a |
1. art. One; any indefinite example of; used to denote a singular item of a group. | |
There was a man here looking for you yesterday. | |
2. art. Used in conjunction with the adjectives score, dozen, hundred, thousand, and million, as a function word. | |
I've seen it happen a hundred times. | |
3. art. One certain or particular; any single.Brown, Lesley, (2003) | |
We've received an interesting letter from a Mrs. Miggins of London. | |
4. art. The same; one. | |
We are of a mind on matters of morals. | |
5. art. Any, every; used before a noun which has become modified to limit its scope; also used with a negative to indicate not a single one.Lindberg, Christine A. (2007) | |
A man who dies intestate leaves his children troubles and difficulties. | |
He fell all that way, and hasn't a bump on his head? | |
6. art. Used before plural nouns modified by few, good many, couple, great many, etc. | |
7. art. Someone or something like; similar to; Used before a proper noun to create an example out of it. | |
The center of the village was becoming a Times Square. | |
8. prep. (archaic) To do with position or direction; In, on, at, by, towards, onto. | |
Stand a tiptoe. | |
9. prep. To do with separation; In, into. | |
Torn a pieces. | |
10. prep. To do with time; Each, per, in, on, by. | |
I brush my teeth twice a day. | |
11. prep. (obsolete) To do with method; In, with. | |
12. prep. (obsolete) To do with role or capacity; In. | |
A God’s name. | |
13. prep. To do with status; In. | |
King James Bible (II Chronicles 2:18) | |
To set the people a worke. | |
14. prep. (archaic) To do with process, with a passive verb; In the course of, experiencing. | |
1964, Bob Dylan, The Times They Are a-Changin’ | |
The times, they are a-changin'. | |
15. prep. (archaic) To do with an action, an active verb; Engaged in. | |
1611, King James Bible, Hebrews 11-21 | |
Jacob, when he was a dying | |
16. prep. (archaic) To do with an action/movement; To, into. | |
17. v. (archaic, or slang) Have. | |
I'd a come, if you'd a asked. | |
18. pron. (obsolete, outside, England, and Scotland dialects) He. | |
19. interj. A meaningless syllable; ah. | |
20. prep. (archaic, slang) Of. | |
The name of John a Gaunt. | |
21. adv. (chiefly Scotland) All. | |
22. adj. (chiefly Scotland) All. | |
quantity |
1. n. A fundamental, generic term used when referring to the measurement (count, amount) of a scalar, vector, number of items or to some other way of denominating the value of a collection or group of items | |
You have to choose between quantity and quality. | |
2. n. An indefinite amount of something. | |
Some soap making oils are best as base oils, used in a larger quantity in the soap, while other oils are best added in a small quantity. | |
Olive oil can be used practically in any quantity. | |
3. n. A specific measured amount. | |
This bag would normally costs $497.50 for a quantity of 250, at a price of $1.99 per piece. | |
Generally it should not be used in a quantity larger than 15 percent. | |
4. n. A considerable measure or amount. | |
The Boeing P-26A was the first all-metal monoplane fighter produced in quantity for the U.S. Army Air Corps. | |
5. n. (metrology) Property of a phenomenon, body, or substance, where the property has a magnitude that can be expressed as number and a reference. | |
6. n. (mathematics) Indicates that the entire preceding expression is henceforth considered a single object. | |
x plus y quantity squared equals x squared plus 2xy plus y squared. | |
of |
1. prep. Expressing distance or motion. | |
2. prep. (now obsolete, or dialectal) From (of distance, direction), "off". | |
3. prep. (obsolete except in phrases) Since, from (a given time, earlier state etc.). | |
4. prep. From, away from (a position, number, distance etc.). | |
There are no shops within twenty miles of the cottage. | |
5. prep. (North America, Scotland, Ireland) Before (the hour); to. | |
What's the time? / Nearly a quarter of three. | |
6. prep. Expressing separation. | |
7. prep. (Indicating removal, absence or separation, with the action indicated by a transitive verb and the quality or substance by a grammatical object.) | |
Finally she was relieved of the burden of caring for her sick husband. | |
8. prep. (Indicating removal, absence or separation, with resulting state indicated by an adjective.) | |
He seemed devoid of human feelings. | |
9. prep. (obsolete) (Indicating removal, absence or separation, construed with an intransitive verb.) | |
10. prep. Expressing origin. | |
11. prep. (Indicating an ancestral source or origin of descent.) | |
The word is believed to be of Japanese origin. | |
12. prep. (Indicating a (non-physical) source of action or emotion; introducing a cause, instigation); from, out of, as an expression of. | |
The invention was born of necessity. | |
13. prep. (following an intransitive verb) (Indicates the source or cause of the verb.) | |
It is said that she died of a broken heart. | |
14. prep. (following an adjective) (Indicates the subject or cause of the adjective.) | |
I am tired of all this nonsense. | |
15. prep. Expressing agency. | |
16. prep. (following a passive verb) (Indicates the agent (for most verbs, now usually expressed with by).) | |
I am not particularly enamoured of this idea. | |
17. prep. (Used to introduce the "subjective genitive"; following a noun to form the head of a postmodifying noun phrase) (see also 'Possession' senses below). | |
The contract can be terminated at any time with the agreement of both parties. | |
18. prep. (following an adjective) (Used to indicate the agent of something described by the adjective.) | |
It was very brave of you to speak out like that. | |
19. prep. Expressing composition, substance. | |
20. prep. (after a verb expressing construction, making etc.) (Used to indicate the material or substance used.) | |
Many 'corks' are now actually made of plastic. | |
21. prep. (directly following a noun) (Used to indicate the material of the just-mentioned object.) | |
She wore a dress of silk. | |
22. prep. (Indicating the composition of a given collective or quantitative noun.) | |
What a lot of nonsense! | |
23. prep. (Used to link a given class of things with a specific example of that class.) | |
Welcome to the historic town of Harwich. | |
24. prep. (Links two nouns in near-apposition, with the first qualifying the second); "which is also". | |
I'm not driving this wreck of a car. | |
25. prep. Introducing subject matter. | |
26. prep. (Links an intransitive verb, or a transitive verb and its subject (especially verbs to do with thinking, feeling, expressing etc.), with its subject-ma | |
I'm always thinking of you. | |
27. prep. (following a noun (now chiefly nouns of knowledge, communication etc.)) (Introduces its subject matter); about, concerning. | |
He told us the story of his journey to India. | |
28. prep. (following an adjective) (Introduces its subject matter.) | |
This behaviour is typical of teenagers. | |
29. prep. Having partitive effect. | |
30. prep. (following a number or other quantitive word) (Introduces the whole for which is indicated only the specified part or segment); "from among". | |
Most of these apples are rotten. | |
31. prep. (following a noun) (Indicates a given part.) | |
32. prep. (now archaic, literary, with preceding partitive word assumed, or as a predicate after to be) Some, an amount of, one of. | |
On the whole, they seem to be of the decent sort. | |
33. prep. (Links to a genitive noun or possessive pronoun, with partitive effect (though now often merged with possessive senses, below).) | |
He is a friend of mine. | |
34. prep. Expressing possession. | |
35. prep. Belonging to, existing in, or taking place in a given location, place or time. Compare "origin" senses, above. | |
He was perhaps the most famous scientist of the twentieth century. | |
36. prep. Belonging to (a place) through having title, ownership or control over it. | |
The owner of the nightclub was arrested. | |
37. prep. Belonging to (someone or something) as something they possess or have as a characteristic; (the "possessive genitive". (With abstract nouns, this inter | |
Keep the handle of the saucepan away from the flames. | |
38. prep. Forming the "objective genitive". | |
39. prep. (Follows an agent noun, verbal noun or noun of action.) | |
She had a profound distrust of the police. | |
40. prep. Expressing qualities or characteristics. | |
41. prep. (now archaic, or literary) (Links an adjective with a noun or noun phrase to form a quasi-adverbial qualifier); in respect to, as regards. | |
My companion seemed affable and easy of manner. | |
42. prep. (Indicates a quality or characteristic); "characterized by". | |
Pooh was said to be a bear of very little brain. | |
43. prep. (Indicates quantity, age, price, etc.) | |
We have been paying interest at a rate of 10%. | |
44. prep. (US, informal considered incorrect by some) (Used to link singular indefinite nouns (preceded by the indefinite article) and attributive adjectives mod | |
It's not that big of a deal. | |
45. prep. Expressing a point in time. | |
46. prep. (chiefly regional) During the course of (a set period of time, day of the week etc.), now specifically with implied repetition or regularity. | |
Of an evening, we would often go for a stroll along the river. | |
47. prep. (UK dialectal, chiefly in negative constructions) For (a given length of time). | |
I've not tekken her out of a goodly long while. | |
48. prep. (after a noun) (Indicates duration of a state, activity etc.) | |
After a delay of three hours, the plane finally took off. | |
yarn |
1. n. A twisted strand of fiber used for knitting or weaving. | |
2. n. (nautical) Bundles of fibers twisted together, and which in turn are twisted in bundles to form strands, which in their turn are twisted or plaited to form rope. | |
3. n. A story, a tale, especially one that is incredible. | |
4. v. To tell a story or stories. | |
thread |
1. n. A long, thin and flexible form of material, generally with a round cross-section, used in sewing, weaving or in the construction of string. | |
2. n. A continued theme or idea. | |
All of these essays have a common thread. | |
I’ve lost the thread of what you’re saying. | |
3. n. (engineering) A screw thread. | |
4. n. A sequence of connections. | |
5. n. The line midway between the banks of a stream. | |
6. n. (computing) A unit of execution, lighter in weight than a process, usually sharing memory and other resources with other threads executing concurrently. | |
7. n. (Internet) A series of messages, generally grouped by subject, in which all messages except the first are replies to previous messages in the thread. | |
8. n. A filament, as of a flower, or of any fibrous substance, as of bark. | |
9. n. (figurative) Composition; quality; fineness. | |
10. v. To put thread through. | |
thread a needle | |
11. v. To pass (through a narrow constriction or around a series of obstacles). | |
I think I can thread my way through here, but it’s going to be tight. | |
12. v. To screw on, to fit the threads of a nut on a bolt | |
or |
1. conj. Connects at least two alternative words, phrases, clauses, sentences, etc. each of which could make a passage true. In English, this is the "inclusive or." The "exclusive or" is formed by "either(...) | |
In Ohio, anyone under the age of 18 who wants a tattoo or body piercing needs the consent of a parent or guardian. | |
He might get cancer, or be hit by a bus, or God knows what. | |
2. conj. (logic) An operator denoting the disjunction of two propositions or truth values. There are two forms, the inclusive or and the exclusive or. | |
3. conj. Counts the elements before and after as two possibilities. | |
4. conj. Otherwise (a consequence of the condition that the previous is false). | |
It's raining! Come inside or you'll catch a cold! | |
5. conj. Connects two equivalent names. | |
The country Myanmar, or Burma | |
6. n. (logic, electronics) alternative form of OR | |
7. n. (tincture) The gold or yellow tincture on a coat of arms. | |
8. adj. (tincture) Of gold or yellow tincture on a coat of arms. | |
9. adv. (obsolete) Early (on). | |
10. adv. (obsolete) Earlier, previously. | |
11. prep. (now archaic, or dialect) Before; ere. | |
the |
1. art. Definite grammatical article that implies necessarily that an entity it articulates is presupposed; something already mentioned, or completely specified later in that same sentence, or assumed already | |
I’m reading the book. (Compare I’m reading a book.) | |
The street in front of your house. (Compare A street in Paris.) | |
The men and women watched the man give the birdseed to the bird. | |
2. art. Used before a noun modified by a restrictive relative clause, indicating that the noun refers to a single referent defined by the relative clause. | |
The street that runs through my hometown. | |
3. art. Used before an object considered to be unique, or of which there is only one at a time. | |
No one knows how many galaxies there are in the universe. | |
God save the Queen! | |
4. art. Used before a superlative or an ordinal number modifying a noun, to indicate that the noun refers to a single item. | |
That was the best apple pie ever. | |
5. art. Added to a superlative or an ordinal number to make it into a substantive. | |
That apple pie was the best. | |
6. art. Introducing a singular term to be taken generically: preceding a name of something standing for a whole class. | |
7. art. Used before an adjective, indicating all things (especially persons) described by that adjective. | |
Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable. | |
8. art. Used to indicate a certain example of (a noun) which is usually of most concern or most common or familiar. | |
No one in the whole country had seen it before. | |
I don't think I'll get to it until the morning. | |
9. art. Used before a body part (especially of someone previously mentioned), as an alternative to a possessive pronoun. | |
A stone hit him on the head. (= “A stone hit him on his head.”) | |
10. art. When stressed, indicates that it describes an object which is considered to be best or exclusively worthy of attention. | |
That is the hospital to go to for heart surgery. | |
11. adv. 1=With a comparative ormore and a verb phrase, establishes a parallel with one or more other such comparatives. | |
The hotter the better. | |
The more I think about it, the weaker it looks. | |
The more money donated, the more books purchased, and the more happy children. | |
It looks weaker and weaker, the more I think about it. | |
12. adv. 1=With a comparative, and often withfor it, indicates a result more like said comparative. This can be negated withnone. | |
It was a difficult time, but I’m the wiser for it. | |
It was a difficult time, and I’m none the wiser for it. | |
I'm much the wiser for having had a difficult time like that. | |
like |
1. v. (transitive, archaic) To please. | |
2. v. To enjoy, be pleased by; favor; be in favor of. | |
I like hamburgers | |
I like skiing in winter | |
I like the Seattle Mariners this season | |
3. v. (obsolete) To derive pleasure of, by or with someone or something. | |
4. v. To prefer and maintain (an action) as a regular habit or activity. | |
I like to go to the dentist every six months | |
She likes to keep herself physically fit | |
we like to keep one around the office just in case | |
5. v. (obsolete) To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition). | |
6. v. (archaic) To come near; to avoid with difficulty; to escape narrowly. | |
He liked to have been too late. | |
7. v. To find attractive; to prefer the company of; to have mild romantic feelings for. | |
I really like Sandra but don't know how to tell her. | |
8. v. (obsolete) To liken; to compare. | |
9. v. (Internet, transitive) To show support for, or approval of, something posted on the Internet by marking it with a vote. | |
I liked my friend's last status on Facebook. | |
I can't stand Bloggs' tomato ketchup, but I liked it on Facebook so I could enter a competition. | |
10. n. (usually plural) Something that a person likes (prefers). | |
Tell me your likes and dislikes. | |
11. n. (internet) An individual vote showing support for, or approval of, something posted on the Internet. | |
12. adj. Similar. | |
My partner and I have like minds. | |
13. adj. (obsolete) Likely; probable. | |
14. adv. (informal) For example, such as: to introduce an example or list of examples. | |
There are lots of birds, like ducks and gulls, in this park. | |
15. adv. (archaic, colloquial) Likely. | |
16. adv. (obsolete) In a like or similar manner. | |
17. n. (sometimes as the likes of) Someone similar to a given person, or something similar to a given object; a comparative; a type; a sort. | |
There were bowls full of sweets, chocolates and the like. | |
It was something the likes of which I had never seen before. | |
18. n. (golf) The stroke that equalizes the number of strokes played by the opposing player or side. | |
to play the like | |
19. conj. (colloquial) As, the way. | |
20. conj. As if; as though. | |
It looks like you've finished the project. | |
It seemed like you didn't care. | |
21. prep. Similar to, reminiscent of. | |
These hamburgers taste like leather. | |
22. part. (colloquial, Scotland, Geordie, Teesside, Scouse) A delayed filler. | |
He was so angry, like. | |
23. part. (colloquial) A mild intensifier. | |
She was, like, sooooo happy. | |
24. part. (colloquial) indicating approximation or uncertainty | |
There were, like, twenty of them. | |
And then he, like, got all angry and left the room. | |
25. part. (colloquial, slang) When preceded by any form of the verb to be, used to mean “to say” or “to think”; used to precede an approximate quotation or paraphrase. | |
I was like, “Why did you do that?” and he's like, “I don't know.” | |
26. interj. (Liverpool, Geordie) Used to place emphasis upon a statement. | |
divint ye knaa, like? | |
put |
1. v. To place something somewhere. | |
She put her books on the table. | |
2. v. To bring or set into a certain relation, state or condition. | |
Put your house in order! | |
He is putting all his energy into this one task. | |
She tends to put herself in dangerous situations. | |
3. v. (finance) To exercise a put option. | |
He got out of his Procter and Gamble bet by putting his shares at 80. | |
4. v. To express something in a certain manner. | |
When you put it that way, I guess I can see your point. | |
5. v. (athletics) To throw a heavy iron ball, as a sport. (See shot put. Do not confuse with putt.) | |
6. v. To steer; to direct one's course; to go. | |
7. v. To play a card or a hand in the game called put. | |
8. v. To attach or attribute; to assign. | |
to put a wrong construction on an act or expression | |
9. v. (obsolete) To lay down; to give up; to surrender. | |
10. v. To set before one for judgment, acceptance, or rejection; to bring to the attention. | |
to put a question; to put a case | |
11. v. (obsolete) To incite; to entice; to urge; to constrain; to oblige. | |
12. v. (mining) To convey coal in the mine, as for example from the working to the tramway. | |
13. n. (business) A right to sell something at a predetermined price. | |
14. n. (finance) A contract to sell a security at a set price on or before a certain date. | |
He bought a January '08 put for Procter and Gamble at 80 to hedge his bet. | |
15. n. The act of putting; an action; a movement; a thrust; a push. | |
the put of a ball | |
16. n. An old card game. | |
17. n. (obsolete) An idiot; a foolish person; a duffer. | |
18. n. (obsolete) A prostitute. | |
up |
1. adv. Away from the surface of the Earth or other planet; in opposite direction to the downward pull of gravity. | |
I looked up and saw the airplane overhead. | |
2. adv. (intensifier) Used as an aspect marker to indicate a completed action or state Thoroughly, completely. | |
I will mix up the puzzle pieces. | |
Tear up the contract. | |
He really messed up. | |
Please type up our monthly report. | |
3. adv. To or from one's possession or consideration. | |
I picked up some milk on the way home. | |
The committee will take up your request. | |
She had to give up her driver's license after the accident. | |
4. adv. North. | |
I will go up to New York to visit my family this weekend. | |
5. adv. To a higher level of some quantity or notional quantity, such as price, volume, pitch, happiness, etc. | |
Gold has gone up with the uncertainty in the world markets. | |
Turn it up, I can barely hear it. | |
Listen to your voice go up at the end of a question. | |
Cheer up, the weekend's almost here. | |
6. adv. (rail transport) Traditional term for the direction leading to the principal terminus, towards milepost zero. | |
7. adv. (sailing) Against the wind or current. | |
8. adv. (Cartesian graph) In a positive vertical direction. | |
9. adv. (cricket) Relatively close to the batsman. | |
The bowler pitched the ball up. | |
10. adv. (hospitality, US) Without additional ice. | |
Would you like that drink up or on ice? | |
11. adv. (academia) Towards Cambridge or Oxford. | |
She's going up to read Classics this September. | |
12. adv. To or in a position of equal advance or equality; not short of, back of, less advanced than, away from, etc.; usually followed by to or with. | |
I was up to my chin in water. | |
A stranger came up and asked me for directions. | |
13. adv. To or in a state of completion; completely; wholly; quite. | |
Drink up. The pub is closing. | |
Can you sum up your research? | |
The comet burned up in the atmosphere. | |
I need to sew up the hole in this shirt. | |
14. adv. Aside, so as not to be in use. | |
to lay up riches; put up your weapons | |
15. prep. Toward the top of. | |
The cat went up the tree. They walk up the steps. | |
16. prep. Toward the center, source, or main point of reference; toward the end at which something is attached. | |
The information made its way up the chain of command to the general. I felt something crawling up my arm. | |
17. prep. Further along (in any direction). | |
Go up the street until you see the sign. | |
18. prep. From south to north of | |
19. prep. From the mouth towards the source (of a river or waterway). | |
20. prep. (vulgar slang) Of a man: having sex with. | |
Phwoar, look at that bird. I'd love to be up her. | |
21. prep. (colloquial) At (a given place, especially one imagined to be higher or more remote from a central location). | |
22. adj. Awake. | |
I can’t believe it’s 3 a.m. and you’re still up. | |
23. adj. Finished, to an end | |
Time is up! | |
24. adj. In a good mood. | |
I’m feeling up today. | |
25. adj. Willing; ready. | |
If you are up for a trip, let’s go. | |
26. adj. Next in a sequence. | |
Smith is up to bat. | |
27. adj. Happening; new. | |
What is up with that project at headquarters? | |
28. adj. Facing upwards; facing toward the top. | |
Put the notebook face up on the table. | |
Take a break and put your feet up. | |
29. adj. Larger; greater in quantity. | |
Sales are up from last quarter. | |
30. adj. Ahead; leading; winning. | |
The home team were up by two goals at half-time. | |
31. adj. Standing. | |
Get up and give her your seat. | |
32. adj. On a higher level. | |
The new ground is up. | |
33. adj. Available; made public. | |
The new notices are up as of last Tuesday. | |
34. adj. (poker, postnominal) Said of the higher-ranking pair in a two pair. | |
AAKK = aces up | |
QQ33 = queens up | |
35. adj. Well-informed; current. | |
I’m not up on the latest news. What’s going on? | |
36. adj. (computing) Functional; working. | |
Is the server back up? | |
37. adj. (anchor, Adj_railway)(of a railway line or train) Traveling towards a major terminus. | |
The London train is on the up line. | |
38. adj. Headed, or designated to go, upward, as an escalator, stairway, elevator etc. | |
39. adj. (bar tending) Chilled and strained into a stemmed glass. | |
A Cosmopolitan is typically served up. | |
40. adj. (slang) Erect. | |
41. adj. (of the Sun or Moon) Above the horizon, in the sky (i.e. during daytime or night-time) | |
42. adj. (slang) well-known; renowned | |
43. n. The direction opposed to the pull of gravity. | |
Up is a good way to go. | |
44. n. A positive thing. | |
I hate almost everything about my job. The only up is that it's so close to home. | |
45. n. An upstairs room of a two story house. | |
She lives in a two-up two-down. | |
46. v. (transitive, colloquial) To increase or raise. | |
If we up the volume, we'll be able to make out the details. | |
We upped anchor and sailed away. | |
47. v. (transitive, colloquial) To promote. | |
It wasn’t long before they upped him to Vice President. | |
48. v. (intransitive) To act suddenly, usually with another verb. | |
together |
1. adv. At the same time, in the same place; in close association or proximity. | |
We went to school together. | |
2. adv. Into one place; into a single thing; combined. | |
He put all the parts together. | |
3. adv. In a relationship or partnership, for example a business relationship or a romantic partnership. | |
Bob and Andy went into business together. Jenny and Mark have been together since they went on holiday to Mexico. | |
4. adj. (colloquial) Coherent; well organized. | |
He's really together. | |
after |
1. adv. Behind; later in time; following. | |
They lived happily ever after. | |
I left the room, and the dog bounded after. | |
2. prep. Subsequently to; following in time; later than. | |
We had a few beers after the game. | |
The time is quarter after eight. | |
The Cold War began shortly after the Second World War. | |
3. prep. Behind. | |
He will leave a trail of destruction after him. | |
4. prep. In pursuit of, seeking. | |
He's after a job; run after him; inquire after her health. | |
5. prep. In allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing. | |
We named him after his grandfather; a painting after Leonardo da Vinci. | |
6. prep. Next in importance or rank. | |
The princess is next in line to the throne after the prince. | |
7. prep. As a result of. | |
After your bad behaviour, you will be punished. | |
8. prep. In spite of. | |
After all that has happened, he is still my friend. | |
I can't believe that, after all our advice against gambling, you walked into that casino! | |
9. prep. (Irish usually preceded by a form of be followed by an -ing form of a verb) Used to indicate recent completion of an activity | |
I was after finishing my dinner when there was a knock on the door. | |
10. prep. (dated) According to an author or text. | |
11. prep. Denoting the aim or object; concerning; in relation to. | |
to look after workmen; to enquire after a friend; to thirst after righteousness | |
12. prep. (obsolete) According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting. | |
13. conj. Signifies that the action of the clause it starts takes place before the action of the other clause. | |
I went home after we had decided to call it a day. | |
14. adj. (dated) Later; second (of two); next, following, subsequent | |
15. adj. (nautical, where the frame of reference is within the ship) At or towards the stern of a ship. | |
The after gun is mounted aft. | |
The after gun is abaft the forward gun. | |
it |
1. pron. The third-person singular personal pronoun that is normally used to refer to an inanimate object or abstract entity, also often used to refer to animals. | |
Put it over there. | |
Take each day as it comes. | |
I heard the sound of the school bus - it was early today. | |
2. pron. A third-person singular personal pronoun used to refer to a child, especially of unknown gender. | |
She took the baby and held it in her arms. | |
3. pron. Used to refer to someone being identified, often on the phone, but not limited to this situation. | |
It's me. John. | |
Is it her? | |
4. pron. The impersonal pronoun, used without referent as the subject of an impersonal verb or statement. (known as the dummy pronoun or weather it) | |
It is nearly 10 o’clock. | |
It’s 10:45 read ten-forty-five. | |
It’s very cold today. | |
It’s lonely without you. | |
5. pron. The impersonal pronoun, used without referent in various short idioms. | |
stick it out | |
live it up | |
rough it | |
6. pron. The impersonal pronoun, used as a placeholder for a delayed subject, or less commonly, object; known as the dummy pronoun or, more formally in linguistics, a syntactic expletive. The delayed subject i | |
It is easy to see how she would think that. (with the infinitive clause headed by to see) | |
I find it odd that you would say that. (with the noun clause introduced by that) | |
It is hard seeing you so sick. (with the gerund seeing) | |
He saw to it that everyone would vote for him. (with the noun clause introduced by that) | |
It is not clear if the report was true. (with the noun clause introduced by if) | |
7. pron. All or the end; something after which there is no more. | |
Are there more students in this class, or is this it? | |
That's it—I'm not going to any more candy stores with you. | |
8. pron. (chiefly pejorative, offensive) A third-person singular personal pronoun used to refer to an animate referent who is transgender or is neither female nor male. | |
9. pron. (obsolete) (Followed by an omitted and understood relative pronoun): That which; what. | |
10. det. (obsolete) its | |
11. n. One who is neither a he nor a she; a creature; a dehumanized being. | |
12. n. The person who chases and tries to catch the other players in the playground game of tag. | |
In the next game, Adam and Tom will be it… | |
13. n. (British) The game of tag. | |
Let's play it at breaktime. | |
14. n. Sex appeal, especially that which goes beyond beauty. | |
15. n. (euphemism) Sexual activity. | |
caught them doing it | |
16. adj. (colloquial) Most fashionable. | |
Is |
1. n. plural of I | |
2. v. third-person singular present indicative of be | |
He is a doctor. He retired some time ago. | |
Should he do the task, it is vital that you follow him. | |
3. n. plural of i | |
remember to dot your is | |
be |
1. v. (intransitive, now literary) To exist; to have real existence. | |
2. v. (with there, or dialectally it, as dummy subject) To exist. | |
There is just one woman in town who can help us. (or, dialectally:) It is just one woman in town who can help us. | |
3. v. (intransitive) To occupy a place. | |
The cup is on the table. | |
4. v. (intransitive) To occur, to take place. | |
When will the meeting be? | |
5. v. (intransitive, in perfect tenses, without predicate) Elliptical form of "be here", "go to and return from" or similar. | |
The postman has been today, but my tickets have still not yet come. | |
I have been to Spain many times. | |
Moscow, huh? I've never been, but it sounds fascinating. | |
6. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to indicate that the subject and object are the same. | |
Knowledge is bliss. | |
Hi, I’m Jim. | |
7. v. (transitive, copulative, mathematics) Used to indicate that the values on either side of an equation are the same. | |
3 times 5 is fifteen. | |
8. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to indicate that the subject plays the role of the predicate nominal. | |
François Mitterrand was president of France from 1981 to 1995. | |
9. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to connect a noun to an adjective that describes it. | |
The sky is blue. | |
10. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to indicate that the subject has the qualities described by a noun or noun phrase. | |
The sky is a deep blue today. | |
11. v. (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the passive voice. | |
The dog was drowned by the boy. | |
12. v. (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the continuous forms of various tenses. | |
The woman is walking. | |
I shall be writing to you soon. | |
We liked to chat while we were eating. | |
13. v. (archaic, auxiliary) Used to form the perfect aspect with certain intransitive verbs, most of which indicate motion. Often still used for "to go". | |
14. v. (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form future tenses, especially the future periphrastic. | |
I am to leave tomorrow. | |
I would drive you, were I to obtain a car. | |
15. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to link a subject to a measurement. | |
This building is three hundred years old. | |
I am 75 kilograms. | |
He’s about 6 feet tall. | |
16. v. (transitive, copulative, with a cardinal numeral) Used to state the age of a subject in years. | |
I’m 20. (= I am 20 years old.) | |
17. v. (with a dummy subject) it Used to indicate the time of day. | |
It is almost eight. (= It is almost eight o’clock.) | |
It’s 8:30 read eight-thirty in Tokyo. | |
What time is it there? It’s night. | |
18. v. (With since) Used to indicate passage of time since the occurrence of an event. | |
It has been three years since my grandmother died. (similar to My grandmother died three years ago, but emphasizes the intervening period) | |
It had been six days since his departure, when I received a letter from him. | |
19. v. (often, impersonal, with it as a dummy subject) Used to indicate weather, air quality, or the like. | |
It is hot in Arizona, but it is not usually humid. | |
Why is it so dark in here? | |
20. v. (dynamic/lexical "be", especially in progressive tenses, conjugated non-suppletively in the present tense, see usage notes) To exist or behave in a certain way. | |
"What do we do?" "We be ourselves.". | |
Why is he being nice to me? | |
taken |
1. adj. Infatuated; fond of or attracted to. | |
He was very taken with the girl, I hear. | |
2. adj. (informal) In a serious romantic relationship. | |
I can't ask her out, she's taken. | |
3. v. past participle of take | |
take |
1. v. To get into one's hands, possession or control, with or without force. | |
They took Charlton's gun from his cold, dead hands. | |
I'll take that plate off the table. | |
2. v. To seize or capture. | |
take the guards prisoner | |
take prisoners | |
After a bloody battle, they were able to take the city. | |
3. v. To catch or get possession of (fish or game). | |
took ten catfish in one afternoon | |
4. v. (transitive, cricket) To catch the ball; especially as a wicket-keeper and after the batsman has missed or edged it. | |
5. v. To appropriate or transfer into one's own possession, sometimes by physically carrying off. | |
Billy took her pencil. | |
6. v. To exact. | |
take a toll | |
take revenge | |
7. v. To capture or win (a piece or trick) in a game. | |
took the next two tricks | |
took Smith's rook | |
8. v. To receive or accept (something) (especially something given or bestowed, awarded, etc). | |
took third place | |
took bribes | |
The camera takes 35mm film. | |
9. v. To receive or accept (something) as payment or compensation. | |
The store doesn't take checks. | |
She wouldn't take any money for her help. | |
Do you take credit? | |
The vending machine only takes bills, it doesn't take coins. | |
10. v. To accept and follow (advice, etc). | |
take my advice | |
11. v. To receive into some relationship. | |
take a wife | |
The school only takes new students in the fall. | |
The therapist wouldn't take him as a client. | |
12. v. (transitive, intransitive, legal) To receive or acquire (property) by law (e.g. as an heir). | |
13. v. To remove. | |
take two eggs from the carton | |
14. v. To remove or end by death; to kill. | |
The earthquake took many lives. | |
The plague took rich and poor alike. | |
Cancer took her life. | |
He took his life last night. | |
15. v. To subtract. | |
take one from three and you are left with two | |
16. v. To have sex with. | |
17. v. To defeat (someone or something) in a fight. | |
Don't try to take that guy. He's bigger than you. | |
The woman guarding us looks like a professional, but I can take her! | |
18. v. To grasp or grip. | |
He took her hand in his. | |
19. v. To select or choose; to pick. | |
Take whichever bag you like. | |
She took the best men with her and left the rest to garrison the city. | |
I'll take the blue plates. | |
I'll take two sugars in my coffee, please. | |
20. v. To adopt (select) as one's own. | |
She took his side in every argument. | |
take a stand on the important issues | |
21. v. To carry or lead (something or someone). | |
She took her sword with her everywhere she went. | |
I'll take the plate with me. | |
22. v. (transitive, especially of a vehicle) To transport or carry; to convey to another place. | |
The next bus will take you to Metz. | |
I took him for a ride | |
I took him down to London. | |
23. v. (transitive, of a path, road, etc.) To lead (to a place); to serve as a means of reaching. | |
These stairs take you down to the basement. | |
Stone Street took us right past the store. | |
24. v. To pass (or attempt to pass) through or around. | |
She took the steps two or three at a time/ | |
He took the curve / corner too fast. | |
The pony took every hedge and fence in its path. | |
25. v. To escort or conduct (a person). | |
He took her to lunch at the new restaurant, took her to the movies, and then took her home. | |
26. v. (reflexive) To go. | |
27. v. To use as a means of transportation. | |
take the ferry | |
I took a plane. | |
He took the bus to London, and then took a train to Manchester. | |
He's 96 but he still takes the stairs. | |
28. v. (obsolete) To visit; to include in a course of travel. | |
29. v. To obtain for use by payment or lease. | |
She took a condo at the beach for the summer. | |
He took a full-page ad in the Times. | |
30. v. To obtain or receive regularly by (paid) subscription. | |
They took two magazines. | |
I used to take The Sunday Times. | |
31. v. To consume. | |
32. v. To receive (medicine) into one's body, e.g. by inhalation or swallowing; to ingest. | |
take two of these and call me in the morning | |
take the blue pill | |
I take aspirin every day to thin my blood. | |
33. v. To partake of (food or drink); to consume. | |
The general took dinner at seven o'clock. | |
34. v. To experience, undergo, or endure. | |
35. v. To undergo; to put oneself into, to be subjected to. | |
take sun-baths | |
take a shower | |
She made the decision to take chemotherapy. | |
36. v. To experience or feel. | |
She takes pride in her work. | |
from |
1. prep. With the source or provenance of or at. | |
This wine comes from France. | |
I got a letter from my brother. | |
2. prep. With the origin, starting point or initial reference of or at. | |
He had books piled from floor to ceiling. | |
He left yesterday from Chicago. | |
Face away from the wall! | |
3. prep. (mathematics, now uncommon) Denoting a subtraction operation. | |
20 from 31 leaves 11. | |
4. prep. With the separation, exclusion or differentiation of. | |
An umbrella protects from the sun. | |
He knows right from wrong. | |
the |
1. art. Definite grammatical article that implies necessarily that an entity it articulates is presupposed; something already mentioned, or completely specified later in that same sentence, or assumed already | |
I’m reading the book. (Compare I’m reading a book.) | |
The street in front of your house. (Compare A street in Paris.) | |
The men and women watched the man give the birdseed to the bird. | |
2. art. Used before a noun modified by a restrictive relative clause, indicating that the noun refers to a single referent defined by the relative clause. | |
The street that runs through my hometown. | |
3. art. Used before an object considered to be unique, or of which there is only one at a time. | |
No one knows how many galaxies there are in the universe. | |
God save the Queen! | |
4. art. Used before a superlative or an ordinal number modifying a noun, to indicate that the noun refers to a single item. | |
That was the best apple pie ever. | |
5. art. Added to a superlative or an ordinal number to make it into a substantive. | |
That apple pie was the best. | |
6. art. Introducing a singular term to be taken generically: preceding a name of something standing for a whole class. | |
7. art. Used before an adjective, indicating all things (especially persons) described by that adjective. | |
Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable. | |
8. art. Used to indicate a certain example of (a noun) which is usually of most concern or most common or familiar. | |
No one in the whole country had seen it before. | |
I don't think I'll get to it until the morning. | |
9. art. Used before a body part (especially of someone previously mentioned), as an alternative to a possessive pronoun. | |
A stone hit him on the head. (= “A stone hit him on his head.”) | |
10. art. When stressed, indicates that it describes an object which is considered to be best or exclusively worthy of attention. | |
That is the hospital to go to for heart surgery. | |
11. adv. 1=With a comparative ormore and a verb phrase, establishes a parallel with one or more other such comparatives. | |
The hotter the better. | |
The more I think about it, the weaker it looks. | |
The more money donated, the more books purchased, and the more happy children. | |
It looks weaker and weaker, the more I think about it. | |
12. adv. 1=With a comparative, and often withfor it, indicates a result more like said comparative. This can be negated withnone. | |
It was a difficult time, but I’m the wiser for it. | |
It was a difficult time, and I’m none the wiser for it. | |
I'm much the wiser for having had a difficult time like that. | |
reel |
1. n. A lively dance originating in Scotland; also, the music of this dance; often called a Scottish (or Scotch) reel. | |
2. n. A kind of spool, turning on an axis, on which yarn, threads, lines, or the like, are wound. | |
a log reel, used by seamen | |
an angler's reel | |
a garden reel | |
nudge the fruit machine reel | |
3. n. (textiles) A machine on which yarn is wound and measured into lays and hanks, —-- for cotton or linen it is fifty-four inches in circuit; for worsted, thirty inches. | |
4. n. (agriculture) A device consisting of radial arms with horizontal stats, connected with a harvesting machine, for holding the stalks of grain in position to be cut by the knives. | |
5. n. (film) A short compilation of sample film work used as a demonstrative resume in the entertainment industry. | |
6. v. To wind on a reel. | |
7. v. To spin or revolve repeatedly. | |
8. v. To unwind, to bring or acquire something by spinning or winding something else. | |
He reeled off some tape from the roll and sealed the package. | |
9. v. To walk shakily or unsteadily; to stagger; move as if drunk or not in control of oneself. | |
10. v. (reel back) To back off or step away unsteadily and quickly. | |
He reeled back from the punch. | |
11. v. To make or cause to reel. | |
12. v. To have a whirling sensation; to be giddy. | |
13. v. To be in shock. | |
14. v. (obsolete) To roll. | |