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 From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
asleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
bottom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
Boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
buried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
cushions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
disappointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
greatly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
Ha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ha, ha, ha!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
huge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
hurried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
laughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
Moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
noticed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
nowhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
Pierrot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
rock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
rocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
ROWING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
sand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
shorter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
