used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is a sort of pond, polished as steel.
(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 It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We are in the depths of an underground cavern.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We are in the depths of an underground cavern.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
blocksnounUS /blɑːks/
plural of “block” — a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
cavernnounUS /ˈkæv.ərn/
A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.
From this reading We are in the depths of an underground cavern.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading We are in the depths of an underground cavern.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
envelopedverbUS /enˈveləpt/
past form of “envelop” — enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The floor is one great black looking-glass.
glistens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over this polished surface glistens the reflection of a solitary light, the light of a safety-lamp shining through a wire net.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The floor is one great black looking-glass.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We are in the depths of an underground cavern.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Over this polished surface glistens the reflection of a solitary light, the light of a safety-lamp shining through a wire net.
looking-glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor is one great black looking-glass.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
netnounUS /net/
a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
From this reading Over this polished surface glistens the reflection of a solitary light, the light of a safety-lamp shining through a wire net.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We are in the depths of an underground cavern.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The floor is one great black looking-glass.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over this polished surface glistens the reflection of a solitary light, the light of a safety-lamp shining through a wire net.
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading It is a sort of pond, polished as steel.
pondnounUS /pɑːnd/
a small lake
From this reading It is a sort of pond, polished as steel.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading Over this polished surface glistens the reflection of a solitary light, the light of a safety-lamp shining through a wire net.
safety-lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over this polished surface glistens the reflection of a solitary light, the light of a safety-lamp shining through a wire net.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading Over this polished surface glistens the reflection of a solitary light, the light of a safety-lamp shining through a wire net.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading Over this polished surface glistens the reflection of a solitary light, the light of a safety-lamp shining through a wire net.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading It is a sort of pond, polished as steel.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading It is a sort of pond, polished as steel.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Over this polished surface glistens the reflection of a solitary light, the light of a safety-lamp shining through a wire net.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We are in the depths of an underground cavern.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Over this polished surface glistens the reflection of a solitary light, the light of a safety-lamp shining through a wire net.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Over this polished surface glistens the reflection of a solitary light, the light of a safety-lamp shining through a wire net.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
undergroundadjectiveUS /ˈʌndərɡraʊnd/
under the level of the ground
From this reading We are in the depths of an underground cavern.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We are in the depths of an underground cavern.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It is bad enough to be underground, but here we are all enveloped in black as well: the ceiling is black, so are the walls; they are made of blocks of coal.
wirenounUS /ˈwaɪər/
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading Over this polished surface glistens the reflection of a solitary light, the light of a safety-lamp shining through a wire net.
