used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
brisklyadverbUS /ˈbrɪskli/
in a brisk manner
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
clangnounUS /klæŋ/
a loud resonant repeating noise
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
clickedverbUS /klɪkt/
past form of “click” — move or strike with a noise
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
CRASHINGadjectiveUS /ˈkræʃɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
crinkledadjective
uneven by virtue of having wrinkles or waves
From this reading He relaxed immediately and his face crinkled in a smile.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
elevatornounUS /ˈeləveɪtər/
lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
elevatorsnounUS /ˈeləveɪtərz/
plural of “elevator” — lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He relaxed immediately and his face crinkled in a smile.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading He relaxed immediately and his face crinkled in a smile.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
InternationaladjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈnæʃənəl/
concerning or belonging to all or at least two or more nations
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
immediately past
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
metallicadjectiveUS /məˈtælɪk/
containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
moment'snounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/
possessive form of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
officesnounUS /ˈɔːfəsəz/
plural of “office” — place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
and nothing more
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
relaxedadjectiveUS /rɪˈlækst/
without strain or anxiety
From this reading He relaxed immediately and his face crinkled in a smile.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
Skippy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He relaxed immediately and his face crinkled in a smile.
having a supporting base
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
tiledadjectiveUS /taɪld/
covered or furnished with tiles
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her high heels clicked briskly along the tiled floor and she looked neither to the right nor left, but hurried straight to the elevators.
typistnounUS /ˈtaɪpɪst/
someone paid to operate a typewriter
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Skippy, meanwhile, had backed down farther into the shadow and was standing on the landing, his slim body almost rigid against the cool wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
at the time that
From this reading CRASHING IN It was only a matter of seconds when the door of the International offices opened and the pretty typist stepped into the hall.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a moment's silence in which he stood tense, listening, until at last the metallic clang of the elevator door opening and closing echoed down to him.
