English The Fun They Had Word Meanings

Word Meanings of The Fun They Had

crinkly

uneven by virtue of having wrinkles or waves

They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to--on a screen, you know.

scornful

expressing extreme contempt

Margie was scornful. "School? What's there to write about school? I hate school."

mechanical

using tools or devices

The mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography and she had been doing worse and worse

calculate

make a mathematical computation

She always had to write them out in a punch code they made her learn when she was six years old, and the mechanical teacher calculated the mark in no time.

inspector

an investigator who observes carefully

The Inspector had smiled after he was finished and patted Margie's head.

sector

the minimum track length assigned to store information

I think the geography sector was geared a little too quick.

progress

gradual improvement or growth or development

Actually, the over-all pattern of her progress is quite satisfactory.

disappoint

fail to meet the hopes or expectations of

Margie was disappointed. She had been hoping they would take the teacher away altogether.

superior

of or characteristic of high rank or importance

Tommy looked at her with very superior eyes.

lofty

of high moral or intellectual value

He added loftily, pronouncing the word carefully, "Centuries ago."

dispute

have a disagreement over something

Margie wasn't prepared to dispute that.

adjusted

altered to accommodate to certain requirements

"But my mother says a teacher has to be adjusted to fit the mind of each boy and girl it teaches and that each kid has to be taught differently."

nonchalantly

in a composed and unconcerned manner

"Maybe," he said nonchalantly.

regular

routinely scheduled for fixed times

It was always on at the same time every day except Saturday and Sunday, because her mother said little girls learned better if they learned at regular hours.

insert

put or introduce into something