used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
ABOUTprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Besides, they kill the insects that harm us.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
biteverbUS /baɪt/
to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading I saw a spider’s web once full of mosquitoes, and you know what worrying little pests they are.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading Besides, they kill the insects that harm us.
be the source of pain
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
insectsnounUS /ˈɪnsekts/
plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading Besides, they kill the insects that harm us.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading Besides, they kill the insects that harm us.
killsnounUS /kɪlz/
plural of “kill” — the act of terminating a life
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I saw a spider’s web once full of mosquitoes, and you know what worrying little pests they are.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I saw a spider’s web once full of mosquitoes, and you know what worrying little pests they are.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
mosquitoesnounUS /məˈskiːtoʊz/
plural of “mosquito” — two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals
From this reading I saw a spider’s web once full of mosquitoes, and you know what worrying little pests they are.
not any; not one
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
on one occasion
From this reading I saw a spider’s web once full of mosquitoes, and you know what worrying little pests they are.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
paralyses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
pestsnounUS /pests/
plural of “pest” — a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal
From this reading I saw a spider’s web once full of mosquitoes, and you know what worrying little pests they are.
poisonverbUS /ˈpɔɪzən/
spoil as if by poison
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
cut with a saw
From this reading I saw a spider’s web once full of mosquitoes, and you know what worrying little pests they are.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
spidernounUS /ˈspaɪdər/
predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
spider's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw a spider’s web once full of mosquitoes, and you know what worrying little pests they are.
spidersnounUS /ˈspaɪdərz/
plural of “spider” — predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
stingverbUS /stɪŋ/
cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
substantialadjectiveUS /səbˈstænʃəl/
of considerable importance, size, or worth
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
precisely as stated
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was glad to see so many caught, but sorry for the spider, as they didn’t look a very substantial meal.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
webnounUS /web/
an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading I saw a spider’s web once full of mosquitoes, and you know what worrying little pests they are.
WEBSnounUS /webz/
plural of “web” — an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I saw a spider’s web once full of mosquitoes, and you know what worrying little pests they are.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
worryingnounUS /ˈwɜːriɪŋ/
the act of harassing someone
From this reading I saw a spider’s web once full of mosquitoes, and you know what worrying little pests they are.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There is no reason why we should fear them, for they don’t bite or sting us; and if they did the poison that paralyses and kills their prey would not hurt us.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ABOUT WEBS I don’t believe you are feeling a bit afraid of spiders now, are you?
