used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
anew
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
chartnounUS /tʃɑːrt/
a visual display of information
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
checksnounUS /tʃeks/
plural of “check” — a written order directing a bank to pay money
From this reading "Well," said Morgan, "it checks.
clickverbUS /klɪk/
move or strike with a noise
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
computedverbUS /kəmˈpjuːtəd/
past form of “compute” — make a mathematical calculation or computation
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
conditionernounUS /kənˈdɪʃənər/
exercise that conditions the body
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
coolingnounUS /ˈkuːlɪŋ/
the process of becoming cooler; a falling temperature
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
placed crosswise
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
Earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/
possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading We'll pass within fifty feet of the other satellite.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading We'll pass within fifty feet of the other satellite.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
the force of workers available
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
microswitches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
a particular point in time
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
MorgannounUS /ˈmɔːrɡən/
United States anthropologist who studied the Seneca (1818-1881)
From this reading "Well," said Morgan, "it checks.
motorsnounUS /ˈmoʊtərz/
plural of “motor” — machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
not any; not one
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
on one occasion
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
orbitnounUS /ˈɔːrbət/
the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading We'll pass within fifty feet of the other satellite.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
go across or through
From this reading We'll pass within fifty feet of the other satellite.
perilousadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
pulsingnounUS /ˈpʌlsɪŋ/
(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
purrverbUS /pɜːr/
make a soft swishing sound
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well," said Morgan, "it checks.
satellitenounUS /ˈsætəlaɪt/
man-made equipment that orbits around the earth or the moon
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
the act of searching for something
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
smooth-running
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
TheirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
throbverbUS /θrɑːb/
pulsate or pound with abnormal force
From this reading The deep pulsing throb of the air conditioner had stopped: the satellite was in the Earth's shadow and there was no need for cooling the interior.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was quiet in the satellite, a busy quiet broken by the click of seeking microswitches and the gentle purr of smooth-running motors.
We'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We'll pass within fifty feet of the other satellite.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well," said Morgan, "it checks.
at the time that
From this reading _It had to come sooner or later--the perilous moment when Our satellite crossed the orbit of Theirs...._ The three men bent over the chart and once again computed the orbit.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading We'll pass within fifty feet of the other satellite.
