used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
(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 BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Next moment the door burst open, and in rushed Jack.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Presently his sister’s voice called him from behind.
bitingadjectiveUS /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/
capable of wounding
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
confined by bonds
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
bowling-alley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Next moment the door burst open, and in rushed Jack.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Presently his sister’s voice called him from behind.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Next moment the door burst open, and in rushed Jack.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
divisible by two
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Presently his sister’s voice called him from behind.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
glovesnounUS /ɡlʌvz/
plural of “glove” — the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
half-asleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Next moment the door burst open, and in rushed Jack.
and nothing more
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
a particular point in time
From this reading Next moment the door burst open, and in rushed Jack.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
nosingverbUS /ˈnoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “nose” — search or inquire in a meddlesome way
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Next moment the door burst open, and in rushed Jack.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
in the near future
From this reading Presently his sister’s voice called him from behind.
quiveringnounUS /ˈkwɪvərɪŋ/
a shaky motion
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
done under pressure
From this reading Next moment the door burst open, and in rushed Jack.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
sister'snounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
possessive form of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Presently his sister’s voice called him from behind.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
the season of growth
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
carry out
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
transportnounUS /trænˈspɔːrt/
something that serves as a means of transportation
From this reading With one bound I was on his shoulder, nosing him and biting his ears and hair in a perfect transport of delight, and I think he was just as glad as I was.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Presently his sister’s voice called him from behind.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He never even waited to take off his hat or gloves, but ran up the long room, and flung open my cage door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
at the time that
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
in the company of; together with
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
WOODLANDSnounUS /ˈwʊdlændz/
plural of “woodland” — land that is covered with trees and shrubs
From this reading BACK TO THE WOODLANDS About four in the afternoon of the next day I was lying half-asleep in my cage in the bowling-alley when a sound in the distance made me spring up, quivering all over with excitement.
