used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
(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 Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
the act of burning something
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
cloudlessadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
crackedadjectiveUS /krækt/
used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
divisible by two
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
furnacenounUS /ˈfɜːrnəs/
an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
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 REAPING THE WHIRLWIND The weather was uncommonly hot.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
languidlyadverb
in a languid and lethargic manner
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
parchedadjectiveUS /pɑːrtʃt/
dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
pitilessadjectiveUS /ˈpɪtiləs/
without mercy or pity
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
REAPINGverbUS /ˈriːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “reap” — gather, as of natural products
From this reading REAPING THE WHIRLWIND The weather was uncommonly hot.
seamedadjective
having or joined by a seam or seams
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading REAPING THE WHIRLWIND The weather was uncommonly hot.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
thrice-heated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
tropicsnounUS /ˈtrɑːpɪks/
the part of the Earth's surface between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; characterized by a hot climate
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
uncommonlyadverbUS /ˌʌnˈkɑːmənli/
exceptionally
From this reading REAPING THE WHIRLWIND The weather was uncommonly hot.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading REAPING THE WHIRLWIND The weather was uncommonly hot.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading REAPING THE WHIRLWIND The weather was uncommonly hot.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For weeks the sun had been blazing in a cloudless sky, as it did in the tropics, and the earth was parched for want of rain.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Animals and human beings went languidly about their business and longed all day for the cool night hours.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
at the time that
From this reading Not that it was particularly cool even when the twilight came, but it was something to escape the pitiless blue sky and the burning sun.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
WHIRLWINDnounUS /ˈwɜːrlwɪnd/
a more or less vertical column of air whirling around itself as it moves over the surface of the Earth
From this reading REAPING THE WHIRLWIND The weather was uncommonly hot.
wiltedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪltɪd/
(of plants) limp due to heat, loss of water, or disease
From this reading Everywhere it was seamed and cracked; everywhere the grass was brown and the trees were wilted, while the air was like the thrice-heated breath of a furnace.
