used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She clapped her hands and danced about the room as Gene opened one after another.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She clapped her hands and danced about the room as Gene opened one after another.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She clapped her hands and danced about the room as Gene opened one after another.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading She clapped her hands and danced about the room as Gene opened one after another.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
blottingverbUS /ˈblɑːtɪŋ/
inflected form of “blot” — dry (ink) with blotting paper
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
boltsnounUS /boʊlts/
plural of “bolt” — a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading BUSY DAYS.
calendarnounUS /ˈkæləndər/
a system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
cardboardnounUS /ˈkɑːrdbɔːrd/
a stiff moderately thick paper
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
clappedverbUS /klæpt/
inflected form of “clap” — put quickly or forcibly
From this reading She clapped her hands and danced about the room as Gene opened one after another.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
coloredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
crayolas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
crepenounUS /kreɪp/
paper with a crinkled texture; usually colored and used for decorations
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
dancedverbUS /dænst/
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading She clapped her hands and danced about the room as Gene opened one after another.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading BUSY DAYS.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
GenenounUS /dʒiːn/
(genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading She clapped her hands and danced about the room as Gene opened one after another.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
hollynounUS /ˈhɑːli/
any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex having red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
a room where books are kept
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She clapped her hands and danced about the room as Gene opened one after another.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She clapped her hands and danced about the room as Gene opened one after another.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
outlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
packagenounUS /ˈpækədʒ/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
packagesnounUS /ˈpækədʒəz/
plural of “package” — a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
padsnounUS /pædz/
plural of “pad” — a number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
paintsnounUS /peɪnts/
plural of “paint” — a substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a surface (especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a liquid); dries to form a hard coating
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
ribbonnounUS /ˈrɪbən/
any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
rollsnounUS /roʊlz/
plural of “roll” — rotary motion of an object around its own axis
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She clapped her hands and danced about the room as Gene opened one after another.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
shoppingnounUS /ˈʃɑːpɪŋ/
searching for or buying goods or services
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
spools
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
spraysnounUS /spreɪz/
plural of “spray” — a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
make square
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
very small
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
on a floor above
From this reading The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
at the time that
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
a Caucasian
From this reading There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored with paints or crayolas.
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 Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her shopping trip with her arms filled with packages--long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones.
