used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
ballotsnounUS /ˈbæləts/
plural of “ballot” — a document listing the alternatives that is used in voting
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
boothsnounUS /buːθs/
plural of “booth” — a table (in a restaurant or bar) surrounded by two high-backed benches
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
BrucenounUS /bruːs/
Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
burstsnounUS /bɜːrsts/
plural of “burst” — the act of exploding or bursting
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now the normal noise was different.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
deliveringverbUS /dɪˈlɪvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading But now the normal noise was different.
domenounUS /doʊm/
a concave shape whose distinguishing characteristic is that the concavity faces downward
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
ELECTIONEERINGnounUS /ɪˌlekʃəˈnɪrɪŋ/
persuasion of voters in a political campaign
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
enclosedadjectiveUS /enˈkloʊzd/
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
hammeringnounUS /ˈhæmərɪŋ/
the act of pounding (delivering repeated heavy blows)
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
heavieradjectiveUS /ˈheviər/
comparative of “heavy” — of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
hushedadjectiveUS /hʌʃt/
in a softened tone
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
last-minuteadjectiveUS /ˌlæˈsmɪnət/
just before a deadline; at the last minute
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
most important element
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
NineteenthadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the eighteenth in position
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading But now the normal noise was different.
normaladjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrməl/
conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
being perceived or observed
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now the normal noise was different.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
precinctnounUS /ˈpriːsɪŋkt/
a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/
the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
relativenounUS /ˈrelətɪv/
a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
sensitiveadjectiveUS /ˈsensətɪv/
responsive to physical stimuli
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
having a supporting base
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ELECTIONEERING As Bruce Gordon came out from the precinct house, he noticed the sounds first.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
trucknounUS /trʌk/
an automotive vehicle suitable for hauling
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
undertonenounUS /ˈʌndərtoʊn/
a quiet or hushed tone of voice
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Under the huge dome that enclosed the main part of the city, the heavier air pressure permitted normal travel of sound; and he'd become sensitive to the voice of the city after the relative quiet of the Nineteenth Precinct.
VotingnounUS /ˈvoʊtɪŋ/
a choice that is made by counting the number of people in favor of each alternative
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But now the normal noise was different.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Voting booths were being finished here and there, and at one a small truck was delivering ballots.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading There was an undertone of hushed waiting, with the sharp bursts of hammering and last-minute work standing out sharply through it.
