pr -abbr

  1. pair
  2. price
  3. printed

Pr -abbr

  1. propyl
  2. praseodymium

PR ['pē-'är] -n

  1. public relations
    • had a job in PR
    • the company's PR rep
  2. payroll
  3. personal record
  4. proportional representation
  5. Puerto Rico

prac·ti·ca·ble ['prak-ti-kə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. capable of being put into practice or of being done or accomplished : feasible
    • a practicable plan
  2. capable of being used : usable
    • a practicable weapon

prac·ti·cal ['prak-ti-kəl] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or manifested in practice or action : not theoretical or ideal
    • a practical question
    • for all practical purposes
  2. being such in practice or effect : virtual
    • a practical failure
  3. actively engaged in some course of action or occupation
    • a practical farmer
  4. capable of being put to use or account : useful
    • he had a practical knowledge of French
  5. disposed to action as opposed to speculation or abstraction
  6. qualified by practice or practical training
    • a good practical mechanic
  7. designed to supplement theoretical training by experience
  8. concerned with voluntary action and ethical decisions
    • practical reason

practical -n

  1. an examination requiring demonstration of some practical skill
    • a zoology practical

practical art -n

  1. an art (as woodworking) that serves ordinary or material needs usu. used in pl.

practical joke -n

  1. a prank intended to trick or embarrass someone or cause physical discomfort

prac·ti·cal·ly ['prak-ti-k(ə-)lē] -adv

  1. in a practical manner
    • look practically at the problem
  2. almost, nearly
    • practically everyone

practical nurse -n

  1. a nurse who cares for the sick professionally without having the training or experience required of a registered nurse
  2. licensed practical nurse

practical theology -n

  1. the study of the institutional activities of religion (as preaching, church administration, pastoral care, and liturgics)

prac·tice ['prak-təs] -vb, n

  1. carry out, apply
    • practice what you preach
  2. to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually
    • practice politeness
  3. to be professionally engaged in
    • practice medicine
  4. to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient
    • practice the act
  5. to train by repeated exercises
    • practice pupils in penmanship
  6. plot
  7. to do repeated exercises for proficiency
  8. to pursue a profession actively
  9. intrigue
  10. to do something customarily
  11. to take advantage of someone
    • he practised on their credulity with huge success -- Times Lit. Supp.

practice -n

  1. actual performance or application
    • ready to carry out in practice what they advocated in principle
  2. a repeated or customary action
    • had this irritating practice
  3. the usual way of doing something
    • local practice s
  4. the form, manner, and order of conducting legal suits and prosecutions
  5. systematic exercise for proficiency
    • practice makes perfect
  6. the condition of being proficient through systematic exercise
    • get in practice
  7. the continuous exercise of a profession
  8. a professional business
  9. one constituting an incorporeal property

practiced -adj

  1. experienced, skilled
    • a practiced chef
  2. learned by practice
    • a practiced skill

prac·ticeteach ['prak-təs-'tēch] -vi, n

  1. to engage in practice teaching

practice teaching -n

  1. teaching by a student under the supervision of an experienced teacher

practicing -adj

  1. actively engaged in a specified career or way of life
    • a practicing physician

prac·ti·cum ['prak-ti-kəm] -n

  1. a course of study designed esp. for the preparation of teachers and clinicians that involves the supervised practical application of previously studied theory

prac·ti·tion·er [prak-'ti-sh(ə-)nər] -n

  1. one who practices
  2. one who practices a profession
  3. an authorized healer

Pra·derWil·li syndrome ['prä-dər-'vi-lē-] -n

  1. a genetic disorder characterized esp. by short stature, mental retardation, hypotonia, functionally deficient gonads, and uncontrolled appetite leading to extreme obesity

prae·ci·pe ['pre-sə-,pē, 'prē-] -n

  1. any of various legal writs commanding a person to do something or to appear and show cause why he or she should not
  2. a written order requesting a clerk or prothonotary of a court to issue a writ and specifying the contents of the writ

prae·mu·ni·re [,prē-myu̇-'nī(-ə)r-ē] -n

  1. an offense against the English Crown punishable chiefly by forfeiture and orig. committed by asserting papal legal supremacy in England

prae·no·men [prē-'nō-mən] -n

  1. the first of the usual three names of an ancient Roman male

praesidium [pri-'si-dē-əm, prē-, -'zi-] -n

(variant of presidium)

  1. a permanent executive committee selected esp. in Communist countries to act for a larger body
  2. a nongovernmental executive committee

prae·tor ['prē-tər] -n, adj

  1. an ancient Roman magistrate ranking below a consul and having chiefly judicial functions

prae·to·ri·an [prē-'tȯr-ē-ən] -adj, n

  1. of, forming, or resembling the Roman imperial bodyguard
  2. of or relating to a praetor

prag·mat·ic [prag-'ma-tik] -adj, n, adv

  1. busy
  2. officious
  3. opinionated
  4. relating to matters of fact or practical affairs often to the exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters : practical as opposed to idealistic
    • pragmatic men of power have had no time or inclination to deal with...social morality -- K. B. Clark
  5. relating to or being in accordance with philosophical pragmatism

prag·mat·i·cism [prag-'ma-tə-,si-zəm] -n

  1. the philosophic doctrine of C. S. Peirce

prag·mat·ics [prag-'ma-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. a branch of semiotic that deals with the relation between signs or linguistic expressions and their users
  2. a branch of linguistics that is concerned with the relationship of sentences to the environment in which they occur

pragmatic sanction -n

  1. a solemn decree of a sovereign on a matter of primary importance and with the force of fundamental law

prag·ma·tism ['prag-mə-,ti-zəm] -n, adj or n, adj

  1. a practical approach to problems and affairs
    • tried to strike a balance between principles and pragmatism
  2. an American movement in philosophy founded by C. S. Peirce and William James and marked by the doctrines that the meaning of conceptions is to be sought in their practical bearings, that the function of thought is to guide action, and that truth is preeminently to be tested by the practical consequences of belief

prai·rie ['prer-ē] -n

  1. land in or predominantly in grass
  2. : a tract of grassland: as
  3. a large area of level or rolling land in the Mississippi River valley that in its natural uncultivated state usu. has deep fertile soil, a cover of tall coarse grasses, and few trees
  4. one of the dry treeless plateaus east of the Rocky Mountains that merge on their east side with the prairies proper and are characterized by shorter grasses and drier less fertile soil

prairie chicken -n

  1. a grouse ( Tympanuchus cupido) chiefly of the tallgrass prairies of the central U.S. with the male having yellowish-orange neck sacs which are inflated during courtship displays
  2. a closely related smaller grouse ( T. pallidicinctus) having reddish neck sacs

prairie dog -n

  1. any of a genus ( Cynomys) of gregarious burrowing rodents of the squirrel family chiefly of central and western U.S. plains
  2. a black-tailed rodent ( C. ludovicianus) that usu. lives in extensive colonial burrows

prairie schooner -n

  1. a covered wagon used by pioneers in cross-country travel called also prairie wagon

prairie soil -n

  1. any of a zonal group of soils developed in a temperate relatively humid climate under tall grass

prairie wolf -n

  1. coyote

praise ['prāz] -vb, n

  1. to express a favorable judgment of : commend
  2. to glorify (a god or saint) esp. by the attribution of perfections
  3. to express praise
  4. an expression of approval : commendation
  5. worship
  6. value, merit
  7. one that is praised

praise·wor·thy ['prāz-,wər-thē] -adj, adv, n

  1. laudable
    • a praiseworthy effort

Pra·krit ['prä-,krit, -krət] -n

  1. any or all of the ancient Indo-Aryan languages or dialects other than Sanskrit

pra·line ['prä-,lēn, 'prā-, 'prȯ-] -n

  1. : a confection of nuts and sugar: as
  2. almonds cooked in boiling sugar until brown and crisp
  3. a patty of creamy brown sugar and pecan meats

prall·tril·ler ['präl-,tri-lər] -n

  1. a musical ornament made by a quick alternation of a principal tone with the tone above

pram ['präm, 'pram] -n

  1. a small lightweight nearly flat-bottomed boat with a broad transom and usu. squared-off bow
  2. baby carriage

prance ['pran(t)s] -vb, n

  1. to spring from the hind legs or move by so doing
  2. to ride on a prancing horse
  3. to walk or move in a spirited manner : strut
  4. to dance about
  5. to cause (a horse) to prance
  6. an act or instance of prancing
  7. a prancing movement

pran·di·al ['pran-dē-əl] -adj

  1. of or relating to a meal

prang ['praŋ] -vt, n

  1. to have an accident with : cause to crash

prank ['praŋk] -n

  1. : trick:
  2. a malicious act
  3. a mildly mischievous act
  4. a ludicrous act
  5. to show oneself off
  6. to dress or adorn gaily or showily

prank·ish ['praŋ-kish] -adj, adv, n

  1. full of pranks
    • a prankish child
  2. having the nature of a prank
    • prankish acts

prank·ster ['praŋ(k)-stər] -n

  1. a person who plays pranks

prase ['prāz, 'prās] -n

  1. a chalcedony that is translucent and yellowish green

pra·seo·dym·i·um [,prā-zē-ō-'di-mē-əm, ,prā-sē-] -n

  1. a yellowish-white metallic element of the rare-earth group used esp. in alloys and in the form of its salts in coloring glass greenish yellow

prat ['prat] -n

  1. a stupid or foolish person

prate ['prāt] -vi, n, adv

  1. to talk long and idly : chatter

prat·fall ['prat-,fȯl] -n

  1. a fall on the buttocks
  2. a humiliating mishap or blunder

pra·tin·cole ['pra-tᵊn-,kōl, 'prā-, -tiŋ-] -n

  1. any of several Old World shore-inhabiting birds (genera Glareolaand Stiltiaof the family Glareolidae) with a short bill and a forked tail

pra·tique [pra-'tēk] -n

  1. clearance given an incoming ship by the health authority of a port

prat·tle ['pra-tᵊl] -vb, n, adv

  1. prate
  2. to utter or make meaningless sounds suggestive of the chatter of children : babble
  3. to say in an unaffected or childish manner

prattle -n

  1. trifling or empty talk
  2. a sound that is meaningless, repetitive, and suggestive of the chatter of children

prau ['prau̇, 'prä-,ü] -n

  1. any of various Indonesian boats usu. without a deck that are propelled esp. by sails or paddles

prav·a·stat·in ['pra-və-,sta-tᵊn] -n

  1. a drug C 23H 35NaO 7that inhibits the production of cholesterol in the body and is used to treat hypercholesterolemia

prawn ['prȯn, 'prän] -n

  1. : any of various widely distributed edible decapod crustaceans: as
  2. one (as of the genera Pandalusand Penaeus) that resembles shrimps and has a large compressed abdomen
  3. shrimp
  4. a large shrimp
  5. langoustine
  6. to fish for or with prawns

prax·e·ol·o·gy [,prak-sē-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. the study of human action and conduct

prax·is ['prak-səs] -n

  1. : action, practice: as
  2. exercise or practice of an art, science, or skill
  3. customary practice or conduct
  4. practical application of a theory

pray ['prā] -vb

  1. entreat, implore often used as a function word in introducing a question, request, or plea
    • pray be careful
  2. to get or bring by praying
  3. to make a request in a humble manner
  4. to address God or a god with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving

prayer ['prer] -n

  1. an address (as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought
    • said a prayer for the success of the voyage
  2. a set order of words used in praying
  3. an earnest request or wish
  4. the act or practice of praying to God or a god
    • kneeling in prayer
  5. a religious service consisting chiefly of prayers often used in pl.
  6. something prayed for
  7. a slight chance
    • haven't got a prayer

pray·er ['prā-ər, 'prer] -n

  1. one that prays : supplicant

prayer beads ['prer-] -n pl

  1. a string of beads by which prayers are counted
  2. rosary

prayer book -n

  1. a book containing prayers and often other forms and directions for worship

prayer·ful ['prar-fəl, 'prer-] -adj, adv, n

  1. devout
  2. earnest, sincere

prayer meeting -n

  1. a usu. informal gathering for worship and prayer
  2. a Protestant worship service usu. held on a week night called also prayer service

prayer rug -n

  1. a small Oriental rug used by Muslims to kneel on when praying

prayer shawl -n

  1. tallith

prayer wheel -n

  1. a cylinder of wood or metal that revolves on an axis and contains written prayers and that is used in praying by Tibetan Buddhists

praying mantis -n

  1. mantis
  2. a European mantis ( Mantis religiosa) that has been introduced into the U.S. called also praying mantid

PRC -abbr

  1. People's Republic of China

pre- -prefix

  1. earlier than : prior to : before
    • Pre cambrian
    • pre historic
  2. preparatory or prerequisite to
    • pre medical
  3. in advance : beforehand
    • pre cancel
    • pre pay
  4. in front of : anterior to
    • pre axial
    • pre molar

preach ['prēch] -vb, n, adv

  1. to deliver a sermon
  2. to urge acceptance or abandonment of an idea or course of action
  3. to exhort in an officious or tiresome manner
  4. to set forth in a sermon
    • preach the gospel
  5. to advocate earnestly
    • preach ed revolution
  6. to deliver (as a sermon) publicly
  7. to bring, put, or affect by preaching
    • preach ed the...church out of debt -- Amer. Guide Series: Va.

preach·ify ['prē-chə-,fī] -vi

  1. to preach ineptly or tediously

preach·ment ['prēch-mənt] -n

  1. the act or practice of preaching
  2. sermon, exhortation
  3. a tedious or unwelcome one

preachy ['prē-chē] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by obvious moralizing : didactic
    • put off by the speaker's preachy tone

pre·ad·ap·ta·tion [,prē-,a-,dap-'tā-shən] -n

  1. a character of an organism or taxonomic group that takes on a function when none previously existed or that differs from its existing function which has been derived by evolution
  2. the possession of one or more such characters

pre·adapt·ed [,prē-ə-'dap-təd] -adj

  1. characterized by preadaptation

pre·adap·tive [-'dap-tiv] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by preadaptation

pre·ad·o·les·cence [,prē-,a-də-'le-sᵊn(t)s] -n, adj or n

  1. the period of human development just preceding adolescence
  2. the period between the approximate ages of 9 and 12

pre·am·ble ['prē-,am-bəl, prē-'] -n

  1. an introductory statement
  2. the introductory part of a constitution or statute that usu. states the reasons for and intent of the law
  3. an introductory fact or circumstance
  4. one indicating what is to follow

pre·amp ['prē-,amp] -n

  1. preamplifier

pre·am·pli·fi·er [(,)prē-'am-plə-,fī(-ə)r] -n

  1. an amplifier designed to amplify extremely weak electrical signals before they are fed to additional amplifier circuits

pre·atom·ic [,prē-ə-'tä-mik] -adj

  1. of or relating to a time before the use of the atomic bomb and atomic energy

pre·ax·i·al [(,)prē-'ak-sē-əl] -adj

  1. situated in front of an axis of the body

preb·end ['pre-bənd] -n, adj

  1. a stipend furnished by a cathedral or collegiate church to a clergyman (as a canon) in its chapter
  2. prebendary

preb·en·dary ['pre-bən-,der-ē] -n

  1. a clergyman receiving a prebend for officiating and serving in the church
  2. an honorary canon in a cathedral chapter

pre·bi·o·log·i·cal [,prē-,bī-ə-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj

  1. prebiotic

pre·bi·ot·ic [,prē-bī-'ä-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being chemical or environmental precursors of the origin of life
    • prebiotic molecules
  2. existing or occurring before the origin of life

pre·cal·cu·lus [(,)prē-'kal-kyə-ləs] -adj, n

  1. relating to or being mathematical prerequisites for the study of calculus

Pre·cam·bri·an [(,)prē-'kam-brē-ən, -'kām-] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being the earliest era of geological history or the corresponding system of rocks that is characterized esp. by the appearance of single-celled organisms and is equivalent to the Archean and Proterozoic eons

pre·can·cel [(,)prē-'kan(t)-səl] -vt, n

  1. to cancel (a postage stamp) in advance of use

precancel -n

  1. a precanceled postage stamp

pre·can·cer·ous [(,)prē-'kan(t)s-rəs, -'kan(t)-sə-] -adj

  1. tending to become cancerous
    • a precancerous lesion

pre·car·i·ous [pri-'ker-ē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. depending on the will or pleasure of another
  2. dependent on uncertain premises : dubious
    • precarious generalizations
  3. dependent on chance circumstances, unknown conditions, or uncertain developments
  4. characterized by a lack of security or stability that threatens with danger

pre·cast [,prē-'kast, 'prē-,] -adj

  1. being concrete that is cast in the form of a structural element (as a panel or beam) before being placed in final position

prec·a·to·ry ['pre-kə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. expressing a wish

pre·cau·tion [pri-'kȯ-shən] -n, adj

  1. care taken in advance : foresight
    • warned of the need for precaution
  2. a measure taken beforehand to prevent harm or secure good : safeguard
    • take the necessary precaution s

pre·cede [pri-'sēd] -vb

  1. to surpass in rank, dignity, or importance
  2. to be, go, or come ahead or in front of
  3. to be earlier than
  4. to cause to be preceded : preface
  5. to go or come before

pre·ce·dence ['pre-sə-dən(t)s, pri-'sē-dᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. antecedent
  2. the fact of preceding in time
  3. the right to superior honor on a ceremonial or formal occasion
  4. the order of ceremonial or formal preference
  5. priority of importance
    • your safety takes precedence

pre·ce·den·cy [-dən(t)-sē, -dᵊn(t)-sē] -n

  1. precedence

pre·ce·dent [pri-'sē-dᵊnt, 'pre-sə-dənt] -adj

  1. prior in time, order, arrangement, or significance

prec·e·dent ['pre-sə-dənt] -n

  1. an earlier occurrence of something similar
  2. something done or said that may serve as an example or rule to authorize or justify a subsequent act of the same or an analogous kind
    • a verdict that had no precedent
  3. the convention established by such a precedent or by long practice
  4. a person or thing that serves as a model

pre·ced·ing [pri-'sē-diŋ] -adj

  1. that immediately precedes in time or place
    • the preceding day
    • preceding paragraphs

pre·cen·sor [(,)prē-'sen(t)-sər] -vt

  1. to censor (a publication or film) before its release to the public

pre·cen·tor [pri-'sen-tər] -n, adj

  1. a leader of the singing of a choir or congregation

pre·cept ['prē-,sept] -n

  1. a command or principle intended esp. as a general rule of action
  2. an order issued by legally constituted authority to a subordinate official

pre·cep·tive [pri-'sep-tiv] -adj

  1. giving precepts : didactic

pre·cep·tor [pri-'sep-tər, 'prē-,] -n

  1. teacher, tutor
  2. the headmaster or principal of a school
  3. the head of a preceptory of Knights Templars

pre·cep·to·ri·al [pri-,sep-'tȯr-ē-əl, ,prē-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or making use of preceptors

preceptorial -n

  1. a college course that emphasizes independent reading, discussion in small groups, and individual conferences with the teacher

pre·cep·to·ry [pri-'sep-t(ə-)rē, 'prē-,] -n

  1. a subordinate house or community of the Knights Templars
  2. commandery
  3. commandery

pre·cess [prē-'ses, 'prē-,] -vb

  1. to progress with a movement of precession
  2. to cause to precess

pre·ces·sion [prē-'se-shən] -n, adj

  1. a comparatively slow gyration of the rotation axis of a spinning body about another line intersecting it so as to describe a cone

precession of the equinoxes

  1. a slow westward motion of the equinoxes along the ecliptic caused by the gravitational action of sun and moon upon the protuberant matter about the earth's equator

preChris·tian [(,)prē-'kris-chən, -'krish-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a time before the beginning of the Christian era

pre·cieux [prā-'syœ] -adj

  1. precious

pre·cinct ['prē-,siŋ(k)t] -n

  1. : a part of a territory with definite bounds or functions often established for administrative purposes : district: as
  2. a subdivision of a county, town, city, or ward for election purposes
  3. a division of a city for police control
  4. an enclosure bounded by the walls of a building often used in pl.
  5. a sphere of thought, action, or influence often used in pl.
  6. the region immediately surrounding a place : environs
  7. place, locale
  8. boundary often used in pl.
    • a ruined tower within the precinct s of the squire's grounds -- T. L. Peacock

pre·ci·os·i·ty [,pre-shē-'ä-sə-tē, -sē-] -n

  1. fastidious refinement
  2. an instance of preciosity

pre·cious ['pre-shəs] -adj, n

  1. of great value or high price
    • precious jewels
  2. highly esteemed or cherished
    • a precious friend
  3. excessively refined : affected
    • precious manners
  4. great, thoroughgoing
    • a precious scoundrel

precious -adv

  1. very, extremely
    • has precious little to say

pre·cious·ly -adv

  1. in a precious manner
  2. precious

precipe ['pre-sə-,pē, 'prē-] -n

(variant of praecipe)

  1. any of various legal writs commanding a person to do something or to appear and show cause why he or she should not
  2. a written order requesting a clerk or prothonotary of a court to issue a writ and specifying the contents of the writ

prec·i·pice ['pre-s(ə-)pəs] -n

  1. a very steep or overhanging place
  2. a hazardous situation
  3. brink

pre·cip·i·ta·ble [pri-'si-pə-tə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being precipitated

pre·cip·i·tance [pri-'si-pə-tən(t)s] -n

  1. precipitancy

pre·cip·i·tan·cy [-tən(t)-sē] -n

  1. undue hastiness or suddenness

pre·cip·i·tant [-tənt] -adj, adv, n

  1. precipitate

precipitant -n

  1. a precipitating agent
  2. one that causes the formation of a precipitate

pre·cip·i·tate [pri-'si-pə-,tāt] -vb, adj, n

  1. to throw violently : hurl
    • the quandaries into which the release of nuclear energy has precipitated mankind -- A. B. Arons
  2. to throw down
  3. to bring about esp. abruptly
    • precipitate a scandal that would end with his expulsion -- John Cheever
  4. to cause to separate from solution or suspension
  5. to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit
  6. to fall headlong
  7. to fall or come suddenly into some condition
  8. to move or act precipitately
  9. to separate from solution or suspension
  10. to condense from a vapor and fall as rain or snow
  11. a substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change usu. as an insoluble amorphous or crystalline solid
  12. a product, result, or outcome of some process or action
  13. falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent
  14. precipitous, steep
  15. exhibiting violent or unwise speed

pre·cip·i·ta·tion [pri-,si-pə-'tā-shən] -n

  1. the quality or state of being precipitate : hastiness
  2. an act, process, or instance of precipitating
  3. the process of forming a precipitate
  4. : something precipitated: as
  5. a deposit on the earth of hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow
  6. the quantity of water deposited
  7. precipitate

pre·cip·i·tin [pri-'si-pə-tən] -n

  1. an antibody that forms a precipitate when it unites with its antigen

pre·cip·i·tin·o·gen [pri-,si-pə-'ti-nə-jən] -n

  1. an antigen that stimulates the production of a specific precipitin

pre·cip·i·tous [pri-'si-pə-təs] -adj, adv, n

  1. precipitate
  2. very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging in rise or fall
    • a precipitous slope
  3. having precipitous sides
    • a precipitous gorge
  4. having a very steep ascent
    • a precipitous street

pre·cis [prā-'sē, 'prā-(,)sē] -n

  1. a concise summary of essential points, statements, or facts

pre·cise [pri-'sīs] -adj, n

  1. exactly or sharply defined or stated
  2. minutely exact
  3. strictly conforming to a pattern, standard, or convention
  4. distinguished from every other
    • at just that precise moment

pre·cise·ly -adv

  1. exactly
    • precisely two o'clock
    sometimes used as an intensive
    • was popular precisely because he was so kind

pre·ci·sian [pri-'si-zhən] -n

  1. a person who stresses or practices scrupulous adherence to a strict standard esp. of religious observance or morality
  2. puritan

pre·ci·sion [pri-'si-zhən] -n

  1. the quality or state of being precise : exactness
  2. the degree of refinement with which an operation is performed or a measurement stated
  3. the accuracy (as in binary or decimal places) with which a number can be represented usu. expressed in terms of the number of computer words available for representation
    • double precision arithmetic permits the representation of an expression by two computer words
  4. relevance

precision -adj

  1. adapted for extremely accurate measurement or operation
  2. held to low tolerance in manufacture
  3. marked by precision of execution

pre·clin·i·cal [(,)prē-'kli-ni-kəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or concerned with the period preceding clinical manifestations
  2. of, relating to, or being the period in medical or dental education preceding the clinical study of medicine or dentistry
  3. occurring prior to clinical testing
    • a preclinical animal study of a new therapy

pre·clude [pri-'klüd] -vt, n, adj, adv

  1. close
  2. to make impossible by necessary consequence : rule out in advance

pre·co·cial [pri-'kō-shəl] -adj

  1. capable of a high degree of independent activity from birth
    • ducklings are precocial

pre·co·cious [pri-'kō-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. exceptionally early in development or occurrence
    • precocious puberty
  2. exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age
    • a precocious child

pre·cog·ni·tion [,prē-(,)käg-'ni-shən] -n, adj

  1. clairvoyance relating to an event or state not yet experienced

preCo·lum·bi·an [,prē-kə-'ləm-bē-ən] -adj

  1. preceding or belonging to the time before the arrival of Columbus in America

pre·con·ceive [,prē-kən-'sēv] -vt

  1. to form (as an opinion) prior to actual knowledge or experience
    • preconceived notions

pre·con·cep·tion [-kən-'sep-shən] -n

  1. a preconceived idea
  2. prejudice

pre·con·di·tion [-kən-'di-shən] -n

  1. prerequisite

precondition -vt

  1. to put in a proper or desired condition or frame of mind esp. in preparation

pre·con·scious [(,)prē-'kän(t)-shəs] -adj, adv

  1. not present in consciousness but capable of being recalled without encountering any inner resistance or repression

preconscious -n

  1. the preconscious part of the psyche esp. in psychoanalysis

pre·con·tact [,prē-'kän-,takt] -adj

  1. of or relating to the period before contact of an indigenous people with an outside culture

pre·cook [(,)prē-'ku̇k] -vt

  1. to cook partially or entirely before final cooking or reheating

pre·cooked [(,)prē-'ku̇kt] -adj

  1. canned
    • a precooked speech

pre·crit·i·cal [-'kri-ti-kəl] -adj

  1. prior to the development of critical capacity

pre·cur·sor [pri-'kər-sər, 'prē-,] -n, adj

  1. one that precedes and indicates the approach of another
  2. predecessor
  3. a substance, cell, or cellular component from which another substance, cell, or cellular component is formed

pred -abbr

  1. predicate

pre·da·ceous [pri-'dā-shəs] -adj, n

  1. living by preying on other animals : predatory
  2. tending to devour or despoil : rapacious

pre·date [(,)prē-'dāt] -vt

  1. antedate

pre·da·tion [pri-'dā-shən] -n

  1. the act of preying or plundering : depredation
  2. a mode of life in which food is primarily obtained by the killing and consuming of animals

predation pressure -n

  1. the effects of predation on a natural community esp. with respect to the survival of species preyed upon

pred·a·tor ['pre-də-tər, -,tȯr] -n

  1. one that preys, destroys, or devours
  2. an animal that lives by predation

pred·a·to·ry ['pre-də-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or practicing plunder, pillage, or rapine
  2. inclined or intended to injure or exploit others for personal gain or profit
    • predatory pricing practices
  3. living by predation : predaceous
  4. adapted to predation

pre·de·cease [,prē-di-'sēs] -vb, n

  1. to die before (another person)
  2. to die first

pre·de·ces·sor ['pre-də-,se-sər, 'prē-; ,pre-də-', ,prē-] -n

  1. one that precedes
  2. a person who has previously occupied a position or office to which another has succeeded
  3. ancestor

pre·del·la [pri-'de-lə] -n

  1. the base of an altarpiece
  2. one containing decorated panels depicting scenes related to the main panel or panels

pre·des·ti·nar·i·an [(,)prē-,des-tə-'ner-ē-ən, ,prē-des-] -n, adj

  1. one who believes in predestination

pre·des·ti·nate [prē-'des-tə-nət, -,nāt] -adj

  1. destined, fated, or determined beforehand
  2. to foreordain to an earthly or eternal lot or destiny by divine decree
  3. predetermine

pre·des·ti·na·tion [(,)prē-,des-tə-'nā-shən, ,prē-des-] -n

  1. the act of predestinating : the state of being predestinated
  2. the doctrine that God in consequence of his foreknowledge of all events infallibly guides those who are destined for salvation

pre·des·ti·na·tor [prē-'des-tə-,nā-tər] -n

  1. predestinarian
  2. one that predestinates

pre·des·tine [(,)prē-'des-tən] -vt

  1. to destine, decree, determine, appoint, or settle beforehand
  2. predestinate

pre·de·ter·mi·na·tion [,prē-di-,tər-mə-'nā-shən] -n

  1. : the act of predetermining : the state of being predetermined: as
  2. the ordaining of events beforehand
  3. a fixing or settling in advance
  4. a purpose formed beforehand

pre·de·ter·mine [-di-'tər-mən] -vt

  1. foreordain, predestine
  2. to determine beforehand
  3. to impose a direction or tendency on beforehand

pre·de·ter·min·er [-di-'tər-mə-nər] -n

  1. a limiting noun modifier (as bothor all) characterized by occurrence before the determiner in a noun phrase

pre·di·a·be·tes [,prē-,dī-ə-'bē-tēz, -təs] -n, adj or n

  1. an asymptomatic abnormal state that precedes the development of clinically evident diabetes

pre·di·al ['prē-dē-əl] -adj

  1. of or relating to land or its products

pred·i·ca·ble ['pre-di-kə-bəl] -n

  1. something that may be predicated
  2. one of the five most general kinds of attribution in traditional logic that include genus, species, difference, property, and accident

predicable -adj

  1. capable of being asserted

pre·dic·a·ment [pri-'di-kə-mənt, 1 is usu 'pre-di-kə-] -n

  1. the character, status, or classification assigned by a predication
  2. category
  3. condition, state
  4. a difficult, perplexing, or trying situation

pred·i·cate ['pre-di-kət] -n, adj, adv

  1. something that is affirmed or denied of the subject in a proposition in logic
  2. a term designating a property or relation
  3. the part of a sentence or clause that expresses what is said of the subject and that usu. consists of a verb with or without objects, complements, or adverbial modifiers
  4. affirm, declare
  5. preach
  6. to assert to be a quality, attribute, or property used with following of
    • predicate s intelligence of humans
  7. to make (a term) the predicate in a proposition
  8. found, base usu. used with on
    • the theory is predicated on recent findings
  9. imply
  10. completing the meaning of a copula
    • predicate adjective
    • predicate noun

predicate calculus -n

  1. the branch of symbolic logic that uses symbols for quantifiers and for arguments and predicates of propositions as well as for unanalyzed propositions and logical connectives called also functional calculus

predicate nominative -n

  1. a noun or pronoun in the nominative or common case completing the meaning of a copula

pred·i·ca·tion [,pre-də-'kā-shən] -n

  1. an act of proclaiming or preaching
  2. sermon
  3. : an act or instance of predicating: as
  4. the expression of action, state, or quality by a grammatical predicate
  5. the logical affirmation of something about another
  6. assignment of something to a class

pred·i·ca·to·ry ['pre-di-kə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. of or relating to preaching

pre·dict [pri-'dikt] -vb, n, adj, adv

  1. to declare or indicate in advance
  2. foretell on the basis of observation, experience, or scientific reason
  3. to make a prediction

pre·dict·ably [-'dik-tə-blē] -adv

  1. in a manner that can be predicted
    • works quickly and predictably
  2. as one could predict : as one would expect
    • predictably, the politicians howled

pre·dic·tion [pri-'dik-shən] -n

  1. an act of predicting
  2. something that is predicted : forecast

pre·di·gest [,prē-dī-'jest, -də-] -vt

  1. to subject to predigestion
  2. to simplify for easy use
    • predigest ed classics for children

pre·di·ges·tion [-'jes-chən, -'jesh-] -n

  1. artificial or natural partial digestion of food
    • enzymatic predigestion
    • microbial predigestion

pre·di·lec·tion [,pre-də-'lek-shən, ,prē-] -n

  1. an established preference for something

pre·dis·pose [,prē-di-'spōz] -vt, n

  1. to dispose in advance
    • a good teacher predispose s children to learn
  2. to make susceptible
    • malnutrition predispose s one to disease
  3. to bring about susceptibility

pred·nis·o·lone [pred-'ni-sə-,lōn] -n

  1. a glucocorticoid C 21H 28O 5that is a dehydrogenated analog of cortisol and is used esp. as an anti-inflammatory drug

pred·ni·sone ['pred-nə-,sōn also -,zōn] -n

  1. a glucocorticoid C 21H 26O 5that is a dehydrogenated analog of cortisone and is used as an anti-inflammatory agent, as an antineoplastic agent, and as an immunosuppressant

pre·doc·tor·al [(,)prē-'däk-t(ə-)rəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or engaged in academic study leading to the doctoral degree

pre·dom·i·nance [pri-'dä-mə-nən(t)s, -'däm-nən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being predominant

pre·dom·i·nan·cy [-nən(t)-sē] -n

  1. predominance

pre·dom·i·nant [-nənt] -adj

  1. having superior strength, influence, or authority : prevailing
  2. being most frequent or common

pre·dom·i·nant·ly [-nənt-lē] -adv

  1. for the most part : mainly

pre·dom·i·nate [-nət] -adj

  1. predominant
  2. to hold advantage in numbers or quantity
  3. to exert controlling power or influence : prevail
  4. to exert control over : dominate

pre·dom·i·nate·ly [pri-'dä-mə-nət-lē] -adv

  1. predominantly

pree ['prē] -vt

  1. to taste tentatively : sample

pre·eclamp·sia [,prē-i-'klam(p)-sē-ə] -n, adj

  1. a serious condition developing in late pregnancy that is characterized by a sudden rise in blood pressure, excessive weight gain, generalized edema, proteinuria, severe headache, and visual disturbances and that may result in eclampsia if untreated

pre·emer·gence [,prē-ə-'mər-jən(t)s] -adj

  1. used or occurring before emergence of seedlings above the ground
    • preemergence herbicides

pre·emer·gent [-jənt] -adj

  1. preemergence

pree·mie ['prē-mē] -n

  1. a premature baby

pre·em·i·nence [prē-'e-mə-nən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being preeminent : superiority

pre·em·i·nent [-nənt] -adj, adv

  1. having paramount rank, dignity, or importance : outstanding, supreme

pre·empt [prē-'em(p)t] -vb, n

  1. to acquire (as land) by preemption
  2. to seize upon to the exclusion of others : take for oneself
    • the movement was then preempt ed by a lunatic fringe
  3. to replace with something considered to be of greater value or priority : take precedence over
    • the program did not appear, having been preempt ed by a baseball game -- Robert MacNeil
  4. to gain a commanding or preeminent place in
  5. to prevent from happening or taking place : forestall, preclude
  6. to make a preemptive bid in bridge

pre·emp·tion [-'em(p)-shən] -n

  1. the right of purchasing before others
  2. one given by the government to the actual settler upon a tract of public land
  3. the purchase of something under this right
  4. a prior seizure or appropriation : a taking possession before others

pre·emp·tive [-'em(p)-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to preemption
  2. having power to preempt
  3. higher than necessary and intended to shut out bids by the opponents
  4. giving a stockholder first option to purchase new stock in an amount proportionate to his existing holdings
  5. marked by the seizing of the initiative : initiated by oneself
    • a preemptive attack

preen ['prēn] -n

  1. pin
  2. brooch
  3. pin
  4. to groom with the bill esp. by rearranging the barbs and barbules of the feathers and by distributing oil from the uropygial gland
  5. to dress or smooth (oneself) up : primp
  6. to pride or congratulate (oneself) for achievement
  7. to make oneself sleek
  8. gloat, swell

preen·gi·neered [,prē-,en-jə-'nird] -adj

  1. constructed of or employing prefabricated modules
    • a preengineered metal building

pre·ex·il·ic [,prē-eg-'zi-lik] -adj

  1. previous to the exile of the Jews to Babylon in about 600 b.c.

pre·ex·ist [,prē-ig-'zist] -vi

  1. to exist earlier or before
  2. antedate

pre·ex·is·tence [-ig-'zis-tən(t)s] -n, adj

  1. existence in a former state or previous to something else
  2. existence of the soul before its union with the body

pref -abbr

  1. preface
  2. preference; preferred
  3. prefix

pre·fab [(,)prē-'fab, 'prē-,] -adj

  1. produced by prefabrication : prefabricated
    • a prefab house

prefab -n

  1. a prefabricated structure

pre·fab·ri·cate [(,)prē-'fa-bri-,kāt] -vt, n

  1. to fabricate the parts of at a factory so that construction consists mainly of assembling and uniting standardized parts
  2. to produce artificially

pref·ace ['pre-fəs] -n

  1. a variable doxology beginning with the Sursum Corda and ending with the Sanctus in traditional eucharistic liturgies
  2. the introductory remarks of a speaker or author
  3. approach, preliminary

preface -vb, n

  1. to make introductory remarks
  2. to say or write as preface
    • a note prefaced to the manuscript
  3. precede, herald
  4. to introduce by or begin with a preface
  5. to stand in front of
    • a porch preface s the entrance
  6. to be a preliminary to

pref·a·to·ry ['pre-fə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a preface
    • prefatory remarks
  2. located in front

pre·fect ['prē-,fekt] -n

  1. any of various high officials or magistrates of differing functions and ranks in ancient Rome
  2. a chief officer or chief magistrate
  3. a student monitor in a usu. private school

prefect apostolic -n

  1. a Roman Catholic clergyman and usu. a priest with quasi-episcopal jurisdiction over a district of a missionary territory

pre·fec·ture ['prē-,fek-chər] -n, adj

  1. the office or term of office of a prefect
  2. the official residence of a prefect
  3. the district governed by a prefect

prefecture apostolic -n

  1. the district under a prefect apostolic

pre·fer [pri-'fər] -vt, n

  1. to promote or advance to a rank or position
  2. to like better or best
    • prefer s sports to reading
    • prefer s to watch TV
  3. to give (a creditor) priority
  4. to put or set forward or before someone : recommend
  5. to bring or lay against someone
    • won't prefer charges
  6. to bring forward or lay before one for consideration

pref·er·a·ble ['pre-f(ə-)rə-bəl, 'pre-fər-bəl also pri-'fər-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. having greater value or desirability : being preferred

pref·er·ence ['pre-fərn(t)s, 'pre-f(ə-)rən(t)s] -n

  1. the act of preferring : the state of being preferred
  2. the power or opportunity of choosing
  3. one that is preferred
  4. the act, fact, or principle of giving advantages to some over others
  5. priority in the right to demand and receive satisfaction of an obligation
  6. orientation
    • sexual preference

pref·er·en·tial [,pre-fə-'ren(t)-shəl] -adj, adv

  1. showing preference
  2. employing or creating a preference in trade relations
  3. designed to permit expression of preference among candidates
    • a preferential primary
  4. giving preference esp. in hiring to union members
    • a preferential shop

pre·fer·ment [pri-'fər-mənt] -n

  1. advancement or promotion in dignity, office, or station
  2. a position or office of honor or profit
  3. priority or seniority in right esp. to receive payment or to purchase property on equal terms with others
  4. the act of bringing forward (as charges)

preferred provider -n

  1. ppo usu. used attributively
  2. a health-care provider (as a doctor or hospital) that is part of a PPO

preferred provider organization -n

  1. ppo

preferred stock -n

  1. stock guaranteed priority by a corporation's charter over common stock in the payment of dividends and usu. in the distribution of assets

pre·fig·u·ra·tion [(,)prē-,fi-gyə-'rā-shən, -gə-] -n, adj

  1. the act of prefiguring : the state of being prefigured
  2. something that prefigures

pre·fig·ure [,prē-'fi-gyər, esp Brit -'fi-gər] -vt, n

  1. to show, suggest, or announce by an antecedent type, image, or likeness
  2. to picture or imagine beforehand : foresee

pre·fix -vt

  1. to fix or appoint beforehand
  2. to place in front
  3. to add as a prefix
    • prefix a syllable to a word
  4. an affix attached to the beginning of a word, base, or phrase and serving to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form
  5. a title used before a person's name
  6. characterized by placement of an operator before its operand or before its two operands if it is a binary operator

pre·flight ['prē-,flīt] -adj

  1. preparing for or preliminary to flight (as of an aircraft)
    • a preflight inspection

preflight -vt

  1. to inspect (as an aircraft) before a flight
  2. a preflight inspection of an aircraft

pre·fo·cus [(,)prē-'fō-kəs] -vt

  1. to focus beforehand (as automotive headlights before installation)

pre·form ['prē-,fȯrm, (,)prē-'] -vt, n

  1. to form or shape beforehand
  2. to bring to approximate preliminary shape and size

pre·for·ma·tion [,prē-fȯr-'mā-shən] -n, n or adj

  1. previous formation
  2. the now discredited theory that every germ cell contains the organism of its kind fully formed and that development involves merely an increase in size

pre·fron·tal [(,)prē-'frən-tᵊl] -adj

  1. anterior to or involving the anterior part of a frontal structure
    • a prefrontal bone

prefrontal -n

  1. a prefrontal part (as a bone)

prefrontal cortex -n

  1. the gray matter of the anterior part of the frontal lobe that is highly developed in humans and plays a role in the regulation of complex cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning

pre·gan·gli·on·ic [,prē-,gaŋ-glē-'ä-nik] -adj

  1. proximal to a ganglion
  2. of, relating to, or being a usu. medullated axon arising from a cell body in the central nervous system and terminating in an autonomic ganglion

preg·gers ['pre-gərz] -adj

  1. pregnant

preg·na·ble ['preg-nə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. vulnerable to capture
    • a pregnable fort

preg·nan·cy ['preg-nən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality of being pregnant (as in meaning)
  2. the condition of being pregnant : gestation
  3. an instance of being pregnant

preg·nant ['preg-nənt] -adj, adv

  1. cogent
  2. abounding in fancy, wit, or resourcefulness : inventive
    • all this has been said...by great and pregnant artists -- Times Lit. Supp.
  3. rich in significance or implication : meaningful, profound
    • the pregnant phrases of the Bible -- Edmund Wilson
    • a pregnant pause
  4. containing a developing embryo, fetus, or unborn offspring within the body : gravid
  5. having possibilities of development or consequence : involving important issues : momentous
    • draw inspiration from the heroic achievements of that pregnant age -- Kemp Malone
  6. inclined, disposed
    • your own most pregnant and vouchsafed ear -- Shak.
  7. full, teeming

preg·nen·o·lone [preg-'ne-nə-,lōn] -n

  1. an unsaturated hydroxy steroid ketone C 21H 32O 2that is formed by the oxidation of steroids (as cholesterol) and yields progesterone on dehydrogenation

pre·heat [(,)prē-'hēt] -vt, n

  1. to heat beforehand
  2. to heat (an oven) to a designated temperature before using for cooking

pre·hen·sile [prē-'hen(t)-səl, -'hen-,sī(-ə)l] -adj, n

  1. adapted for seizing or grasping esp. by wrapping around
    • prehensile tail
  2. gifted with mental grasp or moral or aesthetic perception

pre·hen·sion [prē-'hen(t)-shən] -n

  1. the act of taking hold, seizing, or grasping
  2. mental understanding : comprehension
  3. apprehension by the senses

preHis·pan·ic [,prē-(h)i-'spa-nik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being the time prior to Spanish conquests in the western hemisphere

pre·his·to·ri·an [,prē-(h)is-'tȯr-ē-ən] -n

  1. an archaeologist who specializes in prehistory

pre·his·tor·ic [,prē-(h)is-'tȯr-ik, -'tär-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or existing in times antedating written history
  2. of or relating to a language in a period of its development from which contemporary records of its sounds and forms have not been preserved
  3. regarded as being outdated or outmoded
    • prehistoric attitudes

pre·his·to·ry [,prē-'his-t(ə-)rē] -n

  1. the study of prehistoric humankind
  2. a history of the antecedents of an event, situation, or thing
  3. the prehistoric period of human evolution

pre·hom·i·nid [-'hä-mə-nəd] -n, adj

  1. any of various extinct primates resembling or ancestral to hominids

pre·hu·man [(')prē-'hyü-mən, -'yü-] -adj, n

  1. antedating the appearance of human beings
  2. of, relating to, or being an extinct primate and esp. an extinct hominid that resembles or is ancestral to humans

pre·ig·ni·tion [,prē-ig-'ni-shən] -n

  1. ignition in an internal combustion engine while the inlet valve is open or before compression is completed

pre·im·plan·ta·tion [,prē-,im-,plan-'tā-shən] -adj

  1. of, involving, or being an embryo before uterine implantation

pre·in·stall [(,)prē-in-'stȯl] -vt, n

  1. to install (as software) on a computer prior to sale

pre·judge [(,)prē-'jəj] -vt, n

  1. to judge before hearing or before full and sufficient examination

prej·u·dice ['pre-jə-dəs] -n

  1. injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one's rights
  2. detriment to one's legal rights or claims
  3. preconceived judgment or opinion
  4. an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge
  5. an instance of such judgment or opinion
  6. an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics

prejudice -vt

  1. to injure or damage by some judgment or action (as in a case of law)
  2. to cause to have prejudice

prejudiced -adj

  1. resulting from or having a prejudice or bias for or esp. against

prej·u·di·cial [,pre-jə-'di-shəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. tending to injure or impair : detrimental
    • a transfer prejudicial to other creditors
  2. leading to premature judgment or unwarranted opinion
    • prejudicial evidence

preK ['prē-'kā] -n

  1. prekindergarten

pre·kin·der·gar·ten [(')prē-'kin-də(r)-,gär-tᵊn, -dᵊn] -n

  1. nursery school
  2. a class or program preceding kindergarten for children usu. from three to four years old

prel·a·cy ['pre-lə-sē] -n

  1. the office or dignity of a prelate
  2. episcopal church government

pre·lap·sar·i·an [,prē-,lap-'ser-ē-ən] -adj

  1. characteristic of or belonging to the time or state before the fall of humankind

prel·ate ['pre-lət also 'prē-,lāt] -n

  1. an ecclesiastic (as a bishop or abbot) of superior rank

prel·a·ture ['pre-lə-,chu̇r, -chər, -,tyu̇r, -,tu̇r] -n

  1. prelacy
  2. a body of prelates

pre·lect [pri-'lekt] -vi, n

  1. to discourse publicly : lecture

pre·lim ['prē-,lim, pri-'] -n or adj

  1. preliminary

pre·lim·i·nary [pri-'li-mə-,ner-ē] -n

  1. : something that precedes or is introductory or preparatory: as
  2. a preliminary scholastic examination
  3. front matter
  4. a preliminary heat or trial (as of a race)
  5. a minor match preceding the main event (as of a boxing card)

preliminary [-,li-mə-'ner-ə-lē] -adj, adv

  1. coming before and usu. forming a necessary prelude to something else
    • preliminary studies
    • preliminary results

pre·lit·er·ate [,prē-'li-t(ə-)rət] -adj, n

  1. not yet employing writing as a cultural medium
  2. lacking the use of writing
  3. antedating the use of writing

pre·load ['prē-,lōd] -vt

  1. to load in advance and esp. at a time removed from that of use
    • preload ed software

pre·lude ['prel-,yüd, 'prāl-; 'pre-,lüd, 'prā-; sense 1 also 'prē-,lüd] -n

  1. an introductory performance, action, or event preceding and preparing for the principal or a more important matter
  2. a musical section or movement introducing the theme or chief subject (as of a fugue or suite) or serving as an introduction to an opera or oratorio
  3. an opening voluntary
  4. a separate concert piece usu. for piano or orchestra and based entirely on a short motif

prelude -vb, n

  1. to serve as a prelude to
  2. to play as a prelude
  3. to give or serve as a prelude
  4. to play a musical introduction

pre·lu·sion [pri-'lü-zhən] -n

  1. prelude, introduction

pre·lu·sive [-'lü-siv, -ziv] -adj, adv

  1. constituting or having the form of a prelude : introductory

pre·ma·lig·nant [,prē-mə-'lig-nənt] -adj

  1. precancerous

pre·man [(,)prē-'man, 'prē-,man] -n

  1. any of several extinct primates ancestral to humans and esp. recent humans

pre·ma·ture [,prē-mə-'tyu̇r, -'tu̇r, -'chu̇r also ,pre-] -adj, n, adv

  1. happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper, usual, or intended time
  2. born after a gestation period of less than 37 weeks
    • premature babies

pre·max·il·la [,prē-mak-'si-lə] -n, adj or n

  1. either of a pair of bones of the upper jaw of vertebrates between and in front of the maxillae

pre·med [(,)prē-'med, 'prē-,med] -n

  1. a premedical student or course of study

premed -adj

  1. premedical

pre·med·i·cal [(,)prē-'me-di-kəl] -adj

  1. preceding and preparing for the professional study of medicine

pre·med·i·tate [(,)prē-'me-də-,tāt] -vb, n

  1. to think about and revolve in the mind beforehand
  2. to think, consider, or deliberate beforehand

pre·med·i·tat·ed [-,tā-təd] -adj, adv

  1. characterized by fully conscious willful intent and a measure of forethought and planning
    • premeditated murder

pre·med·i·ta·tion [(,)prē-,me-də-'tā-shən] -n

  1. an act or instance of premeditating
  2. consideration or planning of an act beforehand that shows intent to commit that act

pre·med·i·ta·tive [(,)prē-'me-də-,tā-tiv] -adj

  1. given to or characterized by premeditation

pre·men·stru·al [(,)prē-'men(t)-strə-wəl, -strəl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, occurring in, or being the period just preceding menstruation
    • premenstrual tension
    • premenstrual symptoms

premenstrual syndrome -n

  1. a varying group of symptoms manifested by some women prior to menstruation that may include emotional instability, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, depression, headache, edema, and abdominal pain called also PMS

premie ['prē-mē] -n

(variant of preemie)

  1. a premature baby

pre·mier [pri-'mir, -'myir, -'mē-ər; 'prē-,, 'pre-,] -adj

  1. first in position, rank, or importance
  2. first in time : earliest

premier [-,ship] -n

  1. prime minister

pre·mier dan·seur [prə-myā-däⁿ-'sœr] -n

  1. the principal male dancer in a ballet company

pre·miere [pri-'myer, -'mir, -'mē-ər; ,pri-mē-'er] -adj

  1. premier

premiere [same as ¹premiere] -n

  1. a first performance or exhibition
    • the premiere of a play
  2. the chief actress of a theatrical cast
  3. to give a first public performance of
  4. to have a first public performance
  5. to appear for the first time as a star performer

pre·miere dan·seuse [prə-myer-däⁿ-'sœz] -n

  1. prima ballerina

pre·mil·le·nar·i·an·ism [,prē-,mi-lə-'ner-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj or n

  1. premillennialism

pre·mil·len·ni·al [,prē-mə-'le-nē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. coming before a millennium
  2. holding or relating to premillennialism

pre·mil·len·ni·al·ism [-nē-ə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. the view that Christ's return will usher in a future millennium of Messianic rule mentioned in Revelation

prem·ise ['pre-məs] -n

  1. a proposition antecedently supposed or proved as a basis of argument or inference
  2. either of the first two propositions of a syllogism from which the conclusion is drawn
  3. something assumed or taken for granted : presupposition
  4. matters previously stated
  5. the preliminary and explanatory part of a deed or of a bill in equity
  6. a tract of land with the buildings thereon
  7. a building or part of a building usu. with its appurtenances (as grounds)

pre·mise ['pre-məs also pri-'mīz] -vt

  1. to set forth beforehand as an introduction or a postulate
  2. to offer as a premise in an argument
  3. postulate
  4. to base on certain assumptions

pre·mi·um ['prē-mē-əm] -n

  1. a reward or recompense for a particular act
  2. a sum over and above a regular price paid chiefly as an inducement or incentive
  3. a sum in advance of or in addition to the nominal value of something
    • bonds callable at a premium of six percent
  4. something given free or at a reduced price with the purchase of a product or service
  5. the consideration paid for a contract of insurance
  6. a high value or a value in excess of that normally or usu. expected
    • put a premium on accuracy

premium -adj

  1. of exceptional quality or amount
  2. higher-priced

pre·mix [(,)prē-'miks, 'prē-,] -vt

  1. to mix before use
  2. a mixture of ingredients designed to be mixed with other ingredients before use

pre·mo·lar [(,)prē-'mō-lər] -adj, n

  1. situated in front of or preceding the molar teeth
  2. being or relating to those teeth of a mammal in front of the true molars and behind the canines when the latter are present

pre·mon·ish [-'mä-nish] -vt

  1. forewarn
  2. to give warning in advance

pre·mo·ni·tion [,prē-mə-'ni-shən, ,pre-] -n

  1. previous notice or warning : forewarning
  2. anticipation of an event without conscious reason : presentiment

pre·mon·i·to·ry [pri-'mä-nə-,tȯr-ē] -adj, adv

  1. giving warning
    • a premonitory symptom

Pre·mon·stra·ten·sian [,prē-,män(t)-strə-'ten(t)-shən] -n

  1. a member of an order of canons regular founded by St. Norbert at Premontre near Laon, France, in 1120

pre·mune [(,)prē-'myün] -adj

  1. exhibiting premunition

pre·mu·ni·tion [,prē-myu̇-'ni-shən] -n

  1. an advance provision of protection
  2. resistance to a disease due to the existence of its causative agent in a state of physiological equilibrium in the host
  3. immunity to a particular infection due to previous presence of the causative agent

pre·name ['prē-,nām] -n

  1. forename

pre·na·tal [(,)prē-'nā-tᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. occurring, existing, or performed before birth
    • prenatal care
  2. providing or receiving prenatal medical care
    • a prenatal clinic
    • prenatal patients

pre·nom·i·nate [(,)prē-'nä-mə-nət] -adj

  1. previously mentioned
  2. to mention previously

pre·no·tion [(,)prē-'nō-shən, 'prē-,] -n

  1. presentiment, premonition
  2. preconception

pren·tice ['pren-təs] -n, adj

  1. apprentice , learner

prentice -vt

  1. apprentice

pre·nup·tial [(,)prē-'nəp-shəl, -chəl, ÷-chə-wəl] -adj

  1. made or occurring before marriage
    • a prenuptial party

prenuptial agreement ['prē-,nəp] -n

  1. an agreement made between a man and a woman before marrying in which they give up future rights to each other's property in the event of divorce or death called also pre*nup pre-np prenuptial

pre·oc·cu·pan·cy [(,)prē-'ä-kyə-pən(t)-sē] -n

  1. an act or the right of taking possession before another
  2. the condition of being completely busied or preoccupied

pre·oc·cu·pa·tion [(,)prē-,ä-kyə-'pā-shən] -n

  1. an act of preoccupying : the state of being preoccupied
  2. extreme or excessive concern with something
  3. something that preoccupies one

pre·oc·cu·pied [(,)prē-'ä-kyə-,pīd] -adj

  1. previously applied to another group and unavailable for use in a new sense used of a biological generic or specific name
  2. lost in thought
  3. absorbed in some preoccupation
  4. already occupied

pre·oc·cu·py [-,pī] -vt

  1. to engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or preferentially
  2. to take possession of or fill beforehand or before another

preop ['prē-'äp] -adj

  1. preoperative

pre·op·er·a·tive [(,)prē-'ä-p(ə-)rə-tiv, -pə-,rā-] -adj, adv

  1. occurring before a surgical operation
    • preoperative care
  2. having not yet undergone a surgical operation

pre·or·dain [,prē-ȯr-'dān] -vt, n

  1. to decree or ordain in advance : foreordain

pre·ovu·la·to·ry [(,)prē-'äv-yə-lə-,tȯr-ē, -'ōv-] -adj

  1. occurring or existing in or typical of the period immediately preceding ovulation
    • preovulatory oocytes
    • a preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone

preowned [(,)prē-'ōnd, 'prē-,] -adj

  1. secondhand, used

prep ['prep] -n

  1. preparation
  2. preparatory school
  3. a preliminary trial for a racehorse
  4. to attend preparatory school
  5. to get ready
  6. prepare
  7. to prepare for an operation or examination
    • nurses prepped the patient

pre·pack·age [(,)prē-'pa-kij] -vt

  1. to package (as food or a manufactured article) before offering for sale to the consumer

prep·a·ra·tion [,pre-pə-'rā-shən] -n

  1. the action or process of making something ready for use or service or of getting ready for some occasion, test, or duty
  2. a state of being prepared : readiness
  3. a preparatory act or measure
  4. something that is prepared
  5. a medicinal substance made ready for use
    • a preparation for colds

pre·par·a·tive [pri-'pa-rə-tiv] -n

  1. something that prepares the way for or serves as a preliminary to something else : preparation

preparative -adj, adv

  1. preparatory

pre·par·a·tor [pri-'pa-rə-tər] -n

  1. one that prepares
  2. a person who prepares scientific specimens or museum displays

pre·pa·ra·to·ry [pri-'pa-rə-,tȯr-ē also 'pre-p(ə-)rə-] -adj, adv

  1. preparing or serving to prepare for something : introductory

preparatory school -n

  1. a usu. private school preparing students primarily for college
  2. a private elementary school preparing students primarily for British public schools

preparatory to -prep

  1. in preparation for

pre·pare [pri-'per] -vb, n

  1. to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity
    • prepare food for dinner
  2. to put in a proper state of mind
    • is prepared to listen
  3. to work out the details of : plan in advance
    • preparing a campaign strategy
  4. to put together : compound
    • prepare a prescription
  5. to put into written form
    • prepare a report
  6. to get ready
    • preparing for a career

prepared [-'perd-lē, -'per-əd-] -adj, adv

  1. subjected to a special process or treatment

pre·pared·ness [pri-'per-əd-nəs also -'perd-nəs] -n

  1. the quality or state of being prepared
  2. a state of adequate preparation in case of war

pre·pay [(,)prē-'pā] -vt, n

  1. to pay or pay the charge on in advance

prepd -abbr

  1. prepared

pre·pense [pri-'pen(t)s] -adj, adv

  1. planned beforehand : premeditated usu. used postpositively
    • malice prepense

pre·plant [,prē-'plant, 'prē-,] -adj

  1. occurring or used before planting a crop
    • preplant soil fertilization

pre·pon·der·ance [pri-'pän-d(ə-)rən(t)s] -n

  1. a superiority in weight, power, importance, or strength
  2. a superiority or excess in number or quantity
  3. majority

pre·pon·der·an·cy [-d(ə-)rən(t)-sē] -n

  1. preponderance

pre·pon·der·ant [pri-'pän-d(ə-)rənt] -adj, adv

  1. having superior weight, force, or influence
  2. having greater prevalence

pre·pon·der·ate [pri-'pän-də-,rāt] -vb, n

  1. to exceed in weight
  2. to exceed in influence, power, or importance
  3. to exceed in numbers
  4. outweigh
  5. to weigh down
  6. preponderant

prep·o·si·tion [,pre-pə-'zi-shən] -n, adj, adv

  1. a function word that typically combines with a noun phrase to form a phrase which usu. expresses a modification or predication

pre·pos·i·tive [pri-'pä-zə-tiv, -'päz-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. put before : prefixed

pre·pos·sess [,prē-pə-'zes also -'ses] -vt

  1. to take previous possession of
  2. to cause to be preoccupied
  3. to influence beforehand esp. favorably

pre·pos·sess·ing [-'ze-siŋ, -'se-] -adj

  1. creating prejudice
  2. tending to create a favorable impression : attractive

pre·pos·ses·sion [,prē-pə-'ze-shən also -'se-] -n

  1. prior possession
  2. an attitude, belief, or impression formed beforehand : prejudice
  3. an exclusive concern with one idea or object : preoccupation

pre·pos·ter·ous [pri-'päs-t(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. contrary to nature, reason, or common sense : absurd

pre·po·ten·cy [(,)prē-'pō-tᵊn(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being prepotent : predominance
  2. unusual ability of an individual or strain to transmit its characters to offspring because of homozygosity for numerous dominant genes

pre·po·tent [-tᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. having exceptional power, authority, or influence
  2. exceeding others in power
  3. exhibiting genetic prepotency

prep·py ['pre-pē] -n

  1. a student at or a graduate of a preparatory school
  2. a person deemed to dress or behave like a preppy

preppy ['pre-pə-lē] -adj, adv, n

  1. relating to, characteristic of, or being a preppy
  2. relating to or being a style of dress characterized esp. by classic clothing and neat appearance

pre·pran·di·al [(,)prē-'pran-dē-əl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or suitable for the time just before dinner
    • a preprandial drink

pre·preg [,prē-'preg, 'prē-,] -n

  1. a reinforcing or molding material (as paper or glass cloth) already impregnated with a synthetic resin

pre·print ['prē-,print, ,prē-'print] -n

  1. an issue of a technical paper often in preliminary form before its publication in a journal
  2. something (as an advertisement) printed before the rest of the publication in which it is to appear
  3. to print in advance for later use

pre·pro·cess [(,)prē-'prä-,ses, -'prō-, -səs] -vt, n

  1. to do preliminary processing of (as data)

pre·pro·fes·sion·al [,prē-prə-'fesh-nəl, -'fe-shə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. of or relating to the period preceding specific study for or practice of a profession

prep school -n

  1. preparatory school

prepub -abbr

  1. prepublication

pre·pu·ber·al [(,)prē-'pyü-b(ə-)rəl] -adj

  1. prepubertal

pre·pu·ber·tal [-bər-tᵊl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, being in, or occurring in prepuberty
    • prepubertal children
    • prepubertal growth

pre·pu·ber·ty [-bər-tē] -n

  1. the period of development immediately preceding puberty

pre·pu·bes·cence [,prē-pyü-'be-sᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. prepuberty

pre·pu·bes·cent [-sᵊnt] -adj, n

  1. prepubertal

pre·puce ['prē-,pyüs] -n, adj

  1. foreskin
  2. a similar fold of skin investing the clitoris

pre·quel ['prē-kwəl] -n

  1. a work (as a novel or a play) whose story precedes that of an earlier work

PreRa·pha·el·ite [(,)prē-'ra-fē-ə-,līt, -'rā-, -'rä-] -n, adj

  1. a member of a brotherhood of artists formed in England in 1848 to restore the artistic principles and practices regarded as characteristic of Italian art before Raphael
  2. an artist or writer influenced by this brotherhood
  3. a modern artist dedicated to restoring early Renaissance ideals or methods

pre·reg·is·tra·tion [,prē-,re-jə-'strā-shən] -n, vi

  1. a special registration (as for returning students) prior to an official registration period

pre·req·ui·site [(,)prē-'re-kwə-zət] -n, adj

  1. something that is necessary to an end or to the carrying out of a function

pre·rog·a·tive [pri-'rä-gə-tiv] -n, adj

  1. : an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege: as
  2. one belonging to an office or an official body
  3. one belonging to a person, group, or class of individuals
  4. one possessed by a nation as an attribute of sovereignty
  5. the discretionary power inhering in the British Crown
  6. a distinctive excellence

pres -abbr

  1. present
  2. president

pres·age ['pre-sij, also pri-'sāj] -n, adj

  1. something that foreshadows or portends a future event : omen
  2. an intuition or feeling of what is going to happen in the future
  3. prognostication
  4. warning or indication of the future

pre·sage ['pre-sij, pri-'sāj] -vb, n

  1. to give an omen or warning of : foreshadow
  2. foretell, predict
  3. to make or utter a prediction

pre·sanc·ti·fied [(,)prē-'saŋ(k)-ti-,fīd] -adj

  1. consecrated at a previous service used of eucharistic elements

Presb -abbr

  1. Presbyterian

pres·by·ope ['prez-bē-,ōp; 'pres-bē-, -pē-] -n

  1. one affected with presbyopia

pres·by·o·pia [,prez-bē-'ō-pē-ə, ,pres-] -n, adj or n

  1. a visual condition which becomes apparent esp. in middle age and in which loss of elasticity of the lens of the eye causes defective accommodation and inability to focus sharply for near vision

pres·by·ter ['prez-bə-tər, 'pres-] -n

  1. a member of the governing body of an early Christian church
  2. a member of the order of priests in churches having episcopal hierarchies that include bishops, priests, and deacons
  3. elder

pres·by·te·ri·al [,prez-bə-'tir-ē-əl, ,pres-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to presbyters or a presbytery

presbyterial -n

  1. an organization of Presbyterian women associated with a presbytery

Pres·by·te·ri·an [-ē-ən] -n

  1. a member of a Presbyterian church

Presbyterian [-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -adj, n

  1. characterized by a graded system of representative ecclesiastical bodies (as presbyteries) exercising legislative and judicial powers
  2. of, relating to, or constituting a Protestant Christian church that is presbyterian in government and traditionally Calvinistic in doctrine

pres·by·tery ['prez-bə-,ter-ē, 'pres-, -bə-trē] -n

  1. the part of a church reserved for the officiating clergy
  2. a ruling body in presbyterian churches consisting of the ministers and representative elders from congregations within a district
  3. the jurisdiction of a presbytery
  4. the house of a Roman Catholic parish priest

pre·school ['prē-,skül, (,)prē-'] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting the period in a child's life that ordinarily precedes attendance at elementary school
  2. a school for children usu. younger than those attending elementary school or kindergarten : nursery school

pre·school·er [-,skü-lər] -n

  1. a child not yet old enough for school
  2. a child attending a preschool

pre·science ['pre-sh(ē-)ən(t)s, 'prē-, -s(ē-)ən(t)s] -n, adj, adv

  1. : foreknowledge of events:
  2. divine omniscience
  3. human anticipation of the course of events : foresight

pre·sci·en·tif·ic [,prē-,sī-ən-'ti-fik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a period before the rise of modern science or a state prior to the application of the scientific method

pre·scind [pri-'sind] -vb

  1. to withdraw one's attention
  2. to detach for purposes of thought

pre·score [(,)prē-'skȯr] -vt

  1. to record (as sound) in advance for use when the corresponding scenes are photographed in making movies

pre·scribe [pri-'skrīb] -vb, n

  1. to lay down a rule : dictate
  2. to claim a title to something by right of prescription
  3. to write or give medical prescriptions
  4. to become by prescription invalid or unenforceable
  5. to lay down as a guide, direction, or rule of action : ordain
  6. to specify with authority
  7. to designate or order the use of as a remedy
    • prescribed a painkiller
    • a prescribed burn to restore natural forest conditions

pre·script ['prē-,skript, pri-'] -adj, n

  1. prescribed as a rule

pre·scrip·tion [pri-'skrip-shən] -n

  1. the establishment of a claim of title to something under common law usu. by use and enjoyment for a period fixed by statute
  2. the right or title acquired under common law by such possession
  3. the process of making claim to something by long use and enjoyment
  4. the action of laying down authoritative rules or directions
  5. a written direction for a therapeutic or corrective agent
  6. one for the preparation and use of a medicine
  7. a prescribed medicine
  8. something (as a recommendation) resembling a doctor's prescription
    • prescription s for economic recovery
  9. ancient or long continued custom
  10. a claim founded upon ancient custom or long continued use
  11. something prescribed as a rule

prescription drug -n

  1. a drug that can be obtained only by means of a physician's prescription

pre·scrip·tive [pri-'skrip-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. serving to prescribe
    • prescriptive rules of usage
  2. acquired by, founded on, or determined by prescription or by long-standing custom

pre·se·lect [,prē-sə-'lekt] -vt, n

  1. to choose in advance usu. on the basis of a particular criterion

pre·sell [(,)prē-'sel] -vt

  1. to precondition (as a customer) for subsequent purchase or create advance demand for (as a product) esp. through marketing strategies
  2. to sell in advance
    • raised money to publish the book by preselling film rights

pres·ence ['pre-zᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. the fact or condition of being present
  2. the part of space within one's immediate vicinity
  3. the neighborhood of one of superior esp. royal rank
  4. company
  5. : one that is present: as
  6. the actual person or thing that is present
  7. something present of a visible or concrete nature
  8. the bearing, carriage, or air of a person
  9. stately or distinguished bearing
  10. a noteworthy quality of poise and effectiveness
    • the actor's commanding presence
  11. something (as a spirit) felt or believed to be present

presence of mind

  1. self-control so maintained in an emergency or in an embarrassing situation that one can say or do the right thing

pres·ent ['pre-zᵊnt] -n

  1. something presented : gift

pre·sent [pri-'zent] -vb, n

  1. to bring or introduce into the presence of someone esp. of superior rank or status
  2. to introduce socially
  3. to bring (as a play) before the public
  4. to make a gift to
  5. to give or bestow formally
  6. to lay (as a charge) before a court as an object of inquiry
  7. to bring a formal public charge, indictment, or presentment against
  8. to nominate to a benefice
  9. to offer to view : show
  10. to bring to one's attention
    • this present s a problem
  11. to act the part of : perform
  12. to aim, point, or direct (as a weapon) so as to face something or in a particular direction
  13. to present a weapon
  14. to become manifest
  15. to come forward as a patient
  16. to make a presentation

pres·ent ['pre-zᵊnt] -adj, n

  1. now existing or in progress
  2. being in view or at hand
  3. existing in something mentioned or under consideration
  4. constituting the one actually involved, at hand, or being considered
  5. of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of present time or the time of speaking
  6. attentive
  7. instant, immediate
  8. present occasion or affair
  9. the present words or statements
  10. the legal instrument or other writing in which these words are used
  11. the present tense of a language
  12. a verb form in the present tense
  13. the present time

pre·sent·able [pri-'zen-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. capable of being presented
  2. being in condition to be seen or inspected esp. by the critical

pre·sent arms [pri-'zent-] -n

  1. a position in the manual of arms in which the rifle is held vertically in front of the body
  2. a command to assume the position of present arms or to give a hand salute

pre·sen·ta·tion [,prē-,zen-'tā-shən, ,pre-zᵊn-, ,prē-zᵊn-] -n, adj

  1. the act of presenting
  2. the act, power, or privilege esp. of a patron of applying to the bishop or ordinary for instituting someone into a benefice
  3. : something presented: as
  4. a symbol or image that represents something
  5. something offered or given : gift
  6. something set forth for the attention of the mind
  7. a descriptive or persuasive account (as by a salesman of a product)
  8. a presenting symptom or group of symptoms
    • clinical presentation of appendicitis
  9. the position in which the fetus lies in the uterus in labor with respect to the opening of the uterus
  10. an immediate object of perception, cognition, or memory
  11. a church feast on November 21 celebrating the presentation of the Virgin Mary in the temple
  12. the method by which radio, navigation, or radar information is given to the operator (as the pilot of an airplane)

pre·sen·ta·tive [pri-'zen-tə-tiv, 'pre-zᵊn-,tā-] -adj

  1. known, knowing, or capable of being known directly rather than through cogitation

pres·entday ['pre-zᵊnt-'dā] -adj

  1. now existing or occurring

pre·sen·tee [,pre-zᵊn-'tē, pri-,zen-] -n

  1. one who is presented or to whom something is presented

pre·sen·tient [pri-'sen(t)-sh(ē-)ənt, 'prē-; pri-'zen(t)-] -adj

  1. having a presentiment

pre·sen·ti·ment [pri-'zen-tə-mənt] -n, adj

  1. a feeling that something will or is about to happen : premonition

pres·ent·ism ['pre-zᵊn-,ti-zəm] -n, adj

  1. an attitude toward the past dominated by present-day attitudes and experiences

pres·ent·ly ['pre-zᵊnt-lē] -adv

  1. at once
  2. without undue delay : before long
  3. at the present time : now

pre·sent·ment [pri-'zent-mənt] -n

  1. the act of presenting to an authority a formal statement of a matter to be dealt with
  2. the notice taken or statement made by a grand jury of an offense from their own knowledge without a bill of indictment laid before them
  3. the act of offering at the proper time and place a document (as a bill of exchange) that calls for acceptance or payment by another
  4. the act of presenting to view or consciousness
  5. something set forth, presented, or exhibited
  6. the aspect in which something is presented

present participle -n

  1. a participle that typically expresses present action in relation to the time expressed by the finite verb in its clause and that in English is formed with the suffix -ingand is used in the formation of the progressive tenses

present perfect -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is formed in English with haveand that expresses action or state completed at the time of speaking

present tense -n

  1. the tense of a verb that expresses action or state in the present time and is used of what occurs or is true at the time of speaking and of what is habitual or characteristic or is always or necessarily true, that is sometimes used to refer to action in the past, and that is sometimes used for future events

present value -n

  1. the sum of money which if invested now at a given rate of compound interest will accumulate exactly to a specified amount at a specified future date

pres·er·va·tion·ist [,pre-zər-'vā-sh(ə-)nist] -n

  1. one who advocates preservation (as of a biological species or a historical landmark)

pre·ser·va·tive [pri-'zər-və-tiv] -adj

  1. having the power of preserving

preservative -n

  1. something that preserves or has the power of preserving
  2. an additive used to protect against decay, discoloration, or spoilage

pre·serve [pri-'zərv] -vb, n, adj

  1. to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction : protect
  2. to keep alive, intact, or free from decay
  3. maintain
  4. to keep or save from decomposition
  5. to can, pickle, or similarly prepare for future use
  6. to keep up and reserve for personal or special use
  7. to make preserves
  8. to raise and protect game for purposes of sport
  9. to be able to be preserved (as by canning)

preserve -n

  1. fruit canned or made into jams or jellies or cooked whole or in large pieces in a syrup so as to keep its shape often used in pl.
  2. an area restricted for the protection and preservation of natural resources (as animals or plants)
    • a game preserve for regulated hunting or fishing
    • nature preserve s
  3. something regarded as reserved for certain persons

pre·set ['prē-,set] -vt

  1. to set in advance

preset -n

  1. something (as a radio station) preprogrammed into a device

pre·shrink [(,)prē-'shriŋk, esp Southern -'sriŋk] -vt

  1. to shrink (as a fabric) before making into a garment so that it will not shrink much when washed

pre·side [pri-'zīd] -vi, n

  1. to exercise guidance, direction, or control
  2. to occupy the place of authority : act as president, chairman, or moderator
  3. to occupy a position similar to that of a president or chairman
  4. to occupy a position of featured instrumental performer usu. used with at
    • presided at the organ

pres·i·den·cy ['pre-zə-dən(t)-sē, 'prez-dən(t)- also 'pre-zə-,den(t)-sē] -n

  1. the office of president
  2. the office of president of the U.S.
  3. the American governmental institution comprising the office of president and various associated administrative and policy-making agencies
  4. the term during which a president holds office
  5. the action or function of one that presides : superintendence
  6. a Mormon executive council of the church or a stake consisting of a president and two counselors

pres·i·dent ['pre-zə-dənt, 'prez-dənt, 'pre-zə-,dent in rapid speech 'pre-zᵊnt] -n, adj, adv

  1. an official chosen to preside over a meeting or assembly
  2. an appointed governor of a subordinate political unit
  3. the chief officer of an organization (as a corporation or institution) usu. entrusted with the direction and administration of its policies
  4. the presiding officer of a governmental body
  5. an elected official serving as both chief of state and chief political executive in a republic having a presidential government
  6. an elected official having the position of chief of state but usu. only minimal political powers in a republic having a parliamentary government

presidential government -n

  1. a system of government in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature

Presidents' Day -n

  1. washington's birthday

pre·sid·i·al [pri-'si-dē-əl, -'zi-] -adj

  1. provincial
  2. of, having, or constituting a garrison
  3. of or relating to a president : presidential

pre·sid·i·ary [-dē-,er-ē] -adj

  1. presidial

pre·si·dio [pri-'sē-dē-,ō, -'si-, -'zē-, -'zi-] -n

  1. a garrisoned place
  2. a military post or fortified settlement in areas currently or orig. under Spanish control

pre·sid·i·um [pri-'si-dē-əm, prē-, -'zi-] -n

  1. a permanent executive committee selected esp. in Communist countries to act for a larger body
  2. a nongovernmental executive committee

pre·sig·ni·fy [(,)prē-'sig-nə-,fī] -vt

  1. to intimate or signify beforehand : presage

pre·soak [(,)prē-'sōk] -vt

  1. to soak beforehand
  2. an instance of presoaking
  3. a preparation used in presoaking clothes

preSo·crat·ic [,prē-sə-'kra-tik, -sō-] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to Greek philosophers before Socrates

pre·sort [(,)prē-'sȯrt] -vt

  1. to sort (outgoing mail) by zip code usu. before delivery to a post office

press ['pres] -n

  1. a crowd or crowded condition : throng
  2. a thronging or crowding forward or together
  3. an apparatus or machine by which a substance is cut or shaped, an impression of a body is taken, a material is compressed, pressure is applied to a body, liquid is expressed, or a cutting tool is fed into the work by pressure
  4. a building containing presses or a business using presses
  5. closet, cupboard
  6. an action of pressing or pushing : pressure
  7. an aggressive pressuring defense employed in basketball often over the entire court area
  8. the properly smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment
    • out of press
  9. printing press
  10. the act or the process of printing
  11. a printing or publishing establishment
  12. the gathering and publishing or broadcasting of news : journalism
  13. newspapers, periodicals, and often radio and television news broadcasting
  14. news reporters, publishers, and broadcasters
  15. comment or notice in newspapers and periodicals
    • is getting a good press
  16. any of various pressure devices (as one for keeping sporting gear from warping when not in use)
  17. a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised to shoulder height and then smoothly extended overhead without assist from the legs
  18. to act upon through steady pushing or thrusting force exerted in contact : squeeze
  19. assail, harass
  20. afflict, oppress
  21. to squeeze out the juice or contents of
  22. to squeeze with apparatus or instruments to a desired density, smoothness, or shape
  23. to exert influence on : constrain
  24. to try hard to persuade : beseech, entreat
  25. to move by means of pressure
  26. to lay stress or emphasis on
  27. to insist on or request urgently
  28. to follow through (a course of action)
  29. to clasp in affection or courtesy
  30. to make (a phonograph record) from a matrix
  31. to crowd closely : mass
  32. to force or push one's way
  33. to seek urgently : contend
  34. to require haste or speed in action
  35. to exert pressure
  36. to take or hold a press
  37. to employ a press in basketball
  38. to force into service esp. in an army or navy : impress
  39. to take by authority esp. for public use : commandeer
  40. to take and force into any usu. emergency service
  41. to impress men as soldiers or sailors
  42. impressment into service esp. in a navy
  43. a warrant for impressing recruits

press agent [-'ā-jən-trē] -n, vb

  1. an agent employed to establish and maintain good public relations through publicity

press·board ['pres-,bȯrd] -n

  1. ironing board
  2. a small one for sleeves
  3. a strong highly glazed composition board resembling vulcanized fiber

press box -n

  1. a space reserved for reporters (as at a stadium)

press cloth -n

  1. a cloth used between an iron and a garment

press conference -n

  1. an interview or announcement given by a public figure to the press by appointment

pressgang ['pres-,gaŋ] -n, vt

  1. a detachment of men under command of an officer empowered to force men into military or naval service

press·ing ['pre-siŋ] -adj, adv

  1. urgently important : critical
    • a pressing issue
  2. earnest, warm

press kit -n

  1. a collection of promotional materials for distribution to the press

press·man ['pres-mən, -,man] -n

  1. an operator of a press
  2. the operator of a printing press
  3. newspaperman

press·mark [-,märk] -n

  1. a mark or number assigned to a book to indicate its location in a library

press of sail

  1. the fullest amount of sail that a ship can crowd on called also press of canvas

pres·sor ['pre-,sȯr, -sər] -adj

  1. raising or tending to raise blood pressure
  2. involving vasoconstriction

press·room ['pres-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n

  1. a room in a printing plant containing the printing presses
  2. a room (as at the White House) for the use of members of the press

press·run [-,rən] -n

  1. a continuous operation of a printing press producing a specified number of copies
  2. the number of copies printed

press secretary -n

  1. a person officially in charge of press relations for a usu. prominent public figure

pressup ['pres-(,)əp] -n

  1. push-up

pres·sure ['pre-shər] -n, adj

  1. the burden of physical or mental distress
  2. the constraint of circumstance : the weight of social or economic imposition
  3. the application of force to something by something else in direct contact with it : compression
  4. impression, stamp
  5. the action of a force against an opposing force
  6. the force or thrust exerted over a surface divided by its area
  7. electromotive force
  8. the stress or urgency of matters demanding attention : exigency
    • people who work well under pressure
  9. the force of selection that results from one or more agents and tends to reduce a population of organisms
    • population pressure
    • predation pressure
  10. the pressure exerted in every direction by the weight of the atmosphere
  11. a sensation aroused by moderate compression of a body part or surface

pressure ['pre-sh(ə-)riŋ] -vt

  1. to apply pressure to
  2. pressurize
  3. to cook in a pressure cooker

pressure cabin -n

  1. a pressurized cabin

pressure cooker -n, vb

  1. an airtight utensil for quick cooking or preserving of foods by means of high-temperature steam under pressure
  2. a situation or environment that is fraught with emotional or social pressures

pressure gauge -n

  1. a gauge for indicating fluid pressure

pressure group -n

  1. an interest group organized to influence public and esp. government policy but not to elect candidates to office

pressure point -n

  1. a discrete point on the body to which pressure is applied (as in acupressure or reflexology) for therapeutic purposes
  2. a point where a blood vessel runs near a bone and can be compressed (as to check bleeding) by the application of pressure against the bone

pressure suit -n

  1. an inflatable suit for high-altitude or space flight to protect the body from low pressure

pressure wave -n

  1. a wave (as a sound wave) in which the propagated disturbance is a variation of pressure in a material medium called also P-wave

pres·sur·ise ['pre-shə-,rīz] -vt, n

(variant of pressurize)

  1. to confine the contents of under a pressure greater than that of the outside atmosphere
  2. to maintain near-normal atmospheric pressure in during high-altitude or spaceflight (as by means of a supercharger)
  3. to apply pressure to
  4. to design to withstand pressure

pres·sur·ize ['pre-shə-,rīz] -vt, n

  1. to confine the contents of under a pressure greater than that of the outside atmosphere
  2. to maintain near-normal atmospheric pressure in during high-altitude or spaceflight (as by means of a supercharger)
  3. to apply pressure to
  4. to design to withstand pressure

press·work ['pres-,wərk] -n

  1. the operation, management, or product of a printing press
  2. the branch of printing concerned with the actual transfer of ink from form or plates to paper

prest ['prest] -adj

  1. ready

pres·ti·dig·i·ta·tion [,pres-tə-,di-jə-'tā-shən] -n

  1. sleight of hand, legerdemain

pres·tige [pre-'stēzh, -'stēj] -n, adj

  1. standing or estimation in the eyes of people : weight or credit in general opinion
  2. commanding position in people's minds

pres·ti·gious [pre-'sti-jəs, -'stē- also prə-] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or marked by illusion, conjuring, or trickery
  2. having prestige : honored

pres·tis·si·mo [pre-'sti-sə-,mō] -adv or adj

  1. faster than presto used as a direction in music

pres·to ['pres-(,)tō] -interj

  1. used to indicate the sudden appearance or occurrence of something often as if by magic

presto -adv or adj

  1. suddenly as if by magic : immediately
  2. at a rapid tempo used as a direction in music
  3. a presto musical passage or movement

pre·stress [(,)prē-'stres] -vt

  1. to introduce internal stresses into (as a structural beam) to counteract the stresses that will result from applied load (as in incorporating cables under tension in concrete)
  2. the stresses introduced in prestressing
  3. the process of prestressing
  4. the condition of being prestressed

pre·sum·able [pri-'zü-mə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being presumed : acceptable as an assumption

pre·sum·ably [-blē] -adv

  1. by reasonable assumption

pre·sume [pri-'züm] -vb, adv, n

  1. to undertake without leave or clear justification : dare
  2. to expect or assume esp. with confidence
  3. to suppose to be true without proof
    • presumed innocent until proved guilty
  4. to take for granted : imply
  5. to act or proceed presumptuously or on a presumption
  6. to go beyond what is right or proper

presuming [-'zü-miŋ-lē] -adj, adv

  1. presumptuous

pre·sump·tion [pri-'zəm(p)-shən] -n

  1. presumptuous attitude or conduct : audacity
  2. an attitude or belief dictated by probability : assumption
  3. the ground, reason, or evidence lending probability to a belief
  4. a legal inference as to the existence or truth of a fact not certainly known that is drawn from the known or proved existence of some other fact

pre·sump·tive [-'zəm(p)-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. based on probability or presumption
    • the presumptive nominee
  2. giving grounds for reasonable opinion or belief
  3. being an embryonic precursor with the potential for forming a particular structure or tissue in the normal course of development
    • presumptive retina

pre·sump·tu·ous [pri-'zəm(p)-chə-wəs, -chəs, -shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy) : taking liberties

pre·sup·pose [,prē-sə-'pōz] -vt, n, adj

  1. to suppose beforehand
  2. to require as an antecedent in logic or fact

pre·syn·ap·tic [,prē-sə-'nap-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, occurring in, or being a neuron by which a nerve impulse is conveyed to a synapse
    • a presynaptic membrane
    • a presynaptic neuron

pretapor·ter [,pret-ä-pȯr-'tā] -n

  1. ready-to-wear clothes

pre·teen ['prē-'tēn, -,tēn] -n

  1. a boy or girl not yet 13 years old

preteen -adj

  1. relating to or produced for children esp. in the 9 to 12 year-old age group
    • preteen fashions
  2. being younger than 13

pre·teenag·er [(,)prē-'tē-nā-jər] -n

  1. preteen

pre·tend [pri-'tend] -vb

  1. to give a false appearance of being, possessing, or performing
    • does not pretend to be a psychiatrist
  2. to make believe : feign
    • he pretend ed deafness
  3. to claim, represent, or assert falsely
    • pretend ing an emotion he could not really feel
  4. venture, undertake
  5. to feign an action, part, or role esp. in play
  6. to put in a claim
    • cannot pretend to any particular expertise -- Clive Barnes

pretend -adj

  1. imaginary, make-believe
    • had a pretend pal with whom he talked
  2. not genuine : mock
    • pretend pearls
  3. being a nonfunctional imitation
    • a pretend train for the children to play in

pre·tend·ed [pri-'ten-dəd] -adj, adv

  1. professed or avowed but not genuine
    • pretended affection

pre·tend·er [pri-'ten-dər] -n

  1. : one that pretends: as
  2. one who lays claim to something
  3. a claimant to a throne who is held to have no just title
  4. one who makes a false or hypocritical show

pre·tense ['prē-,ten(t)s, pri-'] -n

  1. a claim made or implied
  2. one not supported by fact
  3. mere ostentation : pretentiousness
    • confuse dignity with pomposity and pretense -- Bennett Cerf
  4. a pretentious act or assertion
  5. an inadequate or insincere attempt to attain a certain condition or quality
  6. professed rather than real intention or purpose : pretext
    • was there under false pretense s
  7. make-believe, fiction
  8. false show : simulation
    • saw through his pretense of indifference

pre·ten·sion [pri-'ten(t)-shən] -n, adj

  1. an allegation of doubtful value : pretext
  2. a claim or an effort to establish a claim
  3. a claim or right to attention or honor because of merit
  4. an aspiration or intention that may or may not reach fulfillment
    • has serious literary pretension s
  5. vanity, pretentiousness
  6. prestress

pre·ten·tious [pri-'ten(t)-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. : characterized by pretension: as
  2. making usu. unjustified or excessive claims (as of value or standing)
    • the pretentious fraud who assumes a love of culture that is alien to him -- Richard Watts
  3. expressive of affected, unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature
    • pretentious language
    • pretentious houses
  4. making demands on one's skill, ability, or means : ambitious
    • the pretentious daring of the Green Mountain Boys in crossing the lake -- Amer. Guide Series: Vt.

pret·er·it ['pre-tə-rət] -adj

  1. bygone, former

preterit -n

  1. past tense

pre·term [(,)prē-'tərm, 'prē-,] -adj

  1. of, relating to, being, or brought forth by premature birth
    • a preterm infant
    • preterm labor

pre·ter·mi·nal [(,)prē-'tərm-nəl, -'tər-mə-] -adj

  1. occurring or being in the period prior to death
    • preterminal cancer
    • a preterminal patient

pre·ter·mis·sion [,prē-tər-'mi-shən] -n

  1. the act or an instance of pretermitting : omission

pre·ter·mit [-'mit] -vt

  1. to leave undone : neglect
  2. to let pass without mention or notice : omit
  3. to suspend indefinitely
    • the grand jury voted to pretermit the case

pre·ter·nat·u·ral [,prē-tər-'na-chə-rəl, -'nach-rəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. existing outside of nature
  2. exceeding what is natural or regular : extraordinary
    • wits trained to preternatural acuteness by the debates -- G. L. Dickinson
  3. inexplicable by ordinary means
  4. psychic
    • preternatural phenomena

pre·test ['prē-,test] -n, vt

  1. : a preliminary test: as
  2. a test of the effectiveness or safety of a product prior to its sale
  3. a test to evaluate the preparedness of students for further studies

pre·text ['prē-,tekst] -n

  1. a purpose or motive alleged or an appearance assumed in order to cloak the real intention or state of affairs

pre·text·ing ['prē-,tek-stiŋ] -n

  1. the practice of presenting oneself as someone else in order to obtain private information

pretor ['prē-tər] -n, adj

(variant of praetor)

  1. an ancient Roman magistrate ranking below a consul and having chiefly judicial functions

pret·ti·fy ['pri-tə-,fī, 'pər-, 'pru̇-] -vt, n

  1. to make pretty

pret·ti·ness ['pri-tē-nəs, 'pər-, 'pru̇-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being pretty
  2. something pretty

pret·ty ['pri-tē, 'pər- also 'pru̇-] -adj, adv

  1. artful, clever
  2. pat, apt
  3. pleasing by delicacy or grace
  4. having conventionally accepted elements of beauty
  5. appearing or sounding pleasant or nice but lacking strength, force, manliness, purpose, or intensity
    • pretty words that make no sense -- Elizabeth B. Browning
  6. miserable, terrible
    • a pretty mess you've gotten us into
  7. stout
  8. moderately large : considerable
    • a very pretty profit
    • cost a pretty penny
  9. easy to enjoy : pleasant usu. used in negative constructions
    • reality is not so pretty -- Caleb Solomon
  10. in some degree : moderately
    • pretty cold weather
  11. quite, mainly
    • the wound was...pretty bad -- Walt Whitman
  12. in a pretty manner : prettily
    • pop vocalists who can sing pretty -- Gerald Levitch
  13. dainty clothes
  14. lingerie
  15. a pretty person or thing
  16. to make pretty usu. used with up
    • curtains to pretty up the room

pretty boy -n

  1. a man who is notably good-looking
  2. dandy

pret·zel ['pret-səl] -n

  1. a brittle or chewy glazed usu. salted slender bread often shaped like a loose knot

prev -abbr

  1. previous; previously

pre·vail [pri-'vāl] -vi

  1. to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority : triumph
  2. to be or become effective or effectual
  3. to use persuasion successfully
    • prevail ed on him to sing
  4. to be frequent : predominate
    • the west winds that prevail in the mountains
  5. to be or continue in use or fashion : persist
    • a custom that still prevail s

prev·a·lence ['pre-və-lən(t)s, 'prev-lən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being prevalent
  2. the degree to which something is prevalent
  3. the percentage of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time

prev·a·lent [-lənt] -adj, n, adv

  1. powerful
  2. being in ascendancy : dominant
  3. generally or widely accepted, practiced, or favored : widespread

pre·var·i·cate [pri-'ver-ə-,kāt, -'va-rə-] -vi, n

  1. to deviate from the truth : equivocate

pre·ve·nient [pri-'vēn-yənt] -adj, adv

  1. antecedent, anticipatory

pre·vent [pri-'vent] -vb, n, adj

  1. to be in readiness for (as an occasion)
  2. to meet or satisfy in advance
  3. to act ahead of
  4. to go or arrive before
  5. to deprive of power or hope of acting or succeeding
  6. to keep from happening or existing
    • steps to prevent war
  7. to hold or keep back : hinder, stop often used with from
  8. to interpose an obstacle

pre·ven·ta·tive [-'ven-tə-tiv] -adj or n

  1. preventive

pre·ven·tion [pri-'ven(t)-shən] -n

  1. the act of preventing or hindering

pre·ven·tive [-'ven-tiv] -n

  1. something that prevents
  2. something used to prevent disease

preventive -adj, adv, n

  1. : devoted to or concerned with prevention : precautionary
    • preventive steps against soil erosion
    : as
  2. designed or serving to prevent the occurrence of disease
    • preventive medical care
  3. undertaken to forestall anticipated hostile action
    • a preventive coup

pre·ver·bal [(,)prē-'vər-bəl] -adj

  1. occurring before the verb
  2. having not yet acquired the faculty of speech
    • a preverbal child

pre·view ['prē-,vyü] -vt, n

  1. to see beforehand
  2. to view or to show in advance of public presentation
  3. to give a preliminary survey of

preview [-,vyü] -n

  1. an advance statement, sample, or survey
  2. an advance showing or performance (as of a motion picture or play)
  3. a showing of clips from a motion picture advertised for appearance in the near future called also trailer

pre·vi·ous ['prē-vē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. going before in time or order : prior
  2. acting too soon : premature
    • somewhat previous in his conclusion

previous question -n

  1. a parliamentary motion to put the pending question to an immediate vote without further debate or amendment that if defeated has the effect of permitting resumption of debate

previous to -prep

  1. prior to, before

pre·vi·sion [prē-'vi-zhən] -n, adj

  1. foresight, prescience
  2. forecast, prognostication

prevision [-'vi-zhə-niŋ, -'vizh-niŋ] -vt

  1. foresee

pre·vo·cal·ic [,prē-vō-'ka-lik, -və-] -adj

  1. immediately preceding a vowel

pre·vo·ca·tion·al [,prē-vō-'kā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. given or required before admission to a vocational school

pre·writ·ing ['prē-,rī-tiŋ] -n

  1. the formulation and organization of ideas preparatory to writing

prexy ['prek-sē] -n

  1. president used chiefly of a college president

prey ['prā] -n

  1. spoil, booty
  2. an animal taken by a predator as food
  3. one that is helpless or unable to resist attack : victim
    • was prey to his own appetites
  4. the act or habit of preying
  5. to make raids for the sake of booty
  6. to seize and devour prey
  7. to commit violence or robbery or fraud
  8. to have an injurious, destructive, or wasting effect
    • worry prey ed upon his mind

prez ['prez] -n

  1. president

prf -abbr

  1. proof

Pri·am ['prī-əm, -,am] -n

  1. the father of Hector, Paris, and Cassandra and king of Troy during the Trojan War

pri·a·pic [prī-'ā-pik, -'a-] -adj

  1. phallic
  2. relating to or preoccupied with virility or male sexual excitement

pri·a·pism ['prī-ə-,pi-zəm] -n

  1. an abnormal often painful persistent erection of the penis

Pri·a·pus [prī-'ā-pəs] -n

  1. a Greek and Roman god of gardens and male generative power

price ['prīs] -n

  1. value, worth
  2. the quantity of one thing that is exchanged or demanded in barter or sale for another
  3. the amount of money given or set as consideration for the sale of a specified thing
  4. : the terms for the sake of which something is done or undertaken: as
  5. an amount sufficient to bribe one
    • believed every man had his price
  6. a reward for the apprehension or death of a person
    • an outlaw with a price on his head
  7. the cost at which something is obtained
    • the price of freedom is restraint -- J. Irwin Miller
  8. to set a price on
  9. to find out the price of
  10. to drive by raising prices excessively
    • priced themselves out of the market

pricecut·ter ['prīs-,kə-tər] -n

  1. one that reduces prices esp. to a level designed to cripple competition

priced -adj

  1. having a specified price used in combination
    • low- priced merchandise

priceearnings ratio -n

  1. a measure of the value of a common stock determined as the ratio of its market price to its annual earnings per share and usu. expressed as a simple numeral

pricefix·ing ['prīs-,fik-siŋ] -n

  1. the setting of prices artificially (as by producers or government) contrary to free market operations

price index -n

  1. an index number expressing the level of a group of commodity prices relative to the level of the prices of the same commodities during an arbitrarily chosen base period and used to indicate changes in the level of prices from one period to another

price·less ['prīs-ləs] -adj, adv

  1. having a value beyond any price : invaluable
  2. costly because of rarity or quality : precious
  3. having worth in terms of other than market value
  4. delightfully amusing, odd, or absurd

price point -n

  1. the standard price set by the manufacturer for a product

price support -n

  1. artificial maintenance of prices (as of a raw material) at some predetermined level usu. through government action

price tag -n

  1. a tag on merchandise showing the price at which it is offered for sale
  2. price, cost

price war -n

  1. commercial competition characterized by the repeated cutting of prices below those of competitors

pric·ey ['prī-sē] -adj

  1. expensive

prick ['prik] -n

  1. a mark or shallow hole made by a pointed instrument
  2. a pointed instrument or weapon
  3. a sharp projecting organ or part
  4. : an instance of pricking or the sensation of being pricked: as
  5. a nagging or sharp feeling of remorse, regret, or sorrow
  6. a slight sharply localized discomfort
    • the prick of a needle
  7. penis
  8. a spiteful or contemptible man often having some authority
  9. to pierce slightly with a sharp point
  10. to affect with anguish, grief, or remorse
    • doubt began to prick him -- Philip Hale
  11. to ride, guide, or urge on with or as if with spurs : goad
  12. to mark, distinguish, or note by means of a small mark
  13. to trace or outline with punctures
  14. to remove (a young seedling) from the seedbed to another suitable for further growth usu. used with out
  15. to cause to be or stand erect
    • a dog prick ing its ears
  16. to prick something or cause a pricking sensation
  17. to feel discomfort as if from being pricked
  18. to urge a horse with the spur
  19. to ride fast
  20. thrust
  21. to become directed upward : point

prick·er ['pri-kər] -n

  1. : one that pricks
  2. thorn, prickle
  3. briar

prick·et ['pri-kət] -n

  1. a spike on which a candle is stuck
  2. a candlestick with such a point
  3. a buck in the second year of life

prick·le ['pri-kəl] -n

  1. a fine sharp process or projection
  2. a sharp pointed emergence arising from the epidermis or bark of a plant
  3. a prickling or tingling sensation

prickle [-k(ə-)liŋ] -vb

  1. to prick slightly
  2. to produce prickles in
  3. to cause or feel a prickling, tingling, or stinging sensation

prick·ly ['pri-k(ə-)lē] -adj, n

  1. full of or covered with prickles
  2. distinguished from related kinds by the presence of prickles
  3. marked by prickling : stinging
    • a prickly sensation
  4. troublesome, vexatious
    • prickly issues
  5. easily irritated
    • had a prickly disposition

prickly ash -n

  1. a prickly aromatic No. American shrub or small tree ( Zanthoxylum americanum) of the rue family with yellowish flowers

prickly heat -n

  1. a noncontagious cutaneous eruption of red pimples with intense itching and tingling caused by inflammation around the sweat ducts

prickly pear -n

  1. opuntia
  2. any of those with flat spiny joints called also prickly pear cactus
  3. the pulpy pear-shaped edible fruit of various prickly pears (as Opuntia ficus-indica)

prickly poppy -n

  1. any of a genus ( Argemone) of plants of the poppy family with white or yellow flowers and prickly leaves and fruits

pride ['prīd] -n

  1. : the quality or state of being proud: as
  2. inordinate self-esteem : conceit
  3. a reasonable or justifiable self-respect
  4. delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship
    • parental pride
  5. proud or disdainful behavior or treatment : disdain
  6. ostentatious display
  7. highest pitch : prime
  8. a source of pride : the best in a group or class
  9. a company of lions
  10. a showy or impressive group
    • a pride of dancers
  11. to indulge (as oneself) in pride

pride·ful ['prīd-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. : full of pride: as
  2. disdainful, haughty
  3. exultant, elated

pride of place

  1. the highest or first position

priedieu [(,)prē-'dyə(r), prē-'dyœ] -n

  1. a kneeling bench designed for use by a person at prayer and fitted with a raised shelf on which the elbows or a book may be rested
  2. a low armless upholstered chair with a high straight back

pri·er ['prī(-ə)r] -n

  1. one that pries
  2. an inquisitive person

priest ['prēst] -n

  1. one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion esp. as a mediatory agent between humans and God
  2. an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyman ranking below a bishop and above a deacon

priest·ess ['prēs-təs] -n

  1. a woman authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion
  2. a woman regarded as a leader (as of a movement)

priest·hood ['prēst-,hu̇d, 'prē-,stu̇d] -n

  1. the office, dignity, or character of a priest
  2. the whole body of priests
  3. elite
    • the priesthood of the art world

priest·ly ['prēst-lē] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to a priest or the priesthood : sacerdotal
  2. characteristic of or befitting a priest

priestrid·den ['prēst-,ri-dᵊn] -adj

  1. controlled or oppressed by priests

prig ['prig] -n

  1. thief
  2. fop
  3. fellow, person
  4. one who offends or irritates by observance of proprieties (as of speech or manners) in a pointed manner or to an obnoxious degree

prig·gism ['pri-,gi-zəm] -n

  1. stilted adherence to convention

prill ['pril] -vt

  1. to convert (as a molten solid) into spherical pellets usu. by forming into drops in a spray and allowing the drops to solidify
  2. a pellet made by prilling

prim ['prim] -vt

  1. to give a prim or demure expression to
    • primming her thin lips after every mouthful -- John Buchan
  2. to dress primly
  3. stiffly formal and proper : decorous
  4. prudish
  5. neat, trim
    • prim hedges
  6. primary
  7. primitive

pri·ma ballerina ['prē-mə-] -n

  1. the principal female dancer in a ballet company

pri·ma·cy ['prī-mə-sē] -n

  1. the state of being first (as in importance, order, or rank) : preeminence
    • the primacy of intellectual and esthetic over materialistic values -- T. R. McConnell
  2. the office, rank, or preeminence of an ecclesiastical primate

pri·ma don·na [,pri-mə-'dä-nə, ,prē-] -n

  1. a principal female singer in an opera or concert organization
  2. a vain or undisciplined person who finds it difficult to work under direction or as part of a team

pri·ma fa·cie [,prī-mə-'fā-shə, -shē, -sē also -shē-,ē, -sē-,ē] -adv

  1. at first view : on the first appearance

prima facie -adj

  1. true, valid, or sufficient at first impression : apparent
    • the theory...gives a prima facie solution -- R. J. Butler
  2. self-evident
  3. legally sufficient to establish a fact or a case unless disproved
    • prima facie evidence

pri·mal ['prī-məl] -adj

  1. original, primitive
    • village life continued in its primal innocence -- Van Wyck Brooks
  2. first in importance : primary

pri·mal·i·ty [prī-'ma-lə-tē] -n

  1. the property of being a prime number

primal scream therapy -n

  1. psychotherapy in which the patient recalls and reenacts a particularly disturbing past experience usu. occurring early in life and expresses normally repressed anger or frustration esp. through spontaneous and unrestrained screams, hysteria, or violence called also primal therapy

pri·mar·i·ly [prī-'mer-ə-lē also prə-, chiefly Brit 'prī-mər-ə-lē] -adv

  1. for the most part : chiefly
    • has now become primarily a residential town -- S. P. B. Mais
  2. in the first place : originally

pri·ma·ry ['prī-,mer-ē, 'prī-mə-rē, 'prīm-rē] -adj

  1. first in order of time or development : primitive
    • the primary stage of civilization
    • the primary lesion of a disease
  2. of first rank, importance, or value : principal
    • the primary purpose
  3. basic, fundamental
    • security is a primary need
  4. of, relating to, or constituting the principal quills of a bird's wing
  5. of or relating to agriculture, forestry, and the extractive industries or their products
  6. expressive of present or future time
    • primary tense
  7. of, relating to, or constituting the strongest of the three or four degrees of stress recognized by most linguists
    • the first syllable of basketball carries primary stress
  8. direct, firsthand
    • primary sources of information
  9. not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes
  10. preparatory to something else in a continuing process
    • primary instruction
  11. of or relating to a primary school
    • primary education
  12. of or relating to a primary election
    • a primary candidate
  13. belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications
    • primary nerves
  14. directly derived from ores
    • primary metals
  15. of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins
    • primary protein structure
  16. resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule
    • a primary amine
  17. being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom
  18. of, relating to, involving, or derived from primary meristem
    • primary tissue
    • primary growth
  19. of, relating to, or involved in the production of organic substances by green plants
    • primary productivity
  20. providing primary care
    • a primary physician

primary -n

  1. something that stands first in rank, importance, or value : fundamental usu. used in pl.
  2. the celestial body around which one or more other celestial bodies revolve
  3. the more massive usu. brighter component of a binary star system
  4. one of the usu. 9 or 10 strong quills on the distal joint of a bird's wing
  5. primary color
  6. the sensation of seeing primary colors
  7. caucus
  8. an election in which qualified voters nominate or express a preference for a particular candidate or group of candidates for political office, choose party officials, or select delegates for a party convention
  9. the coil that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer called also primary coil

primary atypical pneumonia -n

  1. any of a group of pneumonias (as Q fever and psittacosis) caused esp. by viruses, mycoplasmas, rickettsias, and chlamydias

primary care -n

  1. health care provided by a medical professional (as a general practitioner, pediatrician, or nurse) with whom a patient has initial contact and by whom the patient may be referred to a specialist often used attributively
    • a primary care physician
    called also primary health care

primary cell -n

  1. a cell that converts chemical energy into electrical energy by irreversible chemical reactions

primary color -n

  1. any of a set of colors from which all other colors may be derived

primary meristem -n

  1. meristem (as procambium) derived from the apical meristem

primary root -n

  1. the root of a plant that develops first and originates from the radicle

primary school -n

  1. a school usu. including the first three grades of elementary school but sometimes also including kindergarten
  2. elementary school

primary syphilis -n

  1. the first stage of syphilis that is marked by the development of a chancre and the spread of the causative spirochete in the tissues of the body

primary tooth -n

  1. milk tooth

primary wall -n

  1. the first-formed wall of a plant cell that is produced around the protoplast and usu. has plasmodesmata

pri·mate ['prī-,māt or esp for 1 -mət] -n, adj

  1. a bishop who has precedence in a province, a group of provinces, or a nation
  2. one first in authority or rank : leader
  3. any of an order (Primates) of mammals that are characterized esp. by advanced development of binocular vision, specialization of the appendages for grasping, and enlargement of the cerebral hemispheres and that include humans, apes, monkeys, and related forms (as lemurs and tarsiers)

pri·ma·tol·o·gy [,prī-mə-'tä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. the study of primates esp. other than recent humans ( Homo sapiens)

pri·ma·vera [,prē-mə-'ver-ə] -adj

  1. served with a mixture of fresh vegetables (as zucchini, snow peas, and broccoli) usu. used postpositively
    • pasta primavera

prime ['prīm] -n

  1. the second of the canonical hours
  2. the first hour of the day usu. considered either as 6 a.m. or the hour of sunrise
  3. the earliest stage
  4. spring
  5. youth
  6. the most active, thriving, or satisfying stage or period
    • in the prime of his life
  7. the chief or best individual or part : pick
    • prime of the flock, and choicest of the stall -- Alexander Pope
  8. prime number
  9. the first note or tone of a musical scale : tonic
  10. the interval between two notes on the same staff degree
  11. the symbol used to distinguish arbitrary characters (as aand a), to indicate a specific unit (as feet or minutes of time or angular measure), or to indicate the derivative of a function (as por f(x))
  12. prime rate
  13. first in time : original
  14. of, relating to, or being a prime number
  15. having no polynomial factors other than itself and no monomial factors other than 1
    • a prime polynomial
  16. expressed as a product of prime factors (as prime numbers and prime polynomials)
    • a prime factorization
  17. first in rank, authority, or significance : principal
    • a prime example
  18. having the highest quality or value
    • prime farmland
  19. of the highest grade regularly marketed used of meat and esp. beef
  20. not deriving from something else : primary
  21. fill, load
  22. to prepare for firing by supplying with priming
  23. to insert a primer into (a cartridge case)
  24. to apply the first color, coating, or preparation to
    • prime a wall
  25. to put into working order by filling or charging with something
    • prime a pump with water
  26. to supply with an essential prerequisite (as a hormone, nucleic acid, or antigen) for chemical or biological activity
    • primed female mice with estrogen
  27. to instruct beforehand : coach
    • primed the witness
  28. stimulate
  29. to become prime

prime cost -n

  1. the combined total of raw material and direct labor costs incurred in production
  2. cost less vendor's or agent's commission for charges

prime meridian -n

  1. the meridian of 0 degrees longitude which runs through the original site of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England, and from which other longitudes are reckoned

prime minister -n, adj

  1. the chief minister of a ruler or state
  2. the official head of a cabinet or ministry
  3. the chief executive of a parliamentary government

prime mover -n

  1. an initial source of motive power (as a windmill, waterwheel, turbine, or internal combustion engine) designed to receive and modify force and motion as supplied by some natural source and apply them to drive machinery
  2. a powerful tractor or truck usu. with all-wheel drive
  3. the self-moved being that is the source of all motion
  4. the original or most effective force in an undertaking or work
    • education is...a prime mover of cultural and societal change -- R. C. Buck

prime number -n

  1. any integer other than 0 or 1 that is not divisible without remainder by any other integers except 1 and the integer itself

prim·er ['pri-mər, chiefly Brit 'prī-mər] -n

  1. a small book for teaching children to read
  2. a small introductory book on a subject
  3. a short informative piece of writing
  4. a device for priming
  5. a cap, tube, or wafer containing percussion powder or compound used to ignite an explosive charge
  6. material used in priming a surface called also prime coat
  7. a molecule (as a short strand of RNA or DNA) whose presence is required for formation of another molecule (as a longer chain of DNA)

prime rate -n

  1. an interest rate formally announced by a bank to be the lowest available at a particular time to its most credit-worthy customers called also prime interest rate

pri·me·ro [pri-'mer-(,)ō, -'mir-] -n

  1. a card game popular in the 16th and 17th centuries

prime time -n, adj

  1. the time period when the television or radio audience is the largest
  2. television shows shown in prime time
  3. the choicest or busiest time
  4. big time
    • a pitcher not yet ready for prime time

pri·me·val [prī-'mē-vəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to the earliest ages (as of the world or human history) : ancient, primitive
    • 100 acres of primeval forest which has never felt an ax -- Mary R. Zimmer
  2. primordial

priming -n

  1. the act of one that primes
  2. the explosive used in priming a charge
  3. primer

pri·mip·a·ra [prī-'mi-pə-rə] -n, adj

  1. an individual bearing a first offspring
  2. an individual that has borne only one offspring

prim·i·tive ['pri-mə-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. not derived : original, primary
  2. assumed as a basis
  3. axiomatic
    • primitive concepts
  4. of or relating to the earliest age or period : primeval
    • the primitive church
  5. closely approximating an early ancestral type : little evolved
    • primitive mammals
  6. belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development : crude, rudimentary
    • primitive technology
  7. of, relating to, or constituting the assumed parent speech of related languages
    • primitive Germanic
  8. elemental, natural
    • our primitive feelings of vengeance -- John Mackwood
  9. of, relating to, or produced by a people or culture that is nonindustrial and often nonliterate and tribal
    • primitive art
  10. naive
  11. self-taught, untutored
    • primitive craftsmen
  12. produced by a self-taught artist
    • a primitive painting

primitive -n

  1. something primitive
  2. a primitive idea, term, or proposition
  3. a root word
  4. an artist of an early period of a culture or artistic movement
  5. a later imitator or follower of such an artist
  6. a self-taught artist
  7. an artist whose work is marked by directness and naivete
  8. a work of art produced by a primitive artist
  9. a typically rough or simple usu. handmade and antique home accessory or furnishing
  10. a member of a primitive people
  11. an unsophisticated person

primitive streak -n

  1. an elongated band of cells that forms along the axis of a developing fertilized egg early in gastrulation and that is considered a forerunner of the neural tube and nervous system

prim·i·tiv·ism ['pri-mə-ti-,vi-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. primitive practices or procedures
  2. a primitive quality or state
  3. belief in the superiority of a simple way of life close to nature
  4. belief in the superiority of nonindustrial society to that of the present
  5. the style of art of primitive peoples or primitive artists

pri·mo ['prē-(,)mō] -n

  1. the first or leading part (as in a duet or trio)
  2. in the first place
  3. of the finest quality : excellent

pri·mo·gen·i·tor [,prī-mō-'je-nə-tər] -n

  1. ancestor, forefather

pri·mo·gen·i·ture [-,chu̇r, -chər, -,tyu̇r, -,tu̇r] -n

  1. the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents
  2. an exclusive right of inheritance belonging to the eldest son

pri·mor·di·al [prī-'mȯr-dē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. first created or developed : primeval
  2. existing in or persisting from the beginning (as of a solar system or universe)
    • a primordial gas cloud
  3. earliest formed in the growth of an individual or organ : primitive
    • primordial cells
  4. fundamental, primary
    • primordial human joys -- Sir Winston Churchill

primordial soup -n

  1. a mixture of organic molecules in evolutionary theory from which life on earth originated

pri·mor·di·um [-dē-əm] -n

  1. the rudiment or commencement of a part or organ

primp ['primp] -vb

  1. to dress, adorn, or arrange in a careful or finicky manner
  2. to dress or groom oneself carefully
    • primp s for hours before a date

prim·rose ['prim-,rōz] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Primulaof the family Primulaceae, the primrose family) of perennial herbs with large tufted basal leaves and showy variously colored flowers

primrose path -n

  1. a path of ease or pleasure and esp. sensual pleasure
    • himself the primrose path of dalliance treads -- Shak.
  2. a path of least resistance

primrose yellow -n

  1. a light to moderate greenish yellow
  2. a light to moderate yellow

prim·u·la ['prim-yə-lə] -n

  1. primrose

pri·mum mo·bi·le ['prī-məm-'mō-bə-lē, 'prē-] -n

  1. the outermost concentric sphere conceived in medieval astronomy as carrying the spheres of the fixed stars and the planets in its daily revolution

pri·mus ['prī-məs] -n

  1. the presiding bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church

pri·mus in·ter pa·res ['prī-məs-,in-tər-'pa-rēz, 'prē-məs-] -n

  1. first among equals

prin -abbr

  1. principal
  2. principle

prince ['prin(t)s] -n

  1. monarch, king
  2. the ruler of a principality or state
  3. a male member of a royal family
  4. a son of the sovereign
  5. a nobleman of varying rank and status
  6. one likened to a prince
  7. a man of high rank or of high standing in his class or profession

Prince Al·bert [-'al-bərt] -n

  1. a double-breasted frock coat with the upper part fitted to the body

Prince Charming -n

  1. a suitor who fulfills the dreams of his beloved
  2. a man of often specious charm toward women

prince consort -n

  1. the husband of a reigning queen

prince·dom ['prin(t)s-dəm, -təm] -n

  1. the jurisdiction, sovereignty, rank, or estate of a prince
  2. principality usu. used in pl.

prince·let ['prin(t)s-lət] -n

  1. princeling

prince·li·ness [-lē-nəs] -n

  1. princely conduct or character
  2. luxury, magnificence

prince·ling ['prin(t)s-liŋ] -n

  1. a petty or insignificant prince

prince·ly ['prin(t)s-lē] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a prince : royal
  2. befitting a prince : noble, magnificent
    • princely manners
    • a princely sum

Prince of Wales [-'wālz]

  1. the male heir apparent to the British throne used as a title only after it has been specif. conferred by the sovereign

prince's feather -n

  1. a showy widely cultivated annual plant ( Amaranthus hypochondriacusor A. cruentus) of the amaranth family having dense usu. red spikes of flowers

prin·cess ['prin(t)-səs, 'prin-,ses, (usual Brit) prin-'ses] -n

  1. a woman having sovereign power
  2. a female member of a royal family
  3. a daughter or granddaughter of a sovereign
  4. the consort of a prince
  5. one likened to a princess
  6. a woman of high rank or of high standing in her class or profession
    • a pop music princess

princess [same as ¹] -adj

  1. close-fitting and usu. with gores from neck to flaring hemline
    • a princess gown

Princess Royal -n

  1. the eldest daughter of a British sovereign a title granted for life and used only after it has been specif. conferred by the sovereign

prin·ci·pal ['prin(t)-s(ə-)pəl, -sə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. most important, consequential, or influential : chief
    • the principal ingredient
    • the region's principal city
  2. of, relating to, or constituting principal or a principal

principal ['prin(t)-s(ə-)pəl-,ship, -sə-bəl-] -n

  1. : a person who has controlling authority or is in a leading position: as
  2. a chief or head man or woman
  3. the chief executive officer of an educational institution
  4. one who engages another to act as an agent subject to general control and instruction
  5. the person from whom an agent's authority derives
  6. the chief or an actual participant in a crime
  7. the person primarily or ultimately liable on a legal obligation
  8. a leading performer : star
  9. : a matter or thing of primary importance: as
  10. a capital sum earning interest, due as a debt, or used as a fund
  11. the corpus of an estate, portion, devise, or bequest
  12. the construction that gives shape and strength to a roof and is usu. one of several trusses
  13. the most important member of a piece of framing

principal diagonal -n

  1. the diagonal in a square matrix that runs from upper left to lower right

prin·ci·pal·i·ty [,prin(t)-sə-'pa-lə-tē] -n

  1. the state, office, or authority of a prince
  2. the position or responsibilities of a principal (as of a school)
  3. the territory or jurisdiction of a prince : the country that gives title to a prince
  4. an order of angels

principal parts -n pl

  1. a series of verb forms from which all the other forms of a verb can be derived including in English the infinitive, the past tense, and the present and past participles

prin·cip·i·um [prin-'si-pē-əm, prin-'ki-] -n

  1. a fundamental principle

prin·ci·ple ['prin(t)-s(ə-)pəl, -sə-bəl] -n

  1. a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption
  2. a rule or code of conduct
  3. habitual devotion to right principles
    • a man of principle
  4. the laws or facts of nature underlying the working of an artificial device
  5. a primary source : origin
  6. an underlying faculty or endowment
    • such principle s of human nature as greed and curiosity
  7. an ingredient (as a chemical) that exhibits or imparts a characteristic quality
  8. a divine principle : god

prin·ci·pled [-s(ə-)pəld, -sə-bəld] -adj

  1. exhibiting, based on, or characterized by principle often used in combination

prin·cox ['prin-,käks, 'priŋ-] -n

  1. a pert youth : coxcomb

prink ['priŋk] -vb, n

  1. primp

print ['print] -n

  1. a mark made by pressure : impression
  2. something impressed with a print or formed in a mold
  3. fingerprint
  4. printed state or form
  5. the printing industry
  6. printed matter
  7. printed publications
  8. printed letters : type
  9. a copy made by printing
  10. a reproduction of an original work of art (as a painting) made by a photomechanical process
  11. an original work of art (as a woodcut, etching, or lithograph) intended for graphic reproduction and produced by or under the supervision of the artist who designed it
  12. cloth with a pattern or figured design applied by printing
  13. an article of such cloth
  14. a photographic or motion-picture copy
  15. one made from a negative
  16. to impress something in or on
  17. to stamp (as a mark) in or on something
  18. to make a copy of by impressing paper against an inked printing surface
  19. to impress (as wallpaper) with a design or pattern
  20. to impress (a pattern or design) on something
  21. to publish in print
  22. print out
  23. to display on a surface (as a computer screen) for viewing
  24. to write in letters shaped like those of ordinary roman text type
  25. to make (a positive picture) on a sensitized photographic surface from a negative or a positive
  26. to work as a printer
  27. to produce printed matter
  28. to produce something in printed form
  29. to write or hand-letter in imitation of unjoined printed characters
  30. of, relating to, or writing for printed publications
    • print journalists

print·able ['prin-tə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. capable of being printed or of being printed from
  2. considered fit to publish

printed circuit -n

  1. a circuit for electronic apparatus made by depositing conductive material in continuous paths from terminal to terminal on an insulating surface

printed matter -n

  1. matter printed by any of various mechanical processes that is eligible for mailing at a special rate

print·er ['prin-tər] -n

  1. : one that prints: as
  2. a person engaged in printing
  3. a device used for printing
  4. a machine for printing from photographic negatives
  5. a device (as an ink-jet printer) that produces printout

printer's devil -n

  1. an apprentice in a printing office

print·ery ['prin-tə-rē] -n

  1. printing office

print·head ['print-,hed] -n

  1. a usu. movable part of a computer printer that contains the printing elements

print·ing ['prin-tiŋ] -n

  1. the act or product of one that prints
  2. reproduction in printed form
  3. the art, practice, or business of a printer
  4. impression
  5. paper to be printed on

printing office -n

  1. an establishment where printing is done

printing press -n

  1. a machine that produces printed copies

print·less ['print-ləs] -adj

  1. making, bearing, or taking no imprint

print·mak·ing [-,mā-kiŋ] -n

  1. the design and production of prints by an artist

print·out ['print-,au̇t] -n

  1. a printed record produced automatically (as by a computer)

print out -vt

  1. to make a printout of

pri·on ['prī-,än] -n

  1. any of several small petrels (genus Pachyptilaof the family Procellariidae) of the southern hemisphere that are bluish gray above and white below
  2. any of several protein particles that are abnormal forms of normal cellular proteins, that lack nucleic acid, and that in mammals have been implicated as the cause of prion diseases when accumulated in the mammalian brain

prion disease -n

  1. any of a group of spongiform encephalopathies that are caused by prions and that include bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, kuru, scrapie, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease called also transmissible spongiform encephalopathy

pri·or ['prī(-ə)r] -n

  1. the superior ranking next to the abbot of a monastery
  2. the superior of a house or group of houses of any of various religious communities

prior -adj, adv

  1. earlier in time or order
  2. taking precedence (as in importance)

pri·or·ess ['prī-ə-rəs] -n

  1. a nun corresponding in rank to a prior

pri·or·i·tize [prī-'ȯr-ə-,tīz, -'är-; 'prī-ə-rə-] -vt, n

  1. to list or rate (as projects or goals) in order of priority

pri·or·i·ty [prī-'ȯr-ə-tē, -'är-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being prior
  2. precedence in date or position of publication used of taxa
  3. superiority in rank, position, or privilege
  4. legal precedence in exercise of rights over the same subject matter
  5. a preferential rating
  6. one that allocates rights to goods and services usu. in limited supply
    • that project has top priority
  7. something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives

prior restraint -n

  1. governmental prohibition imposed on expression before the expression actually takes place

prior to -prep

  1. in advance of : before

pri·o·ry ['prī-(ə-)rē] -n

  1. a religious house under a prior or prioress

prise ['prīz] -n

(variant of prize)

  1. something offered or striven for in competition or in contests of chance
  2. premium
  3. something exceptionally desirable
  4. a contest for a reward : competition
  5. awarded or worthy of a prize
  6. awarded as a prize
  7. entered for the sake of a prize
    • a prize drawing
  8. outstanding of a kind
    • raised prize hogs
  9. to estimate the value of : rate
  10. to value highly : esteem
    • a prized possession
  11. something taken by force, stratagem, or threat
  12. property lawfully captured at sea in time of war
  13. an act of capturing or taking
  14. the wartime capture of a ship and its cargo at sea
  15. to press, force, or move with a lever : pry

prism ['pri-zəm] -n

  1. a polyhedron with two polygonal faces lying in parallel planes and with the other faces parallelograms
  2. a transparent body that is bounded in part by two nonparallel plane faces and is used to refract or disperse a beam of light
  3. a prism-shaped decorative glass luster
  4. a crystal form whose faces are parallel to one axis
  5. one whose faces are parallel to the vertical axis
  6. a medium that distorts, slants, or colors whatever is viewed through it

pris·mat·ic [priz-'ma-tik] -adj, adv

  1. relating to, resembling, or constituting a prism
  2. formed by a prism
  3. resembling the colors formed by refraction of light through a prism
    • prismatic effects
  4. highly colored : brilliant
    • prismatic lyrics
  5. having such symmetry that a general form with faces cutting all axes at unspecified intercepts is a prism
    • prismatic crystals

pris·ma·toid ['priz-mə-,tȯid] -n

  1. a polyhedron that has all of its vertices in two parallel planes

pris·moid ['priz-,mȯid] -n, adj

  1. a prismatoid whose parallel bases have the same number of sides

pris·on ['pri-zᵊn] -n

  1. a state of confinement or captivity
  2. a place of confinement esp. for lawbreakers
  3. an institution (as one under state jurisdiction) for confinement of persons convicted of serious crimes

prison -vt

  1. imprison, confine

prison camp -n

  1. a camp for the confinement of reasonably trustworthy prisoners usu. employed on government projects
  2. a camp for prisoners of war or political prisoners

pris·on·er ['priz-nər, 'pri-zᵊn-ər] -n

  1. a person deprived of liberty and kept under involuntary restraint, confinement, or custody
  2. one on trial or in prison
  3. someone restrained as if in prison
    • a prisoner of her own conscience

prisoner of war

  1. a person captured in war
  2. a member of the armed forces of a nation who is taken by the enemy during combat

prisoner's base -n

  1. a game in which players on each of two teams seek to tag and imprison players of the other team who have ventured out of their home territory

pris·sy ['pri-sē] -adj, adv, n

  1. overly prim and precise : finicky

pris·tane ['pris-,tān] -n

  1. an isoprenoid hydrocarbon C 19H 40that usu. accompanies phytane

pris·tine ['pris-,tēn, pri-'stēn, esp Brit 'pris-,tīn] -adj, adv

  1. belonging to the earliest period or state : original
    • the hypothetical pristine lunar atmosphere
  2. not spoiled, corrupted, or polluted (as by civilization) : pure
    • a pristine forest
  3. fresh and clean as or as if new
    • used books in pristine condition

prith·ee ['pri-thē, -thē] -interj

  1. used to express a wish or request

priv -abbr

  1. private; privately

pri·va·cy ['prī-və-sē, esp Brit 'pri-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being apart from company or observation : seclusion
  2. freedom from unauthorized intrusion
    • one's right to privacy
  3. a place of seclusion
  4. secrecy
  5. a private matter : secret

pri·vat·do·zent [pri-'vät-(,)dō(t)-,sent] -n

  1. an unsalaried university lecturer or teacher in German-speaking countries remunerated directly by students' fees

pri·vate ['prī-vət] -adj, adv, n

  1. intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class
    • a private park
  2. belonging to or concerning an individual person, company, or interest
    • a private house
  3. restricted to the individual or arising independently of others
    • private opinion
  4. carried on by the individual independently of the usual institutions
    • a doctor in private practice
  5. being educated by independent study or a tutor or in a private school
    • private students
  6. not general in effect
    • a private statute
  7. of, relating to, or receiving hospital service in which the patient has more privileges than a semiprivate or ward patient
  8. not holding public office or employment
    • a private citizen
  9. not related to one's official position : personal
    • private correspondence
  10. being a private
  11. withdrawn from company or observation
    • a private retreat
  12. not known or intended to be known publicly : secret
  13. preferring to keep personal affairs to oneself : valuing privacy highly
  14. unsuitable for public use or display
  15. not having shares that can be freely traded on the open market
    • a private company

private -n

  1. one not in public office
  2. privacy
  3. private parts
  4. a person of low rank in various organizations (as a police or fire department)
  5. an enlisted man of the lowest rank in the marine corps or of one of the two lowest ranks in the army

private detective -n

  1. private investigator

private enterprise -n

  1. free enterprise

pri·va·teer [,prī-və-'tir] -n, vi

  1. an armed private ship licensed to attack enemy shipping
  2. a sailor on such a ship

private eye -n

  1. private investigator

private first class -n

  1. an enlisted man ranking in the army above a private and below a corporal and in the marine corps above a private and below a lance corporal

private investigator -n

  1. a person not a member of a police force who is licensed to do detective work (as investigation of suspected wrongdoing or searching for missing persons)

private label -n

  1. a label associated with a specific chain store
  2. a brand or product having a private label usu. hyphenated when used attributively
    • private-label clothes

private law -n

  1. a branch of law concerned with private persons, property, and relationships

private parts -n pl

  1. the external genital and excretory organs

private school -n

  1. a school that is established, conducted, and primarily supported by a nongovernmental agency

private treaty -n

  1. a sale of property on terms determined by conference of the seller and buyer

pri·va·tion [prī-'vā-shən] -n

  1. an act or instance of depriving : deprivation
  2. the state of being deprived
  3. lack of what is needed for existence

pri·vat·ise ['prī-və-,tīz] -vt, n

(variant of privatize)

  1. to make private
  2. to change (as a business or industry) from public to private control or ownership

pri·vat·ism ['prī-və-,ti-zəm] -n

  1. the attitude of being uncommitted to or avoiding involvement in anything beyond one's immediate interests

priv·a·tive ['pri-və-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. constituting or predicating privation or absence of a quality
    • non- is a privative prefix

privative -n

  1. a privative term, expression, or proposition
  2. a privative prefix or suffix

pri·vat·ize ['prī-və-,tīz] -vt, n

  1. to make private
  2. to change (as a business or industry) from public to private control or ownership

priv·et ['pri-vət] -n

  1. a Eurasian deciduous shrub ( Ligustrum vulgare) of the olive family with semievergreen leaves and small white flowers that is widely used for hedges
  2. any of various shrubs of the same genus

priv·i·lege ['priv-lij, 'pri-və-] -n

  1. a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor
  2. such a right or immunity attached specif. to a position or an office

privilege -vt

  1. to grant a privilege to
  2. to accord a higher value or superior position to
    • privilege one mode of discourse over another

privileged -adj

  1. having or enjoying one or more privileges
    • privileged classes
  2. not subject to the usual rules or penalties because of some special circumstance
  3. not subject to disclosure in a court of law
    • a privileged communication

priv·i·ty ['pri-və-tē] -n

  1. a relationship between persons who successively have a legal interest in the same right or property
  2. an interest in a transaction, contract, or legal action to which one is not a party arising out of a relationship to one of the parties
  3. private or joint knowledge of a private matter
  4. cognizance implying concurrence

privy ['pri-vē] -adj, adv

  1. private, withdrawn
  2. secret
  3. belonging or relating to a person in one's individual rather than official capacity
  4. admitted as one sharing in a secret
    • privy to the conspiracy
  5. a small building having a bench with holes through which the user may defecate or urinate
  6. toilet
  7. a person having a legal interest of privity

privy council -n

  1. a secret or private council
  2. a body of officials and dignitaries chosen by the British monarch as an advisory council to the Crown usu. functioning through its committees
  3. a usu. appointive advisory council to an executive

privy purse -n

  1. an allowance for the private expenses of the British sovereign

prix fixe ['prē-'fēks, -'fiks] -n

  1. a complete meal offered at a fixed price
  2. the price charged

prize ['prīz] -n

  1. something offered or striven for in competition or in contests of chance
  2. premium
  3. something exceptionally desirable
  4. a contest for a reward : competition
  5. awarded or worthy of a prize
  6. awarded as a prize
  7. entered for the sake of a prize
    • a prize drawing
  8. outstanding of a kind
    • raised prize hogs
  9. to estimate the value of : rate
  10. to value highly : esteem
    • a prized possession
  11. something taken by force, stratagem, or threat
  12. property lawfully captured at sea in time of war
  13. an act of capturing or taking
  14. the wartime capture of a ship and its cargo at sea
  15. to press, force, or move with a lever : pry

prize·fight ['prīz-,fīt] -n

  1. a professional boxing match

prize·fight·ing [-,fī-tiŋ] -n

  1. professional boxing

prize money -n

  1. a part of the proceeds of a captured ship formerly divided among the officers and men making the capture
  2. money offered in prizes

priz·er ['prī-zər] -n

  1. one that contends for a prize

prize·win·ner ['prīz-,wi-nər] -n

  1. a winner of a prize

prize·win·ning [-,wi-niŋ] -adj

  1. having won or of a quality to win a prize
    • a prizewinning design

PRK -abbr

  1. photorefractive keratectomy

prn -abbr

  1. as needed; as the circumstances require

pro ['prō] -n

  1. an argument or evidence in affirmation
    • an appraisal of the pro s and cons
  2. the affirmative side or one holding it
  3. on the affirmative side : in affirmation
    • much has been written pro and con
  4. in favor of : for
  5. professional

PRO -abbr

  1. public relations officer

pro- -prefix

  1. earlier than : prior to : before
    • pro thalamion
  2. rudimentary : prot-
    • pro nucleus
  3. precursory
    • pro insulin
  4. located in front of or at the front of : anterior to
    • pro cephalic
  5. front : anterior
    • pro thorax
  6. projecting
    • pro gnathous
  7. taking the place of : substituting for
    • pro cathedral
    • pro caine
  8. favoring : supporting : championing
    • pro- American

proa ['prau̇, 'prä-,ü] -n

(variant of prau)

  1. any of various Indonesian boats usu. without a deck that are propelled esp. by sails or paddles

pro·abor·tion [,prō-ə-'bȯr-shən] -adj, n

  1. favoring the legalization of abortion

pro·ac·tive [(,)prō-'ak-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. relating to, caused by, or being interference between previous learning and the recall or performance of later learning
    • proactive inhibition of memory
  2. acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes

proam ['prō-'am] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or involving professionals teaming with or competing against amateurs
  2. a pro-am event or tournament

prob -abbr

  1. probable; probably
  2. probate
  3. problem

prob·a·bi·lism ['prä-bə-bə-,li-zəm] -n, adj or n

  1. a theory that in disputed moral questions any solidly probable course may be followed even though an opposed course is or appears more probable
  2. a theory that certainty is impossible esp. in the sciences and that probability suffices to govern belief and action

prob·a·bi·lis·tic [,prä-bə-bə-'lis-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to probabilism
  2. of, relating to, or based on probability

prob·a·bil·i·ty [,prä-bə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being probable
  2. something (as an event or circumstance) that is probable
  3. the ratio of the number of outcomes in an exhaustive set of equally likely outcomes that produce a given event to the total number of possible outcomes
  4. the chance that a given event will occur
  5. a branch of mathematics concerned with the study of probabilities
  6. a logical relation between statements such that evidence confirming one confirms the other to some degree

probability density -n

  1. probability density function
  2. a particular value of a probability density function

probability density function -n

  1. probability function
  2. a function of a continuous random variable whose integral over an interval gives the probability that its value will fall within the interval

probability distribution -n

  1. probability function
  2. probability density function

probability function -n

  1. a function of a discrete random variable that gives the probability that the outcome associated with that variable will occur

prob·a·ble ['prä-bə-bəl, 'prä(b)-bəl] -adj

  1. supported by evidence strong enough to establish presumption but not proof
    • a probable hypothesis
  2. establishing a probability
    • probable evidence
  3. likely to be or become true or real
    • probable outcome

probable -n

  1. one that is probable

probable cause -n

  1. a reasonable ground for supposing that a charge is well-founded

prob·a·bly ['prä-bə-blē, 'prä(b)-blē] -adv

  1. insofar as seems reasonably true, factual, or to be expected : without much doubt
    • is probably happy
    • it will probably rain

pro·band ['prō-,band, prō-'] -n

  1. an individual affected with a disorder who is the first subject in a study (as of a genetic character in a family lineage)

pro·bate ['prō-,bāt, Brit also -bit] -n

  1. the action or process of proving before a competent judicial authority that a document offered for official recognition and registration as the last will and testament of a deceased person is genuine
  2. the judicial determination of the validity of a will
  3. the officially authenticated copy of a probated will
  4. to establish (a will) by probate as genuine and valid
  5. to put (a convicted offender) on probation

probate court -n

  1. a court that has jurisdiction chiefly over the probate of wills and administration of deceased persons' estates

pro·ba·tion [prō-'bā-shən] -n, adj, adv

  1. critical examination and evaluation or subjection to such examination and evaluation
  2. subjection of an individual to a period of testing and trial to ascertain fitness (as for a job or school)
  3. the action of suspending the sentence of a convicted offender and giving the offender freedom during good behavior under the supervision of a probation officer
  4. the state or a period of being subject to probation

pro·ba·tion·er [-sh(ə-)nər] -n

  1. a person (as a newly admitted student nurse) whose fitness is being tested during a trial period
  2. a convicted offender on probation

probation officer -n

  1. an officer appointed to investigate, report on, and supervise the conduct of convicted offenders on probation

pro·ba·tive ['prō-bə-tiv] -adj

  1. serving to test or try : exploratory
  2. serving to prove : substantiating

pro·ba·to·ry ['prō-bə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. probative

probe ['prōb] -n

  1. a slender medical instrument used esp. for exploration (as of a wound or body cavity)
  2. : any of various testing devices or substances: as
  3. a pointed metal tip for making electrical contact with a circuit element being checked
  4. a usu. small object that is inserted into something so as to test conditions at a given point
  5. a device used to penetrate or send back information esp. from outer space or a celestial body
  6. a device (as an ultrasound generator) or a substance (as radioactively labeled DNA) used to obtain specific information for diagnostic or experimental purposes
  7. a pipe on the receiving airplane thrust into the drogue of the delivering airplane in air refueling
  8. the action of probing
  9. a penetrating or critical investigation
  10. a tentative exploratory advance or survey
  11. to search into and explore very thoroughly : subject to a penetrating investigation
  12. to examine with a probe
    • unmanned vehicles probed space
  13. to make a searching exploratory investigation

pro·ben·e·cid [prō-'be-nə-səd] -n

  1. a drug C 13H 19NO 4S that acts on renal tubular function and is used to increase the concentration of some drugs (as penicillin) in the blood by inhibiting their excretion and to increase the excretion of urates in gout

pro·bi·ot·ic [prō-bī-'ä-tik, -bē-'ä-] -n, adj

  1. a preparation (as a dietary supplement) containing live bacteria (as lactobacilli) that is taken orally to restore beneficial bacteria to the body
  2. a bacterium of such a preparation

prob·it ['prä-bət] -n

  1. a unit of measurement of statistical probability based on deviations from the mean of a normal distribution

pro·bi·ty ['prō-bə-tē] -n

  1. adherence to the highest principles and ideals : uprightness

prob·lem ['prä-bləm, -bᵊm, -,blem] -n

  1. a question raised for inquiry, consideration, or solution
  2. a proposition in mathematics or physics stating something to be done
  3. an intricate unsettled question
  4. a source of perplexity, distress, or vexation
  5. difficulty in understanding or accepting
    • I have a problem with your saying that

problem -adj

  1. dealing with a problem of conduct or social relationship
    • a problem play
  2. difficult to deal with
    • a problem child

prob·lem·at·ic [,prä-blə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv

  1. posing a problem : difficult to solve or decide
  2. not definite or settled : uncertain
    • their future remains problematic
  3. open to question or debate : questionable
  4. expressing or supporting a possibility

problematic -n

  1. something that is problematic : a problematic aspect or concern

prob·lem·a·tize ['prä-blə-mə-,tīz] -vt, n

  1. to consider or treat as a problem

pro bono [,prō-'bō-(,)nō] -adj, adv

  1. being, involving, or doing professional and esp. legal work donated esp. for the public good
    • pro bono work

pro·bos·ci·de·an [prə-,bä-sə-'dē-ən] -n, adj

  1. any of an order (Proboscidea) of large mammals comprising the elephants and extinct related forms (as mastodons)

pro·bos·cis [prə-'bä-səs, -'bäs-kəs] -n

  1. the trunk of an elephant
  2. any long flexible snout
  3. the human nose esp. when prominent
  4. any of various elongated or extensible tubular processes (as the sucking organ of a butterfly) of the oral region of an invertebrate

proboscis monkey -n

  1. a large long-tailed monkey ( Nasalis larvatus) of Bornean forests that has a large nose which is long and pendulous in adult males

proc -abbr

  1. proceedings

pro·caine ['prō-,kān] -n

  1. a basic ester C 13H 20N 2O 2of para-aminobenzoic acid
  2. its crystalline hydrochloride used as a local anesthetic

pro·cam·bi·um [(,)prō-'kam-bē-əm] -n, adj

  1. the part of the primary meristem of a plant that forms cambium and primary vascular tissues

pro·car·ba·zine [prō-'kär-bə-,zēn, -zən] -n

  1. an antineoplastic drug C 12H 19N 3O that is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor used in the form of its hydrochloride esp. in the palliative treatment of Hodgkin's disease

procaryote [(,)prō-'ka-rē-,ōt] -n, adj

(variant of prokaryote)

  1. any of the typically unicellular microorganisms that lack a distinct nucleus and membrane-bound organelles and that are classified as a kingdom (Prokaryotae syn. Monera) or into two domains (Bacteria and Archaea)

pro·ca·the·dral [,prō-kə-'thē-drəl] -n

  1. a parish church used as a cathedral

pro·ce·dur·al [prə-'sē-jə-rəl, -'sēj-rəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to procedure
  2. of or relating to the procedure used by courts or other bodies administering substantive law

procedural -n

  1. a realist crime novel with a specific focus
    • a courtroom procedural
  2. police procedural

procedural due process -n

  1. due process

pro·ce·dure [prə-'sē-jər] -n

  1. a particular way of accomplishing something or of acting
  2. a step in a procedure
  3. a series of steps followed in a regular definite order
    • legal procedure
    • a surgical procedure
  4. a set of instructions for a computer that has a name by which it can be called into action
  5. a traditional or established way of doing things
  6. protocol

pro·ceed [prō-'sēd, prə-] -vi

  1. to come forth from a source : issue
    • strange sounds proceed ed from the room
  2. to continue after a pause or interruption
  3. to go on in an orderly regulated way
  4. to begin and carry on an action, process, or movement
  5. to be in the process of being accomplished
    • the work is proceed ing well
  6. to move along a course : advance

pro·ceed·ing [-'sē-diŋ] -n

  1. legal action
    • a divorce proceeding
  2. procedure
  3. events, happenings
  4. transaction
  5. an official record of things said or done

pro·ceeds ['prō-,sēdz] -n pl

  1. the total amount brought in
    • the proceeds of a sale
  2. the net amount received (as for a check or from an insurance settlement) after deduction of any discount or charges

pro·ce·phal·ic [,prō-sə-'fa-lik] -adj

  1. relating to, forming, or situated on or near the front of the head

pro·cer·coid [(,)prō-'sər-,kȯid] -n

  1. the solid first parasitic larva of some tapeworms that develops usu. in the body cavity of a copepod

pro·cess ['prä-,ses, 'prō-, -səs] -n

  1. progress, advance
    • in the process of time
  2. something going on : proceeding
  3. a natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result
    • the process of growth
  4. a continuing natural or biological activity or function
    • such life process es as breathing
  5. a series of actions or operations conducing to an end
  6. a continuous operation or treatment esp. in manufacture
  7. the whole course of proceedings in a legal action
  8. the summons, mandate, or writ used by a court to compel the appearance of the defendant in a legal action or compliance with its orders
  9. a prominent or projecting part of an organism or organic structure
    • a bone process
    • a nerve cell process
  10. conk

process -vt

  1. to proceed against by law : prosecute
  2. to take out a summons against
  3. to serve a summons on
  4. to subject to a special process or treatment (as in the course of manufacture or film development)
  5. to subject to or handle through an established usu. routine set of procedures
    • process insurance claims
  6. to integrate sensory information received so that an action or response is generated
    • the brain process es visual images relayed from the retina
  7. to subject to examination or analysis
    • computers process data
  8. to work (hair) into a conk
  9. treated or made by a special process esp. when involving synthesis or artificial modification
  10. made by or used in a mechanical or photomechanical duplicating process
  11. of or involving illusory effects usu. introduced during processing of the film

pro·cess [prə-'ses] -vi

  1. to move in a procession

pro·cess·able ['prä-,se-sə-bəl, 'prō-] -adj, n

  1. suitable for processing : capable of being processed

process cheese -n

  1. a cheese made by blending several lots of cheese called also processed cheese

pro·ces·sion [prə-'se-shən] -n

  1. a group of individuals moving along in an orderly often ceremonial way
  2. succession, sequence
  3. continuous forward movement : progression
  4. emanation
    • the Holy Spirit's procession from the Father

procession -vi

  1. to go in procession

pro·ces·sion·al [prə-'sesh-nəl, -'se-shə-nᵊl] -n

  1. a book containing material for a procession
  2. a musical composition (as a hymn) designed for a procession
  3. a ceremonial procession

processional -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or moving in a procession

pro·ces·sor ['prä-,se-sər, 'prō-] -n

  1. one that processes
    • scrap processor
    • agricultural processor
  2. computer
  3. cpu
  4. a computer program (as a compiler) that puts another program into a form acceptable to the computer
  5. food processor

pro·cesver·bal [prō-,sā-vər-'bäl, -(,)ver-] -n

  1. an official written record

prochoice [(,)prō-'chȯis] -adj, n

  1. favoring the legalization of abortion

pro·claim [prō-'klām, prə-] -vt, n

  1. to declare publicly, typically insistently, proudly, or defiantly and in either speech or writing : announce
  2. to give outward indication of : show
    • his manner proclaim ed his genteel upbringing
  3. to declare or declare to be solemnly, officially, or formally
    • proclaim an amnesty
    • proclaim the country a republic
  4. to praise or glorify openly or publicly : extol
    • proclaim ed the rescue workers' efforts

proc·la·ma·tion [,prä-klə-'mā-shən] -n

  1. the action of proclaiming : the state of being proclaimed
  2. something proclaimed
  3. an official formal public announcement

pro·clit·ic [(,)prō-'kli-tik] -n, adj

  1. a clitic that is associated with a following word

pro·cliv·i·ty [prō-'kli-və-tē] -n

  1. an inclination or predisposition toward something
  2. a strong inherent inclination toward something objectionable

Proc·ne ['präk-nē] -n

  1. the wife of Tereus who is changed into a swallow while fleeing from him

pro·con·sul [(,)prō-'kän(t)-səl] -n, adj

  1. a governor or military commander of an ancient Roman province
  2. an administrator in a modern colony, dependency, or occupied area usu. with wide powers

pro·cras·ti·nate [prə-'kras-tə-,nāt, prō-] -vb, n

  1. to put off intentionally and habitually
  2. to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done

pro·cre·ant ['prō-krē-ənt] -adj

  1. producing offspring
  2. of or relating to procreation

pro·cre·ate [-,āt] -vb, n, adj

  1. to beget or bring forth (offspring) : propagate
  2. to beget or bring forth offspring : reproduce

pro·crus·te·an [prə-'krəs-tē-ən, prō-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or typical of Procrustes
  2. marked by arbitrary often ruthless disregard of individual differences or special circumstances

procrustean bed -n

  1. a scheme or pattern into which someone or something is arbitrarily forced

Pro·crus·tes [prə-'krəs-(,)tēz, prō-] -n

  1. a villainous son of Poseidon in Greek mythology who forces travelers to fit into his bed by stretching their bodies or cutting off their legs

pro·cryp·tic [(,)prō-'krip-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a concealing pattern or shade of coloring esp. in insects

proc·to·dae·um [,präk-tə-'dē-əm] -n

  1. the embryonic posterior ectodermal part of the alimentary canal

proc·tol·o·gy [präk-'tä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. a branch of medicine dealing with the structure and diseases of the anus, rectum, and sigmoid colon

proc·tor ['präk-tər] -n, vb, adj

  1. supervisor, monitor
  2. one appointed to supervise students (as at an examination)

pro·cum·bent [prō-'kəm-bənt] -adj

  1. being or having stems that trail along the ground without rooting
  2. lying face down

proc·u·ra·tion [,prä-kyə-'rā-shən] -n

  1. the act of appointing another as one's agent or attorney
  2. the authority vested in one so appointed
  3. the action of obtaining something (as supplies) : procurement

proc·u·ra·tor ['prä-kyə-,rā-tər] -n, adj

  1. one that manages another's affairs : agent
  2. an officer of the Roman empire entrusted with management of the financial affairs of a province and often having administrative powers as agent of the emperor

pro·cure [prə-'kyu̇r, prō-] -vb, adj

  1. to get possession of : obtain by particular care and effort
  2. to get and make available for promiscuous sexual intercourse
  3. bring about, achieve
    • procured the prisoner's release
  4. to procure women

pro·cure·ment [-'kyu̇r-mənt] -n

  1. the act or process of procuring
  2. the obtaining of military supplies by a government

pro·cur·er [-'kyu̇r-ər] -n

  1. one that procures
  2. pander

Pro·cy·on ['prō-sē-,än, 'prä-, -ən] -n

  1. the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor

prod ['präd] -vb, n

  1. to thrust a pointed instrument into : prick
  2. to incite to action : stir
  3. to poke or stir as if with a prod
  4. to urge someone on
  5. a pointed instrument used to prod
  6. an incitement to act
    • needed a few prod s to remember her lines
  7. product; production

Prod ['präd] -n

  1. Protestant

prod·i·gal ['prä-di-gəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure : lavish
    • a prodigal feast
    • prodigal outlays for her clothes
  2. recklessly spendthrift
    • the prodigal prince
  3. yielding abundantly : luxuriant often used with of
    • nature has been so prodigal of her bounty -- H. T. Buckle

prodigal -n

  1. one who spends or gives lavishly and foolishly
  2. one who has returned after an absence

pro·di·gious [prə-'di-jəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. being an omen : portentous
  2. resembling or befitting a prodigy : strange, unusual
  3. exciting amazement or wonder
  4. extraordinary in bulk, quantity, or degree : enormous

prod·i·gy ['prä-də-jē] -n

  1. a portentous event : omen
  2. something extraordinary or inexplicable
  3. an extraordinary, marvelous, or unusual accomplishment, deed, or event
  4. a highly talented child or youth

prodn -abbr

  1. production

pro·dro·mal [(,)prō-'drō-məl] -adj

  1. precursory
  2. marked by prodromes

pro·drome ['prō-,drōm] -n

  1. a premonitory symptom of disease

pro·duce [prə-'düs, prō-, -'dyüs] -vb, adj

  1. to offer to view or notice
  2. to give birth or rise to : yield
  3. to extend in length, area, or volume
    • produce a side of a triangle
  4. : to make available for public exhibition or dissemination: as
  5. to provide funding for
    • search for backers to produce the film
  6. to oversee the making of
    • will produce their new album
  7. to cause to have existence or to happen : bring about
  8. to give being, form, or shape to : make
  9. manufacture
  10. to compose, create, or bring out by intellectual or physical effort
  11. to cause to accrue
  12. to bear, make, or yield something
  13. something produced
  14. the amount produced : yield
  15. agricultural products and esp. fresh fruits and vegetables as distinguished from grain and other staple crops
  16. the progeny usu. of a female animal

pro·duc·er [prə-'dü-sər, prō-, -'dyü-] -n

  1. one that produces
  2. one that grows agricultural products or manufactures crude materials into articles of use
  3. a person who supervises or finances a work (as a staged or recorded performance) for exhibition or dissemination to the public
  4. an autotrophic organism (as a green plant) viewed as a source of biomass that can be consumed by other organisms

producer gas -n

  1. a fuel gas made by circulating air or a mixture of air and steam through a layer of incandescent fuel and consisting chiefly of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and nitrogen

producer goods -n pl

  1. goods (as tools and raw materials) used to produce other goods and satisfy human wants only indirectly

prod·uct ['prä-(,)dəkt] -n

  1. the number or expression resulting from the multiplication together of two or more numbers or expressions
  2. something produced
  3. commodity
  4. something (as a service) that is marketed or sold as a commodity
  5. something resulting from or necessarily following from a set of conditions
    • a product of his environment
  6. the amount, quantity, or total produced
  7. conjunction

pro·duc·tion [prə-'dək-shən, prō-] -n, adj

  1. something produced : product
  2. a literary or artistic work
  3. a work presented to the public (as on the stage or screen or over the air)
  4. something exaggerated out of proportion to its importance
  5. the act or process of producing
  6. the creation of utility
  7. the making of goods available for use
  8. total output esp. of a commodity or an industry
  9. something not specially designed or customized and usu. mass-produced
    • a production car
    • production housing

production control -n

  1. systematic planning, coordinating, and directing of all manufacturing activities and influences to insure having goods made on time, of adequate quality, and at reasonable cost

production line -n

  1. line

pro·duc·tive [prə-'dək-tiv, prō-] -adj, adv, n

  1. having the quality or power of producing esp. in abundance
    • productive fishing waters
  2. effective in bringing about
    • investigating committees have been productive of much good -- R. K. Carr
  3. yielding results, benefits, or profits
  4. yielding or devoted to the satisfaction of wants or the creation of utilities
  5. continuing to be used in the formation of new words or constructions
    • un- is a productive prefix
  6. raising mucus or sputum (as from the bronchi)
    • a productive cough

pro·duc·tiv·i·ty [,prō-dək-'ti-və-tē, ,prä-, prə-,dək-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being productive
  2. the rate per unit area or per unit volume at which biomass consumable as food by other organisms is made by producers

product placement -n

  1. the inclusion of a product in a television program or film as a form of paid advertisement

pro·em ['prō-,em, -əm] -n, adj

  1. preliminary comment : preface
  2. prelude

pro·en·zyme [(,)prō-'en-,zīm] -n

  1. zymogen

pro·es·trus [(,)prō-'es-trəs] -n

  1. a period immediately preceding estrus characterized by preparatory physiological changes

prof ['präf] -n

  1. professor
  2. professional

profam·i·ly [,prō-'fam-lē, -'fa-mə-] -adj

  1. favoring or encouraging traditional family structures and values
  2. opposing abortion and often birth control

prof·a·na·tion [,prä-fə-'nā-shən, ,prō-] -n

  1. the act or an instance of profaning

pro·fa·na·to·ry [prō-'fa-nə-,tȯr-ē, prə-, -'fā-] -adj

  1. tending to profane : desecrating

pro·fane [prō-'fān, prə-] -vt, n

  1. to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt : desecrate
  2. to debase by a wrong, unworthy, or vulgar use

profane [-'fān-nəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not concerned with religion or religious purposes : secular
  2. not holy because unconsecrated, impure, or defiled : unsanctified
  3. serving to debase or defile what is holy : irreverent
  4. obscene, vulgar
  5. not being among the initiated
  6. not possessing esoteric or expert knowledge

pro·fan·i·ty [prō-'fa-nə-tē, prə-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being profane
  2. the use of profane language
  3. profane language
  4. an utterance of profane language

pro·fess [prə-'fes, prō-] -vb

  1. to receive formally into a religious community following a novitiate by acceptance of the required vows
  2. to declare or admit openly or freely : affirm
  3. to declare in words or appearances only : pretend, claim
  4. to confess one's faith in or allegiance to
  5. to practice or claim to be versed in (a calling or profession)
  6. to teach as a professor
  7. to make a profession or avowal
  8. to profess friendship

pro·fessed [-'fest] -adj

  1. openly and freely declared or acknowledged : affirmed
  2. professing to be qualified
  3. expert

pro·fessed·ly [prə-'fe-səd-lē, -'fest-lē] -adv

  1. by profession or declaration : avowedly
  2. with pretense : allegedly

pro·fes·sion [prə-'fe-shən] -n

  1. the act of taking the vows of a religious community
  2. an act of openly declaring or publicly claiming a belief, faith, or opinion : protestation
  3. an avowed religious faith
  4. a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation
  5. a principal calling, vocation, or employment
  6. the whole body of persons engaged in a calling

pro·fes·sion·al [prə-'fesh-nəl, -'fe-shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession
  2. engaged in one of the learned professions
  3. characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession
  4. exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace
  5. participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs
    • a professional golfer
  6. having a particular profession as a permanent career
    • a professional soldier
  7. engaged in by persons receiving financial return
    • professional football
  8. following a line of conduct as though it were a profession
    • a professional patriot

professional -n

  1. one that is professional
  2. one that engages in a pursuit or activity professionally

professional corporation -n

  1. a corporation organized by one or more licensed individuals (as a doctor or lawyer) esp. for the purpose of providing professional services and obtaining tax advantages

pro·fes·sion·al·ism [-'fesh-nə-,li-zəm, -'fe-shə-nə-,li-] -n

  1. the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person
  2. the following of a profession (as athletics) for gain or livelihood

pro·fes·sion·al·ize [-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to give a professional character to

pro·fes·sor [prə-'fe-sər] -n, adj, adv

  1. one that professes, avows, or declares
  2. a faculty member of the highest academic rank at an institution of higher education
  3. a teacher at a university, college, or sometimes secondary school
  4. one that teaches or professes special knowledge of an art, sport, or occupation requiring skill

pro·fes·sor·ate [prə-'fe-sə-rət] -n

  1. the office, term of office, or position of a professor

pro·fes·so·ri·at [,prō-fə-'sȯr-ē-ət, ,prä-, -ē-,at] -n

  1. the body of college and university teachers at an institution or in society
  2. the office, duties, or position of a professor

prof·fer ['prä-fər] -vt

  1. to present for acceptance : tender, offer

proffer -n

  1. offer, suggestion

pro·fi·cien·cy [prə-'fi-shən(t)-sē] -n

  1. advancement in knowledge or skill : progress
  2. the quality or state of being proficient

pro·fi·cient [-shənt] -adj, n, adv

  1. well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge

pro·file ['prō-,fī(-ə)l] -n

  1. a representation of something in outline
  2. a human head or face represented or seen in a side view
  3. an outline seen or represented in sharp relief : contour
  4. : a side or sectional elevation: as
  5. a drawing showing a vertical section of the ground
  6. a vertical section of a soil from the ground surface to the underlying unweathered material
  7. a set of data often in graphic form portraying the significant features of something
    • a corporation's earnings profile
  8. a graph representing the extent to which an individual exhibits traits or abilities as determined by tests or ratings
  9. a concise biographical sketch
  10. degree or level of public exposure
    • trying to keep a low profile
    • a job with a high profile

profile -vt, n

  1. to represent in profile or by a profile : produce (as by drawing, writing, or graphing) a profile of
  2. to shape the outline of by passing a cutter around
  3. to subject to profiling

profiling -n

  1. the act or process of extrapolating information about a person based on known traits or tendencies
    • consumer profiling
  2. the act of suspecting or targeting a person on the basis of observed characteristics or behavior
    • racial profiling

prof·it ['prä-fət] -n, adj, adv

  1. a valuable return : gain
  2. the excess of returns over expenditure in a transaction or series of transactions
  3. the excess of the selling price of goods over their cost
  4. net income usu. for a given period of time
  5. the ratio of profit for a given year to the amount of capital invested or to the value of sales
  6. the compensation accruing to entrepreneurs for the assumption of risk in business enterprise as distinguished from wages or rent

profit -vi

  1. to be of service or advantage : avail
  2. to derive benefit : gain
  3. to make a profit
  4. to be of service to : benefit

prof·it·able ['prä-fə-tə-bəl, 'präf-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. affording profits : yielding advantageous returns or results

profit and loss -n

  1. a summary account used at the end of an accounting period to collect the balances of the nominal accounts so that the net profit or loss may be shown

profit center -n

  1. a part of a corporation or its product line that is an important source of profits

prof·i·teer [,prä-fə-'tir] -n, vi

  1. one who makes what is considered an unreasonable profit esp. on the sale of essential goods during times of emergency

pro·fit·er·ole [prə-'fi-tə-,rōl] -n

  1. a miniature cream puff with a sweet or savory filling

profit sharing -n

  1. a system or process under which employees receive a part of the profits of an industrial or commercial enterprise

profit system -n

  1. free enterprise

prof·li·ga·cy ['prä-fli-gə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being profligate

prof·li·gate ['prä-fli-gət, -,gāt] -adj, adv

  1. completely given up to dissipation and licentiousness
  2. wildly extravagant : prodigal

profligate -n

  1. a person given to wildly extravagant and usu. grossly self-indulgent expenditure

pro·flu·ent ['prä-,flü-ənt, 'prō-; prō-'flü-] -adj

  1. flowing copiously or smoothly

pro for·ma [(,)prō-'fȯr-mə] -adj

  1. made or carried out in a perfunctory manner or as a formality
  2. : based on financial assumptions or projections: as
  3. reflecting a transaction (as a merger) or other development as if it had been or will be in effect for a past or future period
    • a pro forma balance sheet
  4. excluding usu. extraordinary charges or expenses (as from acquisitions, restructuring, or the write-down of goodwill) often in order to present a more attractive financial report
    • pro forma income

pro forma invoice -n

  1. a document provided prior to or with a shipment of goods (as for export) that describes the items and terms of sale but does not have the function of a real invoice

pro·found [prə-'fau̇nd, prō-] -adj, adv, n

  1. having intellectual depth and insight
  2. difficult to fathom or understand
  3. extending far below the surface
  4. coming from, reaching to, or situated at a depth : deep-seated
    • a profound sigh
  5. characterized by intensity of feeling or quality
  6. all encompassing : complete
    • profound sleep
    • profound deafness

profound -n

  1. something that is very deep
  2. the depths of the sea

pro·fun·di·ty [prə-'fən-də-tē] -n

  1. intellectual depth
  2. something profound or abstruse
  3. the quality or state of being profound or deep

pro·fuse [prə-'fyüs, prō-] -adj, adv, n

  1. pouring forth liberally : extravagant
    • profuse in their thanks
  2. exhibiting great abundance : bountiful
    • a profuse harvest

pro·fu·sion [-'fyü-zhən] -n

  1. lavish expenditure : extravagance
  2. the quality or state of being profuse
  3. great quantity : lavish display or supply
    • snow falling in profusion

prog ['präg] -vi

  1. to search about
  2. forage
  3. food, victuals
  4. program
  5. progressive

pro·gen·i·tor [prō-'je-nə-tər, prə-] -n

  1. an ancestor in the direct line : forefather
  2. a biologically ancestral form
  3. precursor, originator
    • progenitor s of socialist ideas -- Times Lit. Supp.
    • progenitor cells

prog·e·ny ['prä-jə-nē] -n

  1. descendants, children
  2. offspring of animals or plants
  3. outcome, product
  4. a body of followers, disciples, or successors

pro·ge·ria [prō-'jir-ē-ə] -n

  1. a rare genetic disorder of childhood marked by slowed physical growth and characteristic signs (as baldness, wrinkled skin, and atherosclerosis) of rapid aging with death usu. occurring around puberty

pro·ges·ta·tion·al [,prō-,jes-'tā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. preceding pregnancy or gestation
  2. of, relating to, inducing, or constituting the modifications of the female mammalian system associated esp. with ovulation and corpus luteum formation
    • progestational hormones

pro·ges·ter·one [prō-'jes-tə-,rōn] -n

  1. a female steroid sex hormone C 21H 30O 2that is secreted by the corpus luteum to prepare the endometrium for implantation and later by the placenta during pregnancy to prevent rejection of the developing embryo or fetus
  2. a synthetic steroid resembling progesterone in action

pro·ges·tin [-'jes-tən] -n

  1. progestogen
  2. a synthetic progesterone (as levonorgestrel)

pro·ges·to·gen [-'jes-tə-jən] -n, adj

  1. a naturally occurring or synthetic progestational steroid

pro·glot·tid [(,)prō-'glä-təd] -n

  1. a segment of a tapeworm containing both male and female reproductive organs

pro·glot·tis [(,)prō-'glä-təs] -n

  1. proglottid

prog·na·thism ['präg-nə-,thi-zəm, präg-'nā-] -n, adj

  1. the condition marked by a prognathous jaw

prog·na·thous ['präg-nə-thəs] -adj

  1. being or having the lower jaw projecting beyond the upper part of the face

prog·no·sis [präg-'nō-səs] -n

  1. the prospect of recovery as anticipated from the usual course of disease or peculiarities of the case
  2. forecast, prognostication

prog·nos·tic [präg-'näs-tik] -n

  1. something that foretells : portent
  2. prognostication, prophecy

prognostic -adj

  1. of, relating to, or serving as ground for prognostication or a prognosis
    • prognostic weather charts
    • favorable prognostic signs

prog·nos·ti·cate [präg-'näs-tə-,kāt] -vt, adj, n

  1. to foretell from signs or symptoms : predict
  2. presage

prog·nos·ti·ca·tion [(,)präg-,näs-tə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. an indication in advance : foretoken
  2. an act, the fact, or the power of prognosticating : forecast
  3. foreboding

pro·grade ['prō-,grād] -adj

  1. having or being a direction of rotation or revolution that is counterclockwise as viewed from the north pole of the sky or a planet

pro·gram ['prō-,gram, -grəm] -n

  1. a public notice
  2. a brief usu. printed outline of the order to be followed, of the features to be presented, and the persons participating (as in a public performance)
  3. the performance of a program
  4. a performance broadcast on radio or television
  5. a plan or system under which action may be taken toward a goal
  6. curriculum
  7. prospectus, syllabus
  8. a plan for the programming of a mechanism (as a computer)
  9. a sequence of coded instructions that can be inserted into a mechanism (as a computer)
  10. a sequence of coded instructions (as genes or behavioral responses) that is part of an organism

program [(,)prō-,gra-mə-'bi-lə-tē] -vt, n, adj or n

  1. to arrange or furnish a program of or for : bill
  2. to enter in a program
  3. to work out a sequence of operations to be performed by (a mechanism) : provide with a program
  4. to insert a program for (a particular action) into or as if into a mechanism
  5. to control by or as if by a program
  6. to code in an organism's program
  7. to provide with a biological program
    • cells programmed to synthesize hemoglobin
  8. to predetermine the thinking, behavior, or operations of as if by computer programming
    • children are programmed into violence -- Lisa A. Richette

program director -n

  1. one in charge of planning and scheduling program material for a radio or television station or network

pro·gram·mat·ic [,prō-grə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv

  1. relating to program music
  2. of, relating to, resembling, or having a program

programme ['prō-,gram, -grəm] -n

(variant of program)

  1. a public notice
  2. a brief usu. printed outline of the order to be followed, of the features to be presented, and the persons participating (as in a public performance)
  3. the performance of a program
  4. a performance broadcast on radio or television
  5. a plan or system under which action may be taken toward a goal
  6. curriculum
  7. prospectus, syllabus
  8. a plan for the programming of a mechanism (as a computer)
  9. a sequence of coded instructions that can be inserted into a mechanism (as a computer)
  10. a sequence of coded instructions (as genes or behavioral responses) that is part of an organism

programmed cell death -n

  1. apoptosis

programmed instruction -n

  1. instruction through information given in small steps with each requiring a correct response by the learner before going on to the next step

pro·gram·mer ['prō-,gra-mər, -grə-] -n

  1. : one that programs: as
  2. a person who prepares and tests programs for devices (as computers)
  3. one that programs a mechanism
  4. one that prepares an instructional program
  5. a person who plans or prepares entertainment programs
    • a television programmer

pro·gram·ming [-miŋ] -n

  1. the planning, scheduling, or performing of a program
  2. the process of instructing or learning by means of an instructional program
  3. the process of preparing an instructional program

program music -n

  1. music intended to suggest a sequence of images or incidents

program trading -n

  1. computerized trading of large blocks of stocks in one market and stock index futures in another so as to take advantage of price differentials between the markets

prog·ress ['prä-grəs, -,gres, US also & Brit usu 'prō-,gres] -n

  1. a royal journey marked by pomp and pageant
  2. a state procession
  3. a tour or circuit made by an official (as a judge)
  4. an expedition, journey, or march through a region
  5. a forward or onward movement (as to an objective or to a goal) : advance
  6. gradual betterment
  7. the progressive development of humankind

pro·gress [prə-'gres] -vi

  1. to move forward : proceed
  2. to develop to a higher, better, or more advanced stage

pro·gres·sion [prə-'gre-shən] -n, adj

  1. a sequence of numbers in which each term is related to its predecessor by a uniform law
  2. the action or process of progressing : advance
  3. a continuous and connected series : sequence
  4. succession of musical tones or chords
  5. the movement of musical parts in harmony
  6. sequence

pro·gres·sive [prə-'gre-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by progress
  2. making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities
  3. of, relating to, or constituting an educational theory marked by emphasis on the individual child, informality of classroom procedure, and encouragement of self-expression
  4. of, relating to, or characterized by progression
  5. moving forward or onward : advancing
  6. increasing in extent or severity
    • a progressive disease
  7. increasing in rate as the base increases
    • a progressive tax
  8. of or relating to political Progressives
  9. of, relating to, or constituting a verb form that expresses action or state in progress at the time of speaking or a time spoken of
  10. of, relating to, or being a multifocal lens with a gradual transition between focal lengths
    • progressive bifocals
  11. or, relating to, or using a method of video scanning (as for television or a computer monitor) in which the horizontal lines of each frame are drawn successively from top to bottom

progressive -n

  1. one that is progressive
  2. one believing in moderate political change and esp. social improvement by governmental action
  3. : a member of any of various U.S. political parties: as
  4. a member of a predominantly agrarian minor party that around 1912 split off from the Republicans
  5. bull moose
  6. a follower of Robert M. La Follette in the presidential campaign of 1924
  7. a follower of Henry A. Wallace in the presidential campaign of 1948

Progressive Conservative -adj, n

  1. of or relating to a major political party in Canada traditionally advocating economic nationalism and close ties with the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations

pro·gres·siv·ism [prə-'gre-si-,vi-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. the principles, beliefs, or practices of progressives
  2. the political and economic doctrines advocated by the Progressives
  3. the theories of progressive education

pro·gres·siv·i·ty [,prō-(,)gre-'si-və-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being a progressive tax

pro·hib·it [prō-'hi-bət, prə-] -vt

  1. to forbid by authority : enjoin
  2. to prevent from doing something
  3. preclude

pro·hi·bi·tion [,prō-ə-'bi-shən also ,prō-hə-] -n

  1. the act of prohibiting by authority
  2. an order to restrain or stop
  3. the forbidding by law of the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic liquors except for medicinal and sacramental purposes

pro·hi·bi·tion·ist [-sh(ə-)nist] -n

  1. one who favors prohibition
  2. a member of a U.S. political party advocating prohibition

pro·hib·i·tive [prō-'hi-bə-tiv, prə-] -adj, adv, n

  1. tending to prohibit or restrain
  2. tending to preclude use or purchase
    • prohibitive costs
  3. almost certain to perform as predicted
    • a prohibitive favorite

pro·hib·i·to·ry [-'hi-bə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. prohibitive

pro·in·su·lin [(,)prō-'in(t)-s(ə-)lən] -n

  1. a single-chain pancreatic polypeptide precursor of insulin that gives rise to the double chain of insulin by cleavage and loss of the middle part of the molecule

proj -abbr

  1. project
  2. projector

proj·ect ['prä-,jekt, -jikt also 'prō-] -n

  1. a specific plan or design : scheme
  2. idea
  3. : a planned undertaking: as
  4. a definitely formulated piece of research
  5. a large usu. government-supported undertaking
  6. a task or problem engaged in usu. by a group of students to supplement and apply classroom studies
  7. a usu. public housing development consisting of houses or apartments built and arranged according to a single plan

pro·ject [prə-'jekt] -vb, adj

  1. to devise in the mind : design
  2. to plan, figure, or estimate for the future
  3. to throw or cast forward : thrust
  4. to put or set forth : present for consideration
  5. to cause to jut out
  6. to cause (light or shadow) to fall into space or (an image) to fall on a surface
  7. to reproduce (as a point, line, or area) on a surface by motion in a prescribed direction
  8. to display outwardly esp. to an audience
  9. to attribute (one's own ideas, feelings, or characteristics) to other people or to objects
    • a nation is an entity on which one can project many of the worst of one's instincts -- Times Lit. Supp.
  10. to jut out : protrude
  11. to come across vividly : give an impression
  12. to make oneself heard clearly

pro·jec·tile [prə-'jek-tᵊl, -,tī(-ə)l, chiefly Brit 'prä-jik-,tī(-ə)l] -n

  1. a body projected by external force and continuing in motion by its own inertia
  2. a missile for a weapon (as a firearm)
  3. a self-propelling weapon (as a rocket)

projectile -adj

  1. projecting or impelling forward
    • a projectile force
  2. capable of being thrust forward

projectile vom·it·ing [-'vä-mə-tiŋ] -n

  1. vomiting that is sudden and so vigorous that the vomitus is forcefully projected to a distance

pro·jec·tion [prə-'jek-shən] -n, adj

  1. a systematic presentation of intersecting coordinate lines on a flat surface upon which features from a curved surface (as of the earth or the celestial sphere) may be mapped
    • an equal-area map projection
  2. the process or technique of reproducing a spatial object upon a plane or curved surface or a line by projecting its points
  3. a graph or figure so formed
  4. a transforming change
  5. the act of throwing or thrusting forward
  6. the forming of a plan : scheming
  7. a jutting out
  8. a part that juts out
  9. a view of a building or architectural element
  10. the act of perceiving a mental object as spatially and sensibly objective
  11. something so perceived
  12. the attribution of one's own ideas, feelings, or attitudes to other people or to objects
  13. the externalization of blame, guilt, or responsibility as a defense against anxiety
  14. the display of motion pictures by projecting an image from them upon a screen
  15. the act of projecting esp. to an audience
  16. control of the volume, clarity, and distinctness of a voice to gain greater audibility
  17. an estimate of future possibilities based on a current trend

projection booth -n

  1. a booth in a theater or hall for housing and operating a projector and esp. a motion-picture projector

pro·jec·tion·ist [prə-'jek-sh(ə-)nist] -n

  1. : one that makes projections: as
  2. cartographer
  3. a person who operates a motion-picture projector or television equipment

pro·jec·tive [prə-'jek-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. relating to, produced by, or involving geometric projection
  2. of or relating to something that indicates the psychodynamic constitution of an individual
    • projective tests

projective geometry -n

  1. a branch of geometry that deals with the properties of configurations that are unaltered by projection

pro·jec·tor [prə-'jek-tər] -n

  1. one that plans a project
  2. promoter
  3. : one that projects: as
  4. a device for projecting a beam of light
  5. an optical instrument for projecting an image upon a surface
  6. a machine for projecting motion pictures on a screen
  7. an imagined line from an object to a surface along which projection takes place

pro·jet [prō-'zhā, 'prō-,] -n

  1. plan
  2. a draft of a proposed measure or treaty
  3. a projected or proposed design

pro·kary·ote [(,)prō-'ka-rē-,ōt] -n, adj

  1. any of the typically unicellular microorganisms that lack a distinct nucleus and membrane-bound organelles and that are classified as a kingdom (Prokaryotae syn. Monera) or into two domains (Bacteria and Archaea)

pro·lac·tin [prō-'lak-tən] -n

  1. a protein hormone of the anterior lobe of the pituitary that induces lactation

pro·la·min ['prō-lə-mən, -,mēn] -n

  1. any of various simple proteins (as zein) that are found esp. in grass seeds and are soluble in alcohol

pro·lapse [prō-'laps, 'prō-,] -n

  1. the falling down or slipping of a body part from its usual position or relations
  2. to undergo prolapse

pro·late ['prō-,lāt] -adj

  1. extended
  2. elongated in the direction of a line joining the poles
    • a prolate spheroid

prole ['prōl] -n or adj

  1. proletarian

pro·leg ['prō-,leg, -,lāg] -n

  1. a fleshy leg that occurs on an abdominal segment of some insect larvae but not in the adult

pro·le·gom·e·non [,prō-li-'gä-mə-,nän, -nən] -n, adj

  1. prefatory remarks
  2. a formal essay or critical discussion serving to introduce and interpret an extended work

pro·lep·sis [prō-'lep-səs] -n, adj, adv

  1. : anticipation: as
  2. the representation or assumption of a future act or development as if presently existing or accomplished
  3. the application of an adjective to a noun in anticipation of the result of the action of the verb (as in while yon slow oxen turn the furrowedplain)

pro·le·tar·i·an [,prō-lə-'ter-ē-ən] -n, adj

  1. a member of the proletariat

pro·le·tar·i·an·ise [-'ter-ē-ə-,nīz] -vt, n

(variant of proletarianize)

  1. to reduce to a proletarian status or level

pro·le·tar·i·an·ize [-'ter-ē-ə-,nīz] -vt, n

  1. to reduce to a proletarian status or level

pro·le·tar·i·at [,prō-lə-'ter-ē-ət, -ē-,at] -n

  1. the laboring class
  2. the class of industrial workers who lack their own means of production and hence sell their labor to live
  3. the lowest social or economic class of a community

prolife [(,)prō-'līf] -adj, n

  1. opposed to abortion

pro·lif·er·ate [prə-'li-fə-,rāt] -vb, n, adj

  1. to grow by rapid production of new parts, cells, buds, or offspring
  2. to increase in number as if by proliferating : multiply
  3. to cause to grow by proliferating
  4. to cause to increase in number or extent as if by proliferating

pro·lif·ic [prə-'li-fik] -adj, n, adv

  1. producing young or fruit esp. freely : fruitful
  2. causing abundant growth, generation, or reproduction
  3. marked by abundant inventiveness or productivity
    • a prolific composer

pro·li·fic·i·ty [,prō-lə-'fi-sə-tē] -n

  1. prolific power or character

pro·line ['prō-,lēn] -n

  1. an amino acid C 5H 9NO 2that can be synthesized by animals from glutamate

pro·lix [prō-'liks, 'prō-(,)] -adj, n, adv

  1. unduly prolonged or drawn out : too long
  2. marked by or using an excess of words

pro·loc·u·tor [prō-'lä-kyə-tər] -n

  1. one who speaks for another : spokesman
  2. presiding officer : chairman

pro·log·ize ['prō-,lȯ-,gīz, -,lä-; -lə-,jīz] -vi

  1. to write or speak a prologue

pro·logue ['prō-,lȯg, -,läg] -n

  1. the preface or introduction to a literary work
  2. a speech often in verse addressed to the audience by an actor at the beginning of a play
  3. the actor speaking such a prologue
  4. an introductory or preceding event or development

pro·long [prə-'lȯŋ] -vt, n

  1. to lengthen in time : continue
  2. to lengthen in extent, scope, or range

pro·lu·sion [prō-'lü-zhən] -n, adj

  1. a preliminary trial or exercise : prelude
  2. an introductory and often tentative discourse

prom ['präm] -n

  1. a formal dance given by a high school or college class
  2. promenade
  3. promontory

prom·e·nade [,prä-mə-'nād, -'näd] -vb, n

  1. to take or go on a promenade
  2. to perform a promenade in a dance
  3. to walk about in or on

promenade -n

  1. a place for strolling
  2. a leisurely walk or ride esp. in a public place for pleasure or display
  3. a ceremonious opening of a formal ball consisting of a grand march of all the guests
  4. a figure in a square dance in which couples move counterclockwise in a circle

promenade deck -n

  1. an upper deck or an area on a deck of a passenger ship where passengers stroll

Pro·me·the·an [prə-'mē-thē-ən] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or resembling Prometheus, his experiences, or his art
  2. daringly original or creative

Pro·me·theus [-thē-əs, -,thyüs] -n

  1. a Titan who is chained and tortured by Zeus for stealing fire from heaven and giving it to humankind

pro·me·thi·um [-thē-əm] -n

  1. a radioactive metallic element of the rare-earth group obtained as a fission product of uranium or from neutron-irradiated neodymium

prom·i·nence ['prä-mə-nən(t)s, 'präm-nən(t)s] -n

  1. something prominent : projection
    • a rocky prominence
  2. the quality, state, or fact of being prominent or conspicuous
  3. a mass of gas resembling a cloud that arises from the chromosphere of the sun

prom·i·nent [-nənt] -adj, adv

  1. standing out or projecting beyond a surface or line : protuberant
  2. readily noticeable : conspicuous
  3. widely and popularly known : leading

pro·mis·cu·i·ty [,prä-mə-'skyü-ə-tē, ,prō-] -n

  1. miscellaneous mingling or selection of persons or things : indiscriminateness
  2. promiscuous sexual behavior

pro·mis·cu·ous [prə-'mis-kyə-wəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. composed of all sorts of persons or things
  2. not restricted to one class, sort, or person : indiscriminate
    • education...cheapened through the promiscuous distribution of diplomas -- Norman Cousins
  3. not restricted to one sexual partner
  4. casual, irregular
    • promiscuous eating habits

prom·ise ['prä-məs] -n

  1. a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified
  2. a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act
  3. reason to expect something
    • little promise of relief
  4. ground for expectation of success, improvement, or excellence
    • shows considerable promise
  5. something that is promised

promise [,prä-mə-'sē] -vb, n

  1. to pledge to do, bring about, or provide
    • promise aid
  2. warrant, assure
  3. betroth
  4. to suggest beforehand : give promise of
    • dark clouds promise rain
  5. to make a promise
  6. to give ground for expectation : be imminent

promised land -n

  1. something and esp. a place or condition believed to promise final satisfaction or realization of hopes

promising [-siŋ-lē] -adj, adv

  1. full of promise : likely to succeed or to yield good results
    • a promising new medicine

prom·is·so·ry ['prä-mə-,sȯr-ē] -adj

  1. containing or conveying a promise or assurance

promissory note -n

  1. a written promise to pay at a fixed or determinable future time a sum of money to a specified individual or to bearer

pro·mo ['prō-(,)mō] -n

  1. a promotional announcement, blurb, or appearance

prom·on·to·ry ['prä-mən-,tȯr-ē] -n

  1. a high point of land or rock projecting into a body of water
  2. a prominent mass of land overlooking or projecting into a lowland
  3. a bodily prominence

pro·mote [prə-'mōt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to advance in station, rank, or honor : raise
  2. to change (a pawn) into a piece in chess by moving to the eighth rank
  3. to advance (a student) from one grade to the next higher grade
  4. to contribute to the growth or prosperity of : further
    • promote international understanding
  5. to help bring (as an enterprise) into being : launch
  6. to present (merchandise) for buyer acceptance through advertising, publicity, or discounting
  7. to get possession of by doubtful means or by ingenuity

pro·mot·er [-'mō-tər] -n

  1. one that promotes
  2. one who assumes the financial responsibilities of a sporting event (as a boxing match) including contracting with the principals, renting the site, and collecting gate receipts
  3. prosecutor
  4. a substance that in very small amounts is able to increase the activity of a catalyst
  5. a binding site in a DNA chain at which RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription of messenger RNA by one or more nearby structural genes

pro·mo·tion [prə-'mō-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act or fact of being raised in position or rank : preferment
  2. the act of furthering the growth or development of something
  3. the furtherance of the acceptance and sale of merchandise through advertising, publicity, or discounting

pro·mo·tive [-'mō-tiv] -adj, n

  1. tending or serving to promote
    • measures promotive of good health

prompt ['präm(p)t] -vt, n

  1. to move to action : incite
  2. to assist (one acting or reciting) by suggesting or saying the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned : cue
  3. to serve as the inciting cause of
    • evidence prompt ing an investigation
  4. of or relating to prompting actors
  5. being ready and quick to act as occasion demands
  6. performed readily or immediately
    • prompt assistance
  7. something that prompts : reminder
  8. a limit of time given for payment of an account for goods purchased
  9. the contract by which this time is fixed

prompt·book ['präm(p)t-,bu̇k, 'prämp-,bu̇k] -n

  1. a copy of a play with directions for performance used by a theater prompter

promp·ti·tude ['präm(p)-tə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. the quality or habit of being prompt : promptness

prompt side -n

  1. the side of the stage adjacent to the prompter's corner
  2. the side of the stage to the right of an actor facing the audience

pro·mul·gate ['prä-məl-,gāt; prō-'məl-, prə-', 'prō-(,)] -vt, n

  1. to make (as a doctrine) known by open declaration : proclaim
  2. to make known or public the terms of (a proposed law)
  3. to put (a law) into action or force

pro·na·tion [prō-'nā-shən] -n, vb

  1. rotation of the hand and forearm so that the palm faces backwards or downwards
  2. rotation of the medial bones in the midtarsal region of the foot inward and downward so that in walking the foot tends to come down on its inner margin

pro·na·tor ['prō-,nā-tər] -n

  1. a muscle that produces pronation

prone ['prōn] -adj, adv, n

  1. having a tendency or inclination : being likely
    • prone to forget names
    • accident- prone
  2. having the front or ventral surface downward
  3. lying flat or prostrate

pro·neph·ros [(,)prō-'ne-frəs, -,fräs] -n, adj

  1. either member of the first and most anterior pair of the three successive paired vertebrate renal organs that functions in the adults of amphioxus and some lampreys, functions temporarily in larval fishes and amphibians, and is present but nonfunctional in embryos of reptiles, birds, and mammals

prong ['prȯŋ, 'präŋ] -n

  1. fork
  2. a tine of a fork
  3. : a slender pointed or projecting part: as
  4. a fang of a tooth
  5. a point of an antler
  6. something resembling a prong
  7. to stab, pierce, or break up with a pronged device

pronged ['prȯŋd, 'präŋd] -adj

  1. having a usu. specified number of prongs usu. used in combination
    • a 3- pronged fork
  2. having a usu. specified number of parts or approaches
    • a 2- pronged strategy

prong·horn ['prȯŋ-,hȯrn, 'präŋ-] -n

  1. a swift horned ruminant mammal ( Antilocapra americana) chiefly of grasslands and deserts of western No. America that resembles an antelope called also pronghorn antelope

pro·nom·i·nal [prō-'nä-mə-nᵊl, -'näm-nəl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a pronoun
  2. resembling a pronoun in identifying or specifying without describing
    • the pronominal adjective this in this dog

pro·noun ['prō-,nau̇n] -n

  1. any of a small set of words in a language that are used as substitutes for nouns or noun phrases and whose referents are named or understood in the context

pro·nounce [prə-'nau̇n(t)s] -vb, n, adj

  1. to declare officially or ceremoniously
    • the minister pronounced them husband and wife
  2. to declare authoritatively or as an opinion
    • doctors pronounced him fit to resume duties
  3. to employ the organs of speech to produce
    • pronounce these words
  4. to say correctly
    • I can't pronounce his name
  5. to represent in printed characters the spoken counterpart of (an orthographic representation)
    • both dictionaries pronounce clique the same
  6. recite
    • speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you -- Shak.
  7. to pass judgment
  8. to produce the components of spoken language

pro·nounced [-'nau̇n(t)st] -adj, adv

  1. strongly marked : decided
    • a pronounced dislike

pro·nounce·ment [prə-'nau̇n(t)s-mənt] -n

  1. a usu. formal declaration of opinion
  2. an authoritative announcement

pronouncing -adj

  1. relating to or indicating pronunciation
    • a pronouncing dictionary

pron·to ['prän-,tō] -adv

  1. without delay

pro·nu·clear [(,)prō-'nü-klē-ər, -'nyü-, ÷-kyə-lər] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or resembling a pronucleus

pronuclear -adj

  1. advocating the use of nuclear-powered generating stations

pro·nu·cle·us [(,)prō-'nü-klē-əs, -'nyü-] -n

  1. the haploid nucleus of a male or female gamete (as an egg or sperm) up to the time of fusion with that of another gamete in fertilization

pro·nun·ci·a·men·to [prō-,nən(t)-sē-ə-'men-(,)tō] -n

  1. proclamation, pronouncement

pro·nun·ci·a·tion [prə-,nən(t)-sē-'ā-shən also ÷-,nau̇n(t)-] -n, adj

  1. the act or manner of pronouncing something

proof ['prüf] -n

  1. the cogency of evidence that compels acceptance by the mind of a truth or a fact
  2. the process or an instance of establishing the validity of a statement esp. by derivation from other statements in accordance with principles of reasoning
  3. experience
  4. something that induces certainty or establishes validity
  5. the quality or state of having been tested or tried
  6. unyielding hardness
  7. evidence operating to determine the finding or judgment of a tribunal
  8. a copy (as of typeset text) made for examination or correction
  9. a test impression of an engraving, etching, or lithograph
  10. a coin that is struck from a highly polished die on a polished planchet, is not intended for circulation, and sometimes differs in metallic content from coins of identical design struck for circulation
  11. a test photographic print made from a negative
  12. a test applied to articles or substances to determine whether they are of standard or satisfactory quality
  13. the minimum alcoholic strength of proof spirit
  14. strength with reference to the standard for proof spirit
  15. alcoholic strength indicated by a number that is twice the percent by volume of alcohol present
    • whiskey of 90 proof is 45 percent alcohol
  16. able to resist or repel
    • boots that were...proof against cold and wet -- Robertson Davies
    often used in combination
    • wind proof
  17. used in proving or testing or as a standard of comparison
  18. of standard strength or quality or alcoholic content
  19. to make or take a proof or test of
  20. proofread
  21. to give a resistant quality to
  22. to activate (yeast) by mixing with water and sometimes sugar or milk

proof·read ['prüf-,rēd] -vt

  1. to read and mark corrections in (as a proof)

proof·read·er [-,rē-dər] -n

  1. a person who proofreads

proof spirit -n

  1. an alcoholic liquor or mixture of ethanol and water that contains 50 percent ethanol by volume at 60F (16C)

prop ['präp] -n

  1. something that props or sustains : support
  2. to support by placing something under or against often used with up
  3. to support by placing against something
  4. sustain, strengthen often used with up
    • a government propped up by the military
  5. property
    • stage prop s
  6. something used in creating or enhancing a desired effect
    • buy books...as cultural prop s because they want to appear literate -- John Powers
  7. propeller
  8. property
  9. proposition
  10. proprietor

prop- -comb form

  1. related to propionic acid
    • prop ane
    • prop yl

pro·pae·deu·tic [,prō-pi-'dü-tik, -'dyü-] -n, adj

  1. preparatory study or instruction

pro·pa·gan·da [,prä-pə-'gan-də, ,prō-] -n, n or adj, adj, adv

  1. a congregation of the Roman curia having jurisdiction over missionary territories and related institutions
  2. the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person
  3. ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause
  4. a public action having such an effect

pro·pa·gan·dize [-'gan-,dīz] -vb, n

  1. to subject to propaganda
  2. to carry on propaganda for
  3. to carry on propaganda

prop·a·gate ['prä-pə-,gāt] -vb, adj, n

  1. to cause to continue or increase by sexual or asexual reproduction
  2. to pass along to offspring
  3. to cause to spread out and affect a greater number or greater area : extend
  4. to foster growing knowledge of, familiarity with, or acceptance of (as an idea or belief) : publicize
  5. to transmit (as sound or light) through a medium
  6. to multiply sexually or asexually
  7. increase, extend
  8. to travel through space or a material used of wave energy (as light, sound, or radio waves)

prop·a·ga·tion [,prä-pə-'gā-shən] -n

  1. : the act or action of propagating: as
  2. increase (as of a kind of organism) in numbers
  3. the spreading of something (as a belief) abroad or into new regions
  4. enlargement or extension (as of a crack) in a solid body

prop·a·gule ['prä-pə-,gyül] -n

  1. a structure (as a cutting, a seed, or a spore) that propagates a plant

pro·pane ['prō-,pān] -n

  1. a heavy flammable gaseous alkane C 3H 8found in crude petroleum and natural gas and used esp. as fuel and in chemical synthesis

pro·pel [prə-'pel] -vt

  1. to drive forward or onward by or as if by means of a force that imparts motion

pro·pel·lant [-'pe-lənt] -adj

  1. capable of propelling

propellant -n

  1. : something that propels: as
  2. an explosive for propelling projectiles
  3. fuel plus oxidizer used by a rocket engine
  4. a gas kept under pressure in a bottle or can for expelling the contents when the pressure is released

pro·pel·ler [prə-'pe-lər] -n

  1. one that propels
  2. a device that consists of a central hub with radiating blades placed and twisted so that each forms part of a helical surface and that is used to propel a vehicle (as a ship or airplane)

pro·pel·lerhead [prə-'pe-lər-,hed] -n

  1. an enthusiast of technology and esp. of computers
  2. technophile

pro·pend [prō-'pend] -vi

  1. incline

pro·pense [prō-'pen(t)s] -adj

  1. leaning or inclining toward : disposed

pro·pen·si·ty [prə-'pen(t)-sə-tē] -n

  1. an often intense natural inclination or preference

prop·er ['prä-pər] -adj, adv, n

  1. referring to one individual only
  2. belonging to one : own
  3. appointed for the liturgy of a particular day
  4. represented heraldically in natural color
  5. belonging characteristically to a species or individual : peculiar
  6. good-looking, handsome
  7. very good : excellent
  8. utter, absolute
  9. strictly limited to a specified thing, place, or idea
    • the city proper
  10. strictly accurate : correct
  11. virtuous, respectable
  12. strictly decorous : genteel
  13. marked by suitability, rightness, or appropriateness : fit
  14. being a mathematical subset (as a subgroup) that does not contain all the elements of the inclusive set from which it is derived

proper -n

  1. the parts of the Mass that vary according to the liturgical calendar
  2. the part of a missal or breviary containing the proper of the Mass and the offices proper to the holy days of the liturgical year
  3. in a thorough manner : completely

proper adjective -n

  1. an adjective that is formed from a proper noun and that is usu. capitalized in English

pro·per·din [prō-'pər-dᵊn] -n

  1. a blood serum protein that participates in the activation of complement in a pathway which does not involve the presence of antibodies

proper fraction -n

  1. a fraction in which the numerator is less or of lower degree than the denominator

proper noun -n

  1. a noun that designates a particular being or thing, does not take a limiting modifier, and is usu. capitalized in English called also proper name

prop·er·tied ['prä-pər-tēd] -adj

  1. possessing property

prop·er·ty ['prä-pər-tē] -n, adj

  1. a quality or trait belonging and esp. peculiar to an individual or thing
  2. an effect that an object has on another object or on the senses
  3. virtue
  4. an attribute common to all members of a class
  5. something owned or possessed
  6. a piece of real estate
  7. the exclusive right to possess, enjoy, and dispose of a thing : ownership
  8. something to which a person or business has a legal title
  9. one (as a performer) who is under contract and whose work is esp. valuable
  10. a book or script purchased for publication or production
  11. an article or object used in a play or motion picture except painted scenery and costumes

property damage insurance -n

  1. insurance protecting against all or part of an individual's legal liability for damage done (as by his or her automobile) to the property of another

property right -n

  1. a legal right or interest in or against specific property

property tax -n

  1. a tax levied on real or personal property

pro·phage ['prō-,fāj, -,fäzh] -n

  1. an intracellular form of a bacteriophage in which it is harmless to the host, is usu. integrated into the hereditary material of the host, and reproduces when the host does

pro·phase [-,fāz] -n, adj

  1. the initial stage of mitosis and of the mitotic division of meiosis characterized by the condensation of chromosomes consisting of two chromatids, disappearance of the nucleolus and nuclear membrane, and formation of mitotic spindle
  2. the initial stage of the first division of meiosis in which the chromosomes become visible, homologous pairs of chromosomes undergo synapsis and crossing over, chiasmata appear, chromosomes condense with homologues visible as tetrads, and the nuclear membrane and nucleolus disappear

proph·e·cy ['prä-fə-sē] -n

  1. an inspired utterance of a prophet
  2. the function or vocation of a prophet
  3. the inspired declaration of divine will and purpose
  4. a prediction of something to come

proph·e·size ['prä-fə-,sīz] -vb

  1. prophesy

proph·e·sy ['prä-fə-,sī] -vb, n

  1. to utter by or as if by divine inspiration
  2. to predict with assurance or on the basis of mystic knowledge
  3. prefigure
  4. to speak as if divinely inspired
  5. to give instruction in religious matters : preach
  6. to make a prediction

proph·et ['prä-fət] -n

  1. : one who utters divinely inspired revelations: as
  2. the writer of one of the prophetic books of the Bible
  3. one regarded by a group of followers as the final authoritative revealer of God's will
    • Muhammad, the Prophet of Allah
  4. one gifted with more than ordinary spiritual and moral insight
  5. an inspired poet
  6. one who foretells future events : predictor
  7. an effective or leading spokesman for a cause, doctrine, or group
  8. a spiritual seer
  9. disappearance of material sense before the conscious facts of spiritual Truth

proph·et·ess ['prä-fə-təs] -n

  1. a woman who is a prophet

pro·phet·ic [prə-'fe-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy
  2. foretelling events : predictive

Proph·ets ['prä-fəts] -n pl

  1. the second part of the Hebrew Bible

pro·phy·lac·tic [,prō-fə-'lak-tik also ,prä-] -adj, adv

  1. guarding from or preventing the spread or occurrence of disease or infection
  2. tending to prevent or ward off : preventive

prophylactic -n

  1. something prophylactic
  2. a device and esp. a condom for preventing venereal infection or conception

pro·phy·lax·is [-'lak-səs] -n

  1. measures designed to preserve health (as of an individual or of society) and prevent the spread of disease

pro·pine [prə-'pēn, -'pīn] -vt

  1. to present or give esp. as a token of friendship

propine -n

  1. a gift in return for a favor

pro·pin·qui·ty [prə-'piŋ-kwə-tē] -n

  1. nearness of blood : kinship
  2. nearness in place or time : proximity

pro·pi·o·nate ['prō-pē-ə-,nāt] -n

  1. a salt or ester of propionic acid

pro·pi·on·ic acid [,prō-pē-'ä-nik-] -n

  1. a liquid sharp-odored fatty acid C 3H 6O 2found in milk and distillates of wood, coal, and petroleum and used esp. as a mold inhibitor and flavoring agent

pro·pi·ti·ate [prō-'pi-shē-,āt] -vt, n

  1. to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : appease

pro·pi·ti·a·tion [prō-,pi-shē-'ā-shən] -n

  1. the act of propitiating
  2. something that propitiates
  3. an atoning sacrifice

pro·pi·ti·a·to·ry [prō-'pi-sh(ē-)ə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. intended to propitiate : expiatory
  2. of or relating to propitiation

pro·pi·tious [prə-'pi-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. favorably disposed : benevolent
  2. being a good omen : auspicious
    • propitious sign
  3. tending to favor : advantageous

pro·plas·tid [(,)prō-'plas-təd] -n

  1. a minute cytoplasmic body from which a plastid is formed

prop·man ['präp-,man] -n

  1. a man in charge of stage properties

prop·o·lis ['prä-pə-ləs] -n

  1. a brownish resinous material of waxy consistency collected by bees from the buds of trees and used as a cement in repairing and maintaining the hive

pro·pone [prə-'pōn] -vt

  1. propose, propound
  2. to put forward (a defense)

pro·po·nent [prə-'pō-nənt, 'prō-,] -n

  1. one who argues in favor of something : advocate

pro·por·tion [prə-'pȯr-shən] -n

  1. harmonious relation of parts to each other or to the whole : balance, symmetry
  2. proper or equal share
    • each did her proportion of the work
  3. quota, percentage
  4. the relation of one part to another or to the whole with respect to magnitude, quantity, or degree : ratio
  5. size, dimension
  6. a statement of equality between two ratios in which the first of the four terms divided by the second equals the third divided by the fourth (as in 4/210/5)

proportion [-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt

  1. to adjust (a part or thing) in size relative to other parts or things
  2. to make the parts of harmonious or symmetrical
  3. apportion, allot

pro·por·tion·able [-sh(ə-)nə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. proportional, proportionate

pro·por·tion·al [prə-'pȯr-shnə1, -shə-nᵊl] -n

  1. a number or quantity in a proportion

proportional [-,pȯr-shə-'na-lə-tē] -adj, n, adv

  1. corresponding in size, degree, or intensity
  2. having the same or a constant ratio
    • corresponding sides of similar triangles are proportional
  3. regulated or determined in size or degree with reference to proportions
    • a proportional system of immigration quotas

proportional parts -n pl

  1. fractional parts of the difference between successive entries in a table for use in linear interpolation

proportional representation -n

  1. an electoral system designed to represent in a legislative body each political group or party in proportion to its actual voting strength in the electorate

proportional tax -n

  1. a tax in which the tax rate remains constant regardless of the amount of the tax base

pro·por·tion·ate [prə-'pȯr-sh(ə-)nət] -adj, adv

  1. proportional
  2. to make proportionate : proportion

pro·pos·al [prə-'pō-zəl] -n

  1. an act of putting forward or stating something for consideration
  2. something proposed : suggestion
  3. offer
  4. an offer of marriage

pro·pose [prə-'pōz] -vb, n

  1. to form or put forward a plan or intention
    • man propose s, but God disposes
  2. to engage in talk or discussion
  3. to make an offer of marriage
  4. to set before the mind (as for discussion, imitation, or action)
    • propose a plan for settling the dispute
  5. to set before someone and esp. oneself as an aim or intent
    • proposed to spend the summer in Italy
  6. to set forth for acceptance or rejection
    • propose terms for peace
    • propose a topic for debate
  7. to recommend to fill a place or vacancy : nominate
    • propose them for membership
  8. to offer as a toast
    • propose the happiness of the couple

prop·o·si·tion [,prä-pə-'zi-shən] -n, adj

  1. something offered for consideration or acceptance : proposal
  2. a request for sexual intercourse
  3. the point to be discussed or maintained in argument usu. stated in sentence form near the outset
  4. a theorem or problem to be demonstrated or performed
  5. an expression in language or signs of something that can be believed, doubted, or denied or is either true or false
  6. the objective meaning of a proposition
  7. something of an indicated kind to be dealt with
    • the farm was never a paying proposition

proposition [-'zi-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt

  1. to make a proposal to
  2. to suggest sexual intercourse to

propositional calculus -n

  1. the branch of symbolic logic that uses symbols for unanalyzed propositions and logical connectives only called also sentential calculus

propositional function -n

  1. sentential function
  2. something that is designated or expressed by a sentential function

pro·pos·i·tus [prō-'pä-zə-təs] -n

  1. the person immediately concerned : subject

pro·pound [prə-'pau̇nd] -vt, n

  1. to offer for discussion or consideration

pro·poxy·phene [prō-'päk-sə-,fēn] -n

  1. a narcotic analgesic C 22H 29NO 2structurally related to methadone but less addicting that is administered esp. in the form of its salts (as the hydrochloride)

pro·prae·tor [(,)prō-'prē-tər] -n

  1. a praetor of ancient Rome sent out to govern a province

pro·pran·o·lol [prō-'pra-nə-,lȯl, -,lōl] -n

  1. a beta-blocker C 16H 21NO 2used in the form of its hydrochloride in the treatment of abnormal heart rhythms and angina pectoris

pro·pri·e·tary [prə-'prī-ə-,ter-ē] -n

  1. one that possesses, owns, or holds exclusive right to something
  2. proprietor
  3. something that is used, produced, or marketed under exclusive legal right of the inventor or maker
  4. a drug (as a patent medicine) that is protected by secrecy, patent, or copyright against free competition as to name, product, composition, or process of manufacture
  5. a business secretly owned by and run as a cover for an intelligence organization

proprietary -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a proprietor
    • proprietary rights
  2. used, made, or marketed by one having the exclusive legal right
    • a proprietary process
    • proprietary software
  3. privately owned and managed and run as a profit-making organization
    • a proprietary clinic

pro·pri·e·tor [prə-'prī-ə-tər] -n

  1. one granted ownership of a colony (as one of the original American colonies) and full prerogatives of establishing a government and distributing land
  2. a person who has the legal right or exclusive title to something : owner
  3. one having an interest (as control or present use) less than absolute and exclusive right

pro·pri·e·to·ri·al [prə-,prī-ə-'tȯr-ē-əl, prō-] -adj

  1. proprietary

pro·pri·e·tress [-'prī-ə-trəs] -n

  1. a woman who is a proprietor

pro·pri·e·ty [prə-'prī-ə-tē] -n

  1. true nature
  2. a special characteristic : peculiarity
  3. the quality or state of being proper : appropriateness
  4. conformity to what is socially acceptable in conduct or speech
  5. fear of offending against conventional rules of behavior esp. between the sexes
  6. the customs and manners of polite society

pro·pri·o·cep·tion [,prō-prē-ō-'sep-shən] -n

  1. the reception of stimuli produced within the organism

pro·pri·o·cep·tive [-'sep-tiv] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being stimuli arising within the organism
    • a proprioceptive sensation
    • proprioceptive feedback

pro·pri·o·cep·tor [-tər] -n

  1. a sensory receptor (as a muscle spindle) excited by proprioceptive stimuli (as changes in limb position)

prop root -n

  1. a root that serves as a prop or support to the plant

props [präps] -n pl but usu sing in constr

  1. due
    • takes pains to give the man his props -- Dan Epstein
  2. respect
    • teachers have to earn their props just like everybody else -- Greg Donaldson
  3. credit
    • at least deserves props for writing a song about something that rings true -- Jim Abbott

prop·to·sis [präp-'tō-səs, prō-'tō-] -n

  1. forward projection or displacement esp. of the eyeball

pro·pul·sion [prə-'pəl-shən] -n

  1. the action or process of propelling
  2. something that propels

pro·pul·sive [-'pəl-siv] -adj

  1. tending or having power to propel
    • propulsive force

pro·pyl ['prō-pəl] -n

  1. either of two isomeric alkyl radicals C 3H 7derived from propane often used in combination

pro·py·lae·um [,prä-pə-'lē-əm, ,prō-] -n

  1. a vestibule or entrance of architectural importance before a building or enclosure often used in pl.

pro·pyl·ene ['prō-pə-,lēn] -n

  1. a flammable gaseous hydrocarbon C 3H 6obtained by cracking petroleum hydrocarbons and used chiefly in organic synthesis

propylene glycol -n

  1. a sweet hygroscopic viscous liquid C 3H 8O 2made esp. from propylene and used esp. as an antifreeze and solvent, in brake fluids, and as a food preservative

pro ra·ta [(,)prō-'rā-tə, -'rä-, -'ra-] -adv, adj

  1. proportionately according to an exactly calculable factor (as share or liability)

pro·rate [(,)prō-'rāt, 'prō-,] -vb, n

  1. to divide, distribute, or assess proportionately
  2. to make a pro rata distribution

pro·ro·gate ['prō-rə-,gāt] -vt, n

  1. prorogue

pro·rogue [prə-'rōg] -vb

  1. defer, postpone
  2. to terminate a session of (as a British parliament) by royal prerogative
  3. to suspend or end a legislative session

pros ['prō] -n

(variant of pro)

  1. an argument or evidence in affirmation
    • an appraisal of the pro s and cons
  2. the affirmative side or one holding it
  3. on the affirmative side : in affirmation
    • much has been written pro and con
  4. in favor of : for
  5. professional

pros- -prefix

  1. in front
    • pros encephalon

pro·sa·ic [prō-'zā-ik] -adj, adv

  1. characteristic of prose as distinguished from poetry : factual
  2. dull, unimaginative
    • prosaic advice
  3. everyday, ordinary
    • heroic characters wasted in prosaic lives -- Kirkus Reviews

pro·sa·ism ['prō-(,)zā-,i-zəm] -n

  1. a prosaic manner, style, or quality
  2. a prosaic expression

pro·sa·ist -n

  1. a prose writer
  2. a prosaic person

pro·sa·teur [,prō-zə-'tər] -n

  1. a writer of prose

pro·sau·ro·pod [prō-'sȯr-ə-,päd] -n

  1. any of a group (Prosauropoda) of chiefly herbivorous Triassic dinosaurs that are prob. ancestral to sauropods

pro·sce·ni·um [prō-'sē-nē-əm] -n

  1. the stage of an ancient Greek or Roman theater
  2. the part of a modern stage in front of the curtain
  3. the wall that separates the stage from the auditorium and provides the arch that frames it
  4. foreground
  5. foreground

pro·sciut·to [prō-'shü-(,)tō] -n

  1. dry-cured spiced Italian ham usu. sliced thin

pro·scribe [prō-'skrīb] -vt, n

  1. to publish the name of as condemned to death with the property of the condemned forfeited to the state
  2. to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful : prohibit

pro·scrip·tion [prō-'skrip-shən] -n, adj, adv

  1. the act of proscribing : the state of being proscribed
  2. an imposed restraint or restriction : prohibition

prose ['prōz] -n

  1. the ordinary language people use in speaking or writing
  2. a literary medium distinguished from poetry esp. by its greater irregularity and variety of rhythm and its closer correspondence to the patterns of everyday speech
  3. a prosaic style, quality, or condition
  4. of, relating to, or written in prose
  5. prosaic
  6. to write prose
  7. to write or speak in a prosaic manner

pro se ['prō-'sā, -'sē] -adj or adv

  1. on one's own behalf : without an attorney
    • a pro se action
    • a defendant's right to proceed pro se

pro·sec·co [prō-'se-kō] -n

  1. a dry Italian sparkling wine

pro·sec·tor [prō-'sek-tər] -n

  1. a person who makes dissections for anatomic demonstrations

pros·e·cute ['prä-si-,kyüt] -vb, adj

  1. to follow to the end : pursue until finished
    • prosecute a war
  2. to engage in : perform
  3. to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law
  4. to institute legal proceedings with reference to
    • prosecute a claim
  5. to institute and carry on a legal suit or prosecution

prosecuting attorney -n

  1. an attorney who conducts proceedings in a court on behalf of the government : district attorney

pros·e·cu·tion [,prä-si-'kyü-shən] -n

  1. the act or process of prosecuting
  2. the institution and continuance of a criminal suit involving the process of pursuing formal charges against an offender to final judgment
  3. the party by whom criminal proceedings are instituted or conducted
  4. pursuit

pros·e·cu·tor ['prä-si-,kyü-tər] -n

  1. a person who institutes a prosecution before a court
  2. prosecuting attorney

pros·e·cu·to·ri·al [,prä-si-kyü-'tȯr-ē-əl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a prosecutor or prosecution

pros·e·lyte ['prä-sə-,līt] -n

  1. a new convert (as to a faith or cause)

proselyte -vb

  1. proselytize

pros·e·ly·tise ['prä-s(ə-)lə-,tīz] -vb, n

(variant of proselytize)

  1. to induce someone to convert to one's faith
  2. to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause
  3. to recruit or convert esp. to a new faith, institution, or cause

pros·e·ly·tism ['prä-sə-,lī-,ti-zəm, 'prä-s(ə-)lə-] -n

  1. the act of becoming or condition of being a proselyte : conversion
  2. the act or process of proselytizing

pros·e·ly·tize ['prä-s(ə-)lə-,tīz] -vb, n

  1. to induce someone to convert to one's faith
  2. to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause
  3. to recruit or convert esp. to a new faith, institution, or cause

pro·sem·i·nar [(,)prō-'se-mə-,när] -n

  1. a course of study like a graduate seminar but often open to advanced undergraduates

pros·en·ceph·a·lon [,präs-,en-'se-fə-,län, -lən] -n, adj

  1. forebrain

prose poem -n

  1. a composition in prose that has some of the qualities of a poem

pros·er ['prō-zər] -n

  1. a writer of prose
  2. one who talks or writes tediously

Pro·ser·pi·na [prə-'sər-pə-nə] -n

  1. persephone

pro shop -n

  1. a shop at which equipment for a particular sport (as golf) is sold typically by a professional in that sport

pro·sim·i·an [prō-'si-mē-ən] -n, adj

  1. any of a suborder (Prosimii) of lower primates (as lemurs and tarsiers)

pro·sit ['prō-zət, -sət] -interj

  1. used to wish good health esp. before drinking

pro·so ['prō-(,)sō] -n

  1. millet

pros·o·branch ['prä-sə-,braŋk] -n, adj

  1. any of a subclass (Prosobranchia) of gastropod mollusks that have the loop of visceral nerves twisted into a figure eight, the sexes usu. separate, and usu. an operculum

pro·sod·ic [prə-'sä-dik also -'zä-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to prosody

pros·o·dy ['prä-sə-dē, -zə-] -n

  1. the study of versification
  2. the systematic study of metrical structure
  3. a particular system, theory, or style of versification
  4. the rhythmic and intonational aspect of language

pro·so·ma [(,)prō-'sō-mə] -n

  1. the anterior region of the body of an invertebrate (as an arachnid) esp. when the segmentation is suppressed or obscured
  2. cephalothorax

pros·o·pog·ra·phy [,prä-sə-'pä-grə-fē] -n, adj

  1. a study that identifies and relates a group of persons or characters within a particular historical or literary context

pro·so·po·poe·ia [prə-,sō-pə-'pē-ə, ,prä-sə-pə-] -n

  1. a figure of speech in which an imaginary or absent person is represented as speaking or acting
  2. personification

pros·pect ['prä-,spekt] -n

  1. exposure
  2. an extensive view
  3. a mental consideration : survey
  4. a place that commands an extensive view : lookout
  5. something extended to the view : scene
  6. a sketch or picture of a scene
  7. aspect
  8. the act of looking forward : anticipation
  9. a mental picture of something to come : vision
  10. something that is awaited or expected : possibility
  11. financial expectations
  12. chances
  13. a place showing signs of containing a mineral deposit
  14. a potential buyer or customer
  15. a likely candidate for a job or position
  16. to explore an area esp. for mineral deposits
  17. to inspect (a region) for mineral deposits
  18. explore

pro·spec·tive [prə-'spek-tiv also 'prä-,, prō-', prä-'] -adj, adv

  1. relating to or effective in the future
  2. likely to come about : expected
    • the prospective benefits of this law
  3. likely to be or become
    • a prospective mother

pro·spec·tus [prə-'spek-təs, prä-] -n

  1. a preliminary printed statement that describes an enterprise (as a business or publication) and that is distributed to prospective buyers, investors, or participants
  2. something (as a statement or situation) that forecasts the course or nature of something

pros·per ['präs-pər] -vb

  1. to succeed in an enterprise or activity
  2. to achieve economic success
  3. to become strong and flourishing
  4. to cause to succeed or thrive

pros·per·i·ty [prä-'sper-ə-tē] -n

  1. the condition of being successful or thriving
  2. economic well-being

Pros·pero ['präs-pə-,rō] -n

  1. the rightful duke of Milan in Shakespeare's The Tempest

pros·per·ous ['präs-p(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. auspicious, favorable
  2. marked by success or economic well-being
  3. enjoying vigorous and healthy growth : flourishing

pross ['präs] -n

  1. prostitute

pros·ta·cy·clin [,präs-tə-'sī-klən] -n

  1. a prostaglandin that is a metabolite of arachidonic acid, inhibits platelet aggregation, and dilates blood vessels

pros·ta·glan·din [,präs-tə-'glan-dən] -n

  1. any of various oxygenated unsaturated cyclic fatty acids of animals that are formed chiefly by the action of cyclooxygenase on arachidonic acid and perform a variety of hormonelike actions (as in controlling blood pressure or smooth muscle contraction)

pros·tate ['präs-,tāt] -n, adj

  1. prostate gland

pros·ta·tec·to·my [,präs-tə-'tek-tə-mē] -n

  1. surgical removal or resection of the prostate gland

prostate gland -n

  1. a firm partly muscular partly glandular body that is situated about the base of the mammalian male urethra and that secretes an alkaline viscid fluid which is a major constituent of the semen

prostatespecific antigen -n

  1. a protease secreted by epithelial cells of the prostate gland that is used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer since its concentration in blood serum tends to be proportional to the clinical stage of the disease abbr. PSA

pros·ta·tism ['präs-tə-,ti-zəm] -n

  1. disease of the prostate
  2. a disorder resulting from obstruction of the bladder neck by an enlarged prostate gland

pros·ta·ti·tis [,präs-tə-'tī-təs] -n

  1. inflammation of the prostate gland

pros·the·sis [präs-'thē-səs, 'präs-thə-] -n

  1. an artificial device to replace or augment a missing or impaired part of the body

pros·thet·ic [präs-'the-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a prosthesis or prosthetics
  2. of, relating to, or constituting a nonprotein group of a conjugated protein

pros·thet·ics [-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. the surgical or dental specialty concerned with the design, construction, and fitting of prostheses

pros·thet·ist ['präs-thə-tist] -n

  1. a specialist in prosthetics

pros·tho·don·tics [,präs-thə-'dän-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. prosthetic dentistry

pros·tho·don·tist [-'dän-tist] -n

  1. a specialist in prosthodontics

pros·ti·tute ['präs-tə-,tüt, -,tyüt] -vt, n

  1. to offer indiscriminately for sexual intercourse esp. for money
  2. to devote to corrupt or unworthy purposes : debase
    • prostitute one's talents

prostitute -adj

  1. devoted to corrupt purposes : prostituted
  2. a woman who engages in promiscuous sexual intercourse esp. for money : whore
  3. a male who engages in sexual and esp. homosexual practices for money
  4. a person (as a writer or painter) who deliberately debases his or her talents (as for money)

pros·ti·tu·tion [,präs-tə-'tü-shən, -'tyü-] -n

  1. the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relations esp. for money
  2. the state of being prostituted : debasement

pro·sto·mi·um [prō-'stō-mē-əm] -n, adj

  1. the portion of the head of an annelid worm (as an earthworm) that is situated in front of the mouth

pros·trate ['prä-,strāt] -adj

  1. stretched out with face on the ground in adoration or submission
  2. lying flat
  3. completely overcome and lacking vitality, will, or power to rise
    • was prostrate from the heat
  4. trailing on the ground : procumbent
    • prostrate shrubs
  5. to throw or put into a prostrate position
  6. to put (oneself) in a humble and submissive posture or state
    • the whole town had to prostrate itself in official apology -- Claudia Cassidy
  7. to reduce to submission, helplessness, or exhaustion
    • was prostrated with grief

pros·tra·tion [prä-'strā-shən] -n

  1. the act of assuming a prostrate position
  2. the state of being in a prostrate position : abasement
  3. complete physical or mental exhaustion : collapse
  4. the process of being made powerless or the condition of powerlessness
    • the country suffered economic prostration after the war

prosy ['prō-zē] -adj, adv, n

  1. lacking in qualities that seize the attention or strike the imagination : commonplace
  2. tediously dull in speech or manner

Prot -abbr

  1. Protestant

prot- -comb form

  1. first in time
    • proto history
  2. beginning : giving rise to
    • proto planet
  3. parent substance of a (specified) substance
    • prot actinium
  4. first formed : primary
    • proto xylem
  5. relating to or constituting the recorded or assumed language that is ancestral to a language or to a group of related languages or dialects
    • Proto- Indo-European

prot·ac·tin·i·um [,prō-,tak-'ti-nē-əm] -n

  1. a shiny radioactive metallic element of relatively short life

pro·tag·o·nist [prō-'ta-gə-nist] -n

  1. the principal character in a literary work (as a drama or story)
  2. a leading actor, character, or participant in a literary work or real event
  3. a leader, proponent, or supporter of a cause : champion

prot·amine ['prō-tə-,mēn] -n

  1. any of various strongly basic proteins of relatively low molecular weight that are rich in arginine and are found associated esp. with DNA in place of histone in the sperm cells of various animals (as fish)

prot·a·sis ['prä-tə-səs] -n, adj

  1. the introductory part of a play or narrative poem
  2. the subordinate clause of a conditional sentence

prote- -comb form

  1. protein
    • prote ase
    • proteo lysis

pro·tea ['prō-tē-ə] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Proteaof the family Proteaceae, the protea family) of African evergreen shrubs often grown as ornamentals for their showy bracts and dense flower heads

pro·te·an ['prō-tē-ən, prō-'tē-] -adj

  1. of or resembling Proteus in having a varied nature or ability to assume different forms
  2. displaying great diversity or variety : versatile

pro·te·ase ['prō-tē-,ās, -,āz] -n

  1. any of numerous enzymes that hydrolyze proteins and are classified according to the most prominent functional group (as serine or cysteine) at the active site called also proteinase

protease inhibitor -n

  1. a substance that inhibits the action of a protease
  2. any of various drugs (as indinavir) that inhibit the action of the protease of HIV so that the cleavage of viral proteins into mature functional infectious particles is prevented and that are used esp. in combination with other agents in the treatment of HIV infection

pro·tect [prə-'tekt] -vb, adj, adv, n

  1. to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction : guard
  2. defend
    • protect the goal
  3. : to maintain the status or integrity of esp. through financial or legal guarantees: as
  4. to save from contingent financial loss
  5. to foster or shield from infringement or restriction
    • salesmen with protect ed territories
    • protect one's rights
  6. to restrict competition for (as domestic industries) by means of tariffs or trade controls
  7. defend
    • protect a lead
  8. to provide a guard or shield
    • protect s against tooth decay

pro·tec·tant [prə-'tek-tənt] -n

  1. a protecting agent

pro·tec·tion [prə-'tek-shən] -n

  1. the act of protecting : the state of being protected
  2. one that protects
  3. supervision or support of one that is smaller and weaker
  4. a contraceptive device (as a condom)
  5. the freeing of the producers of a country from foreign competition in their home market by restrictions (as high duties) on foreign competitive goods
  6. immunity from prosecution purchased by criminals through bribery
  7. money extorted by racketeers posing as a protective association
  8. coverage
  9. anchoring equipment placed in cracks for safety while rock climbing

pro·tec·tion·ist [-sh(ə-)nist] -n, adj

  1. an advocate of government economic protection for domestic producers through restrictions on foreign competitors

protective tariff -n

  1. a tariff intended primarily to protect domestic producers rather than to yield revenue

pro·tec·tor [prə-'tek-tər] -n

  1. one that protects : guardian
  2. a device used to prevent injury : guard
  3. one having the care of a kingdom during the king's minority : regent
  4. the executive head of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1653 to 1659 called also Lord Protector of the Commonwealth

pro·tec·tor·al [-'tek-t(ə-)rəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to a protector or protectorate

pro·tec·tor·ate [-'tek-t(ə-)rət] -n

  1. government by a protector
  2. the government of England (165359) under the Cromwells
  3. the rank, office, or period of rule of a protector
  4. the relationship of superior authority assumed by one power or state over a dependent one
  5. the dependent political unit or territory in such a relationship

pro·tec·to·ry [-'tek-t(ə-)rē] -n

  1. an institution for the protection and care of usu. homeless or delinquent children

pro·tec·tress [-'tek-trəs] -n

  1. a woman who is a protector

pro·te·ge ['prō-tə-,zhā, ,prō-tə-'] -n

  1. one who is protected or trained or whose career is furthered by a person of experience, prominence, or influence

pro·te·gee ['prō-tə-,zhā, ,prō-tə-'] -n

  1. a girl or woman who is a protege

pro·tein ['prō-,tēn also 'prō-tē-ən] -n

  1. any of various naturally occurring extremely complex substances that consist of amino-acid residues joined by peptide bonds, contain the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, usu. sulfur, and occas. other elements (as phosphorus or iron), and include many essential biological compounds (as enzymes, hormones, or antibodies)
  2. the total nitrogenous material in plant or animal substances

pro·tein·a·ceous [,prō-tə-'nā-shəs; ,prō-,tē(-ə)-'nā-shəs] -adj

  1. of, relating to, containing, resembling, or being protein

pro·tein·ase ['prō-tə-,nās, -,nāz; 'prō-,tē(-ə)-,nās, -,nāz] -n

  1. protease

protein kinase -n

  1. any of a class of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to one or more amino acids in the side chain of a protein resulting in a conformational change affecting protein function

protein kinase C -n

  1. a protein kinase that catalyzes the phosphorylation of specific serine or threonine amino acid residues

pro·tein·uria [,prō-tə-'nu̇r-ē-ə, -'nyu̇r-; ,prō-tē(-ə)-'nu̇r-ē-ə, -'nyu̇r-] -n

  1. the presence of excess protein in the urine

pro tem [(,)prō-'tem] -adv

  1. pro tempore

pro tem·po·re [prō-'tem-pə-rē] -adv

  1. for the time being

pro·tend [prō-'tend] -vb

  1. to stretch forth
  2. extend
  3. stick out, protrude

pro·ten·sive [-'ten(t)-siv] -adj, adv

  1. having continuance in time
  2. having lengthwise extent or extensiveness

pro·teo·gly·can [,prō-tē-ə-'glī-,kan] -n

  1. any of a class of glycoproteins of high molecular weight that are found esp. in the extracellular matrix of connective tissue

pro·te·ol·y·sis [,prō-tē-'ä-lə-səs] -n

  1. the hydrolysis of proteins or peptides with formation of simpler and soluble products

pro·teo·lyt·ic [,prō-tē-ə-'li-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or producing proteolysis

pro·te·ome ['prō-tē-,ōm] -n

  1. the complement of proteins expressed in a cell, tissue, or organism by a genome

pro·te·o·mics [,prō-tē-'ō-miks] -n pl but sing in constr, adj

  1. a branch of biotechnology concerned with applying the techniques of molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics to analyzing the structure, function, and interactions of the proteins produced by the genes of a particular cell, tissue, or organism, with organizing the information in databases, and with applications of the data

pro·te·ose ['prō-tē-,ōs, -,ōz] -n

  1. any of various water-soluble protein derivatives formed by partial hydrolysis of proteins

Pro·te·ro·zo·ic [,prä-tə-rə-'zō-ik, ,prō-] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being the eon of geologic time or the corresponding segment of rocks that includes the interval between the Archean and Phanerozoic eons, exceeds in length all of subsequent geologic time, and is marked by rocks that contain fossils indicating the first appearance of eukaryotic organisms (as algae)

pro·test ['prō-,test] -n

  1. : a solemn declaration of opinion and usu. of dissent: as
  2. a sworn declaration that payment of a note or bill has been refused and that all responsible signers or debtors are liable for resulting loss or damage
  3. a declaration made esp. before or while paying that a tax is illegal and that payment is not voluntary
  4. the act of objecting or a gesture of disapproval
    • resigned in protest
  5. a usu. organized public demonstration of disapproval
  6. a complaint, objection, or display of unwillingness usu. to an idea or a course of action
    • went under protest
  7. an objection made to an official or a governing body of a sport
  8. to make solemn declaration or affirmation of
    • protest my innocence
  9. to execute or have executed a formal protest against (as a bill or note)
  10. to make a statement or gesture in objection to
    • protest ed the abuses of human rights
  11. to make a protestation
  12. to make or enter a protest

prot·es·tant ['prä-təs-tənt, 2 is also prə-'tes-] -n

  1. any of a group of German princes and cities presenting a defense of freedom of conscience against an edict of the Diet of Spires in 1529 intended to suppress the Lutheran movement
  2. a member of any of several church denominations denying the universal authority of the Pope and affirming the Reformation principles of justification by faith alone, the priesthood of all believers, and the primacy of the Bible as the only source of revealed truth
  3. a Christian not of a Catholic or Eastern church
  4. one who makes or enters a protest

protestant -adj

  1. of or relating to Protestants, their churches, or their religion
  2. making or sounding a protest
    • the two protestant ladies up and marched out -- Time

Protestant ethic -n

  1. an ethic that stresses the virtue of hard work, thrift, and self-discipline

pro·tes·ta·tion [,prä-təs-'tā-shən, ,prō-, -,tes-] -n

  1. the act of protesting : a solemn declaration or avowal

pro·te·us ['prō-tē-əs] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Proteus) of aerobic usu. motile enterobacteria that include saprophytes in decaying organic matter and a common causative agent ( P. mirabilis) of urinary tract infections

Pro·teus ['prō-,tyüs, -tē-əs, -,tüs] -n

  1. a Greek sea god capable of assuming different forms

pro·tha·la·mi·on [,prō-thə-'lā-mē-ən, -,än] -n

  1. a song in celebration of a marriage

pro·thal·li·um [prō-'tha-lē-əm] -n

  1. prothallus

pro·thal·lus [(,)prō-'tha-ləs] -n

  1. the gametophyte of a pteridophyte (as a fern) that is typically a small flat green thallus attached to the soil by rhizoids
  2. a greatly reduced structure of a seed plant corresponding to the pteridophyte prothallus

proth·e·sis ['prä-thə-səs] -n, adj

  1. the addition of a sound to the beginning of a word (as in Old French estat-whence English estate-from Latin status)

pro·tho·no·ta·ry [prō-'thä-nə-,ter-ē, ,prō-thə-'nō-tə-rē] -n, adj

  1. a chief clerk of any of various courts of law

prothonotary warbler -n

  1. a large eastern No. American warbler ( Protonotaria citreaof the family Parulidae) of wooded swamps that has a golden-yellow head and breast and bluish-gray wings

pro·tho·rac·ic [,prō-thə-'ra-sik] -adj

  1. of or relating to the prothorax

prothoracic gland -n

  1. one of a pair of thoracic endocrine organs in some insects that control molting

pro·tho·rax [(,)prō-'thȯr-,aks] -n

  1. the anterior segment of the thorax of an insect

pro·throm·bin [(,)prō-'thräm-bən] -n

  1. a plasma protein produced in the liver in the presence of vitamin K and converted into thrombin in the clotting of blood

pro·tist ['prō-(,)tist] -n, adj or n

  1. any of a diverse taxonomic group and esp. a kingdom (Protista syn. Protoctista) of eukaryotic organisms that are unicellular and sometimes colonial or less often multicellular and that typically include the protozoans, most algae, and often some fungi (as slime molds)

pro·ti·um ['prō-tē-əm, 'prō-shē-] -n

  1. the ordinary light hydrogen isotope of atomic mass 1

pro·to·cer·a·tops [,prō-(,)tō-'ser-ə-,täps] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Protoceratops) of small herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaurs of the late Cretaceous that lacked horns

pro·to·col ['prō-tə-,kȯl, -,kōl, -,käl, -kəl] -n

  1. an original draft, minute, or record of a document or transaction
  2. a preliminary memorandum often formulated and signed by diplomatic negotiators as a basis for a final convention or treaty
  3. the records or minutes of a diplomatic conference or congress that show officially the agreements arrived at by the negotiators
  4. a code prescribing strict adherence to correct etiquette and precedence (as in diplomatic exchange and in the military services)
    • a breach of protocol
  5. a set of conventions governing the treatment and esp. the formatting of data in an electronic communications system
    • network protocol s
  6. convention
  7. a detailed plan of a scientific or medical experiment, treatment, or procedure

pro·to·derm ['prō-tə-,dərm] -n

  1. the outer primary meristem of a plant or plant part

pro·to·gal·axy [,prō-tō-'ga-lək-sē] -n

  1. a cloud of gas believed to be the precursor to a galaxy

pro·to·his·to·ry [-'his-t(ə-)rē] -n, adj

  1. the study of human beings in the times that immediately antedate recorded history

pro·to·hu·man [-'hyü-mən, -'yü-] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or resembling an early hominid (as an australopithecine)

pro·to·lan·guage ['prō-tō-,laŋ-gwij] -n

  1. an assumed or recorded ancestral language

pro·to·mar·tyr ['prō-tō-,mär-tər] -n

  1. the first martyr in a cause or region

pro·ton ['prō-,tän] -n, adj

  1. an elementary particle that is identical with the nucleus of the hydrogen atom, that along with the neutron is a constituent of all other atomic nuclei, that carries a positive charge numerically equal to the charge of an electron, and that has a mass of 1.673 10 27kilogram

pro·ton·ate ['prō-tə-,nāt] -vb, n

  1. to add a proton to
  2. to acquire an additional proton

pro·to·ne·ma [,prō-tə-'nē-mə] -n, adj

  1. the primary usu. filamentous thalloid stage of the gametophyte in mosses and in some liverworts comparable to the prothallus in ferns

pro·ton·o·tary apostolic [prə-'tä-nə-,ter-ē-, prō-tə-'nä-tə-rē-] -n

  1. a priest of the chief college of the papal curia who keeps records of consistories and canonizations and signs papal bulls
  2. an honorary member of this college

proton pump inhibitor -n

  1. any of a group of drugs that inhibit the activity of pumps transporting hydrogen ions across cell membranes and are used to inhibit gastric acid secretion

proton synchrotron -n

  1. a synchrotron in which protons are accelerated by means of frequency modulation of the radio-frequency accelerating voltage so that they have energies of billions of electron volts

pro·to·path·ic [,prō-tə-'pa-thik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being cutaneous sensory reception responsive only to strong rather crude stimuli

pro·to·phlo·em [-'flō-,em] -n

  1. the first-formed phloem that develops from procambium, consists of narrow thin-walled cells, and is usu. associated with a region of rapid growth

pro·to·plan·et ['prō-tō-,pla-nət] -n, adj

  1. a hypothetical whirling gaseous mass within a giant cloud of gas and dust that rotates around a sun and is believed to give rise to a planet

pro·to·plasm ['prō-tə-,pla-zəm] -n, adj

  1. the organized colloidal complex of organic and inorganic substances (as proteins and water) that constitutes the living nucleus, cytoplasm, plastids, and mitochondria of the cell
  2. cytoplasm

pro·to·plast ['prō-tə-,plast] -n

  1. one that is formed first : prototype
  2. a plant cell that has had its cell wall removed
  3. the nucleus, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane of a cell as distinguished from inert walls and inclusions

pro·to·por·phy·rin [,prō-tō-'pȯr-f(ə-)rən] -n

  1. a purple porphyrin acid C 34H 34N 4O 4obtained from hemin or heme by removal of bound iron

pro·to·star ['prō-tō-,stär] -n

  1. a cloud of gas and dust in space believed to develop into a star

pro·to·stele ['prō-tə-,stēl, ,prō-tə-'stē-lē] -n, adj

  1. a stele forming a solid rod with the phloem surrounding the xylem

pro·to·stome ['prō-tə-,stōm] -n

  1. any of a major group (Protostomia) of bilateral metazoan animals (as mollusks, annelids, and arthropods) characterized in typical forms by determinate and spiral cleavage, formation of a mouth and anus directly from the blastopore, and formation of the coelom by splitting of the embryonic mesoderm

pro·to·troph ['prō-tə-,trōf, -,träf] -n

  1. a prototrophic individual

pro·to·tro·phic [,prō-tə-'trō-fik] -adj, n

  1. having the nutritional requirements of the normal or wild type

pro·to·typ·al [,prō-tə-'tī-pəl] -adj

  1. prototypical

pro·to·type ['prō-tə-,tīp] -n

  1. an original model on which something is patterned : archetype
  2. an individual that exhibits the essential features of a later type
  3. a standard or typical example
  4. a first full-scale and usu. functional form of a new type or design of a construction (as an airplane)

pro·to·typ·i·cal [,prō-tə-'ti-pi-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or being a prototype

pro·to·xy·lem [,prō-tə-'zī-ləm, -,lem] -n

  1. the first-formed xylem developing from procambium and consisting of narrow cells with annular, spiral, or scalariform wall thickenings

pro·to·zo·al [,prō-tə-'zō-əl] -adj

  1. of or relating to protozoans

pro·to·zo·an [-'zō-ən] -n, adj

  1. any of a phylum or subkingdom (Protozoa) of chiefly motile and heterotrophic unicellular protists (as amoebas, trypanosomes, sporozoans, and paramecia) that are represented in almost every kind of habitat and include some pathogenic parasites of humans and domestic animals

pro·to·zo·ol·o·gy [-zō-'ä-lə-jē, -zə-'wä-] -n

  1. a branch of zoology dealing with protozoans

pro·to·zo·on [-'zō-,än] -n

  1. protozoan

pro·tract [prō-'trakt, prə-] -vt, adj

  1. delay, defer
  2. to prolong in time or space : continue
  3. to extend forward or outward

protracted meeting -n

  1. a protracted revival meeting

pro·trac·tile [-'trak-tᵊl, -,tī(-ə)l] -adj

  1. capable of being thrust out
    • protractile jaws

pro·trac·tion [-'trak-shən] -n

  1. the act of protracting : the state of being protracted
  2. the drawing to scale of an area of land

pro·trac·tor [-'trak-tər] -n

  1. one that protracts
  2. a muscle that extends a part
  3. an instrument for laying down and measuring angles in drawing and plotting

pro·trep·tic [prō-'trep-tik] -n, adj

  1. an utterance (as a speech) designed to instruct and persuade

pro·trude [prō-'trüd] -vb, adj

  1. to thrust forward
  2. to cause to project
  3. to jut out from the surrounding surface or context
    • a handkerchief protruding from his breast pocket

pro·tru·sion [prō-'trü-zhən] -n

  1. the act of protruding : the state of being protruded
  2. something (as an anatomical part or excrescence) that protrudes

pro·tru·sive [-'trü-siv, -ziv] -adj, adv, n

  1. thrusting forward
  2. prominent, protuberant
    • a protrusive jaw
  3. obtrusive, pushing
    • a coarse protrusive manner

pro·tu·ber·ance [prō-'tü-b(ə-)rən(t)s, -'tyü-] -n

  1. something that is protuberant
  2. the quality or state of being protuberant

pro·tu·ber·ant [-b(ə-)rənt] -adj, adv

  1. thrusting out from a surrounding or adjacent surface often as a rounded mass : prominent
    • protuberant eyes

proud ['prau̇d] -adj, adv

  1. : feeling or showing pride: as
  2. having or displaying excessive self-esteem
  3. much pleased : exultant
  4. having proper self-respect
  5. marked by stateliness : magnificent
  6. giving reason for pride : glorious
    • the proud est moment in her life
  7. vigorous, spirited
    • a proud steed
  8. raised above a surrounding area
    • a proud design on a stamp

proud flesh -n

  1. an excessive growth of granulation tissue

proud·ful ['prau̇d-fəl] -adj

  1. marked by or full of pride

proud·heart·ed [-'här-təd] -adj

  1. proud in spirit : haughty

proust·ite ['prü-,stīt] -n

  1. a mineral that consists of a red sulfide of silver and arsenic and occurs in crystals or massively

prov -abbr

  1. province; provincial
  2. provisional

Prov -abbr

  1. Proverbs

pro·vas·cu·lar [(,)prō-'vas-kyə-lər] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being procambium

prove ['prüv] -vb, adj, n, adv

  1. to learn or find out by experience
  2. to test the truth, validity, or genuineness of
    • the exception prove s the rule
    • prove a will at probate
  3. to test the worth or quality of
  4. to compare against a standard sometimes used with up or out
  5. to check the correctness of (as an arithmetic result)
  6. to establish the existence, truth, or validity of (as by evidence or logic)
    • prove a theorem
    • the charges were never proved in court
  7. to demonstrate as having a particular quality or worth
    • the vaccine has been proven effective after years of tests
    • proved herself a great actress
  8. to show (oneself) to be worthy or capable
    • eager to prove myself in the new job
  9. to turn out esp. after trial or test
    • the new drug proved effective

prov·e·nance ['präv-nən(t)s, 'prä-və-,nän(t)s] -n

  1. origin, source
  2. the history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature

Pro·ven·al [,prō-,vän-'säl, ,prä-vən-, sense 1 also prə-'ven(t)-səl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Provence or the people of Provence
  2. cooked with garlic, onion, mushrooms, tomato, olive oil, and herbs
    • scallops Provenal
  3. a native or inhabitant of Provence
  4. occitan
  5. the dialect of Occitan spoken in Provence

prov·en·der ['prä-vən-dər] -n

  1. dry food for domestic animals : feed
  2. food, victuals

pro·ve·nience [prə-'vē-nyən(t)s, -nē-ən(t)s] -n

  1. origin, source

prov·en·ly ['prü-vən-lē, Brit also 'prō-] -adv

  1. demonstrably as stated : without doubt or uncertainty

pro·ven·tric·u·lus [,prō-ven-'tri-kyə-ləs] -n

  1. the glandular or true stomach of a bird that is situated between the crop and gizzard
  2. a muscular dilatation of the foregut in most mandibulate insects that is armed internally with chitinous teeth or plates for grinding food
  3. the thin-walled sac in front of the gizzard of an earthworm

prove out -vi

  1. to turn out to be satisfactory or as expected

prov·erb ['prä-,vərb] -n

  1. a brief popular epigram or maxim : adage
  2. byword

proverb -vt

  1. to speak of proverbially
  2. to provide with a proverb
  3. a form of the verb doused to avoid repetition of a verb (as doin act as I do)

pro·ver·bi·al [prə-'vər-bē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or resembling a proverb
  2. that has become a proverb or byword : commonly spoken of
    • the proverbial smoking gun

Prov·erbs ['prä-,vərbz] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. a collection of moral sayings and counsels forming a book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture

pro·vide [prə-'vīd] -vb

  1. to take precautionary measures
    • provide for the common defense -- U.S. Constitution
  2. to make a proviso or stipulation
    • the Constitution...provide s for an elected two-chamber legislature -- Current Biog.
  3. to make preparation to meet a need
    • provide for entertainment
  4. to supply something for sustenance or support
    • provide s for the poor
  5. to prepare in advance
  6. to supply or make available (something wanted or needed)
    • provided new uniforms for the band
  7. afford
    • curtains provide privacy
  8. to make something available to
    • provide the children with free balloons
  9. to have as a condition : stipulate
    • the contract provide s that certain deadlines will be met

provided -conj

  1. on condition that : with the understanding : if

prov·i·dence ['prä-və-dən(t)s, -,den(t)s] -n

  1. divine guidance or care
  2. God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny
  3. the quality or state of being provident

prov·i·dent [-dənt, -,dent] -adj, adv

  1. making provision for the future : prudent
  2. frugal, saving

prov·i·den·tial [,prä-və-'den(t)-shəl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or determined by Providence
  2. marked by foresight : prudent
  3. occurring by or as if by an intervention of Providence
    • a providential escape

pro·vid·er [prə-'vī-dər] -n

  1. one that provides
    • health-care provider s
    • an Internet provider
  2. breadwinner

providing -conj

  1. on condition that : in case

prov·ince ['prä-vən(t)s] -n

  1. a country or region brought under the control of the ancient Roman government
  2. an administrative district or division of a country
  3. all of a country except the metropolises
  4. a division of a country forming the jurisdiction of an archbishop or metropolitan
  5. a territorial unit of a religious order
  6. a biogeographic division of less rank than a region
  7. an area that exhibits essential continuity of geological history
  8. one characterized by particular structural or petrological features
  9. proper or appropriate function or scope : sphere
    • that question is outside my province
  10. a department of knowledge or activity

pro·vin·cial [prə-'vin(t)-shəl] -n

  1. the superior of a province of a Roman Catholic religious order
  2. one living in or coming from a province
  3. a person of local or restricted interests or outlook
  4. a person lacking urban polish or refinement

provincial [-'vin(t)-sh(ə-)lē] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or coming from a province
  2. limited in outlook : narrow
  3. lacking the polish of urban society : unsophisticated
  4. of or relating to a decorative style (as in furniture) marked by simplicity, informality, and relative plainness
  5. french provincial

pro·vin·cial·ism [-shə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. a dialectal or local word, phrase, or idiom
  2. the quality or state of being provincial

pro·vin·cial·ist [-'vin(t)-sh(ə-)list] -n

  1. a native or inhabitant of a province

pro·vin·ci·al·i·ty [prə-,vin(t)-shē-'a-lə-tē] -n

  1. provincialism
  2. an act or instance of provincialism

pro·vin·cial·ize [-'vin(t)-shə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to make provincial

proving ground -n

  1. a place for scientific experimentation or testing (as of vehicles or weapons)
  2. a place where something is developed or tried out

pro·vi·rus [(,)prō-'vī-rəs] -n, adj

  1. a form of a virus that is integrated into the genetic material of a host cell and by replicating with it can be transmitted from one cell generation to the next without causing lysis

pro·vi·sion [prə-'vi-zhən] -n

  1. the act or process of providing
  2. the fact or state of being prepared beforehand
  3. a measure taken beforehand to deal with a need or contingency : preparation
    • made provision for replacements
  4. a stock of needed materials or supplies
  5. a stock of food usu. used in pl.
  6. proviso, stipulation

provision [-'vi-zhə-niŋ, -'vizh-niŋ] -vt

  1. to supply with provisions

pro·vi·sion·al [prə-'vizh-nəl, -'vi-zhə-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. serving for the time being : temporary
    • a provisional government

provisional -n

  1. a postage stamp for use until a regular issue appears

pro·vi·sion·ary [prə-'vi-zhə-,ner-ē] -adj

  1. provisional

pro·vi·sion·er [-'vi-zhə-nər, -'vizh-nər] -n

  1. a furnisher of provisions

pro·vi·so [prə-'vī-(,)zō] -n

  1. an article or clause (as in a contract) that introduces a condition
  2. a conditional stipulation

pro·vi·so·ry [-'vī-zə-rē, -'vīz-rē] -adj

  1. containing or subject to a proviso : conditional
  2. provisional

pro·vi·ta·min [(,)prō-'vī-tə-mən] -n

  1. a precursor of a vitamin convertible into the vitamin in an organism

Pro·vo ['prō-(,)vō] -n

  1. a member of the extremist faction of the Irish Republican Army

pro·vo·ca·teur [prō-,vä-kə-'tər] -n

  1. agent provocateur
  2. one who provokes
    • a political provocateur

prov·o·ca·tion [,prä-və-'kā-shən] -n

  1. the act of provoking : incitement
  2. something that provokes, arouses, or stimulates

pro·voc·a·tive [prə-'vä-kə-tiv] -adj, n, adv

  1. serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate
    • a provocative question

pro·voke [prə-'vōk] -vt, n

  1. to arouse to a feeling or action
  2. to incite to anger
  3. to call forth (as a feeling or action) : evoke
    • provoke laughter
  4. to stir up purposely
    • provoke a fight
  5. to provide the needed stimulus for
    • will provoke a lot of discussion

provoking [-kiŋ-lē] -adj, adv

  1. causing mild anger : annoying

pro·vo·lo·ne [,prō-və-'lō-nē, 'prō-və-,lōn] -n

  1. a usu. firm pliant often smoked cheese of Italian origin

pro·vost ['prō-,vōst, 'prä-vəst, 'prō-vəst, esp attrib ,prō-(,)vō] -n

  1. the chief dignitary of a collegiate or cathedral chapter
  2. the chief magistrate of a Scottish burgh
  3. the keeper of a prison
  4. a high-ranking university administrative officer

provost court -n

  1. a military court usu. for the trial of minor offenses within an occupied hostile territory

provost guard -n

  1. a police detail of soldiers under the authority of the provost marshal

provost marshal -n

  1. an officer who supervises the military police of a command

prow ['prau̇] -adj

  1. valiant, gallant
  2. the bow of a ship : stem
  3. a pointed projecting front part

prow·ess ['prau̇-əs also 'prō-] -n

  1. distinguished bravery
  2. military valor and skill
  3. extraordinary ability
    • his prowess on the football field

prowl ['prau̇(-ə)l] -vb, n

  1. to move about or wander stealthily in or as if in search of prey
  2. to roam over in a predatory manner
  3. an act or instance of prowling

prowl car -n

  1. squad car

prox -abbr

  1. proximo

prox·e·mics [präk-'sē-miks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj

  1. the study of the nature, degree, and effect of the spatial separation individuals naturally maintain (as in various social and interpersonal situations) and of how this separation relates to environmental and cultural factors

prox·i·mal ['präk-sə-məl] -adj, adv

  1. situated close to : proximate
  2. next to or nearest the point of attachment or origin, a central point, or the point of view
  3. located toward the center of the body
  4. of, relating to, or being the mesial and distal surfaces of a tooth

proximal convoluted tubule -n

  1. the convoluted portion of the vertebrate nephron that lies between Bowman's capsule and the loop of Henle and functions esp. in the resorption of sugar, sodium and chloride ions, and water from the glomerular filtrate called also proximal tubule

prox·i·mate ['präk-sə-mət] -adj, adv, n

  1. immediately preceding or following (as in a chain of events, causes, or effects)
    • proximate, rather than ultimate, goals -- Reinhold Niebuhr
  2. very near : close
  3. soon forthcoming : imminent

prox·im·i·ty [präk-'si-mə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being proximate : closeness

proximity fuse -n

  1. a fuse for a projectile that uses the principle of radar to detect the presence of a target within the projectile's effective range

prox·i·mo ['präk-sə-,mō] -adj

  1. of or occurring in the next month after the present

proxy ['präk-sē] -n, adj

  1. the agency, function, or office of a deputy who acts as a substitute for another
  2. authority or power to act for another
  3. a document giving such authority
  4. a power of attorney authorizing a specified person to vote corporate stock
  5. a person authorized to act for another : procurator

proxy marriage -n

  1. a marriage celebrated in the absence of one of the contracting parties who is represented at the ceremony by a proxy

Pro·zac ['prō-,zak] -trademark

  1. used for a preparation of fluoxetine

PrP -abbr

  1. prion protein

prude ['prüd] -n

  1. a person who is excessively or priggishly attentive to propriety or decorum
  2. a woman who shows or affects extreme modesty

pru·dence ['prü-dᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason
  2. sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs
  3. skill and good judgment in the use of resources
  4. caution or circumspection as to danger or risk

pru·dent [-dᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. : characterized by, arising from, or showing prudence: as
  2. marked by wisdom or judiciousness
    • prudent advice
  3. shrewd in the management of practical affairs
    • prudent investors
  4. marked by circumspection : discreet
  5. provident, frugal

pru·den·tial [prü-'den(t)-shəl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or proceeding from prudence
  2. exercising prudence esp. in business matters

prud·ery ['prü-d(ə-)rē] -n

  1. the characteristic quality or state of a prude
  2. a prudish act or remark

prud·ish ['prü-dish] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by prudery : priggish

pru·i·nose ['prü-ə-,nōs] -adj

  1. covered with whitish dust or bloom
    • pruinose stems

prune ['prün] -n

  1. a plum dried or capable of drying without fermentation
  2. to reduce esp. by eliminating superfluous matter
    • pruned the text
    • prune the budget
  3. to remove as superfluous
    • prune away all ornamentation
  4. to cut off or cut back parts of for better shape or more fruitful growth
    • prune the branches
  5. to cut away what is unwanted or superfluous

pru·nel·la [prü-'ne-lə] -n

  1. a twilled woolen dress fabric
  2. a heavy woolen fabric used for the uppers of shoes

pruning hook -n

  1. a pole bearing a curved blade for pruning plants

pru·nus ['prü-nəs] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Prunus) of drupaceous trees or shrubs of the rose family that have showy clusters of usu. white or pink flowers first appearing in the spring often before the leaves and including many grown for ornament or for their fruit (as the plum, cherry, or apricot)

pru·ri·ence ['pru̇r-ē-ən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being prurient

pru·ri·en·cy [-ən(t)-sē] -n

  1. prurience

pru·ri·ent [-ənt] -adj, adv

  1. marked by or arousing an immoderate or unwholesome interest or desire
  2. marked by, arousing, or appealing to sexual desire

pru·ri·go [prü-'rī-(,)gō, -'rē-] -n

  1. a chronic inflammatory skin disease marked by itching papules

pru·rit·ic [-'ri-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or marked by itching

pru·ri·tus [-'rī-təs, -'rē-] -n

  1. itch

Prus·sian blue ['prə-shən-] -n

  1. any of numerous blue iron pigments formerly regarded as ferric ferrocyanide
  2. a dark blue crystalline hydrated ferric ferrocyanide Fe 4Fe(CN) 6 3 xH 2O used as a test for ferric iron
  3. a greenish blue

prus·sian·ise [-,nīz] -vt, n

(variant of prussianize)

  1. to make Prussian in character or principle (as in authoritarian control or rigid discipline)

Prus·sian·ism ['prə-shə-,ni-zəm] -n

  1. the practices or policies (as the advocacy of militarism) held to be typically Prussian

prus·sian·ize [-,nīz] -vt, n

  1. to make Prussian in character or principle (as in authoritarian control or rigid discipline)

prus·sic acid ['prə-sik-] -n

  1. hydrocyanic acid

pru·tah [prü-'tä] -n

  1. a former monetary unit of Israel equivalent to pound
  2. a coin representing one prutah

pry ['prī] -vi

  1. to look closely or inquisitively
  2. to make a nosy or presumptuous inquiry
  3. to raise, move, or pull apart with a lever : prize
  4. to extract, detach, or open with difficulty
    • pried the secret out of my sister
  5. a tool for prying
  6. leverage

pryer ['prī(-ə)r] -n

(variant of prier)

  1. one that pries
  2. an inquisitive person

prying [-iŋ-lē] -adj, adv

  1. inquisitive in an annoying, officious, or meddlesome way

Prze·wal·ski's horse [pshə-'väl-skēz-, shə-, ,pər-zhə-'väl-] -n

  1. a small stocky bay- or dun-colored wild horse ( Equus caballus przewalskiisyn. E. przewalskii) of central Asia having a large head and short erect mane and now existing chiefly in captivity called also Prze*wal*ski horse -ske-