used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
Alex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The _Rambler_ trembled like an overworked race horse.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
any thing at all
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the first throb of the motor.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
make calm or still
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Case had sprung to the wheel and ground it hard over.
ClaynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
examiningverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At the first throb of the motor.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Case had sprung to the wheel and ground it hard over.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Case had sprung to the wheel and ground it hard over.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The _Rambler_ trembled like an overworked race horse.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
and nothing more
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The _Rambler_ trembled like an overworked race horse.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading At the first throb of the motor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
overworkedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈwɜːrkt/
past form of “overwork” — use too much
From this reading The _Rambler_ trembled like an overworked race horse.
quicknessnounUS /ˈkwɪknəs/
skillful performance or ability without difficulty
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
any competition
From this reading The _Rambler_ trembled like an overworked race horse.
RamblernounUS /ˈræmblər/
a person who takes long walks in the country
From this reading The _Rambler_ trembled like an overworked race horse.
rockedverbUS /rɑːkt/
past form of “rock” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
shovedverbUS /ʃʌvd/
past form of “shove” — come into rough contact with while moving
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
move hurridly
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Case had sprung to the wheel and ground it hard over.
switchverbUS /swɪtʃ/
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
throbverbUS /θrɑːb/
pulsate or pound with abnormal force
From this reading At the first throb of the motor.
timernounUS /ˈtaɪmər/
a timepiece that measures a time interval and signals its end
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading The _Rambler_ trembled like an overworked race horse.
vandalsnounUS /ˈvændəlz/
plural of “vandal” — someone who willfully destroys or defaces property
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
at the time that
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With calm quickness, he threw on the switch, rocked the fly wheel over, and shoved the timer over to full speed.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading A CLOSE CALL Clay had just finished working the oil out of the engine and was examining it to see if the vandals had broken anything, when Alex called.
