po -abbr
- by mouth; orally
Po -symbol
- polonium
PO -abbr
- petty officer
- postal order
- post office
- purchase order
poach ['pōch] -vt
- to cook in simmering liquid
- to encroach upon esp. for the purpose of taking something
- to trespass for the purpose of stealing game
- to take game or fish illegally
- to trespass on
- a field poach ed too frequently by the amateur -- Times Lit. Supp.
- to take (game or fish) by illegal methods
- to appropriate (something) as one's own
- to attract (as an employee or customer) away from a competitor
poach·er ['pō-chər] -n
- one that trespasses or steals
- one who kills or takes wild animals (as game or fish) illegally
poacher -n
- a covered pan containing a plate with depressions or shallow cups in each of which an egg can be cooked over steam rising from boiling water in the bottom of the pan
- a baking dish in which food (as fish) can be poached
POB -abbr
- post office box
po·bla·no [pō-'blä-nō] -n
- a large usu. mild heart-shaped chili pepper esp. when fresh and dark green
po'·boy ['pō-,bȯi] -n
- submarine
po·chard ['pō-chərd] -n
- any of various rather heavy-bodied diving ducks (esp. genus Aythya) with a large head and with feet and legs placed far back under the body
pock ['päk] -n
- a pustule in an eruptive disease (as smallpox)
- a spot suggesting such a pustule
- to mark with or as if with pocks : pit
pock·et ['pä-kət] -n
- a small bag carried by a person : purse
- a small bag that is sewed or inserted in a garment so that it is open at the top or side
- supply of money : means
- : receptacle, container: as
- an opening at the corner or side of a billiard table
- a superficial pouch in some animals
- : a small often isolated area or group:
- a cavity containing a deposit (as of gold, water, or gas)
- air pocket
- a place for a batten made by sewing a strip on a sail
- blind alley
- the position of a contestant in a race hemmed in by others
- an area formed by blockers from which a football quarterback attempts to pass
- the concave area at the base of the finger sections of a baseball glove or mitt in which the ball is normally caught
pocket ['pä-kə-tə-bəl] -vt, adj
- to put or enclose in or as if in one's pocket
- to appropriate to one's own use : steal
- to refuse assent to (a bill) by a pocket veto
- to put up with : accept
- to set aside : suppress
- to hem in
- to drive (a ball) into a pocket of a pool table
- to cover or supply with pockets
- small enough to be carried in the pocket
- small, miniature
- of or relating to money
- carried in or paid from one's own pocket
pocket battleship -n
- a small German battleship built so as to come within treaty limitations of tonnage and armament
pocket billiards -n pl but usu sing in constr
- pool
pock·et·book ['pä-kət-,bu̇k] -n
- a small esp. paperback book that can be carried in the pocket
- a flat typically leather folding case for money or personal papers that can be carried in a pocket or handbag
- purse
- handbag
- financial resources : income
- economic interests
pocketbook -adj
- relating to or involving economic interests
pocket borough -n
- an English constituency controlled before parliamentary reform by a single person or family
pocket edition -n
- pocketbook
- a miniature form of something
pocket gopher -n
- gopher
pock·et·knife ['pä-kət-,nīf] -n
- a knife that has one or more blades that fold into the handle and that can be carried in the pocket
pocket money -n
- money for small personal expenses
pocket mouse -n
- any of various nocturnal burrowing rodents (family Heteromyidae) that resemble mice, live in arid parts of western No. America, and have long hind legs and tail and fur-lined cheek pouches
pock·etsize ['pä-kət-,sīz] -adj
- of a size convenient for carrying in the pocket
- small
pocket veto -n, vt
- an indirect veto of a legislative bill by an executive through retention of the bill unsigned until after adjournment of the legislature
pock·mark ['päk-,märk] -n
- a mark, pit, or depressed scar caused by smallpox or acne
- an imperfection or depression like a pockmark
pockmark -vt
- to cover with or as if with pockmarks : pit
pocky ['pä-kē] -adj
- covered with pocks
po·co ['pō-(,)kō, 'pȯ-] -adv
- to a slight degree : somewhat used to qualify a direction in music
po·co a po·co ['pō-kō-(,)ä-'pō-(,)kō, 'pȯ-kō-(,)ä-'pȯ-] -adv
- little by little : gradually used as a direction in music
po·co·cu·ran·te ['pō-kō-kyu̇-'ran-tē, -ku̇-] -adj, n
- indifferent, nonchalant
po·co·sin [pə-'kō-sᵊn] -n
- an upland swamp of the coastal plain of the southeastern U.S.
pod ['päd] -n
- a bit socket in a brace
- a straight groove or channel in the barrel of an auger
- a dry dehiscent pericarp or fruit that is composed of one or more carpels
- legume
- an anatomical pouch
- a grasshopper egg case
- a tapered and roughly cylindrical body of ore or mineral
- : a usu. protective container or housing: as
- a streamlined compartment (as for fuel) under the wings or fuselage of an aircraft
- a compartment (as for personnel, a power unit, or an instrument) on a ship or craft
- to produce pods
- a number of animals (as whales) clustered together
POD -abbr
- payable on death
- pay on delivery
po·dag·ra [pə-'da-grə] -n
- a painful condition of the big toe caused by gout
pod·cast ['päd-,kast] -n, vb
- a program (as of music or talk) made available in digital format for automatic download over the Internet
pod corn -n
- an Indian corn that has each individual kernel enclosed in a husk
po·de·sta [,pō-də-'stä] -n
- a chief magistrate in a medieval Italian municipality
podgy ['pä-jē] -adj
- pudgy
po·di·a·try [pə-'dī-ə-trē, pō-] -n, adj
- the medical care and treatment of the human foot called also chiropody
po·di·um ['pō-dē-əm] -n
- : a low wall serving as a foundation or terrace wall: as
- one around the arena of an ancient amphitheater serving as a base for the tiers of seats
- the masonry under the stylobate of a temple
- a dais esp. for an orchestral conductor
- lectern
podo·phyl·lin [,pä-də-'fi-lən] -n
- a resin obtained from podophyllum and used in medicine as a caustic
podo·phyl·lum [-'fi-ləm] -n
- the dried rhizome and rootlet of the mayapple that is used as a caustic or as a source of the more effective podophyllin
Po·dunk ['pō-,dəŋk] -n
- a small, unimportant, and isolated town
pod·zol ['päd-,zȯl] -n, adj
- any of a group of zonal soils that develop in a moist climate esp. under coniferous or mixed forest and have an organic mat and a thin organic-mineral layer above a light gray leached layer resting on a dark horizon that is marked by illuviation and enriched with amorphous clay
pod·zol·i·za·tion [,päd-,zȯ-lə-'zā-shən] -n, vb
- a process of soil formation esp. in humid regions involving principally leaching of the upper layers with accumulation of material in lower layers and development of characteristic horizons
- the development of a podzol
POE -abbr
- port of embarkation
- port of entry
po·em ['pō-əm, -im, 'pōm also 'pȯ(-)im, 'pō-,em] -n
- a composition in verse
- something suggesting a poem (as in expressiveness, lyricism, or formal grace)
- the house we stayed in...was itself a poem -- H. J. Laski
po·e·sy ['pō-ə-zē, -sē] -n
- a poem or body of poems
- poetry
- artificial or sentimentalized poetic writing
- poetic inspiration
po·et ['pō-ət, -it also 'pȯ(-)it] -n
- one who writes poetry : a maker of verses
- one (as a creative artist) of great imaginative and expressive capabilities and special sensitivity to the medium
po·et·as·ter ['pō-ə-,tas-tər] -n
- an inferior poet
po·et·ess ['pō-ə-təs, 'pō-i- also 'pȯ(-)i-] -n
- a girl or woman who is a poet
po·et·ic [pō-'e-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of poets or poetry
- given to writing poetry
- written in verse
- having or expressing the qualities of poetry (as though aesthetic or emotional impact)
po·et·i·cal [-ti-kəl] -adj, adv, n
- poetic
- being beyond or above the truth of history or nature : idealized
- had poetical ideas about love
po·et·i·cism [pō-'e-tə-,si-zəm] -n
- an archaic, trite, or strained expression in poetry
po·et·i·cize [-,sīz] -vt
- to give a poetic quality to
poetic justice -n
- an outcome in which vice is punished and virtue rewarded usu. in a manner peculiarly or ironically appropriate
poetic license -n
- license
po·et·ics [pō-'e-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a treatise on poetry or aesthetics
- poetic theory or practice
- a particular theory of poetry or sometimes other literary forms
- poetic feelings or utterances
po·et·ize ['pō-ə-,tīz] -vb, n
- to compose poetry
- poeticize
poet laureate -n
- a poet honored for achievement
- a poet appointed for life by an English sovereign as a member of the royal household and formerly expected to compose poems for court and national occasions
- a poet appointed annually by the U.S. Library of Congress as a consultant and typically involved in the promotion of poetry
- one regarded by a country or region as its most eminent or representative poet
po·et·ry ['pō-ə-trē, -i-trē also 'pȯ(-)i-trē] -n
- metrical writing : verse
- the productions of a poet : poems
- writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm
- something likened to poetry esp. in beauty of expression
- poetic quality or aspect
pofaced ['pō-,fāst] -adj
- having an assumed solemn, serious, or earnest expression or manner : piously or hypocritically solemn
pog·o·nip ['pä-gə-,nip] -n
- a dense winter fog containing frozen particles that is formed in deep mountain valleys of the western U.S.
po·go·noph·o·ran [,pō-gə-'nä-fə-rən] -n, adj
- any of a phylum (Pogonophora) of marine wormlike animals of uncertain systematic relationships that live in chitinous tubes on the floor of deep seas, have obscure segmentation, and lack a mouth and digestive tract
po·go stick ['pō-(,)gō-] -n
- a pole with a strong spring at the bottom and two footrests on which a person stands and moves along with a series of jumps
po·grom ['pō-grəm, 'pä-; pō-'gräm, pə-] -n
- an organized massacre of helpless people
- such a massacre of Jews
pogrom -vt
- to massacre or destroy in a pogrom
po·grom·ist ['pō-grə-mist, 'pä-; pō-'grä-, pə-] -n
- one who organizes or takes part in a pogrom
po·gy ['pō-gē] -n
- menhaden
poi ['pȯi] -n
- a Hawaiian food of taro root cooked, pounded, and kneaded to a paste and often allowed to ferment
poi·gnance ['pȯi-nyən(t)s sometimes 'pȯi(g)-nən(t)s] -n
- poignancy
poi·gnan·cy ['pȯi-nyən(t)-sē sometimes 'pȯi(g)-nən(t)-sē] -n
- the quality or state of being poignant
- an instance of poignancy
poi·gnant ['pȯi-nyənt sometimes 'pȯi(g)-nənt] -adj, adv
- pungently pervasive
- painfully affecting the feelings : piercing
- deeply affecting : touching
- designed to make an impression : cutting
- pleasurably stimulating
- being to the point : apt
poi·ki·lo·therm [pȯi-'kē-lə-,thərm, -'ki-] -n, adj
- an organism (as a frog) with a variable body temperature that tends to fluctuate with and is similar to or slightly higher than the temperature of its environment : a cold-blooded organism
poi·lu [pwäl-'yü, pwä-'lü; 'pwäl-,yü, 'pwä-,lü; pwä-'lᵫ] -n
- a French soldier
- a front-line soldier in World War I
poin·ci·ana [,pȯin(t)-sē-'a-nə, ,p(w)än(t)-] -n
- any of several ornamental tropical trees or shrubs (genera Caesalpiniaand Delonix) of the legume family formerly placed in their own genus ( Poinciana)
poin·set·tia [pȯin-'se-tē-ə, ÷pȯint-, ÷-'se-tə] -n
- any of several spurges (genus Euphorbia) with flower clusters subtended by showy involucral bracts
- a showy Mexican and Central American plant ( E. pulcherrima) with tapering usu. scarlet bracts that suggest petals and surround small yellow flowers
point ['pȯint] -n
- an individual detail : item
- a distinguishing detail
- tact is one of her strong point s
- the most important essential in a discussion or matter
- missed the whole point of the joke
- cogency
- physical condition
- an end or object to be achieved : purpose
- did not see what point there was in continuing the discussion
- a geometric element that has zero dimensions and a location determinable by an ordered set of coordinates
- a narrowly localized place having a precisely indicated position
- walked to a point 50 yards north of the building
- a particular place : locality
- have come from distant point s
- an exact moment
- at this point I was interrupted
- a time interval immediately before something indicated : verge
- a particular step, stage, or degree in development
- had reached the point where nothing seemed to matter anymore
- a definite position in a scale
- the terminal usu. sharp or narrowly rounded part of something : tip
- : a weapon or tool having such a part and used for stabbing or piercing: as
- arrowhead
- spearhead
- the contact or discharge extremity of an electric device (as a spark plug or distributor)
- an electric outlet
- a projecting usu. tapering piece of land or a sharp prominence
- the tip of a projecting body part
- tine
- the extremities or markings of the extremities of an animal esp. when of a color differing from the rest of the body
- a railroad switch
- the head of the bow of a stringed instrument
- a short musical phrase
- a phrase in contrapuntal music
- a very small mark
- punctuation mark
- period
- decimal point
- a lace for tying parts of a garment together used esp. in the 16th and 17th centuries
- one of usu. 11 divisions of a heraldic shield that determines the position of a charge
- one of the 32 equidistant spots of a compass card for indicating direction
- the difference of 11 degrees between two such successive points
- a direction indicated by a compass point
- from all point s of the compass
- a small detachment ahead of an advance guard or behind a rear guard
- needlepoint
- lace made with a bobbin
- one of 12 spaces marked off on each side of a backgammon board
- : a unit of measurement: as
- a unit of counting in the scoring of a game or contest
- a unit used in evaluating the strength of a bridge hand
- a unit of academic credit
- a unit used in quoting prices (as of stocks, bonds, and commodities)
- a percentage of the face value of a loan often added as a placement fee or service charge
- a percentage of the profits of a business venture (as a motion-picture production)
- a unit of about inch used esp. to measure the size of type
- : the action of pointing: as
- the rigidly intent attitude of a hunting dog marking game for a gunner
- the action in dancing of extending one leg and arching the foot so that only the tips of the toes touch the floor
- a position of a player in various games (as lacrosse)
- the player of such a position
- a number thrown on the first roll of the dice in craps which the player attempts to repeat before throwing a seven
- credit accruing from creating a good impression
- scored point s for hard work
- to furnish with a point : sharpen
- point ing a pencil with a knife
- to give added force, emphasis, or piquancy to
- to scratch out the old mortar from the joints of (as a brick wall) and fill in with new material
- to mark the pauses or grammatical divisions in : punctuate
- to separate (a decimal fraction) from an integer by a decimal point usu. used with off
- to mark (as Hebrew words) with diacritics (as vowel points)
- to indicate the position or direction of esp. by extending a finger
- to direct someone's attention to
- point the way to new knowledge -- Elizabeth Hall
usu. used with out or up - point s up the difference
- to indicate the presence and place of (game) by a point
- to cause to be turned in a particular direction
- point ed the boat upstream
- to extend (a leg) and arch (the foot) in executing a point in dancing
- to indicate the fact or probability of something specified
- everything point s to a bright future
- to indicate the position or direction of something esp. by extending a finger
- to direct attention
- can point with pride to their own traditions
- to point game
- to lie extended, aimed, or turned in a particular direction
- a directional arrow that point ed to the north
- to execute a point in dancing
- to sail close to the wind
- to train for a particular contest
pointandclick -adj
- of, relating to, or being a computer interface that allows the activation of a file or function by selection with a pointing device (as a mouse)
pointandshoot -adj
- having or using preset or automatically adjusted controls (as for focus or shutter speed)
pointblank ['pȯint-'blaŋk] -adj, adv
- marked by no appreciable drop below initial horizontal line of flight
- so close to a target that a missile fired will travel in a straight line to the mark
- direct, blunt
point count -n
- a method of evaluating the strength of a hand in bridge by counting points for each high card and usu. for long or short suits
- the value of a hand so evaluated
point d'ap·pui [,pwaⁿ(n)-da-'pwē] -n
- foundation, base
pointde·vice [,pȯint-di-'vīs] -adj, adv
- marked by punctilious attention to detail : meticulous
pointe ['pwaⁿ(n)t] -n
- a ballet position in which the body is balanced on the extreme tip of the toe
point·ed ['pȯin-təd] -adj, adv, n
- having a point
- being an arch with a pointed crown
- marked by the use of a pointed arch
- being to the point : pertinent
- aimed at a particular person or group
- conspicuous, marked
- having points that contrast in color with the basic coat color
pointed -adj
- set, fixed
poin·telle [,pȯin-'tel] -n
- an openwork design (as in knitted fabric) typically in the shape of chevrons
- a fabric with this design
point·er ['pȯin-tər] -n
- the two stars in the Big Dipper a line through which points to the North Star
- one that points out
- a rod used to direct attention
- a computer memory address that contains another address (as of desired data)
- a large strong slender smooth-haired gundog that hunts by scent and indicates the presence of game by pointing
- one that furnishes with points
- a useful suggestion or hint : tip
point estimate -n
- the single value assigned to a parameter in point estimation
point estimation -n
- estimation in which a single value is assigned to a parameter
point guard -n
- a guard in basketball who is chiefly responsible for running the offense
poin·til·lism ['pwaⁿ(n)-tē-,yi-zəm, 'pȯin-tə-,li-zəm] -n
- the theory or practice in art of applying small strokes or dots of color to a surface so that from a distance they blend together
poin·til·lis·tic [,pwaⁿ(n)-tē-'yis-tik, ,pȯin-tə-'lis-] -adj
- composed of many discrete details or parts
- of, relating to, or characteristic of pointillism or pointillists
point lace -n
- needlepoint
point·less ['pȯint-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- devoid of meaning : senseless
- devoid of effectiveness : flat
- pointless attempts to be funny
point man -n
- a soldier who goes ahead of a patrol
- one who is in the forefront
- a principal spokesman or advocate
- the point man for the President's economic policy
point mutation -n
- a gene mutation involving the substitution, addition, or deletion of a single nucleotide base
point of accumulation
- limit point
point of departure
- a starting point esp. in a discussion
point of honor
- a matter seriously affecting one's honor
point of inflection
- inflection point
point of no return
- the point in the flight of an aircraft beyond which the remaining fuel will be insufficient for a return to the starting point with the result that the craft must proceed
- a critical point at which turning back or reversal is not possible
pointofpurchase -adj
- of or relating to the place (as a supermarket aisle) where a decision to purchase is made
pointofservice -adj
- of, relating to, or being a health-care insurance plan that allows enrollees to seek care from a physician affiliated with the service provider at a fixed co-payment or to choose a nonaffiliated physician and pay more abbr. POS
point of view
- a position or perspective from which something is considered or evaluated : standpoint
point person -n
- point man
point set topology -n
- a branch of topology concerned with the properties and theory of topological spaces and metric spaces developed with emphasis on set theory
pointshav·ing ['point-,shā-viŋ] -n
- an attempt (as by a member of the team favored to win) to influence the final score of a game so that the predicted winner wins by less than the point spread
point source -n
- a source of radiation (as light) that is concentrated at a point and considered as having no spatial extension
- an identifiable confined source (as a smokestack or wastewater treatment plant) from which a pollutant is discharged or emitted
point spread -n
- the number of points by which an oddsmaker expects a favorite to defeat an underdog
pointtopoint -n
- a cross-country steeplechase
pointy ['pȯin-tē] -adj
- coming to a rather sharp point
- having parts that stick out sharply here and there
pointyhead ['pȯin-tē-,hed] -n, adj
- intellectual
poise ['pȯiz] -vb
- balance
- to hold or carry in equilibrium
- carried a water jar poised on her head
- to hold supported or suspended without motion in a steady position
- poised her fork and gave her guest a knowing look -- Louis Bromfield
- to hold or carry (the head) in a particular way
- to put into readiness : brace
- to become drawn up into readiness
- hover
- a stably balanced state : equilibrium
- a poise between widely divergent impulses -- F. R. Leavis
- easy self-possessed assurance of manner : gracious tact in coping or handling
- the pleasantly tranquil interaction between persons of poise
- no angry outbursts marred the poise of the meeting
- a particular way of carrying oneself : bearing, carriage
- a centimeter-gram-second unit of viscosity equal to the viscosity of a fluid that would require a shearing force of one dyne to impart to a one-square-centimeter area of an arbitrary layer of the fluid a velocity of one centimeter per second relative to another layer separated from the first by a distance of one centimeter
poised -adj
- : having poise:
- marked by balance or equilibrium
- marked by easy composure of manner or bearing
poi·sha ['pȯi-shə] -n
- the paisa of Bangladesh
poi·son ['pȯi-zᵊn] -n
- a substance that through its chemical action usu. kills, injures, or impairs an organism
- something destructive or harmful
- an object of aversion or abhorrence
- a substance that inhibits the activity of another substance or the course of a reaction or process
poison ['pȯiz-niŋ, 'pȯi-zᵊn-iŋ] -vt, n
- to injure or kill with poison
- to treat, taint, or impregnate with or as if with poison
- to exert a baneful influence on : corrupt
- to inhibit the activity, course, or occurrence of
- on the night when he poison ed my rest -- Charles Dickens
- poisonous, venomous
- impregnated with poison : poisoned
poison dart frog -n
- any of several small brightly colored frogs (family Dendrobatidae) of tropical Central and So. America that produce poisonous secretions sometimes used by native peoples to poison dart or arrow tips called also poison arrow frog
poison gas -n
- a poisonous gas or a liquid or a solid giving off poisonous vapors designed (as in chemical warfare) to kill, injure, or disable by inhalation or contact
poison hemlock -n
- a large European biennial poisonous herb ( Conium maculatum) of the carrot family that is naturalized in the U.S. and has finely divided leaves and small white flowers
poison ivy -n
- a climbing plant ( Toxicodendron radicanssyn. Rhus radicans) of the cashew family that is esp. common in the eastern and central U.S., that has ternate leaves, greenish flowers, and white berries, and that produces an acutely irritating oil causing a usu. intensely itching skin rash
- any of several plants closely related to poison ivy
- a skin rash caused by poison ivy
poison oak -n
- : any of several plants related to poison ivy and producing an oil with similar irritating properties: as
- a bushy plant ( Toxicodendron diversilobumsyn. Rhus diversiloba) of the Pacific coast
- a bushy plant ( Toxicodendron toxicariumsyn. Rhus toxicodendron) chiefly of the southeastern U.S.
- poison ivy
poi·son·ous ['pȯiz-nəs, 'pȯi-zᵊn-əs] -adj, adv
- destructive, harmful
- having the properties or effects of poison : venomous
- spiteful, malicious
poisonpen -adj
- written with malice and spite and usu. anonymously
poison pill -n
- a financial tactic or provision used by a company to make an unwanted takeover prohibitively expensive or less desirable
poison sumac -n
- a swamp shrub ( Toxicodendron vernixsyn. Rhus vernix) chiefly of the eastern U.S. and Canada that has pinnate leaves, greenish flowers, and greenish white berries and produces an irritating oil called also poison dogwood
poi·son·wood ['pȯi-zᵊn-,wu̇d] -n
- a tree ( Metopium toxiferum) of the cashew family that is native to Florida and the West Indies and has compound leaves, greenish paniculate flowers, and orange-yellow fruits and produces a severely irritating sap
Pois·son distribution [pwä-'sōⁿ-] -n
- a probability density function that is often used as a mathematical model of the number of outcomes obtained in a suitable interval of time and space, that has its mean equal to its variance, that is used as an approximation to the binomial distribution, and that has the formis the mean and xtakes on nonnegative integral values
Poisson's ratio -n
- the ratio of transverse to longitudinal strain in a material under tension
poke ['pōk] -n
- bag, sack
- wallet
- purse
- prod, jab
- to urge or stir by prodding or jabbing
- poked and scolded by the old folks -- Upton Sinclair
- to cause to prod : thrust
- poked a stick at the snake
- pierce, stab
- to produce by or as if by piercing, stabbing, or jabbing
- poked holes in his heavily footnoted argument -- David Stoll
- hit, punch
- to deliver (a blow) with the fist
- to hit (a blooper) in baseball
- to cause to project
- poked her head out of the window
- to make (one's way) by poking
- poked his way through the ruins
- to interpose or interject in a meddlesome manner
- asked him not to poke his nose into other people's business
- to make a prodding, jabbing, or thrusting movement esp. repeatedly
- to strike out at something
- to look about or through something without system : rummage
- poking around in the attic
- meddle
- to move or act slowly or aimlessly
- just poked around and didn't accomplish much
- to become stuck out or forward : protrude
- a quick thrust : jab
- a blow with the fist : punch
- a projecting brim on the front of a woman's bonnet
- a cutting remark : dig
- pokeweed
poke·ber·ry ['pōk-,ber-ē] -n
- the berry of the pokeweed
- pokeweed
pok·er ['pō-kər] -n
- one that pokes
- a metal rod for stirring a fire
po·ker ['pō-kər] -n
- any of several card games in which a player bets that the value of his or her hand is greater than that of the hands held by others, in which each subsequent player must either equal or raise the bet or drop out, and in which the player holding the highest hand at the end of the betting wins the pot
poker face ['pō-kər-,fāst] -n, adj
- an inscrutable face that reveals no hint of a person's thoughts or feelings
poke·weed ['pōk-,wēd] -n
- a coarse American perennial herb ( Phytolacca americanaof the family Phytolaccaceae, the pokeweed family) with racemose white flowers, dark purple juicy berries, a poisonous root, and young shoots sometimes used as potherbs
po·key ['pō-kē] -n
- jail
poky ['pō-kē] -adj, adv, n
- small and cramped
- shabby, dull
- annoyingly slow
pol ['päl] -n
- politician
Pol -abbr
- Poland
Po·la·bi·an [pō-'lä-bē-ən, -'lā-] -n
- a member of a Slavic people formerly dwelling in the basin of the Elbe and on the Baltic coast of Germany
- the extinct West Slavic language of the Polabians
Po·lack ['pō-,läk, -,lak] -n
- a native or inhabitant of Poland
- a person of Polish birth or descent
Po·land Chi·na ['pō-lən(d)-'chī-nə] -n
- any of a U.S. breed of large white-marked black swine
po·lar ['pō-lər] -adj
- of or relating to a geographic pole or the region around it
- coming from or having the characteristics of such a region
- passing over a celestial body's north and south poles
- a satellite in a polar orbit
- traveling in a polar orbit
- of or relating to one or more poles (as of a magnet)
- serving as a guide
- diametrically opposite
- polar positions on the issue
- exhibiting polarity
- having a dipole or characterized by molecules having dipoles
- resembling a pole or axis around which all else revolves : pivotal
- of, relating to, or expressed in polar coordinates
- of or relating to a polar coordinate system
polar -n
- a straight line related to a point
- the straight line joining the points of contact of the tangents from a point exterior to a conic section
polar bear -n
- a large creamy-white carnivorous bear ( Ursus maritimussyn. Thalarctos maritimus) that inhabits arctic regions
polar body -n
- a cell that separates from an oocyte during meiosis and that contains a nucleus produced in the first or second meiotic division and very little cytoplasm
polar circle -n
- either of the two parallels of latitude each at a distance from a pole of the earth equal to about 23 degrees 27 minutes
polar coordinate -n
- either of two numbers that locate a point in a plane by its distance from a fixed point on a line and the angle this line makes with a fixed line
polar front -n
- the boundary between the cold air of a polar region and the warmer air of lower latitudes
po·lar·im·e·ter [,pō-lə-'ri-mə-tər] -n, adj
- an instrument for determining the amount of polarization of light or the proportion of polarized light in a partially polarized ray
- a polariscope for measuring the amount of rotation of the plane of polarization esp. by liquids
Po·lar·is [pə-'ler-əs, -'lär-, -'la-rəs] -n
- north star
po·lar·i·scope [pō-'la-rə-,skōp] -n, adj
- an instrument for studying the properties of or examining substances in polarized light
- polarimeter
po·lar·ise ['pō-lə-,rīz] -vb, n, adj
(variant of polarize)
- to cause (as light waves) to vibrate in a definite pattern
- to give physical polarity to
- to break up into opposing factions or groupings
- a campaign that polarized the electorate
- concentrate
- recreate a cohesive rock community by polarizing ...an amorphous, fragmented audience -- Ellen Willis
- to become polarized
po·lar·i·ty [pō-'ler-ə-tē, pə-, -'la-rə-] -n
- the quality or condition inherent in a body that exhibits opposite properties or powers in opposite parts or directions or that exhibits contrasted properties or powers in contrasted parts or directions : the condition of having poles
- attraction toward a particular object or in a specific direction
- the particular state either positive or negative with reference to the two poles or to electrification
- diametrical opposition
- an instance of such opposition
polarity therapy -n
- a holistic discipline that seeks to achieve physical and emotional health through a system of touch, diet, exercise, and self-awareness designed to balance energy flows in the body
po·lar·i·za·tion [,pō-lə-rə-'zā-shən] -n
- : the action of polarizing or state of being or becoming polarized: as
- the action or process of affecting radiation and esp. light so that the vibrations of the wave assume a definite form
- the state of radiation affected by this process
- an increase in the resistance of an electrolytic cell often caused by the deposition of gas on one or both electrodes
- magnetization
- division into two opposites
- concentration about opposing extremes of groups or interests formerly ranged on a continuum
po·lar·ize ['pō-lə-,rīz] -vb, n, adj
- to cause (as light waves) to vibrate in a definite pattern
- to give physical polarity to
- to break up into opposing factions or groupings
- a campaign that polarized the electorate
- concentrate
- recreate a cohesive rock community by polarizing ...an amorphous, fragmented audience -- Ellen Willis
- to become polarized
polar nucleus -n
- either of the two nuclei of a seed plant embryo sac that are destined to form endosperm
po·lar·og·ra·phy [,pō-lə-'rä-grə-fē] -n, adj, adv
- a method of qualitative or quantitative analysis based on current-voltage curves obtained during electrolysis of a solution with a steadily increasing electromotive force
Po·lar·oid ['pō-lə-,rȯid] -trademark
- used esp. for a light-polarizing material used esp. in eyeglasses and lamps to prevent glare or for a camera that produces developed pictures
po·lar·on ['pō-lə-,rän] -n
- a conducting electron in an ionic crystal together with the induced polarization of the surrounding lattice
pol·der ['pōl-dər] -n
- a tract of low land (as in the Netherlands) reclaimed from a body of water (as the sea)
pole ['pōl] -n
- a long slender usu. cylindrical object (as a length of wood)
- a shaft which extends from the front axle of a wagon between wheelhorses and by which the wagon is drawn : tongue
- a long staff of wood, metal, or fiberglass used in the pole vault
- a varying unit of length
- one equal to a rod (16 feet or about 5 meters)
- a tree with a breast-high diameter of from 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 centimeters)
- the inside front row position on the starting line for a race
- to act upon with a pole
- to impel or push with a pole
- to propel a boat with a pole
- to use ski poles to gain speed
- either extremity of an axis of a sphere and esp. of the earth's axis
- either of two related opposites
- a point of guidance or attraction
- either of the two terminals of an electric cell, battery, generator, or motor
- one of two or more regions in a magnetized body at which the magnetic flux density is concentrated
- either of two morphologically or physiologically differentiated areas at opposite ends of an axis in an organism or cell
- the fixed point in a system of polar coordinates that serves as the origin
- the point of origin of two tangents to a conic section that determine a polar
Pole ['pōl] -n
- a native or inhabitant of Poland
- a person of Polish descent
pole·ax ['pōl-,aks] -n
- a battle-ax with a short handle and often a hook or spike opposite the blade
- one with a long handle used as an ornamental weapon
- an ax used in slaughtering cattle
poleax -vt
- to attack, strike, or fell with or as if with a poleax
pole bean -n
- a cultivated bean that is usu. trained to grow upright on supports
pole·cat ['pōl-,kat] -n
- any of several carnivorous mammals (as of the genera Mustelaor Vormela) of the weasel family
- a brown to black European mammal ( M. putorius) from which the domesticated ferret is derived
- skunk
pole dancing -n, n or vi
- usu. solo dancing performed while using a fixed vertical pole as a prop
poleis ['pä-ləs] -n
(variant of polis)
- a Greek city-state
- a state or society esp. when characterized by a sense of community
pole·less ['pōl-ləs] -adj
- having no pole
po·lem·ic [pə-'le-mik] -n
- an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another
- the art or practice of disputation or controversy usu. used in pl. but sing. or pl. in constr.
- an aggressive controversialist : disputant
po·lem·i·cal [-mi-kəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or being a polemic : controversial
- engaged in or addicted to polemics : disputatious
po·lem·i·cize [-'le-mə-,sīz] -vi
- to engage in controversy : deliver a polemic
po·le·mist [pə-'le-mist, 'pä-lə-mist] -n
- one skilled in or given to polemics
pol·e·mize ['pä-lə-,mīz] -vi
- polemicize
pol·e·mo·ni·um [,pä-lə-'mō-nē-əm] -n
- jacob's ladder
po·len·ta [pō-'len-tə, pə-, -,tä] -n
- mush made of chestnut meal, cornmeal, semolina, or farina
pol·er ['pō-lər] -n
- one that poles
- one that poles a boat
pole·star ['pōl-,stär] -n
- north star
- a directing principle : guide
- a center of attraction
pole vault -n, vi
- a vault with the aid of a pole
- a field event consisting of a vault for height over a crossbar
pole·ward ['pōl-wərd] -adv or adj
- toward or in the direction of a pole of the earth
- as the sun moves poleward
- poleward variation in temperature
po·lice [pə-'lēs] -vt
- govern
- to control, regulate, or keep in order by use of police
- to make clean and put in order
- to supervise the operation, execution, or administration of to prevent or detect and prosecute violations of rules and regulations
- to exercise such supervision over the policies and activities of
- to perform the functions of a police force in or over
police -n
- the internal organization or regulation of a political unit through exercise of governmental powers esp. with respect to general comfort, health, morals, safety, or prosperity
- control and regulation of affairs affecting the general order and welfare of any unit or area
- the system of laws for effecting such control
- the department of government concerned primarily with maintenance of public order, safety, and health and enforcement of laws and possessing executive, judicial, and legislative powers
- the department of government charged with prevention, detection, and prosecution of public nuisances and crimes
- police force
- police officers
- a private organization resembling a police force
- the members of a private police organization
- the action or process of cleaning and putting in order
- military personnel detailed to perform this function
- one attempting to regulate or censor a specified field or activity
police action -n
- a localized military action undertaken without formal declaration of war by regular armed forces against persons held to be violators of international peace and order
police court -n
- a court of record that has jurisdiction over various minor offenses (as breach of the peace) and the power to bind over for trial in a superior court or for a grand jury persons accused of more serious offenses
police dog -n
- a dog trained to assist police (as in drug detection)
- german shepherd
police force -n
- a body of trained officers entrusted by a government with maintenance of public peace and order, enforcement of laws, and prevention and detection of crime
po·lice·man [pə-'lēs-mən] -n
- a member of a police force
- one held to resemble a policeman
- making the United States the policeman for the whole wide world -- R. B. Long
police officer -n
- a member of a police force
police power -n
- the inherent power of a government to exercise reasonable control over persons and property within its jurisdiction in the interest of the general security, health, safety, morals, and welfare except where legally prohibited
police procedural -n
- a mystery story written from the point of view of the police investigating the crime
police reporter -n
- a reporter regularly assigned to cover police news (as crimes and arrests)
police state -n
- a political unit characterized by repressive governmental control of political, economic, and social life usu. by an arbitrary exercise of power by police and esp. secret police in place of regular operation of administrative and judicial organs of the government according to publicly known legal procedures
police station -n
- the headquarters of the police for a locality
po·lice·wom·an [pə-'lēs-,wu̇-mən] -n
- a woman who is a member of a police force
pol·i·cy ['pä-lə-sē] -n
- prudence or wisdom in the management of affairs
- management or procedure based primarily on material interest
- a definite course or method of action selected from among alternatives and in light of given conditions to guide and determine present and future decisions
- a high-level overall plan embracing the general goals and acceptable procedures esp. of a governmental body
policy -n
- a writing whereby a contract of insurance is made
- a daily lottery in which participants bet that certain numbers will be drawn from a lottery wheel
- number
pol·i·cy·hold·er ['pä-lə-sē-,hōl-dər] -n
- the owner of an insurance policy
policy science -n
- a social science dealing with the making of high-level policy (as in a government or business)
po·lio ['pō-lē-,ō] -n
- poliomyelitis
po·lio·my·eli·tis [,pō-lē-(,)ō-,mī-ə-'lī-təs] -n
- an acute infectious disease caused by the poliovirus and characterized by fever, motor paralysis, and atrophy of skeletal muscles often with permanent disability and deformity and marked by inflammation of nerve cells in the anterior gray matter in each lateral half of the spinal cord called also infantile paralysis
po·lio·vi·rus ['pō-lē-(,)ō-,vī-rəs] -n
- an enterovirus (species Poliovirus) occurring in three distinct serotypes that cause poliomyelitis
po·lis ['pä-ləs] -n
- a Greek city-state
- a state or society esp. when characterized by a sense of community
po·lisci ['pä-lē-'sī] -n
- political science
pol·ish ['pä-lish] -vb, n
- to make smooth and glossy usu. by friction : burnish
- to smooth, soften, or refine in manners or condition
- to bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state : perfect
- to become smooth or glossy by or as if by friction
polish -n
- a smooth glossy surface : luster
- freedom from rudeness or coarseness : culture
- a state of high development or refinement
- the action or process of polishing
- a preparation that is used to produce a gloss and often a color for the protection and decoration of a surface
Pol·ish ['pō-lish] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish
Polish -n
- the Slavic language of the Poles
polish off -vt
- to finish off or dispose of rapidly or completely
polit -abbr
- political
po·lit·bu·ro ['pä-lət-,byu̇r-(,)ō, 'pō-lət-, pə-'lit-] -n
- the principal policy-making and executive committee of a Communist party
po·lite [pə-'līt] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or having the characteristics of advanced culture
- marked by refined cultural interests and pursuits esp. in arts and belles lettres
- showing or characterized by correct social usage
- marked by an appearance of consideration, tact, deference, or courtesy
- marked by a lack of roughness or crudities
po·li·tesse [,pä-li-'tes, ,pȯ-] -n
- formal politeness : decorousness
pol·i·tic ['pä-lə-,tik] -adj
- political
- characterized by shrewdness in managing, contriving, or dealing
- sagacious in promoting a policy
- shrewdly tactful
po·lit·i·cal [pə-'li-ti-kəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to government, a government, or the conduct of government
- of, relating to, or concerned with the making as distinguished from the administration of governmental policy
- of, relating to, involving, or involved in politics and esp. party politics
- organized in governmental terms
- involving or charged or concerned with acts against a government or a political system
political action committee -n
- a group formed (as by an industry or an issue-oriented organization) to raise and contribute money to the campaigns of candidates likely to advance the group's interests
political economy -n
- economics
- the theory or study of the role of public policy in influencing the economic and social welfare of a political unit
po·lit·i·cal·ize [pə-'li-ti-kə-,līz] -vt, n
- politicize
politically correct -adj, n
- conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated
political science -n
- a social science concerned chiefly with the description and analysis of political and esp. governmental institutions and processes
pol·i·ti·cian [,pä-lə-'ti-shən] -n
- a person experienced in the art or science of government
- one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government
- a person engaged in party politics as a profession
- a person primarily interested in political office for selfish or other narrow usu. short-sighted reasons
po·lit·i·cise [pə-'li-tə-,sīz] -vt, n
(variant of politicize)
- to give a political tone or character to
- an attempt to politicize the civil service
po·lit·i·cize [pə-'li-tə-,sīz] -vt, n
- to give a political tone or character to
- an attempt to politicize the civil service
pol·i·tick ['pä-lə-,tik] -vi, n
- to engage in often partisan political discussion or activity
po·lit·i·co [pə-'li-ti-,kō] -n
- politician
pol·i·tics ['pä-lə-,tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- the art or science of government
- the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy
- the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government
- political actions, practices, or policies
- political affairs or business
- competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership (as in a government)
- political life esp. as a principal activity or profession
- political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices
- the political opinions or sympathies of a person
- the total complex of relations between people living in society
- relations or conduct in a particular area of experience esp. as seen or dealt with from a political point of view
pol·i·ty ['pä-lə-tē] -n
- political organization
- a specific form of political organization
- a politically organized unit
- the form or constitution of a politically organized unit
- the form of government of a religious denomination
pol·ka ['pōl-kə, 'pō-kə] -n, vi
- a lively couple dance of Bohemian origin in duple time with a basic pattern of hop-step-close-step
- a lively originally Bohemian dance tune in time
pol·ka dot ['pō-kə-,dät] -n, adj
- a dot in a pattern of regularly distributed dots in textile design
poll ['pōl] -n
- head
- the top or back of the head
- nape
- the broad or flat end of a striking tool (as a hammer)
- the casting or recording of the votes of a body of persons
- a counting of votes cast
- the place where votes are cast or recorded usu. used in pl.
- the period of time during which votes may be cast at an election
- the total number of votes recorded
- a questioning or canvassing of persons selected at random or by quota to obtain information or opinions to be analyzed
- a record of the information so obtained
- to cut off or cut short the hair or wool of : crop, shear
- to cut off or cut short (as wool)
- to cut off or back the top of (as a tree)
- pollard
- to cut off or cut short the horns of (cattle)
- to receive and record the votes of
- to request each member of to declare a vote individually
- to receive (as votes) in an election
- to question or canvass in a poll
- to test (as several computer terminals sharing a single line) in sequence for messages to be transmitted
- to cast one's vote at a poll
pol·lack ['pä-lək] -n
- a commercially important No. Atlantic food fish ( Pollachius virens) related to and resembling the cods but darker
- a commercially important northern Pacific food fish ( Theragra chalcogramma) of the cod family that closely resembles the pollack called also walleye pollack
pol·lard ['pä-lərd] -n
- a tree cut back to the trunk to promote the growth of a dense head of foliage
pollard -vt
- to make a pollard of (a tree)
polled ['pōld] -adj
- having no horns
pol·len ['pä-lən] -n
- a mass of microspores in a seed plant appearing usu. as a fine dust
- a dusty bloom on the body of an insect
pollen basket -n
- a smooth area on each hind tibia of a bee that is edged by a fringe of stiff hairs and serves to collect and transport pollen called also corbicula
pollen grain -n
- one of the granular microspores that occur in pollen and give rise to the male gametophyte of a seed plant
pol·len·iz·er ['pä-lə-,nī-zər] -n
- a plant that is a source of pollen
- pollinator
pollen mother cell -n
- a cell that is derived from the hypodermis of the pollen sac and that gives rise by meiosis to four cells each of which develops into a pollen grain
pollen sac -n
- one of the pouches of a seed plant anther in which pollen is formed
pollen tube -n
- a tube that is formed by a pollen grain and conveys the sperm nuclei to the embryo sac of an angiosperm or the archegonium of a gymnosperm
pol·lex ['pä-,leks] -n
- the first digit of the forelimb : thumb
pollin- -comb form
- pollen
pol·li·nate ['pä-lə-,nāt] -vt
- to carry out the pollination of
- to mark or smudge with pollen
pol·li·na·tion [,pä-lə-'nā-shən] -n
- the transfer of pollen from an anther to the stigma in angiosperms or from the microsporangium to the micropyle in gymnosperms
pol·li·na·tor ['pä-lə-,nā-tər] -n
- : one that pollinates: as
- an agent (as an insect) that pollinates flowers
- pollenizer
pol·lin·i·um [pä-'li-nē-əm] -n
- a coherent mass of pollen grains often with a stalk bearing an adhesive disk that clings to insects
pol·li·no·sis [,pä-lə-'nō-səs] -n
- hay fever
poll·ster ['pōl-stər] -n
- one that conducts a poll or compiles data obtained by a poll
poll tax -n
- a tax of a fixed amount per person levied on adults and often linked to the right to vote
pol·lut·ant [pə-'lü-tᵊnt] -n
- something that pollutes
pol·lute [pə-'lüt] -vt, n, adj
- to make ceremonially or morally impure : defile
- debase
- using language to deceive or mislead pollute s language -- Linda C. Lederman
- to make physically impure or unclean : befoul, dirty
- to contaminate (an environment) esp. with man-made waste
pol·lu·tion [pə-'lü-shən] -n
- the action of polluting esp. by environmental contamination with man-made waste
- the condition of being polluted
- pollutant
Pol·lux ['pä-ləks] -n
- one of the Dioscuri
- a first-magnitude star in the constellation Gemini
Pol·ly·an·na [,pä-lē-'a-nə] -n, adj
- a person characterized by irrepressible optimism and a tendency to find good in everything
pol·ly·wog ['pä-lē-,wäg, -,wȯg] -n
- tadpole
po·lo ['pō-(,)lō] -n
- a game played by teams of players on horseback using mallets with long flexible handles to drive a wooden ball through goalposts
- water polo
- polo shirt
polo coat -n
- a tailored overcoat that is made esp. of tan camel's hair and often has stitched edges and a half-belt on the back
po·lo·naise [,pä-lə-'nāz, ,pō-] -n
- an elaborate short-sleeved overdress with a fitted waist and a draped cutaway overskirt
- a stately Polish processional dance popular in 19th century Europe
- music for this dance in moderate time
po·loneck ['pō-(,)lō-,nek] -n
- turtleneck
Po·lo·nia [pə-'lō-nē-ə, -nyə] -n
- people of Polish descent living outside Poland
po·lo·ni·um [pə-'lō-nē-əm] -n
- a radioactive metallic element that is similar chemically to tellurium and bismuth, occurs esp. in pitchblende and radium-lead residues, and emits an alpha particle to form an isotope of lead
Po·lo·ni·us [pə-'lō-nē-əs] -n
- a garrulous courtier and father of Ophelia and Laertes in Shakespeare's Hamlet
polo shirt -n
- a close-fitting pullover often knit shirt with short or long sleeves and turnover collar or banded neck
pol·ter·geist ['pōl-tər-,gīst] -n
- a noisy usu. mischievous ghost held to be responsible for unexplained noises (as rappings)
pol·troon [päl-'trün] -n
- a spiritless coward : craven
poltroon -adj
- characterized by complete cowardice
pol·troon·ery [-'trü-nə-rē, -'trün-rē] -n
- mean pusillanimity : cowardice
poly ['pä-lē] -n
- a polymerized plastic or something made of this
- a polyester fiber, fabric, or garment
poly- -comb form
- many : several : much : multi-
- containing an indefinite number more than one of a (specified) substance
- polymeric : polymer of a (specified) monomer
poly(A) [,pä-lē-'ā] -n
- RNA or a segment of RNA that is composed of a polynucleotide chain consisting entirely of adenylic acid residues and that codes for polylysine when functioning as messenger RNA in protein synthesis
poly·acryl·amide [,pä-lē-ə-'kri-lə-,mīd] -n
- a polyamide of acrylic acid
poly·ac·ry·lo·ni·trile [,pä-lē-,a-krə-lō-'nī-trəl, -,trēl] -n
- a polymer of acrylonitrile used often as fibers
poly·ad·e·nyl·ic acid [,pä-lē-,a-də-'ni-lik-] -n
- poly(a)
poly·al·co·hol [,pä-lē-'al-kə-,hȯl] -n
- an alcohol (as a diol) that contains more than one hydroxyl group
poly·am·ide [,pä-lē-'a-,mīd, -məd] -n
- a compound characterized by more than one amide group
- a polymeric amide (as nylon)
poly·amine ['pä-lē-ə-,mēn, ,pä-lē-'a-,mēn] -n
- a compound characterized by more than one amino group
poly·am·ory [,pä-lē-'a-mə-rē] -n, adj
- the state or practice of having more than one open romantic relationship at a time
poly·an·dry ['pä-lē-,an-drē] -n, adj
- the state or practice of having more than one husband or male mate at one time
poly·an·tha [,pä-lē-'an(t)-thə] -n
- any of numerous dwarf hybrid roses characterized by many large clusters of small flowers
poly·an·thus [-'an(t)-thəs] -n
- any of various hybrid primroses
- a narcissus ( Narcissus tazetta) having small white or yellow flowers arranged in umbels and having a spreading perianth
poly·atom·ic [-ə-'tä-mik] -adj
- containing more than one and esp. more than two atoms
poly·bro·mi·nat·ed biphenyl [,pä-lē-'brō-mə-,nā-təd-] -n
- any of several compounds that are similar to polychlorinated biphenyls in environmental toxicity and in structure but that have various hydrogen atoms replaced by bromine rather than chlorine called also PBB
poly·bu·ta·di·ene [-,byü-tə-'dī-,ēn, -,dī-'] -n
- a synthetic rubber that has a high resistance to wear and is used esp. in the manufacture of tires
poly·car·bon·ate [-'kär-bə-,nāt, -nət] -n
- any of various tough transparent thermoplastics characterized by high impact strength and high softening temperature
poly·cen·tric [-'sen-trik] -adj
- : having more than one center (as of development or control): as
- having several centromeres
- characterized by polycentrism
poly·cen·trism [-'sen-,tri-zəm] -n
- the existence of many centers of Communist ideological thought
- the existence of a number of autonomous national Communist movements
poly·chaete ['pä-lē-,kēt] -n, adj
- any of a class (Polychaeta) of chiefly marine annelid worms (as clam worms) usu. with paired segmental appendages, separate sexes, and a free-swimming trochophore larva
poly·chlo·ri·nat·ed biphenyl [,pä-lē-'klȯr-ə-,nā-təd-] -n
- any of several compounds that are produced by replacing hydrogen atoms in biphenyl with chlorine, have various industrial applications, and are toxic environmental pollutants which tend to accumulate in animal tissues called also PCB
poly·chot·o·mous [-'kä-tə-məs] -adj, n
- dividing or marked by division into many parts, branches, or classes
poly·chro·mat·ic [-krō-'ma-tik] -adj
- showing a variety or a change of colors : multicolored
- being or relating to radiation that is composed of more than one wavelength
poly·chro·mato·phil·ic [-krō-,ma-tə-'fi-lik] -adj, n
- stainable with more than one type of stain and esp. with both acid and basic dyes
- polychromatophilic erythroblasts
poly·chrome ['pä-lē-,krōm] -adj, vt, n
- relating to, made with, or decorated in several colors
poly·cis·tron·ic [,pä-lē-sis-'trä-nik] -adj
- containing the genetic information of a number of cistrons
- polycistronic messenger RNA
poly·clin·ic [-'kli-nik] -n
- a clinic or hospital treating diseases of many sorts
poly·clon·al [-'klō-nəl] -adj
- produced by, involving, or being cells derived from two or more cells of different ancestry or genetic constitution
- polyclonal antibody synthesis
- polyclonal activation of T cells
poly·con·den·sa·tion [-,kän-,den-'sā-shən, -dən-] -n
- a chemical condensation leading to the formation of a compound of high molecular weight
poly·con·ic projection [,pä-lē-'kä-nik-] -n
- a map projection consisting of a composite series of concentric cones each of which before being unrolled has been placed over a sphere so as to be tangent to a different parallel of latitude
poly·crys·tal·line [-'kris-tə-lən] -adj, n
- consisting of crystals variously oriented
- composed of more than one crystal
poly·cy·clic [,pä-lē-'sī-klik, -'si-] -adj
- having more than one cyclic component
- having two or more rings in the molecule
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon -n
- any of a class of hydrocarbon molecules that have multiple carbon rings, and that include carcinogenic substances and environmental pollutants abbr. PAH
poly·cys·tic [-'sis-tik] -adj
- having or involving more than one cyst
polycystic kidney disease -n
- either of two hereditary diseases characterized by gradually enlarging bilateral cysts of the kidney which lead to reduced renal functioning or renal failure
polycystic ovary syndrome -n
- a variable disease that is marked by amenorrhea, hirsutism, obesity, infertility, and ovarian enlargement and is usu. initiated by an elevated level of luteinizing hormone, androgen, or estrogen which results in an abnormal cycle of gonadotropin release by the pituitary gland called also polycystic ovarian syndrome
poly·cy·thae·mia [-(,)sī-'thē-mē-ə] -n, adj
(variant of polycythemia)
- a condition marked by an abnormal increase in the number of circulating red blood cells
- polycythemia vera
poly·cy·the·mia [-(,)sī-'thē-mē-ə] -n, adj
- a condition marked by an abnormal increase in the number of circulating red blood cells
- polycythemia vera
polycythemia ve·ra [-'vir-ə] -n
- polycythemia of unknown cause that is marked by increase in total blood volume and accompanied by nosebleed, distension of the circulatory vessels, and enlargement of the spleen called also erythremia
poly·dac·tyl [-'dak-tᵊl] -adj
- having or causing polydactyly
poly·dac·ty·ly [-'dak-tə-lē] -n
- the condition of having more than the normal number of fingers or toes
poly·dip·sia [-'dip-sē-ə] -n, adj
- excessive or abnormal thirst
poly·dis·perse [-dis-'pərs] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or characterized by or as particles of varied sizes in the dispersed phase of a disperse system
poly·elec·tro·lyte [,pä-lē-ə-'lek-trə-,līt] -n
- a substance of high molecular weight (as a protein) that is an electrolyte
poly·em·bry·o·ny [-'em-brē-ə-nē, -(,)em-'brī-] -n, adj
- the condition of having several embryos
- the production of two or more embryos from one ovule or egg
poly·ene ['pä-lē-,ēn] -n, adj
- an organic compound containing many double bonds
- one having the double bonds in a long aliphatic hydrocarbon chain
poly·es·ter ['pä-lē-,es-tər, ,pä-lē-'] -n
- any of a group of polymers that consist basically of repeated units of an ester and are used esp. in making fibers or plastics
- a product (as a fiber or fabric) composed of polyester
polyester -adj
- characterized by inelegant or unsophisticated middle-class taste
poly·es·trous [,pä-lē-'es-trəs] -adj
- having more than one period of estrus in a year
poly·eth·yl·ene [-'e-thə-,lēn] -n
- a polymer of ethylene
- any of various partially crystalline lightweight thermoplastics (CH 2CH 2) x that are resistant to chemicals and moisture, have good insulating properties, and are used esp. in packaging and insulation
polyethylene glycol -n
- any of a series of polymers H(OCH 2CH 2) n OH where nis greater than three that vary from viscous liquids to waxy solids and are used esp. as lubricants and in medical and biotechnological applications abbr. PEG
po·lyg·a·la [pə-'li-gə-lə] -n
- milkwort
poly·gam·ic [,pä-lē-'ga-mik] -adj
- polygamous
po·lyg·a·mous [pə-'li-gə-məs] -adj
- relating to or practicing polygamy
- having more than one mate at one time
- bearing both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant
po·lyg·a·my [-mē] -n, vi
- marriage in which a spouse of either sex may have more than one mate at the same time
- the state of being polygamous
poly·gene ['pä-lē-,jēn] -n, adj
- any of a group of nonallelic genes that collectively control the inheritance of a quantitative character or modify the expression of a qualitative character
poly·gen·e·sis [,pä-lē-'je-nə-səs] -n
- development from more than one source
poly·ge·net·ic [-jə-'ne-tik] -adj
- polyphyletic
- having many distinct sources
poly·glot ['pä-lē-,glät] -n
- one who is polyglot
- a book containing versions of the same text in several languages
- the Scriptures in several languages
- a mixture or confusion of languages or nomenclatures
polyglot -adj
- speaking or writing several languages : multilingual
- composed of numerous linguistic groups
- containing matter in several languages
- composed of elements from different languages
- widely diverse (as in ethnic or cultural origins)
poly·glot·ism [-,glä-,ti-zəm] -n
- the use of many languages : the ability to speak many languages
poly·gon ['pä-lē-,gän] -n, adj, adv
- a closed plane figure bounded by straight lines
- a closed figure on a sphere bounded by arcs of great circles
po·lyg·o·num [pə-'li-gə-nəm] -n
- any of a genus ( Polygonum) of herbs of the buckwheat family with a prominent tubular sheath around the base of each petiole, thickened nodes, and flowers that are solitary and axillary or in spiked racemes called also knotweed
poly·graph ['pä-lē-,graf] -n, adj
- an instrument for recording variations of several different pulsations (as of physiological variables) simultaneously
po·lyg·ra·pher ['pä-lē-,gra-fər, pə-'li-grə-fər] -n
- one who operates a polygraph
po·lyg·ra·phist ['pä-lē-,gra-fist, pə-'li-grə-fist] -n
- polygrapher
po·lyg·y·nous [pə-'li-jə-nəs] -adj
- relating to or practicing polygyny
- polygynous species of birds
po·lyg·y·ny [-nē] -n
- the state or practice of having more than one wife or female mate at a time
polyhedral angle -n
- a portion of space partly enclosed by three or more planes whose intersections meet in a vertex
poly·he·dron [,pä-lē-'hē-drən] -n, adj
- a solid formed by plane faces
poly·he·dro·sis [,pä-lē-hē-'drō-səs] -n
- any of numerous diseases that affect specific insect larvae or decapod crustaceans, that are caused by double-stranded DNA viruses of a family ( Baculoviridae) or by reoviruses of a genus ( Cypovirus), and that are characterized by dissolution of tissues and accumulation of virus-containing granules in the resultant fluid
poly·his·tor [,pä-lē-'his-tər] -n, adj
- polymath
poly·hy·droxy [-hī-'dräk-sē] -adj
- containing more than one hydroxyl group in the molecule
Poly·hym·nia [,pä-lē-'him-nē-ə] -n
- the Greek Muse of sacred song
poly I:C [,pä-lē-'ī-'sē] -n
- a synthetic 2-stranded RNA that induces interferon formation and is composed of one strand consisting entirely of cytosine-containing nucleotides and one strand consisting entirely of inosine-containing nucleotides
poly·iso·prene [,pä-lē-'ī-sə-,prēn] -n
- a polymer of isoprene occurring naturally in rubber and gutta-percha and also produced synthetically
poly·ke·tide [,pä-lē-'kē-,tīd] -n
- any of a large class of diverse compounds that are characterized by more than two carbonyl groups connected by single intervening carbon atoms, that are produced esp. by certain bacteria and fungi, and that include various substances (as erythromycin and lovastatin) having antibiotic, anticancer, cholesterol-lowering, or immunosuppressive effects
poly·ly·sine [,pä-lē-'lī-,sēn] -n
- a protein whose polypeptide chain consists entirely of lysine residues
poly·math ['pä-lē-,math] -n, adj
- a person of encyclopedic learning
poly·mer ['pä-lə-mər] -n, adj
- a chemical compound or mixture of compounds formed by polymerization and consisting essentially of repeating structural units
po·ly·mer·ase [pə-'lim-ə-rās; 'pä-lə-mə-,rās, -,rāz] -n
- any of several enzymes that catalyze the formation of DNA or RNA from precursor substances in the presence of preexisting DNA or RNA acting as a template
polymerase chain reaction -n
- an in vitro technique for rapidly synthesizing large quantities of a given DNA segment that involves separating the DNA into its two complementary strands, using DNA polymerase to synthesize two-stranded DNA from each single strand, and repeating the process abbr. PCR
po·ly·mer·i·sa·tion [pə-,li-mə-rə-'zā-shən, ,pä-lə-mə-rə-] -n
(variant of polymerization)
- a chemical reaction in which two or more molecules combine to form larger molecules that contain repeating structural units
- reduplication of parts in an organism
po·ly·mer·i·za·tion [pə-,li-mə-rə-'zā-shən, ,pä-lə-mə-rə-] -n
- a chemical reaction in which two or more molecules combine to form larger molecules that contain repeating structural units
- reduplication of parts in an organism
po·ly·mer·ize [pə-'li-mə-,rīz, 'pä-lə-mə-] -vb
- to subject to polymerization
- to undergo polymerization
poly·meth·yl methacrylate ['pä-lē-,me-thəl-] -n
- a thermoplastic resin of polymerized methyl methacrylate which is characterized by its optical clarity
poly·morph ['pä-lē-,mȯrf] -n
- a polymorphic organism
- one of the several forms of such an organism
- any of the crystalline forms of a polymorphic substance
poly·mor·phism [,pä-lē-'mȯr-,fi-zəm] -n, adj, adv
- : the quality or state of existing in or assuming different forms: as
- existence of a species in several forms independent of the variations of sex
- existence of a gene in several allelic forms
- a variation in a specific DNA sequence
- existence of a molecule (as an enzyme) in several forms in a single species
- the property of crystallizing in two or more forms with distinct structure
poly·mor·pho·nu·cle·ar [-,mȯr-fə-'nü-klē-ər, -'nyü-] -adj, n
- having the nucleus complexly lobed
poly·mor·phous [-'mȯr-fəs] -adj, adv
- having, assuming, or occurring in various forms, characters, or styles : polymorphic
polymorphous perverse -adj
- relating to or exhibiting infantile sexual tendencies in which the genitals are not yet identified as the sole or principal sexual organs nor coitus as the goal of erotic activity
poly·myo·si·tis [,pä-lē-,mī-ə-'sī-təs] -n
- inflammation of several muscles at once
- an inflammatory muscle disease of unknown cause that affects skeletal muscles chiefly closest to the trunk and is characterized esp. by muscle weakness and muscle and joint pain
poly·myx·in [,pä-lē-'mik-sən] -n
- any of several toxic antibiotics obtained from a soil bacterium ( Bacillus polymyxa) and active against gram-negative bacteria
Poly·ne·sian [,pä-lə-'nē-zhən, -shən] -n, adj
- a member of any of the indigenous peoples of Polynesia
- a group of Austronesian languages spoken in Polynesia
poly·neu·ri·tis [,pä-lē-nu̇-'rī-təs, -nyu̇-] -n
- neuritis of several peripheral nerves at the same time
Poly·ni·ces [,pä-lə-'nī-sēz] -n
- a son of Oedipus for whom the Seven against Thebes mount their expedition
poly·no·mi·al [,pä-lə-'nō-mē-əl] -n
- a mathematical expression of one or more algebraic terms each of which consists of a constant multiplied by one or more variables raised to a nonnegative integral power (as a bx cx 2 )
polynomial -adj
- relating to, composed of, or expressed as one or more polynomials
poly·nu·cle·ar [,pä-lē-'nü-klē-ər, -'nyü-, ÷-kyə-lər] -adj
- chemically polycyclic esp. with respect to the benzene ring used chiefly of aromatic hydrocarbons that are important as pollutants and possibly as carcinogens
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon -n
- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
poly·nu·cle·o·tide [-'nü-klē-ə-,tīd, -'nyü-] -n
- a polymeric chain of nucleotides
po·lyn·ya [,pä-lən-'yä] -n
- an area of open water in sea ice
poly·ole·fin [,pä-lē-'ō-lə-fən] -n
- a polymer of an alkene (as polyethylene)
poly·oma·vi·rus [,pä-lē-'ō-mə-,vī-rəs] -n
- any virus of a family ( Polyomaviridaeand esp. genus Polyomavirus) of double-stranded DNA viruses that induce tumors in specific mammals
poly·on·y·mous [,pä-lē-'ä-nə-məs] -adj
- having or known by various names
pol·yp ['pä-ləp] -n, adj
- a coelenterate (as a coral) that has typically a hollow cylindrical body closed and attached at one end and opening at the other by a central mouth surrounded by tentacles armed with nematocysts
- a growth projecting from a mucous membrane (as of the colon or vocal cords)
poly·pep·tide [,pä-lē-'pep-,tīd] -n, adj
- a molecular chain of amino acids
poly·pet·al·ous [-'pe-tə-ləs] -adj
- having or consisting of separate petals
poly·pha·gia [-'fā-j(ē-)ə] -n
- excessive appetite or eating
po·lyph·a·gous [pə-'li-fə-gəs] -adj, n
- feeding on or utilizing many kinds of food
poly·phar·ma·cy [,pä-li-'fär-mə-sē] -n
- the practice of administering or using multiple medications esp. concurrently (as in the treatment of a single disease or of several coexisting conditions)
poly·phase ['pä-lē-,fāz] -adj
- having or producing two or more phases
poly·pha·sic [,pä-lē-'fā-zik] -adj
- consisting of two or more phases
Poly·phe·mus [,pä-lə-'fē-məs] -n
- a Cyclops whom Odysseus blinds in order to escape from his cave
poly·phe·nol [,pä-lē-'fē-,nōl, -fi-'] -n, adj
- a polyhydroxy phenol
- an antioxidant phytochemical
poly·phil·o·pro·gen·i·tive [-,fi-lə-prō-'je-nə-tiv] -adj
- extremely prolific : philoprogenitive
poly·phone ['pä-lē-,fōn] -n
- a symbol or sequence of symbols having more than one phonemic value (as ain English)
poly·phon·ic [,pä-lē-'fä-nik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or marked by polyphony
- being a polyphone
polyphonic prose -n
- a freely rhythmical prose employing characteristic devices of verse (as alliteration and assonance)
po·lyph·o·ny [pə-'li-fə-nē] -n
- a style of musical composition employing two or more simultaneous but relatively independent melodic lines : counterpoint
poly·phy·let·ic [,pä-lē-(,)fī-'le-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or derived from different ancestral stocks
- relating to or being a taxonomic group that includes members (as genera or species) from different ancestral lineages
pol·yp·ide ['pä-lə-,pīd] -n
- one of the individual zooids of a bryozoan colony
poly·ploid ['pä-lē-,plȯid] -adj, n
- having or being a chromosome number that is a multiple greater than two of the monoploid number
po·lyp·nea [pä-'lip-nē-ə, pə-] -n
- rapid or panting respiration
poly·po·dy ['pä-lə-,pō-dē] -n
- any of a genus ( Polypodium) of chiefly epiphytic ferns with creeping rhizomes
- either of two ferns ( P. vulgareof Eurasia and P. virginianumof No. America) with relatively narrow entire segments
poly·pro·pyl·ene [,pä-lē-'prō-pə-,lēn] -n
- any of various thermoplastic plastics or fibers that are polymers of propylene
po·lyp·tych ['pä-ləp-,tik, pə-'lip-tik] -n
- an arrangement of four or more panels (as of a painting) usu. hinged and folding together
poly·rhythm ['pä-lē-,ri-thəm] -n, adj, adv
- the simultaneous combination of contrasting rhythms in music
poly·ri·bo·nu·cle·o·tide [,pä-lē-,rī-bō-'nü-klē-ə-,tīd, -'nyü-] -n
- a polynucleotide in which the mononucleotides are ribonucleotides
poly·ri·bo·some [-'rī-bə-,sōm] -n, adj
- a cluster of ribosomes linked together by a molecule of messenger RNA and forming the site of protein synthesis
poly·sac·cha·ride [-'sa-kə-,rīd] -n
- a carbohydrate that can be decomposed by hydrolysis into two or more molecules of monosaccharides
- one (as cellulose, starch, or glycogen) containing many monosaccharide units and marked by complexity
po·ly·se·mous [,pä-lē-'sē-məs, pə-'li-sə-məs] -adj, n
- having multiple meanings
poly·some ['pä-lē-,sōm] -n
- polyribosome
poly·sor·bate [,pä-lē-'sȯr-,bāt] -n
- any of several emulsifiers used in the preparation of some pharmaceuticals or foods
po·lys·ti·chous [pə-'lis-ti-kəs] -adj
- arranged in several rows
poly·sty·rene [,pä-lē-'stī-,rēn] -n
- a polymer of styrene
- a rigid transparent thermoplastic that has good physical and electrical insulating properties and is used esp. in molded products, foams, and sheet materials
poly·sul·fide [-'səl-,fīd] -n
- a sulfide containing two or more atoms of sulfur in the molecule
poly·syl·lab·ic [-sə-'la-bik] -adj, adv
- having more than one and usu. more than three syllables
- characterized by words of many syllables
poly·syl·la·ble ['pä-lē-,si-lə-bəl, ,pä-lē-'] -n
- a polysyllabic word
poly·syn·ap·tic [,pä-lē-sə-'nap-tik] -adj, adv
- involving two or more synapses in the central nervous system
poly·syn·de·ton [-'sin-də-,tän] -n
- repetition of conjunctions in close succession (as in we have ships and men and money)
poly·tech·nic [-'tek-nik] -adj
- relating to or devoted to instruction in many technical arts or applied sciences
polytechnic -n
- a polytechnic school
poly·tene ['pä-lē-,tēn] -adj, n
- relating to, being, or having chromosomes each of which consists of many strands with the corresponding chromomeres in contact
poly·the·ism ['pä-lē-(,)thē-,i-zəm] -n, adj or n, adj
- belief in or worship of more than one god
poly·thene ['pä-lə-,thēn] -n
- polyethylene
poly·to·nal·i·ty [,pä-lē-tō-'na-lə-tē] -n, adj, adv
- the simultaneous use of two or more musical keys
poly·typ·ic [,pä-lē-'ti-pik] -adj
- represented by several or many types or subdivisions
- a polytypic species of organism
poly·un·sat·u·rat·ed [,pä-lē-,ən-'sa-chə-,rā-təd] -adj
- having many double or triple bonds in a molecule
poly·ure·thane [,pä-lē-'yu̇r-ə-,thān] -n
- any of various polymers that contain NHCOO linkages and are used esp. in flexible and rigid foams, elastomers, and resins (as for coatings)
poly·uria [-'yu̇r-ē-ə] -n
- excessive secretion of urine
poly·va·lent [-'vā-lənt also pə-'li-və-lənt] -adj, n
- having a chemical valence greater usu. than two
- effective against, sensitive toward, or counteracting more than one toxin, microorganism, or antigen
poly·vi·nyl [,pä-lē-'vī-nᵊl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a polymerized vinyl compound, resin, or plastic often used in combination
polyvinyl chloride -n
- a polymer of vinyl chloride used esp. for electrical insulation, films, and pipes abbr. PVC
poly·wa·ter ['pä-lē-,wȯ-tər, -,wä-] -n
- water condensed into a glass capillary tube and formerly held to be a stable form with special properties
Pom ['päm] -n
- pommy
pom·ace ['pə-məs, 'pä-] -n
- the dry or pulpy residue of material (as fruit, seeds, or fish) from which a liquid (as juice or oil) has been pressed or extracted
- something crushed to a pulpy mass
po·ma·ceous [pō-'mā-shəs] -adj
- of or relating to apples
- resembling a pome
po·made [pō-'mād, -'mäd] -n, vt
- a perfumed ointment
- a fragrant hair dressing
po·man·der ['pō-,man-dər, pō-'] -n
- a mixture of aromatic substances enclosed in a perforated bag or box and used to scent clothes and linens or formerly carried as a guard against infection
- a clove-studded orange or apple used for the same purposes
- a box or hollow fruit-shaped ball for holding pomander
po·ma·tum [pō-'mā-təm, -'mä-] -n
- pomade
pome ['pōm] -n
- a fleshy fruit (as an apple or pear) consisting of an outer thickened fleshy layer and a central core with usu. five seeds enclosed in a capsule
pome·gran·ate ['pä-mə-,gra-nət; 'päm-,gra-nət, 'pəm-] -n
- a several-celled reddish berry that is about the size of an orange with a thick leathery skin and many seeds with pulpy crimson arils of tart flavor
- a widely cultivated tropical Asian tree ( Punica granatumof the family Punicaceae) bearing pomegranates
pom·e·lo ['pä-mə-,lō] -n
- grapefruit
- a very large thick-rinded usu. pear-shaped citrus fruit differing from the closely related grapefruit esp. in its loose rind and often coarse dry pulp
- a large widely cultivated tropical tree ( Citrus maximasyn. C. grandis) of southeast Asia that bears pomelos
Pom·er·a·nian [,pä-mə-'rā-nē-ən, -nyən] -n, adj
- any of a breed of long-haired compact toy dogs with a soft dense undercoat
- a native or inhabitant of Pomerania
pom·fret ['päm-frət, 'pəm-] -n
- any of a family (Bramidae) of usu. deep-bodied spiny-finned oceanic fishes some of which are used for food
- a silvery deep-bodied marine food fish ( Pampus argenteusof the family Stramateidae) of Asia
pom·mee [pä-'mā, ,pə-] -adj
- having the end of each arm terminating in a ball or disk
pom·mel ['pə-məl, 'pä-] -n
- the knob on the hilt of a sword or saber
- the protuberance at the front and top of a saddle
- either of a pair of removable rounded or U-shaped handles used on the top of a pommel horse
- pummel
pommel horse -n
- a gymnastics apparatus for swinging and balancing feats that consists of a padded rectangular or cylindrical form with two pommels on the top and that is supported in a horizontal position above the floor
- an event in which the pommel horse is used
Pom·my ['pä-mē] -n
- briton
- an English immigrant
Po·mo ['pō-(,)mō] -n
- a member of a group of American Indian peoples of northern California
- any of the family of languages spoken by the Pomo
po·mol·o·gy [pō-'mä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the science and practice of growing fruit
pomp ['pämp] -n
- a show of magnificence : splendor
- every day begins...in a pomp of flaming colours -- F. D. Ommanney
- a ceremonial or festival display (as a train of followers or a pageant)
- ostentatious display : vainglory
- an ostentatious gesture or act
pom·pa·dour ['päm-pə-,dȯr] -n, adj
- a man's style of hairdressing in which the hair is combed into a high mound in front
- a woman's style of hairdressing in which the hair is brushed into a loose full roll around the face
- hair dressed in a pompadour
pom·pa·no ['päm-pə-,nō, 'pəm-] -n
- a carangid food fish ( Trachinotus carolinus) of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
- any of several related fishes
- a small bluish or greenish butterfish ( Peprilus simillimus) of the Pacific coast of No. America
pompom ['päm-,päm] -n
- an ornamental ball or tuft used esp. on clothing, caps, or costumes
- a handheld usu. brightly colored fluffy ball flourished by cheerleaders
- an automatic antiaircraft gun of 20 to 40 millimeters mounted esp. on ships
pom·pon ['päm-,pän] -n
- pom-pom
- a chrysanthemum or dahlia with small rounded flower heads
pom·pos·i·ty [päm-'pä-sə-tē] -n
- pompous demeanor, speech, or behavior
- a pompous gesture, habit, or act
pomp·ous ['päm-pəs] -adj, adv, n
- excessively elevated or ornate
- having or exhibiting self-importance : arrogant
- relating to or suggestive of pomp : magnificent
ponce ['pän(t)s] -n
- pimp
- a male homosexual
pon·cho ['pän-(,)chō] -n
- a blanket with a slit in the middle so that it can be slipped over the head and worn as a sleeveless garment
- a waterproof garment resembling a poncho and having an integral hood
pond ['pänd] -n
- a body of water usu. smaller than a lake sometimes used with the to refer informally or facetiously to the Atlantic Ocean
- to block (as a stream) to create a pond
- to collect in or form a pond
pon·der ['pän-dər] -vb, n
- to weigh in the mind : appraise
- ponder ed their chances of success
- to think about : reflect on
- ponder ed the events of the day
- to think or consider esp. quietly, soberly, and deeply
pon·der·a·ble ['pän-d(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj
- significant enough to be worth considering : appreciable
pon·der·o·sa pine [,pän-də-'rō-sə-, -zə-] -n
- a tall pine ( Pinus ponderosa) of western No. America with long needles usu. in groups of two or three
- its strong reddish straight-grained wood
pon·der·ous ['pän-d(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv, n
- of very great weight
- unwieldy or clumsy because of weight and size
- oppressively or unpleasantly dull : lifeless
pond lily -n
- water lily
pond scum -n
- any of various algae (esp. spirogyra) or cyanobacteria
- a mass of tangled filaments of algae or cyanobacteria in stagnant waters
pond skater -n
- water strider
pond·weed ['pänd-,wēd] -n
- any of a genus ( Potamogetonof the family Potamogetonaceae, the pondweed family) of aquatic plants with jointed usu. rooting stems, floating or submerged leaves, and spikes of greenish flowers
pone ['pōn] -n
- corn pone
pon·gee [,pän-'jē, 'pän-,] -n
- a thin soft fabric of Chinese origin woven from raw silk
- an imitation of this fabric in cotton or a synthetic fiber (as of polyester or rayon)
pon·gid ['pän-jəd, 'päŋ-gəd] -n, adj
- any of a family (Pongidae) of apes that includes the chimpanzee, gorilla, and orangutan
pon·iard ['pän-yərd] -n
- a dagger with a usu. slender blade of triangular or square cross section
poniard -vt
- to pierce or kill with a poniard
pons ['pänz] -n
- a broad mass of chiefly transverse nerve fibers in the mammalian brain stem lying ventral to the cerebellum at the anterior end of the medulla oblongata
pons asi·no·rum ['pänz-,a-sə-'nȯr-əm] -n
- a critical test of ability or understanding
- stumbling block
pons Va·ro·lii [-və-'rō-lē-,ī, -lē-,ē] -n
- pons
pon·ti·fex ['pän-tə-,feks] -n
- a member of the council of priests in ancient Rome
pon·tiff ['pän-təf] -n
- pontifex
- bishop
- pope
pon·tif·i·cal [pän-'ti-fi-kəl] -n
- episcopal attire
- the insignia of the episcopal order worn by a prelate when celebrating a pontifical mass usu. used in pl.
- a book containing the forms for sacraments and rites performed by a bishop
pontifical [-k(ə-)lē] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a pontiff or pontifex
- celebrated by a prelate of episcopal rank with distinctive ceremonies
- pompous
- pretentiously dogmatic
pon·tif·i·cate [pän-'ti-fi-kət, -,kāt] -n
- the state, office, or term of office of a pontiff
- to officiate as a pontiff
- to celebrate pontifical mass
- to speak or express opinions in a pompous or dogmatic way
pon·til ['pän-tᵊl] -n
- punty called also pontil rod
pon·tine ['pän-,tīn] -adj
- of or relating to the pons
Pont l'·veque [,pōⁿ-lā-'vek] -n
- a soft surface-ripened cheese firmer, yellower, and having less surface mold than Camembert
pon·toon [pän-'tün] -n
- a flat-bottomed boat (as a lighter)
- a flat-bottomed boat or portable float used in building a floating temporary bridge
- a float esp. of a seaplane
pontoon -n
- blackjack
po·ny ['pō-nē] -n
- a small horse
- one of any of several breeds of very small stocky animals noted for their gentleness and endurance
- a bronco, mustang, or similar horse of the western U.S.
- racehorse usu. used in pl.
- : something smaller than standard: as
- a small beer glass
- a small liqueur glass typically holding one ounce
- a literal translation of a foreign language text
- one used surreptitiously by students in preparing or reciting lessons
pony express -n
- a rapid postal and express system that operated across the western U.S. in 186061 by relays of horses and riders
po·ny·tail ['pō-nē-,tāl] -n, adj
- a hairstyle in which the hair is pulled together and banded usu. at the back of the head so as to resemble a pony's tail
pony up -vb
- to pay (money) esp. in settlement of an account
- pay
Pon·zi scheme ['pän-zē-] -n
- an investment swindle in which some early investors are paid off with money put up by later ones in order to encourage more and bigger risks
pon·zu ['pän-(,)zü] -n
- a tangy sauce made with citrus juice, rice wine vinegar, and soy sauce and used esp. on seafood
pooch ['püch] -vb
- bulge
- dog
pood ['püd, 'püt] -n
- a Russian unit of weight equal to about 36.11 pounds (16.38 kilograms)
poo·dle ['pü-dᵊl] -n
- any of a breed of intelligent dogs that have a curly dense solid-colored coat and that are grouped into standard, miniature, and toy sizes which are often considered separate breeds
- a fabric with a nubby or coarsely looped surface that resembles a poodle's coat called also poodle cloth
poof ['püf, 'pu̇f] -interj
- used to express disdain or dismissal or to suggest instantaneous occurrence
- a male homosexual
poof·ter ['püf-tər, 'pu̇f-] -n
- poof
pooh ['pü, 'pu̇] -interj
- used to express contempt or disapproval
poohbah ['pü-,bä, -,bȯ] -n
- a person holding many public or private offices
- a person in high position or of great influence
poohpooh ['pü-(,)pü, pü-'] -vb
- to express contempt or impatience
- to express contempt for or make light of : play down, dismiss
pool ['pül] -n
- a small and rather deep body of usu. fresh water
- a quiet place in a stream
- a body of water forming above a dam
- something resembling a pool
- a small body of standing liquid
- a continuous area of porous sedimentary rock that yields petroleum or gas
- swimming pool
- to form a pool
- to accumulate or become static (as in the veins of a bodily part)
- an aggregate stake to which each player of a game has contributed
- all the money bet by a number of persons on a particular event
- a game played on an English billiard table in which each of the players stakes a sum and the winner takes all
- any of various games of billiards played on an oblong table having 6 pockets with usu. 15 object balls
- an aggregation of the interests or property of different persons made to further a joint undertaking by subjecting them to the same control and a common liability
- : a readily available supply: as
- the whole quantity of a particular material present in the body and available for function or the satisfying of metabolic demands
- a body product (as blood) collected from many donors and stored for later use
- a group of people available for some purpose
- a shrinking pool of applicants
- gene pool
- a group of journalists from usu. several news organizations using pooled resources (as television equipment) to produce shared coverage esp. of events to which access is restricted
- to combine (as resources) in a common pool or effort
pool·room ['pül-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n
- a room in which bookmaking is carried on
- a room for the playing of pool
pool·side [-,sīd] -n
- the area surrounding a swimming pool
poolside -adv or adj
- at or near the side of a pool
poop ['püp] -n
- stern
- an enclosed superstructure at the stern of a ship above the main deck
- to break over the stern of
- to ship (a sea or wave) over the stern
- defecate
- feces
- to put out of breath
- to tire out
- to become exhausted
- information, scoop
poop deck -n
- a partial deck above a ship's main afterdeck
poop·erscoop·er ['pü-pər-,skü-pər] -n
- a device used for picking up the excrement of a pet (as a dog) for disposal
poor ['pu̇r, 'pȯr] -adj, n
- lacking material possessions
- of, relating to, or characterized by poverty
- less than adequate : meager
- small in worth
- exciting pity
- inferior in quality or value
- humble, unpretentious
- mean, petty
- lean, emaciated
- barren, unproductive used of land
- indifferent, unfavorable
- lacking a normal or adequate supply of something specified often used in combination
poor box -n
- a box (as in a church) for alms for the poor
poor boy ['pō-,bȯi] -n
(variant of po'boy)
- submarine
Poor Clare [-'kler] -n
- a member of an austere order of nuns founded by St. Clare under the direction of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, in 1212
poor farm -n
- a farm maintained at public expense for the support and employment of needy persons
poor·house [-,hau̇s] -n
- a place maintained at public expense to house needy or dependent persons
poor law -n
- a law providing for or regulating the public relief or support of the poor
poor·ly ['pu̇r-lē, 'pȯr-] -adv
- in a poor condition or manner
- in an inferior or imperfect way : badly
- somewhat ill : indisposed
poormouth ['pu̇r-,mau̇th, 'pȯr-, -,mau̇th] -vi
- to plead poverty as a defense or excuse
- to speak disparagingly of
poor mouth -n
- an exaggerated claim of poverty
poorspir·it·ed [-'spir-ə-təd] -adj, adv, n
- lacking zest, confidence, or courage
poor white -n
- white trash
pop ['päp] -vb
- to strike or knock sharply : hit
- to push, put, or thrust suddenly and often deftly
- pop s a grape into her mouth
- to cause to explode or burst open
- to fire at : shoot
- to take (pills) esp. frequently or habitually
- to open with a pop
- to go, come, or appear suddenly often used with up
- images popping up on the screen
- to escape or break away from something (as a point of attachment) usu. suddenly or unexpectedly
- to make or burst with a sharp sound
- to protrude from the sockets
- eyes popping with amazement
- to shoot with a firearm
- to hit a pop fly often used with up or out
- a sharp explosive sound
- a shot from a gun
- soda pop
- pop fly
- power to hit a baseball hard
- a hitter with some pop in his bat
- a drink or shot of alcohol
- like or with a pop : suddenly often used interjectionally
- father
- : popular: as
- of or relating to popular music
- of or relating to the popular culture disseminated through the mass media
- of or relating to pop art
- having, using, or imitating themes or techniques characteristic of pop art
- popular music
- pop art
- pop culture
- population
POP -abbr
- point of purchase
pop art -n
- art in which commonplace objects (as road signs, hamburgers, comic strips, or soup cans) are used as subject matter and are often physically incorporated in the work
pop·corn ['päp-,kȯrn] -n
- an Indian corn ( Zea mays praecox) whose kernels on exposure to heat burst open to form a white starchy mass
- the kernels esp. after popping
popcorn -adj
- having widespread appeal but usu. offering little artistic merit or intellectual stimulation
pope ['pōp] -n
- a prelate who as bishop of Rome is the head of the Roman Catholic Church
- one that resembles a pope (as in authority)
- the Eastern Orthodox or Coptic patriarch of Alexandria
- a priest of an Eastern church
pop·ery ['pō-p(ə-)rē] -n
- roman catholicism
pop eye ['päp-,ī] -n, adj
- an eye staring and bulging (as from excitement)
pop fly -n
- a high fly ball in baseball
pop·gun ['päp-,gən] -n
- a toy gun that usu. shoots a cork and produces a popping sound
pop·in·jay ['pä-pən-,jā] -n
- a strutting supercilious person
pop·ish ['pō-pish] -adj
- roman catholic
pop·lar ['pä-plər] -n
- any of a genus ( Populus) of slender catkin-bearing quick-growing deciduous trees (as an aspen or cottonwood) of the willow family
- the wood of a poplar
- tulip tree
pop·lin ['pä-plən] -n
- a strong fabric in plain weave with crosswise ribs
pop·li·te·al [,pä-plə-'tē-əl also pä-'pli-tē-əl] -adj
- of or relating to the back part of the leg behind the knee joint
pop off -vi
- to die unexpectedly
- to leave suddenly
- to talk thoughtlessly and often loudly or angrily
popover ['päp-,ō-vər] -n
- a hollow quick bread shaped like a muffin and made from a thin batter of eggs, milk, and flour
poppa ['pä-pə, chiefly Brit pə-'pä] -n
(variant of papa)
- father
pop·per ['pä-pər] -n
- one that pops
- a utensil for popping corn
- a vial of amyl nitrite or butyl nitrite used illicitly as an inhalational aphrodisiac
pop·pet ['pä-pət] -n
- doll
- marionette
- dear
- an upright support or guide of a machine that is fastened at the bottom only
- a valve that rises perpendicularly to or from its seat
pop·pied ['pä-pēd] -adj
- growing or overgrown with poppies
- drowsy
pop·ple ['pä-pəl] -n
- poplar
popple -n
- a choppy sea
pop·py ['pä-pē] -n
- any of a genus ( Papaverof the family Papaveraceae, the poppy family) of chiefly annual or perennial herbs with milky juice, showy regular flowers, and capsular fruits including the opium poppy and several forms cultivated as ornamentals
- an extract or decoction of poppy used medicinally
- a strong reddish orange
pop·py·cock ['pä-pē-,käk] -n
- empty talk or writing : nonsense
pop·py·head [-,hed] -n
- a raised ornament often in the form of a finial generally used on the tops of the upright ends of seats in Gothic churches
poppy seed -n
- the seed of a poppy used chiefly as a topping or flavoring for baked goods
pop quiz -n
- an unscheduled or unannounced quiz
Pop·si·cle ['päp-,si-kəl, -sə-] -trademark
- used for flavored and colored water frozen on a stick
poptop ['päp-,täp] -n
- a closure that can be pulled by hand to open a can
pop·u·lace ['pä-pyə-ləs] -n
- the common people : masses
- population
pop·u·lar ['pä-pyə-lər] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the general public
- : suitable to the majority: as
- adapted to or indicative of the understanding and taste of the majority
- a popular history of the war
- suited to the means of the majority : inexpensive
- frequently encountered or widely accepted
- commonly liked or approved
popular front -n
- a coalition esp. of leftist political parties against a common opponent
- one sponsored and dominated by Communists as a device for gaining power
pop·u·lar·ise ['pä-pyə-lə-,rīz] -vb, n
(variant of popularize)
- to cater to popular taste
- : to make popular: as
- to cause to be liked or esteemed
- to present in generally understandable or interesting form
pop·u·lar·i·ty [,pä-pyə-'la-rə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being popular
pop·u·lar·ize ['pä-pyə-lə-,rīz] -vb, n
- to cater to popular taste
- : to make popular: as
- to cause to be liked or esteemed
- to present in generally understandable or interesting form
popular sovereignty -n
- a doctrine in political theory that government is created by and subject to the will of the people
- a pre-Civil War doctrine asserting the right of the people living in a newly organized territory to decide by vote of their territorial legislature whether or not slavery would be permitted there
pop·u·late ['pä-pyə-,lāt] -vt
- to have a place in : occupy, inhabit
- to furnish or provide with inhabitants : people
- to provide with members
pop·u·la·tion [,pä-pyə-'lā-shən] -n, adj
- the whole number of people or inhabitants in a country or region
- the total of individuals occupying an area or making up a whole
- the total of particles at a particular energy level used esp. of atoms in a laser
- the act or process of populating
- a body of persons or individuals having a quality or characteristic in common
- the organisms inhabiting a particular locality
- a group of interbreeding organisms that represents the level of organization at which speciation begins
- a group of individual persons, objects, or items from which samples are taken for statistical measurement
population explosion -n
- a pyramiding of numbers of a biological population
- the recent great increase in human numbers resulting from increased survival and exponential population growth
pop·u·list ['pä-pyə-list] -n, adj
- a member of a political party claiming to represent the common people
- a member of a U.S. political party formed in 1891 primarily to represent agrarian interests and to advocate the free coinage of silver and government control of monopolies
- a believer in the rights, wisdom, or virtues of the common people
populist -adj
- of, relating to, or characterized by populism
- popular
- popular
pop·u·lous ['pä-pyə-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- densely populated
- having a large population
- numerous
- filled to capacity
popup ['päp-,əp] -n
- pop fly
- a component or device that pops up
- a pop-up book
- a pop-up window on a computer screen
- of, relating to, or having a component or device that pops up
- appearing suddenly on a computer screen
por -abbr
- portrait
por·bea·gle ['pȯr-,bē-gəl] -n
- a viviparous mackerel shark ( Lamna nasus) chiefly of the No. Atlantic and southwestern Pacific oceans with a pointed snout and crescent-shaped tail
por·ce·lain ['pȯr-s(ə-)lən] -n, adj
- a hard, fine-grained, sonorous, nonporous, and usu. translucent and white ceramic ware that consists essentially of kaolin, quartz, and a feldspathic rock and is fired at a high temperature called also hard-paste porcelain true porcelain
- soft-paste porcelain
porcelain enamel -n
- a fired-on opaque glassy coating on metal
por·ce·lain·ize ['pȯr-s(ə-)lə-,nīz] -vt
- to fire a glassy coating on (as steel)
porch ['pȯrch] -n
- a covered area adjoining an entrance to a building and usu. having a separate roof
- portico
por·cine ['pȯr-,sīn] -adj
- of, relating to, or suggesting swine : piggish
por·ci·ni [pȯr-'chē-(,)nē] -n
- a large wild edible brownish boletus mushroom ( Boletus edulis) called also cepe
por·ci·no [pȯr-'chē-(,)nō] -n
- porcini
por·cu·pine ['pȯr-kyə-,pīn] -n
- any of various relatively large slow-moving chiefly herbivorous rodents having sharp erectile spines mingled with the hair and constituting an Old World terrestrial family (Hystricidae) and a New World chiefly arboreal family (Erethizontidae)
porcupine fish -n
- any of several bony fishes (family Diodontidae) that have sharp spines covering the body and inflate themselves into a sphere when threatened
- a spotted chiefly tropical fish ( Diodon hystrix) that is olive to brown above with white below
pore ['pȯr] -vi
- to gaze intently
- to read or study attentively usu. used with over
- to reflect or meditate steadily
- a minute opening esp. in an animal or plant
- one by which matter passes through a membrane
- a small interstice (as in soil) admitting absorption or passage of liquid
pore fungus -n
- a fungus (family Boletaceae or Polyporaceae) having the spore-bearing surface within tubes or pores
por·gy ['pȯr-gē] -n
- a blue-spotted silvery-red food fish ( Pagrus pagrusof the family Sparidae) of the eastern and western Atlantic
- any of various fishes (as a scup) of the same family
- any of various bony fishes (as a menhaden) of families other than that of the porgy
pork ['pȯrk] -n
- the fresh or salted flesh of swine when dressed for food
- government funds, jobs, or favors distributed by politicians to gain political advantage
pork barrel -n
- government projects or appropriations yielding rich patronage benefits
- pork
pork belly -n
- an uncured side of pork
pork·er ['pȯr-kər] -n
- hog
- a young pig fattened for table use as fresh pork
- one resembling a fattened pig : fatty
pork·pie hat ['pȯrk-,pī-] -n
- a hat with a low telescoped crown, flat top, and flexible brim
porky ['pȯr-kē] -adj
- resembling a pig : fat
por·ky ['pȯr-kē] -n
- porcupine
porn ['pȯrn] -n
- pornography
por·nog·ra·pher [pȯr-'nä-grə-fər] -n
- one who produces pornography
por·nog·ra·phy [-fē] -n, adj, adv
- the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement
- material (as books or a photograph) that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement
- the depiction of acts in a sensational manner so as to arouse a quick intense emotional reaction
- the pornography of violence
porny ['pȯr-ne] -adj
- of, relating to, involved in, or being pornography
po·ros·i·ty [pə-'rä-sə-tē, pȯ-] -n
- the quality or state of being porous
- the ratio of the volume of interstices of a material to the volume of its mass
- pore
po·rous ['pȯr-əs] -adj, adv, n
- possessing or full of pores
- containing vessels
- permeable to fluids
- permeable to outside influences
- capable of being penetrated
- porous national boundaries
por·phyr·ia [pȯr-'fir-ē-ə] -n
- any of several usu. hereditary abnormalities of porphyrin metabolism characterized by excretion of excess porphyrins in the urine
por·phy·rin ['pȯr-fə-rən] -n
- any of various compounds with a macrocyclic structure that consists essentially of four pyrrole rings joined by four CH groups
- one (as chlorophyll or hemoglobin) containing a central metal atom and usu. exhibiting biological activity
por·phy·rit·ic [,pȯr-fə-'ri-tik] -adj
- of or relating to porphyry
- having distinct crystals (as of feldspar) in a relatively fine-grained base
por·phy·rop·sin [,pȯr-fə-'räp-sən] -n
- a purple pigment in the retinal rods of freshwater fishes that resembles rhodopsin
por·phy·ry ['pȯr-f(ə-)rē] -n
- a rock consisting of feldspar crystals embedded in a compact dark red or purple groundmass
- an igneous rock of porphyritic texture
por·poise ['pȯr-pəs] -n
- any of a family (Phocoenidae) of small gregarious toothed whales
- a blunt-snouted usu. largely black whale ( Phocoena phocoena) of the No. Atlantic and No. Pacific that is five to eight feet (1.5 to 2.4 meters) long
- dolphin
porpoise -vi
- to leap or plunge like a porpoise
- penguins...porpoise out of the water -- David Lewis
- to rise and fall repeatedly
por·rect [pə-'rekt, pä-] -adj
- extended forward
por·ridge ['pȯr-ij, 'pär-] -n, adj
- a soft food made by boiling meal of grains or legumes in milk or water until thick
por·rin·ger [-ən-jər] -n
- a low usu. metal bowl with a single and usu. flat and pierced handle
port ['pȯrt] -n
- a place where ships may ride secure from storms : haven
- a harbor town or city where ships may take on or discharge cargo
- airport
- port of entry
- gate
- an opening (as in a valve seat or valve face) for intake or exhaust of a fluid
- the area of opening in a cylinder face of a passageway for the working fluid in an engine
- such a passageway
- a small opening in a container or vessel esp. for viewing or for the controlled passage of material
- an opening in a vessel's side (as for admitting light or loading cargo)
- the cover for a porthole
- a hole in an armored vehicle or fortification through which guns may be fired
- a hardware interface by which a computer is connected to another device (as a printer, a mouse, or another computer)
- jack
- the manner of bearing oneself
- state
- the position in which a military weapon is carried at the command port arms
- to turn or put (a helm) to the left used chiefly as a command
- the left side of a ship or aircraft looking forward called also larboard
- a sweet fortified wine of rich taste and aroma made in Portugal
- a similar wine made elsewhere
- to translate (software) into a version for another computer or operating system
- portable
- portrait
Port -abbr
- Portugal
portabella [,pȯr-tə-'be-(,)lō] -n
(variant of portobello)
- a large dark mature cultivated mushroom noted for its meaty texture that is of the same variety of button mushroom as the cremini
por·ta·bil·i·ty [,pȯr-tə-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being portable
- the transferability of a worker's benefits from one pension fund to another when the worker changes jobs
por·ta·ble ['pȯr-tə-bəl] -adj, adv
- capable of being carried or moved about
- characterized by portability
- usable on many computers with little or no modification
- bearable
portable -n
- something that is portable
por·tage ['pȯr-tij, 3 is also pȯr-'täzh] -n
- the labor of carrying or transporting
- the cost of carrying : porterage
- the carrying of boats or goods overland from one body of water to another or around an obstacle (as a rapids)
- the route followed in making such a transfer
- to carry over a portage
- to move gear over a portage
por·tal ['pȯr-tᵊl] -n
- door, entrance
- a grand or imposing one
- the whole architectural composition surrounding and including the doorways and porches of a church
- the approach or entrance to a bridge or tunnel
- a communicating part or area of an organism
- the point at which something (as a pathogen) enters the body
- a site serving as a guide or point of entry to the World Wide Web and usu. including a search engine or a collection of links to other sites arranged esp. by topic
portal -adj
- of or relating to the transverse fissure on the underside of the liver where most of the vessels enter
- of, relating to, or being a portal vein or a portal system
portal system -n
- a system of veins that begins and ends in capillaries
portaltoportal -adj
- of or relating to the time spent by a worker in traveling between the entrance to an employer's property and the worker's actual job site (as in a mine)
portal vein -n
- a vein that collects blood from one part of the body and distributes it in another through capillaries
- a vein carrying blood from the digestive organs and spleen to the liver
por·ta·men·to [,pȯr-tə-'men-(,)tō] -n
- a continuous gliding movement from one tone to another (as by the voice)
port arms -n
- a position in the manual of arms in which the rifle is held diagonally in front of the body with the muzzle pointing upward to the left
- a command to assume this position
por·ta·tive ['pȯr-tə-tiv] -adj
- portable
port·cul·lis [pȯrt-'kə-ləs] -n
- a grating of iron hung over the gateway of a fortified place and lowered between grooves to prevent passage
port de bras [,pȯr-də-'brä] -n
- the technique and practice of arm movement in ballet
Port du Sa·lut [,pȯr-də-sə-'lü, -sa-; -səl-'yü, -sal-] -n
- a semisoft pressed ripened cheese of usu. mild flavor originated by Trappist monks in France
Porte ['pȯrt] -n
- the government of the Ottoman empire
porte co·chere [,pȯrt-kō-'sher] -n
- a passageway through a building or screen wall designed to let vehicles pass from the street to an interior courtyard
- a roofed structure extending from the entrance of a building over an adjacent driveway and sheltering those getting in or out of vehicles
por·tend [pȯr-'tend] -vt
- to give an omen or anticipatory sign of
- indicate, signify
por·tent ['pȯr-,tent] -n
- something that foreshadows a coming event : omen, sign
- prophetic indication or significance
- marvel, prodigy
por·ten·tous [pȯr-'ten-təs] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or constituting a portent
- suspense, portentous foreshadowing, hints of sinister and violent mysteries -- Francine Prose
- eliciting amazement or wonder : prodigious
- being a grave or serious matter
- self-consciously solemn or important : pompous
- portentous declamation unsalted by the least trace of humor -- W. H. Pritchard
- ponderously excessive
- that discipline's overwrought, portentous phrases -- R. M. Coles
por·ter ['pȯr-tər] -n
- a person stationed at a door or gate to admit or assist those entering
porter -n
- a person who carries burdens
- one employed to carry baggage for patrons at a hotel or transportation terminal
- a parlor-car or sleeping-car attendant who waits on passengers and makes up berths
- a heavy dark brown beer brewed from browned or charred malt
- a person who does routine cleaning (as in a hospital or office)
- to transport or carry as or as if by a porter
- to act as a porter
por·ter·age [-tə-rij] -n
- a porter's work
- the charge for it
por·ter·house ['pȯr-tər-,hau̇s] -n
- a house where malt liquor (as porter) is sold
- a large steak cut from the thick end of the short loin to contain a T-shaped bone and a large piece of tenderloin
port·fo·lio [pȯrt-'fō-lē-,ō] -n
- a hinged cover or flexible case for carrying loose papers, pictures, or pamphlets
- the office and functions of a minister of state or member of a cabinet
- the securities held by an investor : the commercial paper held by a financial house (as a bank)
- a set of pictures (as drawings or photographs) usu. bound in book form or loose in a folder
- a selection of a student's work (as papers and tests) compiled over a period of time and used for assessing performance or progress
port·hole ['pȯrt-,hōl] -n
- an opening (as a window) with a cover or closure esp. in the side of a ship or aircraft
- a port through which to shoot
- port
Por·tia ['pȯr-shə] -n
- the heroine in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
por·ti·co ['pȯr-ti-,kō] -n
- a colonnade or covered ambulatory esp. in classical architecture and often at the entrance of a building
por·tiere [pȯr-'tyer, -'tir; 'pȯr-tē-ər] -n
- a curtain hanging across a doorway
por·tion ['pȯr-shən] -n
- : an individual's part or share of something: as
- a share received by gift or inheritance
- dowry
- enough food esp. of one kind to serve one person at one meal
- an individual's lot, fate, or fortune : one's share of good and evil
- an often limited part of a whole
portion [-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt
- to divide into portions : distribute
- portion ed out the food equally
- to allot a dowry to : dower
por·tion·less [-shən-ləs] -adj
- having no portion
- having no dowry or inheritance
port·land cement ['pȯrt-lən(d)-] -n
- a hydraulic cement made by finely pulverizing the clinker produced by calcining to incipient fusion a mixture of clay and limestone or similar materials
port·ly ['pȯrt-lē] -adj, n
- dignified, stately
- heavy or rotund of body : stout
port·man·teau [pȯrt-'man-(,)tō] -n
- a large suitcase
- a word or morpheme whose form and meaning are derived from a blending of two or more distinct forms (as smogfrom smokeand fog)
portmanteau -adj
- combining more than one use or quality
- being a portmanteau
por·to·bel·lo [,pȯr-tə-'be-(,)lō] -n
- a large dark mature cultivated mushroom noted for its meaty texture that is of the same variety of button mushroom as the cremini
port of call
- an intermediate port where ships customarily stop for supplies, repairs, or transshipment of cargo
- a stop included on an itinerary
port of entry
- a place where foreign goods may be cleared through a customhouse
- a place where an alien may be permitted to enter a country
por·trait ['pȯr-trət, -,trāt] -n
- picture
- a pictorial representation of a person usu. showing the face
- a sculptured figure : bust
- a graphic portrayal in words
portrait -adj
- of, relating to, or being a document having the vertical dimension longer than the horizontal dimension
por·trait·ist [-trə-tist, -,trā-] -n
- a maker of portraits
por·trai·ture ['pȯr-trə-,chu̇r, -chər, -,tyu̇r, -,tu̇r] -n
- the making of portraits : portrayal
- portrait
por·tray [pȯr-'trā, pər-] -vt, n
- to make a picture of : depict
- to describe in words
- to play the role of : enact
por·tray·al [-'trā(-ə)l] -n
- the act or process or an instance of portraying : representation
- portrait
por·tress ['pȯr-trəs] -n
- : a woman who is a porter: as
- a doorkeeper in a convent or apartment building
- charwoman
Port Roy·al·ist [pȯrt-'rȯi-ə-list] -n
- a member or adherent of a 17th century French Jansenist lay community noted for its logicians and educators
Port Sa·lut [,pȯr-sə-'lü, -sa-; -səl-'yü, -sal-] -n
- port du salut
Por·tu·guese ['pȯr-chə-,gēz, -,gēs; ,pȯr-chə-'] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Portugal
- one who is of Portuguese descent
- the Romance language of Portugal and Brazil
Portuguese manofwar -n
- any of a genus ( Physaliaof the family Physaliidae) of large tropical and subtropical pelagic siphonophores having a crested bladderlike float which bears the colony comprised of three types of zooids on the lower surface with one of the three having nematocyst-equipped tentacles
Portuguese water dog -n
- any of a breed of medium-sized robust dogs that have a large broad head and curly or wavy coat and are strong swimmers
por·tu·laca [,pȯr-chə-'la-kə] -n
- any of a genus ( Portulaca) of chiefly tropical succulent herbs of the purslane family
- a widely cultivated So. American plant ( P. grandiflora) with showy flowers and small conical leaves
portwine stain ['pȯrt-'wīn-] -n
- a reddish-purple superficial hemangioma of the skin commonly occurring as a birthmark
pos -abbr
- position
- positive
POS -abbr
- point-of-service
po·sa·da [pə-'sä-də] -n
- an inn in Spanish-speaking countries
pose ['pōz] -vb
- to set forth or offer for attention or consideration
- to come to attention as : present
- smoking pose s a health risk
- to put or set in place
- to place (as a model) in a studied attitude
- to assume a posture or attitude usu. for artistic purposes
- to affect an attitude or character usu. to deceive or impress
- posed as a doctor to gain access to the ward
- a sustained posture
- one assumed for artistic effect
- an attitude, role, or characteristic assumed for effect
- puzzle, baffle
Po·sei·don [pə-'sī-dᵊn] -n
- the Greek god of the sea
pos·er ['pō-zər] -n
- a puzzling or baffling question
poser -n
- a person who poses
po·seur [pō-'zər, 'pō-zər] -n
- a person who pretends to be what he or she is not : an affected or insincere person
posh ['päsh] -adj, adv, n
- elegant, fashionable
- typical of or intended for the upper classes : highfalutin
pos·it ['pä-zət] -vt
- to dispose or set firmly : fix
- to assume or affirm the existence of : postulate
- to propose as an explanation : suggest
po·si·tion [pə-'zi-shən] -n
- : an act of placing or arranging: as
- the laying down of a proposition or thesis
- an arranging in order
- a point of view adopted and held to
- made my position on the issue clear
- the point or area occupied by a physical object : location
- took her position at the head of the line
- a certain arrangement of bodily parts
- rose to a standing position
- a market commitment in securities or commodities
- the inventory of a market trader
- relative place, situation, or standing
- is now in a position to make decisions on his own
- social or official rank or status
- an employment for which one has been hired : job
- a position with a brokerage firm
- a situation that confers advantage or preference
position [pə-'zi-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt
- to put in a certain position
- position ed the chairs around the room
- position ed the company in the global market
po·si·tion·al [pə-'zi-sh(ə-)nəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or fixed by position
- involving little movement
- dependent on position or environment or context
- the front-articulated k in ke key and the back-articulated k in kul cool are positional variants
positional notation -n
- a system of expressing numbers in which the digits are arranged in succession, the position of each digit has a place value, and the number is equal to the sum of the products of each digit by its place value
position effect -n
- a genetic effect in which the expression of a gene is influenced by its interaction with usu. adjacent genes and which is modified when the spatial relationships of the genes change (as by translocation)
position paper -n
- a detailed report that recommends a course of action on a particular issue
pos·i·tive ['pä-zə-tiv, 'päz-tiv] -adj, adv, n
- formally laid down or imposed : prescribed
- expressed clearly or peremptorily
- her answer was a positive no
- fully assured : confident
- of, relating to, or constituting the degree of comparison that is expressed in English by the unmodified and uninflected form of an adjective or adverb and denotes no increase or diminution
- independent of changing circumstances : unconditioned
- an insurance policy with positive coverage
- relating to or constituting a motion or device that is definite, unyielding, constant, or certain in its action
- a positive system of levers
- incontestable
- unqualified
- not fictitious : real
- active and effective in social or economic function rather than merely maintaining peace and order
- indicating, relating to, or characterized by affirmation, addition, inclusion, or presence rather than negation, withholding, or absence
- took the positive approach and struck a new deal rather than canceling the contract
- having rendition of light and shade similar in tone to the tones of the original subject
- a positive photographic image
- contributing toward or characterized by increase or progression
- take some positive action
- directed or moving toward a source of stimulation
- real and numerically greater than zero
- being, relating to, or charged with electricity of which the proton is the elementary unit and which predominates in a glass body after being rubbed with silk
- having more protons than electrons
- having higher electric potential and constituting the part from which the current flows to the external circuit
- the positive terminal of a discharging storage battery
- being an electron-collecting electrode of an electron tube
- marked by or indicating acceptance, approval, or affirmation
- received a positive response
- affirming the presence esp. of a condition, substance, or organism suspected to be present
- a positive test for blood
- having a test result indicating the presence esp. of a condition, substance, or organism
- converging light rays and forming a real inverted image
- having a good effect : favorable
- marked by optimism
- the positive point of view
positive -n
- : something positive: as
- the positive degree of comparison in a language
- a positive form of an adjective or adverb
- something of which an affirmation can be made : reality
- a positive photograph or a print from a negative
- a positive result (as of a test)
- a test yielding such a result
positive definite -adj
- having a positive value for all values of the constituent variables
- positive definite quadratic forms
- having the characteristic roots real and positive
positive feedback -n
- feedback that tends to magnify a process or increase its output
positive law -n
- law established or recognized by governmental authority
pos·i·tiv·ism ['pä-zə-ti-,vi-zəm, 'päz-ti-] -n, adj or n, adj, adv
- a theory that theology and metaphysics are earlier imperfect modes of knowledge and that positive knowledge is based on natural phenomena and their properties and relations as verified by the empirical sciences
- logical positivism
- the quality or state of being positive
pos·i·tiv·i·ty [,pä-zə-'ti-və-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being positive
- something that is positive
pos·i·tron ['pä-zə-,trän] -n
- a positively charged particle having the same mass and magnitude of charge as the electron and constituting the antiparticle of the electron called also antielectron
positronemission tomography -n
- tomography in which a cross-sectional image of regional metabolism is obtained by a usu. color-coded representation of the distribution of gamma radiation given off in the collision of electrons in cells with positrons emitted by radionuclides incorporated into metabolic substances that have been administered (as by injection)
pos·i·tro·ni·um [,pä-zə-'trō-nē-əm] -n
- a short-lived system that consists of a positron and an electron bound together and is suggestive of a hydrogen atom
po·so·le [pō-'sō-(,)lā] -n
- a thick soup chiefly of Mexico and the U.S. Southwest made with pork, hominy, garlic, and chili
poss -abbr
- possessive
- possible
pos·se ['pä-sē] -n
- a large group often with a common interest
- a body of persons summoned by a sheriff to assist in preserving the public peace usu. in an emergency
- a group of people temporarily organized to make a search (as for a lost child)
- entourage
pos·sess [pə-'zes also -'ses] -vt, n
- to have and hold as property : own
- to have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
- to take into one's possession
- to enter into and control firmly : dominate
- to bring or cause to fall under the influence, possession, or control of some emotional or intellectual response or reaction
- melancholy possess es her
- to instate as owner
- to make the owner or holder used in passive construction to indicate simple possession
- possess ed of knowledge and experience
pos·sessed [-'ze-səd-lē, -'zest-lē also -'se-səd- or -'sest-] -adj, adv, n
- influenced or controlled by something (as an evil spirit, a passion, or an idea)
- mad, crazed
- urgently desirous to do or have something
- held as a possession
- self-possessed, calm
pos·ses·sion [-'ze-shən also -'se-] -n, adj
- the act of having or taking into control
- control or occupancy of property without regard to ownership
- ownership
- control of the ball or puck
- an instance of having such control (as in football)
- scored on their first two possession s
- something owned, occupied, or controlled : property
- domination by something (as an evil spirit, a passion, or an idea)
- a psychological state in which an individual's normal personality is replaced by another
- self-possession
pos·ses·sive [pə-'ze-siv also -'se-] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or constituting a word, a word group, or a grammatical case that denotes ownership or a relation analogous to ownership
- manifesting possession or the desire to own or dominate
possessive -n
- a possessive word or word group
- the possessive case
- a word in the possessive case
possessive adjective -n
- a pronominal adjective expressing possession
possessive pronoun -n
- a pronoun that derives from a personal pronoun and denotes possession and analogous relationships
pos·ses·so·ry [pə-'ze-sə-rē, -'zes-rē also -'se-sə-rē or -'ses-rē] -adj
- of, arising from, or having the nature of possession
- having possession
- characteristic of a possessor : possessive
pos·set ['pä-sət] -n
- a hot drink of sweetened and spiced milk curdled with ale or wine
pos·si·bil·i·ty [,pä-sə-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- the condition or fact of being possible
- one's utmost power, capacity, or ability
- something that is possible
- potential or prospective value usu. used in pl.
- the house had great possibilities
pos·si·ble ['pä-sə-bəl] -adj
- being within the limits of ability, capacity, or realization
- a possible but difficult task
- being what may be conceived, be done, or occur according to nature, custom, or manners
- the worst possible circumstance
- being something that may or may not occur
- a possible surprise visit
- being something that may or may not be true or actual
- having an indicated potential
pos·si·bly [-blē] -adv
- in a possible manner : by any possibility
- that's all she could possibly do
- by merest chance : perhaps
- it is possible or imaginable : conceivably
- a political libel which may possibly damage me -- G. B. Shaw
posslq -abbr
- persons of the opposite sex sharing living quarters
pos·sum ['pä-səm] -n
- opossum
post ['pōst] -n
- a piece (as of timber or metal) fixed firmly in an upright position esp. as a stay or support : pillar, column
- a pole or stake set up to mark or indicate something
- a pole that marks the starting or finishing point of a horse race
- a metallic fitting attached to an electrical device (as a storage battery) for convenience in making connections
- goalpost
- a football passing play in which the receiver runs downfield before turning towards the middle of the field
- the metal stem of a pierced earring
- to publish, announce, or advertise by or as if by use of a placard
- to denounce by public notice
- to enter on a public listing
- to forbid (property) to trespassers under penalty of legal prosecution by notices placed along the boundaries
- score
- post ed a 70 in the final round
- to affix to a usual place (as a wall) for public notices : placard
- to publish (as a message) in an online forum (as an electronic bulletin board)
- courier
- one of a series of stations for keeping horses for relays
- the distance between any two such consecutive stations : stage
- a nation's organization for handling mail
- the mail handled
- a single dispatch of mail
- letter
- post office
- postbox
- something (as a message) that is published online
- to travel with post-horses
- to ride or travel with haste : hurry
- to rise from the saddle and return to it in rhythm with a horse's trot
- to dispatch in haste
- mail
- to transfer or carry from a book of original entry to a ledger
- to make transfer entries in
- to make familiar with a subject : inform
- kept her post ed on the latest gossip
- with post-horses : express
- the place at which a soldier is stationed
- a sentry's beat or station
- a station or task to which one is assigned
- the place at which a body of troops is stationed : camp
- a local subdivision of a veterans' organization
- one of two bugle calls sounded (as in the British army) at tattoo
- an office or position to which a person is appointed
- an area on a basketball court that is located just outside the free throw lane usu. near the basket
- the offensive position of a player occupying the post
- trading post, settlement
- a trading station on the floor of a stock exchange
- to station in a given place
- guards were post ed at the doors
- to carry ceremoniously to a position
- to assign to a unit, position, or location (as in the military or civil service)
- to put up (as bond)
post- -prefix
- after : subsequent : later
- behind : posterior : following after
- subsequent to : later than
- posterior to
post·age ['pōs-tij] -n
- the fee for postal service
- adhesive stamps or printed indicia representing postal fees
postagedue stamp -n
- a special adhesive stamp that is applied by a post office to mail bearing insufficient postage
postage meter -n
- a machine that prints postal indicia on pieces of mail, records the amount of postage, and subtracts it from a total paid amount for which the machine has been set
postagestamp -adj
- suggesting a postage stamp in size : very small
postage stamp -n
- a government adhesive stamp or imprinted stamp for use on mail as evidence of prepayment of postage
post·al ['pōs-tᵊl] -adj
- of or relating to the mails or the post office
- conducted by mail
- insanely or murderously violent usu. used in the phrase go postal
postal card -n
- a card officially stamped and issued by the government for use in the mail
- postcard
postal order -n
- money order
postal service -n
- post office
postal union -n
- an association of governments that sets up uniform regulations and practices for international mail
post·ax·i·al [,pōst-'ak-sē-əl] -adj
- of or relating to the ulnar side of the vertebrate forelimb or the fibular side of the hind limb
- of or relating to the side of an animal or side of one of its limbs that is posterior to the axis of its body or limbs
post·bag ['pōs(t)-,bag] -n
- mailbag
- a single batch of mail : letters
post·bel·lum [,pōs(t)-'be-ləm] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the period following a war and esp. following the American Civil War
post·box ['pōs(t)-,bäks] -n
- mailbox
- a public mailbox
post·boy [-,bȯi] -n
- postilion
post·card ['pōs(t)-,kärd] -n, adj
- postal card
- a card on which a message may be written for mailing without an envelope and to which the sender must affix a stamp
postcard -adj
- picturesque, picture-postcard
post·ca·va [,pōs(t)-'kā-və] -n, adj
- the inferior vena cava of vertebrates higher than fishes
post chaise -n
- a carriage usu. having a closed body on four wheels and seating two to four persons
post·clas·si·cal [,pōs(t)-'kla-si-kəl] -adj
- of or relating to a period (as in art, literature, or civilization) following a classical one
post·code ['pōs(t)-,kōd] -n
- a code (as of numbers and letters) used similarly to the zip code esp. in the United Kingdom and Australia
postcom·mu·nion [,pōs(t)-kə-'myü-nyən] -n
- a liturgically variable prayer following the communion at Eucharist
post·con·sum·er [-kən-'sü-mər] -adj
- discarded by an end consumer
- having been used and recycled for reuse in another consumer product
post·cra·ni·al [-'krā-nē-əl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the part of the body caudal to the head
post·date [,pōs(t)-'dāt, 'pōs(t)-,] -vt
- to date with a date later than that of execution
- to assign (an event) to a date subsequent to that of actual occurrence
- to follow in time
post·di·lu·vi·an [,pōs(t)-də-'lü-vē-ən, -dī-] -adj, n
- of or relating to the period after the flood described in the Bible
post·doc ['pōs(t)-,däk] -n
- one engaged in postdoctoral study or research
postdoc -adj
- postdoctoral
post·doc·tor·al [,pōs(t)-'däk-t(ə-)rəl, 'pōst-,] -adj
- : being beyond the doctoral level:
- of or relating to advanced academic or professional work beyond a doctor's degree
- a postdoctoral fellowship
- engaged in such work
post·emer·gence [,pōst-i-'mər-jən(t)s] -adj
- used or occurring in the stage between the emergence of a seedling and the maturity of a crop plant
- postemergence development
post·er ['pōs-tər] -n
- a swift traveler
poster -n
- a bill or placard for posting often in a public place
- one that is decorative or pictorial
poster boy -n
- a male poster child
poster child -n
- a child who has a disease and is pictured in posters to solicit funds for combating the disease
- a person having a public image that is identified with something (as a cause)
poster color -n
- an opaque watercolor paint with a gum- or glue-size binder sold usu. in jars called also poster paint
poste res·tante [,pōst-,res-'tänt] -n
- general delivery
poster girl -n
- a female poster child
pos·te·ri·or [pō-'stir-ē-ər, pä-] -adj, adv
- later in time : subsequent
- : situated behind: as
- caudal
- dorsal
- adaxial, superior
- the hinder parts of the body
- buttocks
posterior cruciate ligament -n
- a cruciate ligament of each knee that attaches the back of the tibia with the front of the femur and functions esp. to limit the backward motion of the tibia
pos·te·ri·or·i·ty [(,)pō-,stir-ē-'ȯr-ə-tē, (,)pä-, -'är-] -n
- the quality or state of being later or subsequent
pos·ter·i·ty [pä-'ster-ə-tē] -n
- the offspring of one progenitor to the furthest generation
- all future generations
pos·tern ['pōs-tərn, 'päs-] -n, adj
- a back door or gate
- a private or side entrance or way
pos·tero·lat·er·al [,päs-tə-rō-'la-t(ə-)rəl] -adj
- posterior and lateral in position or direction
poster session -n
- a presentation of information on a series of posters that may include drawings, photographs, charts, graphs, and textual data relating to a specific subject
post exchange -n
- a store at a military installation that sells merchandise and services to military personnel and authorized civilians
post·ex·il·ic [,pōst-(,)eg-'zi-lik] -adj
- of or relating to the period of Jewish history between the end of the exile in Babylon in 538 b.c.and a.d.1
post·face ['pōs(t)-fəs, -,fās; pȯs-'fäs] -n
- a brief article or note (as of explanation) placed at the end of a publication
post·fem·i·nist [,pōst-'fe-mə-nist] -adj
- of, relating to, occurring in, or being the period following widespread advocacy and acceptance of feminism
post·fix ['pōs(t)-,fiks] -adj
- characterized by placement of an operator after its operand or after its two operands if it is a binary operator
postfix notation -n
- reverse polish notation
postfree ['pōs(t)-'frē] -adj
- postpaid
post·gan·gli·on·ic [,pōs(t)-,gaŋ-glē-'ä-nik] -adj
- distal to a ganglion
- of, relating to, or being an axon arising from a cell body within an autonomic ganglion
post·grad ['pōs(t)-,grad] -adj, n
- postgraduate
post·grad·u·ate [,pōs(t)-'gra-jə-wət, -,wāt, -'graj-wət] -adj
- of, relating to, or engaged in formal studies after graduation : graduate
postgraduate -n
- a student continuing formal education after graduation from high school or college
post·haste ['pōst-'hāst] -n
- great haste
posthaste -adv
- with all possible speed
- speedy, immediate
- requires your...posthaste appearance -- Shak.
post hoc ['pōst-'häk] -adj
- relating to or being the fallacy of arguing from temporal sequence to a causal relation
- formulated after the fact
- a post hoc rationalization
post·hole ['pōst-,hōl] -n
- a hole dug for a post
post horn -n
- a simple straight or coiled brass or copper small wind instrument with cupped mouthpiece used esp. by guards of mail coaches of the 18th and 19th centuries
posthorse ['pōst-,hȯrs] -n
- a horse for use esp. by couriers or mail carriers
post·hu·mous ['päs-chə-məs also -tə-, -tyə-, -thə-; päst-'hyü-məs, 'pōst-, -'yü-] -adj, adv, n
- born after the death of the father
- published after the death of the author
- following or occurring after death
post·hyp·not·ic [,pōst-hip-'nä-tik, -ip-] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the period following a hypnotic trance
pos·tiche [pȯs-'tēsh] -n
- wig
- toupee
pos·tie ['pōs-tē] -n
- letter carrier
pos·til·ion [pō-'stil-yən, pə-] -n
- one who rides as a guide on the near horse of one of the pairs attached to a coach or post chaise esp. without a coachman
Post·im·pres·sion·ism [,pōst-im-'pre-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj or n, adj
- a theory or practice of art originating in France in the last quarter of the 19th century that in revolt against impressionism stresses variously volume, picture structure, or expressionism
post·ing ['pōs-tiŋ] -n
- the act of transferring an entry or item from a book of original entry to the proper account in a ledger
- the record in a ledger account resulting from the transfer of an entry or item from a book of original entry
posting -n
- appointment to a post or a command
- 3 post
postKant·ian [,pōs(t)-'kan-tē-ən, -'kän-] -adj
- of or relating to the idealist philosophers (as Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel) following Kant and developing some of his ideas
post·lap·sar·i·an [-,lap-'ser-ē-ən] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the time or state after the fall of humankind described in the Bible
post·lit·er·ate [-'li-tə-rət also -'li-trət] -adj
- relating to or occurring after the introduction of the electronic media
post·lude ['pōst-,lüd] -n
- a closing piece of music
- an organ voluntary at the end of a church service
- a closing phase (as of an epoch or a literary work)
post·man ['pōs(t)-mən, -,man] -n
- mailman
post·mark [-,märk] -n
- an official postal marking on a piece of mail
- a mark showing the post office and date of mailing
postmark -vt
- to put a postmark on
post·mas·ter [-,mas-tər] -n
- one who has charge of a post office
- one who has charge of a station for the accommodation of travelers or who supplies post-horses
postmaster general -n
- an official in charge of a national post office department or agency
post·men·o·paus·al [,pōs(t)-,me-nə-'pȯ-zəl, -,mē-] -adj, adv, n
- having undergone menopause
- occurring or administered after menopause
post me·ri·di·em [-mə-'ri-dē-əm, -,em] -adj
- being after noon abbr. PM
post·mil·le·nar·i·an·ism [-,mi-lə-'ner-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj or n
- postmillennialism
post·mil·len·ni·al [-mə-'le-nē-əl] -adj
- coming after or relating to the period after the millennium
- holding or relating to postmillennialism
post·mil·len·ni·al·ism [-ə-,li-zəm] -n
- the theological doctrine that the second coming of Christ will occur after the millennium
post·mis·tress ['pōs(t)-,mis-trəs] -n
- a woman who is a postmaster
post·mod·ern [,pōs(t)-'mä-dərn, ÷-'mä-d(ə-)rən] -adj, n, adj or n
- of, relating to, or being an era after a modern one
- of, relating to, or being any of various movements in reaction to modernism that are typically characterized by a return to traditional materials and forms (as in architecture) or by ironic self-reference and absurdity (as in literature)
- of, relating to, or being a theory that involves a radical reappraisal of modern assumptions about culture, identity, history, or language
post·mor·tem [,pōs(t)-'mȯr-təm] -adj
- done, occurring, or collected after death
- postmortem tissue specimens
- following the event
postmortem -n
- autopsy
- an analysis or discussion of an event after it is over
postmortem examination -n
- autopsy
post·na·sal drip ['pōst-,nā-zəl-] -n
- flow of mucous secretion from the posterior part of the nasal cavity onto the wall of the pharynx occurring usu. as a chronic accompaniment of an allergic state
post·na·tal [,pōs(t)-'nā-tᵊl] -adj, adv
- occurring or being after birth
- of or relating to an infant immediately after birth
post·nup·tial [-'nəp-shəl, -chəl, ÷-chə-wəl] -adj
- made or occurring after marriage or mating
post oak -n
- a white oak ( Quercus stellata) of the eastern and central U.S. having hard durable wood
post office -n
- a government department or agency handling the transmission of mail
- a local branch of a national post office handling the mail for a particular place or area
- a game in which a player acting as postmaster or postmistress may exact a kiss from one of the opposite sex as payment for the pretended delivery of a letter
postop ['pōst-'äp] -adj, adv
- postoperative
post·op·er·a·tive [,pōst-'ä-p(ə-)rə-tiv, -pə-,rā-] -adj, adv
- following a surgical operation
- having recently undergone a surgical operation
post·or·bit·al [-'ȯr-bə-tᵊl] -adj
- situated behind the eye socket
post·paid ['pōs(t)-'pād] -adj
- having the postage paid by the sender and not chargeable to the receiver
post·par·tum [,pōs(t)-'pär-təm] -adj, adv
- occurring in or being the period following parturition
- being in or used in the postpartum period
postpolio syndrome -n
- a condition that affects former poliomyelitis patients long after recovery from the disease and that is characterized by muscle weakness, joint and muscle pain, and fatigue
post·pone [(,)pōs(t)-'pōn] -vt, adj, n
- to put off to a later time : defer
- to place later (as in a sentence) than the normal position in English
- to place later in order of precedence, preference, or importance
post·po·si·tion [,pōs(t)-pə-'zi-shən, 'pōs(t)-pə-,] -n, adj, adv
- the placing of a grammatical element after a word to which it is primarily related in a sentence
- such a word or particle esp. when functioning as a preposition
post·pos·i·tive [-'pä-zə-tiv, -'päz-tiv] -adj, adv
- placed after or at the end of another word
post·pran·di·al [pōs(t)-'pran-dē-əl] -adj, adv
- occurring after a meal
post·pro·duc·tion [,pōs(t)-prə-'dək-shən, 'pōs(t)-prə-,, -prō-] -n
- the period following filming or taping in which a motion picture or television show is readied for public presentation
post road -n
- a route over which mail is carried
post·script ['pōs(t)-,skript] -n
- a note or series of notes appended to a completed letter, article, or book
poststruc·tur·al·ism [,pōs(t)-'strək-chə-rə-,li-zəm, -'strək-shrə-] -n, adj or n
- a movement or theory (as deconstruction) that views the descriptive premise of structuralism as contradicted by reliance on borrowed concepts or differential terms and categories and sees inquiry as inevitably shaped by discursive and interpretive practices
post·sur·gi·cal [,pōs(t)-'sər-ji-kəl] -adj, adv
- postoperative
post·syn·ap·tic [,pōs(t)-sə-'nap-tik] -adj, adv
- occurring after synapsis
- a postsynaptic chromosome
- of, occurring in, or being a nerve cell by which a wave of excitation is conveyed away from a synapse
post·ten·sion [-'ten(t)-shən] -vt
- to apply tension to (reinforcing steel) after concrete has set
post·test ['pōs(t)-,test] -n
- a test given to students after completion of an instructional program or segment and often used in conjunction with a pretest to measure their achievement and the effectiveness of the program
post time -n
- the designated starting time of a horse race
post·tran·scrip·tion·al [,pōs(t)-tran(t)-'skrip-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj
- occurring, acting, or existing after genetic transcription
post·trans·fu·sion [-tran(t)s-'fyü-zhən] -adj
- caused by transfused blood
- occurring after blood transfusion
post·trans·la·tion·al [-tran(t)s-'lā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj
- occurring or existing after genetic translation
posttraumatic stress disorder -n
- a psychological reaction occurring after experiencing a highly stressing event (as wartime combat, physical violence, or a natural disaster) that is usu. characterized by depression, anxiety, flashbacks, recurrent nightmares, and avoidance of reminders of the event abbr. PTSD called also post-traumatic stress syndrome
pos·tu·lan·cy ['päs-chə-lən(t)-sē] -n
- the quality or state of being a postulant
- the period during which a person remains a postulant
pos·tu·lant ['päs-chə-lənt] -n
- a person admitted to a religious order as a probationary candidate for membership
- a person on probation before being admitted as a candidate for holy orders in the Episcopal Church
pos·tu·late ['päs-chə-,lāt] -vt, n, adj
- demand, claim
- to assume or claim as true, existent, or necessary : depend upon or start from the postulate of
- to assume as a postulate or axiom (as in logic or mathematics)
- a hypothesis advanced as an essential presupposition, condition, or premise of a train of reasoning
- axiom
pos·tu·la·tor [-,lā-tər] -n
- an official who presents a plea for beatification or canonization in the Roman Catholic Church
post up -vi
- to take up a position against a defender in the post in basketball while standing with one's back to the basket
- to post up against (a defender) in basketball
pos·tur·al ['päs-chə-rəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or involving posture
- orthostatic
pos·ture ['päs-chər] -n
- the position or bearing of the body whether characteristic or assumed for a special purpose
- the pose of a model or artistic figure
- state or condition at a given time esp. with respect to capability in particular circumstances
- maintain a competitive posture in the market
- a conscious mental or outward behavioral attitude
posture [-chər-ər] -vb, n
- to cause to assume a given posture : pose
- to assume a posture
- to strike a pose for effect
- to assume an artificial or pretended attitude : attitudinize
post·vo·cal·ic [,pōs(t)-vō-'ka-lik, -və-] -adj
- immediately following a vowel
post·war ['pōs(t)-,wär] -adj
- occurring or existing after a war
- occurring or existing after World War II
po·sy ['pō-zē] -n
- a brief sentiment, motto, or legend
- bouquet, nosegay
- flower
pot ['pät] -n
- a usu. rounded metal or earthen container used chiefly for domestic purposes (as in cooking or for holding liquids or growing plants)
- any of various technical or industrial vessels or enclosures resembling or likened to a household pot
- potful
- an enclosed framework of wire, wood, or wicker for catching fish or lobsters
- a large amount (as of money)
- the total of the bets at stake at one time
- one round in a poker game
- the common fund of a group
- potshot
- potbelly
- ruin
- a shot in snooker in which a ball is pocketed
- : a vessel for urination and defecation: as
- toilet
- potty
- to place in a pot
- to pack or preserve (as cooked and chopped meat) in a sealed pot, jar, or can often with aspic
- to shoot with a potshot
- to make or shape (earthenware) as a potter
- to embed (as electronic components) in a container with an insulating or protective material (as plastic)
- to take a potshot
- marijuana
- potential
- potentiometer
po·ta·ble ['pō-tə-bəl] -adj, n
- suitable for drinking
potable -n
- a liquid that is suitable for drinking
- an alcoholic beverage
po·tage [pȯ-'täzh] -n
- a thick soup
pot ale -n
- the residue of fermented wort left in a still after the distillation of whiskey or alcohol and used for animal feed
pot·ash ['pät-,ash] -n
- potassium carbonate esp. from wood ashes
- potassium or a potassium compound esp. as used in agriculture or industry
po·tas·sic [pə-'ta-sik] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing potassium
po·tas·si·um [pə-'ta-sē-əm] -n
- a silver-white soft light low-melting monovalent metallic element of the alkali metal group that occurs abundantly in nature esp. combined in minerals
potassiumargon -adj
- being or relating to a method of dating paleontological or geological materials based on the radioactive decay of potassium to argon that has taken place in a specimen
potassium bromide -n
- a crystalline salt KBr with a saline taste that is used esp. as a sedative and in photography
potassium carbonate -n
- a white salt K 2CO 3that forms a strongly alkaline solution and is used in making glass and soap
potassium chlorate -n
- a crystalline salt KClO 3that is used as an oxidizing agent in matches, fireworks, and explosives
potassium chloride -n
- a crystalline salt KCl occurring as a mineral and in natural waters and used esp. as a fertilizer
potassium cyanide -n
- a very poisonous crystalline salt KCN used esp. in gold and silver extraction from ore
potassium dichromate -n
- a soluble salt K 2Cr 2O 7forming large orange-red crystals used esp. in dyeing, in photography, and as an oxidizing agent
potassium hydroxide -n
- a white deliquescent solid KOH that dissolves in water with much heat to form a strongly alkaline and caustic liquid and is used chiefly in making soap and as a reagent
potassium nitrate -n
- a crystalline salt KNO 3that occurs as a product of nitrification in arable soils, is a strong oxidizer, and is used esp. in making gunpowder, as a fertilizer, and in medicine
potassium permanganate -n
- a dark purple salt KMnO 4used as an oxidizer and disinfectant
potassium sorbate -n
- a potassium salt C 6H 7KO 2of sorbic acid used esp. as a food preservative
potassium sulfate -n
- a white crystalline compound K 2SO 4used esp. as a fertilizer
po·ta·tion [pō-'tā-shən] -n
- a usu. alcoholic drink or brew
- the act or an instance of drinking or inhaling
- the portion taken in one such act
po·ta·to [pə-'tā-(,)tō, -tə, dial pə-'dā-, bə-] -n
- sweet potato
- an erect So. American herb ( Solanum tuberosum) of the nightshade family widely cultivated for its edible starchy tuber
- the tuber of a potato called also Irish potato spud white potato
potato beetle -n
- colorado potato beetle
potato blight -n
- any of several destructive fungus diseases of the potato
potato bug -n
- colorado potato beetle
potato chip -n
- a thin slice of white potato that has been cooked until crisp and then usu. salted
potato leafhopper -n
- a small green white-spotted leafhopper ( Empoasca fabae) esp. of the eastern and southern U.S. that is a serious pest on many cultivated plants and esp. on the potato
potato pancake -n
- a fried flat cake of grated potato mixed with raw egg and usu. grated onion and spices
potato tu·ber·worm [-'tü-bər-,wərm, -'tyü-] -n
- a grayish-brown moth ( Phthorimaea operculella) whose larva mines the leaves and bores in the stems and tubers of the potato plant and often attacks other solanaceous plants (as tobacco and tomato)
potaufeu [,pät-ō-'fə(r), pȯ-tō-'fœ] -n
- a French boiled dinner of meat and vegetables
pot·bel·lied ['pät-,be-lēd] -adj
- having a potbelly
potbellied pig -n
- any of a breed of small pigs originating in southeastern Asia and having a straight tail, potbelly, swayback, and black, white, or black and white coat
potbellied stove -n
- a stove with a rounded or bulging body called also potbelly stove
pot·bel·ly ['pät-,be-lē] -n
- an enlarged, swollen, or protruding abdomen
- potbellied stove
pot·boil [-,bȯi(-ə)l] -vi
- to produce potboilers
pot·boil·er [-,bȯi-lər] -n
- a usu. inferior work (as of art or literature) produced chiefly for profit
potbound ['pät-,bau̇nd] -adj
- having roots so densely matted as to allow little or no space for further growth
pot·boy [-,bȯi] -n
- a boy who serves drinks in a tavern
pot cheese -n
- cottage cheese
po·teen [pə-'tēn, -'chēn, -'tyēn, -'thēn] -n
- whiskey illicitly distilled in Ireland
Po·tem·kin village [pə-'tem(p)-kən-] -n
- an impressive facade or show designed to hide an undesirable fact or condition
po·tence ['pō-tᵊn(t)s] -n
- potency
po·ten·cy ['pō-tᵊn(t)-sē] -n
- force, power
- the quality or state of being potent
- the ability or capacity to achieve or bring about a particular result
- potentiality
po·tent ['pō-tᵊnt] -adj, adv
- having or wielding force, authority, or influence : powerful
- achieving or bringing about a particular result : effective
- chemically or medicinally effective
- rich in a characteristic constituent
- able to copulate usu. used of the male
potent -adj
- having flat bars across the ends of the arms
po·ten·tate ['pō-tᵊn-,tāt] -n
- ruler, sovereign
- one who wields great power or sway
po·ten·tial [pə-'ten(t)-shəl] -adj, adv
- existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality
- expressing possibility
- of, relating to, or constituting a verb phrase expressing possibility, liberty, or power by the use of an auxiliary with the infinitive of the verb (as in it may rain)
potential -n
- something that can develop or become actual
- promise
- any of various functions from which the intensity or the velocity at any point in a field may be readily calculated
- the work required to move a unit positive charge from a reference point (as at infinity) to a point in question
- potential difference
potential difference -n
- the difference in potential between two points that represents the work involved or the energy released in the transfer of a unit quantity of electricity from one point to the other
potential energy -n
- the energy that a piece of matter has because of its position or nature or because of the arrangement of parts
po·ten·ti·al·i·ty [pə-,ten(t)-shē-'a-lə-tē] -n
- the ability to develop or come into existence
- potential
po·ten·ti·ate [pə-'ten(t)-shē-,āt] -vt, n
- to make effective or active or more effective or more active
- to augment the activity of (as a drug) synergistically
po·ten·til·la [,pō-tᵊn-'ti-lə] -n
- cinquefoil
po·ten·ti·om·e·ter [pə-,ten(t)-shē-'ä-mə-tər] -n, adj
- an instrument for measuring electromotive forces
- voltage divider
pot·ful ['pät-,fu̇l] -n
- as much or as many as a pot will hold
- a large amount
- makes a potful of money -- John Corry
pot hat -n
- a hat with a stiff crown
- derby
pot·head ['pät-,hed] -n
- a person who frequently smokes marijuana
poth·er ['pä-thər] -n
- confused or fidgety flurry or activity : commotion
- agitated talk or controversy usu. over a trivial matter
- a choking cloud of dust or smoke
- mental turmoil
pother ['pä-thə-riŋ, 'päth-riŋ] -vb
- to put into a pother
- to be in a pother
pot·herb ['pät-,ərb, -,hərb] -n
- a usu. leafy herb that is cooked for use as greens
- one (as mint) used to season food
pot holder -n
- a small cloth pad used for handling hot cooking utensils or containers
pot·hole ['pät-,hōl] -n, adj
- a circular hole formed in the rocky bed of a river by the grinding action of stones or gravel whirled round by the water
- a sizable rounded often water-filled depression in land
- a pot-shaped hole in a road surface
- a usu. minor difficulty or setback
- hit a pothole in her comeback attempt
pot·hook [-,hu̇k] -n
- an S-shaped hook for hanging pots and kettles over an open fire
- a written character resembling a pothook
po·thos ['pō-,thäs] -n
- a southeast Asian climbing plant ( Epipremnum aureumsyn. Scindapsus aureus) of the arum family widely grown esp. as a houseplant for its leathery or waxy heart-shaped green leaves that are spotted or streaked with golden yellow or white
pot·house [-,hau̇s] -n
- tavern
pot·hunt·er [-,hən-tər] -n
- one who hunts game for food
- an amateur archaeologist
po·tion ['pō-shən] -n
- a mixture of liquids (as liquor or medicine)
pot·latch ['pät-,lach] -n
- a ceremonial feast of the American Indians of the northwest coast marked by the host's lavish distribution of gifts or sometimes destruction of property to demonstrate wealth and generosity with the expectation of eventual reciprocation
- a social event or celebration
potlatch -vt
- to give (as a gift) esp. with the expectation of a gift in return
- to hold or give a potlatch for (as a tribe or group)
- to hold or give a potlatch
pot lik·ker -n
(variant of pot liquor)
- the liquid left in a pot after cooking something
pot·line ['pät-,līn] -n
- a row of electrolytic cells used in the production of aluminum
pot liquor -n
- the liquid left in a pot after cooking something
pot·luck ['pät-'lək, 1b also -,lək] -n
- the regular meal available to a guest for whom no special preparations have been made
- a communal meal to which people bring food to share usu. used attributively
- whatever is offered or available in given circumstances or at a given time
pot marigold -n
- a calendula ( Calendula officinalis) grown esp. for ornament
po·tom·e·ter [pō-'tä-mə-tər] -n
- an apparatus for measuring the rate of transpiration in a plant by determining the amount of water absorbed
pot·pie ['pät-'pī, -,pī] -n
- pastry-covered meat and vegetables cooked in a deep dish
pot·pour·ri [,pō-pu̇-'rē] -n
- a mixture of flowers, herbs, and spices that is usu. kept in a jar and used for scent
- a miscellaneous collection : medley
- a potpourri of the best songs and sketches -- Current Biog.
pot roast -n
- a piece of beef cooked by braising usu. on top of the stove
POTS -abbr
- plain old telephone system; plain old telephone service
pot·sherd ['pät-,shərd] -n
- a pottery fragment usu. unearthed as an archaeological relic
pot·shot [-,shät] -n
- a shot taken from ambush or at a random or easy target
- a critical remark made in a random or sporadic manner
potshot -vb
- to take a potshot
- to attack or shoot with a potshot
pot sticker -n
- a crescent-shaped dumpling filled usu. with pork, steamed, and then fried
pot still -n
- a still used esp. in the distillation of Irish grain whiskey and Scotch malt whiskey in which the heat of the fire is applied directly to the pot containing the mash
pot·stone ['pät-,stōn] -n
- a more or less impure steatite used esp. in prehistoric times to make cooking vessels
pot·tage ['pä-tij] -n
- a thick soup of vegetables and often meat
potted -adj
- preserved in a pot, jar, or can
- planted or grown in a pot
- briefly and superficially summarized
- a dull, pedestrian potted history -- Times Lit. Supp.
- drunk
pot·ter ['pä-tər] -n
- one that makes pottery
potter ['pä-tər-ər] -vi, n, adv
- putter
potter's clay -n
- a plastic clay suitable for making pottery called also potter's earth
potter's field -n
- a public burial place for paupers, unknown persons, and criminals
potter's wheel -n
- a usu. horizontal disk revolving on a vertical spindle and carrying the clay being shaped by a potter
pot·tery ['pä-tə-rē] -n
- a place where clayware is made and fired
- the art or craft of the potter
- the manufacture of clayware
- clayware
- earthenware as distinguished from porcelain and stoneware and from brick and tile
pot·tle ['pä-tᵊl] -n
- a container holding a half gallon (1.9 liters)
pot·to ['pä-(,)tō] -n
- any of several African primates (genera Arctocebusand Perodicticus)
- a nocturnal slow-moving arboreal primate ( P. potto) with woolly brownish fur and a vestigial index finger
Pott's disease ['päts-] -n
- tuberculosis of the spine with destruction of bone resulting in curvature of the spine
pot·ty ['pä-tē] -adj
- trivial, insignificant
- slightly crazy
- snobbish
potty -n
- a small child's pot for urination or defecation
- potty-chair
- toilet, bathroom
pot·tychair [-,cher] -n
- a child's chair having an open seat under which a receptacle is placed for toilet training
pot·tymouthed [-,mau̇thd, -,mau̇tht] -adj, n
- given to the use of vulgar language
POTUS -abbr
- president of the United States
potzer ['pät-sər, 'pat-] -n
(variant of patzer)
- an inept chess player
pouch ['pau̇ch] -n, adj
- a small drawstring bag carried on the person
- a bag of small or moderate size for storing or transporting goods
- a lockable bag for first-class mail or diplomatic dispatches
- pocket
- packet
- an anatomical structure resembling a pouch
- to put or form into or as if into a pouch
- to transmit by pouch
- to bulge or stick out or down in a manner suggesting a pouch
- to transmit mail or dispatches by pouch
pouchy ['pau̇-chē] -adj
- having, tending to have, or resembling a pouch
- pouchy insomniac eyes -- Graham Greene
pouf ['püf] -n, adj
- puff
- a bouffant or fluffy part of a garment or accessory
- ottoman
Pouil·lyFuis·se [pü-'yē-fwē-'sā] -n
- a dry white burgundy from an area west of Macon, France
Pouil·lyFu·me [pü-'yē-fü-'mā, -fᵫ-] -n
- a dry white wine from the Loire valley of France
pou·larde [pu̇-'lärd] -n
- a fattened pullet used esp. for roasting
poult ['pōlt] -n
- a young fowl
- a young turkey
poul·ter·er ['pōl-tər-ər] -n
- one that deals in poultry
poul·ter's measure ['pōl-tərz-] -n
- a meter in which lines of 12 and 14 syllables alternate
poul·tice ['pōl-təs] -n
- a soft usu. heated and sometimes medicated mass spread on cloth and applied to sores or other lesions
poultice -vt
- to apply a poultice to
poul·try ['pōl-trē] -n
- domesticated birds kept for eggs or meat
poul·try·man [-mən] -n
- one who raises domestic fowls esp. on a commercial scale for the production of eggs and meat
- one who deals in poultry or poultry products
pounce ['pau̇n(t)s] -n
- the claw of a bird of prey
- to swoop upon and seize something with or as if with talons
- to seize upon and make capital of something (as another's blunder or an opportunity)
- to make a sudden assault or approach
- the act of pouncing
- to dust, rub, finish, or stencil with pounce
- a fine powder formerly used to prevent ink from spreading
- a fine powder for making stenciled patterns
poun·cetbox ['pau̇n(t)-sət-] -n
- a box for carrying pomander
pound ['pau̇nd] -n
- any of various units of mass and weight
- a unit now in general use among English-speaking peoples equal to 16 avoirdupois ounces or 7000 grains or 0.4536 kilogram
- the basic monetary unit of the United Kingdom called also pound sterling
- any of numerous basic monetary units of other countries
- the basic monetary unit of Ireland from 1921 to 2001
- lira
- an enclosure for animals
- a public enclosure for stray or unlicensed animals
- a depot for holding impounded personal property until redeemed by the owner
- a place or condition of confinement
- an enclosure within which fish are kept or caught
- the inner compartment of a fish trap or pound net
- to reduce to powder or pulp by beating
- to strike heavily or repeatedly
- to produce with or as if with repeated vigorous strokes usu. used with out
- pound out a story on the typewriter
- to inculcate by insistent repetition : drive
- day after day the facts were pound ed home to them -- Ivy B. Priest
- to move, throw, or carry forcefully and aggressively
- pound the ball down the field
- to move along heavily or persistently
- pound ed the pavement looking for work
- to drink or consume rapidly : slug
- to strike heavy repeated blows
- pulsate, throb
- to move with or make a heavy repetitive sound
- to work hard and continuously usu. used with away
- an act or sound of pounding
pound·age ['pau̇n-dij] -n
- a charge per pound of weight
- weight in pounds
poundage -n
- impoundment
pound·al ['pau̇n-dᵊl] -n
- a unit of force equal to the force that would give a free mass of one pound an acceleration of one foot per second per second
pound cake -n
- a rich butter cake made with a large proportion of eggs and shortening
pound·er ['pau̇n-dər] -n
- one that pounds
- a tool used for pounding
pounder -n
- a gun throwing a projectile of a specified weight used in combination
- the ship was armed with six- pounders
- one having a usu. specified weight or value in pounds used in combination
poundfool·ish ['pau̇n(d)-'fü-lish] -adj
- imprudent in dealing with large sums or large matters
pound mile -n
- the transport of one pound of mail or express for one mile
pound net -n
- a fish trap consisting of a netting arranged into a directing wing and an enclosure with a narrow entrance
pound of flesh
- a payment or penalty exacted to fulfill a deal or punishment
- loan sharks taking their pound of flesh
pound sign -n
- the symbol
- the symbol
pour ['pȯr] -vb, adj, n, adv
- to cause to flow in a stream
- to dispense from a container
- pour ed drinks for everyone
- to supply or produce freely or copiously
- pour ed money into the project
- to give full expression to : vent
- to move with a continuous flow
- to rain hard
- to move or come continuously : stream
- to score easily or freely (as in basketball) used with in
- the action of pouring : stream
- an instance of pouring or an amount poured
- a heavy fall of rain : downpour
pour·boire [pu̇r-'bwär] -n
- tip, gratuity
pour·par·ler [,pu̇r-pär-'lā] -n
- a discussion preliminary to negotiations
pour·point ['pu̇r-,pȯint, -,pwant] -n
- a padded and quilted doublet
pour point -n
- the lowest temperature at which a substance flows under specified conditions
pousseca·fe [,püs-(,)ka-'fā] -n
- an after-dinner drink consisting of several liqueurs of different colors and specific gravities poured so as to remain in separate layers
pous·sette [pü-'set] -vi
- to swing in a semicircle with hands joined with one's partner in a country-dance
pout ['pau̇t] -vb
- to show displeasure by thrusting out the lips or wearing a sullen expression
- sulk
- protrude
- to cause to protrude
- a protrusion of the lips expressive of displeasure
- a fit of pique
- any of several large-headed fishes (as a bullhead or eelpout)
pout·er ['pau̇-tər] -n
- any of several breeds of domestic pigeons characterized by erect carriage and an inflatable crop
- one that pouts
pouty ['pau̇-tē] -adj
- sulky
- expressive of displeasure
POV -abbr
- point of view
pov·er·ty ['pä-vər-tē] -n
- the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions
- renunciation as a member of a religious order of the right as an individual to own property
- scarcity, dearth
- debility due to malnutrition
- lack of fertility
poverty line -n
- a level of personal or family income below which one is classified as poor according to governmental standards called also poverty level
pov·er·tystrick·en [-,stri-kən] -adj
- very poor : destitute
pow ['pō, 'pau̇] -n
- head, poll
- a sound of a blow or explosion
POW [,pē-(,)ō-'də-bəl-(,)yü, -bə-(,)yü; -'dəb-(,)yü] -n
- prisoner of war
pow·der ['pau̇-dər] -vb, n
- to sprinkle or cover with or as if with powder
- to reduce or convert to powder
- to hit very hard
- to become powder
- to apply cosmetic powder
powder [-ləs] -n, adj
- matter in a finely divided state : particulate matter
- a preparation in the form of fine particles esp. for medicinal or cosmetic use
- fine dry light snow
- any of various solid explosives used chiefly in gunnery and blasting
powder blue -n
- a pale blue
powder horn -n
- a flask for carrying gunpowder
- one made of the horn of an ox or cow
powder keg -n
- a small usu. metal cask for holding gunpowder or blasting powder
- something liable to explode
powder metallurgy -n
- a branch of science or an art concerned with the production of powdered metals or of metallic objects by compressing a powdered metal or alloy with or without other materials and heating without thoroughly melting to solidify and strengthen
powder monkey -n
- a person who carries or has charge of explosives (as in blasting operations)
powderpuff -adj
- of, relating to, or being a traditionally male activity or event done or played by women
- a powderpuff football game
powder puff -n
- a small fluffy device (as a pad) for applying cosmetic powder
powder room -n
- a restroom for women
- a lavatory in the main living area of a house
pow·dery ['pau̇-də-rē] -adj
- resembling or consisting of powder
- easily reduced to powder : crumbling
- covered with or as if with powder
powdery mildew -n
- an ascomycetous fungus (family Erysiphaceae) producing abundant powdery conidia on the host
- a plant disease caused by a powdery mildew
pow·er ['pau̇(-ə)r] -n
- ability to act or produce an effect
- ability to get extra-base hits
- capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect
- legal or official authority, capacity, or right
- possession of control, authority, or influence over others
- one having such power
- a sovereign state
- a controlling group : establishment often used in the phrase the powers that be
- a force of armed men
- a large number or quantity
- physical might
- mental or moral efficacy
- political control or influence
- an order of angels
- the number of times as indicated by an exponent that a number occurs as a factor in a product
- 5 to the third power is 125
- the product itself
- cardinal number
- a source or means of supplying energy
- electricity
- motive power
- the time rate at which work is done or energy emitted or transferred
- magnification
- scope
- the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis in a statistical test when a particular alternative hypothesis happens to be true
power -vt
- to supply with power and esp. motive power
- to give impetus to
- to move about by means of motive power
- to move with great speed or force
- operated mechanically or electrically rather than manually
- of, relating to, or utilizing strength
- powerful
- of, relating to, or being a meal at which influential people discuss business or politics
power base -n
- a base of political support
pow·er·boat ['pau̇(-ə)r-,bōt] -n, adj
- motorboat
power broker -n
- a person (as in politics) able to exert strong influence through control of votes or individuals
power chord -n
- a combination of two tones consisting of a root and its fifth that is often used in rock music
pow·erdive [-,dīv] -vi
- to make a power dive
- to cause to power-dive
power dive -n
- a dive of an airplane accelerated by the power of the engine
power forward -n
- a basketball forward whose size and strength are used primarily in controlling play near the basket
pow·er·ful ['pau̇(-ə)r-fəl] -adj, adv
- having great power, prestige, or influence
- leading to many or important deductions
- a powerful set of postulates
power function -n
- a function of a parameter under statistical test whose value for a particular value of the parameter is the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis if that value of the parameter happens to be true
- a function (as f(x) ax k ) that equals the product of a constant and a power of the independent variable
pow·er·house ['pau̇(-ə)r-,hau̇s] -n
- power plant
- a source of influence or inspiration
- : one having great power: as
- one having great drive, energy, or ability
- an athletic team characterized by strong aggressive play
pow·er·less [-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- devoid of strength or resources
- lacking the authority or capacity to act
power mower -n
- a motor-driven lawn mower
power of attorney
- a legal instrument authorizing one to act as the attorney or agent of the grantor
power pack -n
- a unit for converting a power supply (as from a battery or household electrical circuit) to a voltage suitable for an electronic device
power plant -n
- an electric utility generating station
- an engine and related parts supplying the motive power of a self-propelled object (as a rocket or automobile)
power play -n
- a military, diplomatic, political, or administrative maneuver in which power is brought to bear
- a concentrated attack in football in which the ballcarrier is preceded by a mass of blockers
- a situation in ice hockey in which one team temporarily has more players on the ice than the other team because of a penalty
power politics -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- politics based primarily on the use of power (as military and economic strength) as a coercive force rather than on ethical precepts
power series -n
- an infinite series whose terms are successive integral powers of a variable multiplied by constants
power shovel -n
- a power-operated excavating machine consisting of a boom or crane that supports a lever arm with a large bucket at the end of it
power station -n
- power plant
power steering -n
- an automotive steering system with engine power used to amplify the torque applied at the steering wheel by the driver
power strip -n
- an electrical device consisting of a cord with a plug on one end and several sockets on the other
power structure -n
- a group of persons having control of an organization : establishment
- the hierarchical interrelationships existing within a controlling group
power sweep -n
- sweep
power takeoff -n
- a supplementary mechanism (as on a tractor) enabling the engine power to be used to operate nonautomotive apparatus (as a pump or saw)
power train -n
- the intervening mechanism by which power is transmitted from an engine to a propeller or axle that it drives
- this mechanism plus the engine
power up ['pau̇(-ə)r-,əp] -vt, n
- to cause to operate
power walk -vi
- to walk quickly for exercise esp. while carrying or wearing weights
pow·wow ['pau̇-,wau̇] -n
- an American Indian medicine man
- an American Indian ceremony (as for victory in war)
- an American Indian social gathering or fair usu. including competitive dancing
- a social get-together
- a meeting for discussion
powwow -vi
- to hold a powwow
pox ['päks] -n, adj
- a virus disease (as chicken pox) characterized by pustules or eruptions
- smallpox
- syphilis
- a disastrous evil : plague, curse
- to infect with a pox and esp. with syphilis
pox·vi·rus ['päks-,vī-rəs] -n
- any of a family ( Poxviridae) of brick-shaped or ovoid double-stranded DNA viruses that have a surface lipoprotein membrane covered with tubular or globular structures and that include the vaccinia virus and the causative agents of cowpox, myxomatosis of rabbits, and smallpox
pozole [pō-'sō-(,)lā] -n
(variant of posole)
- a thick soup chiefly of Mexico and the U.S. Southwest made with pork, hominy, garlic, and chili
poz·zo·la·na [,pät-sə-'lä-nə] -n, adj
- finely divided siliceous or siliceous and aluminous material that reacts chemically with slaked lime at ordinary temperature and in the presence of moisture to form a strong slow-hardening cement