py- -comb form
- pus
pya ['pyä, pē-'ä] -n
- see kyat at
pyc·nid·i·um [pik-'ni-dē-əm] -n, adj
- a flask-shaped fruiting body bearing conidiophores and conidia on the interior and occurring in various imperfect fungi and ascomycetes
pyc·no·go·nid [pik-'nä-gə-nəd, ,pik-nə-'gä-nəd] -n
- sea spider
pyc·nom·e·ter [pik-'nä-mə-tər] -n
- a standard vessel often provided with a thermometer for measuring and comparing the densities of liquids or solids
pyedog ['pī-,dȯg] -n
- a half-wild dog common about Asian villages
pyel- -comb form
- renal pelvis
py·eli·tis [,pī-ə-'lī-təs] -n
- inflammation of the lining of the renal pelvis
py·elo·ne·phri·tis [,pī-(ə-)lō-ni-'frī-təs] -n, adj
- inflammation of both the lining of the pelvis and the parenchyma of the kidney
py·emia [pī-'ē-mē-ə] -n
- septicemia caused by pus-forming bacteria and accompanied by multiple abscesses
py·gid·i·um [pī-'ji-dē-əm] -n, adj
- a caudal structure or the terminal body region of various invertebrates
pyg·mae·an [pig-'mē-ən, 'pig-mē-] -adj
- pygmy
Pyg·ma·lion [pig-'māl-yən, -'mā-lē-ən] -n
- a king of Cyprus who makes a female figure of ivory that is brought to life for him by Aphrodite
pyg·moid ['pig-,mȯid] -adj
- resembling or having the characteristics of the Pygmies
pyg·my ['pig-mē] -n, adj
- any of a race of dwarfs described by ancient Greek authors
- any of a small people of equatorial Africa ranging under five feet (1.5 meters) in height
- an unusually small person
- an insignificant or unimpressive person
- something very small of its kind
pygmy chimpanzee -n
- bonobo
py·ja·mas [-məz] -n pl
(variant of pajamas)
- loose lightweight trousers formerly much worn in the Near East
- a loose usu. two-piece lightweight suit designed esp. for sleeping or lounging
pyk·nic ['pik-nik] -adj, n
- characterized by shortness of stature, broadness of girth, and powerful muscularity : endomorphic
py·lon ['pī-,län, -lən] -n
- a usu. massive gateway
- an ancient Egyptian gateway building in a truncated pyramidal form
- a monumental mass flanking an entranceway or an approach to a bridge
- a tower for supporting either end of usu. a number of wires over a long span
- any of various towerlike structures
- a post or tower marking a prescribed course of flight for an airplane
- traffic cone
- one of the flexible upright markers positioned on a football field at the corners of the end zone
- a rigid structure on the outside of an aircraft for supporting something (as an engine or missile)
py·lo·ric [pī-'lȯr-ik, pə-] -adj
- of or relating to the pylorus
- of, relating to, or situated in or near the posterior part of the stomach
py·lo·rus [-əs] -n
- the muscular opening from the vertebrate stomach into the intestine
PYO -abbr
- pick your own
pyo·der·ma [,pī-ə-'dər-mə] -n
- a bacterial skin inflammation marked by pus-filled lesions
pyo·gen·ic [-'je-nik] -adj
- producing pus
- marked by pus production
py·or·rhea [,pī-ə-'rē-ə] -n
- purulent inflammation of the sockets of the teeth leading usu. to loosening of the teeth
pyr- -comb form
- fire : heat
- produced by or as if by the action of heat
- derived from a corresponding ortho acid by loss usu. of one molecule of water from two molecules of acid
- fever
pyr·acan·tha [,pī-rə-'kan(t)-thə] -n
- any of a small genus ( Pyracantha) of ornamental Eurasian thorny evergreen or semievergreen shrubs of the rose family with alternate leaves, corymbs of white flowers, and small red or orange pomes called also firethorn
py·ral·id [pī-'ra-ləd] -n, adj
- any of a very large heterogeneous family (Pyralidae) of mostly small slender long-legged moths
pyr·a·mid ['pir-ə-,mid] -n, adj, adv
- an ancient massive structure found esp. in Egypt having typically a square ground plan, outside walls in the form of four triangles that meet in a point at the top, and inner sepulchral chambers
- a structure or object of similar form
- a polyhedron having for its base a polygon and for faces triangles with a common vertex
- a crystalline form each face of which intersects the vertical axis and either two lateral axes or in the tetragonal system one lateral axis
- : an anatomical structure resembling a pyramid: as
- any of the conical masses that project from the renal medulla into the kidney pelvis
- either of two large bundles of motor fibers from the cerebral cortex that reach the medulla oblongata and are continuous with the pyramidal tracts of the spinal cord
- an immaterial structure built on a broad supporting base and narrowing gradually to an apex
- the socioeconomic pyramid
pyramid -vi
- to speculate (as on a security or commodity exchange) by using paper profits as margin for additional transactions
- to increase rapidly and progressively step by step on a broad base
- to arrange or build up as if on the base of a pyramid
- to use (as profits) in speculative pyramiding
- to increase the impact of (as a tax assessed at the production level) on the ultimate consumer by treating as a cost subject to markup
pyramidal tract -n
- any of four columns of motor fibers that run in pairs on each side of the spinal cord and are continuations of the pyramids of the medulla oblongata
pyr·a·mid·ol·o·gy [,pir-ə-(,)mi-'dä-lə-jē] -n
- the study of or theory about mathematical or occult significance in measurements of the Great Pyramid of Egypt
pyramid scheme -n
- a usu. illegal operation in which participants pay to join and profit mainly from payments made by subsequent participants
Pyr·a·mus ['pir-ə-məs] -n
- a legendary youth of Babylon who dies for love of Thisbe
py·ran ['pī-,ran] -n
- either of two cyclic compounds C 5H 6O that contain five carbon atoms and one oxygen atom in the ring
py·ra·nose ['pī-rə-,nōs, -,nōz] -n
- a monosaccharide in the form of a cyclic hemiacetal containing a pyran ring
py·ran·o·side [pī-'ra-nə-,sīd] -n
- a glycoside containing the pyran ring
pyre ['pī(-ə)r] -n
- a combustible heap for burning a dead body as a funeral rite
- a pile of material to be burned
py·re·noid [pī-'rē-,nȯid, 'pī-rə-] -n
- one of the protein bodies in the chloroplasts of various lower organisms (as some algae) that are involved in starch synthesis and deposition
py·re·thrin [pī-'rē-thrən, -'re-] -n
- either of two oily liquid esters C 21H 28O 3and C 22H 28O 5having insecticidal properties and occurring esp. in the flowers of pyrethrum
py·re·throid [-'rē-,thrȯid, -'re-] -n, adj
- any of various synthetic compounds that are related to the pyrethrins and resemble them in insecticidal properties
py·re·thrum [pī-'rē-thrəm, -'re-] -n
- any of several chrysanthemums with finely divided often aromatic leaves including ornamentals as well as important sources of insecticides
- an insecticide made from the dried heads of any of several Old World chrysanthemums (esp. Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium)
py·ret·ic [pī-'re-tik] -adj
- of or relating to fever : febrile
Py·rex ['pī-,reks] -trademark
- used for borosilicate glass and glassware resistant to heat, chemicals, and electricity
py·rex·ia [pī-'rek-sē-ə] -n, adj
- abnormal elevation of body temperature : fever
pyr·he·li·om·e·ter [,pī(-ə)r-,hē-lē-'ä-mə-tər, ,pir-] -n, adj
- an instrument for measuring the sun's radiant energy as received at the earth
pyr·i·dine ['pir-ə-,dēn] -n
- a toxic water-soluble flammable liquid base C 5H 5N of pungent odor that is the parent of many naturally occurring organic compounds and is used as a solvent and as a denaturant for alcohol and in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and waterproofing agents
pyr·i·do·stig·mine bromide [,pir-ə-dō-'stig-,mēn-] -n
- a cholinergic drug C 9H 13BrN 2O 2used esp. in the treatment of myasthenia gravis and as a prophylactic against the effects of nerve gas called also pyridostigmine
pyr·i·dox·al [,pir-ə-'däk-,sal] -n
- a crystalline aldehyde C 8H 9NO 3of the vitamin B 6group that occurs as a phosphate and is active as a coenzyme
pyr·i·dox·amine [,pir-ə-'däk-sə-,mēn] -n
- a crystalline amine C 8H 12N 2O 2of the vitamin B 6group that occurs as a phosphate and is active as a coenzyme
pyr·i·dox·ine [,pir-ə-'däk-,sēn, -sən] -n
- a crystalline phenolic alcohol C 8H 11NO 3of the vitamin B 6group found esp. in cereals and convertible in the organism into pyridoxal and pyridoxamine
pyr·i·form ['pir-ə-,fȯrm] -adj
- having the form of a pear
py·ri·meth·amine [,pī-rə-'me-thə-,mēn] -n
- a folic acid antagonist C 12H 13ClN 4used in the chemoprophylaxis or treatment of malaria and in the treatment of toxoplasmosis
py·rim·i·dine [pī-'ri-mə-,dēn, pə-] -n
- a feeble organic base C 4H 4N 2of penetrating odor
- a derivative of pyrimidine
- a base (as cytosine, thymine, or uracil) that is a constituent of DNA or RNA
py·rite ['pī-,rīt] -n
- a common mineral that consists of iron disulfide, has a pale brass-yellow color and metallic luster, and is burned in making sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid
py·rites [pə-'rī-tēz, pī-; 'pī-,rīts] -n, adj
- any of various metallic-looking sulfides of which pyrite is the commonest
py·ro·cat·e·chol [,pī-rō-'ka-tə-,kȯl, -,kōl] -n
- catechol
py·ro·clas·tic [-'klas-tik] -adj
- formed by or involving fragmentation as a result of volcanic or igneous action
py·ro·elec·tric·i·ty ['pī-,rō-ə-,lek-'tri-sə-tē, -'tris-tē] -n, adj
- a state of electrical polarization produced (as in a crystal) by a change of temperature
py·ro·gal·lol [,pī-rō-'ga-,lȯl, -,lōl; -'gȯ-] -n
- a poisonous bitter crystalline phenol C 6H 6O 3with weak acid properties that is usu. obtained by pyrolysis of gallic acid and used esp. as a mild reducing agent (as in photographic developing)
py·ro·gen ['pī-rə-jən] -n
- a fever-producing substance
py·ro·gen·ic [,pī-rō-'je-nik] -adj, n
- of or relating to igneous origin
- producing or produced by heat or fever
py·ro·la [pī-'rō-lə] -n
- wintergreen
py·ro·lig·ne·ous acid [,pī-rō-'lig-nē-əs-] -n
- an acid reddish-brown aqueous liquid containing chiefly acetic acid, methanol, wood oils, and tars that is obtained by destructive distillation of wood
py·ro·lu·site [,pī-rō-'lü-,sīt] -n
- a soft black or steel-gray mineral of metallic luster consisting of manganese dioxide that is the most important ore of manganese
py·rol·y·sate [pī-'rä-lə-,zāt, -,sāt] -n
- a product of pyrolysis
py·rol·y·sis [pī-'rä-lə-səs] -n, adj, adv
- chemical change brought about by the action of heat
py·ro·lyze ['pī-rə-,līz] -vt, adj, n
- to subject to pyrolysis
py·ro·man·cy [-,man(t)-sē] -n
- divination by means of fire or flames
py·ro·ma·nia [,pī-rō-'mā-nē-ə, -nyə] -n, adj
- an irresistible impulse to start fires
py·ro·met·al·lur·gy [-'me-tə-,lər-jē, esp Brit -mə-'ta-lər-] -n, adj
- chemical metallurgy depending on heat action (as roasting and smelting)
py·rom·e·ter [pī-'rä-mə-tər] -n, adj, adv
- an instrument for measuring temperatures esp. when beyond the range of mercurial thermometers
py·ro·mor·phite [,pī-rə-'mȯr-,fīt] -n
- a mineral consisting essentially of a chloride and phosphate of lead
py·ro·nine ['pī-rə-,nēn] -n
- any of several basic xanthene dyes used chiefly as biological stains
py·rope ['pī-,rōp] -n
- a magnesium-aluminum garnet that is deep red in color and is frequently used as a gem
py·ro·phor·ic [,pī-rə-'fȯr-ik, -'fär-] -adj
- igniting spontaneously
- emitting sparks when scratched or struck esp. with steel
py·ro·phos·phate [-'fäs-,fāt] -n
- a salt or ester of pyrophosphoric acid
py·ro·phos·pho·ric acid [-fäs-'fȯr-ik-, -'fär-; -'fäs-f(ə-)rik-] -n
- a crystalline acid H 4P 2O 7formed when orthophosphoric acid is heated or prepared in the form of salts by heating acid salts of orthophosphoric acid
py·ro·phyl·lite [,pī-rō-'fi-,līt, pī-'rä-fə-,līt] -n
- a soft usu. white or greenish mineral that is a hydrous aluminum silicate, resembles talc, occurs in a foliated form or in compact masses, and is used esp. in ceramic wares
py·ro·sis [pī-'rō-səs] -n
- heartburn
py·ro·tech·nic [,pī-rə-'tek-nik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to pyrotechnics
pyrotechnic -n
- firework
- any of various similar devices (as for igniting a rocket or producing an explosion)
- a combustible substance used in a firework
py·ro·tech·nics [,pī-rə-'tek-niks] -n pl, n
- the art of making or the manufacture and use of fireworks
- a display of fireworks
- a spectacular display (as of extreme virtuosity)
py·rox·ene [pī-'räk-,sēn, pə-] -n, adj, adj or n
- any of a group of igneous-rock-forming silicate minerals that contain calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, or aluminum, usu. occur in short prismatic crystals or massive form, are often laminated, and vary in color from white to dark green or black
py·rox·e·nite [pī-'räk-sə-,nīt, pə-] -n, adj
- an igneous rock that is free from olivine and is composed essentially of pyroxene
py·rox·y·lin [pī-'räk-sə-lən, pə-] -n
- a flammable mixture of nitrocelluloses used esp. in making plastics and water-repellent coatings (as lacquers)
- a pyroxylin product
Pyr·rha ['pir-ə] -n
- the wife of Deucalion
pyr·rhic ['pir-ik] -n
- a metrical foot consisting of two short or unaccented syllables
Pyr·rhic ['pir-ik] -adj
- achieved at excessive cost
- costly to the point of negating or outweighing expected benefits
- a great but Pyrrhic act of ingenuity
Pyr·rho·nism ['pir-ə-,ni-zəm] -n
- the doctrines of a school of ancient extreme skeptics who suspended judgment on every proposition
- total or radical skepticism
pyr·rho·tite ['pir-ə-,tīt] -n
- a bronze-colored mineral of metallic luster that consists of ferrous sulfide and is attracted by a magnet
Pyr·rhus ['pir-əs] -n
- a son of Achilles and slayer of Priam at the taking of Troy
pyr·role ['pir-,ōl] -n, adj
- a toxic liquid heterocyclic compound C 4H 5N that has a ring consisting of four carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom, polymerizes readily in air, and is the parent compound of many biologically important substances (as bile pigments, porphyrins, and chlorophyll)
- a derivative of pyrrole
py·ru·vate [pī-'rü-,vāt] -n
- a salt or ester of pyruvic acid
py·ru·vic acid [pī-'rü-vik-] -n
- a 3-carbon acid C 3H 4O 3that in carbohydrate metabolism is an important intermediate product formed esp. during glycolysis
Py·thag·o·re·an [pə-,tha-gə-'rē-ən, (,)pī-] -n
- any of a group professing to be followers of the Greek philosopher Pythagoras
Pythagorean -adj
- of, relating to, or associated with the Greek philosopher Pythagoras, his philosophy, or the Pythagoreans
Py·thag·o·re·an·ism [-'rē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n
- the doctrines and theories of Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans who developed some basic principles of mathematics and astronomy, originated the doctrine of the harmony of the spheres, and believed in metempsychosis, the eternal recurrence of things, and the mystical significance of numbers
Pythagorean theorem -n
- a theorem in geometry: the square of the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle equals the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides
Pyth·i·ad ['pi-thē-,ad, -əd] -n
- the 4-year period between celebrations of the Pythian games in ancient Greece
Pyth·i·an ['pi-thē-ən] -adj
- of or relating to games celebrated at Delphi every four years
- of or relating to Delphi or its oracle of Apollo
Pythian -n
- knight of pythias
Pyth·i·as ['pi-thē-əs] -n
- a friend of Damon condemned to death by Dionysius of Syracuse
py·thon ['pī-,thän, -thən] -n
- any of various large constricting snakes (as a boa)
- any of the large oviparous snakes (subfamily Pythoninae of the family Boidae) of Africa, Asia, Australia, and adjacent islands that include some of the largest existing snakes
py·tho·ness ['pī-thə-nəs, 'pi-] -n, adj
- a woman who practices divination
- a prophetic priestess of Apollo
py·uria [pī-'yu̇r-ē-ə] -n
- pus in the urine
- a condition characterized by pus in the urine
pyx ['piks] -n
- a container for the reserved host
- a small round metal receptacle used to carry the Eucharist to the sick
- a box used in a mint for deposit of sample coins reserved for testing weight and fineness
pyx·ie ['pik-sē] -n
- a creeping evergreen dicotyledonous shrub ( Pyxidanthera barbulataof the family Diapensiaceae) of the sandy pine barrens of the Atlantic coast of the U.S. that has white or pink pentamerous flowers
pyx·is ['pik-səs] -n
- a capsular fruit that dehisces so that the upper part falls off like a cap