adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
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 You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/
in addition
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
AmericanounUS /əˈmerəkə/
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
animalsnounUS /ˈænəməlz/
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
boughtverbUS /bɑːt/
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
cagesnounUS /ˈkeɪdʒɪz/
plural of “cage” — an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
camelnounUS /ˈkæməl/
cud-chewing mammal used as a draft or saddle animal in desert regions
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
circusnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəs/
a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
countriesnounUS /ˈkʌntriz/
plural of “country” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
elephantnounUS /ˈeləfənt/
five-toed pachyderm
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
far-offadjective
very far away in space or time
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
folknounUS /foʊk/
people in general (often used in the plural)
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "And I'll send this trick elephant over to a circus," said the man who had bought Umboo from the lumber yard.
funnounUS /fʌn/
activities that are enjoyable or amusing
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
grown-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "And I'll send this trick elephant over to a circus," said the man who had bought Umboo from the lumber yard.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And I'll send this trick elephant over to a circus," said the man who had bought Umboo from the lumber yard.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
IndianounUS /ˈɪndiə/
a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
lemonadenounUS /ˈleməˈneɪd/
sweetened beverage of diluted lemon juice
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
lionnounUS /ˈlaɪən/
large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
looksnounUS /lʊks/
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
lumbernounUS /ˈlʌmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading "And I'll send this trick elephant over to a circus," said the man who had bought Umboo from the lumber yard.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
oceannounUS /ˈoʊʃən/
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "And I'll send this trick elephant over to a circus," said the man who had bought Umboo from the lumber yard.
ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
peanutsnounUS /ˈpiːnəts/
an insignificant sum of money; a trifling amount
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
picturesnounUS /ˈpɪktʃərz/
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
pinknounUS /pɪŋk/
a light shade of red
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
putverbUS /pʊt/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "And I'll send this trick elephant over to a circus," said the man who had bought Umboo from the lumber yard.
sendverbUS /send/
cause to go somewhere
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
SHIPverbUS /ʃɪp/
transport commercially
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
shownverbUS /ʃoʊn/
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
teachesnounUS /ˈtiːtʃəz/
plural of “teach” — an English pirate who operated in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic coast of North America (died in 1718)
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
tentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "And I'll send this trick elephant over to a circus," said the man who had bought Umboo from the lumber yard.
tigernounUS /ˈtaɪɡər/
a fierce or audacious person
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
traveledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
traveled over or through; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
tricknounUS /trɪk/
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading "And I'll send this trick elephant over to a circus," said the man who had bought Umboo from the lumber yard.
UMBOO
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading UMBOO ON THE SHIP The man who bought Umboo was one who owned part of a circus.
WithoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without a circus many boys and girls would never know what an elephant looks like; or a lion, or tiger or camel, except, perhaps, by pictures.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He traveled about in India, and other far-off countries, looking for strange animals that he could send to America, across the ocean, where they would be put in cages and tents and shown to boys and girls, and also grown-up folk.
yardnounUS /jɑːrd/
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading "And I'll send this trick elephant over to a circus," said the man who had bought Umboo from the lumber yard.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You may think a circus is all fun and peanuts and pink lemonade, but it also teaches us something.
