any concerted movement, vigorously prosecuted, in behalf of an idea or principle.
- crustacean adj. Pertaining to a division of arthropods, containing lobsters, crabs, crawfish, etc.
- crustaceous adj. Having a crust-like shell.
- cryptogram n. Anything written in characters that are secret or so arranged as to have hidden meaning.
- crystallize v. To bring together or give fixed shape to.
- cudgel n. A short thick stick used as a club.
- culinary adj. Of or pertaining to cooking or the kitchen.
- cull v. To pick or sort out from the rest.
- culpable adj. Guilty.
- culprit n. A guilty person.
- culvert n. Any artificial covered channel for the passage of water through a bank or under a road, canal.
- cupidity n. Avarice.
- curable adj. Capable of being remedied or corrected.
- curator n. A person having charge as of a library or museum.
- curio n. A piece of bric-a-brac.
- cursive adj. Writing in which the letters are joined together.
- cursory adj. Rapid and superficial.
- curt adj. Concise, compressed, and abrupt in act or expression.
- curtail v. To cut off or cut short.
- curtsy n. A downward movement of the body by bending the knees.
- cycloid adj. Like a circle.
- cygnet n. A young swan.
- cynical adj. Exhibiting moral skepticism.
- cynicism n. Contempt for the opinions of others and of what others value.
- cynosure n. That to which general interest or attention is directed.
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