used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading "What do you call that?" asked Joe, staring in amazement at the formation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "If I'm not mistaken, it's an ant hill," Bob answered, moving closer to the mound of earth.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "If I'm not mistaken, it's an ant hill," Bob answered, moving closer to the mound of earth.
antnounUS /ænt/
social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading "If I'm not mistaken, it's an ant hill," Bob answered, moving closer to the mound of earth.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What do you call that?" asked Joe, staring in amazement at the formation.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading "If I'm not mistaken, it's an ant hill," Bob answered, moving closer to the mound of earth.
branchedadjectiveUS /bræntʃt/
resembling a fork; divided or separated into two branches
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Often Bob had heard of this phenomenon, but until now had not seen it.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "What do you call that?" asked Joe, staring in amazement at the formation.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading "If I'm not mistaken, it's an ant hill," Bob answered, moving closer to the mound of earth.
conicaladjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnɪkəl/
relating to or resembling a cone
From this reading It was conical in shape, gradually tapering up to a sharp point.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "What do you call that?" asked Joe, staring in amazement at the formation.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
formationnounUS /fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/
an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit
From this reading "What do you call that?" asked Joe, staring in amazement at the formation.
in a gradual manner
From this reading It was conical in shape, gradually tapering up to a sharp point.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Often Bob had heard of this phenomenon, but until now had not seen it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Often Bob had heard of this phenomenon, but until now had not seen it.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading "If I'm not mistaken, it's an ant hill," Bob answered, moving closer to the mound of earth.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I'm not mistaken, it's an ant hill," Bob answered, moving closer to the mound of earth.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If I'm not mistaken, it's an ant hill," Bob answered, moving closer to the mound of earth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was conical in shape, gradually tapering up to a sharp point.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was conical in shape, gradually tapering up to a sharp point.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I'm not mistaken, it's an ant hill," Bob answered, moving closer to the mound of earth.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What do you call that?" asked Joe, staring in amazement at the formation.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading "If I'm not mistaken, it's an ant hill," Bob answered, moving closer to the mound of earth.
moundnounUS /maʊnd/
(baseball) the slight elevation on which the pitcher stands
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
in motion
From this reading "If I'm not mistaken, it's an ant hill," Bob answered, moving closer to the mound of earth.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Often Bob had heard of this phenomenon, but until now had not seen it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Often Bob had heard of this phenomenon, but until now had not seen it.
phenomenonnounUS /fəˈnɑːmənɑːn/
any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning
From this reading Often Bob had heard of this phenomenon, but until now had not seen it.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Often Bob had heard of this phenomenon, but until now had not seen it.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading It was conical in shape, gradually tapering up to a sharp point.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading It was conical in shape, gradually tapering up to a sharp point.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading "What do you call that?" asked Joe, staring in amazement at the formation.
taperingadjectiveUS /ˈteɪpərɪŋ/
becoming gradually narrower
From this reading It was conical in shape, gradually tapering up to a sharp point.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Often Bob had heard of this phenomenon, but until now had not seen it.
ThrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was conical in shape, gradually tapering up to a sharp point.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Often Bob had heard of this phenomenon, but until now had not seen it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was conical in shape, gradually tapering up to a sharp point.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What do you call that?" asked Joe, staring in amazement at the formation.
in or at the place that
From this reading A Promise of a Thrill Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What do you call that?" asked Joe, staring in amazement at the formation.
