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A Floating City, and The Blockade Runners
A Floating City, and The Blockade Runners

Chapter III

Cover illustration for A Floating City, and The Blockade Runners
Context Illustration Reading 1/11 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The “Great Eastern” was indeed preparing to sail.
Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.
Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.
The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.
About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Floating City, and The Blockade Runners

Chapter III

Reading 1/11 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The “Great Eastern” was indeed preparing to sail.
Line 2
Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.
Line 3
Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.
Line 4
The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.
Line 5
About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The “Great Eastern” was indeed preparing to sail.”

Sail noun US /sail/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The “Great Eastern” was indeed preparing to sail.”

All words in this reading · 64

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

AlreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

awaited

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

barricades

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.

black

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

board

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

brightening

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

carpenters

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

chimneys

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

climbed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.

disentangled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.

Eastern

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The “Great Eastern” was indeed preparing to sail.

eleven

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

embarked

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

engine-rooms

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

fastened

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.

filled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

finishing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

five

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

fog-cannons

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

four

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

GreatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The “Great Eastern” was indeed preparing to sail.

hot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

indeed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The “Great Eastern” was indeed preparing to sail.

issuing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

Liverpool

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

o'clock

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.

painters

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

preparing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The “Great Eastern” was indeed preparing to sail.

put

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

rigging

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.

ropes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.

sailnounUS /sail/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The “Great Eastern” was indeed preparing to sail.

sailed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

sailors

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

salute

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

shrouds

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.

smoke

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

Some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

steam

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

tender

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The “Great Eastern” was indeed preparing to sail.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

then

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

thick

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.

tightened

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The “Great Eastern” was indeed preparing to sail.

top-men

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.

touches

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

up

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

volumes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The “Great Eastern” was indeed preparing to sail.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Already volumes of black smoke were issuing from the five chimneys, and hot steam filled the engine-rooms.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Some sailors were brightening up the four great fog-cannons which were to salute Liverpool as we sailed by.

work

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading About eleven o’clock the carpenters and painters put the finishing touches to their work, and then embarked on board the tender which awaited them.

yards

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The top-men climbed the yards, disentangled the rigging, and tightened the shrouds on the thick ropes fastened to the barricades.