used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then he realized that his crucial test was past and done.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The dial indicator began to move.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading The telephone bell rang noisily.
blurverbUS /blɜːr/
become glassy; lose clear vision
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Ralph sat motionless till he caught its whistle past the limits tower.
crucialadjectiveUS /ˈkruːʃəl/
of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
From this reading Then he realized that his crucial test was past and done.
curvenounUS /kɜːrv/
the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
dialnounUS /ˈdaɪəl/
the face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours
From this reading The dial indicator began to move.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Then he realized that his crucial test was past and done.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
moving swiftly
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ralph sat motionless till he caught its whistle past the limits tower.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then he realized that his crucial test was past and done.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
indicatornounUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtər/
a number or ratio (a value on a scale of measurement) derived from a series of observed facts; can reveal relative changes as a function of time
From this reading The dial indicator began to move.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Ralph sat motionless till he caught its whistle past the limits tower.
limitsnounUS /ˈlɪməts/
plural of “limit” — the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading Ralph sat motionless till he caught its whistle past the limits tower.
not in physical motion
From this reading Ralph sat motionless till he caught its whistle past the limits tower.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The dial indicator began to move.
noisilyadverbUS /ˈnɔɪzəli/
with much noise or loud and unpleasant sound
From this reading The telephone bell rang noisily.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Ralph sat motionless till he caught its whistle past the limits tower.
railsnounUS /reɪlz/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The telephone bell rang noisily.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Then he realized that his crucial test was past and done.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Ralph sat motionless till he caught its whistle past the limits tower.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
specknounUS /spek/
a very small spot
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading The telephone bell rang noisily.
testnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
From this reading Then he realized that his crucial test was past and done.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then he realized that his crucial test was past and done.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he realized that his crucial test was past and done.
up to a particular time
From this reading Ralph sat motionless till he caught its whistle past the limits tower.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As Ralph spoke the special was a blur as it passed the tower, a flying spot as it flashed to the in rails, a speck as it turned the curve.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading Ralph sat motionless till he caught its whistle past the limits tower.
