adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading One wing was turning blue, another flesh-colored.
approachedverbUS /əˈproʊtʃt/
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading As the machine approached these white butterflies, they seemed to be taking on other colors.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the machine approached these white butterflies, they seemed to be taking on other colors.
automobilenounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːl/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
bandnounUS /bænd/
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As the machine approached these white butterflies, they seemed to be taking on other colors.
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading One wing was turning blue, another flesh-colored.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading On one of the fields the swarm was of great size, on others, it was broken into small groups.
BURIALnounUS /ˈberiəl/
the ritual placing of a corpse in a grave
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
butterfliesnounUS /ˈbʌtərflaɪz/
plural of “butterfly” — diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
colorlessadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərləs/
lacking in variety and interest
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a flag that shows its nationality
From this reading As the machine approached these white butterflies, they seemed to be taking on other colors.
distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/
possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
FIELDSnounUS /fiːldz/
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
flesh-coloredadjective
having a bright red or pinkish color
From this reading One wing was turning blue, another flesh-colored.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
furrows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading On one of the fields the swarm was of great size, on others, it was broken into small groups.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading On one of the fields the swarm was of great size, on others, it was broken into small groups.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading On one of the fields the swarm was of great size, on others, it was broken into small groups.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On one of the fields the swarm was of great size, on others, it was broken into small groups.
machinenounUS /məˈʃiːn/
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading As the machine approached these white butterflies, they seemed to be taking on other colors.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On one of the fields the swarm was of great size, on others, it was broken into small groups.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading As the machine approached these white butterflies, they seemed to be taking on other colors.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one of the fields the swarm was of great size, on others, it was broken into small groups.
poisedadjectiveUS /pɔɪzd/
marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
resemblingverbUS /rɪˈzembəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
sizenounUS /saɪz/
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading On one of the fields the swarm was of great size, on others, it was broken into small groups.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On one of the fields the swarm was of great size, on others, it was broken into small groups.
surfacenounUS /ˈsɜːrfəs/
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
swarmnounUS /swɔːrm/
a moving crowd
From this reading On one of the fields the swarm was of great size, on others, it was broken into small groups.
takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading As the machine approached these white butterflies, they seemed to be taking on other colors.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading As the machine approached these white butterflies, they seemed to be taking on other colors.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the machine approached these white butterflies, they seemed to be taking on other colors.
thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As the machine approached these white butterflies, they seemed to be taking on other colors.
tremblingnounUS /ˈtrembəlɪŋ/
a shaky motion
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
turningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading One wing was turning blue, another flesh-colored.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
wingnounUS /wɪŋ/
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading One wing was turning blue, another flesh-colored.
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading THE BURIAL FIELDS The automobile was going slowly forward under the colorless sky of a winter morning.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the distance, the earth’s surface seemed trembling with white, fluttering things resembling a band of butterflies poised on the furrows.
