used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
arroyos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
aspen-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
burned-outadjective
exhausted as a result of longtime stress
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
cactusnounUS /ˈkæktəs/
any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines
From this reading Crimson and yellow-flowered cactus, sage and chaparral, succeeded the pines.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
cedarnounUS /ˈsiːdər/
any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
chaparralnounUS /ˌʃæpərˈæl/
dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes
From this reading Crimson and yellow-flowered cactus, sage and chaparral, succeeded the pines.
ColoradonounUS /ˌkɑːlərˈɑːdoʊ/
a state in west central United States in the Rocky Mountains
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
without stop or interruption
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
CRESTnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
CrimsonadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmzən/
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading Crimson and yellow-flowered cactus, sage and chaparral, succeeded the pines.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/
An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
doubtedverbUS /ˈdaʊtɪd/
past form of “doubt” — consider unlikely or have doubts about
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
extensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstensɪv/
large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
firnounUS /fɜːr/
nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
FLOODnounUS /flʌd/
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
foot-hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
forestsnounUS /ˈfɔːrəsts/
plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
(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 The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
GulfnounUS /ɡʌlf/
an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
half-planned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
hotteradjectiveUS /ˈhɑːtər/
comparative of “hot” — used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
increasenounUS /ˌɪnˈkriːs/
a quantity that is added
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
MojavenounUS /moʊˈhɑːvi/
a member of the North American Indian people formerly living in the Colorado river valley in Arizona and Nevada and California
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
pinesnounUS /paɪnz/
plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree
From this reading Crimson and yellow-flowered cactus, sage and chaparral, succeeded the pines.
piñon-clothed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
plateaunounUS /plæˈtoʊ/
a relatively flat highland
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
rock-ribbedadjective
abounding in or bordered by rocky cliffs or scarps
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
sagenounUS /seɪdʒ/
a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
From this reading Crimson and yellow-flowered cactus, sage and chaparral, succeeded the pines.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
six-thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading Crimson and yellow-flowered cactus, sage and chaparral, succeeded the pines.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
in a swift manner
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
carry out
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
create by training and teaching
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
umber-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The cool mountains had given way to burned-out, umber-coloured hills, rock-ribbed arroyos, and seemingly endless desert; and the sun was growing hotter every minute.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
westward-bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE CREST OF A FLOOD A westward-bound train was bearing me across the Mojave Desert one day in May.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If the heat continued to increase, I doubted if I would care to take a half-planned Colorado River trip down to the Gulf.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading In a few swiftly passing hours we had made a six-thousand foot descent from the plateau with its fir and aspen-covered mountain, its cedar and piñon-clothed foot-hills, and its extensive forests of yellow pine.
yellow-flowered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Crimson and yellow-flowered cactus, sage and chaparral, succeeded the pines.
