used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading They seem to have a pretty stiff breeze out there, and it would not have taken them much out of their way."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
Champion'snounUS /ˈtʃæmpiənz/
possessive form of “champion” — someone who has won first place in a competition
From this reading Depend on it, those are the _Champion's_ people, and they have got some reason for not wishing to communicate with us.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
communicateverbUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪt/
transmit information
From this reading Depend on it, those are the _Champion's_ people, and they have got some reason for not wishing to communicate with us.
DependverbUS /dɪˈpend/
be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading Depend on it, those are the _Champion's_ people, and they have got some reason for not wishing to communicate with us.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Depend on it, those are the _Champion's_ people, and they have got some reason for not wishing to communicate with us.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
engage in
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They seem to have a pretty stiff breeze out there, and it would not have taken them much out of their way."
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Depend on it, those are the _Champion's_ people, and they have got some reason for not wishing to communicate with us.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Depend on it, those are the _Champion's_ people, and they have got some reason for not wishing to communicate with us.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading They seem to have a pretty stiff breeze out there, and it would not have taken them much out of their way."
raftnounUS /ræft/
a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Depend on it, those are the _Champion's_ people, and they have got some reason for not wishing to communicate with us.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They seem to have a pretty stiff breeze out there, and it would not have taken them much out of their way."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Depend on it, those are the _Champion's_ people, and they have got some reason for not wishing to communicate with us.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading They seem to have a pretty stiff breeze out there, and it would not have taken them much out of their way."
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading They seem to have a pretty stiff breeze out there, and it would not have taken them much out of their way."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They seem to have a pretty stiff breeze out there, and it would not have taken them much out of their way."
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They seem to have a pretty stiff breeze out there, and it would not have taken them much out of their way."
in or at that place or location
From this reading They seem to have a pretty stiff breeze out there, and it would not have taken them much out of their way."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Depend on it, those are the _Champion's_ people, and they have got some reason for not wishing to communicate with us.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They seem to have a pretty stiff breeze out there, and it would not have taken them much out of their way."
whalenounUS /weɪl/
a very large person; impressive in size or qualities
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "It is more than I can make out, what they are about," observed Walter.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading "They must have caught sight of the whale, and whether that's a boat or a raft, it's surprising that they should not have come nearer to have a look at us.
wishingnounUS /ˈwɪʃɪŋ/
a specific feeling of desire
From this reading Depend on it, those are the _Champion's_ people, and they have got some reason for not wishing to communicate with us.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I am sure that it is a raft," said the mate, "as, with the breeze they have got, and that large sail, a boat would move much faster through the water than they are doing.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They seem to have a pretty stiff breeze out there, and it would not have taken them much out of their way."
