used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Return of the Dove There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
attackingadjectiveUS /əˈtækɪŋ/
disposed to attack
From this reading They were attacking it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
bird-lizards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Return of the Dove There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
DovenounUS /dʌv/
any of numerous small pigeons
From this reading The Return of the Dove There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
dozensnounUS /ˈdʌzənz/
a large number or amount
From this reading The Return of the Dove There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
take in solid food
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
one or the other of two
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
an opposing military force
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading In either event, it was to be attacked.
fangedadjective
having fangs
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
flapverbUS /flæp/
move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
flappingnounUS /ˈflæpɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading The Return of the Dove There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
glideverbUS /ɡlaɪd/
move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The Return of the Dove There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
to a considerable degree
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In either event, it was to be attacked.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
launchverbUS /lɔːntʃ/
set up or found
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Return of the Dove There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The Return of the Dove There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
screamingadjectiveUS /ˈskriːmɪŋ/
so extremely intense as to evoke screams
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
transport commercially
From this reading The Return of the Dove There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
shrillyadverb
in a shrill voice
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Return of the Dove There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The Return of the Dove There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or they thought it was something to eat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Return of the Dove There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They would circle it, flap heavily to a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open, screaming shrilly.
