used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading But when they were alone it was quite a different matter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The birds had a way of moving on, at exactly the wrong moment.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when they were alone it was quite a different matter.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course they made some very funny mistakes, and at times grew quite discouraged.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading But when they were alone it was quite a different matter.
discouragedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskɜːrədʒd/
made less hopeful or enthusiastic
From this reading Of course they made some very funny mistakes, and at times grew quite discouraged.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading The birds had a way of moving on, at exactly the wrong moment.
a social unit living together
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading Of course they made some very funny mistakes, and at times grew quite discouraged.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Of course they made some very funny mistakes, and at times grew quite discouraged.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
ten 10s
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
hear with intention
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Of course they made some very funny mistakes, and at times grew quite discouraged.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But when they were alone it was quite a different matter.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
mistakesnounUS /mɪˈsteɪks/
plural of “mistake” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Of course they made some very funny mistakes, and at times grew quite discouraged.
a particular point in time
From this reading The birds had a way of moving on, at exactly the wrong moment.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
in motion
From this reading The birds had a way of moving on, at exactly the wrong moment.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
Nat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
not any; not one
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The birds had a way of moving on, at exactly the wrong moment.
OliveadjectiveUS /ˈɑːləv/
of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The birds had a way of moving on, at exactly the wrong moment.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
and nothing more
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
popverbUS /pɑːp/
bulge outward
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading But when they were alone it was quite a different matter.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
be seated
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Of course they made some very funny mistakes, and at times grew quite discouraged.
not in physical motion
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
carry out
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But when they were alone it was quite a different matter.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Of course they made some very funny mistakes, and at times grew quite discouraged.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
precisely as stated
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But when they were alone it was quite a different matter.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The birds had a way of moving on, at exactly the wrong moment.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But when they were alone it was quite a different matter.
at the time that
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading The birds had a way of moving on, at exactly the wrong moment.
