used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
adultnounUS /əˈdʌlt/
a fully developed person from maturity onward
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
beetlenounUS /ˈbiːtəl/
insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
bottomsnounUS /ˈbɑːtəmz/
plural of “bottom” — the lower side of anything
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
darkestadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkəst/
superlative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
deservesverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrvz/
third-person singular of “deserve” — be worthy or deserving
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
economicadjectiveUS /ˌekəˈnɑːmɪk/
of or relating to an economy, the system of production and management of material wealth
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
FIREFLYnounUS /ˈfaɪərflaɪ/
tropical American click beetle having bright luminous spots
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
flashesnounUS /ˈflæʃɪz/
plural of “flash” — a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
glow-worm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
grubnounUS /ɡrʌb/
informal terms for a meal
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
grub-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
grubsnounUS /ɡrʌbz/
plural of “grub” — informal terms for a meal
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
an established custom
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
insectnounUS /ˈɪnsekt/
small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
insectsnounUS /ˈɪnsekts/
plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
largelyadverbUS /ˈlɑːrdʒli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
larvaladjectiveUS /ˈlɑːrvəl/
immature of its kind; especially being or characteristic of immature insects in the newly hatched wormlike feeding stage
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
luminousadjectiveUS /ˈluːmənəs/
softly bright or radiant
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
engage in
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
many times at short intervals
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
bring forth or yield
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
producingverbUS /prəˈduːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
rubbishnounUS /ˈrʌbɪʃ/
worthless material that is to be disposed of
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
speckedadjective
having a pattern of dots
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
very small
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
weedsnounUS /wiːdz/
a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
at the time that
From this reading The firefly is a beetle, and begins to make its appearance the latter part of June when the darkest nights may be one solid glow of fire.
in or at the place that
From this reading The larval or grub stage is passed on the ground beneath grass, weeds and rubbish where they often prey upon other insects.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE FIREFLY This insect is of little economic importance to us at present but its peculiar habit of producing light makes it a very striking form and one which deserves study.
winglessadjective
lacking wings
From this reading In some cases the grubs may be able to produce light though as a rule the luminous grub-like creature or glow-worm is a wingless adult firefly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They live largely in damp places and bottoms at night are specked with their tiny flashes of light.
