used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
AlphanounUS /ˈælfə/
the 1st letter of the Greek alphabet
From this reading We're not going to Alpha Centauri."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading There were places for four beside the pilot, spaced around the circular cockpit.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He jammed the gun into her back between the shoulders and said, "Not too high.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
next to; at the side of
From this reading There were places for four beside the pilot, spaced around the circular cockpit.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He jammed the gun into her back between the shoulders and said, "Not too high.
bracedadjectiveUS /breɪst/
positioned so as to be ready for confrontation or danger
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
Centauri
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We're not going to Alpha Centauri."
circularadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrkjələr/
having the shape or form of a circle
From this reading There were places for four beside the pilot, spaced around the circular cockpit.
cockpitnounUS /ˈkɑːkpɪt/
compartment where the pilot sits while flying the aircraft
From this reading There were places for four beside the pilot, spaced around the circular cockpit.
divisible by two
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were places for four beside the pilot, spaced around the circular cockpit.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading There were places for four beside the pilot, spaced around the circular cockpit.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
a young female
From this reading Wyatt strapped himself into the seat nearest the girl.
the act of departing
From this reading We're not going to Alpha Centauri."
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading He jammed the gun into her back between the shoulders and said, "Not too high.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
any place of pain and turmoil
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He jammed the gun into her back between the shoulders and said, "Not too high.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He jammed the gun into her back between the shoulders and said, "Not too high.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Wyatt strapped himself into the seat nearest the girl.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
instantaneousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnstənˈtæniəs/
occurring with no delay
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Wyatt strapped himself into the seat nearest the girl.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
jammedadjectiveUS /dʒæmd/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading He jammed the gun into her back between the shoulders and said, "Not too high.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading Wyatt strapped himself into the seat nearest the girl.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He jammed the gun into her back between the shoulders and said, "Not too high.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
pilotverbUS /ˈpaɪlət/
operate an airplane
From this reading There were places for four beside the pilot, spaced around the circular cockpit.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There were places for four beside the pilot, spaced around the circular cockpit.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He jammed the gun into her back between the shoulders and said, "Not too high.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading Wyatt strapped himself into the seat nearest the girl.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading He jammed the gun into her back between the shoulders and said, "Not too high.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
spacedadjectiveUS /speɪst/
spaced apart
From this reading There were places for four beside the pilot, spaced around the circular cockpit.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
not in physical motion
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
successive (without a break)
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
strappedverbUS /stræpt/
inflected form of “strap” — tie with a strap
From this reading Wyatt strapped himself into the seat nearest the girl.
carry out
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
take-off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There were places for four beside the pilot, spaced around the circular cockpit.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were places for four beside the pilot, spaced around the circular cockpit.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He jammed the gun into her back between the shoulders and said, "Not too high.
transitionnounUS /trænˈzɪʃən/
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
We're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We're not going to Alpha Centauri."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were places for four beside the pilot, spaced around the circular cockpit.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He imagined the take-off would be something special, and he was braced for it, but even the almost instantaneous transition from a state of sitting still on the ground to one of shooting straight up into the sky at a hell of a rate was hard to take.
WyattnounUS /ˈwaɪət/
English architect (1746-1813)
From this reading Wyatt strapped himself into the seat nearest the girl.
