used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a spring-like evening in March, with bright sunshine.
(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 But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
boughsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading It was a spring-like evening in March, with bright sunshine.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
budnounUS /bʌd/
a partially opened flower
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
carpetsnounUS /ˈkɑːrpəts/
plural of “carpet” — floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
decorativeadjectiveUS /ˈdekrətɪv/
serving an esthetic rather than a useful purpose
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
separated into parts or pieces
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
eavesnounUS /iːvz/
the overhang at the lower edge of a roof
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It was a spring-like evening in March, with bright sunshine.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
featurenounUS /ˈfiːtʃər/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
fragrancenounUS /ˈfreɪɡrəns/
a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
grimyadjectiveUS /ˈɡraɪmi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
gutternounUS /ˈɡʌtər/
a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
guttersnounUS /ˈɡʌtərz/
plural of “gutter” — a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
heapsnounUS /hiːps/
a large number or amount
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
iciclesnounUS /ˈaɪsɪkəlz/
plural of “icicle” — ice resembling a pendent spear, formed by the freezing of dripping water
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a spring-like evening in March, with bright sunshine.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a spring-like evening in March, with bright sunshine.
immediately past
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
lattices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
march in a procession
From this reading It was a spring-like evening in March, with bright sunshine.
meadowsnounUS /ˈmedoʊz/
plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
meltedadjectiveUS /ˈmeltəd/
changed from a solid to a liquid state
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
meltingnounUS /ˈmeltɪŋ/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
used to form the superlative
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
paddlesnounUS /ˈpædəlz/
plural of “paddle” — small wooden bat with a flat surface; used for hitting balls in various games
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
radiantadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdiːənt/
radiating or as if radiating light
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
reflectingadjectiveUS /rɪˈflektɪŋ/
causing reflection or having a device that reflects
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
roofsnounUS /ruːfs/
plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
snowsnounUS /snoʊz/
plural of “snow” — precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
sparrowsnounUS /ˈsperoʊz/
plural of “sparrow” — any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
spicyadjectiveUS /ˈspaɪsi/
producing a burning sensation on the taste nerves
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
the season of growth
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
spring-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a spring-like evening in March, with bright sunshine.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
sunsnounUS /sʌnz/
plural of “sun” — the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading The glow of sunset lay on the houses facing south like brilliant decorative carpets, sharply divided from the shadows on the opposite side of the street.
the rays of the sun
From this reading It was a spring-like evening in March, with bright sunshine.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The last grimy heaps of snow lying along the gutters had melted into radiant paddles, and a shower of silvery drops fell from the icicles clinging to the roofs.
twittered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
vapournoun
a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a spring-like evening in March, with bright sunshine.
accept gladly
From this reading But most welcome feature of all in this early spring of city streets was the peculiar spicy fragrance of the melting snows, rising in vapour from the gutter with promise of meadows growing green and of boughs bursting into bud.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
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 The window lattices shone as if they themselves were suns reflecting their own light, and sparrows twittered on the dripping eaves.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a spring-like evening in March, with bright sunshine.
