used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And a fleet like that was too strong to attack.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
aluminumnounUS /əˈluːmənəm/
a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite
From this reading And radars could not tell ships from masses of aluminum foil.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And radars could not tell ships from masses of aluminum foil.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading And a fleet like that was too strong to attack.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading But they reported to Very High Authority instead.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
coherentadjectiveUS /koʊˈhɪrənt/
marked by an orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent relation of parts
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And radars could not tell ships from masses of aluminum foil.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
true confidential information
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
emptinessnounUS /ˈemptinəs/
the state of containing nothing
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
an opposing military force
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
fleetnounUS /fliːt/
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading And a fleet like that was too strong to attack.
foilverbUS /fɔɪl/
enhance by contrast
From this reading And radars could not tell ships from masses of aluminum foil.
formationnounUS /fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/
an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading And radars could not tell ships from masses of aluminum foil.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
half-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading But they reported to Very High Authority instead.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading But they reported to Very High Authority instead.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading And a fleet like that was too strong to attack.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading And radars could not tell ships from masses of aluminum foil.
ninety-oneadjective
being one more than ninety
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And radars could not tell ships from masses of aluminum foil.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And radars could not tell ships from masses of aluminum foil.
operatorsnounUS /ˈɑːpəreɪtərz/
plural of “operator” — (mathematics) a symbol or function representing a mathematical operation
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
PacificnounUS /pəˈsɪfɪk/
the largest ocean in the world
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
probingadjectiveUS /ˈproʊbɪŋ/
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
radarnounUS /ˈreɪdɑːr/
measuring instrument in which the echo of a pulse of microwave radiation is used to detect and locate distant objects
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
radarsnounUS /ˈreɪdɑːrz/
plural of “radar” — measuring instrument in which the echo of a pulse of microwave radiation is used to detect and locate distant objects
From this reading And radars could not tell ships from masses of aluminum foil.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
reportedadjectiveUS /ˌriːˈpɔːrtɪd/
made known or told about; especially presented in a formal account
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
rocket-launching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
transport commercially
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading And radars could not tell ships from masses of aluminum foil.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
soaringadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːrɪŋ/
ascending to a level markedly higher than the usual
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
move hurridly
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading And a fleet like that was too strong to attack.
submarinesnounUS /ˈsʌbməriːnz/
plural of “submarine” — a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
express in words
From this reading And radars could not tell ships from masses of aluminum foil.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And a fleet like that was too strong to attack.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And a fleet like that was too strong to attack.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading And a fleet like that was too strong to attack.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/
directed up
From this reading If enemy radars came probing upward, they reported ninety-one space ships in ragged but coherent formation, soaring through emptiness toward the Platform.
precisely as stated
From this reading But they reported to Very High Authority instead.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The radar operators had been prepared to forward details of the speed and course of a single ship to waiting rocket-launching submarines half-way across the Pacific.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And a fleet like that was too strong to attack.
