English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

palliative

adj

Helping to ease or soften something, without removing its cause.

pallid

adj

Looking pale and unhealthy.

pally

adj

Friendly and familiar, like a close friend; often used slightly mockingly of a sudden or overly casual friendliness.

palm

noun

A tall tropical tree with a crown of large leaves and no branches, such as the ones seen on beaches.

Palma

name

The capital city of Mallorca, Spain; also a surname meaning "palm tree" in Spanish and Italian.

Palme

name

A Swedish surname, notably borne by former Prime Minister Olof Palme.

Palmer

noun

Historically, a pilgrim returning from the Holy Land, traditionally carrying a palm branch as proof of the journey.

palmistry

noun

The practice of claiming to read a person's fortune or character from the lines and shape of their palm.

Palms

name

A surname or place name referring to palm trees; used for several neighborhoods in the United States.

palo

noun

Any of the traditional rhythmic and musical forms that make up flamenco.

paloma

noun

A cocktail made with tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda.

palomino

noun

A horse with a golden or tan coat and a pale cream or white mane and tail.

Palos

name

A place name of Spanish origin, meaning "poles" or "stakes"; used in several town names such as Palos Verdes.

palp

noun

A small, jointed, sensory appendage near the mouth of an insect, arachnid, or similar creature.

palpable

adj

Able to be touched or physically felt.

palpitate

verb

Of the heart, to beat unusually fast, hard or irregularly, so that you become aware of it.

palpitation

noun

A fast or irregular heartbeat that you can feel, often brought on by exercise, stress or illness.

palsy

noun

Paralysis of part of the body, often with uncontrollable shaking, weakness, or loss of feeling.

paltering

noun

Dishonest talk or bargaining meant to mislead someone.

Paltrow

name

An American surname, notably borne by actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

paltry

adj

So small in amount or value as to be almost insulting; trivial or worthless.

pam

noun

A short form of the name Pamela.

Pamela

name

A feminine given name coined by poet Philip Sidney in the 16th century, from Greek elements meaning "all sweetness".

Pammy

name

An informal pet form of the given name Pamela.

pamp

noun

A shortened form of “pamper”, used to mean a diaper.

pamper

verb

To treat someone with great care, comfort, and indulgence, often more than is really necessary.

pampered

adj

Given excessive comfort, care, or luxury; spoiled.

pampering

noun

The act of treating someone with great comfort, care, or indulgence.

pampers

noun

A disposable diaper, especially one made by the brand Pampers.

pamphlet

noun

A small, thin, unbound or lightly bound printed booklet, usually giving information or opinion on a single topic.

pampie

noun

Synonym of pampers (“a diaper”); a diapie.

Pamplona

name

A city in northern Spain, famous for its annual running of the bulls festival.

pamps

noun

Another word for a baby's nappy.

Pan

noun

A wide, shallow metal container used for cooking food over heat.

panacea

noun

A single remedy or solution supposed to fix every problem — usually said sceptically, of something that cannot really do so.

panache

noun

A stylish, confident, and flamboyant way of doing something.

Panama

noun

A lightweight, pale straw hat with a wide brim, traditionally handwoven in Ecuador.

pancake

noun

A thin, flat cake made from batter and cooked in a pan, often eaten for breakfast or dessert.

panchayat

noun

A local village council in India (and some neighbouring countries) responsible for local governance.

pancreas

noun

A gland behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and hormones such as insulin.

pancreatic

adj

Relating to or affecting the pancreas.

panda

noun

A large black-and-white bear native to China that feeds almost entirely on bamboo.

pandar

noun

A person, usually a man, who arranges illicit sexual affairs for others.

pandect

noun

(law) Usually as Pandects: a collection of Roman legal writings put together in the 6th century on the orders of Emperor Justinian.

pandeism

noun

The belief that a god created the universe and then became identical with it, no longer existing apart from it or acting within it.

pandemic

adj

Describing a disease that has spread across a wide geographic area, affecting a large part of the population.

pandemonium

noun

A state of wild, noisy disorder or chaos.

pander

verb

To act in a way that indulges or appeals to someone's weaknesses, desires, or lower tastes, often for personal gain.

Pandey

name

An Indian surname, derived from a Sanskrit word for a learned Brahmin scholar or priest.

Pandi

name

A given name and surname found in South Asian communities, often associated with the Hindu deity Pandiya or the mongoose in folklore.

pandit

noun

An honorary title given to a learned scholar or teacher, especially one versed in Hindu philosophy, law, or the Vedic scriptures.

Pandora

name

In Greek mythology, the first woman, given a sealed box (actually a jar) by the gods and warned never to open it — she did anyway, releasing all the troubles of the world.

Pandu

name

A king in Hindu mythology, father of the Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata.

pane

noun

A single sheet of glass fitted into a window or door.

panegyric

noun

A speech given in public that praises someone or something highly.

panegyrize

verb

To praise someone highly, especially in a speech or piece of writing.

panel

noun

A flat rectangular section set into a larger surface, such as a wall, door, or fence.

panentheism

noun

The belief that the universe exists within God, while God also goes beyond it.

Panes

name

A surname of Italian or Spanish origin, related to the word for "bread".

pang

noun

A sudden, sharp burst of physical pain.

panga

noun

A large knife with a wide blade.

panglossian

adj

Overly and unrealistically hopeful.

pangolin

noun

A scaly, long-tailed mammal found in Africa and Asia.

panhandle

noun

A narrow strip of land belonging to a larger territory that juts out on a map, resembling the handle of a pan.

panhandler

noun

A person who begs for money on the street, usually holding out a cup or hand.

panhandling

noun

Begging for money, especially in the street.

panic

noun

A sudden overwhelming feeling of fear that makes it hard to think clearly.

panicked

adj

Overcome by sudden fear; in a state of panic.

panicking

noun

The state of being overwhelmed by sudden fear.

panicky

adj

Showing or feeling panic; anxious and flustered.

panini

noun

A grilled sandwich made from a small loaf of bread, split and filled with ingredients such as ham or cheese.

panisse

noun

A fried or baked slice made from chickpea flour, similar to a thick chip or fritter, popular in southern French and Ligurian cooking.

panjab

name

The name of a geographic area in South Asia, split politically between India and Pakistan.

panjandrum

noun

A person of great importance or power.

Panna

name

A district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

pannier

noun

A large basket or bag fastened, usually in pairs, to the back of a bicycle or pack animal, or carried in pairs over the shoulders.

panning

noun

The act of sifting through material, especially gravel in a river, in search of gold.

panorama

noun

A wide, unobstructed view of an entire landscape or area.

panoramic

adj

Offering or relating to a wide, sweeping view.

panpipes

noun

A musical instrument made of ten or more tubes of different lengths, sealed at the lower end and open at the upper end, played by blowing across the open ends.

pansexuality

noun

A sexual orientation in which a person may feel attraction to others regardless of their gender or sex.

pansified

adj

Too fussy or showy; not natural.

pansy

noun

A small cultivated garden flower with broad, often multicoloured petals.

pant

noun

A quick, heavy breath, especially after exertion.

pantagruelian

adj

Extremely large.

pantalettes

noun

A form of long underpants with a frill at the bottom of each leg.

pantaloons

noun

Trousers that cover each leg from the waist down to the ankle.

pantheism

noun

The belief that the universe itself is divine and should be worshipped, with no separate, personal God beyond it.

pantheon

noun

A temple dedicated to all the gods of a religion.

panther

noun

A big cat with black fur, especially a black leopard or jaguar.

panties

noun

Underpants worn by women and girls.

panting

noun

The act of breathing quickly and heavily.

pantograph

noun

A mechanical linkage of parallelogram-shaped bars that lets two points move in parallel, often used to copy a drawing at a different scale.

pantomime

noun

The act of telling a story or communicating through gesture and expression alone, without speaking.

pantomimical

adj

Shown or performed through mime rather than words.

pantomimist

noun

A performer who acts out a pantomime.

pantry

noun

A small room or cupboard, usually near the kitchen, used to store food.

pants

noun

An outer garment covering the body from the waist down, with separate legs; trousers.

pantsuit

noun

A matching outfit of trousers and a jacket, typically worn by women.

panty

noun

An article of underwear worn by women, or (historically) short trousers for boys.

pantyhose

noun

Thin, close-fitting nylon leg coverings that extend from the waist to the toes.

pantywaist

adj

Weak, timid, effeminate, ineffectual.

panzer

noun

A tank, especially one used by Germany during World War II.

pao

noun

A chess variant piece that moves like the "cannon" in Chinese chess, jumping over one piece to capture another.

Paola

name

A feminine given name, the Italian and Spanish form of Paula, meaning "small" or "humble".

Paolino

name

An Italian given name and surname, a diminutive form of Paolo.

Paolo

name

An Italian male given name, equivalent to the English "Paul."

pap

noun

A soft, mushy food, especially one given to babies or the sick.

papa

noun

An affectionate or old-fashioned way to address your father; used like ‘dad’.

papacy

noun

The office and authority of the pope.

papal

adj

Relating to the pope or the office of the papacy.

paparazzo

noun

A freelance photographer who trails celebrities to capture candid, often unwanted photos for sale to the media.

papaya

noun

A tropical fruit tree bearing large, sweet, orange-fleshed fruit, or the fruit itself.

paper

noun

A thin material made from pressed plant fibres, used for writing, printing, wrapping, and countless other purposes.

paperback

noun

A book bound in a flexible paper cover rather than a stiff board one.

paperboard

noun

A heavy paper, or a light card.

paperboy

noun

A boy or young person who delivers newspapers to homes on a set route.

paperfolding

noun

The art of folding paper into different shapes.

papers

noun

Official identity or travel documents, such as a passport or visa.

paperweight

noun

A small heavy object placed on top of loose papers to stop them blowing away.

paperwork

noun

Routine administrative work involving forms, records, and other documents.

paphian

adj

Connected with Paphos, a town on Cyprus linked in myth to the birth of the goddess of love.

papi chulo

noun

A Spanish term of address for an attractive man, roughly 'handsome daddy'; used flirtatiously by a partner or admirer.

papirosa

noun

A type of Russian cigarette that has no filter.

papoose

noun

A Native American infant.

Pappa

name

A Greek surname, from a word meaning "priest" or used as an affectionate term for father.

Pappas

name

A Greek surname derived from "papas", meaning "priest".

pappy

noun

An informal, often Southern US, word for father.

paprika

noun

A red powdered spice made from dried, ground sweet or chili peppers, common in Hungarian and other cuisines.

Papua

noun

A person native to Papua or Papua New Guinea.

papyraceous

adj

Describes something like papyrus, or connected with it.

papyriferous

adj

Producing or containing papyrus.

papyriflavonol

noun

A type of flavonol compound found in the bark of the paper mulberry tree, which helps stop severe allergic reactions.

papyriform

adj

Shaped like, or ornamented with, papyrus flowers.

papyrine

adj

Describes something with the texture or appearance of paper.

papyrocentric

adj

Focused on using paper documents instead of digital ones.

papyrocracy

noun

Government or administration weighed down by excessive paperwork and rules.

papyrograph

noun

An old machine that copied documents using a paper stencil and a corrosive ink.

papyrographer

noun

A person who writes on papyrus.

papyrographic

adj

Relating to papyrography.

papyrography

noun

A synonym of papyrotype, a form of photolithography using paper.

papyrological

adj

Relating to papyrology.

papyrology

noun

Papyrology is the study of papyrus, especially the branch of archaeology concerned with ancient texts written on it.

papyrus

noun

A tall reed-like plant that grows along the Nile, once used to make an early writing material.

par

noun

A standard or average level considered normal or acceptable.

para

noun

A former small unit of currency used in parts of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey, and the Balkans.

parable

noun

A short story used to teach a moral or spiritual lesson through comparison.

parabola

noun

A curve in which every point is the same distance from a fixed point, the focus, as from a fixed line, the directrix.

parabolic

adj

Shaped like or relating to a parabola — a smooth, U-shaped curve.

Paracelsus

name

The adopted name of a 16th-century Swiss physician and alchemist known for early contributions to medicine and toxicology.