used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
aerialnounUS /ˈeriəl/
a pass to a receiver downfield from the passer
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/
plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
crewsnounUS /kruːz/
plural of “crew” — the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
downstreamadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈstriːm/
away from the source or with the current
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
droopingadjectiveUS /ˈdruːpɪŋ/
weak from exhaustion
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
endingnounUS /ˈendɪŋ/
the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
feedingnounUS /ˈfiːdɪŋ/
the act of consuming food
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
fieryadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪəri/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
flocknounUS /flɑːk/
a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
gorgeousadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːrdʒəs/
dazzlingly beautiful
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
greenheart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
hammocksnounUS /ˈhæməks/
plural of “hammock” — a small natural hill
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
ibisnounUS /ˈaɪbəs/
wading birds of warm regions having long slender down-curved bills
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
imaginationsnounUS /ˌɪmædʒəˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “imagination” — the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
plural of “interest” — a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
JUNGLEnounUS /ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/
a location marked by an intense competition and struggle for survival
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
lollingverbUS /ˈlɑːlɪŋ/
-ing form of “loll” — hang loosely or laxly
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
luredverbUS /lʊrd/
past form of “lure” — provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
mangrovenounUS /ˈmænɡroʊv/
a tropical tree or shrub bearing fruit that germinates while still on the tree and having numerous prop roots that eventually form an impenetrable mass and are important in land building
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
of an obscure nature
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
raftsnounUS /ræfts/
a large number or amount
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
sheltersnounUS /ˈʃeltərz/
plural of “shelter” — a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
without speaking
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
successionnounUS /səkˈseʃən/
a following of one thing after another in time
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
surprisesnounUS /sərˈpraɪzɪz/
plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
swampsnounUS /swɑːmps/
plural of “swamp” — low land that is seasonally flooded; has more woody plants than a marsh and better drainage than a bog
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
thatchedverbUS /θætʃt/
past form of “thatch” — cover with thatch
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
turbidadjectiveUS /ˈtɜːrbɪd/
(of liquids) clouded as with sediment
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A great flock of scarlet ibis, that rose from their feeding ground upon a mud flat and, lighting on the trees, looked like gorgeous fiery blossoms, brought cries of delight from the boys.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading They watched the big greenheart rafts floating silently downstream with their Indian crews lolling in hammocks beneath the thatched shelters on the logs.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading OFF FOR THE JUNGLE Never will the two boys forget that first trip up the big, turbid South American river.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The miles of mangrove swamps, with their aerial roots drooping from the branches into the water, lured the boys’ imaginations with their mysterious, dark depths.
wondersnounUS /ˈwʌndərz/
plural of “wonder” — the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading From start to finish it was one never ending succession of surprises, interests, wonders and delight.
