used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
BurlnounUS /bɜːrl/
the wood cut from a tree burl or outgrowth; often used decoratively in veneer
From this reading "They're U.S. planes!" gasped Burl, jumping to his feet and going to meet them.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
Dennings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading "They're U.S. planes!" gasped Burl, jumping to his feet and going to meet them.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading "They're U.S. planes!" gasped Burl, jumping to his feet and going to meet them.
the act of departing
From this reading "They're U.S. planes!" gasped Burl, jumping to his feet and going to meet them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
helicoptersnounUS /ˈhelɪkɑːptərz/
plural of “helicopter” — an aircraft without wings that obtains its lift from the rotation of overhead blades
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "They're U.S. planes!" gasped Burl, jumping to his feet and going to meet them.
hoveredverbUS /ˈhʌvərd/
past form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
hummingnounUS /ˈhʌmɪŋ/
a humming noise
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It must mean that they know we stopped the machines."
jetsnounUS /dʒets/
plural of “jet” — an airplane powered by one or more jet engines
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
jumpingnounUS /ˈdʒʌmpɪŋ/
the act of participating in an athletic competition in which you must jump
From this reading "They're U.S. planes!" gasped Burl, jumping to his feet and going to meet them.
and nothing more
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "It must mean that they know we stopped the machines."
machinesnounUS /məˈʃiːnz/
plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading "It must mean that they know we stopped the machines."
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "It must mean that they know we stopped the machines."
come together
From this reading "They're U.S. planes!" gasped Burl, jumping to his feet and going to meet them.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "It must mean that they know we stopped the machines."
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
planesnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plane” — an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading "They're U.S. planes!" gasped Burl, jumping to his feet and going to meet them.
poppedverbUS /pɑːpt/
inflected form of “pop” — bulge outward
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
rocketnounUS /ˈrɑːkət/
any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading "They're U.S. planes!" gasped Burl, jumping to his feet and going to meet them.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
solvedadjectiveUS /sɑːlvd/
explained or answered
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
speculateverbUS /ˈspekjəleɪt/
to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading "It must mean that they know we stopped the machines."
streamingadjectiveUS /ˈstriːmɪŋ/
exuding a bodily fluid in profuse amounts
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
Sun-stealers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "It must mean that they know we stopped the machines."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
They're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They're U.S. planes!" gasped Burl, jumping to his feet and going to meet them.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Dennings did not have much time to speculate on the mystery of the Sun-stealers.
UnounUS /juː/
a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine
From this reading "They're U.S. planes!" gasped Burl, jumping to his feet and going to meet them.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading There was a roaring in the air, then a humming, and in a matter of a few more seconds, six rocket helicopters popped into sight, hovered over the valley on streaming jets, and settled down.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "It must mean that they know we stopped the machines."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For just as they were discussing what should be their next course of action, the problem was solved for them.
