used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
abusedadjectiveUS /əˈbjuːzd/
used improperly or excessively especially drugs
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
(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 We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
AMY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AMY: Is it wrong to wear tight clothing, mother?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
any thing at all
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
backachenounUS /ˈbækeɪk/
an ache localized in the back
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
bandsnounUS /bændz/
plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
clothing in general
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading AMY: Is it wrong to wear tight clothing, mother?
dressesnounUS /ˈdresəz/
plural of “dress” — a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
divisible by two
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
hurtfuladjectiveUS /ˈhɜːrtfəl/
causing hurt
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AMY: Is it wrong to wear tight clothing, mother?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading AMY: Is it wrong to wear tight clothing, mother?
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
the local environment
From this reading We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
compacted by ironing
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
cut with a saw
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
squeezeverbUS /skwiːz/
to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition
From this reading We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading AMY: Is it wrong to wear tight clothing, mother?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
precisely as stated
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading We should wear warm, loose clothing on all parts of the body, and never, _never_ squeeze the feet, waist, or any other part out of shape.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
be dressed in
From this reading AMY: Is it wrong to wear tight clothing, mother?
at the time that
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading If people feel as though they would “fall to pieces,” or if they have the backache, when their clothes are loose, it shows they have abused the muscles of the body and made weak that which God made strong.
which person or people
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If we saw a man putting iron bands around his house we would think the one who built it had made some mistake or it would not need anything to hold it together.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading AMY: Is it wrong to wear tight clothing, mother?
an affirmative
From this reading MOTHER: Yes; it is very hurtful for girls to wear their dresses even a _little_ tight, for the bones are soft and easily pressed out of place.
