used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
AdnounUS /æd/
a public promotion of some product or service
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
at or in the front
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
Astra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
BryannounUS /ˈbraɪən/
United States lawyer and politician who advocated free silver and prosecuted John Scopes (1925) for teaching evolution in a Tennessee high school (1860-1925)
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
culminatingverbUS /ˈkʌlməneɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “culminate” — end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
dotnounUS /dɑːt/
a very small circular shape
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
ecstasynounUS /ˈekstəsi/
a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
grinningnounUS /ˈɡrɪnɪŋ/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
half-centurynoun
a period of 50 years
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The stars were his passion and his joy.
HughesnounUS /hjuːz/
English poet (born in 1930)
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading The stars were his passion and his joy.
kickedverbUS /kɪkt/
past form of “kick” — drive or propel with the foot
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
launchingnounUS /ˈlɔːntʃɪŋ/
the act of moving a newly built vessel into the water for the first time
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
impressiveness in scale or proportion
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
MarsnounUS /mɑːrz/
a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
motorsnounUS /ˈmoʊtərz/
plural of “motor” — machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
nominaladjectiveUS /ˈnɑːmənəl/
relating to or constituting or bearing or giving a name
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading The stars were his passion and his joy.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
retreatingverbUS /riˈtriːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
satellitenounUS /ˈsætəlaɪt/
man-made equipment that orbits around the earth or the moon
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
shutternounUS /ˈʃʌtər/
a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
without speaking
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The stars were his passion and his joy.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
studsnounUS /stʌdz/
plural of “stud” — a man who is virile and sexually active
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
having come into contact
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
universenounUS /ˈjuːnəvɜːrs/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was the culminating point of a half-century of preparation; behind them was the satellite launching station--ahead of them, a faint red dot, was Mars.
weaklyadverbUS /ˈwiːkli/
in a weak or feeble manner or to a minor degree
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The stars were his passion and his joy.
whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
From this reading The three crew members of the Ad Astra looked at one another, grinning weakly, in the whispering silence after the motors had kicked off.
WilliamsnounUS /ˈwɪljəmz/
United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Bryan, nominal head of the expedition, touched the shutter studs that opened their windows on the universe.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They stood silently, the three of them; Bryan and Hughes looking back at the majesty of the retreating Earth--Williams, rigid with ecstasy at the forward port.
