used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As for the river, that, too, had freed itself, and its muddy current was rising inch by inch.
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
bondsnounUS /bɑːndz/
plural of “bond” — an electrical force linking atoms
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The snow was entirely gone from the lowlands, melted by the breath of the chinook.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The snow was entirely gone from the lowlands, melted by the breath of the chinook.
chinooknounUS /ʃɪˈnʊk/
a warm dry wind blowing down the eastern slopes of the Rockies
From this reading The snow was entirely gone from the lowlands, melted by the breath of the chinook.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
creepverbUS /kriːp/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading As for the river, that, too, had freed itself, and its muddy current was rising inch by inch.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The snow was entirely gone from the lowlands, melted by the breath of the chinook.
apart from; not including
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST PROSPECT-HOLE It was now the first week in May.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As for the river, that, too, had freed itself, and its muddy current was rising inch by inch.
freedverbUS /friːd/
past form of “free” — grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading As for the river, that, too, had freed itself, and its muddy current was rising inch by inch.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The snow was entirely gone from the lowlands, melted by the breath of the chinook.
the act of giving
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The snow was entirely gone from the lowlands, melted by the breath of the chinook.
gulliesnounUS /ˈɡʌliz/
plural of “gully” — deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
heightsnounUS /haɪts/
a high place
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
ice-cakes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FIRST PROSPECT-HOLE It was now the first week in May.
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading As for the river, that, too, had freed itself, and its muddy current was rising inch by inch.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE FIRST PROSPECT-HOLE It was now the first week in May.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading As for the river, that, too, had freed itself, and its muddy current was rising inch by inch.
lesseradjectiveUS /ˈlesər/
of less size or importance
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
lowlandsnounUS /ˈloʊlændz/
the southern part of Scotland that is not mountainous
From this reading The snow was entirely gone from the lowlands, melted by the breath of the chinook.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading THE FIRST PROSPECT-HOLE It was now the first week in May.
meltedadjectiveUS /ˈmeltəd/
changed from a solid to a liquid state
From this reading The snow was entirely gone from the lowlands, melted by the breath of the chinook.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading As for the river, that, too, had freed itself, and its muddy current was rising inch by inch.
not any; not one
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
normaladjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrməl/
conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE FIRST PROSPECT-HOLE It was now the first week in May.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The snow was entirely gone from the lowlands, melted by the breath of the chinook.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
overflowedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈfloʊd/
past form of “overflow” — flow or run over (a limit or brim)
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
PROSPECT-HOLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST PROSPECT-HOLE It was now the first week in May.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading As for the river, that, too, had freed itself, and its muddy current was rising inch by inch.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading As for the river, that, too, had freed itself, and its muddy current was rising inch by inch.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The snow was entirely gone from the lowlands, melted by the breath of the chinook.
snow-line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
in the near future
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
strandingverbUS /ˈstrændɪŋ/
-ing form of “strand” — leave stranded or isolated with little hope of rescue
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
streakedadjectiveUS /striːkt/
marked with or as if with stripes or linear discolorations
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
swollenadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As for the river, that, too, had freed itself, and its muddy current was rising inch by inch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST PROSPECT-HOLE It was now the first week in May.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the mountains they could almost see the snow-line creep higher and higher each day, and soon on the lesser heights no snow remained except in the gullies, giving to the mountains a streaked aspect.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading As for the river, that, too, had freed itself, and its muddy current was rising inch by inch.
two times
From this reading The creek was swollen to twice its normal size, and had overflowed its banks in many places, bursting its icy bonds and stranding the ice-cakes high among the bushes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FIRST PROSPECT-HOLE It was now the first week in May.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE FIRST PROSPECT-HOLE It was now the first week in May.
