adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But, in fact, the next day opens a little sourly.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading It certainly will rain: the air feels like rain, or snow.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By noon it begins to snow, and you hear the desolate cry of the phoebe-bird.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
beginsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading By noon it begins to snow, and you hear the desolate cry of the phoebe-bird.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, in fact, the next day opens a little sourly.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By noon it begins to snow, and you hear the desolate cry of the phoebe-bird.
certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading It certainly will rain: the air feels like rain, or snow.
clearverbUS /klɪr/
rid of obstructions
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
cloudsnounUS /klaʊdz/
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
compassnounUS /ˈkʌmpəs/
navigational instrument for finding directions
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
cryverbUS /kraɪ/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading By noon it begins to snow, and you hear the desolate cry of the phoebe-bird.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading But, in fact, the next day opens a little sourly.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading By noon it begins to snow, and you hear the desolate cry of the phoebe-bird.
drivesnounUS /draɪvz/
plural of “drive” — the act of applying force to propel something
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
factnounUS /fækt/
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading But, in fact, the next day opens a little sourly.
feelsnounUS /fiːlz/
plural of “feel” — an intuitive awareness
From this reading It certainly will rain: the air feels like rain, or snow.
fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
gentleadjectiveUS /ˈdʒentəl/
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading By noon it begins to snow, and you hear the desolate cry of the phoebe-bird.
horizonnounUS /hərˈaɪzən/
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But, in fact, the next day opens a little sourly.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈledən/
darkened with overcast
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It certainly will rain: the air feels like rain, or snow.
linesnounUS /laɪnz/
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But, in fact, the next day opens a little sourly.
lookverbUS /lʊk/
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
NewadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading But, in fact, the next day opens a little sourly.
noonnounUS /nuːn/
the middle of the day
From this reading By noon it begins to snow, and you hear the desolate cry of the phoebe-bird.
northeastnounUS /ˌnɔːrˈθiːst/
the compass point midway between north and east; at 45 degrees
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By noon it begins to snow, and you hear the desolate cry of the phoebe-bird.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
opensnounUS /ˈoʊpənz/
plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
From this reading But, in fact, the next day opens a little sourly.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It certainly will rain: the air feels like rain, or snow.
ordinarynounUS /ˈɔːrdəneri/
a judge of a probate court
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
phoebe-bird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By noon it begins to snow, and you hear the desolate cry of the phoebe-bird.
pointsnounUS /pɔɪnts/
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
snownounUS /snoʊ/
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading It certainly will rain: the air feels like rain, or snow.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
sourlyadverb
in a sour manner
From this reading But, in fact, the next day opens a little sourly.
southwestnounUS /ˌsaʊˈθwest/
the compass point midway between south and west; at 225 degrees
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
swervingnoun
the act of turning aside suddenly
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But, in fact, the next day opens a little sourly.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
thickenverbUS /ˈθɪkən/
make thick or thicker
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
threatenverbUS /ˈθretən/
pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading It is almost clear overhead: but the clouds thicken on the horizon; they look leaden; they threaten rain.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By noon it begins to snow, and you hear the desolate cry of the phoebe-bird.
westnounUS /west/
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It certainly will rain: the air feels like rain, or snow.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
windsnounUS /wɪndz/
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading By noon it begins to snow, and you hear the desolate cry of the phoebe-bird.
zenithnounUS /ˈziːnəθ/
the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading It is a fine snow, gentle at first; but it soon drives in swerving lines, for the wind is from the southwest, from the west, from the northeast, from the zenith (one of the ordinary winds of New England), from all points of the compass.
