used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
the act of breaking something
From this reading The colonel frowned, his sunburned face breaking into sharp, diagonal lines.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading The courier plane was used only in cases requiring utmost secrecy.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
cloudlessadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
couriernounUS /ˈkɜːriər/
a person who carries a message
From this reading It was the courier ship from Washington.
dartlike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
diagonaladjectiveUS /daɪˈæɡənəl/
connecting two nonadjacent corners of a plane figure or any two corners of a solid that are not in the same face
From this reading The colonel frowned, his sunburned face breaking into sharp, diagonal lines.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The colonel frowned, his sunburned face breaking into sharp, diagonal lines.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was the courier ship from Washington.
frownedverbUS /fraʊnd/
past form of “frown” — look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading The colonel frowned, his sunburned face breaking into sharp, diagonal lines.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The colonel frowned, his sunburned face breaking into sharp, diagonal lines.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the courier ship from Washington.
jetnounUS /dʒet/
an airplane powered by one or more jet engines
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
jetsnounUS /dʒets/
plural of “jet” — an airplane powered by one or more jet engines
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The colonel frowned, his sunburned face breaking into sharp, diagonal lines.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
and nothing more
From this reading The courier plane was used only in cases requiring utmost secrecy.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
parkingnounUS /ˈpɑːrkɪŋ/
space in which vehicles can be parked
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading The courier plane was used only in cases requiring utmost secrecy.
poisedadjectiveUS /pɔɪzd/
marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
requiringverbUS /riˈkwaɪərɪŋ/
-ing form of “require” — require as useful, just, or proper
From this reading The courier plane was used only in cases requiring utmost secrecy.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
runwaynounUS /ˈrʌnweɪ/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
runwaysnounUS /ˈrʌnweɪz/
plural of “runway” — a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
secrecynounUS /ˈsiːkrəsi/
the trait of keeping things secret
From this reading The courier plane was used only in cases requiring utmost secrecy.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The colonel frowned, his sunburned face breaking into sharp, diagonal lines.
transport commercially
From this reading It was the courier ship from Washington.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
sun-washed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
sunburnedadjectiveUS /ˈsʌnbɜːrnd/
suffering from overexposure to direct sunlight
From this reading The colonel frowned, his sunburned face breaking into sharp, diagonal lines.
swoopedverbUS /swuːpt/
past form of “swoop” — move down on as if in an attack
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
tintedverbUS /ˈtɪntɪd/
past form of “tint” — color lightly
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The courier plane was used only in cases requiring utmost secrecy.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading The courier plane was used only in cases requiring utmost secrecy.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the courier ship from Washington.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading It was the courier ship from Washington.
wheeledadjectiveUS /wiːld/
having wheels; often used in combination
From this reading A red and blue jet swooped down out of the brilliant, cloudless sky and shot along the runway, wheeled and rolled back toward the parking strip.
in or at the place that
From this reading Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
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 Lieutenant Colonel Martin sat back in his hard desk chair and looked out through the tinted window to where the slim, dartlike jets waited, poised on the sun-washed runways.
