used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading What did you do?_ It is against the law to burn a building, even if it is nothing but an old barn.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading What did you do?_ It is against the law to burn a building, even if it is nothing but an old barn.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading What did you do?_ It is against the law to burn a building, even if it is nothing but an old barn.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading What did you do?_ It is against the law to burn a building, even if it is nothing but an old barn.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading In the city?_ _Describe it.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
damagenounUS /ˈdæmədʒ/
the occurrence of a change for the worse
From this reading What damage did it do?
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
give a description of
From this reading In the city?_ _Describe it.
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What damage did it do?
divisible by two
From this reading What did you do?_ It is against the law to burn a building, even if it is nothing but an old barn.
at any time
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
extinguishedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
of a conditioned response; caused to die out because of the absence or withdrawal of reinforcement
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
start firing a weapon
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading What did you do?_ It is against the law to burn a building, even if it is nothing but an old barn.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading What did you do?_ It is against the law to burn a building, even if it is nothing but an old barn.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
not any; not one
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
not one thing; not anything
From this reading What did you do?_ It is against the law to burn a building, even if it is nothing but an old barn.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
have ownership or possession of
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What damage did it do?
in or at the place that
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading _Why is it dangerous to burn any building, no matter how old or useless it is?_ _Did you ever see a big fire in the country?
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading How was it extinguished?_ _Have you read in the newspaper about any big fires recently?_ _Where were they, and how were they caused?_ _Was your own house ever on fire?
