used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The whole operation lasts about six seconds.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
atomicadjectiveUS /əˈtɑːmɪk/
of or relating to or comprising atoms
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
basketsnounUS /ˈbæskəts/
plural of “basket” — a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading _The tiny, live, straw-colored circles were mysterious but definitely harmless.
CalifornianounUS /ˌkæləˈfɔːrnjə/
a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
circlesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəlz/
plural of “circle” — 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 _The tiny, live, straw-colored circles were mysterious but definitely harmless.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
containersnounUS /kənˈteɪnərz/
plural of “container” — any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another)
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
definitelyadverbUS /ˈdefənətli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading _The tiny, live, straw-colored circles were mysterious but definitely harmless.
depositverbUS /dəˈpɑːzɪt/
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
Diego
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
digverbUS /dɪɡ/
turn up, loosen, or remove earth
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
without deviation
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
egglaying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
elusiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈluːsɪv/
difficult to describe
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
grunion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
grunions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
plural of “habit” — an established custom
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
harmlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmləs/
not causing or capable of causing harm
From this reading _The tiny, live, straw-colored circles were mysterious but definitely harmless.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
hordesnounUS /hɔːrdz/
plural of “horde” — a vast multitude
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
lastsnounUS /læsts/
plural of “last” — the temporal end; the concluding time
From this reading The whole operation lasts about six seconds.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading _The tiny, live, straw-colored circles were mysterious but definitely harmless.
march in a procession
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
of an obscure nature
From this reading _The tiny, live, straw-colored circles were mysterious but definitely harmless.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
not divisible by two
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading The whole operation lasts about six seconds.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/
worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
revolutionnounUS /ˌrevəˈluːʃən/
a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
riotsnounUS /ˈraɪəts/
plural of “riot” — a public act of violence by an unruly mob
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The whole operation lasts about six seconds.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading The whole operation lasts about six seconds.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
smeltnounUS /smelt/
small cold-water silvery fish; migrate between salt and fresh water
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
straw-coloredadjective
having the color of dry straw
From this reading _The tiny, live, straw-colored circles were mysterious but definitely harmless.
stripedadjectiveUS /straɪpt/
marked or decorated with stripes
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
tail-first
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The tiny, live, straw-colored circles were mysterious but definitely harmless.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
very small
From this reading _The tiny, live, straw-colored circles were mysterious but definitely harmless.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
torchesnounUS /ˈtɔːrtʃɪz/
plural of “torch” — a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
washverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading At high tide, on the second, third, and fourth nights after the full of the moon from March to June, thousands of female grunions ride in on the waves to a beach in southern California near San Diego, dig tail-first into the soft sand, deposit their eggs, then ride back on the wash of the next wave.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _The tiny, live, straw-colored circles were mysterious but definitely harmless.
at the time that
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole operation lasts about six seconds.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the nights when the grunion are running, hordes of people used to come to the beach with baskets and other containers, and with torches to light the scene, and try to catch the elusive little fish in their hands.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet they were directly responsible for riots, revolution and an atomic war...._ There is a small striped smelt called the grunion which has odd egglaying habits.
