used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "You are quite right; it would be a terribly risky proceeding."
anew
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are quite right; it would be a terribly risky proceeding."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "You are quite right; it would be a terribly risky proceeding."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
boomverbUS /buːm/
make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "No, it does not sound tempting," said the major.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't want to go far.
echoingadjectiveUS /ˈekoʊɪŋ/
(of sounds) repeating by reflection
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading "I don't want to go far.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I don't want to go far.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't want to go far.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "You are quite right; it would be a terribly risky proceeding."
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
majoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, it does not sound tempting," said the major.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "No, it does not sound tempting," said the major.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
passagesnounUS /ˈpæsədʒəz/
plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
proceedingnounUS /prəˈsiːdɪŋ/
(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
From this reading "You are quite right; it would be a terribly risky proceeding."
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "You are quite right; it would be a terribly risky proceeding."
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
reverberationnounUS /riˌvɜːrbərˈeɪʃən/
the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "You are quite right; it would be a terribly risky proceeding."
riskyadjectiveUS /ˈrɪski/
involving risk or danger
From this reading "You are quite right; it would be a terribly risky proceeding."
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
in or at or to some place
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading "No, it does not sound tempting," said the major.
temptingadjectiveUS /ˈtemptɪŋ/
highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
From this reading "No, it does not sound tempting," said the major.
terriblyadverbUS /ˈterəbli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading "You are quite right; it would be a terribly risky proceeding."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "I don't want to go far.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading They listened, and this time there came a low boom and a roar as if there had been an explosion somewhere in the mountain, and the roar was the reverberation of the noise as it ran through endless passages and rocky ways echoing out to the light of day.
Widgeonnoun
freshwater duck of Eurasia and northern Africa related to mallards and teals
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Without the slightest chance of being shot out again, like Billy Widgeon!" said the major.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "You are quite right; it would be a terribly risky proceeding."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are quite right; it would be a terribly risky proceeding."
