used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
(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 He heard the words "to-morrow night" and "all set" repeated several times.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading With his ears strained he leaned forward until his shoulder was almost touching the door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He heard the words "to-morrow night" and "all set" repeated several times.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
batedadjectiveUS /ˈbeɪtɪd/
diminished or moderated
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
BudnounUS /bʌd/
a partially opened flower
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
BUD'SnounUS /bʌdz/
possessive form of “bud” — a partially opened flower
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading With his ears strained he leaned forward until his shoulder was almost touching the door.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading With his ears strained he leaned forward until his shoulder was almost touching the door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He heard the words "to-morrow night" and "all set" repeated several times.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He heard the words "to-morrow night" and "all set" repeated several times.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With his ears strained he leaned forward until his shoulder was almost touching the door.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
and nothing more
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading With his ears strained he leaned forward until his shoulder was almost touching the door.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
louderadjectiveUS /ˈlaʊdər/
comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He heard the words "to-morrow night" and "all set" repeated several times.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
occupantsnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənts/
plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
and nothing more
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
precariousadjectiveUS /priˈkeriəs/
affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
recurring again and again
From this reading He heard the words "to-morrow night" and "all set" repeated several times.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He heard the words "to-morrow night" and "all set" repeated several times.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading He heard the words "to-morrow night" and "all set" repeated several times.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading With his ears strained he leaned forward until his shoulder was almost touching the door.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading With his ears strained he leaned forward until his shoulder was almost touching the door.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had been so tense that he had not realized how precarious his position was, the smallest noise being sure to alarm the occupants of the room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading He heard the words "to-morrow night" and "all set" repeated several times.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
to-morrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He heard the words "to-morrow night" and "all set" repeated several times.
arousing affect
From this reading With his ears strained he leaned forward until his shoulder was almost touching the door.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading With his ears strained he leaned forward until his shoulder was almost touching the door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading With his ears strained he leaned forward until his shoulder was almost touching the door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading BUD'S ESCAPE Bud stood listening, with bated breath, to the conversation on the other side of the closed door.
the words that are spoken
From this reading He heard the words "to-morrow night" and "all set" repeated several times.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If they would only talk just a little bit louder---- Suddenly Bud lost his balance.
