used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN WHICH BOB BECOMES A GIANT The balloon was rapidly rising.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Gradually the primitive air-craft came to a stop, and floated motionless several hundred feet above the ground.
air-craft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gradually the primitive air-craft came to a stop, and floated motionless several hundred feet above the ground.
air-tank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bob flew to the air-tank and frantically worked the pump.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bob flew to the air-tank and frantically worked the pump.
balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/
large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading IN WHICH BOB BECOMES A GIANT The balloon was rapidly rising.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading IN WHICH BOB BECOMES A GIANT The balloon was rapidly rising.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading IN WHICH BOB BECOMES A GIANT The balloon was rapidly rising.
a youthful male person
From this reading Then the boy hunkered upon the locker and peered over the edge of the car.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Gradually the primitive air-craft came to a stop, and floated motionless several hundred feet above the ground.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Then the boy hunkered upon the locker and peered over the edge of the car.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
clamorousadjective
conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
diminutiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/
very small
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Then the boy hunkered upon the locker and peered over the edge of the car.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Gradually the primitive air-craft came to a stop, and floated motionless several hundred feet above the ground.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Bob flew to the air-tank and frantically worked the pump.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Gradually the primitive air-craft came to a stop, and floated motionless several hundred feet above the ground.
franticallyadverbUS /ˈfræntəkəli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading Bob flew to the air-tank and frantically worked the pump.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading IN WHICH BOB BECOMES A GIANT The balloon was rapidly rising.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Gradually the primitive air-craft came to a stop, and floated motionless several hundred feet above the ground.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Gradually the primitive air-craft came to a stop, and floated motionless several hundred feet above the ground.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
hooting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
ten 10s
From this reading Gradually the primitive air-craft came to a stop, and floated motionless several hundred feet above the ground.
hunkeredverbUS /ˈhʌŋkərd/
past form of “hunker” — sit on one's heels
From this reading Then the boy hunkered upon the locker and peered over the edge of the car.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH BOB BECOMES A GIANT The balloon was rapidly rising.
jeeringnounUS /ˈdʒiːrɪŋ/
showing your contempt by derision
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
lockernounUS /ˈlɑːkər/
a storage compartment for clothes and valuables; usually it has a lock
From this reading Then the boy hunkered upon the locker and peered over the edge of the car.
mobnounUS /mɑːb/
a disorderly crowd of people
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
not in physical motion
From this reading Gradually the primitive air-craft came to a stop, and floated motionless several hundred feet above the ground.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then the boy hunkered upon the locker and peered over the edge of the car.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Then the boy hunkered upon the locker and peered over the edge of the car.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Then the boy hunkered upon the locker and peered over the edge of the car.
PortuguesenounUS /ˈpɔːrtʃəɡiːz/
the Romance language spoken in Portugal and Brazil
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
primitiveadjectiveUS /ˈprɪmətɪv/
belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness
From this reading Gradually the primitive air-craft came to a stop, and floated motionless several hundred feet above the ground.
pumpverbUS /pʌmp/
operate like a pump; move up and down, like a handle or a pedal
From this reading Bob flew to the air-tank and frantically worked the pump.
with speed
From this reading IN WHICH BOB BECOMES A GIANT The balloon was rapidly rising.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading IN WHICH BOB BECOMES A GIANT The balloon was rapidly rising.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Gradually the primitive air-craft came to a stop, and floated motionless several hundred feet above the ground.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Gradually the primitive air-craft came to a stop, and floated motionless several hundred feet above the ground.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN WHICH BOB BECOMES A GIANT The balloon was rapidly rising.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the boy hunkered upon the locker and peered over the edge of the car.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bob flew to the air-tank and frantically worked the pump.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Then the boy hunkered upon the locker and peered over the edge of the car.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN WHICH BOB BECOMES A GIANT The balloon was rapidly rising.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH BOB BECOMES A GIANT The balloon was rapidly rising.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Bob flew to the air-tank and frantically worked the pump.
yellsnounUS /jelz/
plural of “yell” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Distinctly he could hear the clamorous cries and yells of the Portuguese; and in the center of the jeering, hooting mob, he could barely distinguish his diminutive friend.
