used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A light wind ruffled the shining surface and dark-blue smears broke the silver reflections.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
blockedadjectiveUS /blɑːkt/
closed to traffic
From this reading Gravel and ties and rails had gone down, and two broken freight cars blocked a swollen creek.
lacking funds
From this reading A light wind ruffled the shining surface and dark-blue smears broke the silver reflections.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Gravel and ties and rails had gone down, and two broken freight cars blocked a swollen creek.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
carsnounUS /kɑːrz/
plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Gravel and ties and rails had gone down, and two broken freight cars blocked a swollen creek.
curvedadjectiveUS /kɜːrvd/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Not far from the engine the track was cut.
dark-blueadjective
of a dark shade of blue
From this reading A light wind ruffled the shining surface and dark-blue smears broke the silver reflections.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Gravel and ties and rails had gone down, and two broken freight cars blocked a swollen creek.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Not far from the engine the track was cut.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Not far from the engine the track was cut.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
freightnounUS /freɪt/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading Gravel and ties and rails had gone down, and two broken freight cars blocked a swollen creek.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Not far from the engine the track was cut.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Gravel and ties and rails had gone down, and two broken freight cars blocked a swollen creek.
GravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/
rock fragments and pebbles
From this reading Gravel and ties and rails had gone down, and two broken freight cars blocked a swollen creek.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Gravel and ties and rails had gone down, and two broken freight cars blocked a swollen creek.
ten 10s
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A light wind ruffled the shining surface and dark-blue smears broke the silver reflections.
locomotivenounUS /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not far from the engine the track was cut.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
piercedadjectiveUS /pɪrst/
having a hole cut through
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
pump's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
railsnounUS /reɪlz/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading Gravel and ties and rails had gone down, and two broken freight cars blocked a swollen creek.
reflectionsnounUS /rɪˈflekʃənz/
plural of “reflection” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading A light wind ruffled the shining surface and dark-blue smears broke the silver reflections.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
ruffledadjectiveUS /ˈrʌfəld/
shaken into waves or undulations as by wind
From this reading A light wind ruffled the shining surface and dark-blue smears broke the silver reflections.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading A light wind ruffled the shining surface and dark-blue smears broke the silver reflections.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading A light wind ruffled the shining surface and dark-blue smears broke the silver reflections.
smearsnounUS /smɪrz/
plural of “smear” — slanderous defamation
From this reading A light wind ruffled the shining surface and dark-blue smears broke the silver reflections.
sparkledverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəld/
past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
splashverbUS /splæʃ/
cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading A light wind ruffled the shining surface and dark-blue smears broke the silver reflections.
swollenadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Gravel and ties and rails had gone down, and two broken freight cars blocked a swollen creek.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
throbverbUS /θrɑːb/
pulsate or pound with abnormal force
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
tiesnounUS /taɪz/
plural of “tie” — neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading Gravel and ties and rails had gone down, and two broken freight cars blocked a swollen creek.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading Not far from the engine the track was cut.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Gravel and ties and rails had gone down, and two broken freight cars blocked a swollen creek.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Not far from the engine the track was cut.
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 For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A light wind ruffled the shining surface and dark-blue smears broke the silver reflections.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading A REST BY THE WAY Thunder rolled across the woods, but the lake sparkled in the sun.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading For three or four hundred yards the dusty cars curved along the bank, and the locomotive pump’s sharp throb pierced the languid splash of water.
