ps -abbr

  1. picosecond

Ps -abbr

  1. Psalms

PS -abbr

  1. postscript
  2. power steering
  3. public school

PSA -abbr

  1. prostate-specific antigen
  2. public service announcement

psalm ['säm, 'sälm, 'sȯm, 'sȯlm] -n

  1. a sacred song or poem used in worship
  2. one of the biblical hymns collected in the Book of Psalms

psalm·book [-,bu̇k] -n

  1. psalter

psalm·ist ['sä-mist, 'säl-, 'sȯ-, 'sȯl] -n

  1. a writer or composer of esp. biblical psalms

psalm·o·dy ['sä-mə-dē, 'säl-, 'sȯ-, 'sȯl] -n

  1. the act, practice, or art of singing psalms in worship
  2. a collection of psalms

Psalms ['sämz, 'sälmz, 'sȯmz] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. a collection of sacred poems forming a book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture

Psal·ter ['säl-tər, 'sȯl-] -n

  1. the Book of Psalms
  2. a collection of Psalms for liturgical or devotional use

psal·te·ri·um [säl-'tir-ē-əm, sȯl-] -n

  1. omasum

psal·tery ['säl-t(ə-)rē, 'sȯl-] -n

  1. an ancient musical instrument resembling the zither

psec -abbr

  1. picosecond

pse·phol·o·gy [sē-'fä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. the scientific study of elections

pseud ['süd] -n

  1. a person who pretends to be an intellectual
  2. pseudonym; pseudonymous

pseud- -comb form

  1. false : spurious
    • pseudo classic
  2. temporary or substitute formation similar to (a specified thing)
    • pseudo podium
  3. resembling, isomeric with, or related to (a specified chemical compound)
    • pseudo ephedrine

pseud·ep·i·graph [sü-'de-pə-,graf] -n

  1. pseudepigraphon

pseud·epig·ra·phon [,sü-di-'pi-grə-,fän] -n

  1. apocrypha
  2. any of various pseudonymous or anonymous Jewish religious writings of the period 200 b.c.to a.d.200
  3. one of such writings (as the Psalms of Solomon) not included in any canon of biblical Scripture usu. used in pl.

pseud·epig·ra·phy [-fē] -n

  1. the ascription of false names of authors to works

pseu·do ['sü-(,)dō] -adj

  1. being apparently rather than actually as stated : sham, spurious
    • distinction between true and pseudo humanism -- K. F. Reinhardt

pseu·do·cho·lin·es·ter·ase ['sü-dō-,kō-lə-'nes-tə-,rās, -,rāz] -n

  1. cholinesterase

pseu·do·clas·sic [,sü-dō-'kla-sik] -adj, n

  1. pretending to be or erroneously regarded as classic

pseu·do·clas·si·cism [-'kla-sə-,si-zəm] -n

  1. imitative representation of classicism in literature and art

pseu·do·coel ['sü-də-,sēl] -n

  1. a body cavity that is not a product of gastrulation and is not lined with a well-defined mesodermal membrane

pseu·do·coe·lom·ate [,sü-dō-'sē-lə-,māt] -n, adj

  1. an invertebrate (as a nematode or rotifer) having a body cavity that is a pseudocoel

pseu·do·cy·e·sis [-sī-'ē-səs] -n

  1. a psychosomatic state that occurs without conception and is marked by some of the physical symptoms and changes in hormonal balance of pregnancy

pseu·do·ephed·rine [,sü-dō-i-'fed-rən, Brit also -'e-fə-drən] -n

  1. an isomer of ephedrine used in the form of its hydrochloride or sulfate esp. to relieve nasal congestion

pseu·do·mo·nad [,sü-də-'mō-,nad, -nəd] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Pseudomonas) of gram-negative rod-shaped motile bacteria including some that produce a greenish fluorescent water-soluble pigment and some that are saprophytes or plant or animal pathogens

pseu·do·mo·nas [-nəs] -n

  1. pseudomonad

pseu·do·morph ['sü-də-,mȯrf] -n, adj

  1. a mineral having the characteristic outward form of another species
  2. a deceptive or irregular form

pseu·do·nym ['sü-də-,nim] -n

  1. a fictitious name
  2. pen name

pseu·do·nym·i·ty [,sü-də-'ni-mə-tē] -n

  1. the use of a pseudonym
  2. the fact or state of being signed with a pseudonym

pseu·don·y·mous [sü-'dä-nə-məs] -adj, adv, n

  1. bearing or using a fictitious name
    • a pseudonymous report
  2. being a pseudonym

pseu·do·pa·ren·chy·ma [,sü-dō-pə-'reŋ-kə-mə] -n, adj

  1. compactly interwoven short-celled filaments esp. in fungi that resemble parenchyma of higher plants

pseu·do·pod ['sü-də-,päd] -n, adj

  1. pseudopodium

pseu·do·po·di·um [,sü-də-'pō-dē-əm] -n

  1. a temporary protrusion or retractile process of the cytoplasm of a cell that functions (as in an amoeba) esp. in a locomotor or food gathering capacity
  2. a slender leafless branch of the gametophyte in various mosses that often bears gemmae

pseu·do·preg·nan·cy [,sü-dō-'preg-nən(t)-sē] -n, adj

  1. pseudocyesis
  2. an anestrous state resembling pregnancy that occurs in various mammals usu. after an infertile copulation

pseu·do·ran·dom [-'ran-dəm] -adj

  1. being or involving entities (as numbers) that are selected by a definite computational process but that satisfy one or more standard tests for statistical randomness

pseu·do·sci·ence [,sü-dō-'sī-ən(t)s] -n, adj

  1. a system of theories, assumptions, and methods erroneously regarded as scientific

pseu·do·scor·pi·on [-'skȯr-pē-ən] -n

  1. any of a widely distributed order (Pseudoscorpionida syn. Pseudoscorpiones) of tiny arachnids that have no caudal stinger and feed on tiny invertebrates (as insects and mites)

pseu·do·so·phis·ti·ca·tion ['sü-dō-sə-,fis-tə-'kā-shən] -n, adj

  1. false or feigned sophistication

pseu·do·tu·ber·cu·lo·sis [-tu̇-,bər-kyə-'lō-səs, -tyu̇-] -n

  1. any of several diseases that are marked by the formation of granulomas resembling tubercular nodules and are caused by a bacterium (as Yersinia pseudotuberculosis) other than the tubercle bacillus

psf -abbr

  1. pounds per square foot

PSG -abbr

  1. platoon sergeant

pshaw ['shȯ] -interj

  1. used to express irritation, disapproval, contempt, or disbelief

psi ['sī, 'psī] -n

  1. the 23d letter of the Greek alphabet
  2. parapsychological psychic phenomena or powers
  3. pounds per square inch

psi·lo·cy·bin [,sī-lə-'sī-bən] -n

  1. a hallucinogenic indole C 12H 17N 2O 4P obtained from a fungus (as Psilocybe mexicanaor P. cubensissyn. Stropharia cubensis)

psi·lo·phyte ['sī-lə-,fīt] -n, adj

  1. any of a division (Psilophyta) of simple dichotomously branched plants that first appeared during the Late Silurian, are now limited to two extant genera, lack true leaves and roots, and include the oldest known land plants with vascular tissue

psi particle ['sī-, 'psī-] -n

  1. j/psi particle

psit·ta·cine ['si-tə-,sīn] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to the parrots

psit·ta·co·sis [,si-tə-'kō-səs] -n, adj

  1. an infectious disease of birds caused by a bacterium ( Chlamydia psittaci), marked by diarrhea and wasting, and transmissible to humans in whom it occurs as a flu-like illness often accompanied by pneumonia called also ornithosis parrot fever

pso·cid ['sō-səd] -n

  1. any of an order (Psocoptera syn. Corrodentia) of minute usu. winged primitive insects (as a book louse) having simple mouthparts

pso·ra·len ['sȯr-ə-lən] -n

  1. a substance C 11H 6O 3found in some plants that photosensitizes mammalian skin and is used in conjunction with ultraviolet light to treat psoriasis
  2. any of various derivatives of psoralen having similar properties

pso·ri·a·sis [sə-'rī-ə-səs] -n, adj or n

  1. a chronic skin disease characterized by circumscribed red patches covered with white scales

PST -abbr

  1. Pacific standard time

psych ['sīk] -vt

  1. psychoanalyze
  2. to anticipate correctly the intentions or actions of : outguess
  3. to analyze or figure out (as a problem or course of action)
    • I psych ed it all out by myself and decided -- David Hulburd
  4. to make psychologically uneasy : intimidate, scare
    • pressure doesn't psych me -- Jerry Quarry
    often used with out
    • has a way of psych ing out the competition
  5. to make (as oneself) psychologically ready esp. for performance often used with up
    • psych ed herself up for the race
  6. psychology

psych- -comb form

  1. mind : mental processes and activities
    • psycho dynamic
    • psycho logy
  2. psychological methods
    • psycho analysis
    • psycho therapy
  3. brain
    • psycho surgery
  4. mental and
    • psycho somatic

psych·as·the·nia [,sī-kəs-'thē-nē-ə] -n, adj or n

  1. a neurotic state characterized esp. by phobias, obsessions, or compulsions that one knows are irrational

psy·che ['sī-kē] -n

  1. a princess loved by Cupid
  2. soul, personality
    • the nation's consumer psyche -- D. J. Kevles
  3. mind

psy·che·de·lia [,sī-kə-'dēl-yə] -n

  1. the world of people, phenomena, or items associated with psychedelic drugs
  2. psychedelic music

psy·che·del·ic [,sī-kə-'de-lik] -n

  1. a psychedelic drug (as LSD)

psychedelic [-'de-li-k(ə-)lē] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or being drugs (as LSD) capable of producing abnormal psychic effects (as hallucinations) and sometimes psychotic states
  2. produced by or associated with the use of psychedelic drugs
    • a psychedelic experience
  3. imitating, suggestive of, or reproducing effects (as distorted or bizarre images or sounds) resembling those produced by psychedelic drugs
    • psychedelic color schemes

psy·chi·a·try [sə-'kī-ə-trē, sī-] -n, adj, adv

  1. a branch of medicine that deals with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders

psy·chic ['sī-kik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to the psyche : psychogenic
  2. lying outside the sphere of physical science or knowledge : immaterial, moral, or spiritual in origin or force
  3. sensitive to nonphysical or supernatural forces and influences : marked by extraordinary or mysterious sensitivity, perception, or understanding

psychic -n

  1. a person apparently sensitive to nonphysical forces
  2. medium
  3. psychic phenomena

psy·cho ['sī-(,)kō] -n, adj

  1. a deranged or psychopathic person not used technically

psy·cho·acous·tics [,sī-kō-ə-'küs-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr, adj

  1. a branch of science dealing with the perception of sound, the sensations produced by sounds, and the problems of communication

psy·cho·ac·tive [,sī-kō-'ak-tiv] -adj

  1. affecting the mind or behavior
    • psychoactive drugs

psy·cho·anal·y·sis [,sī-kō-ə-'na-lə-səs] -n

  1. a method of analyzing psychic phenomena and treating emotional disorders that involves treatment sessions during which the patient is encouraged to talk freely about personal experiences and esp. about early childhood and dreams

psy·cho·an·a·lyt·ic [-,a-nə-'li-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or employing psychoanalysis or its principles and techniques

psy·cho·an·a·lyze [-'a-nə-,līz] -vt

  1. to treat by means of psychoanalysis

psy·cho·bab·ble ['sī-kō-,ba-bəl] -n, vi

  1. a predominantly metaphorical language for expressing one's feelings
  2. psychological jargon
  3. trite or simplistic language derived from psychotherapy
    • repeating the usual psychobabble about self-discovery -- Mark Coleman

psy·cho·bi·og·ra·phy [,sī-kō-bī-'ä-grə-fē, -bē-] -n, adj

  1. a biography written from a psychodynamic or psychoanalytic point of view
  2. the application of such a point of view to the writing of a biography

psy·cho·bi·ol·o·gy [-bī-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. the study of mental functioning and behavior in relation to other biological processes

psy·cho·chem·i·cal [-'ke-mi-kəl] -n, adj

  1. a psychoactive chemical

psy·cho·dra·ma [-'drä-mə, -'dra-] -n, adj

  1. an extemporized dramatization designed to afford catharsis and social relearning for one or more of the participants from whose life history the plot is abstracted
  2. a dramatic narrative or work characterized by psychological overtones
  3. an often ongoing psychological struggle
  4. an expression of psychological turmoil

psy·cho·dy·nam·ics [-dī-'na-miks, -də-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj, adv

  1. the psychology of mental or emotional forces or processes developing esp. in early childhood and their effects on behavior and mental states
  2. explanation or interpretation (as of behavior or mental states) in terms of mental or emotional forces or processes
  3. motivational forces acting esp. at the unconscious level

psy·cho·gen·e·sis [-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj

  1. the origin and development of mental functions, traits, or states
  2. development from mental as distinguished from physical origins

psy·cho·gen·ic [-'je-nik] -adj, adv

  1. originating in the mind or in mental or emotional conflict

psy·cho·graph ['sī-kə-,graf] -n

  1. psychobiography

psy·cho·graph·ics [,sī-kə-'gra-fiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj, adv

  1. market research or statistics classifying population groups according to psychological variables (as attitudes, values, or fears)
  2. variables or trends identified through such research

psy·cho·his·to·ry ['sī-kō-,his-t(ə-)rē] -n, adj

  1. historical analysis or interpretation using psychological and psychoanalytic methods
  2. a work of history using such methods

psy·cho·ki·ne·sis [,sī-kō-kə-'nē-səs, -kī-] -n, adj

  1. movement of physical objects by the mind without use of physical means

psychol -abbr

  1. psychological

psy·cho·lin·guis·tics [,sī-kō-liŋ-'gwis-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr, n, adj

  1. the study of the mental faculties involved in the perception, production, and acquisition of language

psy·cho·log·i·cal [,sī-kə-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to psychology
  2. mental
  3. directed toward the will or toward the mind specif. in its conative function
    • psychological warfare

psychological moment -n

  1. the occasion when the mental atmosphere is most certain to be favorable to the full effect of an action or event

psy·chol·o·gise [-,jīz] -vb

(variant of psychologize)

  1. to speculate in psychological terms or on psychological motivations
  2. to explain or interpret in psychological terms

psy·chol·o·gism [sī-'kä-lə-,ji-zəm] -n

  1. a theory that applies psychological conceptions to the interpretation of historical events or logical thought

psy·chol·o·gize [-,jīz] -vb

  1. to speculate in psychological terms or on psychological motivations
  2. to explain or interpret in psychological terms

psy·chol·o·gy [-jē] -n

  1. the science of mind and behavior
  2. the mental or behavioral characteristics of an individual or group
  3. the study of mind and behavior in relation to a particular field of knowledge or activity
  4. a theory or system of psychology
    • Freudian psychology
    • the psychology of Jung

psy·cho·met·ric [,sī-kə-'me-trik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to psychometrics or psychometry

psy·cho·me·tri·cian [-mə-'tri-shən] -n

  1. a person (as a clinical psychologist) who is skilled in the administration and interpretation of objective psychological tests
  2. a psychologist who devises, constructs, and standardizes psychometric tests

psy·cho·met·rics [-'me-triks] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. the psychological theory or technique of mental measurement

psy·chom·e·try [sī-'kä-mə-trē] -n

  1. divination of facts concerning an object or its owner through contact with or proximity to the object
  2. psychometrics

psy·cho·mo·tor [,sī-kə-'mō-tər] -adj

  1. of or relating to motor action directly proceeding from mental activity

psy·cho·neu·ro·im·mu·nol·o·gy [,sī-kō-,n(y)u̇r-ō-,im-yə-'nä-lə-jē] -n

  1. a branch of medicine that deals with the influence of emotional states (as stress) and nervous system activities on immune function esp. in relation to the onset and progression of disease

psy·cho·neu·ro·sis [,sī-kō-nu̇-'rō-səs, -nyu̇-] -n, adj or n

  1. neurosis
  2. a neurosis based on emotional conflict in which an impulse that has been blocked seeks expression in a disguised response or symptom

psy·cho·path ['sī-kə-,path] -n

  1. a mentally ill or unstable person
  2. a person affected with antisocial personality disorder

psy·cho·path·ic [,sī-kə-'pa-thik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder

psychopathic -n

  1. psychopath

psychopathic personality disorder -n

  1. antisocial personality disorder

psy·cho·pa·thol·o·gy [,sī-kō-pə-'thä-lə-jē, -pa-] -n, adj, adv

  1. the study of psychological and behavioral dysfunction occurring in mental disorder or in social disorganization
  2. such dysfunction

psy·chop·a·thy [sī-'kä-pə-thē] -n

  1. mental disorder esp. when marked by egocentric and antisocial activity

psy·cho·phar·ma·col·o·gy [,sī-kō-,fär-mə-'kä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. the study of the effect of drugs on the mind and behavior

psy·cho·phys·i·cal [,sī-kō-'fi-zi-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to psychophysics
  2. sharing mental and physical qualities
    • psychophysical color perception

psychophysical parallelism -n

  1. parallelism

psy·cho·phys·ics [,sī-kō-'fi-ziks] -n pl but sing in constr, n

  1. a branch of psychology concerned with the effect of physical processes (as intensity of stimulation) on the mental processes of an organism

psy·cho·phys·i·o·log·i·cal [,sī-kō-,fi-zē-ə-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to physiological psychology
  2. combining or involving mental and bodily processes

psy·cho·phys·i·ol·o·gy [-,fi-zē-'ä-lə-jē] -n

  1. physiological psychology

psy·cho·sex·u·al [-'sek-shə-wəl, -shwəl, -shəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to the mental, emotional, and behavioral aspects of sexual development
  2. of or relating to mental or emotional attitudes concerning sexual activity
  3. of or relating to the physiological psychology of sex

psy·cho·sex·u·al·i·ty [-,sek-shə-'wa-lə-tē] -n

  1. the psychic factors of sex

psy·cho·sis [sī-'kō-səs] -n

  1. fundamental derangement of the mind (as in schizophrenia) characterized by defective or lost contact with reality esp. as evidenced by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech and behavior

psy·cho·so·cial [,sī-kō-'sō-shəl] -adj, adv

  1. involving both psychological and social aspects
    • psychosocial adjustment in marriage
  2. relating social conditions to mental health
    • psychosocial medicine

psy·cho·so·mat·ic [-sə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, concerned with, or involving both mind and body
    • the psychosomatic nature of man -- Herbert Ratner
  2. of, relating to, involving, or concerned with bodily symptoms caused by mental or emotional disturbance
    • psychosomatic symptoms
    • psychosomatic medicine

psy·cho·sur·gery [-'sər-jə-rē, -'sərj-rē] -n, adj

  1. cerebral surgery employed in treating psychic symptoms

psy·cho·syn·the·sis [-'sin(t)-thə-səs] -n

  1. a form of psychotherapy combining psychoanalytic techniques with meditation and exercise

psy·cho·ther·a·peu·tic [-,ther-ə-'pyü-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or used in psychotherapy

psy·cho·ther·a·py [-'ther-ə-pē] -n

  1. treatment of mental or emotional disorder or of related bodily ills by psychological means

psy·chot·ic [sī-'kä-tik] -adj, n, adv

  1. of, relating to, marked by, or affected with psychosis
    • a psychotic patient
    • psychotic behavior

psy·choto·mi·met·ic [sī-,kä-tō-mə-'me-tik, -mī-] -adj, n, adv

  1. of, relating to, involving, or inducing psychotic alteration of behavior and personality
    • psychotomimetic drugs

psy·cho·tro·pic [,sī-kə-'trō-pik] -adj, n

  1. acting on the mind
    • psychotropic drugs

psychout ['sīk-,au̇t] -n

  1. an act or an instance of psyching someone out

psychro- -comb form

  1. cold
    • psychro meter

psy·chrom·e·ter [sī-'krä-mə-tər] -n, adj

  1. a hygrometer consisting essentially of two similar thermometers with the bulb of one being kept wet so that the cooling that results from evaporation makes it register a lower temperature than the dry one and with the difference between the readings constituting a measure of the dryness of the atmosphere

psy·chro·phil·ic [,sī-krō-'fi-lik] -adj

  1. thriving at a relatively low temperature
    • psychrophilic bacteria

psyl·la ['si-lə] -n

  1. any of various plant lice (family Psyllidae) including economically important plant pests

psyl·lid ['si-ləd] -n, adj

  1. psylla

psyl·li·um ['si-lē-əm] -n

  1. the seed of a fleawort (esp. Plantago psyllium) that has the property of swelling and becoming gelatinous when moist and is used as a mild laxative called also psyllium seed

psy·ops ['sī-,äps] -n pl

  1. military operations usu. aimed at influencing the enemy's state of mind through noncombative means (as distribution of leaflets)

psy·war ['sī-,wȯr] -n

  1. psychological warfare