Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stuck his nose up in the air and gave a long sniff.
amuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
ATprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
boiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just then he thought he got a whiff of boiling molasses.
calls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
CANDY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
children's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
dance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
doctornounUS /doctor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stuck his nose up in the air and gave a long sniff.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just then he thought he got a whiff of boiling molasses.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He stuck his nose up in the air and gave a long sniff.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
Just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just then he thought he got a whiff of boiling molasses.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
laughing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
lighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stuck his nose up in the air and gave a long sniff.
Looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
molasses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just then he thought he got a whiff of boiling molasses.
monkey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
nose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stuck his nose up in the air and gave a long sniff.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
PULL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
sniff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stuck his nose up in the air and gave a long sniff.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
stuck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stuck his nose up in the air and gave a long sniff.
Tabby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
telling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just then he thought he got a whiff of boiling molasses.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Just then he thought he got a whiff of boiling molasses.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
turkey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, he saw that the house was lighted more than was usual, and he knew right away that they must be having a little dance or a children's party of some kind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
whiff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just then he thought he got a whiff of boiling molasses.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
wondering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had finished telling Tabby about the monkey and the turkey and was wondering what to do with himself when he heard children laughing in the back yard of the house opposite.
ZIP
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZIP AT THE CANDY PULL That evening the doctor had no calls to make, so Zip was left to amuse himself as best he could.
