used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading George was going to have a party!
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading _George Grows Up_ IT was not long before everybody knew all about it.
(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 _George Grows Up_ IT was not long before everybody knew all about it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Not an ordinary party, but a splendid one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
auntsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading _George Grows Up_ IT was not long before everybody knew all about it.
the two together, not just one
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not an ordinary party, but a splendid one.
cakesnounUS /keɪks/
plural of “cake” — a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
every person
From this reading _George Grows Up_ IT was not long before everybody knew all about it.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
fireworksnounUS /ˈfaɪrwɜːrks/
plural of “firework” — (usually plural) a device with an explosive that burns at a low rate and with colored flames; can be used to illuminate areas or send signals etc.
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading _George Grows Up_ IT was not long before everybody knew all about it.
George'snounUS /ˈdʒɔːrdʒəz/
possessive form of “george” — Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
the act of departing
From this reading George was going to have a party!
the father of your father or mother
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
grown-ups
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
GrowsverbUS /ɡroʊz/
third-person singular of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading _George Grows Up_ IT was not long before everybody knew all about it.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading George was going to have a party!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
invitationsnounUS /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “invitation” — a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _George Grows Up_ IT was not long before everybody knew all about it.
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading _George Grows Up_ IT was not long before everybody knew all about it.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
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 _George Grows Up_ IT was not long before everybody knew all about it.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
not any; not one
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _George Grows Up_ IT was not long before everybody knew all about it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Not an ordinary party, but a splendid one.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Not an ordinary party, but a splendid one.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading George was going to have a party!
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
in the near future
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading Not an ordinary party, but a splendid one.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
a special situation
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading George was going to have a party!
unclesnounUS /ˈʌŋkəlz/
plural of “uncle” — the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading _George Grows Up_ IT was not long before everybody knew all about it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _George Grows Up_ IT was not long before everybody knew all about it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
at the time that
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
which person or people
From this reading There were invitations for all George's friends, both boys and girls; for Grandfather, Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and all kinds of grown-ups who could help to hand round the tea and cakes and let off fireworks when it grew dark.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading George was quite ready to have the fireworks first thing in the morning as soon as he woke up; but Father said, "No!"
