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 “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
allow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
armchair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
Baker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
band
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
bow-window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
brightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
centre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
crisp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
crumbly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
dressing-gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
edges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
February
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
footpaths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
heaped-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
HolmesnounUS /hoʊmz/
a fictitious detective in stories by A. Conan Doyle
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
lazily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
madman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
ploughed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
pockets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
relatives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
sad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
seems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
shimmering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
shoulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”
traffic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and on the heaped-up edges of the footpaths it still lay as white as when it fell.
wintry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the wintry sun.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder.
