used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I wonder if they’re getting ready for a trip?” said Bob.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE LIGHTHOUSE The boys remained concealed in the high grass for some time.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading “I wonder if they’re getting ready for a trip?” said Bob.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading AT THE LIGHTHOUSE The boys remained concealed in the high grass for some time.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading If they leave we can go down there and get something to eat.”
not accessible to view
From this reading AT THE LIGHTHOUSE The boys remained concealed in the high grass for some time.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading If they leave we can go down there and get something to eat.”
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading “That will make it easier.
take in solid food
From this reading If they leave we can go down there and get something to eat.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AT THE LIGHTHOUSE The boys remained concealed in the high grass for some time.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading If they leave we can go down there and get something to eat.”
the act of acquiring something
From this reading “I wonder if they’re getting ready for a trip?” said Bob.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading If they leave we can go down there and get something to eat.”
shoot down, of birds
From this reading AT THE LIGHTHOUSE The boys remained concealed in the high grass for some time.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading AT THE LIGHTHOUSE The boys remained concealed in the high grass for some time.
temporary military shelter
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I wonder if they’re getting ready for a trip?” said Bob.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I wonder if they’re getting ready for a trip?” said Bob.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AT THE LIGHTHOUSE The boys remained concealed in the high grass for some time.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “That will make it easier.
go away from a place
From this reading If they leave we can go down there and get something to eat.”
LIGHTHOUSEnounUS /ˈlaɪthaʊs/
a tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing ships
From this reading AT THE LIGHTHOUSE The boys remained concealed in the high grass for some time.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
engage in
From this reading “That will make it easier.
the force of workers available
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
in motion
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading “I wonder if they’re getting ready for a trip?” said Bob.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading AT THE LIGHTHOUSE The boys remained concealed in the high grass for some time.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I wonder if they’re getting ready for a trip?” said Bob.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
sloopnounUS /sluːp/
a sailing vessel with a single mast set about one third of the boat's length aft of the bow
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading AT THE LIGHTHOUSE The boys remained concealed in the high grass for some time.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading If they leave we can go down there and get something to eat.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “That will make it easier.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE LIGHTHOUSE The boys remained concealed in the high grass for some time.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If they leave we can go down there and get something to eat.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
they're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I wonder if they’re getting ready for a trip?” said Bob.
thievesnounUS /θiːvz/
plural of “thief” — a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading AT THE LIGHTHOUSE The boys remained concealed in the high grass for some time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading “I wonder if they’re getting ready for a trip?” said Bob.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading They watched the men moving about on the sloop and near the hut, but the thieves seemed to pay little attention to the motor boat.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading If they leave we can go down there and get something to eat.”
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “That will make it easier.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading “I wonder if they’re getting ready for a trip?” said Bob.
