used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
alienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/
not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
appendagenounUS /əˈpendɪdʒ/
an external body part that projects from the body
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading Even in the thin Martian atmosphere, the sound was a sharp one.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
bootnounUS /buːt/
footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
crystalnounUS /ˈkrɪstəl/
a solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
divisible by two
From this reading Even in the thin Martian atmosphere, the sound was a sharp one.
explorationnounUS /ˌeksplərˈeɪʃən/
to travel for the purpose of discovery
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
faceplatenoun
a protective covering for the front of a machine or device (as a door lock or computer component)
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
goalnounUS /ɡoʊl/
the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/
rock fragments and pebbles
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
grippingadjectiveUS /ˈɡrɪpɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
haftnounUS /hæft/
the handle of a weapon or tool
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
an instinctive motive
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
LloydnounUS /lɔɪd/
United States comic actor in silent films; he used physical danger as a source of comedy (1893-1971)
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
MarsnounUS /mɑːrz/
a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
MartiannounUS /ˈmɑːrʃən/
imaginary people who live on the planet Mars
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
the force of workers available
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Even in the thin Martian atmosphere, the sound was a sharp one.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
pacesnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪz/
plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
raspingadjective
unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
rubble-strewn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Even in the thin Martian atmosphere, the sound was a sharp one.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
without speaking
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
in or at or to some place
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Even in the thin Martian atmosphere, the sound was a sharp one.
spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
spunverbUS /spʌn/
inflected form of “spin” — revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
startleverbUS /ˈstɑːrtəl/
to stimulate to action
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
in or at that place or location
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Even in the thin Martian atmosphere, the sound was a sharp one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
tubenounUS /tuːb/
conduit consisting of a long hollow object (usually cylindrical) used to hold and conduct objects or liquids or gases
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
unholstered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
at the time that
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
