French–English dictionary

pieuvre

(countable, strictly) A mollusc from genus Octopus.

pieux

Devoted to a god or God; devout; holy; righteous.

pif

(slang) The human nose, especially one that is large.

pige

An act or event in which the outcome (e.g., designating a winner) is selected by chance in the form of a blind draw, notably of lots; especially such a contest in which a winning name or number is selected randomly by removing (or drawing) it from a container, popularly a hat.

pigé?

(sometimes, offensive) Used by a speaker to confirm that the listener has understood something said to the latter: did you hear me?, get it?, understood?

pigeon

A male pigeon.

pigeon bec anglais

A variety of pigeon, originally a cross between a horseman and a tumbler.

pigeon Dragon

A variety of pigeon, originally a cross between a horseman and a tumbler.

pigeon tambour

Any of a number of breeds of fancy pigeon (variety of domestic pigeon (Columba livia), originally bred for their peculiar gurgling voice, a prolonged coo called "trumpeting" or "drumming").

pigeonneau

A young dove or pigeon.

pigeonner

(transitive, informal) To fool someone; to take advantage of someone.

pigeonnier

A small house or box, often raised to a considerable height above the ground, and having compartments (pigeonholes), in which domestic pigeons breed; a dove house.

piger

(dated, _, slang) To understand.

pigiste

Someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract.

pigmentation

Coloration of human, plant or animal tissue, especially by pigment.

pignata

(Latin American culture) A doll or other decorated container that is filled with candy and hit with a hammer or a stick by blindfolded children during birthday parties or other celebrations until the candy falls out.

pigne

The edible seed of any of several species of evergreen pine, especially Pinus pinea, Pinus cembra, and Pinus cembroides.

pignon

(architectural element) The triangular area at the peak of an external wall adjacent to, and terminating, two sloped roof surfaces (pitches).

pignouf

An uncultured person; a vulgarian.

piième

(mathematics) The ordinal form of the number pi (π; approximately 3.14159…).

pika

Any of several small, furry mammals, similar to guinea pigs, but related to rabbits, of the genus Ochotona, from the mountains of North America and Asia.

Pikachu

(video games, anime, manga) A small yellow rodent-like Pokémon that has red cheeks and a tail shaped like a lightning bolt, and has electricity-related powers.

pilaf

A dish made by browning grain, typically rice, in oil and then cooking it with a seasoned broth, to which meat and/or vegetables may be added.

Pilate

(biblical character) Pontius Pilate, the man who, according to the Bible, ordered the crucifixion of Jesus.

Pilates

A physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates.

pilchard

Any of various small oily fish related to herrings, family Clupeidae.

pile

(electrical, electronics, countable) A device used to power electric devices, consisting of one or more electrically connected electrochemical cells or (archaically) electrostatic cells.

pile ou face

(idiomatic) The practice of flipping a coin in the air, to choose between two alternatives based on which side lands face up.

piler

To reduce to fine particles by pounding or grinding.

pilier

(architecture) A solid upright structure designed usually to support a larger structure above it, such as a roof or horizontal beam, but sometimes for decoration.

pillage

The act of stealing during a crisis such as a war, riot or natural disaster, when law enforcement is ineffective or absent.

pillard

One who loots, who steals during a general disturbance such as a riot or natural disaster.

piller

(transitive) Synonym of plunder, to seize by violence particularly during the capture of a city during war or (video games) after successful combat.

pilleur de tombe

One who robs graves or tombs in order to sell the contents for profit.

pillier

(rugby) The player on either side of the hooker in a scrum.

pilon

The second joint of the legbone of a chicken or other fowl, especially as an item of food. [from 17th c.]

pilonner

(transitive, figuratively, often with with) To attack or annoy in the manner of a bombing.

pilori

A framework on a post, with holes for the hands and head, used as a means of punishment and humiliation.

pilote

(computing) Software, usually supplied with the operating system or by a hardware manufacturer, that communicates between the operating system of a personal computer and a specific hardware device.

pilote automatique

(aviation, nautical) A mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being.

piloter

(transitive) To exercise command of a ship, aircraft or sports team.

pilotis

A tall pillar or post used to support some structure; often above water.

pilule

(broadly) A small, usually round or cylindrical object designed for easy swallowing, usually containing some sort of medication.

pilule contraceptive

(informal, uncountable, definite, i.e. used with "the") Contraceptive medication, usually in the form of a pill to be taken by a woman; an oral contraceptive pill.

pilulier

A small box in which pills are kept.

pimbêche

A cheeky or disrespectful girl; a woman showing inappropriate or improper behavior.

piment

Any of various tropical American plants, of the genus Capsicum, principally the species Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens, that are cultivated as edible peppers.

piment doux

Any of various tropical American plants, of the genus Capsicum, principally the species Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens, that are cultivated as edible peppers.

piment royal

A shrub, also called sweet gale or bog myrtle (Myrica gale), that grows on moors and fens.

pimenté

(of foods, flavors, or odors) Tangy, zesty, or pungent.

pimprenelle

Any of the herbs of genus Sanguisorba (syn. Poterium), including salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor), an herb used in salads and herbal teas.

PIN

Acronym of personal identification number.

pin ponderosa

A pine tree of very large size, native to western North America (Pinus ponderosa).

pin's

(US) A simple accessory that can be attached to clothing with a pin or fastener, often round and bearing a design, logo or message, and used for decoration, identification or to show political affiliation, etc.

pinacle

(architectural element) An upright member, generally ending in a small spire, used to finish a buttress, to constitute a part in a proportion, as where pinnacles flank a gable or spire.

pinaillage

(idiomatic) the act of finding exceedingly small differences which are probably neither important nor noticeable to most people.

pinailler

(intransitive, idiom, often followed by with) To criticize something excessively.

pinaillerie

(figuratively, by extension) A process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors, particularly if the pointed-out details seem insignificant or irrelevant to all but the finder.

pinailleur

Having a disposition to find fault unreasonably or to raise petty objections; cavilling, nitpicky.

pinard

(uncountable, UK, Irish, Commonwealth, informal) Cheap or inferior everyday wine.

piñata

(Latin American culture) A doll or other decorated container that is filled with candy and hit with a hammer or a stick by blindfolded children during birthday parties or other celebrations until the candy falls out.

pincé

(slang) Caught in the act of doing something one shouldn't do.

pince à épiler

A small pincerlike instrument, usually made of metal, used for handling or picking up small objects (such as postage stamps), plucking out (plucking) hairs, pulling out slivers, etc.

pince à riveter

A machine or tool used to apply rivets.

pince-monseigneur

A metal tool, resembling a large pair of pliers, used to cut or sheer bolts.

pince-sans-rire

Deliberately impassive or expressionless.

pinceau

A thin brush for applying paint.

pinceau-traceur

Makeup used to outline the eye, generally applied along or close to the lashline.

pincée

A small amount of powder or granules, such that the amount could be held between fingertip and thumb tip.

pincement

The action of squeezing a small amount of a person's skin and flesh, making it hurt.

pincer

(transitive, slang) To catch (someone) in the act of doing something wrong, socially and morally inappropriate, or illegal, especially when being done in a sneaky or secretive state.

pinces

A gripping tool, pivoted like a pair of scissors, but with blunt jaws.

pincette

A small pincerlike instrument, usually made of metal, used for handling or picking up small objects (such as postage stamps), plucking out (plucking) hairs, pulling out slivers, etc.

pine

(slang, vulgar) The penis.

pinède

(countable) A forest or grove of pine trees, either natural or as a plantation.

pingouin

Any of several species of Arctic sea birds of the family Alcidae.

pingre

(chiefly, UK) Ungenerous; stingy; tight-fisted.

pingrerie

(uncountable) The condition, or quality, of being mean (any of its definitions)

piniata

(Latin American culture) A doll or other decorated container that is filled with candy and hit with a hammer or a stick by blindfolded children during birthday parties or other celebrations until the candy falls out.

Pinochet

A surname from French; especially when referring to Augusto Pinochet, Chilean general and military dictator.

pinotte

A legume resembling a nut, the fruit of the plant Arachis hypogaea, native to South America.

pinson

A small passerine bird, Fringilla coelebs, of the finch family, found throughout Europe and eastward to Iran and eastern Mediterranean coastlands.

pinte

(UK, metonymy) A glass of beer or cider, served by the pint.

pinyata

(Latin American culture) A doll or other decorated container that is filled with candy and hit with a hammer or a stick by blindfolded children during birthday parties or other celebrations until the candy falls out.

pioche

A tool used for digging; a pickaxe.

pioche-hache

An agricultural tool whose blades are at right angles to the body, similar to a pickaxe.

piocher

(transitive) To dig, chop, etc., with a bill.

pion

An unimportant individual in a greater system.

pionnier

One who discovers a way or path; one who explores untraversed regions.

pionnière

One who goes before, as into the wilderness, preparing the way for others to follow.

pipe

(transitive, vulgar) To perform oral sex on (someone); to fellate.

pipeline

A conduit made of pipes used to convey water, gas or petroleum, etc.

piquant

(uncountable) An attribute of a spice that causes a burning sensation in the mouth.

piqué

(countable) An instance of the edge contrast or sharpness in an image.

pique-assiette

(slang) A person who enters some event without a ticket or invitation, either by stealth or by deception.

pique-nique

The meal eaten at such a gathering.

piquenique

The meal eaten at such a gathering.

piquer

(transitive, British, dialect) To initiate sprouting of tubers, such as potatoes, by placing them in special environment, before planting into the soil.

piquer du nez

(intransitive) To gradually fall asleep.

piquer un fard

(intransitive) To become red or pink in the face (and sometimes experience an associated feeling of warmth), especially due to shyness, love, shame, excitement, or embarrassment.

piquet

A stake driven into the ground.

piqûre

The swelling of one's skin caused by an insect's mouthparts or sting.

piranga écarlate

A scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea. (This species is now classified as belonging to the cardinal family: Cardinalidae)

piranha

(ichthyology) Any of certain freshwater fish of the subfamily Serrasalminae, native to South America; they are characterised by razor-sharp teeth and a reputation of being ferocious predators (despite most species being omnivorous).

piratage

(crime, nautical) Robbery at sea, a violation of international law; taking a ship away from the control of those who are legally entitled to it.

pirate

A privateer or pirate in general.

pirate informatique

(computer security, telecommunications) One who uses a computer to gain unauthorized access to data stored in, or to carry out malicious attacks on, computer networks or computer systems.

pirater

(transitive, slang, computing, by extension) To gain unauthorized access to a computer or online account belonging to (a person or organisation).

piraterie

(crime, nautical) Robbery at sea, a violation of international law; taking a ship away from the control of those who are legally entitled to it.

pire

(for non-slang definitions)

pirogue

(nautical) A canoe made from a hollowed-out log.

pirouette

A whirling or turning on the toes in dancing, primarily in ballet.

pirouetter

(intransitive) To perform a twirl.

pis

An organ formed of the mammary glands of female quadruped mammals, particularly ruminants such as cattle, goats, sheep and deer.

pis-aller

A short-term fix or temporary measure used until something better can be obtained; that which serves as an expedient in an emergency; a band-aid solution.

Pise

The capital city of the province of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.

pistache

The nutlike fruit of this tree.

pistachier

The nutlike fruit of this tree.

pistachier lentisque

An evergreen shrub or small tree, Pistacia lentiscus (mastic tree), native to the Mediterranean.

piste

(aviation) The paved area of an airport, especially the area where aircraft park away from a terminal.

piste d'atterrissage

(aviation) A runway for aircraft, especially one which is auxiliary or temporary.

piste d’atterrissage

An aircraft landing field, usually with one runway and only basic facilities.

piste sonore

A narrow strip running down a movie film that carries the recorded sound in synchronization with the pictures.

pister

(transitive) To follow behind (someone or something); to tail (someone or something).

pisteur

(finance) A tracker mortgage.

pistolet

A drafting template having edges of various curvatures, used for drawing smoothly-curved lines.

piston

People with whom one is acquainted who can offer help and influence.

pita

A piece of pita bread; a flatbread pouch used for making sandwiches such as gyros or falafels.

pitance

A small allowance of food and drink; a scanty meal.

piteux

Poor, pitifully sad or regrettable.

pitié

The gentle or kind exercise of power; leniency, mercy; compassion in judging or punishing.

pitoune

(derogatory, slang) A physically attractive person, typically a woman or otherwise feminine in appearance, who lacks intelligence.

pitoyable

Deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad, wretched.

pitre

A grotesque performer or clown, buffoon.

pitrerie

(often, in plural) A ludicrous gesture or act; ridiculous behaviour; caper.

pittoresque

Resembling or worthy of a picture or painting; having the qualities of a picture or painting; pleasingly beautiful.

pituitaire

(anatomy) Of or relating to the pituitary gland.

pituite

(historical) One of the four humors making up the body in ancient and mediaeval medicine; said to be cold and moist, and often identified with mucus. [from 13th c.]

pive

The fruit of a conifer.

pivert

Any of species Picus viridis of European woodpeckers.

pivoine

A flowering plant of the genus Paeonia with large fragrant flowers.

pivot

(basketball) The player, generally the tallest, who plays closest to the basket.

pivotement

Act of turning on one foot.

pivoter

(intransitive) To turn on an exact spot.

pivoter rapidement

(ergative) To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction.

pixel

One of the tiny dots that make up the representation of an image in a computer's memory.

pixel de tracking

A small and usually invisible file (traditionally a single-pixel image) on a World Wide Web page, primarily used to track users.

pixie

(mythology, fantasy literature, fairy tales) A playful sprite or elflike or fairy-like creature.

pizzeria

A restaurant that bakes and sells pizzas.

placage

A thin decorative covering of fine material (usually wood) applied to coarser wood or other material.