Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
attraction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time he was but a minor attraction to the flies, and but one or two came near him.
banquet
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From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
becoming
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From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
Burl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This time he was but a minor attraction to the flies, and but one or two came near him.
buzzing
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From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
came
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From this reading This time he was but a minor attraction to the flies, and but one or two came near him.
convulsively
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From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
crash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
darted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
direction
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From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
dozen
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From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
earth
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From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
ecstacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
edges
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From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
feast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
feasting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
feet
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From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
flies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
fungus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This time he was but a minor attraction to the flies, and but one or two came near him.
head
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From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
headless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This time he was but a minor attraction to the flies, and but one or two came near him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
horrible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
hundreds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
hurrying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
ill-smelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
liquefied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
liquid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
maggots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
minor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time he was but a minor attraction to the flies, and but one or two came near him.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time he was but a minor attraction to the flies, and but one or two came near him.
note
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From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This time he was but a minor attraction to the flies, and but one or two came near him.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This time he was but a minor attraction to the flies, and but one or two came near him.
pieces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
pools
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
ran
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From this reading Burl ran on.
satisfaction
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From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
settled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
spattered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
staggered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
stinking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This time he was but a minor attraction to the flies, and but one or two came near him.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This time he was but a minor attraction to the flies, and but one or two came near him.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
toadstool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
toadstool's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
twitched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time he was but a minor attraction to the flies, and but one or two came near him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading From every direction they were hurrying to the toadstool feast, to the banquet of horrible, liquefied fungus that lay spread upon the ground.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The buzzing of the flies took on a note of satisfaction, and they settled by hundreds about the edges of the ill-smelling pools, becoming lost in the ecstacy of feasting while Burl staggered to his feet and darted off again.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
yards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the crash of the toadstool's "head" upon the ground, it fell into a dozen pieces, and the earth for yards around was spattered with a stinking liquid in which tiny, headless maggots twitched convulsively.
