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 Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
alternative
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From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
British
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From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
cam-shafts
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From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
Channel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
circuit
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From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
coast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
compelled
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From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
dived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
down
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From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
electric
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
emergency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
Engineer
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From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
engines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
floating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
future
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
going
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From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
Half-waynounUS /half-way/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
hydroplane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
Morro
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From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
perfect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
renewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
replaced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
run
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
skill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
submarine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
surely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the time we lay there I saw a hydroplane floating between us and the British coast.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However by the skill of Engineer Morro, we got things going once more.
ticklishadjectiveUS /ˈtɪklɪʃ/
difficult and requiring careful handling
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
torpedo-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a ticklish time, for had a torpedo-boat come upon us we could not have dived.
washers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The perfect submarine of the future will surely have some alternative engines for such an emergency.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Half-way down Channel we had trouble with a short circuit in our electric engines, and were compelled to run on the surface for several hours while we replaced one of the cam-shafts and renewed some washers.
