adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
boatnounUS /boʊt/
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
Dab-Dab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
DoctornounUS /ˈdɑːktər/
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
Doctor'snounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading And there, tied to the Doctor’s ship, were a thousand strings; and two thousand swallows were pulling on each string—all terribly swift fliers.
endsnounUS /endz/
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
flewverbUS /fluː/
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
fliersnounUS /ˈflaɪərz/
plural of “flier” — someone who travels by air
From this reading And there, tied to the Doctor’s ship, were a thousand strings; and two thousand swallows were pulling on each string—all terribly swift fliers.
flyverbUS /flaɪ/
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
frontnounUS /frʌnt/
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
holdverbUS /hoʊld/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
lotnounUS /lɑːt/
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
piecesnounUS /ˈpiːsəz/
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
piratesnounUS /ˈpaɪrəts/
plural of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
pullingnounUS /ˈpʊlɪŋ/
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
quicklyadverbUS /ˈkwɪkli/
with speed
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
ropenounUS /roʊp/
a strong line
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
shipverbUS /ʃɪp/
transport commercially
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
stringnounUS /strɪŋ/
a lightweight cord
From this reading And there, tied to the Doctor’s ship, were a thousand strings; and two thousand swallows were pulling on each string—all terribly swift fliers.
stringsnounUS /strɪŋz/
the section of an orchestra that plays stringed instruments
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
strongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
swallowsnounUS /ˈswɑːloʊz/
plural of “swallow” — a small amount of liquid food
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
swiftadjectiveUS /swɪft/
moving very fast
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
terriblyadverbUS /ˈterəbli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading And there, tied to the Doctor’s ship, were a thousand strings; and two thousand swallows were pulling on each string—all terribly swift fliers.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading And there, tied to the Doctor’s ship, were a thousand strings; and two thousand swallows were pulling on each string—all terribly swift fliers.
tiedadjectiveUS /taɪd/
bound or secured closely
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
unravelverbUS /ənˈrævəl/
become or cause to become undone by separating the fibers or threads of
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading And although swallows are not very strong when only one or two are by themselves, it is different when there are a great lot of them together.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Then the Doctor asked Dab-Dab to fly up and tell the swallows that pirates were coming after them in a swift ship, and what should he do about it.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When the swallows heard this, they all came down on to the Doctor’s ship; and they told him to unravel some pieces of long rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then the ends of these strings were tied on to the front of the ship; and the swallows took hold of the strings with their feet and flew off, pulling the boat along.
