pr -abbr
- pair
- price
- printed
Pr -abbr
- propyl
- praseodymium
PR ['pē-'är] -n
- public relations
- payroll
- personal record
- proportional representation
- Puerto Rico
prac·ti·ca·ble ['prak-ti-kə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- capable of being put into practice or of being done or accomplished : feasible
- capable of being used : usable
prac·ti·cal ['prak-ti-kəl] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or manifested in practice or action : not theoretical or ideal
- for all practical purposes
- being such in practice or effect : virtual
- actively engaged in some course of action or occupation
- capable of being put to use or account : useful
- he had a practical knowledge of French
- disposed to action as opposed to speculation or abstraction
- qualified by practice or practical training
- a good practical mechanic
- designed to supplement theoretical training by experience
- concerned with voluntary action and ethical decisions
practical -n
- an examination requiring demonstration of some practical skill
practical art -n
- an art (as woodworking) that serves ordinary or material needs usu. used in pl.
practical joke -n
- a prank intended to trick or embarrass someone or cause physical discomfort
prac·ti·cal·ly ['prak-ti-k(ə-)lē] -adv
- in a practical manner
- look practically at the problem
- almost, nearly
practical nurse -n
- a nurse who cares for the sick professionally without having the training or experience required of a registered nurse
- licensed practical nurse
practical theology -n
- the study of the institutional activities of religion (as preaching, church administration, pastoral care, and liturgics)
prac·tice ['prak-təs] -vb, n
- carry out, apply
- to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually
- to be professionally engaged in
- to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient
- to train by repeated exercises
- practice pupils in penmanship
- plot
- to do repeated exercises for proficiency
- to pursue a profession actively
- intrigue
- to do something customarily
- to take advantage of someone
- he practised on their credulity with huge success -- Times Lit. Supp.
practice -n
- actual performance or application
- ready to carry out in practice what they advocated in principle
- a repeated or customary action
- had this irritating practice
- the usual way of doing something
- the form, manner, and order of conducting legal suits and prosecutions
- systematic exercise for proficiency
- the condition of being proficient through systematic exercise
- the continuous exercise of a profession
- a professional business
- one constituting an incorporeal property
practiced -adj
- experienced, skilled
- learned by practice
prac·ticeteach ['prak-təs-'tēch] -vi, n
- to engage in practice teaching
practice teaching -n
- teaching by a student under the supervision of an experienced teacher
practicing -adj
- actively engaged in a specified career or way of life
prac·ti·cum ['prak-ti-kəm] -n
- a course of study designed esp. for the preparation of teachers and clinicians that involves the supervised practical application of previously studied theory
prac·ti·tion·er [prak-'ti-sh(ə-)nər] -n
- one who practices
- one who practices a profession
- an authorized healer
Pra·derWil·li syndrome ['prä-dər-'vi-lē-] -n
- a genetic disorder characterized esp. by short stature, mental retardation, hypotonia, functionally deficient gonads, and uncontrolled appetite leading to extreme obesity
prae·ci·pe ['pre-sə-,pē, 'prē-] -n
- any of various legal writs commanding a person to do something or to appear and show cause why he or she should not
- a written order requesting a clerk or prothonotary of a court to issue a writ and specifying the contents of the writ
prae·mu·ni·re [,prē-myu̇-'nī(-ə)r-ē] -n
- an offense against the English Crown punishable chiefly by forfeiture and orig. committed by asserting papal legal supremacy in England
prae·no·men [prē-'nō-mən] -n
- the first of the usual three names of an ancient Roman male
praesidium [pri-'si-dē-əm, prē-, -'zi-] -n
(variant of presidium)
- a permanent executive committee selected esp. in Communist countries to act for a larger body
- a nongovernmental executive committee
prae·tor ['prē-tər] -n, adj
- an ancient Roman magistrate ranking below a consul and having chiefly judicial functions
prae·to·ri·an [prē-'tȯr-ē-ən] -adj, n
- of, forming, or resembling the Roman imperial bodyguard
- of or relating to a praetor
prag·mat·ic [prag-'ma-tik] -adj, n, adv
- busy
- officious
- opinionated
- relating to matters of fact or practical affairs often to the exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters : practical as opposed to idealistic
- pragmatic men of power have had no time or inclination to deal with...social morality -- K. B. Clark
- relating to or being in accordance with philosophical pragmatism
prag·mat·i·cism [prag-'ma-tə-,si-zəm] -n
- the philosophic doctrine of C. S. Peirce
prag·mat·ics [prag-'ma-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a branch of semiotic that deals with the relation between signs or linguistic expressions and their users
- a branch of linguistics that is concerned with the relationship of sentences to the environment in which they occur
pragmatic sanction -n
- a solemn decree of a sovereign on a matter of primary importance and with the force of fundamental law
prag·ma·tism ['prag-mə-,ti-zəm] -n, adj or n, adj
- a practical approach to problems and affairs
- tried to strike a balance between principles and pragmatism
- an American movement in philosophy founded by C. S. Peirce and William James and marked by the doctrines that the meaning of conceptions is to be sought in their practical bearings, that the function of thought is to guide action, and that truth is preeminently to be tested by the practical consequences of belief
prai·rie ['prer-ē] -n
- land in or predominantly in grass
- : a tract of grassland: as
- a large area of level or rolling land in the Mississippi River valley that in its natural uncultivated state usu. has deep fertile soil, a cover of tall coarse grasses, and few trees
- one of the dry treeless plateaus east of the Rocky Mountains that merge on their east side with the prairies proper and are characterized by shorter grasses and drier less fertile soil
prairie chicken -n
- a grouse ( Tympanuchus cupido) chiefly of the tallgrass prairies of the central U.S. with the male having yellowish-orange neck sacs which are inflated during courtship displays
- a closely related smaller grouse ( T. pallidicinctus) having reddish neck sacs
prairie dog -n
- any of a genus ( Cynomys) of gregarious burrowing rodents of the squirrel family chiefly of central and western U.S. plains
- a black-tailed rodent ( C. ludovicianus) that usu. lives in extensive colonial burrows
prairie schooner -n
- a covered wagon used by pioneers in cross-country travel called also prairie wagon
prairie soil -n
- any of a zonal group of soils developed in a temperate relatively humid climate under tall grass
prairie wolf -n
- coyote
praise ['prāz] -vb, n
- to express a favorable judgment of : commend
- to glorify (a god or saint) esp. by the attribution of perfections
- to express praise
- an expression of approval : commendation
- worship
- value, merit
- one that is praised
praise·wor·thy ['prāz-,wər-thē] -adj, adv, n
- laudable
Pra·krit ['prä-,krit, -krət] -n
- any or all of the ancient Indo-Aryan languages or dialects other than Sanskrit
pra·line ['prä-,lēn, 'prā-, 'prȯ-] -n
- : a confection of nuts and sugar: as
- almonds cooked in boiling sugar until brown and crisp
- a patty of creamy brown sugar and pecan meats
prall·tril·ler ['präl-,tri-lər] -n
- a musical ornament made by a quick alternation of a principal tone with the tone above
pram ['präm, 'pram] -n
- a small lightweight nearly flat-bottomed boat with a broad transom and usu. squared-off bow
- baby carriage
prance ['pran(t)s] -vb, n
- to spring from the hind legs or move by so doing
- to ride on a prancing horse
- to walk or move in a spirited manner : strut
- to dance about
- to cause (a horse) to prance
- an act or instance of prancing
- a prancing movement
pran·di·al ['pran-dē-əl] -adj
- of or relating to a meal
prang ['praŋ] -vt, n
- to have an accident with : cause to crash
prank ['praŋk] -n
- : trick:
- a malicious act
- a mildly mischievous act
- a ludicrous act
- to show oneself off
- to dress or adorn gaily or showily
prank·ish ['praŋ-kish] -adj, adv, n
- full of pranks
- having the nature of a prank
prank·ster ['praŋ(k)-stər] -n
- a person who plays pranks
prase ['prāz, 'prās] -n
- a chalcedony that is translucent and yellowish green
pra·seo·dym·i·um [,prā-zē-ō-'di-mē-əm, ,prā-sē-] -n
- a yellowish-white metallic element of the rare-earth group used esp. in alloys and in the form of its salts in coloring glass greenish yellow
prat ['prat] -n
- a stupid or foolish person
prate ['prāt] -vi, n, adv
- to talk long and idly : chatter
prat·fall ['prat-,fȯl] -n
- a fall on the buttocks
- a humiliating mishap or blunder
pra·tin·cole ['pra-tᵊn-,kōl, 'prā-, -tiŋ-] -n
- any of several Old World shore-inhabiting birds (genera Glareolaand Stiltiaof the family Glareolidae) with a short bill and a forked tail
pra·tique [pra-'tēk] -n
- clearance given an incoming ship by the health authority of a port
prat·tle ['pra-tᵊl] -vb, n, adv
- prate
- to utter or make meaningless sounds suggestive of the chatter of children : babble
- to say in an unaffected or childish manner
prattle -n
- trifling or empty talk
- a sound that is meaningless, repetitive, and suggestive of the chatter of children
prau ['prau̇, 'prä-,ü] -n
- any of various Indonesian boats usu. without a deck that are propelled esp. by sails or paddles
prav·a·stat·in ['pra-və-,sta-tᵊn] -n
- a drug C 23H 35NaO 7that inhibits the production of cholesterol in the body and is used to treat hypercholesterolemia
prawn ['prȯn, 'prän] -n
- : any of various widely distributed edible decapod crustaceans: as
- one (as of the genera Pandalusand Penaeus) that resembles shrimps and has a large compressed abdomen
- shrimp
- a large shrimp
- langoustine
- to fish for or with prawns
prax·e·ol·o·gy [,prak-sē-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the study of human action and conduct
prax·is ['prak-səs] -n
- : action, practice: as
- exercise or practice of an art, science, or skill
- customary practice or conduct
- practical application of a theory
pray ['prā] -vb
- entreat, implore often used as a function word in introducing a question, request, or plea
- to get or bring by praying
- to make a request in a humble manner
- to address God or a god with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving
prayer ['prer] -n
- an address (as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought
- said a prayer for the success of the voyage
- a set order of words used in praying
- an earnest request or wish
- the act or practice of praying to God or a god
- a religious service consisting chiefly of prayers often used in pl.
- something prayed for
- a slight chance
pray·er ['prā-ər, 'prer] -n
- one that prays : supplicant
prayer beads ['prer-] -n pl
- a string of beads by which prayers are counted
- rosary
prayer book -n
- a book containing prayers and often other forms and directions for worship
prayer·ful ['prar-fəl, 'prer-] -adj, adv, n
- devout
- earnest, sincere
prayer meeting -n
- a usu. informal gathering for worship and prayer
- a Protestant worship service usu. held on a week night called also prayer service
prayer rug -n
- a small Oriental rug used by Muslims to kneel on when praying
prayer shawl -n
- tallith
prayer wheel -n
- a cylinder of wood or metal that revolves on an axis and contains written prayers and that is used in praying by Tibetan Buddhists
praying mantis -n
- mantis
- a European mantis ( Mantis religiosa) that has been introduced into the U.S. called also praying mantid
PRC -abbr
- People's Republic of China
pre- -prefix
- earlier than : prior to : before
- preparatory or prerequisite to
- in advance : beforehand
- in front of : anterior to
preach ['prēch] -vb, n, adv
- to deliver a sermon
- to urge acceptance or abandonment of an idea or course of action
- to exhort in an officious or tiresome manner
- to set forth in a sermon
- to advocate earnestly
- to deliver (as a sermon) publicly
- to bring, put, or affect by preaching
- preach ed the...church out of debt -- Amer. Guide Series: Va.
preach·ify ['prē-chə-,fī] -vi
- to preach ineptly or tediously
preach·ment ['prēch-mənt] -n
- the act or practice of preaching
- sermon, exhortation
- a tedious or unwelcome one
preachy ['prē-chē] -adj, adv, n
- marked by obvious moralizing : didactic
- put off by the speaker's preachy tone
pre·ad·ap·ta·tion [,prē-,a-,dap-'tā-shən] -n
- a character of an organism or taxonomic group that takes on a function when none previously existed or that differs from its existing function which has been derived by evolution
- the possession of one or more such characters
pre·adapt·ed [,prē-ə-'dap-təd] -adj
- characterized by preadaptation
pre·adap·tive [-'dap-tiv] -adj
- of, relating to, or characterized by preadaptation
pre·ad·o·les·cence [,prē-,a-də-'le-sᵊn(t)s] -n, adj or n
- the period of human development just preceding adolescence
- the period between the approximate ages of 9 and 12
pre·am·ble ['prē-,am-bəl, prē-'] -n
- an introductory statement
- the introductory part of a constitution or statute that usu. states the reasons for and intent of the law
- an introductory fact or circumstance
- one indicating what is to follow
pre·amp ['prē-,amp] -n
- preamplifier
pre·am·pli·fi·er [(,)prē-'am-plə-,fī(-ə)r] -n
- an amplifier designed to amplify extremely weak electrical signals before they are fed to additional amplifier circuits
pre·atom·ic [,prē-ə-'tä-mik] -adj
- of or relating to a time before the use of the atomic bomb and atomic energy
pre·ax·i·al [(,)prē-'ak-sē-əl] -adj
- situated in front of an axis of the body
preb·end ['pre-bənd] -n, adj
- a stipend furnished by a cathedral or collegiate church to a clergyman (as a canon) in its chapter
- prebendary
preb·en·dary ['pre-bən-,der-ē] -n
- a clergyman receiving a prebend for officiating and serving in the church
- an honorary canon in a cathedral chapter
pre·bi·o·log·i·cal [,prē-,bī-ə-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj
- prebiotic
pre·bi·ot·ic [,prē-bī-'ä-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, or being chemical or environmental precursors of the origin of life
- existing or occurring before the origin of life
pre·cal·cu·lus [(,)prē-'kal-kyə-ləs] -adj, n
- relating to or being mathematical prerequisites for the study of calculus
Pre·cam·bri·an [(,)prē-'kam-brē-ən, -'kām-] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being the earliest era of geological history or the corresponding system of rocks that is characterized esp. by the appearance of single-celled organisms and is equivalent to the Archean and Proterozoic eons
pre·can·cel [(,)prē-'kan(t)-səl] -vt, n
- to cancel (a postage stamp) in advance of use
precancel -n
- a precanceled postage stamp
pre·can·cer·ous [(,)prē-'kan(t)s-rəs, -'kan(t)-sə-] -adj
- tending to become cancerous
pre·car·i·ous [pri-'ker-ē-əs] -adj, adv, n
- depending on the will or pleasure of another
- dependent on uncertain premises : dubious
- precarious generalizations
- dependent on chance circumstances, unknown conditions, or uncertain developments
- characterized by a lack of security or stability that threatens with danger
pre·cast [,prē-'kast, 'prē-,] -adj
- being concrete that is cast in the form of a structural element (as a panel or beam) before being placed in final position
prec·a·to·ry ['pre-kə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- expressing a wish
pre·cau·tion [pri-'kȯ-shən] -n, adj
- care taken in advance : foresight
- warned of the need for precaution
- a measure taken beforehand to prevent harm or secure good : safeguard
- take the necessary precaution s
pre·cede [pri-'sēd] -vb
- to surpass in rank, dignity, or importance
- to be, go, or come ahead or in front of
- to be earlier than
- to cause to be preceded : preface
- to go or come before
pre·ce·dence ['pre-sə-dən(t)s, pri-'sē-dᵊn(t)s] -n
- antecedent
- the fact of preceding in time
- the right to superior honor on a ceremonial or formal occasion
- the order of ceremonial or formal preference
- priority of importance
- your safety takes precedence
pre·ce·den·cy [-dən(t)-sē, -dᵊn(t)-sē] -n
- precedence
pre·ce·dent [pri-'sē-dᵊnt, 'pre-sə-dənt] -adj
- prior in time, order, arrangement, or significance
prec·e·dent ['pre-sə-dənt] -n
- an earlier occurrence of something similar
- something done or said that may serve as an example or rule to authorize or justify a subsequent act of the same or an analogous kind
- a verdict that had no precedent
- the convention established by such a precedent or by long practice
- a person or thing that serves as a model
pre·ced·ing [pri-'sē-diŋ] -adj
- that immediately precedes in time or place
pre·cen·sor [(,)prē-'sen(t)-sər] -vt
- to censor (a publication or film) before its release to the public
pre·cen·tor [pri-'sen-tər] -n, adj
- a leader of the singing of a choir or congregation
pre·cept ['prē-,sept] -n
- a command or principle intended esp. as a general rule of action
- an order issued by legally constituted authority to a subordinate official
pre·cep·tive [pri-'sep-tiv] -adj
- giving precepts : didactic
pre·cep·tor [pri-'sep-tər, 'prē-,] -n
- teacher, tutor
- the headmaster or principal of a school
- the head of a preceptory of Knights Templars
pre·cep·to·ri·al [pri-,sep-'tȯr-ē-əl, ,prē-] -adj
- of, relating to, or making use of preceptors
preceptorial -n
- a college course that emphasizes independent reading, discussion in small groups, and individual conferences with the teacher
pre·cep·to·ry [pri-'sep-t(ə-)rē, 'prē-,] -n
- a subordinate house or community of the Knights Templars
- commandery
- commandery
pre·cess [prē-'ses, 'prē-,] -vb
- to progress with a movement of precession
- to cause to precess
pre·ces·sion [prē-'se-shən] -n, adj
- a comparatively slow gyration of the rotation axis of a spinning body about another line intersecting it so as to describe a cone
precession of the equinoxes
- a slow westward motion of the equinoxes along the ecliptic caused by the gravitational action of sun and moon upon the protuberant matter about the earth's equator
preChris·tian [(,)prē-'kris-chən, -'krish-] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a time before the beginning of the Christian era
pre·cieux [prā-'syœ] -adj
- precious
pre·cinct ['prē-,siŋ(k)t] -n
- : a part of a territory with definite bounds or functions often established for administrative purposes : district: as
- a subdivision of a county, town, city, or ward for election purposes
- a division of a city for police control
- an enclosure bounded by the walls of a building often used in pl.
- a sphere of thought, action, or influence often used in pl.
- the region immediately surrounding a place : environs
- place, locale
- boundary often used in pl.
- a ruined tower within the precinct s of the squire's grounds -- T. L. Peacock
pre·ci·os·i·ty [,pre-shē-'ä-sə-tē, -sē-] -n
- fastidious refinement
- an instance of preciosity
pre·cious ['pre-shəs] -adj, n
- of great value or high price
- highly esteemed or cherished
- excessively refined : affected
- great, thoroughgoing
precious -adv
- very, extremely
- has precious little to say
pre·cious·ly -adv
- in a precious manner
- precious
precipe ['pre-sə-,pē, 'prē-] -n
(variant of praecipe)
- any of various legal writs commanding a person to do something or to appear and show cause why he or she should not
- a written order requesting a clerk or prothonotary of a court to issue a writ and specifying the contents of the writ
prec·i·pice ['pre-s(ə-)pəs] -n
- a very steep or overhanging place
- a hazardous situation
- brink
pre·cip·i·ta·ble [pri-'si-pə-tə-bəl] -adj
- capable of being precipitated
pre·cip·i·tance [pri-'si-pə-tən(t)s] -n
- precipitancy
pre·cip·i·tan·cy [-tən(t)-sē] -n
- undue hastiness or suddenness
pre·cip·i·tant [-tənt] -adj, adv, n
- precipitate
precipitant -n
- a precipitating agent
- one that causes the formation of a precipitate
pre·cip·i·tate [pri-'si-pə-,tāt] -vb, adj, n
- to throw violently : hurl
- the quandaries into which the release of nuclear energy has precipitated mankind -- A. B. Arons
- to throw down
- to bring about esp. abruptly
- precipitate a scandal that would end with his expulsion -- John Cheever
- to cause to separate from solution or suspension
- to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit
- to fall headlong
- to fall or come suddenly into some condition
- to move or act precipitately
- to separate from solution or suspension
- to condense from a vapor and fall as rain or snow
- a substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change usu. as an insoluble amorphous or crystalline solid
- a product, result, or outcome of some process or action
- falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent
- precipitous, steep
- exhibiting violent or unwise speed
pre·cip·i·ta·tion [pri-,si-pə-'tā-shən] -n
- the quality or state of being precipitate : hastiness
- an act, process, or instance of precipitating
- the process of forming a precipitate
- : something precipitated: as
- a deposit on the earth of hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow
- the quantity of water deposited
- precipitate
pre·cip·i·tin [pri-'si-pə-tən] -n
- an antibody that forms a precipitate when it unites with its antigen
pre·cip·i·tin·o·gen [pri-,si-pə-'ti-nə-jən] -n
- an antigen that stimulates the production of a specific precipitin
pre·cip·i·tous [pri-'si-pə-təs] -adj, adv, n
- precipitate
- very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging in rise or fall
- having precipitous sides
- having a very steep ascent
pre·cis [prā-'sē, 'prā-(,)sē] -n
- a concise summary of essential points, statements, or facts
pre·cise [pri-'sīs] -adj, n
- exactly or sharply defined or stated
- minutely exact
- strictly conforming to a pattern, standard, or convention
- distinguished from every other
- at just that precise moment
pre·cise·ly -adv
- exactly sometimes used as an intensive
- was popular precisely because he was so kind
pre·ci·sian [pri-'si-zhən] -n
- a person who stresses or practices scrupulous adherence to a strict standard esp. of religious observance or morality
- puritan
pre·ci·sion [pri-'si-zhən] -n
- the quality or state of being precise : exactness
- the degree of refinement with which an operation is performed or a measurement stated
- the accuracy (as in binary or decimal places) with which a number can be represented usu. expressed in terms of the number of computer words available for representation
- double precision arithmetic permits the representation of an expression by two computer words
- relevance
precision -adj
- adapted for extremely accurate measurement or operation
- held to low tolerance in manufacture
- marked by precision of execution
pre·clin·i·cal [(,)prē-'kli-ni-kəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or concerned with the period preceding clinical manifestations
- of, relating to, or being the period in medical or dental education preceding the clinical study of medicine or dentistry
- occurring prior to clinical testing
- a preclinical animal study of a new therapy
pre·clude [pri-'klüd] -vt, n, adj, adv
- close
- to make impossible by necessary consequence : rule out in advance
pre·co·cial [pri-'kō-shəl] -adj
- capable of a high degree of independent activity from birth
pre·co·cious [pri-'kō-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- exceptionally early in development or occurrence
- exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age
pre·cog·ni·tion [,prē-(,)käg-'ni-shən] -n, adj
- clairvoyance relating to an event or state not yet experienced
preCo·lum·bi·an [,prē-kə-'ləm-bē-ən] -adj
- preceding or belonging to the time before the arrival of Columbus in America
pre·con·ceive [,prē-kən-'sēv] -vt
- to form (as an opinion) prior to actual knowledge or experience
pre·con·cep·tion [-kən-'sep-shən] -n
- a preconceived idea
- prejudice
pre·con·di·tion [-kən-'di-shən] -n
- prerequisite
precondition -vt
- to put in a proper or desired condition or frame of mind esp. in preparation
pre·con·scious [(,)prē-'kän(t)-shəs] -adj, adv
- not present in consciousness but capable of being recalled without encountering any inner resistance or repression
preconscious -n
- the preconscious part of the psyche esp. in psychoanalysis
pre·con·tact [,prē-'kän-,takt] -adj
- of or relating to the period before contact of an indigenous people with an outside culture
pre·cook [(,)prē-'ku̇k] -vt
- to cook partially or entirely before final cooking or reheating
pre·cooked [(,)prē-'ku̇kt] -adj
- canned
pre·crit·i·cal [-'kri-ti-kəl] -adj
- prior to the development of critical capacity
pre·cur·sor [pri-'kər-sər, 'prē-,] -n, adj
- one that precedes and indicates the approach of another
- predecessor
- a substance, cell, or cellular component from which another substance, cell, or cellular component is formed
pred -abbr
- predicate
pre·da·ceous [pri-'dā-shəs] -adj, n
- living by preying on other animals : predatory
- tending to devour or despoil : rapacious
pre·date [(,)prē-'dāt] -vt
- antedate
pre·da·tion [pri-'dā-shən] -n
- the act of preying or plundering : depredation
- a mode of life in which food is primarily obtained by the killing and consuming of animals
predation pressure -n
- the effects of predation on a natural community esp. with respect to the survival of species preyed upon
pred·a·tor ['pre-də-tər, -,tȯr] -n
- one that preys, destroys, or devours
- an animal that lives by predation
pred·a·to·ry ['pre-də-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- of, relating to, or practicing plunder, pillage, or rapine
- inclined or intended to injure or exploit others for personal gain or profit
- predatory pricing practices
- living by predation : predaceous
- adapted to predation
pre·de·cease [,prē-di-'sēs] -vb, n
- to die before (another person)
- to die first
pre·de·ces·sor ['pre-də-,se-sər, 'prē-; ,pre-də-', ,prē-] -n
- one that precedes
- a person who has previously occupied a position or office to which another has succeeded
- ancestor
pre·del·la [pri-'de-lə] -n
- the base of an altarpiece
- one containing decorated panels depicting scenes related to the main panel or panels
pre·des·ti·nar·i·an [(,)prē-,des-tə-'ner-ē-ən, ,prē-des-] -n, adj
- one who believes in predestination
pre·des·ti·nate [prē-'des-tə-nət, -,nāt] -adj
- destined, fated, or determined beforehand
- to foreordain to an earthly or eternal lot or destiny by divine decree
- predetermine
pre·des·ti·na·tion [(,)prē-,des-tə-'nā-shən, ,prē-des-] -n
- the act of predestinating : the state of being predestinated
- the doctrine that God in consequence of his foreknowledge of all events infallibly guides those who are destined for salvation
pre·des·ti·na·tor [prē-'des-tə-,nā-tər] -n
- predestinarian
- one that predestinates
pre·des·tine [(,)prē-'des-tən] -vt
- to destine, decree, determine, appoint, or settle beforehand
- predestinate
pre·de·ter·mi·na·tion [,prē-di-,tər-mə-'nā-shən] -n
- : the act of predetermining : the state of being predetermined: as
- the ordaining of events beforehand
- a fixing or settling in advance
- a purpose formed beforehand
pre·de·ter·mine [-di-'tər-mən] -vt
- foreordain, predestine
- to determine beforehand
- to impose a direction or tendency on beforehand
pre·de·ter·min·er [-di-'tər-mə-nər] -n
- a limiting noun modifier (as bothor all) characterized by occurrence before the determiner in a noun phrase
pre·di·a·be·tes [,prē-,dī-ə-'bē-tēz, -təs] -n, adj or n
- an asymptomatic abnormal state that precedes the development of clinically evident diabetes
pre·di·al ['prē-dē-əl] -adj
- of or relating to land or its products
pred·i·ca·ble ['pre-di-kə-bəl] -n
- something that may be predicated
- one of the five most general kinds of attribution in traditional logic that include genus, species, difference, property, and accident
predicable -adj
- capable of being asserted
pre·dic·a·ment [pri-'di-kə-mənt, 1 is usu 'pre-di-kə-] -n
- the character, status, or classification assigned by a predication
- category
- condition, state
- a difficult, perplexing, or trying situation
pred·i·cate ['pre-di-kət] -n, adj, adv
- something that is affirmed or denied of the subject in a proposition in logic
- a term designating a property or relation
- the part of a sentence or clause that expresses what is said of the subject and that usu. consists of a verb with or without objects, complements, or adverbial modifiers
- affirm, declare
- preach
- to assert to be a quality, attribute, or property used with following of
- predicate s intelligence of humans
- to make (a term) the predicate in a proposition
- found, base usu. used with on
- the theory is predicated on recent findings
- imply
- completing the meaning of a copula
predicate calculus -n
- the branch of symbolic logic that uses symbols for quantifiers and for arguments and predicates of propositions as well as for unanalyzed propositions and logical connectives called also functional calculus
predicate nominative -n
- a noun or pronoun in the nominative or common case completing the meaning of a copula
pred·i·ca·tion [,pre-də-'kā-shən] -n
- an act of proclaiming or preaching
- sermon
- : an act or instance of predicating: as
- the expression of action, state, or quality by a grammatical predicate
- the logical affirmation of something about another
- assignment of something to a class
pred·i·ca·to·ry ['pre-di-kə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- of or relating to preaching
pre·dict [pri-'dikt] -vb, n, adj, adv
- to declare or indicate in advance
- foretell on the basis of observation, experience, or scientific reason
- to make a prediction
pre·dict·ably [-'dik-tə-blē] -adv
- in a manner that can be predicted
- works quickly and predictably
- as one could predict : as one would expect
- predictably, the politicians howled
pre·dic·tion [pri-'dik-shən] -n
- an act of predicting
- something that is predicted : forecast
pre·di·gest [,prē-dī-'jest, -də-] -vt
- to subject to predigestion
- to simplify for easy use
- predigest ed classics for children
pre·di·ges·tion [-'jes-chən, -'jesh-] -n
- artificial or natural partial digestion of food
pre·di·lec·tion [,pre-də-'lek-shən, ,prē-] -n
- an established preference for something
pre·dis·pose [,prē-di-'spōz] -vt, n
- to dispose in advance
- a good teacher predispose s children to learn
- to make susceptible
- malnutrition predispose s one to disease
- to bring about susceptibility
pred·nis·o·lone [pred-'ni-sə-,lōn] -n
- a glucocorticoid C 21H 28O 5that is a dehydrogenated analog of cortisol and is used esp. as an anti-inflammatory drug
pred·ni·sone ['pred-nə-,sōn also -,zōn] -n
- a glucocorticoid C 21H 26O 5that is a dehydrogenated analog of cortisone and is used as an anti-inflammatory agent, as an antineoplastic agent, and as an immunosuppressant
pre·doc·tor·al [(,)prē-'däk-t(ə-)rəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or engaged in academic study leading to the doctoral degree
pre·dom·i·nance [pri-'dä-mə-nən(t)s, -'däm-nən(t)s] -n
- the quality or state of being predominant
pre·dom·i·nan·cy [-nən(t)-sē] -n
- predominance
pre·dom·i·nant [-nənt] -adj
- having superior strength, influence, or authority : prevailing
- being most frequent or common
pre·dom·i·nant·ly [-nənt-lē] -adv
- for the most part : mainly
pre·dom·i·nate [-nət] -adj
- predominant
- to hold advantage in numbers or quantity
- to exert controlling power or influence : prevail
- to exert control over : dominate
pre·dom·i·nate·ly [pri-'dä-mə-nət-lē] -adv
- predominantly
pree ['prē] -vt
- to taste tentatively : sample
pre·eclamp·sia [,prē-i-'klam(p)-sē-ə] -n, adj
- a serious condition developing in late pregnancy that is characterized by a sudden rise in blood pressure, excessive weight gain, generalized edema, proteinuria, severe headache, and visual disturbances and that may result in eclampsia if untreated
pre·emer·gence [,prē-ə-'mər-jən(t)s] -adj
- used or occurring before emergence of seedlings above the ground
pre·emer·gent [-jənt] -adj
- preemergence
pree·mie ['prē-mē] -n
- a premature baby
pre·em·i·nence [prē-'e-mə-nən(t)s] -n
- the quality or state of being preeminent : superiority
pre·em·i·nent [-nənt] -adj, adv
- having paramount rank, dignity, or importance : outstanding, supreme
pre·empt [prē-'em(p)t] -vb, n
- to acquire (as land) by preemption
- to seize upon to the exclusion of others : take for oneself
- the movement was then preempt ed by a lunatic fringe
- to replace with something considered to be of greater value or priority : take precedence over
- the program did not appear, having been preempt ed by a baseball game -- Robert MacNeil
- to gain a commanding or preeminent place in
- to prevent from happening or taking place : forestall, preclude
- to make a preemptive bid in bridge
pre·emp·tion [-'em(p)-shən] -n
- the right of purchasing before others
- one given by the government to the actual settler upon a tract of public land
- the purchase of something under this right
- a prior seizure or appropriation : a taking possession before others
pre·emp·tive [-'em(p)-tiv] -adj, adv
- of or relating to preemption
- having power to preempt
- higher than necessary and intended to shut out bids by the opponents
- giving a stockholder first option to purchase new stock in an amount proportionate to his existing holdings
- marked by the seizing of the initiative : initiated by oneself
preen ['prēn] -n
- pin
- brooch
- pin
- to groom with the bill esp. by rearranging the barbs and barbules of the feathers and by distributing oil from the uropygial gland
- to dress or smooth (oneself) up : primp
- to pride or congratulate (oneself) for achievement
- to make oneself sleek
- gloat, swell
preen·gi·neered [,prē-,en-jə-'nird] -adj
- constructed of or employing prefabricated modules
- a preengineered metal building
pre·ex·il·ic [,prē-eg-'zi-lik] -adj
- previous to the exile of the Jews to Babylon in about 600 b.c.
pre·ex·ist [,prē-ig-'zist] -vi
- to exist earlier or before
- antedate
pre·ex·is·tence [-ig-'zis-tən(t)s] -n, adj
- existence in a former state or previous to something else
- existence of the soul before its union with the body
pref -abbr
- preface
- preference; preferred
- prefix
pre·fab [(,)prē-'fab, 'prē-,] -adj
- produced by prefabrication : prefabricated
prefab -n
- a prefabricated structure
pre·fab·ri·cate [(,)prē-'fa-bri-,kāt] -vt, n
- to fabricate the parts of at a factory so that construction consists mainly of assembling and uniting standardized parts
- to produce artificially
pref·ace ['pre-fəs] -n
- a variable doxology beginning with the Sursum Corda and ending with the Sanctus in traditional eucharistic liturgies
- the introductory remarks of a speaker or author
- approach, preliminary
preface -vb, n
- to make introductory remarks
- to say or write as preface
- a note prefaced to the manuscript
- precede, herald
- to introduce by or begin with a preface
- to stand in front of
- a porch preface s the entrance
- to be a preliminary to
pref·a·to·ry ['pre-fə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting a preface
- located in front
pre·fect ['prē-,fekt] -n
- any of various high officials or magistrates of differing functions and ranks in ancient Rome
- a chief officer or chief magistrate
- a student monitor in a usu. private school
prefect apostolic -n
- a Roman Catholic clergyman and usu. a priest with quasi-episcopal jurisdiction over a district of a missionary territory
pre·fec·ture ['prē-,fek-chər] -n, adj
- the office or term of office of a prefect
- the official residence of a prefect
- the district governed by a prefect
prefecture apostolic -n
- the district under a prefect apostolic
pre·fer [pri-'fər] -vt, n
- to promote or advance to a rank or position
- to like better or best
- prefer s sports to reading
- to give (a creditor) priority
- to put or set forward or before someone : recommend
- to bring or lay against someone
- to bring forward or lay before one for consideration
pref·er·a·ble ['pre-f(ə-)rə-bəl, 'pre-fər-bəl also pri-'fər-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- having greater value or desirability : being preferred
pref·er·ence ['pre-fərn(t)s, 'pre-f(ə-)rən(t)s] -n
- the act of preferring : the state of being preferred
- the power or opportunity of choosing
- one that is preferred
- the act, fact, or principle of giving advantages to some over others
- priority in the right to demand and receive satisfaction of an obligation
- orientation
pref·er·en·tial [,pre-fə-'ren(t)-shəl] -adj, adv
- showing preference
- employing or creating a preference in trade relations
- designed to permit expression of preference among candidates
- giving preference esp. in hiring to union members
pre·fer·ment [pri-'fər-mənt] -n
- advancement or promotion in dignity, office, or station
- a position or office of honor or profit
- priority or seniority in right esp. to receive payment or to purchase property on equal terms with others
- the act of bringing forward (as charges)
preferred provider -n
- ppo usu. used attributively
- a health-care provider (as a doctor or hospital) that is part of a PPO
preferred provider organization -n
- ppo
preferred stock -n
- stock guaranteed priority by a corporation's charter over common stock in the payment of dividends and usu. in the distribution of assets
pre·fig·u·ra·tion [(,)prē-,fi-gyə-'rā-shən, -gə-] -n, adj
- the act of prefiguring : the state of being prefigured
- something that prefigures
pre·fig·ure [,prē-'fi-gyər, esp Brit -'fi-gər] -vt, n
- to show, suggest, or announce by an antecedent type, image, or likeness
- to picture or imagine beforehand : foresee
pre·fix -vt
- to fix or appoint beforehand
- to place in front
- to add as a prefix
- prefix a syllable to a word
- an affix attached to the beginning of a word, base, or phrase and serving to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form
- a title used before a person's name
- characterized by placement of an operator before its operand or before its two operands if it is a binary operator
pre·flight ['prē-,flīt] -adj
- preparing for or preliminary to flight (as of an aircraft)
preflight -vt
- to inspect (as an aircraft) before a flight
- a preflight inspection of an aircraft
pre·fo·cus [(,)prē-'fō-kəs] -vt
- to focus beforehand (as automotive headlights before installation)
pre·form ['prē-,fȯrm, (,)prē-'] -vt, n
- to form or shape beforehand
- to bring to approximate preliminary shape and size
pre·for·ma·tion [,prē-fȯr-'mā-shən] -n, n or adj
- previous formation
- the now discredited theory that every germ cell contains the organism of its kind fully formed and that development involves merely an increase in size
pre·fron·tal [(,)prē-'frən-tᵊl] -adj
- anterior to or involving the anterior part of a frontal structure
prefrontal -n
- a prefrontal part (as a bone)
prefrontal cortex -n
- the gray matter of the anterior part of the frontal lobe that is highly developed in humans and plays a role in the regulation of complex cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning
pre·gan·gli·on·ic [,prē-,gaŋ-glē-'ä-nik] -adj
- proximal to a ganglion
- of, relating to, or being a usu. medullated axon arising from a cell body in the central nervous system and terminating in an autonomic ganglion
preg·gers ['pre-gərz] -adj
- pregnant
preg·na·ble ['preg-nə-bəl] -adj, n
- vulnerable to capture
preg·nan·cy ['preg-nən(t)-sē] -n
- the quality of being pregnant (as in meaning)
- the condition of being pregnant : gestation
- an instance of being pregnant
preg·nant ['preg-nənt] -adj, adv
- cogent
- abounding in fancy, wit, or resourcefulness : inventive
- all this has been said...by great and pregnant artists -- Times Lit. Supp.
- rich in significance or implication : meaningful, profound
- the pregnant phrases of the Bible -- Edmund Wilson
- containing a developing embryo, fetus, or unborn offspring within the body : gravid
- having possibilities of development or consequence : involving important issues : momentous
- draw inspiration from the heroic achievements of that pregnant age -- Kemp Malone
- inclined, disposed
- your own most pregnant and vouchsafed ear -- Shak.
- full, teeming
preg·nen·o·lone [preg-'ne-nə-,lōn] -n
- an unsaturated hydroxy steroid ketone C 21H 32O 2that is formed by the oxidation of steroids (as cholesterol) and yields progesterone on dehydrogenation
pre·heat [(,)prē-'hēt] -vt, n
- to heat beforehand
- to heat (an oven) to a designated temperature before using for cooking
pre·hen·sile [prē-'hen(t)-səl, -'hen-,sī(-ə)l] -adj, n
- adapted for seizing or grasping esp. by wrapping around
- gifted with mental grasp or moral or aesthetic perception
pre·hen·sion [prē-'hen(t)-shən] -n
- the act of taking hold, seizing, or grasping
- mental understanding : comprehension
- apprehension by the senses
preHis·pan·ic [,prē-(h)i-'spa-nik] -adj
- of, relating to, or being the time prior to Spanish conquests in the western hemisphere
pre·his·to·ri·an [,prē-(h)is-'tȯr-ē-ən] -n
- an archaeologist who specializes in prehistory
pre·his·tor·ic [,prē-(h)is-'tȯr-ik, -'tär-] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or existing in times antedating written history
- of or relating to a language in a period of its development from which contemporary records of its sounds and forms have not been preserved
- regarded as being outdated or outmoded
pre·his·to·ry [,prē-'his-t(ə-)rē] -n
- the study of prehistoric humankind
- a history of the antecedents of an event, situation, or thing
- the prehistoric period of human evolution
pre·hom·i·nid [-'hä-mə-nəd] -n, adj
- any of various extinct primates resembling or ancestral to hominids
pre·hu·man [(')prē-'hyü-mən, -'yü-] -adj, n
- antedating the appearance of human beings
- of, relating to, or being an extinct primate and esp. an extinct hominid that resembles or is ancestral to humans
pre·ig·ni·tion [,prē-ig-'ni-shən] -n
- ignition in an internal combustion engine while the inlet valve is open or before compression is completed
pre·im·plan·ta·tion [,prē-,im-,plan-'tā-shən] -adj
- of, involving, or being an embryo before uterine implantation
pre·in·stall [(,)prē-in-'stȯl] -vt, n
- to install (as software) on a computer prior to sale
pre·judge [(,)prē-'jəj] -vt, n
- to judge before hearing or before full and sufficient examination
prej·u·dice ['pre-jə-dəs] -n
- injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one's rights
- detriment to one's legal rights or claims
- preconceived judgment or opinion
- an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge
- an instance of such judgment or opinion
- an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics
prejudice -vt
- to injure or damage by some judgment or action (as in a case of law)
- to cause to have prejudice
prejudiced -adj
- resulting from or having a prejudice or bias for or esp. against
prej·u·di·cial [,pre-jə-'di-shəl] -adj, adv, n
- tending to injure or impair : detrimental
- a transfer prejudicial to other creditors
- leading to premature judgment or unwarranted opinion
preK ['prē-'kā] -n
- prekindergarten
pre·kin·der·gar·ten [(')prē-'kin-də(r)-,gär-tᵊn, -dᵊn] -n
- nursery school
- a class or program preceding kindergarten for children usu. from three to four years old
prel·a·cy ['pre-lə-sē] -n
- the office or dignity of a prelate
- episcopal church government
pre·lap·sar·i·an [,prē-,lap-'ser-ē-ən] -adj
- characteristic of or belonging to the time or state before the fall of humankind
prel·ate ['pre-lət also 'prē-,lāt] -n
- an ecclesiastic (as a bishop or abbot) of superior rank
prel·a·ture ['pre-lə-,chu̇r, -chər, -,tyu̇r, -,tu̇r] -n
- prelacy
- a body of prelates
pre·lect [pri-'lekt] -vi, n
- to discourse publicly : lecture
pre·lim ['prē-,lim, pri-'] -n or adj
- preliminary
pre·lim·i·nary [pri-'li-mə-,ner-ē] -n
- : something that precedes or is introductory or preparatory: as
- a preliminary scholastic examination
- front matter
- a preliminary heat or trial (as of a race)
- a minor match preceding the main event (as of a boxing card)
preliminary [-,li-mə-'ner-ə-lē] -adj, adv
- coming before and usu. forming a necessary prelude to something else
pre·lit·er·ate [,prē-'li-t(ə-)rət] -adj, n
- not yet employing writing as a cultural medium
- lacking the use of writing
- antedating the use of writing
pre·load ['prē-,lōd] -vt
- to load in advance and esp. at a time removed from that of use
pre·lude ['prel-,yüd, 'prāl-; 'pre-,lüd, 'prā-; sense 1 also 'prē-,lüd] -n
- an introductory performance, action, or event preceding and preparing for the principal or a more important matter
- a musical section or movement introducing the theme or chief subject (as of a fugue or suite) or serving as an introduction to an opera or oratorio
- an opening voluntary
- a separate concert piece usu. for piano or orchestra and based entirely on a short motif
prelude -vb, n
- to serve as a prelude to
- to play as a prelude
- to give or serve as a prelude
- to play a musical introduction
pre·lu·sion [pri-'lü-zhən] -n
- prelude, introduction
pre·lu·sive [-'lü-siv, -ziv] -adj, adv
- constituting or having the form of a prelude : introductory
pre·ma·lig·nant [,prē-mə-'lig-nənt] -adj
- precancerous
pre·man [(,)prē-'man, 'prē-,man] -n
- any of several extinct primates ancestral to humans and esp. recent humans
pre·ma·ture [,prē-mə-'tyu̇r, -'tu̇r, -'chu̇r also ,pre-] -adj, n, adv
- happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper, usual, or intended time
- born after a gestation period of less than 37 weeks
pre·max·il·la [,prē-mak-'si-lə] -n, adj or n
- either of a pair of bones of the upper jaw of vertebrates between and in front of the maxillae
pre·med [(,)prē-'med, 'prē-,med] -n
- a premedical student or course of study
premed -adj
- premedical
pre·med·i·cal [(,)prē-'me-di-kəl] -adj
- preceding and preparing for the professional study of medicine
pre·med·i·tate [(,)prē-'me-də-,tāt] -vb, n
- to think about and revolve in the mind beforehand
- to think, consider, or deliberate beforehand
pre·med·i·tat·ed [-,tā-təd] -adj, adv
- characterized by fully conscious willful intent and a measure of forethought and planning
pre·med·i·ta·tion [(,)prē-,me-də-'tā-shən] -n
- an act or instance of premeditating
- consideration or planning of an act beforehand that shows intent to commit that act
pre·med·i·ta·tive [(,)prē-'me-də-,tā-tiv] -adj
- given to or characterized by premeditation
pre·men·stru·al [(,)prē-'men(t)-strə-wəl, -strəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, occurring in, or being the period just preceding menstruation
premenstrual syndrome -n
- a varying group of symptoms manifested by some women prior to menstruation that may include emotional instability, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, depression, headache, edema, and abdominal pain called also PMS
premie ['prē-mē] -n
(variant of preemie)
- a premature baby
pre·mier [pri-'mir, -'myir, -'mē-ər; 'prē-,, 'pre-,] -adj
- first in position, rank, or importance
- first in time : earliest
premier [-,ship] -n
- prime minister
pre·mier dan·seur [prə-myā-däⁿ-'sœr] -n
- the principal male dancer in a ballet company
pre·miere [pri-'myer, -'mir, -'mē-ər; ,pri-mē-'er] -adj
- premier
premiere [same as ¹premiere] -n
- a first performance or exhibition
- the chief actress of a theatrical cast
- to give a first public performance of
- to have a first public performance
- to appear for the first time as a star performer
pre·miere dan·seuse [prə-myer-däⁿ-'sœz] -n
- prima ballerina
pre·mil·le·nar·i·an·ism [,prē-,mi-lə-'ner-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj or n
- premillennialism
pre·mil·len·ni·al [,prē-mə-'le-nē-əl] -adj, adv
- coming before a millennium
- holding or relating to premillennialism
pre·mil·len·ni·al·ism [-nē-ə-,li-zəm] -n
- the view that Christ's return will usher in a future millennium of Messianic rule mentioned in Revelation
prem·ise ['pre-məs] -n
- a proposition antecedently supposed or proved as a basis of argument or inference
- either of the first two propositions of a syllogism from which the conclusion is drawn
- something assumed or taken for granted : presupposition
- matters previously stated
- the preliminary and explanatory part of a deed or of a bill in equity
- a tract of land with the buildings thereon
- a building or part of a building usu. with its appurtenances (as grounds)
pre·mise ['pre-məs also pri-'mīz] -vt
- to set forth beforehand as an introduction or a postulate
- to offer as a premise in an argument
- postulate
- to base on certain assumptions
pre·mi·um ['prē-mē-əm] -n
- a reward or recompense for a particular act
- a sum over and above a regular price paid chiefly as an inducement or incentive
- a sum in advance of or in addition to the nominal value of something
- bonds callable at a premium of six percent
- something given free or at a reduced price with the purchase of a product or service
- the consideration paid for a contract of insurance
- a high value or a value in excess of that normally or usu. expected
- put a premium on accuracy
premium -adj
- of exceptional quality or amount
- higher-priced
pre·mix [(,)prē-'miks, 'prē-,] -vt
- to mix before use
- a mixture of ingredients designed to be mixed with other ingredients before use
pre·mo·lar [(,)prē-'mō-lər] -adj, n
- situated in front of or preceding the molar teeth
- being or relating to those teeth of a mammal in front of the true molars and behind the canines when the latter are present
pre·mon·ish [-'mä-nish] -vt
- forewarn
- to give warning in advance
pre·mo·ni·tion [,prē-mə-'ni-shən, ,pre-] -n
- previous notice or warning : forewarning
- anticipation of an event without conscious reason : presentiment
pre·mon·i·to·ry [pri-'mä-nə-,tȯr-ē] -adj, adv
- giving warning
Pre·mon·stra·ten·sian [,prē-,män(t)-strə-'ten(t)-shən] -n
- a member of an order of canons regular founded by St. Norbert at Premontre near Laon, France, in 1120
pre·mune [(,)prē-'myün] -adj
- exhibiting premunition
pre·mu·ni·tion [,prē-myu̇-'ni-shən] -n
- an advance provision of protection
- resistance to a disease due to the existence of its causative agent in a state of physiological equilibrium in the host
- immunity to a particular infection due to previous presence of the causative agent
pre·name ['prē-,nām] -n
- forename
pre·na·tal [(,)prē-'nā-tᵊl] -adj, adv
- occurring, existing, or performed before birth
- providing or receiving prenatal medical care
pre·nom·i·nate [(,)prē-'nä-mə-nət] -adj
- previously mentioned
- to mention previously
pre·no·tion [(,)prē-'nō-shən, 'prē-,] -n
- presentiment, premonition
- preconception
pren·tice ['pren-təs] -n, adj
- apprentice , learner
prentice -vt
- apprentice
pre·nup·tial [(,)prē-'nəp-shəl, -chəl, ÷-chə-wəl] -adj
- made or occurring before marriage
prenuptial agreement ['prē-,nəp] -n
- an agreement made between a man and a woman before marrying in which they give up future rights to each other's property in the event of divorce or death called also pre*nup pre-np prenuptial
pre·oc·cu·pan·cy [(,)prē-'ä-kyə-pən(t)-sē] -n
- an act or the right of taking possession before another
- the condition of being completely busied or preoccupied
pre·oc·cu·pa·tion [(,)prē-,ä-kyə-'pā-shən] -n
- an act of preoccupying : the state of being preoccupied
- extreme or excessive concern with something
- something that preoccupies one
pre·oc·cu·pied [(,)prē-'ä-kyə-,pīd] -adj
- previously applied to another group and unavailable for use in a new sense used of a biological generic or specific name
- lost in thought
- absorbed in some preoccupation
- already occupied
pre·oc·cu·py [-,pī] -vt
- to engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or preferentially
- to take possession of or fill beforehand or before another
preop ['prē-'äp] -adj
- preoperative
pre·op·er·a·tive [(,)prē-'ä-p(ə-)rə-tiv, -pə-,rā-] -adj, adv
- occurring before a surgical operation
- having not yet undergone a surgical operation
pre·or·dain [,prē-ȯr-'dān] -vt, n
- to decree or ordain in advance : foreordain
pre·ovu·la·to·ry [(,)prē-'äv-yə-lə-,tȯr-ē, -'ōv-] -adj
- occurring or existing in or typical of the period immediately preceding ovulation
- a preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone
preowned [(,)prē-'ōnd, 'prē-,] -adj
- secondhand, used
prep ['prep] -n
- preparation
- preparatory school
- a preliminary trial for a racehorse
- to attend preparatory school
- to get ready
- prepare
- to prepare for an operation or examination
- nurses prepped the patient
pre·pack·age [(,)prē-'pa-kij] -vt
- to package (as food or a manufactured article) before offering for sale to the consumer
prep·a·ra·tion [,pre-pə-'rā-shən] -n
- the action or process of making something ready for use or service or of getting ready for some occasion, test, or duty
- a state of being prepared : readiness
- a preparatory act or measure
- something that is prepared
- a medicinal substance made ready for use
pre·par·a·tive [pri-'pa-rə-tiv] -n
- something that prepares the way for or serves as a preliminary to something else : preparation
preparative -adj, adv
- preparatory
pre·par·a·tor [pri-'pa-rə-tər] -n
- one that prepares
- a person who prepares scientific specimens or museum displays
pre·pa·ra·to·ry [pri-'pa-rə-,tȯr-ē also 'pre-p(ə-)rə-] -adj, adv
- preparing or serving to prepare for something : introductory
preparatory school -n
- a usu. private school preparing students primarily for college
- a private elementary school preparing students primarily for British public schools
preparatory to -prep
- in preparation for
pre·pare [pri-'per] -vb, n
- to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity
- to put in a proper state of mind
- to work out the details of : plan in advance
- preparing a campaign strategy
- to put together : compound
- to put into written form
- to get ready
prepared [-'perd-lē, -'per-əd-] -adj, adv
- subjected to a special process or treatment
pre·pared·ness [pri-'per-əd-nəs also -'perd-nəs] -n
- the quality or state of being prepared
- a state of adequate preparation in case of war
pre·pay [(,)prē-'pā] -vt, n
- to pay or pay the charge on in advance
prepd -abbr
- prepared
pre·pense [pri-'pen(t)s] -adj, adv
- planned beforehand : premeditated usu. used postpositively
pre·plant [,prē-'plant, 'prē-,] -adj
- occurring or used before planting a crop
- preplant soil fertilization
pre·pon·der·ance [pri-'pän-d(ə-)rən(t)s] -n
- a superiority in weight, power, importance, or strength
- a superiority or excess in number or quantity
- majority
pre·pon·der·an·cy [-d(ə-)rən(t)-sē] -n
- preponderance
pre·pon·der·ant [pri-'pän-d(ə-)rənt] -adj, adv
- having superior weight, force, or influence
- having greater prevalence
pre·pon·der·ate [pri-'pän-də-,rāt] -vb, n
- to exceed in weight
- to exceed in influence, power, or importance
- to exceed in numbers
- outweigh
- to weigh down
- preponderant
prep·o·si·tion [,pre-pə-'zi-shən] -n, adj, adv
- a function word that typically combines with a noun phrase to form a phrase which usu. expresses a modification or predication
pre·pos·i·tive [pri-'pä-zə-tiv, -'päz-tiv] -adj, adv
- put before : prefixed
pre·pos·sess [,prē-pə-'zes also -'ses] -vt
- to take previous possession of
- to cause to be preoccupied
- to influence beforehand esp. favorably
pre·pos·sess·ing [-'ze-siŋ, -'se-] -adj
- creating prejudice
- tending to create a favorable impression : attractive
pre·pos·ses·sion [,prē-pə-'ze-shən also -'se-] -n
- prior possession
- an attitude, belief, or impression formed beforehand : prejudice
- an exclusive concern with one idea or object : preoccupation
pre·pos·ter·ous [pri-'päs-t(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv, n
- contrary to nature, reason, or common sense : absurd
pre·po·ten·cy [(,)prē-'pō-tᵊn(t)-sē] -n
- the quality or state of being prepotent : predominance
- unusual ability of an individual or strain to transmit its characters to offspring because of homozygosity for numerous dominant genes
pre·po·tent [-tᵊnt] -adj, adv
- having exceptional power, authority, or influence
- exceeding others in power
- exhibiting genetic prepotency
prep·py ['pre-pē] -n
- a student at or a graduate of a preparatory school
- a person deemed to dress or behave like a preppy
preppy ['pre-pə-lē] -adj, adv, n
- relating to, characteristic of, or being a preppy
- relating to or being a style of dress characterized esp. by classic clothing and neat appearance
pre·pran·di·al [(,)prē-'pran-dē-əl] -adj
- of, relating to, or suitable for the time just before dinner
pre·preg [,prē-'preg, 'prē-,] -n
- a reinforcing or molding material (as paper or glass cloth) already impregnated with a synthetic resin
pre·print ['prē-,print, ,prē-'print] -n
- an issue of a technical paper often in preliminary form before its publication in a journal
- something (as an advertisement) printed before the rest of the publication in which it is to appear
- to print in advance for later use
pre·pro·cess [(,)prē-'prä-,ses, -'prō-, -səs] -vt, n
- to do preliminary processing of (as data)
pre·pro·fes·sion·al [,prē-prə-'fesh-nəl, -'fe-shə-nᵊl] -adj
- of or relating to the period preceding specific study for or practice of a profession
prep school -n
- preparatory school
prepub -abbr
- prepublication
pre·pu·ber·al [(,)prē-'pyü-b(ə-)rəl] -adj
- prepubertal
pre·pu·ber·tal [-bər-tᵊl] -adj
- of, relating to, being in, or occurring in prepuberty
pre·pu·ber·ty [-bər-tē] -n
- the period of development immediately preceding puberty
pre·pu·bes·cence [,prē-pyü-'be-sᵊn(t)s] -n
- prepuberty
pre·pu·bes·cent [-sᵊnt] -adj, n
- prepubertal
pre·puce ['prē-,pyüs] -n, adj
- foreskin
- a similar fold of skin investing the clitoris
pre·quel ['prē-kwəl] -n
- a work (as a novel or a play) whose story precedes that of an earlier work
PreRa·pha·el·ite [(,)prē-'ra-fē-ə-,līt, -'rā-, -'rä-] -n, adj
- a member of a brotherhood of artists formed in England in 1848 to restore the artistic principles and practices regarded as characteristic of Italian art before Raphael
- an artist or writer influenced by this brotherhood
- a modern artist dedicated to restoring early Renaissance ideals or methods
pre·reg·is·tra·tion [,prē-,re-jə-'strā-shən] -n, vi
- a special registration (as for returning students) prior to an official registration period
pre·req·ui·site [(,)prē-'re-kwə-zət] -n, adj
- something that is necessary to an end or to the carrying out of a function
pre·rog·a·tive [pri-'rä-gə-tiv] -n, adj
- : an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege: as
- one belonging to an office or an official body
- one belonging to a person, group, or class of individuals
- one possessed by a nation as an attribute of sovereignty
- the discretionary power inhering in the British Crown
- a distinctive excellence
pres -abbr
- present
- president
pres·age ['pre-sij, also pri-'sāj] -n, adj
- something that foreshadows or portends a future event : omen
- an intuition or feeling of what is going to happen in the future
- prognostication
- warning or indication of the future
pre·sage ['pre-sij, pri-'sāj] -vb, n
- to give an omen or warning of : foreshadow
- foretell, predict
- to make or utter a prediction
pre·sanc·ti·fied [(,)prē-'saŋ(k)-ti-,fīd] -adj
- consecrated at a previous service used of eucharistic elements
Presb -abbr
- Presbyterian
pres·by·ope ['prez-bē-,ōp; 'pres-bē-, -pē-] -n
- one affected with presbyopia
pres·by·o·pia [,prez-bē-'ō-pē-ə, ,pres-] -n, adj or n
- a visual condition which becomes apparent esp. in middle age and in which loss of elasticity of the lens of the eye causes defective accommodation and inability to focus sharply for near vision
pres·by·ter ['prez-bə-tər, 'pres-] -n
- a member of the governing body of an early Christian church
- a member of the order of priests in churches having episcopal hierarchies that include bishops, priests, and deacons
- elder
pres·by·te·ri·al [,prez-bə-'tir-ē-əl, ,pres-] -adj, adv
- of or relating to presbyters or a presbytery
presbyterial -n
- an organization of Presbyterian women associated with a presbytery
Pres·by·te·ri·an [-ē-ən] -n
- a member of a Presbyterian church
Presbyterian [-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -adj, n
- characterized by a graded system of representative ecclesiastical bodies (as presbyteries) exercising legislative and judicial powers
- of, relating to, or constituting a Protestant Christian church that is presbyterian in government and traditionally Calvinistic in doctrine
pres·by·tery ['prez-bə-,ter-ē, 'pres-, -bə-trē] -n
- the part of a church reserved for the officiating clergy
- a ruling body in presbyterian churches consisting of the ministers and representative elders from congregations within a district
- the jurisdiction of a presbytery
- the house of a Roman Catholic parish priest
pre·school ['prē-,skül, (,)prē-'] -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting the period in a child's life that ordinarily precedes attendance at elementary school
- a school for children usu. younger than those attending elementary school or kindergarten : nursery school
pre·school·er [-,skü-lər] -n
- a child not yet old enough for school
- a child attending a preschool
pre·science ['pre-sh(ē-)ən(t)s, 'prē-, -s(ē-)ən(t)s] -n, adj, adv
- : foreknowledge of events:
- divine omniscience
- human anticipation of the course of events : foresight
pre·sci·en·tif·ic [,prē-,sī-ən-'ti-fik] -adj
- of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a period before the rise of modern science or a state prior to the application of the scientific method
pre·scind [pri-'sind] -vb
- to withdraw one's attention
- to detach for purposes of thought
pre·score [(,)prē-'skȯr] -vt
- to record (as sound) in advance for use when the corresponding scenes are photographed in making movies
pre·scribe [pri-'skrīb] -vb, n
- to lay down a rule : dictate
- to claim a title to something by right of prescription
- to write or give medical prescriptions
- to become by prescription invalid or unenforceable
- to lay down as a guide, direction, or rule of action : ordain
- to specify with authority
- to designate or order the use of as a remedy
- a prescribed burn to restore natural forest conditions
pre·script ['prē-,skript, pri-'] -adj, n
- prescribed as a rule
pre·scrip·tion [pri-'skrip-shən] -n
- the establishment of a claim of title to something under common law usu. by use and enjoyment for a period fixed by statute
- the right or title acquired under common law by such possession
- the process of making claim to something by long use and enjoyment
- the action of laying down authoritative rules or directions
- a written direction for a therapeutic or corrective agent
- one for the preparation and use of a medicine
- a prescribed medicine
- something (as a recommendation) resembling a doctor's prescription
- prescription s for economic recovery
- ancient or long continued custom
- a claim founded upon ancient custom or long continued use
- something prescribed as a rule
prescription drug -n
- a drug that can be obtained only by means of a physician's prescription
pre·scrip·tive [pri-'skrip-tiv] -adj, adv
- serving to prescribe
- prescriptive rules of usage
- acquired by, founded on, or determined by prescription or by long-standing custom
pre·se·lect [,prē-sə-'lekt] -vt, n
- to choose in advance usu. on the basis of a particular criterion
pre·sell [(,)prē-'sel] -vt
- to precondition (as a customer) for subsequent purchase or create advance demand for (as a product) esp. through marketing strategies
- to sell in advance
- raised money to publish the book by preselling film rights
pres·ence ['pre-zᵊn(t)s] -n
- the fact or condition of being present
- the part of space within one's immediate vicinity
- the neighborhood of one of superior esp. royal rank
- company
- : one that is present: as
- the actual person or thing that is present
- something present of a visible or concrete nature
- the bearing, carriage, or air of a person
- stately or distinguished bearing
- a noteworthy quality of poise and effectiveness
- the actor's commanding presence
- something (as a spirit) felt or believed to be present
presence of mind
- self-control so maintained in an emergency or in an embarrassing situation that one can say or do the right thing
pres·ent ['pre-zᵊnt] -n
- something presented : gift
pre·sent [pri-'zent] -vb, n
- to bring or introduce into the presence of someone esp. of superior rank or status
- to introduce socially
- to bring (as a play) before the public
- to make a gift to
- to give or bestow formally
- to lay (as a charge) before a court as an object of inquiry
- to bring a formal public charge, indictment, or presentment against
- to nominate to a benefice
- to offer to view : show
- to bring to one's attention
- to act the part of : perform
- to aim, point, or direct (as a weapon) so as to face something or in a particular direction
- to present a weapon
- to become manifest
- to come forward as a patient
- to make a presentation
pres·ent ['pre-zᵊnt] -adj, n
- now existing or in progress
- being in view or at hand
- existing in something mentioned or under consideration
- constituting the one actually involved, at hand, or being considered
- of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of present time or the time of speaking
- attentive
- instant, immediate
- present occasion or affair
- the present words or statements
- the legal instrument or other writing in which these words are used
- the present tense of a language
- a verb form in the present tense
- the present time
pre·sent·able [pri-'zen-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- capable of being presented
- being in condition to be seen or inspected esp. by the critical
pre·sent arms [pri-'zent-] -n
- a position in the manual of arms in which the rifle is held vertically in front of the body
- a command to assume the position of present arms or to give a hand salute
pre·sen·ta·tion [,prē-,zen-'tā-shən, ,pre-zᵊn-, ,prē-zᵊn-] -n, adj
- the act of presenting
- the act, power, or privilege esp. of a patron of applying to the bishop or ordinary for instituting someone into a benefice
- : something presented: as
- a symbol or image that represents something
- something offered or given : gift
- something set forth for the attention of the mind
- a descriptive or persuasive account (as by a salesman of a product)
- a presenting symptom or group of symptoms
- clinical presentation of appendicitis
- the position in which the fetus lies in the uterus in labor with respect to the opening of the uterus
- an immediate object of perception, cognition, or memory
- a church feast on November 21 celebrating the presentation of the Virgin Mary in the temple
- the method by which radio, navigation, or radar information is given to the operator (as the pilot of an airplane)
pre·sen·ta·tive [pri-'zen-tə-tiv, 'pre-zᵊn-,tā-] -adj
- known, knowing, or capable of being known directly rather than through cogitation
pres·entday ['pre-zᵊnt-'dā] -adj
- now existing or occurring
pre·sen·tee [,pre-zᵊn-'tē, pri-,zen-] -n
- one who is presented or to whom something is presented
pre·sen·tient [pri-'sen(t)-sh(ē-)ənt, 'prē-; pri-'zen(t)-] -adj
- having a presentiment
pre·sen·ti·ment [pri-'zen-tə-mənt] -n, adj
- a feeling that something will or is about to happen : premonition
pres·ent·ism ['pre-zᵊn-,ti-zəm] -n, adj
- an attitude toward the past dominated by present-day attitudes and experiences
pres·ent·ly ['pre-zᵊnt-lē] -adv
- at once
- without undue delay : before long
- at the present time : now
pre·sent·ment [pri-'zent-mənt] -n
- the act of presenting to an authority a formal statement of a matter to be dealt with
- the notice taken or statement made by a grand jury of an offense from their own knowledge without a bill of indictment laid before them
- the act of offering at the proper time and place a document (as a bill of exchange) that calls for acceptance or payment by another
- the act of presenting to view or consciousness
- something set forth, presented, or exhibited
- the aspect in which something is presented
present participle -n
- a participle that typically expresses present action in relation to the time expressed by the finite verb in its clause and that in English is formed with the suffix -ingand is used in the formation of the progressive tenses
present perfect -adj, n
- of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is formed in English with haveand that expresses action or state completed at the time of speaking
present tense -n
- the tense of a verb that expresses action or state in the present time and is used of what occurs or is true at the time of speaking and of what is habitual or characteristic or is always or necessarily true, that is sometimes used to refer to action in the past, and that is sometimes used for future events
present value -n
- the sum of money which if invested now at a given rate of compound interest will accumulate exactly to a specified amount at a specified future date
pres·er·va·tion·ist [,pre-zər-'vā-sh(ə-)nist] -n
- one who advocates preservation (as of a biological species or a historical landmark)
pre·ser·va·tive [pri-'zər-və-tiv] -adj
- having the power of preserving
preservative -n
- something that preserves or has the power of preserving
- an additive used to protect against decay, discoloration, or spoilage
pre·serve [pri-'zərv] -vb, n, adj
- to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction : protect
- to keep alive, intact, or free from decay
- maintain
- to keep or save from decomposition
- to can, pickle, or similarly prepare for future use
- to keep up and reserve for personal or special use
- to make preserves
- to raise and protect game for purposes of sport
- to be able to be preserved (as by canning)
preserve -n
- fruit canned or made into jams or jellies or cooked whole or in large pieces in a syrup so as to keep its shape often used in pl.
- an area restricted for the protection and preservation of natural resources (as animals or plants)
- a game preserve for regulated hunting or fishing
- something regarded as reserved for certain persons
pre·set ['prē-,set] -vt
- to set in advance
preset -n
- something (as a radio station) preprogrammed into a device
pre·shrink [(,)prē-'shriŋk, esp Southern -'sriŋk] -vt
- to shrink (as a fabric) before making into a garment so that it will not shrink much when washed
pre·side [pri-'zīd] -vi, n
- to exercise guidance, direction, or control
- to occupy the place of authority : act as president, chairman, or moderator
- to occupy a position similar to that of a president or chairman
- to occupy a position of featured instrumental performer usu. used with at
pres·i·den·cy ['pre-zə-dən(t)-sē, 'prez-dən(t)- also 'pre-zə-,den(t)-sē] -n
- the office of president
- the office of president of the U.S.
- the American governmental institution comprising the office of president and various associated administrative and policy-making agencies
- the term during which a president holds office
- the action or function of one that presides : superintendence
- a Mormon executive council of the church or a stake consisting of a president and two counselors
pres·i·dent ['pre-zə-dənt, 'prez-dənt, 'pre-zə-,dent in rapid speech 'pre-zᵊnt] -n, adj, adv
- an official chosen to preside over a meeting or assembly
- an appointed governor of a subordinate political unit
- the chief officer of an organization (as a corporation or institution) usu. entrusted with the direction and administration of its policies
- the presiding officer of a governmental body
- an elected official serving as both chief of state and chief political executive in a republic having a presidential government
- an elected official having the position of chief of state but usu. only minimal political powers in a republic having a parliamentary government
presidential government -n
- a system of government in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature
Presidents' Day -n
- washington's birthday
pre·sid·i·al [pri-'si-dē-əl, -'zi-] -adj
- provincial
- of, having, or constituting a garrison
- of or relating to a president : presidential
pre·sid·i·ary [-dē-,er-ē] -adj
- presidial
pre·si·dio [pri-'sē-dē-,ō, -'si-, -'zē-, -'zi-] -n
- a garrisoned place
- a military post or fortified settlement in areas currently or orig. under Spanish control
pre·sid·i·um [pri-'si-dē-əm, prē-, -'zi-] -n
- a permanent executive committee selected esp. in Communist countries to act for a larger body
- a nongovernmental executive committee
pre·sig·ni·fy [(,)prē-'sig-nə-,fī] -vt
- to intimate or signify beforehand : presage
pre·soak [(,)prē-'sōk] -vt
- to soak beforehand
- an instance of presoaking
- a preparation used in presoaking clothes
preSo·crat·ic [,prē-sə-'kra-tik, -sō-] -adj, n
- of or relating to Greek philosophers before Socrates
pre·sort [(,)prē-'sȯrt] -vt
- to sort (outgoing mail) by zip code usu. before delivery to a post office
press ['pres] -n
- a crowd or crowded condition : throng
- a thronging or crowding forward or together
- an apparatus or machine by which a substance is cut or shaped, an impression of a body is taken, a material is compressed, pressure is applied to a body, liquid is expressed, or a cutting tool is fed into the work by pressure
- a building containing presses or a business using presses
- closet, cupboard
- an action of pressing or pushing : pressure
- an aggressive pressuring defense employed in basketball often over the entire court area
- the properly smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment
- printing press
- the act or the process of printing
- a printing or publishing establishment
- the gathering and publishing or broadcasting of news : journalism
- newspapers, periodicals, and often radio and television news broadcasting
- news reporters, publishers, and broadcasters
- comment or notice in newspapers and periodicals
- any of various pressure devices (as one for keeping sporting gear from warping when not in use)
- a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder height and then smoothly extended overhead without assist from the legs
- to act upon through steady pushing or thrusting force exerted in contact : squeeze
- assail, harass
- afflict, oppress
- to squeeze out the juice or contents of
- to squeeze with apparatus or instruments to a desired density, smoothness, or shape
- to exert influence on : constrain
- to try hard to persuade : beseech, entreat
- to move by means of pressure
- to lay stress or emphasis on
- to insist on or request urgently
- to follow through (a course of action)
- to clasp in affection or courtesy
- to make (a phonograph record) from a matrix
- to crowd closely : mass
- to force or push one's way
- to seek urgently : contend
- to require haste or speed in action
- to exert pressure
- to take or hold a press
- to employ a press in basketball
- to force into service esp. in an army or navy : impress
- to take by authority esp. for public use : commandeer
- to take and force into any usu. emergency service
- to impress men as soldiers or sailors
- impressment into service esp. in a navy
- a warrant for impressing recruits
press agent [-'ā-jən-trē] -n, vb
- an agent employed to establish and maintain good public relations through publicity
press·board ['pres-,bȯrd] -n
- ironing board
- a small one for sleeves
- a strong highly glazed composition board resembling vulcanized fiber
press box -n
- a space reserved for reporters (as at a stadium)
press cloth -n
- a cloth used between an iron and a garment
press conference -n
- an interview or announcement given by a public figure to the press by appointment
pressgang ['pres-,gaŋ] -n, vt
- a detachment of men under command of an officer empowered to force men into military or naval service
press·ing ['pre-siŋ] -adj, adv
- urgently important : critical
- earnest, warm
press kit -n
- a collection of promotional materials for distribution to the press
press·man ['pres-mən, -,man] -n
- an operator of a press
- the operator of a printing press
- newspaperman
press·mark [-,märk] -n
- a mark or number assigned to a book to indicate its location in a library
press of sail
- the fullest amount of sail that a ship can crowd on called also press of canvas
pres·sor ['pre-,sȯr, -sər] -adj
- raising or tending to raise blood pressure
- involving vasoconstriction
press·room ['pres-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n
- a room in a printing plant containing the printing presses
- a room (as at the White House) for the use of members of the press
press·run [-,rən] -n
- a continuous operation of a printing press producing a specified number of copies
- the number of copies printed
press secretary -n
- a person officially in charge of press relations for a usu. prominent public figure
pressup ['pres-(,)əp] -n
- push-up
pres·sure ['pre-shər] -n, adj
- the burden of physical or mental distress
- the constraint of circumstance : the weight of social or economic imposition
- the application of force to something by something else in direct contact with it : compression
- impression, stamp
- the action of a force against an opposing force
- the force or thrust exerted over a surface divided by its area
- electromotive force
- the stress or urgency of matters demanding attention : exigency
- people who work well under pressure
- the force of selection that results from one or more agents and tends to reduce a population of organisms
- the pressure exerted in every direction by the weight of the atmosphere
- a sensation aroused by moderate compression of a body part or surface
pressure ['pre-sh(ə-)riŋ] -vt
- to apply pressure to
- pressurize
- to cook in a pressure cooker
pressure cabin -n
- a pressurized cabin
pressure cooker -n, vb
- an airtight utensil for quick cooking or preserving of foods by means of high-temperature steam under pressure
- a situation or environment that is fraught with emotional or social pressures
pressure gauge -n
- a gauge for indicating fluid pressure
pressure group -n
- an interest group organized to influence public and esp. government policy but not to elect candidates to office
pressure point -n
- a discrete point on the body to which pressure is applied (as in acupressure or reflexology) for therapeutic purposes
- a point where a blood vessel runs near a bone and can be compressed (as to check bleeding) by the application of pressure against the bone
pressure suit -n
- an inflatable suit for high-altitude or space flight to protect the body from low pressure
pressure wave -n
- a wave (as a sound wave) in which the propagated disturbance is a variation of pressure in a material medium called also P-wave
pres·sur·ise ['pre-shə-,rīz] -vt, n
(variant of pressurize)
- to confine the contents of under a pressure greater than that of the outside atmosphere
- to maintain near-normal atmospheric pressure in during high-altitude or spaceflight (as by means of a supercharger)
- to apply pressure to
- to design to withstand pressure
pres·sur·ize ['pre-shə-,rīz] -vt, n
- to confine the contents of under a pressure greater than that of the outside atmosphere
- to maintain near-normal atmospheric pressure in during high-altitude or spaceflight (as by means of a supercharger)
- to apply pressure to
- to design to withstand pressure
press·work ['pres-,wərk] -n
- the operation, management, or product of a printing press
- the branch of printing concerned with the actual transfer of ink from form or plates to paper
prest ['prest] -adj
- ready
pres·ti·dig·i·ta·tion [,pres-tə-,di-jə-'tā-shən] -n
- sleight of hand, legerdemain
pres·tige [pre-'stēzh, -'stēj] -n, adj
- standing or estimation in the eyes of people : weight or credit in general opinion
- commanding position in people's minds
pres·ti·gious [pre-'sti-jəs, -'stē- also prə-] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or marked by illusion, conjuring, or trickery
- having prestige : honored
pres·tis·si·mo [pre-'sti-sə-,mō] -adv or adj
- faster than presto used as a direction in music
pres·to ['pres-(,)tō] -interj
- used to indicate the sudden appearance or occurrence of something often as if by magic
presto -adv or adj
- suddenly as if by magic : immediately
- at a rapid tempo used as a direction in music
- a presto musical passage or movement
pre·stress [(,)prē-'stres] -vt
- to introduce internal stresses into (as a structural beam) to counteract the stresses that will result from applied load (as in incorporating cables under tension in concrete)
- the stresses introduced in prestressing
- the process of prestressing
- the condition of being prestressed
pre·sum·able [pri-'zü-mə-bəl] -adj
- capable of being presumed : acceptable as an assumption
pre·sum·ably [-blē] -adv
- by reasonable assumption
pre·sume [pri-'züm] -vb, adv, n
- to undertake without leave or clear justification : dare
- to expect or assume esp. with confidence
- to suppose to be true without proof
- presumed innocent until proved guilty
- to take for granted : imply
- to act or proceed presumptuously or on a presumption
- to go beyond what is right or proper
presuming [-'zü-miŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- presumptuous
pre·sump·tion [pri-'zəm(p)-shən] -n
- presumptuous attitude or conduct : audacity
- an attitude or belief dictated by probability : assumption
- the ground, reason, or evidence lending probability to a belief
- a legal inference as to the existence or truth of a fact not certainly known that is drawn from the known or proved existence of some other fact
pre·sump·tive [-'zəm(p)-tiv] -adj, adv
- based on probability or presumption
- giving grounds for reasonable opinion or belief
- being an embryonic precursor with the potential for forming a particular structure or tissue in the normal course of development
pre·sump·tu·ous [pri-'zəm(p)-chə-wəs, -chəs, -shəs] -adj, adv, n
- overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy) : taking liberties
pre·sup·pose [,prē-sə-'pōz] -vt, n, adj
- to suppose beforehand
- to require as an antecedent in logic or fact
pre·syn·ap·tic [,prē-sə-'nap-tik] -adj, adv
- of, occurring in, or being a neuron by which a nerve impulse is conveyed to a synapse
pretapor·ter [,pret-ä-pȯr-'tā] -n
- ready-to-wear clothes
pre·teen ['prē-'tēn, -,tēn] -n
- a boy or girl not yet 13 years old
preteen -adj
- relating to or produced for children esp. in the 9 to 12 year-old age group
- being younger than 13
pre·teenag·er [(,)prē-'tē-nā-jər] -n
- preteen
pre·tend [pri-'tend] -vb
- to give a false appearance of being, possessing, or performing
- does not pretend to be a psychiatrist
- to make believe : feign
- to claim, represent, or assert falsely
- pretend ing an emotion he could not really feel
- venture, undertake
- to feign an action, part, or role esp. in play
- to put in a claim
- cannot pretend to any particular expertise -- Clive Barnes
pretend -adj
- imaginary, make-believe
- had a pretend pal with whom he talked
- not genuine : mock
- being a nonfunctional imitation
- a pretend train for the children to play in
pre·tend·ed [pri-'ten-dəd] -adj, adv
- professed or avowed but not genuine
pre·tend·er [pri-'ten-dər] -n
- : one that pretends: as
- one who lays claim to something
- a claimant to a throne who is held to have no just title
- one who makes a false or hypocritical show
pre·tense ['prē-,ten(t)s, pri-'] -n
- a claim made or implied
- one not supported by fact
- mere ostentation : pretentiousness
- confuse dignity with pomposity and pretense -- Bennett Cerf
- a pretentious act or assertion
- an inadequate or insincere attempt to attain a certain condition or quality
- professed rather than real intention or purpose : pretext
- was there under false pretense s
- make-believe, fiction
- false show : simulation
- saw through his pretense of indifference
pre·ten·sion [pri-'ten(t)-shən] -n, adj
- an allegation of doubtful value : pretext
- a claim or an effort to establish a claim
- a claim or right to attention or honor because of merit
- an aspiration or intention that may or may not reach fulfillment
- has serious literary pretension s
- vanity, pretentiousness
- prestress
pre·ten·tious [pri-'ten(t)-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- : characterized by pretension: as
- making usu. unjustified or excessive claims (as of value or standing)
- the pretentious fraud who assumes a love of culture that is alien to him -- Richard Watts
- expressive of affected, unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature
- making demands on one's skill, ability, or means : ambitious
- the pretentious daring of the Green Mountain Boys in crossing the lake -- Amer. Guide Series: Vt.
pret·er·it ['pre-tə-rət] -adj
- bygone, former
preterit -n
- past tense
pre·term [(,)prē-'tərm, 'prē-,] -adj
- of, relating to, being, or brought forth by premature birth
pre·ter·mi·nal [(,)prē-'tərm-nəl, -'tər-mə-] -adj
- occurring or being in the period prior to death
pre·ter·mis·sion [,prē-tər-'mi-shən] -n
- the act or an instance of pretermitting : omission
pre·ter·mit [-'mit] -vt
- to leave undone : neglect
- to let pass without mention or notice : omit
- to suspend indefinitely
- the grand jury voted to pretermit the case
pre·ter·nat·u·ral [,prē-tər-'na-chə-rəl, -'nach-rəl] -adj, adv, n
- existing outside of nature
- exceeding what is natural or regular : extraordinary
- wits trained to preternatural acuteness by the debates -- G. L. Dickinson
- inexplicable by ordinary means
- psychic
pre·test ['prē-,test] -n, vt
- : a preliminary test: as
- a test of the effectiveness or safety of a product prior to its sale
- a test to evaluate the preparedness of students for further studies
pre·text ['prē-,tekst] -n
- a purpose or motive alleged or an appearance assumed in order to cloak the real intention or state of affairs
pre·text·ing ['prē-,tek-stiŋ] -n
- the practice of presenting oneself as someone else in order to obtain private information
pretor ['prē-tər] -n, adj
(variant of praetor)
- an ancient Roman magistrate ranking below a consul and having chiefly judicial functions
pret·ti·fy ['pri-tə-,fī, 'pər-, 'pru̇-] -vt, n
- to make pretty
pret·ti·ness ['pri-tē-nəs, 'pər-, 'pru̇-] -n
- the quality or state of being pretty
- something pretty
pret·ty ['pri-tē, 'pər- also 'pru̇-] -adj, adv
- artful, clever
- pat, apt
- pleasing by delicacy or grace
- having conventionally accepted elements of beauty
- appearing or sounding pleasant or nice but lacking strength, force, manliness, purpose, or intensity
- pretty words that make no sense -- Elizabeth B. Browning
- miserable, terrible
- a pretty mess you've gotten us into
- stout
- moderately large : considerable
- easy to enjoy : pleasant usu. used in negative constructions
- reality is not so pretty -- Caleb Solomon
- in some degree : moderately
- quite, mainly
- the wound was...pretty bad -- Walt Whitman
- in a pretty manner : prettily
- pop vocalists who can sing pretty -- Gerald Levitch
- dainty clothes
- lingerie
- a pretty person or thing
- to make pretty usu. used with up
- curtains to pretty up the room
pretty boy -n
- a man who is notably good-looking
- dandy
pret·zel ['pret-səl] -n
- a brittle or chewy glazed usu. salted slender bread often shaped like a loose knot
prev -abbr
- previous; previously
pre·vail [pri-'vāl] -vi
- to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority : triumph
- to be or become effective or effectual
- to use persuasion successfully
- prevail ed on him to sing
- to be frequent : predominate
- the west winds that prevail in the mountains
- to be or continue in use or fashion : persist
- a custom that still prevail s
prev·a·lence ['pre-və-lən(t)s, 'prev-lən(t)s] -n
- the quality or state of being prevalent
- the degree to which something is prevalent
- the percentage of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time
prev·a·lent [-lənt] -adj, n, adv
- powerful
- being in ascendancy : dominant
- generally or widely accepted, practiced, or favored : widespread
pre·var·i·cate [pri-'ver-ə-,kāt, -'va-rə-] -vi, n
- to deviate from the truth : equivocate
pre·ve·nient [pri-'vēn-yənt] -adj, adv
- antecedent, anticipatory
pre·vent [pri-'vent] -vb, n, adj
- to be in readiness for (as an occasion)
- to meet or satisfy in advance
- to act ahead of
- to go or arrive before
- to deprive of power or hope of acting or succeeding
- to keep from happening or existing
- to hold or keep back : hinder, stop often used with from
- to interpose an obstacle
pre·ven·ta·tive [-'ven-tə-tiv] -adj or n
- preventive
pre·ven·tion [pri-'ven(t)-shən] -n
- the act of preventing or hindering
pre·ven·tive [-'ven-tiv] -n
- something that prevents
- something used to prevent disease
preventive -adj, adv, n
- : devoted to or concerned with prevention : precautionary
- preventive steps against soil erosion
: as - designed or serving to prevent the occurrence of disease
- undertaken to forestall anticipated hostile action
pre·ver·bal [(,)prē-'vər-bəl] -adj
- occurring before the verb
- having not yet acquired the faculty of speech
pre·view ['prē-,vyü] -vt, n
- to see beforehand
- to view or to show in advance of public presentation
- to give a preliminary survey of
preview [-,vyü] -n
- an advance statement, sample, or survey
- an advance showing or performance (as of a motion picture or play)
- a showing of clips from a motion picture advertised for appearance in the near future called also trailer
pre·vi·ous ['prē-vē-əs] -adj, adv, n
- going before in time or order : prior
- acting too soon : premature
- somewhat previous in his conclusion
previous question -n
- a parliamentary motion to put the pending question to an immediate vote without further debate or amendment that if defeated has the effect of permitting resumption of debate
previous to -prep
- prior to, before
pre·vi·sion [prē-'vi-zhən] -n, adj
- foresight, prescience
- forecast, prognostication
prevision [-'vi-zhə-niŋ, -'vizh-niŋ] -vt
- foresee
pre·vo·cal·ic [,prē-vō-'ka-lik, -və-] -adj
- immediately preceding a vowel
pre·vo·ca·tion·al [,prē-vō-'kā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj
- given or required before admission to a vocational school
pre·writ·ing ['prē-,rī-tiŋ] -n
- the formulation and organization of ideas preparatory to writing
prexy ['prek-sē] -n
- president used chiefly of a college president
prey ['prā] -n
- spoil, booty
- an animal taken by a predator as food
- one that is helpless or unable to resist attack : victim
- was prey to his own appetites
- the act or habit of preying
- to make raids for the sake of booty
- to seize and devour prey
- to commit violence or robbery or fraud
- to have an injurious, destructive, or wasting effect
- worry prey ed upon his mind
prez ['prez] -n
- president
prf -abbr
- proof
Pri·am ['prī-əm, -,am] -n
- the father of Hector, Paris, and Cassandra and king of Troy during the Trojan War
pri·a·pic [prī-'ā-pik, -'a-] -adj
- phallic
- relating to or preoccupied with virility or male sexual excitement
pri·a·pism ['prī-ə-,pi-zəm] -n
- an abnormal often painful persistent erection of the penis
Pri·a·pus [prī-'ā-pəs] -n
- a Greek and Roman god of gardens and male generative power
price ['prīs] -n
- value, worth
- the quantity of one thing that is exchanged or demanded in barter or sale for another
- the amount of money given or set as consideration for the sale of a specified thing
- : the terms for the sake of which something is done or undertaken: as
- an amount sufficient to bribe one
- believed every man had his price
- a reward for the apprehension or death of a person
- an outlaw with a price on his head
- the cost at which something is obtained
- the price of freedom is restraint -- J. Irwin Miller
- to set a price on
- to find out the price of
- to drive by raising prices excessively
- priced themselves out of the market
pricecut·ter ['prīs-,kə-tər] -n
- one that reduces prices esp. to a level designed to cripple competition
priced -adj
- having a specified price used in combination
priceearnings ratio -n
- a measure of the value of a common stock determined as the ratio of its market price to its annual earnings per share and usu. expressed as a simple numeral
pricefix·ing ['prīs-,fik-siŋ] -n
- the setting of prices artificially (as by producers or government) contrary to free market operations
price index -n
- an index number expressing the level of a group of commodity prices relative to the level of the prices of the same commodities during an arbitrarily chosen base period and used to indicate changes in the level of prices from one period to another
price·less ['prīs-ləs] -adj, adv
- having a value beyond any price : invaluable
- costly because of rarity or quality : precious
- having worth in terms of other than market value
- delightfully amusing, odd, or absurd
price point -n
- the standard price set by the manufacturer for a product
price support -n
- artificial maintenance of prices (as of a raw material) at some predetermined level usu. through government action
price tag -n
- a tag on merchandise showing the price at which it is offered for sale
- price, cost
price war -n
- commercial competition characterized by the repeated cutting of prices below those of competitors
pric·ey ['prī-sē] -adj
- expensive
prick ['prik] -n
- a mark or shallow hole made by a pointed instrument
- a pointed instrument or weapon
- a sharp projecting organ or part
- : an instance of pricking or the sensation of being pricked: as
- a nagging or sharp feeling of remorse, regret, or sorrow
- a slight sharply localized discomfort
- penis
- a spiteful or contemptible man often having some authority
- to pierce slightly with a sharp point
- to affect with anguish, grief, or remorse
- doubt began to prick him -- Philip Hale
- to ride, guide, or urge on with or as if with spurs : goad
- to mark, distinguish, or note by means of a small mark
- to trace or outline with punctures
- to remove (a young seedling) from the seedbed to another suitable for further growth usu. used with out
- to cause to be or stand erect
- to prick something or cause a pricking sensation
- to feel discomfort as if from being pricked
- to urge a horse with the spur
- to ride fast
- thrust
- to become directed upward : point
prick·er ['pri-kər] -n
- : one that pricks
- thorn, prickle
- briar
prick·et ['pri-kət] -n
- a spike on which a candle is stuck
- a candlestick with such a point
- a buck in the second year of life
prick·le ['pri-kəl] -n
- a fine sharp process or projection
- a sharp pointed emergence arising from the epidermis or bark of a plant
- a prickling or tingling sensation
prickle [-k(ə-)liŋ] -vb
- to prick slightly
- to produce prickles in
- to cause or feel a prickling, tingling, or stinging sensation
prick·ly ['pri-k(ə-)lē] -adj, n
- full of or covered with prickles
- distinguished from related kinds by the presence of prickles
- marked by prickling : stinging
- troublesome, vexatious
- easily irritated
- had a prickly disposition
prickly ash -n
- a prickly aromatic No. American shrub or small tree ( Zanthoxylum americanum) of the rue family with yellowish flowers
prickly heat -n
- a noncontagious cutaneous eruption of red pimples with intense itching and tingling caused by inflammation around the sweat ducts
prickly pear -n
- opuntia
- any of those with flat spiny joints called also prickly pear cactus
- the pulpy pear-shaped edible fruit of various prickly pears (as Opuntia ficus-indica)
prickly poppy -n
- any of a genus ( Argemone) of plants of the poppy family with white or yellow flowers and prickly leaves and fruits
pride ['prīd] -n
- : the quality or state of being proud: as
- inordinate self-esteem : conceit
- a reasonable or justifiable self-respect
- delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship
- proud or disdainful behavior or treatment : disdain
- ostentatious display
- highest pitch : prime
- a source of pride : the best in a group or class
- a company of lions
- a showy or impressive group
- to indulge (as oneself) in pride
pride·ful ['prīd-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- : full of pride: as
- disdainful, haughty
- exultant, elated
pride of place
- the highest or first position
priedieu [(,)prē-'dyə(r), prē-'dyœ] -n
- a kneeling bench designed for use by a person at prayer and fitted with a raised shelf on which the elbows or a book may be rested
- a low armless upholstered chair with a high straight back
pri·er ['prī(-ə)r] -n
- one that pries
- an inquisitive person
priest ['prēst] -n
- one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion esp. as a mediatory agent between humans and God
- an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyman ranking below a bishop and above a deacon
priest·ess ['prēs-təs] -n
- a woman authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion
- a woman regarded as a leader (as of a movement)
priest·hood ['prēst-,hu̇d, 'prē-,stu̇d] -n
- the office, dignity, or character of a priest
- the whole body of priests
- elite
- the priesthood of the art world
priest·ly ['prēst-lē] -adj, n
- of or relating to a priest or the priesthood : sacerdotal
- characteristic of or befitting a priest
priestrid·den ['prēst-,ri-dᵊn] -adj
- controlled or oppressed by priests
prig ['prig] -n
- thief
- fop
- fellow, person
- one who offends or irritates by observance of proprieties (as of speech or manners) in a pointed manner or to an obnoxious degree
prig·gism ['pri-,gi-zəm] -n
- stilted adherence to convention
prill ['pril] -vt
- to convert (as a molten solid) into spherical pellets usu. by forming into drops in a spray and allowing the drops to solidify
- a pellet made by prilling
prim ['prim] -vt
- to give a prim or demure expression to
- primming her thin lips after every mouthful -- John Buchan
- to dress primly
- stiffly formal and proper : decorous
- prudish
- neat, trim
- primary
- primitive
pri·ma ballerina ['prē-mə-] -n
- the principal female dancer in a ballet company
pri·ma·cy ['prī-mə-sē] -n
- the state of being first (as in importance, order, or rank) : preeminence
- the primacy of intellectual and esthetic over materialistic values -- T. R. McConnell
- the office, rank, or preeminence of an ecclesiastical primate
pri·ma don·na [,pri-mə-'dä-nə, ,prē-] -n
- a principal female singer in an opera or concert organization
- a vain or undisciplined person who finds it difficult to work under direction or as part of a team
pri·ma fa·cie [,prī-mə-'fā-shə, -shē, -sē also -shē-,ē, -sē-,ē] -adv
- at first view : on the first appearance
prima facie -adj
- true, valid, or sufficient at first impression : apparent
- the theory...gives a prima facie solution -- R. J. Butler
- self-evident
- legally sufficient to establish a fact or a case unless disproved
pri·mal ['prī-məl] -adj
- original, primitive
- village life continued in its primal innocence -- Van Wyck Brooks
- first in importance : primary
pri·mal·i·ty [prī-'ma-lə-tē] -n
- the property of being a prime number
primal scream therapy -n
- psychotherapy in which the patient recalls and reenacts a particularly disturbing past experience usu. occurring early in life and expresses normally repressed anger or frustration esp. through spontaneous and unrestrained screams, hysteria, or violence called also primal therapy
pri·mar·i·ly [prī-'mer-ə-lē also prə-, chiefly Brit 'prī-mər-ə-lē] -adv
- for the most part : chiefly
- has now become primarily a residential town -- S. P. B. Mais
- in the first place : originally
pri·ma·ry ['prī-,mer-ē, 'prī-mə-rē, 'prīm-rē] -adj
- first in order of time or development : primitive
- the primary stage of civilization
- the primary lesion of a disease
- of first rank, importance, or value : principal
- basic, fundamental
- security is a primary need
- of, relating to, or constituting the principal quills of a bird's wing
- of or relating to agriculture, forestry, and the extractive industries or their products
- expressive of present or future time
- of, relating to, or constituting the strongest of the three or four degrees of stress recognized by most linguists
- the first syllable of basketball carries primary stress
- direct, firsthand
- primary sources of information
- not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes
- preparatory to something else in a continuing process
- of or relating to a primary school
- of or relating to a primary election
- belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications
- directly derived from ores
- of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins
- primary protein structure
- resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule
- being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom
- of, relating to, involving, or derived from primary meristem
- of, relating to, or involved in the production of organic substances by green plants
- providing primary care
primary -n
- something that stands first in rank, importance, or value : fundamental usu. used in pl.
- the celestial body around which one or more other celestial bodies revolve
- the more massive usu. brighter component of a binary star system
- one of the usu. 9 or 10 strong quills on the distal joint of a bird's wing
- primary color
- the sensation of seeing primary colors
- caucus
- an election in which qualified voters nominate or express a preference for a particular candidate or group of candidates for political office, choose party officials, or select delegates for a party convention
- the coil that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer called also primary coil
primary atypical pneumonia -n
- any of a group of pneumonias (as Q fever and psittacosis) caused esp. by viruses, mycoplasmas, rickettsias, and chlamydias
primary care -n
- health care provided by a medical professional (as a general practitioner, pediatrician, or nurse) with whom a patient has initial contact and by whom the patient may be referred to a specialist often used attributively called also primary health care
primary cell -n
- a cell that converts chemical energy into electrical energy by irreversible chemical reactions
primary color -n
- any of a set of colors from which all other colors may be derived
primary meristem -n
- meristem (as procambium) derived from the apical meristem
primary root -n
- the root of a plant that develops first and originates from the radicle
primary school -n
- a school usu. including the first three grades of elementary school but sometimes also including kindergarten
- elementary school
primary syphilis -n
- the first stage of syphilis that is marked by the development of a chancre and the spread of the causative spirochete in the tissues of the body
primary tooth -n
- milk tooth
primary wall -n
- the first-formed wall of a plant cell that is produced around the protoplast and usu. has plasmodesmata
pri·mate ['prī-,māt or esp for 1 -mət] -n, adj
- a bishop who has precedence in a province, a group of provinces, or a nation
- one first in authority or rank : leader
- any of an order (Primates) of mammals that are characterized esp. by advanced development of binocular vision, specialization of the appendages for grasping, and enlargement of the cerebral hemispheres and that include humans, apes, monkeys, and related forms (as lemurs and tarsiers)
pri·ma·tol·o·gy [,prī-mə-'tä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the study of primates esp. other than recent humans ( Homo sapiens)
pri·ma·vera [,prē-mə-'ver-ə] -adj
- served with a mixture of fresh vegetables (as zucchini, snow peas, and broccoli) usu. used postpositively
prime ['prīm] -n
- the second of the canonical hours
- the first hour of the day usu. considered either as 6 a.m. or the hour of sunrise
- the earliest stage
- spring
- youth
- the most active, thriving, or satisfying stage or period
- the chief or best individual or part : pick
- prime of the flock, and choicest of the stall -- Alexander Pope
- prime number
- the first note or tone of a musical scale : tonic
- the interval between two notes on the same staff degree
- the symbol used to distinguish arbitrary characters (as aand a), to indicate a specific unit (as feet or minutes of time or angular measure), or to indicate the derivative of a function (as por f(x))
- prime rate
- first in time : original
- of, relating to, or being a prime number
- having no polynomial factors other than itself and no monomial factors other than 1
- expressed as a product of prime factors (as prime numbers and prime polynomials)
- first in rank, authority, or significance : principal
- having the highest quality or value
- of the highest grade regularly marketed used of meat and esp. beef
- not deriving from something else : primary
- fill, load
- to prepare for firing by supplying with priming
- to insert a primer into (a cartridge case)
- to apply the first color, coating, or preparation to
- to put into working order by filling or charging with something
- to supply with an essential prerequisite (as a hormone, nucleic acid, or antigen) for chemical or biological activity
- primed female mice with estrogen
- to instruct beforehand : coach
- stimulate
- to become prime
prime cost -n
- the combined total of raw material and direct labor costs incurred in production
- cost less vendor's or agent's commission for charges
prime meridian -n
- the meridian of 0 degrees longitude which runs through the original site of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England, and from which other longitudes are reckoned
prime minister -n, adj
- the chief minister of a ruler or state
- the official head of a cabinet or ministry
- the chief executive of a parliamentary government
prime mover -n
- an initial source of motive power (as a windmill, waterwheel, turbine, or internal combustion engine) designed to receive and modify force and motion as supplied by some natural source and apply them to drive machinery
- a powerful tractor or truck usu. with all-wheel drive
- the self-moved being that is the source of all motion
- the original or most effective force in an undertaking or work
- education is...a prime mover of cultural and societal change -- R. C. Buck
prime number -n
- any integer other than 0 or 1 that is not divisible without remainder by any other integers except 1 and the integer itself
prim·er ['pri-mər, chiefly Brit 'prī-mər] -n
- a small book for teaching children to read
- a small introductory book on a subject
- a short informative piece of writing
- a device for priming
- a cap, tube, or wafer containing percussion powder or compound used to ignite an explosive charge
- material used in priming a surface called also prime coat
- a molecule (as a short strand of RNA or DNA) whose presence is required for formation of another molecule (as a longer chain of DNA)
prime rate -n
- an interest rate formally announced by a bank to be the lowest available at a particular time to its most credit-worthy customers called also prime interest rate
pri·me·ro [pri-'mer-(,)ō, -'mir-] -n
- a card game popular in the 16th and 17th centuries
prime time -n, adj
- the time period when the television or radio audience is the largest
- television shows shown in prime time
- the choicest or busiest time
- big time
- a pitcher not yet ready for prime time
pri·me·val [prī-'mē-vəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the earliest ages (as of the world or human history) : ancient, primitive
- 100 acres of primeval forest which has never felt an ax -- Mary R. Zimmer
- primordial
priming -n
- the act of one that primes
- the explosive used in priming a charge
- primer
pri·mip·a·ra [prī-'mi-pə-rə] -n, adj
- an individual bearing a first offspring
- an individual that has borne only one offspring
prim·i·tive ['pri-mə-tiv] -adj, adv, n
- not derived : original, primary
- assumed as a basis
- axiomatic
- of or relating to the earliest age or period : primeval
- closely approximating an early ancestral type : little evolved
- belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development : crude, rudimentary
- of, relating to, or constituting the assumed parent speech of related languages
- elemental, natural
- our primitive feelings of vengeance -- John Mackwood
- of, relating to, or produced by a people or culture that is nonindustrial and often nonliterate and tribal
- naive
- self-taught, untutored
- produced by a self-taught artist
primitive -n
- something primitive
- a primitive idea, term, or proposition
- a root word
- an artist of an early period of a culture or artistic movement
- a later imitator or follower of such an artist
- a self-taught artist
- an artist whose work is marked by directness and naivete
- a work of art produced by a primitive artist
- a typically rough or simple usu. handmade and antique home accessory or furnishing
- a member of a primitive people
- an unsophisticated person
primitive streak -n
- an elongated band of cells that forms along the axis of a developing fertilized egg early in gastrulation and that is considered a forerunner of the neural tube and nervous system
prim·i·tiv·ism ['pri-mə-ti-,vi-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj
- primitive practices or procedures
- a primitive quality or state
- belief in the superiority of a simple way of life close to nature
- belief in the superiority of nonindustrial society to that of the present
- the style of art of primitive peoples or primitive artists
pri·mo ['prē-(,)mō] -n
- the first or leading part (as in a duet or trio)
- in the first place
- of the finest quality : excellent
pri·mo·gen·i·tor [,prī-mō-'je-nə-tər] -n
- ancestor, forefather
pri·mo·gen·i·ture [-,chu̇r, -chər, -,tyu̇r, -,tu̇r] -n
- the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents
- an exclusive right of inheritance belonging to the eldest son
pri·mor·di·al [prī-'mȯr-dē-əl] -adj, adv
- first created or developed : primeval
- existing in or persisting from the beginning (as of a solar system or universe)
- earliest formed in the growth of an individual or organ : primitive
- fundamental, primary
- primordial human joys -- Sir Winston Churchill
primordial soup -n
- a mixture of organic molecules in evolutionary theory from which life on earth originated
pri·mor·di·um [-dē-əm] -n
- the rudiment or commencement of a part or organ
primp ['primp] -vb
- to dress, adorn, or arrange in a careful or finicky manner
- to dress or groom oneself carefully
- primp s for hours before a date
prim·rose ['prim-,rōz] -n
- any of a genus ( Primulaof the family Primulaceae, the primrose family) of perennial herbs with large tufted basal leaves and showy variously colored flowers
primrose path -n
- a path of ease or pleasure and esp. sensual pleasure
- himself the primrose path of dalliance treads -- Shak.
- a path of least resistance
primrose yellow -n
- a light to moderate greenish yellow
- a light to moderate yellow
prim·u·la ['prim-yə-lə] -n
- primrose
pri·mum mo·bi·le ['prī-məm-'mō-bə-lē, 'prē-] -n
- the outermost concentric sphere conceived in medieval astronomy as carrying the spheres of the fixed stars and the planets in its daily revolution
pri·mus ['prī-məs] -n
- the presiding bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church
pri·mus in·ter pa·res ['prī-məs-,in-tər-'pa-rēz, 'prē-məs-] -n
- first among equals
prin -abbr
- principal
- principle
prince ['prin(t)s] -n
- monarch, king
- the ruler of a principality or state
- a male member of a royal family
- a son of the sovereign
- a nobleman of varying rank and status
- one likened to a prince
- a man of high rank or of high standing in his class or profession
Prince Al·bert [-'al-bərt] -n
- a double-breasted frock coat with the upper part fitted to the body
Prince Charming -n
- a suitor who fulfills the dreams of his beloved
- a man of often specious charm toward women
prince consort -n
- the husband of a reigning queen
prince·dom ['prin(t)s-dəm, -təm] -n
- the jurisdiction, sovereignty, rank, or estate of a prince
- principality usu. used in pl.
prince·let ['prin(t)s-lət] -n
- princeling
prince·li·ness [-lē-nəs] -n
- princely conduct or character
- luxury, magnificence
prince·ling ['prin(t)s-liŋ] -n
- a petty or insignificant prince
prince·ly ['prin(t)s-lē] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a prince : royal
- befitting a prince : noble, magnificent
Prince of Wales [-'wālz]
- the male heir apparent to the British throne used as a title only after it has been specif. conferred by the sovereign
prince's feather -n
- a showy widely cultivated annual plant ( Amaranthus hypochondriacusor A. cruentus) of the amaranth family having dense usu. red spikes of flowers
prin·cess ['prin(t)-səs, 'prin-,ses, (usual Brit) prin-'ses] -n
- a woman having sovereign power
- a female member of a royal family
- a daughter or granddaughter of a sovereign
- the consort of a prince
- one likened to a princess
- a woman of high rank or of high standing in her class or profession
princess [same as ¹] -adj
- close-fitting and usu. with gores from neck to flaring hemline
Princess Royal -n
- the eldest daughter of a British sovereign a title granted for life and used only after it has been specif. conferred by the sovereign
prin·ci·pal ['prin(t)-s(ə-)pəl, -sə-bəl] -adj, adv
- most important, consequential, or influential : chief
- the region's principal city
- of, relating to, or constituting principal or a principal
principal ['prin(t)-s(ə-)pəl-,ship, -sə-bəl-] -n
- : a person who has controlling authority or is in a leading position: as
- a chief or head man or woman
- the chief executive officer of an educational institution
- one who engages another to act as an agent subject to general control and instruction
- the person from whom an agent's authority derives
- the chief or an actual participant in a crime
- the person primarily or ultimately liable on a legal obligation
- a leading performer : star
- : a matter or thing of primary importance: as
- a capital sum earning interest, due as a debt, or used as a fund
- the corpus of an estate, portion, devise, or bequest
- the construction that gives shape and strength to a roof and is usu. one of several trusses
- the most important member of a piece of framing
principal diagonal -n
- the diagonal in a square matrix that runs from upper left to lower right
prin·ci·pal·i·ty [,prin(t)-sə-'pa-lə-tē] -n
- the state, office, or authority of a prince
- the position or responsibilities of a principal (as of a school)
- the territory or jurisdiction of a prince : the country that gives title to a prince
- an order of angels
principal parts -n pl
- a series of verb forms from which all the other forms of a verb can be derived including in English the infinitive, the past tense, and the present and past participles
prin·cip·i·um [prin-'si-pē-əm, prin-'ki-] -n
- a fundamental principle
prin·ci·ple ['prin(t)-s(ə-)pəl, -sə-bəl] -n
- a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption
- a rule or code of conduct
- habitual devotion to right principles
- the laws or facts of nature underlying the working of an artificial device
- a primary source : origin
- an underlying faculty or endowment
- such principle s of human nature as greed and curiosity
- an ingredient (as a chemical) that exhibits or imparts a characteristic quality
- a divine principle : god
prin·ci·pled [-s(ə-)pəld, -sə-bəld] -adj
- exhibiting, based on, or characterized by principle often used in combination
prin·cox ['prin-,käks, 'priŋ-] -n
- a pert youth : coxcomb
prink ['priŋk] -vb, n
- primp
print ['print] -n
- a mark made by pressure : impression
- something impressed with a print or formed in a mold
- fingerprint
- printed state or form
- the printing industry
- printed matter
- printed publications
- printed letters : type
- a copy made by printing
- a reproduction of an original work of art (as a painting) made by a photomechanical process
- an original work of art (as a woodcut, etching, or lithograph) intended for graphic reproduction and produced by or under the supervision of the artist who designed it
- cloth with a pattern or figured design applied by printing
- an article of such cloth
- a photographic or motion-picture copy
- one made from a negative
- to impress something in or on
- to stamp (as a mark) in or on something
- to make a copy of by impressing paper against an inked printing surface
- to impress (as wallpaper) with a design or pattern
- to impress (a pattern or design) on something
- to publish in print
- print out
- to display on a surface (as a computer screen) for viewing
- to write in letters shaped like those of ordinary roman text type
- to make (a positive picture) on a sensitized photographic surface from a negative or a positive
- to work as a printer
- to produce printed matter
- to produce something in printed form
- to write or hand-letter in imitation of unjoined printed characters
- of, relating to, or writing for printed publications
print·able ['prin-tə-bəl] -adj, n
- capable of being printed or of being printed from
- considered fit to publish
printed circuit -n
- a circuit for electronic apparatus made by depositing conductive material in continuous paths from terminal to terminal on an insulating surface
printed matter -n
- matter printed by any of various mechanical processes that is eligible for mailing at a special rate
print·er ['prin-tər] -n
- : one that prints: as
- a person engaged in printing
- a device used for printing
- a machine for printing from photographic negatives
- a device (as an ink-jet printer) that produces printout
printer's devil -n
- an apprentice in a printing office
print·ery ['prin-tə-rē] -n
- printing office
print·head ['print-,hed] -n
- a usu. movable part of a computer printer that contains the printing elements
print·ing ['prin-tiŋ] -n
- the act or product of one that prints
- reproduction in printed form
- the art, practice, or business of a printer
- impression
- paper to be printed on
printing office -n
- an establishment where printing is done
printing press -n
- a machine that produces printed copies
print·less ['print-ləs] -adj
- making, bearing, or taking no imprint
print·mak·ing [-,mā-kiŋ] -n
- the design and production of prints by an artist
print·out ['print-,au̇t] -n
- a printed record produced automatically (as by a computer)
print out -vt
- to make a printout of
pri·on ['prī-,än] -n
- any of several small petrels (genus Pachyptilaof the family Procellariidae) of the southern hemisphere that are bluish gray above and white below
- any of several protein particles that are abnormal forms of normal cellular proteins, that lack nucleic acid, and that in mammals have been implicated as the cause of prion diseases when accumulated in the mammalian brain
prion disease -n
- any of a group of spongiform encephalopathies that are caused by prions and that include bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, kuru, scrapie, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease called also transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
pri·or ['prī(-ə)r] -n
- the superior ranking next to the abbot of a monastery
- the superior of a house or group of houses of any of various religious communities
prior -adj, adv
- earlier in time or order
- taking precedence (as in importance)
pri·or·ess ['prī-ə-rəs] -n
- a nun corresponding in rank to a prior
pri·or·i·tize [prī-'ȯr-ə-,tīz, -'är-; 'prī-ə-rə-] -vt, n
- to list or rate (as projects or goals) in order of priority
pri·or·i·ty [prī-'ȯr-ə-tē, -'är-] -n
- the quality or state of being prior
- precedence in date or position of publication used of taxa
- superiority in rank, position, or privilege
- legal precedence in exercise of rights over the same subject matter
- a preferential rating
- one that allocates rights to goods and services usu. in limited supply
- that project has top priority
- something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives
prior restraint -n
- governmental prohibition imposed on expression before the expression actually takes place
prior to -prep
- in advance of : before
pri·o·ry ['prī-(ə-)rē] -n
- a religious house under a prior or prioress
prise ['prīz] -n
(variant of prize)
- something offered or striven for in competition or in contests of chance
- premium
- something exceptionally desirable
- a contest for a reward : competition
- awarded or worthy of a prize
- awarded as a prize
- entered for the sake of a prize
- outstanding of a kind
- to estimate the value of : rate
- to value highly : esteem
- something taken by force, stratagem, or threat
- property lawfully captured at sea in time of war
- an act of capturing or taking
- the wartime capture of a ship and its cargo at sea
- to press, force, or move with a lever : pry
prism ['pri-zəm] -n
- a polyhedron with two polygonal faces lying in parallel planes and with the other faces parallelograms
- a transparent body that is bounded in part by two nonparallel plane faces and is used to refract or disperse a beam of light
- a prism-shaped decorative glass luster
- a crystal form whose faces are parallel to one axis
- one whose faces are parallel to the vertical axis
- a medium that distorts, slants, or colors whatever is viewed through it
pris·mat·ic [priz-'ma-tik] -adj, adv
- relating to, resembling, or constituting a prism
- formed by a prism
- resembling the colors formed by refraction of light through a prism
- highly colored : brilliant
- having such symmetry that a general form with faces cutting all axes at unspecified intercepts is a prism
pris·ma·toid ['priz-mə-,tȯid] -n
- a polyhedron that has all of its vertices in two parallel planes
pris·moid ['priz-,mȯid] -n, adj
- a prismatoid whose parallel bases have the same number of sides
pris·on ['pri-zᵊn] -n
- a state of confinement or captivity
- a place of confinement esp. for lawbreakers
- an institution (as one under state jurisdiction) for confinement of persons convicted of serious crimes
prison -vt
- imprison, confine
prison camp -n
- a camp for the confinement of reasonably trustworthy prisoners usu. employed on government projects
- a camp for prisoners of war or political prisoners
pris·on·er ['priz-nər, 'pri-zᵊn-ər] -n
- a person deprived of liberty and kept under involuntary restraint, confinement, or custody
- one on trial or in prison
- someone restrained as if in prison
- a prisoner of her own conscience
prisoner of war
- a person captured in war
- a member of the armed forces of a nation who is taken by the enemy during combat
prisoner's base -n
- a game in which players on each of two teams seek to tag and imprison players of the other team who have ventured out of their home territory
pris·sy ['pri-sē] -adj, adv, n
- overly prim and precise : finicky
pris·tane ['pris-,tān] -n
- an isoprenoid hydrocarbon C 19H 40that usu. accompanies phytane
pris·tine ['pris-,tēn, pri-'stēn, esp Brit 'pris-,tīn] -adj, adv
- belonging to the earliest period or state : original
- the hypothetical pristine lunar atmosphere
- not spoiled, corrupted, or polluted (as by civilization) : pure
- fresh and clean as or as if new
- used books in pristine condition
prith·ee ['pri-thē, -thē] -interj
- used to express a wish or request
priv -abbr
- private; privately
pri·va·cy ['prī-və-sē, esp Brit 'pri-] -n
- the quality or state of being apart from company or observation : seclusion
- freedom from unauthorized intrusion
- a place of seclusion
- secrecy
- a private matter : secret
pri·vat·do·zent [pri-'vät-(,)dō(t)-,sent] -n
- an unsalaried university lecturer or teacher in German-speaking countries remunerated directly by students' fees
pri·vate ['prī-vət] -adj, adv, n
- intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class
- belonging to or concerning an individual person, company, or interest
- restricted to the individual or arising independently of others
- carried on by the individual independently of the usual institutions
- a doctor in private practice
- being educated by independent study or a tutor or in a private school
- not general in effect
- of, relating to, or receiving hospital service in which the patient has more privileges than a semiprivate or ward patient
- not holding public office or employment
- not related to one's official position : personal
- being a private
- withdrawn from company or observation
- not known or intended to be known publicly : secret
- preferring to keep personal affairs to oneself : valuing privacy highly
- unsuitable for public use or display
- not having shares that can be freely traded on the open market
private -n
- one not in public office
- privacy
- private parts
- a person of low rank in various organizations (as a police or fire department)
- an enlisted man of the lowest rank in the marine corps or of one of the two lowest ranks in the army
private detective -n
- private investigator
private enterprise -n
- free enterprise
pri·va·teer [,prī-və-'tir] -n, vi
- an armed private ship licensed to attack enemy shipping
- a sailor on such a ship
private eye -n
- private investigator
private first class -n
- an enlisted man ranking in the army above a private and below a corporal and in the marine corps above a private and below a lance corporal
private investigator -n
- a person not a member of a police force who is licensed to do detective work (as investigation of suspected wrongdoing or searching for missing persons)
private label -n
- a label associated with a specific chain store
- a brand or product having a private label usu. hyphenated when used attributively
private law -n
- a branch of law concerned with private persons, property, and relationships
private parts -n pl
- the external genital and excretory organs
private school -n
- a school that is established, conducted, and primarily supported by a nongovernmental agency
private treaty -n
- a sale of property on terms determined by conference of the seller and buyer
pri·va·tion [prī-'vā-shən] -n
- an act or instance of depriving : deprivation
- the state of being deprived
- lack of what is needed for existence
pri·vat·ise ['prī-və-,tīz] -vt, n
(variant of privatize)
- to make private
- to change (as a business or industry) from public to private control or ownership
pri·vat·ism ['prī-və-,ti-zəm] -n
- the attitude of being uncommitted to or avoiding involvement in anything beyond one's immediate interests
priv·a·tive ['pri-və-tiv] -adj, adv
- constituting or predicating privation or absence of a quality
- non- is a privative prefix
privative -n
- a privative term, expression, or proposition
- a privative prefix or suffix
pri·vat·ize ['prī-və-,tīz] -vt, n
- to make private
- to change (as a business or industry) from public to private control or ownership
priv·et ['pri-vət] -n
- a Eurasian deciduous shrub ( Ligustrum vulgare) of the olive family with semievergreen leaves and small white flowers that is widely used for hedges
- any of various shrubs of the same genus
priv·i·lege ['priv-lij, 'pri-və-] -n
- a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor
- such a right or immunity attached specif. to a position or an office
privilege -vt
- to grant a privilege to
- to accord a higher value or superior position to
- privilege one mode of discourse over another
privileged -adj
- having or enjoying one or more privileges
- not subject to the usual rules or penalties because of some special circumstance
- not subject to disclosure in a court of law
- a privileged communication
priv·i·ty ['pri-və-tē] -n
- a relationship between persons who successively have a legal interest in the same right or property
- an interest in a transaction, contract, or legal action to which one is not a party arising out of a relationship to one of the parties
- private or joint knowledge of a private matter
- cognizance implying concurrence
privy ['pri-vē] -adj, adv
- private, withdrawn
- secret
- belonging or relating to a person in one's individual rather than official capacity
- admitted as one sharing in a secret
- a small building having a bench with holes through which the user may defecate or urinate
- toilet
- a person having a legal interest of privity
privy council -n
- a secret or private council
- a body of officials and dignitaries chosen by the British monarch as an advisory council to the Crown usu. functioning through its committees
- a usu. appointive advisory council to an executive
privy purse -n
- an allowance for the private expenses of the British sovereign
prix fixe ['prē-'fēks, -'fiks] -n
- a complete meal offered at a fixed price
- the price charged
prize ['prīz] -n
- something offered or striven for in competition or in contests of chance
- premium
- something exceptionally desirable
- a contest for a reward : competition
- awarded or worthy of a prize
- awarded as a prize
- entered for the sake of a prize
- outstanding of a kind
- to estimate the value of : rate
- to value highly : esteem
- something taken by force, stratagem, or threat
- property lawfully captured at sea in time of war
- an act of capturing or taking
- the wartime capture of a ship and its cargo at sea
- to press, force, or move with a lever : pry
prize·fight ['prīz-,fīt] -n
- a professional boxing match
prize·fight·ing [-,fī-tiŋ] -n
- professional boxing
prize money -n
- a part of the proceeds of a captured ship formerly divided among the officers and men making the capture
- money offered in prizes
priz·er ['prī-zər] -n
- one that contends for a prize
prize·win·ner ['prīz-,wi-nər] -n
- a winner of a prize
prize·win·ning [-,wi-niŋ] -adj
- having won or of a quality to win a prize
PRK -abbr
- photorefractive keratectomy
prn -abbr
- as needed; as the circumstances require
pro ['prō] -n
- an argument or evidence in affirmation
- an appraisal of the pro s and cons
- the affirmative side or one holding it
- on the affirmative side : in affirmation
- much has been written pro and con
- in favor of : for
- professional
PRO -abbr
- public relations officer
pro- -prefix
- earlier than : prior to : before
- rudimentary : prot-
- precursory
- located in front of or at the front of : anterior to
- front : anterior
- projecting
- taking the place of : substituting for
- favoring : supporting : championing
proa ['prau̇, 'prä-,ü] -n
(variant of prau)
- any of various Indonesian boats usu. without a deck that are propelled esp. by sails or paddles
pro·abor·tion [,prō-ə-'bȯr-shən] -adj, n
- favoring the legalization of abortion
pro·ac·tive [(,)prō-'ak-tiv] -adj, adv
- relating to, caused by, or being interference between previous learning and the recall or performance of later learning
- proactive inhibition of memory
- acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes
proam ['prō-'am] -adj
- of, relating to, or involving professionals teaming with or competing against amateurs
- a pro-am event or tournament
prob -abbr
- probable; probably
- probate
- problem
prob·a·bi·lism ['prä-bə-bə-,li-zəm] -n, adj or n
- a theory that in disputed moral questions any solidly probable course may be followed even though an opposed course is or appears more probable
- a theory that certainty is impossible esp. in the sciences and that probability suffices to govern belief and action
prob·a·bi·lis·tic [,prä-bə-bə-'lis-tik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to probabilism
- of, relating to, or based on probability
prob·a·bil·i·ty [,prä-bə-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being probable
- something (as an event or circumstance) that is probable
- the ratio of the number of outcomes in an exhaustive set of equally likely outcomes that produce a given event to the total number of possible outcomes
- the chance that a given event will occur
- a branch of mathematics concerned with the study of probabilities
- a logical relation between statements such that evidence confirming one confirms the other to some degree
probability density -n
- probability density function
- a particular value of a probability density function
probability density function -n
- probability function
- a function of a continuous random variable whose integral over an interval gives the probability that its value will fall within the interval
probability distribution -n
- probability function
- probability density function
probability function -n
- a function of a discrete random variable that gives the probability that the outcome associated with that variable will occur
prob·a·ble ['prä-bə-bəl, 'prä(b)-bəl] -adj
- supported by evidence strong enough to establish presumption but not proof
- establishing a probability
- likely to be or become true or real
probable -n
- one that is probable
probable cause -n
- a reasonable ground for supposing that a charge is well-founded
prob·a·bly ['prä-bə-blē, 'prä(b)-blē] -adv
- insofar as seems reasonably true, factual, or to be expected : without much doubt
pro·band ['prō-,band, prō-'] -n
- an individual affected with a disorder who is the first subject in a study (as of a genetic character in a family lineage)
pro·bate ['prō-,bāt, Brit also -bit] -n
- the action or process of proving before a competent judicial authority that a document offered for official recognition and registration as the last will and testament of a deceased person is genuine
- the judicial determination of the validity of a will
- the officially authenticated copy of a probated will
- to establish (a will) by probate as genuine and valid
- to put (a convicted offender) on probation
probate court -n
- a court that has jurisdiction chiefly over the probate of wills and administration of deceased persons' estates
pro·ba·tion [prō-'bā-shən] -n, adj, adv
- critical examination and evaluation or subjection to such examination and evaluation
- subjection of an individual to a period of testing and trial to ascertain fitness (as for a job or school)
- the action of suspending the sentence of a convicted offender and giving the offender freedom during good behavior under the supervision of a probation officer
- the state or a period of being subject to probation
pro·ba·tion·er [-sh(ə-)nər] -n
- a person (as a newly admitted student nurse) whose fitness is being tested during a trial period
- a convicted offender on probation
probation officer -n
- an officer appointed to investigate, report on, and supervise the conduct of convicted offenders on probation
pro·ba·tive ['prō-bə-tiv] -adj
- serving to test or try : exploratory
- serving to prove : substantiating
pro·ba·to·ry ['prō-bə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- probative
probe ['prōb] -n
- a slender medical instrument used esp. for exploration (as of a wound or body cavity)
- : any of various testing devices or substances: as
- a pointed metal tip for making electrical contact with a circuit element being checked
- a usu. small object that is inserted into something so as to test conditions at a given point
- a device used to penetrate or send back information esp. from outer space or a celestial body
- a device (as an ultrasound generator) or a substance (as radioactively labeled DNA) used to obtain specific information for diagnostic or experimental purposes
- a pipe on the receiving airplane thrust into the drogue of the delivering airplane in air refueling
- the action of probing
- a penetrating or critical investigation
- a tentative exploratory advance or survey
- to search into and explore very thoroughly : subject to a penetrating investigation
- to examine with a probe
- unmanned vehicles probed space
- to make a searching exploratory investigation
pro·ben·e·cid [prō-'be-nə-səd] -n
- a drug C 13H 19NO 4S that acts on renal tubular function and is used to increase the concentration of some drugs (as penicillin) in the blood by inhibiting their excretion and to increase the excretion of urates in gout
pro·bi·ot·ic [prō-bī-'ä-tik, -bē-'ä-] -n, adj
- a preparation (as a dietary supplement) containing live bacteria (as lactobacilli) that is taken orally to restore beneficial bacteria to the body
- a bacterium of such a preparation
prob·it ['prä-bət] -n
- a unit of measurement of statistical probability based on deviations from the mean of a normal distribution
pro·bi·ty ['prō-bə-tē] -n
- adherence to the highest principles and ideals : uprightness
prob·lem ['prä-bləm, -bᵊm, -,blem] -n
- a question raised for inquiry, consideration, or solution
- a proposition in mathematics or physics stating something to be done
- an intricate unsettled question
- a source of perplexity, distress, or vexation
- difficulty in understanding or accepting
- I have a problem with your saying that
problem -adj
- dealing with a problem of conduct or social relationship
- difficult to deal with
prob·lem·at·ic [,prä-blə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv
- posing a problem : difficult to solve or decide
- not definite or settled : uncertain
- their future remains problematic
- open to question or debate : questionable
- expressing or supporting a possibility
problematic -n
- something that is problematic : a problematic aspect or concern
prob·lem·a·tize ['prä-blə-mə-,tīz] -vt, n
- to consider or treat as a problem
pro bono [,prō-'bō-(,)nō] -adj, adv
- being, involving, or doing professional and esp. legal work donated esp. for the public good
pro·bos·ci·de·an [prə-,bä-sə-'dē-ən] -n, adj
- any of an order (Proboscidea) of large mammals comprising the elephants and extinct related forms (as mastodons)
pro·bos·cis [prə-'bä-səs, -'bäs-kəs] -n
- the trunk of an elephant
- any long flexible snout
- the human nose esp. when prominent
- any of various elongated or extensible tubular processes (as the sucking organ of a butterfly) of the oral region of an invertebrate
proboscis monkey -n
- a large long-tailed monkey ( Nasalis larvatus) of Bornean forests that has a large nose which is long and pendulous in adult males
proc -abbr
- proceedings
pro·caine ['prō-,kān] -n
- a basic ester C 13H 20N 2O 2of para-aminobenzoic acid
- its crystalline hydrochloride used as a local anesthetic
pro·cam·bi·um [(,)prō-'kam-bē-əm] -n, adj
- the part of the primary meristem of a plant that forms cambium and primary vascular tissues
pro·car·ba·zine [prō-'kär-bə-,zēn, -zən] -n
- an antineoplastic drug C 12H 19N 3O that is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor used in the form of its hydrochloride esp. in the palliative treatment of Hodgkin's disease
procaryote [(,)prō-'ka-rē-,ōt] -n, adj
(variant of prokaryote)
- any of the typically unicellular microorganisms that lack a distinct nucleus and membrane-bound organelles and that are classified as a kingdom (Prokaryotae syn. Monera) or into two domains (Bacteria and Archaea)
pro·ca·the·dral [,prō-kə-'thē-drəl] -n
- a parish church used as a cathedral
pro·ce·dur·al [prə-'sē-jə-rəl, -'sēj-rəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to procedure
- of or relating to the procedure used by courts or other bodies administering substantive law
procedural -n
- a realist crime novel with a specific focus
- police procedural
procedural due process -n
- due process
pro·ce·dure [prə-'sē-jər] -n
- a particular way of accomplishing something or of acting
- a step in a procedure
- a series of steps followed in a regular definite order
- a set of instructions for a computer that has a name by which it can be called into action
- a traditional or established way of doing things
- protocol
pro·ceed [prō-'sēd, prə-] -vi
- to come forth from a source : issue
- strange sounds proceed ed from the room
- to continue after a pause or interruption
- to go on in an orderly regulated way
- to begin and carry on an action, process, or movement
- to be in the process of being accomplished
- the work is proceed ing well
- to move along a course : advance
pro·ceed·ing [-'sē-diŋ] -n
- legal action
- procedure
- events, happenings
- transaction
- an official record of things said or done
pro·ceeds ['prō-,sēdz] -n pl
- the total amount brought in
- the net amount received (as for a check or from an insurance settlement) after deduction of any discount or charges
pro·ce·phal·ic [,prō-sə-'fa-lik] -adj
- relating to, forming, or situated on or near the front of the head
pro·cer·coid [(,)prō-'sər-,kȯid] -n
- the solid first parasitic larva of some tapeworms that develops usu. in the body cavity of a copepod
pro·cess ['prä-,ses, 'prō-, -səs] -n
- progress, advance
- something going on : proceeding
- a natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result
- a continuing natural or biological activity or function
- such life process es as breathing
- a series of actions or operations conducing to an end
- a continuous operation or treatment esp. in manufacture
- the whole course of proceedings in a legal action
- the summons, mandate, or writ used by a court to compel the appearance of the defendant in a legal action or compliance with its orders
- a prominent or projecting part of an organism or organic structure
- conk
process -vt
- to proceed against by law : prosecute
- to take out a summons against
- to serve a summons on
- to subject to a special process or treatment (as in the course of manufacture or film development)
- to subject to or handle through an established usu. routine set of procedures
- to integrate sensory information received so that an action or response is generated
- the brain process es visual images relayed from the retina
- to subject to examination or analysis
- to work (hair) into a conk
- treated or made by a special process esp. when involving synthesis or artificial modification
- made by or used in a mechanical or photomechanical duplicating process
- of or involving illusory effects usu. introduced during processing of the film
pro·cess [prə-'ses] -vi
- to move in a procession
pro·cess·able ['prä-,se-sə-bəl, 'prō-] -adj, n
- suitable for processing : capable of being processed
process cheese -n
- a cheese made by blending several lots of cheese called also processed cheese
pro·ces·sion [prə-'se-shən] -n
- a group of individuals moving along in an orderly often ceremonial way
- succession, sequence
- continuous forward movement : progression
- emanation
- the Holy Spirit's procession from the Father
procession -vi
- to go in procession
pro·ces·sion·al [prə-'sesh-nəl, -'se-shə-nᵊl] -n
- a book containing material for a procession
- a musical composition (as a hymn) designed for a procession
- a ceremonial procession
processional -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or moving in a procession
pro·ces·sor ['prä-,se-sər, 'prō-] -n
- one that processes
- computer
- cpu
- a computer program (as a compiler) that puts another program into a form acceptable to the computer
- food processor
pro·cesver·bal [prō-,sā-vər-'bäl, -(,)ver-] -n
- an official written record
prochoice [(,)prō-'chȯis] -adj, n
- favoring the legalization of abortion
pro·claim [prō-'klām, prə-] -vt, n
- to declare publicly, typically insistently, proudly, or defiantly and in either speech or writing : announce
- to give outward indication of : show
- his manner proclaim ed his genteel upbringing
- to declare or declare to be solemnly, officially, or formally
- proclaim the country a republic
- to praise or glorify openly or publicly : extol
- proclaim ed the rescue workers' efforts
proc·la·ma·tion [,prä-klə-'mā-shən] -n
- the action of proclaiming : the state of being proclaimed
- something proclaimed
- an official formal public announcement
pro·clit·ic [(,)prō-'kli-tik] -n, adj
- a clitic that is associated with a following word
pro·cliv·i·ty [prō-'kli-və-tē] -n
- an inclination or predisposition toward something
- a strong inherent inclination toward something objectionable
Proc·ne ['präk-nē] -n
- the wife of Tereus who is changed into a swallow while fleeing from him
pro·con·sul [(,)prō-'kän(t)-səl] -n, adj
- a governor or military commander of an ancient Roman province
- an administrator in a modern colony, dependency, or occupied area usu. with wide powers
pro·cras·ti·nate [prə-'kras-tə-,nāt, prō-] -vb, n
- to put off intentionally and habitually
- to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done
pro·cre·ant ['prō-krē-ənt] -adj
- producing offspring
- of or relating to procreation
pro·cre·ate [-,āt] -vb, n, adj
- to beget or bring forth (offspring) : propagate
- to beget or bring forth offspring : reproduce
pro·crus·te·an [prə-'krəs-tē-ən, prō-] -adj
- of, relating to, or typical of Procrustes
- marked by arbitrary often ruthless disregard of individual differences or special circumstances
procrustean bed -n
- a scheme or pattern into which someone or something is arbitrarily forced
Pro·crus·tes [prə-'krəs-(,)tēz, prō-] -n
- a villainous son of Poseidon in Greek mythology who forces travelers to fit into his bed by stretching their bodies or cutting off their legs
pro·cryp·tic [(,)prō-'krip-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a concealing pattern or shade of coloring esp. in insects
proc·to·dae·um [,präk-tə-'dē-əm] -n
- the embryonic posterior ectodermal part of the alimentary canal
proc·tol·o·gy [präk-'tä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- a branch of medicine dealing with the structure and diseases of the anus, rectum, and sigmoid colon
proc·tor ['präk-tər] -n, vb, adj
- supervisor, monitor
- one appointed to supervise students (as at an examination)
pro·cum·bent [prō-'kəm-bənt] -adj
- being or having stems that trail along the ground without rooting
- lying face down
proc·u·ra·tion [,prä-kyə-'rā-shən] -n
- the act of appointing another as one's agent or attorney
- the authority vested in one so appointed
- the action of obtaining something (as supplies) : procurement
proc·u·ra·tor ['prä-kyə-,rā-tər] -n, adj
- one that manages another's affairs : agent
- an officer of the Roman empire entrusted with management of the financial affairs of a province and often having administrative powers as agent of the emperor
pro·cure [prə-'kyu̇r, prō-] -vb, adj
- to get possession of : obtain by particular care and effort
- to get and make available for promiscuous sexual intercourse
- bring about, achieve
- procured the prisoner's release
- to procure women
pro·cure·ment [-'kyu̇r-mənt] -n
- the act or process of procuring
- the obtaining of military supplies by a government
pro·cur·er [-'kyu̇r-ər] -n
- one that procures
- pander
Pro·cy·on ['prō-sē-,än, 'prä-, -ən] -n
- the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor
prod ['präd] -vb, n
- to thrust a pointed instrument into : prick
- to incite to action : stir
- to poke or stir as if with a prod
- to urge someone on
- a pointed instrument used to prod
- an incitement to act
- needed a few prod s to remember her lines
- product; production
Prod ['präd] -n
- Protestant
prod·i·gal ['prä-di-gəl] -adj, n, adv
- characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure : lavish
- prodigal outlays for her clothes
- recklessly spendthrift
- yielding abundantly : luxuriant often used with of
- nature has been so prodigal of her bounty -- H. T. Buckle
prodigal -n
- one who spends or gives lavishly and foolishly
- one who has returned after an absence
pro·di·gious [prə-'di-jəs] -adj, adv, n
- being an omen : portentous
- resembling or befitting a prodigy : strange, unusual
- exciting amazement or wonder
- extraordinary in bulk, quantity, or degree : enormous
prod·i·gy ['prä-də-jē] -n
- a portentous event : omen
- something extraordinary or inexplicable
- an extraordinary, marvelous, or unusual accomplishment, deed, or event
- a highly talented child or youth
prodn -abbr
- production
pro·dro·mal [(,)prō-'drō-məl] -adj
- precursory
- marked by prodromes
pro·drome ['prō-,drōm] -n
- a premonitory symptom of disease
pro·duce [prə-'düs, prō-, -'dyüs] -vb, adj
- to offer to view or notice
- to give birth or rise to : yield
- to extend in length, area, or volume
- produce a side of a triangle
- : to make available for public exhibition or dissemination: as
- to provide funding for
- search for backers to produce the film
- to oversee the making of
- will produce their new album
- to cause to have existence or to happen : bring about
- to give being, form, or shape to : make
- manufacture
- to compose, create, or bring out by intellectual or physical effort
- to cause to accrue
- to bear, make, or yield something
- something produced
- the amount produced : yield
- agricultural products and esp. fresh fruits and vegetables as distinguished from grain and other staple crops
- the progeny usu. of a female animal
pro·duc·er [prə-'dü-sər, prō-, -'dyü-] -n
- one that produces
- one that grows agricultural products or manufactures crude materials into articles of use
- a person who supervises or finances a work (as a staged or recorded performance) for exhibition or dissemination to the public
- an autotrophic organism (as a green plant) viewed as a source of biomass that can be consumed by other organisms
producer gas -n
- a fuel gas made by circulating air or a mixture of air and steam through a layer of incandescent fuel and consisting chiefly of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and nitrogen
producer goods -n pl
- goods (as tools and raw materials) used to produce other goods and satisfy human wants only indirectly
prod·uct ['prä-(,)dəkt] -n
- the number or expression resulting from the multiplication together of two or more numbers or expressions
- something produced
- commodity
- something (as a service) that is marketed or sold as a commodity
- something resulting from or necessarily following from a set of conditions
- a product of his environment
- the amount, quantity, or total produced
- conjunction
pro·duc·tion [prə-'dək-shən, prō-] -n, adj
- something produced : product
- a literary or artistic work
- a work presented to the public (as on the stage or screen or over the air)
- something exaggerated out of proportion to its importance
- the act or process of producing
- the creation of utility
- the making of goods available for use
- total output esp. of a commodity or an industry
- something not specially designed or customized and usu. mass-produced
production control -n
- systematic planning, coordinating, and directing of all manufacturing activities and influences to insure having goods made on time, of adequate quality, and at reasonable cost
production line -n
- line
pro·duc·tive [prə-'dək-tiv, prō-] -adj, adv, n
- having the quality or power of producing esp. in abundance
- productive fishing waters
- effective in bringing about
- investigating committees have been productive of much good -- R. K. Carr
- yielding results, benefits, or profits
- yielding or devoted to the satisfaction of wants or the creation of utilities
- continuing to be used in the formation of new words or constructions
- un- is a productive prefix
- raising mucus or sputum (as from the bronchi)
pro·duc·tiv·i·ty [,prō-dək-'ti-və-tē, ,prä-, prə-,dək-] -n
- the quality or state of being productive
- the rate per unit area or per unit volume at which biomass consumable as food by other organisms is made by producers
product placement -n
- the inclusion of a product in a television program or film as a form of paid advertisement
pro·em ['prō-,em, -əm] -n, adj
- preliminary comment : preface
- prelude
pro·en·zyme [(,)prō-'en-,zīm] -n
- zymogen
pro·es·trus [(,)prō-'es-trəs] -n
- a period immediately preceding estrus characterized by preparatory physiological changes
prof ['präf] -n
- professor
- professional
profam·i·ly [,prō-'fam-lē, -'fa-mə-] -adj
- favoring or encouraging traditional family structures and values
- opposing abortion and often birth control
prof·a·na·tion [,prä-fə-'nā-shən, ,prō-] -n
- the act or an instance of profaning
pro·fa·na·to·ry [prō-'fa-nə-,tȯr-ē, prə-, -'fā-] -adj
- tending to profane : desecrating
pro·fane [prō-'fān, prə-] -vt, n
- to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt : desecrate
- to debase by a wrong, unworthy, or vulgar use
profane [-'fān-nəs] -adj, adv, n
- not concerned with religion or religious purposes : secular
- not holy because unconsecrated, impure, or defiled : unsanctified
- serving to debase or defile what is holy : irreverent
- obscene, vulgar
- not being among the initiated
- not possessing esoteric or expert knowledge
pro·fan·i·ty [prō-'fa-nə-tē, prə-] -n
- the quality or state of being profane
- the use of profane language
- profane language
- an utterance of profane language
pro·fess [prə-'fes, prō-] -vb
- to receive formally into a religious community following a novitiate by acceptance of the required vows
- to declare or admit openly or freely : affirm
- to declare in words or appearances only : pretend, claim
- to confess one's faith in or allegiance to
- to practice or claim to be versed in (a calling or profession)
- to teach as a professor
- to make a profession or avowal
- to profess friendship
pro·fessed [-'fest] -adj
- openly and freely declared or acknowledged : affirmed
- professing to be qualified
- expert
pro·fessed·ly [prə-'fe-səd-lē, -'fest-lē] -adv
- by profession or declaration : avowedly
- with pretense : allegedly
pro·fes·sion [prə-'fe-shən] -n
- the act of taking the vows of a religious community
- an act of openly declaring or publicly claiming a belief, faith, or opinion : protestation
- an avowed religious faith
- a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation
- a principal calling, vocation, or employment
- the whole body of persons engaged in a calling
pro·fes·sion·al [prə-'fesh-nəl, -'fe-shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession
- engaged in one of the learned professions
- characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession
- exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace
- participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs
- having a particular profession as a permanent career
- engaged in by persons receiving financial return
- following a line of conduct as though it were a profession
professional -n
- one that is professional
- one that engages in a pursuit or activity professionally
professional corporation -n
- a corporation organized by one or more licensed individuals (as a doctor or lawyer) esp. for the purpose of providing professional services and obtaining tax advantages
pro·fes·sion·al·ism [-'fesh-nə-,li-zəm, -'fe-shə-nə-,li-] -n
- the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person
- the following of a profession (as athletics) for gain or livelihood
pro·fes·sion·al·ize [-,līz] -vt, n
- to give a professional character to
pro·fes·sor [prə-'fe-sər] -n, adj, adv
- one that professes, avows, or declares
- a faculty member of the highest academic rank at an institution of higher education
- a teacher at a university, college, or sometimes secondary school
- one that teaches or professes special knowledge of an art, sport, or occupation requiring skill
pro·fes·sor·ate [prə-'fe-sə-rət] -n
- the office, term of office, or position of a professor
pro·fes·so·ri·at [,prō-fə-'sȯr-ē-ət, ,prä-, -ē-,at] -n
- the body of college and university teachers at an institution or in society
- the office, duties, or position of a professor
prof·fer ['prä-fər] -vt
- to present for acceptance : tender, offer
proffer -n
- offer, suggestion
pro·fi·cien·cy [prə-'fi-shən(t)-sē] -n
- advancement in knowledge or skill : progress
- the quality or state of being proficient
pro·fi·cient [-shənt] -adj, n, adv
- well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge
pro·file ['prō-,fī(-ə)l] -n
- a representation of something in outline
- a human head or face represented or seen in a side view
- an outline seen or represented in sharp relief : contour
- : a side or sectional elevation: as
- a drawing showing a vertical section of the ground
- a vertical section of a soil from the ground surface to the underlying unweathered material
- a set of data often in graphic form portraying the significant features of something
- a corporation's earnings profile
- a graph representing the extent to which an individual exhibits traits or abilities as determined by tests or ratings
- a concise biographical sketch
- degree or level of public exposure
- trying to keep a low profile
- a job with a high profile
profile -vt, n
- to represent in profile or by a profile : produce (as by drawing, writing, or graphing) a profile of
- to shape the outline of by passing a cutter around
- to subject to profiling
profiling -n
- the act or process of extrapolating information about a person based on known traits or tendencies
- the act of suspecting or targeting a person on the basis of observed characteristics or behavior
prof·it ['prä-fət] -n, adj, adv
- a valuable return : gain
- the excess of returns over expenditure in a transaction or series of transactions
- the excess of the selling price of goods over their cost
- net income usu. for a given period of time
- the ratio of profit for a given year to the amount of capital invested or to the value of sales
- the compensation accruing to entrepreneurs for the assumption of risk in business enterprise as distinguished from wages or rent
profit -vi
- to be of service or advantage : avail
- to derive benefit : gain
- to make a profit
- to be of service to : benefit
prof·it·able ['prä-fə-tə-bəl, 'präf-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- affording profits : yielding advantageous returns or results
profit and loss -n
- a summary account used at the end of an accounting period to collect the balances of the nominal accounts so that the net profit or loss may be shown
profit center -n
- a part of a corporation or its product line that is an important source of profits
prof·i·teer [,prä-fə-'tir] -n, vi
- one who makes what is considered an unreasonable profit esp. on the sale of essential goods during times of emergency
pro·fit·er·ole [prə-'fi-tə-,rōl] -n
- a miniature cream puff with a sweet or savory filling
profit sharing -n
- a system or process under which employees receive a part of the profits of an industrial or commercial enterprise
profit system -n
- free enterprise
prof·li·ga·cy ['prä-fli-gə-sē] -n
- the quality or state of being profligate
prof·li·gate ['prä-fli-gət, -,gāt] -adj, adv
- completely given up to dissipation and licentiousness
- wildly extravagant : prodigal
profligate -n
- a person given to wildly extravagant and usu. grossly self-indulgent expenditure
pro·flu·ent ['prä-,flü-ənt, 'prō-; prō-'flü-] -adj
- flowing copiously or smoothly
pro for·ma [(,)prō-'fȯr-mə] -adj
- made or carried out in a perfunctory manner or as a formality
- : based on financial assumptions or projections: as
- reflecting a transaction (as a merger) or other development as if it had been or will be in effect for a past or future period
- a pro forma balance sheet
- excluding usu. extraordinary charges or expenses (as from acquisitions, restructuring, or the write-down of goodwill) often in order to present a more attractive financial report
pro forma invoice -n
- a document provided prior to or with a shipment of goods (as for export) that describes the items and terms of sale but does not have the function of a real invoice
pro·found [prə-'fau̇nd, prō-] -adj, adv, n
- having intellectual depth and insight
- difficult to fathom or understand
- extending far below the surface
- coming from, reaching to, or situated at a depth : deep-seated
- characterized by intensity of feeling or quality
- all encompassing : complete
profound -n
- something that is very deep
- the depths of the sea
pro·fun·di·ty [prə-'fən-də-tē] -n
- intellectual depth
- something profound or abstruse
- the quality or state of being profound or deep
pro·fuse [prə-'fyüs, prō-] -adj, adv, n
- pouring forth liberally : extravagant
- exhibiting great abundance : bountiful
pro·fu·sion [-'fyü-zhən] -n
- lavish expenditure : extravagance
- the quality or state of being profuse
- great quantity : lavish display or supply
- snow falling in profusion
prog ['präg] -vi
- to search about
- forage
- food, victuals
- program
- progressive
pro·gen·i·tor [prō-'je-nə-tər, prə-] -n
- an ancestor in the direct line : forefather
- a biologically ancestral form
- precursor, originator
- progenitor s of socialist ideas -- Times Lit. Supp.
prog·e·ny ['prä-jə-nē] -n
- descendants, children
- offspring of animals or plants
- outcome, product
- a body of followers, disciples, or successors
pro·ge·ria [prō-'jir-ē-ə] -n
- a rare genetic disorder of childhood marked by slowed physical growth and characteristic signs (as baldness, wrinkled skin, and atherosclerosis) of rapid aging with death usu. occurring around puberty
pro·ges·ta·tion·al [,prō-,jes-'tā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj
- preceding pregnancy or gestation
- of, relating to, inducing, or constituting the modifications of the female mammalian system associated esp. with ovulation and corpus luteum formation
pro·ges·ter·one [prō-'jes-tə-,rōn] -n
- a female steroid sex hormone C 21H 30O 2that is secreted by the corpus luteum to prepare the endometrium for implantation and later by the placenta during pregnancy to prevent rejection of the developing embryo or fetus
- a synthetic steroid resembling progesterone in action
pro·ges·tin [-'jes-tən] -n
- progestogen
- a synthetic progesterone (as levonorgestrel)
pro·ges·to·gen [-'jes-tə-jən] -n, adj
- a naturally occurring or synthetic progestational steroid
pro·glot·tid [(,)prō-'glä-təd] -n
- a segment of a tapeworm containing both male and female reproductive organs
pro·glot·tis [(,)prō-'glä-təs] -n
- proglottid
prog·na·thism ['präg-nə-,thi-zəm, präg-'nā-] -n, adj
- the condition marked by a prognathous jaw
prog·na·thous ['präg-nə-thəs] -adj
- being or having the lower jaw projecting beyond the upper part of the face
prog·no·sis [präg-'nō-səs] -n
- the prospect of recovery as anticipated from the usual course of disease or peculiarities of the case
- forecast, prognostication
prog·nos·tic [präg-'näs-tik] -n
- something that foretells : portent
- prognostication, prophecy
prognostic -adj
- of, relating to, or serving as ground for prognostication or a prognosis
- prognostic weather charts
- favorable prognostic signs
prog·nos·ti·cate [präg-'näs-tə-,kāt] -vt, adj, n
- to foretell from signs or symptoms : predict
- presage
prog·nos·ti·ca·tion [(,)präg-,näs-tə-'kā-shən] -n
- an indication in advance : foretoken
- an act, the fact, or the power of prognosticating : forecast
- foreboding
pro·grade ['prō-,grād] -adj
- having or being a direction of rotation or revolution that is counterclockwise as viewed from the north pole of the sky or a planet
pro·gram ['prō-,gram, -grəm] -n
- a public notice
- a brief usu. printed outline of the order to be followed, of the features to be presented, and the persons participating (as in a public performance)
- the performance of a program
- a performance broadcast on radio or television
- a plan or system under which action may be taken toward a goal
- curriculum
- prospectus, syllabus
- a plan for the programming of a mechanism (as a computer)
- a sequence of coded instructions that can be inserted into a mechanism (as a computer)
- a sequence of coded instructions (as genes or behavioral responses) that is part of an organism
program [(,)prō-,gra-mə-'bi-lə-tē] -vt, n, adj or n
- to arrange or furnish a program of or for : bill
- to enter in a program
- to work out a sequence of operations to be performed by (a mechanism) : provide with a program
- to insert a program for (a particular action) into or as if into a mechanism
- to control by or as if by a program
- to code in an organism's program
- to provide with a biological program
- cells programmed to synthesize hemoglobin
- to predetermine the thinking, behavior, or operations of as if by computer programming
- children are programmed into violence -- Lisa A. Richette
program director -n
- one in charge of planning and scheduling program material for a radio or television station or network
pro·gram·mat·ic [,prō-grə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv
- relating to program music
- of, relating to, resembling, or having a program
programme ['prō-,gram, -grəm] -n
(variant of program)
- a public notice
- a brief usu. printed outline of the order to be followed, of the features to be presented, and the persons participating (as in a public performance)
- the performance of a program
- a performance broadcast on radio or television
- a plan or system under which action may be taken toward a goal
- curriculum
- prospectus, syllabus
- a plan for the programming of a mechanism (as a computer)
- a sequence of coded instructions that can be inserted into a mechanism (as a computer)
- a sequence of coded instructions (as genes or behavioral responses) that is part of an organism
programmed cell death -n
- apoptosis
programmed instruction -n
- instruction through information given in small steps with each requiring a correct response by the learner before going on to the next step
pro·gram·mer ['prō-,gra-mər, -grə-] -n
- : one that programs: as
- a person who prepares and tests programs for devices (as computers)
- one that programs a mechanism
- one that prepares an instructional program
- a person who plans or prepares entertainment programs
pro·gram·ming [-miŋ] -n
- the planning, scheduling, or performing of a program
- the process of instructing or learning by means of an instructional program
- the process of preparing an instructional program
program music -n
- music intended to suggest a sequence of images or incidents
program trading -n
- computerized trading of large blocks of stocks in one market and stock index futures in another so as to take advantage of price differentials between the markets
prog·ress ['prä-grəs, -,gres, US also & Brit usu 'prō-,gres] -n
- a royal journey marked by pomp and pageant
- a state procession
- a tour or circuit made by an official (as a judge)
- an expedition, journey, or march through a region
- a forward or onward movement (as to an objective or to a goal) : advance
- gradual betterment
- the progressive development of humankind
pro·gress [prə-'gres] -vi
- to move forward : proceed
- to develop to a higher, better, or more advanced stage
pro·gres·sion [prə-'gre-shən] -n, adj
- a sequence of numbers in which each term is related to its predecessor by a uniform law
- the action or process of progressing : advance
- a continuous and connected series : sequence
- succession of musical tones or chords
- the movement of musical parts in harmony
- sequence
pro·gres·sive [prə-'gre-siv] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or characterized by progress
- making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities
- of, relating to, or constituting an educational theory marked by emphasis on the individual child, informality of classroom procedure, and encouragement of self-expression
- of, relating to, or characterized by progression
- moving forward or onward : advancing
- increasing in extent or severity
- increasing in rate as the base increases
- of or relating to political Progressives
- of, relating to, or constituting a verb form that expresses action or state in progress at the time of speaking or a time spoken of
- of, relating to, or being a multifocal lens with a gradual transition between focal lengths
- or, relating to, or using a method of video scanning (as for television or a computer monitor) in which the horizontal lines of each frame are drawn successively from top to bottom
progressive -n
- one that is progressive
- one believing in moderate political change and esp. social improvement by governmental action
- : a member of any of various U.S. political parties: as
- a member of a predominantly agrarian minor party that around 1912 split off from the Republicans
- bull moose
- a follower of Robert M. La Follette in the presidential campaign of 1924
- a follower of Henry A. Wallace in the presidential campaign of 1948
Progressive Conservative -adj, n
- of or relating to a major political party in Canada traditionally advocating economic nationalism and close ties with the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations
pro·gres·siv·ism [prə-'gre-si-,vi-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj
- the principles, beliefs, or practices of progressives
- the political and economic doctrines advocated by the Progressives
- the theories of progressive education
pro·gres·siv·i·ty [,prō-(,)gre-'si-və-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being a progressive tax
pro·hib·it [prō-'hi-bət, prə-] -vt
- to forbid by authority : enjoin
- to prevent from doing something
- preclude
pro·hi·bi·tion [,prō-ə-'bi-shən also ,prō-hə-] -n
- the act of prohibiting by authority
- an order to restrain or stop
- the forbidding by law of the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic liquors except for medicinal and sacramental purposes
pro·hi·bi·tion·ist [-sh(ə-)nist] -n
- one who favors prohibition
- a member of a U.S. political party advocating prohibition
pro·hib·i·tive [prō-'hi-bə-tiv, prə-] -adj, adv, n
- tending to prohibit or restrain
- tending to preclude use or purchase
- almost certain to perform as predicted
pro·hib·i·to·ry [-'hi-bə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- prohibitive
pro·in·su·lin [(,)prō-'in(t)-s(ə-)lən] -n
- a single-chain pancreatic polypeptide precursor of insulin that gives rise to the double chain of insulin by cleavage and loss of the middle part of the molecule
proj -abbr
- project
- projector
proj·ect ['prä-,jekt, -jikt also 'prō-] -n
- a specific plan or design : scheme
- idea
- : a planned undertaking: as
- a definitely formulated piece of research
- a large usu. government-supported undertaking
- a task or problem engaged in usu. by a group of students to supplement and apply classroom studies
- a usu. public housing development consisting of houses or apartments built and arranged according to a single plan
pro·ject [prə-'jekt] -vb, adj
- to devise in the mind : design
- to plan, figure, or estimate for the future
- to throw or cast forward : thrust
- to put or set forth : present for consideration
- to cause to jut out
- to cause (light or shadow) to fall into space or (an image) to fall on a surface
- to reproduce (as a point, line, or area) on a surface by motion in a prescribed direction
- to display outwardly esp. to an audience
- to attribute (one's own ideas, feelings, or characteristics) to other people or to objects
- a nation is an entity on which one can project many of the worst of one's instincts -- Times Lit. Supp.
- to jut out : protrude
- to come across vividly : give an impression
- to make oneself heard clearly
pro·jec·tile [prə-'jek-tᵊl, -,tī(-ə)l, chiefly Brit 'prä-jik-,tī(-ə)l] -n
- a body projected by external force and continuing in motion by its own inertia
- a missile for a weapon (as a firearm)
- a self-propelling weapon (as a rocket)
projectile -adj
- projecting or impelling forward
- capable of being thrust forward
projectile vom·it·ing [-'vä-mə-tiŋ] -n
- vomiting that is sudden and so vigorous that the vomitus is forcefully projected to a distance
pro·jec·tion [prə-'jek-shən] -n, adj
- a systematic presentation of intersecting coordinate lines on a flat surface upon which features from a curved surface (as of the earth or the celestial sphere) may be mapped
- an equal-area map projection
- the process or technique of reproducing a spatial object upon a plane or curved surface or a line by projecting its points
- a graph or figure so formed
- a transforming change
- the act of throwing or thrusting forward
- the forming of a plan : scheming
- a jutting out
- a part that juts out
- a view of a building or architectural element
- the act of perceiving a mental object as spatially and sensibly objective
- something so perceived
- the attribution of one's own ideas, feelings, or attitudes to other people or to objects
- the externalization of blame, guilt, or responsibility as a defense against anxiety
- the display of motion pictures by projecting an image from them upon a screen
- the act of projecting esp. to an audience
- control of the volume, clarity, and distinctness of a voice to gain greater audibility
- an estimate of future possibilities based on a current trend
projection booth -n
- a booth in a theater or hall for housing and operating a projector and esp. a motion-picture projector
pro·jec·tion·ist [prə-'jek-sh(ə-)nist] -n
- : one that makes projections: as
- cartographer
- a person who operates a motion-picture projector or television equipment
pro·jec·tive [prə-'jek-tiv] -adj, adv
- relating to, produced by, or involving geometric projection
- of or relating to something that indicates the psychodynamic constitution of an individual
projective geometry -n
- a branch of geometry that deals with the properties of configurations that are unaltered by projection
pro·jec·tor [prə-'jek-tər] -n
- one that plans a project
- promoter
- : one that projects: as
- a device for projecting a beam of light
- an optical instrument for projecting an image upon a surface
- a machine for projecting motion pictures on a screen
- an imagined line from an object to a surface along which projection takes place
pro·jet [prō-'zhā, 'prō-,] -n
- plan
- a draft of a proposed measure or treaty
- a projected or proposed design
pro·kary·ote [(,)prō-'ka-rē-,ōt] -n, adj
- any of the typically unicellular microorganisms that lack a distinct nucleus and membrane-bound organelles and that are classified as a kingdom (Prokaryotae syn. Monera) or into two domains (Bacteria and Archaea)
pro·lac·tin [prō-'lak-tən] -n
- a protein hormone of the anterior lobe of the pituitary that induces lactation
pro·la·min ['prō-lə-mən, -,mēn] -n
- any of various simple proteins (as zein) that are found esp. in grass seeds and are soluble in alcohol
pro·lapse [prō-'laps, 'prō-,] -n
- the falling down or slipping of a body part from its usual position or relations
- to undergo prolapse
pro·late ['prō-,lāt] -adj
- extended
- elongated in the direction of a line joining the poles
prole ['prōl] -n or adj
- proletarian
pro·leg ['prō-,leg, -,lāg] -n
- a fleshy leg that occurs on an abdominal segment of some insect larvae but not in the adult
pro·le·gom·e·non [,prō-li-'gä-mə-,nän, -nən] -n, adj
- prefatory remarks
- a formal essay or critical discussion serving to introduce and interpret an extended work
pro·lep·sis [prō-'lep-səs] -n, adj, adv
- : anticipation: as
- the representation or assumption of a future act or development as if presently existing or accomplished
- the application of an adjective to a noun in anticipation of the result of the action of the verb (as in while yon slow oxen turn the furrowedplain)
pro·le·tar·i·an [,prō-lə-'ter-ē-ən] -n, adj
- a member of the proletariat
pro·le·tar·i·an·ise [-'ter-ē-ə-,nīz] -vt, n
(variant of proletarianize)
- to reduce to a proletarian status or level
pro·le·tar·i·an·ize [-'ter-ē-ə-,nīz] -vt, n
- to reduce to a proletarian status or level
pro·le·tar·i·at [,prō-lə-'ter-ē-ət, -ē-,at] -n
- the laboring class
- the class of industrial workers who lack their own means of production and hence sell their labor to live
- the lowest social or economic class of a community
prolife [(,)prō-'līf] -adj, n
- opposed to abortion
pro·lif·er·ate [prə-'li-fə-,rāt] -vb, n, adj
- to grow by rapid production of new parts, cells, buds, or offspring
- to increase in number as if by proliferating : multiply
- to cause to grow by proliferating
- to cause to increase in number or extent as if by proliferating
pro·lif·ic [prə-'li-fik] -adj, n, adv
- producing young or fruit esp. freely : fruitful
- causing abundant growth, generation, or reproduction
- marked by abundant inventiveness or productivity
pro·li·fic·i·ty [,prō-lə-'fi-sə-tē] -n
- prolific power or character
pro·line ['prō-,lēn] -n
- an amino acid C 5H 9NO 2that can be synthesized by animals from glutamate
pro·lix [prō-'liks, 'prō-(,)] -adj, n, adv
- unduly prolonged or drawn out : too long
- marked by or using an excess of words
pro·loc·u·tor [prō-'lä-kyə-tər] -n
- one who speaks for another : spokesman
- presiding officer : chairman
pro·log·ize ['prō-,lȯ-,gīz, -,lä-; -lə-,jīz] -vi
- to write or speak a prologue
pro·logue ['prō-,lȯg, -,läg] -n
- the preface or introduction to a literary work
- a speech often in verse addressed to the audience by an actor at the beginning of a play
- the actor speaking such a prologue
- an introductory or preceding event or development
pro·long [prə-'lȯŋ] -vt, n
- to lengthen in time : continue
- to lengthen in extent, scope, or range
pro·lu·sion [prō-'lü-zhən] -n, adj
- a preliminary trial or exercise : prelude
- an introductory and often tentative discourse
prom ['präm] -n
- a formal dance given by a high school or college class
- promenade
- promontory
prom·e·nade [,prä-mə-'nād, -'näd] -vb, n
- to take or go on a promenade
- to perform a promenade in a dance
- to walk about in or on
promenade -n
- a place for strolling
- a leisurely walk or ride esp. in a public place for pleasure or display
- a ceremonious opening of a formal ball consisting of a grand march of all the guests
- a figure in a square dance in which couples move counterclockwise in a circle
promenade deck -n
- an upper deck or an area on a deck of a passenger ship where passengers stroll
Pro·me·the·an [prə-'mē-thē-ən] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling Prometheus, his experiences, or his art
- daringly original or creative
Pro·me·theus [-thē-əs, -,thyüs] -n
- a Titan who is chained and tortured by Zeus for stealing fire from heaven and giving it to humankind
pro·me·thi·um [-thē-əm] -n
- a radioactive metallic element of the rare-earth group obtained as a fission product of uranium or from neutron-irradiated neodymium
prom·i·nence ['prä-mə-nən(t)s, 'präm-nən(t)s] -n
- something prominent : projection
- the quality, state, or fact of being prominent or conspicuous
- a mass of gas resembling a cloud that arises from the chromosphere of the sun
prom·i·nent [-nənt] -adj, adv
- standing out or projecting beyond a surface or line : protuberant
- readily noticeable : conspicuous
- widely and popularly known : leading
pro·mis·cu·i·ty [,prä-mə-'skyü-ə-tē, ,prō-] -n
- miscellaneous mingling or selection of persons or things : indiscriminateness
- promiscuous sexual behavior
pro·mis·cu·ous [prə-'mis-kyə-wəs] -adj, adv, n
- composed of all sorts of persons or things
- not restricted to one class, sort, or person : indiscriminate
- education...cheapened through the promiscuous distribution of diplomas -- Norman Cousins
- not restricted to one sexual partner
- casual, irregular
- promiscuous eating habits
prom·ise ['prä-məs] -n
- a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified
- a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act
- reason to expect something
- ground for expectation of success, improvement, or excellence
- shows considerable promise
- something that is promised
promise [,prä-mə-'sē] -vb, n
- to pledge to do, bring about, or provide
- warrant, assure
- betroth
- to suggest beforehand : give promise of
- to make a promise
- to give ground for expectation : be imminent
promised land -n
- something and esp. a place or condition believed to promise final satisfaction or realization of hopes
promising [-siŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- full of promise : likely to succeed or to yield good results
prom·is·so·ry ['prä-mə-,sȯr-ē] -adj
- containing or conveying a promise or assurance
promissory note -n
- a written promise to pay at a fixed or determinable future time a sum of money to a specified individual or to bearer
pro·mo ['prō-(,)mō] -n
- a promotional announcement, blurb, or appearance
prom·on·to·ry ['prä-mən-,tȯr-ē] -n
- a high point of land or rock projecting into a body of water
- a prominent mass of land overlooking or projecting into a lowland
- a bodily prominence
pro·mote [prə-'mōt] -vt, n, adj
- to advance in station, rank, or honor : raise
- to change (a pawn) into a piece in chess by moving to the eighth rank
- to advance (a student) from one grade to the next higher grade
- to contribute to the growth or prosperity of : further
- promote international understanding
- to help bring (as an enterprise) into being : launch
- to present (merchandise) for buyer acceptance through advertising, publicity, or discounting
- to get possession of by doubtful means or by ingenuity
pro·mot·er [-'mō-tər] -n
- one that promotes
- one who assumes the financial responsibilities of a sporting event (as a boxing match) including contracting with the principals, renting the site, and collecting gate receipts
- prosecutor
- a substance that in very small amounts is able to increase the activity of a catalyst
- a binding site in a DNA chain at which RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription of messenger RNA by one or more nearby structural genes
pro·mo·tion [prə-'mō-shən] -n, adj
- the act or fact of being raised in position or rank : preferment
- the act of furthering the growth or development of something
- the furtherance of the acceptance and sale of merchandise through advertising, publicity, or discounting
pro·mo·tive [-'mō-tiv] -adj, n
- tending or serving to promote
- measures promotive of good health
prompt ['präm(p)t] -vt, n
- to move to action : incite
- to assist (one acting or reciting) by suggesting or saying the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned : cue
- to serve as the inciting cause of
- evidence prompt ing an investigation
- of or relating to prompting actors
- being ready and quick to act as occasion demands
- performed readily or immediately
- something that prompts : reminder
- a limit of time given for payment of an account for goods purchased
- the contract by which this time is fixed
prompt·book ['präm(p)t-,bu̇k, 'prämp-,bu̇k] -n
- a copy of a play with directions for performance used by a theater prompter
promp·ti·tude ['präm(p)-tə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n
- the quality or habit of being prompt : promptness
prompt side -n
- the side of the stage adjacent to the prompter's corner
- the side of the stage to the right of an actor facing the audience
pro·mul·gate ['prä-məl-,gāt; prō-'məl-, prə-', 'prō-(,)] -vt, n
- to make (as a doctrine) known by open declaration : proclaim
- to make known or public the terms of (a proposed law)
- to put (a law) into action or force
pro·na·tion [prō-'nā-shən] -n, vb
- rotation of the hand and forearm so that the palm faces backwards or downwards
- rotation of the medial bones in the midtarsal region of the foot inward and downward so that in walking the foot tends to come down on its inner margin
pro·na·tor ['prō-,nā-tər] -n
- a muscle that produces pronation
prone ['prōn] -adj, adv, n
- having a tendency or inclination : being likely
- having the front or ventral surface downward
- lying flat or prostrate
pro·neph·ros [(,)prō-'ne-frəs, -,fräs] -n, adj
- either member of the first and most anterior pair of the three successive paired vertebrate renal organs that functions in the adults of amphioxus and some lampreys, functions temporarily in larval fishes and amphibians, and is present but nonfunctional in embryos of reptiles, birds, and mammals
prong ['prȯŋ, 'präŋ] -n
- fork
- a tine of a fork
- : a slender pointed or projecting part: as
- a fang of a tooth
- a point of an antler
- something resembling a prong
- to stab, pierce, or break up with a pronged device
pronged ['prȯŋd, 'präŋd] -adj
- having a usu. specified number of prongs usu. used in combination
- having a usu. specified number of parts or approaches
prong·horn ['prȯŋ-,hȯrn, 'präŋ-] -n
- a swift horned ruminant mammal ( Antilocapra americana) chiefly of grasslands and deserts of western No. America that resembles an antelope called also pronghorn antelope
pro·nom·i·nal [prō-'nä-mə-nᵊl, -'näm-nəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or constituting a pronoun
- resembling a pronoun in identifying or specifying without describing
- the pronominal adjective this in this dog
pro·noun ['prō-,nau̇n] -n
- any of a small set of words in a language that are used as substitutes for nouns or noun phrases and whose referents are named or understood in the context
pro·nounce [prə-'nau̇n(t)s] -vb, n, adj
- to declare officially or ceremoniously
- the minister pronounced them husband and wife
- to declare authoritatively or as an opinion
- doctors pronounced him fit to resume duties
- to employ the organs of speech to produce
- to say correctly
- I can't pronounce his name
- to represent in printed characters the spoken counterpart of (an orthographic representation)
- both dictionaries pronounce clique the same
- recite
- speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you -- Shak.
- to pass judgment
- to produce the components of spoken language
pro·nounced [-'nau̇n(t)st] -adj, adv
- strongly marked : decided
pro·nounce·ment [prə-'nau̇n(t)s-mənt] -n
- a usu. formal declaration of opinion
- an authoritative announcement
pronouncing -adj
- relating to or indicating pronunciation
pron·to ['prän-,tō] -adv
- without delay
pro·nu·clear [(,)prō-'nü-klē-ər, -'nyü-, ÷-kyə-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling a pronucleus
pronuclear -adj
- advocating the use of nuclear-powered generating stations
pro·nu·cle·us [(,)prō-'nü-klē-əs, -'nyü-] -n
- the haploid nucleus of a male or female gamete (as an egg or sperm) up to the time of fusion with that of another gamete in fertilization
pro·nun·ci·a·men·to [prō-,nən(t)-sē-ə-'men-(,)tō] -n
- proclamation, pronouncement
pro·nun·ci·a·tion [prə-,nən(t)-sē-'ā-shən also ÷-,nau̇n(t)-] -n, adj
- the act or manner of pronouncing something
proof ['prüf] -n
- the cogency of evidence that compels acceptance by the mind of a truth or a fact
- the process or an instance of establishing the validity of a statement esp. by derivation from other statements in accordance with principles of reasoning
- experience
- something that induces certainty or establishes validity
- the quality or state of having been tested or tried
- unyielding hardness
- evidence operating to determine the finding or judgment of a tribunal
- a copy (as of typeset text) made for examination or correction
- a test impression of an engraving, etching, or lithograph
- a coin that is struck from a highly polished die on a polished planchet, is not intended for circulation, and sometimes differs in metallic content from coins of identical design struck for circulation
- a test photographic print made from a negative
- a test applied to articles or substances to determine whether they are of standard or satisfactory quality
- the minimum alcoholic strength of proof spirit
- strength with reference to the standard for proof spirit
- alcoholic strength indicated by a number that is twice the percent by volume of alcohol present
- whiskey of 90 proof is 45 percent alcohol
- able to resist or repel
- boots that were...proof against cold and wet -- Robertson Davies
often used in combination - used in proving or testing or as a standard of comparison
- of standard strength or quality or alcoholic content
- to make or take a proof or test of
- proofread
- to give a resistant quality to
- to activate (yeast) by mixing with water and sometimes sugar or milk
proof·read ['prüf-,rēd] -vt
- to read and mark corrections in (as a proof)
proof·read·er [-,rē-dər] -n
- a person who proofreads
proof spirit -n
- an alcoholic liquor or mixture of ethanol and water that contains 50 percent ethanol by volume at 60F (16C)
prop ['präp] -n
- something that props or sustains : support
- to support by placing something under or against often used with up
- to support by placing against something
- sustain, strengthen often used with up
- a government propped up by the military
- property
- something used in creating or enhancing a desired effect
- buy books...as cultural prop s because they want to appear literate -- John Powers
- propeller
- property
- proposition
- proprietor
prop- -comb form
- related to propionic acid
pro·pae·deu·tic [,prō-pi-'dü-tik, -'dyü-] -n, adj
- preparatory study or instruction
pro·pa·gan·da [,prä-pə-'gan-də, ,prō-] -n, n or adj, adj, adv
- a congregation of the Roman curia having jurisdiction over missionary territories and related institutions
- the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person
- ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause
- a public action having such an effect
pro·pa·gan·dize [-'gan-,dīz] -vb, n
- to subject to propaganda
- to carry on propaganda for
- to carry on propaganda
prop·a·gate ['prä-pə-,gāt] -vb, adj, n
- to cause to continue or increase by sexual or asexual reproduction
- to pass along to offspring
- to cause to spread out and affect a greater number or greater area : extend
- to foster growing knowledge of, familiarity with, or acceptance of (as an idea or belief) : publicize
- to transmit (as sound or light) through a medium
- to multiply sexually or asexually
- increase, extend
- to travel through space or a material used of wave energy (as light, sound, or radio waves)
prop·a·ga·tion [,prä-pə-'gā-shən] -n
- : the act or action of propagating: as
- increase (as of a kind of organism) in numbers
- the spreading of something (as a belief) abroad or into new regions
- enlargement or extension (as of a crack) in a solid body
prop·a·gule ['prä-pə-,gyül] -n
- a structure (as a cutting, a seed, or a spore) that propagates a plant
pro·pane ['prō-,pān] -n
- a heavy flammable gaseous alkane C 3H 8found in crude petroleum and natural gas and used esp. as fuel and in chemical synthesis
pro·pel [prə-'pel] -vt
- to drive forward or onward by or as if by means of a force that imparts motion
pro·pel·lant [-'pe-lənt] -adj
- capable of propelling
propellant -n
- : something that propels: as
- an explosive for propelling projectiles
- fuel plus oxidizer used by a rocket engine
- a gas kept under pressure in a bottle or can for expelling the contents when the pressure is released
pro·pel·ler [prə-'pe-lər] -n
- one that propels
- a device that consists of a central hub with radiating blades placed and twisted so that each forms part of a helical surface and that is used to propel a vehicle (as a ship or airplane)
pro·pel·lerhead [prə-'pe-lər-,hed] -n
- an enthusiast of technology and esp. of computers
- technophile
pro·pend [prō-'pend] -vi
- incline
pro·pense [prō-'pen(t)s] -adj
- leaning or inclining toward : disposed
pro·pen·si·ty [prə-'pen(t)-sə-tē] -n
- an often intense natural inclination or preference
prop·er ['prä-pər] -adj, adv, n
- referring to one individual only
- belonging to one : own
- appointed for the liturgy of a particular day
- represented heraldically in natural color
- belonging characteristically to a species or individual : peculiar
- good-looking, handsome
- very good : excellent
- utter, absolute
- strictly limited to a specified thing, place, or idea
- strictly accurate : correct
- virtuous, respectable
- strictly decorous : genteel
- marked by suitability, rightness, or appropriateness : fit
- being a mathematical subset (as a subgroup) that does not contain all the elements of the inclusive set from which it is derived
proper -n
- the parts of the Mass that vary according to the liturgical calendar
- the part of a missal or breviary containing the proper of the Mass and the offices proper to the holy days of the liturgical year
- in a thorough manner : completely
proper adjective -n
- an adjective that is formed from a proper noun and that is usu. capitalized in English
pro·per·din [prō-'pər-dᵊn] -n
- a blood serum protein that participates in the activation of complement in a pathway which does not involve the presence of antibodies
proper fraction -n
- a fraction in which the numerator is less or of lower degree than the denominator
proper noun -n
- a noun that designates a particular being or thing, does not take a limiting modifier, and is usu. capitalized in English called also proper name
prop·er·tied ['prä-pər-tēd] -adj
- possessing property
prop·er·ty ['prä-pər-tē] -n, adj
- a quality or trait belonging and esp. peculiar to an individual or thing
- an effect that an object has on another object or on the senses
- virtue
- an attribute common to all members of a class
- something owned or possessed
- a piece of real estate
- the exclusive right to possess, enjoy, and dispose of a thing : ownership
- something to which a person or business has a legal title
- one (as a performer) who is under contract and whose work is esp. valuable
- a book or script purchased for publication or production
- an article or object used in a play or motion picture except painted scenery and costumes
property damage insurance -n
- insurance protecting against all or part of an individual's legal liability for damage done (as by his or her automobile) to the property of another
property right -n
- a legal right or interest in or against specific property
property tax -n
- a tax levied on real or personal property
pro·phage ['prō-,fāj, -,fäzh] -n
- an intracellular form of a bacteriophage in which it is harmless to the host, is usu. integrated into the hereditary material of the host, and reproduces when the host does
pro·phase [-,fāz] -n, adj
- the initial stage of mitosis and of the mitotic division of meiosis characterized by the condensation of chromosomes consisting of two chromatids, disappearance of the nucleolus and nuclear membrane, and formation of mitotic spindle
- the initial stage of the first division of meiosis in which the chromosomes become visible, homologous pairs of chromosomes undergo synapsis and crossing over, chiasmata appear, chromosomes condense with homologues visible as tetrads, and the nuclear membrane and nucleolus disappear
proph·e·cy ['prä-fə-sē] -n
- an inspired utterance of a prophet
- the function or vocation of a prophet
- the inspired declaration of divine will and purpose
- a prediction of something to come
proph·e·size ['prä-fə-,sīz] -vb
- prophesy
proph·e·sy ['prä-fə-,sī] -vb, n
- to utter by or as if by divine inspiration
- to predict with assurance or on the basis of mystic knowledge
- prefigure
- to speak as if divinely inspired
- to give instruction in religious matters : preach
- to make a prediction
proph·et ['prä-fət] -n
- : one who utters divinely inspired revelations: as
- the writer of one of the prophetic books of the Bible
- one regarded by a group of followers as the final authoritative revealer of God's will
- Muhammad, the Prophet of Allah
- one gifted with more than ordinary spiritual and moral insight
- an inspired poet
- one who foretells future events : predictor
- an effective or leading spokesman for a cause, doctrine, or group
- a spiritual seer
- disappearance of material sense before the conscious facts of spiritual Truth
proph·et·ess ['prä-fə-təs] -n
- a woman who is a prophet
pro·phet·ic [prə-'fe-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy
- foretelling events : predictive
Proph·ets ['prä-fəts] -n pl
- the second part of the Hebrew Bible
pro·phy·lac·tic [,prō-fə-'lak-tik also ,prä-] -adj, adv
- guarding from or preventing the spread or occurrence of disease or infection
- tending to prevent or ward off : preventive
prophylactic -n
- something prophylactic
- a device and esp. a condom for preventing venereal infection or conception
pro·phy·lax·is [-'lak-səs] -n
- measures designed to preserve health (as of an individual or of society) and prevent the spread of disease
pro·pine [prə-'pēn, -'pīn] -vt
- to present or give esp. as a token of friendship
propine -n
- a gift in return for a favor
pro·pin·qui·ty [prə-'piŋ-kwə-tē] -n
- nearness of blood : kinship
- nearness in place or time : proximity
pro·pi·o·nate ['prō-pē-ə-,nāt] -n
- a salt or ester of propionic acid
pro·pi·on·ic acid [,prō-pē-'ä-nik-] -n
- a liquid sharp-odored fatty acid C 3H 6O 2found in milk and distillates of wood, coal, and petroleum and used esp. as a mold inhibitor and flavoring agent
pro·pi·ti·ate [prō-'pi-shē-,āt] -vt, n
- to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : appease
pro·pi·ti·a·tion [prō-,pi-shē-'ā-shən] -n
- the act of propitiating
- something that propitiates
- an atoning sacrifice
pro·pi·ti·a·to·ry [prō-'pi-sh(ē-)ə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- intended to propitiate : expiatory
- of or relating to propitiation
pro·pi·tious [prə-'pi-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- favorably disposed : benevolent
- being a good omen : auspicious
- tending to favor : advantageous
pro·plas·tid [(,)prō-'plas-təd] -n
- a minute cytoplasmic body from which a plastid is formed
prop·man ['präp-,man] -n
- a man in charge of stage properties
prop·o·lis ['prä-pə-ləs] -n
- a brownish resinous material of waxy consistency collected by bees from the buds of trees and used as a cement in repairing and maintaining the hive
pro·pone [prə-'pōn] -vt
- propose, propound
- to put forward (a defense)
pro·po·nent [prə-'pō-nənt, 'prō-,] -n
- one who argues in favor of something : advocate
pro·por·tion [prə-'pȯr-shən] -n
- harmonious relation of parts to each other or to the whole : balance, symmetry
- proper or equal share
- each did her proportion of the work
- quota, percentage
- the relation of one part to another or to the whole with respect to magnitude, quantity, or degree : ratio
- size, dimension
- a statement of equality between two ratios in which the first of the four terms divided by the second equals the third divided by the fourth (as in 4/210/5)
proportion [-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt
- to adjust (a part or thing) in size relative to other parts or things
- to make the parts of harmonious or symmetrical
- apportion, allot
pro·por·tion·able [-sh(ə-)nə-bəl] -adj, adv
- proportional, proportionate
pro·por·tion·al [prə-'pȯr-shnə1, -shə-nᵊl] -n
- a number or quantity in a proportion
proportional [-,pȯr-shə-'na-lə-tē] -adj, n, adv
- corresponding in size, degree, or intensity
- having the same or a constant ratio
- corresponding sides of similar triangles are proportional
- regulated or determined in size or degree with reference to proportions
- a proportional system of immigration quotas
proportional parts -n pl
- fractional parts of the difference between successive entries in a table for use in linear interpolation
proportional representation -n
- an electoral system designed to represent in a legislative body each political group or party in proportion to its actual voting strength in the electorate
proportional tax -n
- a tax in which the tax rate remains constant regardless of the amount of the tax base
pro·por·tion·ate [prə-'pȯr-sh(ə-)nət] -adj, adv
- proportional
- to make proportionate : proportion
pro·pos·al [prə-'pō-zəl] -n
- an act of putting forward or stating something for consideration
- something proposed : suggestion
- offer
- an offer of marriage
pro·pose [prə-'pōz] -vb, n
- to form or put forward a plan or intention
- man propose s, but God disposes
- to engage in talk or discussion
- to make an offer of marriage
- to set before the mind (as for discussion, imitation, or action)
- propose a plan for settling the dispute
- to set before someone and esp. oneself as an aim or intent
- proposed to spend the summer in Italy
- to set forth for acceptance or rejection
- propose a topic for debate
- to recommend to fill a place or vacancy : nominate
- propose them for membership
- to offer as a toast
- propose the happiness of the couple
prop·o·si·tion [,prä-pə-'zi-shən] -n, adj
- something offered for consideration or acceptance : proposal
- a request for sexual intercourse
- the point to be discussed or maintained in argument usu. stated in sentence form near the outset
- a theorem or problem to be demonstrated or performed
- an expression in language or signs of something that can be believed, doubted, or denied or is either true or false
- the objective meaning of a proposition
- something of an indicated kind to be dealt with
- the farm was never a paying proposition
proposition [-'zi-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt
- to make a proposal to
- to suggest sexual intercourse to
propositional calculus -n
- the branch of symbolic logic that uses symbols for unanalyzed propositions and logical connectives only called also sentential calculus
propositional function -n
- sentential function
- something that is designated or expressed by a sentential function
pro·pos·i·tus [prō-'pä-zə-təs] -n
- the person immediately concerned : subject
pro·pound [prə-'pau̇nd] -vt, n
- to offer for discussion or consideration
pro·poxy·phene [prō-'päk-sə-,fēn] -n
- a narcotic analgesic C 22H 29NO 2structurally related to methadone but less addicting that is administered esp. in the form of its salts (as the hydrochloride)
pro·prae·tor [(,)prō-'prē-tər] -n
- a praetor of ancient Rome sent out to govern a province
pro·pran·o·lol [prō-'pra-nə-,lȯl, -,lōl] -n
- a beta-blocker C 16H 21NO 2used in the form of its hydrochloride in the treatment of abnormal heart rhythms and angina pectoris
pro·pri·e·tary [prə-'prī-ə-,ter-ē] -n
- one that possesses, owns, or holds exclusive right to something
- proprietor
- something that is used, produced, or marketed under exclusive legal right of the inventor or maker
- a drug (as a patent medicine) that is protected by secrecy, patent, or copyright against free competition as to name, product, composition, or process of manufacture
- a business secretly owned by and run as a cover for an intelligence organization
proprietary -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a proprietor
- used, made, or marketed by one having the exclusive legal right
- privately owned and managed and run as a profit-making organization
pro·pri·e·tor [prə-'prī-ə-tər] -n
- one granted ownership of a colony (as one of the original American colonies) and full prerogatives of establishing a government and distributing land
- a person who has the legal right or exclusive title to something : owner
- one having an interest (as control or present use) less than absolute and exclusive right
pro·pri·e·to·ri·al [prə-,prī-ə-'tȯr-ē-əl, prō-] -adj
- proprietary
pro·pri·e·tress [-'prī-ə-trəs] -n
- a woman who is a proprietor
pro·pri·e·ty [prə-'prī-ə-tē] -n
- true nature
- a special characteristic : peculiarity
- the quality or state of being proper : appropriateness
- conformity to what is socially acceptable in conduct or speech
- fear of offending against conventional rules of behavior esp. between the sexes
- the customs and manners of polite society
pro·pri·o·cep·tion [,prō-prē-ō-'sep-shən] -n
- the reception of stimuli produced within the organism
pro·pri·o·cep·tive [-'sep-tiv] -adj
- of, relating to, or being stimuli arising within the organism
- a proprioceptive sensation
pro·pri·o·cep·tor [-tər] -n
- a sensory receptor (as a muscle spindle) excited by proprioceptive stimuli (as changes in limb position)
prop root -n
- a root that serves as a prop or support to the plant
props [präps] -n pl but usu sing in constr
- due
- takes pains to give the man his props -- Dan Epstein
- respect
- teachers have to earn their props just like everybody else -- Greg Donaldson
- credit
- at least deserves props for writing a song about something that rings true -- Jim Abbott
prop·to·sis [präp-'tō-səs, prō-'tō-] -n
- forward projection or displacement esp. of the eyeball
pro·pul·sion [prə-'pəl-shən] -n
- the action or process of propelling
- something that propels
pro·pul·sive [-'pəl-siv] -adj
- tending or having power to propel
pro·pyl ['prō-pəl] -n
- either of two isomeric alkyl radicals C 3H 7derived from propane often used in combination
pro·py·lae·um [,prä-pə-'lē-əm, ,prō-] -n
- a vestibule or entrance of architectural importance before a building or enclosure often used in pl.
pro·pyl·ene ['prō-pə-,lēn] -n
- a flammable gaseous hydrocarbon C 3H 6obtained by cracking petroleum hydrocarbons and used chiefly in organic synthesis
propylene glycol -n
- a sweet hygroscopic viscous liquid C 3H 8O 2made esp. from propylene and used esp. as an antifreeze and solvent, in brake fluids, and as a food preservative
pro ra·ta [(,)prō-'rā-tə, -'rä-, -'ra-] -adv, adj
- proportionately according to an exactly calculable factor (as share or liability)
pro·rate [(,)prō-'rāt, 'prō-,] -vb, n
- to divide, distribute, or assess proportionately
- to make a pro rata distribution
pro·ro·gate ['prō-rə-,gāt] -vt, n
- prorogue
pro·rogue [prə-'rōg] -vb
- defer, postpone
- to terminate a session of (as a British parliament) by royal prerogative
- to suspend or end a legislative session
pros ['prō] -n
(variant of pro)
- an argument or evidence in affirmation
- an appraisal of the pro s and cons
- the affirmative side or one holding it
- on the affirmative side : in affirmation
- much has been written pro and con
- in favor of : for
- professional
pros- -prefix
- in front
pro·sa·ic [prō-'zā-ik] -adj, adv
- characteristic of prose as distinguished from poetry : factual
- dull, unimaginative
- everyday, ordinary
- heroic characters wasted in prosaic lives -- Kirkus Reviews
pro·sa·ism ['prō-(,)zā-,i-zəm] -n
- a prosaic manner, style, or quality
- a prosaic expression
pro·sa·ist -n
- a prose writer
- a prosaic person
pro·sa·teur [,prō-zə-'tər] -n
- a writer of prose
pro·sau·ro·pod [prō-'sȯr-ə-,päd] -n
- any of a group (Prosauropoda) of chiefly herbivorous Triassic dinosaurs that are prob. ancestral to sauropods
pro·sce·ni·um [prō-'sē-nē-əm] -n
- the stage of an ancient Greek or Roman theater
- the part of a modern stage in front of the curtain
- the wall that separates the stage from the auditorium and provides the arch that frames it
- foreground
- foreground
pro·sciut·to [prō-'shü-(,)tō] -n
- dry-cured spiced Italian ham usu. sliced thin
pro·scribe [prō-'skrīb] -vt, n
- to publish the name of as condemned to death with the property of the condemned forfeited to the state
- to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful : prohibit
pro·scrip·tion [prō-'skrip-shən] -n, adj, adv
- the act of proscribing : the state of being proscribed
- an imposed restraint or restriction : prohibition
prose ['prōz] -n
- the ordinary language people use in speaking or writing
- a literary medium distinguished from poetry esp. by its greater irregularity and variety of rhythm and its closer correspondence to the patterns of everyday speech
- a prosaic style, quality, or condition
- of, relating to, or written in prose
- prosaic
- to write prose
- to write or speak in a prosaic manner
pro se ['prō-'sā, -'sē] -adj or adv
- on one's own behalf : without an attorney
- a defendant's right to proceed pro se
pro·sec·co [prō-'se-kō] -n
- a dry Italian sparkling wine
pro·sec·tor [prō-'sek-tər] -n
- a person who makes dissections for anatomic demonstrations
pros·e·cute ['prä-si-,kyüt] -vb, adj
- to follow to the end : pursue until finished
- to engage in : perform
- to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law
- to institute legal proceedings with reference to
- to institute and carry on a legal suit or prosecution
prosecuting attorney -n
- an attorney who conducts proceedings in a court on behalf of the government : district attorney
pros·e·cu·tion [,prä-si-'kyü-shən] -n
- the act or process of prosecuting
- the institution and continuance of a criminal suit involving the process of pursuing formal charges against an offender to final judgment
- the party by whom criminal proceedings are instituted or conducted
- pursuit
pros·e·cu·tor ['prä-si-,kyü-tər] -n
- a person who institutes a prosecution before a court
- prosecuting attorney
pros·e·cu·to·ri·al [,prä-si-kyü-'tȯr-ē-əl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a prosecutor or prosecution
pros·e·lyte ['prä-sə-,līt] -n
- a new convert (as to a faith or cause)
proselyte -vb
- proselytize
pros·e·ly·tise ['prä-s(ə-)lə-,tīz] -vb, n
(variant of proselytize)
- to induce someone to convert to one's faith
- to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause
- to recruit or convert esp. to a new faith, institution, or cause
pros·e·ly·tism ['prä-sə-,lī-,ti-zəm, 'prä-s(ə-)lə-] -n
- the act of becoming or condition of being a proselyte : conversion
- the act or process of proselytizing
pros·e·ly·tize ['prä-s(ə-)lə-,tīz] -vb, n
- to induce someone to convert to one's faith
- to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause
- to recruit or convert esp. to a new faith, institution, or cause
pro·sem·i·nar [(,)prō-'se-mə-,när] -n
- a course of study like a graduate seminar but often open to advanced undergraduates
pros·en·ceph·a·lon [,präs-,en-'se-fə-,län, -lən] -n, adj
- forebrain
prose poem -n
- a composition in prose that has some of the qualities of a poem
pros·er ['prō-zər] -n
- a writer of prose
- one who talks or writes tediously
Pro·ser·pi·na [prə-'sər-pə-nə] -n
- persephone
pro shop -n
- a shop at which equipment for a particular sport (as golf) is sold typically by a professional in that sport
pro·sim·i·an [prō-'si-mē-ən] -n, adj
- any of a suborder (Prosimii) of lower primates (as lemurs and tarsiers)
pro·sit ['prō-zət, -sət] -interj
- used to wish good health esp. before drinking
pro·so ['prō-(,)sō] -n
- millet
pros·o·branch ['prä-sə-,braŋk] -n, adj
- any of a subclass (Prosobranchia) of gastropod mollusks that have the loop of visceral nerves twisted into a figure eight, the sexes usu. separate, and usu. an operculum
pro·sod·ic [prə-'sä-dik also -'zä-] -adj, adv
- of or relating to prosody
pros·o·dy ['prä-sə-dē, -zə-] -n
- the study of versification
- the systematic study of metrical structure
- a particular system, theory, or style of versification
- the rhythmic and intonational aspect of language
pro·so·ma [(,)prō-'sō-mə] -n
- the anterior region of the body of an invertebrate (as an arachnid) esp. when the segmentation is suppressed or obscured
- cephalothorax
pros·o·pog·ra·phy [,prä-sə-'pä-grə-fē] -n, adj
- a study that identifies and relates a group of persons or characters within a particular historical or literary context
pro·so·po·poe·ia [prə-,sō-pə-'pē-ə, ,prä-sə-pə-] -n
- a figure of speech in which an imaginary or absent person is represented as speaking or acting
- personification
pros·pect ['prä-,spekt] -n
- exposure
- an extensive view
- a mental consideration : survey
- a place that commands an extensive view : lookout
- something extended to the view : scene
- a sketch or picture of a scene
- aspect
- the act of looking forward : anticipation
- a mental picture of something to come : vision
- something that is awaited or expected : possibility
- financial expectations
- chances
- a place showing signs of containing a mineral deposit
- a potential buyer or customer
- a likely candidate for a job or position
- to explore an area esp. for mineral deposits
- to inspect (a region) for mineral deposits
- explore
pro·spec·tive [prə-'spek-tiv also 'prä-,, prō-', prä-'] -adj, adv
- relating to or effective in the future
- likely to come about : expected
- the prospective benefits of this law
- likely to be or become
pro·spec·tus [prə-'spek-təs, prä-] -n
- a preliminary printed statement that describes an enterprise (as a business or publication) and that is distributed to prospective buyers, investors, or participants
- something (as a statement or situation) that forecasts the course or nature of something
pros·per ['präs-pər] -vb
- to succeed in an enterprise or activity
- to achieve economic success
- to become strong and flourishing
- to cause to succeed or thrive
pros·per·i·ty [prä-'sper-ə-tē] -n
- the condition of being successful or thriving
- economic well-being
Pros·pero ['präs-pə-,rō] -n
- the rightful duke of Milan in Shakespeare's The Tempest
pros·per·ous ['präs-p(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv, n
- auspicious, favorable
- marked by success or economic well-being
- enjoying vigorous and healthy growth : flourishing
pross ['präs] -n
- prostitute
pros·ta·cy·clin [,präs-tə-'sī-klən] -n
- a prostaglandin that is a metabolite of arachidonic acid, inhibits platelet aggregation, and dilates blood vessels
pros·ta·glan·din [,präs-tə-'glan-dən] -n
- any of various oxygenated unsaturated cyclic fatty acids of animals that are formed chiefly by the action of cyclooxygenase on arachidonic acid and perform a variety of hormonelike actions (as in controlling blood pressure or smooth muscle contraction)
pros·tate ['präs-,tāt] -n, adj
- prostate gland
pros·ta·tec·to·my [,präs-tə-'tek-tə-mē] -n
- surgical removal or resection of the prostate gland
prostate gland -n
- a firm partly muscular partly glandular body that is situated about the base of the mammalian male urethra and that secretes an alkaline viscid fluid which is a major constituent of the semen
prostatespecific antigen -n
- a protease secreted by epithelial cells of the prostate gland that is used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer since its concentration in blood serum tends to be proportional to the clinical stage of the disease abbr. PSA
pros·ta·tism ['präs-tə-,ti-zəm] -n
- disease of the prostate
- a disorder resulting from obstruction of the bladder neck by an enlarged prostate gland
pros·ta·ti·tis [,präs-tə-'tī-təs] -n
- inflammation of the prostate gland
pros·the·sis [präs-'thē-səs, 'präs-thə-] -n
- an artificial device to replace or augment a missing or impaired part of the body
pros·thet·ic [präs-'the-tik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a prosthesis or prosthetics
- of, relating to, or constituting a nonprotein group of a conjugated protein
pros·thet·ics [-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- the surgical or dental specialty concerned with the design, construction, and fitting of prostheses
pros·thet·ist ['präs-thə-tist] -n
- a specialist in prosthetics
pros·tho·don·tics [,präs-thə-'dän-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- prosthetic dentistry
pros·tho·don·tist [-'dän-tist] -n
- a specialist in prosthodontics
pros·ti·tute ['präs-tə-,tüt, -,tyüt] -vt, n
- to offer indiscriminately for sexual intercourse esp. for money
- to devote to corrupt or unworthy purposes : debase
prostitute -adj
- devoted to corrupt purposes : prostituted
- a woman who engages in promiscuous sexual intercourse esp. for money : whore
- a male who engages in sexual and esp. homosexual practices for money
- a person (as a writer or painter) who deliberately debases his or her talents (as for money)
pros·ti·tu·tion [,präs-tə-'tü-shən, -'tyü-] -n
- the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations esp. for money
- the state of being prostituted : debasement
pro·sto·mi·um [prō-'stō-mē-əm] -n, adj
- the portion of the head of an annelid worm (as an earthworm) that is situated in front of the mouth
pros·trate ['prä-,strāt] -adj
- stretched out with face on the ground in adoration or submission
- lying flat
- completely overcome and lacking vitality, will, or power to rise
- was prostrate from the heat
- trailing on the ground : procumbent
- to throw or put into a prostrate position
- to put (oneself) in a humble and submissive posture or state
- the whole town had to prostrate itself in official apology -- Claudia Cassidy
- to reduce to submission, helplessness, or exhaustion
- was prostrated with grief
pros·tra·tion [prä-'strā-shən] -n
- the act of assuming a prostrate position
- the state of being in a prostrate position : abasement
- complete physical or mental exhaustion : collapse
- the process of being made powerless or the condition of powerlessness
- the country suffered economic prostration after the war
prosy ['prō-zē] -adj, adv, n
- lacking in qualities that seize the attention or strike the imagination : commonplace
- tediously dull in speech or manner
Prot -abbr
- Protestant
prot- -comb form
- first in time
- beginning : giving rise to
- parent substance of a (specified) substance
- first formed : primary
- relating to or constituting the recorded or assumed language that is ancestral to a language or to a group of related languages or dialects
prot·ac·tin·i·um [,prō-,tak-'ti-nē-əm] -n
- a shiny radioactive metallic element of relatively short life
pro·tag·o·nist [prō-'ta-gə-nist] -n
- the principal character in a literary work (as a drama or story)
- a leading actor, character, or participant in a literary work or real event
- a leader, proponent, or supporter of a cause : champion
prot·amine ['prō-tə-,mēn] -n
- any of various strongly basic proteins of relatively low molecular weight that are rich in arginine and are found associated esp. with DNA in place of histone in the sperm cells of various animals (as fish)
prot·a·sis ['prä-tə-səs] -n, adj
- the introductory part of a play or narrative poem
- the subordinate clause of a conditional sentence
prote- -comb form
- protein
pro·tea ['prō-tē-ə] -n
- any of a genus ( Proteaof the family Proteaceae, the protea family) of African evergreen shrubs often grown as ornamentals for their showy bracts and dense flower heads
pro·te·an ['prō-tē-ən, prō-'tē-] -adj
- of or resembling Proteus in having a varied nature or ability to assume different forms
- displaying great diversity or variety : versatile
pro·te·ase ['prō-tē-,ās, -,āz] -n
- any of numerous enzymes that hydrolyze proteins and are classified according to the most prominent functional group (as serine or cysteine) at the active site called also proteinase
protease inhibitor -n
- a substance that inhibits the action of a protease
- any of various drugs (as indinavir) that inhibit the action of the protease of HIV so that the cleavage of viral proteins into mature functional infectious particles is prevented and that are used esp. in combination with other agents in the treatment of HIV infection
pro·tect [prə-'tekt] -vb, adj, adv, n
- to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction : guard
- defend
- : to maintain the status or integrity of esp. through financial or legal guarantees: as
- to save from contingent financial loss
- to foster or shield from infringement or restriction
- salesmen with protect ed territories
- to restrict competition for (as domestic industries) by means of tariffs or trade controls
- defend
- to provide a guard or shield
- protect s against tooth decay
pro·tec·tant [prə-'tek-tənt] -n
- a protecting agent
pro·tec·tion [prə-'tek-shən] -n
- the act of protecting : the state of being protected
- one that protects
- supervision or support of one that is smaller and weaker
- a contraceptive device (as a condom)
- the freeing of the producers of a country from foreign competition in their home market by restrictions (as high duties) on foreign competitive goods
- immunity from prosecution purchased by criminals through bribery
- money extorted by racketeers posing as a protective association
- coverage
- anchoring equipment placed in cracks for safety while rock climbing
pro·tec·tion·ist [-sh(ə-)nist] -n, adj
- an advocate of government economic protection for domestic producers through restrictions on foreign competitors
protective tariff -n
- a tariff intended primarily to protect domestic producers rather than to yield revenue
pro·tec·tor [prə-'tek-tər] -n
- one that protects : guardian
- a device used to prevent injury : guard
- one having the care of a kingdom during the king's minority : regent
- the executive head of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1653 to 1659 called also Lord Protector of the Commonwealth
pro·tec·tor·al [-'tek-t(ə-)rəl] -adj
- of or relating to a protector or protectorate
pro·tec·tor·ate [-'tek-t(ə-)rət] -n
- government by a protector
- the government of England (165359) under the Cromwells
- the rank, office, or period of rule of a protector
- the relationship of superior authority assumed by one power or state over a dependent one
- the dependent political unit or territory in such a relationship
pro·tec·to·ry [-'tek-t(ə-)rē] -n
- an institution for the protection and care of usu. homeless or delinquent children
pro·tec·tress [-'tek-trəs] -n
- a woman who is a protector
pro·te·ge ['prō-tə-,zhā, ,prō-tə-'] -n
- one who is protected or trained or whose career is furthered by a person of experience, prominence, or influence
pro·te·gee ['prō-tə-,zhā, ,prō-tə-'] -n
- a girl or woman who is a protege
pro·tein ['prō-,tēn also 'prō-tē-ən] -n
- any of various naturally occurring extremely complex substances that consist of amino-acid residues joined by peptide bonds, contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, usu. sulfur, and occas. other elements (as phosphorus or iron), and include many essential biological compounds (as enzymes, hormones, or antibodies)
- the total nitrogenous material in plant or animal substances
pro·tein·a·ceous [,prō-tə-'nā-shəs; ,prō-,tē(-ə)-'nā-shəs] -adj
- of, relating to, containing, resembling, or being protein
pro·tein·ase ['prō-tə-,nās, -,nāz; 'prō-,tē(-ə)-,nās, -,nāz] -n
- protease
protein kinase -n
- any of a class of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to one or more amino acids in the side chain of a protein resulting in a conformational change affecting protein function
protein kinase C -n
- a protein kinase that catalyzes the phosphorylation of specific serine or threonine amino acid residues
pro·tein·uria [,prō-tə-'nu̇r-ē-ə, -'nyu̇r-; ,prō-tē(-ə)-'nu̇r-ē-ə, -'nyu̇r-] -n
- the presence of excess protein in the urine
pro tem [(,)prō-'tem] -adv
- pro tempore
pro tem·po·re [prō-'tem-pə-rē] -adv
- for the time being
pro·tend [prō-'tend] -vb
- to stretch forth
- extend
- stick out, protrude
pro·ten·sive [-'ten(t)-siv] -adj, adv
- having continuance in time
- having lengthwise extent or extensiveness
pro·teo·gly·can [,prō-tē-ə-'glī-,kan] -n
- any of a class of glycoproteins of high molecular weight that are found esp. in the extracellular matrix of connective tissue
pro·te·ol·y·sis [,prō-tē-'ä-lə-səs] -n
- the hydrolysis of proteins or peptides with formation of simpler and soluble products
pro·teo·lyt·ic [,prō-tē-ə-'li-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or producing proteolysis
pro·te·ome ['prō-tē-,ōm] -n
- the complement of proteins expressed in a cell, tissue, or organism by a genome
pro·te·o·mics [,prō-tē-'ō-miks] -n pl but sing in constr, adj
- a branch of biotechnology concerned with applying the techniques of molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics to analyzing the structure, function, and interactions of the proteins produced by the genes of a particular cell, tissue, or organism, with organizing the information in databases, and with applications of the data
pro·te·ose ['prō-tē-,ōs, -,ōz] -n
- any of various water-soluble protein derivatives formed by partial hydrolysis of proteins
Pro·te·ro·zo·ic [,prä-tə-rə-'zō-ik, ,prō-] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being the eon of geologic time or the corresponding segment of rocks that includes the interval between the Archean and Phanerozoic eons, exceeds in length all of subsequent geologic time, and is marked by rocks that contain fossils indicating the first appearance of eukaryotic organisms (as algae)
pro·test ['prō-,test] -n
- : a solemn declaration of opinion and usu. of dissent: as
- a sworn declaration that payment of a note or bill has been refused and that all responsible signers or debtors are liable for resulting loss or damage
- a declaration made esp. before or while paying that a tax is illegal and that payment is not voluntary
- the act of objecting or a gesture of disapproval
- a usu. organized public demonstration of disapproval
- a complaint, objection, or display of unwillingness usu. to an idea or a course of action
- an objection made to an official or a governing body of a sport
- to make solemn declaration or affirmation of
- to execute or have executed a formal protest against (as a bill or note)
- to make a statement or gesture in objection to
- protest ed the abuses of human rights
- to make a protestation
- to make or enter a protest
prot·es·tant ['prä-təs-tənt, 2 is also prə-'tes-] -n
- any of a group of German princes and cities presenting a defense of freedom of conscience against an edict of the Diet of Spires in 1529 intended to suppress the Lutheran movement
- a member of any of several church denominations denying the universal authority of the Pope and affirming the Reformation principles of justification by faith alone, the priesthood of all believers, and the primacy of the Bible as the only source of revealed truth
- a Christian not of a Catholic or Eastern church
- one who makes or enters a protest
protestant -adj
- of or relating to Protestants, their churches, or their religion
- making or sounding a protest
- the two protestant ladies up and marched out -- Time
Protestant ethic -n
- an ethic that stresses the virtue of hard work, thrift, and self-discipline
pro·tes·ta·tion [,prä-təs-'tā-shən, ,prō-, -,tes-] -n
- the act of protesting : a solemn declaration or avowal
pro·te·us ['prō-tē-əs] -n
- any of a genus ( Proteus) of aerobic usu. motile enterobacteria that include saprophytes in decaying organic matter and a common causative agent ( P. mirabilis) of urinary tract infections
Pro·teus ['prō-,tyüs, -tē-əs, -,tüs] -n
- a Greek sea god capable of assuming different forms
pro·tha·la·mi·on [,prō-thə-'lā-mē-ən, -,än] -n
- a song in celebration of a marriage
pro·thal·li·um [prō-'tha-lē-əm] -n
- prothallus
pro·thal·lus [(,)prō-'tha-ləs] -n
- the gametophyte of a pteridophyte (as a fern) that is typically a small flat green thallus attached to the soil by rhizoids
- a greatly reduced structure of a seed plant corresponding to the pteridophyte prothallus
proth·e·sis ['prä-thə-səs] -n, adj
- the addition of a sound to the beginning of a word (as in Old French estat-whence English estate-from Latin status)
pro·tho·no·ta·ry [prō-'thä-nə-,ter-ē, ,prō-thə-'nō-tə-rē] -n, adj
- a chief clerk of any of various courts of law
prothonotary warbler -n
- a large eastern No. American warbler ( Protonotaria citreaof the family Parulidae) of wooded swamps that has a golden-yellow head and breast and bluish-gray wings
pro·tho·rac·ic [,prō-thə-'ra-sik] -adj
- of or relating to the prothorax
prothoracic gland -n
- one of a pair of thoracic endocrine organs in some insects that control molting
pro·tho·rax [(,)prō-'thȯr-,aks] -n
- the anterior segment of the thorax of an insect
pro·throm·bin [(,)prō-'thräm-bən] -n
- a plasma protein produced in the liver in the presence of vitamin K and converted into thrombin in the clotting of blood
pro·tist ['prō-(,)tist] -n, adj or n
- any of a diverse taxonomic group and esp. a kingdom (Protista syn. Protoctista) of eukaryotic organisms that are unicellular and sometimes colonial or less often multicellular and that typically include the protozoans, most algae, and often some fungi (as slime molds)
pro·ti·um ['prō-tē-əm, 'prō-shē-] -n
- the ordinary light hydrogen isotope of atomic mass 1
pro·to·cer·a·tops [,prō-(,)tō-'ser-ə-,täps] -n
- any of a genus ( Protoceratops) of small herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaurs of the late Cretaceous that lacked horns
pro·to·col ['prō-tə-,kȯl, -,kōl, -,käl, -kəl] -n
- an original draft, minute, or record of a document or transaction
- a preliminary memorandum often formulated and signed by diplomatic negotiators as a basis for a final convention or treaty
- the records or minutes of a diplomatic conference or congress that show officially the agreements arrived at by the negotiators
- a code prescribing strict adherence to correct etiquette and precedence (as in diplomatic exchange and in the military services)
- a set of conventions governing the treatment and esp. the formatting of data in an electronic communications system
- convention
- a detailed plan of a scientific or medical experiment, treatment, or procedure
pro·to·derm ['prō-tə-,dərm] -n
- the outer primary meristem of a plant or plant part
pro·to·gal·axy [,prō-tō-'ga-lək-sē] -n
- a cloud of gas believed to be the precursor to a galaxy
pro·to·his·to·ry [-'his-t(ə-)rē] -n, adj
- the study of human beings in the times that immediately antedate recorded history
pro·to·hu·man [-'hyü-mən, -'yü-] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or resembling an early hominid (as an australopithecine)
pro·to·lan·guage ['prō-tō-,laŋ-gwij] -n
- an assumed or recorded ancestral language
pro·to·mar·tyr ['prō-tō-,mär-tər] -n
- the first martyr in a cause or region
pro·ton ['prō-,tän] -n, adj
- an elementary particle that is identical with the nucleus of the hydrogen atom, that along with the neutron is a constituent of all other atomic nuclei, that carries a positive charge numerically equal to the charge of an electron, and that has a mass of 1.673 10 27kilogram
pro·ton·ate ['prō-tə-,nāt] -vb, n
- to add a proton to
- to acquire an additional proton
pro·to·ne·ma [,prō-tə-'nē-mə] -n, adj
- the primary usu. filamentous thalloid stage of the gametophyte in mosses and in some liverworts comparable to the prothallus in ferns
pro·ton·o·tary apostolic [prə-'tä-nə-,ter-ē-, prō-tə-'nä-tə-rē-] -n
- a priest of the chief college of the papal curia who keeps records of consistories and canonizations and signs papal bulls
- an honorary member of this college
proton pump inhibitor -n
- any of a group of drugs that inhibit the activity of pumps transporting hydrogen ions across cell membranes and are used to inhibit gastric acid secretion
proton synchrotron -n
- a synchrotron in which protons are accelerated by means of frequency modulation of the radio-frequency accelerating voltage so that they have energies of billions of electron volts
pro·to·path·ic [,prō-tə-'pa-thik] -adj
- of, relating to, or being cutaneous sensory reception responsive only to strong rather crude stimuli
pro·to·phlo·em [-'flō-,em] -n
- the first-formed phloem that develops from procambium, consists of narrow thin-walled cells, and is usu. associated with a region of rapid growth
pro·to·plan·et ['prō-tō-,pla-nət] -n, adj
- a hypothetical whirling gaseous mass within a giant cloud of gas and dust that rotates around a sun and is believed to give rise to a planet
pro·to·plasm ['prō-tə-,pla-zəm] -n, adj
- the organized colloidal complex of organic and inorganic substances (as proteins and water) that constitutes the living nucleus, cytoplasm, plastids, and mitochondria of the cell
- cytoplasm
pro·to·plast ['prō-tə-,plast] -n
- one that is formed first : prototype
- a plant cell that has had its cell wall removed
- the nucleus, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane of a cell as distinguished from inert walls and inclusions
pro·to·por·phy·rin [,prō-tō-'pȯr-f(ə-)rən] -n
- a purple porphyrin acid C 34H 34N 4O 4obtained from hemin or heme by removal of bound iron
pro·to·star ['prō-tō-,stär] -n
- a cloud of gas and dust in space believed to develop into a star
pro·to·stele ['prō-tə-,stēl, ,prō-tə-'stē-lē] -n, adj
- a stele forming a solid rod with the phloem surrounding the xylem
pro·to·stome ['prō-tə-,stōm] -n
- any of a major group (Protostomia) of bilateral metazoan animals (as mollusks, annelids, and arthropods) characterized in typical forms by determinate and spiral cleavage, formation of a mouth and anus directly from the blastopore, and formation of the coelom by splitting of the embryonic mesoderm
pro·to·troph ['prō-tə-,trōf, -,träf] -n
- a prototrophic individual
pro·to·tro·phic [,prō-tə-'trō-fik] -adj, n
- having the nutritional requirements of the normal or wild type
pro·to·typ·al [,prō-tə-'tī-pəl] -adj
- prototypical
pro·to·type ['prō-tə-,tīp] -n
- an original model on which something is patterned : archetype
- an individual that exhibits the essential features of a later type
- a standard or typical example
- a first full-scale and usu. functional form of a new type or design of a construction (as an airplane)
pro·to·typ·i·cal [,prō-tə-'ti-pi-kəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or being a prototype
pro·to·xy·lem [,prō-tə-'zī-ləm, -,lem] -n
- the first-formed xylem developing from procambium and consisting of narrow cells with annular, spiral, or scalariform wall thickenings
pro·to·zo·al [,prō-tə-'zō-əl] -adj
- of or relating to protozoans
pro·to·zo·an [-'zō-ən] -n, adj
- any of a phylum or subkingdom (Protozoa) of chiefly motile and heterotrophic unicellular protists (as amoebas, trypanosomes, sporozoans, and paramecia) that are represented in almost every kind of habitat and include some pathogenic parasites of humans and domestic animals
pro·to·zo·ol·o·gy [-zō-'ä-lə-jē, -zə-'wä-] -n
- a branch of zoology dealing with protozoans
pro·to·zo·on [-'zō-,än] -n
- protozoan
pro·tract [prō-'trakt, prə-] -vt, adj
- delay, defer
- to prolong in time or space : continue
- to extend forward or outward
protracted meeting -n
- a protracted revival meeting
pro·trac·tile [-'trak-tᵊl, -,tī(-ə)l] -adj
- capable of being thrust out
pro·trac·tion [-'trak-shən] -n
- the act of protracting : the state of being protracted
- the drawing to scale of an area of land
pro·trac·tor [-'trak-tər] -n
- one that protracts
- a muscle that extends a part
- an instrument for laying down and measuring angles in drawing and plotting
pro·trep·tic [prō-'trep-tik] -n, adj
- an utterance (as a speech) designed to instruct and persuade
pro·trude [prō-'trüd] -vb, adj
- to thrust forward
- to cause to project
- to jut out from the surrounding surface or context
- a handkerchief protruding from his breast pocket
pro·tru·sion [prō-'trü-zhən] -n
- the act of protruding : the state of being protruded
- something (as an anatomical part or excrescence) that protrudes
pro·tru·sive [-'trü-siv, -ziv] -adj, adv, n
- thrusting forward
- prominent, protuberant
- obtrusive, pushing
- a coarse protrusive manner
pro·tu·ber·ance [prō-'tü-b(ə-)rən(t)s, -'tyü-] -n
- something that is protuberant
- the quality or state of being protuberant
pro·tu·ber·ant [-b(ə-)rənt] -adj, adv
- thrusting out from a surrounding or adjacent surface often as a rounded mass : prominent
proud ['prau̇d] -adj, adv
- : feeling or showing pride: as
- having or displaying excessive self-esteem
- much pleased : exultant
- having proper self-respect
- marked by stateliness : magnificent
- giving reason for pride : glorious
- the proud est moment in her life
- vigorous, spirited
- raised above a surrounding area
- a proud design on a stamp
proud flesh -n
- an excessive growth of granulation tissue
proud·ful ['prau̇d-fəl] -adj
- marked by or full of pride
proud·heart·ed [-'här-təd] -adj
- proud in spirit : haughty
proust·ite ['prü-,stīt] -n
- a mineral that consists of a red sulfide of silver and arsenic and occurs in crystals or massively
prov -abbr
- province; provincial
- provisional
Prov -abbr
- Proverbs
pro·vas·cu·lar [(,)prō-'vas-kyə-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or being procambium
prove ['prüv] -vb, adj, n, adv
- to learn or find out by experience
- to test the truth, validity, or genuineness of
- the exception prove s the rule
- to test the worth or quality of
- to compare against a standard sometimes used with up or out
- to check the correctness of (as an arithmetic result)
- to establish the existence, truth, or validity of (as by evidence or logic)
- the charges were never proved in court
- to demonstrate as having a particular quality or worth
- the vaccine has been proven effective after years of tests
- proved herself a great actress
- to show (oneself) to be worthy or capable
- eager to prove myself in the new job
- to turn out esp. after trial or test
- the new drug proved effective
prov·e·nance ['präv-nən(t)s, 'prä-və-,nän(t)s] -n
- origin, source
- the history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature
Pro·ven·al [,prō-,vän-'säl, ,prä-vən-, sense 1 also prə-'ven(t)-səl] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of Provence or the people of Provence
- cooked with garlic, onion, mushrooms, tomato, olive oil, and herbs
- a native or inhabitant of Provence
- occitan
- the dialect of Occitan spoken in Provence
prov·en·der ['prä-vən-dər] -n
- dry food for domestic animals : feed
- food, victuals
pro·ve·nience [prə-'vē-nyən(t)s, -nē-ən(t)s] -n
- origin, source
prov·en·ly ['prü-vən-lē, Brit also 'prō-] -adv
- demonstrably as stated : without doubt or uncertainty
pro·ven·tric·u·lus [,prō-ven-'tri-kyə-ləs] -n
- the glandular or true stomach of a bird that is situated between the crop and gizzard
- a muscular dilatation of the foregut in most mandibulate insects that is armed internally with chitinous teeth or plates for grinding food
- the thin-walled sac in front of the gizzard of an earthworm
prove out -vi
- to turn out to be satisfactory or as expected
prov·erb ['prä-,vərb] -n
- a brief popular epigram or maxim : adage
- byword
proverb -vt
- to speak of proverbially
- to provide with a proverb
- a form of the verb doused to avoid repetition of a verb (as doin act as I do)
pro·ver·bi·al [prə-'vər-bē-əl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or resembling a proverb
- that has become a proverb or byword : commonly spoken of
- the proverbial smoking gun
Prov·erbs ['prä-,vərbz] -n pl but sing in constr
- a collection of moral sayings and counsels forming a book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture
pro·vide [prə-'vīd] -vb
- to take precautionary measures
- provide for the common defense -- U.S. Constitution
- to make a proviso or stipulation
- the Constitution...provide s for an elected two-chamber legislature -- Current Biog.
- to make preparation to meet a need
- provide for entertainment
- to supply something for sustenance or support
- to prepare in advance
- to supply or make available (something wanted or needed)
- provided new uniforms for the band
- afford
- to make something available to
- provide the children with free balloons
- to have as a condition : stipulate
- the contract provide s that certain deadlines will be met
provided -conj
- on condition that : with the understanding : if
prov·i·dence ['prä-və-dən(t)s, -,den(t)s] -n
- divine guidance or care
- God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny
- the quality or state of being provident
prov·i·dent [-dənt, -,dent] -adj, adv
- making provision for the future : prudent
- frugal, saving
prov·i·den·tial [,prä-və-'den(t)-shəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or determined by Providence
- marked by foresight : prudent
- occurring by or as if by an intervention of Providence
pro·vid·er [prə-'vī-dər] -n
- one that provides
- breadwinner
providing -conj
- on condition that : in case
prov·ince ['prä-vən(t)s] -n
- a country or region brought under the control of the ancient Roman government
- an administrative district or division of a country
- all of a country except the metropolises
- a division of a country forming the jurisdiction of an archbishop or metropolitan
- a territorial unit of a religious order
- a biogeographic division of less rank than a region
- an area that exhibits essential continuity of geological history
- one characterized by particular structural or petrological features
- proper or appropriate function or scope : sphere
- that question is outside my province
- a department of knowledge or activity
pro·vin·cial [prə-'vin(t)-shəl] -n
- the superior of a province of a Roman Catholic religious order
- one living in or coming from a province
- a person of local or restricted interests or outlook
- a person lacking urban polish or refinement
provincial [-'vin(t)-sh(ə-)lē] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or coming from a province
- limited in outlook : narrow
- lacking the polish of urban society : unsophisticated
- of or relating to a decorative style (as in furniture) marked by simplicity, informality, and relative plainness
- french provincial
pro·vin·cial·ism [-shə-,li-zəm] -n
- a dialectal or local word, phrase, or idiom
- the quality or state of being provincial
pro·vin·cial·ist [-'vin(t)-sh(ə-)list] -n
- a native or inhabitant of a province
pro·vin·ci·al·i·ty [prə-,vin(t)-shē-'a-lə-tē] -n
- provincialism
- an act or instance of provincialism
pro·vin·cial·ize [-'vin(t)-shə-,līz] -vt, n
- to make provincial
proving ground -n
- a place for scientific experimentation or testing (as of vehicles or weapons)
- a place where something is developed or tried out
pro·vi·rus [(,)prō-'vī-rəs] -n, adj
- a form of a virus that is integrated into the genetic material of a host cell and by replicating with it can be transmitted from one cell generation to the next without causing lysis
pro·vi·sion [prə-'vi-zhən] -n
- the act or process of providing
- the fact or state of being prepared beforehand
- a measure taken beforehand to deal with a need or contingency : preparation
- made provision for replacements
- a stock of needed materials or supplies
- a stock of food usu. used in pl.
- proviso, stipulation
provision [-'vi-zhə-niŋ, -'vizh-niŋ] -vt
- to supply with provisions
pro·vi·sion·al [prə-'vizh-nəl, -'vi-zhə-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- serving for the time being : temporary
provisional -n
- a postage stamp for use until a regular issue appears
pro·vi·sion·ary [prə-'vi-zhə-,ner-ē] -adj
- provisional
pro·vi·sion·er [-'vi-zhə-nər, -'vizh-nər] -n
- a furnisher of provisions
pro·vi·so [prə-'vī-(,)zō] -n
- an article or clause (as in a contract) that introduces a condition
- a conditional stipulation
pro·vi·so·ry [-'vī-zə-rē, -'vīz-rē] -adj
- containing or subject to a proviso : conditional
- provisional
pro·vi·ta·min [(,)prō-'vī-tə-mən] -n
- a precursor of a vitamin convertible into the vitamin in an organism
Pro·vo ['prō-(,)vō] -n
- a member of the extremist faction of the Irish Republican Army
pro·vo·ca·teur [prō-,vä-kə-'tər] -n
- agent provocateur
- one who provokes
prov·o·ca·tion [,prä-və-'kā-shən] -n
- the act of provoking : incitement
- something that provokes, arouses, or stimulates
pro·voc·a·tive [prə-'vä-kə-tiv] -adj, n, adv
- serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate
pro·voke [prə-'vōk] -vt, n
- to arouse to a feeling or action
- to incite to anger
- to call forth (as a feeling or action) : evoke
- to stir up purposely
- to provide the needed stimulus for
- will provoke a lot of discussion
provoking [-kiŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- causing mild anger : annoying
pro·vo·lo·ne [,prō-və-'lō-nē, 'prō-və-,lōn] -n
- a usu. firm pliant often smoked cheese of Italian origin
pro·vost ['prō-,vōst, 'prä-vəst, 'prō-vəst, esp attrib ,prō-(,)vō] -n
- the chief dignitary of a collegiate or cathedral chapter
- the chief magistrate of a Scottish burgh
- the keeper of a prison
- a high-ranking university administrative officer
provost court -n
- a military court usu. for the trial of minor offenses within an occupied hostile territory
provost guard -n
- a police detail of soldiers under the authority of the provost marshal
provost marshal -n
- an officer who supervises the military police of a command
prow ['prau̇] -adj
- valiant, gallant
- the bow of a ship : stem
- a pointed projecting front part
prow·ess ['prau̇-əs also 'prō-] -n
- distinguished bravery
- military valor and skill
- extraordinary ability
- his prowess on the football field
prowl ['prau̇(-ə)l] -vb, n
- to move about or wander stealthily in or as if in search of prey
- to roam over in a predatory manner
- an act or instance of prowling
prowl car -n
- squad car
prox -abbr
- proximo
prox·e·mics [präk-'sē-miks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj
- the study of the nature, degree, and effect of the spatial separation individuals naturally maintain (as in various social and interpersonal situations) and of how this separation relates to environmental and cultural factors
prox·i·mal ['präk-sə-məl] -adj, adv
- situated close to : proximate
- next to or nearest the point of attachment or origin, a central point, or the point of view
- located toward the center of the body
- of, relating to, or being the mesial and distal surfaces of a tooth
proximal convoluted tubule -n
- the convoluted portion of the vertebrate nephron that lies between Bowman's capsule and the loop of Henle and functions esp. in the resorption of sugar, sodium and chloride ions, and water from the glomerular filtrate called also proximal tubule
prox·i·mate ['präk-sə-mət] -adj, adv, n
- immediately preceding or following (as in a chain of events, causes, or effects)
- proximate, rather than ultimate, goals -- Reinhold Niebuhr
- very near : close
- soon forthcoming : imminent
prox·im·i·ty [präk-'si-mə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being proximate : closeness
proximity fuse -n
- a fuse for a projectile that uses the principle of radar to detect the presence of a target within the projectile's effective range
prox·i·mo ['präk-sə-,mō] -adj
- of or occurring in the next month after the present
proxy ['präk-sē] -n, adj
- the agency, function, or office of a deputy who acts as a substitute for another
- authority or power to act for another
- a document giving such authority
- a power of attorney authorizing a specified person to vote corporate stock
- a person authorized to act for another : procurator
proxy marriage -n
- a marriage celebrated in the absence of one of the contracting parties who is represented at the ceremony by a proxy
Pro·zac ['prō-,zak] -trademark
- used for a preparation of fluoxetine
PrP -abbr
- prion protein
prude ['prüd] -n
- a person who is excessively or priggishly attentive to propriety or decorum
- a woman who shows or affects extreme modesty
pru·dence ['prü-dᵊn(t)s] -n
- the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason
- sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs
- skill and good judgment in the use of resources
- caution or circumspection as to danger or risk
pru·dent [-dᵊnt] -adj, adv
- : characterized by, arising from, or showing prudence: as
- marked by wisdom or judiciousness
- shrewd in the management of practical affairs
- marked by circumspection : discreet
- provident, frugal
pru·den·tial [prü-'den(t)-shəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or proceeding from prudence
- exercising prudence esp. in business matters
prud·ery ['prü-d(ə-)rē] -n
- the characteristic quality or state of a prude
- a prudish act or remark
prud·ish ['prü-dish] -adj, adv, n
- marked by prudery : priggish
pru·i·nose ['prü-ə-,nōs] -adj
- covered with whitish dust or bloom
prune ['prün] -n
- a plum dried or capable of drying without fermentation
- to reduce esp. by eliminating superfluous matter
- to remove as superfluous
- prune away all ornamentation
- to cut off or cut back parts of for better shape or more fruitful growth
- to cut away what is unwanted or superfluous
pru·nel·la [prü-'ne-lə] -n
- a twilled woolen dress fabric
- a heavy woolen fabric used for the uppers of shoes
pruning hook -n
- a pole bearing a curved blade for pruning plants
pru·nus ['prü-nəs] -n
- any of a genus ( Prunus) of drupaceous trees or shrubs of the rose family that have showy clusters of usu. white or pink flowers first appearing in the spring often before the leaves and including many grown for ornament or for their fruit (as the plum, cherry, or apricot)
pru·ri·ence ['pru̇r-ē-ən(t)s] -n
- the quality or state of being prurient
pru·ri·en·cy [-ən(t)-sē] -n
- prurience
pru·ri·ent [-ənt] -adj, adv
- marked by or arousing an immoderate or unwholesome interest or desire
- marked by, arousing, or appealing to sexual desire
pru·ri·go [prü-'rī-(,)gō, -'rē-] -n
- a chronic inflammatory skin disease marked by itching papules
pru·rit·ic [-'ri-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, or marked by itching
pru·ri·tus [-'rī-təs, -'rē-] -n
- itch
Prus·sian blue ['prə-shən-] -n
- any of numerous blue iron pigments formerly regarded as ferric ferrocyanide
- a dark blue crystalline hydrated ferric ferrocyanide Fe 4Fe(CN) 6 3 xH 2O used as a test for ferric iron
- a greenish blue
prus·sian·ise [-,nīz] -vt, n
(variant of prussianize)
- to make Prussian in character or principle (as in authoritarian control or rigid discipline)
Prus·sian·ism ['prə-shə-,ni-zəm] -n
- the practices or policies (as the advocacy of militarism) held to be typically Prussian
prus·sian·ize [-,nīz] -vt, n
- to make Prussian in character or principle (as in authoritarian control or rigid discipline)
prus·sic acid ['prə-sik-] -n
- hydrocyanic acid
pru·tah [prü-'tä] -n
- a former monetary unit of Israel equivalent to pound
- a coin representing one prutah
pry ['prī] -vi
- to look closely or inquisitively
- to make a nosy or presumptuous inquiry
- to raise, move, or pull apart with a lever : prize
- to extract, detach, or open with difficulty
- pried the secret out of my sister
- a tool for prying
- leverage
pryer ['prī(-ə)r] -n
(variant of prier)
- one that pries
- an inquisitive person
prying [-iŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- inquisitive in an annoying, officious, or meddlesome way
Prze·wal·ski's horse [pshə-'väl-skēz-, shə-, ,pər-zhə-'väl-] -n
- a small stocky bay- or dun-colored wild horse ( Equus caballus przewalskiisyn. E. przewalskii) of central Asia having a large head and short erect mane and now existing chiefly in captivity called also Prze*wal*ski horse -ske-