used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ICE BOATS, SLEDGES AND TOBOGGANS.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
atticnounUS /ˈætɪk/
floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading Our skate sails and snow shoes were stored in the attic, ready for use.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
beforehandadjectiveUS /bɪˈfɔːrhænd/
being ahead of time or need
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading ICE BOATS, SLEDGES AND TOBOGGANS.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
ClumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading ICE BOATS, SLEDGES AND TOBOGGANS.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
engage in
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
not any; not one
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
determined
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
sailsnounUS /seɪlz/
plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
From this reading Our skate sails and snow shoes were stored in the attic, ready for use.
a particular situation
From this reading Our skate sails and snow shoes were stored in the attic, ready for use.
skatenounUS /skeɪt/
sports equipment that is worn on the feet to enable the wearer to glide along and to be propelled by the alternate actions of the legs
From this reading Our skate sails and snow shoes were stored in the attic, ready for use.
SLEDGES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ICE BOATS, SLEDGES AND TOBOGGANS.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Our skate sails and snow shoes were stored in the attic, ready for use.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
storedverbUS /stɔːrd/
past form of “store” — keep or lay aside for future use
From this reading Our skate sails and snow shoes were stored in the attic, ready for use.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
TOBOGGANSnounUS /təˈbɑːɡənz/
plural of “toboggan” — a long narrow sled without runners; boards curve upward in front
From this reading ICE BOATS, SLEDGES AND TOBOGGANS.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
the act of using
From this reading Our skate sails and snow shoes were stored in the attic, ready for use.
vacationnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃən/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the Christmas holidays.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading We resolved this time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire two weeks in solid pleasure.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Our skate sails and snow shoes were stored in the attic, ready for use.
WillownounUS /ˈwɪloʊ/
any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Our previous Christmas vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no time for the trip itself.
