used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading There was no sign of life from the little group of buildings a mile away.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading There was no sign of life from the little group of buildings a mile away.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
conferredverbUS /kənˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “confer” — have a conference in order to talk something over
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
power to direct or determine
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
depopulatedadjective
having lost inhabitants as by war or disease
From this reading "Maybe Earth's depopulated, Tom," suggested John Gray, the executive officer.
dialsnounUS /ˈdaɪəlz/
plural of “dial” — the face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
Earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/
possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading "Maybe Earth's depopulated, Tom," suggested John Gray, the executive officer.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
executivenounUS /ɪɡˈzekjətɪv/
a person responsible for the administration of a business
From this reading "Maybe Earth's depopulated, Tom," suggested John Gray, the executive officer.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was no sign of life from the little group of buildings a mile away.
glaringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlerɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading "Maybe Earth's depopulated, Tom," suggested John Gray, the executive officer.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading There was no sign of life from the little group of buildings a mile away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading "Maybe Earth's depopulated, Tom," suggested John Gray, the executive officer.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
laboredadjectiveUS /ˈleɪbərd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading There was no sign of life from the little group of buildings a mile away.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was no sign of life from the little group of buildings a mile away.
by chance
From this reading "Maybe Earth's depopulated, Tom," suggested John Gray, the executive officer.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading There was no sign of life from the little group of buildings a mile away.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
needlesnounUS /ˈniːdəlz/
plural of “needle” — the leaf of a conifer
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no sign of life from the little group of buildings a mile away.
not one, and not any
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading "Maybe Earth's depopulated, Tom," suggested John Gray, the executive officer.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
rocketnounUS /ˈrɑːkət/
any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
round-nosed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
sandsnounUS /sændz/
the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading There was no sign of life from the little group of buildings a mile away.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
spaceport
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
starshipnounUS /ˈstɑːrʃɪp/
a spacecraft designed to carry a crew into interstellar space (especially in science fiction)
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
subtleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌtəl/
difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading "Maybe Earth's depopulated, Tom," suggested John Gray, the executive officer.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
techniciansnounUS /tekˈnɪʃənz/
plural of “technician” — someone whose occupation involves training in a specific technical process
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
techniquenounUS /tekˈniːk/
a practical method or art applied to some particular task
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
temperaturesnounUS /ˈtemprətʃərz/
plural of “temperature” — the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity)
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
male cat
From this reading "Maybe Earth's depopulated, Tom," suggested John Gray, the executive officer.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
tubenounUS /tuːb/
conduit consisting of a long hollow object (usually cylindrical) used to hold and conduct objects or liquids or gases
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Was it due to lack of knowledge and technique; or was there a more subtle, dangerous reason?_ The yellow sands of the spaceport stretched, glaring and empty, in every direction.
but in spite of that
From this reading _The people of Earth had every means of power at their command, yet they used none of it.
zeroadjectiveUS /ˈzɪroʊ/
indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration
From this reading In the control room of the tall, round-nosed starship, technicians labored and officers conferred while the red needles that showed rocket tube temperatures sank slowly toward zero on their dials.
