English dictionary — definitions & meanings

plankter

noun

A single organism of plankton.

plankton

noun

Tiny, often microscopic organisms that drift passively in water rather than swimming against currents.

planned

adj

Arranged or organized ahead of time according to a deliberate plan, rather than happening by chance.

planner

noun

A person whose job or habit is to organize and schedule things in advance.

planning

noun

The process of thinking out in advance what needs to be done, in what order, and with what resources.

plant

noun

A living organism, typically rooted in soil, that makes its own food through photosynthesis — trees, flowers, grasses, and similar life forms.

Plantagenet

noun

A member of the royal family that ruled England from the 12th to the 15th century.

plantain

noun

A starchy, banana-like fruit that is usually cooked before eating, similar to a potato in culinary use.

plantation

noun

A large farm or estate, especially in a hot climate, growing a single cash crop and historically worked by enslaved or indentured labourers.

planter

noun

A container, often large and freestanding, used to hold plants.

planting

noun

The act of putting seeds or young plants into the ground.

plaque

noun

A flat piece of metal, stone, or similar material fixed to a wall or monument, usually bearing an inscription that commemorates a person or event.

plash

noun

A small pool of standing water; a marshy pond; also, a puddle; (uncountable) marshy land; mire.

plashy

adj

Watery, wet, waterlogged.

plasm

noun

A mold or matrix in which anything is cast or formed to a particular shape.

plasma

noun

A state of matter made of ionized gas, distinct from solid, liquid, or gas, found in stars, lightning, and neon signs.

plasmic

adj

Of or pertaining to plasma.

plaster

noun

A mixture of lime or gypsum, sand, and water that hardens into a smooth surface, used to coat walls and ceilings.

plasterboard

noun

A construction material consisting of a rigid panel of several layers of fibreboard or paper bonded to a gypsum core.

plastered

adj

Coated in plaster.

plasterwork

noun

Architectural work executed in plaster.

plastic

noun

A synthetic material made from polymers that can be molded into shape when soft and then set solid.

plastics

noun

Plastic surgery, as a medical field or career.

plat

noun

A plot of land; a lot.

Plata

name

A Spanish surname meaning "silver", also found in place names such as Rio de la Plata.

plate

noun

A flat, shallow dish used for serving or eating food.

plateau

noun

A large area of relatively flat, elevated land.

plated

adj

Coated with a thin layer of metal.

plateful

noun

The quantity contained on a plate.

plates

noun

A vehicle's license plates, or the number/registration itself.

platform

noun

A raised, flat surface for standing on, such as at a train station or on a stage.

platforming

noun

The video game activity of jumping from one platform to another.

plating

noun

A thin protective or decorative coating of metal applied to another surface.

platinum

noun

A dense, precious, silvery-white metal element (symbol Pt) valued for its resistance to corrosion.

platitude

noun

An often-quoted saying that is supposed to be meaningful but has become unoriginal or hackneyed through overuse.

Plato

name

The name of the classical Greek philosopher, student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.

Platonic

adj

Describing a close relationship or affection that is friendly rather than romantic or sexual.

platonic relationship

noun

A close, affectionate relationship between two people that involves no sex or romance.

platonics

noun

The study of Platonic crystals.

platonism

noun

Alternative letter-case form of Platonism.

platonist

noun

A member of the philosophical school of thought established by Plato; a believer in Platonism.

platoon

noun

A military unit of roughly thirty to forty soldiers, usually commanded by a lieutenant, forming part of a larger company.

platt

noun

An open marketplace or market square.

platter

noun

A large, flat dish used for serving food, especially to a group.

platypus

noun

An egg-laying, semi-aquatic Australian mammal with a duck-like bill, webbed feet, and a beaver-like tail.

plaudit

noun

A mark or expression of applause; praise bestowed.

plausibility

noun

The quality of deserving applause, praiseworthiness; something worthy of praise.

plausible

adj

Seeming reasonable or believable, even if not proven true.

plausibly

adv

In a plausible manner.

play

verb

To engage in an activity purely for fun or recreation.

playa

noun

A flat area of land that periodically floods and then dries out completely, leaving a hard, cracked surface.

playback

noun

The act of replaying something, especially recorded sound or video, that has already been recorded.

playbook

noun

A book of tactics and set plays used by a sports team, especially in American football.

playboy

noun

A wealthy, unattached man who spends his time pursuing pleasure and romantic conquests rather than responsibility or commitment.

playdate

noun

A pre-arranged visit where one child goes to another's home to play, usually set up by the parents.

playday

noun

A day devoted to play or fun.

player

noun

Someone taking part in a game or sport.

playfellow

noun

A playmate; a companion for someone (especially children) to play with.

playful

adj

Fond of play; lighthearted and full of fun, like a young animal or child.

playfully

adv

In a lighthearted, teasing, or fun-loving way.

playfulness

noun

The quality of being playful.

playground

noun

An outdoor area, often with swings and slides, set aside for children to play.

playhouse

noun

A venue for performing plays.

playing

noun

A single performance or showing of something, such as a song or film.

playlist

noun

A set of songs or videos lined up to be played in order, especially on a streaming app.

playmate

noun

A friend, especially a child's, who joins in play.

playoff

noun

An extra game played to settle a tie between competitors.

playpen

noun

A small portable enclosure that keeps a baby or toddler safely contained while playing.

playroom

noun

A room set aside in a home for children to play in.

PlayStation

noun

A brand of video game console made by Sony.

plaything

noun

An object, or sometimes a person, used purely for amusement.

playtime

noun

Time set aside for play or fun rather than work.

playwright

noun

A person who writes plays for the theatre.

plaza

noun

An open public square in a town or city.

plea

noun

An urgent, heartfelt request.

pleach

verb

To unite by interweaving, as (horticulture) branches of shrubs, trees, etc., to create a hedge; to interlock, to plash.

plead

verb

To argue a case formally, especially in court.

pleading

noun

The act of making an urgent request or a legal argument.

pleasant

adj

Pleasing or agreeable; nice to experience.

pleasantly

adv

In a way that is enjoyable or agreeable.

pleasantness

noun

The state or quality of being pleasant.

pleasantries

noun

Polite, light small talk exchanged before getting to a more serious matter.

pleasantry

noun

A casual, courteous remark.

please

verb

To make someone happy or satisfied.

please advise

phrase

A formulaic closing used in business email or letters, asking the reader to reply with instructions, a decision or the information requested.

pleased

adj

Happy or satisfied about something.

pleasedness

noun

The quality or state of being pleased.

pleasing

adj

Enjoyable or satisfying to experience.

pleasurable

adj

Giving pleasure or enjoyment.

pleasure

noun

A feeling of happiness, satisfaction, or enjoyment.

pleat

noun

A fold pressed or stitched into cloth to shape a garment or add fullness, made by doubling the fabric back on itself.

pleb

noun

A commoner; a member of the lower class of a society.

plebe

noun

A plebeian, a member of the lower class of Roman citizens.

plebeian

noun

A member of the plebs, the common citizens of ancient Rome.

plebiscite

noun

A direct popular vote on an issue of public importance, such as an amendment to the constitution, a change in the sovereignty of the nation, or some government policy.

pledge

verb

To make a solemn promise to do something.

pledged

adj

Bound by a promise that has already been made.

pledging

noun

The act of making a solemn promise.

Pleiades

name

In Greek mythology, the seven daughters of Atlas, companions of the goddess Artemis.

plenish

verb

To fill up, to stock or supply (something).

plenteous

adj

In plenty; abundant.

plenteousness

noun

An abundant supply; abundance.

plentiful

adj

Available in large quantities; abundant.

plenty

noun

A large or more-than-sufficient amount.

pleonasm

noun

Redundancy in wording.

pleonastic

adj

Of, or relating to pleonasm.

plerion

noun

A nebula powered by the pulsar wind of a pulsar.

plethon

name

Georgios Gemistos Plethon (c. 1355–1453), a Byzantine Greek philosopher.

plethora

noun

An overwhelming or excessive amount of something.

plethoric

adj

Suffering from plethora; ruddy in complexion, congested or swollen with blood.

pleuston

noun

The organisms that live floating at the surface of water.

plex

noun

A building, such as a duplex or triplex, with a number of apartments (typically two to four) that all open directly to the outside.

pleximetry

noun

The use of the pleximeter.

plexus

noun

A network of interlacing nerves or blood vessels in the body.

pliability

noun

The quality or state of being pliable; flexibility; pliableness.

pliable

adj

Easily bent or shaped without breaking.

pliancy

noun

The quality of being pliant.

pliant

adj

Capable of plying or bending; readily yielding to force or pressure without breaking.

plicate

adj

Folded multiple times lengthwise like a fan, usually lending stiffness to a flat structure such as a leaf; corrugated; pleated.

plication

noun

An act of folding.

plicature

noun

A doubling; a fold; a plication.

pliers

noun

A hand tool with pincer jaws used for gripping, bending, or cutting.

plight

noun

A difficult, distressing situation.

Plimpton

name

An English surname, a variant of Plympton or Plumpton.

plinth

noun

A block or slab upon which a column, pedestal, statue or other structure is based.

Pliny

name

A Roman name, borne by the naturalist Pliny the Elder and his nephew Pliny the Younger.

plip

noun

A locking system for motor vehicles that uses a small, hand-held remote control.

plod

verb

To walk slowly and heavily, with steady, tiring effort.

plodder

noun

A person who, or animal that, plods.

plodding

adj

Progressing slowly and laboriously.

plonk

verb

To put something down heavily or carelessly.

plonker

noun

A man who sanctions sexual relationships between his girlfriend and his male friends.

plop

noun

A soft, dull sound like something dropping into water.

plot

noun

The sequence of events that make up a story, especially the way they are connected.

plotline

noun

The basic plot of a story or group of stories.

plotter

noun

A person who plots.

plotting

noun

Secretly planning or scheming, usually against someone.

plough

noun

A farm tool with a blade, pulled through soil to break it up before planting.

ploughed

adj

Turned over with a plough, ready for planting.

ploughing

noun

The work of breaking up soil into furrows using a plough, to get it ready for planting.

ploughland

noun

Land that has been or is meant to be ploughed.

plowing

verb

Turning over soil with a plow to prepare it for planting (American spelling of ploughing).

ploy

noun

A cunning tactic or trick used to gain an advantage.

pluck

verb

To pull something out or off with a quick, sharp motion.

plucked

adj

Having had feathers or hairs pulled out.

plucking

noun

The act of pulling something out or off sharply.

plucky

adj

Brave and determined, especially when facing difficult odds.

plug

noun

A device with pins that connects an appliance to an electrical socket.

plugboard

noun

An array of jacks or hubs into which patch cords can be inserted in order to complete electrical circuits.

pluggable

adj

Capable of being plugged, or plugged in, especially in reference to optional components of software.