used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CHUNKY’S NEW TRICK Chunky thought the circus was a very queer place.
(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 All he knew was that he had been brought to the circus.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All he knew was that he had been brought to the circus.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading All he knew was that he had been brought to the circus.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
ChunkyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃʌŋki/
like or containing small sticky lumps
From this reading CHUNKY’S NEW TRICK Chunky thought the circus was a very queer place.
CHUNKY'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHUNKY’S NEW TRICK Chunky thought the circus was a very queer place.
circusnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəs/
a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals
From this reading CHUNKY’S NEW TRICK Chunky thought the circus was a very queer place.
clownsnounUS /klaʊnz/
plural of “clown” — a rude or vulgar fool
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course Chunky knew nothing of that.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
hipponounUS /ˈhɪpoʊ/
an ancient Numidian town in northwestern Africa adjoining present-day Annaba in northeastern Algeria
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Of course Chunky knew nothing of that.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
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 When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
the force of workers available
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading CHUNKY’S NEW TRICK Chunky thought the circus was a very queer place.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Of course Chunky knew nothing of that.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course Chunky knew nothing of that.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
pitchedadjectiveUS /pɪtʃt/
(of sound) set to a certain pitch or key; usually used as a combining form
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading CHUNKY’S NEW TRICK Chunky thought the circus was a very queer place.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading CHUNKY’S NEW TRICK Chunky thought the circus was a very queer place.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
tentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of course Chunky knew nothing of that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CHUNKY’S NEW TRICK Chunky thought the circus was a very queer place.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading CHUNKY’S NEW TRICK Chunky thought the circus was a very queer place.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
trapezes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading CHUNKY’S NEW TRICK Chunky thought the circus was a very queer place.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
hard to endure
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
precisely as stated
From this reading CHUNKY’S NEW TRICK Chunky thought the circus was a very queer place.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CHUNKY’S NEW TRICK Chunky thought the circus was a very queer place.
look attentively
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
at the time that
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
in or at the place that
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When the cage, on wheels, in which he was kept, was drawn up for the first time on the lot where the circus tent was pitched, the happy hippo thought he had never before seen so many people.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There was a big crowd trying to get in the tents to look at the animals, watch the men and women ride horses around the ring, jump from the trapezes, and see the clowns do their funny tricks.
