English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

pimple

noun

A small, inflamed, often pus-filled spot on the skin.

pin

noun

A short, thin, pointed piece of metal used to fasten things together, such as fabric.

pinafore

noun

A sleeveless dress, a bit like an apron, worn over other clothes, especially by young girls.

piñata

noun

A hollow figure of papier-mâché or thin card, filled with sweets and small toys and hung up at a party so that blindfolded children can hit it with a stick until it bursts.

pinay

noun

A woman who is a citizen or native of the Philippines, or descended from one.

pinball

noun

An arcade game played on a sloped table, where a player launches and controls a metal ball to hit targets and score points.

pincer

noun

One half of a gripping claw or tool, or (in plural) the tool or claw itself.

pincers

noun

A hand tool with two pivoted, blunt jaws used for gripping or pulling.

pinch

verb

To squeeze a bit of skin or an object tightly between the thumb and finger.

pinche

adjective

In Mexican Spanish slang, a vulgar intensifier placed before a noun to express contempt or annoyance, roughly equivalent to 'damn' or 'fucking'.

pinched

adjective

Looking thin, tense, or drawn, especially from cold, worry, or hunger.

pincher

noun

Someone or something that pinches by squeezing, such as a miser.

Pinches

name

A surname.

pinching

adjective

Causing a tight, squeezing sensation.

pinchpenny

noun

A person who spends very little and is extremely careful with money.

Pindar

name

The name of an ancient Greek lyric poet celebrated for his odes.

pine

noun

An evergreen coniferous tree with needle-like leaves, or the wood it produces.

pineal

adj

Relating to the pineal gland, a small pinecone-shaped gland in the brain that produces melatonin.

pineapple

noun

A large tropical fruit with spiky skin, sweet yellow flesh, and a crown of stiff leaves.

pinecone

noun

The cone-shaped part of a pine tree that holds its seeds.

Pineda

name

A Spanish surname, often found in Spain and Latin America.

pinewood

noun

Wood from a pine tree, or a forest made up mainly of pine trees.

Piney

adj

Having the smell, look, or character of pine trees.

ping

noun

A short, high-pitched sound, or (in computing) a small network signal used to check if a device is reachable.

Pinged

name

A rare surname of Welsh-influenced origin.

pinging

noun

The act of making or sending repeated pings, as with sonar or over a network.

pingle

noun

A small enclosed piece of land.

pingrang

name

Another name for Pyongyang, the Mandarin Chinese-derived form for the capital city of North Korea.

pinhead

noun

The small, rounded head of a pin, often used to describe something tiny.

pinheaded

adj

Having a head that is oddly narrow or small.

pining

noun

The act of longing painfully for someone or something.

pinion

noun

The part of a bird's wing that is furthest from its body.

pink

noun

A pale red colour.

pinken

verb

To turn pink in colour.

pinker

adj

More pink; having a stronger pink colour than something else.

Pinkerton

noun

A private investigator or security agent, especially one historically employed to break strikes or guard property.

pinkie

noun

The smallest finger on the hand, farthest from the thumb.

pinko

noun

A socialist, especially one who does not fully embrace communism.

pinks

noun

A group of garden flowers, related to carnations, known for their fragrance and fringed petals.

pinky

noun

The smallest finger or toe.

pinna

noun

In most therian mammals, the ear's visible outer part that sits outside the head, also called the auricle; the outer ear not including the ear canal.

pinnacle

noun

The highest point of achievement or success.

pinned

adj

Fastened, held in place, or trapped with a pin or similar force.

pinning

noun

The act of fastening or holding something in place with a pin, or, in wrestling, holding an opponent down.

pinnule

noun

One of the smallest leaflets making up a leaf that is divided twice or three times over.

Pino

name

A surname of Italian and Spanish origin, also used as a masculine given name diminutive.

Pinocchio

noun

A person who lies frequently, referencing the storybook character whose nose grew when he lied.

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 small pin on a belt buckle that fits into a hole to keep the belt fastened at the right tightness.

pinto

noun

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

pinwheel

noun

A children's toy with a wheel-shaped head on a stick that spins round in the wind.

piny

adj

Covered with, or full of, pine trees.

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 state of being pious; devoutness.

pip

noun

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

pipage

noun

A network of pipes used for plumbing.

pipe

noun

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

piped

adj

Delivered or carried through pipes.

pipelaying

noun

The work of putting down pipes to form 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

A set of connected pipes or tubes.

piping

noun

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

pipit

noun

Any of several small, plain, ground-feeding songbirds, mostly in the genus Anthus, typically found in open country.

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; a sharp, spicy taste.

piquancy

noun

How strongly something excites or stimulates the senses.

piquant

adj

Sharp and hurtful; cutting or harsh.

piquantness

noun

The state 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 card game for two players using a special 32-card deck with the low cards removed.

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 shallow-draught canoe made by hollowing out 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 act of catching fish, for example by angling.

piscicide

noun

A substance that kills 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

Someone who sells goods with a pushy sales pitch, often from a street stall or at a fair.

pitchy

adj

Like pitch, or connected with it.

piteous

adj

Making someone feel pity or sympathy.

pitfall

noun

A hidden hole dug in the ground as a trap, so that whatever falls in cannot climb out.

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 tissue found in the middle of plant stems and roots.

pithiness

noun

The quality 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 quality of being pitiless.

pitisome

adj

Full of pitifulness; piteous.

Pitkin

name

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

pitman

noun

Someone who works in a pit, such as in mining or sawing timber.

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

Acting in a strange or scatterbrained way, as if bewitched by pixies.

Pizarro

name

A Spanish surname, borne notably by conquistador Francisco Pizarro.

pizazzy

adj

Full of pizazz; lively and stylish.

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.