adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At once it bursts out into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
blossomverbUS /ˈblɑːsəm/
produce or yield flowers
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
burstsnounUS /bɜːrsts/
plural of “burst” — the act of exploding or bursting
From this reading At once it bursts out into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
calyxnounUS /ˈkælɪks/
(botany) the whorl of sepals of a flower collectively forming the outer floral envelope or layer of the perianth enclosing and supporting the developing bud; usually green
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
cereusnoun
genus of much-branched treelike or shrubby cacti with pronounced ribs and rounded needlelike spines and nocturnal flowers usually white
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
diesnounUS /daɪz/
plural of “die” — a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is why it does so.
flowernounUS /ˈflaʊər/
a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
fragrancenounUS /ˈfreɪɡrəns/
a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading At once it bursts out into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
funnyadjectiveUS /ˈfʌni/
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading At once it bursts out into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
givingnounUS /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/
the act of giving
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
holdsnounUS /hoʊldz/
plural of “hold” — the act of grasping
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At once it bursts out into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is why it does so.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This is why it does so.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading At once it bursts out into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
listenverbUS /ˈlɪsən/
hear with intention
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
looseadjectiveUS /luːs/
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
night-blooming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
noisenounUS /nɔɪz/
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading At once it bursts out into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading At once it bursts out into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At once it bursts out into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
performancenounUS /pərˈfɔːrməns/
a dramatic or musical entertainment
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
petalsnounUS /ˈpetəlz/
plural of “petal” — part of the perianth that is usually brightly colored
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
pop-gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once it bursts out into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This is why it does so.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
sweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
turnsnounUS /tɜːrnz/
plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/
look attentively
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The little calyx holds the petals in such a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose.
whynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading This is why it does so.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At once it bursts out into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange performance.
