used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
ALLIGATORSnounUS /ˈæləɡeɪtərz/
plural of “alligator” — leather made from alligator's hide
From this reading FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What has happened?" she asked.
bangingnounUS /ˈbæŋɪŋ/
a continuing very loud noise
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.
cakenounUS /keɪk/
a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
crashverbUS /kræʃ/
fall or come down violently
From this reading "What was that crash?"
crashingadjectiveUS /ˈkræʃɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
FEEDINGnounUS /ˈfiːdɪŋ/
the act of consuming food
From this reading FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
forksnounUS /fɔːrks/
plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
hammersnounUS /ˈhæmərz/
plural of “hammer” — the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "What has happened?" she asked.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What has happened?" she asked.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.
ironingnounUS /ˈaɪərnɪŋ/
garments (clothes or linens) that are to be (or have been) ironed
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.
knivesnounUS /naɪvz/
plural of “knife” — edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.
nailsnounUS /neɪlz/
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
and nothing more
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
pansnounUS /pænz/
plural of “pan” — cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
pienounUS /paɪ/
dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
rattlingnounUS /ˈrætlɪŋ/
a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What has happened?" she asked.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
smalleradjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːlər/
small or little relative to something else
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
stepladdernounUS /ˈsteplædər/
a folding portable ladder hinged at the top
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "What was that crash?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS Mrs. Brown came hurrying into the kitchen from the living room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It needed only one look to show her what had happened and what had caused the rattling, banging, crashing sound.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What was that crash?"
washboiler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On the floor, over and around the two chairs and the large ironing board, were the smaller board, the stepladder, the washboiler, two hammers, a lot of nails, many bread, cake, and pie pans, and some knives and forks.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What has happened?" she asked.
