English dictionary — definitions & meanings

pennant

noun

A narrow, tapering flag, often triangular, used for signaling, decoration, or to mark a special occasion.

penned

verb

Wrote or composed something, especially using a pen; past tense of "pen".

penner

noun

A person who writes something, especially as an author.

penniless

adj

Having no money at all; extremely poor.

penning

noun

Writing; literary composition.

Pennington

name

An English surname and place name, meaning "settlement by a hill" or "enclosure with a fold".

pennon

noun

A long, narrow flag or streamer, often swallowtailed or triangular, usually hung at the top of a helmet or lance, originally the ensign of a knight under the rank of knight banneret, and later of a lancer regiment.

Pennsylvania

name

A state in the northeastern United States, named for its founder William Penn, with "sylvania" meaning "woodland".

penny

noun

A small coin worth one cent, or one-hundredth of a pound or dollar.

pennyroyal

noun

Mentha pulegium, a plant of the mint family, formerly much used in various medicinal treatments and as a flea repellent.

Penrose

name

A Cornish surname and place name meaning "top of the headland"; notably borne by mathematician Roger Penrose.

Pensacola

name

A city on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the county seat of Escambia County.

pension

noun

A regular payment made to someone after they retire, based on their years of work.

pensionary

noun

one who receives a pension; a pensioner

pensioner

noun

Someone who receives a pension, especially an older, retired person.

pensive

adj

Deep in thought, often in a quiet or serious way.

pensiveness

noun

A thoughtful or reflective state, especially if sad or melancholic.

penstock

noun

A sluice or pipe which allows the controlled flow of water from behind a dam, typically routing it to a turbine of a power plant.

pensylvania

name

Archaic form of Pennsylvania.

pent

adj

Shut up or confined, as if enclosed in a small pen; held back and unable to be expressed freely.

pentacle

noun

A flat talisman, almost always star-shaped, made of parchment, sheet metal, or other substance, marked with a magic symbol or symbols, used in magical evocation.

pentad

noun

Synonym of quintet: A group of five things, particularly

pentagon

noun

A five-sided, five-angled shape.

pentagram

noun

A five-pointed star drawn with five straight, crossing lines.

pentaplex

adj

Having five parts or functions

pentathlon

noun

An ancient athletics discipline, featuring five events: stadion, wrestling, long jump, javelin and discus

pentation

noun

The arithmetic operation of repeated tetration.

Pentecostal

adjective

Belonging to a branch of Protestant Christianity that emphasises direct personal experience of the Holy Spirit, expressed through gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy and faith healing.

penthouse

noun

A luxury apartment on the top floor of a building, usually with wide views.

pentothal

noun

A trademark name for thiopental, a fast-acting barbiturate once widely used as an anesthetic and infamously nicknamed a "truth serum".

penultimate

adj

Next to last, second to last; immediately preceding the end of a sequence, list, etc.

penurious

adj

Miserly; excessively cheap.

penury

noun

Extreme need or want; destitution, poverty; (countable) an instance of this.

penwomanship

noun

A woman's skill in handwriting.

peon

noun

A person with little power or status, especially one doing low-level, menial work.

peonage

noun

The state of being a peon; the system of paying back debt through servitude and labour; loosely, any system of involuntary servitude.

peony

noun

A garden plant with large, fragrant, often pink or red flowers.

people

noun

Human beings in general, or the men, women and children of a particular group, place or nation.

peopleless

adj

Having no people; uninhabited

Peoria

name

A city in Illinois, the county seat of Peoria County, on the Illinois River.

pep

noun

Energy, enthusiasm, and liveliness.

Pepe

noun

An image or meme based on the cartoon character Pepe the Frog.

pepita

noun

A pumpkin seed, typically roasted and shelled, eaten as a snack or used in cooking.

pepito

noun

A sandwich, popular across Latin America and originating in Spain, typically filled with beef, pork, or chicken.

pepper

noun

A spice made from the dried berries of the pepper plant, used to add heat and flavor to food.

peppercorn

noun

The seeds of the pepper plant Piper nigrum, commonly used as a spice, usually ground or crushed.

peppered

adj

Seasoned or sprinkled with pepper.

pepperiness

noun

The quality of being peppery.

peppermint

noun

A strong-flavored mint plant, or the sharp, cooling flavoring made from it.

pepperoni

noun

A spicy, cured sausage of Italian-American origin, made from pork and beef.

peppery

adj

Resembling or characteristic of pepper, especially in having a spicy taste.

peppiness

noun

The quality of being peppy.

peppy

adj

Full of energy and enthusiasm; lively.

Pepsi

name

A brand of cola soft drink made by PepsiCo.

per

prep

For each; used to express a rate or ratio between two quantities.

per capita

adjective

Calculated for each person, by dividing a total figure by the number of people in a population.

per diem

noun

A fixed daily allowance paid to cover meals, accommodation and incidental costs while travelling for work.

per se

adverb

In itself, considered on its own without anything else attached to it.

Pera

name

A historic district of Istanbul, Turkey, also known as Beyoglu.

peradventure

adv

Perchance or maybe; perhaps; supposing.

Peralta

name

A Spanish surname, derived from a place name meaning "high rock".

perambulation

noun

A survey, a tour; an instance of walking around.

perambulator

noun

A baby carriage.

Perce

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

perceive

verb

To become aware of something through the senses, such as sight, sound, or touch.

perceived

adj

Recognized or understood in a particular way by people in general, whether or not it is actually true.

perceiving

noun

The act by which something is perceived.

Percell

name

A surname.

percent

noun

One part in every hundred; used to express a proportion of a whole.

percentage

noun

A proportion or rate expressed as a number out of one hundred.

percentile

noun

A value on a scale of one hundred that shows the percentage of a data set falling below it.

percept

noun

Something perceived; the object of perception.

perceptible

adj

Able to be perceived, sensed, or discerned.

perception

noun

The way the mind organizes and makes sense of information taken in through the senses.

perceptive

adj

Quick to notice or understand things; showing sharp insight.

perceptivity

noun

The state or quality of being perceptive.

perch

noun

A spiny-finned freshwater fish, or any of several similar fish species.

perchance

adv

Perhaps; possibly (an old-fashioned or literary word).

perched

adj

Positioned somewhere high up, especially in a way that looks balanced or precarious.

percipient

adj

Having the ability to perceive, especially to perceive quickly.

Percival

name

A male given name from the Celtic languages.

Percocet

noun

A brand-name prescription painkiller that combines oxycodone with paracetamol (acetaminophen), used to treat moderate to severe pain.

percolate

verb

To pass a liquid through a porous substance; to filter.

percolation

noun

The seepage or filtration of a liquid through a porous substance.

percussion

noun

Musical instruments played by striking, shaking, or scraping, such as drums and cymbals.

percussionist

noun

A trained musician who plays percussion instruments, as opposed to a drummer who lacks formal training.

percussive

adj

Relating to or resembling the sharp, rhythmic sound of striking or pounding.

Percy

name

A male given name, either transferred from the English surname or a shortened form of Percival.

perdita

noun

A woman who has fallen into prostitution.

perdition

noun

In religious belief, eternal punishment or damnation after death.

perdurable

adj

Very durable; long-lasting.

perdure

verb

To continue to exist, last or endure, especially for a great length of time.

Pere

name

A given name and surname, from the French and Catalan word for "father"; also a form of the name Peter in Catalan.

peregrinator

noun

One who peregrinates; one who travels about.

peregrine

noun

The peregrine falcon, a fast-flying bird of prey known for its steep hunting dives.

Pereira

name

A Portuguese surname meaning "pear tree".

peremptory

adj

Precluding debate or expostulation; not admitting of question or appeal.

perennate

verb

To survive from one growing season to the next

perennation

noun

The ability of an organism to survive from one germinating season to the next, especially under unfavourable conditions such as drought or winter.

perennial

adj

Lasting for a very long time or recurring continually.

perennially

adv

Year after year (literally: each year).

perennity

noun

The quality of being perennial.

Perez

name

A Spanish surname meaning "son of Pero", a medieval form of Pedro.

perfect

adj

Without any flaws or mistakes; as good as something can possibly be.

perfecta

noun

A kind of bet wherein the first- and second-place finishers must be predicted in the correct order.

perfecting

noun

The process of making something as good as it can possibly be.

perfection

noun

The state of being completely free from flaws; the highest possible standard.

perfectionism

noun

An unwillingness to settle for anything less than perfection.

perfectionist

noun

A person who refuses to accept anything less than the highest standard, often to an excessive degree.

perfectly

adv

In a flawless or ideal way.

perfecto

noun

A large cigar that tapers at both ends.

perfidious

adj

Of, pertaining to, or representing perfidy; disloyal to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance.

perfidiousness

noun

Unfaithfulness; deceitfulness; perfidy.

perfidy

noun

A state or act of violating faith or allegiance; violation of a promise or vow, or of trust.

perforate

verb

IPA⁽ᵏᵉʸ⁾: /ˈpɜː.fə.ɹeɪt/

perforated

adj

Having a hole or series of small holes punched through it.

perform

verb

To carry out an action or task.

performance

noun

A live show, such as music, theatre, or dance, presented to an audience.

performant

adj

Of or relating to performance.

performer

noun

A person who performs for an audience, such as an actor, musician, or dancer.

performing

noun

The act of putting on a show or carrying out an action in front of others.

perfume

noun

A liquid with a pleasant scent, worn on the skin or clothing.

perfumed

adj

Having a pleasant, added scent.

perfunctory

adj

Done only or merely to conform to a minimal standard or to fulfill a protocol or presumptive duty.

perfusion

noun

The flow of blood through the vessels of an organ or tissue, delivering oxygen and nutrients to it.

pergola

noun

A framework in the form of a passageway of columns that supports a trelliswork roof; used to support and train climbing plants.

perhaps

adv

Possibly; maybe.

peri

noun

In Persian folklore, a beautiful winged spirit or fairy-like being.

pericardial

adj

Relating to the pericardium, the membrane surrounding the heart.

pericardium

noun

The thin, fluid-filled membrane that encloses the heart and lets it beat smoothly.

periclean

adj

Of or relating to Pericles, an Ancient Greek politician, or to the golden age of art and literature in Athens.

Pericles

name

A prominent Athenian statesman and general of the 5th century BC, considered the leading figure of Athens' golden age.

periculous

adj

dangerous, hazardous, perilous

periegesis

noun

A description of an area or territory.

perihelion

noun

The point in the elliptical orbit of a comet, planet, etc., where it is nearest to the Sun.

peril

noun

A situation of serious, immediate danger.

perilous

adj

Full of danger; risky.

perimeter

noun

The total distance around the edge of a shape.

perimortem

adj

Happening around the time of death.

perineum

noun

The area of the body between the anus and the genitals, covering the floor of the pelvis.

period

noun

A stretch of time, or a particular era seen as a distinct whole.

periodic

adj

Happening again and again at regular intervals.

periodical

noun

A publication issued regularly, but less frequently than daily.

periodically

adv

From time to time; at recurring intervals.

periodontal

adj

surrounding a tooth

peripheral

adj

Located on the outer edge or boundary, rather than at the center.

periphery

noun

The outer edge, boundary, or fringe of something.

periplus

noun

An account of a voyage, particularly those of Hanno and Arrian, recording ports and coastal landmarks.

periscope

noun

A tube-shaped viewing device with mirrors or prisms that lets someone see over or around an obstacle.

periscopic

adj

Relating to periscopes and their use.