used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
(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 Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Presently up ran another squirrel, carrying a great mouthful of leaves and clay.
ArcticnounUS /ˈɑːrktɪk/
the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Presently up ran another squirrel, carrying a great mouthful of leaves and clay.
claynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading Presently up ran another squirrel, carrying a great mouthful of leaves and clay.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
CreepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
provide as food
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Presently up ran another squirrel, carrying a great mouthful of leaves and clay.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
an opening into or through something
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
holesnounUS /hoʊlz/
plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
a unit of instruction
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
mousenounUS /maʊs/
any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
mouthfulnounUS /ˈmaʊθfʊl/
the quantity that can be held in the mouth
From this reading Presently up ran another squirrel, carrying a great mouthful of leaves and clay.
being perceived or observed
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
nutsadjectiveUS /nʌts/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
in the near future
From this reading Presently up ran another squirrel, carrying a great mouthful of leaves and clay.
with low volume
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
rambles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Presently up ran another squirrel, carrying a great mouthful of leaves and clay.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
squirrelnounUS /ˈskwɜːrəl/
a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
From this reading Presently up ran another squirrel, carrying a great mouthful of leaves and clay.
squirrel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
squirrelsnounUS /ˈskwɜːrəlz/
plural of “squirrel” — a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
male cat
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading For high up in the trunk of an old tree was a big round hole with a squirrel's tail hanging out.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
being of use or service
From this reading Creeping all alone one morning through the bushes, as quietly as a mouse, Tom came upon a sight which taught him a useful lesson.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In their rambles through this little Arctic fairy land, Tom noticed that the squirrels were now busy every day running away to their holes with nuts and leaves.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Of course they might have young ones to feed, he thought; but surely it was something more than this which made them act thus.
