used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
at or in the front
From this reading His quick ears had told him that the center of the slide was ahead of them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading His quick ears had told him that the center of the slide was ahead of them.
chippedverbUS /tʃɪpt/
inflected form of “chip” — break off (a piece from a whole)
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He knew that a landslide was sweeping down.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading His quick ears had told him that the center of the slide was ahead of them.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew that a landslide was sweeping down.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
an instinctive motive
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
landslidenounUS /ˈlændslaɪd/
an overwhelming electoral victory
From this reading He knew that a landslide was sweeping down.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
particlesnounUS /ˈpɑːrtəkəlz/
plural of “particle” — (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading His quick ears had told him that the center of the slide was ahead of them.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
SLIDEnounUS /slaɪd/
a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading He knew that a landslide was sweeping down.
TadnounUS /tæd/
a slight amount or degree of difference
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CAUGHT IN A GIANT SLIDE Tad knew the meaning of that rushing, roaring sound now.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A few particles chipped from the rocks far above them had struck him sharply in the face.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
a special situation
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading His quick ears had told him that the center of the slide was ahead of them.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
urgeverbUS /ɜːrdʒ/
force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
precisely as stated
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He knew that a landslide was sweeping down.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading His first impulse was to urge his companions forward, but upon second thought he realized that this might be the very worst thing they could do.
