used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
AFTERprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on Friday morning.
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
dugnounUS /dʌɡ/
an udder or breast or teat
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
eggsnounUS /eɡz/
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading They were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on Friday morning.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on Friday morning.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading Sometimes they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
set up or found
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
FridaynounUS /ˈfraɪdi/
the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
From this reading They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on Friday morning.
fried-egg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on Friday morning.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on Friday morning.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
an opening into or through something
From this reading Sometimes they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole.
pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on Friday morning.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on Friday morning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sometimes they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Sometimes they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Sometimes they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading They were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
pokingnounUS /ˈpoʊkɪŋ/
a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading They were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading Sometimes they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole.
smalleradjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːlər/
small or little relative to something else
From this reading They were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
carry out
From this reading Sometimes they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on Friday morning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading They were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading They were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
turtlenounUS /ˈtɜːrtəl/
a sweater or jersey with a high close-fitting collar
From this reading AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.
walnutnounUS /ˈwɔːlnʌt/
nut of any of various walnut trees having a wrinkled two-lobed seed with a hard shell
From this reading They were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut.
at the time that
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
a Caucasian
From this reading They were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Sometimes they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole.
