used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "The ice gets bigger and wilder higher up," he replied.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "There are smooth patches, but it is broken up into crags and seracs."
biggeradjectiveUS /ˈbɪɡər/
large or big relative to something else
From this reading "The ice gets bigger and wilder higher up," he replied.
bluffnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading "There are smooth patches, but it is broken up into crags and seracs."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "There are smooth patches, but it is broken up into crags and seracs."
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
cragsnounUS /kræɡz/
plural of “crag” — a steep rugged rock or cliff
From this reading "There are smooth patches, but it is broken up into crags and seracs."
curvenounUS /kɜːrv/
the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
From this reading "The ice gets bigger and wilder higher up," he replied.
glaciernounUS /ˈɡleɪʃər/
a slowly moving mass of ice
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading The guide smiled.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "The ice gets bigger and wilder higher up," he replied.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading "The ice gets bigger and wilder higher up," he replied.
hour'snounUS /ˈaʊərz/
possessive form of “hour” — a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading "The ice gets bigger and wilder higher up," he replied.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "There are smooth patches, but it is broken up into crags and seracs."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "There are smooth patches, but it is broken up into crags and seracs."
and nothing more
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading "There are smooth patches, but it is broken up into crags and seracs."
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "The ice gets bigger and wilder higher up," he replied.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
SaxenounUS /sæks/
a French marshal who distinguished himself in the War of the Austrian Succession (1696-1750)
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
seracs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are smooth patches, but it is broken up into crags and seracs."
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The guide smiled.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading "There are smooth patches, but it is broken up into crags and seracs."
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The guide smiled.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Is there much more of this rough stuff?" said Saxe, after half an hour's climbing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "The ice gets bigger and wilder higher up," he replied.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
at the time that
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
wildernounUS /ˈwaɪldər/
United States writer and dramatist (1897-1975)
From this reading "The ice gets bigger and wilder higher up," he replied.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading This was another surprise to Saxe, to whom the surface of the glacier, when seen from above on the bluff, had looked fairly smooth--just, in fact, one great winding mass of ice flowing down in a curve to the foot.
