used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
acheverbUS /eɪk/
feel physical pain
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What’s that black thing?” asked Tom.
being joined in close association
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
for the reason that
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
buzzernounUS /ˈbʌzər/
a push button at an outer door that gives a ringing or buzzing signal when pushed
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
Charley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
being joined in close association
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
cordsnounUS /kɔːrdz/
cotton trousers made of corduroy cloth
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
let fall to the ground
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
a quad with a square body
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
an opening into or through something
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
located inward
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
social deportment
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
officesnounUS /ˈɔːfəsəz/
plural of “office” — place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
plugverbUS /plʌɡ/
fill or close tightly with or as if with a plug
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
plugsnounUS /plʌɡz/
plural of “plug” — blockage consisting of an object designed to fill a hole tightly
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
on the contrary
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading “That’s the visual signal.
switchboardnounUS /ˈswɪtʃbɔːrd/
telephone central where circuits are completed with patchcords
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
carry out
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That’s the visual signal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
in or at that place or location
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
a special situation
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
male cat
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
visualadjectiveUS /ˈvɪʒəwəl/
relating to or using sight
From this reading “That’s the visual signal.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’s that black thing?” asked Tom.
at the time that
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
in or at the place that
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
which person or people
From this reading There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk.
wiresnounUS /ˈwaɪərz/
plural of “wire” — ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading GETTING A PLACE Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
