used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
ant-sized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
cancerousadjectiveUS /ˈkænsərəs/
relating to or affected with cancer
From this reading Like an excrescence on the flank of Mother Earth herself, the mound loomed; like an unhealthy, cancerous growth.
clumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
crumblingverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading It was a curious, somehow weird-looking thing, that mound.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
diameternounUS /daɪˈæmətər/
the length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle and connecting two points on the circumference
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Like an excrescence on the flank of Mother Earth herself, the mound loomed; like an unhealthy, cancerous growth.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
excrescencenoun
something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings
From this reading Like an excrescence on the flank of Mother Earth herself, the mound loomed; like an unhealthy, cancerous growth.
fertilitynounUS /fərˈtɪləti/
the ratio of live births in an area to the population of that area; expressed per 1000 population per year
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
flaked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
flanknounUS /flæŋk/
the side of military or naval formation
From this reading Like an excrescence on the flank of Mother Earth herself, the mound loomed; like an unhealthy, cancerous growth.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
grovenounUS /ɡroʊv/
a small growth of trees without underbrush
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Like an excrescence on the flank of Mother Earth herself, the mound loomed; like an unhealthy, cancerous growth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Like an excrescence on the flank of Mother Earth herself, the mound loomed; like an unhealthy, cancerous growth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
invertedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɜːrtɪd/
being in such a position that top and bottom are reversed
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a curious, somehow weird-looking thing, that mound.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading Like an excrescence on the flank of Mother Earth herself, the mound loomed; like an unhealthy, cancerous growth.
the force of workers available
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Like an excrescence on the flank of Mother Earth herself, the mound loomed; like an unhealthy, cancerous growth.
moundnounUS /maʊnd/
(baseball) the slight elevation on which the pitcher stands
From this reading It was a curious, somehow weird-looking thing, that mound.
mysteriesnounUS /ˈmɪstəriz/
plural of “mystery” — something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
richeradjectiveUS /ˈrɪtʃər/
comparative of “rich” — possessing material wealth
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading It was a curious, somehow weird-looking thing, that mound.
soupnounUS /suːp/
liquid food especially of meat or fish or vegetable stock often containing pieces of solid food
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
splintersnounUS /ˈsplɪntərz/
wood in small pieces or splinters
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
squatted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
termitary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
testifyingverbUS /ˈtestəfaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “testify” — give testimony in a court of law
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a curious, somehow weird-looking thing, that mound.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
a special situation
From this reading It was a curious, somehow weird-looking thing, that mound.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
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 About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
tuftsnounUS /tʌfts/
plural of “tuft” — a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
unhealthyadjectiveUS /ənˈhelθi/
not in or exhibiting good health in body or mind
From this reading Like an excrescence on the flank of Mother Earth herself, the mound loomed; like an unhealthy, cancerous growth.
unwholesomeadjective
detrimental to physical or moral well-being
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a curious, somehow weird-looking thing, that mound.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading Here and there tufts of grass waved on it, of a richer, deeper color, testifying to the unwholesome fertility of the crumbling outer stuff that had flaked from the solid mound walls.
weird-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious, somehow weird-looking thing, that mound.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Armed with splinters of steel, two ant-sized men dare the formidable mysteries of a termitary.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading About a yard in height and three and a half in diameter, it squatted in the grassy grove next the clump of trees like an enormous, inverted soup plate.
