pl -abbr

  1. place
  2. plate

PL -abbr

  1. private line
  2. public law
  3. public library

pla·ca·ble ['pla-kə-bəl, 'plā-] -adj, n, adv

  1. easily placated : tolerant, tractable

plac·ard ['pla-kərd, -,kärd] -n

  1. a notice posted in a public place : poster
  2. a small card or metal plaque
  3. to cover with or as if with posters
  4. to post in a public place
  5. to announce by or as if by posting

pla·cate ['plā-,kāt, 'pla-] -vt, n, adv, adj

  1. to soothe or mollify esp. by concessions : appease

place ['plās] -n

  1. physical environment : space
  2. a way for admission or transit
  3. physical surroundings : atmosphere
  4. an indefinite region or expanse
    • all over the place
  5. a building or locality used for a special purpose
    • a place of learning
    • a fine eating place
  6. the three-dimensional compass of a material object
  7. a particular region, center of population, or location
    • a nice place to visit
  8. a building, part of a building, or area occupied as a home
    • our summer place
  9. a particular part of a surface or body : spot
  10. : relative position in a scale or series: as
  11. position in a social scale
    • kept them in their place
  12. a step in a sequence
    • in the first place, it's none of your business
  13. a position at the conclusion of a competition
    • finished in last place
  14. a proper or designated niche or setting
    • the place of education in society
  15. an appropriate moment or point
    • this is not the place to discuss compensation -- Robert Moses
  16. a distinct condition, position, or state of mind
    • the postfeminist generation is in a different place -- Betty Friedan
  17. an available seat or accommodation
    • needs a place to stay
  18. an empty or vacated position
    • new ones will take their place
  19. the position of a figure in relation to others of a row or series
  20. the position of a digit within a numeral
  21. remunerative employment : job
  22. prestige accorded to one of high rank : status
    • an endless quest for preferment and place -- Time
  23. a public square : plaza
  24. a small street or court
  25. second place at the finish (as of a horse race)
  26. to put in or as if in a particular place or position : set
  27. to present for consideration
    • a question placed before the group
  28. to put in a particular state
    • place a performer under contract
  29. to direct to a desired spot
  30. to cause (the voice) to produce free and well resonated singing or speaking tones
  31. to assign to a position in a series or category : rank
  32. estimate
    • placed the value of the estate too high
  33. to identify by connecting with an associated context
    • couldn't quite place her face
    • police placed them at the crime scene
  34. to distribute in an orderly manner : arrange
  35. to appoint to a position
  36. to find a place (as a home or employment) for
  37. to give (an order) to a supplier
  38. to give an order for
    • place a bet
  39. to try to establish a connection for
    • place a telephone call
  40. to earn a given spot in a competition
  41. to come in second (as in a horse race)

pla·ce·bo [plə-'sē-(,)bō] -n

  1. a usu. pharmacologically inert preparation prescribed more for the mental relief of the patient than for its actual effect on a disorder
  2. an inert or innocuous substance used esp. in controlled experiments testing the efficacy of another substance (as a drug)
  3. something tending to soothe

placebo effect -n

  1. improvement in the condition of a patient that occurs in response to treatment but cannot be considered due to the specific treatment used

place·hold·er ['plās-,hōl-dər] -n

  1. a symbol in a mathematical or logical expression that may be replaced by the name of any element of a set

place·kick ['plās-,kik] -n

  1. the kicking of a ball (as a football) placed or held in a stationary position on the ground

placekick -vt, n

  1. to kick (a ball) from a stationary position
  2. to score by means of a placekick

place·less [-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. lacking a fixed location
  2. indistinguishable from other such places in appearance or character
    • a placeless parking complex -- T. J. Jablonsky

place·man [-mən] -n

  1. a political appointee to a public office esp. in 18th century Britain

place mat -n

  1. a small often rectangular table mat on which a place setting is laid

place·ment ['plās-mənt] -n

  1. : an act or instance of placing: as
  2. an accurately hit ball (as in tennis) that an opponent cannot return
  3. the assignment of a person to a suitable place (as a job or a class in school)
  4. placekick

placement test -n

  1. a test usu. given to a student entering an educational institution to determine specific knowledge or proficiency in various subjects for the purpose of assignment to appropriate courses or classes

placename ['plās-,nām] -n

  1. the name of a geographic locality

pla·cen·ta [plə-'sen-tə] -n

  1. the vascular organ in mammals except monotremes and marsupials that unites the fetus to the maternal uterus and mediates its metabolic exchanges through a more or less intimate association of uterine mucosal with chorionic and usu. allantoic tissues
  2. an analogous organ in another animal
  3. a sporangium-bearing surface
  4. the part of the carpel bearing ovules

pla·cen·tal [plə-'sen-tᵊl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, having, or occurring by means of a placenta
  2. eutherian

placental -n

  1. a placental mammal : eutherian

pla·cen·ta·tion [,pla-sᵊn-'tā-shən, plə-,sen-] -n

  1. the arrangement of placentas and ovules in a plant ovary
  2. the development of the placenta and attachment of the fetus to the uterus during pregnancy
  3. the morphological type of a placenta

plac·er ['plā-sər] -n

  1. : one that places: as
  2. one that deposits or arranges
  3. one of the winners in a competition
  4. an alluvial, marine, or glacial deposit containing particles of valuable mineral and esp. of gold
    • placer gold

place setting -n

  1. a set of dishes and flatware constituting a table service for one person

place value -n

  1. the value of the place of a digit in a numeral

plac·id ['pla-səd] -adj, n, adv

  1. serenely free of interruption or disturbance
    • placid skies
    • a placid disposition
  2. complacent

plack·et ['pla-kət] -n

  1. a slit in a garment (as a skirt) often forming the closure
  2. a pocket esp. in a woman's skirt
  3. petticoat
  4. woman

plac·o·derm ['pla-kə-,dərm] -n

  1. any of a class (Placodermi) of extinct chiefly Devonian fishes with an armor of bony plates and primitive jaw structures

plac·oid ['pla-,kȯid] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a scale of dermal origin with an enamel-tipped spine characteristic of the elasmobranchs

pla·gal ['plā-gəl] -adj

  1. having the keynote on the fourth scale step
  2. progressing from the subdominant chord to the tonic

plage ['pläzh] -n

  1. the beach of a seaside resort
  2. a bright region on the sun caused by the light emitted by clouds of calcium or hydrogen and often associated with a sunspot

pla·gia·rise ['plā-jə-,rīz also -jē-ə-] -vb, n

(variant of plagiarize)

  1. to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source
  2. to commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source

pla·gia·rism ['plā-jə-,ri-zəm also -jē-ə-] -n, adj

  1. an act or instance of plagiarizing
  2. something plagiarized

pla·gia·rize ['plā-jə-,rīz also -jē-ə-] -vb, n

  1. to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source
  2. to commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source

pla·gia·ry ['plā-jē-,er-ē, -jə-rē] -n

  1. one that plagiarizes
  2. plagiarism

pla·gio·clase ['plā-j(ē-)ə-,klās, 'pla-, -,klāz] -n

  1. a triclinic feldspar
  2. one having calcium or sodium in its composition

pla·gio·tro·pic [,plā-j(ē-)ə-'trō-pik, ,pla-, -'trä-] -adj

  1. having the longer axis inclined away from the vertical

plague ['plāg] -n

  1. a disastrous evil or affliction : calamity
  2. a destructively numerous influx
    • a plague of locusts
  3. an epidemic disease causing a high rate of mortality : pestilence
  4. a virulent contagious febrile disease that is caused by a bacterium ( Yersinia pestis) and that occurs in bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic forms called also black death
  5. a cause of irritation : nuisance
  6. a sudden unwelcome outbreak
    • a plague of burglaries
  7. to smite, infest, or afflict with or as if with disease, calamity, or natural evil
  8. to cause worry or distress to : hamper, burden
  9. to disturb or annoy persistently

plagu·ey ['plā-gē, 'ple-] -adj, adv

  1. causing irritation or annoyance : troublesome

plaice ['plās] -n

  1. any of various flatfishes
  2. a large European flounder ( Pleuronectes platessa) having red spots and used for food

plaid ['plad] -n, adj

  1. a rectangular length of tartan worn over the left shoulder as part of the Scottish national costume
  2. a twilled woolen fabric with a tartan pattern
  3. a fabric with a pattern of tartan or an imitation of tartan
  4. tartan
  5. a pattern of unevenly spaced repeated stripes crossing at right angles

plain ['plān] -vi

  1. complain
  2. an extensive area of level or rolling treeless country
  3. a broad unbroken expanse
  4. something free from artifice, ornament, or extraneous matter
  5. even, level
  6. lacking ornament : undecorated
  7. free of extraneous matter : pure
  8. free of impediments to view : unobstructed
  9. evident to the mind or senses : obvious
    • it's perfectly plain that they will resist
  10. clear
    • let me make my meaning plain
  11. marked by outspoken candor : free from duplicity or subtlety : blunt
    • plain talk
  12. belonging to the masses : common
  13. lacking special distinction or affectation : ordinary
  14. characterized by simplicity : not complicated
    • plain home-cooked meals
  15. lacking beauty or ugliness
  16. in a plain manner : without obscurity or ambiguity
    • saw them clearly and told you plain -- Amer. Documentation
  17. absolutely
    • it plain galled me to pay fancy prices -- F. R. Buckley

plain·chant ['plān-,chant] -n

  1. plainsong

plain·clothes ['plān-'klō(th)z] -adj

  1. dressed in civilian clothes while on duty used esp. of a police officer

plain·clothes·man ['plān-'klō(th)z-mən, -,man] -n

  1. a plainclothes police officer

plainJane ['plān-'jān] -adj

  1. not fancy or glamorous : ordinary

plain Jane [-'jān] -n

  1. one that is plain

plainlaid ['plān-'lād] -adj

  1. consisting of three strands laid right-handed

Plain People -n

  1. members of any of various Protestant groups (as Mennonites) esp. in the U.S. who wear distinctively plain clothes and adhere to a simple and traditional style of life excluding many conveniences of modern technology

Plains ['plānz] -adj

  1. of or relating to No. American Indians of the Great Plains or to their culture

plain sailing -n

  1. easy progress over an unobstructed course

plains·man ['plānz-mən] -n

  1. an inhabitant of the plains

plain·song ['plān-,sȯŋ] -n

  1. a monophonic rhythmically free liturgical chant of any of various Christian rites
  2. gregorian chant

plain·spo·ken [-'spō-kən] -adj, n

  1. candid, frank

plaint ['plānt] -n

  1. lamentation, wail
  2. protest, complaint

plain·text ['plān-,tekst] -n

  1. the intelligible form of an encrypted text or of its elements

plain·tiff ['plān-təf] -n

  1. a person who brings a legal action

plain·tive ['plān-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. expressive of suffering or woe : melancholy
    • a plaintive sigh

plainvanilla -adj

  1. lacking special features or qualities : basic

plain weave -n

  1. a weave in which the threads interlace alternately

plainwoven -adj

  1. made in plain weave

plait ['plāt, 'plat] -n

  1. pleat
  2. a braid of material (as hair or straw)
  3. pigtail
  4. pleat
  5. to interweave the strands or locks of : braid
  6. to make by plaiting
    • plait a basket

plait·ing ['plā-tiŋ] -n

  1. the interlacing of strands : braiding

plan ['plan] -n, adj, adv

  1. : a drawing or diagram drawn on a plane: as
  2. a top or horizontal view of an object
  3. a large-scale map of a small area
  4. a method for achieving an end
  5. an often customary method of doing something : procedure
  6. a detailed formulation of a program of action
  7. goal, aim
  8. an orderly arrangement of parts of an overall design or objective
  9. a detailed program (as for payment or the provision of some service)
    • pension plan
  10. to arrange the parts of : design
    • plan a new layout
  11. to devise or project the realization or achievement of
    • planned their escape
  12. to have in mind : intend
    • plan s to leave soon
  13. to make plans
    • plan ahead
  14. to have a specified intention used with on
    • plan s on going

plan- -comb form

  1. flat
    • plano graphy
  2. flat and
    • plano- concave

pla·nar ['plā-nər, -,när] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or lying in a plane
  2. two-dimensional in quality

pla·nar·ia [plə-'ner-ē-ə] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Planaria) of 2-eyed planarian worms
  2. planarian

pla·nar·i·an [-ē-ən] -n

  1. triclad
  2. any of various dark-colored freshwater triclad flatworms (family Planariidae) with two eyespots and a triangular head

pla·na·tion [plā-'nā-shən] -n

  1. the condition or process of becoming flattened

plan·chet ['plan-chət] -n

  1. a metal disk to be stamped as a coin
  2. a small metal or plastic disk

plan·chette [plan-'shet] -n

  1. a small triangular or heart-shaped board supported on casters at two points and a vertical pencil at a third and believed to produce automatic writing when lightly touched by the fingers
  2. a similar board without a pencil

Planck's constant ['pläŋ(k)s-, 'plaŋ(k)s-] -n

  1. a constant that gives the unvarying ratio of the energy of a quantum of radiation to its frequency and that has an approximate value of 6.626 10 34Js symbol h

plane ['plān] -vb, n

  1. to make smooth or even : level
  2. to make smooth or even by use of a plane
  3. to remove by or as if by planing often used with away or off
  4. to work with a plane
  5. to do the work of a plane
  6. any of a genus ( Platanusof the family Platanaceae, the plane-tree family) of chiefly deciduous trees with large palmately lobed leaves, flowers in globose heads, and usu. scaling bark called also buttonwood plane tree sycamore
  7. a tool for smoothing or shaping a wood surface
  8. a surface in which if any two points are chosen a straight line joining them lies wholly in that surface
  9. a flat or level surface
  10. a level of existence, consciousness, or development
    • on the intellectual plane
  11. one of the main supporting surfaces of an airplane
  12. airplane
  13. having no elevations or depressions : flat
  14. of, relating to, or dealing with geometric planes
  15. lying in a plane
    • a plane curve
  16. to fly while keeping the wings motionless
  17. to skim across the surface of the water
  18. to travel by airplane

plane angle -n

  1. an angle that for a given dihedral angle is formed by two intersecting lines each of which lies on a face of the dihedral angle and is perpendicular to the edge of the face

plane geometry -n

  1. a branch of elementary geometry that deals with plane figures

plane·load ['plān-,lōd] -n

  1. a load that fills an airplane

plane of polarization

  1. the plane in which the magnetic-vibration component of plane-polarized electromagnetic radiation lies

planepolarized -adj

  1. vibrating in a single plane
    • plane-polarized light waves

pla·ner tree ['plā-nər-] -n

  1. a deciduous tree ( Planera aquatica) of the elm family growing chiefly in wet southeastern U.S. soils and having an oval ribbed nutlike drupe

plan·et ['pla-nət] -n, adj

  1. any of the seven celestial bodies sun, moon, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, and Saturn that in ancient belief have motions of their own among the fixed stars
  2. any of the large bodies that revolve around the sun in the solar system
  3. a similar body associated with another star
  4. earth usu. used with the
  5. a celestial body held to influence the fate of human beings
  6. a person or thing of great importance : luminary

plane table -n

  1. an instrument consisting essentially of a drawing board on a tripod with a ruler pointed at the object observed and used for plotting the lines of a survey directly from observation

plan·e·tar·i·um [,pla-nə-'ter-ē-əm] -n

  1. a model or representation of the solar system
  2. an optical device for projecting various celestial images and effects
  3. a building or room housing such a projector

plan·e·tary ['pla-nə-,ter-ē] -adj

  1. of, relating to, being, or resembling a planet
  2. erratic, wandering
  3. having a motion like that of a planet
    • planetary electrons
  4. immense
    • the scope of this project has reached planetary proportions
  5. of, relating to, or belonging to the earth : terrestrial
  6. global, worldwide
    • planetary politics
  7. having or consisting of an epicyclic train of gear wheels

planetary nebula -n

  1. a usu. compact luminous ring-shaped nebula that is composed of matter which has been ejected from a hot star at its center

planetary science -n

  1. planetology

plan·e·tes·i·mal [,pla-nə-'te-sə-məl, -zə-məl] -n

  1. any of numerous small solid celestial bodies that may have existed at an early stage of the development of the solar system

planetesimal hypothesis -n

  1. a hypothesis in astronomy: the planets have evolved by aggregation from planetesimals

plan·et·oid ['pla-nə-,tȯid] -n, adj

  1. a small body resembling a planet
  2. asteroid

plan·et·ol·o·gy [,pla-nə-'tä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. a branch of astronomy that deals with the condensed matter of the solar system and esp. with the planets and their moons

plan·etstrick·en ['pla-nət-,stri-kən] -adj

  1. affected by the influence of a planet
  2. panic-stricken

planet wheel -n

  1. a gear wheel that revolves around the wheel with which it meshes in an epicyclic train

plan·et·wide ['pla-nət-'wīd] -adj

  1. extending throughout or involving an entire planet

plan·form ['plan-,fȯrm] -n

  1. the contour of an object (as an airplane) or mass as viewed from above

plan·gen·cy ['plan-jən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being plangent

plan·gent [-jənt] -adj, adv

  1. having a loud reverberating sound
    • a plangent roar
  2. having an expressive and esp. plaintive quality
    • plangent lyrics

pla·nim·e·ter [plā-'ni-mə-tər, plə-] -n

  1. an instrument for measuring the area of a plane figure by tracing its boundary line

pla·ni·met·ric [,plā-nə-'me-trik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or made by means of a planimeter
    • planimetric measurements
  2. having no indications of relief

planing -adj

  1. having or being a hull designed to lift partially from the water's surface at high speeds
    • planing boats

plan·ish ['pla-nish] -vt, n

  1. to smooth, toughen, and finish (metal) by hammering lightly

pla·ni·sphere ['plā-nə-,sfir] -n, adj

  1. a representation of the circles of the sphere on a plane
  2. a polar projection of the celestial sphere and the stars on a plane with adjustable circles or other appendages for showing celestial phenomena for any given time

plank ['plaŋk] -n

  1. a heavy thick board
  2. one 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) thick and at least 8 inches (20 centimeters) wide
  3. an object made of a plank or planking
  4. planking
  5. an article in the platform of a political party
  6. a principal item of a policy or program
  7. to cover, build, or floor with planks
  8. to set down forcefully usu. used with down
  9. to cook and serve on a board
    • plank ed salmon
    • plank ed steak

plank·ing ['plaŋ-kiŋ] -n

  1. the act or process of covering or fitting with planks
  2. a quantity of planks

plank·ter ['plaŋ(k)-tər] -n

  1. a planktonic organism

plank·ton ['plaŋ(k)-tən, -,tän] -n, adj

  1. the passively floating or weakly swimming usu. minute animal and plant life of a body of water

planning -n

  1. the act or process of making or carrying out plans
  2. the establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit
    • city planning
    • business planning

pla·nocon·cave [,plā-nō-(,)kän-'kāv, -'kän-,] -adj

  1. flat on one side and concave on the other

pla·nocon·vex [-(,)kän-'veks, -'kän-,, -kən-'] -adj

  1. flat on one side and convex on the other

pla·nog·ra·phy [plā-'nä-grə-fē, plə-] -n, adj

  1. a process (as lithography) for printing from a plane surface

plan position indicator -n

  1. a radarscope having a sweep synchronized with a usu. rotating antenna so that the radar return can be used to find range and bearing

plant ['plant] -vb, adj

  1. to put or set in the ground for growth
    • plant seeds
  2. to set or sow with seeds or plants
  3. implant
  4. establish, institute
  5. colonize, settle
  6. to place (animals) in a new locality
  7. to stock with animals
  8. to place in or on the ground
  9. to place firmly or forcibly
    • plant ed a hard blow on his chin
  10. conceal
  11. to covertly place for discovery, publication, or dissemination
  12. to plant something
  13. a young tree, vine, shrub, or herb planted or suitable for planting
  14. any of a kingdom (Plantae) of multicellular eukaryotic mostly photosynthetic organisms typically lacking locomotive movement or obvious nervous or sensory organs and possessing cellulose cell walls
  15. the land, buildings, machinery, apparatus, and fixtures employed in carrying on a trade or an industrial business
  16. a factory or workshop for the manufacture of a particular product
  17. power plant
  18. the total facilities available for production or service
  19. the buildings and other physical equipment of an institution
  20. an act of planting
  21. something or someone planted

Plan·tag·e·net [plan-'ta-jə-nət, -'taj-nət] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to a royal house ruling England from 1154 to 1485

plan·tain ['plan-tᵊn] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Plantagoof the family Plantaginaceae, the plantain family) of herbs with basal rosettes of usu. lanceolate or elliptical leaves and spikes of minute greenish flowers

plantain -n

  1. a banana plant ( Musa paradisiaca)
  2. the angular greenish starchy fruit of the plantain that is a staple food in the tropics when cooked

plantain lily -n

  1. hosta

plan·tar ['plan-tər, -,tär] -adj

  1. of or relating to the sole of the foot
    • plantar wart

plan·ta·tion [plan-'tā-shən] -n

  1. a usu. large group of plants and esp. trees under cultivation
  2. a settlement in a new country or region
    • Plymouth Plantation
  3. a place that is planted or under cultivation
  4. an agricultural estate usu. worked by resident labor

plant·er ['plan-tər] -n

  1. : one that cultivates plants: as
  2. farmer
  3. one who owns or operates a plantation
  4. a planting machine or implement
  5. one who settles or founds a place and esp. a new colony
  6. a container in which ornamental plants are grown

planter's punch -n

  1. a punch of rum, lime or lemon juice, sugar, water, and sometimes bitters

plant food -n

  1. food
  2. fertilizer

plant hormone -n

  1. an organic substance other than a nutrient that in minute amounts modifies a plant physiological process
  2. one produced by a plant and active elsewhere than at the site of production

plan·ti·grade ['plan-tə-,grād] -adj, n

  1. walking on the sole with the heel touching the ground
    • humans are plantigrade

plant·ing ['plan-tiŋ] -n

  1. an area where plants are grown for commercial or decorative purposes
  2. the plants cultivated in such an area

plant kingdom -n

  1. a basic group of natural objects that includes all living and extinct plants

plant·let ['plant-lət] -n

  1. a small or young plant

plant louse -n

  1. aphid
  2. any of various small insects (as a jumping plant louse) of similar habits

plan·to·cra·cy [plan-'tä-krə-sē] -n

  1. a ruling class made up of planters
  2. government by planters

plants·man ['plants-mən, -,man] -n

  1. a person skilled with plants : an expert gardener or horticulturist

plan·u·la ['plan-yə-lə] -n

  1. the very young usu. flattened oval or oblong free-swimming ciliated larva of a coelenterate

plaque ['plak] -n

  1. an ornamental brooch
  2. the badge of an honorary order
  3. a flat thin piece (as of metal) used for decoration
  4. a commemorative or identifying inscribed tablet
  5. a localized abnormal patch on a body part or surface
  6. a sticky usu. colorless film on teeth that is formed by and harbors bacteria
  7. an atherosclerotic lesion
  8. a histopathologic lesion of brain tissue that is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease and consists of a dense proteinaceous core composed primarily of beta-amyloid that is often surrounded and infiltrated by a cluster of degenerating axons and dendrites
  9. a clear area in a bacterial culture produced by viral destruction of cells

plash ['plash] -n

  1. splash
  2. to cause a splashing or spattering effect
  3. to break the surface of (water) : splash

plasm ['pla-zəm] -n

  1. plasma

plasm- -comb form

  1. plasma
    • plasm odium
    • plasmo lysis

plas·ma ['plaz-mə] -n, adj

  1. a green faintly translucent quartz
  2. the fluid part of blood, lymph, or milk as distinguished from suspended material
  3. blood plasma
  4. the juice that can be expressed from muscle
  5. protoplasm
  6. a collection of charged particles (as in the atmospheres of stars or in a metal) containing about equal numbers of positive ions and electrons and exhibiting some properties of a gas but differing from a gas in being a good conductor of electricity and in being affected by a magnetic field
  7. a display (as a television screen) consisting of discrete cells of plasma sandwiched between two layers of glass and electrodes such that each cell emits light when it receives an electric current

plasma cell -n

  1. a lymphocyte that is a mature antibody-secreting B cell

plas·ma·gel ['plaz-mə-,jel] -n

  1. gelated cytoplasm
  2. the outer firm zone of a pseudopodium

plas·ma·gene [-,jēn] -n

  1. a self-replicating extranuclear determiner of hereditary characteristics

plasma jet -n

  1. a stream of very hot ionized plasma
  2. a device for producing such a stream

plas·ma·lem·ma [,plaz-mə-'le-mə] -n

  1. plasma membrane

plasma membrane -n

  1. a semipermeable limiting layer of cell protoplasm called also cell membrane

plas·ma·phe·re·sis [,plaz-mə-fə-'rē-səs, -'fer-ə-səs] -n

  1. a process for removing blood plasma without depleting the donor or patient of other blood constituents (as red blood cells) by separating out the plasma from the whole blood and returning the rest to the donor's or patient's circulatory system

plas·ma·sol ['plaz-mə-,säl, -,sȯl, -,sōl] -n

  1. cytoplasm in the form of a sol esp. in a pseudopodium or amoeboid cell

plasma torch -n

  1. a device that heats a gas by electrical means to form a plasma for high-temperature operations (as melting metal)

plas·mid ['plaz-məd] -n

  1. an extrachromosomal ring of DNA esp. of bacteria that replicates autonomously

plas·min [-mən] -n

  1. a proteolytic enzyme that dissolves the fibrin of blood clots

plas·min·o·gen [plaz-'mi-nə-jən] -n

  1. the precursor of plasmin that is found in blood plasma and serum

plas·mo·des·ma [,plaz-mə-'dez-mə] -n

  1. one of the cytoplasmic strands passing through openings in some plant cell walls and forming connections with adjacent cells

plas·mo·di·um [plaz-'mō-dē-əm] -n

  1. a motile multinucleate mass of protoplasm resulting from fusion of uninucleate amoeboid cells
  2. an organism (as a stage of a slime mold) that consists of such a structure
  3. syncytium
  4. a sporozoan parasite (genus Plasmodium) that is the causative agent of malaria

plas·mog·a·my [plaz-'mä-gə-mē] -n

  1. fusion of the cytoplasm of two or more cells as distinguished from fusion of nuclei

plas·mol·y·sis [plaz-'mä-lə-səs] -n, adj

  1. shrinking of the cytoplasm away from the wall of a living cell due to outward osmotic flow of water

plas·mo·lyze ['plaz-mə-,līz] -vb

  1. to subject to plasmolysis
  2. to undergo plasmolysis

plas·ter ['plas-tər] -n, adj

  1. a medicated or protective dressing that consists of a film (as of cloth or plastic) spread with a usu. medicated substance
    • adhesive plaster
  2. something applied to heal and soothe
  3. a pasty composition (as of lime, water, and sand) that hardens on drying and is used for coating walls, ceilings, and partitions

plaster [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vb, n

  1. to overlay or cover with plaster : coat
  2. to apply a plaster to
  3. to cover over or conceal as if with a coat of plaster
  4. to apply as a coating or incrustation
  5. to smooth down with a sticky or shiny substance
    • plaster ed his hair down
  6. to fasten or apply tightly to another surface
  7. to treat with plaster of paris
  8. to affix to or place on esp. conspicuously or in quantity
  9. to inflict heavy damage or loss on esp. by a concentrated or unremitting attack
  10. to apply plaster

plas·ter·board ['plas-tər-,bȯrd] -n

  1. drywall

plaster cast -n

  1. a sculptor's model in plaster of paris
  2. a rigid dressing of gauze impregnated with plaster of paris

plastered -adj

  1. drunk, intoxicated

plastering -n

  1. a coating of or as if of plaster
  2. a decisive defeat

plaster of par·is [-'pa-rəs]

  1. a white powdery slightly hydrated calcium sulfate CaSO 4H 2O or 2CaSO 4H 2O made by calcining gypsum and used chiefly for casts and molds in the form of a quick-setting paste with water

plaster saint -n

  1. a person without human failings

plas·ter·work ['plas-tər-,wərk] -n

  1. plastering often ornate in design used to finish architectural constructions

plas·tic ['plas-tik] -adj

  1. formative, creative
    • plastic forces in nature
  2. capable of being molded or modeled
    • plastic clay
  3. capable of adapting to varying conditions : pliable
    • ecologically plastic animals
  4. sculptural
  5. made or consisting of a plastic
  6. capable of being deformed continuously and permanently in any direction without rupture
  7. of, relating to, or involving plastic surgery
  8. having a quality suggestive of mass-produced plastic goods
  9. artificial
    • plastic smiles
  10. relating to, characterized by, or exhibiting neural plasticity

plastic ['plas-ti-kē] -n, adj

  1. a plastic substance
  2. any of numerous organic synthetic or processed materials that are mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can be made into objects, films, or filaments
  3. credit cards used for payment called also plastic money

plas·ti·cal·ly ['plas-ti-k(ə-)lē] -adv

  1. in a plastic manner
  2. with respect to plastic qualities

plastic art -n

  1. art (as sculpture or bas-relief) characterized by modeling : three-dimensional art
  2. visual art (as painting, sculpture, or film) esp. as distinguished from art that is written (as poetry or music) often used in pl.

plastic foam -n

  1. expanded plastic

Plas·ti·cine ['plas-tə-,sēn] -trademark

  1. used for a plastic modeling paste

plas·tic·i·ty [pla-'sti-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being plastic
  2. capacity for being molded or altered
  3. the ability to retain a shape attained by pressure deformation
  4. the capacity of organisms with the same genotype to vary in developmental pattern, in phenotype, or in behavior according to varying environmental conditions
  5. the capacity for continuous alteration of the neural pathways and synapses of the living brain and nervous system in response to experience or injury

plas·ti·cize ['plas-tə-,sīz] -vt, n

  1. to make plastic
  2. to treat with a plastic
    • a plasticized mattress cover

plas·ti·ciz·er ['plas-tə-,sī-zər] -n

  1. one that plasticizes
  2. a chemical added esp. to rubbers and resins to impart flexibility, workability, or stretchability

plastic money -n

  1. plastic

plastic surgeon -n

  1. a specialist in plastic surgery

plastic surgery -n

  1. surgery concerned with the repair, restoration, or improvement of lost, injured, defective, or misshapen body parts

plas·tic·ware ['plas-tik-,wer] -n

  1. articles made of plastic

plas·tid ['plas-təd] -n, adj

  1. any of various cytoplasmic organelles (as an amyloplast or chloroplast) of photosynthetic cells that serve in many cases as centers of special metabolic activities

plas·ti·sol ['plas-tə-,säl, -,sȯl] -n

  1. a substance consisting of a mixture of a resin and a plasticizer that can be molded, cast, or made into a continuous film by application of heat

plas·to·cy·a·nin [,plas-tō-'sī-ə-nən] -n

  1. a copper-containing protein that acts as an intermediary in photosynthetic electron transport

plas·to·qui·none [,plas-(,)tō-kwi-'nōn, -'kwi-,] -n

  1. a plant substance that is related to vitamin K and plays a role in photosynthetic phosphorylation

plas·tral ['plas-trəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to a plastron

plas·tron ['plas-trən] -n

  1. a metal breastplate formerly worn under the hauberk
  2. a quilted pad worn in fencing practice to protect the chest, waist, and the side on which the weapon is held
  3. the ventral part of the shell of a tortoise or turtle consisting typically of nine symmetrically placed bones overlaid by horny plates
  4. a trimming like a bib for a woman's dress
  5. dickey
  6. a thin film of air held by water-repellent hairs of some aquatic insects

plat ['plat] -vt

  1. plait
  2. plait
  3. a small piece of ground (as a lot or quadrat) : plot
  4. a plan, map, or chart of a piece of land with actual or proposed features (as lots)
  5. the land represented
  6. to make a plat of
  7. plateau
  8. platoon

plat·an ['pla-tᵊn] -n

  1. plane

plat du jour [,plä-də-'zhu̇r, ,pla-] -n

  1. a dish that is featured by a restaurant on a particular day

plate ['plāt] -n, adj

  1. a smooth flat thin piece of material
  2. forged, rolled, or cast metal in sheets usu. thicker than inch (6 millimeters)
  3. a very thin layer of metal deposited on a surface of base metal by plating
  4. one of the broad metal pieces used in armor
  5. armor of such plates
  6. a thin relatively flat anatomical part (as a lamina of bone) of an animal body
  7. scute
  8. the thin under portion of the forequarter of beef
  9. the fatty back part
  10. home plate
  11. any of the large movable segments into which the earth's lithosphere is divided according to the theory of plate tectonics
  12. a silver coin
  13. precious metal
  14. silver bullion
  15. domestic hollowware made of or plated with gold, silver, or base metals
  16. a shallow usu. circular vessel from which food is eaten or served
  17. a quantity to fill a plate : plateful
  18. a main course served on a plate
  19. food and service supplied to one person
    • a dinner at 10 a plate
  20. a prize given to the winner in a contest
  21. a horse race in which the contestants compete for a prize of fixed value rather than stakes
  22. a dish or pouch passed during collections
  23. a flat glass or plastic dish used chiefly for culturing microorganisms
  24. a prepared surface from which printing is done
  25. a sheet of material (as glass or plastic) coated with a light-sensitive photographic emulsion
  26. a metallic grid with its interstices filled with active material that forms one of the structural units of a battery
  27. license plate
  28. a horizontal structural member that provides bearing and anchorage esp. for the trusses of a roof or the rafters
  29. the part of a denture that fits to the mouth
  30. denture
  31. a full-page illustration often on different paper from the text pages
  32. a schedule of matters to deal with
    • have a lot on my plate now
  33. : to cover or equip with plate: as
  34. to provide with armor plate
  35. to cover with an adherent layer mechanically, chemically, or electrically
  36. to deposit (as a layer) on a surface
  37. to make a printing surface from or for
  38. to fix or secure with a plate
  39. to cause (as a runner) to score in baseball
  40. to arrange (food) on a plate

pla·teau [pla-'tō, 'pla-,] -n

  1. a usu. extensive land area having a relatively level surface raised sharply above adjacent land on at least one side : tableland
  2. a similar undersea feature
  3. a region of little or no change in a graphic representation
  4. a relatively stable level, period, or condition
  5. a level of attainment or achievement
    • the 500-point plateau

plateau -vi

  1. to reach a level, period, or condition of stability or maximum attainment

plate·ful ['plāt-,fu̇l] -n

  1. a quantity to fill a plate
  2. a generous helping
  3. a large number or amount
    • a plateful of problems

plate·glass ['plāt-'glas, -,glas] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being the British universities founded in the latter half of the 20th century

plate glass -n

  1. rolled, ground, and polished sheet glass

plate·let ['plāt-lət] -n

  1. a minute flattened body (as of ice or a mineral)
  2. a minute colorless disklike body of mammalian blood that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium called also blood platelet, thrombocyte

plate·mak·er ['plāt-,mā-kər] -n

  1. a machine for making printing plates and esp. offset printing plates

plat·en ['pla-tᵊn] -n

  1. a flat plate
  2. one that exerts or receives pressure (as in a printing press)
  3. the roller of a typewriter or printer

plat·er ['plā-tər] -n

  1. one that plates
  2. a horse that runs chiefly in plate races
  3. a racehorse that competes in the lowest grade of races

plate rail -n

  1. a rail or narrow shelf along the upper part of a wall for holding plates or ornaments

plat·er·esque [,pla-tə-'resk] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a 16th century Spanish architectural style characterized by elaborate ornamentation suggestive of silver plate

plate tectonics -n pl but sing in constr, adj

  1. a theory in geology: the lithosphere of the earth is divided into a small number of plates which float on and travel independently over the mantle and much of the earth's seismic activity occurs at the boundaries of these plates
  2. the process and dynamics of tectonic plate movement
  3. a similar process on a body other than earth

plat·form ['plat-,fȯrm] -n

  1. plan, design
  2. a declaration of the principles on which a group of persons stands
  3. a declaration of principles and policies adopted by a political party or a candidate
  4. a usu. raised horizontal flat surface
  5. a raised flooring
  6. a device or structure incorporating or providing a platform
  7. such a structure on legs used for offshore drilling (as for oil)
  8. a place or opportunity for public discussion
  9. a usu. thick layer (as of cork) between the inner sole and outer sole of a shoe
  10. a shoe having such a sole
  11. a vehicle (as a satellite or aircraft) used for a particular purpose or to carry a usu. specified kind of equipment
  12. operating system
  13. the computer architecture and equipment using a particular operating system

platform balance -n

  1. a balance having a platform on which objects are weighed called also platform scale

platform rocker -n

  1. a chair that rocks on a stable platform

platform tennis -n

  1. a variation of paddle tennis that is played on a platform enclosed by a wire fence

pla·ti·na [plə-'tē-nə] -n

  1. platinum

plating -n

  1. the act or process of plating
  2. a coating of metal plates
  3. a thin coating of metal

plat·i·nize ['pla-tə-,nīz] -vt

  1. to cover, treat, or combine with platinum or a compound of platinum

plat·i·no·cy·a·nide [,pla-tə-nō-'sī-ə-,nīd] -n

  1. a fluorescent complex salt formed by the union of a compound of platinum and cyanide with another cyanide

plat·i·num ['plat-nəm, 'pla-tə-nəm] -n

  1. a precious grayish-white noncorroding ductile malleable heavy metallic element that fuses with difficulty and is used esp. in chemical ware and apparatus, as a catalyst, and in dental and jewelry alloys
  2. a moderate gray

platinum -adj

  1. qualifying for a platinum record

platinum blonde -n

  1. a person whose hair is of a pale silvery-blonde color
  2. the color of the hair of a platinum blonde

platinum record -n

  1. a platinum phonograph record awarded to a singer or group whose album has sold at least one million copies

plat·i·tude ['pla-tə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. the quality or state of being dull or insipid
  2. a banal, trite, or stale remark

plat·i·tu·di·nal [,pla-tə-'tüd-nəl, -'tyüd-; -'tü-də-nəl, -'tyü-] -adj

  1. platitudinous

plat·i·tu·di·nar·i·an [-,tü-də-'ner-ē-ən, -,tyü-] -n

  1. one given to the use of platitudes

plat·i·tu·di·nize [-'tü-də-,nīz, -'tyü-] -vi

  1. to utter platitudes

plat·i·tu·di·nous [-'tüd-nəs, -'tyüd-; -'tü-də-nəs, -'tyü-] -adj, adv

  1. having the characteristics of a platitude : full of platitudes
    • platitudinous remarks

pla·ton·ic [plə-'tä-nik, plā-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Plato or Platonism
  2. relating to or based on platonic love
  3. experiencing or professing platonic love
  4. of, relating to, or being a relationship marked by the absence of romance or sex
  5. nominal, theoretical

platonic love -n

  1. love conceived by Plato as ascending from passion for the individual to contemplation of the universal and ideal
  2. a close relationship between two persons in which sexual desire is nonexistent or has been suppressed or sublimated

Pla·to·nism ['plā-tə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj

  1. the philosophy of Plato stressing esp. that actual things are copies of transcendent ideas and that these ideas are the objects of true knowledge apprehended by reminiscence
  2. neoplatonism
  3. platonic love

Pla·to·nize ['plā-tə-,nīz] -vb

  1. to adopt, imitate, or conform to Platonic opinions
  2. to explain in accordance with or adapt to Platonic doctrines
  3. idealize

pla·toon [plə-'tün, pla-] -n

  1. a subdivision of a company-sized military unit normally consisting of two or more squads or sections
  2. a group of persons sharing a common characteristic or activity
    • a platoon of waiters
  3. a group of football players who are trained for either offense or defense and are sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body

platoon -vt

  1. to play (one player) alternately with another player in the same position (as on a baseball team)
  2. to alternate with another player at the same position
  3. to use alternate players at the same position

platoon sergeant -n

  1. a noncommissioned officer in the army ranking above a staff sergeant and below a first sergeant

Platt·deutsch ['plat-,dȯich, 'plät-] -n

  1. the Low German speech of northern Germany comprising several dialects

plat·ter ['pla-tər] -n

  1. a large plate used esp. for serving meat
  2. plate
  3. a phonograph record

platy ['plā-tē] -adj

  1. resembling a plate
  2. consisting of plates or flaky layers used chiefly of soil or mineral formations
  3. either of two tropical American freshwater live-bearers ( Xiphophorus maculatusand X. variatus) that have a highly variable often brilliant color and are popular aquarium fishes called also platy*fish -fish

platy·hel·minth [,pla-ti-'hel-,min(t)th] -n, adj

  1. flatworm

platy·pus ['pla-ti-pəs, -,pu̇s] -n

  1. a small carnivorous aquatic monotreme mammal ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus) of eastern Australia and Tasmania that has a fleshy bill resembling that of a duck, dense fur, webbed feet, and a broad flattened tail called also duck-billed platypus

plat·yr·rhine ['pla-ti-,rīn] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being any of a division (Platyrrhina) of arboreal New World monkeys characterized by a broad nasal septum, usu. 36 teeth, and often a prehensile tail
  2. having a short broad nose

plau·dit ['plȯ-dət] -n

  1. an act or round of applause
  2. enthusiastic approval usu. used in pl.
    • received the plaudit s of the critics

plau·si·bil·i·ty [,plȯ-zə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being plausible
  2. something plausible

plau·si·ble ['plȯ-zə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. superficially fair, reasonable, or valuable but often specious
    • a plausible pretext
  2. superficially pleasing or persuasive
    • a swindler..., then a quack, then a smooth, plausible gentleman -- R. W. Emerson
  3. appearing worthy of belief
    • the argument was both powerful and plausible

plau·sive ['plȯ-ziv, -siv] -adj

  1. manifesting praise or approval
  2. pleasing
  3. specious

play ['plā] -n

  1. swordplay
  2. game, sport
  3. the conduct, course, or action of a game
  4. : a particular act or maneuver in a game: as
  5. the action during an attempt to advance the ball in football
  6. the action in which a player is put out in baseball
  7. the action in which cards are played after bidding in a card game
  8. the moving of a piece in a board game (as chess)
  9. one's turn in a game
    • it's your play
  10. sexual intercourse
  11. amorous flirtation : dalliance
  12. recreational activity
  13. the spontaneous activity of children
  14. absence of serious or harmful intent : jest
    • said it in play
  15. the act or an instance of playing on words or speech sounds
  16. gaming, gambling
  17. an act, way, or manner of proceeding : maneuver
    • that was a play to get your fingerprints -- Erle Stanley Gardner
  18. deal, venture
  19. the state of being active, operative, or relevant
    • other motives surely come into play -- M. R. Cohen
    • several issues are at play
  20. brisk, fitful, or light movement
    • the gem presented a dazzling play of colors
  21. free or unimpeded motion (as of a part of a machine)
  22. the length or measure of such motion
  23. scope or opportunity for action
  24. a function of an electronic device that causes a recording to play
  25. emphasis or publicity esp. in the news media
    • wished the country received a better play in the American press -- Hugh MacLennan
  26. a move or series of moves calculated to arouse friendly feelings usu. used with make
    • made a big play for the girl -- Will Herman
  27. the stage representation of an action or story
  28. a dramatic composition : drama
  29. to engage in sport or recreation : frolic
  30. to have sexual relations
  31. to have promiscuous or illicit sexual relations usu. used in the phrase play around
  32. to move aimlessly about : trifle
  33. to toy or fiddle around with something
    • play ed with her food
  34. to deal or behave frivolously or mockingly : jest
  35. to deal in a light, speculative, or sportive manner
  36. to make use of double meaning or of the similarity of sound of two words for stylistic or humorous effect
  37. to take advantage
    • play ing on fears
  38. flutter, frisk
  39. to move or operate in a lively, irregular, or intermittent manner
  40. to move or function freely within prescribed limits
  41. to produce a stream
    • hoses play ing on a fire
  42. to perform music
    • play on a violin
  43. to sound in performance
    • the organ is play ing
  44. to emit sounds
    • the radio is play ing
  45. to reproduce recorded sounds
    • a record is play ing
  46. to act in a dramatic production
  47. show, run
    • what's play ing at the theater
  48. to be suitable for dramatic performance
  49. to act with special consideration so as to gain favor, approval, or sympathy
    • might play to popular prejudices to serve his political ends -- V. L. Parrington
    often used in the phrase play up to
  50. to produce a specified impression in performance
    • a movie that play s like a sitcom
  51. to engage or take part in a game
  52. to perform in a position in a specified manner
    • the outfielders were play ing deep
  53. to perform an action during one's turn in a game
  54. gamble
  55. to behave or conduct oneself in a specified way
    • play safe
  56. to feign a specified state or quality
    • play dead
  57. to take part in or assent to some activity : cooperate
    • play along with his scheme
  58. to act so as to prove advantageous to another usu. used in the phrase play into the hands of
  59. to gain approval : go over
    • her idea did not play well
  60. to engage in or occupy oneself with
    • play baseball
  61. to engage in (an activity) as a game
  62. to deal with, handle, or manage
  63. exploit, manipulate
  64. to pretend to engage in the activities of
    • play war
    • children play ing house
  65. to amount to by one's efforts
    • play ed an important role in their success
  66. to perform or execute for amusement or to deceive or mock
    • play a trick
  67. wreak
    • play havoc
  68. to use or introduce as a political or rhetorical strategy
    • play the national security card
  69. to put on a performance of (a play)
  70. to act in the character or part of
  71. to act or perform in
    • play ed leading theaters
  72. to perform or act the part of
    • play the fool
  73. to contend against in or as if in a game
  74. to use as a contestant in a game
    • the coach did not play him
  75. to perform the duties associated with (a certain position)
    • play ed quarterback
  76. to guard or move into position to defend against (an opponent) in a specified manner
  77. to wager in a game : stake
  78. to make wagers on
    • play the races
  79. to speculate on or in
    • play the stock market
  80. to operate on the basis of
    • play a hunch
  81. to put into action in a game
  82. to remove (a playing card) from one's hand and place usu. faceup on a table in one's turn either as part of a scoring combination or as one's contribution to a trick
  83. to catch or pick up (a batted ball) : field
    • play ed the ball bare-handed
  84. to direct the course of (as a ball) : hit
    • play ed a wedge shot to the green
  85. to cause (a ball or puck) to rebound
    • play ed the ball off the backboard
  86. to perform (music) on an instrument
    • play a waltz
  87. to perform music on
    • play the violin
  88. to perform music of (a certain composer)
  89. to cause (as a radio or phonograph) to emit sounds
  90. to cause the recorded sound or image of (as a record or a magnetic tape) to be reproduced
  91. wield, ply
  92. to discharge, fire, or set off with continuous effect
    • play ed the hose on the burning building
  93. to cause to move or operate lightly and irregularly or intermittently
  94. to keep (a hooked fish) in action

pla·ya ['plī-ə] -n

  1. the flat-floored bottom of an undrained desert basin that becomes at times a shallow lake

play·act ['plā-,akt] -vb, n

  1. act out
  2. to take part in theatrical performances esp. as a professional
  3. to make believe
  4. to engage in theatrical or insincere behavior

playaction pass -n

  1. a pass play in football in which the quarterback fakes a handoff before passing the ball called also play-action

play·back ['plā-,bak] -n

  1. an act or instance of reproducing recorded sound or pictures often immediately after recording

play back -vt

  1. to perform a playback of (a usu. recently recorded disc or tape)

play·bill ['plā-,bil] -n

  1. a bill advertising a play and usu. announcing the cast

Playbill -trademark

  1. used for a theater program

play·book [-,bu̇k] -n

  1. one or more plays in book form
  2. a notebook containing diagrammed football plays
  3. a stock of usual tactics or methods
    • straight from his opponent's political playbook

play·boy [-,bȯi] -n

  1. a man who lives a life devoted chiefly to the pursuit of pleasure

playbyplay ['plā-,bī-,plā, ,plā-,bī-'] -adj, n

  1. being or giving a running commentary on a sports event
    • a radio playbyplay announcer
  2. relating each event as it occurs

play·date ['plā-,dāt] -n

  1. a play session for small children arranged in advance by their parents

play down -vt

  1. to attach little importance to : minimize

played out -adj

  1. worn out or used up
  2. tired out : spent

play·er ['plā-ər] -n

  1. : one that plays: as
  2. a person who plays a game
  3. musician
  4. actor
  5. a device that reproduces recorded material (as video images or music) from a usu. specified medium
    • a CD player
  6. one actively involved esp. in a competitive field or process : participant
    • a key player in politics

player piano -n

  1. a piano containing a mechanism by which it plays automatically

play·fel·low ['plā-,fe-(,)lō] -n

  1. playmate

play·field [-,fēld] -n

  1. a playground for outdoor athletics

play·ful ['plā-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. full of play : frolicsome, sportive
    • a playful kitten
  2. humorous, jocular

play·girl [-,gər(-ə)l] -n

  1. a woman who lives a life devoted chiefly to the pursuit of pleasure

play·go·er [-,gō-ər] -n

  1. a person who frequently attends plays

play·ground [-,grau̇nd] -n

  1. a piece of land used for and usu. equipped with facilities for recreation esp. by children
  2. an area known or suited for activity of a specified sort
    • a vacation playground

play·group ['plā-,grüp] -n

  1. an informal gathering of preschool children organized for the purpose of play and companionship

play·house [-,hau̇s] -n

  1. theater
  2. a small house for children to play in

play·ing card ['plā-iŋ-] -n

  1. one of a set of 24 to 78 thin rectangular pieces of cardboard or plastic marked on one side to show its rank and suit and used in playing any of numerous games

playing field -n

  1. a field for various games
  2. the part of a field officially marked off for play
  3. a set of conditions for competition usu. used in such phrases as a level playing field

play·land ['plā-,land] -n

  1. playground

play·let [-lət] -n

  1. a short play

play·list [-,list] -n

  1. a list of recordings to be played on the air by a radio station
  2. a similar list used for organizing a personal digital music collection

play·mak·er [-,mā-kər] -n, n or adj

  1. a player who leads the offense for a team (as in basketball or hockey)

play·mate [-,māt] -n

  1. a companion in play

playoff ['plā-,ȯf] -n

  1. a final contest or series of contests to determine the winner between contestants or teams that have tied
  2. a series of contests played after the end of the regular season to determine a championship often used in pl.

play off -vt

  1. to set in opposition for one's own gain
  2. to set in contrast
  3. to complete the playing of (an interrupted contest)
  4. to break (a tie) by a play-off

play out -vt

  1. to perform to the end
    • play out a role
  2. use up, finish
  3. unreel, unfold
    • played out a length of line -- Gordon Webber
  4. to become spent or exhausted
  5. develop, unfold
    • see how things play out

play·pen ['plā-,pen] -n

  1. a portable usu. collapsible enclosure in which a baby or young child may play called also play yard

play·room [-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n

  1. a room equipped for children to play in

play·suit [-,süt] -n

  1. a sports and play outfit for women or children that consists usu. of a blouse and shorts

play therapy -n

  1. psychotherapy in which a child is encouraged to reveal feelings and conflicts in play rather than by verbalization

play·thing ['plā-,thiŋ] -n

  1. toy
  2. toy

play·time [-,tīm] -n

  1. a time for play or diversion

play up -vt

  1. emphasize
  2. exaggerate, overemphasize

play·wear ['plā-,wer] -n

  1. informal clothing worn for leisure activities

play·wright ['plā-,rīt] -n

  1. a person who writes plays

play·writ·ing [-,rī-tiŋ] -n

  1. the writing of plays

pla·za ['pla-zə, 'plä-] -n

  1. a public square in a city or town
  2. an open area usu. located near urban buildings and often featuring walkways, trees and shrubs, places to sit, and sometimes shops
  3. a place on a thoroughfare (as a turnpike) at which all traffic must temporarily stop (as to pay tolls)
  4. an area adjacent to an expressway which has service facilities (as a restaurant, gas station, and restrooms)
  5. shopping center

PLC -abbr

  1. public limited company

plea ['plē] -n

  1. a legal suit or action
  2. : an allegation made by a party in support of a cause: as
  3. an allegation of fact
  4. a defendant's answer to a plaintiff's declaration in common-law practice
  5. an accused person's answer to a charge or indictment in criminal practice
  6. a plea of guilty to an indictment
  7. something offered by way of excuse or justification
    • left early with the plea of a headache
  8. an earnest entreaty : appeal
    • their plea for understanding must be answered

plea bar·gain·ing [-,bär-gə-niŋ] -n, vi

  1. the negotiation of an agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant whereby the defendant is permitted to plead guilty to a reduced charge

pleach ['plēch, 'plāch] -vt

  1. interlace, plait

plead ['plēd] -vb, adj, n, adv

  1. to argue a case or cause in a court of law
  2. to make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding
  3. to answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts
  4. to conduct pleadings
  5. to make a plea of a specified nature
    • plead not guilty
  6. to argue for or against a claim
  7. to entreat or appeal earnestly
  8. to maintain (as a case or cause) in a court of law or other tribunal
  9. to allege in or by way of a legal plea
  10. to offer as a plea usu. in defense, apology, or excuse

pleading -n

  1. advocacy of a cause in a court of law
  2. one of the formal usu. written allegations and counter allegations made alternately by the parties in a legal action or proceeding
  3. the action or process performed by the parties in presenting such formal allegations until a single point at issue is produced
  4. the introduction of one of these allegations and esp. the first one
  5. the body of rules according to which these allegations are framed
  6. the act or an instance of making a plea
  7. a sincere entreaty

pleas·ance ['ple-zᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. a feeling of pleasure : delight
  2. a pleasant rest or recreation place usu. attached to a mansion

pleas·ant ['ple-zᵊnt] -adj, adv, n

  1. having qualities that tend to give pleasure : agreeable
    • a pleasant day
  2. having or characterized by pleasing manners, behavior, or appearance

pleas·ant·ry [-zᵊn-trē] -n

  1. a humorous act or remark : jest
  2. an agreeable playfulness in conversation : banter
  3. a polite social remark
    • exchanged pleasantries

please ['plēz] -vb, n

  1. to afford or give pleasure or satisfaction
  2. like, wish
    • do as you please
  3. to have the kindness
    • will you please to enter the carriage -- Charles Dickens
  4. to give pleasure to : gratify
  5. to be the will or pleasure of
    • may it please Your Majesty
  6. used as a function word to express politeness or emphasis in a request
    • please come in
  7. used as a function word to express polite affirmation
    • like some tea? Please
  8. used as a function word to express scornful disagreement, disapproval, or disbelief
    • you believe that? Oh, please

pleasing [-lē] -adj, adv, n

  1. giving pleasure : agreeable
    • the sun's pleasing warmth

plea·sur·able ['plezh-rə-bəl, 'plāzh-; 'ple-zhə-, 'plā-] -adj, n, adv

  1. pleasant, gratifying

plea·sure ['ple-zhər, 'plā-] -n

  1. desire, inclination
    • wait upon his pleasure -- Shak.
  2. a state of gratification
  3. sensual gratification
  4. frivolous amusement
  5. a source of delight or joy

pleasure ['plezh-riŋ, 'plāzh-; 'ple-zhə-, 'plā-] -vb

  1. to give pleasure to : gratify
  2. to give sexual pleasure to
  3. to take pleasure : delight
  4. to seek pleasure

pleasure dome -n

  1. a place of pleasurable entertainment or recreation : resort

plea·sure·less ['ple-zhər-ləs, 'plā-] -adj

  1. giving no pleasure

pleasure principle -n

  1. a tendency for individual behavior to be directed toward immediate satisfaction of instinctual drives and immediate relief from pain or discomfort

pleat ['plēt] -vt, n

  1. fold
  2. to arrange in pleats
    • pleat a skirt
  3. plait
  4. a fold in cloth made by doubling material over on itself
  5. something resembling such a fold

pleath·er ['ple-thər] -n

  1. a plastic fabric made to look like leather

pleb ['pleb] -n

  1. plebeian

plebe ['plēb] -n

  1. a freshman at a military or naval academy

ple·be·ian [pli-'bē-ən] -n

  1. a member of the Roman plebs
  2. one of the common people

plebeian -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to plebeians
  2. crude or coarse in manner or style : common

pleb·i·scite ['ple-bə-,sīt, -sət also -,sēt] -n, adj

  1. a vote by which the people of an entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal esp. on a choice of government or ruler

plebs ['plebz, 'pleps] -n

  1. the general populace
  2. the common people of ancient Rome

ple·cop·ter·an [pli-'käp-tə-rən] -n, adj

  1. stone fly

plec·trum ['plek-trəm] -n

  1. pick

pledge ['plej] -n

  1. a bailment of a chattel as security for a debt or other obligation without involving transfer of title
  2. the chattel so delivered
  3. the contract incidental to such a bailment
  4. the state of being held as a security or guaranty
  5. something given as security for the performance of an act
  6. a token, sign, or earnest of something else
  7. a gage of battle
  8. toast
  9. a binding promise or agreement to do or forbear
  10. a promise to join a fraternity, sorority, or secret society
  11. a person who has so promised
  12. to make a pledge of
  13. pawn
  14. to drink to the health of
  15. to bind by a pledge
  16. to promise the performance of by a pledge

pledg·ee [ple-'jē] -n

  1. one to whom a pledge is given

pled·get ['ple-jət] -n

  1. a compress or pad used to apply medication to or absorb discharges (as from a wound)

ple·iad ['plē-əd, 'plā-, -,ad, chiefly Brit 'plī-] -n

  1. a group of usu. seven illustrious or brilliant persons or things

Pleiad -n

  1. any of the Pleiades

Ple·ia·des ['plē-ə-,dēz, 'plā-, chiefly Brit 'plī-] -n pl

  1. the seven daughters of Atlas turned into a group of stars in Greek mythology
  2. a conspicuous cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus that includes six stars in the form of a very small dipper

plein air [,plān-'er; ple-'ner] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to painting in outdoor daylight
  2. of or relating to a branch of impressionism that attempts to represent outdoor light and air

pleio- -comb form

  1. more
    • pleio tropic
    • pleo morphic
    • Plio cene

pleio·tro·pic [,plī-ə-'trō-pik, -'trä-] -adj, n

  1. producing more than one effect
  2. having multiple phenotypic expressions
    • a pleiotropic gene

Pleis·to·cene ['plīs-tə-,sēn] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being the earlier epoch of the Quaternary or the corresponding series of rocks

ple·na·ry ['plē-nə-rē, 'ple-] -adj

  1. complete in every respect : absolute, unqualified
    • plenary power
  2. fully attended or constituted by all entitled to be present
    • a plenary session

plenary indulgence -n

  1. a remission of the entire temporal punishment for sin

ple·nip·o·tent [pli-'ni-pə-tənt] -adj

  1. plenipotentiary

plen·i·po·ten·tia·ry [,ple-nə-pə-'ten(t)-sh(ə-)rē, -shē-,er-ē] -adj

  1. invested with full power
  2. of or relating to a plenipotentiary

plenipotentiary -n

  1. a person and esp. a diplomatic agent invested with full power to transact business

plen·ish ['ple-nish] -vt

  1. equip

plen·i·tude ['ple-nə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. the quality or state of being full : completeness
  2. a great sufficiency : abundance

plen·i·tu·di·nous [,ple-nə-'tüd-nəs, -'tyüd-; -'tü-də-nəs, -'tyü-] -adj

  1. characterized by plenitude

plen·te·ous ['plen-tē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. fruitful, productive
    • a plenteous harvest -- J. G. Frazer
    usu. used with in or of
    • the seasons had been plenteous in corn -- George Eliot
  2. constituting or existing in plenty
    • plenteous grace with thee is found -- Charles Wesley

plen·ti·ful ['plen-ti-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. containing or yielding plenty
    • a plentiful land
  2. characterized by, constituting, or existing in plenty

plen·ti·tude ['plen-tə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. plenitude

plen·ty ['plen-tē] -n

  1. a full or more than adequate amount or supply
    • had plenty of time to finish the job
  2. a large number or amount
    • in plenty of trouble
  3. the quality or state of being copious : plentifulness

plenty -adj

  1. plentiful in amount, number, or supply
    • if reasons were as plenty as blackberries -- Shak.
  2. ample
    • plenty work to be done -- Time
  3. more than sufficiently : to a considerable degree
    • the nights were plenty cold -- F. B. Gipson

ple·num ['ple-nəm, 'plē-] -n

  1. a space or all space every part of which is full of matter
  2. an air-filled space in a structure
  3. one that receives air from a blower for distribution (as in a ventilation system)
  4. a general assembly of all members esp. of a legislative body
  5. the quality or state of being full

ple·och·ro·ism [plē-'ä-krə-,wi-zəm] -n, adj

  1. the property of a crystal of showing different colors when viewed by light polarized in different directions

pleo·mor·phic [,plē-ə-'mȯr-fik] -adj, n

  1. able to assume different forms : polymorphic
    • pleomorphic bacteria
    • a pleomorphic sarcoma

ple·o·nasm ['plē-ə-,na-zəm] -n, adj, adv

  1. the use of more words than those necessary to denote mere sense (as in the man he said) : redundancy
  2. an instance or example of pleonasm

ple·o·pod ['plē-ə-,päd] -n

  1. an abdominal limb of a crustacean

ple·ro·cer·coid [,plir-ō-'sər-,kȯid] -n

  1. the solid elongate infective larva of some tapeworms usu. occurring in the muscles of fishes

ple·si·o·saur ['plē-sē-ə-,sȯr, -zē-] -n

  1. any of an order or suborder (Plesiosauria) of large carnivorous marine reptiles of the Mesozoic with dorsoventrally flattened bodies and limbs modified into flippers

pleth·o·ra ['ple-thə-rə] -n, adj

  1. a bodily condition characterized by an excess of blood and marked by turgescence and a florid complexion
  2. excess, superfluity
  3. profusion, abundance

ple·thys·mo·gram [ple-'thiz-mə-,gram, plə-] -n

  1. a tracing made by a plethysmograph

ple·thys·mo·graph [-,graf] -n, adj, adv

  1. an instrument for determining and registering variations in the size of an organ, limb, or part resulting from changes in the amount of blood present or passing through it

pleu·ra ['plu̇r-ə] -n, adj

  1. the delicate serous membrane that lines each half of the thorax of mammals and is folded back over the surface of the lung of the same side

pleu·ri·sy ['plu̇r-ə-sē] -n, adj

  1. inflammation of the pleura that is typically characterized by sudden onset, painful and difficult respiration, and exudation of fluid or fibrinous material into the pleural cavity

pleu·ro·pneu·mo·nia [,plu̇r-ȯ-nu̇-'mō-nyə, -ȯ-nyu̇-] -n

  1. combined inflammation of the pleura and lungs
  2. an acute febrile and often fatal respiratory disorder of cattle, goats, sheep, and related animals caused by a mycoplasma ( Mycoplasma mycoides)

pleuropneumonialike organism -n

  1. mycoplasma

pleus·ton ['plü-stən, -,stän] -n, adj

  1. organisms living in the thin surface layer existing at the air-water interface of a body of water

plex ['pleks] -n

  1. multiplex

plex·i·form ['plek-sə-,fȯrm] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or having the form or characteristics of a plexus

Plex·i·glas ['plek-si-,glas] -trademark

  1. used for acrylic plastic sheets

plex·us ['plek-səs] -n

  1. a network of anastomosing or interlacing blood vessels or nerves
  2. an interwoven combination of parts or elements in a structure or system

plf -abbr

  1. plaintiff

pli·able ['plī-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. supple enough to bend freely or repeatedly without breaking
  2. yielding readily to others : complaisant
  3. adjustable to varying conditions

pli·an·cy ['plī-ən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being pliant

pli·ant ['plī-ənt] -adj, adv, n

  1. pliable
  2. easily influenced : yielding
  3. suitable for varied uses

pli·ca ['plī-kə] -n

  1. a fold or folded part
  2. a groove or fold of skin

pli·cate ['plī-,kāt] -adj

  1. folded lengthwise like a fan
    • a plicate leaf
  2. having the surface thrown up into or marked with parallel ridges
    • plicate wing cases

pli·ca·tion [plī-'kā-shən] -n

  1. the act or process of folding : the state of being folded
  2. fold

plie [plē-'ā] -n

  1. a bending of the knees outward by a ballet dancer with the back held straight

pli·ers ['plī(-ə)rz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. a small pincers for holding small objects or for bending and cutting wire

plight ['plīt] -vt, n

  1. to put or give in pledge : engage
    • plight his troth
  2. a solemnly given pledge : engagement
  3. an unfortunate, difficult, or precarious situation

plim·soll ['plim(p)-səl, 'plim-,sȯl] -n

  1. sneaker

Plimsoll mark -n

  1. a load line or a set of load-line markings on an oceangoing cargo ship called also Plimsoll line

plink ['pliŋk] -vb, n

  1. to make a tinkling sound
  2. to shoot at random targets in an informal and noncompetitive manner
  3. to cause to make a tinkling sound
  4. to shoot at esp. in a casual manner
  5. a tinkling metallic sound

plinth ['plin(t)th] -n

  1. the lowest member of a base : subbase
  2. a block upon which the moldings of an architrave or trim are stopped at the bottom
  3. a usu. square block serving as a base
  4. any of various bases or lower parts
  5. a course of stones forming a continuous foundation or base course

Pli·o·cene ['plī-ə-,sēn] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being the latest epoch of the Tertiary or the corresponding series of rocks

pliqueajour [,plēk-(,)ä-'zhu̇r] -n

  1. a style of enameling in which usu. transparent enamels are fused into the openings of a metal filigree to produce an effect suggestive of stained glass

plis·kie ['plis-kē] -n

  1. practical joke, trick

plis·se [pli-'sā] -n

  1. a fabric with a plisse finish
  2. a textile finish of permanently puckered designs formed by treating with a sodium hydroxide solution

PLO -abbr

  1. Palestine Liberation Organization

plod ['pläd] -vb, n, adv

  1. to work laboriously and monotonously : drudge
  2. to walk heavily or slowly : trudge
  3. to proceed slowly or tediously
    • the movie just plod s along
  4. to tread slowly or heavily along or over

ploi·dy ['plȯi-dē] -n

  1. degree of repetition of the basic number of chromosomes

plonk ['pləŋk] -vb, n

(variant of plunk)

  1. to pluck or hit so as to produce a quick, hollow, metallic, or harsh sound
  2. to set down suddenly : plump
  3. to make a plunking sound
  4. to drop abruptly : dive
  5. to come out in favor of someone or something : plump used with for

plop ['pläp] -vb, n

  1. to fall, drop, or move suddenly with a sound like that of something dropping into water
  2. to allow the body to drop heavily usu. used with down
    • plopped down on the couch
  3. to set, drop, or throw heavily
  4. to place or set carelessly or hastily
    • plopped the money into stocks

plo·sion ['plō-zhən] -n

  1. explosion

plo·sive ['plō-siv] -n, adj

  1. stop

plot ['plät] -n, adj

  1. a small area of planted ground
    • a vegetable plot
  2. a small piece of land in a cemetery
  3. a measured piece of land : lot
  4. ground plan, plat
  5. the plan or main story (as of a movie or literary work)
  6. a secret plan for accomplishing a usu. evil or unlawful end : intrigue
  7. a graphic representation (as a chart)
  8. to make a plot, map, or plan of
  9. to mark or note on or as if on a map or chart
  10. to lay out in plots
  11. to locate (a point) by means of coordinates
  12. to locate (a curve) by plotted points
  13. to represent (an equation) by means of a curve so constructed
  14. to plan or contrive esp. secretly
  15. to invent or devise the plot of (as a movie or a literary work)
  16. to form a plot : scheme
  17. to be located by means of coordinates
    • the data plot at a single point

plot·line ['plät-,līn] -n

  1. plot

plot·tage ['plä-tij] -n

  1. the area included in a plot of land

plot·ter ['plä-tər] -n

  1. : one that plots: as
  2. a person who schemes or conspires
  3. a contriver of a literary plot
  4. a device for plotting
  5. an instrument that graphs computer output

plot·ty ['plä-tē] -adj, n

  1. marked by intricacy of plot or intrigue
    • a plotty novel

plough ['plau̇] -n

(variant of plow)

  1. an implement used to cut, lift, and turn over soil esp. in preparing a seedbed
  2. any of various devices (as a snowplow) operating like a plow
  3. to turn, break up, or work with a plow
  4. to make (as a furrow) with a plow
  5. to cut into, open, or make furrows or ridges in with or as if with a plow
  6. to cleave the surface of or move through (water)
    • whales plow ing the ocean
  7. to clear away snow from with a snowplow
    • plow the street
  8. to spend or invest (money) in substantial amounts used with into
    • plow s most of her income into mutual funds
  9. to use a plow
  10. to bear or admit of plowing
  11. to move in a way resembling that of a plow
    • the car plow ed into a fence
  12. to proceed steadily and laboriously
    • had to plow through a stack of letters

plough·man's lunch ['plau̇-mənz-] -n

  1. a cold lunch served esp. in an English pub typically including bread, cheese, and pickled onions

plo·ver ['plə-vər, 'plō-] -n

  1. any of a family (Charadriidae) of shorebirds that differ from the sandpipers in having a short hard-tipped bill and usu. a stouter more compact build
  2. any of various birds (as a turnstone or sandpiper) related to the plovers

plow ['plau̇] -n

  1. an implement used to cut, lift, and turn over soil esp. in preparing a seedbed
  2. any of various devices (as a snowplow) operating like a plow
  3. to turn, break up, or work with a plow
  4. to make (as a furrow) with a plow
  5. to cut into, open, or make furrows or ridges in with or as if with a plow
  6. to cleave the surface of or move through (water)
    • whales plow ing the ocean
  7. to clear away snow from with a snowplow
    • plow the street
  8. to spend or invest (money) in substantial amounts used with into
    • plow s most of her income into mutual funds
  9. to use a plow
  10. to bear or admit of plowing
  11. to move in a way resembling that of a plow
    • the car plow ed into a fence
  12. to proceed steadily and laboriously
    • had to plow through a stack of letters

plow back ['plau̇-,bak] -vt, n

  1. to reinvest (profits) in a business

plow·boy ['plau̇-,bȯi] -n

  1. a boy who leads the team drawing a plow
  2. a country youth

plow·man [-mən, -,man] -n

  1. a man who guides a plow
  2. a farm laborer

plow·share ['plau̇-,sher] -n

  1. a part of a plow that cuts the furrow

plow under -vt

  1. to cause to disappear : bury, overwhelm

ploy ['plȯi] -n

  1. escapade, frolic
  2. a tactic intended to embarrass or frustrate an opponent
  3. a devised or contrived move : stratagem
    • a ploy to get her to open the door -- Robert B. Parker

pls -abbr

  1. please

PLSS -abbr

  1. portable life-support system

PLU -abbr

  1. price lookup

pluck ['plək] -vb, n

  1. to pull or pick off or out
  2. to remove something (as hairs) from by or as if by plucking
    • pluck one's eyebrows
  3. rob, fleece
  4. to move, remove, or separate forcibly or abruptly
    • pluck ed the child from the middle of the street
  5. to pick, pull, or grasp at
  6. to play by sounding the strings with the fingers or a pick
  7. to make a sharp pull or twitch
  8. an act or instance of plucking or pulling
  9. the heart, liver, lungs, and trachea of a slaughtered animal esp. as an item of food
  10. courageous readiness to fight or continue against odds : dogged resolution

plucky ['plə-kē] -adj, adv, n

  1. spirited, brave

plug ['pləg] -n

  1. a piece used to fill a hole : stopper
  2. an obtruding or obstructing mass of material resembling a stopper
  3. a flat compressed cake of tobacco
  4. a small core or segment removed from a larger object
  5. something inferior
  6. an inferior often aged or unsound horse
  7. hydrant, fireplug
  8. spark plug
  9. an artificial fishing lure used primarily for casting and made with one or more sets of gang hooks
  10. : any of various devices resembling or functioning like a plug: as
  11. a male fitting for making an electrical connection to a live circuit by insertion in a receptacle (as an outlet)
  12. a device for connecting electric wires to a jack
  13. a piece of favorable publicity or a favorable mention usu. incorporated in general matter
  14. to stop, make tight, or secure by inserting a plug
  15. to remedy (a deficiency) as if by inserting a plug
    • trying to plug the gaps in their understanding
  16. to hit with a bullet : shoot
  17. to advertise or publicize insistently
  18. to become plugged usu. used with up
  19. to work doggedly and persistently
    • plugged away at her homework
  20. to fire shots

plug and play -n, adj

  1. a feature of a computer system by which peripherals are automatically detected and configured by the operating system

plugged -adj

  1. altered by the insertion of a plug of base metal
  2. closed by or as if by a plug : obstructed

pluggedin ['pləgd-'in] -adj

  1. technologically or socially informed and connected
    • pluggedin teenagers

plug hat -n

  1. a man's stiff hat (as a bowler or top hat)

plugin ['pləg-,in] -adj

  1. designed to be connected to an electric circuit by plugging in
    • a plugin toy
    • a plugin circuit board
  2. something that plugs in
  3. a small piece of software that supplements a larger program (as a browser)

plug in -vi

  1. to establish an electric circuit by inserting a plug
  2. to attach or connect to an electric receptacle (as an outlet)

plug·o·la [(,)plə-'gō-lə] -n

  1. incidental advertising on radio or television that is not purchased like regular advertising

plugug·ly ['pləg-,əg-lē] -n

  1. thug, tough
  2. one hired to intimidate

plum ['pləm] -n, adj

  1. any of various trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family with globular to oval smooth-skinned edible fruits that are drupes with oblong seeds
  2. the fruit
  3. any of various trees with edible fruits resembling plums
  4. the fruit
  5. a raisin when used in desserts
  6. sugarplum
  7. something superior or very desirable
  8. something desirable given in return for a favor
  9. a dark reddish purple

plum·age ['plü-mij] -n, adj

  1. the feathers of a bird

plumb ['pləm] -n

  1. a lead weight attached to a line and used to indicate a vertical direction
  2. straight down or up : vertically
  3. to a complete degree : absolutely
    • you're plumb crazy, she remarked, with easy candor -- Harper's Weekly
  4. in a direct manner : exactly
  5. without interval of time : immediately
  6. to weight with lead
  7. to measure the depth of with a plumb
  8. to examine minutely and critically
    • plumb ing the book's complexities
  9. to adjust or test by a plumb line
  10. to seal with lead
  11. to supply with or install as plumbing
  12. to work as a plumber
  13. exactly vertical or true
  14. thorough, complete

plum·ba·go [,pləm-'bā-(,)gō] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Plumbagoof the family Plumbaginaceae, the plumbago family) of chiefly tropical herbs and shrubs with alternate leaves and spikes of showy flowers
  2. graphite

plumb bob -n

  1. the metal bob of a plumb line

plumb·er ['plə-mər] -n

  1. a dealer or worker in lead
  2. one who installs, repairs, and maintains piping, fittings, and fixtures involved in the distribution and use of water in a building
  3. a person whose job is to prevent or put an end to leaks of sensitive information

plumber's helper -n

  1. plunger called also plumber's friend

plumber's snake -n

  1. a long flexible rod or cable usu. of steel that is used to free clogged pipes

plumb·ing ['plə-miŋ] -n

  1. the act of using a plumb
  2. a plumber's occupation or trade
  3. the apparatus (as pipes and fixtures) concerned in the distribution and use of water in a building
  4. an internal system that resembles plumbing
  5. one consisting of conduits or channels for conveying fluids

plum·bism ['pləm-,bi-zəm] -n

  1. lead poisoning esp. when chronic

plumb line -n

  1. a line (as of cord) that has at one end a weight (as a plumb bob) and is used esp. to determine verticality
  2. a line directed to the center of gravity of the earth : a vertical line

plume ['plüm] -n

  1. : a feather of a bird: as
  2. a large conspicuous or showy feather
  3. contour feather
  4. plumage
  5. a cluster of distinctive feathers
  6. material (as a feather, cluster of feathers, or a tuft of hair) worn as an ornament
  7. a token of honor or prowess : prize
  8. : something resembling a feather (as in shape, appearance, or lightness): as
  9. a plumose appendage of a plant
  10. an elongated and usu. open and mobile column or band (as of smoke, exhaust gases, or blowing snow)
  11. an animal structure having a main shaft bearing many hairs or filamentous parts
  12. a full bushy tail
  13. any of several columns of molten rock rising from the earth's lower mantle that are theorized to drive tectonic plate movement and to underlie hot spots
  14. to provide or deck with feathers
  15. to array showily
  16. to indulge (oneself) in pride with an obvious or vain display of self-satisfaction
  17. to preen and arrange the feathers of (itself)
  18. to preen and arrange (feathers)

plumed -adj

  1. provided with or adorned with or as if with a plume often used in combination
    • a white- plumed egret

plume·let ['plüm-lət] -n

  1. a small tuft or plume

plu·me·ria [plü-'mir-ē-ə] -n

  1. frangipani

plum·met ['plə-mət] -n

  1. plumb
  2. plumb line

plummet -vi

  1. to fall perpendicularly
    • birds plummet ed down
  2. to drop sharply and abruptly
    • prices plummet ed

plum·my ['plə-mē] -adj

  1. full of plums
    • a rich plummy cake
  2. choice, desirable
    • got a plummy role in the movie
  3. having a plum color
  4. rich and mellow often to the point of affectation
    • a plummy singing voice

plu·mose ['plü-,mōs] -adj

  1. having feathers or plumes : feathered
  2. feathery
    • plumose setae

plump ['pləmp] -vb

  1. to drop, sink, or come in contact suddenly or heavily
    • plump ed down in the chair
  2. to favor or decide in favor of someone or something strongly or emphatically used with for
  3. to drop, cast, or place suddenly or heavily
  4. to give support and favorable publicity to
  5. a sudden plunge, fall, or blow
  6. the sound made by a plump
  7. with a sudden or heavy drop
  8. straight down
  9. straight ahead
  10. without qualification : directly
    • plump out of luck
  11. group, flock
    • a plump of ducks rose at the same time -- H. D. Thoreau
  12. to make plump
  13. to become plump
  14. having a full rounded usu. pleasing form
    • a plump woman
  15. ample, abundant

plump·en ['pləm-pən] -vb

  1. plump

plump·er ['pləm-pər] -n

  1. an object carried in the mouth to fill out the cheeks

plumper -n

  1. a vote for only one candidate when two or more are to be elected to the same office

plump·ly ['pləm-plē] -adv

  1. in a plump way
    • a plumply pretty girl

plumply -adv

  1. in a wholehearted manner and without hesitation or circumlocution : forthrightly

plump·ness ['pləmp-nəs] -n

  1. the quality or state of being plump

plumpness -n

  1. freedom from hesitation or circumlocution

plum pudding -n

  1. a rich boiled or steamed pudding containing fruits and spices

plum tomato -n

  1. a small oblong tomato

plu·mule ['plü-(,)myül] -n

  1. the primary bud of a plant embryo usu. situated at the apex of the hypocotyl and consisting of leaves and an epicotyl
  2. a down feather

plumy ['plü-mē] -adj

  1. downy
  2. having or resembling plumes

plun·der ['plən-dər] -vb, n

  1. to take the goods of by force (as in war) : pillage, sack
    • invaders plunder ed the town
  2. to take by force or wrongfully : steal, loot
    • plunder ed artifacts from the tomb
  3. to make extensive use of as if by plundering : use or use up wrongfully
    • plunder the land
  4. to commit robbery or looting

plunder -n

  1. an act of plundering : pillaging
  2. something taken by force, theft, or fraud : loot
  3. personal or household effects

plun·der·ous [-d(ə-)rəs] -adj

  1. given to plundering

plunge ['plənj] -vb

  1. to cause to penetrate or enter quickly and forcibly into something
    • plunged the dagger
  2. to cause to enter a state or course of action usu. suddenly, unexpectedly, or violently
    • plunged the nation into economic depression
  3. to thrust or cast oneself into or as if into water
  4. to become pitched or thrown headlong or violently forward and downward
  5. to move oneself in such a manner
    • plunged off the embankment
  6. to act with reckless haste : enter suddenly or unexpectedly
    • plunges into project after project
  7. to bet or gamble heavily and recklessly
  8. to descend or dip suddenly
    • the stock's value plunged
  9. an act or instance of plunging : dive
  10. swim

plung·er ['plən-jər] -n

  1. : one that plunges: as
  2. diver
  3. a reckless gambler or speculator
  4. a sliding reciprocating piece driven by or against fluid pressure
  5. piston
  6. a piece with a motion like that of a ram or piston
  7. a rubber suction cup on a handle used to free plumbing traps and waste outlets of obstructions

plunk ['pləŋk] -vb, n

  1. to pluck or hit so as to produce a quick, hollow, metallic, or harsh sound
  2. to set down suddenly : plump
  3. to make a plunking sound
  4. to drop abruptly : dive
  5. to come out in favor of someone or something : plump used with for

plunk down -vi

  1. to drop abruptly : settle into position
  2. to put down usu. firmly or abruptly
    • plunked the items down on the counter
  3. to settle (oneself) into position
    • plunked himself down on the bench
  4. to pay out
    • reluctant to plunk down the money for a new car

plu·per·fect [,plü-'pər-fikt] -adj, n

  1. past perfect
  2. utterly perfect or complete

plu·ral ['plu̇r-əl] -adj, n, adv

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a class of grammatical forms usu. used to denote more than one or in some languages more than two
  2. relating to, consisting of, or containing more than one or more than one kind or class
    • a plural society

plu·ral·ism ['plu̇r-ə-,li-zəm] -n, adj or n, adj, adv

  1. the holding of two or more offices or positions (as benefices) at the same time
  2. the quality or state of being plural
  3. a theory that there are more than one or more than two kinds of ultimate reality
  4. a theory that reality is composed of a plurality of entities
  5. a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain an autonomous participation in and development of their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization
  6. a concept, doctrine, or policy advocating this state

plu·ral·i·ty [plu̇-'ra-lə-tē] -n

  1. the state of being plural
  2. the state of being numerous
  3. a large number or quantity
  4. pluralism
  5. a benefice held by pluralism
  6. a number greater than another
  7. an excess of votes over those cast for an opposing candidate
  8. a number of votes cast for a candidate in a contest of more than two candidates that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate but not more than half the total votes cast

plu·ral·ize ['plu̇r-ə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to make plural or express in the plural form

plu·rip·o·tent [plu̇-'ri-pə-tənt] -adj

  1. not fixed as to developmental potentialities
  2. capable of differentiating into one of many cell types
    • pluripotent stem cells

plus ['pləs] -adj

  1. algebraically positive
  2. having, receiving, or being in addition to what is anticipated
  3. falling high in a specified range
    • a grade of C plus
  4. greater than that specified
  5. possessing a specified quality to a high degree
  6. electrically positive
  7. relating to or being a particular one of the two mating types that are required for successful fertilization in sexual reproduction in some lower plantlike organisms (as a fungus)
  8. plus sign
  9. an added quantity
  10. a positive factor or quality
  11. surplus
  12. increased by : with the addition of
    • four plus five
    • principal plus interest
  13. besides used chiefly in speech and casual writing
    • plus all this, as a sedative it has no equal -- Groucho Marx
  14. and
    • the Smyth Report, plus an idea and some knowledge of bureaucracy, were all I needed -- Pat Frank
    • eats alone, a hot beef sandwich plus a BLT plus apple pie -- Garrison Keillor
  15. in addition to which
    • it's also pretty on my open shelves, plus it smells good -- Nikki Giovanni

plus fours -n pl

  1. loose sports knickers made four inches longer than ordinary knickers

plush ['pləsh] -n

  1. a fabric with an even pile longer and less dense than velvet pile
  2. relating to, resembling, or made of plush
  3. notably luxurious
  4. rich, full
    • the plush sound of his saxophone playing
    • a plush, ripe wine

plushy ['plə-shē] -adj, n

  1. having the texture of or covered with plush
  2. luxurious, showy

plus/minus sign -n

  1. the sign used to indicate a quantity (as 2 in the square root of 4 is 2) taking on both an algebraically positive value and its negative and to indicate a plus or minus quantity (as 4 in the population age was 30 4 years) called also plus/minus symbol

plus or minus -adj

  1. indicating a quantity whose algebraically positive and negative values serve to bracket a range of values either alone or when added to and subtracted from a given number
    • measured with an accuracy of plus or minus 3 feet
  2. more or less, approximately
    • a dance for singles plus or minus age 30

plus·sage ['plə-sij] -n

  1. an amount over and above another amount

plus sign -n

  1. a sign denoting addition or a positive quantity

Plu·to ['plü-(,)tō] -n

  1. the Greek god of the underworld
  2. a dwarf planet occupying an orbit that crosses the orbit of Neptune

plu·toc·ra·cy [plü-'tä-krə-sē] -n, adj, adv

  1. government by the wealthy
  2. a controlling class of the wealthy

plu·ton ['plü-,tän] -n

  1. a typically large body of intrusive igneous rock

plu·to·ni·an [plü-'tō-nē-ən] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Pluto or the lower world : infernal

plu·ton·ic [plü-'tä-nik] -adj

  1. formed by solidification of magma deep within the earth and crystalline throughout
    • plutonic rock
  2. plutonian

plu·to·ni·um [plü-'tō-nē-əm] -n

  1. a radioactive metallic element similar chemically to uranium that is formed as the isotope 239 by decay of neptunium and found in minute quantities in pitchblende, that undergoes slow disintegration with the emission of an alpha particle to form uranium 235, and that is fissionable with slow neutrons to yield atomic energy

plu·vi·al ['plü-vē-əl] -adj

  1. of or relating to rain
  2. characterized by abundant rain
  3. resulting from the action of rain

pluvial -n

  1. a prolonged period of wet climate

ply ['plī] -vb

  1. to use or wield diligently
    • busily ply ing his pen
  2. to practice or perform diligently
    • ply a trade
  3. to keep furnishing or supplying something to
    • plied us with liquor
  4. to make a practice of rowing or sailing over or on
    • the boat plies the river
  5. to go or travel regularly over, on, or through
    • jets ply ing the skies
  6. to apply oneself steadily
  7. to go or travel regularly
  8. one of several layers (as of cloth) usu. sewn or laminated together
  9. one of the strands in a yarn
  10. one of the veneer sheets forming plywood
  11. a layer of a paper or cardboard
  12. inclination, bias
  13. to twist together
    • ply two single yarns

Plym·outh Rock ['pli-məth-] -n

  1. any of a U.S. breed of medium-sized single-combed domestic chickens raised for eggs and meat

plyo·met·rics [,plī-ə-'me-triks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj

  1. exercise involving repeated rapid stretching and contracting of muscles (as by jumping and rebounding) to increase muscle power

ply·wood ['plī-,wu̇d] -n

  1. a structural material consisting of sheets of wood glued or cemented together with the grains of adjacent layers arranged at right angles or at a wide angle