English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Peaks

name

A surname derived from "peak", denoting someone who lived near a hill or summit.

peaky

adj

Looking pale, tired, or slightly unwell.

peal

noun

A loud ringing sound, or a series of them, such as bells, thunder, or laughter.

pealing

noun

The ringing sound that bells make.

peanut

noun

The edible seed of Arachis hypogaea, a legume that grows its pods underground, despite being called a nut.

peanuts

noun

Informal: a very small or inadequate amount of money.

pear

noun

A sweet fruit that is typically rounder at the bottom and narrower near the stem, grown on the pear tree (Pyrus communis).

Pearce

name

An English and Welsh surname, a variant of Pierce, meaning "son of Piers".

pearl

noun

A smooth, rounded gem formed inside the shell of certain oysters and mollusks, prized for jewelry.

pearly

adj

Having the smooth, pale, slightly shiny look of a pearl.

Pears

name

An English surname, a variant of Pearce or Piers.

pearson

name

A surname derived patronymically from the given name.

peasant

noun

Historically, a small farmer or agricultural laborer, especially one with a low social and economic status.

pease

verb

To make peace between people or groups who are in conflict; to reconcile them.

peasy

adj

Resembling peas, or having the qualities of peas, especially in texture or appearance.

peat

noun

Dark, partly decomposed plant matter that accumulates in wet bogs, used as fuel and in gardening.

pebble

noun

A small stone, especially one smoothed and rounded by water.

pecan

noun

A tree native to the southern United States (Carya illinoinensis) that produces smooth, thin-shelled edible nuts.

peccability

noun

(formal) A tendency or likelihood to sin.

peccadillo

noun

A minor fault or wrongdoing.

peck

verb

For a bird to strike or pick at something repeatedly with its beak.

pecker

noun

A person, animal or thing that pecks, hitting or piercing as a bird's beak does.

peckerhead

noun

(informal) An unpleasant, stupid or unkind person.

Peckham

noun

An area in south-east London, England, part of the borough of Southwark.

pecking

noun

The action of striking or picking repeatedly with a beak or pointed tool.

peckish

adj

Mildly hungry; feeling like having a small snack.

Pecos

name

A river and town in Texas, associated with the folklore figure Pecos Bill.

pecs

noun

The chest muscles, especially the pectoralis major on each side of the upper chest.

pectoral

adj

Relating to the chest.

pectus

noun

The chest, particularly of a bird.

peculation

noun

(law) The dishonest taking of public or shared money or property by someone trusted to look after it.

peculator

noun

A person who steals money or property that has been placed in their trust.

peculiar

adj

Strange or odd; unusual in a way that draws attention.

peculiarity

noun

The quality of being unusual or distinctive.

peculiarly

adv

Used to stress that something is true to an unusually high degree.

peculiarness

noun

The fact of being unusual or strange.

pecuniarily

adv

Relating to money matters; financially.

pecuniary

adj

Connected with money.

pecunious

adj

Having plenty of money; well-off.

ped

noun

A pedestrian (informal, chiefly in traffic-related contexts).

pedagogy

noun

The method and practice of teaching, and the theory behind how teaching should be done.

pedal

noun

A foot-operated lever used to control or power a machine, such as on a bicycle, car, or piano.

pedaling

noun

The technique or pattern of pressing pedals, especially on a piano or organ, to control sound.

pedalo

noun

A small boat moved by pedals that turn paddles, used for fun on lakes and at the seaside.

pedant

noun

Someone who insists on strict, minor points of language and shows off their knowledge in a boring way.

pedantic

adj

Overly focused on formal rules, minor details, or technical correctness, often to an annoying degree.

peddle

verb

To sell goods, especially in small quantities or door to door.

peddler

noun

A person who travels around selling small goods.

peddling

noun

The act or business of selling goods, especially door to door or in small amounts.

Peder

name

A masculine given name, the Scandinavian and Danish form of Peter, meaning "rock".

Pedersen

name

A Danish and Norwegian surname meaning "son of Peder".

pedes

noun

An informal, shortened way of saying "pediatrics", the branch of medicine dealing with children's health.

pedestal

noun

The base that supports a column, statue, vase, or similar object.

pedestrian

noun

A person who is walking, especially as distinct from someone driving or riding.

pedestrianize

verb

To turn a street into an area only people on foot can use, keeping out cars and sometimes bikes.

pediatric

adj

Relating to pediatrics, the branch of medicine focused on infants, children, and adolescents.

pediatrician

noun

A doctor who specializes in treating infants, children, and adolescents.

pediatrics

noun

The branch of medicine that focuses on the health and treatment of children and adolescents.

pedicure

noun

A cosmetic treatment for the feet and toenails.

pedigree

noun

A record of an animal's or person's ancestry, especially one showing distinguished breeding.

pedilavium

noun

A Christian ceremony in which someone's feet are washed, following Jesus's example with his disciples, held at times such as baptism, Communion or Maundy Thursday.

pediment

noun

In architecture, a triangular gable found above the entablature, resting directly on the columns of a classical building.

pedlar

name

The name of a unincorporated community in Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States.

pedology

noun

The branch of science that studies soil, including how it forms and how it is classified.

pedophile

noun

An adult who is sexually attracted to young children.

Pedro

noun

A trick-taking card game in the "all fours" family.

Pedrosa

name

A surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin.

peds

noun

Informal short form of "pediatrics."

pee

noun

Urine, or the act of urinating (informal).

peed

verb

Past tense of "pee"; urinated.

peek

verb

To look quickly or slyly, often through a small gap or without being noticed.

peekaboo

noun

A game played with young children where someone hides their face and then suddenly reveals it.

peeking

noun

The act of looking quickly or secretly.

peel

verb

To remove the skin or outer layer from something.

peeled

adj

Having had the skin or outer layer removed.

peeler

noun

A kitchen tool used to remove the skin from fruits and vegetables.

peeling

noun

The act of removing an outer layer or skin.

peen

noun

The end of a hammer's head, often rounded, that lies opposite the striking face.

peep

noun

A short, high-pitched sound, like that of a baby bird.

peepaw

noun

Another word for papa, meaning father.

peeper

noun

Informal word for an eye.

peephole

noun

A small opening, often in a door, that lets someone look out without being seen.

peeping

noun

The act of looking secretly, especially at someone without their knowledge.

peer

noun

Someone of the same rank, age, or status as another person.

peer pressure

noun

The influence that people of your own age or social group exert on you to behave, dress or think as they do.

peeress

noun

A woman who is married to a nobleman with the title of peer.

peering

noun

The act of looking closely or intently, especially at something hard to see.

peerless

adj

Without equal; better than everyone or everything else in its class.

Peers

noun

Plural of "peer" — people of equal rank, age, or status.

peeve

noun

A small thing that annoys or irritates you.

peeved

adj

Mildly annoyed or irritated.

peevish

adj

Always grumbling in a childish way about small things that don't matter much.

peevishness

noun

The quality of being easily irritated or bad-tempered.

peewee

noun

A small or young person, especially in sports for young children.

peewit

noun

Any of several kinds of bird.

peg

noun

A small wooden or metal pin used to fasten, hang, or mark something.

Pegasus

noun

In Greek myth, a winged horse born from the blood of the slain Gorgon Medusa, later tamed by the hero Bellerophon.

pegged

adj

Fixed or fastened in place with a peg; also, fixed at a set value or level.

Peggy

noun

A pet form of the name Margaret, also used as a given name in its own right.

pegs

noun

Plural of peg; small pins used for fastening, hanging, or holding something in place.

Pei

name

A Chinese surname, notably borne by architect I. M. Pei.

peirson

name

A surname that is a variant of Pierson.

pejorate

verb

To get worse, or to make something worse.

pejorative

adj

Showing that you think something or someone is bad; insulting.

pekan

noun

The fisher, also called fisher cat (Pekania pennanti, also known as Martes pennanti).

peking

name

An old-fashioned spelling of Beijing, the capital of China and one of its direct-administered municipalities.

pel

noun

An informal shortening of "pixel," a single point of color in a digital image.

pelagianism

noun

A Christian teaching that rejects the idea of original sin, holding instead that people can reach salvation through their own efforts.

pelagic

adj

Living in the open ocean, away from the coast.

pelargonium

noun

Any of several flowering plants in the genus Pelargonium, resembling true geraniums (with which they are often mixed up), but less hardy and frequently grown as annuals for decoration.

Pele

noun

In Hawaiian mythology, the goddess of fire and volcanoes.

pelf

noun

Money or wealth, especially when got dishonestly.

pelham

noun

A type of horse bit combining a mouthpiece, shank, and two sets of rings, used to give the rider more control.

pelican

noun

A large water bird with a long bill and a stretchy throat pouch used for catching fish.

pelisse

noun

A cloak lined with fur, often worn as part of a uniform.

pell

noun

An upright wooden post, often padded, used for practicing strikes with swords or other bladed weapons.

pellage

noun

A tax charged on animal hides, furs and skins.

pellagra

noun

An illness caused mainly by a lack of niacin, which leads to skin sores and confusion.

pellet

noun

A small, hard, compressed lump of material.

pellicle

noun

A thin layer of skin or film.

pellucid

adj

Letting light through; see-through or nearly transparent.

pellucidity

noun

The quality of being clear, whether in appearance or in thought.

pelmeni

noun

Russian dumplings similar in shape to ravioli.

Pelosi

noun

A surname of Italian origin.

pelt

noun

The skin of an animal, especially with the fur or hair still attached.

pelter

noun

A person who pelts something or someone.

pelting

noun

The action of throwing things forcefully at someone or something.

peltry

noun

Animal pelts or skins as a group; skins that still have fur on them; furs.

pelvic

adj

Relating to or located in the pelvis, the bony structure at the base of the spine.

pelvis

noun

The ring-shaped bony structure at the base of the spine that supports the legs and protects the lower organs.

Pemberton

noun

A surname, and the name of several towns and places in England, the US, Canada, and Australia.

Pembleton

noun

A surname, likely a variant of Pemberton.

pen

noun

A handheld tool used for writing or drawing with ink.

pena

noun

A traditional Meitei stringed musical instrument from Manipur, India.

penal

adj

Relating to punishment, especially punishment set out by law.

penalize

verb

To punish someone, usually for breaking a rule.

penalties

noun

Plural of penalty; punishments or disadvantages imposed for breaking a rule.

penalty

noun

A punishment or negative consequence imposed for breaking a rule, law, or agreement.

penance

noun

A voluntary act of self-punishment or atonement carried out to make up for wrongdoing.

Pence

noun

A surname, notably that of American politician Mike Pence.

penchant

noun

A strong liking or natural tendency toward something.

pencil

noun

A writing tool with a thin core of graphite encased in wood or plastic.

pend

verb

To hang downward, or to make something hang down.

pendant

noun

A piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain or cord, typically worn around the neck.

pendejo

noun

A Spanish slang insult meaning a stupid or foolish person.

pendent

adj

Hanging loosely down from something.

pendergrass

name

The name of a city in Jackson County, Georgia, United States.

pending

adj

Not yet decided or finished; awaiting a result.

Pendleton

noun

A surname, and the name of several towns in England and the United States.

pendragon

noun

A title given to ancient British war leaders, meaning something like supreme chief or overlord.