used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After breakfast the little party went out upon the broad veranda.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Between the ranch and the chaparral a herd of several hundred cattle were feeding.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading After breakfast the little party went out upon the broad veranda.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading After breakfast the little party went out upon the broad veranda.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading Between the ranch and the chaparral a herd of several hundred cattle were feeding.
chaparralnounUS /ˌʃæpərˈæl/
dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
clumpsnounUS /klʌmps/
plural of “clump” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
dotnounUS /dɑːt/
a very small circular shape
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/
a wide scope
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
feedingnounUS /ˈfiːdɪŋ/
the act of consuming food
From this reading Between the ranch and the chaparral a herd of several hundred cattle were feeding.
genuineadjectiveUS /ˈdʒenjəwən/
not fake or counterfeit
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
herdnounUS /hɜːrd/
a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans
From this reading Between the ranch and the chaparral a herd of several hundred cattle were feeding.
hotteradjectiveUS /ˈhɑːtər/
comparative of “hot” — used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
ten 10s
From this reading Between the ranch and the chaparral a herd of several hundred cattle were feeding.
illimitableadjective
without limits in extent or size or quantity
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
irregularadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈreɡjələr/
contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
jack-oaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
set afire or burning
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
lighternounUS /ˈlaɪtər/
a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading After breakfast the little party went out upon the broad veranda.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
mesquitenounUS /ˈmeskiːt/
any of several small spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Prosopis having small flowers in axillary cylindrical spikes followed by large pods rich in sugar
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading After breakfast the little party went out upon the broad veranda.
outlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading After breakfast the little party went out upon the broad veranda.
polkanounUS /ˈpoʊlkɑː/
music performed for dancing the polka
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading Between the ranch and the chaparral a herd of several hundred cattle were feeding.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
uttered with a trill
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Between the ranch and the chaparral a herd of several hundred cattle were feeding.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
slantingadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
not in physical motion
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
stuntedadjectiveUS /ˈstʌntɪd/
inferior in size or quality
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After breakfast the little party went out upon the broad veranda.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
thicketnounUS /ˈθɪkɪt/
a dense growth of bushes
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
up to a particular time
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading After breakfast the little party went out upon the broad veranda.
verandanounUS /vərˈændə/
a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)
From this reading After breakfast the little party went out upon the broad veranda.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sun was still red, but it was growing smaller and hotter as it mounted into the sky.
wavyadjectiveUS /ˈweɪvi/
(of hair) having waves
From this reading Its slanting rays lighted up a rolling prairie, illimitable in expanse and stretching away till its irregular, wavy outline was marked against the sky.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading After breakfast the little party went out upon the broad veranda.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Between the ranch and the chaparral a herd of several hundred cattle were feeding.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Now and then, miles away, small clumps of stunted jack-oaks or mesquite made dark green polka dot spots on the lighter color of the grass, while far away lay a genuine chaparral thicket.
