used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading They were high in the air; the thick clouds that surrounded this new world were miles from its surface, and the things of the world that awaited were tiny and blurred.
AirshipsnounUS /ˈerʃɪps/
plural of “airship” — a steerable self-propelled aircraft
From this reading Airships passed and repassed far below.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
astronomernounUS /əˈstrɑːnəmər/
a physicist who studies astronomy
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading They were high in the air; the thick clouds that surrounded this new world were miles from its surface, and the things of the world that awaited were tiny and blurred.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Airships passed and repassed far below.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading They were high in the air; the thick clouds that surrounded this new world were miles from its surface, and the things of the world that awaited were tiny and blurred.
bulkyadjectiveUS /ˈbʌlki/
of large size for its weight
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
continentnounUS /ˈkɑːntənənt/
one of the large landmasses of the earth
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
cylindersnounUS /ˈsɪləndərz/
plural of “cylinder” — a solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel planes (the bases)
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/
a wide scope
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Airships passed and repassed far below.
flashingnounUS /ˈflæʃɪŋ/
a short vivid experience
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
floor-window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
coins made of gold
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading They were high in the air; the thick clouds that surrounded this new world were miles from its surface, and the things of the world that awaited were tiny and blurred.
identifyingverbUS /aɪˈdentəfaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “identify” — recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
LargeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
McGuire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading They were high in the air; the thick clouds that surrounded this new world were miles from its surface, and the things of the world that awaited were tiny and blurred.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
repassed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Airships passed and repassed far below.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
transport commercially
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
sunlitadjectiveUS /ˈsʌnlɪt/
lighted by sunlight
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading They were high in the air; the thick clouds that surrounded this new world were miles from its surface, and the things of the world that awaited were tiny and blurred.
confined on all sides
From this reading They were high in the air; the thick clouds that surrounded this new world were miles from its surface, and the things of the world that awaited were tiny and blurred.
in a swift manner
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
Sykes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were high in the air; the thick clouds that surrounded this new world were miles from its surface, and the things of the world that awaited were tiny and blurred.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading They were high in the air; the thick clouds that surrounded this new world were miles from its surface, and the things of the world that awaited were tiny and blurred.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They were high in the air; the thick clouds that surrounded this new world were miles from its surface, and the things of the world that awaited were tiny and blurred.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
very small
From this reading They were high in the air; the thick clouds that surrounded this new world were miles from its surface, and the things of the world that awaited were tiny and blurred.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The flickering gold expanse that reflected back the color of the sunlit clouds passed to one side as the ship took its station above the island, a continent in size, that had shown by its shape like a sharply formed "L" an identifying mark to the astronomer.
transportnounUS /trænˈspɔːrt/
something that serves as a means of transportation
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
underneathprepositionUS /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/
directly under, often hidden by what is above
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Large, some of them--as bulky as the transport they were on; others were small flashing cylinders, but all went swiftly on their way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Miles underneath the great ship, from which Lieutenant McGuire and Professor Sykes were now watching through a floor-window of thick glass, was a glittering expanse of water--a great ocean.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading They were high in the air; the thick clouds that surrounded this new world were miles from its surface, and the things of the world that awaited were tiny and blurred.
