used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They rushed into rapids and nearly plunged over falls.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
boilingnounUS /ˈbɔɪlɪŋ/
the application of heat to change something from a liquid to a gas
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
brinknounUS /brɪŋk/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But their speed greatly increased the danger.
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
canoesnounUS /kəˈnuːz/
plural of “canoe” — small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading But their speed greatly increased the danger.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)
From this reading They rushed into rapids and nearly plunged over falls.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading But their speed greatly increased the danger.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading But their speed greatly increased the danger.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They rushed into rapids and nearly plunged over falls.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
LewisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/
United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935)
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
loftyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfti/
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
the force of workers available
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
narrowlyadverbUS /ˈneroʊli/
in a narrow manner; not allowing for exceptions
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading They rushed into rapids and nearly plunged over falls.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
on one occasion
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They rushed into rapids and nearly plunged over falls.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading They rushed into rapids and nearly plunged over falls.
precipicenounUS /ˈpresəpəs/
a very steep cliff
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
rapidsnounUS /ˈræpədz/
plural of “rapid” — a part of a river where the current is very fast
From this reading They rushed into rapids and nearly plunged over falls.
rescuingverbUS /ˈreskjuːɪŋ/
-ing form of “rescue” — free from harm or evil
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
done under pressure
From this reading They rushed into rapids and nearly plunged over falls.
express in words
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
move hurridly
From this reading But their speed greatly increased the danger.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
swimverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
at the time that
From this reading When they were in their canoes, floating down this beautiful stream, they laughed to think how much easier it is to go down than to pull up against the current.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Once Lewis and one of the men, while climbing cliffs, slipped over the brink of a lofty precipice and narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
which person or people
From this reading One canoe ran upon a rock and they had a hard time rescuing from the boiling waters several men who, strange to say, could not swim.
