Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
a-glowering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
convex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
crisped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
draws
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
dried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
fierce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
flint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
focus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
grim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
handed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I wasn't thinking about that.
ignited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
lens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
Let's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
looks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
nicking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get out!" said Vince quickly.
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
puff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
quickly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get out!" said Vince quickly.
rapidly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
rays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
regularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
rough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
steel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
sun's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I wasn't thinking about that.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
tobacconounUS /ˈtobacco/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
Vince
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get out!" said Vince quickly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I wasn't thinking about that.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rough black pipe was filled, and the convex lens held so that the sun's rays were brought to a focus on the tobacco, which dried rapidly, crisped up, and soon began to smoke, when a few draws ignited the whole surface, and the man began to puff slowly and regularly as he handed back the glass.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Let's have it, then: save me nicking about with my flint and steel."
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "It's nothing a boy could do," he said, with one of his fierce, grim looks, "so don't you two get a-glowering at a pipe like that."
