used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
any thing at all
From this reading When they reached the studio, Leonardo was given some clay and told to model anything he liked.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
a youthful male person
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
claynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
recognizable; marked
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading So he took his son to his friend the sculptor Verocchio.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading When they reached the studio, Leonardo was given some clay and told to model anything he liked.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
LeonardonounUS /ˌliːəˈnɑːrdoʊ/
Italian painter and sculptor and engineer and scientist and architect; the most versatile genius of the Italian Renaissance (1452-1519)
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
lifelikeadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪflaɪk/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading When they reached the studio, Leonardo was given some clay and told to model anything he liked.
engage in
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
modelnounUS /ˈmɑːdəl/
a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading When they reached the studio, Leonardo was given some clay and told to model anything he liked.
modellingnounUS /ˈmɑːdəlɪŋ/
a preliminary sculpture in wax or clay from which a finished work can be copied
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When they reached the studio, Leonardo was given some clay and told to model anything he liked.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
sculptornounUS /ˈskʌlptər/
an artist who creates sculptures
From this reading So he took his son to his friend the sculptor Verocchio.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So he took his son to his friend the sculptor Verocchio.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When they reached the studio, Leonardo was given some clay and told to model anything he liked.
a male human offspring
From this reading So he took his son to his friend the sculptor Verocchio.
in the near future
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
refrain from harming
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
speciallyadverbUS /ˈspeʃəli/
in a special manner
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
statuettenounUS /ˌstætʃuːˈet/
a small carved or molded figure
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
studionounUS /ˈstuːdioʊ/
workplace for the teaching or practice of an art
From this reading When they reached the studio, Leonardo was given some clay and told to model anything he liked.
talentnounUS /ˈtælənt/
natural abilities or qualities
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they reached the studio, Leonardo was given some clay and told to model anything he liked.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
very small
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading When they reached the studio, Leonardo was given some clay and told to model anything he liked.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading So he took his son to his friend the sculptor Verocchio.
the act of using
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
Verocchio
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he took his son to his friend the sculptor Verocchio.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Whatever lessons he might be doing, however, Leonardo spent his spare time in drawing and in modelling figures in clay.
at the time that
From this reading When they reached the studio, Leonardo was given some clay and told to model anything he liked.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His father decided that this was the talent which the boy ought specially to make use of.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He sat down on the floor, and soon finished a tiny statuette which was so lifelike that it might have been the work of the sculptor himself.
