used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a speed that seemed remarkable these fins reached a vertical position.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
airplanenounUS /ˈerpleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
arcnounUS /ɑːrk/
electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
From this reading For a moment they remained pointing straight toward the high blue arc of the heavens.
astonishingadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading For a moment they remained pointing straight toward the high blue arc of the heavens.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
finsnounUS /fɪnz/
plural of “fin” — the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment they remained pointing straight toward the high blue arc of the heavens.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading For a moment they remained pointing straight toward the high blue arc of the heavens.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading For a moment they remained pointing straight toward the high blue arc of the heavens.
horizontallyadverbUS /ˌhɔːrɪˈzɑːntəli/
in a horizontal direction
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
loweringadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərɪŋ/
darkened by clouds
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment they remained pointing straight toward the high blue arc of the heavens.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For a moment they remained pointing straight toward the high blue arc of the heavens.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading For a moment they remained pointing straight toward the high blue arc of the heavens.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading With a speed that seemed remarkable these fins reached a vertical position.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading With a speed that seemed remarkable these fins reached a vertical position.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading For a moment they remained pointing straight toward the high blue arc of the heavens.
unusual or striking
From this reading With a speed that seemed remarkable these fins reached a vertical position.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading With a speed that seemed remarkable these fins reached a vertical position.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
move hurridly
From this reading With a speed that seemed remarkable these fins reached a vertical position.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
successive (without a break)
From this reading For a moment they remained pointing straight toward the high blue arc of the heavens.
submarine'snounUS /ˈsʌbməriːnz/
possessive form of “submarine” — a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With a speed that seemed remarkable these fins reached a vertical position.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading With a speed that seemed remarkable these fins reached a vertical position.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a moment they remained pointing straight toward the high blue arc of the heavens.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading For a moment they remained pointing straight toward the high blue arc of the heavens.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
undividedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndəˈvaɪdɪd/
not parted by conflict of opinion
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
verticaladjectiveUS /ˈvɜːrtɪkəl/
at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line
From this reading With a speed that seemed remarkable these fins reached a vertical position.
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 Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
at the time that
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Two large fins which evidently had been lying close to the submarine’s sides, were rising into the air.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Then they swung outward, lowering horizontally from the ship’s sides, to come to rest when level with the deck, and about five feet above the surface of the water—a complete set of airplane wings.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The two lads, Bill and Charlie, stared with undivided attention at the astonishing spectacle.
