used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "With both ears," Dave said, and took a squint out himself.
at or in the front
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "With both ears," Dave said, and took a squint out himself.
anti-aircraft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, hear those anti-aircraft guns?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
the two together, not just one
From this reading "With both ears," Dave said, and took a squint out himself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "With both ears," Dave said, and took a squint out himself.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading "With both ears," Dave said, and took a squint out himself.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
divisible by two
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading I say, hear those anti-aircraft guns?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Now what?" he murmured.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading I say, hear those anti-aircraft guns?"
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "With both ears," Dave said, and took a squint out himself.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I say, hear those anti-aircraft guns?"
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
and nothing more
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading "Now what?" he murmured.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now what?" he murmured.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "With both ears," Dave said, and took a squint out himself.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
pencil-thin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
pitchnounUS /pɪtʃ/
the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
rakingverbUS /ˈreɪkɪŋ/
-ing form of “rake” — move through with or as if with a rake
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "With both ears," Dave said, and took a squint out himself.
express in words
From this reading I say, hear those anti-aircraft guns?"
searchlightsnounUS /ˈsɜːrtʃlaɪts/
plural of “searchlight” — a light source with reflectors that projects a beam of light in a particular direction
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
squintverbUS /skwɪnt/
cross one's eyes as if in strabismus
From this reading "With both ears," Dave said, and took a squint out himself.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I say, hear those anti-aircraft guns?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading "With both ears," Dave said, and took a squint out himself.
hard to endure
From this reading By pressing close to the glass and trying to look in the direction of the engine, he could just barely see the long pencil-thin beams of searchlights raking the heavens far ahead.
we're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Now what?" he murmured.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "With both ears," Dave said, and took a squint out himself.
but in spite of that
From this reading "Dark as pitch outside, but I'm sure we're not even close to London yet.
