used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
take in solid food
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
go away from a place
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
micenounUS /maɪs/
plural of “mouse” — any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
and nothing more
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
OwlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
OwlsnounUS /aʊlz/
plural of “owl” — nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
by chance
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
photographverbUS /ˈfoʊtəɡræf/
record on photographic film
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
pigeon-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
Tommy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
Tommy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
tribenounUS /traɪb/
a social division of (usually preliterate) people
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
verminnounUS /ˈvɜːrmɪn/
an irritating or obnoxious person
From this reading “Probably looking for mice or other vermin, or perhaps shelter,” said Gray Lady, “for though they sometimes eat large game, mice or smaller animals are easier food for a tribe of Owls that sometimes grow only six inches high and never to a foot in length.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “But if they are good birds, what was the red one doing in Tommy’s pigeon-house?” asked Dave.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading “The Owls are beginning to notice us, and I do not wish them to be driven away until I have had a chance to photograph them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “We would better go in now,” said Gray Lady, after they had watched for a few moments.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Leave the box there, Tommy; with all this noise your Owl cannot be expected to come out before night.”
