used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So some of them, who were not as lazy as the others, ran out to see what it meant.
barknounUS /bɑːrk/
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
beavernounUS /ˈbiːvər/
the soft brown fur of the beaver
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
beaversnounUS /ˈbiːvərz/
plural of “beaver” — the soft brown fur of the beaver
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
BURGLARSnounUS /ˈbɜːrɡlərz/
plural of “burglar” — a thief who enters a building with intent to steal
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
gnawedverbUS /nɔːd/
past form of “gnaw” — bite or chew on with the teeth
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
lazyadjectiveUS /ˈleɪzi/
moving slowly and gently
From this reading So some of them, who were not as lazy as the others, ran out to see what it meant.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading One tramp looked up and saw the tall tree swaying down toward the bark shelter.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading So some of them, who were not as lazy as the others, ran out to see what it meant.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One tramp looked up and saw the tall tree swaying down toward the bark shelter.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So some of them, who were not as lazy as the others, ran out to see what it meant.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading So some of them, who were not as lazy as the others, ran out to see what it meant.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading So some of them, who were not as lazy as the others, ran out to see what it meant.
cut with a saw
From this reading One tramp looked up and saw the tall tree swaying down toward the bark shelter.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading So some of them, who were not as lazy as the others, ran out to see what it meant.
shacknounUS /ʃæk/
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading One tramp looked up and saw the tall tree swaying down toward the bark shelter.
SniffyadjectiveUS /ˈsnɪfi/
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So some of them, who were not as lazy as the others, ran out to see what it meant.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading So some of them, who were not as lazy as the others, ran out to see what it meant.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
swayingverbUS /ˈsweɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading One tramp looked up and saw the tall tree swaying down toward the bark shelter.
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading One tramp looked up and saw the tall tree swaying down toward the bark shelter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So some of them, who were not as lazy as the others, ran out to see what it meant.
TOTO
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
trampnounUS /træmp/
a vagrant
From this reading One tramp looked up and saw the tall tree swaying down toward the bark shelter.
trampsnounUS /træmpz/
plural of “tramp” — a vagrant
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading One tramp looked up and saw the tall tree swaying down toward the bark shelter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So some of them, who were not as lazy as the others, ran out to see what it meant.
whackingnounUS /ˈwækɪŋ/
the act of inflicting corporal punishment with repeated blows
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
whacksnounUS /wæks/
plural of “whack” — the sound made by a sharp swift blow
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading So some of them, who were not as lazy as the others, ran out to see what it meant.
at the time that
From this reading The tramps did not know that when a beaver whacks his tail on the ground it means danger from a falling tree, or from something else.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the tramps in the shack, toward which was falling the tree Toto and Sniffy had gnawed down――these tramps heard the queer whacking sounds, and they knew they had never heard them before.
which person or people
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading TOTO AND THE BURGLARS Now, the tramps who had built the shack of bark in the woods knew nothing about beavers and their ways.
