ps -abbr
- picosecond
Ps -abbr
- Psalms
PS -abbr
- postscript
- power steering
- public school
PSA -abbr
- prostate-specific antigen
- public service announcement
psalm ['säm, 'sälm, 'sȯm, 'sȯlm] -n
- a sacred song or poem used in worship
- one of the biblical hymns collected in the Book of Psalms
psalm·book [-,bu̇k] -n
- psalter
psalm·ist ['sä-mist, 'säl-, 'sȯ-, 'sȯl] -n
- a writer or composer of esp. biblical psalms
psalm·o·dy ['sä-mə-dē, 'säl-, 'sȯ-, 'sȯl] -n
- the act, practice, or art of singing psalms in worship
- a collection of psalms
Psalms ['sämz, 'sälmz, 'sȯmz] -n pl but sing in constr
- a collection of sacred poems forming a book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture
Psal·ter ['säl-tər, 'sȯl-] -n
- the Book of Psalms
- a collection of Psalms for liturgical or devotional use
psal·te·ri·um [säl-'tir-ē-əm, sȯl-] -n
- omasum
psal·tery ['säl-t(ə-)rē, 'sȯl-] -n
- an ancient musical instrument resembling the zither
psec -abbr
- picosecond
pse·phol·o·gy [sē-'fä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the scientific study of elections
pseud ['süd] -n
- a person who pretends to be an intellectual
- pseudonym; pseudonymous
pseud- -comb form
- false : spurious
- temporary or substitute formation similar to (a specified thing)
- resembling, isomeric with, or related to (a specified chemical compound)
pseud·ep·i·graph [sü-'de-pə-,graf] -n
- pseudepigraphon
pseud·epig·ra·phon [,sü-di-'pi-grə-,fän] -n
- apocrypha
- any of various pseudonymous or anonymous Jewish religious writings of the period 200 b.c.to a.d.200
- one of such writings (as the Psalms of Solomon) not included in any canon of biblical Scripture usu. used in pl.
pseud·epig·ra·phy [-fē] -n
- the ascription of false names of authors to works
pseu·do ['sü-(,)dō] -adj
- being apparently rather than actually as stated : sham, spurious
- distinction between true and pseudo humanism -- K. F. Reinhardt
pseu·do·cho·lin·es·ter·ase ['sü-dō-,kō-lə-'nes-tə-,rās, -,rāz] -n
- cholinesterase
pseu·do·clas·sic [,sü-dō-'kla-sik] -adj, n
- pretending to be or erroneously regarded as classic
pseu·do·clas·si·cism [-'kla-sə-,si-zəm] -n
- imitative representation of classicism in literature and art
pseu·do·coel ['sü-də-,sēl] -n
- a body cavity that is not a product of gastrulation and is not lined with a well-defined mesodermal membrane
pseu·do·coe·lom·ate [,sü-dō-'sē-lə-,māt] -n, adj
- an invertebrate (as a nematode or rotifer) having a body cavity that is a pseudocoel
pseu·do·cy·e·sis [-sī-'ē-səs] -n
- a psychosomatic state that occurs without conception and is marked by some of the physical symptoms and changes in hormonal balance of pregnancy
pseu·do·ephed·rine [,sü-dō-i-'fed-rən, Brit also -'e-fə-drən] -n
- an isomer of ephedrine used in the form of its hydrochloride or sulfate esp. to relieve nasal congestion
pseu·do·mo·nad [,sü-də-'mō-,nad, -nəd] -n
- any of a genus ( Pseudomonas) of gram-negative rod-shaped motile bacteria including some that produce a greenish fluorescent water-soluble pigment and some that are saprophytes or plant or animal pathogens
pseu·do·mo·nas [-nəs] -n
- pseudomonad
pseu·do·morph ['sü-də-,mȯrf] -n, adj
- a mineral having the characteristic outward form of another species
- a deceptive or irregular form
pseu·do·nym ['sü-də-,nim] -n
- a fictitious name
- pen name
pseu·do·nym·i·ty [,sü-də-'ni-mə-tē] -n
- the use of a pseudonym
- the fact or state of being signed with a pseudonym
pseu·don·y·mous [sü-'dä-nə-məs] -adj, adv, n
- bearing or using a fictitious name
- being a pseudonym
pseu·do·pa·ren·chy·ma [,sü-dō-pə-'reŋ-kə-mə] -n, adj
- compactly interwoven short-celled filaments esp. in fungi that resemble parenchyma of higher plants
pseu·do·pod ['sü-də-,päd] -n, adj
- pseudopodium
pseu·do·po·di·um [,sü-də-'pō-dē-əm] -n
- a temporary protrusion or retractile process of the cytoplasm of a cell that functions (as in an amoeba) esp. in a locomotor or food gathering capacity
- a slender leafless branch of the gametophyte in various mosses that often bears gemmae
pseu·do·preg·nan·cy [,sü-dō-'preg-nən(t)-sē] -n, adj
- pseudocyesis
- an anestrous state resembling pregnancy that occurs in various mammals usu. after an infertile copulation
pseu·do·ran·dom [-'ran-dəm] -adj
- being or involving entities (as numbers) that are selected by a definite computational process but that satisfy one or more standard tests for statistical randomness
pseu·do·sci·ence [,sü-dō-'sī-ən(t)s] -n, adj
- a system of theories, assumptions, and methods erroneously regarded as scientific
pseu·do·scor·pi·on [-'skȯr-pē-ən] -n
- any of a widely distributed order (Pseudoscorpionida syn. Pseudoscorpiones) of tiny arachnids that have no caudal stinger and feed on tiny invertebrates (as insects and mites)
pseu·do·so·phis·ti·ca·tion ['sü-dō-sə-,fis-tə-'kā-shən] -n, adj
- false or feigned sophistication
pseu·do·tu·ber·cu·lo·sis [-tu̇-,bər-kyə-'lō-səs, -tyu̇-] -n
- any of several diseases that are marked by the formation of granulomas resembling tubercular nodules and are caused by a bacterium (as Yersinia pseudotuberculosis) other than the tubercle bacillus
psf -abbr
- pounds per square foot
PSG -abbr
- platoon sergeant
pshaw ['shȯ] -interj
- used to express irritation, disapproval, contempt, or disbelief
psi ['sī, 'psī] -n
- the 23d letter of the Greek alphabet
- parapsychological psychic phenomena or powers
- pounds per square inch
psi·lo·cy·bin [,sī-lə-'sī-bən] -n
- a hallucinogenic indole C 12H 17N 2O 4P obtained from a fungus (as Psilocybe mexicanaor P. cubensissyn. Stropharia cubensis)
psi·lo·phyte ['sī-lə-,fīt] -n, adj
- any of a division (Psilophyta) of simple dichotomously branched plants that first appeared during the Late Silurian, are now limited to two extant genera, lack true leaves and roots, and include the oldest known land plants with vascular tissue
psi particle ['sī-, 'psī-] -n
- j/psi particle
psit·ta·cine ['si-tə-,sīn] -adj, n
- of or relating to the parrots
psit·ta·co·sis [,si-tə-'kō-səs] -n, adj
- an infectious disease of birds caused by a bacterium ( Chlamydia psittaci), marked by diarrhea and wasting, and transmissible to humans in whom it occurs as a flu-like illness often accompanied by pneumonia called also ornithosis parrot fever
pso·cid ['sō-səd] -n
- any of an order (Psocoptera syn. Corrodentia) of minute usu. winged primitive insects (as a book louse) having simple mouthparts
pso·ra·len ['sȯr-ə-lən] -n
- a substance C 11H 6O 3found in some plants that photosensitizes mammalian skin and is used in conjunction with ultraviolet light to treat psoriasis
- any of various derivatives of psoralen having similar properties
pso·ri·a·sis [sə-'rī-ə-səs] -n, adj or n
- a chronic skin disease characterized by circumscribed red patches covered with white scales
PST -abbr
- Pacific standard time
psych ['sīk] -vt
- psychoanalyze
- to anticipate correctly the intentions or actions of : outguess
- to analyze or figure out (as a problem or course of action)
- I psych ed it all out by myself and decided -- David Hulburd
- to make psychologically uneasy : intimidate, scare
- pressure doesn't psych me -- Jerry Quarry
often used with out - has a way of psych ing out the competition
- to make (as oneself) psychologically ready esp. for performance often used with up
- psych ed herself up for the race
- psychology
psych- -comb form
- mind : mental processes and activities
- psychological methods
- brain
- mental and
psych·as·the·nia [,sī-kəs-'thē-nē-ə] -n, adj or n
- a neurotic state characterized esp. by phobias, obsessions, or compulsions that one knows are irrational
psy·che ['sī-kē] -n
- a princess loved by Cupid
- soul, personality
- the nation's consumer psyche -- D. J. Kevles
- mind
psy·che·de·lia [,sī-kə-'dēl-yə] -n
- the world of people, phenomena, or items associated with psychedelic drugs
- psychedelic music
psy·che·del·ic [,sī-kə-'de-lik] -n
- a psychedelic drug (as LSD)
psychedelic [-'de-li-k(ə-)lē] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or being drugs (as LSD) capable of producing abnormal psychic effects (as hallucinations) and sometimes psychotic states
- produced by or associated with the use of psychedelic drugs
- imitating, suggestive of, or reproducing effects (as distorted or bizarre images or sounds) resembling those produced by psychedelic drugs
- psychedelic color schemes
psy·chi·a·try [sə-'kī-ə-trē, sī-] -n, adj, adv
- a branch of medicine that deals with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders
psy·chic ['sī-kik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the psyche : psychogenic
- lying outside the sphere of physical science or knowledge : immaterial, moral, or spiritual in origin or force
- sensitive to nonphysical or supernatural forces and influences : marked by extraordinary or mysterious sensitivity, perception, or understanding
psychic -n
- a person apparently sensitive to nonphysical forces
- medium
- psychic phenomena
psy·cho ['sī-(,)kō] -n, adj
- a deranged or psychopathic person not used technically
psy·cho·acous·tics [,sī-kō-ə-'küs-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr, adj
- a branch of science dealing with the perception of sound, the sensations produced by sounds, and the problems of communication
psy·cho·ac·tive [,sī-kō-'ak-tiv] -adj
- affecting the mind or behavior
psy·cho·anal·y·sis [,sī-kō-ə-'na-lə-səs] -n
- a method of analyzing psychic phenomena and treating emotional disorders that involves treatment sessions during which the patient is encouraged to talk freely about personal experiences and esp. about early childhood and dreams
psy·cho·an·a·lyt·ic [-,a-nə-'li-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or employing psychoanalysis or its principles and techniques
psy·cho·an·a·lyze [-'a-nə-,līz] -vt
- to treat by means of psychoanalysis
psy·cho·bab·ble ['sī-kō-,ba-bəl] -n, vi
- a predominantly metaphorical language for expressing one's feelings
- psychological jargon
- trite or simplistic language derived from psychotherapy
- repeating the usual psychobabble about self-discovery -- Mark Coleman
psy·cho·bi·og·ra·phy [,sī-kō-bī-'ä-grə-fē, -bē-] -n, adj
- a biography written from a psychodynamic or psychoanalytic point of view
- the application of such a point of view to the writing of a biography
psy·cho·bi·ol·o·gy [-bī-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the study of mental functioning and behavior in relation to other biological processes
psy·cho·chem·i·cal [-'ke-mi-kəl] -n, adj
- a psychoactive chemical
psy·cho·dra·ma [-'drä-mə, -'dra-] -n, adj
- an extemporized dramatization designed to afford catharsis and social relearning for one or more of the participants from whose life history the plot is abstracted
- a dramatic narrative or work characterized by psychological overtones
- an often ongoing psychological struggle
- an expression of psychological turmoil
psy·cho·dy·nam·ics [-dī-'na-miks, -də-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj, adv
- the psychology of mental or emotional forces or processes developing esp. in early childhood and their effects on behavior and mental states
- explanation or interpretation (as of behavior or mental states) in terms of mental or emotional forces or processes
- motivational forces acting esp. at the unconscious level
psy·cho·gen·e·sis [-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj
- the origin and development of mental functions, traits, or states
- development from mental as distinguished from physical origins
psy·cho·gen·ic [-'je-nik] -adj, adv
- originating in the mind or in mental or emotional conflict
psy·cho·graph ['sī-kə-,graf] -n
- psychobiography
psy·cho·graph·ics [,sī-kə-'gra-fiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj, adv
- market research or statistics classifying population groups according to psychological variables (as attitudes, values, or fears)
- variables or trends identified through such research
psy·cho·his·to·ry ['sī-kō-,his-t(ə-)rē] -n, adj
- historical analysis or interpretation using psychological and psychoanalytic methods
- a work of history using such methods
psy·cho·ki·ne·sis [,sī-kō-kə-'nē-səs, -kī-] -n, adj
- movement of physical objects by the mind without use of physical means
psychol -abbr
- psychological
psy·cho·lin·guis·tics [,sī-kō-liŋ-'gwis-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr, n, adj
- the study of the mental faculties involved in the perception, production, and acquisition of language
psy·cho·log·i·cal [,sī-kə-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to psychology
- mental
- directed toward the will or toward the mind specif. in its conative function
psychological moment -n
- the occasion when the mental atmosphere is most certain to be favorable to the full effect of an action or event
psy·chol·o·gise [-,jīz] -vb
(variant of psychologize)
- to speculate in psychological terms or on psychological motivations
- to explain or interpret in psychological terms
psy·chol·o·gism [sī-'kä-lə-,ji-zəm] -n
- a theory that applies psychological conceptions to the interpretation of historical events or logical thought
psy·chol·o·gize [-,jīz] -vb
- to speculate in psychological terms or on psychological motivations
- to explain or interpret in psychological terms
psy·chol·o·gy [-jē] -n
- the science of mind and behavior
- the mental or behavioral characteristics of an individual or group
- the study of mind and behavior in relation to a particular field of knowledge or activity
- a theory or system of psychology
psy·cho·met·ric [,sī-kə-'me-trik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to psychometrics or psychometry
psy·cho·me·tri·cian [-mə-'tri-shən] -n
- a person (as a clinical psychologist) who is skilled in the administration and interpretation of objective psychological tests
- a psychologist who devises, constructs, and standardizes psychometric tests
psy·cho·met·rics [-'me-triks] -n pl but sing in constr
- the psychological theory or technique of mental measurement
psy·chom·e·try [sī-'kä-mə-trē] -n
- divination of facts concerning an object or its owner through contact with or proximity to the object
- psychometrics
psy·cho·mo·tor [,sī-kə-'mō-tər] -adj
- of or relating to motor action directly proceeding from mental activity
psy·cho·neu·ro·im·mu·nol·o·gy [,sī-kō-,n(y)u̇r-ō-,im-yə-'nä-lə-jē] -n
- a branch of medicine that deals with the influence of emotional states (as stress) and nervous system activities on immune function esp. in relation to the onset and progression of disease
psy·cho·neu·ro·sis [,sī-kō-nu̇-'rō-səs, -nyu̇-] -n, adj or n
- neurosis
- a neurosis based on emotional conflict in which an impulse that has been blocked seeks expression in a disguised response or symptom
psy·cho·path ['sī-kə-,path] -n
- a mentally ill or unstable person
- a person affected with antisocial personality disorder
psy·cho·path·ic [,sī-kə-'pa-thik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or characterized by psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder
psychopathic -n
- psychopath
psychopathic personality disorder -n
- antisocial personality disorder
psy·cho·pa·thol·o·gy [,sī-kō-pə-'thä-lə-jē, -pa-] -n, adj, adv
- the study of psychological and behavioral dysfunction occurring in mental disorder or in social disorganization
- such dysfunction
psy·chop·a·thy [sī-'kä-pə-thē] -n
- mental disorder esp. when marked by egocentric and antisocial activity
psy·cho·phar·ma·col·o·gy [,sī-kō-,fär-mə-'kä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the study of the effect of drugs on the mind and behavior
psy·cho·phys·i·cal [,sī-kō-'fi-zi-kəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to psychophysics
- sharing mental and physical qualities
- psychophysical color perception
psychophysical parallelism -n
- parallelism
psy·cho·phys·ics [,sī-kō-'fi-ziks] -n pl but sing in constr, n
- a branch of psychology concerned with the effect of physical processes (as intensity of stimulation) on the mental processes of an organism
psy·cho·phys·i·o·log·i·cal [,sī-kō-,fi-zē-ə-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to physiological psychology
- combining or involving mental and bodily processes
psy·cho·phys·i·ol·o·gy [-,fi-zē-'ä-lə-jē] -n
- physiological psychology
psy·cho·sex·u·al [-'sek-shə-wəl, -shwəl, -shəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the mental, emotional, and behavioral aspects of sexual development
- of or relating to mental or emotional attitudes concerning sexual activity
- of or relating to the physiological psychology of sex
psy·cho·sex·u·al·i·ty [-,sek-shə-'wa-lə-tē] -n
- the psychic factors of sex
psy·cho·sis [sī-'kō-səs] -n
- fundamental derangement of the mind (as in schizophrenia) characterized by defective or lost contact with reality esp. as evidenced by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech and behavior
psy·cho·so·cial [,sī-kō-'sō-shəl] -adj, adv
- involving both psychological and social aspects
- psychosocial adjustment in marriage
- relating social conditions to mental health
psy·cho·so·mat·ic [-sə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, concerned with, or involving both mind and body
- the psychosomatic nature of man -- Herbert Ratner
- of, relating to, involving, or concerned with bodily symptoms caused by mental or emotional disturbance
psy·cho·sur·gery [-'sər-jə-rē, -'sərj-rē] -n, adj
- cerebral surgery employed in treating psychic symptoms
psy·cho·syn·the·sis [-'sin(t)-thə-səs] -n
- a form of psychotherapy combining psychoanalytic techniques with meditation and exercise
psy·cho·ther·a·peu·tic [-,ther-ə-'pyü-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or used in psychotherapy
psy·cho·ther·a·py [-'ther-ə-pē] -n
- treatment of mental or emotional disorder or of related bodily ills by psychological means
psy·chot·ic [sī-'kä-tik] -adj, n, adv
- of, relating to, marked by, or affected with psychosis
psy·choto·mi·met·ic [sī-,kä-tō-mə-'me-tik, -mī-] -adj, n, adv
- of, relating to, involving, or inducing psychotic alteration of behavior and personality
psy·cho·tro·pic [,sī-kə-'trō-pik] -adj, n
- acting on the mind
psychout ['sīk-,au̇t] -n
- an act or an instance of psyching someone out
psychro- -comb form
- cold
psy·chrom·e·ter [sī-'krä-mə-tər] -n, adj
- a hygrometer consisting essentially of two similar thermometers with the bulb of one being kept wet so that the cooling that results from evaporation makes it register a lower temperature than the dry one and with the difference between the readings constituting a measure of the dryness of the atmosphere
psy·chro·phil·ic [,sī-krō-'fi-lik] -adj
- thriving at a relatively low temperature
psyl·la ['si-lə] -n
- any of various plant lice (family Psyllidae) including economically important plant pests
psyl·lid ['si-ləd] -n, adj
- psylla
psyl·li·um ['si-lē-əm] -n
- the seed of a fleawort (esp. Plantago psyllium) that has the property of swelling and becoming gelatinous when moist and is used as a mild laxative called also psyllium seed
psy·ops ['sī-,äps] -n pl
- military operations usu. aimed at influencing the enemy's state of mind through noncombative means (as distribution of leaflets)
psy·war ['sī-,wȯr] -n
- psychological warfare