used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
(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 WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
the act of burning something
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
canonnounUS /ˈkænən/
a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field of art or philosophy
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
canon'snounUS /ˈkænənz/
possessive form of “canon” — a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field of art or philosophy
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
rid of obstructions
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
cliffnounUS /klɪf/
a steep high face of rock
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
creeknounUS /kriːk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
disappearingnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrɪŋ/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
dwindledverbUS /ˈdwɪndəld/
past form of “dwindle” — become smaller or lose substance
From this reading The stream dwindled slowly, imperceptibly.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
exploredverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrd/
past form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
furnacenounUS /ˈfɜːrnəs/
an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
destroyed or killed
From this reading WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
grottonounUS /ˈɡrɑːtoʊ/
a small cave (usually with attractive features)
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
imperceptiblyadverbUS /ˌɪmpərˈseptɪbli/
in an imperceptible manner or to an imperceptible degree
From this reading The stream dwindled slowly, imperceptibly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
not one, and not any
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
being perceived or observed
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
prospectornounUS /ˈprɔːspektər/
someone who explores an area for mineral deposits
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
riddenverbUS /ˈrɪdən/
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
get by special effort
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
shadedadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪdɪd/
protected from heat and light with shade or shadow
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The stream dwindled slowly, imperceptibly.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
springingverbUS /ˈsprɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
spurtverbUS /spɜːrt/
gush forth in a sudden stream or jet
From this reading One morning the prospector noticed it, and immediately explored the creek clear to its source--a spurt of water springing from the roof of a grotto in the cliff.
not in physical motion
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading None had ridden out to look for him through that furnace of burning sand that stretched between the hills and the desert town.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
water-holes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading WATER All round him for miles each way the water-holes had gone dry.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading The little canon stream still wound down its shaded course, disappearing in a patch of sand at the canon's mouth, so the prospector felt secure.
