used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A silvery rill of water was pouring from the top of the tank.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
cladadjectiveUS /klæd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
EH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VAMOSE, EH?
enginenounUS /ˈendʒən/
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A silvery rill of water was pouring from the top of the tank.
gasolinenounUS /ˈɡæsəliːn/
a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He shut off the engine, wiped his hands, and strode to the house.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He shut off the engine, wiped his hands, and strode to the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
inchesnounUS /ˈɪntʃəz/
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
intermittentadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈmɪtənt/
stopping and starting at irregular intervals
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
irritatingadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtɪŋ/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
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 Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He shut off the engine, wiped his hands, and strode to the house.
oil-spotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
overallsnounUS /ˈoʊvərɔːlz/
plural of “overall” — (usually plural) work clothing consisting of denim trousers (usually with a bib and shoulder straps)
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
poppingnounUS /ˈpɑːpɪŋ/
a sharp explosive sound as from a gunshot or drawing a cork
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading A silvery rill of water was pouring from the top of the tank.
puttered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
riding-boots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
rillnounUS /rɪl/
a small stream
From this reading A silvery rill of water was pouring from the top of the tank.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading He shut off the engine, wiped his hands, and strode to the house.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading A silvery rill of water was pouring from the top of the tank.
the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
spursnounUS /spɜːrz/
plural of “spur” — a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
strodeverbUS /stroʊd/
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading He shut off the engine, wiped his hands, and strode to the house.
SundownnounUS /ˈsʌndaʊn/
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
tanknounUS /tæŋk/
an enclosed armored military vehicle; has a cannon and moves on caterpillar treads
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
the upper part of anything
From this reading A silvery rill of water was pouring from the top of the tank.
unpaintedadjectiveUS /ənˈpeɪntɪd/
not having makeup on
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Sundown, clad in oil-spotted overalls that did not by many inches conceal his riding-boots and his Spanish spurs, puttered about the engine until he happened to glance at the distant tank.
VAMOSE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VAMOSE, EH?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A silvery rill of water was pouring from the top of the tank.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
water-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The intermittent popping of the gasoline engine, as it forced water to the big, unpainted tank near the water-hole, became at first monotonous and finally irritating.
wipedverbUS /waɪpt/
past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading He shut off the engine, wiped his hands, and strode to the house.
