adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading This box, which was about the size of a trunk, was of massive metal.
adventurersnounUS /ædˈventʃərərz/
plural of “adventurer” — a person who enjoys taking risks
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
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 It was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about were layers of asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors of heat.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
asbestosnounUS /æsˈbestəs/
a fibrous amphibole; used for making fireproof articles; inhaling fibers can cause asbestosis or lung cancer
From this reading It was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about were layers of asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors of heat.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
bakedadjectiveUS /beɪkt/
dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
ballsnounUS /bɔːlz/
plural of “ball” — round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
becomesverbUS /bɪˈkʌmz/
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading “That box becomes red hot,” exclaimed Mr. Jenks, in a whisper.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
boxnounUS /bɑːks/
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
carbonnounUS /ˈkɑːrbən/
an abundant nonmetallic tetravalent element occurring in three allotropic forms: amorphous carbon and graphite and diamond; occurs in all organic compounds
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
cavenounUS /keɪv/
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
chemicalsnounUS /ˈkemɪkəlz/
plural of “chemical” — material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
EagerlyadverbUS /ˈiːɡərli/
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
exclaimedverbUS /ɪkˈskleɪmd/
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “That box becomes red hot,” exclaimed Mr. Jenks, in a whisper.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
heatnounUS /hiːt/
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading It was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about were layers of asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors of heat.
hotadjectiveUS /hɑːt/
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 “That box becomes red hot,” exclaimed Mr. Jenks, in a whisper.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
irregularly-shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about were layers of asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors of heat.
Jenks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That box becomes red hot,” exclaimed Mr. Jenks, in a whisper.
largeradjectiveUS /ˈlɑːrdʒər/
large or big relative to something else
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
layersnounUS /ˈleɪərz/
plural of “layer” — single thickness of usually some homogeneous substance
From this reading It was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about were layers of asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors of heat.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
marblesnounUS /ˈmɑːrbəlz/
a children's game played with little balls made of a hard substance (as glass)
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading This box, which was about the size of a trunk, was of massive metal.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading This box, which was about the size of a trunk, was of massive metal.
mixedadjectiveUS /mɪkst/
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading “That box becomes red hot,” exclaimed Mr. Jenks, in a whisper.
nonconductors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about were layers of asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors of heat.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
openingnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about were layers of asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors of heat.
ovennounUS /ˈʌvən/
kitchen appliance used for baking or roasting
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
passagenounUS /ˈpæsədʒ/
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
pilenounUS /paɪl/
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
recessverbUS /rɪˈses/
put into a recess
From this reading It was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about were layers of asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors of heat.
rednounUS /red/
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading “That box becomes red hot,” exclaimed Mr. Jenks, in a whisper.
rocknounUS /rɑːk/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about were layers of asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors of heat.
sizenounUS /saɪz/
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading This box, which was about the size of a trunk, was of massive metal.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading It was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about were layers of asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors of heat.
steelnounUS /stiːl/
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
substancesnounUS /ˈsʌbstənsəz/
plural of “substance” — the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
From this reading It was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about were layers of asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors of heat.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This box, which was about the size of a trunk, was of massive metal.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the passage into the larger cave.
trunknounUS /trʌŋk/
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading This box, which was about the size of a trunk, was of massive metal.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This box, which was about the size of a trunk, was of massive metal.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
whispernounUS /ˈwɪspər/
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading “That box becomes red hot,” exclaimed Mr. Jenks, in a whisper.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading The men opened the small oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the steel box.
