used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first with very crude attempts, a great many flying machines had to be built, and many lives sacrificed in flying them.
attemptsnounUS /əˈtempts/
plural of “attempt” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading At first with very crude attempts, a great many flying machines had to be built, and many lives sacrificed in flying them.
aviationnounUS /ˌeɪviˈeɪʃən/
the aggregation of a country's military aircraft
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
aëroplane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading At first with very crude attempts, a great many flying machines had to be built, and many lives sacrificed in flying them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
conquestnounUS /ˈkɑːŋkwest/
the act of conquering
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
createdverbUS /kriˈeɪtəd/
past form of “create” — make or cause to be or to become
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
crudeadjectiveUS /kruːd/
not carefully or expertly made
From this reading At first with very crude attempts, a great many flying machines had to be built, and many lives sacrificed in flying them.
currentsnounUS /ˈkɜːrənts/
plural of “current” — a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
experimentnounUS /ɪkˈsperəmənt/
the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
moving swiftly
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading At first with very crude attempts, a great many flying machines had to be built, and many lives sacrificed in flying them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Probably no other great invention has required such long and patient preparation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At first with very crude attempts, a great many flying machines had to be built, and many lives sacrificed in flying them.
inventionnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃən/
the creation of something in the mind
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading At first with very crude attempts, a great many flying machines had to be built, and many lives sacrificed in flying them.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
MACHINESnounUS /məˈʃiːnz/
plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading At first with very crude attempts, a great many flying machines had to be built, and many lives sacrificed in flying them.
mechanismnounUS /ˈmekənɪzəm/
the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
not any; not one
From this reading Probably no other great invention has required such long and patient preparation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Probably no other great invention has required such long and patient preparation.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading Probably no other great invention has required such long and patient preparation.
planesnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plane” — an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Probably no other great invention has required such long and patient preparation.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Probably no other great invention has required such long and patient preparation.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Probably no other great invention has required such long and patient preparation.
sacrificedverbUS /ˈsækrəfaɪst/
past form of “sacrifice” — endure the loss of
From this reading At first with very crude attempts, a great many flying machines had to be built, and many lives sacrificed in flying them.
a particular branch of scientific knowledge
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Probably no other great invention has required such long and patient preparation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading At first with very crude attempts, a great many flying machines had to be built, and many lives sacrificed in flying them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Long before man learned to fly the science of aviation had to be created by investigation and experiment.
precisely as stated
From this reading At first with very crude attempts, a great many flying machines had to be built, and many lives sacrificed in flying them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading The exact nature of the invisible air currents and the action of wings and planes, were to be learned before the delicate mechanism of the modern aëroplane was possible.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At first with very crude attempts, a great many flying machines had to be built, and many lives sacrificed in flying them.
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading THE FIRST FLYING MACHINES The conquest of the air was not won by a happy accident of invention.
