used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
(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 all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
Allan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
axlenounUS /ˈæksəl/
a shaft on which a wheel rotates
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
chuckledverbUS /ˈtʃʌkəld/
past form of “chuckle” — laugh quietly or with restraint
From this reading Then Thad chuckled softly.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
creakverbUS /kriːk/
make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
durationnounUS /ˈdʊˈreɪʃən/
the period of time during which something continues
From this reading This state of uncertainty was of short duration.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
GiraffenounUS /dʒərˈæf/
tallest living quadruped; having a spotted coat and small horns and very long neck and legs; of savannahs of tropical Africa
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
Giraffe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
greasenounUS /ɡriːs/
a thick fatty oil (especially one used to lubricate machinery)
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
the sound of laughing
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
in motion
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This state of uncertainty was of short duration.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
and nothing more
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
petrolnounUS /ˈpetroʊl/
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 After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading This state of uncertainty was of short duration.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
with low volume
From this reading Then Thad chuckled softly.
in the near future
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading This state of uncertainty was of short duration.
express in words
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
Thad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Thad chuckled softly.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then Thad chuckled softly.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This state of uncertainty was of short duration.
thumpingnounUS /ˈθʌmpɪŋ/
a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
towedverbUS /toʊd/
past form of “tow” — drag behind
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
uncertaintynounUS /ənˈsɜːrtənti/
being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance
From this reading This state of uncertainty was of short duration.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading After all Giraffe had to give up on the petrol business, and come down to getting us towed in."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This state of uncertainty was of short duration.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading Soon they could see moving figures on the road, and catch the creak of heavy wheels much in need of axle grease.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I certainly heard Giraffe's laugh then," he told Allan; "and you can tell now it's only a single horse that's thumping along.
