used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
any person at all
From this reading The boy shouted and halloed at the top of his voice, but it was some time before anybody appeared.
any thing at all
From this reading By the time they did, the avalanche of coal threatened to overwhelm poor Tom, and his position was anything but enviable.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The boy shouted and halloed at the top of his voice, but it was some time before anybody appeared.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The boy shouted and halloed at the top of his voice, but it was some time before anybody appeared.
avalanchenounUS /ˈævəlæntʃ/
a slide of large masses of snow and ice and mud down a mountain
From this reading By the time they did, the avalanche of coal threatened to overwhelm poor Tom, and his position was anything but enviable.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
a youthful male person
From this reading The boy shouted and halloed at the top of his voice, but it was some time before anybody appeared.
bunkernounUS /ˈbʌŋkər/
a hazard on a golf course
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The boy shouted and halloed at the top of his voice, but it was some time before anybody appeared.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the time they did, the avalanche of coal threatened to overwhelm poor Tom, and his position was anything but enviable.
chutenounUS /ʃuːt/
rescue equipment consisting of a device that fills with air and retards your fall
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading By the time they did, the avalanche of coal threatened to overwhelm poor Tom, and his position was anything but enviable.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
enviableadjectiveUS /ˈenviəbəl/
causing envy
From this reading By the time they did, the avalanche of coal threatened to overwhelm poor Tom, and his position was anything but enviable.
gaugingverbUS /ˈɡeɪdʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “gauge” — judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
halloed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy shouted and halloed at the top of his voice, but it was some time before anybody appeared.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The boy shouted and halloed at the top of his voice, but it was some time before anybody appeared.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TOM IS IN THE THICK OF IT.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TOM IS IN THE THICK OF IT.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading TOM IS IN THE THICK OF IT.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
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 Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
not any; not one
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TOM IS IN THE THICK OF IT.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
overwhelmverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelm/
overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
From this reading By the time they did, the avalanche of coal threatened to overwhelm poor Tom, and his position was anything but enviable.
pitchyadjective
of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading By the time they did, the avalanche of coal threatened to overwhelm poor Tom, and his position was anything but enviable.
portendverbUS /pɔːrˈtend/
indicate, as with a sign or an omen
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading By the time they did, the avalanche of coal threatened to overwhelm poor Tom, and his position was anything but enviable.
pourverbUS /pɔːr/
cause to run
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
projectedadjectiveUS /prəˈdʒektəd/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
cut with a saw
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
scrapingnounUS /ˈskreɪpɪŋ/
(usually plural) a fragment scraped off of something and collected
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading The boy shouted and halloed at the top of his voice, but it was some time before anybody appeared.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
slidingadjectiveUS /ˈslaɪdɪŋ/
being a smooth continuous motion
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The boy shouted and halloed at the top of his voice, but it was some time before anybody appeared.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
not in physical motion
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TOM IS IN THE THICK OF IT.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By the time they did, the avalanche of coal threatened to overwhelm poor Tom, and his position was anything but enviable.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading TOM IS IN THE THICK OF IT.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading By the time they did, the avalanche of coal threatened to overwhelm poor Tom, and his position was anything but enviable.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The boy shouted and halloed at the top of his voice, but it was some time before anybody appeared.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
male cat
From this reading TOM IS IN THE THICK OF IT.
the upper part of anything
From this reading The boy shouted and halloed at the top of his voice, but it was some time before anybody appeared.
trap-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The boy shouted and halloed at the top of his voice, but it was some time before anybody appeared.
a message informing of danger
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Tom had no way of gauging how long it was he lay in the pitchy darkness, before there was a scraping and a sliding sound, and a sort of trap-door in the deck above him was opened.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
at the time that
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
showing curiosity
From this reading He was still wondering what this might portend, when the lip of a metal chute was suddenly projected into the opening, and without warning a shower of coal started to pour into the place, which, Tom now saw, was an empty coal bunker.
