used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
in addition
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
anticsnounUS /ˈæntɪks/
plural of “antic” — a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
beenounUS /biː/
any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But not before the bee had stung his tongue.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
botheringverbUS /ˈbɑːðərɪŋ/
-ing form of “bother” — take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
bumbleverbUS /ˈbʌmbəl/
make a mess of, destroy or ruin
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
buzzernounUS /ˈbʌzər/
a push button at an outer door that gives a ringing or buzzing signal when pushed
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
buzzingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌzɪŋ/
noisy like the sound of a bee
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
dartingverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
divenounUS /daɪv/
a cheap disreputable nightclub or dance hall
From this reading Just then the bee made a dive for his nose, but Billy opened his mouth and swallowed it.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
EXCITINGadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But not before the bee had stung his tongue.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
hummingnounUS /ˈhʌmɪŋ/
a humming noise
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
and nothing more
From this reading Just then the bee made a dive for his nose, but Billy opened his mouth and swallowed it.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Just then the bee made a dive for his nose, but Billy opened his mouth and swallowed it.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Just then the bee made a dive for his nose, but Billy opened his mouth and swallowed it.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading Just then the bee made a dive for his nose, but Billy opened his mouth and swallowed it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But not before the bee had stung his tongue.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Just then the bee made a dive for his nose, but Billy opened his mouth and swallowed it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
pawverbUS /pɔː/
scrape with the paws
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
persistedverbUS /pərˈsɪstɪd/
past form of “persist” — continue to exist
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
express in words
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
not in physical motion
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
stungadjectiveUS /stʌŋ/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading But not before the bee had stung his tongue.
swallowverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊ/
pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
swallowedverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊd/
past form of “swallow” — pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading Just then the bee made a dive for his nose, but Billy opened his mouth and swallowed it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Just then the bee made a dive for his nose, but Billy opened his mouth and swallowed it.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading But not before the bee had stung his tongue.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He shook his head and tried also to paw it away, but it still persisted in humming around and darting at him.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading AN EXCITING DAY FOR BILLY As Billy stood watching the antics of the boys, a bumble bee began buzzing around his head, bothering him by darting in and out of his ears.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Say, you old buzzer, if you don’t keep away from me, I’ll swallow you alive,” threatened Billy.
