English dictionary — definitions & meanings

peccadillo

noun

A small flaw or sin.

peck

verb

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

pecker

noun

Someone who or something that pecks, striking or piercing in the manner of a bird's beak or bill, particularly

peckerhead

noun

A dickhead: an unpleasant, stupid or mean 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

Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest.

pectus

noun

The breast, especially of a bird.

peculation

noun

The wrongful appropriation or embezzlement of shared or public property, usually by a person entrusted with the guardianship of that property.

peculator

noun

A person who peculates; an embezzler.

peculiar

adj

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

peculiarity

noun

The state or quality of being peculiar; individuality; singularity.

peculiarly

adv

Such as to be greater than usual; particularly; exceptionally.

peculiarness

noun

The state or quality of being peculiar.

pecuniarily

adv

In a pecuniary manner; in terms of money; financially.

pecuniary

adj

Of, or relating to, money; monetary, financial.

pecunious

adj

With money, wealthy; financially independent.

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.

pedant

noun

A person who makes an excessive or tedious show of their knowledge, especially regarding rules of vocabulary and grammar.

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 restrict access to (a street) to pedestrians only, disallowing motor vehicles and sometimes cyclists

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

The rite of foot-washing based on the act carried out by Jesus Christ on his disciples at the Last Supper. Depending on the church or denomination, it may be carried out at baptism, during Holy Communion, or as part of a Maundy Thursday service; maundy.

pedlar

name

An unincorporated community in Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States.

pedology

noun

The sub-discipline of soil science that studies soils as a component of natural systems or deals with soil genesis and soil classification, or studies the soil profiles or solum in its natural setting.

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 (often spherical) end of the head of a hammer opposite the main hammering end.

peep

noun

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

peepaw

noun

Synonym of papa (“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 noblewoman married to a 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

An annoyance or grievance.

peeved

adj

Mildly annoyed or irritated.

peevish

adj

Constantly complaining, especially in a childish way due to insignificant matters; fretful, whiny.

peevishness

noun

The state of being peevish.

peewee

noun

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

peewit

noun

Any of several birds:

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, variant of Pierson.

pejorate

verb

To become or make (something) worse; to deteriorate, to worsen.

pejorative

adj

Disparaging, belittling or derogatory.

pekan

noun

A fisher cat or fisher (Pekania pennanti, syn. Martes pennanti)

peking

name

Dated form of Beijing: a direct-administered municipality, the capital city of China.

pel

noun

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

pelagianism

noun

A Christian belief that denies the view of original sin and the necessity of grace, asserting that man is capable of achieving salvation by his own efforts.

pelagic

adj

Living in the open sea rather than in coastal or inland waters.

pelargonium

noun

Any of various flowering plants of the genus Pelargonium, similar to (and often confused with) true geraniums, but less hardy and often cultivated as annuals for ornamental purposes.

Pele

noun

In Hawaiian mythology, the goddess of fire and volcanoes.

pelf

noun

Money, riches; gain, especially when dishonestly acquired; lucre, mammon.

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 fur-lined robe or cloak, especially 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

The duty on hides, furs and skins.

pellagra

noun

A disease characterised by skin lesions and mental confusion, primarily caused by a niacin deficiency.

pellet

noun

A small, hard, compressed lump of material.

pellicle

noun

A thin skin or film.

pellucid

adj

Allowing the passage of light; translucent or transparent.

pellucidity

noun

Transparency; lucidity; clarity.

pelmeni

noun

Russian dumplings resembling 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

One who pelts.

pelting

noun

The act by which somebody or something is pelted.

peltry

noun

Pelts or skins, collectively; skins with the 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 subject to a penalty, especially for the infringement of a rule or regulation.

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 down; to cause something to 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

Dangling, drooping, hanging down or suspended.

pendergrass

name

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.

pendulum

noun

A weight hung from a fixed point that swings freely back and forth, often used to regulate a clock.

Penelope

noun

In Greek mythology, the loyal wife of Odysseus who waited years for his return.

penelopize

verb

To create a delay by undoing what has previously been done, sometimes possibly with the intention of redoing it and repeating this cycle.

penetrable

adj

Capable of being penetrated, entered, or pierced.

penetrate

verb

To make a way into or through something; to pierce or pass into the interior of something.

penetrating

adj

Able to pierce through something, or (of a look, remark, or mind) sharply perceptive.

penetration

noun

The act of entering into or passing through something.

peng

adj

British slang for very attractive, or (of food) excellent.

penguin

noun

A flightless black-and-white seabird of the Southern Hemisphere that swims well and walks upright on short legs.

penicillin

noun

An antibiotic medicine derived from Penicillium mold, used to treat bacterial infections.

peninsula

noun

A stretch of land that juts out into the sea or a lake, connected to the mainland on one side.

penis

noun

The external male sex organ, used for both urination and sexual intercourse.

penishead

noun

Synonym of dickhead (“mean or rude person”).

penitence

noun

Deep regret or remorse for having done something wrong.

penitent

adj

Feeling genuine sorrow or guilt for having done wrong.

penitential

adj

Pertaining to penance or penitence.

penitentiary

noun

A state or federal prison, especially one for people convicted of serious crimes.

penknife

noun

A small folding knife that fits easily in a pocket.

penman

noun

A scribe, or a person who copies texts.

penmanship

noun

A person's style or skill in handwriting.

Penn

name

An English surname, notably borne by William Penn, founder of the Pennsylvania colony.