used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
broodverbUS /bruːd/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
brooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
callowadjectiveUS /ˈkæloʊ/
young and inexperienced
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
DAMEnounUS /deɪm/
informal terms for a (young) woman
From this reading DAME DUCK'S FIRST LECTURE ON EDUCATION.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
DuckverbUS /dʌk/
to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
DUCK'SnounUS /dʌks/
possessive form of “duck” — small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
From this reading DAME DUCK'S FIRST LECTURE ON EDUCATION.
ducklingsnounUS /ˈdʌklɪŋz/
plural of “duckling” — flesh of a young domestic duck
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading DAME DUCK'S FIRST LECTURE ON EDUCATION.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading DAME DUCK'S FIRST LECTURE ON EDUCATION.
floatverbUS /floʊt/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
hatchedadjectiveUS /hætʃt/
emerged from an egg
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
LECTUREverbUS /ˈlektʃər/
deliver a lecture or talk
From this reading DAME DUCK'S FIRST LECTURE ON EDUCATION.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
marginnounUS /ˈmɑːrdʒən/
the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
moatnounUS /moʊt/
ditch dug as a fortification and usually filled with water
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
mottledadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːtəld/
having spots or patches of color
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
nestnounUS /nest/
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading DAME DUCK'S FIRST LECTURE ON EDUCATION.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
runsnounUS /rʌnz/
plural of “run” — a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
sedges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
SERIESnounUS /ˈsɪriz/
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading UNCLE TOBY'S SERIES.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
TOBY'SnounUS /ˈtoʊbiz/
possessive form of “toby” — a drinking mug in the shape of a stout man wearing a three-cornered hat
From this reading UNCLE TOBY'S SERIES.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading UNCLE TOBY'S SERIES.
water-lilies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
in or at the place that
From this reading There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves, And water-lilies float.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
witheredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərd/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading Close by the margin of the brook, The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass, And down from her own breast.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow: Their little wings are short, their down Is mottled gray and yellow.
