used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was unusual for the whole staff to be called to a meeting.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Even more unusual--not a single member knew what the meeting was about.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was unusual for the whole staff to be called to a meeting.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
BrantnounUS /brænt/
small dark geese that breed in the north and migrate southward
From this reading Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists.
of short duration or distance
From this reading His father had phoned from Florida with brief instructions.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading It was unusual for the whole staff to be called to a meeting.
conferencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfərəns/
a prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
directornounUS /dərˈektər/
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
divisible by two
From this reading Even more unusual--not a single member knew what the meeting was about.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading His father had phoned from Florida with brief instructions.
FloridanounUS /ˈflɔːrədə/
a state in southeastern United States between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War
From this reading His father had phoned from Florida with brief instructions.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was unusual for the whole staff to be called to a meeting.
FoundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
Foundation'snounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃənz/
possessive form of “foundation” — the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His father had phoned from Florida with brief instructions.
brought together in one place
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His father had phoned from Florida with brief instructions.
HammernounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
Hartson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His father had phoned from Florida with brief instructions.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading His father had phoned from Florida with brief instructions.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was unusual for the whole staff to be called to a meeting.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Even more unusual--not a single member knew what the meeting was about.
laboratorynounUS /ˈlæbrətɔːri/
a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading It was unusual for the whole staff to be called to a meeting.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading Even more unusual--not a single member knew what the meeting was about.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Even more unusual--not a single member knew what the meeting was about.
mystifiedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪstəfaɪd/
totally perplexed and mixed up
From this reading Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Even more unusual--not a single member knew what the meeting was about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
by chance
From this reading Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists.
phonedverbUS /foʊnd/
past form of “phone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone
From this reading His father had phoned from Florida with brief instructions.
professionaladjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
From this reading Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists.
RicknounUS /rɪk/
a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (“rick” and “wrick” are British)
From this reading Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
ScientificadjectiveUS /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/
of or relating to the practice of science
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
scientistsnounUS /ˈsaɪəntɪsts/
plural of “scientist” — a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences
From this reading Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Even more unusual--not a single member knew what the meeting was about.
a male human offspring
From this reading Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists.
southeastnounUS /ˌsaʊˈθiːst/
the compass point midway between south and east; at 135 degrees
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
Spindriftnoun
spray blown up from the surface of the sea
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was unusual for the whole staff to be called to a meeting.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading It was unusual for the whole staff to be called to a meeting.
Vulcan'snounUS /ˈvʌlkənz/
possessive form of “vulcan” — (Roman mythology) god of fire and metal working; counterpart of Greek Hephaestus
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was unusual for the whole staff to be called to a meeting.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Even more unusual--not a single member knew what the meeting was about.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading It was unusual for the whole staff to be called to a meeting.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His father had phoned from Florida with brief instructions.
world-famed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vulcan's Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner of Spindrift Island.
