used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
(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 All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
alternativeadjectiveUS /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪv/
serving or used in place of another
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
cam-shafts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
ChannelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
circuitnounUS /ˈsɜːrkət/
an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
divedverbUS /daɪvd/
past form of “dive” — drop steeply
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
EngineernounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/
a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
yet to be or coming
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
the act of departing
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
Half-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
hydroplanenoun
an airplane that can land on or take off from water
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
Morro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
on one occasion
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
renewedadjectiveUS /rɪˈnuːd/
restored to a new condition
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
replacedverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪst/
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
cut with a saw
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
submarinenounUS /ˈsʌbməriːn/
a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
in or at that place or location
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
ticklishadjectiveUS /ˈtɪkəlɪʃ/
difficult to handle; requiring great tact
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
torpedo-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
washersnounUS /ˈwɑːʃərz/
plural of “washer” — someone who washes things for a living
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
