pan·do·ra [pan-'dȯr-ə] -n
- bandore
Pan·do·ra's box [pan-'dȯr-əz-] -n
- a prolific source of troubles
pan·dow·dy [pan-'dau̇-dē] -n
- a deep-dish spiced apple dessert sweetened with sugar, molasses, or maple syrup and covered with a rich crust
pan·dy ['pan-dē] -vt
- to punish (a schoolboy) with a blow on the palm of the hand esp. with a ferule
pane ['pān] -n, adj
- : a piece, section, or side of something: as
- a framed sheet of glass in a window or door
- one of the sections into which a sheet of postage stamps is cut for distribution
pan·e·gy·ric [,pa-nə-'jir-ik, -'jī-rik] -n, adj, adv
- a eulogistic oration or writing
- formal or elaborate praise
pan·e·gy·rist [,pa-nə-'jir-ist, -'jī-rist] -n
- eulogist
pan·el ['pa-nᵊl] -n
- a schedule containing names of persons summoned as jurors
- the group of persons so summoned
- jury
- a group of persons selected for some service (as investigation or arbitration)
- a group of persons who discuss before an audience a topic of public interest
- panel discussion
- a group of entertainers or guests engaged as players in a quiz or guessing game on a radio or television program
- : a separate or distinct part of a surface: as
- a fence section : hurdle
- a thin usu. rectangular board set in a frame (as in a door)
- a usu. sunken or raised section of a surface set off by a margin
- a flat usu. rectangular piece of construction material (as plywood or precast masonry) made to form part of a surface
- a vertical section of fabric (as a gore)
- comic strip
- a frame of a comic strip
- a thin flat piece of wood on which a picture is painted
- a painting on such a surface
- a section of a switchboard
- a usu. vertical mount for controls or dials (as of instruments of measurement)
panel -vt
- to furnish or decorate with panels
panel discussion -n
- a formal discussion by a panel
paneling -n
- panels joined in a continuous surface
- decorative wood panels so joined
pan·el·ist ['pa-nᵊl-ist] -n
- a member of a discussion or advisory panel or of a radio or television panel
panel truck -n
- a small motortruck with a fully enclosed body
panetela [,pa-nə-'te-lə] -n
(variant of panatela)
- a long slender straight-sided cigar
pan·et·to·ne [,pä-nə-'tō-nē, ,pa-] -n
- a usu. yeast-leavened bread containing raisins and candied fruit
pan·fish ['pan-,fish] -n
- a small food fish (as a sunfish) usu. taken with hook and line and not available on the market
pan·fry ['pan-,frī, pan-'frī] -vt
- to cook in a frying pan with a small amount of fat
pan·ful ['pan-,fu̇l] -n
- as much or as many as a pan will hold
pang ['paŋ] -n
- a brief piercing spasm of pain
- a sharp attack of mental anguish
- to cause to have pangs : torment
pan·ga ['päŋ-gə] -n
- machete
pan·gen·e·sis [,pan-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj
- a disproven hypothetical mechanism of heredity in which the cells throw off particles that collect in the reproductive products or in buds so that the egg or bud contains particles from all parts of the parent
Pan·gloss·ian [pan-'glä-sē-ən, paŋ-, -'glȯ-] -adj
- marked by the view that all is for the best in this best of possible worlds : excessively optimistic
pan·go·la grass [pan-'gō-lə-, paŋ-] -n
- a rapid-growing perennial grass ( Digitaria decumbens) of southern Africa that has been introduced into the southern U.S. as a pasture grass
pan·go·lin ['paŋ-gə-lən, 'pan-] -n
- any of a family (Manidae of the order Pholidota) of Asian and African toothless mammals having the body covered dorsally with large imbricated horny scales called also scaly anteater
pan·han·dle ['pan-,han-dᵊl] -n
- a narrow projection of a larger territory (as a state)
panhandle [-,han(d)-liŋ, -,han-dᵊl-iŋ] -vb, n
- to stop people on the street and ask for food or money : beg
- to accost on the street and beg from
- to get by panhandling
Pan·hel·len·ic [,pan-hə-'le-nik] -adj
- of or relating to all Greece or all the Greeks
- of or relating to the Greek-letter sororities or fraternities in American colleges and universities or to an association representing them
pan·hu·man [,pan-'hyü-mən, -'yü-] -adj
- of or relating to all humanity
- the panhuman problem of evil -- R. K. Merton
pan·ic ['pa-nik] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling the mental or emotional state believed induced by the god Pan
- of, relating to, or arising from a panic
- of or relating to the god Pan
panic ['pa-ni-kē] -n, adj
- a sudden overpowering fright
- acute extreme anxiety
- a sudden unreasoning terror often accompanied by mass flight
- widespread panic in the streets
- a sudden widespread fright concerning financial affairs that results in a depression of values caused by extreme measures for protection of property (as securities)
- one that is very funny
- to affect with panic
- to cause to laugh uproariously
- panic an audience with a gag
- to be affected with panic
panic attack -n
- an episode of intense fear or apprehension that is of sudden onset
panic button -n
- something setting off a precipitous emergency response
- there was no pushing of panic buttons at the White House, no rushing of troops -- J. C. Harsch
panic disorder -n
- an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks
pan·ic grass ['pa-nik-] -n
- any of various grasses ( Panicumand related genera) including some important forage and cereal grasses
pan·i·cle ['pa-ni-kəl] -n, adj
- a compound racemose inflorescence
- a pyramidal loosely branched flower cluster
pan·icstrick·en ['pa-nik-,stri-kən] -adj
- overcome with panic
pan·i·cum ['pa-ni-kəm] -n
- any of a large and widely distributed genus ( Panicum) of annual and perennial grasses that have 1- to 2-flowered spikelets arranged in a panicle
pa·ni·no [pə-'nē-nō] -n
- a usu. grilled sandwich made with Italian bread
Pan·ja·bi [,pən-'jä-bē, -'ja-] -n
- punjabi
pan·jan·drum [pan-'jan-drəm] -n
- a powerful personage or pretentious official
pan·leu·ko·pe·nia [,pan-,lü-kə-'pē-nē-ə] -n
- an acute usu. fatal epizootic disease esp. of cats that is caused by a parvovirus (species Feline panleukopenia virusof the genus Parvovirus) and is marked by fever, diarrhea and dehydration, and destruction of white blood cells
pan·mic·tic [,pan-'mik-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, or exhibiting panmixia
pan·mix·ia [-'mik-sē-ə] -n
- random mating within a breeding population
panne ['pan] -n
- a silk or rayon velvet with lustrous pile flattened in one direction called also panne velvet
- a heavy silk or rayon satin with high luster and waxy smoothness
pan·nier ['pan-yər, 'pa-nē-ər] -n
- : a large container: as
- a basket often carried on the back of an animal or the shoulders of a person
- one of a pair of packs or baskets hung over the rear wheel of a vehicle (as a bicycle)
- one of a pair of hoops formerly used to expand women's skirts at the sides
- an overskirt draped at the sides of a skirt for an effect of fullness
pan·ni·kin ['pa-ni-kən] -n
- a small pan or cup
panocha [pə-'nü-chē] -n
(variant of penuche)
- fudge made usu. of brown sugar, butter, cream or milk, and nuts
pan·o·plied ['pa-nə-plēd] -adj
- dressed in or having a panoply
pan·o·ply ['pa-nə-plē] -n
- a full suit of armor
- ceremonial attire
- something forming a protective covering
- a magnificent or impressive array
- the full panoply of a military funeral
- a display of all appropriate appurtenances
- no need for the panoply of power
pan·op·tic [,pa-'näp-tik] -adj
- being or presenting a comprehensive or panoramic view
- a panoptic view of the city
pan·o·rama [,pa-nə-'ra-mə, -'rä-] -n, adj, adv
- cyclorama
- a picture exhibited a part at a time by being unrolled before the spectator
- an unobstructed or complete view of an area in every direction
- a comprehensive presentation of a subject
- a panorama of American history
- range
- a mental picture of a series of images or events
pan out -vi
- turn out
- succeed
- the signs revealed that the experiment wasn't panning out -- Ronald Reagan
pan·pipe ['pan-,pīp] -n
- a primitive wind instrument consisting of a series of short vertical pipes of graduated length bound together with the mouthpieces in an even row often used in pl.
pan·sex·u·al [,pan-'sek-sh(ə-)wəl, -shəl] -adj, n
- exhibiting or implying many forms of sexual expression
PanSlav·ism [,pan-'slä-,vi-zəm, -'sla-] -n, adj
- a political and cultural movement orig. emphasizing the cultural ties between the Slavic peoples but later associated with Russian expansionism
pan·sy ['pan-zē] -n
- a garden plant ( Viola wittrockiana) derived chiefly from the hybridization of the European Johnny-jump-up ( Viola tricolor) with other wild violets
- its flower
- a weak or effeminate man or boy
- a male homosexual
pansy -adj
- effeminate
- homosexual
pant ['pant] -vb
- to breathe quickly, spasmodically, or in a labored manner
- to run panting
- to move with or make a throbbing or puffing sound
- to long eagerly : yearn
- throb, pulsate
- to utter with panting : gasp
- a panting breath
- the visible movement of the chest accompanying such a breath
- a throbbing or puffing sound
- an outer garment covering each leg separately and usu. extending from the waist to the ankle usu. used in pl.
- men's underpants
- pantie
- of or relating to pants
pant- -comb form
- all
Pan·ta·gru·el [,pan-tə-'grü-əl; pan-'ta-grə-wəl, -,wel] -n, adj
- the huge son of Gargantua in Rabelais's Pantagruel
pan·ta·lets [,pan-tə-'lets] -n pl
- long drawers with a ruffle at the bottom of each leg worn esp. by women and children in the first half of the 19th century
pan·ta·loon [,pan-tə-'lün] -n
- a character in the commedia dell'arte that is usu. a skinny old dotard who wears spectacles, slippers, and a tight-fitting combination of trousers and stockings
- a buffoon in pantomimes
- wide breeches worn esp. in England during the reign of Charles II
- close-fitting trousers usu. having straps passing under the instep and worn esp. in the 19th century
- loose-fitting usu. shorter than ankle-length trousers
pan·tech·ni·con [pan-'tek-ni-kən] -n
- van
pan·the·ism ['pan(t)-thē-,i-zəm] -n, adj, adv
- a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe
- the worship of all gods of different creeds, cults, or peoples indifferently
- toleration of worship of all gods (as at certain periods of the Roman empire)
pan·the·on ['pan(t)-thē-,än, -ən] -n
- a temple dedicated to all the gods
- a building serving as the burial place of or containing memorials to the famous dead of a nation
- the gods of a people
- the officially recognized gods
- a group of illustrious or notable persons or things
pan·ther ['pan(t)-thər] -n
- : leopard: as
- a leopard of a hypothetical exceptionally large fierce variety
- a leopard of the black color phase
- cougar
- jaguar
pant·ie ['pan-tē] -n
- a woman's or child's undergarment covering the lower trunk and made with closed crotch usu. used in pl.
pantie girdle -n
- a woman's girdle having a sewed-in or detachable crotch and made with or without garters and bones
pan·tile ['pan-,tī(-ə)l] -n, adj
- a roofing tile whose cross section is an ogee curve
- a roofing tile of which the cross section is an arc of a circle and which is laid with alternate convex and concave surfaces uppermost
pant·i·soc·ra·cy [,pan-tə-'sä-krə-sē, ,pan-,tī-] -n, adj
- a utopian community in which all rule equally
pan·to ['pan-(,)tō] -n
- pantomime
pan·to·fle [pan-'tō-fəl, -'tä-, -'tü-; 'pan-tə-fəl] -n
- slipper
pan·to·graph ['pan-tə-,graf] -n, adj
- an instrument for copying something (as a map) on a predetermined scale consisting of four light rigid bars jointed in parallelogram form
- any of various extensible devices of similar construction (as for use as brackets or gates)
- an electrical trolley carried by a collapsible and adjustable frame
pan·to·mime ['pan-tə-,mīm] -n, adj
- pantomimist
- an ancient Roman dramatic performance featuring a solo dancer and a narrative chorus
- any of various dramatic or dancing performances in which a story is told by expressive bodily or facial movements of the performers
- a British theatrical entertainment of the Christmas season based on a nursery tale and featuring topical songs, tableaux, and dances
- conveyance of a story by bodily or facial movements esp. in drama or dance
- the art or genre of conveying a story by bodily movements only
pantomime -vb
- to engage in pantomime
- to represent by pantomime
pan·to·mim·ist ['pan-tə-,mī-mist, -,mi-] -n
- an actor or dancer in pantomimes
- a composer of pantomimes
pan·to·the·nate [,pan-tə-'the-,nāt, pan-'tä-thə-,nāt] -n
- a salt or ester of pantothenic acid
pan·to·then·ic acid [,pan-tə-'the-nik-, -'thē-] -n
- a viscous oily acid C 9H 17NO 5of the vitamin B complex found in all living tissues
pan·trop·i·cal [,pan-'trä-pi-kəl] -adj
- occurring or distributed throughout the tropical regions of the earth
pan·try ['pan-trē] -n
- a room or closet used for storage (as of provisions) or from which food is brought to the table
- a room (as in a hotel or hospital) for preparation of foods on order
pan·try·man [-mən] -n
- a person in charge of or working in a pantry (as in a hotel or hospital)
pants suit -n
- pantsuit
pant·suit ['pant-,süt] -n, adj
- a woman's ensemble consisting usu. of a long jacket and pants of the same material
panty hose -n
- a one-piece undergarment for women that consists of hosiery made with a panty-style top usu. pl. in constr.
panty raid -n
- a raid on a women's dormitory by college men usu. to obtain panties as trophies
panty·waist ['pan-tē-,wāst] -n, adj
- a child's garment consisting of short pants buttoned to a waist
- sissy
pan·zer ['pan-zər, 'pän(t)-sər] -n
- tank
- a German tank of World War II
panzer division -n
- a German armored division
pap ['pap] -n
- nipple, teat
- something shaped like a nipple
- a soft food for infants or invalids
- political patronage
- something lacking solid value or substance
pa·pa ['pä-pə, chiefly Brit pə-'pä] -n
- father
Pa·pa [pə-'pä, 'pä-pə]
- a communications code word for the letter p
pa·pa·cy ['pā-pə-sē] -n
- the office of pope
- a succession or line of popes
- the term of a pope's reign
- the system of government of the Roman Catholic Church of which the pope is the supreme head
Pa·pa·go ['pä-pə-,gō, 'pa-] -n
- tohono o'odham
pa·pa·in [pə-'pā-ən, -'pī-ən] -n
- a protease in the juice of unripe papaya that is used esp. as a tenderizer for meat and in medicine (as in the topical debridement of necrotic tissue)
pa·pal ['pā-pəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a pope or to the Roman Catholic Church
- resembling a pope or that of a pope
papal cross -n
- a figure of a cross having a long upright shaft and three crossbars with the longest at or somewhat above its middle and the two other successively shorter crossbars above the longest one
papal infallibility -n
- the Roman Catholic doctrine that the pope cannot err when speaking ex cathedra in defining a doctrine of Christian faith or morals
Pa·pa·ni·co·laou smear [,pä-pə-'nē-kə-,lau̇-, ,pa-pə-'ni-] -n
- pap smear
Papanicolaou test -n
- pap smear
pa·pa·raz·zo [,pä-pə-'rät-(,)sō] -n
- a freelance photographer who aggressively pursues celebrities for the purpose of taking candid photographs
pa·pav·er·ine [pə-'pa-və-,rēn; -'pav-rən, -'pa-və-] -n
- a crystalline alkaloid C 20H 21NO 4found in opium or made synthetically that is used usu. in the form of its hydrochloride chiefly as an antispasmodic for its ability to relax smooth muscle
papaw -n
(variant of pawpaw)
- papaya
- a No. American tree ( Asimina triloba) of the custard-apple family with purple flowers and an edible green-skinned fruit
- its fruit
pa·pa·ya [pə-'pī-ə] -n
- a tropical American tree ( Carica papayaof the family Caricaceae, the papaya family) having an oblong to globose yellow edible fruit with numerous black seeds in a central cavity
- its fruit
pa·per ['pā-pər] -n
- a felted sheet of usu. vegetable fibers laid down on a fine screen from a water suspension
- a similar sheet of other material (as plastic)
- a piece of paper
- a piece of paper containing a written or printed statement : document
- a piece of paper containing writing or print
- a formal written composition often designed for publication and often intended to be read aloud
- presented a scholarly paper at the meeting
- a piece of written schoolwork
- a paper container or wrapper
- newspaper
- the negotiable notes or instruments of commerce
- wallpaper
- tickets
- free passes
- paperback
paper ['pā-p(ə-)riŋ] -vb, n
- to put down or describe in writing
- to fold or enclose in paper
- to cover or line with paper
- to apply wallpaper to
- to fill by giving out free passes
- paper the theater for opening night
- to cover (an area) with advertising bills, circulars, or posters
- to hang wallpaper
- made of paper, cardboard, or papier-mache
- papery
- of or relating to clerical work or written communication
- existing only in theory : nominal
- admitted by free passes
- finished with a crisp smooth surface similar to that of paper
pa·per·back ['pā-pər-,bak] -n, adj
- a book with a flexible paper binding
pa·per·bark ['pā-pər-,bärk] -n
- any of several chiefly Australian trees (genus Melaleuca) of the myrtle family having papery bark
- cajeput
paper birch -n
- a No. American birch ( Betula papyrifera) with peeling white bark and toothed ovate leaves
pa·per·board ['pā-pər-,bȯrd] -n
- cardboard
pa·per·bound [-,bau̇nd] -n, adj
- paperback
pa·per·boy [-,bȯi] -n
- a boy who delivers newspapers : newsboy
paper chromatography -n
- chromatography that uses paper strips or sheets as the adsorbent stationary phase through which a solution flows
paper clip -n
- a length of wire bent into flat loops that is used to hold papers together
paper cutter -n
- paper knife
- a machine or device for cutting or trimming sheets of paper to required dimensions
pa·per·hang·er ['pā-pər-,haŋ-ər] -n
- one that applies wallpaper
- one who passes worthless checks
pa·per·hang·ing [-,haŋ-iŋ] -n
- the act of applying wallpaper
paper knife -n
- a knife for slitting envelopes or uncut pages
- the knife of a paper cutter
pa·per·less ['pā-pər-ləs] -adj
- recording or relaying information by electronic media rather than on paper
pa·per·mak·er ['pā-pər-,mā-kər] -n
- one that makes paper
paper money -n
- money consisting of government notes and banknotes
- bank money
paper mulberry -n
- an Asian tree ( Broussonetia papyrifera) of the mulberry family that is widely grown as a shade tree
paper nautilus -n
- a pelagic cephalopod (genus Argonauta) of which the female has a delicate papery shell
paper over -vt
- to gloss over, explain away, or patch up (as major differences or disparities) esp. in order to maintain a semblance of unity or agreement
- hide, conceal
paper profit -n
- a profit that can be realized only by selling something (as a security) that has appreciated in market value
pa·perthin ['pā-pər-,thin] -adj
- extremely thin
paper tiger -n
- one that is outwardly powerful or dangerous but inwardly weak or ineffectual
paper trail -n
- documents (as financial records) from which a person's actions may be traced or opinions learned
pa·pertrain ['pā-pər-,trān] -vt
- to train (as a dog) to defecate and urinate on paper indoors
paper wasp -n
- a vespid wasp (esp. genus Polistes) that builds a nest of papery material
pa·per·weight [-,wāt] -n
- a usu. small heavy object used to hold down loose papers (as on a desk)
pa·per·white [-,(h)wīt] -n
- a polyanthus narcissus bearing clusters of small very fragrant pure white flowers
pa·per·work [-,wərk] -n
- routine clerical or record-keeping work often incidental to a more important task
pa·pery ['pā-p(ə-)rē] -adj, n
- resembling paper in thinness or consistency
pa·pe·terie ['pa-pə-trē, ,pa-pə-'] -n
- packaged fancy stationery
Pa·phi·an ['pā-fē-ən] -n
- prostitute
- a native or inhabitant of Paphos
Paphian -adj
- of or relating to illicit love : wanton
- of or relating to Paphos or its people
Pa·pia·men·to [,pä-pyə-'men-(,)tō] -n
- a Spanish-based creole language of Netherlands Antilles
pa·pier col·le [,pä-,pyā-(,)kȯ-'lā, ,pa-] -n
- collage
pa·pierma·che [,pā-pər-mə-'shā, ,pa-,pyā-mə-, -(,)ma-] -n
- a light strong molding material of wastepaper pulped with glue and other additives
papiermache -adj
- formed of papier-mache
- unreal, artificial
pa·pil·i·o·na·ceous [pə-,pi-lē-ə-'nā-shəs] -adj
- having a corolla (as in the bean or pea) with usu. five petals that include a large upper petal enclosing two lateral wings and a lower carina of two united petals
pa·pil·la [pə-'pi-lə] -n, adj
- : a small projecting body part similar to a nipple in form:
- a vascular process of connective tissue extending into and nourishing the root of a hair, feather, or developing tooth
- any of the vascular protuberances of the dermal layer of the skin extending into the epidermal layer and often containing tactile corpuscles
- any of the small protuberances on the upper surface of the tongue often containing taste buds
pap·il·lo·ma [,pa-pə-'lō-mə] -n, adj
- a benign tumor (as a wart) due to overgrowth of epithelial tissue on papillae of vascular connective tissue (as of the skin)
pap·il·lo·ma·vi·rus [-,vī-rəs] -n
- any of a family ( Papillomaviridae) of viruses that contain a single molecule of circular double-stranded DNA and cause papillomas in mammals
pa·pil·lon [,pä-pē-'yōⁿ, ,pa-] -n
- any of a European breed of small slender toy spaniels having large erect heavily fringed ears
pa·pil·lote [,pä-pē-'yōt, ,pa-] -n
- a greased usu. paper wrapper in which food (as meat or fish) is cooked
pa·pist ['pā-pist] -n, adj
- roman catholic
pa·pist·ry ['pā-pə-strē] -n
- the Roman Catholic religion
pa·poose [pa-'püs, pə-] -n
- a young child of American Indian parents
pa·po·va·vi·rus [pə-'pō-və-,vī-rəs] -n
- any of a former family (Papovaviridae) of double-stranded DNA viruses that included the papillomaviruses and polyomaviruses
pap·par·del·le [,pä-pär-'de-lā] -n
- pasta in the form of wide ribbons
pap·pose ['pa-,pōs] -adj
- having or being a pappus
pap·pus ['pa-pəs] -n
- an appendage or tuft of appendages that crowns the ovary or fruit in various seed plants and functions in dispersal of the fruit
pap·py ['pa-pē] -n
- papa
pa·pri·ka [pə-'prē-kə, pa-] -n
- a usu. mild red condiment consisting of the dried finely ground pods of various sweet peppers
- a sweet pepper used for making paprika
Pap smear ['pap-] -n
- a method for the early detection of cancer esp. of the uterine cervix that involves the staining of exfoliated cells using a special technique which differentiates diseased tissue called also Papanicolaou smear Papanicolaou test Pap test
Pap·u·an ['pa-pyə-wən, -pə-] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Papua
- a member of any of the native peoples of New Guinea and adjacent areas of Melanesia
- any of a heterogeneous group of languages spoken in New Guinea, New Britain, and the Solomon islands
pap·u·lar ['pa-pyə-lər] -adj
- consisting of or characterized by papules
pap·ule ['pa-(,)pyül] -n
- a small solid usu. conical elevation of the skin
pap·y·rol·o·gy [,pa-pə-'rä-lə-jē] -n
- the study of papyrus manuscripts
pa·py·rus [pə-'pī-rəs] -n
- a tall perennial sedge ( Cyperus papyrus) of the Nile valley
- the pith of the papyrus plant esp. when made into strips and pressed into a material to write on
- a writing on papyrus
- a written scroll made of papyrus
par ['pär] -n, adj
- the established value of the monetary unit of one country expressed in terms of the monetary unit of another country using the same metal as the standard of value
- : the face amount of an instrument of value (as a check or note): as
- the monetary value assigned to each share of stock in the charter of a corporation
- the principal of a bond
- common level : equality usu. used with on
- judged the recording to be on a par with previous ones
- an amount taken as an average or norm
- an accepted standard
- a usual standard of physical condition or health
- the score standard for each hole of a golf course
- a score equal to par
- to score par on (a hole)
pa·ra ['pär-ə] -n
- any of several monetary units of the Turkish Empire
- a coin representing one para
- see dinar at
para -abbr
- paragraph
para- -prefix
- beside : alongside of : beyond : aside from
- closely related to
- involving substitution at or characterized by two opposite positions in the benzene ring that are separated by two carbon atoms
- faulty : abnormal
- associated in a subsidiary or accessory capacity
- closely resembling : almost
- parachute
paraami·no·ben·zo·ic acid [,pa-rə-ə-,mē-,nō-,ben-'zō-ik-, ,pa-rə-,a-mə-(,)nō-] -n
- a colorless para-substituted aminobenzoic acid that is a growth factor of the vitamin B complex and is used as a sunscreen called also PABA
paraami·no·sal·i·cyl·ic acid [-,sa-lə-'si-lik-] -n
- the white crystalline para-substituted isomer of aminosalicylic acid that is made synthetically and is used in the treatment of tuberculosis
para·bi·o·sis [,pa-rə-(,)bī-'ō-səs, -bē-] -n, adj, adv
- reversible suspension of obvious vital activities
- anatomical and physiological union of two organisms
par·a·ble ['pa-rə-bəl] -n
- example
- a usu. short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle
pa·rab·o·la [pə-'ra-bə-lə] -n
- a plane curve generated by a point moving so that its distance from a fixed point is equal to its distance from a fixed line : the intersection of a right circular cone with a plane parallel to an element of the cone
- something bowl-shaped (as an antenna or microphone reflector)
par·a·bol·ic [,pa-rə-'bä-lik] -adj, adv
- expressed by or being a parable : allegorical
- of, having the form of, or relating to a parabola
- motion in a parabolic curve
pa·rab·o·loid [pə-'ra-bə-,lȯid] -n, adj
- a surface all of whose intersections by planes are either parabolas and ellipses or parabolas and hyperbolas
para·cet·a·mol [,pa-rə-'sē-tə-,mȯl] -n
- acetaminophen
para·chute ['per-ə-,shüt, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj
- a device for slowing the descent of a person or object through the air that consists of a fabric canopy beneath which the person or object is suspended
- patagium
- a device or structure suggestive of a parachute in form, use, or operation
parachute -vb
- to convey by means of a parachute
- to descend by means of a parachute
parachute pants -n pl
- baggy casual pants of lightweight fabric often with an elastic or drawstring at the waist and the cuffs
para·chut·ist ['per-ə-,shü-tist, 'pa-rə-] -n
- : one that parachutes: as
- paratrooper
- a person who parachutes as a sport
Par·a·clete ['pa-rə-,klēt] -n
- holy spirit
para·crine ['pa-rə-krən, -,krīn] -adj
- of, relating to, promoted by, or being a substance secreted by a cell and acting on adjacent cells
pa·rade [pə-'rād] -n
- a pompous show : exhibition
- the ceremonial formation of a body of troops before a superior officer
- a place where troops assemble regularly for parade
- an informal procession
- a public procession
- a usu. lengthy array or succession
- a place for strolling
- those who promenade
parade -vb, n
- to cause to maneuver or march : marshal
- promenade
- to exhibit ostentatiously
- to march in or as if in a procession
- promenade
- show off
- masquerade
- myths which parade as modern science -- M. R. Cohen
para·di·chlo·ro·ben·zene [,pa-rə-,dī-,klȯr-ə-'ben-,zēn, -,ben-'] -n
- a white crystalline compound C 6H 4Cl 2made by chlorinating benzene and used esp. as a moth repellent and deodorizer
par·a·did·dle ['pa-rə-,di-dᵊl] -n
- a quick succession of drumbeats slower than a roll and alternating left- and right-hand strokes in a typical L-R-L-L, R-L-R-R pattern
par·a·digm ['per-ə-,dīm, 'pa-rə- also -,dim] -n, adj, adv
- example, pattern
- an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype
- an example of a conjugation or declension showing a word in all its inflectional forms
- a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated
- a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind
par·a·di·sa·i·cal [,per-ə-,dī-'sā-ə-kəl, -'zā-, ,pa-rə-] -adj, adv
- paradisiacal
par·a·dis·al [,per-ə-'dī-səl, -zəl, 'pa-rə-] -adj
- paradisiacal
par·a·dise ['per-ə-,dīs, -,dīz, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj
- eden
- an intermediate place or state where the souls of the righteous await resurrection and the final judgment
- heaven
- a place or state of bliss, felicity, or delight
par·a·di·si·a·cal [,per-ə-də-'sī-ə-kəl, -,dī-, -'zī-, ,pa-rə-] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or resembling paradise
pa·ra·dor [,pä-rä-'thȯr] -n
- a usu. government-operated hostelry found esp. in Spain
par·a·dox ['per-ə-,däks, 'pa-rə-] -n
- a tenet contrary to received opinion
- a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true
- a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true
- an argument that apparently derives self-contradictory conclusions by valid deduction from acceptable premises
- one (as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases
par·a·dox·i·cal [,per-ə-'däk-si-kəl, ,pa-rə-] -adj, n, adv
- of the nature of a paradox
- inclined to paradoxes
- not being the normal or usual kind
- paradoxical drug reactions
paradoxical sleep -n
- rem sleep
par·aes·the·sia [,par-əs-'thē-zhə] -n, adj
(variant of paresthesia)
- a sensation of pricking, tingling, or creeping on the skin that has no objective cause
par·af·fin ['per-ə-fən, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj
- a waxy crystalline flammable substance obtained esp. from distillates of wood, coal, petroleum, or shale oil that is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons and is used chiefly in coating and sealing, in candles, in rubber compounding, and in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
- any of various mixtures of similar hydrocarbons including mixtures that are semisolid or oily
- alkane
- kerosene
para·for·mal·de·hyde [,pa-rə-fȯr-'mal-də-,hīd, -fər-] -n
- a white powder (CH 2O) x that consists of a polymer of formaldehyde and is used esp. as a disinfectant
para·gen·e·sis [,pa-rə-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj, adv
- the formation of minerals in contact in such a manner as to affect one another's development
para·glid·er ['pa-rə-,glī-dər] -n
- a modified parachute used for paragliding
- a person who paraglides
para·glid·ing ['pa-rə-,glī-diŋ] -n, vi
- the recreational sport of soaring from a slope or a cliff using a modified parachute
par·a·gon ['per-ə-,gän, -gən, 'pa-rə-] -n
- a model of excellence or perfection
paragon -vt
- to compare with : parallel
- to put in rivalry : match
- surpass
par·a·graph ['per-ə-,graf, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj
- a subdivision of a written composition that consists of one or more sentences, deals with one point or gives the words of one speaker, and begins on a new usu. indented line
- a short composition or note that is complete in one paragraph
- a character (as ) used to indicate the beginning of a paragraph and as a reference mark
paragraph -vt
- to write paragraphs about
- to divide into paragraphs
- to write paragraphs
par·a·graph·er ['per-ə-,gra-fər, 'pa-rə-] -n
- a writer of paragraphs esp. for the editorial page of a newspaper
para·in·flu·en·za [,pa-rə-,in-flü-'en-zə] -n
- parainfluenza virus
- a respiratory illness caused by a parainfluenza virus
parainfluenza virus -n
- any of several paramyxoviruses (genera Respirovirusand Rubulavirus) that are a frequent cause of infections (as croup) of the lower respiratory tract esp. in infants and children
para·jour·nal·ism [,par-ə-'jər-nᵊl-,i-zəm] -n
- journalism that is heavily colored by the opinions of the reporter
par·a·keet ['per-ə-,kēt, 'pa-rə-] -n
- any of numerous usu. small slender parrots with a long graduated tail
para·lan·guage ['pa-rə-,laŋ-gwij] -n
- optional vocal effects (as tone of voice) that accompany or modify the phonemes of an utterance and that may communicate meaning
par·al·de·hyde [pa-'ral-də-,hīd, pə-] -n
- a colorless liquid polymer C 6H 12O 3derived from acetaldehyde and used esp. as an anticonvulsant, sedative, and hypnotic
para·le·gal [,pa-rə-'lē-gəl] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being a paraprofessional who assists a lawyer
para·lin·guis·tics [,pa-rə-liŋ-'gwis-tiks] -n, adj
- the study of paralanguage
Par·a·li·pom·e·non [,pa-rə-lə-'pä-mə-,nän, -lī-] -n
- chronicles
par·al·lac·tic [,pa-rə-'lak-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, or due to parallax
par·al·lax ['pa-rə-,laks] -n
- the apparent displacement or the difference in apparent direction of an object as seen from two different points not on a straight line with the object
- the angular difference in direction of a celestial body as measured from two points on the earth's orbit
par·al·lel ['per-ə-,lel, 'pa-rə-, -ləl] -adj
- extending in the same direction, everywhere equidistant, and not meeting
- everywhere equally distant
- concentric spheres are parallel
- having parallel sides
- being or relating to an electrical circuit having a number of conductors in parallel
- arranged in parallel
- relating to or being a connection in a computer system in which the bits of a byte are transmitted over separate channels at the same time
- similar, analogous, or interdependent in tendency or development
- exhibiting parallelism in form, function, or development
- readily compared : companion
- having identical syntactical elements in corresponding positions
- being such an element
- having the same tonic used of major and minor keys and scales
- keeping the same distance apart in musical pitch
- performed while keeping one's skis parallel
parallel -n
- a parallel line, curve, or surface
- one of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth paralleling the equator and marking the latitude
- the corresponding line on a globe or map
- a character used in printing esp. as a reference mark
- something equal or similar in all essential particulars : counterpart
- similarity, analogue
- a comparison to show resemblance
- the state of being physically parallel
- an arrangement of electrical devices in a circuit in which the same potential difference is applied to two or more resistances with each resistance being on a different branch of the circuit
- an arrangement or state that permits several operations or tasks to be performed simultaneously rather than consecutively
- to indicate analogy of : compare
- to show something equal to : match
- to correspond to
- to place so as to be parallel in direction with something
- to extend, run, or move in a direction parallel to
- in a parallel manner
parallel bars -n pl
- a pair of usu. wooden bars supported horizontally above the floor at the same height or at different heights usu. by a common base and used in gymnastics
- an event in gymnastics competition in which even or uneven parallel bars are used
par·al·lel·e·pi·ped [,pa-rə-,le-lə-'pī-pəd also -,le-'le-pə-,ped] -n
- a 6-faced polyhedron all of whose faces are parallelograms lying in pairs of parallel planes
par·al·lel·ism ['pa-rə-,le-,li-zəm, -lə-,li-] -n
- the quality or state of being parallel
- resemblance, correspondence
- repeated syntactical similarities introduced for rhetorical effect
- a theory that mind and matter accompany one another but are not causally related
- the independent development of a similar trait in related species or lineages following divergence from a common ancestor
par·al·lel·o·gram [,pa-rə-'le-lə-,gram] -n
- a quadrilateral with opposite sides parallel and equal
par·al·lelveined [,pa-rə-,lel-'vānd, -ləl-] -adj
- having veins arranged nearly parallel to one another
pa·ral·o·gism [pə-'ra-lə-,ji-zəm] -n
- a fallacious argument
Para·lym·pics [,pa-rə-'lim-piks] -n pl, n, adj
- a series of international contests for athletes with disabilities that are associated with and held following the summer and winter Olympic Games called also Paralympic Games
par·a·lyse ['per-ə-,līz, 'pa-rə-] -vt, n, adv
(variant of paralyze)
- to affect with paralysis
- to make powerless or ineffective
- unnerve
- stun, stupefy
- to bring to an end : prevent, destroy
pa·ral·y·sis [pə-'ra-lə-səs] -n
- complete or partial loss of function esp. when involving the motion or sensation in a part of the body
- loss of the ability to move
- a state of powerlessness or incapacity to act
paralysis agi·tans [-'a-jə-,tanz] -n
- parkinson's disease
par·a·lyt·ic [,pa-rə-'li-tik] -adj, adv
- affected with, characterized by, or causing paralysis
- of, relating to, or resembling paralysis
paralytic -n
- one affected with paralysis
par·a·lyze ['per-ə-,līz, 'pa-rə-] -vt, n, adv
- to affect with paralysis
- to make powerless or ineffective
- unnerve
- stun, stupefy
- to bring to an end : prevent, destroy
para·mag·net ['pa-rə-,mag-nət] -n
- a paramagnetic substance
para·mag·net·ic [,pa-rə-mag-'ne-tik] -adj, adv, n
- being or relating to a magnetizable substance (as aluminum) that has small but positive susceptibility which varies little with magnetizing force
par·a·me·cium [,pa-rə-'mē-sh(ē-)əm, -sē-əm] -n
- any of a genus ( Paramecium) of ciliate chiefly freshwater protozoans that have an elongate body rounded at the anterior end and an oblique funnel-shaped buccal groove bearing the mouth at the extremity
para·med·ic [,pa-rə-'me-dik] -n
- a person who works in a health field in an auxiliary capacity to a physician (as by giving injections and taking X-rays)
- a specially trained medical technician licensed to provide a wide range of emergency services (as defibrillation and the intravenous administration of drugs) before or during transportation to a hospital
para·med·i·cal [,pa-rə-'me-di-kəl] -adj
- concerned with supplementing the work of highly trained medical professionals
- paramedical aides and technicians
par·a·ment ['pa-rə-mənt] -n
- an ornamental ecclesiastical hanging or vestment
pa·ram·e·ter [pə-'ram-ə-tər] -n, adj, adv
- an arbitrary constant whose value characterizes a member of a system (as a family of curves)
- a quantity (as a mean or variance) that describes a statistical population
- an independent variable used to express the coordinates of a variable point and functions of them
- any of a set of physical properties whose values determine the characteristics or behavior of something
- parameter s of the atmosphere such as temperature, pressure, and density
- something represented by a parameter : a characteristic element
- characteristic, element, factor
- political dissent as a parameter of modern life
- limit, boundary usu. used in pl.
- the parameter s of science fiction
pa·ram·e·ter·ize [pə-'ra-mə-tə-,rīz, -mə-,trīz] -vt, n
- to express in terms of parameters
parametric equation -n
- any of a set of equations that express the coordinates of the points of a curve as functions of one parameter or that express the coordinates of the points of a surface as functions of two parameters
para·mil·i·tary [,pa-rə-'mi-lə-,ter-ē] -adj, n
- of, relating to, being, or characteristic of a force formed on a military pattern esp. as a potential auxiliary military force
- a paramilitary border patrol
par·am·ne·sia [,pa-,ram-'nē-zhə, -əm-] -n
- a disorder of memory
- deja vu
par·a·mount ['per-ə-,mau̇nt, 'pa-rə-] -adj, n, adv
- superior to all others : supreme
- a matter of paramount importance
paramount -n
- a supreme ruler
par·amour ['pa-rə-,mu̇r] -n
- an illicit lover
par·am·y·lum [,pa-'ra-mə-ləm] -n
- a reserve carbohydrate that is found in various protozoans and algae and resembles starch
para·myxo·vi·rus [,pa-rə-'mik-sə-,vī-rəs] -n
- any of a family ( Paramyxoviridae) of single-stranded RNA viruses that include the parainfluenza viruses, the respiratory syncytial virus, and the causative agents of canine distemper, measles, mumps, Newcastle disease, and rinderpest
pa·rang ['pär-,aŋ] -n
- a short sword, cleaver, or machete common in Malaysia and Indonesia
para·noia [,per-ə-'nȯi-ə, ,pa-rə-] -n, adj or n, adv
- a psychosis characterized by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur usu. without hallucinations
- a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others
para·noid ['per-ə-,nȯid, ,pa-rə-] -adj, n
- characterized by or resembling paranoia
- characterized by suspiciousness, persecutory trends, or megalomania
- extremely fearful
paranoid schizophrenia -n
- schizophrenia characterized esp. by persecutory or grandiose delusions or hallucinations or by delusional jealousy
para·nor·mal [,pa-rə-'nȯr-məl, 'pa-rə-,] -adj, n, adv
- not scientifically explainable : supernatural
para·nymph ['pa-rə-,nim(p)f] -n
- a friend going with a bridegroom to fetch home the bride in ancient Greece
- the bridesmaid conducting the bride to the bridegroom
- best man
- bridesmaid
par·a·pet ['pa-rə-pət, -,pet] -n, adj
- a wall, rampart, or elevation of earth or stone to protect soldiers
- a low wall or railing to protect the edge of a platform, roof, or bridge called also parapet wall
pa·raph ['pa-rəf, pə-'raf] -n
- a flourish at the end of a signature
par·a·pher·na·lia [,per-ə-fə(r)-'nāl-yə, ,pa-rə-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- the separate real or personal property of a married woman that she can dispose of by will and sometimes according to common law during her life
- personal belongings
- articles of equipment : furnishings
- accessory items : appurtenances
para·phil·ia [,pa-rə-'fi-lē-ə] -n, adj or n
- a pattern of recurring sexually arousing mental imagery or behavior that involves unusual and esp. socially unacceptable sexual practices (as sadism or pedophilia)
para·phrase ['per-ə-,frāz,'pa-rə-] -n
- a restatement of a text, passage, or work giving the meaning in another form
- the use or process of paraphrasing in studying or teaching composition
paraphrase [,per-ə-'frā-zə-bəl, ,pa-rə-] -vb, adj, n
- to make a paraphrase
- to make a paraphrase of
para·phras·tic [,per-ə-'fras-tik, ,pa-rə-] -adj, adv
- having the nature of or being a paraphrase
pa·raph·y·sis [pə-'ra-fə-səs] -n
- one of the slender sterile filaments borne among the sporogenous or gametogenous organs in certain ferns, mosses, algae, and fungi
para·ple·gia [,pa-rə-'plē-j(ē-)ə] -n, adj or n
- paralysis of the lower half of the body with involvement of both legs
para·po·di·um [-'pō-dē-əm] -n, adj
- either of a pair of fleshy lateral processes borne by most segments of a polychaete worm
- a lateral expansion on each side of the foot usu. forming a broad swimming organ in some gastropods
para·pro·fes·sion·al [-prə-'fesh-nəl, -'fe-shə-nᵊl] -n, adj
- a trained aide who assists a professional person (as a teacher or doctor)
para·psy·chol·o·gy [,pa-rə-(,)sī-'kä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- a field of study concerned with the investigation of evidence for paranormal psychological phenomena (as telepathy, clairvoyance, and psychokinesis)
para·quat ['pa-rə-,kwät] -n
- a highly toxic contact herbicide containing a salt of a cation C 12H 14N 2 2
para·res·cue ['pa-rə-,res-(,)kyü] -n
- a search and rescue mission by specially trained personnel who can parachute to the site
para·ros·an·i·line [,pa-rə-,rō-'za-nᵊl-ən] -n
- a white crystalline base C 19H 19N 3O that is the parent compound of many dyes
- its red chloride used esp. as a biological stain
Pa·ra rubber ['pa-rə-, pə-'rä-] -n
- native rubber from So. American rubber trees (genus Heveaand esp. H. brasiliensis)
Para rubber tree -n
- a So. American rubber tree ( Hevea brasiliensis)
para·sail·ing ['pa-rə-,sā-liŋ] -n
- the recreational sport of soaring in a parachute while being towed usu. by a motorboat
par·a·sang ['pa-rə-,saŋ] -n
- any of various Persian units of distance
- an ancient unit of about four miles (six kilometers)
para·sex·u·al [,pa-rə-'sek-sh(ə-)wəl, -shəl] -adj, n
- relating to or being reproduction that results in recombination of genes from different individuals but does not involve meiosis and formation of a zygote by fertilization as in sexual reproduction
- the parasexual cycle in some fungi
pa·ra·shah ['pär-ə-,shä] -n
- a passage in Jewish Scripture dealing with a single topic
- a section of the Torah assigned for weekly reading in synagogue worship
par·a·site ['per-ə-,sīt, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj, adv
- a person who exploits the hospitality of the rich and earns welcome by flattery
- an organism living in, with, or on another organism in parasitism
- something that resembles a biological parasite in dependence on something else for existence or support without making a useful or adequate return
par·a·sit·i·cid·al [,per-ə-,si-tə-'sī-dᵊl, ,pa-rə-] -adj, n
- destructive to parasites
par·a·sit·ise [-sə-,tīz, -,sī-] -vt, n
(variant of parasitize)
- to infest or live on or with as a parasite
par·a·sit·ism ['per-ə-sə-,ti-zəm, -,sī-, ,pa-rə-] -n
- the behavior of a parasite
- an intimate association between organisms of two or more kinds
- one in which a parasite obtains benefits from a host which it usu. injures
- parasitosis
par·a·sit·ize [-sə-,tīz, -,sī-] -vt, n
- to infest or live on or with as a parasite
par·a·sit·oid ['per-ə-sə-,tȯid, -,sī-, ,pa-rə-] -n, adj
- an insect and esp. a wasp that completes its larval development within the body of another insect eventually killing it and is free-living as an adult
par·a·si·tol·o·gy [,per-ə-sə-'tä-lə-jē, -,sī-, ,pa-rə-] -n, adj, adv
- a branch of biology dealing with parasites and parasitism esp. among animals
par·a·sit·o·sis [-sə-'tō-səs, -,sī-] -n
- infestation with or disease caused by parasites
par·a·sol ['per-ə-,sȯl, -,säl, 'pa-rə-] -n
- a lightweight umbrella used as a sunshade
para·sym·pa·thet·ic [,pa-rə-,sim-pə-'the-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, being, or acting on the parasympathetic nervous system
parasympathetic -n
- a parasympathetic nerve
- parasympathetic nervous system
parasympathetic nervous system -n
- the part of the autonomic nervous system that contains chiefly cholinergic fibers, that tends to induce secretion, to increase the tone and contractility of smooth muscle, and to slow heart rate, and that consists of a cranial and a sacral part
para·sym·pa·tho·mi·met·ic [,par-ə-'sim-pə-(,)thō-mī-'me-tik, -mə-] -adj
- simulating parasympathetic nervous action in physiological effect
para·syn·the·sis [,pa-rə-'sin(t)-thə-səs] -n, adj
- the formation of words by adding a derivative ending and prefixing a particle (as in denationalize)
para·tac·tic [,pa-rə-'tak-tik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to parataxis
para·tax·is [,pa-rə-'tak-səs] -n
- the placing of clauses or phrases one after another without coordinating or subordinating connectives
para·thi·on [,pa-rə-'thī-ən, -,än] -n
- an extremely toxic insecticide C 10H 14NO 5PS
par·a·thor·mone [,pa-rə-'thȯr-,mōn] -n
- parathyroid hormone
para·thy·roid [-'thī-,rȯid] -n
- parathyroid gland
parathyroid -adj
- of, relating to, or produced by the parathyroid glands
para·thy·roid·ec·to·my [-,rȯi-'dek-tə-mē] -n, adj
- partial or complete excision of the parathyroid glands
parathyroid gland -n
- any of usu. four small endocrine glands that are adjacent to or embedded in the thyroid gland and produce parathyroid hormone
parathyroid hormone -n
- a hormone of the parathyroid gland that regulates the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus in the body
para·tran·sit [,pa-rə-'tran(t)-sət, -'tran-zət] -n
- transportation service that supplements larger public transit systems by providing individualized rides without fixed routes or timetables
para·troop·er ['pa-rə-,trü-pər] -n
- a member of the paratroops
para·troops [-,trüps] -n pl, adj
- troops trained and equipped to parachute from an airplane
para·ty·phoid [,pa-rə-'tī-,fȯid, -(,)tī-'] -adj
- resembling typhoid fever
- of or relating to paratyphoid or its causative organisms
paratyphoid -n
- a salmonellosis that resembles typhoid fever and is commonly contracted by eating contaminated food called also paratyphoid fever
para·vane ['pa-rə-,vān] -n
- a torpedo-shaped protective device with serrate teeth in its forward end used underwater by a ship in mined areas to sever the moorings of mines
par·boil ['pär-,bȯi(-ə)l] -vt
- to boil briefly as a preliminary or incomplete cooking procedure
par·buck·le ['pär-,bə-kəl] -n, vt
- a purchase for hoisting or lowering a cylindrical object by making fast the middle of a long rope aloft and looping both ends around the object which rests in the loops and rolls in them as the ends are hauled up or paid out
- a single line made fast at one end and passed around an object that is used similarly
Par·cae ['pär-,kī, -,sē] -n pl
- fate
par·cel ['pär-səl] -n
- fragment, portion
- a volume of a fluid (as air) considered as a single entity within a greater volume of the same fluid
- a tract or plot of land
- a company, collection, or group of persons, animals, or things : lot
- the whole story was a parcel of lies
- a wrapped bundle : package
- a unit of salable merchandise
parcel -adv
- partly
- part-time, partial
- to divide into parts : distribute often used with out
- to make up into a parcel : wrap
- to cover (as a rope) with strips of canvas or tape
parcel post -n
- a mail service handling parcels
- packages handled by parcel post
par·ce·nary ['pär-sə-,ner-ē] -n
- coparcenary
par·ce·ner ['pärs-nər, 'pär-sə-nər] -n
- coparcener
parch ['pärch] -vb
- to toast under dry heat
- to shrivel with heat
- to dry or shrivel with cold
- to become dry or scorched
parched ['pärcht] -adj
- deprived of natural moisture
- thirsty
Par·chee·si [pär-'chē-zē, pər-, esp Brit -sē] -trademark
- used for a board game adapted from pachisi
parch·ment ['pärch-mənt] -n
- the skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on
- strong, tough, and often somewhat translucent paper made to resemble parchment
- a parchment manuscript
- an academic diploma
pard ['pärd] -n
- leopard
- partner, chum
par·die [pər-'dē, pär-] -interj
- used as a mild oath
pard·ner ['pärd-nər] -n
- partner, chum
par·don ['pär-dᵊn] -n
- indulgence
- the excusing of an offense without exacting a penalty
- a release from the legal penalties of an offense
- an official warrant of remission of penalty
- excuse or forgiveness for a fault, offense, or discourtesy
pardon ['pärd-niŋ, 'pär-dᵊn-iŋ] -vt
- to absolve from the consequences of a fault or crime
- to allow (an offense) to pass without punishment : forgive
- to relieve of a penalty improperly assessed
- tolerate
par·don·able ['pärd-nə-bəl, 'pär-dᵊn-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- admitting of being pardoned : excusable
par·don·er ['pärd-nər, 'pär-dᵊn-ər] -n
- a medieval preacher delegated to raise money for religious works by soliciting offerings and granting indulgences
- one that pardons
pare ['per] -vt, n
- to trim off an outside, excess, or irregular part of
- to diminish or reduce by or as if by paring
- the novel was pared down to 200 pages
par·e·go·ric [,pa-rə-'gȯr-ik, -'gär-] -n
- camphorated tincture of opium used esp. to relieve pain
pa·ren·chy·ma [pə-'reŋ-kə-mə] -n, adj
- the essential and distinctive tissue of an organ or an abnormal growth as distinguished from its supportive framework
- a tissue of higher plants that consists of thin-walled living photosynthetic or storage cells capable of division even when mature and that makes up much of the substance of leaves and roots, the pulp of fruits, and parts of stems and supporting structures
par·ent ['per-ənt] -n, adj, adv
- one that begets or brings forth offspring
- a person who brings up and cares for another
- an animal or plant that is regarded in relation to its offspring
- the material or source from which something is derived
- a group from which another arises and to which it usu. remains subsidiary
parent -vt
- to be or act as the parent of : originate, produce
- to be or act as a parent
par·ent·age ['per-ən-tij] -n
- descent from parents or ancestors : lineage
- a person of noble parentage
- derivation, origin
- a tradition of uncertain parentage
- parenthood
par·en·ter·al [pə-'ren-tə-rəl] -adj, adv
- situated or occurring outside the intestine
- introduced otherwise than by way of the intestines
pa·ren·the·sis [pə-'ren(t)-thə-səs] -n, adj, adv
- an amplifying or explanatory word, phrase, or sentence inserted in a passage from which it is usu. set off by punctuation
- a remark or passage that departs from the theme of a discourse : digression
- interlude, interval
- one or both of the curved marks ( ) used in writing and printing to enclose a parenthetical expression or to group a symbolic unit in a logical or mathematical expression
pa·ren·the·size [pə-'ren(t)-thə-,sīz] -vt
- to make a parenthesis of : enclose within parentheses
par·ent·hood ['per-ənt-,hu̇d] -n
- the state of being a parent
- the position, function, or standing of a parent
par·ent·ing ['per-ən-tiŋ] -n
- the raising of a child by its parents
- the act or process of becoming a parent
- the taking care of someone in the manner of a parent
parentteacher association -n
- an organization of local groups of teachers and the parents of their pupils that works for the improvement of the schools and the benefit of the pupils
pa·re·sis [pə-'rē-səs, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj or n
- slight or partial paralysis
- general paresis
par·es·the·sia [,par-əs-'thē-zhə] -n, adj
- a sensation of pricking, tingling, or creeping on the skin that has no objective cause
pa·reu ['pär-ā-(,)ü] -n
- a wraparound skirt usu. made from a rectangular piece of printed cloth and worn by men and women throughout Polynesia
pa·re·ve ['pär-(ə-)və] -adj
- made without milk, meat, or their derivatives
par ex·cel·lence ['pär-,ek-sə-'läⁿs] -adj
- being the best of a kind : preeminent
par·fait [pär-'fā] -n
- a flavored custard containing whipped cream and syrup frozen without stirring
- a cold dessert made of layers of fruit, syrup, ice cream, and whipped cream
parfait glass -n
- a tall narrow glass with a short stem
par·fleche ['pär-,flesh] -n
- a raw hide soaked in lye to remove the hair and dried
- an article (as a bag or case) made of parfleche
par·fo·cal [,pär-'fō-kəl] -adj, n, vt
- being or having lenses or lens sets (as eyepieces) with the corresponding focal points all in the same plane
parge ['pärj] -vt
- parget
par·get ['pär-jət] -vt
- to coat with plaster
- to apply ornamental or waterproofing plaster to
parget -n
- plaster, whitewash, or roughcast for coating a wall
- plasterwork esp. in raised ornamental figures on walls
par·gy·line ['pär-jə-,lēn] -n
- a monoamine oxidase inhibitor C 11H 13N that is used in the form of its hydrochloride esp. as an antihypertensive agent
parhelic circle -n
- a luminous circle or halo parallel to the horizon at the altitude of the sun called also parhelic ring
par·he·lion [pär-'hēl-yən] -n, adj
- any of several bright spots often tinged with color that often appear on the parhelic circle called also sun dog
pa·ri·ah [pə-'rī-ə] -n
- a member of a low caste of southern India
- one that is despised or rejected : outcast
par·i·an ['per-ē-ən] -n
- a porcelain composed essentially of kaolin and feldspar and usu. used unglazed in ornamental articles
Par·i·an ['per-ē-ən] -adj
- of or relating to the island of Paros noted for its marble used extensively for sculpture in ancient times
Parian ware -n
- parian
- articles made of parian
pa·ri·e·tal [pə-'rī-ə-tᵊl] -adj
- of or relating to the walls of a part or cavity
- of, relating to, or forming the upper posterior wall of the head
- attached to the main wall rather than the axis or a cross wall of a plant ovary used of an ovule or a placenta
- of or relating to college living or its regulation
- of or relating to parietals
parietal -n
- a parietal part (as a bone, scale, or plate)
- the regulations governing the visiting privileges of members of the opposite sex in campus dormitories
parietal bone -n
- either of a pair of bones of the roof of the skull between the frontal bones and the occipital bones
parietal cell -n
- any of the large oval cells of the gastric mucous membrane that secrete hydrochloric acid
parietal lobe -n
- the middle division of each cerebral hemisphere that contains an area concerned with bodily sensations
parimu·tu·el [,per-i-'myü-chə-wəl, -chəl, ,pa-ri-; -'myüch-wəl] -n
- a betting pool in which those who bet on competitors finishing in the first three places share the total amount bet minus a percentage for the management
- a machine for registering the bets and computing the payoffs in pari-mutuel betting
paring -n
- the act of cutting away an edge or surface
- something pared off
paring knife -n
- a small short-bladed knife (as for paring fruit)
pa·ri pas·su ['pa-ri-'pa-(,)sü] -adv or adj
- at an equal rate or pace
Par·is ['pa-rəs] -n
- a son of Priam whose abduction of Helen leads to the Trojan War
Par·is green ['pa-rəs-] -n
- a very poisonous green copper and arsenic compound C 4H 6As 6Cu 4O 16used esp. formerly as an insecticide and pigment
- a brilliant yellowish green
par·ish ['per-ish, 'pa-rish] -n
- the ecclesiastical unit of area committed to one pastor
- the residents of such an area
- a subdivision of a county often coinciding with an original ecclesiastical parish and constituting the unit of local government
- a local church community composed of the members or constituents of a Protestant church
- a civil division of the state of Louisiana corresponding to a county in other states
pa·rish·ion·er [pə-'ri-sh(ə-)nər] -n
- a member or inhabitant of a parish
par·i·ty ['per-ə-tē, 'pa-rə-] -n
- the quality or state of being equal or equivalent
- equivalence of a commodity price expressed in one currency to its price expressed in another
- equality of purchasing power established by law between different kinds of money at a given ratio
- an equivalence between farmers' current purchasing power and their purchasing power at a selected base period maintained by government support of agricultural commodity prices
- the property of an integer with respect to being odd or even
- 3 and 7 have the same parity
- the state of being odd or even used as the basis of a method of detecting errors in binary-coded data
- parity bit
- the property of oddness or evenness of a quantum mechanical function
- the symmetry of behavior in an interaction of a physical entity (as a subatomic particle) with that of its mirror image
parity -n
- the state or fact of having borne offspring
- the number of children previously borne
parity bit -n
- a bit added to an array of bits (as on magnetic tape) to provide parity
park ['pärk] -n, adj
- an enclosed piece of ground stocked with game and held by royal prescription or grant
- a tract of land that often includes lawns, woodland, and pasture attached to a country house and is used as a game preserve and for recreation
- a piece of ground in or near a city or town kept for ornament and recreation
- an area maintained in its natural state as a public property
- a space occupied by military vehicles, materials, or animals
- parking lot
- an enclosed arena or stadium used esp. for ball games
- an area designed for a specified type of use (as industrial, commercial, or residential use)
- to enclose in a park
- to bring (a vehicle) to a stop and keep standing at the edge of a public way
- to leave temporarily on a public way or in a parking lot or garage
- to land and leave (as an airplane)
- to establish (as a satellite) in orbit
- to set and leave temporarily
- park ed his book on the chair
- to place, settle, or establish esp. for a considerable time
- kids park ed in front of the TV
- park ed her money in a savings account
- to park a vehicle
par·ka ['pär-kə] -n
- a hooded fur pullover garment for arctic wear
- a usu. lined fabric outerwear pullover or jacket
park·ing brake ['pär-kiŋ-] -n
- emergency brake
parking lot -n
- an area used for the parking of motor vehicles
parking meter -n
- a coin-operated device which registers the purchase of parking time for a motor vehicle
par·kin·so·nian [,pär-kən-'sō-nē-ən, -nyən] -adj
- of or similar to that of parkinsonism
- affected with parkinsonism and esp. Parkinson's disease
par·kin·son·ism ['pär-kən-sə-,ni-zəm] -n
- parkinson's disease
- a neurological disorder resembling Parkinson's disease
Par·kin·son's disease ['pär-kən-sənz-] -n
- a chronic progressive neurological disease chiefly of later life that is linked to decreased dopamine production in the substantia nigra and is marked esp. by tremor of resting muscles, rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance, and a shuffling gait called also paralysis agitans Parkinson's Parkinson's syndrome
Parkinson's Law -n
- an observation in office organization: the number of subordinates increases at a fixed rate regardless of the amount of work produced
- an observation in office organization: work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion
park·land ['pärk-,land] -n
- land with clumps of trees and shrubs in cultivated condition used as or suitable for use as a park
park·way ['pärk-,wā] -n
- a broad landscaped thoroughfare
par·lance ['pär-lən(t)s] -n
- speech
- formal debate or parley
- manner or mode of speech : idiom
par·lan·do [pär-'län-(,)dō] -adj
- delivered or performed in a style suggestive of speech used as a direction in music
par·lay ['pär-,lā, -lē] -vt
- to bet in a parlay
- to exploit successfully
- to increase or otherwise transform into something of much greater value
parlay -n
- a series of two or more bets so set up in advance that the original stake plus its winnings are risked on the successive wagers
- the fresh risking of an original stake together with its winnings
parle ['pär(-ə)l] -vi, n
- parley
par·ley ['pär-lē] -vi
- to speak with another : confer
- to discuss terms with an enemy
parley -n
- a conference for discussion of points in dispute
- a conference with an enemy
- discussion
par·lia·ment ['pär-lə-mənt also 'pärl-yə-] -n
- a formal conference for the discussion of public affairs
- a council of state in early medieval England
- an assemblage of the nobility, clergy, and commons called together by the British sovereign as the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom
- a similar assemblage in another nation or state
- the supreme legislative body of a usu. major political unit that is a continuing institution comprising a series of individual assemblages
- the British House of Commons
- one of several principal courts of justice existing in France before the Revolution of 1789
par·lia·men·tar·i·an [,pär-lə-,men-'ter-ē-ən, -mən- also ,pärl-yə-] -n
- an adherent of the parliament in opposition to the king during the English Civil War
- an expert in the rules and usages of a deliberative assembly (as a parliament)
- a member of a parliament
par·lia·men·ta·ry [-'men-t(ə-)rē] -adj
- of or relating to a parliament
- enacted, done, or ratified by a parliament
- of or adhering to the parliament as opposed to the king during the English Civil War
- of, based on, or having the characteristics of parliamentary government
- of or relating to members of a parliament
- of or according to parliamentary law
parliamentary government -n
- a system of government having the real executive power vested in a cabinet composed of members of the legislature who are individually and collectively responsible to the legislature
parliamentary law -n
- the rules and precedents governing the proceedings of deliberative assemblies and other organizations
par·lor ['pär-lər] -n
- : a room used primarily for conversation or the reception of guests: as
- a room in a private dwelling for the entertainment of guests
- a conference chamber or private reception room
- a room in an inn, hotel, or club for conversation or semiprivate uses
- any of various business places
parlor -adj
- used in or suitable for a parlor
- fostered or advocated in comfortable seclusion without consequent action or application to affairs
- given to or characterized by fostering or advocating something (as a doctrine) in such a manner
parlor car -n
- an extra-fare railroad passenger car for day travel equipped with individual chairs
parlor game -n
- a game suitable for playing indoors
parlor grand -n
- a grand piano intermediate in length between a concert grand and a baby grand
par·lour ['pär-lər] -n
(variant of parlor)
- : a room used primarily for conversation or the reception of guests: as
- a room in a private dwelling for the entertainment of guests
- a conference chamber or private reception room
- a room in an inn, hotel, or club for conversation or semiprivate uses
- any of various business places
par·lous ['pär-ləs] -adj, adv
- dangerously shrewd or cunning
- full of danger or risk : hazardous
- the parlous state of the country
Par·me·san ['pär-mə-,zän, -,zhän, -zən, -,zan] -n
- a very hard dry sharply flavored cheese that is sold grated or in wedges
par·mi·gia·na [,pär-mi-'jä-nə, -'zhän; 'pär-mi-,zhän, -,zän] -adj
- made or covered with Parmesan cheese
Par·nas·si·an [pär-'na-sē-ən] -adj, n
- of or relating to poetry
- of or relating to a school of French poets of the second half of the 19th century emphasizing metrical form rather than emotion
pa·ro·chi·al [pə-'rō-kē-əl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a church parish
- of or relating to a parish as a unit of local government
- confined or restricted as if within the borders of a parish : limited in range or scope (as to a narrow area or region) : provincial, narrow
pa·ro·chi·al·ism [-kē-ə-,li-zəm] -n
- the quality or state of being parochial
- selfish pettiness or narrowness (as of interests, opinions, or views)
parochial school -n
- a private school maintained by a religious body usu. for elementary and secondary instruction
par·o·dist ['per-ə-dist, 'pa-rə-] -n
- a writer of parodies
par·o·dy ['per-ə-dē, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj
- a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule
- a feeble or ridiculous imitation
parody -vt
- to compose a parody on
- to imitate in the manner of a parody
par·ol ['per-əl, 'pa-rəl] -n, adj
- word of mouth
pa·role [pə-'rōl] -n, adj
- a promise made with or confirmed by a pledge of one's honor
- the promise of a prisoner of war to fulfill stated conditions in consideration of his release
- a watchword given only to officers of the guard and of the day
- a conditional release of a prisoner serving an indeterminate or unexpired sentence
- language viewed as a specific individual usage : performance
- a linguistic act
parole -vt
- to release (a prisoner) on parole
pa·rol·ee [pə-,rō-'lē, -'rō-(,); ,per-ə-'lē, ,pa-rə-] -n
- one released on parole
par·o·no·ma·sia [,pa-rə-nō-'mā-zh(ē-)ə, ,pa-,rä-nə-'mā-] -n, adj
- a play on words : pun
par·o·nym ['pa-rə-,nim] -n
- a paronymous word
par·on·y·mous [pə-'rä-nə-məs, pa-] -adj
- conjugate
- formed from a word in another language
- having a form similar to that of a cognate foreign word
pa·rot·id [pə-'rä-təd] -adj
- of or relating to the parotid gland
parotid gland -n
- a serous salivary gland situated on each side of the face below and in front of the ear
par·o·ti·tis [,pa-rō-'tī-təs] -n
- inflammation of the parotid glands
- mumps
par·ous ['per-əs] -adj
- having produced offspring
Par·ou·sia [,pär-ü-'sē-ə, pə-'rü-zē-ə] -n
- second coming
par·ox·e·tine [pa-'räk-sə-,tēn] -n
- a drug C 19H 20FNO 3that enhances serotonin activity and is usu. administered in the form of its hydrochloride to treat depression
par·ox·ysm ['pa-rək-,si-zəm also pə-'räk-] -n, adj
- a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms (as of a disease) : convulsion
- a sudden violent emotion or action : outburst
par·quet [pär-'kā] -vt
- to furnish with a floor of parquet
- to make of parquetry
- a patterned wood surface (as flooring or paneling)
- one made of parquetry
- parquetry
- the main floor of a theater
- the part from the front of the stage to the parquet circle
parquet circle -n
- the part of the main floor of a theater that is beneath the galleries
par·que·try ['pär-kə-trē] -n
- work in the form of usu. geometrically patterned wood laid or inlaid esp. for floors
parr ['pär] -n
- a young salmon actively feeding in freshwater
par·rel ['pa-rəl] -n
- a rope loop or sliding collar by which a yard or spar is held to a mast in such a way that it may be hoisted or lowered
par·ri·cid·al [,pa-rə-'sī-dᵊl] -adj
- of, relating to, or guilty of parricide
par·ri·cide ['pa-rə-,sīd] -n
- one that murders his or her father, mother, or a close relative
- the act of a parricide
par·rot ['per-ət, 'pa-rət] -n, adj
- any of numerous widely distributed tropical birds (order Psittaciformes and esp. family Psittacidae) that are often crested and brightly colored, have a distinctive stout hooked bill and zygodactyl feet, and include some excellent mimics
- a person who sedulously echoes another's words
parrot -vt
- to repeat by rote
parrot fever -n
- psittacosis
parrot fish -n
- any of a family (Scaridae) of usu. brightly colored chiefly tropical marine fishes that have the teeth in each jaw fused into a cutting plate resembling a beak
par·ry ['per-ē, 'pa-rē] -vb, n
- to ward off a weapon or blow
- to evade or turn aside something
- to ward off (as a blow)
- to evade esp. by an adroit answer
parse ['pärs, chiefly Brit 'pärz] -vb
- to resolve (as a sentence) into component parts of speech and describe them grammatically
- to describe grammatically by stating the part of speech and explaining the inflection and syntactical relationships
- to examine in a minute way : analyze critically
- having trouble parsing ...explanations for dwindling market shares -- R. S. Anson
- to give a grammatical description of a word or a group of words
- to admit of being parsed
- a product or an instance of parsing
par·sec ['pär-,sek] -n
- a unit of measure for interstellar space that is equal to 3.26 light-years and is the distance to an object having a parallax of one second as seen from points separated by one astronomical unit
pars·er ['pär-sər] -n
- one that parses
- a computer program that breaks down text into recognized strings of characters for further analysis
Par·si ['pär-(,)sē] -n
- a Zoroastrian descended from Persian refugees settled principally at Mumbai (Bombay)
- the Iranian dialect of the Parsi religious literature
par·si·mo·ni·ous [,pär-sə-'mō-nē-əs] -adj, adv
- exhibiting or marked by parsimony
- frugal to the point of stinginess
- sparing, restrained
par·si·mo·ny ['pär-sə-,mō-nē] -n
- the quality of being careful with money or resources : thrift
- the quality or state of being stingy
- economy in the use of means to an end
- economy of explanation in conformity with Occam's razor
pars·ley ['pär-slē] -n
- a European biennial herb ( Petroselinum crispum) of the carrot family widely grown for its finely dissected curly or flat leaves which are used as an herb or garnish
- the leaves
pars·leyed [-slēd] -adj
- garnished or flavored with parsley
pars·nip ['pär-snəp] -n
- a Eurasian biennial herb ( Pastinaca sativa) of the carrot family with large pinnate leaves and yellow flowers that is cultivated for its long tapered edible root which is cooked as a vegetable
- the root
par·son ['pär-sᵊn] -n
- rector
- clergyman
- a Protestant pastor
par·son·age ['pär-s(ə-)nij, 'pär-sə-nij] -n
- the house provided by a church for its pastor
Par·sons ta·ble ['pär-sᵊnz-] -n
- a usu. rectangular table having straight legs that are flush with the edge of the top
part ['pärt] -n
- one of the often indefinite or unequal subdivisions into which something is or is regarded as divided and which together constitute the whole
- an essential portion or integral element
- one of several or many equal units of which something is composed or into which it is divisible : an amount equal to another amount
- mix one part of the powder with three part s of water
- an exact divisor of a quantity : aliquot
- partial fraction
- : one of the constituent elements of a plant or animal body: as
- organ, member
- private parts
- a division of a literary work
- a vocal or instrumental line or melody in concerted music or in harmony
- a particular voice or instrument in concerted music
- the score for it
- a constituent member of a machine or other apparatus
- a spare part
- something falling to one in a division or apportionment : share
- wanted no part of the proposal
- one's share or allotted task (as in an action) : duty
- one of the opposing sides in a conflict or dispute
- a general area of indefinite boundaries usu. used in pl.
- you're not from around these part s
- took off for part s unknown
- a function or course of action performed
- an actor's lines in a play
- the role of a character in a play
- a constituent of character or capacity : talent
- the line where the hair is parted
- to separate from or take leave of someone
- to take leave of one another
- to become separated into parts
- to go away : depart
- die
- to become separated, detached, or broken
- to relinquish possession or control
- hated to part with that money
- to divide into parts
- to separate by combing on each side of a line
- to break or suffer the breaking of (as a rope or anchor chain)
- to divide into shares and distribute : apportion
- to remove from contact or association
- if aught but death part thee and me -- Ruth 1:17(AV)
- to keep separate
- the narrow channel that part s England from France
- to hold (as brawlers) apart
- to separate by a process of extraction, elimination, or secretion
- leave, quit
- relinquish, give up
- partly
- partial
- participial; participle
- particular
par·take [pär-'tāk, pər-] -vb, n
- to take part in or experience something along with others
- to have a portion (as of food or drink)
- to possess or share a certain nature or attribute
- the experience partake s of a mystical quality
- to take part in
part and parcel -n
- an essential or integral component
- stress was part and parcel of the job
part·ed ['pär-təd] -adj
- divided into parts
- cleft so that the divisions reach nearly but not quite to the base usu. used in combination
- dead
par·terre [pär-'ter] -n
- an ornamental garden with paths between the beds
- the part of the main floor of a theater that is behind the orchestra
- parquet circle
par·the·no·car·py ['pär-thə-nō-,kär-pē] -n, adj
- the production of fruits without fertilization
- bananas set fruit by parthenocarpy and without pollination
par·the·no·gen·e·sis [,pär-thə-nō-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj, adv
- reproduction by development of an unfertilized usu. female gamete that occurs esp. among lower plants and invertebrate animals
Par·the·non ['pär-thə-,nän] -n
- a Doric temple of Athena built on the acropolis at Athens in the fifth century b.c.
Par·thi·an ['pär-thē-ən] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or characteristic of ancient Parthia or its people
- relating to, being, or having the effect of a shot fired while in real or feigned retreat
par·tial ['pär-shəl] -adj
- of or relating to a part rather than the whole : not general or total
- inclined to favor one party more than the other : biased
- markedly fond of someone or something used with to
partial -n
- overtone
partial denture -n
- a usu. removable artificial replacement of one or more teeth
partial derivative -n
- the derivative of a function of several variables with respect to one of them and with the remaining variables treated as constants
partial differential equation -n
- a differential equation containing at least one partial derivative
partial differentiation -n
- the process of finding a partial derivative
partial fraction -n
- one of the simpler fractions into the sum of which the quotient of two polynomials may be decomposed
par·tial·i·ty [,pär-shē-'a-lə-tē, pär-'sha-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being partial : bias
- a special taste or liking
par·tial·ly ['pär-sh(ə-)lē] -adv
- in a biased manner : with partiality
- to some extent : in some degree
partially ordered -adj
- having some or all elements connected by a relation that is reflexive, transitive, and antisymmetric
partial pressure -n
- the pressure exerted by a (specified) component in a mixture of gases
partial product -n
- a product obtained by multiplying a multiplicand by one digit of a multiplier having more than one digit
par·ti·ble ['pär-tə-bəl] -adj, n
- capable of being parted : divisible
par·tic·i·pant [pär-'ti-sə-pənt, pər-] -n, adj
- one that participates
par·tic·i·pate [pär-'ti-sə-,pāt, pər-] -vb, n
- partake
- to possess some of the attributes of a person, thing, or quality
- to take part
- always participate s in class discussions
- to have a part or share in something
par·tic·i·pa·tion [(,)pär-,ti-sə-'pā-shən, pər-] -n
- the act of participating
- the state of being related to a larger whole
par·tic·i·pa·tion·al [-'pā-shnəl, -'pā-shə-nᵊl] -adj
- participatory
par·tic·i·pa·tive [pär-'ti-sə-pə-tiv, pər-, -,pā-tiv] -adj
- relating to or involving participation
- of, relating to, or being a style of management in which subordinates participate in decision making
par·tic·i·pa·to·ry [pär-'ti-sə-pə-,tȯr-ē, pər-] -adj
- characterized by or involving participation
- providing the opportunity for individual participation
par·ti·cip·i·al [,pär-tə-'si-pē-əl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or formed with or from a participle
par·ti·ci·ple ['pär-tə-,si-pəl] -n
- a word having the characteristics of both verb and adjective
- an English verbal form that has the function of an adjective and at the same time shows such verbal features as tense and voice and capacity to take an object
par·ti·cle ['pär-ti-kəl] -n
- a minute quantity or fragment
- a relatively small or the smallest discrete portion or amount of something
- a clause or article of a composition or document
- any of the basic units of matter and energy (as a molecule, atom, proton, electron, or photon)
- a unit of speech expressing some general aspect of meaning or some connective or limiting relation and including the articles, most prepositions and conjunctions, and some interjections and adverbs
- the particle up has a perfective meaning in phrases such as beat up and cut up
- a small eucharistic wafer distributed to a Roman Catholic layman at Communion
particle accelerator -n
- accelerator
par·ti·cle·board [-,bȯrd] -n
- a composition board made of very small pieces of wood bonded together
particle physics -n
- a branch of physics dealing with the constitution, properties, and interactions of elementary particles esp. as revealed in experiments using particle accelerators called also high-energy physics
par·ticol·or ['pär-tē-,kə-lər] -adj, n
- showing different colors or tints
- having a predominant color broken by patches of one or more other colors
- a particolor cocker spaniel
par·tic·u·lar [pə(r)-'ti-kyə-lər, -k(ə-)lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a single person or thing
- the particular person I had in mind
- partial
- of, relating to, or concerned with details
- gave us a very particular account of the trip
- distinctive among other examples or cases of the same general category : notably unusual
- suffered from measles of particular severity
- being one unit or element among others
- particular incidents in a story
- denoting an individual member or subclass in logic
- affirming or denying a predicate to a part of the subject used of a proposition in logic
- some men are wise is a particular affirmative
- concerned over or attentive to details : meticulous
- a very particular gardener
- nice in taste : fastidious
- hard to please : exacting
particular -n
- a separate part of a whole
- an individual fact, point, circumstance, or detail
- a hero in every particular -- Ron Fimrite
- a specific item or detail of information usu. used in pl.
- wanted to know all the particular s of the incident
- an individual or a specific subclass (as in logic) falling under some general concept or term
- a particular proposition in logic
par·tic·u·lar·ise [pə(r)-'ti-k(yə-)lə-,rīz also pär-] -vb
(variant of particularize)
- to state in detail : specify
- to go into details
par·tic·u·lar·ism [pə(r)-'ti-k(yə-)lə-,ri-zəm also pär-] -n, n or adj, adj
- exclusive or special devotion to a particular interest
- a political theory that each political group has a right to promote its own interests and esp. independence without regard to the interests of larger groups
- a tendency to explain complex social phenomena in terms of a single causative factor
par·tic·u·lar·i·ty [pə(r)-,ti-kyə-'la-rə-tē also (,)pär-] -n
- a minute detail : particular
- an individual characteristic : peculiarity
- singularity
- the quality or state of being particular as distinguished from universal
- attentiveness to detail : exactness
- the quality or state of being fastidious in behavior or expression
par·tic·u·lar·i·za·tion [-,ti-k(yə-)lə-rə-'zā-shən] -n
- the act of particularizing : the condition of being particularized
par·tic·u·lar·ize [pə(r)-'ti-k(yə-)lə-,rīz also pär-] -vb
- to state in detail : specify
- to go into details
par·tic·u·lar·ly [pə(r)-'ti-kyə-(lər-)lē, -kyə-lə-lē; pə(r)-'ti-k(ə-)lē; also pär-] -adv
- in a particular manner : in detail
- to an unusual degree
- a particularly dry summer
- in particular : specifically
par·tic·u·late [pär-'ti-kyə-lət also -,lāt] -adj
- of or relating to minute separate particles
particulate -n
- a particulate substance
particulate inheritance -n
- mendelian inheritance
part·ing ['pär-tiŋ] -n
- a place or point where a division or separation occurs
parting -adj
- given, taken, or done at parting
par·ti pris ['pär-,tē-'prē] -n, adj
- a preconceived opinion : prejudice
par·ti·san ['pär-tə-zən, -sən, -,zan, chiefly Brit ,pär-tə-'zan] -n, adj, adv
- a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person
- one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance
- a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy
- a member of a guerrilla band operating within enemy lines
- a weapon of the 16th and 17th centuries with long shaft and broad blade
par·ti·ta [pär-'tē-tə] -n
- variation
- suite
par·tite ['pär-,tīt] -adj
- divided into a usu. specified number of parts
- parted
par·ti·tion [pär-'ti-shən, pər-] -n
- the action of parting : the state of being parted : division
- something that divides
- an interior dividing wall
- one of the parts or sections of a whole
partition [-'ti-sh(ə-)nər] -vt, n
- to divide into parts or shares
- to divide (as a country) into two or more territorial units having separate political status
- to separate or divide by a partition (as a wall) often used with off
par·ti·tion·ist [-'ti-sh(ə-)nist] -n
- an advocate of political partition
par·ti·tive ['pär-tə-tiv] -adj, adv
- serving to part or divide into parts
- of, relating to, or denoting a part
- serving to indicate the whole of which a part is specified
part·let ['pärt-lət] -n
- a 16th century chemisette with a band or collar
part·ly ['pärt-lē] -adv
- in some measure or degree : partially
part·ner ['pärt-nər also 'pärd-] -n, adj
- one that shares : partaker
- one associated with another esp. in an action : associate, colleague
- either of two persons who dance together
- one of two or more persons who play together in a game against an opposing side
- a person with whom one shares an intimate relationship : one member of a couple
- a member of a partnership esp. in a business
- such membership
- one of the heavy timbers that strengthen a ship's deck to support a mast usu. used in pl.
partner -vt
- to join or associate with another as partner
- to provide with a partner
- to join as a partner
partners desk -n
- a large desk with an open kneehole which allows use of the desk by two people seated opposite each other
part·ner·ship [-,ship] -n
- the state of being a partner : participation
- a legal relation existing between two or more persons contractually associated as joint principals in a business
- the persons joined together in a partnership
- a relationship resembling a legal partnership and usu. involving close cooperation between parties having specified and joint rights and responsibilities
part of speech
- a traditional class of words distinguished according to the kind of idea denoted and the function performed in a sentence
par·ton ['pär-,tän] -n
- a particle (as a quark or gluon) that is held to be a constituent of hadrons
par·tridge ['pär-trij, dial 'pa-trij] -n
- any of various typically medium-sized stout-bodied Old World gallinaceous birds ( Perdix, Alectoris,and related genera) with variegated plumage that are often hunted as game
- any of various related birds (as the American ruffed grouse or bobwhite) resembling the Old World partridges in size, habits, or value as game
par·tridge·ber·ry [-,ber-ē] -n
- a trailing evergreen plant ( Mitchella repens) of the madder family native to the eastern U.S. and Canada with edible slightly acidic scarlet berries
- its berry
partsong ['pärt-,sȯŋ] -n
- a usu. unaccompanied song consisting of two or more voice parts with one part carrying the melody
parttime ['pärt-'tīm] -adj, adv, n
- involving or working less than customary or standard hours
par·tu·ri·ent [pär-'tu̇r-ē-ənt, -'tyu̇r-] -adj
- bringing forth or about to bring forth young
- of or relating to parturition
parturient -n
- a parturient individual
par·tu·ri·tion [,pär-chə-'ri-shən, ,pär-tyu̇-, ,pär-tə-] -n
- the action or process of giving birth to offspring
part·way ['pärt-'wā] -adv
- to some extent : partially, partly
- at a point in the way or distance
- partway through the trip they met some friends
par·ty ['pär-tē] -n, adj
- a person or group taking one side of a question, dispute, or contest
- a group of persons organized for the purpose of directing the policies of a government
- a person or group participating in an action or affair
- a mountain-climbing party
- a party to the transaction
- a particular individual : person
- an old party approaching 80
- a detail of soldiers
- a social gathering
- the entertainment provided for it
party [-tē-ər] -vi, n
- to attend or give parties
- revel
party animal -n
- a person known for frequent often wild partying
par·ty·go·er ['pär-tē-,gō-ər] -n
- a person who attends a party or who attends parties frequently
party line [,pär-tē-'lī-nər] -n
- the policy or practice of a political party
- a single telephone circuit connecting two or more subscribers with the exchange called also party wire
- the principles or policies of an individual or organization
- the explanation or interpretation usu. put forth
- the party line that her mother was a saint -- Leslie Bennetts
party poop·er [-'pü-pər] -n
- a person who refuses to join in the fun of a party
- one who refuses to go along with everyone else
party wall -n
- a wall which divides two adjoining properties and in which each of the owners shares the rights
pa·rure [pə-'ru̇r] -n
- a matched set of ornaments (as jewelry)
par value -n
- par
parve ['pär-(ə-)və] -adj
(variant of pareve)
- made without milk, meat, or their derivatives
par·ve·nu ['pär-və-,nü, -,nyü] -n, adj
- one that has recently or suddenly risen to an unaccustomed position of wealth or power and has not yet gained the prestige, dignity, or manner associated with it
par·ve·nue [-,nü, -,nyü] -n, adj
- a woman who is a parvenu
par·vis ['pär-vəs] -n
- a court or enclosed space before a building (as a church)
- a single portico or colonnade before a church
par·vo ['pär-(,)vō] -n
- parvovirus
par·vo·vi·rus ['pär-vō-,vī-rəs] -n
- any of a family ( Parvoviridae) of single-stranded DNA viruses that include the causative agents of fifth disease in humans, panleukopenia in cats, and parvovirus in dogs
- a highly contagious febrile virus disease of dogs that is spread esp. by contact with infected feces, that is caused by a strain (Canine parvovirus) of the parvovirus causing panleukopenia in cats, and that is marked by loss of appetite, lethargy, often bloody diarrhea and vomiting, and sometimes death
pas ['pä] -n
- the right of precedence
- a dance step or combination of steps
PAS -abbr
- para-aminosalicylic acid
pas·cal [pas-'kal, päs-'käl] -n
- a unit of pressure in the meter-kilogram-second system equivalent to one newton per square meter
- a structured computer programming language developed from Algol and designed to process both numerical and textual data
Pas·cal's triangle [pas-'kalz-, päs-'kälz-] -n
- a system of numbers arranged in rows resembling a triangle with each row consisting of the coefficients in the expansion of ( a b) n for n 0, 1, 2, 3,...
Pasch ['pask] -n, adj
- easter
- passover
paschal full moon -n
- the 14th day of a lunar month occurring on or next after March 21 according to a fixed set of ecclesiastical calendar rules and without regard to the real moon
Paschal Lamb -n
- a lamb slain and eaten during the Passover celebration in ancient Judaism
- agnus dei
pas de bour·ree [,pä-də-bu̇-'rā] -n
- a walking or running ballet step usu. executed on the points of the toes
pas de chat [-'sha] -n
- a ballet leap from one foot to the other in which the feet are drawn up and the knees are bent so that the legs form a diamond
pas de deux [-'də(r), -'dü] -n
- a dance or figure for two performers
- an intricate relationship or activity involving two parties or things
pas de qua·tre [-'kat, -'ka-trə, -'kätrᵊ] -n
- a dance or figure for four performers
pas de trois [-'trwä, -'twä] -n
- a dance or figure for three performers
pa·se ['pä-(,)sā] -n
- a movement of a cape by a matador in drawing a bull and taking his charge
pa·seo [pə-'sā-(,)ō, pä-] -n
- a leisurely usu. evening stroll : promenade
- a public walk or boulevard
- a formal entrance march of bullfighters into an arena
pash ['pash] -vt
- smash
- head
pa·sha ['pä-shə, 'pa-; pə-'shä, -'shȯ] -n
- a man of high rank or office (as in Turkey or northern Africa)
pash·mi·na [,pəsh-'mē-nə] -n
- a fine wool similar to cashmere made from the undercoat of domestic Himalayan goats
- a shawl made from this wool
Pash·to ['pəsh-(,)tō] -n
- the Iranian language of the Pashtuns
Pash·tun [,pəsh-'tün] -n
- a member of a people of eastern and southern Afghanistan and adjacent parts of Pakistan
Pa·siph·ae [pə-'si-fə-,ē] -n
- the wife of Minos and mother of the Minotaur by a white bull
pasque·flow·er ['pask-,flau̇(-ə)r] -n
- any of several anemones with palmately compound leaves and large usu. white or purple early spring flowers
pas·qui·nade [,pas-kwə-'nād] -n, vt
- a lampoon posted in a public place
- satirical writing : satire
pass ['pas] -vb, n
- move, proceed, go
- to go away : depart
- die often used with on
- to move in a path so as to approach and continue beyond something : move past
- to move past another vehicle going in the same direction
- to run the normal course used of time or a period of time
- to go or make one's way through
- to go uncensured, unchallenged, or seemingly unnoticed
- to go from one quality, state, or form to another
- pass es from a liquid to a gaseous state
- to sit in inquest or judgment
- to render a decision, verdict, or opinion
- the court pass ed on the legality of wiretapping
- to become legally rendered
- judgment pass ed for the plaintiff
- to go from the control, ownership, or possession of one person or group to that of another
- the throne pass ed to the king's son
- title pass es to the buyer upon payment in full
- happen, occur
- to take place or be exchanged as or in a social, personal, or business interaction
- to become approved by a legislature or body empowered to sanction or reject
- to undergo an inspection, test, or course of study successfully
- to serve as a medium of exchange
- to be accepted or regarded
- drivel that pass es for literature
- to identify oneself or be identified as something one is not
- tried to pass as an adult
- Mom could pass as my sister
- to make a pass in fencing
- to throw or hit a ball or puck to a teammate often used with off
- to decline to bid, double, or redouble in a card game
- to withdraw from the current poker pot
- to let something go by without accepting or taking advantage of it often used with on
- pass ed on the cheesecake
- thanks for the offer, but I'll pass
- : to go beyond: as
- surpass, exceed
- to advance or develop beyond
- to go past (one moving in the same direction)
- to go by : proceed or extend beyond
- pass the school on their way to work
- neglect, omit
- to omit a regularly scheduled declaration and payment of (a dividend)
- to go across, over, or through : cross
- to live through (as an experience or peril) : undergo
- to go through (as a test) successfully
- to secure the approval of
- the bill pass ed the Senate
- to cause or permit to win approval or legal or official sanction
- to give approval or a passing grade to
- to let (as time or a period of time) go by esp. while involved in a leisure activity
- I'll read to pass the time
- to let go unnoticed : overlook, disregard
- pledge
- to transfer the right to or property in
- to put in circulation
- to transfer or transmit from one to another
- pass ing the savings on to customers
- to relay or communicate (as information) to another
- to cause or enable to go : transport
- to throw or hit (a ball or puck) esp. to a teammate
- to pronounce (as a sentence or opinion) esp. judicially
- utter
- to cause or permit to go past or through a barrier
- to move or cause to move in a particular manner or direction
- pass ed my hand over my face
- pass the rope through the loop
- to cause to march or go by in order
- pass the troops in review
- to emit or discharge from a bodily part and esp. the bowels
- to give a base on balls to
- to hit a ball past (an opponent) in a game (as tennis)
- a means (as an opening, road, or channel) by which a barrier may be passed or access to a place may be gained
- a low place in a mountain range
- a position to be held usu. against odds
- realization
- brought his dream to pass
- the act or an instance of passing : passage
- a usu. distressing or bad state of affairs
- what has brought you to such a pass?
- a written permission to move about freely in a place or to leave or enter it
- a written leave of absence from a military post or station for a brief period
- a permit or ticket allowing free transportation or free admission
- a thrust or lunge in fencing
- a transference of objects by sleight of hand or other deceptive means
- a moving of the hands over or along something
- an ingenious sally (as of wit)
- the passing of an examination or course of study
- the mark or certification of such passing
- a single complete mechanical operation
- a single complete cycle of operations (as for processing, manufacturing, or printing)
- a transfer of a ball or a puck from one player to another on the same team
- a ball or puck so transferred
- passing shot
- base on balls
- an election not to bid, bet, or draw an additional card in a card game
- a throw of dice in the game of craps that wins the bet for the shooter
- a single passage or movement (as of an airplane) over a place or toward a target
- effort, try
- a sexually inviting gesture or approach
- pase
- passenger
pass·able ['pa-sə-bəl] -adj, adv
- capable of being passed, crossed, or traveled on
- capable of being freely circulated
- good enough : adequate
pas·sa·ca·glia [,pä-sə-'käl-yə, ,pa-sə-'kal-yə] -n
- an old Italian or Spanish dance tune
- an instrumental musical composition consisting of variations usu. on a ground bass in moderately slow triple time
- an old dance performed to a passacaglia
pas·sa·do [pə-'sä-(,)dō] -n
- a thrust in fencing with one foot advanced
pas·sage ['pa-sij] -n
- a way of exit or entrance : a road, path, channel, or course by which something passes
- a corridor or lobby giving access to the different rooms or parts of a building or apartment
- the action or process of passing from one place, condition, or stage to another
- death
- a continuous movement or flow
- a specific act of traveling or passing esp. by sea or air
- a privilege of conveyance as a passenger : accommodations
- the passing of a legislative measure or law : enactment
- a right, liberty, or permission to pass
- something that happens or is done : incident
- something that takes place between two persons mutually
- a usu. brief portion of a written work or speech that is relevant to a point under discussion or noteworthy for content or style
- a phrase or short section of a musical composition
- a detail of a work of art (as a painting)
- the act or action of passing something or undergoing a passing
- incubation of a pathogen (as a virus) in culture, a living organism, or a developing egg
passage -vb
- to go past or across : cross
- to subject to passage
pas·sage·way [-,wā] -n
- a way that allows passage
pas·sage·work [-,wərk] -n
- a section of a musical composition characteristically unimportant thematically and consisting esp. of ornamental figures
pas·sant ['pa-sᵊnt] -adj
- walking with the farther forepaw raised used of a heraldic animal
pass away -vi
- to go out of existence
- die
pass·band ['pas-,band] -n
- a band of frequencies (as in a radio circuit or a light filter) that is transmitted with maximum efficiency
pass·book [-,bu̇k] -n
- bankbook
pass degree -n
- a bachelor's degree without honors that is taken at a British university
pas·se [pa-'sā] -adj
- past one's prime
- outmoded
- behind the times
passed ball -n
- a baseball pitch not hit by the batter that passes the catcher when it should have been caught and allows a base runner to advance
passed pawn -n
- a chess pawn that has no enemy pawn in front of it on its own or an adjacent file
pas·sel ['pa-səl] -n
- a large number or amount
passe·men·terie [pas-'men-t(ə-)rē] -n
- an ornamental edging or trimming (as tassels) made of braid, cord, gimp, beading, or metallic thread
pas·sen·ger ['pa-sᵊn-jər] -n
- wayfarer
- a traveler in a public or private conveyance
passenger pigeon -n
- an extinct but formerly abundant No. American migratory pigeon ( Ectopistes migratorius)
passepar·tout [,pas-pər-'tü, -,pär-] -n
- master key
- mat
- a method of framing in which a picture, a mat, a glass, and a back (as of cardboard) are held together by strips of paper or cloth pasted over the edges
- a strong paper gummed on one side and used esp. for mounting pictures
pass·er·by [,pa-sər-'bī, 'pa-sər-,] -n
- one who passes by
pas·ser·ine ['pa-sə-,rīn] -adj, n
- of or relating to the largest order (Passeriformes) of birds which includes over half of all living birds and consists chiefly of altricial songbirds of perching habits
pas seul [,pä-'səl, -'sər(-ə)l] -n
- a solo dance or dance figure
passfail ['pas-'fāl] -adj, n
- being a system of grading whereby the grades pass and fail replace the traditional letter grades
pas·si·ble ['pa-sə-bəl] -adj
- capable of feeling or suffering
pas·sim ['pa-səm; 'pa-,sim, 'pä-] -adv
- here and there
pass·ing ['pa-siŋ] -n
- the act of one that passes or causes to pass
- death
passing -adj
- going by or past
- having a brief duration
- surpassing
- superficial
- of, relating to, or used in or for the act or process of passing
- given on satisfactory completion of an examination or course of study
- to a surpassing degree : exceedingly
passing note -n
- a nonharmonic tone interposed between essential harmonic tones of adjacent chords called also passing tone
passing shot -n
- a stroke (as in tennis) that drives the ball to one side and beyond the reach of an opponent
pas·sion ['pa-shən] -n, adj
- the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death
- an oratorio based on a gospel narrative of the Passion
- suffering
- the state or capacity of being acted on by external agents or forces
- emotion
- his ruling passion is greed
- the emotions as distinguished from reason
- intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction
- an outbreak of anger
- ardent affection : love
- a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept
- sexual desire
- an object of desire or deep interest
pas·sion·al ['pa-shə-nᵊl, 'pash-nəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or marked by passion
pas·sion·ate ['pa-sh(ə-)nət] -adj, adv, n
- easily aroused to anger
- filled with anger : angry
- capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feeling
- enthusiastic, ardent
- swayed by or affected with sexual desire
pas·sion·flow·er ['pa-shən-,flau̇(-ə)r] -n
- any of a genus ( Passifloraof the family Passifloraceae, the passionflower family) of chiefly tropical woody tendriled climbing vines or erect herbs with usu. showy flowers and pulpy often edible berries
passion fruit -n
- the edible fruit of a passionflower
- the small roundish purple or yellow fruit of a Brazilian passionflower ( Passiflora edulis) grown commercially in warmer parts of the U.S.
Pas·sion·ist ['pa-sh(ə-)nist] -n
- a member of a Roman Catholic mendicant order founded by St. Paul of the Cross in Italy in 1720 and devoted chiefly to missionary work and retreats
passion play -n
- a dramatic representation of the scenes connected with the passion and crucifixion of Jesus
Passion Sunday -n
- the fifth Sunday in Lent
Pas·sion·tide ['pa-shən-,tīd] -n
- the last two weeks of Lent
Passion Week -n
- holy week
- the week between Passion Sunday and Palm Sunday
pas·siv·ate ['pa-si-,vāt] -vt, n
- to make inactive or less reactive
- passivate the surface of steel by chemical treatment
- to protect (as a solid-state device) against contamination by coating or surface treatment
pas·sive ['pa-siv] -adj, adv, n
- acted upon by an external agency
- receptive to outside impressions or influences
- asserting that the grammatical subject of a verb is subjected to or affected by the action represented by that verb
- containing or yielding a passive verb form
- lacking in energy or will : lethargic
- tending not to take an active or dominant part
- induced by an outside agency
- passive exercise of a paralyzed leg
- not active or operating : inert
- of, relating to, or making direct use of the sun's heat usu. without the intervention of mechanical devices
- latent
- of, relating to, or characterized by a state of chemical inactivity
- resistant to corrosion
- not involving expenditure of chemical energy
- passive transport across a cell membrane
- exhibiting no gain or control
- relating to the detection of an object through its emission of energy or sound
- receiving or enduring without resistance : submissive
- existing or occurring without being active, open, or direct
- of, relating to, or being business activity in which the investor does not actively participate in the generation of income
passive -n
- a passive verb form
- the passive voice of a language
passiveaggressive -adj, n
- being, marked by, or displaying behavior characterized by the expression of negative feelings, resentment, and aggression in an unassertive passive way (as through procrastination and stubbornness)
passive immunity -n
- immunity acquired by transfer of antibodies (as by injection of serum from an individual with active immunity)
pas·sivema·trix ['pa-siv-'mā-triks] -adj
- of, relating to, or being an LCD in which the pixels are controlled in groups
passive resistance -n
- resistance esp. to a government or an occupying power characterized mainly by noncooperation
passive restraint -n
- a restraint (as a self-locking seat belt) that acts automatically to protect an automobile rider during a crash
passive smoking -n
- the involuntary inhalation of tobacco smoke (as from another's cigarette) esp. by a nonsmoker
passive transfer -n
- a local transfer of skin sensitivity from an allergic to a normal person by injection of serum from the former that is used esp. for identifying specific allergens when a high degree of allergic sensitivity is suspected
pas·siv·ism ['pa-si-,vi-zəm] -n
- a passive attitude, behavior, or way of life
pass·key ['pas-,kē] -n
- master key
- skeleton key
pass off -vt
- to make public or offer for sale with intent to deceive
- to give a false identity or character to
pass out -vi
- die
- to lose consciousness
- to reject (a deal in bridge) as unplayable because everyone has passed on the first round of bidding
Pass·over ['pas-,ō-vər] -n
- a Jewish holiday beginning on the 14th of Nisan and commemorating the Hebrews' liberation from slavery in Egypt
pass over -vt
- to ignore in passing
- to pay no attention to the claims of : disregard
pass·port ['pas-,pȯrt] -n
- a formal document issued by an authorized official of a country to one of its citizens that is usu. necessary for exit from and reentry into the country, that allows the citizen to travel in a foreign country in accordance with visa requirements, and that requests protection for the citizen while abroad
- a license issued by a country permitting a foreign citizen to pass or take goods through its territory : safe-conduct
- a document of identification required by law to be carried by persons residing or traveling within a country
- a permission or authorization to go somewhere
- something that secures admission, acceptance, or attainment
- education as a passport to success
passthrough -n
- the act, action, or process of offsetting increased costs by raising prices
- an opening in a wall between two rooms through which something (as dishes) may be passed
pass up -vt
- to let go by without accepting or taking advantage of
- pass up a chance for promotion
- decline, reject
pass·word ['pas-,wərd] -n
- : something that enables one to pass or gain admission: as
- a spoken word or phrase required to pass by a guard
- a sequence of characters required for access to a computer system
- watchword
past ['past] -adj
- ago
- just gone or elapsed
- having existed or taken place in a period before the present : bygone
- of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of elapsed time and that in English is usu. formed by internal vowel change (as in sang) or by the addition of a suffix (as in laughed)
- having served as a specified officer in an organization
- beyond the age for or of
- after
- at the farther side of : beyond
- in a course or direction going close to and then beyond
- more than
- beyond the capacity, range, or sphere of
- time gone by
- something that happened or was done in the past
- the past tense of a language
- a verb form in the past tense
- a past life, history, or course of action
- one that is kept secret
- so as to reach and go beyond a point near at hand
pas·ta ['päs-tə also 'pas-] -n
- paste in processed form (as macaroni) or in the form of fresh dough (as ravioli)
- a dish of cooked pasta
paste ['pāst] -n
- a dough that contains a considerable proportion of fat and is used for pastry crust or fancy rolls
- a confection made by evaporating fruit with sugar or by flavoring a gelatin, starch, or gum arabic preparation
- a smooth food product made by evaporation or grinding
- a shaped dough (as spaghetti or ravioli) prepared from semolina, farina, or wheat flour
- : a soft plastic mixture or composition: as
- a preparation usu. of flour or starch and water used as an adhesive or a vehicle for mordant or color
- clay or a clay mixture used in making pottery or porcelain
- a brilliant glass of high lead content used for the manufacture of artificial gems
- to cause to adhere by or as if by paste : stick
- to cover with something pasted on
- to strike hard at
- to beat or defeat soundly
- pasted their opponents 420
paste·board ['pās(t)-,bȯrd] -n
- a solid cardboard with a paper facing
- cardboard
- ticket
pasteboard -adj
- made of pasteboard
- sham, unsubstantial
- prefabricated plots and pasteboard heroes -- Peter Andrews
paste·down [-,dau̇n] -n
- the outer leaf of an endpaper that is pasted down to the inside of the front or back cover of a book
pas·tel [pas-'tel] -n
- a paste made of powdered pigment ranging from pale to deep colors and used for making crayons
- a crayon made of such paste
- a drawing in pastel
- the process or art of drawing with pastels
- a light literary sketch
- any of various pale or light colors
pastel -adj
- of or relating to a pastel
- made with pastels
- pale and light in color
- lacking in body or vigor
pas·tel·ist [-'te-list] -n
- an artist who works with pastels
pas·tern ['pas-tərn] -n
- a part of the foot of an equine extending from the fetlock to the top of the hoof
- a part of the leg of an animal other than an equine that corresponds to the pastern
paste·up ['pāst-,əp] -n
- mechanical
- the process of making mechanicals
pas·teur·ise ['pas-chə-,rīz, 'pas-tyə-, -tə-] -vt, n
(variant of pasteurize)
- to subject to pasteurization
pas·teur·i·za·tion [,pas-chə-rə-'zā-shən, ,pas-tyə-, -tə-] -n
- partial sterilization of a substance and esp. a liquid (as milk) at a temperature and for a period of exposure that destroys objectionable organisms without major chemical alteration of the substance
- irradiation of food products
pas·teur·ize ['pas-chə-,rīz, 'pas-tyə-, -tə-] -vt, n
- to subject to pasteurization
pas·tic·cio [pas-'tē-ch(ē-,)ō, pä-] -n
- pastiche
pas·tiche [pas-'tēsh, päs-] -n
- a literary, artistic, musical, or architectural work that imitates the style of previous work
- such stylistic imitation
- a musical, literary, or artistic composition made up of selections from different works : potpourri
- hodgepodge
past·ies ['pās-tēz] -n pl
- small round coverings for a woman's nipples worn esp. by a stripteaser
pas·tille [pas-'tēl] -n
- a small mass of aromatic paste for fumigating or scenting the air of a room
- lozenge
pas·time ['pas-,tīm] -n
- something that amuses and serves to make time pass agreeably : diversion
pas·ti·na ['päs-tē-nə] -n
- very small bits of pasta used in soup or broth
pas·tis [päs-'tēs] -n
- a French liqueur flavored with aniseed
pas·ti·tsio [päs-'tēt-sē-(,)ō] -n
- a Greek baked dish made of ground meat layered with pasta and usu. topped with white sauce and cheese
past master -n
- one who has held the office of worshipful master in a lodge of Freemasons or of master in a guild, club, or society
- one who is expert : adept
past·ness ['pas(t)-nəs] -n
- the quality or state of being past
- the subjective quality of something being remembered rather than immediately experienced
- almost any popular record...is apt to be tinged with pastness -- Roy McMullen
pas·tor ['pas-tər] -n
- a spiritual overseer
- a clergyman serving a local church or parish
pastor [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vt
- to serve as pastor of (as a church)
pas·tor [päs-'tȯr] -n
- herdsman
pas·to·ral ['pas-t(ə-)rəl] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or composed of shepherds or herdsmen
- devoted to or based on livestock raising
- of or relating to the countryside : not urban
- portraying or expressive of the life of shepherds or country people esp. in an idealized and conventionalized manner
- pleasingly peaceful and innocent : idyllic
- of or relating to spiritual care or guidance esp. of a congregation
- of or relating to the pastor of a church
pastoral ['pas-t(ə-)rəl; 1d is often ,pas-tə-'räl, -'ral] -n
- a literary work (as a poem or play) dealing with shepherds or rural life in a usu. artificial manner and typically drawing a contrast between the innocence and serenity of the simple life and the misery and corruption of city and esp. court life
- pastoral poetry or drama
- a rural picture or scene
- pastorale
- crosier
- : a letter of a pastor to his charge: as
- a letter addressed by a bishop to his diocese
- a letter of the house of bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church to be read in each parish
pas·to·rale [,pas-tə-'räl, -'ral also -'rä-lē] -n
- an instrumental or vocal composition having a pastoral theme
- an opera of the 16th or 17th centuries having a pastoral plot
- pastoral
Pastoral Epistle -n
- one of three New Testament letters including two addressed to Timothy and one to Titus that give advice on matters of church government and discipline
pas·to·ral·ism ['pas-t(ə-)rə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj
- the quality or style characteristic of pastoral writing
- livestock raising
- social organization based on livestock raising as the primary economic activity
pas·tor·ate ['pas-t(ə-)rət] -n
- the office, state, jurisdiction, or tenure of office of a pastor
- a body of pastors
past participle -n
- a participle that typically expresses completed action, that is traditionally one of the principal parts of the verb, and that is traditionally used in English in the formation of perfect tenses in the active voice and of all tenses in the passive voice
past perfect -adj, n
- of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is traditionally formed in English with hadand denotes an action or state as completed at or before a past time spoken of
pas·tra·mi [pə-'strä-mē] -n
- a highly seasoned smoked beef prepared esp. from shoulder cuts
pas·try ['pās-trē] -n
- paste
- sweet baked goods made of dough having a high fat content
- a piece of pastry
past tense -n
- : a verb tense expressing action or state in or as if in the past:
- a verb tense expressive of elapsed time (as wrotein on arriving I wrote a letter)
- a verb tense expressing action or state in progress or continuance or habitually done or customarily occurring at a past time (as was writingin I was writing while he dictated or lovedin their sons loved fishing)
pas·tur·age ['pas-chə-rij] -n
- pasture
pas·ture ['pas-chər] -n
- plants (as grass) grown for the feeding esp. of grazing animals
- land or a plot of land used for grazing
- the feeding of livestock : grazing
pasture -vb
- graze, browse
- to feed (as cattle) on pasture
- to use as pasture
pas·ture·land ['pas-chər-,land] -n
- pasture
pas·ty ['pas-tē] -n
- a meat pie
- turnover
pasty ['pās-tē] -adj, n
- resembling paste
- pallid and unhealthy in appearance
PA system [,pē-'ā-] -n
- public-address system
pat ['pat] -n
- a light blow esp. with the hand or a flat instrument
- a light tapping often rhythmical sound
- something (as butter) shaped into a small flat usu. square individual portion
- in a pat manner : aptly, perfectly
- to strike lightly with a flat instrument
- to flatten, smooth, or put into place or shape with light blows
- to tap or stroke gently with the hand to soothe, caress, or show approval
- to strike or beat gently
- exactly suited to the purpose or occasion : apt
- suspiciously appropriate : contrived
- learned, mastered, or memorized exactly
- firm, unyielding
- reduced to a simple or mechanical form : standard, trite
- patent
PAT -abbr
- point after touchdown
pa·ta·gi·um [pə-'tā-jē-əm] -n
- the fold of skin connecting the forelimbs and hind limbs of some tetrapods (as flying squirrels)
- the fold of skin in front of the main segments of a bird's wing
patch ['pach] -n
- a piece of material used to mend or cover a hole or a weak spot
- a tiny piece of black silk or court plaster worn on the face or neck esp. by women to hide a blemish or to heighten beauty
- a piece of material (as adhesive plaster) used medically usu. to cover a wound
- a usu. disk-shaped piece of material that is worn on the skin and contains a substance (as a drug) that is absorbed at a constant rate through the skin into the bloodstream
- a shield worn over the socket of an injured or missing eye
- a small piece : scrap
- a part or area distinct from that about it
- a period of time : spell
- was going through a rough patch
- someone or something equal or comparable usu. used in negative constructions
- the new chairman isn't a patch on his predecessor
- a piece of cloth sewed on a garment as an ornament or insignia
- shoulder patch
- a temporary connection in a communication system (as a telephone hookup)
- a minor correction or modification in a computer program
- to mend, cover, or fill up a hole or weak spot in
- to provide with a patch
- to make of patches or fragments
- to mend or put together esp. in hasty or shabby fashion usu. used with up
- to apply a patch to (a computer program)
- to connect (as circuits) by a patch cord
- to connect (as a person or message) to a communication system esp. temporarily
- they patch ed him into the conference call
- fool, dolt
patch·board ['pach-,bȯrd] -n
- a switchboard in which circuits are interconnected by patch cords
patch cord -n
- a wire with a plug at each end that is used to connect electrical devices
patch·ou·li ['pa-chə-lē, pə-'chü-lē] -n
- a heavy perfume made from the fragrant essential oil of a southeast Asian mint ( Pogostemon cablin)
- the plant itself
patch pocket -n
- a flat pocket applied to the outside of a garment
patch test -n
- a test for determining allergic sensitivity that is made by applying to the unbroken skin small pads soaked with the allergen to be tested
patch·work ['pach-,wərk] -n
- something composed of miscellaneous or incongruous parts : hodgepodge
- pieces of cloth of various colors and shapes sewn together to form a covering
- something resembling such a covering
patchwork quilt -n
- a quilt made of patchwork
- patchwork
patchy ['pa-chē] -adj, adv, n
- marked by, consisting of, or diversified with patches
- irregular in appearance, makeup, or quality
pat down -vt
- frisk
pate ['pāt] -n, adj
- head
- the crown of the head
- brain
- paste
pa·te [pä-'tā, pa-] -n
- a meat or fish pie or patty
- a spread of finely chopped or pureed seasoned meat
pa·te de foie gras [(,)pä-,tā-də-,fwä-'grä, (,)pa-,tā-] -n
- a pate of fat goose liver and usu. truffles sometimes with added fat pork
pa·tel·la [pə-'te-lə] -n, adj
- a thick flat triangular movable bone that forms the anterior point of the knee and protects the front of the joint called also kneecap
pat·en ['pa-tᵊn] -n
- a plate usu. made of precious metal and used to carry the bread at the Eucharist
- plate
- something (as a metal disk) resembling a plate
pa·ten·cy ['pa-tᵊn(t)-sē, 'pā-] -n
- the quality or state of being patent
pat·ent [1–3 are 'pa-tᵊnt, chiefly Brit 'pā-; 4 'pā-; 5 'pā-, 'pa-; 6–7 'pa-, 'pā-, Brit usu 'pā-] -adj, adv
- open to public inspection used chiefly in the phrase letters patent
- secured by letters patent or by a patent to the exclusive control and possession of a particular individual or party
- protected by a patent : made under a patent
- protected by a trademark or a brand name so as to establish proprietary rights analogous to those conveyed by letters patent or a patent : proprietary
- of, relating to, or concerned with the granting of patents esp. for inventions
- making exclusive or proprietary claims or pretensions
- affording free passage : unobstructed
- patulous, spreading
- accessible, exposed
- readily visible or intelligible : obvious
- an official document conferring a right or privilege : letters patent
- a writing securing for a term of years the exclusive right to make, use, or sell an invention
- the monopoly or right so granted
- a patented invention
- privilege, license
- an instrument making a conveyance of public lands
- the land so conveyed
- patent leather
- to obtain or grant a patent right to
- to grant a privilege, right, or license to by patent
- to obtain or secure by patent
- to secure by letters patent exclusive right to make, use, or sell
pat·ent·ed ['pa-tᵊn-təd, Brit also 'pā-] -adj
- originated by or peculiar to one person or group : individualized
pat·en·tee [,pa-tᵊn-'tē, Brit also ,pā-] -n
- one to whom a grant is made or a privilege secured by patent
pat·ent flour ['pa-tᵊn(t)-, Brit also 'pā-] -n
- a high-grade wheat flour that consists solely of endosperm
pat·ent leather ['pa-tᵊn(t)-, Brit usu 'pā-] -n
- a leather with a hard smooth glossy surface
patent medicine -n
- a packaged nonprescription drug which is protected by a trademark and whose contents are incompletely disclosed
- any drug that is a proprietary
patent office -n
- a government office for examining claims to patents and granting patents
pat·en·tor ['pa-tᵊn-tər, ,pa-tᵊn-'tȯr, Brit also 'pā-, ,pā-] -n
- one that grants a patent
patent right -n
- a right granted by letters patent
- the exclusive right to an invention
pa·ter -n
- paternoster
- father
pa·ter·fa·mil·i·as [,pa-tər-fə-'mi-lē-əs, ,pä-, ,pā-] -n
- the male head of a household
- the father of a family
- a man who originates or is a leading figure in something (as a movement, discipline, or enterprise)
pa·ter·nal [pə-'tər-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a father
- like that of a father
- received or inherited from one's male parent
- related through one's father
pa·ter·nal·ism [pə-'tər-nə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj, adv
- a system under which an authority undertakes to supply needs or regulate conduct of those under its control in matters affecting them as individuals as well as in their relations to authority and to each other
- a policy or practice based on or characteristic of paternalism
pa·ter·ni·ty [pə-'tər-nə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being a father
- origin or descent from a father
paternity -adj
- granted to a father
- of or relating to the determination of paternity
paternity test -n
- a test esp. of DNA or genetic traits to determine whether a given man could be the biological father of a given child
pa·ter·nos·ter [,pä-tər-'näs-tər, 'pa-tər-,, 'pä-,ter-', -'näs-,ter] -n
- lord's prayer
- a word formula repeated as a prayer or magical charm
path ['path, 'päth] -n
- a trodden way
- a track specially constructed for a particular use
- course, route
- a way of life, conduct, or thought
- the continuous series of positions or configurations that can be assumed in any motion or process of change by a moving or varying system
- a sequence of arcs in a network that can be traced continuously without retracing any arc
- pathway
- pathological; pathology
path- -comb form
- pathological state : disease
Pa·than [pə-'tän, ,pä-] -n
- pashtun
path·break·ing ['path-,brā-kiŋ] -adj
- trailblazing
pa·thet·ic [pə-'the-tik] -adj, adv
- having a capacity to move one to either compassionate or contemptuous pity
- marked by sorrow or melancholy : sad
- pitifully inferior or inadequate
- the restaurant's pathetic service
- absurd, laughable
pathetic fallacy -n
- the ascription of human traits or feelings to inanimate nature (as in cruel sea)
path·find·er ['path-,fīn-dər, 'päth-] -n, n or adj
- one that discovers a way
- one that explores untraversed regions to mark out a new route
path·less [-ləs] -adj, n
- untrodden, trackless
patho·bi·ol·o·gy [,pa-thō-bī-'ä-lə-jē] -n
- pathology
path·o·gen ['pa-thə-jən] -n
- a specific causative agent (as a bacterium or virus) of disease
path·o·gen·e·sis [,pa-thə-'je-nə-səs] -n
- the origination and development of a disease
path·o·ge·net·ic [-jə-'ne-tik] -adj
- of or relating to pathogenesis
- pathogenic
path·o·gen·ic [-'je-nik] -adj, n
- pathogenetic
- causing or capable of causing disease
pa·tho·gno·mon·ic [,pa-thə(g)-nō-'mä-nik] -adj
- distinctively characteristic of a particular disease
pa·thog·ra·phy [pə-'thä-grə-fē] -n
- biography that focuses on a person's illnesses, misfortunes, or failures
- sensational or morbid biography
path·o·log·i·cal [,pa-thə-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to pathology
- altered or caused by disease
- indicative of disease
- being such to a degree that is extreme, excessive, or markedly abnormal
pa·thol·o·gist [pə-'thä-lə-jist, pa-] -n
- a specialist in pathology
- one who interprets and diagnoses the changes caused by disease in tissues and body fluids
pa·thol·o·gize [pə-'thä-lə-,jīz] -vt
- to view or characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal
- natural hormonal shifts have been pathologized -- Joyce C. Mills
pa·thol·o·gy [-jē] -n
- the study of the essential nature of diseases and esp. of the structural and functional changes produced by them
- : something abnormal:
- the structural and functional deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
- deviation from propriety or from an assumed normal state of something nonliving or nonmaterial
- deviation giving rise to social ills
- connections between these pathologies ...and crime -- Wendy Kaminer
path·o·phys·i·ol·o·gy [,pa-thō-,fi-zē-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the physiology of abnormal states
- the functional changes that accompany a particular syndrome or disease
pa·thos ['pā-,thäs, -,thȯs, -,thōs also 'pa-] -n
- an element in experience or in artistic representation evoking pity or compassion
- an emotion of sympathetic pity
path·way ['path-,wā, 'päth-] -n
- path, course
- a line of communication over interconnecting neurons extending from one organ or center to another
- a network of interconnecting neurons along which a nerve impulse travels
- the sequence of usu. enzyme-catalyzed reactions by which one substance is converted into another
pa·tience ['pā-shən(t)s] -n
- the capacity, habit, or fact of being patient
- solitaire
pa·tient ['pā-shənt] -adj, adv
- bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
- manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
- not hasty or impetuous
- steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
- able or willing to bear used with of
- susceptible, admitting
- patient of one interpretation
patient -n
- an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment
- the recipient of any of various personal services
- one that is acted upon
patient dumping -n
- dumping
pa·ti·na [pə-'tē-nə, 'pa-tə-nə] -n
- a usu. green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color
- a surface appearance of something grown beautiful esp. with age or use
- an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character
- a superficial covering or exterior
pat·i·nate ['pa-tə-,nāt] -vb, n
- to give a patina to
- to take on a patina usu. used in the past participle
pa·tine [pa-'tēn] -n
- patina
patine -vt
- to cover with a patina
pa·tio ['pa-tē-,ō also 'pä-] -n
- courtyard
- an inner court open to the sky
- a recreation area that adjoins a dwelling, is often paved, and is adapted esp. to outdoor dining
pa·tis·se·rie [pə-'ti-sə-rē, pä-] -n
- pastry
- a pastry shop
pa·tis·sier [pä-tis-'yā] -n
- a pastry chef
pa·tois ['pa-,twä, 'pä-] -n
- a dialect other than the standard or literary dialect
- uneducated or provincial speech
- the characteristic special language of an occupational or social group : jargon
patr- -comb form
- father
pa·tri·arch ['pā-trē-,ärk] -n
- one of the scriptural fathers of the human race or of the Hebrew people
- a man who is father or founder
- the oldest member or representative of a group
- a venerable old man
- a man who is head of a patriarchy
- any of the bishops of the ancient or Eastern Orthodox sees of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem or the ancient and Western see of Rome with authority over other bishops
- the head of any of various Eastern churches
- a Roman Catholic bishop next in rank to the pope with purely titular or with metropolitan jurisdiction
- a Mormon of the Melchizedek priesthood empowered to perform the ordinances of the church and pronounce blessings within a stake or prescribed jurisdiction
pa·tri·ar·chal [,pā-trē-'är-kəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a patriarch or patriarchy
patriarchal cross -n
- a chiefly heraldic cross denoting a cardinal's or archbishop's rank and having two crossbars of which the lower is the longer and intersects the upright above or at its center called also cross of Lorraine
pa·tri·arch·ate ['pā-trē-,är-kət, -,kāt] -n
- the office, jurisdiction, or time in office of a patriarch
- the residence or headquarters of a patriarch
- patriarchy
pa·tri·ar·chy [-,är-kē] -n
- social organization marked by the supremacy of the father in the clan or family, the legal dependence of wives and children, and the reckoning of descent and inheritance in the male line
- control by men of a disproportionately large share of power
- a society or institution organized according to the principles or practices of patriarchy
pa·tri·cian [pə-'tri-shən] -n, adj
- a member of one of the original citizen families of ancient Rome
- a person of high birth : aristocrat
- a person of breeding and cultivation
pa·tri·ci·ate [-'tri-shē-ət, -,āt] -n
- the position or dignity of a patrician
- a patrician class
pat·ri·cide ['pa-trə-,sīd] -n, adj
- one who murders his or her own father
- the murder of one's own father
pat·ri·lin·eal [,pa-trə-'li-nē-əl] -adj
- relating to, based on, or tracing descent through the paternal line
pat·ri·mo·ny ['pa-trə-,mō-nē] -n, adj
- an estate inherited from one's father or ancestor
- anything derived from one's father or ancestors : heritage
- an estate or endowment belonging by ancient right to a church
pa·tri·ot ['pā-trē-ət, -,ät, chiefly Brit 'pa-trē-ət] -n
- one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests
pa·tri·ot·ic [,pā-trē-'ä-tik, chiefly Brit ,pa-] -adj, adv
- inspired by patriotism
- befitting or characteristic of a patriot
pa·tri·ot·ism ['pā-trē-ə-,ti-zəm, chiefly Brit 'pa-] -n
- love for or devotion to one's country
Patriots' Day -n
- the third Monday in April observed as a legal holiday in Maine and Massachusetts in commemoration of the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775
pa·tris·tic [pə-'tris-tik] -adj
- of or relating to the church fathers or their writings
pa·tris·tics [-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr
- the study of the writings and background of the church fathers
Pa·tro·clus [pə-'trō-kləs, -'trä-] -n
- a Greek hero and friend of Achilles slain by Hector at Troy
pa·trol [pə-'trōl] -n
- the action of traversing a district or beat or of going the rounds along a chain of guards for observation or the maintenance of security
- the person performing such an action
- a unit of persons or vehicles employed for reconnaissance, security, or combat
- a subdivision of a Boy Scout troop or Girl Scout troop
patrol -vb, n
- to carry out a patrol
- to carry out a patrol of
pa·trol·man [pə-'trōl-mən] -n
- one who patrols
- a police officer assigned to a beat
patrol wagon -n
- paddy wagon
pa·tron ['pā-trən, for 6 also pa-'trōⁿ] -n, adj
- a person chosen, named, or honored as a special guardian, protector, or supporter
- a wealthy or influential supporter of an artist or writer
- a social or financial sponsor of a social function (as a ball or concert)
- one that uses wealth or influence to help an individual, an institution, or a cause
- one who buys the goods or uses the services offered esp. by an establishment
- the holder of the right of presentation to an English ecclesiastical benefice
- a master in ancient times who freed his slave but retained some rights over him
- the proprietor of an establishment (as an inn) esp. in France
- the chief male officer in some fraternal lodges having both men and women members
pa·tron·age ['pa-trə-nij, 'pā-] -n
- advowson
- the support or influence of a patron
- kindness done with an air of superiority
- business or activity provided by patrons
- the new branch library is expected to have a heavy patronage
- the power to make appointments to government jobs esp. for political advantage
- the distribution of jobs on the basis of patronage
- jobs distributed by patronage
pa·tron·ess ['pā-trə-nəs] -n
- a woman who is a patron
pa·tron·ise ['pā-trə-,nīz, 'pa-] -vt, n, adv
(variant of patronize)
- to act as patron of : provide aid or support for
- to adopt an air of condescension toward : treat haughtily or coolly
- to be a frequent or regular customer or client of
pa·tron·ize ['pā-trə-,nīz, 'pa-] -vt, n, adv
- to act as patron of : provide aid or support for
- to adopt an air of condescension toward : treat haughtily or coolly
- to be a frequent or regular customer or client of
patron saint -n
- a saint to whose protection and intercession a person, a society, a church, or a place is dedicated
- an original leader or prime exemplar
pat·ro·nym·ic [,pa-trə-'ni-mik] -n, adj
- a name derived from that of the father or a paternal ancestor usu. by the addition of an affix
pa·troon [pə-'trün] -n
- the captain or officer commanding a ship
- the proprietor of a manorial estate esp. in New York orig. granted under Dutch rule but in some cases existing until the mid-19th century
pat·sy ['pat-sē] -n
- a person who is easily manipulated or victimized : pushover
pat·ten ['pa-tᵊn] -n
- a clog, sandal, or overshoe often with a wooden sole or metal device to elevate the foot and increase the wearer's height or aid in walking in mud
pat·ter ['pa-tər] -vb, n
- to say or speak in a rapid or mechanical manner
- to recite prayers (as paternosters) rapidly or mechanically
- to talk glibly and volubly
- to speak or sing rapid-fire words in a theatrical performance
patter -n
- a specialized lingo : cant
- the jargon of criminals (as thieves)
- the spiel of a street hawker or of a circus barker
- empty chattering talk
- the rapid-fire talk of a comedian
- the talk with which an entertainer accompanies a routine
- the words of a comic song or of a rapidly spoken usu. humorous monologue introduced into such a song
- to strike or pat rapidly and repeatedly
- to run with quick light-sounding steps
- to cause to patter
- a quick succession of light sounds or pats
pat·tern ['pa-tərn] -n, adj
- a form or model proposed for imitation : exemplar
- something designed or used as a model for making things
- an artistic, musical, literary, or mechanical design or form
- a natural or chance configuration
- a length of fabric sufficient for an article (as of clothing)
- the distribution of shrapnel, bombs on a target, or shot from a shotgun
- the grouping made on a target by bullets
- a reliable sample of traits, acts, tendencies, or other observable characteristics of a person, group, or institution
- the flight path prescribed for an airplane that is coming in for a landing
- a prescribed route to be followed by a pass receiver in football
- test pattern
- a discernible coherent system based on the intended interrelationship of component parts
- frequent or widespread incidence
pattern -vt
- match
- imitate
- to make, adapt, or fashion according to a pattern
- to furnish, adorn, or mark with a design
- to form a pattern
pat·tern·ing ['pa-tər-niŋ] -n
- decoration, composition, or configuration according to a pattern
- physical therapy esp. for neurological impairment based on a theory holding that repeated manipulation of body parts to simulate normal motor developmental activity (as crawling or walking) promotes neurological development or repair
pat·ty ['pa-tē] -n
- a little pie
- a small flat cake of chopped food
- a small flat candy
- patty shell
pat·tycake ['pa-tē-,kāk] -n
- a game in which two participants (as mother and child) clap their hands together to the rhythm of an accompanying nursery rhyme
pat·ty·pan ['pa-tē-,pan] -n
- a roundish summer squash having a scalloped edge called also cymling
patty shell -n
- a shell of puff pastry made to hold a creamed meat, fish, or vegetable filling
pat·u·lous ['pa-chə-ləs] -adj
- spreading widely from a center
- a tree with patulous branches
pat·zer ['pät-sər, 'pat-] -n
- an inept chess player
pau·ci·ty ['pȯ-sə-tē] -n
- smallness of number : fewness
- smallness of quantity : dearth
Paul ['pȯl] -n
- an early Christian apostle and missionary and author of several New Testament epistles
Paul Bun·yan [-'bən-yən] -n
- a giant lumberjack of American folklore
Pau·li exclusion principle ['pau̇-lē-] -n
- exclusion principle called also Pauli principle
Pau·line ['pȯ-,līn] -adj
- of or relating to the apostle Paul, his epistles, or the doctrine or theology implicit in his epistles
Paul·ist ['pȯ-list] -n
- a member of the Roman Catholic Congregation of the Missionary Priests of St. Paul the Apostle founded by I. T. Hecker in the U.S. in 1858
pau·low·nia [pȯ-'lō-nē-ə] -n
- any of a genus ( Paulownia) of Chinese trees of the snapdragon family
- one ( P. tomentosa) widely cultivated for its panicles of fragrant violet flowers
paunch ['pȯnch, 'pänch] -n
- the belly and its contents
- potbelly
- rumen
paunchy ['pȯn-chē, 'pän-] -adj, n
- having a potbelly
pau·per ['pȯ-pər] -n
- a person destitute of means except such as are derived from charity
- one who receives aid from funds designated for the poor
- a very poor person
pau·per·ize ['pȯ-pə-,rīz] -vt, n
- to reduce to poverty
pau·piette [pō-'pyet] -n
- a thin slice of meat or fish wrapped around a forcemeat filling
pause ['pȯz] -n
- a temporary stop
- a break in a verse
- a brief suspension of the voice to indicate the limits and relations of sentences and their parts
- temporary inaction esp. as caused by uncertainty : hesitation
- the sign denoting a fermata
- a mark (as a period or comma) used in writing or printing to indicate or correspond to a pause of voice
- a reason or cause for pausing (as to reconsider)
- a thought that should give one pause
- a function of an electronic device that pauses a recording
- to stop temporarily
- to linger for a time
- to cause to pause : stop
pa·vane [pə-'vän, -'van] -n
- a stately court dance by couples that was introduced from southern Europe into England in the 16th century
- music for the pavane
- music having the slow duple rhythm of a pavane
pave ['pāv] -vt
- to lay or cover with material (as asphalt or concrete) that forms a firm level surface for travel
- to cover firmly and solidly as if with paving material
- to serve as a covering or pavement of
pa·ve [pa-'vā] -adj
- set as close together as possible to conceal a metal base
pave·ment ['pāv-mənt] -n
- : a paved surface: as
- the artificially covered surface of a public thoroughfare
- sidewalk
- the material with which something is paved
- something that suggests a pavement (as in flatness, hardness, and extent of surface)
pav·er ['pā-vər] -n
- one that paves
- pavement
pa·vil·ion [pə-'vil-yən] -n
- a large often sumptuous tent
- something resembling a canopy or tent
- tree ferns spread their delicate pavilion s -- Blanche E. Baughan
- a part of a building projecting from the rest
- one of several detached or semidetached units into which a building is sometimes divided
- a usu. open sometimes ornamental structure in a garden, park, or place of recreation that is used for entertainment or shelter
- a temporary structure erected at an exposition by an individual exhibitor
- the lower faceted part of a brilliant below the girdle
pavilion -vt
- to furnish or cover with or put in a pavilion
paving -n
- pavement
pav·ior ['pāv-yər] -n
- paver
pav·lo·va ['pav-lə-və, pav-'lō-] -n
- a dessert of Australian and New Zealand origin consisting of a meringue shell topped with whipped cream and usu. fruit
Pav·lov·i·an [pav-'lȯ-vē-ən, -'lō-; -'lȯ-fē-] -adj
- of or relating to Ivan Pavlov or to his work and theories
- being or expressing a conditioned or predictable reaction : automatic
- the candidates gave Pavlovian answers
paw ['pȯ] -n
- the foot of a quadruped (as a lion or dog) that has claws
- the foot of an animal
- a human hand esp. when large or clumsy
- to touch or strike at with a paw
- to feel or touch clumsily, rudely, or sexually
- to scrape or beat with or as if with a hoof
- to flail at or grab for wildly
- to beat or scrape something with or as if with a hoof
- to touch or strike with a paw
- to feel or touch someone or something clumsily, rudely, or sexually
- to flail or grab wildly
- to search esp. carelessly or roughly
- paw ed through the box of discount items
paw·ky ['pȯ-kē] -adj
- artfully shrewd : canny
pawl ['pȯl] -n
- a pivoted tongue or sliding bolt on one part of a machine that is adapted to fall into notches or interdental spaces on another part so as to permit motion in only one direction
pawn ['pȯn, 'pän] -n
- one of the chessmen of least value having the power to move only forward ordinarily one square at a time, to capture only diagonally forward, and to be promoted to any piece except a king upon reaching the eighth rank
- one that can be used to further the purposes of another
- something delivered to or deposited with another as security for a loan
- hostage
- the state of being pledged
- something used as a pledge : guaranty
- the act of pawning
- to deposit in pledge or as security esp. in exchange for money
pawn·bro·ker ['pȯn-,brō-kər, 'pän-] -n
- one who lends money on the security of personal property pledged in his keeping
Paw·nee [pȯ-'nē, pä-] -n
- a member of an American Indian people orig. of Kansas and Nebraska
pawn off -vt
- to get rid of or pass off usu. by deception : palm off
pawn·shop ['pȯn-,shäp, 'pän-] -n
- a pawnbroker's shop
paw·paw -n
- papaya
- a No. American tree ( Asimina triloba) of the custard-apple family with purple flowers and an edible green-skinned fruit
- its fruit
pax ['paks, 'päks] -n
- a tablet decorated with a sacred figure (as of Christ) and sometimes ceremonially kissed by participants at mass
- the kiss of peace in the Mass
- peace
- a period of general stability in international affairs under the influence of dominant military power usu. used in combination with a latinized name
pay ['pā] -vb
- to make due return to for services rendered or property delivered
- to engage for money : hire
- you couldn't pay me to do that
- to give in return for goods or service
- to discharge indebtedness for : settle
- to make a disposal or transfer of (money)
- to give or forfeit in expiation or retribution
- to make compensation for
- to requite according to what is deserved
- to give, offer, or make freely or as fitting
- to return value or profit to
- it pay s you to stay open
- to bring in as a return
- an investment pay ing five percent
- to slacken (as a rope) and allow to run out used with out
- to discharge a debt or obligation
- to be worth the expense or effort
- to suffer the consequences of an act
- something paid for a purpose and esp. as a salary or wage : remuneration
- the act or fact of paying or being paid
- the status of being paid by an employer : employ
- a person viewed with respect to reliability or promptness in paying debts or bills
- ore or a natural deposit that yields metal and esp. gold in profitable amounts
- an oil-yielding stratum or zone
- containing or leading to something precious or valuable
- equipped with a coin slot for receiving a fee for use
- requiring payment
- to coat with a waterproof composition
pay·able ['pā-ə-bəl] -adj
- that may, can, or must be paid
- profitable
payasyougo -adj
- of or relating to a system or policy of paying bills when due or of paying for goods and services when purchased
pay·back ['pā-,bak] -n
- a return on an investment equal to the original capital outlay
- the period of time elapsed before an investment is recouped
- requital
paycable -n
- pay-TV utilizing a cable television system
pay·check ['pā-,chek] -n
- a check in payment of wages or salary
- wages, salary
pay·day [-,dā] -n
- a regular day on which wages are paid
pay dirt -n
- earth or ore that yields a profit to a miner
- a useful or remunerative discovery or object
pay down -vt
- to reduce (a debt) by repaying in part
PAYE -abbr
- pay as you earn
pay·ee [(,)pā-'ē] -n
- one to whom money is or is to be paid
pay envelope -n
- an envelope containing one's wages
- wages
pay·er ['pā-ər] -n
- one that pays
- the person by whom a bill or note has been or should be paid
pay·load ['pā-,lōd] -n
- the load carried by a vehicle exclusive of what is necessary for its operation
- the load carried by an aircraft or spacecraft consisting of things (as passengers or instruments) necessary to the purpose of the flight
- the weight of a payload
pay·mas·ter [-,mas-tər] -n
- an officer or agent whose duty it is to pay salaries or wages
pay·ment ['pā-mənt] -n
- the act of paying
- something that is paid : pay
- requital
pay·nim ['pā-nəm] -n
- pagan
- muslim
pay·off ['pā-,ȯf] -n
- profit, reward
- retribution
- the act or occasion of receiving money or material gain esp. as compensation or as a bribe
- the climax of an incident or enterprise
- the denouement of a narrative
- a decisive fact or factor resolving a situation or bringing about a definitive conclusion
payoff -adj
- yielding results in the final test : decisive
pay off -vt
- to give all due wages to
- to pay in full and discharge (an employee)
- to pay (a debt or a creditor) in full
- bribe
- to inflict retribution on
- to allow (a thread or rope) to run off a spool or drum
- to yield returns
pay·o·la [pā-'ō-lə] -n
- undercover or indirect payment (as to a disc jockey) for a commercial favor (as for promoting a particular recording)
pay·out ['pā-,au̇t] -n
- the act of paying out : payoff
payperview -n
- a cable television service by which customers can order access to a particular broadcast for a fee
pay phone -n
- a usu. coin-operated public telephone
pay·roll ['pā-,rōl] -n
- a paymaster's or employer's list of those entitled to pay and of the amounts due to each
- the sum necessary for distribution to those on a payroll
- the money to be distributed
pay station -n
- pay phone
payt -abbr
- payment
payTV -n
- a service providing noncommercial television programming (as recent movies and entertainment specials) by means of a scrambled signal to subscribers who are provided with a decoder called also pay television
pay up -vi
- to pay what is due
- to pay in full