used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
adjustingverbUS /əˈdʒʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjust” — alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
(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 In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
brought into existence
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Exactly the same number of both!
a young person of either sex
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
costlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːstli/
entailing great loss or sacrifice
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading Exactly the same number of both!
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
finestadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəst/
superlative of “fine” — being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
immortaladjUS /ɪˈmɔːr.t̬əl/
Living forever; never dying or decaying. (Bất tử, trường tồn vĩnh cửu.)
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
instrumentsnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
engage in
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
milliardnoun
a billion
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Exactly the same number of both!
observatoriesnounUS /əbˈzɜːrvətɔːriz/
plural of “observatory” — a building designed and equipped to observe astronomical phenomena
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
photographicadjectiveUS /ˌfoʊtəˈɡræfɪk/
relating to photography or obtained by using photography
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
platesnounUS /pleɪts/
plural of “plate” — (baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
precisely, exactly
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Exactly the same number of both!
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
scientistsnounUS /ˈsaɪəntɪsts/
plural of “scientist” — a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
carry out
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
talentedadjectiveUS /ˈtæləntɪd/
endowed with talent or talents
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
look attentively
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading A CHILD IS BORN There are a milliard and a half of stars in the heavens, and--as far as we know--a milliard and a half of human beings on the earth.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They watch and take photographic plates, their whole life taken up with the one idea: to make themselves immortal with having discovered a new star.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading In hundreds of costly observatories all over the world, on plain and mountain, talented scientists are adjusting the finest instruments and peering out into the heavens.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading One would almost think the old saying was right,--that every human being was born under his own star.
