used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He ran again, steadying himself like a tight-wire acrobat.
acrobatnounUS /ˈækrəbæt/
an athlete who performs acts requiring skill and agility and coordination
From this reading He ran again, steadying himself like a tight-wire acrobat.
anew
From this reading He ran again, steadying himself like a tight-wire acrobat.
(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 He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He swung himself upward over the spar the moment it struck, and the momentum helped him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
boomverbUS /buːm/
make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
cablenounUS /ˈkeɪbəl/
a telegram sent abroad
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading He swung himself upward over the spar the moment it struck, and the momentum helped him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Pull her taut!”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He swung himself upward over the spar the moment it struck, and the momentum helped him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He swung himself upward over the spar the moment it struck, and the momentum helped him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He swung himself upward over the spar the moment it struck, and the momentum helped him.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He ran again, steadying himself like a tight-wire acrobat.
lungsnounUS /lʌŋz/
plural of “lung” — either of two saclike respiratory organs in the chest of vertebrates; serves to remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen to the blood
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
a particular point in time
From this reading He swung himself upward over the spar the moment it struck, and the momentum helped him.
momentumnounUS /moʊˈmentəm/
an impelling force or strength
From this reading He swung himself upward over the spar the moment it struck, and the momentum helped him.
noosenounUS /nuːs/
a trap for birds or small mammals; often has a slip noose
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He swung himself upward over the spar the moment it struck, and the momentum helped him.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading “Pull her taut!”
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He ran again, steadying himself like a tight-wire acrobat.
runsnounUS /rʌnz/
plural of “run” — a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
screamedverbUS /skriːmd/
past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
sparverbUS /spɑːr/
furnish with spars
From this reading He swung himself upward over the spar the moment it struck, and the momentum helped him.
steadyingadjective
causing to become steady
From this reading He ran again, steadying himself like a tight-wire acrobat.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading He swung himself upward over the spar the moment it struck, and the momentum helped him.
swoopnounUS /swuːp/
(music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading He swung himself upward over the spar the moment it struck, and the momentum helped him.
tautadjectiveUS /tɔːt/
pulled or drawn tight
From this reading “Pull her taut!”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “See that the cable runs free!” he screamed as he felt the stick lift for its swoop.
tight-wire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ran again, steadying himself like a tight-wire acrobat.
upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/
directed up
From this reading He swung himself upward over the spar the moment it struck, and the momentum helped him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
yelledadjectiveUS /jeld/
in a vehement outcry
From this reading He snatched the noose from his shoulders, slipped it over the end of the boom, and yelled an order, with all the strength of his lungs:
