Technology & Systems — B2 Essential Words
Ten essential B2 words (Technology) with the complete apparatus: pronunciation, simple definitions, natural American examples, collocations, family, the common mistake and spoken usage — plus a 15-question practice quiz. Mark your status on every word.
browser /ˈbraʊzər/ noun B2 Technology
Meaning: A computer program used to view websites on the internet — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge are browsers.
Example: Open the page in your browser.
Another example: This site works best in a modern browser.
Collocations: web browser · in the browser · browser tab
Synonyms: app (single-service), search engine (finds pages)
Word family: browsers (n pl) · browse (v)
⚠ Common mistake: Browser (the program) ≠ search engine (the finder inside it). To browse also means look around without a plan — in shops and online.
🗣 In spoken American English: The browser wars of the 1990s built the modern web.
Register: Neutral — tech essential.
server /ˈsɜːrvər/ noun B2 Technology
Meaning: A powerful computer that provides data and services to other computers on a network; also (US) a person who serves food in a restaurant.
Example: The game's servers are down tonight.
Another example: Our server stores all the files.
Collocations: the server is down · server room · on the server
Synonyms: host, mainframe, cloud (rented servers)
Antonyms: client
Word family: servers (n pl) · serve (v)
⚠ Common mistake: When a site 'is down', usually its server stopped answering. Restaurant servers and computer servers share the providing idea.
🗣 In spoken American English: 'Server rooms' hum behind every app you love.
Register: Formal — tech essential.
install /ɪnˈstɔːl/ verb B2 Technology
Meaning: To put a program onto a computer or phone so it is ready to use; also to put equipment in place ready for use.
Example: Install the app from the store.
Another example: They installed new lights in the hall.
Collocations: install the app · install on · install updates
Synonyms: set up, download (the step before), add
Antonyms: uninstall, remove
Word family: installs (v) · installation (n) · installer (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Download first, install second — the two-step learners merge. Plumbing and presidents also get 'installed' (equipment, and ceremonially into office).
🗣 In spoken American English: Every phone's first hour is a festival of this verb.
Register: Neutral — tech essential.
crash /kræʃ/ verb / noun B2 Technology
Meaning: When a computer program or system suddenly stops working; also a violent accident (cars, planes) and its loud noise.
Example: The app crashed three times today.
Another example: A car crash blocked the road.
Collocations: the app crashed · system crash · a plane crash
Synonyms: freeze (stops responding), fail, collision
Antonyms: launch, run smoothly
Word family: crashes (n pl) · crash (adj — intensive: crash course)
⚠ Common mistake: A 'crash course' is intensive fast learning — named from urgency, not computers. Programs crash; screens freeze; users restart — the eternal cycle.
🗣 In spoken American English: Saving early and often is its only vaccine.
Register: Neutral — tech essential.
backup /ˈbækʌp/ noun B2 Technology
Meaning: A copy of data kept separately in case the original is lost; also extra help or a reserve person/thing.
Example: Keep a backup of your photos.
Another example: The backup generator started during the outage.
Collocations: a backup copy · backup your files · backup plan
Synonyms: copy, reserve, spare
Word family: backups (n pl) · back up (v — phrasal)
⚠ Common mistake: Rule of three: everyone believes in backups the day AFTER losing files. 'Backup singer/dancer' supports the star — people can be backups too.
🗣 In spoken American English: Traffic also 'backs up' — the jam sense shares the phrase, not the meaning.
Register: Neutral — tech essential.
firewall /ˈfaɪərwɔːl/ noun B2 Technology
Meaning: A security system that controls what data enters and leaves a computer network, blocking attacks; originally a wall that stops fire spreading in buildings.
Example: The firewall blocked the attack.
Another example: Company firewalls stop most spam.
Collocations: a firewall · firewall protection · behind the firewall
Synonyms: security barrier, filter, shield
Word family: firewalls (n pl)
⚠ Common mistake: Building safety gave computing its best metaphor: a wall fire cannot cross.
🗣 In spoken American English: Home routers hide one inside every blinking box.
Register: Formal — tech essential.
bandwidth /ˈbændwɪdθ/ noun B2 Technology
Meaning: The amount of data a network can carry in a given time; informally, a person's available time and mental capacity.
Example: Streaming video needs a lot of bandwidth.
Another example: I don't have the bandwidth for another project.
Collocations: bandwidth usage · high bandwidth · bandwidth limits
Synonyms: capacity, speed (loosely), data rate
Word family: bandwidth (uncountable)
⚠ Common mistake: Its office slang is priceless: 'no bandwidth' = no mental room left. The technical version is measured in megabits.
🗣 In spoken American English: Rural internet debates are fought over this word in Congress.
Register: Formal — tech essential.
domain /dəʊˈmeɪn/ noun B2 Technology
Meaning: The name of a website or email network (like learn-american-english-easy.pages.dev); also an area of knowledge or activity, and historically a ruler's lands.
Example: Our domain ends with .com.
Another example: History is her domain of expertise.
Collocations: domain name · the domain of · public domain
Synonyms: website address, field, realm
Word family: domains (n pl)
⚠ Common mistake: The .dev, .com, .org tails are 'top-level domains'. 'Public domain' means free for everyone — where old books and films retire.
🗣 In spoken American English: Good ones sell for millions; this site's carries its whole channel name.
Register: Formal — tech essential.
interface /ˈɪntərfeɪs/ noun B2 Technology
Meaning: The way a user interacts with a computer program — its screens, buttons, and menus; also any meeting point between two systems.
Example: The app has a clean interface.
Another example: Users praised the interface.
Collocations: user interface · the interface · interface design
Synonyms: controls, front end, dashboard
Word family: interfaces (n pl) · UI (abbreviation)
⚠ Common mistake: UI is its everyday short name. 'Interface' as verb: systems 'interface with' each other — engineers verb everything.
🗣 In spoken American English: Good ones are invisible; bad ones trend on social media in an hour.
Register: Formal — tech essential.
upgrade /ʌpˈɡreɪd/ verb / noun B2 Technology
Meaning: To improve something by adding or replacing parts, or move to a better version or class; the improvement itself.
Example: Upgrade the app to the latest version.
Another example: We got a free upgrade to first class.
Collocations: upgrade to · upgrade the system · a free upgrade
Synonyms: update (smaller fixes), improve, enhance
Antonyms: downgrade
Word family: upgrades (n pl) · upgraded (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: Update refreshes; upgrade LEVELS UP (bigger version, better seat, newer phone). Airlines hand out the beloved kind at gates.
🗣 In spoken American English: Phone plans are built to chase it yearly.
Register: Neutral — tech essential.
Practice — Technology & Systems
Flashcards
Tap a card to flip it. Mark what you know — your progress saves on this device.
Matching Game
Tap an expression, then tap its meaning.
Keep going
Ad space