used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
amphitheaternounUS /ˈæmfəθiˈeɪtər/
a sloping gallery with seats for spectators (as in an operating room or theater)
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
aspennounUS /ˈæspən/
any of several trees of the genus Populus having leaves on flattened stalks so that they flutter in the lightest wind
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading There it dropped sheer to the valley three hundred feet below.
the lower side of anything
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
lacking funds
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
bunchedverbUS /bʌntʃt/
past form of “bunch” — form into a bunch
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
CAÑON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
chutenounUS /ʃuːt/
rescue equipment consisting of a device that fills with air and retards your fall
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading There it dropped sheer to the valley three hundred feet below.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading There it dropped sheer to the valley three hundred feet below.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
fringedadjective
surrounded as with a border or fringe; sometimes used in combination
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
a long fixed look
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
ten 10s
From this reading There it dropped sheer to the valley three hundred feet below.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
knife-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
engage in
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
narrowingnounUS /ˈneroʊɪŋ/
an instance of becoming narrow
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
plateaunounUS /plæˈtoʊ/
a relatively flat highland
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
with speed
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
rimnounUS /rɪm/
the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
rougheradjectiveUS /ˈrʌfər/
comparative of “rough” — having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
ScottnounUS /skɑːt/
award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
Scott'snounUS /skɑːts/
possessive form of “scott” — award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
screennounUS /skriːn/
a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading There it dropped sheer to the valley three hundred feet below.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There it dropped sheer to the valley three hundred feet below.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading There it dropped sheer to the valley three hundred feet below.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
tightlyadverbUS /ˈtaɪtli/
in a tight or constricted manner
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
up to a particular time
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
triangularadjectiveUS /traɪˈæŋɡjələr/
having three angles; forming or shaped like a triangle
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
the topmost one of two
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading There it dropped sheer to the valley three hundred feet below.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE TRAGEDY IN THE CAÑON The sheep were bunched so tightly around the mouth of the cañon that Scott had to make quite a circle to reach the rim of the cliffs.
at the time that
From this reading A queer sight met Scott’s astonished gaze when he peered through the screen of aspen down into the little triangular amphitheater.
in or at the place that
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The bottom of it was fairly smooth at the upper end and quite wide, narrowing rapidly and becoming rougher till it ended in the knife-like cut where it broke through the face of the cliff.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He then followed the edge of the cliffs back to the cañon which cut back into the plateau like the mouth of a great chute fringed along the sides with aspen.
