used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
(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 This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Then she called to the morning breeze, who was running and playing along the hedge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading Then she called to the morning breeze, who was running and playing along the hedge.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Then she called to the morning breeze, who was running and playing along the hedge.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The poppy was the first to wake.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
set up or found
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
hedgeverbUS /hedʒ/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading Then she called to the morning breeze, who was running and playing along the hedge.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
petalsnounUS /ˈpetəlz/
plural of “petal” — part of the perianth that is usually brightly colored
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading Then she called to the morning breeze, who was running and playing along the hedge.
ponderingadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːndərɪŋ/
deeply or seriously thoughtful
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
poppynounUS /ˈpɑːpi/
annual or biennial or perennial herbs having showy flowers
From this reading The poppy was the first to wake.
precisely, exactly
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Then she called to the morning breeze, who was running and playing along the hedge.
seednounUS /siːd/
a small hard fruit
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
seedsnounUS /siːdz/
plural of “seed” — a small hard fruit
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
shineverbUS /ʃaɪn/
be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she called to the morning breeze, who was running and playing along the hedge.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
the upper part of anything
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
trap-doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She cautiously opened some little trap-doors at the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in on the seeds.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading The poppy was the first to wake.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The poppy was the first to wake.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
at the time that
From this reading When the sun set they shut up their petals and went to sleep; but the whole night through they were dreaming about their seed, and next morning they had found a plan.
which person or people
From this reading Then she called to the morning breeze, who was running and playing along the hedge.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading This advice did not help the wild flowers at all, and the whole day they stood pondering what they should do.
