used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
eagerly desirous
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
asteroidnounUS /ˈæstərɔɪd/
any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter)
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
blast-off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
chatteringnounUS /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
competitionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈtɪʃən/
a business relation in which two parties compete to gain customers
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
drifter-families
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
fairgroundsnounUS /ˈferɡraʊndz/
plural of “fairground” — an open area for holding fairs or exhibitions or circuses
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
franticallyadverbUS /ˈfræntəkəli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
Grampsnoun
the father of your father or mother
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
knotsnounUS /nɑːts/
plural of “knot” — a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
staying power
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
meaninglessadjectiveUS /ˈmiːnɪŋləs/
having no meaning or direction or purpose
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
mobnounUS /mɑːb/
a disorderly crowd of people
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
and nothing more
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
cut with a saw
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
spindlyadjective
long and lean
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
throngedadjectiveUS /θrɔːŋd/
filled with great numbers crowded together
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
very small
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
tomorrownounUS /təˈmɑːroʊ/
the day after today
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
uncertainlyadverbUS /ənˈsɜːrtənli/
in an unsteady manner
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
the act of using
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
at the time that
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
which person or people
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
