pe ['pā] -n
- the 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet
PE -abbr
- physical education
- Prince Edward Island
- printer's error
- probable error
- professional engineer
pea ['pē] -n
- a variable annual Eurasian vine ( Pisum sativum) of the legume family that is cultivated esp. for its rounded smooth or wrinkled edible protein-rich seeds
- the seed of the pea
- the immature pods of the pea with their included seeds
- any of various leguminous plants related to or resembling the pea usu. used in combination or with a qualifying term
- the seed of such a plant
- something resembling a pea (as in size or shape)
pea aphid -n
- a widely distributed aphid ( Acyrthosiphon pisum) that is a serious pest on legumes (as alfalfa, pea, and clover)
pea bean -n
- a small white dried kidney bean
- Navy bean
- a plant that is a source of pea beans
peace ['pēs] -n
- : a state of tranquillity or quiet: as
- freedom from civil disturbance
- a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom
- freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
- harmony in personal relations
- a state or period of mutual concord between governments
- a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity
- used interjectionally to ask for silence or calm or as a greeting or farewell
- to be, become, or keep silent or quiet
peace·able ['pē-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- disposed to peace : not contentious or quarrelsome
- quietly behaved
- marked by freedom from strife or disorder
peace corps -n
- a body of trained personnel sent as volunteers esp. to assist underdeveloped nations
peace dividend -n
- a portion of funds made available for nondefense spending by a reduction in the defense budget (as after a war)
peace·ful ['pēs-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- peaceable
- untroubled by conflict, agitation, or commotion : quiet, tranquil
- of or relating to a state or time of peace
- devoid of violence or force
peace·keep·ing ['pēs-,kē-piŋ] -n
- the preserving of peace
- international enforcement and supervision of a truce between hostile states or communities
peace·mak·er [-mā-kər] -n, n or adj
- one who makes peace esp. by reconciling parties at variance
peace·nik [-,nik] -n
- an opponent of war
- one who participates in antiwar demonstrations
peace offering -n
- a gift or service for the purpose of procuring peace or reconciliation
peace officer -n
- a civil officer (as a police officer) whose duty it is to preserve the public peace
peace pipe -n
- calumet
peace sign -n
- a sign made by holding the palm outward and forming a V with the index and middle fingers and used to indicate the desire for peace
- peace symbol
peace symbol -n
- the symbol used to signify peace
peace·time ['pēs-,tīm] -n
- a time when a nation is not at war
peach ['pēch] -n
- a low spreading freely branching Chinese tree ( Prunus persica) of the rose family that has lanceolate leaves and sessile usu. pink flowers and is widely cultivated in temperate areas for its edible fruit which is a single-seeded drupe with a hard central stone, a pulpy white or yellow flesh, and a thin fuzzy skin
- the edible fruit of the peach
- a moderate yellowish pink
- one resembling a peach (as in sweetness, beauty, or excellence)
- to inform against : betray
- to turn informer : blab
peach leaf curl -n
- leaf curl of the peach that is caused by a fungus ( Taphrina deformans)
peach tree borer -n
- a blue-black clearwing moth ( Synanthedon exitiosasyn. Sanninoidea exitiosa) with the female having an orange band on the abdomen and whose white brown-headed larva bores in the wood of stone fruit trees (as the peach)
peachy ['pē-chē] -adj
- resembling a peach
- unusually fine : dandy
peachy keen -adj
- peachy
pea·coat ['pē-,kōt] -n
- a heavy woolen double-breasted jacket orig. worn by sailors
pea·cock ['pē-,käk] -n, adj
- a male peafowl distinguished by a crest of upright feathers and by greatly elongated loosely webbed upper tail coverts which are mostly tipped with iridescent spots and are erected and spread in a shimmering fan usu. as a courtship display
- peafowl
- one making a proud display of oneself : show-off
peacock -vi
- show off
peacock blue -n
- a moderate greenish blue
peacock flower -n
- royal poinciana
pea·fowl ['pē-,fau̇(-ə)l] -n
- either of two very large terrestrial pheasants ( Pavo cristatusand P. muticus) of southeastern Asia and India that are often reared as ornamental fowls
pea green -n
- a moderate yellow green
pea·hen ['pē-,hen] -n
- a female peafowl
pea jacket ['pē-] -n
- peacoat
peak ['pēk] -n
- a pointed or projecting part of a garment
- the visor of a cap or hat
- promontory
- a sharp or pointed end
- the top of a hill or mountain ending in a point
- a prominent mountain usu. having a well-defined summit
- something resembling a mountain peak
- the upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail
- the narrow part of a ship's bow or stern or the part of the hold in it
- the highest level or greatest degree
- a high point in a course of development esp. as represented on a graph
- widow's peak
- to reach a maximum (as of capacity, value, or activity) often used with out
- to cause to come to a peak, point, or maximum
- being at or reaching the maximum
- of, relating to, or being a period of maximum intensity or activity
- to grow thin or sickly
- to dwindle away
- to set (as a gaff) nearer the perpendicular
- to hold (oars) with blades well raised
peaked ['pēkt also 'pē-kəd] -adj, n
- having a peak : pointed
peak·ed ['pē-kəd also 'pi-kəd] -adj
- being pale and wan or emaciated : sickly
peak flow meter -n
- a device that measures the maximum rate of air flow out of the lungs during forced expiration and that is used esp. for monitoring lung capacity of asthmatics
peaky ['pē-kē] -adj
- peaked
peal ['pēl] -n
- the loud ringing of bells
- a complete set of changes on a given number of bells
- a set of bells tuned to the tones of the major scale for change ringing
- a loud sound or succession of sounds
- to give out peals
- to utter or give forth loudly
pea·like ['pē-,līk] -adj
- resembling a pea esp. in size, firmness, and shape
- a pealike lump under the skin
- being showy and papilionaceous
pea·nut ['pē-(,)nət] -n
- a low-branching widely cultivated annual herb ( Arachis hypogaea) of the legume family with showy yellow flowers having a peduncle which elongates and bends into the soil where the ovary ripens into a pod containing one to three oily edible seeds
- its seed or seed-containing pod
- an insignificant or tiny person
- a trifling amount
- a pellet usu. made of polystyrene foam that is used esp. as packing material
peanut -adj
- insignificant, petty
peanut oil -n
- a colorless to yellow fatty nondrying oil that is obtained from peanuts and is used chiefly as a salad oil, in margarine, in soap, and as a vehicle in pharmaceutical preparations and cosmetics
pear ['per] -n
- a pome fruit of a tree (genus Pyrus,esp. P. communis) of the rose family that typically has a pale green or brownish skin, a firm juicy flesh, and an oblong shape in which a broad base end tapers upward to a narrow stem end
- a tree bearing pears
pearl ['pər(-ə)l] -n
- a dense variously colored and usu. lustrous concretion formed of concentric layers of nacre as an abnormal growth within the shell of some mollusks and used as a gem
- mother-of-pearl
- one that is very choice or precious
- something resembling a pearl intrinsically or physically
- a nearly neutral slightly bluish medium gray
- to set or adorn with pearls
- to sprinkle or bead with pearly drops
- to form into small round grains
- to give a pearly color or luster to
- to form drops or beads like pearls
- to fish or search for pearls
- of, relating to, or resembling pearl
- made of or adorned with pearls
- having medium-sized grains
- picot
pearl·es·cent [,pər-'le-sᵊnt] -adj, n
- having a pearly luster
pearl essence -n
- a translucent substance that occurs in the silvery scales of various fish (as herring) and is used in making artificial pearls, lacquers, and plastics
pearl gray -n
- a yellowish to light gray
- a pale blue
Pearl Harbor -n
- a surprise attack often with devastating effect
pearl·ite ['pər(-ə)-,līt] -n, adj
- the lamellar mixture of ferrite and cementite in slowly cooled iron-carbon alloys occurring normally as a principal constituent of both steel and cast iron
pearl·ized ['pər(-ə)-,līzd] -adj
- given a pearlescent surface or finish
pearl millet -n
- a tall cereal grass ( Pennisetum glaucumsyn. P. americanum) that has large leaves and dense round spikes and is widely grown for its seeds and for forage
pearl onion -n
- a very small usu. pickled onion used esp. in appetizers and as a garnish
pearly ['pər-lē] -adj
- resembling, containing, or adorned with pearls or mother-of-pearl
- highly precious
pearly everlasting -n
- an everlasting ( Anaphalis margaritacea) that has herbage covered with white woolly hairs and corymbose heads with white scarious involucres
pearly nautilus -n
- nautilus
pear psylla -n
- a yellowish or greenish jumping plant louse ( Psylla pyricola) that is often destructive to the pear
pearshaped ['per-,shāpt] -adj
- having an oval shape markedly tapering at one end
- free from harshness, thinness, or nasality
peart ['pirt] -adj, adv
- being in good spirits : lively
peas·ant ['pe-zᵊnt] -n
- a member of a European class of persons tilling the soil as small landowners or as laborers
- a member of a similar class elsewhere
- a usu. uneducated person of low social status
peas·ant·ry [-zᵊn-trē] -n
- peasants
- the position, rank, or behavior of a peasant
pease·cod ['pēz-,käd] -n
- a pea pod
pea·shoot·er ['pē-,shü-tər] -n
- a toy blowgun that uses peas for projectiles
pea soup -n
- a thick puree made of dried peas
- a thick fog
peat ['pēt] -n, adj
- turf
- partially carbonized vegetable tissue formed by partial decomposition in water of various plants (as mosses of the genus Sphagnum)
- a bold lively woman
peat moss -n
- sphagnum
pea·vey ['pē-vē] -n
- a lumberman's lever that has a pivoting hooked arm and metal spike at one end called also cant dog
peb·ble ['pe-bəl] -n, adj
- a small usu. rounded stone esp. when worn by the action of water
- transparent and colorless quartz : rock crystal
- an irregular, crinkled, or grainy surface
pebble [-b(ə-)liŋ] -vt
- to pelt with pebbles
- to pave or cover with pebbles or something resembling pebbles
- to grain (as leather) so as to produce a rough and irregularly indented surface
pec ['pek] -n
- pectoral muscle usu. used in pl.
pe·can [pi-'kän, -'kan; 'pē-,kan] -n
- a large hickory ( Carya illinoinensissyn. C. illinoensis) that has roughish bark and hard but brittle wood and is widely grown in the warmer parts of the U.S. and in Mexico for its edible nut
- the wood of the pecan tree
- the smooth oblong thin-shelled nut of the pecan tree
pec·ca·dil·lo [,pe-kə-'di-(,)lō] -n
- a slight offense
pec·cant ['pe-kənt] -adj, adv
- guilty of a moral offense : sinning
- violating a principle or rule : faulty
pec·ca·ry ['pe-kə-rē] -n
- : any of several largely nocturnal gregarious American mammals resembling the related pigs: as
- a grizzled animal ( Tayassu tajacu) with an indistinct white collar
- a blackish animal ( Tayassu pecari) with a whitish mouth region
pec·ca·vi [pe-'kä-(,)wē, -(,)vē; -'kā-,vī] -n
- an acknowledgment of sin
peck ['pek] -n
- a large quantity or number
- to strike or pierce esp. repeatedly with the bill or a pointed tool
- to make by pecking
- to pick up with the bill
- to strike, pierce, or pick up something with or as if with the bill
- carp, nag
- to eat reluctantly and in small bites
- an impression or hole made by pecking
- a quick sharp stroke
- a quick light kiss
peck·er ['pe-kər] -n
- one that pecks
- courage
- penis
peck·er·wood ['pe-kər-,wu̇d] -n
- a rural white Southerner
pecking order -n
- the basic pattern of social organization within a flock of poultry in which each bird pecks another lower in the scale without fear of retaliation and submits to pecking by one of higher rank
- a dominance hierarchy in a group of social animals
- a social hierarchy
peck·ish ['pe-kish] -adj
- hungry
- crotchety
Peck·sniff·ian [pek-'sni-fē-ən] -adj
- unctuously hypocritical : pharisaical
pecky ['pe-kē] -adj
- marked by lenticular or finger-shaped pockets of decay caused by fungi
- containing discolored or shriveled grains
pec·o·ri·no [,pe-kə-'rē-(,)nō] -n
- any of various cheeses of Italian origin made from sheep's milk
pec·ten ['pek-tən] -n
- scallop
- a body part that resembles a comb
- a folded vascular pigmented membrane projecting into the vitreous humor in the eye of a bird or reptile
pec·tic ['pek-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, or derived from pectin
pectic acid -n
- any of various water-insoluble substances formed by hydrolyzing the methyl ester groups of pectins
pec·tin ['pek-tən] -n
- any of various water-soluble substances that bind adjacent cell walls in plant tissues and yield a gel which is the basis of fruit jellies
- a commercial product rich in pectins
pec·ti·na·ceous [,pek-tə-'nā-shəs] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing pectin
pec·ti·nate ['pek-tə-,nāt] -adj, n
- having narrow parallel projections or divisions suggestive of the teeth of a comb
pec·tin·es·ter·ase [,pek-tə-'nes-tə-,rās, -,rāz] -n
- an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of pectins into pectic acids and methanol
pec·to·ral ['pek-t(ə-)rəl] -n
- something worn on the breast
- pectoral muscle
pectoral -adj
- of, situated in or on, or worn on the chest
- coming from the breast or heart as the seat of emotion
pectoral cross -n
- a cross worn on the breast esp. by a prelate
pectoral fin -n
- either of the fins of a fish that correspond to the forelimbs of a quadruped
pectoral girdle -n
- shoulder girdle
pectoral muscle -n
- any of the muscles which connect the ventral walls of the chest with the bones of the upper arm and shoulder and of which there are two on each side of the human body
pec·u·late ['pe-kyə-,lāt] -vt, n
- embezzle
pe·cu·liar [pi-'kyül-yər] -adj, adv
- characteristic of only one person, group, or thing : distinctive
- : different from the usual or normal:
- special, particular
- odd, curious
- eccentric, queer
peculiar -n
- something exempt from ordinary jurisdiction
- a church or parish exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary in whose territory it lies
pe·cu·liar·i·ty [pi-,kyül-'ya-rə-tē, -,kyü-lē-'a-] -n
- the quality or state of being peculiar
- a distinguishing characteristic
- oddity, quirk
pe·cu·ni·ary [pi-'kyü-nē-,er-ē] -adj, adv
- consisting of or measured in money
- of or relating to money
ped ['ped] -n
- a natural soil aggregate
ped- -comb form
- child: childhood
ped·a·gog·i·cal [,pe-də-'gä-ji-kəl, -'gō-] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or befitting a teacher or education
ped·a·gog·ics [-jiks] -n pl but sing in constr
- pedagogy
ped·a·gogue ['pe-də-,gäg] -n
- teacher, schoolmaster
- a dull, formal, or pedantic teacher
ped·a·go·gy ['pe-də-,gō-jē also -,gä-, esp Brit -,gä-gē] -n
- the art, science, or profession of teaching
- education
ped·al ['pe-dᵊl] -n
- a lever pressed by the foot in the playing of a musical instrument (as an organ or piano)
- a foot lever or treadle by which a part is activated in a mechanism
- of or relating to the foot
- of, relating to, or involving a pedal
- to ride a bicycle
- to use or work a pedal
- to work the pedals of
pedal bone -n
- coffin bone
pe·dal·fer [pə-'dal-fər, -,fer] -n
- a soil that lacks a hardened layer of accumulated carbonates
ped·alnote ['pe-dᵊl-,nōt] -n
- pedal point
- one of the lowest tones that can be sounded on a brass instrument being an octave below the normal usable range and representing the fundamental of the harmonic series
ped·a·lo ['pe-də-(,)lō] -n
- a small recreational paddleboat powered by pedals
pedal point -n
- a single tone usu. the tonic or dominant that is normally sustained in the bass and sounds against changing harmonies in the other parts
pedal pushers -n pl
- women's and girls' calf-length trousers
pedal steel -n
- a box-shaped musical instrument with legs that has usu. 10 strings which can be altered in pitch by the use of pedals and which are plucked while being pressed with a movable steel bar called also pedal steel guitar
ped·ant ['pe-dᵊnt] -n
- a male schoolteacher
- one who makes a show of knowledge
- one who is unimaginative or who unduly emphasizes minutiae in the presentation or use of knowledge
- a formalist or precisionist in teaching
pe·dan·tic [pi-'dan-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or being a pedant
- narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned
- unimaginative, pedestrian
ped·ant·ry ['pe-dᵊn-trē] -n
- pedantic presentation or application of knowledge or learning
- an instance of pedantry
ped·dle ['pe-dᵊl] -vb
- to travel about with wares for sale
- sell
- to be busy with trifles : piddle
- to sell or offer for sale from place to place : hawk
- sell
- to deal out or seek to disseminate
- to offer or promote as valuable
ped·dler ['ped-lər] -n
- : one who peddles: as
- one who offers merchandise (as fresh produce) for sale along the street or from door to door
- one who deals in or promotes something intangible (as a personal asset or an idea)
ped·er·ast ['pe-də-,rast] -n, adj
- one who practices anal intercourse esp. with a boy
ped·es·tal ['pe-dəs-tᵊl] -n
- the support or foot of a late classic or neoclassic column
- the base of an upright structure
- base, foundation
- a position of esteem
pedestal -vt
- to place on or furnish with a pedestal
pe·des·tri·an [pə-'des-trē-ən] -adj
- commonplace, unimaginative
- going or performed on foot
- of, relating to, or designed for walking
pedestrian -n
- a person going on foot : walker
pe·des·tri·an·ism [-ə-,ni-zəm] -n
- the practice of walking
- fondness for walking for exercise or recreation
- the quality or state of being unimaginative or commonplace
pe·di·at·ric [,pē-dē-'a-trik] -adj
- of or relating to pediatrics
pe·di·a·tri·cian [,pē-dē-ə-'tri-shən] -n
- a specialist in pediatrics
pe·di·at·rics [,pē-dē-'a-triks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a branch of medicine dealing with the development, care, and diseases of children
pedi·cab ['pe-di-,kab] -n
- a tricycle with a 2-seat passenger compartment covered by a usu. folding top and a separate seat for a driver who pedals
ped·i·cel ['pe-də-,sel] -n, adj
- : a slender basal part of an organism or one of its parts: as
- a plant stalk that supports a fruiting or spore-bearing organ
- a narrow basal attachment (as of the abdomen of an ant) of an animal organ or part
ped·i·cle ['pe-di-kəl] -n, adj
- pedicel
- the part of a skin or tissue graft left attached to the original site during the preliminary stages of union
pe·dic·u·late [pi-'di-kyə-lət] -adj, n
- of or relating to an order (Lophiiformes syn. Pediculati) of marine bony fishes (as a batfish or goosefish) with pectoral fins at the end of an armlike process and part of the dorsal fin modified into a lure
pe·dic·u·lo·sis [pi-,di-kyə-'lō-səs] -n
- infestation with lice
pe·dic·u·lous [pi-'di-kyə-ləs] -adj
- infested with lice : lousy
ped·i·cure ['pe-di-,kyu̇r] -n
- a person who provides care for the feet, toes, and nails
- care of the feet, toes, and nails
- a single treatment of these parts
ped·i·gree ['pe-də-,grē] -n, adj
- a register recording a line of ancestors
- an ancestral line : lineage
- the origin and the history of something
- background, history
- a distinguished ancestry
- the recorded purity of breed of an individual or strain
ped·i·ment ['pe-də-mənt] -n, adj
- a triangular space that forms the gable of a low-pitched roof and that is usu. filled with relief sculpture in classical architecture
- a similar form used as a decoration
- a broad gently sloping bedrock surface with low relief that is situated at the base of a steeper slope and is usu. thinly covered with alluvial gravel and sand
ped·i·palp ['pe-də-,palp] -n
- either of the second pair of appendages of an arachnid (as a spider) that are borne near the mouth and are often modified for a special (as sensory) function
ped·o·cal ['pe-də-,kal] -n, adj
- a soil that includes a definite hardened layer of accumulated carbonates
pedogenesis [,pē-dō-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj, adv
(variant of paedogenesis)
- reproduction by young or larval animals : neoteny
ped·o·gen·e·sis [,pe-də-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj
- the formation and development of soil
pe·dol·o·gy [pi-'dä-lə-jē, pe-] -n, adj
- soil science
pe·dom·e·ter [pi-'dä-mə-tər] -n
- an instrument usu. in watch form that records the distance a person covers on foot by responding to the body motion at each step
pe·do·phile ['pe-də-,fī(-ə)l, 'pē-] -n
- one affected with pedophilia
pe·do·phil·ia [,pe-də-'fi-lē-ə, 'pē-] -n, adj
- sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object
ped·or·thics [pə-'dȯr-thiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj, n
- the art and practice of designing, making, and fitting therapeutic shoes for relieving painful or disabling conditions of the feet
pe·dun·cle ['pē-,dəŋ-kəl, pi-'] -n, adj
- a stalk bearing a flower or flower cluster or a fructification
- a narrow part by which some larger part or the whole body of an organism is attached : stalk, pedicel
- a narrow stalk by which a tumor or polyp is attached
pe·dun·cu·lat·ed [pi-'dəŋ-kyə-,lā-təd] -adj
- having, growing on, or being attached by a peduncle
pee ['pē] -n
- the letter p
- penny
- urinate
- an act of urination
- urine
peek ['pēk] -vi
- to look furtively
- to peer through a crack or hole or from a place of concealment often used with in or out
- to take a brief look : glance
- a furtive look
- a brief look : glance
peek·a·boo ['pē-kə-,bü] -n
- a game for amusing a baby by repeatedly hiding one's face or body and popping back into view exclaiming Peekaboo
peekaboo -adj
- trimmed with eyelet embroidery
- made of a sheer or transparent fabric
- revealing usu. small areas of skin
- offering only limited display or disclosure esp. of a teasing sort
peel ['pēl] -vb, adj
- to strip off an outer layer of
- to remove by stripping
- peel the label off the can
- to come off in sheets or scales
- to lose an outer layer (as of skin)
- to take off one's clothes
- to break away from a group or formation often used with off
- the skin or rind of a fruit
- a thin layer of organic material that is embedded in a film of collodion and stripped from the surface of an object (as a plant fossil) for microscopic study
- chemical peel
- a usu. long-handled spade-shaped instrument that is used chiefly by bakers for getting something (as bread or pies) into or out of the oven
- a medieval small massive fortified tower along the Scottish-English border called also peel tower
peel·er ['pē-lər] -n
- one that peels
- a crab that is about to shed its shell
- a log of wood (as Douglas fir) suitable for cutting into veneer called also peeler log
peeler -n
- police officer
peel·ing ['pē-liŋ] -n
- a peeled-off piece or strip
peel off -vi
- to veer away from an airplane formation esp. for diving or landing
- depart, leave
peen ['pēn] -vt
- to draw, bend, or flatten by or as if by hammering with a peen
- a usu. hemispherical or wedge-shaped end of the head of a hammer that is opposite the face and is used esp. for bending, shaping, or cutting the material struck
peep ['pēp] -vi
- to utter a feeble shrill sound as of a bird newly hatched : cheep
- to utter the slightest sound
- a feeble shrill sound : cheep
- a slight utterance esp. of complaint or protest
- don't let me hear another peep out of you
- any of several small sandpipers
- to peer through or as if through a crevice
- to look cautiously or slyly
- to begin to emerge from or as if from concealment : show slightly
- to put forth or cause to protrude slightly
- to have a look at : see, watch
- a first glimpse or faint appearance
- a brief look : glance
- a furtive look
peep·er ['pē-pər] -n
- one that peeps
- voyeur
- eye
peeper -n
- one that makes a peeping sound
- any of various tree frogs that peep shrilly
- spring peeper
peep·hole ['pēp-,hōl] -n
- a hole or crevice to peep through
Peeping Tom [-'täm] -n
- a pruriently prying person : voyeur
peeps ['pēps] -n pl
- people
peep show -n
- an entertainment (as a film) or object (as a small picture) that is viewed through a small opening or a magnifying glass and is usu. sexually explicit
peep sight -n
- a rear sight for a gun having an adjustable metal piece pierced with a small hole to peep through in aiming
peer ['pir] -n, adj
- one that is of equal standing with another : equal
- one belonging to the same societal group esp. based on age, grade, or status
- companion
- a member of one of the five ranks (as duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron) of the British peerage
- noble
- rival, match
- to look narrowly or curiously
- to look searchingly at something difficult to discern
- to come slightly into view : emerge partly
peer·age ['pir-ij] -n
- the body of peers
- the rank or dignity of a peer
- a book containing a list of peers with their genealogy, history, and titles
peer·ess ['pir-əs] -n
- the wife or widow of a peer
- a woman who holds in her own right the rank of a peer
peer·less ['pir-ləs] -adj
- matchless, incomparable
peer review -n, vt
- a process by which something proposed (as for research or publication) is evaluated by a group of experts in the appropriate field
peeve ['pēv] -vt
- to make peevish or resentful : annoy
- a feeling or mood of resentment
- a particular grievance or source of aggravation
pee·vish ['pē-vish] -adj, adv, n
- querulous in temperament or mood : fretful
- perversely obstinate
- marked by ill temper
pee·wee ['pē-(,)wē] -n, adj
- pewee
- one that is diminutive or small
- a small child
- an age-specific level of youth sports
- a member of a team in a peewee league
pee·wit ['pē-,wit, 'pyü-ət] -n
- any of several birds
- lapwing
peg ['peg] -n
- a small usu. cylindrical pointed or tapered piece (as of wood) used to pin down or fasten things or to fit into or close holes : pin, plug
- clothespin
- a predetermined level at which something (as a price) is fixed
- a projecting piece used as a support or boundary marker
- something (as a fact or issue) used as a support, pretext, or reason
- one of the movable wooden pegs set in the head of a stringed instrument (as a violin) that are turned to regulate the pitch of the strings
- a step or degree esp. in estimation
- a pointed prong or claw for catching or tearing
- drink
- poured himself out a stiff peg -- Dorothy Sayers
- something (as a leg) resembling a peg
- throw
- a hard throw in baseball made in an attempt to put out a base runner
- to put a peg into
- to pin (laundry) on a clothesline
- : to attach or fix as if with a peg: as
- to pin down : restrict
- to fix or hold (as prices or wage increases) at a predetermined level or rate
- to place in a definite category : identify
- was pegged as an intellectual
- to mark by pegs
- throw
- to work steadily and diligently often used with away
- to move along vigorously or hastily : hustle
- wide at the top and narrow at the bottom
PEG -abbr
- polyethylene glycol
Peg·a·sus ['pe-gə-səs] -n
- a winged horse that causes the stream Hippocrene to spring from Mount Helicon with a blow of his hoof
- poetic inspiration
- a northern constellation near the vernal equinoctial point
PegBoard ['peg-,bȯrd] -trademark
- used for material (as fiberboard) with regularly spaced perforations into which hooks may be inserted for the storage or display of articles
peg leg -n
- an artificial leg
- one fitted at the knee
peg·ma·tite ['peg-mə-,tīt] -n, adj
- a coarse variety of granite occurring in dikes or veins
peg out -vi
- die
pegtop ['peg-'täp] -adj
- peg
peg top [-,täps] -n
- a pear-shaped top that is made to spin on the sharp metal peg in its base by the unwinding of a string wound round its center
- peg trousers
PEI -abbr
- Prince Edward Island
pei·gnoir [pān-'wär, pen-] -n
- a woman's loose negligee or dressing gown
pe·jo·ra·tive [pi-'jȯr-ə-tiv, -'jär- also 'pe-jə-rə-tiv or 'pē- or -,rā- or 'pej-rə- or 'pēj-] -n
- a pejorative word or phrase
pejorative -adj, adv
- having negative connotations
- tending to disparage or belittle : depreciatory
peke ['pēk] -n
- pekingese
Pe·kin [pi-'kin, 'pē-,] -n
- any of a breed of large white ducks of Chinese origin used for meat production
Pe·king duck ['pē-,kiŋ-, 'pā-] -n
- a Chinese dish consisting of roasted duck meat and strips of crispy duck skin topped with scallions and sauce and wrapped in thin pancakes
Pe·king·ese [,pē-kə-'nēz, -'nēs; -kiŋ-'ēz, -'ēs] -n
- the Chinese dialect of Beijing
- a native or resident of Beijing
- any of a Chinese breed of small short-legged dogs with a broad flat face and a profuse long soft coat
Peking man -n
- an extinct Pleistocene hominid known from skeletal and cultural remains in cave deposits at Zhoukoudianzhen, China and classified with the direct ancestor ( Homo erectus) of modern humans
pe·koe ['pē-(,)kō also 'pe-] -n
- a tea made from young leaves slightly larger than those of orange pekoe
pel·age ['pe-lij] -n
- the hairy covering of a mammal
Pe·la·gian [pə-'lā-j(ē-)ən] -n
- one agreeing with Pelagius in denying original sin and consequently in holding that individuals have perfect freedom to do either right or wrong
Pelagian -adj
- of or relating to Pelagians or Pelagianism
Pe·la·gian·ism [-j(ē-)ə-,ni-zəm] -n
- the teaching of Pelagius or Pelagians
pe·lag·ic [pə-'la-jik] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or living or occurring in the open sea : oceanic
pel·ar·go·ni·um [,pe-lär-'gō-nē-əm, -lər-] -n
- any of a genus ( Pelargonium) of southern African herbs of the geranium family with showy flowers of usu. red, pink, or white distinguished by a spurred calyx and irregular corolla called also geranium storksbill
Pe·las·gian [pə-'laz-j(ē-)ən, -'laz-gē-ən] -n, adj
- a member of an ancient people mentioned by classical writers as early inhabitants of Greece and the eastern islands of the Mediterranean
pe·lec·y·pod [pə-'le-sə-,päd] -n
- lamellibranch
pel·er·ine [,pe-lə-'rēn, 'pe-lə-rən] -n
- a woman's narrow cape made of fabric or fur and usu. with long ends hanging down in front
Pe·leus ['pēl-,yüs, 'pē-lē-əs] -n
- a son of Aeacus who becomes by the goddess Thetis the father of Achilles
pelf ['pelf] -n
- money, riches
pel·i·can ['pe-li-kən] -n
- any of a genus ( Pelecanus) of large web-footed fish-eating birds with a very large bill and distensible gular pouch
pe·lisse [pə-'lēs, pe-] -n
- a long cloak or coat made of fur or lined or trimmed with fur
- a woman's loose lightweight cloak with wide collar and fur trimming
pel·la·gra [pə-'la-grə, -'lā-, -'lä-] -n, adj
- a disease marked by dermatitis, gastrointestinal disorders, and mental disturbances and associated with a diet deficient in niacin
pel·let ['pe-lət] -n, adj
- a usu. small rounded, spherical, or cylindrical body (as of food or medicine)
- a wad of indigestible material (as of bones and fur) regurgitated by a bird of prey
- any of various projectiles fired from a weapon (as an air rifle)
pellet -vt
- pelletize
- to strike with pellets
pellet gun -n
- air gun
pel·let·ise ['pe-lə-,tīz] -vt, n
(variant of pelletize)
- to form or compact into pellets
- to coat (seeds) with a soluble material (as to facilitate ease of handling)
pel·let·ize ['pe-lə-,tīz] -vt, n
- to form or compact into pellets
- to coat (seeds) with a soluble material (as to facilitate ease of handling)
pel·li·cle ['pe-li-kəl] -n
- : a thin skin or film: as
- an outer membrane of some protozoans (as euglenoids or paramecia)
- a film that reflects a part of the light falling upon it and transmits the rest and that is used for dividing a beam of light (as in a photographic device)
pel·li·to·ry ['pe-lə-,tȯr-ē] -n
- a southern European composite plant ( Anacyclus pyrethrum) resembling yarrow called also pellitory-of-Spain
- any of a genus ( Parietaria) of herbs of the nettle family with alternate leaves and inconspicuous flowers called also pellitory-of-the-wall
pellmell [,pel-'mel] -adv, adj or n
- in mingled confusion or disorder
- papers strewn pellmell on the desk
- in confused haste
- ran pellmell for the door
pel·lu·cid [pə-'lü-səd] -adj, adv
- admitting maximum passage of light without diffusion or distortion
- reflecting light evenly from all surfaces
- easy to understand
pel·met ['pel-mət] -n
- a short valance or small cornice for concealing curtain fixtures
Pe·lops ['pē-,läps, 'pe-] -n
- a son of Tantalus served by his father to the gods for food but later restored to life by them
pe·lo·rus [pə-'lȯr-əs] -n
- a navigational instrument resembling a mariner's compass without magnetic needles and having two sight vanes by which bearings are taken
pe·lo·ta [pə-'lō-tə] -n
- a court game related to jai alai
- the ball used in jai alai
pel·o·ton [,pe-lə-'tän, 'pe-lə-,tän] -n
- the main body of riders in a bicycle race
pelt ['pelt] -n
- a usu. undressed skin with its hair, wool, or fur
- a skin stripped of hair or wool for tanning
- to strip off the skin or pelt of (an animal)
- to strike with a succession of blows or missiles
- to assail vigorously or persistently
- pelt ed her with accusations
- hurl, throw
- pelt ed snowballs at them
- to beat or dash repeatedly against
- hailstones pelt ing the roof
- to deliver a succession of blows or missiles
- to beat incessantly
- to move rapidly and vigorously : hurry
- blow, whack
pel·tate ['pel-,tāt] -adj
- shaped like a shield
- having the stem or support attached to the lower surface instead of at the base or margin
pelt·ing ['pel-tiŋ] -adj
- paltry, insignificant
pelt·ry ['pel-trē] -n
- pelts, furs
- raw undressed skins often used in pl.
pel·vic ['pel-vik] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or located in or near the pelvis
pelvic fin -n
- one of the paired fins of a fish that are homologous with the hind limbs of a quadruped
pelvic girdle -n
- a bony or cartilaginous arch that supports the hind limbs of a vertebrate
pelvic inflammatory disease -n
- inflammation of the female reproductive tract (as the fallopian tubes and ovaries) that occurs esp. as a result of a sexually transmitted disease and is a leading cause of infertility in women
pel·vis ['pel-vəs] -n
- a basin-shaped structure in the skeleton of many vertebrates that is formed by the pelvic girdle and adjoining bones of the spine
- the cavity of the pelvis
- the funnel-shaped cavity of the kidney into which urine is discharged
pel·y·co·saur ['pe-li-kə-,sȯr] -n
- any of an order (Pelycosauria) of primitive chiefly Permian quadruped synapsid reptiles often having extreme development of the dorsal vertebral processes
Pem·broke table ['pem-,brōk-, -,bru̇k-] -n
- a small 4-legged table originating in the Georgian period and having two drop leaves and a drawer
Pembroke Welsh corgi -n
- any of a breed of Welsh corgis with pointed ears, straight forelegs, and a short tail called also Pembroke
pem·mi·can ['pe-mi-kən] -n
- a concentrated food used by No. American Indians and consisting of lean meat dried, pounded fine, and mixed with melted fat
- a similar preparation (as of dried beef, flour, molasses, suet) used for emergency rations
pem·o·line ['pe-mə-,lēn] -n
- a synthetic drug C 9H 8N 2O 2that is a mild stimulant of the central nervous system
pem·phi·gus ['pem(p)-fi-gəs, pem-'fī-] -n
- an autoimmune disease marked by blisters on skin and mucous membranes and often by itching or burning
pen ['pen] -vt
- to shut in or as if in a pen
- a small enclosure for animals
- the animals in a pen
- a small place of confinement or storage
- a protected dock or slip for a submarine
- bull pen
- : an implement for writing or drawing with ink or a similar fluid: as
- quill
- pen point
- a penholder containing a pen point
- fountain pen
- ballpoint
- a writing instrument regarded as a means of expression
- enlisted the pen s of the best writers -- F. H. Chase
- writer
- the internal horny feather-shaped shell of a squid
- stylus
- write, indite
- a female swan
- penitentiary
- peninsula
PEN -abbr
- International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists
pe·nal ['pē-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or involving punishment, penalties, or punitive institutions
- liable to punishment
- used as a place of confinement and punishment
penal code -n
- a code of laws concerning crimes and offenses and their punishment
pe·nal·ise ['pē-nə-,līz, 'pe-] -vt, n
(variant of penalize)
- to inflict a penalty on
- to put at a serious disadvantage
pe·nal·ize ['pē-nə-,līz, 'pe-] -vt, n
- to inflict a penalty on
- to put at a serious disadvantage
pen·al·ty ['pe-nᵊl-tē] -n, adj
- the suffering in person, rights, or property that is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commission of a crime or public offense
- the suffering or the sum to be forfeited to which a person agrees to be subjected in case of nonfulfillment of stipulations
- disadvantage, loss, or hardship due to some action
- a disadvantage (as loss of yardage, time, or possession of the ball or an addition to or subtraction from the score) imposed on a team or competitor for violation of the rules of a sport
- points scored in bridge by the side that defeats the opposing contract usu. used in pl.
penalty box -n
- an area alongside an ice hockey rink to which penalized players are confined for the duration of their penalty
penalty kick -n
- a free kick in rugby
- a free kick at the goal in soccer made from a point 12 yards in front of the goal and allowed for certain violations within a designated area around the goal
penalty shot -n
- an unhindered shot at the goal in ice hockey awarded to an individual for certain violations by an opponent
pen·ance ['pe-nən(t)s] -n
- an act of self-abasement, mortification, or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin
- a sacramental rite that is practiced in Roman, Eastern, and some Anglican churches and that consists of private confession, absolution, and a penance directed by the confessor
- something (as a hardship or penalty) resembling an act of penance (as in compensating for an offense)
penance -vt
- to impose penance on
Pe·na·tes [pə-'nā-tēz, -'nä-] -n pl
- the Roman gods of the household worshipped in close connection with Vesta and with the Lares
pence ['pe-nē] -n
(variant of penny)
- a monetary unit of the United Kingdom formerly equal to pound but now equal to pound
- a similar monetary unit of any of various other countries in or formerly in the Commonwealth of Nations see pound at
- a coin representing one penny
- denarius
- cent
- a former monetary unit equal to Irish pound
- a trivial amount
- a piece or sum of money
- that will cost a pretty penny
pen·cel ['pen(t)-səl] -n
- pennoncel
pen·chant ['pen-chənt, esp Brit 'päⁿ-,shäⁿ] -n
- a strong and continued inclination
- liking
pen·cil ['pen(t)-səl] -n
- an artist's brush
- an artist's individual skill or style
- an implement for writing, drawing, or marking consisting of or containing a slender cylinder or strip of a solid marking substance
- a small medicated or cosmetic roll or stick for local applications
- a set of geometric objects each pair of which has a common property
- the lines in a plane through a point comprise a pencil of lines
- something (as a beam of radiation) long and thin like a pencil
pencil [-s(ə-)liŋ] -vt
- to paint, draw, write, or mark with a pencil
- to plan or designate tentatively used with in
- pencil ed him in as the nominee
pen·cil·ing -n
- the work of the pencil or brush
- a product of this
pencil pusher -n
- a person who does predominantly paperwork
pen·dant ['pen-dənt; 3 & 4 are also 'pe-nənt, 5 is also päⁿ-'däⁿ] -n
- : something suspended: as
- an ornament (as on a necklace) allowed to hang free
- an electrical fixture suspended from the ceiling
- a hanging ornament of roofs or ceilings much used in the later styles of Gothic architecture
- a length of line usu. used as a connector on a boat or ship
- a short rope hanging from a spar and having at its free end a block or spliced thimble
- pennant
- companion piece
- something secondary or supplementary
pen·den·cy ['pen-dən(t)-sē] -n
- the state of being pending
- the pendency of the litigation
pen·dent ['pen-dənt] -adj
- jutting or leaning over : overhanging
- supported from above : suspended
- icicles pendent from the eaves
- remaining undetermined : pending
pen·den·tive [pen-'den-tiv] -n
- one of the concave triangular members that support a dome over a square space
pend·ing ['pen-diŋ] -prep
- during
- while awaiting
pending -adj
- not yet decided : being in continuance
- the case is still pending
- imminent, impending
pen·du·lar ['pen-jə-lər, 'pen-dyə-, -də-] -adj
- being or resembling the movement of a pendulum
pen·du·lous [-ləs] -adj, n
- poised without visible support
- suspended so as to swing freely
- branches hung with pendulous vines
- inclined or hanging downward
- marked by vacillation, indecision, or uncertainty
pen·du·lum [-ləm] -n
- a body suspended from a fixed point so as to swing freely to and fro under the action of gravity and commonly used to regulate movements (as of clockwork)
- something (as a state of affairs) that alternates between opposites
Pe·nel·o·pe [pə-'ne-lə-pē] -n
- the wife of Odysseus who waits faithfully for him during his 20 years' absence
pe·ne·plain ['pē-ni-,plān, 'pe-] -n
- a land surface of considerable area and slight relief shaped by erosion
pen·e·tra·ble ['pe-nə-trə-bəl] -adj, n
- capable of being penetrated
pen·e·tra·lia [,pe-nə-'trā-lē-ə] -n pl
- the innermost or most private parts
pen·e·trance ['pe-nə-trən(t)s] -n
- the proportion of individuals of a particular genotype that express its phenotypic effect in a given environment
pen·e·trant [-trənt] -adj
- penetrating
penetrant -n
- one that penetrates or is capable of penetrating
pen·e·trate ['pe-nə-,trāt] -vb
- to pass into or through
- to enter by overcoming resistance : pierce
- to gain entrance to
- to see into or through
- to discover the inner contents or meaning of
- to affect profoundly with feeling
- to diffuse through or into
- to pass, extend, pierce, or diffuse into or through something
- to pierce something with the eye or mind
- to affect deeply the senses or feelings
penetrating [-,trā-tiŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- having the power of entering, piercing, or pervading
- acute, discerning
- penetrating insights into life
pen·e·tra·tion [,pe-nə-'trā-shən] -n
- the power to penetrate
- the ability to discern deeply and acutely
- the depth to which something penetrates
- the extent to which a commercial product or agency is familiar or sells in a market
- : the act or process of penetrating: as
- the act of entering a country so that actual establishment of influence is accomplished
- an attack that penetrates the enemy's front or territory
pen·e·tra·tive ['pe-nə-,trā-tiv] -adj
- tending to penetrate : piercing
- acute
- impressive
pen·e·trom·e·ter [,pe-nə-'trä-mə-tər] -n
- an instrument for measuring firmness or consistency (as of soil)
pen·go ['peŋ-,gə(r), -,gœ] -n
- the basic monetary unit of Hungary from 1925 to 1946
pen·guin ['pen-gwən, 'peŋ-] -n
- any of various erect short-legged flightless aquatic birds (family Spheniscidae) of the southern hemisphere
pen·hold·er ['pen-,hōl-dər] -n
- a holder or handle for a pen point
pen·i·cil·la·mine [,pe-nə-'si-lə-,mēn] -n
- an amino acid C 5H 11NO 2S that is obtained from penicillins and is used esp. in the treatment of cystinuria, rheumatoid arthritis, and poisoning by metals (as copper or lead)
pen·i·cil·late [,pe-nə-'si-lət, -,lāt] -adj
- furnished with a tuft of fine filaments
pen·i·cil·lin [,pe-nə-'si-lən] -n
- any of several relatively nontoxic antibiotic acids of the general formula C 9H 11N 2O 4SR that are produced by molds (genus Penicilliumand esp. P. notatumor P. chrysogenum) or synthetically and are used esp. against gram-positive cocci
- a mixture of such acids
- a salt or ester of a penicillin or a mixture of such salts or esters
pen·i·cil·lin·ase [-'si-lə-,nās, -,nāz] -n
- beta-lactamase
pen·i·cil·li·um [-'si-lē-əm] -n
- any of a genus ( Penicillium) of fungi (as a blue mold) that are found chiefly on moist nonliving organic matter (as decaying fruit) and have been grouped with the imperfect fungi but are now often placed with the ascomycetes
pe·nile ['pē-,nī(-ə)l] -adj
- of, relating to, or affecting the penis
pen·in·su·la [pə-'nin(t)-s(ə-)lə, -shə-lə] -n, adj
- a portion of land nearly surrounded by water and connected with a larger body by an isthmus
- a piece of land jutting out into the water whether with or without a well-defined isthmus
pe·nis ['pē-nəs] -n
- a male erectile organ of copulation by which urine and semen are discharged from the body and that develops from the same embryonic mass of tissue as the clitoris
penis envy -n
- the supposed coveting of the penis by a young human female which is held in Freudian psychoanalytic theory to lead to feelings of inferiority and defensive or compensatory behavior
pen·i·tence ['pe-nə-tən(t)s] -n
- the quality or state of being penitent : sorrow for sins or faults
pen·i·tent [-tənt] -adj, adv
- feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses : repentant
penitent -n
- a person who repents of sin
- a person under church censure but admitted to penance or reconciliation esp. under the direction of a confessor
pen·i·ten·tial [,pe-nə-'ten(t)-shəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to penitence or penance
pen·i·ten·tia·ry [,pe-nə-'ten(t)-sh(ə-)rē] -n
- an officer in some Roman Catholic dioceses vested with power from the bishop to deal with cases of a nature normally handled only by the bishop
- a cardinal presiding over a tribunal of the Roman curia concerned with dispensations and indulgences
- a public institution in which offenders against the law are confined for detention or punishment
- a state or federal prison in the U.S.
- penitential
- of, relating to, or incurring confinement in a penitentiary
pen·knife ['pen-,nīf] -n
- a small pocketknife usu. with only one blade
pen·light [-,līt] -n
- a small flashlight resembling a fountain pen in size or shape
pen·man [-mən] -n
- calligrapher
- copyist, scribe
- a person with a specified quality or kind of handwriting
- author
pen·man·ship [-,ship] -n
- the art or practice of writing with the pen
- quality or style of handwriting
Penn -abbr
- Pennsylvania
pen name -n
- an author's pseudonym
pen·nant ['pe-nənt] -n
- any of various nautical flags tapering usu. to a point or swallowtail and used for identification or signaling
- a flag or banner longer in the fly than in the hoist
- one that tapers to a point
- a flag emblematic of championship (as in a professional baseball league)
- the championship itself
pen·nate ['pe-,nāt] -adj
- of, relating to, or being usu. elongate bilaterally symmetrical diatoms of an order (Pennales) having a raphe or a similar structure
pen·ne ['pe(n)-(,)nā] -n
- short thick diagonally cut tubular pasta
pen·ni ['pe-nē] -n
- a former monetary unit equal to Finnish markka
pen·ni·less ['pe-ni-ləs] -adj
- destitute of money
pen·non ['pe-nən] -n
- a long usu. triangular or swallow-tailed streamer typically attached to the head of a lance as an ensign
- pennant
- wing, pinion
pen·non·cel ['pe-nən-,sel] -n
- a small pennon used in late medieval or Renaissance times
Penn·syl·va·nia Dutch [,pen(t)-səl-'vā-nyə-, -nē-ə-] -n
- a people orig. of eastern Pennsylvania whose characteristic cultural traditions go back to the German migrations of the 18th century
- a dialect of German spoken mainly in Amish communities esp. in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana
Pennsylvania German -n
- pennsylvania dutch
Penn·syl·va·nian [-'vā-nyən, -nē-ən] -adj, n
- of or relating to Pennsylvania or its people
- of, relating to, or being the period of the Paleozoic era in No. America between the Mississippian and Permian or the corresponding system of rocks
pen·ny ['pe-nē] -n
- a monetary unit of the United Kingdom formerly equal to pound but now equal to pound
- a similar monetary unit of any of various other countries in or formerly in the Commonwealth of Nations see pound at
- a coin representing one penny
- denarius
- cent
- a former monetary unit equal to Irish pound
- a trivial amount
- a piece or sum of money
- that will cost a pretty penny
pen·nyan·te ['pe-nē-'an-tē] -adj
- small-time, two-bit
penny ante -n
- poker played for very low stakes
penny arcade -n
- an amusement center having coin-operated devices for entertainment
penny candy -n
- inexpensive candy orig. costing a penny apiece
pen·ny·cress ['pe-nē-,kres] -n
- a Eurasian cruciferous herb ( Thlaspi arvense) with round flat pods that is widely naturalized in the New World
penny dreadful -n, adj
- a novel of violent adventure or crime
penny loafer -n
- a loafer with a strap across the upper orig. used for holding a penny
pen·nypinch·ing [-,pin-chiŋ] -n, adj
- frugality, parsimony
pen·ny·roy·al [,pen-ē-'rȯi(-ə)l, 'pe-ni-,rī(-ə)l] -n
- a European perennial mint ( Mentha pulegium) with small aromatic leaves
- an aromatic No. American mint ( Hedeoma pulegioides) that has blue or violet flowers borne in axillary tufts and yields an oil used in folk medicine or to drive away mosquitoes
penny stock -n
- a usu. unlisted highly speculative stock usu. selling for a dollar or less
pen·ny·whistle [-,hwi-səl, -,wi-] -n
- a small fipple flute
- a toy whistle
pen·nywise [-,wīz] -adj
- wise or prudent only in dealing with small sums or matters
pen·ny·wort [-,wərt, -,wȯrt] -n
- any of several usu. round-leaved plants (as of the genus Hydrocotyleof the carrot family)
pen·ny·worth ['pe-nē-,wərth, Brit often 'pe-nərth] -n
- a penny's worth
- value for the money spent : bargain
- a small quantity : modicum
Pe·nob·scot [pə-'näb-,skät, -skət] -n
- a member of an American Indian people of the Penobscot River valley and Penobscot Bay region of Maine
pe·nol·o·gy [pi-'nä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- a branch of criminology dealing with prison management and the treatment of offenders
pen pal -n
- a friend made and kept through correspondence
pen point -n
- a small thin convex metal device that tapers to a split point, fits into a holder, and is used for writing or drawing
pen pusher -n
- pencil pusher
pen·sion ['pen(t)-shən] -n, adj
- : a fixed sum paid regularly to a person:
- wage
- a gratuity granted (as by a government) as a favor or reward
- one paid under given conditions to a person following retirement from service or to surviving dependents
- accommodations esp. at a continental European hotel or boardinghouse : room and board
- a hotel or boardinghouse esp. in continental Europe
pension ['pen(t)-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt
- to grant or pay a pension to
- to dismiss or retire from service with a pension
- pension ed off his faithful old servant
pen·sion·able ['pen(t)-sh(ə-)nə-bəl] -adj
- of, relating to, qualified for, or qualifying for a pension
pen·sion·ary ['pen(t)-shə-,ner-ē] -n, adj
- pensioner
- hireling
pen·sion·er ['pen(t)-sh(ə-)nər] -n
- a person who receives or lives on a pension
- gentleman-at-arms
- retainer
- mercenary, hireling
pen·sive ['pen(t)-siv] -adj, adv, n
- musingly or dreamily thoughtful
- suggestive of sad thoughtfulness
pen·ste·mon [pen(t)-'stē-mən, 'pen(t)-stə-] -n
- any of a genus ( Penstemon) of chiefly American herbs of the snapdragon family with showy tubular flowers
pen·stock ['pen-,stäk] -n
- a sluice or gate for regulating a flow (as of water)
- a conduit or pipe for conducting water
pent ['pent] -adj
- shut up : confined, repressed
penta- -comb form
- five
- containing five atoms or groups
pen·ta·chlo·ro·phe·nol [,pen-tə-,klȯr-ə-'fē-,nōl, -fi-'] -n
- a crystalline compound C 6Cl 5OH used esp. as a wood preservative and fungicide and a disinfectant
pen·ta·cle ['pen-ti-kəl] -n
- pentagram
pen·tad ['pen-,tad] -n
- a group of five
pen·ta·gon ['pen-tə-,gän] -n
- a polygon of five angles and five sides
Pentagon -n
- the U.S. military leadership
pen·tag·o·nal [pen-'ta-gə-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- having five sides and five angles
- having a pentagon as a cross section or as a base
Pen·ta·gon·ese [,pen-tə-,gä-'nēz, -'nēs] -n
- military jargon
pen·ta·gram ['pen-tə-,gram] -n
- a figure of a 5-pointed star usu. made with alternate points connected by a continuous line and used as a magic or occult symbol
- a similar 6-pointed star (as a Solomon's seal)
pen·ta·he·dron [,pen-tə-'hē-drən] -n, adj
- a solid bounded by five faces
pen·tam·er·ous [pen-'ta-mə-rəs] -adj
- divided into or consisting of five parts
- having each floral whorl consisting of five or a multiple of five members
pen·tam·e·ter [pen-'ta-mə-tər] -n
- a line of verse consisting of five metrical feet
pent·am·i·dine [pen-'ta-mə-,dēn, -dən] -n
- a drug C 23H 36N 4O 10S 2used esp. to treat protozoal infections (as leishmaniasis) and to prevent AIDS-related pneumonia
pen·tane ['pen-,tān] -n
- any of three isomeric alkanes C 5H 12that occur esp. in petroleum
pen·tan·gle ['pent-,aŋ-gəl, 'pen-,taŋ-] -n
- pentagram
pen·ta·pep·tide [,pen-tə-'pep-,tīd] -n
- a polypeptide that contains five amino acid residues
pen·ta·ploid ['pen-tə-,plȯid] -adj, n
- having or being a chromosome number that is five times the basic number
pen·tar·chy ['pen-,tär-kē] -n
- a group of five countries or districts each under its own ruler or government
Pen·ta·teuch ['pen-tə-,tük, -,tyük] -n
- the first five books of Jewish and Christian Scriptures
pen·tath·lete [pen-'tath-,lēt, ÷-'ta-thə-] -n
- an athlete participating in a pentathlon
pen·tath·lon [pen-'tath-lən, -,län, ÷-'ta-thə-] -n
- an athletic contest involving participation by each contestant in five different events
- modern pentathlon
pen·ta·ton·ic [,pen-tə-'tä-nik] -adj
- consisting of five tones
- being or relating to a scale in which the tones are arranged like a major scale with the fourth and seventh tones omitted
pen·ta·va·lent [,pen-tə-'vā-lənt] -adj
- having a valence of five
pen·taz·o·cine [pen-'ta-zə-,sēn] -n
- a synthetic analgesic drug C 19H 27NO that is less addictive than morphine
Pen·te·cost ['pen-ti-,kȯst, -,käst] -n
- shabuoth
- a Christian feast on the seventh Sunday after Easter commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles called also Whitsunday
Pen·te·cos·tal [,pen-ti-'käs-tᵊl, -'kȯs-] -adj, n, n or adj
- of, relating to, or suggesting Pentecost
- of, relating to, or constituting any of various Christian religious bodies that emphasize individual experiences of grace, spiritual gifts (as glossolalia and faith healing), expressive worship, and evangelism
Pentecostal -n
- a member of a Pentecostal religious body
pent·house ['pent-,hau̇s] -n
- a shed or roof attached to and sloping from a wall or building
- a smaller structure joined to a building : annex
- a structure or dwelling built on the roof of a building
pen·ti·men·to [,pen-tə-'men-(,)tō] -n
- a reappearance in a painting of a design which has been painted over
pent·land·ite ['pent-lən-,dīt] -n
- a bronzy yellow mineral that is an isometric nickel iron sulfide and the principal ore of nickel
pen·to·bar·bi·tal [,pen-tə-'bär-bə-,tȯl] -n
- a granular barbiturate C 11H 18N 2O 3used esp. in the form of its sodium or calcium salt as a sedative, hypnotic, and antispasmodic
pen·to·bar·bi·tone [-,tōn] -n
- pentobarbital
pen·to·san ['pen-tə-,san] -n
- any of various polysaccharides that yield only pentoses on hydrolysis and occur widely in plants
pen·tose ['pen-,tōs, -,tōz] -n
- a monosaccharide C 5H 10O 5(as ribose) that contains five carbon atoms in the molecule
Pen·to·thal ['pen-tə-,thȯl] -trademark
- used for thiopental
pent·ox·ide [pent-'äk-,sīd] -n
- an oxide containing five atoms of oxygen in the molecule
pentstemon [pen(t)-'stē-mən, 'pen(t)-stə-] -n
(variant of penstemon)
- any of a genus ( Penstemon) of chiefly American herbs of the snapdragon family with showy tubular flowers
pen·tyl·ene·tet·ra·zol [,pen-tə-,lēn-'te-trə-,zȯl, -,zōl] -n
- an analeptic drug C 6H 10N 4
pe·nu·che [pə-'nü-chē] -n
- fudge made usu. of brown sugar, butter, cream or milk, and nuts
pe·nult ['pē-,nəlt, pi-'] -n
- the next to the last member of a series
- the next to the last syllable of a word
pen·ul·ti·ma [pi-'nəl-tə-mə] -n
- penult
pen·ul·ti·mate [pi-'nəl-tə-mət] -adj, adv
- next to the last
- the penultimate chapter of a book
- of or relating to a penult
pen·um·bra [pə-'nəm-brə] -n, adj
- a space of partial illumination (as in an eclipse) between the perfect shadow on all sides and the full light
- a shaded region surrounding the dark central portion of a sunspot
- a surrounding or adjoining region in which something exists in a lesser degree : fringe
- a body of rights held to be guaranteed by implication in a civil constitution
- something that covers, surrounds, or obscures : shroud
- a penumbra of somber dignity has descended over his reputation -- James Atlas
pe·nu·ri·ous [pə-'nu̇r-ē-əs, -'nyu̇r-] -adj, adv, n
- marked by or suffering from penury
- given to or marked by extreme stinting frugality
pen·u·ry ['pen-yə-rē] -n
- a cramping and oppressive lack of resources (as money)
- severe poverty
- extreme and often niggardly frugality
pe·on ['pē-,än, -ən also pā-'ōn for 2, Brit also 'pyün for 1] -n
- : any of various workers in India, Sri Lanka, or Malaysia: as
- infantryman
- orderly
- a member of the landless laboring class in Spanish America
- a person held in compulsory servitude to a master for the working out of an indebtedness
- drudge, menial
pe·on·age ['pē-ə-nij] -n
- the use of laborers bound in servitude because of debt
- a system of convict labor by which convicts are leased to contractors
- the condition of a peon
pe·o·ny ['pē-ə-nē] -n
- any of a genus ( Paeoniaof the family Paeoniaceae) of chiefly Eurasian plants with large often double flowers
- the flower of a peony
peo·ple ['pē-pəl] -n, adj
- human beings making up a group or assembly or linked by a common interest
- human beings, persons often used in compounds instead of persons often used attributively
- the members of a family or kinship
- the mass of a community as distinguished from a special class
- disputes between the people and the nobles
often used by Communists to distinguish Communists from other people - a body of persons that are united by a common culture, tradition, or sense of kinship, that typically have common language, institutions, and beliefs, and that often constitute a politically organized group
- lower animals usu. of a specified kind or situation
- the body of enfranchised citizens of a state
people [-p(ə-)liŋ] -vt
- to supply or fill with people
- to dwell in : inhabit
peo·ple·hood ['pē-pəl-,hu̇d] -n
- the quality or state of constituting a people
- the awareness of the underlying unity that makes the individual a part of a people
people mover -n
- any of various rapid-transit systems (as of moving sidewalks or automated driverless cars) for shuttling people
pep ['pep] -n
- brisk energy or initiative and high spirits
- to inject pep into
pep·er·o·mia [,pe-pə-'rō-mē-ə] -n
- any of a genus ( Peperomia) of fleshy tropical herbs of the pepper family often cultivated for their showy variegated leaves
pe·pi·no [pə-'pē-(,)nō] -n
- a bushy perennial plant ( Solanum muricatum) of the nightshade family that is native to temperate uplands of So. America and has an edible usu. purple-marked yellow fruit
- the fruit
pep·los ['pe-pləs, -,pläs] -n
- a garment worn like a shawl by women of ancient Greece
pep·lum ['pe-pləm] -n, adj
- a short section attached to the waistline of a blouse, jacket, or dress
pe·po ['pē-(,)pō] -n
- an indehiscent fleshy one-celled many-seeded berry (as a pumpkin, squash, melon, or cucumber) that has a hard rind and is the characteristic fruit of the gourd family
pep·per ['pe-pər] -n, adj
- : either of two pungent products from the fruit of an Indian plant ( Piper nigrum) that are used chiefly as condiments:
- black pepper
- white pepper
- any of several products similar to pepper that are obtained from plants of the same genus
- any of various pungent condiments of plants unrelated to the pepper
- any of a genus ( Piperof the family Piperaceae, the pepper family) of tropical mostly jointed climbing shrubs with aromatic leaves
- a woody vine ( P. nigrum) with spicate flowers that is widely cultivated in the tropics for its red berries from which black pepper and white pepper are prepared
- capsicum
- a New World capsicum ( Capsicum annuum) whose fruits are hot peppers or sweet peppers
- the hollow fruit of a pepper that is usu. red or yellow when ripe
pepper ['pe-p(ə-)riŋ] -vt, n
- to hit with or as if with rapid repeated blows
- to sprinkle or season with pepper
- to shower with or as if with shot or other missiles
- to sprinkle or cover as if with pepper
- pepper ed the report with statistics
- a face pepper ed with freckles
- a baseball practice or warm-up game in which usu. several fielders toss the ball a short distance to a single batter who hits it back
pep·perandsalt [,pe-pər(-ə)n(d)-'sȯlt] -adj
- salt-and-pepper
pep·per·box ['pe-pər-,bäks] -n
- a small usu. cylindrical box or bottle with a perforated top used for sprinkling pepper on food
- a pistol of the late 18th century with five or six revolving barrels
pep·per·corn [-,kȯrn] -n
- a dried berry of the black pepper
peppered moth -n
- a European geometrid moth ( Biston betularia) that typically has white wings with small black specks but also occurs as a solid black form esp. in areas where the air is heavily polluted by industry
pep·per·grass ['pe-pər-,gras] -n
- any of a genus ( Lepidium) of cresses
- garden cress
pepper mill -n
- a hand mill for grinding peppercorns
pep·per·mint [-,mint, -mənt, in rapid speech 'pep-mənt or -ᵊm-ənt] -n, adj
- a pungent and aromatic mint ( Mentha piperita) with dark green lanceolate leaves and whorls of small pink flowers in spikes
- any of several mints (as M. arvensis) that are related to the peppermint
- candy flavored with peppermint
pep·per·o·ni [,pe-pə-'rō-nē] -n
- a highly seasoned beef and pork sausage
pepper pot -n
- pepperbox
- a highly seasoned West Indian stew of vegetables and meat or fish
- a thick soup of tripe, meat, dumplings, and vegetables highly seasoned esp. with crushed peppercorns called also Philadelphia pepper pot
pepper shaker -n
- a container with a perforated top for sprinkling pepper
pepper spray -n
- a temporarily disabling aerosol that is composed partly of capsicum oleoresin and causes irritation and blinding of the eyes and inflammation of the nose, throat, and skin
pep·per·tree ['pe-pər-,trē] -n
- a So. American evergreen tree ( Schinus molle) of the cashew family grown as a shade tree in mild climates
pep·pery ['pe-p(ə-)rē] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or having the qualities of pepper : hot, pungent
- having a hot temper : touchy
- fiery, stinging
pep pill -n
- any of various stimulant drugs in pill or tablet form
pep·py ['pe-pē] -adj, n
- full of pep
pep·sin ['pep-sən] -n
- a protease of the stomach that breaks down most proteins to polypeptides
- a preparation containing pepsin that is obtained from the stomach esp. of the hog and is used esp. as a digestive aid
pep·sin·o·gen [pep-'si-nə-jən] -n
- a granular zymogen of the gastric glands that is readily converted into pepsin in a slightly acid medium
pep talk -n
- a usu. brief, intense, and emotional talk designed to influence or encourage an audience
pep·tic ['pep-tik] -adj
- relating to or promoting digestion : digestive
- of, relating to, producing, or caused by pepsin
- connected with or resulting from the action of digestive juices
pep·ti·dase ['pep-tə-,dās, -,dāz] -n
- an enzyme that hydrolyzes simple peptides or their derivatives
pep·tide ['pep-,tīd] -n, adj
- any of various amides that are derived from two or more amino acids by combination of the amino group of one acid with the carboxyl group of another and are usu. obtained by partial hydrolysis of proteins
peptide bond -n
- the chemical bond between carbon and nitrogen in a peptide linkage
peptide linkage -n
- the divalent group CONH that unites the amino acid residues in a peptide
pep·ti·do·gly·can [,pep-tə-dō-'glī-,kan] -n
- a polymer that is composed of polysaccharide and peptide chains and is found esp. in bacterial cell walls called also mucopeptide murein
pep·tone ['pep-,tōn] -n
- any of various water-soluble products of partial hydrolysis of proteins
Pe·quot ['pē-,kwät] -n
- a member of an American Indian people of what is now eastern Connecticut
per ['pər] -prep
- by the means or agency of : through
- with respect to every member of a specified group : for each
- according to often used with as
- for each : apiece
- period
- person
per- -prefix
- throughout : thoroughly
- containing the largest possible or a relatively large proportion of a (specified) chemical element
- containing an element in its highest or a high oxidation state
per·ad·ven·ture ['pər-əd-,ven-chər, 'per-; ,pər-əd-', ,per-] -adv
- perhaps, possibly
peradventure -n
- doubt
- a fact established beyond peradventure
- chance
- beyond peradventure of doubt
per·am·bu·late [pə-'ram-byə-,lāt] -vb, n, adj
- to travel over or through esp. on foot : traverse
- to make an official inspection of (a boundary) on foot
- stroll
per·am·bu·la·tor [pə-'ram-byə-,lā-tər, for 2 also 'pram-] -n
- one that perambulates
- a baby carriage
per an·num [(,)pər-'a-nəm] -adv
- in or for each year
per·bo·rate [(,)pər-'bȯr-,āt] -n
- a salt that is a compound of a borate with hydrogen peroxide
perc -abbr
- perchloroethylene
- percolation
per·cale [(,)pər-'kāl, 'pər-,; (,)pər-'kal] -n
- a fine closely woven cotton cloth variously finished for clothing, sheeting, and industrial uses
per·ca·line [,pər-kə-'lēn] -n
- a lightweight cotton fabric
- a glossy fabric used for bookbindings
per cap·i·ta [(,)pər-'ka-pə-tə] -adv or adj
- equally to each individual
- per unit of population : by or for each person
- the highest income per capita of any state in the union
per·ceive [pər-'sēv] -vt, adj, adv, n
- to attain awareness or understanding of
- to regard as being such
- to become aware of through the senses
- see, observe
per·cent [pər-'sent] -adv
- in the hundred : of each hundred
percent -n
- one part in a hundred
- percentage
- a large percent of their income
- securities bearing a specified rate of interest
- reckoned on the basis of a whole divided into 100 parts
- paying interest at a specified percent
per·cent·age [pər-'sen-tij] -n
- a part of a whole expressed in hundredths
- a high percentage of students attended
- the result obtained by multiplying a number by a percent
- the percentage equals the rate times the base
- a share of winnings or profits
- advantage, profit
- no percentage in going around looking like an old sack of laundry -- Wallace Stegner
- an indeterminate part : proportion
- probability
- favorable odds
percentage point -n
- one hundredth of a whole : percent
- interest rates rose one percentage point from 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent
per·cen·tile [pər-'sen-,tī(-ə)l] -n
- a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it
- a score in the 95th percentile
per cen·tum [pər-'sen-təm] -n
- percent
per·cept ['pər-,sept] -n
- an impression of an object obtained by use of the senses : sense-datum
per·cep·ti·ble [pər-'sep-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- capable of being perceived esp. by the senses
- a perceptible change in her tone
- a barely perceptible light
per·cep·tion [pər-'sep-shən] -n, adj
- a result of perceiving : observation
- a mental image : concept
- consciousness
- awareness of the elements of environment through physical sensation
- physical sensation interpreted in the light of experience
- quick, acute, and intuitive cognition : appreciation
- a capacity for comprehension
per·cep·tive [pər-'sep-tiv] -adj, adv, n
- responsive to sensory stimuli : discerning
- capable of or exhibiting keen perception : observant
- characterized by sympathetic understanding or insight
per·cep·tu·al [(,)pər-'sep-chə-wəl, -chəl, -shwəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or involving perception esp. in relation to immediate sensory experience
Per·ce·val ['pər-sə-vəl] -n
- a knight of King Arthur who wins a sight of the Holy Grail
perch ['pərch] -n
- a bar or peg on which something is hung
- a roost for a bird
- a resting place or vantage point : seat
- a prominent position
- his new perch as president
- rod
- to alight, settle, or rest on a perch, a height, or a precarious spot
- to place on a perch, a height, or a precarious spot
- a small European freshwater bony fish ( Perca fluviatilisof the family Percidae, the perch family)
- yellow perch
- any of numerous bony fishes (as of the families Percidae, Centrarchidae, and Serranidae)
per·chance [pər-'chan(t)s] -adv
- perhaps, possibly
Per·che·ron ['pər-chə-,rän, -shə-] -n
- any of a breed of powerful rugged draft horses that originated in the Perche region of France
per·chlo·rate [(,)pər-'klȯr-,āt, -ət] -n
- a salt or ester of perchloric acid
per·chlo·ric acid [(,)pər-'klȯr-ik-] -n
- a fuming corrosive strong acid HClO 4that is the most highly oxidized acid of chlorine and a powerful oxidizing agent when heated
per·chlo·ro·eth·y·lene [(,)pər-,klȯr-ō-'e-thə-,lēn] -n
- a colorless nonflammable toxic liquid C 2Cl 4used often as a solvent in dry cleaning and for removal of grease from metals
per·cip·i·ence [pər-'si-pē-ən(t)s] -n
- perception
per·cip·i·ent [-ənt] -n
- one that perceives
- a person on whose mind a telepathic impulse or message is held to fall
percipient -adj, adv
- capable of or characterized by perception : discerning
per·co·late ['pər-kə-,lāt, ÷-kyə-] -vb, n
- to cause (a solvent) to pass through a permeable substance (as a powdered drug) esp. for extracting a soluble constituent
- to prepare (coffee) in a percolator
- to be diffused through : penetrate
- to ooze or trickle through a permeable substance : seep
- to become percolated
- to become lively or effervescent
- to spread gradually
- allow the sunlight to percolate into our rooms -- Norman Douglas
- simmer
- the feud had been percolating for a long time
per·co·la·tor ['pər-kə-,lā-tər, ÷-kyə-] -n
- one that percolates
- a coffeepot in which boiling water rising through a tube is repeatedly deflected downward through a perforated basket containing ground coffee beans to extract their essence
per con·tra [(,)pər-'kän-trə] -adv
- on the contrary
- by way of contrast
- as an offset
per cu·ri·am [(,)pər-'kyu̇r-ē-,äm, -'ku̇r-] -adv or adj
- by the court as a whole rather than by a single justice and usu. without extended discussion
per·cuss [pər-'kəs] -vt
- to tap sharply
- to practice percussion on
per·cus·sion [pər-'kə-shən] -n, adj
- : the act of percussing: as
- the striking of a percussion cap so as to set off the charge in a firearm
- the beating or striking of a musical instrument
- the act or technique of tapping the surface of a body part to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the resultant sound
- the striking of sound on the ear
- percussion instruments that form a section of a band or orchestra
percussion cap -n
- cap
percussion instrument -n
- a musical instrument (as a drum, xylophone, or maraca) sounded by striking, shaking, or scraping
per·cus·sion·ist [pər-'kə-sh(ə-)nist] -n
- one skilled in the playing of percussion instruments
per·cus·sive [pər-'kə-siv] -adj, adv, n
- of or relating to percussion
- operative or operated by striking
- having powerful impact
per·cu·ta·ne·ous [,pər-kyü-'tā-nē-əs] -adj, adv
- effected, occurring, or performed through the skin
perdie [pər-'dē, pär-] -interj
(variant of pardie)
- used as a mild oath
per di·em [(,)pər-'dē-əm, -'dī-] -adv
- by the day : for each day
per diem -adj
- based on use or service by the day : daily
- paid by the day
- a daily allowance
- a daily fee
per·di·tion [pər-'di-shən] -n
- utter destruction
- loss
- eternal damnation
- hell
per·du ['pər-(,)dü, -(,)dyü; (,)pər-'] -n
- a soldier assigned to extremely hazardous duty
- remaining out of sight
per·du·ra·ble [(,)pər-'du̇r-ə-bəl, -'dyu̇r-; 'pər-jə-rə-] -adj, n, adv
- very durable
per·dure [(,)pər-'du̇r, -'dyu̇r] -vi
- to continue to exist : last
pere ['per] -n
- father used after a name to distinguish a father from a son
per·e·gri·nate ['per-ə-grə-,nāt] -vb, n
- to travel esp. on foot : walk
- to walk or travel over : traverse
per·e·grine ['per-ə-grən, -,grēn] -adj
- having a tendency to wander
peregrine falcon -n
- a swift nearly cosmopolitan falcon ( Falco peregrinus) often used in falconry called also peregrine
pe·remp·to·ry [pə-'rem(p)-t(ə-)rē] -adj, adv, n
- putting an end to or precluding a right of action, debate, or delay
- not providing an opportunity to show cause why one should not comply
- admitting of no contradiction
- expressive of urgency or command
- characterized by often imperious or arrogant self-assurance
- how insolent of late he is become, how proud, how peremptory -- Shak.
- indicative of a peremptory attitude or nature : haughty
- peremptory disregard of an objection
peremptory challenge -n
- a challenge (as of a juror) made as of right without assigning any cause
pe·ren·nate ['per-ə-,nāt, pə-'re-,nāt] -vi, n
- to live over from one growing season to another
pe·ren·ni·al [pə-'re-nē-əl] -adj, n, adv
- present at all seasons of the year
- persisting for several years usu. with new herbaceous growth from a perennating part
- persistent, enduring
- continuing without interruption : constant, perpetual
- the perennial quest for certainty
- regularly repeated or renewed : recurrent
- death is a perennial literary theme
pe·re·on [pə-'rē-,än] -n
- the thorax or the seven metameres comprising the thorax of some crustaceans (as a decapod)
pe·reo·pod [pə-'rē-ə-,päd] -n
- an appendage of the pereon
per·e·stroi·ka [,per-ə-'strȯi-kə] -n
- the policy of economic and governmental reform instituted by Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union during the mid-1980s
perf -abbr
- perforated
- performance
per·fect ['pər-fikt] -adj, n
- being entirely without fault or defect : flawless
- satisfying all requirements : accurate
- corresponding to an ideal standard or abstract concept
- faithfully reproducing the original
- letter-perfect
- legally valid
- expert, proficient
- pure, total
- lacking in no essential detail : complete
- sane
- absolute, unequivocal
- of an extreme kind : unmitigated
- an act of perfect foolishness
- mature
- of, relating to, or constituting a verb form or verbal that expresses an action or state completed at the time of speaking or at a time spoken of
- certain, sure
- contented, satisfied
- belonging to the consonances unison, fourth, fifth, and octave which retain their character when inverted and when raised or lowered by a half step become augmented or diminished
- sexually mature and fully differentiated
- having both stamens and pistils in the same flower
- to bring to final form
- to make perfect : improve, refine
- the perfect tense of a language
- a verb form in the perfect tense
per·fec·ta [pər-'fek-tə] -n
- a bet in which the bettor picks the first and second place finishers in order
perfect binding ['pər-fik(t)-'bau̇nd] -n, adj
- a book binding in which a layer of adhesive holds the pages and cover together
perfect game -n
- a baseball game in which a pitcher allows no hits, no runs, and no opposing batter to reach first base
per·fect·ible [pər-'fek-tə-bəl also 'pər-fik-] -adj, n
- capable of improvement or perfection (as in moral state)
per·fec·tion [pər-'fek-shən] -n
- : the quality or state of being perfect: as
- freedom from fault or defect : flawlessness
- maturity
- the quality or state of being saintly
- an exemplification of supreme excellence
- an unsurpassable degree of accuracy or excellence
- the act or process of perfecting
per·fec·tion·ism [-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj
- the doctrine that the perfection of moral character constitutes a person's highest good
- the theological doctrine that a state of freedom from sin is attainable on earth
- a disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable
per·fec·tive [pər-'fek-tiv also 'pər-fik-] -adj, n, adv
- tending to make perfect
- becoming better
- expressing action as complete or as implying the notion of completion, conclusion, or result
per·fect·ly ['pər-fik(t)-lē] -adv
- in a perfect manner
- to a complete or adequate extent : quite
- was perfectly happy until now
perfect number -n
- an integer (as 6 or 28) the sum of whose integral factors including 1 but excluding itself is equal to itself
per·fec·to [pər-'fek-(,)tō] -n
- a cigar that is thick in the middle and tapers at each end
perfect participle -n
- past participle
perfect pitch -n
- absolute pitch
perfect square -n
- an integer (as 9 or 36) whose square root is an integer
perfect storm -n
- a critical or disastrous situation created by a powerful concurrence of factors
per·fer·vid [(,)pər-'fər-vəd, 'pər-] -adj
- marked by overwrought or exaggerated emotion : excessively fervent
per·fid·i·ous [(,)pər-'fi-dē-əs] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or characterized by perfidy
per·fi·dy ['pər-fə-dē] -n
- the quality or state of being faithless or disloyal : treachery
- an act or an instance of disloyalty
per·fluo·ro·carbon [pər-,flȯr-ō-'kär-bən, -,flu̇r-] -n
- any of various hydrocarbon derivatives in which all hydrogen atoms have been replaced with fluorine and that include blood substitutes used in emulsified form
per·fo·li·ate [,pər-'fō-lē-ət, 'pər-] -adj
- having the basal part naturally united around the stem
- a perfoliate leaf of a honeysuckle
per·fo·rate ['pər-fə-,rāt] -vb, adj, n
- to make a hole through
- to make a line of holes in to facilitate separation
- to pass through or into by or as if by making a hole
- to penetrate a surface
perforated -adj
- having a hole or perforations
- having a specified number of perforations in 20 millimeters
- the stamps are perforated 10
- characterized by perforation
per·fo·ra·tion [,pər-fə-'rā-shən] -n
- the act or process of perforating
- a hole or pattern made by or as if by piercing or boring
- one of the series of holes (as between rows of postage stamps) in a sheet that serve as an aid in separation
per·force [pər-'fȯrs] -adv
- by physical coercion
- by force of circumstances
per·form [pə(r)-'fȯrm] -vb, n, adj
- to adhere to the terms of : fulfill
- carry out, do
- to do in a formal manner or according to prescribed ritual
- to give a rendition of : present
- to carry out an action or pattern of behavior : act, function
- to give a performance : play
per·for·mance [pə(r)-'fȯr-mən(t)s] -n
- the execution of an action
- something accomplished : deed, feat
- the fulfillment of a claim, promise, or request : implementation
- the action of representing a character in a play
- a public presentation or exhibition
- the ability to perform : efficiency
- the manner in which a mechanism performs
- the manner of reacting to stimuli : behavior
- the linguistic behavior of an individual : parole
- the ability to speak a certain language
performance art -n
- a nontraditional art form often with political or topical themes that typically features a live presentation to an audience or onlookers (as on a street) and draws on such arts as acting, poetry, music, dance, or painting
per·for·ma·tive [-'fȯr-mə-tiv] -adj, n
- being or relating to an expression that serves to effect a transaction or that constitutes the performance of the specified act by virtue of its utterance
- a performative verb such as promise
per·for·ma·to·ry [-mə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- performative
- of or relating to performance
performing -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting an art (as drama) that involves public performance
per·fume ['pər-,fyüm, (,)pər-'] -n
- the scent of something sweet-smelling
- a substance that emits a pleasant odor
- a fluid preparation of natural essences (as from plants or animals) or synthetics and a fixative used for scenting
- to fill or imbue with an odor
per·fum·er [pə(r)-'fyü-mər, 'pər-,] -n
- one that makes or sells perfumes
per·fum·ery [pə(r)-'fyü-mə-rē, -'fyüm-rē] -n
- the art or process of making perfume
- the products made by a perfumer
- an establishment where perfumes are made
per·func·to·ry [pər-'fəŋ(k)-t(ə-)rē] -adj, adv, n
- characterized by routine or superficiality : mechanical
- lacking in interest or enthusiasm
per·fus·ate [(,)pər-'fyü-,zāt, -zət] -n
- a fluid (as a solution pumped through the heart) that is perfused
per·fuse [(,)pər-'fyüz] -vt, n
- suffuse
- to cause to flow or spread : diffuse
- to force a fluid through (an organ or tissue) esp. by way of the blood vessels
per·fu·sion·ist [(,)pər-'fyü-zhə-nist] -n
- a certified medical technician responsible for extracorporeal oxygenation of the blood during open-heart surgery and for the operation and maintenance of equipment (as a heart-lung machine) controlling it
per·go·la ['pər-gə-lə, pər-'gō-] -n
- arbor, trellis
- a structure usu. consisting of parallel colonnades supporting an open roof of girders and cross rafters
per·haps [pər-'haps, 'praps] -adv
- possibly but not certainly : maybe
perhaps -n
- something open to doubt or conjecture
pe·ri ['pir-ē] -n
- a supernatural being in Persian folklore descended from fallen angels and excluded from paradise until penance is accomplished
- a beautiful and graceful girl
peri- -prefix
- all around : about
- near
- enclosing : surrounding
peri·anth ['per-ē-,an(t)th] -n
- the floral structure comprised of the calyx and corolla esp. when the two whorls are fused
peri·apt ['per-ē-,apt] -n
- amulet
peri·car·di·al [,per-ə-'kär-dē-əl] -adj
- of, relating to, or affecting the pericardium
- situated around the heart
peri·car·di·tis [-,kär-'dī-təs] -n
- inflammation of the pericardium
peri·car·di·um [-'kär-dē-əm] -n
- the conical sac of serous membrane that encloses the heart and the roots of the great blood vessels of vertebrates
- a cavity or space that contains the heart of an invertebrate and in arthropods is a part of the hemocoel
peri·carp ['per-ə-,kärp] -n
- the ripened and variously modified walls of a plant ovary
peri·chon·dri·um [,per-ə-'kän-drē-əm] -n, adj
- the membrane of fibrous connective tissue that invests cartilage except at joints
pe·ric·o·pe [pə-'ri-kə-pē] -n
- a selection from a book
- lection
peri·cra·ni·um [,per-ə-'krā-nē-əm] -n, adj
- the external periosteum of the skull
peri·cy·cle ['per-ə-,sī-kəl] -n, adj
- a thin layer of parenchymatous or sclerenchymatous cells that surrounds the stele in most vascular plants
peri·derm ['per-ə-,dərm] -n
- an outer layer of tissue
- a cortical protective layer of many roots and stems that typically consists of phellem, phellogen, and phelloderm
pe·rid·i·um [pə-'ri-dē-əm] -n
- the outer envelope of the sporophore of many fungi
per·i·dot ['per-ə-,dät, -,dō(t)] -n, adj
- a deep yellowish-green transparent variety of olivine used as a gem
pe·ri·do·tite [pə-'ri-də-,tīt] -n, adj
- any of a group of granular igneous rocks composed of ferromagnesian minerals and esp. olivine
peri·gee ['per-ə-(,)jē] -n, adj
- the point in the orbit of an object (as a satellite) orbiting the earth that is nearest to the center of the earth
- the point nearest a planet or a satellite (as the moon) reached by an object orbiting it
pe·rig·y·nous [pə-'ri-jə-nəs] -adj, n
- borne on a ring or cup of the receptacle surrounding a pistil
- having perigynous stamens and petals
peri·he·lion [,per-ə-'hēl-yən] -n, adj
- the point in the path of a celestial body (as a planet) that is nearest to the sun
peri·kar·y·on [-'ka-rē-,än, -ən] -n, adj
- cell body
per·il ['per-əl, 'pe-rəl] -n
- exposure to the risk of being injured, destroyed, or lost : danger
- fire put the city in peril
- something that imperils : risk
- lessen the peril s of the streets
peril -vt
- to expose to danger
pe·ril·la [pə-'ri-lə] -n
- any of a genus ( Perilla) of Asian mints that have a bilabiate fruiting calyx and rugose nutlets
per·il·ous ['per-ə-ləs, 'pe-rə-] -adj, adv, n
- full of or involving peril
peri·lune ['per-ə-,lün] -n
- the point in the path of a body orbiting the moon that is nearest to the center of the moon
peri·lymph [-,lim(p)f] -n
- the fluid between the membranous and bony labyrinths of the ear
peri·men·o·pause [,per-ē-'me-nə-,pȯz, -'mē-] -n, adj
- the period around the onset of menopause that is often marked by various physical signs (as hot flashes and menstrual irregularity)
pe·rim·e·ter [pə-'ri-mə-tər] -n
- the boundary of a closed plane figure
- the length of a perimeter
- a line or strip bounding or protecting an area
- outer limits often used in pl.
- the part of a basketball court outside the three-point line
peri·my·si·um [,per-ə-'mi-zhē-əm, -zē-] -n
- the connective-tissue sheath that surrounds a muscle and forms sheaths for the bundles of muscle fibers
peri·na·tal [-'nā-tᵊl] -adj, adv
- occurring in, concerned with, or being in the period around the time of birth
peri·na·tol·o·gy [,per-ə-,nā-'tä-lə-jē] -n
- a branch of medicine concerned with perinatal care
per·i·ne·um [,per-ə-'nē-əm] -n, adj
- an area of tissue that marks externally the approximate boundary of the outlet of the pelvis and gives passage to the urinogenital ducts and rectum
- the area between the anus and the posterior part of the external genitalia
peri·neu·ri·um [,per-ə-'nu̇r-ē-əm, -'nyu̇r-] -n
- the connective-tissue sheath that surrounds a bundle of nerve fibers
pe·ri·od ['pir-ē-əd] -n
- the completion of a cycle, a series of events, or a single action : conclusion
- an utterance from one full stop to another : sentence
- a well-proportioned sentence of several clauses
- periodic sentence
- a musical structure or melodic section usu. composed of two or more contrasting or complementary phrases and ending with a cadence
- the full pause with which the utterance of a sentence closes
- end, stop
- goal, purpose
- a point . used to mark the end (as of a declarative sentence or an abbreviation)
- used interjectionally to emphasize the finality of the preceding statement
- I don't remember - period
- a rhythmical unit in Greek verse composed of a series of two or more cola
- a portion of time determined by some recurring phenomenon
- the interval of time required for a cyclic motion or phenomenon to complete a cycle and begin to repeat itself
- a number kthat does not change the value of a periodic function fwhen added to the independent variable
- the smallest such number
- a single cyclic occurrence of menstruation
- a chronological division : stage
- a division of geologic time longer than an epoch and included in an era
- a stage of culture having a definable place in time and space
- one of the divisions of the academic day
- one of the divisions of the playing time of a game
period -adj
- of, relating to, or representing a particular historical period
pe·ri·od·ic [,pir-ē-'ä-dik] -adj
- occurring or recurring at regular intervals
- occurring repeatedly from time to time
- consisting of or containing a series of repeated stages, processes, or digits : cyclic
- being a function any value of which recurs at regular intervals
- expressed in or characterized by periodic sentences
per·iod·ic acid [,pər-(,)ī-'ä-dik-] -n
- any of the strongly oxidizing acids (as H 5IO 6or HIO 4) that are the most highly oxidized acids of iodine
pe·ri·od·i·cal [,pir-ē-'ä-di-kəl] -adj
- periodic
- published with a fixed interval between the issues or numbers
- published in, characteristic of, or connected with a periodical
periodical -n
- a periodical publication
periodical cicada -n
- seventeen-year locust
pe·ri·od·i·cal·ly [,pir-ē-'ä-di-k(ə-)lē] -adv
- at regular intervals of time
- from time to time : frequently
pe·ri·od·ic·i·ty [,pir-ē-ə-'di-sə-tē] -n
- the quality, state, or fact of being regularly recurrent or having periods
periodic law -n
- a law in chemistry: the elements when arranged in the order of their atomic numbers show a periodic variation of atomic structure and of most of their properties
periodic sentence -n
- a usu. complex sentence that has no subordinate or trailing elements following its principal clause (as in yesterday while I was walking down the street, I saw him)
periodic table -n
- an arrangement of chemical elements based on the periodic law
pe·ri·od·i·za·tion [,pir-ē-ə-də-'zā-shən] -n
- division (as of history) into periods
peri·odon·tal [,per-ē-ō-'dän-tᵊl] -adj, adv
- investing or surrounding a tooth
- of or affecting periodontal tissues or regions
periodontal membrane -n
- the fibrous connective-tissue layer covering the cementum of a tooth and holding it in place in the jawbone
peri·odon·tics [-'dän-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr, n
- a branch of dentistry that deals with diseases of the supporting and investing structures of the teeth including the gums, cementum, periodontal membranes, and alveolar bone
peri·odon·ti·tis [,per-ē-(,)ō-,dän-'tī-təs] -n
- inflammation of the supporting structures of the teeth and esp. the periodontal membrane
peri·odon·tol·o·gy [-,dän-'tä-lə-jē] -n
- periodontics
period piece -n
- a work (as of literature, art, furniture, cinema, or music) whose special value lies in its evocation of a historical period
peri·onych·i·um [,per-ē-ō-'ni-kē-əm] -n
- the tissue bordering the root and sides of a fingernail or toenail
peri·op·er·a·tive [,per-ē-'ä-p(ə-)rə-tiv, -pə-,rā-] -adj
- relating to, occurring in, or being the period around the time of a surgical operation
peri·os·te·al [,per-ē-'äs-tē-əl] -adj
- situated around or produced external to bone
- of, relating to, or involving the periosteum
peri·os·te·um [-tē-əm] -n
- the membrane of connective tissue that closely invests all bones except at the articular surfaces
peri·os·ti·tis [-,äs-'tī-təs] -n
- inflammation of the periosteum
peri·pa·tet·ic [,per-ə-pə-'te-tik] -n
- a follower of Aristotle or adherent of Aristotelianism
- pedestrian, itinerant
- movement or journeys hither and thither
peripatetic [-ti-k(ə-)lē] -adj, adv, n
- aristotelian
- of, relating to, or given to walking
- moving or traveling from place to place : itinerant
pe·rip·a·tus [pə-'ri-pə-təs] -n
- any of a class or phylum (Onychophora) of primitive tropical wormlike invertebrates that appear intermediate between annelid worms and arthropods
peri·pe·teia [,per-ə-pə-'tē-ə, -'tī-] -n
- a sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances or situation esp. in a literary work
pe·rip·e·ty [pə-'ri-pə-tē] -n
- peripeteia
pe·riph·er·al [pə-'ri-f(ə-)rəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, involving, or forming a periphery or surface part
- of, relating to, affecting, or being part of the peripheral nervous system
- of, relating to, or being blood in the systemic circulation
- of, relating to, or being the outer part of the field of vision
- auxiliary, supplementary
- of or relating to computer peripherals
peripheral -n
- a device connected to a computer to provide communication (as input and output) or auxiliary functions (as additional storage)
peripheral nervous system -n
- the part of the nervous system that is outside the central nervous system and comprises the cranial nerves excepting the optic nerve, the spinal nerves, and the autonomic nervous system
peripheral neuropathy -n
- a disease or degenerative state of the peripheral nerves in which motor, sensory, or vasomotor nerve fibers may be affected and which is marked by muscle weakness and atrophy, pain, and numbness
pe·riph·ery [pə-'ri-f(ə-)rē] -n
- the perimeter of a circle or other closed curve
- the perimeter of a polygon
- the external boundary or surface of a body
- the outward bounds of something as distinguished from its internal regions or center : confines
- an area lying beyond the strict limits of a thing
pe·riph·ra·sis [pə-'ri-frə-səs] -n
- use of a longer phrasing in place of a possible shorter form of expression
- an instance of periphrasis
peri·phras·tic [,per-ə-'fras-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or characterized by periphrasis
- formed by the use of function words or auxiliaries instead of by inflection
- more fair is a periphrastic comparative
pe·riph·y·ton [pə-'ri-fə-,tän] -n, adj
- organisms (as some algae) that live attached to underwater surfaces
peri·plasm ['per-ə-,pla-zəm] -n, adj
- the region in a gram-negative bacterium between the plasma membrane and an outer surrounding membrane that contains esp. enzymes and a thin layer of peptidoglycan
peri·plast ['per-ə-,plast] -n
- plasma membrane
- a proteinaceous subcellular layer below the plasma membrane esp. of a euglena
pe·rique [pə-'rēk] -n
- an aromatic fermented Louisiana tobacco used in smoking mixtures
peri·scope ['per-ə-,skōp] -n
- a tubular optical instrument containing lenses and mirrors by which an observer obtains an otherwise obstructed field of view
peri·scop·ic [,per-ə-'skä-pik] -adj
- providing a view all around or on all sides
- of or relating to a periscope
per·ish ['per-ish, 'pe-rish] -vb
- to become destroyed or ruined : cease to exist
- recollection of a past already long since perish ed -- Philip Sherrard
- guard against your mistakes or your attempts (perish the thought) to cheat -- C. B. Davis
- deteriorate, spoil
- to cause to die : destroy
- weaken, benumb
per·ish·able ['per-i-shə-bəl, 'pe-ri-] -adj, n
- liable to perish : liable to spoil or decay
- such perishable products as fruit, vegetables, butter, and eggs
pe·ris·so·dac·tyl [pə-'ri-sə-,dak-tᵊl] -n, adj
- any of an order (Perissodactyla) of nonruminant ungulate mammals (as a horse, a tapir, or a rhinoceros) that usu. have an odd number of toes, molar teeth with transverse ridges on the grinding surface, and the posterior premolars resembling true molars
peri·stal·sis [,per-ə-'stȯl-səs, -'stäl-, -'stal-] -n
- successive waves of involuntary contraction passing along the walls of a hollow muscular structure (as the esophagus or intestine) and forcing the contents onward
peri·stal·tic [-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, resulting from, or being peristalsis
- having an action suggestive of peristalsis
peristaltic pump -n
- a pump in which fluid is forced along by waves of contraction produced mechanically on flexible tubing
peri·stome ['per-ə-,stōm] -n, adj
- the fringe of teeth surrounding the orifice of a moss capsule
- the region around the mouth in various invertebrates
peri·style ['per-ə-,stī(-ə)l] -n
- a colonnade surrounding a building or court
- an open space enclosed by a colonnade
peri·the·ci·um [,per-ə-'thē-shē-əm, -sē-] -n, adj
- a spherical, cylindrical, or flask-shaped hollow fruiting body in various ascomycetous fungi that contains the asci and usu. opens by a terminal pore
peri·to·ne·um [,per-ə-tə-'nē-əm] -n, adj, adv
- the smooth transparent serous membrane that lines the cavity of the abdomen of a mammal and is folded inward over the abdominal and pelvic viscera
peri·to·ni·tis [,per-ə-tə-'nī-təs] -n
- inflammation of the peritoneum
pe·rit·ri·chous [pə-'ri-tri-kəs] -adj, adv
- having flagella uniformly distributed over the body
- having a spiral line of modified cilia around the oral disk
peri·wig ['per-i-,wig] -n, adj
- peruke
per·i·win·kle ['per-i-,wiŋ-kəl] -n
- : any of several trailing or woody evergreen herbs of the dogbane family: as
- a European creeper ( Vinca minor) widely cultivated as a ground cover and for its blue or white flowers called also myrtle
- a trailing plant ( Vinca major) with large blue flowers that is used as a ground cover and in window boxes
- rosy periwinkle
- a light purplish blue called also periwinkle blue
periwinkle -n
- : any of various gastropod mollusks: as
- any of a genus ( Littorina) of edible littoral marine snails
- any of various similar or related marine snails
- any of several No. American freshwater snails
per·jure ['pər-jər] -vt
- to make a perjurer of (oneself)
- to cause to commit perjury
per·jur·er ['pər-jər-ər] -n
- a person guilty of perjury
per·ju·ri·ous [(,)pər-'ju̇r-ē-əs] -adj, adv
- marked by perjury
per·ju·ry ['pər-jə-rē, 'pərj-rē] -n
- the voluntary violation of an oath or vow either by swearing to what is untrue or by omission to do what has been promised under oath : false swearing
perk ['pərk] -vb
- to thrust up the head, stretch out the neck, or carry the body in a bold or insolent manner
- to stick up or out jauntily
- to gain in vigor or cheerfulness esp. after a period of weakness or depression usu. used with up
- he's perk ed up noticeably
- to make smart or spruce in appearance : freshen, improve often used with up
- to thrust up quickly or impudently
- percolate
- perquisite usu. used in pl.
perky ['pər-kē] -adj, adv, n
- briskly self-assured : cocky
- jaunty
- a perky...waltz -- New Yorker
per·lite ['pər-,līt] -n, adj
- volcanic glass that has a concentric structure, appears as if composed of concretions, is usu. grayish and sometimes spherulitic, and when heated expands to form a lightweight aggregate used esp. in concrete and plaster and as a medium for potting plants
perm ['pərm] -n
- permanent
- to give (hair) a permanent wave
per·ma·cul·ture ['pər-mə-,kəl-chər] -n
- an agricultural system or method that seeks to integrate human activity with natural surroundings so as to create highly efficient self-sustaining ecosystems
per·ma·frost ['pər-mə-,frȯst] -n
- a permanently frozen layer at variable depth below the surface in frigid regions of a planet (as earth)
per·ma·nence ['pər-mə-nən(t)s, 'pərm-nən(t)s] -n
- the quality or state of being permanent : durability
per·ma·nen·cy [-nən(t)-sē] -n
- permanence
- something permanent
per·ma·nent [-nənt] -adj, adv, n
- continuing or enduring without fundamental or marked change : stable
permanent -n
- a long-lasting hair wave or straightening produced by mechanical and chemical means called also permanent wave
permanent magnet -n
- a magnet that retains its magnetism after removal of the magnetizing force
permanent press -n, adj
- the process of treating a fabric with a chemical (as a resin) and heat for setting the shape and for aiding wrinkle resistance
- material treated by permanent press
- the condition of material treated by permanent press
permanent tissue -n
- plant tissue that has completed its growth and differentiation and is usu. incapable of meristematic activity
permanent tooth -n
- any of the second set of teeth of a mammal that follow the milk teeth, typically persist into old age, and in humans are 32 in number
per·man·ga·nate [(,)pər-'maŋ-gə-,nāt] -n
- a salt containing the anion MnO 4
- potassium permanganate
- the anion MnO 4 of a permanganate
per·me·abil·i·ty [,pər-mē-ə-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being permeable
- the property of a magnetizable substance that determines the degree in which it modifies the magnetic flux in the region occupied by it in a magnetic field
per·me·able ['pər-mē-ə-bəl] -adj
- capable of being permeated : penetrable
- having pores or openings that permit liquids or gases to pass through
per·me·ase ['pər-mē-,ās, -,āz] -n
- a substance that catalyzes the transport of another substance across a cell membrane
per·me·ate ['pər-mē-,āt] -vb, adj
- to diffuse through or penetrate something
- to spread or diffuse through
- a room permeated with tobacco smoke
- to pass through the pores or interstices of
per·me·ation [,pər-mē-'ā-shən] -n
- the quality or state of being permeated
- the action or process of permeating
per men·sem [(,)pər-'men(t)-səm] -adv
- by the month
per·meth·rin [(,)pər-'me-thrən] -n
- a synthetic pyrethroid C 21H 20Cl 2O 3used esp. as an insecticide
Perm·ian ['pər-mē-ən, 'per-] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being the last period of the Paleozoic era or the corresponding system of rocks
per mill [(,)pər-'mil] -adv, n
- per thousand
per·mis·si·ble [pər-'mi-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- that may be permitted : allowable
per·mis·sion [pər-'mi-shən] -n
- the act of permitting
- formal consent : authorization
per·mis·sive [pər-'mi-siv] -adj, adv, n
- granted on sufferance : tolerated
- granting or tending to grant permission : tolerant
- deficient in firmness or control : indulgent, lax
- allowing discretion : optional
- reduced the permissive retirement age from 65 to 62
per·mit [pər-'mit] -vb, n
- to consent to expressly or formally
- to give leave : authorize
- to make possible
- the design permit s easy access
- to give an opportunity : allow
- a written warrant or license granted by one having authority
- permission
- either of two pompanos ( Trachinotus falcatusand T. goodei) that are important game fishes of temperate to tropical waters of the western Atlantic
per·mit·tiv·i·ty [,pər-,mi-'ti-və-tē, -mə-] -n
- the ability of a material to store electrical potential energy under the influence of an electric field measured by the ratio of the capacitance of a capacitor with the material as dielectric to its capacitance with vacuum as dielectric called also dielectric constant
per·mu·ta·tion [,pər-myü-'tā-shən] -n, adj
- often major or fundamental change (as in character or condition) based primarily on rearrangement of existent elements
- the system has gone through several permutation s
- a form or variety resulting from such change
- technology available in various permutation s
- the act or process of changing the lineal order of an ordered set of objects
- an ordered arrangement of a set of objects
permutation group -n
- a group whose elements are permutations and in which the product of two permutations is a permutation whose effect is the same as the successive application of the first two
per·mute [pər-'myüt] -vt, adj
- to change the order or arrangement of
- to arrange in all possible ways
per·ni·cious [pər-'ni-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- highly injurious or destructive : deadly
- wicked
pernicious anemia -n
- a severe megaloblastic anemia that is marked by a progressive decrease in the number of red blood cells and by pallor, weakness, and gastrointestinal and nervous disturbances and is caused by malabsorption of vitamin B 12due to the absence of intrinsic factor
per·nick·e·ty [pər-'ni-kə-tē] -adj
- persnickety
Per·nod [per-'nō, ,pər-] -trademark
- used for a French liqueur
pe·ro·ne·al [,per-ō-'nē-əl, pə-'rō-nē-] -adj
- of, relating to, or located near the fibula
per·oral [(,)pər-'ȯr-əl, per-, -'är-] -adj, adv
- occurring through or by way of the mouth
per·o·rate ['per-ə-,rāt also 'pər-] -vi
- to deliver a long or grandiloquent oration
- to make a peroration
per·o·ra·tion [,per-ə-'rā-shən also ,pər-] -n, adj
- the concluding part of a discourse and esp. an oration
- a highly rhetorical speech
pe·rov·skite [pə-'räv-,skīt, -'räf-] -n
- a yellow, brown, or grayish-black mineral consisting of an oxide of calcium and titanium and sometimes containing rare earth elements
per·ox·i·dase [pə-'räk-sə-,dās, -,dāz] -n
- an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of various substances by peroxides
per·ox·i·da·tion [pə-,räk-sə-'dā-shən] -n
- oxidation to the greatest possible extent resulting esp. in formation of a peroxide
per·ox·ide [pə-'räk-,sīd] -n, adj
- a compound (as hydrogen peroxide) in which oxygen is visualized as joined to oxygen
peroxide -vt
- to treat with a peroxide
- to bleach (hair) with hydrogen peroxide
- having or being bleached hair
per·ox·i·some [pə-'räk-sə-,sōm] -n, adj
- a cytoplasmic cell organelle containing enzymes (as catalase) which act in oxidative reactions and esp. in the production and decomposition of hydrogen peroxide
peroxy- -comb form
- containing the divalent group OO
per·oxy·ace·tyl nitrate [pə-,räk-sē-ə-'sē-tᵊl-; -'a-sə-tᵊl-, -,tēl-] -n
- a toxic compound C 2H 3O 5N found esp. in smog
perp ['pərp] -n
- a perpetrator esp. of a crime
- perpendicular
per·pend [(,)pər-'pend] -vb
- to reflect on carefully : ponder
- to be attentive : reflect
per·pen·dic·u·lar [,pər-pən-'di-kyə-lər] -adj, n, adv
- standing at right angles to the plane of the horizon : exactly upright
- being at right angles to a given line or plane
- extremely steep : precipitous
- of or relating to a medieval English Gothic style of architecture in which vertical lines predominate
- relating to, uniting, or consisting of individuals of dissimilar type or on different levels
perpendicular -n
- a line at right angles to a line or plane (as of the horizon)
per·pe·trate ['pər-pə-,trāt] -vt, n
- to bring about or carry out (as a crime or deception) : commit
- to produce, perform, or execute (something likened to a crime)
per·pet·u·al [pər-'pe-chə-wəl, -chəl; -'pech-wəl] -adj, adv
- continuing forever : everlasting
- valid for all time
- holding (as an office) for life or for an unlimited time
- occurring continually : indefinitely long-continued
- blooming continuously throughout the season
perpetual calendar -n
- a table for finding the day of the week for any one of a wide range of dates
perpetual check -n
- an endless succession of checks to which an opponent's king may be subjected to force a draw in chess
per·pet·u·ate [pər-'pe-chə-,wāt] -vt, n
- to make perpetual or cause to last indefinitely
per·pe·tu·i·ty [,pər-pə-'tü-ə-tē, -'tyü-] -n
- eternity
- the quality or state of being perpetual
- bequeathed to them in perpetuity
- the condition of an estate limited so that it will not take effect or vest within the period fixed by law
- an estate so limited
- an annuity payable forever
per·phe·na·zine [(,)pər-'fē-nə-,zēn, -'fe-] -n
- a phenothiazine tranquilizer C 21H 26ClN 3OS that is used esp. to control psychotic symptoms (as anxiety and agitation)
per·plex [pər-'pleks] -vt
- to make unable to grasp something clearly or to think logically and decisively about something
- her attitude perplex es me
- to make intricate or involved : complicate
per·plexed [-'plekst] -adj, adv
- filled with uncertainty : puzzled
- full of difficulty
per·plex·i·ty [pər-'plek-sə-tē] -n
- the state of being perplexed : bewilderment
- something that perplexes
- entanglement
per·qui·site ['pər-kwə-zət] -n
- a privilege, gain, or profit incidental to regular salary or wages
- one expected or promised
- gratuity, tip
- something held or claimed as an exclusive right or possession
per·ron ['per-ən, pe-rōⁿ] -n
- an outdoor stairway leading up to a building entrance
- a platform at its top
per·ry ['per-ē] -n
- fermented pear juice often made sparkling
pers -abbr
- person; personal
- personnel
perse ['pərs] -adj
- of a dark grayish blue resembling indigo
per se [(,)pər-'sā also per-'sā or (,)pər-'sē] -adv
- by, of, or in itself or oneself or themselves : as such : intrinsically
- being such inherently, clearly, or as a matter of law
- a per se conflict of interest
per second per second -adv
- per second every second used of acceleration
per·se·cute ['pər-si-,kyüt] -vt, n, adj
- to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict
- to cause to suffer because of belief
- to annoy with persistent or urgent approaches (as attacks, pleas, or importunities) : pester
per·se·cu·tion [,pər-si-'kyü-shən] -n
- the act or practice of persecuting esp. those who differ in origin, religion, or social outlook
- the condition of being persecuted, harassed, or annoyed
Per·se·id ['pər-sē-əd] -n
- any of a group of meteors that appear annually about August 11
Per·seph·o·ne [pər-'se-fə-nē] -n
- a daughter of Zeus and Demeter abducted by Pluto to reign with him over the underworld
Per·seus ['pər-,süs, -sē-əs] -n
- a son of Zeus and Danae and slayer of Medusa
- a northern constellation between Taurus and Cassiopeia
per·se·ver·ance [,pər-sə-'vir-ən(t)s] -n
- the action or condition or an instance of persevering : steadfastness
per·sev·er·a·tion [pər-,se-və-'rā-shən] -n, vi, adj
- continuation of something (as repetition of a word) usu. to an exceptional degree or beyond a desired point
per·se·vere [,pər-sə-'vir] -vi, adv
- to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement
Per·sian ['pər-zhən, esp Brit -shən] -n, adj
- : one of the people of Persia: as
- one of the ancient Iranians who under Cyrus and his successors founded an empire in southwest Asia
- a member of one of the peoples forming the modern Iranian nationality
- any of several Iranian languages dominant in Persia at different periods
- the modern language of Iran and western Afghanistan
- a thin soft silk formerly used esp. for linings
- persian cat
Persian cat -n
- any of a breed of stocky round-headed domestic cats that have a long silky coat and thick ruff
Persian lamb -n
- a pelt that is obtained from a newborn karakul lamb slightly older than those yielding broadtail and that is characterized by very silky tightly curled glossy fur
- the young of the karakul sheep that furnishes skins used in furriery
per·si·flage ['pər-si-,fläzh, 'per-] -n
- frivolous bantering talk : light raillery
per·sim·mon [pər-'si-mən] -n
- any of a genus ( Diospyros) of trees of the ebony family with hard fine wood, oblong leaves, and small bell-shaped flowers
- an eastern U.S. tree ( D. virginiana) or a Japanese tree ( D. kaki)
- the usu. orange several-seeded globular berry of a persimmon that is edible when fully ripe but usu. extremely astringent when unripe
per·sist [pər-'sist, -'zist] -vi, n
- to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning
- to remain unchanged or fixed in a specified character, condition, or position
- to be insistent in the repetition or pressing of an utterance (as a question or an opinion)
- to continue to exist esp. past a usual, expected, or normal time
per·sis·tence [pər-'sis-tən(t)s, -'zis-] -n
- the action or fact of persisting
- the quality or state of being persistent
- perseverance
per·sis·ten·cy [-tən(t)-sē] -n
- persistence
per·sis·tent [-tənt] -adj, adv
- : existing for a long or longer than usual time or continuously: as
- retained beyond the usual period
- continuing without change in function or structure
- effective in the open for an appreciable time usu. through slow volatilizing
- mustard gas is persistent
- degraded only slowly by the environment
- remaining infective for a relatively long time in a vector after an initial period of incubation
- continuing or inclined to persist in a course
- continuing to exist despite interference or treatment
- has been in a persistent vegetative state for two years
per·snick·e·ty [pər-'sni-kə-tē] -adj, n
- fussy about small details : fastidious
- having the characteristics of a snob
- requiring great precision
per·son ['pər-sᵊn] -n
- human, individual sometimes used in combination esp. by those who prefer to avoid man in compounds applicable to both sexes
- a character or part in or as if in a play : guise
- one of the three modes of being in the Trinitarian Godhead as understood by Christians
- the unitary personality of Christ that unites the divine and human natures
- bodily appearance
- the body of a human being
- the body and clothing
- unlawful search of the person
- the personality of a human being : self
- one (as a human being, a partnership, or a corporation) that is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties
- reference of a segment of discourse to the speaker, to one spoken to, or to one spoken of as indicated by means of certain pronouns or in many languages by verb inflection
per·so·na [pər-'sō-nə, -,nä] -n
- a character assumed by an author in a written work
- an individual's social facade or front that esp. in the analytic psychology of C. G. Jung reflects the role in life the individual is playing
- the personality that a person (as an actor or politician) projects in public : image
- a character in a fictional presentation (as a novel or play) usu. used in pl.
per·son·able ['pərs-nə-bəl, 'pər-sə-nə-bəl] -adj, n
- pleasant or amiable in person : attractive
per·son·age ['pərs-nij, 'pər-sə-nij] -n
- a person of rank, note, or distinction
- one distinguished for presence and personal power
- a human individual : person
- a dramatic, fictional, or historical character
- impersonation
per·so·na gra·ta [pər-'sō-nə-'gra-tə, -'grä-] -adj
- personally acceptable or welcome
per·son·al ['pərs-nəl, 'pər-sə-nəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or affecting a particular person : private, individual
- done in person without the intervention of another
- proceeding from a single person
- carried on between individuals directly
- relating to the person or body
- relating to an individual or an individual's character, conduct, motives, or private affairs often in an offensive manner
- being rational and self-conscious
- personal, responsive government is still possible -- John Fischer
- having the qualities of a person rather than a thing or abstraction
- of, relating to, or constituting personal property
- denoting grammatical person
- intended for private use or use by one person
personal -n
- a short newspaper paragraph relating to the activities of a person or a group or to personal matters
- a short personal communication in a special column of the classified ads section of a newspaper or periodical
- personal foul
personal computer -n
- a general-purpose computer equipped with a microprocessor and designed to run esp. commercial software (as a word processor or Internet browser) for an individual user
personal digital assistant -n
- pda
personal effects -n pl
- privately owned items (as clothing and jewelry) normally worn or carried on the person
personal equation -n
- variation (as in observation) occasioned by the personal peculiarities of an individual
- a correction or allowance made for such variation
personal foul -n
- a foul in a game (as basketball) involving usu. physical contact with or deliberate roughing of an opponent
per·son·al·ise ['pərs-nə-,līz, 'pər-sə-nə-] -vt, n
(variant of personalize)
- personify
- to make personal or individual
- to mark as the property of a particular person
per·son·al·ism ['pərs-nə-,li-zəm, 'pər-sə-nə-] -n, n or adj, adj
- a doctrine emphasizing the significance, uniqueness, and inviolability of personality
per·son·al·i·ty [,pər-sə-'na-lə-tē, ,pər-'sna-] -n
- the quality or state of being a person
- personal existence
- the condition or fact of relating to a particular person
- the condition of referring directly to or being aimed disparagingly or hostilely at an individual
- an offensively personal remark
- angrily resorted to personalities
- the complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual or a nation or group
- the totality of an individual's behavioral and emotional characteristics
- a set of distinctive traits and characteristics
- the energetic personality of the city
- distinction or excellence of personal and social traits
- a person having such quality
- a person of importance, prominence, renown, or notoriety
personality inventory -n
- any of several tests that attempt to characterize the personality of an individual by objective scoring of replies to a large number of questions concerning his or her own behavior
personality test -n
- any of several tests that consist of standardized tasks designed to determine various aspects of the personality or the emotional status of the individual examined
per·son·al·ize ['pərs-nə-,līz, 'pər-sə-nə-] -vt, n
- personify
- to make personal or individual
- to mark as the property of a particular person
per·son·al·ly ['pərs-nə-lē, 'pər-sə-nə-] -adv
- in person
- attend to the matter personally
- as a person : in personality
- personally attractive but not very trustworthy
- for oneself : as far as oneself is concerned
- personally, I don't want to go
- in a personal manner
- don't take this personally
personal pronoun -n
- a pronoun (as I, you,or they) that expresses a distinction of person
personal property -n
- property other than real property consisting of things temporary or movable : chattels
personal tax -n
- direct tax
per·son·al·ty ['pərs-nəl-tē, 'pər-sə-nəl-] -n
- personal property
per·so·na non gra·ta [pər-'sō-nə-,nän-'gra-tə, -'grä-] -adj
- personally unacceptable or unwelcome
per·son·ate ['pər-sə-,nāt] -vt, n, adj
- impersonate, represent
- to assume without authority and with fraudulent intent (some character or capacity)
- to invest with personality or personal characteristics
- personating their gods ridiculous, and themselves past shame -- John Milton
per·sonhour ['pər-sᵊn-,au̇(-ə)r] -n
- a unit of one hour's work by one person
per·son·i·fi·ca·tion [pər-,sä-nə-fə-'kā-shən] -n
- attribution of personal qualities
- representation of a thing or abstraction as a person or by the human form
- a divinity or imaginary being representing a thing or abstraction
- embodiment, incarnation
per·son·i·fy [pər-'sä-nə-,fī] -vt, n
- to conceive of or represent as a person or as having human qualities or powers
- to be the embodiment or personification of : incarnate
- a teacher who personified patience
per·son·nel [,pər-sə-'nel] -n
- a body of persons usu. employed (as in a factory, office, or organization)
- persons
- a division of an organization concerned with personnel
per·spec·tive [pər-'spek-tiv] -n
- an optical glass (as a telescope)
perspective [pər-'spek-ti-vəl, ,pər-(,)spek-'tī-vəl] -n, adj
- the technique or process of representing on a plane or curved surface the spatial relation of objects as they might appear to the eye
- representation in a drawing or painting of parallel lines as converging in order to give the illusion of depth and distance
- a picture in perspective
- the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed
- places the issues in proper perspective
- point of view
- the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance
- urge you to maintain your perspective and to view your own task in a larger framework -- W. J. Cohen
- a visible scene
- one giving a distinctive impression of distance : vista
- a mental view or prospect
- gain a broader perspective on the situation
- the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance and positions
- aiding the vision
- his eyes should be like unto the wrong end of a perspective glass -- Alexander Pope
- of, relating to, employing, or seen in perspective
Per·spex ['pər-,speks] -trademark
- used for an acrylic plastic
per·spi·ca·cious [,pər-spə-'kā-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- of acute mental vision or discernment : keen
per·spic·u·ous [pər-'spi-kyə-wəs] -adj, n, adv
- plain to the understanding esp. because of clarity and precision of presentation
per·spi·ra·tion [,pər-spə-'rā-shən] -n
- the action or process of perspiring
- a saline fluid secreted by the sweat glands : sweat
per·spi·ra·to·ry [pər-'spī-rə-,tȯr-ē, 'pər-sp(ə-)rə-] -adj
- of, relating to, secreting, or inducing perspiration
per·spire [pər-'spī(-ə)r] -vi
- to emit matter through the skin
- to secrete and emit perspiration
per stir·pes [pər-'stər-pēz, per-'stir-pās] -adv or adj
- in equal shares to each member of a specified class with the share of a deceased member divided proportionately among his or her beneficiaries (as children)
- the estate was divided per stirpes
per·suad·able [pər-'swā-də-bəl] -adj
- capable of being persuaded
per·suade [pər-'swād] -vt, n
- to move by argument, entreaty, or expostulation to a belief, position, or course of action
- to plead with : urge
per·sua·si·ble [-'swā-zə-bəl, -'swā-sə-] -adj
- persuadable
per·sua·sion [pər-'swā-zhən] -n
- the act or process or an instance of persuading
- a persuading argument
- the ability to persuade : persuasiveness
- the condition of being persuaded
- an opinion held with complete assurance
- a system of religious beliefs
- a group adhering to a particular system of beliefs
- kind, sort
per·sua·sive [-'swā-siv, -ziv] -adj, adv, n
- tending to persuade
pert ['pərt] -adj, adv, n
- saucily free and forward : flippantly cocky and assured
- being trim and chic : jaunty
- piquantly stimulating
- lively, vivacious
per·tain [pər-'tān] -vi
- to belong as a part, member, accessory, or product
- to belong as an attribute, feature, or function
- the destruction and havoc pertain ing to war
- to belong as a duty or right
- responsibilities that pertain to fatherhood
- to be appropriate to something
- the criteria...will be different from those that pertain elsewhere -- J. B. Conant
- to have reference
- books pertain ing to birds
per·ti·na·cious [,pər-tə-'nā-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- adhering resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or design
- perversely persistent
- stubbornly tenacious
per·ti·nence ['pər-tə-nən(t)s, 'pərt-nən(t)s] -n
- the quality or state of being pertinent : relevance
per·ti·nen·cy [-tə-nən(t)-sē, -nən(t)-sē] -n
- pertinence
per·ti·nent ['pər-tə-nənt, 'pərt-nənt] -adj, adv
- having a clear decisive relevance to the matter in hand
per·turb [pər-'tərb] -vt, adj
- to disturb greatly in mind : disquiet
- to throw into confusion : disorder
- to cause to experience a perturbation
per·tur·ba·tion [,pər-tər-'bā-shən, ,pər-,tər-] -n, adj
- the action of perturbing : the state of being perturbed
- a disturbance of motion, course, arrangement, or state of equilibrium
- a disturbance of the regular and usu. elliptical course of motion of a celestial body that is produced by some force additional to that which causes its regular motion
per·tus·sis [pər-'tə-səs] -n
- whooping cough
pe·ruke [pə-'rük] -n, adj
- wig
- one of a type popular from the 17th to the early 19th century
pe·ruse [pə-'rüz] -vt, n
- to examine or consider with attention and in detail : study
- to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner
- read
- to read over in an attentive or leisurely manner
perv ['pərv] -n
- pervert
per·vade [pər-'vād] -vt
- to become diffused throughout every part of
per·va·sion [pər-'vā-zhən] -n
- the action of pervading or condition of being pervaded
per·va·sive [pər-'vā-siv, -ziv] -adj, adv, n
- pervading or tending to pervade
per·verse [(,)pər-'vərs, 'pər-,] -adj, adv, n
- turned away from what is right or good : corrupt
- improper, incorrect
- contrary to the evidence or the direction of the judge on a point of law
- obstinate in opposing what is right, reasonable, or accepted : wrongheaded
- arising from or indicative of stubbornness or obstinacy
- marked by peevishness or petulance : cranky
- marked by perversion : perverted
per·ver·sion [pər-'vər-zhən, -shən] -n
- the action of perverting : the condition of being perverted
- a perverted form
- an aberrant sexual practice or interest esp. when habitual
per·ver·sive [-'vər-siv, -ziv] -adj
- perverting or tending to pervert
- arising from or indicative of perversion
per·vert [pər-'vərt] -vt, n
- to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right : corrupt
- to cause to turn aside or away from what is generally done or accepted : misdirect
- to divert to a wrong end or purpose : misuse
- to twist the meaning or sense of : misinterpret
- one that has been perverted
- one given to some form of sexual perversion
per·vert·ed [pər-'vər-təd] -adj, adv, n
- corrupt
- marked by perversion
per·vi·ous ['pər-vē-əs] -adj, n
- accessible
- permeable
Pe·sach ['pā-,säk̲] -n
- passover
pes·ca·tar·i·an [,pe-skə-'ter-ē-ən] -n
- one whose diet includes fish but no meat
pe·se·ta [pə-'sā-tə] -n
- the basic monetary unit of Spain until 2002
pe·se·wa [pə-'sā-wə] -n
- see cedi at
pes·ky ['pes-kē] -adj
- troublesome, vexatious
pe·so ['pā-(,)sō, 'pe-] -n
- an old silver coin of Spain and Spanish America equal to eight reals
pes·sa·ry ['pe-sə-rē] -n
- a vaginal suppository
- a device worn in the vagina to support the uterus, remedy a malposition, or prevent conception
pes·si·mism ['pe-sə-,mi-zəm also 'pe-zə-] -n
- an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome
- the doctrine that reality is essentially evil
- the doctrine that evil overbalances happiness in life
pes·si·mis·tic [,pe-sə-'mis-tik also ,pe-zə-] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or characterized by pessimism : gloomy
pest ['pest] -n, adj
- an epidemic disease associated with high mortality
- plague
- something resembling a pest in destructiveness
- a plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns (as agriculture or livestock production)
- one that pesters or annoys : nuisance
pes·ter ['pes-tər] -vt
- overcrowd
- to harass with petty irritations : annoy
pest·hole ['pest-,hōl] -n
- a place liable to epidemic disease
pest·house [-,hau̇s] -n
- a shelter or hospital for those infected with a pestilential or contagious disease
pes·ti·cide ['pes-tə-,sīd] -n, adj
- an agent used to destroy pests
pes·tif·er·ous [pes-'ti-f(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv, n
- dangerous to society : pernicious
- carrying or propagating infection : pestilential
- infected with a pestilential disease
- troublesome, annoying
pes·ti·lence ['pes-tə-lən(t)s] -n
- a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating
- bubonic plague
- something that is destructive or pernicious
- I'll pour this pestilence into his ear -- Shak.
pes·ti·lent [-lənt] -adj, adv
- destructive of life : deadly
- injuring or endangering society : pernicious
- causing displeasure or annoyance
- infectious, contagious
pes·ti·len·tial [,pes-tə-'len(t)-shəl] -adj, adv
- causing or tending to cause pestilence : deadly
- of or relating to pestilence
- morally harmful : pernicious
- giving rise to vexation or annoyance : irritating
pes·tle ['pe-səl, 'pes-tᵊl] -n
- a usu. club-shaped implement for pounding or grinding substances in a mortar
- any of various devices for pounding, stamping, or pressing
pestle ['pe-s(ə-)liŋ, 'pes-tᵊl-iŋ] -vb
- to beat, pound, or pulverize with or as if with a pestle
- to work with a pestle : use a pestle
pes·to ['pes-(,)tō] -n
- a sauce made esp. of fresh basil, garlic, oil, pine nuts, and grated cheese
pet ['pet] -n
- a pampered and usu. spoiled child
- a person who is treated with unusual kindness or consideration : darling
- a domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility
- kept or treated as a pet
- expressing fondness or endearment
- favorite
- to treat as a pet
- to stroke in a gentle or loving manner
- to treat with unusual kindness and consideration : pamper
- to engage in amorous embracing, caressing, and kissing : neck
- a fit of peevishness, sulkiness, or anger
- to take offense : sulk
- petroleum
Pet -abbr
- Peter
PET -abbr
- positron-emission tomography
peta- -comb form
- quadrillion (10 15)
pet·al ['pe-tᵊl] -n, adj
- one of the modified often brightly colored leaves of the corolla of a flower
pet·al·oid ['pe-tə-,lȯid] -adj
- resembling a flower petal
- consisting of petaloid elements
pet·al·ous ['pe-tə-ləs] -adj
- having petals
- having (such or so many) petals used in combination
pe·tard [pə-'tär(d)] -n
- a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall
- a firework that explodes with a loud report
pet·a·sos ['pe-tə-səs] -n
- a broad-brimmed low-crowned hat worn by ancient Greeks and Romans
- the winged hat of Hermes
pet·cock ['pet-,käk] -n
- a small cock, faucet, or valve for releasing a gas (as air) or draining
pe·te·chia [pə-'tē-kē-ə] -n, adj
- a minute reddish or purplish spot containing blood that appears in skin or mucous membrane as a result of localized hemorrhage
pe·ter ['pē-tər] -vi
- to diminish gradually and come to an end : give out usu. used with out
- novelists whose creative impetus seems largely to have peter ed out -- Times Lit. Supp.
- to become exhausted usu. used with out
peter -n
- penis
Pe·ter ['pē-tər] -n
- a fisherman of Galilee and one of the twelve apostles
- either of two hortatory letters written to early Christians and included as books of the New Testament
Peter Pan [-'pan] -n
- a boy in Sir James Barrie's play Peter Panwho lives without growing older in a never-never land
- an adult who does not want to grow up : one who hangs on to adolescent interests and attitudes
Peter Pan collar -n
- a usu. small flat close-fitting collar with rounded ends that meet at the top in front
Peter Principle -n
- an observation: in a hierarchy employees tend to rise to the level of their incompetence
Peter's pence -n pl but sing in constr
- an annual tribute of a penny formerly paid by each householder in England to the papal see
- a voluntary annual contribution made by Roman Catholics to the pope
pet·i·o·lar [,pe-tē-'ō-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or proceeding from a petiole
pet·i·o·late ['pe-tē-ə-,lāt, ,pe-tē-'ō-lət] -adj
- having a stalk or petiole
pet·i·ole ['pe-tē-,ōl] -n, adj
- a slender stem that supports the blade of a foliage leaf
- peduncle
- a slender abdominal segment joining the rest of the abdomen to the thorax in some insects
pet·i·o·lule ['pe-tē-ō-,lül, ,pe-tē-'ōl-(,)yül] -n
- a stalk of a leaflet of a compound leaf
pet·it ['pe-tē] -adj
- petty used chiefly in legal compounds
pe·tit bourgeois [pə-'tē-, ,pe-tē-] -n, adj
- a member of the petite bourgeoisie
- petite bourgeoisie
pe·tite [pə-'tēt] -adj, n
- having a small trim figure usu. used of a woman
petite -n
- a clothing size for short women
petite bourgeoisie -n
- the lower middle class including esp. small shopkeepers and artisans
petite si·rah [-sə-'rä] -n
- a dry red wine of spicy fruitiness made from a grape grown chiefly in California
- the grape
pe·tit four [,pe-tē-'fȯr, pə-,tē-, -'fu̇r] -n
- a small cake cut from pound or sponge cake and frosted
pe·ti·tion [pə-'ti-shən] -n, adj
- an earnest request : entreaty
- a formal written request made to an official person or organized body (as a court)
- a document embodying such a formal written request
- something asked or requested
petition [-'ti-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vb, n
- to make a request to : solicit
- to make a request
- to make a formal written request
pe·ti·tio prin·ci·pii [pə-'tē-tē-,ō-(,)priŋ-'ki-pē-,ē] -n
- a logical fallacy in which a premise is assumed to be true without warrant or in which what is to be proved is implicitly taken for granted
pet·it jury ['pe-tē-] -n
- a jury of 12 persons impaneled to try and to decide finally upon the facts at issue in causes for trial in a court
petit larceny -n
- larceny involving property of a value below a legally established minimum
pe·titmai·tre [pə-,tē-'mātrᵊ] -n
- dandy, fop
pe·tit mal ['pe-tē-,mal, -,mäl] -n
- epilepsy characterized by mild seizures marked by diminished awareness usu. with a blank stare but not by loss of consciousness
- one of these seizures
pet·it point ['pe-tē-,pȯint] -n
- tent stitch
- embroidery made with this stitch
pet peeve -n
- a frequent subject of complaint
petr- -comb form
- stone : rock
- petroleum
pe·tra·le sole [pə-'trä-lē-] -n
- a flounder ( Eopsetta jordani) chiefly of the Pacific waters of No. America that is an important food fish called also petrale
Pe·trar·chan sonnet [pi-'trär-kən-, ,pē-, (,)pe-] -n
- italian sonnet
pe·trel ['pe-trəl, 'pē-] -n
- any of numerous seabirds (esp. families Procellariidae and Hydrobatidae)
- one of the smaller long-winged birds that fly far from land
pe·tri dish ['pē-trē-] -n
- a small shallow dish of thin glass or plastic with a loose cover used esp. for cultures in bacteriology
- something (as a place or situation) that fosters development or innovation
- the college was a petri dish for radical views
pet·ri·fac·tion [,pe-trə-'fak-shən] -n
- the process of petrifying
- something petrified
- the quality or state of being petrified
pet·ri·fi·ca·tion [,pe-trə-fə-'kā-shən] -n
- petrifaction
pet·ri·fy ['pe-trə-,fī] -vb
- to convert (organic matter) into stone or a substance of stony hardness by the infiltration of water and the deposition of dissolved mineral matter
- : to make rigid or inert like stone:
- to make lifeless or inactive : deaden
- slogans are apt to petrify a man's thinking -- Saturday Rev.
- to confound with fear, amazement, or awe
- a novel about an airline pilot that will petrify you -- Martin Levin
- to become stone or of stony hardness or rigidity
Pe·trine ['pē-,trīn] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the apostle Peter or the doctrines associated with his name
- of, relating to, or characteristic of Peter the Great or his reign
pet·ro·chem·i·cal [,pe-trō-'ke-mi-kəl] -n
- a chemical isolated or derived from petroleum or natural gas
pet·ro·dol·lar ['pe-trō-,dä-lər] -n
- a dollar's worth of foreign exchange obtained by a petroleum-exporting country through sales abroad usu. used in pl.
pet·ro·gen·e·sis [,pe-trō-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj
- the origin or formation of rocks
pet·ro·glyph ['pe-trə-,glif] -n
- a carving or inscription on a rock
pe·trog·ra·phy [pə-'trä-grə-fē, pe-] -n, adj, adv
- the description and systematic classification of rocks
pet·rol ['pe-trəl, -,träl] -n
- gasoline
pet·ro·la·tum [,pe-trə-'lā-təm, -'lä-] -n
- petroleum jelly
pe·tro·leum [pə-'trō-lē-əm, -'trōl-yəm] -n
- an oily flammable bituminous liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black, occurs in many places in the upper strata of the earth, is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with small amounts of other substances, and is prepared for use as gasoline, naphtha, or other products by various refining processes
petroleum jelly -n
- a neutral unctuous odorless tasteless substance obtained from petroleum and used esp. in ointments and dressings
pe·trol·o·gy [pə-'trä-lə-jē, pe-] -n, adj, adv
- a science that deals with the origin, history, occurrence, structure, chemical composition, and classification of rocks
pet·ro·nel [,pe-trə-'nel] -n
- a portable firearm resembling a carbine of large caliber
pe·tro·sal [pə-'trō-səl] -adj
- of, relating to, or situated in the region of the petrous portion of the temporal bone or capsule of the inner ear
pe·trous ['pe-trəs, 'pē-] -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting the exceptionally hard and dense portion of the human temporal bone that contains the internal auditory organs
PET scan ['pet-] -n
- a sectional view of the body constructed by positron-emission tomography
pet·ti·coat ['pe-tē-,kōt] -n, adj
- : a skirt worn by women, girls, or young children: as
- an outer skirt formerly worn by women and small children
- a fancy skirt made to show below a draped-up overskirt
- an underskirt usu. a little shorter than outer clothing and often made with a ruffled, pleated, or lace edge
- the skirt of a woman's riding habit
- a garment characteristic or typical of women
- woman
- something (as a valance) resembling a petticoat
petticoat -adj
- of, relating to, or exercised by women : female
pet·ti·fog·ger ['pe-tē-,fȯ-gər, -,fä-] -n, adj or n
- a lawyer whose methods are petty, underhanded, or disreputable : shyster
- one given to quibbling over trifles
petting zoo -n
- a collection of farm animals or gentle exotic animals for children to pet and feed
pet·tish ['pe-tish] -adj, adv, n
- fretful, peevish
pet·ti·toes ['pe-tē-,tōz] -n pl
- the feet of a pig used as food
- toes, feet
pet·ty ['pe-tē] -adj, adv, n
- having secondary rank or importance : minor, subordinate
- having little or no importance or significance
- marked by or reflective of narrow interests and sympathies : small-minded
petty cash -n
- cash kept on hand for payment of minor items
petty larceny -n
- petit larceny
petty officer -n
- a subordinate officer in the navy or coast guard appointed from among the enlisted men
petty officer first class -n
- an enlisted man in the navy or coast guard ranking above a petty officer second class and below a chief petty officer
petty officer second class -n
- an enlisted man in the navy or coast guard ranking above a petty officer third class and below a petty officer first class
petty officer third class -n
- an enlisted man in the navy or coast guard ranking above a seaman and below a petty officer second class
pet·u·lance ['pe-chə-lən(t)s] -n
- the quality or state of being petulant : peevishness
pet·u·lan·cy [-lən(t)-sē] -n
- petulance
pet·u·lant [-lənt] -adj, adv
- insolent or rude in speech or behavior
- characterized by temporary or capricious ill humor : peevish
pe·tu·nia [pi-'tün-yə, -'tyün-] -n
- any of a genus ( Petunia) of tropical So. American herbs of the nightshade family with flowers having funnel-shaped corollas
pew ['pyü] -n
- a compartment in the auditorium of a church providing seats for several persons
- one of the benches with backs and sometimes doors fixed in rows in a church
pe·wee ['pē-(,)wē] -n
- any of various small largely gray or olive-colored American flycatchers (genus Contopus)
pew·hold·er ['pyü-,hōl-dər] -n
- a renter or owner of a pew
pewit ['pē-,wit, 'pyü-ət] -n
(variant of peewit)
- any of several birds
- lapwing
pew·ter ['pyü-tər] -n, adj
- any of various alloys having tin as chief component
- a dull alloy with lead formerly used for domestic utensils
- utensils of pewter
- a bluish gray
pew·ter·er ['pyü-tər-ər] -n
- one that makes pewter utensils
pey·o·te [pā-'ō-tē] -n
- a hallucinogenic drug containing mescaline that is derived from peyote buttons and used esp. in the religious ceremonies of some American Indian peoples
- a small low spineless cactus ( Lophophora williamsii) of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico having rounded stems covered with jointed tubercles called also mescal
peyote button -n
- one of the dried discoid tops of the peyote cactus