used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For all he knew, in such a sky there might be cracks.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading For all he knew, in such a sky there might be cracks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He went to the window and stared upwards at the crazy patchwork of the sky.
from appearances alone
From this reading There were no stars there, though points of light were clustered around the edges, apparently retreating.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Dave stared around the office.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He went to the window and stared upwards at the crazy patchwork of the sky.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For all he knew, in such a sky there might be cracks.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
clusteredadjectiveUS /ˈklʌstərd/
growing close together but not in dense mats
From this reading There were no stars there, though points of light were clustered around the edges, apparently retreating.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
cracksnounUS /kræks/
plural of “crack” — a long narrow opening
From this reading For all he knew, in such a sky there might be cracks.
crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/
affected with madness or insanity
From this reading He went to the window and stared upwards at the crazy patchwork of the sky.
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dave stared around the office.
edgesnounUS /ˈedʒəz/
plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface
From this reading There were no stars there, though points of light were clustered around the edges, apparently retreating.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For all he knew, in such a sky there might be cracks.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He went to the window and stared upwards at the crazy patchwork of the sky.
an opening into or through something
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For all he knew, in such a sky there might be cracks.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading For all he knew, in such a sky there might be cracks.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading There were no stars there, though points of light were clustered around the edges, apparently retreating.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
engage in
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For all he knew, in such a sky there might be cracks.
not any; not one
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He went to the window and stared upwards at the crazy patchwork of the sky.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Dave stared around the office.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
patchworknounUS /ˈpætʃwɜːrk/
a theory or argument made up of miscellaneous or incongruous ideas
From this reading He went to the window and stared upwards at the crazy patchwork of the sky.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading There were no stars there, though points of light were clustered around the edges, apparently retreating.
retreatingverbUS /riˈtriːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading There were no stars there, though points of light were clustered around the edges, apparently retreating.
riftnounUS /rɪft/
a gap between cloud masses
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading He went to the window and stared upwards at the crazy patchwork of the sky.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Dave stared around the office.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading There were no stars there, though points of light were clustered around the edges, apparently retreating.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading For all he knew, in such a sky there might be cracks.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dave stared around the office.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For all he knew, in such a sky there might be cracks.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading There were no stars there, though points of light were clustered around the edges, apparently retreating.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He went to the window and stared upwards at the crazy patchwork of the sky.
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
From this reading He went to the window and stared upwards at the crazy patchwork of the sky.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went to the window and stared upwards at the crazy patchwork of the sky.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were no stars there, though points of light were clustered around the edges, apparently retreating.
in or at the place that
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He went to the window and stared upwards at the crazy patchwork of the sky.
but in spite of that
From this reading In fact, as he looked, he could make out a rift, and beyond that a ... hole ... a small patch where there was no color, and yet the sky there was not black.
