used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
arroyos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
automobilesnounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːlz/
plural of “automobile” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a big city, for the West, and swarming with traffic and men.
bordernounUS /ˈbɔːrdər/
a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
bricknounUS /brɪk/
rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
coldlyadverbUS /ˈkoʊldli/
lacking warmth of feeling; in a cold, unemotional manner
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading That line which marked the sudden end of growth and progress was the border of the United States; the desert was Mexico.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a big city, for the West, and swarming with traffic and men.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
GadsdennounUS /ˈɡædzdən/
an industrial town in north central Alabama
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading That line which marked the sudden end of growth and progress was the border of the United States; the desert was Mexico.
halonounUS /ˈheɪloʊ/
an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
ten 10s
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a big city, for the West, and swarming with traffic and men.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
most important element
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading That line which marked the sudden end of growth and progress was the border of the United States; the desert was Mexico.
the force of workers available
From this reading It was a big city, for the West, and swarming with traffic and men.
MexiconounUS /ˈmeksəkoʊ/
a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
a course of conduct
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading That line which marked the sudden end of growth and progress was the border of the United States; the desert was Mexico.
railroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
ridgesnounUS /ˈrɪdʒəz/
plural of “ridge” — a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
sandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
saw-toothedadjective
notched like a saw with teeth pointing toward the apex
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
SierrasnounUS /siˈerəz/
plural of “sierra” — a range of mountains (usually with jagged peaks and irregular outline)
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
slow-rolling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading That line which marked the sudden end of growth and progress was the border of the United States; the desert was Mexico.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading That line which marked the sudden end of growth and progress was the border of the United States; the desert was Mexico.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
swarmingverbUS /ˈswɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading It was a big city, for the West, and swarming with traffic and men.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That line which marked the sudden end of growth and progress was the border of the United States; the desert was Mexico.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
throbbingnounUS /ˈθrɑːbɪŋ/
an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart)
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
propel through the air
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
trafficnounUS /ˈtræfɪk/
the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time
From this reading It was a big city, for the West, and swarming with traffic and men.
UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading That line which marked the sudden end of growth and progress was the border of the United States; the desert was Mexico.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Its broad main street, lined with brick buildings and throbbing with automobiles, ran from the railroad straight to the south until, at a line, it stopped short and was lost in the desert.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a big city, for the West, and swarming with traffic and men.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading A hundred miles of desert lay in its path--a waste of broken ridges, dry arroyos, and sandy plains--and then suddenly, as if by magic, the city rose gleaming in the sun.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading It was a big city, for the West, and swarming with traffic and men.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That line which marked the sudden end of growth and progress was the border of the United States; the desert was Mexico.
winter'snounUS /ˈwɪntərz/
possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The slow-rolling winter's sun rose coldly, far to the south, riding up from behind the saw-toothed Sierras of Mexico to throw a silvery halo on Gadsden, the border city.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a big city, for the West, and swarming with traffic and men.
