English dictionary — definitions & meanings

Pinochet

name

A surname of French Basque origin, most notably borne by Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.

pinochle

noun

A card game for two or more players, played with a specialized deck and similar to bezique, where the goal is to score points through combinations of cards ("melds") and tricks.

pinot

noun

A family of grape varieties used to make wine, or the wines made from them, such as pinot noir or pinot grigio.

pinpoint

verb

To identify or locate something with great precision.

pint

noun

A unit of liquid measure equal to an eighth of a gallon (roughly 568 ml in the UK, 473 ml in the US).

pinter

noun

Informal British term for someone drinking, or the number of, pints of beer.

pintle

noun

A pin on the buckle of a belt used to fit into the holes of the belt and hold it at the desired level of tightness.

pinto

noun

A horse with a patchy, two-colour coat, typically white mixed with another colour.

piny

adj

Of, pertaining to, or having many pines.

Pio

name

A masculine given name, the Italian and Spanish form of Pius.

pioneer

verb

To be the first to develop or try something, opening the way for others.

pioneering

adj

Involving new methods or ideas that have not been tried before.

pious

adj

Deeply religious or devout.

piousness

noun

The condition of being pious; piety.

pip

noun

A small hard seed found in fruits such as apples, oranges, or grapes.

pipage

noun

Plumbing, a system of pipes.

pipe

noun

A rigid tube used to carry water, gas, or other fluids.

piped

adj

Delivered or carried through pipes.

pipelaying

noun

The laying of pipes or a pipeline.

pipeline

noun

A long series of connected pipes used to transport liquids or gases over distance, such as oil or natural gas.

piper

noun

A person who plays a wind instrument called a pipe, especially bagpipes.

pipes

noun

Informal term for a person's singing voice or vocal ability.

pipework

noun

Any system of pipes or tubes; piping.

piping

noun

A connected system of pipes carrying liquid or gas through a structure.

Pippa

name

A feminine given name, a diminutive form of Philippa.

pippin

noun

A type of crisp eating apple with yellow or green skin often marked with red, grown from seed rather than grafted.

pippy

adj

Full of pips or seeds.

pips

name

An informal nickname, sometimes a pet form of the name Philippa or Philip.

piquance

noun

piquancy; having a piquant taste.

piquancy

noun

The degree to which something is piquant, stimulating or exciting.

piquant

adj

Causing hurt feelings; scathing, severe.

piquantness

noun

The quality of being piquant.

pique

verb

To arouse someone's interest or curiosity, especially suddenly.

piqued

adj

Mildly annoyed or offended, especially because of a perceived slight to one's pride.

piquet

noun

A game of cards for two people, with thirty-two cards, all the deuces, threes, fours, fives, and sixes being set aside.

piracy

noun

Robbery or hijacking committed at sea against a ship not under the attacker's control.

piranha

noun

A small South American freshwater fish known for its sharp teeth and reputation for ferocity, though most species mainly scavenge or eat plants.

pirate

noun

Someone who attacks and robs ships at sea.

pirated

adj

Illegally copied or distributed without the owner's permission.

pirogue

noun

A canoe of shallow draft, made by hollowing a log.

pirouette

noun

A full spin performed on the toes or ball of the foot, especially in ballet.

Pisa

name

A city in Tuscany, Italy, famous for its leaning bell tower.

Pisces

name

A zodiac constellation depicted as two fish tied together by a ribbon, and the astrological sign covering roughly late February to late March.

piscicapture

noun

The capture of fishes, as by angling.

piscicide

noun

Any substance that is poisonous to fish.

pish

intj

Used to express disdain or dismissal.

piss

noun

Vulgar slang for urine.

pissant

noun

Informal, dismissive: a small, unimportant, or annoying person.

pissed

adj

Informal (chiefly British): drunk.

pisser

noun

Vulgar slang for a toilet.

pissing

noun

Vulgar: the act of urinating.

pissy

adj

Informal: irritable, in a bad mood, or easily annoyed.

pistachio

noun

A small tree grown for its edible nut, or the nut itself, which has a hard shell and green kernel.

pistol

noun

A small handgun designed to be fired with one hand.

piston

noun

A cylindrical part that slides back and forth inside a tube, used to compress fluid or transmit motion in an engine or pump.

pit

noun

A hole or hollow in the ground.

pita

noun

A soft, round flatbread that can be split open to form a pocket for fillings.

pitbull

noun

Short for pit bull terrier, a muscular breed of dog often bred for strength and tenacity.

pitch

noun

A persuasive presentation intended to sell or promote something.

pitch in

verb

To join in and help with a task, especially alongside others and without being asked.

pitched

adj

Sloped, especially describing a roof.

pitcher

noun

A large container with a handle and spout, used for pouring liquids.

pitchfork

noun

A long-handled farm tool with sharp tines, used for lifting and moving hay or straw.

pitching

noun

The act of throwing, especially in baseball.

pitchman

noun

A salesman, especially one who aggressively markets wares from a street stall, or a carnival or side show act.

pitchy

adj

Of, pertaining to, or resembling pitch.

piteous

adj

Provoking pity, compassion, or sympathy.

pitfall

noun

A type of trap consisting of a concealed pit in the ground, into which the victim is supposed to fall and not be able to get out from.

pitfalls

noun

Hidden or unexpected difficulties that catch people out, especially ones that are easy to walk into if you are not warned.

pith

noun

The soft, spongy substance inside plant parts; specifically, the parenchyma in the centre of the roots and stems of many plants and trees.

pithiness

noun

The condition of being pithy.

pithy

adj

Expressed briefly but with a lot of meaning or force.

piti

noun

A traditional Azerbaijani stew of mutton and vegetables, slow-cooked and served in individual clay pots.

pitiable

adj

Deserving or arousing pity.

pitiful

adj

So sad, weak, or inadequate that it arouses pity or contempt.

pitiless

adj

Showing no pity or mercy.

pitilessness

noun

The condition of being pitiless

pitisome

adj

Characterised or marked by pitifulness; piteous

Pitkin

name

An English surname, also the name of a county in Colorado, United States.

pitman

noun

One who works in a pit, as in mining, in sawing timber, etc.

Pitt

name

An English surname, borne notably by British Prime Ministers William Pitt the Elder and Younger, and actor Brad Pitt.

pittance

noun

A very small amount of money, especially as pay.

pitted

adj

Marked with small hollows or holes.

pitting

noun

Small hollow marks or holes forming on a surface, usually caused by corrosion or wear.

Pittman

name

An English surname, an occupational name for someone who worked at or lived near a pit.

Pitts

name

An English surname, likely a habitational name for someone who lived near a pit.

Pittsburgh

name

A city in Pennsylvania, United States, known for its steel industry heritage.

pituitary

noun

A small gland at the base of the brain that produces hormones controlling growth, metabolism, and other glands.

pity

noun

A feeling of sorrow or sympathy for someone else's suffering.

pitying

noun

The act of feeling or showing pity toward someone.

pivot

noun

A central point or shaft on which something turns or balances.

pivotal

adj

Extremely important; central to how something turns out.

Pixar

name

An American animation studio famous for computer-animated films such as Toy Story.

pixel

noun

One of the tiny individual dots that together make up a digital image or screen display.

Pixie

noun

A small, mischievous fairy-like creature in folklore.

pixilated

adj

Behaving in an eccentric manner, as though led by pixies.

Pizarro

name

A Spanish surname, borne notably by conquistador Francisco Pizarro.

pizazzy

adj

Of, characterized by, or exhibiting pizazz.

pizza

noun

A baked dish of flattened bread dough topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and other ingredients.

pizzazz

noun

Lively energy, style, or flair.

pizzeria

noun

A restaurant that specializes in making and selling pizza.

pizzle

noun

The penis of an animal.

Pla

name

A Catalan surname.

placability

noun

The quality of being placable or appeasable.

placable

adj

Able to be easily pacified; quick to forgive.

placableness

noun

The state or quality of being placable.

placard

noun

A sign, often on card or board, displaying a message for public view.

placate

verb

To calm someone down and ease their anger.

placation

noun

A process or act of placating; appeasement or an expression of appeasement.

place

noun

A particular area, location, or spot.

placebo

noun

A harmless substance given as if it were medicine, with no real active ingredient.

placed

verb

Past tense and past participle of place: put something in a particular position, or arranged for someone to go somewhere.

placeholder

noun

Something used or included temporarily or as a substitute for something that is not known or must remain generic; that which holds, denotes or reserves a place for something to come later.

placement

noun

The act of putting something in position, or the position it ends up in.

placenta

noun

An organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy, feeding the fetus and removing its waste through the umbilical cord.

placid

adj

Calm, peaceful, and not easily disturbed.

placidity

noun

The state of being placid; peacefulness.

placing

noun

The act of putting something in a particular position or location.

placket

noun

A slit or other opening in an item of clothing, to allow access to pockets or fastenings

plagiarism

noun

Taking someone else's work or ideas and presenting them as your own.

plagiarist

noun

One who plagiarizes; or lifts the words, writings, or ideas of another, and passes them off as his or her own, thus engaging in plagiarism; a literary thief.

plagiarize

verb

To use, and pass off as one's own, someone else's writing, speech, ideas, or other intellectual or creative work, especially in an academic context; to commit plagiarism.

plagiarized

adj

Copied from someone else's work and passed off as original.

plague

noun

A deadly, fast-spreading disease, especially historically the bubonic plague.

plagued

adj

Continually troubled or afflicted by something.

plaid

noun

A checkered or tartan pattern, or fabric woven in that pattern.

plaidoyer

noun

An act of pleading; a plea.

plain

adj

Simple and without decoration or extra features.

plainclothes

adj

Wearing ordinary civilian clothing rather than a uniform, especially of police officers.

plainer

noun

A policeman who wears plainclothes.

plainly

adv

Clearly and obviously.

plainness

noun

The condition of being plain (in all senses)

Plains

noun

Large areas of flat, open land.

plaint

noun

A complaint.

plaintiff

noun

The person who brings a case against someone else in a civil lawsuit.

plaintive

adj

Sounding sad, mournful, or full of longing.

plait

noun

A length of hair, straw, or similar material woven into interlocking strands; a braid.

plan

noun

A set of intended actions worked out in advance to achieve a goal.

planar

adj

Of or pertaining to a plane.

planate

adj

flat, flattened. Resembling a plane, or otherwise planar.

planche

noun

A position where the gymnast is horizontal and face-down, using only the hands as support.

Planck

noun

Used to describe units, constants, or formulas named after the physicist Max Planck, especially in quantum theory.

plane

noun

An aircraft; an airplane.

planer

noun

A tool which smooths a surface or makes one surface of a workpiece parallel to the tool's bed.

planet

noun

A large, roughly spherical body that orbits a star, has cleared its orbital path of other debris, and is not itself a star.

planetarium

noun

A building or theatre with a domed ceiling used to project images of stars, planets, and other astronomical scenes for viewers below.

planetary

adj

Relating to planets or their orbits.

planetoid

noun

An asteroid of any size

plank

noun

A long, flat, thick piece of sawn timber.

planking

noun

A series of planks; a group of planks.