used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The ground trembled, and a noise like thunder filled the air.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
availverbUS /əˈveɪl/
use to one's advantage
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
BOWLDERnoun
a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
bowlders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
clatteringverbUS /ˈklætərɪŋ/
-ing form of “clatter” — make a rattling sound
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
without deviation
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
dirtnounUS /dɜːrt/
the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
dislodgedverbUS /dɪˈslɑːdʒd/
past form of “dislodge” — remove or force out from a position
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
the operator of a motor vehicle
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The ground trembled, and a noise like thunder filled the air.
moving swiftly
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/
rock fragments and pebbles
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The ground trembled, and a noise like thunder filled the air.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
landslidenounUS /ˈlændslaɪd/
an overwhelming electoral victory
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
immediately past
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The ground trembled, and a noise like thunder filled the air.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
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 FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
not any; not one
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The ground trembled, and a noise like thunder filled the air.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
precipitousadjectiveUS /prɪˈsɪpɪtəs/
done with very great haste and without due deliberation
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
RadionounUS /ˈreɪdioʊ/
medium for communication
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
resortnounUS /rɪˈzɔːrt/
a hotel located in a resort area
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
uttered with a trill
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
studdedadjectiveUS /ˈstʌdɪd/
dotted or adorned with or as with studs or nailheads; usually used in combination
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
in or at that place or location
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading The ground trembled, and a noise like thunder filled the air.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To the Radio Boys, it seemed that there was no escape for them, and they gripped the sides of the car, prepared to jump out as a last resort, although it seemed as though that could avail them little.
tonsnounUS /tʌnz/
a large number or amount
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading The ground trembled, and a noise like thunder filled the air.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading As it rolled down the precipitous slope, the big bowlder dislodged tons of gravel and dirt, which came flying down with it, until it was the center of a small landslide.
uphilladverbUS /ˈʌpˈhɪl/
against difficulties
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of these had become dislodged in some manner, and it was the sight of the huge stone rolling and clattering directly down upon them that had brought the cry of alarm from the driver.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE FALLING BOWLDER A few minutes before this, after a long uphill climb, the car had entered a narrow ravine between two hills, the sides of which were studded with great bowlders.
