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. | |
third |
1. adj. The ordinal form of the cardinal number three; Coming after the second. | |
The third tree from the left is my favorite. | |
2. n. The person or thing in the third position. | |
Jones came in third. | |
3. n. One of three equal parts of a whole. | |
He ate a third of the pie. Divided by two-thirds. | |
4. n. The third gear of a gearbox. | |
Now put it into third. | |
5. n. (music) An interval consisting of the first and third notes in a scale. | |
They sing in thirds. | |
6. n. (baseball) third base | |
The play ended with Jones standing on third. | |
7. n. (golf) A handicap of one stroke every third hole. | |
8. n. A third-class degree, awarded to the lowest achievers in an honours degree programme | |
9. n. (archaic) One sixtieth of a second, i.e., the third in a series of fractional parts in a sexagesimal number system. Also formerly known as a tierce. | |
10. v. To agree with a proposition or statement after it has already been seconded. | |
11. v. To divide into three equal parts. | |
season |
1. n. Each of the four divisions of a year: spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter | |
2. n. A part of a year when something particular happens | |
mating season | |
the rainy season | |
the football season | |
3. n. (obsolete) That which gives relish; seasoning. | |
4. n. (cricket) The period over which a series of Test matches are played. | |
5. n. (North America, broadcasting) A group of episodes of a television or radio program broadcast in regular intervals with a long break between each group, usually with one year between the beginning of e | |
The third season of “Friends” aired from 1996 to 1997. | |
6. n. (archaic) An extended, undefined period of time. | |
7. v. To flavour food with spices, herbs or salt. | |
8. v. To make fit for any use by time or habit; to habituate; to accustom; to inure | |
to season oneself to a climate | |
9. v. Hence, to prepare by drying or hardening, or removal of natural juices | |
The timber needs to be seasoned. | |
10. v. (intransitive) To become mature; to grow fit for use; to become adapted to a climate. | |
11. v. (intransitive) To become dry and hard, by the escape of the natural juices, or by being penetrated with other substance | |
The wood has seasoned in the sun. | |
12. v. (obsolete) To copulate with; to impregnate. | |
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. | |
Friends |
1. n. plural of Friend | |
2. n. plural of friend | |
3. n. Participants in a two-way friendship relationship. | |
I tried to be a friend to Jane but we never really made friends. She was never a friend to me. | |
Jane and I made friends right away. | |
We became friends in the war and remain friends to this day. | |
We were friends with some girls from the other school and stayed friends with them. | |
4. v. third-person singular present indicative of friend | |
friend |
1. n. A person other than a family member, spouse or lover whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection. | |
John and I have been friends ever since we were roommates at college. Trust is important between friends. I used to find it hard to make friends when I was shy. | |
2. n. A boyfriend or girlfriend. | |
3. n. An associate who provides assistance. | |
The Automobile Association is every motorist's friend. The police is every law-abiding citizen's friend. | |
4. n. A person with whom one is vaguely or indirectly acquainted | |
a friend of a friend; I added him as a friend on Facebook, but I hardly know him. | |
5. n. A person who backs or supports something. | |
I’m not a friend of cheap wine. | |
6. n. (informal) An object or idea that can be used for good. | |
Wiktionary is your friend. | |
7. n. (colloquial, ironic, used only in the vocative) Used as a form of address when warning someone. | |
You’d better watch it, friend. | |
8. n. (object-oriented programming) A function or class granted special access to the private and protected members of another class. | |
9. n. (climbing) A spring-loaded camming device. | |
10. n. (obsolete) A paramour of either sex. | |
11. n. (Scotland, obsolete) A relative. | |
12. v. (transitive, obsolete) To act as a friend to, to befriend; to be friendly to, to help. | |
13. v. To add (a person) to a list of friends on a social networking site; to officially designate (someone) as a friend. | |
aired |
1. v. simple past tense and past participle of air | |
2. adj. (of a complaint or problem) Having been uttered or spoken of, such that certain persons are aware. | |
3. adj. (of a show) Having been broadcast, such as on television or radio. | |
air |
1. n. (meteorology) The substance constituting earth's atmosphere, particularly: | |
I'm going outside to get some air. | |
2. n. (historical, philosophy, alchemy) understood as one of the four elements of the ancient Greeks and Romans. | |
3. n. (historical, medical) understood as a particular local substance with supposed effects on human health. | |
There was a tension in the air which made me suspect an approaching storm. | |
4. n. (physics) understood as a gaseous mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and various trace gases. | |
5. n. (usually with the) The apparently open space above the ground which this substance fills, (historical) formerly thought to be limited by the firmament but (meteorology) now considered surrounded by th | |
The flock of birds took to the air. | |
6. n. A breeze; a gentle wind. | |
7. n. A feeling or sense. | |
to give it an air of artistry and sophistication | |
8. n. A sense of poise, graciousness, or quality. | |
9. n. (usually plural) Pretension; snobbishness; pretence that one is better than others. | |
putting on airs | |
10. n. (music) A song, especially a solo; an aria. | |
11. n. (informal) Nothing; absence of anything. | |
12. n. An air conditioner or the processed air it produces. Can be a mass noun or a count noun depending on context; similar to hair. | |
Could you turn on the air? | |
Hey, did you mean to leave the airs on all week while you were on vacation? | |
13. n. (obsolete, chemistry) Any specific gas. | |
14. n. (snowboarding, skateboarding, motor sports) A jump in which one becomes airborne. | |
15. n. A television or radio signal. | |
16. v. To bring (something) into contact with the air, so as to freshen or dry it. | |
17. v. To let fresh air into a room or a building, to ventilate. | |
It's getting quite stuffy in this room: let's open the windows and air it. | |
18. v. To discuss varying viewpoints on a given topic. | |
19. v. To broadcast, as with a television show. | |
20. v. (UK, MLE, slang) to ignore | |
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. | |
1996 |
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to |
1. part. A particle used for marking the following verb as an infinitive. | |
I want to leave. | |
He asked me what to do. | |
I don’t know how to say it. | |
I have places to go and people to see. | |
2. part. As above, with the verb implied. | |
"Did you visit the museum?" "I wanted to, but it was closed.". | |
If he hasn't read it yet, he ought to. | |
3. part. A particle used to create phrasal verbs. | |
I have to do laundry today. | |
4. prep. Indicating destination: In the direction of, and arriving at. | |
We are walking to the shop. | |
5. prep. Used to indicate purpose. | |
He devoted himself to education. | |
They drank to his health. | |
6. prep. Used to indicate result of action. | |
His face was beaten to a pulp. | |
7. prep. Used after an adjective to indicate its application. | |
similar to ..., relevant to ..., pertinent to ..., I was nice to him, he was cruel to her, I am used to walking. | |
8. prep. (obsolete,) As a. | |
With God to friend (with God as a friend); with The Devil to fiend (with the Devil as a foe); lambs slaughtered to lake (lambs slaughtered as a sacrifice); t | |
9. prep. (arithmetic) Used to indicate a ratio or comparison. | |
one to one = 1:1 | |
ten to one = 10:1. | |
I have ten dollars to your four. | |
10. prep. (arithmetic) Used to indicate that the preceding term is to be raised to the power of the following value; indicates exponentiation. | |
Three squared or three to the second power is nine. | |
Three to the power of two is nine. | |
Three to the second is nine. | |
11. prep. Used to indicate the indirect object. | |
I gave the book to him. | |
12. prep. (time) Preceding. | |
ten to ten = 9:50; We're going to leave at ten to (the hour). | |
13. prep. Used to describe what something consists of or contains. | |
Anyone could do this job; there's nothing to it. | |
There's a lot of sense to what he says. | |
14. prep. (Canada, UK, Newfoundland, West Midlands) At. | |
Stay where you're to and I'll come find you, b'y. | |
15. adv. Toward a closed, touching or engaging position. | |
Please push the door to. | |
16. adv. (nautical) Into the wind. | |
17. adv. misspelling of too | |
1997 |
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