Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Perhaps it's curious, but after working hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it's curious, but after working hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "I haven't read much," Foster answered modestly.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
bitter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it's curious, but after working hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish.
changes
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From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it's curious, but after working hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish.
day
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From this reading Perhaps it's curious, but after working hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
degrees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
desolation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
dollars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it's curious, but after working hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish.
earning
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From this reading Perhaps it's curious, but after working hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish.
evenings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
forty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
Foster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I haven't read much," Foster answered modestly.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
grim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I haven't read much," Foster answered modestly.
heat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
history
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I haven't read much," Foster answered modestly.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it's curious, but after working hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
looks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
marks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
match-boarding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
mill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
modestly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I haven't read much," Foster answered modestly.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I haven't read much," Foster answered modestly.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Perhaps it's curious, but after working hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it's curious, but after working hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish.
picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I haven't read much," Foster answered modestly.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
red-hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
rubbish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it's curious, but after working hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
sit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
smell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
smiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
split
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
StillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
stove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
there's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
thermometer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still, we have a few books at the mill, and in the long winter evenings, when the thermometer marks forty degrees below and you sit close to the red-hot stove, there's nothing to do but read.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it's curious, but after working hard all day, earning dollars, one can't read rubbish.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be hard for you to picture our little room; the match-boarding, split by the changes from heat to bitter cold, the smell of hot iron, the dead silence, and the grim white desolation outside.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "It looks as if you had been reading something about our history," Alice said smiling.
