used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
(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 The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
antnounUS /ænt/
social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
aviatornounUS /ˈeɪvieɪtər/
someone who operates an aircraft
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
completely unclothed
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
BombingnounUS /ˈbɑːmɪŋ/
an attack by dropping bombs
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
BrisbanenounUS /ˈbrɪzbeɪn/
capital and largest city of Queensland state; located in the southeastern corner of Queensland on the Pacific; settled by British as a penal colony; 3rd largest city in Australia
From this reading "Hello, _Brisbane_," called Ben into the radiophone.
bulkyadjectiveUS /ˈbʌlki/
of large size for its weight
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Hello, _Brisbane_," called Ben into the radiophone.
without doubt or question
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
crestnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
dodo-tetrapteryx
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
DodosnounUS /ˈdoʊdoʊz/
plural of “dodo” — someone whose style is out of fashion
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
divisible by two
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
flickerverbUS /ˈflɪkər/
move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
focusingnounUS /ˈfoʊkəsɪŋ/
the concentration of attention or energy on something
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
HellonounUS /həˈloʊ/
an expression of greeting
From this reading "Hello, _Brisbane_," called Ben into the radiophone.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
hillsidenounUS /ˈhɪlsaɪd/
the side or slope of a hill
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
and nothing more
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
lumbered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
engage in
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
a particular point in time
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
being perceived or observed
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
poisedadjectiveUS /pɔɪzd/
marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
radiophonenoun
a telephone that communicates by radio waves rather than along cables
From this reading "Hello, _Brisbane_," called Ben into the radiophone.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
roundedadjectiveUS /ˈraʊndəd/
curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
specknounUS /spek/
a very small spot
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
make square
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
very small
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
trundledverbUS /ˈtrʌndəld/
past form of “trundle” — move heavily
From this reading A door seemed to open in the hillside; focusing the glasses the aviator handed him, he could just make out a square, bulky object that trundled forth.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading And then one--two--three--four--five of the huge dodo-tetrapteryx birds shot out, poised for a moment, and leaped into flight.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
in or at the place that
From this reading As they watched a grey speck that might have been an ant at that height and distance, lumbered slowly down the valley, and then Ben noticed a tiny flicker of red light, so bright as to be clearly visible even in the day, where the grey speck moved against the hillside.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Dodos are Bombing The bare area seemed to run all down a long valley and spread out as it rounded the crest of a hill which hid what lay behind it from their view.
