English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

pumpernickel

noun

A dense, dark German bread made from rye.

pumping

noun

The action of moving liquid, gas, or blood using a pump or pump-like motion.

pumpkin

noun

A large round orange fruit that grows on a vine, often used for cooking or carved for Halloween.

pumpkinseed

noun

A sunfish native to North America, Lepomis gibbosus.

pun

noun

A joke that plays on a word's different meanings or on words that sound alike.

pun intended

phrase

Said or written immediately after a remark to flag that a word in it also works as a play on words, and that the speaker noticed and meant it.

punani

noun

(informal) A woman's genitals.

punch

noun

A hit made with a closed fist.

puncher

noun

Someone who punches, in a particular way.

punching

noun

The act of hitting with the fist or making holes with a punch.

punchline

noun

The final line of a joke or story, which delivers the twist that makes it funny.

punchy

adj

Forceful, direct, and effective, especially in writing or speech.

punctilious

adj

Very careful about small details, especially rules or correct behaviour.

punctual

adj

Arriving or acting exactly at the expected or agreed time.

punctuality

noun

The quality of arriving or doing things at the correct, expected time.

punctually

adv

Happening exactly at the time that was arranged.

punctuate

verb

To put marks such as commas and full stops into a piece of writing.

punctuation

noun

The marks and symbols, such as commas, full stops, and question marks, used in writing to organize and clarify meaning.

puncture

noun

A small hole made by something sharp, especially in a tyre.

pundit

noun

A person regarded as an expert who offers opinions or commentary, especially in the media.

Pune

name

A major city in Maharashtra, India.

pung

noun

A simple sleigh with sides, pulled by a single horse.

pungency

noun

A strong, sharp taste or smell.

pungent

adj

Having a sharp, strong smell or taste that stings the nose or tongue.

punic

adj

Belonging to ancient Carthage, its people, or their language.

punim

noun

(informal) A person's face.

punish

verb

To make someone suffer a penalty for wrongdoing or misconduct.

punishable

adj

Deserving or liable to be punished, especially by law.

punished

adj

Having received a penalty or harsh treatment for wrongdoing.

punisher

noun

A person or thing that punishes.

punishing

adj

Extremely harsh, demanding, or exhausting.

punishment

noun

A penalty given for wrongdoing, or the act of imposing one.

punitive

adj

Intended as a punishment, or inflicting one.

punitory

adj

Intended as a punishment.

Punjab

name

A region of South Asia split between India and Pakistan, known for its fertile farmland and five major rivers.

Punjabi

noun

The main language of the Punjab region, spoken in parts of India and Pakistan.

punk

noun

A loud, rebellious style of rock music, or the subculture built around it, marked by aggressive guitars and anti-establishment attitude.

punky

adj

Having the style, attitude, or look associated with punk music and culture.

punnet

noun

A small container used to hold and sell fruit, especially strawberries.

punt

noun

A long, flat-bottomed boat that is pushed along with a pole, often used on rivers for leisure.

punta

noun

A lively style of music and dance originating with the Garifuna people of Central America.

punter

noun

A person who bets or gambles, especially against the house.

puny

adj

Small, weak, or unimpressive; lacking strength or significance.

pup

noun

A young dog, or the young of certain other animals such as wolves, seals, or sharks.

pupa

noun

The stage of an insect's development between the larva and the adult.

pupil

noun

A student, especially a younger one being taught under a teacher's supervision.

puppet

noun

A doll-like figure of a person or animal moved by strings, rods, or a hand inside it.

puppeteer

noun

A person who operates puppets, especially as a performer.

puppy

noun

A young dog, usually under a year or so old.

puppysitter

noun

Someone who takes care of another person's puppy for a while.

purblind

adj

Having weak eyesight; almost blind.

purblindness

noun

The state of someone or something being purblind.

Purcell

name

An English surname, most famously borne by the Baroque composer Henry Purcell.

purchase

verb

To buy something by paying money for it.

purchasing

noun

The activity or process of buying goods or services, especially within a business.

purdy

adj

A dialect spelling of "pretty," representing a Southern US pronunciation.

pure

adj

Not mixed with anything else; free from impurities or contamination.

pureblood

noun

A person or animal whose parents all belong to the same breed or race.

purebred

adj

Bred from parents of the same breed, without crossbreeding.

puree

noun

Food that has been mashed or blended into a smooth, thick paste or liquid.

purely

adv

Entirely or solely; nothing more than.

pureness

noun

The quality of being clean and free from anything that spoils it.

purgation

noun

The act of emptying the bowels, especially with medicine.

purgative

noun

A medicine that empties the bowels.

purgatory

noun

In Catholic belief, a temporary state after death in which souls are purified before entering Heaven.

purge

verb

To rid something of unwanted elements; to cleanse or clear out completely.

purging

noun

The act of cleansing or removing something unwanted, including forcibly removing people.

puri

noun

A small, round, deep-fried bread from South Asia that puffs up when cooked.

purification

noun

The process of removing impurities or contaminants from something.

purificational

adj

Connected with making something pure.

purificative

adj

Able to make something clean or pure.

purificatory

adj

Used to make something pure.

purified

adj

Made free of impurities.

purifier

noun

A person or machine that takes dirt or impurities out of something.

purify

verb

To remove impurities from something, making it clean or pure.

purifying

noun

The act or process of making something pure.

Purim

name

A Jewish holiday celebrating the rescue of the Persian Jews from a planned massacre, as told in the Book of Esther.

purist

noun

Someone who insists on strict adherence to traditional rules, standards, or forms.

puritan

noun

A person who is extremely strict about morals, especially concerning pleasure or sex.

puritanical

adj

Excessively strict about morality, especially regarding pleasure, sex, or entertainment.

purity

noun

The state of being pure — free from contamination, mixture, or moral fault.

purl

noun

A stitch made in knitting by pulling the yarn through a loop from the front to the back.

purloin

verb

(formal) To steal something, often by betraying someone's trust.

purnell

name

The name of a district in the western part of Baltimore, Maryland, United States.

purple

noun

A colour between red and blue, like that of violets or ripe plums.

Purple Heart

noun

A United States military decoration awarded to any member of the armed forces who is wounded or killed as a result of enemy action.

purport

verb

To claim to mean or be something, which may not be true.

purported

adj

Believed or claimed to be true.

purportedly

adv

According to what is said or believed, although this may not be true.

purpose

noun

The reason something exists or is done; its intended goal.

purposeful

adj

Having a clear intention or goal; determined.

purposefully

adv

In a determined, focused manner.

purposely

adv

On purpose; deliberately, not by accident.

purposive

adj

Having a clear purpose, especially through the way something has developed naturally.

purr

verb

To make a low, continuous vibrating sound, as a contented cat does.

purring

noun

The low, continuous sound made by a contented cat or something similar, like an engine.

purse

noun

A small bag used for carrying money and personal items, especially by women.

purser

noun

An officer on a ship or aircraft responsible for accounts, supplies, or passenger services.

pursual

noun

The act of chasing after or following something.

pursuance

noun

A search for or chase after something.

pursuant

adj

In accordance with or following from something, typically a law or agreement — used with "to."

pursuantly

adv

As a result; consequently.

pursue

verb

To follow someone or something in order to catch them.

pursuer

noun

A person who is chasing or following someone or something.

pursuing

noun

The act of chasing or working toward something.

pursuit

noun

The act of chasing or seeking after something or someone.

purulence

noun

The state of containing or releasing pus.

purves

name

The name of a unincorporated community in Erath County, Texas, United States.

purveyor

noun

A person or business that supplies goods, especially food, to customers.

purview

noun

The scope or range of something's authority, responsibility, or interest, especially a law or an official role.

Purvis

name

An English surname, originally an occupational name for someone responsible for obtaining supplies.

pus

noun

A thick yellowish-white fluid made up of dead white blood cells and bacteria that forms at the site of an infection.

pusbag

noun

(informal) An unpleasant or worthless person.

push

verb

To apply force to something so it moves away from you.

pushback

noun

The act of forcing back an attacker or opponent.

pushbike

noun

(informal) An ordinary bicycle worked by pedalling, not by a motor.

pushchair

noun

A small wheeled chair that a baby or young child sits in and is pushed along in.

pusher

noun

Someone or something that pushes.

pushin' P

phrase

To conduct yourself with integrity and style — keeping it real, staying loyal, and not doing anything shady or embarrassing.

pushing

adj

Aggressively assertive or forceful; pushy.

Pushkin

name

A Russian surname, most famously borne by the poet Alexander Pushkin; also a town in Russia.

pushover

noun

Someone who is easily persuaded, taken advantage of, or pushed around.

Pushpa

name

A female given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "flower".

pushy

adj

Overly assertive, forceful, or determined to get one's way.

pusillanimous

adjective

Displaying dishonorable cowardice or a timidity that invites contempt.

puss

noun

An informal or affectionate word for a cat.

pussums

noun

An affectionate name used for a cat.

pussy

noun

An informal or affectionate word for a cat.

pussyfoot

verb

To move quietly and carefully so as not to be noticed.

pussygirl

noun

(informal, vulgar) A woman who is sexually submissive, sells sex, or deliberately attracts men.

pustule

noun

A small spot on the skin filled with pus.

put

verb

To move something into a particular place or position.

put off

phrasal verb

To move something to a later time, or to delay doing something you would rather not do.

put up

phrasal verb

To build, erect or fix something in a raised position so that it can be seen or used.

puta

noun

A vulgar Spanish term for a prostitute, often used more broadly as a strong insult.

putative

adj

Widely believed or assumed to be true.

Putin

name

A Russian surname, most famously borne by Vladimir Putin, president of Russia.

Putney

name

A district in southwest London, England; also a surname.

puto

noun

A small steamed rice cake, often slightly sweet, popular in Filipino cuisine and usually eaten as a snack or side dish.

putrefacient

adj

Relating to or causing rotting.

putrefaction

noun

The process by which bacteria and fungi break down proteins without oxygen, producing a foul smell as matter rots.

putrefactive

adj

Relating to or causing the process of rotting.

putrefy

verb

To rot and give off a foul smell.

putrescent

adj

In the process of rotting; going bad.

putrid

adj

Rotting and giving off a foul smell.

putsch

noun

A sudden, illegal attempt to seize control of a government by force.

putt

verb

To strike a golf ball gently to roll it along the green toward the hole.

putten

name

The name of a village in Gelderland, Netherlands.

putter

verb

To occupy oneself in a relaxed, unhurried way with small tasks.

putting

noun

The act of striking a golf ball gently toward the hole.