used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
in addition
From this reading There were, also, two small islands of trees in the distance; but islands are necessary to prove the existence of ocean.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were, also, two small islands of trees in the distance; but islands are necessary to prove the existence of ocean.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
coralnounUS /ˈkɔːrəl/
a variable color averaging a deep pink
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
cottonwoodsnounUS /ˈkɑːtənwʊdz/
plural of “cottonwood” — any of several North American trees of the genus Populus having a tuft of cottony hairs on the seed
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading There were, also, two small islands of trees in the distance; but islands are necessary to prove the existence of ocean.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading There were, also, two small islands of trees in the distance; but islands are necessary to prove the existence of ocean.
the organ of sight
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading There were, also, two small islands of trees in the distance; but islands are necessary to prove the existence of ocean.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
limitlessadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmətləs/
without limits in extent or size or quantity
From this reading The prairie was limitless.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
luxuriancenoun
the property of being lush and abundant and a pleasure to the senses
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
many-colored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
markingnounUS /ˈmɑːrkɪŋ/
a distinguishing symbol
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
meltedadjectiveUS /ˈmeltəd/
changed from a solid to a liquid state
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
absolutely essential
From this reading There were, also, two small islands of trees in the distance; but islands are necessary to prove the existence of ocean.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading The prairie was limitless.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading There were, also, two small islands of trees in the distance; but islands are necessary to prove the existence of ocean.
purplishadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrplɪʃ/
of a color intermediate between red and blue
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
reefnounUS /riːf/
a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
seaweednounUS /ˈsiːwiːd/
plant growing in the sea, especially marine algae
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There were, also, two small islands of trees in the distance; but islands are necessary to prove the existence of ocean.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
swathnounUS /swɑːθ/
the space created by the swing of a scythe or the cut of a mowing machine
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The prairie was limitless.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As far as the eye could see, and as much further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless and eternal.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading There were, also, two small islands of trees in the distance; but islands are necessary to prove the existence of ocean.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were, also, two small islands of trees in the distance; but islands are necessary to prove the existence of ocean.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The prairie was limitless.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were, also, two small islands of trees in the distance; but islands are necessary to prove the existence of ocean.
