English Sentence Analyser

Use this page to analyse and learn English text. You can copy text into the box below or get a random sentence from our database. Press the Analyse button to get translations of the text and words.

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.
back
1. adj. (not comparable) Near the rear.
Go in the back door of the house.
2. adj. (not comparable) Not current.
I’d like to find a back issue of that magazine.
3. adj. (not comparable) Far from the main area.
They took a back road.
4. adj. (not comparable) In arrear; overdue.
They still owe three months' back rent.
5. adj. (not comparable) Moving or operating backward.
back action
6. adj. (comparable, phonetics) Pronounced with the highest part of the body of the tongue toward the back of the mouth, near the soft palate (most often describing a vowel).
The vowel of smallcaps - lot has a back vowel in most dialects of England.
7. adv. (not comparable) To or in a previous condition or place.
He gave back the money. He needs his money back. He was on vacation, but now he’s back. The office fell into chaos when you left, but now order is back.
8. adv. Away from the front or from an edge.
Sit all the way back in your chair.
Step back from the curb.
9. adv. In a manner that impedes.
Fear held him back.
10. adv. In a reciprocal manner.
If you hurt me, I'll hurt you back.
11. adv. Earlier, ago.
many years back
12. n. The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
Could you please scratch my back?
13. n. The spine and associated tissues.
I hurt my back lifting those crates.
14. n. (slang) Large and attractive buttocks.
15. n. (figurative) The part of a piece of clothing which covers the back.
I still need to finish the back of your dress.
16. n. The backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back.
Can you fix the back of this chair?
17. n. (obsolete) That part of the body that bears clothing. (Now used only in the phrase clothes on one's back.)
18. n. That which is farthest away from the front.
He sat in the back of the room.
19. n. The side of any object which is opposite the front or useful side.
Turn the book over and look at the back.
20. n. # The edge of a book which is bound.
# The titles are printed on the backs of the books.
21. n. # (printing) The inside margin of a page.
22. n. # The side of a blade opposite the side used for cutting.
# Tap it with the back of your knife.
23. n. The reverse side; the side that is not normally seen.
I hung the clothes on the back of the door.
24. n. Area behind, such as the backyard of a house.
We'll meet out in the back of the library.
25. n. The part of something that goes last.
The car was near the back of the train.
26. n. (sports) In some team sports, a position behind most players on the team.
The backs were lined up in an I formation.
27. n. (figuratively) Upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal's back.
The small boat raced over the backs of the waves.
28. n. A support or resource in reserve.
29. n. (nautical) The keel and keelson of a ship.
The ship's back broke in the pounding surf.
30. n. (mining) The roof of a horizontal underground passage.
31. n. (slang) Effort, usually physical.
Put some back into it!
32. n. A non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.
Could I get a martini with a water back?
33. n. Among leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.
34. v. (intransitive) To go in the reverse direction.
the train backed into the station; the horse refuses to back
35. v. To support.
I back you all the way; which horse are you backing in this race?
36. v. (nautical, of the wind) To change direction contrary to the normal pattern; that is, to shift anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, or clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
37. v. (nautical, of a square sail) To brace the yards so that the wind presses on the front of the sail, to slow the ship.
38. v. (nautical, of an anchor) To lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.
39. v. (of a hunting dog) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.
40. v. To push or force backwards.
to back oxen
The mugger backed her into a corner and demanded her wallet.
41. v. (transitive, obsolete) To get upon the back of; to mount.
42. v. (transitive, obsolete) To place or seat upon the back.
43. v. To make a back for; to furnish with a back.
to back books
44. v. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
45. v. To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.
to back a letter; to back a note or legal document
46. v. (legal, of a justice of the peace) To sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).
47. v. To row backward with (oars).
to back the oars
48. n. A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc.
49. n. A ferryboat.
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.
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.
tile
1. n. A regularly-shaped slab of clay or other material, affixed to cover or decorate a surface, as in a roof-tile, glazed tile, stove tile, carpet tile etc.
2. n. (computing) A rectangular graphic.
Each tile within Google Maps consists of 256 × 256 pixels.
Sprites and tiles that are hidden in the prototype ROM file can be recovered.
3. n. Any of various types of cuboid playing piece used in certain games, such as in dominoes, Scrabble, or mahjong.
4. n. (dated) A stiff hat.
5. v. To cover with tiles.
The handyman tiled the kitchen.
White marble tiled the bathroom.
6. v. (computing) To arrange in a regular pattern, with adjoining edges (applied to tile-like objects, graphics, windows in a computer interface).
7. v. (comptheory) To optimize (a loop in program code) by means of the tiling technique.
8. v. To protect from the intrusion of the uninitiated.
to tile a Masonic lodge
tile the door
was
1. v. first-person singular past of be.
2. v. third-person singular past of be.
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?
groovy
1. adj. Of, pertaining to, or having grooves.
The back of the tile was groovy so that it could hold the adhesive compound.
2. adj. (dated) Set in one's ways.
3. adj. (dated, slang) Cool, neat, interesting, fashionable.
4. n. (dated, slang) A trendy and fashionable person.
So
1. n. A Mon-Khmer-speaking people of Laos and Thailand.
2. conj. In order that.
Eat your broccoli so you can have dessert.
3. conj. With the result that; for that reason; therefore.
I was hungry so I asked if there was any more food.
He ate too much cake, so he fell ill.
He wanted a book, so he went to the library.
“I need to go to the bathroom.”―“So go!”
4. conj. (archaic) Provided that; on condition that, as long as.
5. adv. To the (explicitly stated) extent that.
It was so hot outside that all the plants died. He was so good, they hired him on the spot.
6. adv. (informal) To the (implied) extent.
I need a piece of cloth so long. = this long
7. adv. (informal) Very (positive clause).
He is so good!
8. adv. (informal) Very (negative clause).
It’s not so bad. i.e. it's acceptable
9. adv. (slang) Very much.
But I so want to see the Queen when she visits our town! That is so not true!
10. adv. In a particular manner.
Place the napkin on the table just so. If that's what you mean, then say so; (or do so).
11. adv. In the same manner or to the same extent as aforementioned; also.
Just as you have the right to your free speech, so I have the right to mine. Many people say she's the world's greatest athlete, but I don't think so. "I can count backwards from on
12. adv. (with as) To such an extent or degree; as.
so far as; so long as; so much as
13. adj. True, accurate.
That is so. You are responsible for this, is that not so?
14. adj. In that state or manner; with that attribute. A proadjective that replaces the aforementioned adjective phrase.
15. adj. (dated, UK, slang) Homosexual.
Is he so?
16. interj. Used after a pause for thought to introduce a new topic, question or story.
So, let's go home.
So, what'll you have?
So, there was this squirrel stuck in the chimney...
17. interj. (Short for) so what.
"You park your car in front of my house every morning." — "So?".
18. interj. Used to connect previous conversation or events to the following question.
So how does this story end?
So, everyone wants to know - did you win the contest or not?
19. interj. (archaic) Be as you are; stand still; (used especially to cows; also used by sailors.)
20. pron. abbreviation of someone
21. n. (music) A syllable used in solfège to represent the fifth note of a major scale.
22. n. (foods) A type of dairy product made in Japan between the seventh and 10th centuries.
that
1. conj. Introducing a clause which is the subject or object of a verb (such as one involving reported speech), or which is a complement to a previous statement.
He told me that the book is a good read.
I believe that it is true. — She is convinced that he is British.
2. conj. Introducing a subordinate clause expressing a reason or cause: because, in that.
Be glad that you have enough to eat.
3. conj. (now uncommon) Introducing a subordinate clause that expresses an aim, purpose or goal ("final"), and usually contains the auxiliaries may, might or should: so, so that.
4. conj. Introducing — especially, but not exclusively, with an antecedent like so or such — a subordinate clause expressing a result, consequence or effect.
The noise was so loud that she woke up.
The problem was sufficiently important that it had to be addressed.
5. conj. (archaic, or poetic) Introducing a premise or supposition for consideration: seeing as; inasmuch as; given that; as would appear from the fact that.
6. conj. Introducing a subordinate clause modifying an adverb.
Was John there? — Not that I saw.
How often did she visit him? — Twice that I saw.
7. conj. Introducing an exclamation expressing a desire or wish.
8. conj. Introducing an exclamation expressing a strong emotion such as sadness or surprise.
9. det. The (thing, person, idea, etc) indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote physically, temporally or mentally than one designated as "this", or if expressing distinction.
That book is a good read. This one isn't.
That battle was in 1450.
That cat of yours is evil.
10. pron. (demonstrative) The thing, person, idea, quality, event, action or time indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote geographically, temporally or mentally than one designated as "t
He went home, and after that I never saw him again.
11. pron. The known (thing); (used to refer to something just said).
They're getting divorced. What do you think about that?
12. pron. (demonstrative) The aforementioned quality; used together with a verb and pronoun to emphatically repeat a previous statement.
The water is so cold! — That it is.
13. pron. (relative) (plural that) Which, who; (representing a subject, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition).
The CPR course that she took really came in handy.
The house that he lived in was old and dilapidated.
14. pron. (colloquial) (Used in place of relative adverbs such as where or when; often omitted.)
the place that = where or to which I went last year
the last time that = when I went to Europe
15. adv. (degree) To a given extent or degree.
"The ribbon was that thin." "I disagree, I say it was not that thin, it was thicker... or maybe thinner...".
16. adv. (degree) To a great extent or degree; very, particularly (in negative constructions).
I'm just not that sick.
I did the run last year, and it wasn't that difficult.
17. adv. (obsolete, outside, dialects) To such an extent; so. (in positive constructions).
Ooh, I was that happy I nearly kissed her.
18. n. (philosophy) Something being indicated that is there; one of those.
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.
could
1. v. simple past tense of can
Before I was blind, I could see very well.
2. v. conditional of can
3. v. Used as a past subjunctive (contrary to fact).
I think he could do it if he really wanted to.
I wish I could fly!
4. v. Used to politely ask for permission to do something.
Could I borrow your coat?
5. v. Used to politely ask for someone else to do something.
Could you proofread this email?
6. v. Used to show the possibility that something might happen.
We could rearrange the time if you like.
7. v. Used to suggest something.
You could try adding more salt to the soup.
8. n. Something that could happen, or could be the case, under different circumstances; a potentiality.
can
1. v. (auxiliary verb, defective) To know how to; to be able to.
She can speak English, French, and German. I can play football. Can you remember your fifth birthday?
2. v. (modal auxiliary verb, defective, informal) May; to be permitted or enabled to.
You can go outside and play when you're finished with your homework. Can I use your pen?
3. v. (modal auxiliary verb, defective) To have the potential to; be possible.
Can it be Friday already?
Teenagers can really try their parents' patience.
Animals can experience emotions.
4. v. (auxiliary verb, defective) Used with verbs of perception.
Can you hear that?.
I can feel the baby moving inside me.
5. v. (obsolete, transitive) To know.
6. n. A more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids, usually of steel or aluminium, but sometimes of plastic, and with a carrying handle over the top.
7. n. A container used to carry and dispense water for plants (a watering can).
8. n. A tin-plate canister, often cylindrical, for preserved foods such as fruit, meat, or fish.
9. n. (archaic) A chamber pot, now (US, slang) a toilet or lavatory.
Shit or get off the can.
Bob's in the can. You can wait a few minutes or just leave it with me.
10. n. (US, slang) Buttocks.
11. n. (slang) Jail or prison.
Bob's in the can. He won't be back for a few years.
12. n. (slang) Headphones.
13. n. (archaic) A drinking cup.
14. n. (nautical) A cube-shaped buoy or marker used to denote a port-side lateral mark
15. n. A chimney pot.
16. v. To preserve, by heating and sealing in a can or jar.
They spent August canning fruit and vegetables.
17. v. to discard, scrap or terminate (an idea, project, etc.).
He canned the whole project because he thought it would fail.
18. v. To shut up.
Can your gob.
19. v. (US, euphemistic) To fire or dismiss an employee.
The boss canned him for speaking out.
hold
1. v. To grasp or grip.
Hold the pencil like this.
2. v. To contain or store.
This package holds six bottles.
3. v. To maintain or keep to a position or state.:
4. v. To have and keep possession of something.
Hold my coat for me. The general ordered the colonel to hold his position at all costs.
5. v. To reserve.
Hold a table for us at 7:00.
6. v. To cause to wait or delay.
Hold the elevator.
7. v. To detain.
Hold the suspect in this cell.
8. v. (intransitive) To be or remain valid; to apply (usually in the third person).
to hold true; The proposition holds.
9. v. To keep oneself in a particular state.
to hold firm; to hold opinions
10. v. To impose restraint upon; to limit in motion or action; to bind legally or morally; to confine; to restrain.
11. v. To bear, carry, or manage.
He holds himself proudly erect. Hold your head high.
12. v. (intransitive, mostly, imperative) Not to move; to halt; to stop.
13. v. (intransitive) Not to give way; not to part or become separated; to remain unbroken or unsubdued.
14. v. To remain continent; to control an excretory bodily function.
to hold one's bladder; to hold one's breath
15. v. To maintain or keep to particular opinions, promises, actions.:
16. v. To maintain, to consider, to opine.
17. v. To bind (someone) to a consequence of his or her actions.
He was held responsible for the actions of those under his command. I'll hold him to that promise.
18. v. To maintain in being or action; to carry on; to prosecute, as a course of conduct or an argument; to continue; to sustain.
19. v. To accept, as an opinion; to be the adherent of, openly or privately; to persist in, as a purpose; to maintain; to sustain.
20. v. (archaic) To restrain oneself; to refrain; to hold back.
21. v. (tennis, ambitransitive) To win one's own service game.
22. v. To take place, to occur.
23. v. To organise an event or meeting (usually in passive voice).
Elections will be held on the first Sunday of next month.
24. v. (archaic) To derive right or title.
25. n. A grasp or grip.
Keep a firm hold on the handlebars.
26. n. A place where animals are held for safety
27. n. An order that something is to be reserved or delayed, limiting or preventing how it can be dealt with.
Senator X placed a hold on the bill, then went to the library and placed a hold on a book.
28. n. Something reserved or kept.
We have a hold here for you.
29. n. Power over someone or something.
30. n. The ability to persist.
31. n. The property of maintaining the shape of styled hair.
32. n. (wrestling) A position or grip used to control the opponent.
He got him in a tight hold and pinned him to the mat.
33. n. (exercise) An exercise involving holding a position for a set time
34. n. (gambling) The percentage the house wins on a gamble, the house or bookmaker's hold.
The House Hold on the game is 10,000, this is the amount of decision or risk the house wishes to assume.
35. n. (gambling) The wager amount, the total hold.
As of Monday night the total Melbourne Cup hold was $848,015
36. n. (tennis) An instance of holding one's service game, as opposed to being broken.
37. n. The part of an object one is intended to grasp, or anything one can use for grasping with hands or feet.
38. n. A fruit machine feature allowing one or more of the reels to remain fixed while the others spin.
39. n. (video games, dated) A pause facility.
40. n. The queueing system on telephones and similar communication systems which maintains a connection when all lines are busy.
41. n. (baseball) A statistic awarded to a relief pitcher who is not still pitching at the end of the game and who records at least one out and maintains a lead for his team.
42. adj. (obsolete) Gracious; friendly; faithful; true.
43. n. (nautical, aviation) The cargo area of a ship or aircraft, (often cargo hold).
Put that in the hold.
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.
adhesive
1. adj. sticky; tenacious, as glutinous substances
2. adj. apt or tending to adhere; clinging
3. n. a substance, such as glue, that provides or promotes adhesion
compound
1. n. an enclosure within which workers, prisoners, or soldiers are confined
2. n. a group of buildings situated close together, e.g. for a school or block of offices
3. adj. composed of elements; not simple
a compound word
4. adj. (music) An octave higher than originally (i.e. a compound major second is equivalent to a major ninth).
5. n. Anything made by combining several things.
6. n. (chemistry, dated) A substance made from any combination elements.
7. n. (chemistry) A substance formed by chemical union of two or more ingredients in definite proportions by weight.
8. n. (linguistics) A lexeme that consists of more than one stem; compound word; for example laptop, formed from lap and top.
9. n. (rail) a compound locomotive, a steam locomotive with both high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders.
10. v. To form (a resulting mixture) by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts.
to compound a medicine
11. v. To assemble (ingredients) into a whole; to combine, mix, or unite.
12. v. To modify or change by combination with some other thing or part; to mingle with something else.
13. v. (transitive, legal) To settle by agreeing on less than the claim, or on different terms than those stipulated.
to compound a debt
14. v. To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement; to compromise.
15. v. (intransitive) To come to terms of agreement; to agree; to settle by a compromise; usually followed by with before the person participating, and for before the thing compounded or the consideration.
16. v. (transitive, obsolete) To compose; to constitute.
17. v. (intransitive, finance) To increase in value with interest, where the interest is earned on both the principal sum and prior earned interest.
18. v. To worsen a situation

Dictionary entries from Wiktionary