used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
barriersnounUS /ˈbæriərz/
plural of “barrier” — a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The revelation which came as they rounded the last pile of ice was both a surprise and a disappointment.
bottlesnounUS /ˈbɑːtəlz/
plural of “bottle” — a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The revelation which came as they rounded the last pile of ice was both a surprise and a disappointment.
cansnounUS /kænz/
plural of “can” — airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
chasms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
dippernounUS /ˈdɪpər/
a ladle that has a cup with a long handle
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading The revelation which came as they rounded the last pile of ice was both a surprise and a disappointment.
discardedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskɑːrdɪd/
thrown away
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
DISCOVERIESnounUS /dɪˈskʌvəriz/
plural of “discovery” — the act of discovering something
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a graveyard," murmured Marian, "a graveyard of things people don't want."
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
garbagenounUS /ˈɡɑːrbɪdʒ/
food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
giant'snounUS /ˈdʒaɪənts/
possessive form of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
graveyardnounUS /ˈɡreɪvjɑːrd/
a tract of land used for burials
From this reading "It's a graveyard," murmured Marian, "a graveyard of things people don't want."
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
halfwayadjectiveUS /ˈhæfˈweɪ/
equally distant from the extremes
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
heapsnounUS /hiːps/
a large number or amount
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a graveyard," murmured Marian, "a graveyard of things people don't want."
junknounUS /dʒʌŋk/
the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
immediately past
From this reading The revelation which came as they rounded the last pile of ice was both a surprise and a disappointment.
leapingnounUS /ˈliːpɪŋ/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
roused to anger
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
MarianadjectiveUS /ˈmeriən/
of or relating to or venerating the Virgin Mary
From this reading "It's a graveyard," murmured Marian, "a graveyard of things people don't want."
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading "It's a graveyard," murmured Marian, "a graveyard of things people don't want."
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "It's a graveyard," murmured Marian, "a graveyard of things people don't want."
pilenounUS /paɪl/
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading The revelation which came as they rounded the last pile of ice was both a surprise and a disappointment.
pilesnounUS /paɪlz/
venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
revelationnounUS /ˌrevəˈleɪʃən/
the speech act of making something evident
From this reading The revelation which came as they rounded the last pile of ice was both a surprise and a disappointment.
roundedadjectiveUS /ˈraʊndəd/
curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged
From this reading The revelation which came as they rounded the last pile of ice was both a surprise and a disappointment.
move hurridly
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/
covered with or consisting of rust
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
snow-fog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
stumblingverbUS /ˈstʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The revelation which came as they rounded the last pile of ice was both a surprise and a disappointment.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "It's a graveyard," murmured Marian, "a graveyard of things people don't want."
tinnounUS /tɪn/
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading Great heaps of ashes, piles of bottles and tin cans, frozen masses of garbage; junk of every description, from a rusty tin dipper to a discarded steel range, met their eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "It's a graveyard," murmured Marian, "a graveyard of things people don't want."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading STRANGE DISCOVERIES It was a strange sight that met the eyes of the two girls as they paused halfway to the dark patch on the surface of the ice which loomed like a giant's shadow in the snow-fog.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With eager feet they dashed on, leaping narrow chasms and stumbling over ice barriers in their mad rush.
