English dictionary — definitions & meanings

provident

adj

Possessing, exercising, or demonstrating great care and consideration for the future.

providential

adj

Pertaining to divine providence.

providentially

adv

In a providential manner.

provider

noun

A person or organization that supplies a service, product, or income.

providing

conj

On the condition that; provided that.

province

noun

A large administrative division of certain countries, such as Canada or China.

provincial

adj

Relating to or typical of a province, especially a region outside the capital or main city.

provincialism

noun

The quality of being provincial; having provincial tastes, mentality, manners.

proving

verb

Present participle of "prove" — demonstrating or establishing that something is true.

provision

noun

A supply of something needed for the future, especially food.

provisional

adj

Temporary and meant to be replaced later by something permanent.

provisionally

adv

In a provisional way; temporarily.

provisioner

noun

One who supplies provisions.

provisioning

noun

An act of supplying with provisions.

proviso

noun

A conditional provision to an agreement.

Provo

noun

An informal term for a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

provocateur

noun

Someone who deliberately says or does things to stir up a reaction, argument, or controversy.

provocation

noun

The act of deliberately annoying, angering, or inciting someone.

provocative

adj

Likely to cause a strong reaction, especially anger or annoyance.

provocator

noun

One who engages in provocation.

provoke

verb

To deliberately anger or irritate someone.

provoking

adj

Causing irritation or anger; annoying.

provolone

noun

A firm, pale yellow Italian cheese made from cow's milk, often smoked or aged.

provost

noun

A senior official who heads a university, college, or cathedral chapter.

prow

noun

The front part of a vessel.

prowess

noun

Exceptional skill or ability in a particular activity.

prowl

verb

To move about quietly and stealthily, especially while hunting or searching for something.

prowler

noun

A person who lurks or moves around a place secretly, often intending to commit a crime like burglary.

prowling

noun

The act of moving around stealthily, often in search of prey or a target.

proxenetism

noun

The negotiation or facilitation of a transaction between a sex worker and a customer.

proximal

adj

Located nearer to the center of the body, a point of attachment, or a point of reference.

proximate

adj

Close or closest; adjacent.

proximity

noun

The state of being near something in space, time, or relationship.

proxy

noun

A person authorized to act or vote on behalf of someone else.

Prozac

noun

A brand name for fluoxetine, an antidepressant drug commonly used to treat depression and anxiety.

Pru

noun

A nickname or short form of the name Prudence.

prude

noun

Someone who is easily shocked or offended by anything sexual or improper, and overly concerned with proper behavior.

prudence

noun

Careful, sensible judgment, especially about practical matters and future risks.

prudent

adj

Careful and sensible, especially about avoiding unnecessary risk.

prudential

adj

Characterised by the use of prudence; arising from careful thought or deliberation.

Prudhoe

name

A town in Northumberland, England.

prudish

adj

Overly modest or easily shocked, especially about sexual matters.

Prue

name

A female given name, a diminutive of Prudence.

Pruitt

name

An English surname.

prune

noun

A dried plum.

pruning

noun

The act of trimming excess branches or growth from a plant.

prurience

noun

The quality of being prurient.

Prussia

noun

A historical kingdom and later German state in Northeast Europe, powerful from the 1700s until it was dissolved after World War II.

Prussian

adj

Relating to Prussia, its people, or its culture.

pry

verb

To inquire into someone else's private affairs in a nosy or unwelcome way.

Pryce

name

A Welsh surname, a variant spelling of Price.

prying

adj

Excessively curious about other people's private matters; nosy.

PS

abbreviation

A note added at the end of a letter, email or message, after the signature, for something you forgot or want to add separately.

PSA

noun

A short message broadcast or posted in the public interest, warning or informing people about something such as health, safety or a deadline.

psalm

noun

A sacred song or poem used in worship, especially one of the songs collected in the Book of Psalms in the Bible.

Psalms

noun

The Book of Psalms, a collection of religious songs and poems in the Old Testament.

psammon

noun

The community of organisms living in the sandy, moist habitat along a shoreline.

pseud

noun

An intellectually pretentious person; a poseur.

pseudanthium

noun

An inflorescence that looks and functions as if it were a single flower.

pseudo

adj

Fake or not genuine; only appearing to be something.

pseudoanemic

adj

Affected by or relating to pseudoanemia.

pseudoeffective

adj

Having a nonnegative intersection product with every ample divisor and numerically eventually free if the intersection product with every positive divisor is non-negative.

pseudologist

noun

Someone who says falsehoods; a liar; a pseudologue.

pseudomoral

adj

Apparently, but not actually, moral.

pseudonym

noun

A fake name used instead of someone's real name, especially by writers or performers.

pseudopregnant

adj

Of, pertaining to, or undergoing pseudopregnancy.

pseudoscience

noun

Any body of knowledge that purports to be scientific or to be supported by science (or may appear to be scientific) but which fails to comply with the scientific method (or rather, is not true science).

psh

interjection

An informal sound used to express dismissiveness or disbelief, similar to "pshaw."

pshh

intj

Expresses inspiration, amazement, or respect.

psht

intj

Synonym of pshaw.

psi

noun

The 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet (Ψ, ψ).

psoriasis

noun

A long-term skin condition that causes red, inflamed patches covered in silvery, flaky scales.

pssh

intj

An exclamation of dismissal or disbelief, similar to "pshaw."

psst

intj

Used quietly to get someone's attention without others noticing.

psych

verb

To trick or intimidate someone mentally, often phrased as "psych out."

psyche

noun

A person's mind, soul, or innermost self, especially in terms of thoughts and emotions.

psyched

adj

Very excited and enthusiastic about something.

psychedelic

adj

Related to the altered perception, hallucinations, or intense sensory effects caused by certain drugs.

psychiatric

adj

Relating to psychiatry, the medical treatment of mental illness.

psychiatrist

noun

A medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental illness, often able to prescribe medication.

psychiatry

noun

The branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness.

psychic

noun

A person claimed to have supernatural abilities, such as reading minds or predicting the future.

psychical

adj

Performed by or pertaining to the psyche (the mind, spirit, or both): mental, psychic.

psychically

adv

In a way that involves supposed supernatural or extrasensory perception.

psychics

noun

People who claim supernatural mental abilities (plural of psychic).

psycho

noun

An informal, often derogatory term for someone perceived as mentally disturbed or dangerously unstable.

psychoactive

adj

Affecting the mind or mental processes.

psychoanalysis

noun

A therapy method, originated by Freud, that explores unconscious thoughts and childhood experiences to explain behavior.

psychoanalyst

noun

A therapist trained to practice psychoanalysis.

psychoanalyze

verb

To treat (someone) using psychoanalysis.

psychobabble

noun

Psychology jargon used pretentiously to describe ordinary problems, making them sound more complex than they are.

psychokinesis

noun

The movement of physical systems and objects by the use of psychic power. Abbreviated as PK.

psychological

adj

Relating to psychology or to the workings of the mind.

psychologically

adv

In terms of the mind or mental processes.

psychologist

noun

A specialist who studies the mind and behavior, often providing therapy or counseling.

psychology

noun

The scientific study of the mind and human behavior.

psychopath

noun

A person with a severe personality disorder marked by manipulation, lack of empathy, and disregard for others' safety or rights.

psychopathic

adj

Showing the traits typical of a psychopath, such as manipulation and lack of empathy.

psychopathology

noun

The study of the origin, development, diagnosis and treatment of mental and behavioural disorders.

psychopathy

noun

A personality disorder characterized by impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egocentric traits masked by superficial charm and the outward presence of apparent normality. Violent and criminal offenses may be indicative of this disorder.

psychosis

noun

A severe mental condition in which a person loses touch with reality, often involving hallucinations or delusions.

psychosocial

adjective

Relating to the way a person's mind and their social circumstances affect each other, taking in things like relationships, work, money, isolation and culture alongside psychological state.

psychosomatic

adj

Describing a physical symptom or illness that is caused or worsened by mental or emotional factors.

psychostimulant

adj

Tending to increase mental alertness and awareness

psychotherapist

noun

A trained professional who treats mental and emotional problems through talk-based therapy.

psychotherapy

noun

Treatment of mental and emotional problems through talking with a trained therapist.

psychotic

adj

Relating to or affected by psychosis, especially involving hallucinations or delusions.

psychotropic

adj

Affecting the mind, mood, or mental processes, usually describing certain drugs.

PTA

noun

Abbreviation for Parent-Teacher Association, a group of parents and teachers who organize school activities and fundraising.

pterodactyl

noun

A flying reptile from the dinosaur era with a long beak and wings made of skin stretched over a long finger bone.

PTO

noun

Paid time off: leave from work that an employer still pays for, often held as a single pooled allowance covering holiday, sick days and personal days.

Ptolemy

name

A male given name of Greek origin, most famously borne by the ancient astronomer and geographer Claudius Ptolemy, and by the line of Macedonian-Egyptian kings founded by Ptolemy I.

Pu

name

A county in Linfen, Shanxi province, China, or a Chinese surname.

pub

noun

A public house that serves drinks, especially beer, and often food, common in Britain and Ireland.

puberty

noun

The stage of development, driven by hormones, during which a child's body matures into an adult body capable of reproduction.

pubes

noun

Informal term for pubic hair.

pubescence

noun

The state of being in or reaching puberty.

pubescent

adj

At or just after the age of puberty.

pubic

adj

Relating to the lower abdominal area around the genitals.

pubis

noun

The pubic bone; the part of the hipbone forming the front arch of the pelvis.

public

adj

Open and visible to everyone; not hidden or private.

publican

noun

The landlord (manager or owner) of a public house (“a bar or tavern, often also selling food and sometimes lodging; a pub”).

publication

noun

The act of making printed or digital material available to the public.

publicise

verb

To make widely known to the public.

publicist

noun

Someone whose job is to promote a person, brand, or event and manage their public image.

publicity

noun

Promotional activity intended to attract public attention to something.

publicly

adverb

In a way that is open and visible to everyone, not in private.

publish

verb

To prepare and issue a written, printed, or digital work for the public to read or buy.

published

adjective

Made available for sale or reading by the general public.

publisher

noun

A person or company whose business is producing and distributing books, magazines, or other written material.

publishing

noun

The business of producing and distributing books, magazines, or other written works.

Puccini

name

An Italian surname, most famously borne by the opera composer Giacomo Puccini.

pucelle

noun

A girl, a maiden; a virgin (often with reference to Joan of Arc).

puck

noun

The small, hard rubber disc that players hit across the ice in ice hockey.

pucker

verb

To draw something into small folds or wrinkles, especially by tightening or squeezing.

puckering

noun

A fold or pinched bunch of fabric caused by the shrinkage of one layer among many.

Puckett

name

An English surname, also the name of a village in Mississippi.

puckish

adj

Having a tendency to play tricks on people or tease people by making silly jokes about them; mischievous.

puckishness

noun

An instance of being puckish.

pud

noun

A short, informal word for pudding, whether sweet or savory.

pudding

noun

A soft, sweet dessert, often milk- or egg-based, cooked or set until thick and creamy.

puddle

noun

A small pool of water, typically left on a path or road after rain.

pudendal

adj

Relating to or near the pudendum.

pudendum

noun

External genital organs in a human; especially a woman's vulva.

pudent

adj

Exhibiting pudency; modest.

pudgy

adjective

Slightly overweight or plump, often used affectionately, especially of a child.

pudic

adj

Easily ashamed, having a strong sense of shame; modest, chaste.

pueblo

noun

A settlement of the Pueblo peoples of the American Southwest, traditionally built from adobe or stone in a multi-storey style.

puellile

adj

Characteristic of, or pertaining to, a girl or girls.

puelline

adj

Synonym of puellile (“characteristic of, or pertaining to, a girl or girls”).