used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
(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 All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Don demanded suddenly, before they had made the crest of the hill.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Motorboat, but a fast one," said Jack, in expert diagnosis.
chug-chug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
crestnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading Don demanded suddenly, before they had made the crest of the hill.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading Don demanded suddenly, before they had made the crest of the hill.
diagnosisnounUS /ˌdaɪəɡˈnoʊsəs/
identifying the nature or cause of some phenomenon
From this reading "Motorboat, but a fast one," said Jack, in expert diagnosis.
a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
From this reading Don demanded suddenly, before they had made the crest of the hill.
expertadjectiveUS /ˈekspərt/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading "Motorboat, but a fast one," said Jack, in expert diagnosis.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading "Motorboat, but a fast one," said Jack, in expert diagnosis.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Don demanded suddenly, before they had made the crest of the hill.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Don demanded suddenly, before they had made the crest of the hill.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Motorboat, but a fast one," said Jack, in expert diagnosis.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
a small worthless amount
From this reading "Motorboat, but a fast one," said Jack, in expert diagnosis.
KIDNAPEDverbUS /ˈkɪdnæpt/
past form of “kidnap” — take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom
From this reading KIDNAPED "What's that?"
hear with intention
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Don demanded suddenly, before they had made the crest of the hill.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
MotorboatnounUS /ˈmoʊtərboʊt/
a boat propelled by an internal-combustion engine
From this reading "Motorboat, but a fast one," said Jack, in expert diagnosis.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Don demanded suddenly, before they had made the crest of the hill.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Motorboat, but a fast one," said Jack, in expert diagnosis.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
on the contrary
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
referredverbUS /rəˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “refer” — make reference to
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Motorboat, but a fast one," said Jack, in expert diagnosis.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
make steady
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
not in physical motion
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Don demanded suddenly, before they had made the crest of the hill.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading KIDNAPED "What's that?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Don demanded suddenly, before they had made the crest of the hill.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Don demanded suddenly, before they had made the crest of the hill.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the steady, powerful chug-chug of a motor, and at first they thought it was another plane.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading KIDNAPED "What's that?"
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading All had heard the sound, or rather series of sounds, to which he referred; all stopped still to listen.
