used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
anew
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FIRST FLIGHT The balloon was still sliding downwards and swiftly forward.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/
large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading THE FIRST FLIGHT The balloon was still sliding downwards and swiftly forward.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading For several minutes the three boys stood in silence.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
downwardsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position
From this reading THE FIRST FLIGHT The balloon was still sliding downwards and swiftly forward.
earthward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
enginenounUS /ˈendʒən/
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST FLIGHT The balloon was still sliding downwards and swiftly forward.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading THE FIRST FLIGHT The balloon was still sliding downwards and swiftly forward.
foothillsnounUS /ˈfʊthɪlz/
plural of “foothill” — a relatively low hill on the lower slope of a mountain
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For several minutes the three boys stood in silence.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading THE FIRST FLIGHT The balloon was still sliding downwards and swiftly forward.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/
having a heading or course in a certain direction
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
hummingnounUS /ˈhʌmɪŋ/
a humming noise
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
ten 10s
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For several minutes the three boys stood in silence.
immediately past
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading For several minutes the three boys stood in silence.
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
and nothing more
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several minutes the three boys stood in silence.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For several minutes the three boys stood in silence.
slidingadjectiveUS /ˈslaɪdɪŋ/
being a smooth continuous motion
From this reading THE FIRST FLIGHT The balloon was still sliding downwards and swiftly forward.
make steady
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
not in physical motion
From this reading THE FIRST FLIGHT The balloon was still sliding downwards and swiftly forward.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading For several minutes the three boys stood in silence.
in a swift manner
From this reading THE FIRST FLIGHT The balloon was still sliding downwards and swiftly forward.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST FLIGHT The balloon was still sliding downwards and swiftly forward.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading For several minutes the three boys stood in silence.
vibratingverbUS /ˈvaɪbreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “vibrate” — shake, quiver, or throb; move back and forth rapidly, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FIRST FLIGHT The balloon was still sliding downwards and swiftly forward.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
at the time that
From this reading At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from the ground, came the quick order:
whirrverb
make a soft swishing sound
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
wideningnounUS /ˈwaɪdənɪŋ/
an increase in width
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
wiresnounUS /ˈwaɪərz/
plural of “wire” — ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading Only the steady whirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires could be heard.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for he could see the approaching foothills widening out beneath.
