used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sergeant arose, surveying him with an appraising glance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
appraisingadjectiveUS /əˈpreɪzɪŋ/
exercising or involving careful evaluations
From this reading The sergeant arose, surveying him with an appraising glance.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading The sergeant arose, surveying him with an appraising glance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
blue-coated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two blue-coated policemen were in the living room talking with his mother.
boundedadjectiveUS /ˈbaʊndəd/
having the limits or boundaries established
From this reading He bounded down the stairway.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
cruisingverbUS /ˈkruːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “cruise” — drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
curbnounUS /kɜːrb/
an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter)
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
darkroomnounUS /ˈdɑːrkruːm/
a room in which photographs are developed
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He bounded down the stairway.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading The sergeant arose, surveying him with an appraising glance.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sergeant arose, surveying him with an appraising glance.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two blue-coated policemen were in the living room talking with his mother.
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Two blue-coated policemen were in the living room talking with his mother.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Two blue-coated policemen were in the living room talking with his mother.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
parkedadjectiveUS /pɑːrkt/
that have been left
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
policemennounUS /pəˈliːsmɪn/
plural of “policeman” — a member of a police force
From this reading Two blue-coated policemen were in the living room talking with his mother.
with speed
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Two blue-coated policemen were in the living room talking with his mother.
cut with a saw
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
only a very short time before
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading The sergeant arose, surveying him with an appraising glance.
in a serious manner
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading He bounded down the stairway.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
surveyingnounUS /sərˈveɪɪŋ/
the practice of measuring angles and distances on the ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a map
From this reading The sergeant arose, surveying him with an appraising glance.
carry out
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Two blue-coated policemen were in the living room talking with his mother.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two blue-coated policemen were in the living room talking with his mother.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two blue-coated policemen were in the living room talking with his mother.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Gazing from the window at the end of the hall he saw a police cruising car parked by the curb.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Two blue-coated policemen were in the living room talking with his mother.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Jimmy scarcely knew whether or not to take his sister seriously, but he quickly finished his work and stepped out of the darkroom.
