used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
AfricanadjectiveUS /ˈæfrəkən/
of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
bassnounUS /bæs/
the lowest part of the musical range
From this reading There are many kinds of drums from the deep bass to the high tenor.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
boomverbUS /buːm/
make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
carefully weighed
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
dancersnounUS /ˈdænsərz/
plural of “dancer” — a performer who dances professionally
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
dancesnounUS /ˈdænsəz/
plural of “dance” — an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading There are many kinds of drums from the deep bass to the high tenor.
drumnounUS /drʌm/
a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
drumsnounUS /drʌmz/
plural of “drum” — a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There are many kinds of drums from the deep bass to the high tenor.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
gamesnounUS /ɡeɪmz/
plural of “game” — a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading There are many kinds of drums from the deep bass to the high tenor.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
of great significance or value
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
INSTRUMENTSnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading There are many kinds of drums from the deep bass to the high tenor.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
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 There are many kinds of drums from the deep bass to the high tenor.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
MUSICALadjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
resounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
snapverbUS /snæp/
utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
not in physical motion
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
tenornounUS /ˈtenər/
the adult male singing voice above baritone
From this reading There are many kinds of drums from the deep bass to the high tenor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are beaten with the hands and on a still night the deep boom of the bass drum can be heard for miles interrupted by the short snap of the smaller ones.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I had intended to put this part into the chapter on games, but I thought I had better not, although the dance is considered a game by the African children.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
at the time that
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the hot season when the moon is full, the whole country side resounds with the beating of drums, and the shrill voices of the dancers are borne far on the warm night wind.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
but in spite of that
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE DANCE AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Now I am sure you have learned a great deal about the African people and their children, yet there are two important things I have not written about, and these are their dances and their musical instruments.
