English dictionary — definitions & meanings

plugged

adj

Connected to a power source, or having something inserted to fill a gap.

plugging

noun

The act of blocking a hole or gap, or of connecting something with a plug.

plugin

noun

A separate piece of software that adds a feature to an existing program without changing the program itself, and which can be installed or removed independently.

plum

noun

A soft, round stone fruit with smooth skin, ranging from red to deep purple.

plumage

noun

All of the feathers covering a bird's body.

plumb

noun

A weight on a line used to check that something is perfectly vertical.

plumbago

noun

A plant of the genus Plumbago; leadwort.

plumber

noun

A tradesperson who installs and repairs water pipes, drains, and related fittings.

plumbing

noun

The system of pipes and fixtures that carry water and waste through a building.

plume

noun

A large, often decorative feather, or a cluster of feathers.

Plummer

name

An English surname, an occupational name for a plumber or worker in lead.

plummet

verb

To fall suddenly and steeply.

plummeting

noun

A sudden, steep decline or fall.

plumose

adj

Having feathers or plumes.

plump

adj

Pleasantly rounded and full-figured; slightly overweight in an attractive way.

plumtree

name

A village and civil parish in Rushcliffe borough, Nottinghamshire, England (OS grid ref SK6133).

plumule

noun

The first bud, or growing point, of a plant embryo, situated above the cotyledons.

plumy

adj

Covered or adorned with plumes, or as with plumes; feathery.

plunder

verb

To steal goods from a place by force, typically during war or unrest.

plunderer

noun

One who plunders or pillages.

plundering

noun

The act of stealing goods or resources by force.

plunge

verb

To jump or dive suddenly into water or another substance.

plunger

noun

A rubber suction tool used to clear blocked drains or toilets.

plunging

adj

Falling or dropping steeply.

plunk

noun

A brief, dull sound, such as the sound of a string of a stringed instrument being plucked, or the thud of something landing on a surface.

Plunkett

name

An Irish surname of Norman origin.

plural

adj

Referring to more than one of something.

plurality

noun

The state of being plural.

plurisecular

adj

Of or related to a span of several centuries, centuries-old.

plus

prep

Added to; with the addition of.

plush

adj

Luxurious and expensive-looking.

Pluto

noun

The Roman god of the underworld.

plutocracy

noun

Government by the wealthy.

plutocrat

noun

Someone who rules by virtue of his or her wealth.

plutonian

adj

Of or relating to Pluto, the Greek and Roman god of the underworld; demonic, infernal.

plutonic

adj

Alternative letter-case form of Plutonic.

plutonium

noun

The transuranic chemical element with atomic number 94 and symbol Pu: a silvery-gray fissile radioactive actinide metal that tarnishes when exposed to air.

pluviophile

noun

A person who loves rain and finds comfort or joy in rainy weather.

ply

verb

To work steadily at something, or use a tool with regular effort.

plyboard

noun

A material made from wooden boards glued together.

plyer

noun

A kind of balance used in raising and letting down a drawbridge. It consists of timbers joined in the form of a Saint Andrew's cross.

plyers

noun

Archaic form of pliers (“gripping tool”).

plying

noun

The arrangement of strands or layers twisted or woven together.

Plymouth

name

A port city in Devon, England, and the source of many place names of the same name across the English-speaking world.

plywood

noun

A building material made of thin layers of wood glued together, with the grain of each layer running crosswise to the one next to it for strength.

PM

verb

To manage a project.

PMO

abbreviation

Piss me off — used in texting and social media to say that something annoys or is annoying you.

PMS

verb

To go through premenstrual syndrome, the physical and emotional symptoms that can occur before a period.

pneumatic

adj

Operated or inflated by compressed air.

pneumonia

noun

A lung infection, usually caused by bacteria or a virus, that inflames the air sacs and can fill them with fluid.

pneumonic

adj

Of, or relating to the lungs; pulmonary.

pneumothorax

noun

A collapsed lung caused by air leaking into the space between the lung and chest wall, usually from injury.

PNG

noun

An image format that stores a picture without losing any detail and can make parts of the image transparent, commonly used for logos, screenshots and graphics with sharp edges.

po

noun

A chamber pot.

POA

abbreviation

Plan of action: an agreed set of steps for dealing with a situation.

poach

verb

To cook something gently in barely simmering liquid, usually water.

poached

adj

Cooked by gentle simmering in liquid.

poacher

noun

Someone who illegally hunts or catches animals, especially protected wildlife.

poaching

noun

The illegal hunting, fishing, or collecting of wildlife or plants, especially protected species.

POC

abbreviation

Person of colour: someone who is not white. Also used as people of colour.

Pocahontas

noun

Used, often loosely or historically, to refer to a Native American woman, after the historical Powhatan figure Pocahontas.

pochoir

noun

A technique in visual art consisting of applying various stencils (perforated templates).

pocket

noun

A small fabric pouch sewn into clothing for carrying small items.

pocketable

adj

Able to be put in one's pocket.

pocketbook

noun

A small case for carrying money or cards; in American English, sometimes a handbag or purse.

pocketed

adj

Having one or more pockets.

pocketful

noun

As much as a pocket can hold.

pocketknife

noun

A knife small enough for carrying safely and handily in a pocket; usually a folding knife (with blades or tools that the user can fold or retract into the handle).

pockmark

noun

A mark or scar in the skin caused by a pock.

pockmarked

adj

Having pockmarks.

pococurante

adj

Apathetic, indifferent or nonchalant.

pod

noun

A seed case of a plant, especially a legume, that splits open when ripe.

podcast

noun

A recorded audio (or video) series, usually episodic, that people can download or stream over the internet.

podiatrist

noun

A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating problems of the feet and lower legs.

podium

noun

A raised platform for a speaker, performer, or conductor to stand on.

Poe

noun

An online post or statement so extreme that readers can't tell if it's sincere or satire.

poem

noun

A piece of writing arranged with attention to rhythm, sound, and often rhyme, expressing ideas or feelings in a condensed, imaginative way.

poesy

noun

The art or composition of poetry.

poet

noun

A person who writes poems.

poetic

adj

Relating to poetry or written in the style of poetry.

poeticize

verb

To make poetic, or express in poetry.

poetics

noun

The theory of poetry, or of literature in general.

poetize

verb

To make (something) poetic.

poetry

noun

Literary writing arranged with attention to rhythm, sound, and imagery, often in verse.

Poets

name

The plural of poet, sometimes used as a collective or team name.

pog

interjection

Said in reaction to something exciting, impressive or unexpectedly good, especially in gaming and streaming chat.

pogey

noun

A poorhouse, workhouse, welfare office, charity hostel, etc.

poggers

intj

Expresses strong excitement.

pogo

verb

To bounce up and down on a pogo stick.

pogue

noun

A kiss, in Irish-influenced slang.

poh

noun

The negative of the base 10 logarithm of the concentration of hydroxide ions, measured in moles per liter.

poi

noun

A traditional Hawaiian dish made by pounding cooked taro root into a smooth, often fermented, paste.

poignancy

noun

The quality of being poignant.

poignant

adj

Deeply moving, often with a touch of sadness.

Poindexter

noun

An informal, often mocking term for someone seen as overly bookish, nerdy, or socially awkward.

point

noun

The sharp or narrow end of something.

point of view

noun

The particular way a person thinks about or judges something, shaped by their own position, experience or interests.

pointe

noun

The tip of the toes, especially as used in a ballet position where a dancer balances fully on the toes.

pointed

adj

Having a sharp end.

pointed out

verb

Past tense of point out: to draw someone's attention to a fact, especially one they have missed or would rather not face.

pointer

noun

A useful tip or piece of advice.

Pointers

name

The plural of pointer, also used as a name for sports teams and mascots.

pointful

adj

Having real substance; apposite, pertinent.

pointing

noun

The act of indicating direction or location with a finger or object.

pointless

adj

Having no useful purpose; not worth doing.

points

noun

The movable rails on a railway track used to switch a train from one line to another.

pointy

adj

Having a sharp point; tapering to a narrow end.

Poirot

name

A surname of French origin, famous as the name of Agatha Christie's fictional detective Hercule Poirot.

poise

noun

A calm, self-assured manner; composure under pressure.

poised

adj

Calm, self-possessed, and confident in manner.

poison

noun

A substance that can injure or kill a living thing if it enters the body.

poisoned

adj

Harmed, killed, or contaminated by poison.

poisoner

noun

A person who kills or harms someone using poison.

poisoning

noun

Harm or illness caused by a poisonous substance entering the body.

poisonous

adj

Containing enough poison to harm or kill if touched, eaten, or breathed in.

poisonousness

noun

The state or quality of being poisonous.

Poitiers

name

A city in west-central France, historically significant and the site of several famous battles.

poke

verb

To prod or jab something with a finger or object.

poker

noun

A metal rod used to stir and adjust burning coals or logs in a fire.

poker face

noun

A blank expression that gives away nothing about what a person is thinking or feeling.

pokey

adj

Small and cramped.

poking

noun

The act of jabbing or prodding something.

poky

adj

Small and cramped, and often shabby.

pol

noun

A politician (informal, especially American).

Polack

noun

A Polish person (often considered an ethnic slur in English).

Poland

name

A country in Central Europe.

Polanski

name

A Polish surname, borne notably by filmmaker Roman Polanski.

polar

adj

Relating to, or near, the North or South Pole.

Polaris

noun

The North Star, a bright star located almost directly above the North Pole and long used for navigation.

polarity

noun

The property of having two opposite poles or charges, such as positive and negative in electricity or north and south in magnetism.

polarization

noun

The process by which a group, especially a country's electorate, splits into two opposed camps with fewer and fewer people holding middle-ground views.

polarized

adjective

Split into two sharply opposed groups, with little agreement or middle ground left between them.

polarizing

adj

Characterized by strong, divided opinions among people; divisive.

polaroid

noun

A camera that instantly develops and prints its own photos, or a photo produced by one.

pole

noun

A long, slender piece of wood or metal used for support or construction.

polecat

noun

Any of several long-bodied mammals of the subfamilies Mustelinae and Ictonychinae, both in the weasel family Mustelidae.

polenta

noun

A dish of boiled cornmeal, often served soft like porridge or cooled, sliced, and fried or grilled.

police

noun

The official organization responsible for enforcing laws and keeping public order.

policeman

noun

A male member of a police force.

policewoman

noun

A female member of a police force.

policing

noun

The activity of maintaining law and order, or of monitoring and enforcing rules.

policy

noun

A course of action or set of principles adopted by a government, organization, or person.

policyholder

noun

The party to an insurance contract who owns the policy and thus transfers a risk to an insurer (i.e., pays the insurer to take the risk).

Polio

noun

A viral disease that can cause paralysis, historically common before vaccination.

poliomyelitis

noun

Acute infection by the poliovirus, especially of the motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis and sometimes deformity.

polis

name

A town and municipality of Paphos district, Cyprus; in full, Polis Chrysochous.

Polish

verb

To rub a surface until it is smooth and shiny.

polished

adj

Made smooth and shiny through polishing.

polishing

noun

The act of rubbing something to make it smooth or shiny, or of refining it.

polite

adj

Showing good manners and consideration for others.