used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And they still have two legs with which to stand on the ground, when they have to come down to rest or to feed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading And they still have two legs with which to stand on the ground, when they have to come down to rest or to feed.
at any time
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
provide as food
From this reading And they still have two legs with which to stand on the ground, when they have to come down to rest or to feed.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading And they still have two legs with which to stand on the ground, when they have to come down to rest or to feed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
staying power
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But they have two wings, which are more useful to them than two more legs.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And they still have two legs with which to stand on the ground, when they have to come down to rest or to feed.
and nothing more
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading And they still have two legs with which to stand on the ground, when they have to come down to rest or to feed.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading And they still have two legs with which to stand on the ground, when they have to come down to rest or to feed.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
be standing; be upright
From this reading And they still have two legs with which to stand on the ground, when they have to come down to rest or to feed.
not in physical motion
From this reading And they still have two legs with which to stand on the ground, when they have to come down to rest or to feed.
express in words
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But they have two wings, which are more useful to them than two more legs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But they have two wings, which are more useful to them than two more legs.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But they have two wings, which are more useful to them than two more legs.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Of course, birds are not exactly animals of the kind that I have been telling you about, as they have only two legs, instead of four.
being of use or service
From this reading But they have two wings, which are more useful to them than two more legs.
at the time that
From this reading And they still have two legs with which to stand on the ground, when they have to come down to rest or to feed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But they have two wings, which are more useful to them than two more legs.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading But they have two wings, which are more useful to them than two more legs.
in the company of; together with
From this reading If they had four legs they could run fast; but with the two wings they can fly, which is ever so much faster and better than running.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Bright Birds Now I shall tell you something about birds; not ordinary birds, but a special sort.
