pan·do·ra [pan-'dȯr-ə] -n

  1. bandore

Pan·do·ra's box [pan-'dȯr-əz-] -n

  1. a prolific source of troubles

pan·dow·dy [pan-'dau̇-dē] -n

  1. a deep-dish spiced apple dessert sweetened with sugar, molasses, or maple syrup and covered with a rich crust

pan·dy ['pan-dē] -vt

  1. to punish (a schoolboy) with a blow on the palm of the hand esp. with a ferule

pane ['pān] -n, adj

  1. : a piece, section, or side of something: as
  2. a framed sheet of glass in a window or door
  3. one of the sections into which a sheet of postage stamps is cut for distribution

pan·e·gy·ric [,pa-nə-'jir-ik, -'jī-rik] -n, adj, adv

  1. a eulogistic oration or writing
  2. formal or elaborate praise

pan·e·gy·rist [,pa-nə-'jir-ist, -'jī-rist] -n

  1. eulogist

pan·el ['pa-nᵊl] -n

  1. a schedule containing names of persons summoned as jurors
  2. the group of persons so summoned
  3. jury
  4. a group of persons selected for some service (as investigation or arbitration)
    • a panel of experts
  5. a group of persons who discuss before an audience a topic of public interest
  6. panel discussion
  7. a group of entertainers or guests engaged as players in a quiz or guessing game on a radio or television program
  8. : a separate or distinct part of a surface: as
  9. a fence section : hurdle
  10. a thin usu. rectangular board set in a frame (as in a door)
  11. a usu. sunken or raised section of a surface set off by a margin
  12. a flat usu. rectangular piece of construction material (as plywood or precast masonry) made to form part of a surface
  13. a vertical section of fabric (as a gore)
  14. comic strip
  15. a frame of a comic strip
  16. a thin flat piece of wood on which a picture is painted
  17. a painting on such a surface
  18. a section of a switchboard
  19. a usu. vertical mount for controls or dials (as of instruments of measurement)

panel -vt

  1. to furnish or decorate with panels
    • paneled the living room

panel discussion -n

  1. a formal discussion by a panel

paneling -n

  1. panels joined in a continuous surface
  2. decorative wood panels so joined

pan·el·ist ['pa-nᵊl-ist] -n

  1. a member of a discussion or advisory panel or of a radio or television panel

panel truck -n

  1. a small motortruck with a fully enclosed body

panetela [,pa-nə-'te-lə] -n

(variant of panatela)

  1. a long slender straight-sided cigar

pan·et·to·ne [,pä-nə-'tō-nē, ,pa-] -n

  1. a usu. yeast-leavened bread containing raisins and candied fruit

pan·fish ['pan-,fish] -n

  1. a small food fish (as a sunfish) usu. taken with hook and line and not available on the market

pan·fry ['pan-,frī, pan-'frī] -vt

  1. to cook in a frying pan with a small amount of fat

pan·ful ['pan-,fu̇l] -n

  1. as much or as many as a pan will hold

pang ['paŋ] -n

  1. a brief piercing spasm of pain
  2. a sharp attack of mental anguish
    • pang s of remorse
  3. to cause to have pangs : torment

pan·ga ['päŋ-gə] -n

  1. machete

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

  1. a disproven hypothetical mechanism of heredity in which the cells throw off particles that collect in the reproductive products or in buds so that the egg or bud contains particles from all parts of the parent

Pan·gloss·ian [pan-'glä-sē-ən, paŋ-, -'glȯ-] -adj

  1. marked by the view that all is for the best in this best of possible worlds : excessively optimistic

pan·go·la grass [pan-'gō-lə-, paŋ-] -n

  1. a rapid-growing perennial grass ( Digitaria decumbens) of southern Africa that has been introduced into the southern U.S. as a pasture grass

pan·go·lin ['paŋ-gə-lən, 'pan-] -n

  1. any of a family (Manidae of the order Pholidota) of Asian and African toothless mammals having the body covered dorsally with large imbricated horny scales called also scaly anteater

pan·han·dle ['pan-,han-dᵊl] -n

  1. a narrow projection of a larger territory (as a state)
    • the Oklahoma Panhandle

panhandle [-,han(d)-liŋ, -,han-dᵊl-iŋ] -vb, n

  1. to stop people on the street and ask for food or money : beg
  2. to accost on the street and beg from
  3. to get by panhandling

Pan·hel·len·ic [,pan-hə-'le-nik] -adj

  1. of or relating to all Greece or all the Greeks
  2. of or relating to the Greek-letter sororities or fraternities in American colleges and universities or to an association representing them

pan·hu·man [,pan-'hyü-mən, -'yü-] -adj

  1. of or relating to all humanity
    • the panhuman problem of evil -- R. K. Merton

pan·ic ['pa-nik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or resembling the mental or emotional state believed induced by the god Pan
    • panic fear
  2. of, relating to, or arising from a panic
    • panic buying
  3. of or relating to the god Pan

panic ['pa-ni-kē] -n, adj

  1. a sudden overpowering fright
  2. acute extreme anxiety
  3. a sudden unreasoning terror often accompanied by mass flight
    • widespread panic in the streets
  4. a sudden widespread fright concerning financial affairs that results in a depression of values caused by extreme measures for protection of property (as securities)
  5. one that is very funny
  6. to affect with panic
  7. to cause to laugh uproariously
    • panic an audience with a gag
  8. to be affected with panic

panic attack -n

  1. an episode of intense fear or apprehension that is of sudden onset

panic button -n

  1. something setting off a precipitous emergency response
    • there was no pushing of panic buttons at the White House, no rushing of troops -- J. C. Harsch

panic disorder -n

  1. an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks

pan·ic grass ['pa-nik-] -n

  1. any of various grasses ( Panicumand related genera) including some important forage and cereal grasses

pan·i·cle ['pa-ni-kəl] -n, adj

  1. a compound racemose inflorescence
  2. a pyramidal loosely branched flower cluster

pan·icstrick·en ['pa-nik-,stri-kən] -adj

  1. overcome with panic

pan·i·cum ['pa-ni-kəm] -n

  1. any of a large and widely distributed genus ( Panicum) of annual and perennial grasses that have 1- to 2-flowered spikelets arranged in a panicle

pa·ni·no [pə-'nē-nō] -n

  1. a usu. grilled sandwich made with Italian bread

Pan·ja·bi [,pən-'jä-bē, -'ja-] -n

  1. punjabi

pan·jan·drum [pan-'jan-drəm] -n

  1. a powerful personage or pretentious official

pan·leu·ko·pe·nia [,pan-,lü-kə-'pē-nē-ə] -n

  1. an acute usu. fatal epizootic disease esp. of cats that is caused by a parvovirus (species Feline panleukopenia virusof the genus Parvovirus) and is marked by fever, diarrhea and dehydration, and destruction of white blood cells

pan·mic·tic [,pan-'mik-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or exhibiting panmixia

pan·mix·ia [-'mik-sē-ə] -n

  1. random mating within a breeding population

panne ['pan] -n

  1. a silk or rayon velvet with lustrous pile flattened in one direction called also panne velvet
  2. a heavy silk or rayon satin with high luster and waxy smoothness

pan·nier ['pan-yər, 'pa-nē-ər] -n

  1. : a large container: as
  2. a basket often carried on the back of an animal or the shoulders of a person
  3. one of a pair of packs or baskets hung over the rear wheel of a vehicle (as a bicycle)
  4. one of a pair of hoops formerly used to expand women's skirts at the sides
  5. an overskirt draped at the sides of a skirt for an effect of fullness

pan·ni·kin ['pa-ni-kən] -n

  1. a small pan or cup

panocha [pə-'nü-chē] -n

(variant of penuche)

  1. fudge made usu. of brown sugar, butter, cream or milk, and nuts

pan·o·plied ['pa-nə-plēd] -adj

  1. dressed in or having a panoply

pan·o·ply ['pa-nə-plē] -n

  1. a full suit of armor
  2. ceremonial attire
  3. something forming a protective covering
  4. a magnificent or impressive array
    • the full panoply of a military funeral
  5. a display of all appropriate appurtenances
    • no need for the panoply of power

pan·op·tic [,pa-'näp-tik] -adj

  1. being or presenting a comprehensive or panoramic view
    • a panoptic view of the city

pan·o·rama [,pa-nə-'ra-mə, -'rä-] -n, adj, adv

  1. cyclorama
  2. a picture exhibited a part at a time by being unrolled before the spectator
  3. an unobstructed or complete view of an area in every direction
  4. a comprehensive presentation of a subject
    • a panorama of American history
  5. range
  6. a mental picture of a series of images or events

pan out -vi

  1. turn out
  2. succeed
    • the signs revealed that the experiment wasn't panning out -- Ronald Reagan

pan·pipe ['pan-,pīp] -n

  1. a primitive wind instrument consisting of a series of short vertical pipes of graduated length bound together with the mouthpieces in an even row often used in pl.

pan·sex·u·al [,pan-'sek-sh(ə-)wəl, -shəl] -adj, n

  1. exhibiting or implying many forms of sexual expression

PanSlav·ism [,pan-'slä-,vi-zəm, -'sla-] -n, adj

  1. a political and cultural movement orig. emphasizing the cultural ties between the Slavic peoples but later associated with Russian expansionism

pan·sy ['pan-zē] -n

  1. a garden plant ( Viola wittrockiana) derived chiefly from the hybridization of the European Johnny-jump-up ( Viola tricolor) with other wild violets
  2. its flower
  3. a weak or effeminate man or boy
  4. a male homosexual

pansy -adj

  1. effeminate
  2. homosexual

pant ['pant] -vb

  1. to breathe quickly, spasmodically, or in a labored manner
  2. to run panting
  3. to move with or make a throbbing or puffing sound
  4. to long eagerly : yearn
  5. throb, pulsate
  6. to utter with panting : gasp
  7. a panting breath
  8. the visible movement of the chest accompanying such a breath
  9. a throbbing or puffing sound
  10. an outer garment covering each leg separately and usu. extending from the waist to the ankle usu. used in pl.
  11. men's underpants
  12. pantie
  13. of or relating to pants
    • a pant leg

pant- -comb form

  1. all
    • pant isocracy

Pan·ta·gru·el [,pan-tə-'grü-əl; pan-'ta-grə-wəl, -,wel] -n, adj

  1. the huge son of Gargantua in Rabelais's Pantagruel

pan·ta·lets [,pan-tə-'lets] -n pl

  1. long drawers with a ruffle at the bottom of each leg worn esp. by women and children in the first half of the 19th century

pan·ta·loon [,pan-tə-'lün] -n

  1. a character in the commedia dell'arte that is usu. a skinny old dotard who wears spectacles, slippers, and a tight-fitting combination of trousers and stockings
  2. a buffoon in pantomimes
  3. wide breeches worn esp. in England during the reign of Charles II
  4. close-fitting trousers usu. having straps passing under the instep and worn esp. in the 19th century
  5. loose-fitting usu. shorter than ankle-length trousers

pan·tech·ni·con [pan-'tek-ni-kən] -n

  1. van

pan·the·ism ['pan(t)-thē-,i-zəm] -n, adj, adv

  1. a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe
  2. the worship of all gods of different creeds, cults, or peoples indifferently
  3. toleration of worship of all gods (as at certain periods of the Roman empire)

pan·the·on ['pan(t)-thē-,än, -ən] -n

  1. a temple dedicated to all the gods
  2. a building serving as the burial place of or containing memorials to the famous dead of a nation
  3. the gods of a people
  4. the officially recognized gods
  5. a group of illustrious or notable persons or things

pan·ther ['pan(t)-thər] -n

  1. : leopard: as
  2. a leopard of a hypothetical exceptionally large fierce variety
  3. a leopard of the black color phase
  4. cougar
  5. jaguar

pant·ie ['pan-tē] -n

  1. a woman's or child's undergarment covering the lower trunk and made with closed crotch usu. used in pl.

pantie girdle -n

  1. a woman's girdle having a sewed-in or detachable crotch and made with or without garters and bones

pan·tile ['pan-,tī(-ə)l] -n, adj

  1. a roofing tile whose cross section is an ogee curve
  2. a roofing tile of which the cross section is an arc of a circle and which is laid with alternate convex and concave surfaces uppermost

pant·i·soc·ra·cy [,pan-tə-'sä-krə-sē, ,pan-,tī-] -n, adj

  1. a utopian community in which all rule equally

pan·to ['pan-(,)tō] -n

  1. pantomime

pan·to·fle [pan-'tō-fəl, -'tä-, -'tü-; 'pan-tə-fəl] -n

  1. slipper

pan·to·graph ['pan-tə-,graf] -n, adj

  1. an instrument for copying something (as a map) on a predetermined scale consisting of four light rigid bars jointed in parallelogram form
  2. any of various extensible devices of similar construction (as for use as brackets or gates)
  3. an electrical trolley carried by a collapsible and adjustable frame

pan·to·mime ['pan-tə-,mīm] -n, adj

  1. pantomimist
  2. an ancient Roman dramatic performance featuring a solo dancer and a narrative chorus
  3. any of various dramatic or dancing performances in which a story is told by expressive bodily or facial movements of the performers
  4. a British theatrical entertainment of the Christmas season based on a nursery tale and featuring topical songs, tableaux, and dances
  5. conveyance of a story by bodily or facial movements esp. in drama or dance
  6. the art or genre of conveying a story by bodily movements only

pantomime -vb

  1. to engage in pantomime
  2. to represent by pantomime

pan·to·mim·ist ['pan-tə-,mī-mist, -,mi-] -n

  1. an actor or dancer in pantomimes
  2. a composer of pantomimes

pan·to·the·nate [,pan-tə-'the-,nāt, pan-'tä-thə-,nāt] -n

  1. a salt or ester of pantothenic acid

pan·to·then·ic acid [,pan-tə-'the-nik-, -'thē-] -n

  1. a viscous oily acid C 9H 17NO 5of the vitamin B complex found in all living tissues

pan·trop·i·cal [,pan-'trä-pi-kəl] -adj

  1. occurring or distributed throughout the tropical regions of the earth

pan·try ['pan-trē] -n

  1. a room or closet used for storage (as of provisions) or from which food is brought to the table
  2. a room (as in a hotel or hospital) for preparation of foods on order

pan·try·man [-mən] -n

  1. a person in charge of or working in a pantry (as in a hotel or hospital)

pants suit -n

  1. pantsuit

pant·suit ['pant-,süt] -n, adj

  1. a woman's ensemble consisting usu. of a long jacket and pants of the same material

panty hose -n

  1. a one-piece undergarment for women that consists of hosiery made with a panty-style top usu. pl. in constr.

panty raid -n

  1. a raid on a women's dormitory by college men usu. to obtain panties as trophies

panty·waist ['pan-tē-,wāst] -n, adj

  1. a child's garment consisting of short pants buttoned to a waist
  2. sissy

pan·zer ['pan-zər, 'pän(t)-sər] -n

  1. tank
  2. a German tank of World War II

panzer division -n

  1. a German armored division

pap ['pap] -n

  1. nipple, teat
  2. something shaped like a nipple
  3. a soft food for infants or invalids
  4. political patronage
  5. something lacking solid value or substance

pa·pa ['pä-pə, chiefly Brit pə-'pä] -n

  1. father

Pa·pa [pə-'pä, 'pä-pə]

  1. a communications code word for the letter p

pa·pa·cy ['pā-pə-sē] -n

  1. the office of pope
  2. a succession or line of popes
  3. the term of a pope's reign
  4. the system of government of the Roman Catholic Church of which the pope is the supreme head

Pa·pa·go ['pä-pə-,gō, 'pa-] -n

  1. tohono o'odham

pa·pa·in [pə-'pā-ən, -'pī-ən] -n

  1. a protease in the juice of unripe papaya that is used esp. as a tenderizer for meat and in medicine (as in the topical debridement of necrotic tissue)

pa·pal ['pā-pəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a pope or to the Roman Catholic Church
  2. resembling a pope or that of a pope

papal cross -n

  1. a figure of a cross having a long upright shaft and three crossbars with the longest at or somewhat above its middle and the two other successively shorter crossbars above the longest one

papal infallibility -n

  1. the Roman Catholic doctrine that the pope cannot err when speaking ex cathedra in defining a doctrine of Christian faith or morals

Pa·pa·ni·co·laou smear [,pä-pə-'nē-kə-,lau̇-, ,pa-pə-'ni-] -n

  1. pap smear

Papanicolaou test -n

  1. pap smear

pa·pa·raz·zo [,pä-pə-'rät-(,)sō] -n

  1. a freelance photographer who aggressively pursues celebrities for the purpose of taking candid photographs

pa·pav·er·ine [pə-'pa-və-,rēn; -'pav-rən, -'pa-və-] -n

  1. a crystalline alkaloid C 20H 21NO 4found in opium or made synthetically that is used usu. in the form of its hydrochloride chiefly as an antispasmodic for its ability to relax smooth muscle

papaw -n

(variant of pawpaw)

  1. papaya
  2. a No. American tree ( Asimina triloba) of the custard-apple family with purple flowers and an edible green-skinned fruit
  3. its fruit

pa·pa·ya [pə-'pī-ə] -n

  1. a tropical American tree ( Carica papayaof the family Caricaceae, the papaya family) having an oblong to globose yellow edible fruit with numerous black seeds in a central cavity
  2. its fruit

pa·per ['pā-pər] -n

  1. a felted sheet of usu. vegetable fibers laid down on a fine screen from a water suspension
  2. a similar sheet of other material (as plastic)
  3. a piece of paper
  4. a piece of paper containing a written or printed statement : document
    • pedigree paper s
  5. a piece of paper containing writing or print
  6. a formal written composition often designed for publication and often intended to be read aloud
    • presented a scholarly paper at the meeting
  7. a piece of written schoolwork
  8. a paper container or wrapper
  9. newspaper
  10. the negotiable notes or instruments of commerce
  11. wallpaper
  12. tickets
  13. free passes
  14. paperback

paper ['pā-p(ə-)riŋ] -vb, n

  1. to put down or describe in writing
  2. to fold or enclose in paper
  3. to cover or line with paper
  4. to apply wallpaper to
  5. to fill by giving out free passes
    • paper the theater for opening night
  6. to cover (an area) with advertising bills, circulars, or posters
  7. to hang wallpaper
  8. made of paper, cardboard, or papier-mache
    • a paper bag
  9. papery
  10. of or relating to clerical work or written communication
  11. existing only in theory : nominal
    • a paper blockade
  12. admitted by free passes
    • a paper audience
  13. finished with a crisp smooth surface similar to that of paper
    • paper taffeta

pa·per·back ['pā-pər-,bak] -n, adj

  1. a book with a flexible paper binding

pa·per·bark ['pā-pər-,bärk] -n

  1. any of several chiefly Australian trees (genus Melaleuca) of the myrtle family having papery bark
  2. cajeput

paper birch -n

  1. a No. American birch ( Betula papyrifera) with peeling white bark and toothed ovate leaves

pa·per·board ['pā-pər-,bȯrd] -n

  1. cardboard

pa·per·bound [-,bau̇nd] -n, adj

  1. paperback

pa·per·boy [-,bȯi] -n

  1. a boy who delivers newspapers : newsboy

paper chromatography -n

  1. chromatography that uses paper strips or sheets as the adsorbent stationary phase through which a solution flows

paper clip -n

  1. a length of wire bent into flat loops that is used to hold papers together

paper cutter -n

  1. paper knife
  2. a machine or device for cutting or trimming sheets of paper to required dimensions

pa·per·hang·er ['pā-pər-,haŋ-ər] -n

  1. one that applies wallpaper
  2. one who passes worthless checks

pa·per·hang·ing [-,haŋ-iŋ] -n

  1. the act of applying wallpaper

paper knife -n

  1. a knife for slitting envelopes or uncut pages
  2. the knife of a paper cutter

pa·per·less ['pā-pər-ləs] -adj

  1. recording or relaying information by electronic media rather than on paper
    • paperless offices

pa·per·mak·er ['pā-pər-,mā-kər] -n

  1. one that makes paper

paper money -n

  1. money consisting of government notes and banknotes
  2. bank money

paper mulberry -n

  1. an Asian tree ( Broussonetia papyrifera) of the mulberry family that is widely grown as a shade tree

paper nautilus -n

  1. a pelagic cephalopod (genus Argonauta) of which the female has a delicate papery shell

paper over -vt

  1. to gloss over, explain away, or patch up (as major differences or disparities) esp. in order to maintain a semblance of unity or agreement
  2. hide, conceal

paper profit -n

  1. a profit that can be realized only by selling something (as a security) that has appreciated in market value

pa·perthin ['pā-pər-,thin] -adj

  1. extremely thin
    • paperthin partitions

paper tiger -n

  1. one that is outwardly powerful or dangerous but inwardly weak or ineffectual

paper trail -n

  1. documents (as financial records) from which a person's actions may be traced or opinions learned

pa·pertrain ['pā-pər-,trān] -vt

  1. to train (as a dog) to defecate and urinate on paper indoors

paper wasp -n

  1. a vespid wasp (esp. genus Polistes) that builds a nest of papery material

pa·per·weight [-,wāt] -n

  1. a usu. small heavy object used to hold down loose papers (as on a desk)

pa·per·white [-,(h)wīt] -n

  1. a polyanthus narcissus bearing clusters of small very fragrant pure white flowers

pa·per·work [-,wərk] -n

  1. routine clerical or record-keeping work often incidental to a more important task

pa·pery ['pā-p(ə-)rē] -adj, n

  1. resembling paper in thinness or consistency
    • papery leaves
    • papery silk

pa·pe·terie ['pa-pə-trē, ,pa-pə-'] -n

  1. packaged fancy stationery

Pa·phi·an ['pā-fē-ən] -n

  1. prostitute
  2. a native or inhabitant of Paphos

Paphian -adj

  1. of or relating to illicit love : wanton
  2. of or relating to Paphos or its people

Pa·pia·men·to [,pä-pyə-'men-(,)tō] -n

  1. a Spanish-based creole language of Netherlands Antilles

pa·pier col·le [,pä-,pyā-(,)kȯ-'lā, ,pa-] -n

  1. collage

pa·pierma·che [,pā-pər-mə-'shā, ,pa-,pyā-mə-, -(,)ma-] -n

  1. a light strong molding material of wastepaper pulped with glue and other additives

papiermache -adj

  1. formed of papier-mache
  2. unreal, artificial

pa·pil·i·o·na·ceous [pə-,pi-lē-ə-'nā-shəs] -adj

  1. having a corolla (as in the bean or pea) with usu. five petals that include a large upper petal enclosing two lateral wings and a lower carina of two united petals

pa·pil·la [pə-'pi-lə] -n, adj

  1. : a small projecting body part similar to a nipple in form:
  2. a vascular process of connective tissue extending into and nourishing the root of a hair, feather, or developing tooth
  3. any of the vascular protuberances of the dermal layer of the skin extending into the epidermal layer and often containing tactile corpuscles
  4. any of the small protuberances on the upper surface of the tongue often containing taste buds

pap·il·lo·ma [,pa-pə-'lō-mə] -n, adj

  1. a benign tumor (as a wart) due to overgrowth of epithelial tissue on papillae of vascular connective tissue (as of the skin)

pap·il·lo·ma·vi·rus [-,vī-rəs] -n

  1. any of a family ( Papillomaviridae) of viruses that contain a single molecule of circular double-stranded DNA and cause papillomas in mammals

pa·pil·lon [,pä-pē-'yōⁿ, ,pa-] -n

  1. any of a European breed of small slender toy spaniels having large erect heavily fringed ears

pa·pil·lote [,pä-pē-'yōt, ,pa-] -n

  1. a greased usu. paper wrapper in which food (as meat or fish) is cooked

pa·pist ['pā-pist] -n, adj

  1. roman catholic

pa·pist·ry ['pā-pə-strē] -n

  1. the Roman Catholic religion

pa·poose [pa-'püs, pə-] -n

  1. a young child of American Indian parents

pa·po·va·vi·rus [pə-'pō-və-,vī-rəs] -n

  1. any of a former family (Papovaviridae) of double-stranded DNA viruses that included the papillomaviruses and polyomaviruses

pap·par·del·le [,pä-pär-'de-lā] -n

  1. pasta in the form of wide ribbons

pap·pose ['pa-,pōs] -adj

  1. having or being a pappus

pap·pus ['pa-pəs] -n

  1. an appendage or tuft of appendages that crowns the ovary or fruit in various seed plants and functions in dispersal of the fruit

pap·py ['pa-pē] -n

  1. papa

pa·pri·ka [pə-'prē-kə, pa-] -n

  1. a usu. mild red condiment consisting of the dried finely ground pods of various sweet peppers
  2. a sweet pepper used for making paprika

Pap smear ['pap-] -n

  1. a method for the early detection of cancer esp. of the uterine cervix that involves the staining of exfoliated cells using a special technique which differentiates diseased tissue called also Papanicolaou smear Papanicolaou test Pap test

Pap·u·an ['pa-pyə-wən, -pə-] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of Papua
  2. a member of any of the native peoples of New Guinea and adjacent areas of Melanesia
  3. any of a heterogeneous group of languages spoken in New Guinea, New Britain, and the Solomon islands

pap·u·lar ['pa-pyə-lər] -adj

  1. consisting of or characterized by papules

pap·ule ['pa-(,)pyül] -n

  1. a small solid usu. conical elevation of the skin

pap·y·rol·o·gy [,pa-pə-'rä-lə-jē] -n

  1. the study of papyrus manuscripts

pa·py·rus [pə-'pī-rəs] -n

  1. a tall perennial sedge ( Cyperus papyrus) of the Nile valley
  2. the pith of the papyrus plant esp. when made into strips and pressed into a material to write on
  3. a writing on papyrus
  4. a written scroll made of papyrus

par ['pär] -n, adj

  1. the established value of the monetary unit of one country expressed in terms of the monetary unit of another country using the same metal as the standard of value
  2. : the face amount of an instrument of value (as a check or note): as
  3. the monetary value assigned to each share of stock in the charter of a corporation
  4. the principal of a bond
  5. common level : equality usu. used with on
    • judged the recording to be on a par with previous ones
  6. an amount taken as an average or norm
  7. an accepted standard
  8. a usual standard of physical condition or health
  9. the score standard for each hole of a golf course
  10. a score equal to par
  11. to score par on (a hole)

pa·ra ['pär-ə] -n

  1. any of several monetary units of the Turkish Empire
  2. a coin representing one para
  3. see dinar at

para -abbr

  1. paragraph

para- -prefix

  1. beside : alongside of : beyond : aside from
    • para thyroid
    • par enteral
  2. closely related to
    • par aldehyde
  3. involving substitution at or characterized by two opposite positions in the benzene ring that are separated by two carbon atoms
    • para dichlorobenzene
  4. faulty : abnormal
    • par esthesia
  5. associated in a subsidiary or accessory capacity
    • para medical
  6. closely resembling : almost
    • para typhoid
  7. parachute
    • para trooper

paraami·no·ben·zo·ic acid [,pa-rə-ə-,mē-,nō-,ben-'zō-ik-, ,pa-rə-,a-mə-(,)nō-] -n

  1. a colorless para-substituted aminobenzoic acid that is a growth factor of the vitamin B complex and is used as a sunscreen called also PABA

paraami·no·sal·i·cyl·ic acid [-,sa-lə-'si-lik-] -n

  1. the white crystalline para-substituted isomer of aminosalicylic acid that is made synthetically and is used in the treatment of tuberculosis

para·bi·o·sis [,pa-rə-(,)bī-'ō-səs, -bē-] -n, adj, adv

  1. reversible suspension of obvious vital activities
  2. anatomical and physiological union of two organisms

par·a·ble ['pa-rə-bəl] -n

  1. example
  2. a usu. short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle

pa·rab·o·la [pə-'ra-bə-lə] -n

  1. a plane curve generated by a point moving so that its distance from a fixed point is equal to its distance from a fixed line : the intersection of a right circular cone with a plane parallel to an element of the cone
  2. something bowl-shaped (as an antenna or microphone reflector)

par·a·bol·ic [,pa-rə-'bä-lik] -adj, adv

  1. expressed by or being a parable : allegorical
  2. of, having the form of, or relating to a parabola
    • motion in a parabolic curve

pa·rab·o·loid [pə-'ra-bə-,lȯid] -n, adj

  1. a surface all of whose intersections by planes are either parabolas and ellipses or parabolas and hyperbolas

para·cet·a·mol [,pa-rə-'sē-tə-,mȯl] -n

  1. acetaminophen

para·chute ['per-ə-,shüt, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj

  1. a device for slowing the descent of a person or object through the air that consists of a fabric canopy beneath which the person or object is suspended
  2. patagium
  3. a device or structure suggestive of a parachute in form, use, or operation

parachute -vb

  1. to convey by means of a parachute
  2. to descend by means of a parachute

parachute pants -n pl

  1. baggy casual pants of lightweight fabric often with an elastic or drawstring at the waist and the cuffs

para·chut·ist ['per-ə-,shü-tist, 'pa-rə-] -n

  1. : one that parachutes: as
  2. paratrooper
  3. a person who parachutes as a sport

Par·a·clete ['pa-rə-,klēt] -n

  1. holy spirit

para·crine ['pa-rə-krən, -,krīn] -adj

  1. of, relating to, promoted by, or being a substance secreted by a cell and acting on adjacent cells

pa·rade [pə-'rād] -n

  1. a pompous show : exhibition
  2. the ceremonial formation of a body of troops before a superior officer
  3. a place where troops assemble regularly for parade
  4. an informal procession
  5. a public procession
  6. a usu. lengthy array or succession
    • a parade of visitors
  7. a place for strolling
  8. those who promenade

parade -vb, n

  1. to cause to maneuver or march : marshal
  2. promenade
  3. to exhibit ostentatiously
  4. to march in or as if in a procession
  5. promenade
  6. show off
  7. masquerade
    • myths which parade as modern science -- M. R. Cohen

para·di·chlo·ro·ben·zene [,pa-rə-,dī-,klȯr-ə-'ben-,zēn, -,ben-'] -n

  1. a white crystalline compound C 6H 4Cl 2made by chlorinating benzene and used esp. as a moth repellent and deodorizer

par·a·did·dle ['pa-rə-,di-dᵊl] -n

  1. a quick succession of drumbeats slower than a roll and alternating left- and right-hand strokes in a typical L-R-L-L, R-L-R-R pattern

par·a·digm ['per-ə-,dīm, 'pa-rə- also -,dim] -n, adj, adv

  1. example, pattern
  2. an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype
  3. an example of a conjugation or declension showing a word in all its inflectional forms
  4. a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated
  5. a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind

par·a·di·sa·i·cal [,per-ə-,dī-'sā-ə-kəl, -'zā-, ,pa-rə-] -adj, adv

  1. paradisiacal

par·a·dis·al [,per-ə-'dī-səl, -zəl, 'pa-rə-] -adj

  1. paradisiacal

par·a·dise ['per-ə-,dīs, -,dīz, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj

  1. eden
  2. an intermediate place or state where the souls of the righteous await resurrection and the final judgment
  3. heaven
  4. a place or state of bliss, felicity, or delight

par·a·di·si·a·cal [,per-ə-də-'sī-ə-kəl, -,dī-, -'zī-, ,pa-rə-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or resembling paradise

pa·ra·dor [,pä-rä-'thȯr] -n

  1. a usu. government-operated hostelry found esp. in Spain

par·a·dox ['per-ə-,däks, 'pa-rə-] -n

  1. a tenet contrary to received opinion
  2. a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true
  3. a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true
  4. an argument that apparently derives self-contradictory conclusions by valid deduction from acceptable premises
  5. one (as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases

par·a·dox·i·cal [,per-ə-'däk-si-kəl, ,pa-rə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. of the nature of a paradox
  2. inclined to paradoxes
  3. not being the normal or usual kind
    • a paradoxical pulse
    • paradoxical drug reactions

paradoxical sleep -n

  1. rem sleep

par·aes·the·sia [,par-əs-'thē-zhə] -n, adj

(variant of paresthesia)

  1. a sensation of pricking, tingling, or creeping on the skin that has no objective cause

par·af·fin ['per-ə-fən, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj

  1. a waxy crystalline flammable substance obtained esp. from distillates of wood, coal, petroleum, or shale oil that is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons and is used chiefly in coating and sealing, in candles, in rubber compounding, and in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
  2. any of various mixtures of similar hydrocarbons including mixtures that are semisolid or oily
  3. alkane
  4. kerosene

para·for·mal·de·hyde [,pa-rə-fȯr-'mal-də-,hīd, -fər-] -n

  1. a white powder (CH 2O) x that consists of a polymer of formaldehyde and is used esp. as a disinfectant

para·gen·e·sis [,pa-rə-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj, adv

  1. the formation of minerals in contact in such a manner as to affect one another's development

para·glid·er ['pa-rə-,glī-dər] -n

  1. a modified parachute used for paragliding
  2. a person who paraglides

para·glid·ing ['pa-rə-,glī-diŋ] -n, vi

  1. the recreational sport of soaring from a slope or a cliff using a modified parachute

par·a·gon ['per-ə-,gän, -gən, 'pa-rə-] -n

  1. a model of excellence or perfection

paragon -vt

  1. to compare with : parallel
  2. to put in rivalry : match
  3. surpass

par·a·graph ['per-ə-,graf, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj

  1. a subdivision of a written composition that consists of one or more sentences, deals with one point or gives the words of one speaker, and begins on a new usu. indented line
  2. a short composition or note that is complete in one paragraph
  3. a character (as ) used to indicate the beginning of a paragraph and as a reference mark

paragraph -vt

  1. to write paragraphs about
  2. to divide into paragraphs
  3. to write paragraphs

par·a·graph·er ['per-ə-,gra-fər, 'pa-rə-] -n

  1. a writer of paragraphs esp. for the editorial page of a newspaper

para·in·flu·en·za [,pa-rə-,in-flü-'en-zə] -n

  1. parainfluenza virus
  2. a respiratory illness caused by a parainfluenza virus

parainfluenza virus -n

  1. any of several paramyxoviruses (genera Respirovirusand Rubulavirus) that are a frequent cause of infections (as croup) of the lower respiratory tract esp. in infants and children

para·jour·nal·ism [,par-ə-'jər-nᵊl-,i-zəm] -n

  1. journalism that is heavily colored by the opinions of the reporter

par·a·keet ['per-ə-,kēt, 'pa-rə-] -n

  1. any of numerous usu. small slender parrots with a long graduated tail

para·lan·guage ['pa-rə-,laŋ-gwij] -n

  1. optional vocal effects (as tone of voice) that accompany or modify the phonemes of an utterance and that may communicate meaning

par·al·de·hyde [pa-'ral-də-,hīd, pə-] -n

  1. a colorless liquid polymer C 6H 12O 3derived from acetaldehyde and used esp. as an anticonvulsant, sedative, and hypnotic

para·le·gal [,pa-rə-'lē-gəl] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being a paraprofessional who assists a lawyer

para·lin·guis·tics [,pa-rə-liŋ-'gwis-tiks] -n, adj

  1. the study of paralanguage

Par·a·li·pom·e·non [,pa-rə-lə-'pä-mə-,nän, -lī-] -n

  1. chronicles

par·al·lac·tic [,pa-rə-'lak-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or due to parallax

par·al·lax ['pa-rə-,laks] -n

  1. the apparent displacement or the difference in apparent direction of an object as seen from two different points not on a straight line with the object
  2. the angular difference in direction of a celestial body as measured from two points on the earth's orbit

par·al·lel ['per-ə-,lel, 'pa-rə-, -ləl] -adj

  1. extending in the same direction, everywhere equidistant, and not meeting
    • parallel rows of trees
  2. everywhere equally distant
    • concentric spheres are parallel
  3. having parallel sides
    • a parallel reamer
  4. being or relating to an electrical circuit having a number of conductors in parallel
  5. arranged in parallel
    • a parallel processor
  6. relating to or being a connection in a computer system in which the bits of a byte are transmitted over separate channels at the same time
    • a parallel port
  7. similar, analogous, or interdependent in tendency or development
  8. exhibiting parallelism in form, function, or development
    • parallel evolution
  9. readily compared : companion
  10. having identical syntactical elements in corresponding positions
  11. being such an element
  12. having the same tonic used of major and minor keys and scales
  13. keeping the same distance apart in musical pitch
  14. performed while keeping one's skis parallel
    • parallel turns

parallel -n

  1. a parallel line, curve, or surface
  2. one of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth paralleling the equator and marking the latitude
  3. the corresponding line on a globe or map
  4. a character used in printing esp. as a reference mark
  5. something equal or similar in all essential particulars : counterpart
  6. similarity, analogue
  7. a comparison to show resemblance
  8. the state of being physically parallel
  9. an arrangement of electrical devices in a circuit in which the same potential difference is applied to two or more resistances with each resistance being on a different branch of the circuit
  10. an arrangement or state that permits several operations or tasks to be performed simultaneously rather than consecutively
  11. to indicate analogy of : compare
  12. to show something equal to : match
  13. to correspond to
  14. to place so as to be parallel in direction with something
  15. to extend, run, or move in a direction parallel to
  16. in a parallel manner

parallel bars -n pl

  1. a pair of usu. wooden bars supported horizontally above the floor at the same height or at different heights usu. by a common base and used in gymnastics
  2. an event in gymnastics competition in which even or uneven parallel bars are used

par·al·lel·e·pi·ped [,pa-rə-,le-lə-'pī-pəd also -,le-'le-pə-,ped] -n

  1. a 6-faced polyhedron all of whose faces are parallelograms lying in pairs of parallel planes

par·al·lel·ism ['pa-rə-,le-,li-zəm, -lə-,li-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being parallel
  2. resemblance, correspondence
  3. repeated syntactical similarities introduced for rhetorical effect
  4. a theory that mind and matter accompany one another but are not causally related
  5. the independent development of a similar trait in related species or lineages following divergence from a common ancestor

par·al·lel·o·gram [,pa-rə-'le-lə-,gram] -n

  1. a quadrilateral with opposite sides parallel and equal

par·al·lelveined [,pa-rə-,lel-'vānd, -ləl-] -adj

  1. having veins arranged nearly parallel to one another

pa·ral·o·gism [pə-'ra-lə-,ji-zəm] -n

  1. a fallacious argument

Para·lym·pics [,pa-rə-'lim-piks] -n pl, n, adj

  1. a series of international contests for athletes with disabilities that are associated with and held following the summer and winter Olympic Games called also Paralympic Games

par·a·lyse ['per-ə-,līz, 'pa-rə-] -vt, n, adv

(variant of paralyze)

  1. to affect with paralysis
  2. to make powerless or ineffective
  3. unnerve
  4. stun, stupefy
  5. to bring to an end : prevent, destroy

pa·ral·y·sis [pə-'ra-lə-səs] -n

  1. complete or partial loss of function esp. when involving the motion or sensation in a part of the body
  2. loss of the ability to move
  3. a state of powerlessness or incapacity to act

paralysis agi·tans [-'a-jə-,tanz] -n

  1. parkinson's disease

par·a·lyt·ic [,pa-rə-'li-tik] -adj, adv

  1. affected with, characterized by, or causing paralysis
  2. of, relating to, or resembling paralysis

paralytic -n

  1. one affected with paralysis

par·a·lyze ['per-ə-,līz, 'pa-rə-] -vt, n, adv

  1. to affect with paralysis
  2. to make powerless or ineffective
  3. unnerve
  4. stun, stupefy
  5. to bring to an end : prevent, destroy

para·mag·net ['pa-rə-,mag-nət] -n

  1. a paramagnetic substance

para·mag·net·ic [,pa-rə-mag-'ne-tik] -adj, adv, n

  1. being or relating to a magnetizable substance (as aluminum) that has small but positive susceptibility which varies little with magnetizing force

par·a·me·cium [,pa-rə-'mē-sh(ē-)əm, -sē-əm] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Paramecium) of ciliate chiefly freshwater protozoans that have an elongate body rounded at the anterior end and an oblique funnel-shaped buccal groove bearing the mouth at the extremity

para·med·ic [,pa-rə-'me-dik] -n

  1. a person who works in a health field in an auxiliary capacity to a physician (as by giving injections and taking X-rays)
  2. a specially trained medical technician licensed to provide a wide range of emergency services (as defibrillation and the intravenous administration of drugs) before or during transportation to a hospital

para·med·i·cal [,pa-rə-'me-di-kəl] -adj

  1. concerned with supplementing the work of highly trained medical professionals
    • paramedical aides and technicians

par·a·ment ['pa-rə-mənt] -n

  1. an ornamental ecclesiastical hanging or vestment

pa·ram·e·ter [pə-'ram-ə-tər] -n, adj, adv

  1. an arbitrary constant whose value characterizes a member of a system (as a family of curves)
  2. a quantity (as a mean or variance) that describes a statistical population
  3. an independent variable used to express the coordinates of a variable point and functions of them
  4. any of a set of physical properties whose values determine the characteristics or behavior of something
    • parameter s of the atmosphere such as temperature, pressure, and density
  5. something represented by a parameter : a characteristic element
  6. characteristic, element, factor
    • political dissent as a parameter of modern life
  7. limit, boundary usu. used in pl.
    • the parameter s of science fiction

pa·ram·e·ter·ize [pə-'ra-mə-tə-,rīz, -mə-,trīz] -vt, n

  1. to express in terms of parameters

parametric equation -n

  1. any of a set of equations that express the coordinates of the points of a curve as functions of one parameter or that express the coordinates of the points of a surface as functions of two parameters

para·mil·i·tary [,pa-rə-'mi-lə-,ter-ē] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, being, or characteristic of a force formed on a military pattern esp. as a potential auxiliary military force
    • a paramilitary border patrol
    • paramilitary training

par·am·ne·sia [,pa-,ram-'nē-zhə, -əm-] -n

  1. a disorder of memory
  2. deja vu

par·a·mount ['per-ə-,mau̇nt, 'pa-rə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. superior to all others : supreme
    • a matter of paramount importance

paramount -n

  1. a supreme ruler

par·amour ['pa-rə-,mu̇r] -n

  1. an illicit lover

par·am·y·lum [,pa-'ra-mə-ləm] -n

  1. a reserve carbohydrate that is found in various protozoans and algae and resembles starch

para·myxo·vi·rus [,pa-rə-'mik-sə-,vī-rəs] -n

  1. any of a family ( Paramyxoviridae) of single-stranded RNA viruses that include the parainfluenza viruses, the respiratory syncytial virus, and the causative agents of canine distemper, measles, mumps, Newcastle disease, and rinderpest

pa·rang ['pär-,aŋ] -n

  1. a short sword, cleaver, or machete common in Malaysia and Indonesia

para·noia [,per-ə-'nȯi-ə, ,pa-rə-] -n, adj or n, adv

  1. a psychosis characterized by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur usu. without hallucinations
  2. a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others

para·noid ['per-ə-,nȯid, ,pa-rə-] -adj, n

  1. characterized by or resembling paranoia
  2. characterized by suspiciousness, persecutory trends, or megalomania
  3. extremely fearful

paranoid schizophrenia -n

  1. schizophrenia characterized esp. by persecutory or grandiose delusions or hallucinations or by delusional jealousy

para·nor·mal [,pa-rə-'nȯr-məl, 'pa-rə-,] -adj, n, adv

  1. not scientifically explainable : supernatural

para·nymph ['pa-rə-,nim(p)f] -n

  1. a friend going with a bridegroom to fetch home the bride in ancient Greece
  2. the bridesmaid conducting the bride to the bridegroom
  3. best man
  4. bridesmaid

par·a·pet ['pa-rə-pət, -,pet] -n, adj

  1. a wall, rampart, or elevation of earth or stone to protect soldiers
  2. a low wall or railing to protect the edge of a platform, roof, or bridge called also parapet wall

pa·raph ['pa-rəf, pə-'raf] -n

  1. a flourish at the end of a signature

par·a·pher·na·lia [,per-ə-fə(r)-'nāl-yə, ,pa-rə-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. the separate real or personal property of a married woman that she can dispose of by will and sometimes according to common law during her life
  2. personal belongings
  3. articles of equipment : furnishings
  4. accessory items : appurtenances

para·phil·ia [,pa-rə-'fi-lē-ə] -n, adj or n

  1. a pattern of recurring sexually arousing mental imagery or behavior that involves unusual and esp. socially unacceptable sexual practices (as sadism or pedophilia)

para·phrase ['per-ə-,frāz,'pa-rə-] -n

  1. a restatement of a text, passage, or work giving the meaning in another form
  2. the use or process of paraphrasing in studying or teaching composition

paraphrase [,per-ə-'frā-zə-bəl, ,pa-rə-] -vb, adj, n

  1. to make a paraphrase
  2. to make a paraphrase of

para·phras·tic [,per-ə-'fras-tik, ,pa-rə-] -adj, adv

  1. having the nature of or being a paraphrase

pa·raph·y·sis [pə-'ra-fə-səs] -n

  1. one of the slender sterile filaments borne among the sporogenous or gametogenous organs in certain ferns, mosses, algae, and fungi

para·ple·gia [,pa-rə-'plē-j(ē-)ə] -n, adj or n

  1. paralysis of the lower half of the body with involvement of both legs

para·po·di·um [-'pō-dē-əm] -n, adj

  1. either of a pair of fleshy lateral processes borne by most segments of a polychaete worm
  2. a lateral expansion on each side of the foot usu. forming a broad swimming organ in some gastropods

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

  1. a trained aide who assists a professional person (as a teacher or doctor)

para·psy·chol·o·gy [,pa-rə-(,)sī-'kä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. a field of study concerned with the investigation of evidence for paranormal psychological phenomena (as telepathy, clairvoyance, and psychokinesis)

para·quat ['pa-rə-,kwät] -n

  1. a highly toxic contact herbicide containing a salt of a cation C 12H 14N 2 2

para·res·cue ['pa-rə-,res-(,)kyü] -n

  1. a search and rescue mission by specially trained personnel who can parachute to the site
    • a pararescue team

para·ros·an·i·line [,pa-rə-,rō-'za-nᵊl-ən] -n

  1. a white crystalline base C 19H 19N 3O that is the parent compound of many dyes
  2. its red chloride used esp. as a biological stain

Pa·ra rubber ['pa-rə-, pə-'rä-] -n

  1. native rubber from So. American rubber trees (genus Heveaand esp. H. brasiliensis)

Para rubber tree -n

  1. a So. American rubber tree ( Hevea brasiliensis)

para·sail·ing ['pa-rə-,sā-liŋ] -n

  1. the recreational sport of soaring in a parachute while being towed usu. by a motorboat

par·a·sang ['pa-rə-,saŋ] -n

  1. any of various Persian units of distance
  2. an ancient unit of about four miles (six kilometers)

para·sex·u·al [,pa-rə-'sek-sh(ə-)wəl, -shəl] -adj, n

  1. relating to or being reproduction that results in recombination of genes from different individuals but does not involve meiosis and formation of a zygote by fertilization as in sexual reproduction
    • the parasexual cycle in some fungi

pa·ra·shah ['pär-ə-,shä] -n

  1. a passage in Jewish Scripture dealing with a single topic
  2. a section of the Torah assigned for weekly reading in synagogue worship

par·a·site ['per-ə-,sīt, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj, adv

  1. a person who exploits the hospitality of the rich and earns welcome by flattery
  2. an organism living in, with, or on another organism in parasitism
  3. something that resembles a biological parasite in dependence on something else for existence or support without making a useful or adequate return

par·a·sit·i·cid·al [,per-ə-,si-tə-'sī-dᵊl, ,pa-rə-] -adj, n

  1. destructive to parasites

par·a·sit·ise [-sə-,tīz, -,sī-] -vt, n

(variant of parasitize)

  1. to infest or live on or with as a parasite

par·a·sit·ism ['per-ə-sə-,ti-zəm, -,sī-, ,pa-rə-] -n

  1. the behavior of a parasite
  2. an intimate association between organisms of two or more kinds
  3. one in which a parasite obtains benefits from a host which it usu. injures
  4. parasitosis

par·a·sit·ize [-sə-,tīz, -,sī-] -vt, n

  1. to infest or live on or with as a parasite

par·a·sit·oid ['per-ə-sə-,tȯid, -,sī-, ,pa-rə-] -n, adj

  1. an insect and esp. a wasp that completes its larval development within the body of another insect eventually killing it and is free-living as an adult

par·a·si·tol·o·gy [,per-ə-sə-'tä-lə-jē, -,sī-, ,pa-rə-] -n, adj, adv

  1. a branch of biology dealing with parasites and parasitism esp. among animals

par·a·sit·o·sis [-sə-'tō-səs, -,sī-] -n

  1. infestation with or disease caused by parasites

par·a·sol ['per-ə-,sȯl, -,säl, 'pa-rə-] -n

  1. a lightweight umbrella used as a sunshade

para·sym·pa·thet·ic [,pa-rə-,sim-pə-'the-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, being, or acting on the parasympathetic nervous system

parasympathetic -n

  1. a parasympathetic nerve
  2. parasympathetic nervous system

parasympathetic nervous system -n

  1. the part of the autonomic nervous system that contains chiefly cholinergic fibers, that tends to induce secretion, to increase the tone and contractility of smooth muscle, and to slow heart rate, and that consists of a cranial and a sacral part

para·sym·pa·tho·mi·met·ic [,par-ə-'sim-pə-(,)thō-mī-'me-tik, -mə-] -adj

  1. simulating parasympathetic nervous action in physiological effect

para·syn·the·sis [,pa-rə-'sin(t)-thə-səs] -n, adj

  1. the formation of words by adding a derivative ending and prefixing a particle (as in denationalize)

para·tac·tic [,pa-rə-'tak-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to parataxis

para·tax·is [,pa-rə-'tak-səs] -n

  1. the placing of clauses or phrases one after another without coordinating or subordinating connectives

para·thi·on [,pa-rə-'thī-ən, -,än] -n

  1. an extremely toxic insecticide C 10H 14NO 5PS

par·a·thor·mone [,pa-rə-'thȯr-,mōn] -n

  1. parathyroid hormone

para·thy·roid [-'thī-,rȯid] -n

  1. parathyroid gland

parathyroid -adj

  1. of, relating to, or produced by the parathyroid glands

para·thy·roid·ec·to·my [-,rȯi-'dek-tə-mē] -n, adj

  1. partial or complete excision of the parathyroid glands

parathyroid gland -n

  1. any of usu. four small endocrine glands that are adjacent to or embedded in the thyroid gland and produce parathyroid hormone

parathyroid hormone -n

  1. a hormone of the parathyroid gland that regulates the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus in the body

para·tran·sit [,pa-rə-'tran(t)-sət, -'tran-zət] -n

  1. transportation service that supplements larger public transit systems by providing individualized rides without fixed routes or timetables

para·troop·er ['pa-rə-,trü-pər] -n

  1. a member of the paratroops

para·troops [-,trüps] -n pl, adj

  1. troops trained and equipped to parachute from an airplane

para·ty·phoid [,pa-rə-'tī-,fȯid, -(,)tī-'] -adj

  1. resembling typhoid fever
  2. of or relating to paratyphoid or its causative organisms
    • paratyphoid infection

paratyphoid -n

  1. a salmonellosis that resembles typhoid fever and is commonly contracted by eating contaminated food called also paratyphoid fever

para·vane ['pa-rə-,vān] -n

  1. a torpedo-shaped protective device with serrate teeth in its forward end used underwater by a ship in mined areas to sever the moorings of mines

par·boil ['pär-,bȯi(-ə)l] -vt

  1. to boil briefly as a preliminary or incomplete cooking procedure

par·buck·le ['pär-,bə-kəl] -n, vt

  1. a purchase for hoisting or lowering a cylindrical object by making fast the middle of a long rope aloft and looping both ends around the object which rests in the loops and rolls in them as the ends are hauled up or paid out
  2. a single line made fast at one end and passed around an object that is used similarly

Par·cae ['pär-,kī, -,sē] -n pl

  1. fate

par·cel ['pär-səl] -n

  1. fragment, portion
  2. a volume of a fluid (as air) considered as a single entity within a greater volume of the same fluid
  3. a tract or plot of land
  4. a company, collection, or group of persons, animals, or things : lot
    • the whole story was a parcel of lies
  5. a wrapped bundle : package
  6. a unit of salable merchandise

parcel -adv

  1. partly
  2. part-time, partial
  3. to divide into parts : distribute often used with out
  4. to make up into a parcel : wrap
  5. to cover (as a rope) with strips of canvas or tape

parcel post -n

  1. a mail service handling parcels
  2. packages handled by parcel post

par·ce·nary ['pär-sə-,ner-ē] -n

  1. coparcenary

par·ce·ner ['pärs-nər, 'pär-sə-nər] -n

  1. coparcener

parch ['pärch] -vb

  1. to toast under dry heat
  2. to shrivel with heat
  3. to dry or shrivel with cold
  4. to become dry or scorched

parched ['pärcht] -adj

  1. deprived of natural moisture
  2. thirsty

Par·chee·si [pär-'chē-zē, pər-, esp Brit -sē] -trademark

  1. used for a board game adapted from pachisi

parch·ment ['pärch-mənt] -n

  1. the skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on
  2. strong, tough, and often somewhat translucent paper made to resemble parchment
  3. a parchment manuscript
  4. an academic diploma

pard ['pärd] -n

  1. leopard
  2. partner, chum

par·die [pər-'dē, pär-] -interj

  1. used as a mild oath

pard·ner ['pärd-nər] -n

  1. partner, chum

par·don ['pär-dᵊn] -n

  1. indulgence
  2. the excusing of an offense without exacting a penalty
  3. a release from the legal penalties of an offense
  4. an official warrant of remission of penalty
  5. excuse or forgiveness for a fault, offense, or discourtesy
    • I beg your pardon

pardon ['pärd-niŋ, 'pär-dᵊn-iŋ] -vt

  1. to absolve from the consequences of a fault or crime
  2. to allow (an offense) to pass without punishment : forgive
  3. to relieve of a penalty improperly assessed
  4. tolerate

par·don·able ['pärd-nə-bəl, 'pär-dᵊn-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. admitting of being pardoned : excusable
    • pardonable offenses

par·don·er ['pärd-nər, 'pär-dᵊn-ər] -n

  1. a medieval preacher delegated to raise money for religious works by soliciting offerings and granting indulgences
  2. one that pardons

pare ['per] -vt, n

  1. to trim off an outside, excess, or irregular part of
    • pare apples
    • paring his nails
  2. to diminish or reduce by or as if by paring
    • pare expenses
    • the novel was pared down to 200 pages

par·e·go·ric [,pa-rə-'gȯr-ik, -'gär-] -n

  1. camphorated tincture of opium used esp. to relieve pain

pa·ren·chy·ma [pə-'reŋ-kə-mə] -n, adj

  1. the essential and distinctive tissue of an organ or an abnormal growth as distinguished from its supportive framework
  2. a tissue of higher plants that consists of thin-walled living photosynthetic or storage cells capable of division even when mature and that makes up much of the substance of leaves and roots, the pulp of fruits, and parts of stems and supporting structures

par·ent ['per-ənt] -n, adj, adv

  1. one that begets or brings forth offspring
  2. a person who brings up and cares for another
  3. an animal or plant that is regarded in relation to its offspring
  4. the material or source from which something is derived
  5. a group from which another arises and to which it usu. remains subsidiary
    • a parent company

parent -vt

  1. to be or act as the parent of : originate, produce
  2. to be or act as a parent

par·ent·age ['per-ən-tij] -n

  1. descent from parents or ancestors : lineage
    • a person of noble parentage
  2. derivation, origin
    • a tradition of uncertain parentage
  3. parenthood

par·en·ter·al [pə-'ren-tə-rəl] -adj, adv

  1. situated or occurring outside the intestine
  2. introduced otherwise than by way of the intestines

pa·ren·the·sis [pə-'ren(t)-thə-səs] -n, adj, adv

  1. an amplifying or explanatory word, phrase, or sentence inserted in a passage from which it is usu. set off by punctuation
  2. a remark or passage that departs from the theme of a discourse : digression
  3. interlude, interval
  4. one or both of the curved marks ( ) used in writing and printing to enclose a parenthetical expression or to group a symbolic unit in a logical or mathematical expression

pa·ren·the·size [pə-'ren(t)-thə-,sīz] -vt

  1. to make a parenthesis of : enclose within parentheses

par·ent·hood ['per-ənt-,hu̇d] -n

  1. the state of being a parent
  2. the position, function, or standing of a parent

par·ent·ing ['per-ən-tiŋ] -n

  1. the raising of a child by its parents
  2. the act or process of becoming a parent
  3. the taking care of someone in the manner of a parent

parentteacher association -n

  1. an organization of local groups of teachers and the parents of their pupils that works for the improvement of the schools and the benefit of the pupils

pa·re·sis [pə-'rē-səs, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj or n

  1. slight or partial paralysis
  2. general paresis

par·es·the·sia [,par-əs-'thē-zhə] -n, adj

  1. a sensation of pricking, tingling, or creeping on the skin that has no objective cause

pa·reu ['pär-ā-(,)ü] -n

  1. a wraparound skirt usu. made from a rectangular piece of printed cloth and worn by men and women throughout Polynesia

pa·re·ve ['pär-(ə-)və] -adj

  1. made without milk, meat, or their derivatives
    • pareve margarine

par ex·cel·lence ['pär-,ek-sə-'läⁿs] -adj

  1. being the best of a kind : preeminent
    • a chef par excellence

par·fait [pär-'fā] -n

  1. a flavored custard containing whipped cream and syrup frozen without stirring
  2. a cold dessert made of layers of fruit, syrup, ice cream, and whipped cream

parfait glass -n

  1. a tall narrow glass with a short stem

par·fleche ['pär-,flesh] -n

  1. a raw hide soaked in lye to remove the hair and dried
  2. an article (as a bag or case) made of parfleche

par·fo·cal [,pär-'fō-kəl] -adj, n, vt

  1. being or having lenses or lens sets (as eyepieces) with the corresponding focal points all in the same plane

parge ['pärj] -vt

  1. parget

par·get ['pär-jət] -vt

  1. to coat with plaster
  2. to apply ornamental or waterproofing plaster to

parget -n

  1. plaster, whitewash, or roughcast for coating a wall
  2. plasterwork esp. in raised ornamental figures on walls

par·gy·line ['pär-jə-,lēn] -n

  1. a monoamine oxidase inhibitor C 11H 13N that is used in the form of its hydrochloride esp. as an antihypertensive agent

parhelic circle -n

  1. a luminous circle or halo parallel to the horizon at the altitude of the sun called also parhelic ring

par·he·lion [pär-'hēl-yən] -n, adj

  1. any of several bright spots often tinged with color that often appear on the parhelic circle called also sun dog

pa·ri·ah [pə-'rī-ə] -n

  1. a member of a low caste of southern India
  2. one that is despised or rejected : outcast

par·i·an ['per-ē-ən] -n

  1. a porcelain composed essentially of kaolin and feldspar and usu. used unglazed in ornamental articles

Par·i·an ['per-ē-ən] -adj

  1. of or relating to the island of Paros noted for its marble used extensively for sculpture in ancient times

Parian ware -n

  1. parian
  2. articles made of parian

pa·ri·e·tal [pə-'rī-ə-tᵊl] -adj

  1. of or relating to the walls of a part or cavity
  2. of, relating to, or forming the upper posterior wall of the head
  3. attached to the main wall rather than the axis or a cross wall of a plant ovary used of an ovule or a placenta
  4. of or relating to college living or its regulation
  5. of or relating to parietals

parietal -n

  1. a parietal part (as a bone, scale, or plate)
  2. the regulations governing the visiting privileges of members of the opposite sex in campus dormitories

parietal bone -n

  1. either of a pair of bones of the roof of the skull between the frontal bones and the occipital bones

parietal cell -n

  1. any of the large oval cells of the gastric mucous membrane that secrete hydrochloric acid

parietal lobe -n

  1. the middle division of each cerebral hemisphere that contains an area concerned with bodily sensations

parimu·tu·el [,per-i-'myü-chə-wəl, -chəl, ,pa-ri-; -'myüch-wəl] -n

  1. a betting pool in which those who bet on competitors finishing in the first three places share the total amount bet minus a percentage for the management
  2. a machine for registering the bets and computing the payoffs in pari-mutuel betting

paring -n

  1. the act of cutting away an edge or surface
  2. something pared off
    • apple paring s

paring knife -n

  1. a small short-bladed knife (as for paring fruit)

pa·ri pas·su ['pa-ri-'pa-(,)sü] -adv or adj

  1. at an equal rate or pace

Par·is ['pa-rəs] -n

  1. a son of Priam whose abduction of Helen leads to the Trojan War

Par·is green ['pa-rəs-] -n

  1. a very poisonous green copper and arsenic compound C 4H 6As 6Cu 4O 16used esp. formerly as an insecticide and pigment
  2. a brilliant yellowish green

par·ish ['per-ish, 'pa-rish] -n

  1. the ecclesiastical unit of area committed to one pastor
  2. the residents of such an area
  3. a subdivision of a county often coinciding with an original ecclesiastical parish and constituting the unit of local government
  4. a local church community composed of the members or constituents of a Protestant church
  5. a civil division of the state of Louisiana corresponding to a county in other states

pa·rish·ion·er [pə-'ri-sh(ə-)nər] -n

  1. a member or inhabitant of a parish

par·i·ty ['per-ə-tē, 'pa-rə-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being equal or equivalent
  2. equivalence of a commodity price expressed in one currency to its price expressed in another
  3. equality of purchasing power established by law between different kinds of money at a given ratio
  4. an equivalence between farmers' current purchasing power and their purchasing power at a selected base period maintained by government support of agricultural commodity prices
  5. the property of an integer with respect to being odd or even
    • 3 and 7 have the same parity
  6. the state of being odd or even used as the basis of a method of detecting errors in binary-coded data
  7. parity bit
  8. the property of oddness or evenness of a quantum mechanical function
  9. the symmetry of behavior in an interaction of a physical entity (as a subatomic particle) with that of its mirror image

parity -n

  1. the state or fact of having borne offspring
  2. the number of children previously borne

parity bit -n

  1. a bit added to an array of bits (as on magnetic tape) to provide parity

park ['pärk] -n, adj

  1. an enclosed piece of ground stocked with game and held by royal prescription or grant
  2. a tract of land that often includes lawns, woodland, and pasture attached to a country house and is used as a game preserve and for recreation
  3. a piece of ground in or near a city or town kept for ornament and recreation
  4. an area maintained in its natural state as a public property
  5. a space occupied by military vehicles, materials, or animals
  6. parking lot
  7. an enclosed arena or stadium used esp. for ball games
  8. an area designed for a specified type of use (as industrial, commercial, or residential use)
    • amusement park s
    • an industrial park
    • a mobile home park
  9. to enclose in a park
  10. to bring (a vehicle) to a stop and keep standing at the edge of a public way
  11. to leave temporarily on a public way or in a parking lot or garage
  12. to land and leave (as an airplane)
  13. to establish (as a satellite) in orbit
  14. to set and leave temporarily
    • park ed his book on the chair
  15. to place, settle, or establish esp. for a considerable time
    • kids park ed in front of the TV
    • park ed her money in a savings account
  16. to park a vehicle

par·ka ['pär-kə] -n

  1. a hooded fur pullover garment for arctic wear
  2. a usu. lined fabric outerwear pullover or jacket

park·ing brake ['pär-kiŋ-] -n

  1. emergency brake

parking lot -n

  1. an area used for the parking of motor vehicles

parking meter -n

  1. a coin-operated device which registers the purchase of parking time for a motor vehicle

par·kin·so·nian [,pär-kən-'sō-nē-ən, -nyən] -adj

  1. of or similar to that of parkinsonism
  2. affected with parkinsonism and esp. Parkinson's disease

par·kin·son·ism ['pär-kən-sə-,ni-zəm] -n

  1. parkinson's disease
  2. a neurological disorder resembling Parkinson's disease

Par·kin·son's disease ['pär-kən-sənz-] -n

  1. a chronic progressive neurological disease chiefly of later life that is linked to decreased dopamine production in the substantia nigra and is marked esp. by tremor of resting muscles, rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance, and a shuffling gait called also paralysis agitans Parkinson's Parkinson's syndrome

Parkinson's Law -n

  1. an observation in office organization: the number of subordinates increases at a fixed rate regardless of the amount of work produced
  2. an observation in office organization: work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion

park·land ['pärk-,land] -n

  1. land with clumps of trees and shrubs in cultivated condition used as or suitable for use as a park

park·way ['pärk-,wā] -n

  1. a broad landscaped thoroughfare

par·lance ['pär-lən(t)s] -n

  1. speech
  2. formal debate or parley
  3. manner or mode of speech : idiom

par·lan·do [pär-'län-(,)dō] -adj

  1. delivered or performed in a style suggestive of speech used as a direction in music

par·lay ['pär-,lā, -lē] -vt

  1. to bet in a parlay
  2. to exploit successfully
  3. to increase or otherwise transform into something of much greater value

parlay -n

  1. a series of two or more bets so set up in advance that the original stake plus its winnings are risked on the successive wagers
  2. the fresh risking of an original stake together with its winnings

parle ['pär(-ə)l] -vi, n

  1. parley

par·ley ['pär-lē] -vi

  1. to speak with another : confer
  2. to discuss terms with an enemy

parley -n

  1. a conference for discussion of points in dispute
  2. a conference with an enemy
  3. discussion

par·lia·ment ['pär-lə-mənt also 'pärl-yə-] -n

  1. a formal conference for the discussion of public affairs
  2. a council of state in early medieval England
  3. an assemblage of the nobility, clergy, and commons called together by the British sovereign as the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom
  4. a similar assemblage in another nation or state
  5. the supreme legislative body of a usu. major political unit that is a continuing institution comprising a series of individual assemblages
  6. the British House of Commons
  7. one of several principal courts of justice existing in France before the Revolution of 1789

par·lia·men·tar·i·an [,pär-lə-,men-'ter-ē-ən, -mən- also ,pärl-yə-] -n

  1. an adherent of the parliament in opposition to the king during the English Civil War
  2. an expert in the rules and usages of a deliberative assembly (as a parliament)
  3. a member of a parliament

par·lia·men·ta·ry [-'men-t(ə-)rē] -adj

  1. of or relating to a parliament
  2. enacted, done, or ratified by a parliament
  3. of or adhering to the parliament as opposed to the king during the English Civil War
  4. of, based on, or having the characteristics of parliamentary government
  5. of or relating to members of a parliament
  6. of or according to parliamentary law
    • parliamentary procedure

parliamentary government -n

  1. a system of government having the real executive power vested in a cabinet composed of members of the legislature who are individually and collectively responsible to the legislature

parliamentary law -n

  1. the rules and precedents governing the proceedings of deliberative assemblies and other organizations

par·lor ['pär-lər] -n

  1. : a room used primarily for conversation or the reception of guests: as
  2. a room in a private dwelling for the entertainment of guests
  3. a conference chamber or private reception room
  4. a room in an inn, hotel, or club for conversation or semiprivate uses
  5. any of various business places
    • a funeral parlor
    • a beauty parlor

parlor -adj

  1. used in or suitable for a parlor
    • parlor furniture
  2. fostered or advocated in comfortable seclusion without consequent action or application to affairs
    • parlor bolshevism
  3. given to or characterized by fostering or advocating something (as a doctrine) in such a manner
    • parlor socialist

parlor car -n

  1. an extra-fare railroad passenger car for day travel equipped with individual chairs

parlor game -n

  1. a game suitable for playing indoors

parlor grand -n

  1. a grand piano intermediate in length between a concert grand and a baby grand

par·lour ['pär-lər] -n

(variant of parlor)

  1. : a room used primarily for conversation or the reception of guests: as
  2. a room in a private dwelling for the entertainment of guests
  3. a conference chamber or private reception room
  4. a room in an inn, hotel, or club for conversation or semiprivate uses
  5. any of various business places
    • a funeral parlor
    • a beauty parlor

par·lous ['pär-ləs] -adj, adv

  1. dangerously shrewd or cunning
  2. full of danger or risk : hazardous
    • the parlous state of the country

Par·me·san ['pär-mə-,zän, -,zhän, -zən, -,zan] -n

  1. a very hard dry sharply flavored cheese that is sold grated or in wedges

par·mi·gia·na [,pär-mi-'jä-nə, -'zhän; 'pär-mi-,zhän, -,zän] -adj

  1. made or covered with Parmesan cheese
    • veal parmigiana

Par·nas·si·an [pär-'na-sē-ən] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to poetry
  2. of or relating to a school of French poets of the second half of the 19th century emphasizing metrical form rather than emotion

pa·ro·chi·al [pə-'rō-kē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a church parish
  2. of or relating to a parish as a unit of local government
  3. confined or restricted as if within the borders of a parish : limited in range or scope (as to a narrow area or region) : provincial, narrow

pa·ro·chi·al·ism [-kē-ə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. the quality or state of being parochial
  2. selfish pettiness or narrowness (as of interests, opinions, or views)

parochial school -n

  1. a private school maintained by a religious body usu. for elementary and secondary instruction

par·o·dist ['per-ə-dist, 'pa-rə-] -n

  1. a writer of parodies

par·o·dy ['per-ə-dē, 'pa-rə-] -n, adj

  1. a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule
  2. a feeble or ridiculous imitation

parody -vt

  1. to compose a parody on
    • parody a poem
  2. to imitate in the manner of a parody

par·ol ['per-əl, 'pa-rəl] -n, adj

  1. word of mouth

pa·role [pə-'rōl] -n, adj

  1. a promise made with or confirmed by a pledge of one's honor
  2. the promise of a prisoner of war to fulfill stated conditions in consideration of his release
  3. a watchword given only to officers of the guard and of the day
  4. a conditional release of a prisoner serving an indeterminate or unexpired sentence
  5. language viewed as a specific individual usage : performance
  6. a linguistic act

parole -vt

  1. to release (a prisoner) on parole

pa·rol·ee [pə-,rō-'lē, -'rō-(,); ,per-ə-'lē, ,pa-rə-] -n

  1. one released on parole

par·o·no·ma·sia [,pa-rə-nō-'mā-zh(ē-)ə, ,pa-,rä-nə-'mā-] -n, adj

  1. a play on words : pun

par·o·nym ['pa-rə-,nim] -n

  1. a paronymous word

par·on·y·mous [pə-'rä-nə-məs, pa-] -adj

  1. conjugate
  2. formed from a word in another language
  3. having a form similar to that of a cognate foreign word

pa·rot·id [pə-'rä-təd] -adj

  1. of or relating to the parotid gland

parotid gland -n

  1. a serous salivary gland situated on each side of the face below and in front of the ear

par·o·ti·tis [,pa-rō-'tī-təs] -n

  1. inflammation of the parotid glands
  2. mumps

par·ous ['per-əs] -adj

  1. having produced offspring

Par·ou·sia [,pär-ü-'sē-ə, pə-'rü-zē-ə] -n

  1. second coming

par·ox·e·tine [pa-'räk-sə-,tēn] -n

  1. a drug C 19H 20FNO 3that enhances serotonin activity and is usu. administered in the form of its hydrochloride to treat depression

par·ox·ysm ['pa-rək-,si-zəm also pə-'räk-] -n, adj

  1. a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms (as of a disease) : convulsion
    • a paroxysm of coughing
  2. a sudden violent emotion or action : outburst
    • a paroxysm of rage

par·quet [pär-'kā] -vt

  1. to furnish with a floor of parquet
  2. to make of parquetry
  3. a patterned wood surface (as flooring or paneling)
  4. one made of parquetry
  5. parquetry
  6. the main floor of a theater
  7. the part from the front of the stage to the parquet circle

parquet circle -n

  1. the part of the main floor of a theater that is beneath the galleries

par·que·try ['pär-kə-trē] -n

  1. work in the form of usu. geometrically patterned wood laid or inlaid esp. for floors

parr ['pär] -n

  1. a young salmon actively feeding in freshwater

par·rel ['pa-rəl] -n

  1. a rope loop or sliding collar by which a yard or spar is held to a mast in such a way that it may be hoisted or lowered

par·ri·cid·al [,pa-rə-'sī-dᵊl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or guilty of parricide

par·ri·cide ['pa-rə-,sīd] -n

  1. one that murders his or her father, mother, or a close relative
  2. the act of a parricide

par·rot ['per-ət, 'pa-rət] -n, adj

  1. any of numerous widely distributed tropical birds (order Psittaciformes and esp. family Psittacidae) that are often crested and brightly colored, have a distinctive stout hooked bill and zygodactyl feet, and include some excellent mimics
  2. a person who sedulously echoes another's words

parrot -vt

  1. to repeat by rote

parrot fever -n

  1. psittacosis

parrot fish -n

  1. any of a family (Scaridae) of usu. brightly colored chiefly tropical marine fishes that have the teeth in each jaw fused into a cutting plate resembling a beak

par·ry ['per-ē, 'pa-rē] -vb, n

  1. to ward off a weapon or blow
  2. to evade or turn aside something
  3. to ward off (as a blow)
  4. to evade esp. by an adroit answer
    • parried the question

parse ['pärs, chiefly Brit 'pärz] -vb

  1. to resolve (as a sentence) into component parts of speech and describe them grammatically
  2. to describe grammatically by stating the part of speech and explaining the inflection and syntactical relationships
  3. to examine in a minute way : analyze critically
    • having trouble parsing ...explanations for dwindling market shares -- R. S. Anson
  4. to give a grammatical description of a word or a group of words
  5. to admit of being parsed
  6. a product or an instance of parsing

par·sec ['pär-,sek] -n

  1. a unit of measure for interstellar space that is equal to 3.26 light-years and is the distance to an object having a parallax of one second as seen from points separated by one astronomical unit

pars·er ['pär-sər] -n

  1. one that parses
  2. a computer program that breaks down text into recognized strings of characters for further analysis

Par·si ['pär-(,)sē] -n

  1. a Zoroastrian descended from Persian refugees settled principally at Mumbai (Bombay)
  2. the Iranian dialect of the Parsi religious literature

par·si·mo·ni·ous [,pär-sə-'mō-nē-əs] -adj, adv

  1. exhibiting or marked by parsimony
  2. frugal to the point of stinginess
  3. sparing, restrained

par·si·mo·ny ['pär-sə-,mō-nē] -n

  1. the quality of being careful with money or resources : thrift
  2. the quality or state of being stingy
  3. economy in the use of means to an end
  4. economy of explanation in conformity with Occam's razor

pars·ley ['pär-slē] -n

  1. a European biennial herb ( Petroselinum crispum) of the carrot family widely grown for its finely dissected curly or flat leaves which are used as an herb or garnish
  2. the leaves

pars·leyed [-slēd] -adj

  1. garnished or flavored with parsley
    • parsleyed potatoes

pars·nip ['pär-snəp] -n

  1. a Eurasian biennial herb ( Pastinaca sativa) of the carrot family with large pinnate leaves and yellow flowers that is cultivated for its long tapered edible root which is cooked as a vegetable
  2. the root

par·son ['pär-sᵊn] -n

  1. rector
  2. clergyman
  3. a Protestant pastor

par·son·age ['pär-s(ə-)nij, 'pär-sə-nij] -n

  1. the house provided by a church for its pastor

Par·sons ta·ble ['pär-sᵊnz-] -n

  1. a usu. rectangular table having straight legs that are flush with the edge of the top

part ['pärt] -n

  1. one of the often indefinite or unequal subdivisions into which something is or is regarded as divided and which together constitute the whole
  2. an essential portion or integral element
  3. one of several or many equal units of which something is composed or into which it is divisible : an amount equal to another amount
    • mix one part of the powder with three part s of water
  4. an exact divisor of a quantity : aliquot
  5. partial fraction
  6. : one of the constituent elements of a plant or animal body: as
  7. organ, member
  8. private parts
  9. a division of a literary work
  10. a vocal or instrumental line or melody in concerted music or in harmony
  11. a particular voice or instrument in concerted music
  12. the score for it
  13. a constituent member of a machine or other apparatus
  14. a spare part
  15. something falling to one in a division or apportionment : share
    • wanted no part of the proposal
  16. one's share or allotted task (as in an action) : duty
    • one must do one's part
  17. one of the opposing sides in a conflict or dispute
  18. a general area of indefinite boundaries usu. used in pl.
    • you're not from around these part s
    • took off for part s unknown
  19. a function or course of action performed
  20. an actor's lines in a play
  21. the role of a character in a play
  22. a constituent of character or capacity : talent
    • a man of many part s
  23. the line where the hair is parted
  24. to separate from or take leave of someone
  25. to take leave of one another
  26. to become separated into parts
  27. to go away : depart
  28. die
  29. to become separated, detached, or broken
  30. to relinquish possession or control
    • hated to part with that money
  31. to divide into parts
  32. to separate by combing on each side of a line
  33. to break or suffer the breaking of (as a rope or anchor chain)
  34. to divide into shares and distribute : apportion
  35. to remove from contact or association
    • if aught but death part thee and me -- Ruth 1:17(AV)
  36. to keep separate
    • the narrow channel that part s England from France
  37. to hold (as brawlers) apart
  38. to separate by a process of extraction, elimination, or secretion
  39. leave, quit
  40. relinquish, give up
  41. partly
  42. partial
  43. participial; participle
  44. particular

par·take [pär-'tāk, pər-] -vb, n

  1. to take part in or experience something along with others
    • partake in the revelry
    • partake of the good life
  2. to have a portion (as of food or drink)
  3. to possess or share a certain nature or attribute
    • the experience partake s of a mystical quality
  4. to take part in

part and parcel -n

  1. an essential or integral component
    • stress was part and parcel of the job

part·ed ['pär-təd] -adj

  1. divided into parts
  2. cleft so that the divisions reach nearly but not quite to the base usu. used in combination
    • a 3- parted corolla
  3. dead

par·terre [pär-'ter] -n

  1. an ornamental garden with paths between the beds
  2. the part of the main floor of a theater that is behind the orchestra
  3. parquet circle

par·the·no·car·py ['pär-thə-nō-,kär-pē] -n, adj

  1. the production of fruits without fertilization
    • bananas set fruit by parthenocarpy and without pollination

par·the·no·gen·e·sis [,pär-thə-nō-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj, adv

  1. reproduction by development of an unfertilized usu. female gamete that occurs esp. among lower plants and invertebrate animals

Par·the·non ['pär-thə-,nän] -n

  1. a Doric temple of Athena built on the acropolis at Athens in the fifth century b.c.

Par·thi·an ['pär-thē-ən] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of ancient Parthia or its people
  2. relating to, being, or having the effect of a shot fired while in real or feigned retreat

par·tial ['pär-shəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to a part rather than the whole : not general or total
    • a partial solution
  2. inclined to favor one party more than the other : biased
  3. markedly fond of someone or something used with to
    • partial to pizza

partial -n

  1. overtone

partial denture -n

  1. a usu. removable artificial replacement of one or more teeth

partial derivative -n

  1. the derivative of a function of several variables with respect to one of them and with the remaining variables treated as constants

partial differential equation -n

  1. a differential equation containing at least one partial derivative

partial differentiation -n

  1. the process of finding a partial derivative

partial fraction -n

  1. one of the simpler fractions into the sum of which the quotient of two polynomials may be decomposed

par·tial·i·ty [,pär-shē-'a-lə-tē, pär-'sha-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being partial : bias
  2. a special taste or liking

par·tial·ly ['pär-sh(ə-)lē] -adv

  1. in a biased manner : with partiality
  2. to some extent : in some degree

partially ordered -adj

  1. having some or all elements connected by a relation that is reflexive, transitive, and antisymmetric

partial pressure -n

  1. the pressure exerted by a (specified) component in a mixture of gases

partial product -n

  1. a product obtained by multiplying a multiplicand by one digit of a multiplier having more than one digit

par·ti·ble ['pär-tə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. capable of being parted : divisible
    • a partible inheritance

par·tic·i·pant [pär-'ti-sə-pənt, pər-] -n, adj

  1. one that participates

par·tic·i·pate [pär-'ti-sə-,pāt, pər-] -vb, n

  1. partake
  2. to possess some of the attributes of a person, thing, or quality
  3. to take part
    • always participate s in class discussions
  4. to have a part or share in something

par·tic·i·pa·tion [(,)pär-,ti-sə-'pā-shən, pər-] -n

  1. the act of participating
  2. the state of being related to a larger whole

par·tic·i·pa·tion·al [-'pā-shnəl, -'pā-shə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. participatory

par·tic·i·pa·tive [pär-'ti-sə-pə-tiv, pər-, -,pā-tiv] -adj

  1. relating to or involving participation
  2. of, relating to, or being a style of management in which subordinates participate in decision making

par·tic·i·pa·to·ry [pär-'ti-sə-pə-,tȯr-ē, pər-] -adj

  1. characterized by or involving participation
  2. providing the opportunity for individual participation
    • participatory democracy
    • participatory management

par·ti·cip·i·al [,pär-tə-'si-pē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or formed with or from a participle

par·ti·ci·ple ['pär-tə-,si-pəl] -n

  1. a word having the characteristics of both verb and adjective
  2. an English verbal form that has the function of an adjective and at the same time shows such verbal features as tense and voice and capacity to take an object

par·ti·cle ['pär-ti-kəl] -n

  1. a minute quantity or fragment
  2. a relatively small or the smallest discrete portion or amount of something
  3. a clause or article of a composition or document
  4. any of the basic units of matter and energy (as a molecule, atom, proton, electron, or photon)
  5. a unit of speech expressing some general aspect of meaning or some connective or limiting relation and including the articles, most prepositions and conjunctions, and some interjections and adverbs
    • the particle up has a perfective meaning in phrases such as beat up and cut up
  6. a small eucharistic wafer distributed to a Roman Catholic layman at Communion

particle accelerator -n

  1. accelerator

par·ti·cle·board [-,bȯrd] -n

  1. a composition board made of very small pieces of wood bonded together

particle physics -n

  1. a branch of physics dealing with the constitution, properties, and interactions of elementary particles esp. as revealed in experiments using particle accelerators called also high-energy physics

par·ticol·or ['pär-tē-,kə-lər] -adj, n

  1. showing different colors or tints
  2. having a predominant color broken by patches of one or more other colors
    • a particolor cocker spaniel

par·tic·u·lar [pə(r)-'ti-kyə-lər, -k(ə-)lər] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a single person or thing
    • the particular person I had in mind
  2. partial
  3. of, relating to, or concerned with details
    • gave us a very particular account of the trip
  4. distinctive among other examples or cases of the same general category : notably unusual
    • suffered from measles of particular severity
  5. being one unit or element among others
    • particular incidents in a story
  6. denoting an individual member or subclass in logic
  7. affirming or denying a predicate to a part of the subject used of a proposition in logic
    • some men are wise is a particular affirmative
  8. concerned over or attentive to details : meticulous
    • a very particular gardener
  9. nice in taste : fastidious
  10. hard to please : exacting

particular -n

  1. a separate part of a whole
  2. an individual fact, point, circumstance, or detail
    • a hero in every particular -- Ron Fimrite
  3. a specific item or detail of information usu. used in pl.
    • wanted to know all the particular s of the incident
    • bill of particular s
  4. an individual or a specific subclass (as in logic) falling under some general concept or term
  5. a particular proposition in logic

par·tic·u·lar·ise [pə(r)-'ti-k(yə-)lə-,rīz also pär-] -vb

(variant of particularize)

  1. to state in detail : specify
  2. to go into details

par·tic·u·lar·ism [pə(r)-'ti-k(yə-)lə-,ri-zəm also pär-] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. exclusive or special devotion to a particular interest
  2. a political theory that each political group has a right to promote its own interests and esp. independence without regard to the interests of larger groups
  3. a tendency to explain complex social phenomena in terms of a single causative factor

par·tic·u·lar·i·ty [pə(r)-,ti-kyə-'la-rə-tē also (,)pär-] -n

  1. a minute detail : particular
  2. an individual characteristic : peculiarity
  3. singularity
  4. the quality or state of being particular as distinguished from universal
  5. attentiveness to detail : exactness
  6. the quality or state of being fastidious in behavior or expression

par·tic·u·lar·i·za·tion [-,ti-k(yə-)lə-rə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. the act of particularizing : the condition of being particularized

par·tic·u·lar·ize [pə(r)-'ti-k(yə-)lə-,rīz also pär-] -vb

  1. to state in detail : specify
  2. to go into details

par·tic·u·lar·ly [pə(r)-'ti-kyə-(lər-)lē, -kyə-lə-lē; pə(r)-'ti-k(ə-)lē; also pär-] -adv

  1. in a particular manner : in detail
  2. to an unusual degree
    • a particularly dry summer
  3. in particular : specifically

par·tic·u·late [pär-'ti-kyə-lət also -,lāt] -adj

  1. of or relating to minute separate particles

particulate -n

  1. a particulate substance

particulate inheritance -n

  1. mendelian inheritance

part·ing ['pär-tiŋ] -n

  1. a place or point where a division or separation occurs

parting -adj

  1. given, taken, or done at parting
    • a parting kiss

par·ti pris ['pär-,tē-'prē] -n, adj

  1. a preconceived opinion : prejudice

par·ti·san ['pär-tə-zən, -sən, -,zan, chiefly Brit ,pär-tə-'zan] -n, adj, adv

  1. a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person
  2. one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance
  3. a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy
  4. a member of a guerrilla band operating within enemy lines
  5. a weapon of the 16th and 17th centuries with long shaft and broad blade

par·ti·ta [pär-'tē-tə] -n

  1. variation
  2. suite

par·tite ['pär-,tīt] -adj

  1. divided into a usu. specified number of parts
  2. parted
    • a partite leaf

par·ti·tion [pär-'ti-shən, pər-] -n

  1. the action of parting : the state of being parted : division
  2. something that divides
  3. an interior dividing wall
  4. one of the parts or sections of a whole

partition [-'ti-sh(ə-)nər] -vt, n

  1. to divide into parts or shares
  2. to divide (as a country) into two or more territorial units having separate political status
  3. to separate or divide by a partition (as a wall) often used with off

par·ti·tion·ist [-'ti-sh(ə-)nist] -n

  1. an advocate of political partition

par·ti·tive ['pär-tə-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. serving to part or divide into parts
  2. of, relating to, or denoting a part
    • a partitive construction
  3. serving to indicate the whole of which a part is specified
    • partitive genitive

part·let ['pärt-lət] -n

  1. a 16th century chemisette with a band or collar

part·ly ['pärt-lē] -adv

  1. in some measure or degree : partially

part·ner ['pärt-nər also 'pärd-] -n, adj

  1. one that shares : partaker
  2. one associated with another esp. in an action : associate, colleague
  3. either of two persons who dance together
  4. one of two or more persons who play together in a game against an opposing side
  5. a person with whom one shares an intimate relationship : one member of a couple
  6. a member of a partnership esp. in a business
  7. such membership
  8. one of the heavy timbers that strengthen a ship's deck to support a mast usu. used in pl.

partner -vt

  1. to join or associate with another as partner
  2. to provide with a partner
  3. to join as a partner

partners desk -n

  1. a large desk with an open kneehole which allows use of the desk by two people seated opposite each other

part·ner·ship [-,ship] -n

  1. the state of being a partner : participation
  2. a legal relation existing between two or more persons contractually associated as joint principals in a business
  3. the persons joined together in a partnership
  4. a relationship resembling a legal partnership and usu. involving close cooperation between parties having specified and joint rights and responsibilities

part of speech

  1. a traditional class of words distinguished according to the kind of idea denoted and the function performed in a sentence

par·ton ['pär-,tän] -n

  1. a particle (as a quark or gluon) that is held to be a constituent of hadrons

par·tridge ['pär-trij, dial 'pa-trij] -n

  1. any of various typically medium-sized stout-bodied Old World gallinaceous birds ( Perdix, Alectoris,and related genera) with variegated plumage that are often hunted as game
  2. any of various related birds (as the American ruffed grouse or bobwhite) resembling the Old World partridges in size, habits, or value as game

par·tridge·ber·ry [-,ber-ē] -n

  1. a trailing evergreen plant ( Mitchella repens) of the madder family native to the eastern U.S. and Canada with edible slightly acidic scarlet berries
  2. its berry

partsong ['pärt-,sȯŋ] -n

  1. a usu. unaccompanied song consisting of two or more voice parts with one part carrying the melody

parttime ['pärt-'tīm] -adj, adv, n

  1. involving or working less than customary or standard hours
    • a parttime job
    • parttime students

par·tu·ri·ent [pär-'tu̇r-ē-ənt, -'tyu̇r-] -adj

  1. bringing forth or about to bring forth young
  2. of or relating to parturition

parturient -n

  1. a parturient individual

par·tu·ri·tion [,pär-chə-'ri-shən, ,pär-tyu̇-, ,pär-tə-] -n

  1. the action or process of giving birth to offspring

part·way ['pärt-'wā] -adv

  1. to some extent : partially, partly
  2. at a point in the way or distance
    • partway through the trip they met some friends

par·ty ['pär-tē] -n, adj

  1. a person or group taking one side of a question, dispute, or contest
  2. a group of persons organized for the purpose of directing the policies of a government
  3. a person or group participating in an action or affair
    • a mountain-climbing party
    • a party to the transaction
  4. a particular individual : person
    • an old party approaching 80
  5. a detail of soldiers
  6. a social gathering
  7. the entertainment provided for it

party [-tē-ər] -vi, n

  1. to attend or give parties
  2. revel

party animal -n

  1. a person known for frequent often wild partying

par·ty·go·er ['pär-tē-,gō-ər] -n

  1. a person who attends a party or who attends parties frequently

party line [,pär-tē-'lī-nər] -n

  1. the policy or practice of a political party
  2. a single telephone circuit connecting two or more subscribers with the exchange called also party wire
  3. the principles or policies of an individual or organization
  4. the explanation or interpretation usu. put forth
    • the party line that her mother was a saint -- Leslie Bennetts

party poop·er [-'pü-pər] -n

  1. a person who refuses to join in the fun of a party
  2. one who refuses to go along with everyone else

party wall -n

  1. a wall which divides two adjoining properties and in which each of the owners shares the rights

pa·rure [pə-'ru̇r] -n

  1. a matched set of ornaments (as jewelry)

par value -n

  1. par

parve ['pär-(ə-)və] -adj

(variant of pareve)

  1. made without milk, meat, or their derivatives
    • pareve margarine

par·ve·nu ['pär-və-,nü, -,nyü] -n, adj

  1. one that has recently or suddenly risen to an unaccustomed position of wealth or power and has not yet gained the prestige, dignity, or manner associated with it

par·ve·nue [-,nü, -,nyü] -n, adj

  1. a woman who is a parvenu

par·vis ['pär-vəs] -n

  1. a court or enclosed space before a building (as a church)
  2. a single portico or colonnade before a church

par·vo ['pär-(,)vō] -n

  1. parvovirus

par·vo·vi·rus ['pär-vō-,vī-rəs] -n

  1. any of a family ( Parvoviridae) of single-stranded DNA viruses that include the causative agents of fifth disease in humans, panleukopenia in cats, and parvovirus in dogs
  2. a highly contagious febrile virus disease of dogs that is spread esp. by contact with infected feces, that is caused by a strain (Canine parvovirus) of the parvovirus causing panleukopenia in cats, and that is marked by loss of appetite, lethargy, often bloody diarrhea and vomiting, and sometimes death

pas ['pä] -n

  1. the right of precedence
  2. a dance step or combination of steps

PAS -abbr

  1. para-aminosalicylic acid

pas·cal [pas-'kal, päs-'käl] -n

  1. a unit of pressure in the meter-kilogram-second system equivalent to one newton per square meter
  2. a structured computer programming language developed from Algol and designed to process both numerical and textual data

Pas·cal's triangle [pas-'kalz-, päs-'kälz-] -n

  1. a system of numbers arranged in rows resembling a triangle with each row consisting of the coefficients in the expansion of ( a b) n for n 0, 1, 2, 3,...

Pasch ['pask] -n, adj

  1. easter
  2. passover

paschal full moon -n

  1. the 14th day of a lunar month occurring on or next after March 21 according to a fixed set of ecclesiastical calendar rules and without regard to the real moon

Paschal Lamb -n

  1. a lamb slain and eaten during the Passover celebration in ancient Judaism
  2. agnus dei

pas de bour·ree [,pä-də-bu̇-'rā] -n

  1. a walking or running ballet step usu. executed on the points of the toes

pas de chat [-'sha] -n

  1. a ballet leap from one foot to the other in which the feet are drawn up and the knees are bent so that the legs form a diamond

pas de deux [-'də(r), -'dü] -n

  1. a dance or figure for two performers
  2. an intricate relationship or activity involving two parties or things

pas de qua·tre [-'kat, -'ka-trə, -'kätrᵊ] -n

  1. a dance or figure for four performers

pas de trois [-'trwä, -'twä] -n

  1. a dance or figure for three performers

pa·se ['pä-(,)sā] -n

  1. a movement of a cape by a matador in drawing a bull and taking his charge

pa·seo [pə-'sā-(,)ō, pä-] -n

  1. a leisurely usu. evening stroll : promenade
  2. a public walk or boulevard
  3. a formal entrance march of bullfighters into an arena

pash ['pash] -vt

  1. smash
  2. head

pa·sha ['pä-shə, 'pa-; pə-'shä, -'shȯ] -n

  1. a man of high rank or office (as in Turkey or northern Africa)

pash·mi·na [,pəsh-'mē-nə] -n

  1. a fine wool similar to cashmere made from the undercoat of domestic Himalayan goats
  2. a shawl made from this wool

Pash·to ['pəsh-(,)tō] -n

  1. the Iranian language of the Pashtuns

Pash·tun [,pəsh-'tün] -n

  1. a member of a people of eastern and southern Afghanistan and adjacent parts of Pakistan

Pa·siph·ae [pə-'si-fə-,ē] -n

  1. the wife of Minos and mother of the Minotaur by a white bull

pasque·flow·er ['pask-,flau̇(-ə)r] -n

  1. any of several anemones with palmately compound leaves and large usu. white or purple early spring flowers

pas·qui·nade [,pas-kwə-'nād] -n, vt

  1. a lampoon posted in a public place
  2. satirical writing : satire

pass ['pas] -vb, n

  1. move, proceed, go
  2. to go away : depart
  3. die often used with on
  4. to move in a path so as to approach and continue beyond something : move past
  5. to move past another vehicle going in the same direction
  6. to run the normal course used of time or a period of time
    • the hours pass quickly
  7. to go or make one's way through
    • allow no one to pass
  8. to go uncensured, unchallenged, or seemingly unnoticed
    • let the remark pass
  9. to go from one quality, state, or form to another
    • pass es from a liquid to a gaseous state
  10. to sit in inquest or judgment
  11. to render a decision, verdict, or opinion
    • the court pass ed on the legality of wiretapping
  12. to become legally rendered
    • judgment pass ed for the plaintiff
  13. to go from the control, ownership, or possession of one person or group to that of another
    • the throne pass ed to the king's son
    • title pass es to the buyer upon payment in full
  14. happen, occur
  15. to take place or be exchanged as or in a social, personal, or business interaction
    • words pass ed
  16. to become approved by a legislature or body empowered to sanction or reject
    • the proposal pass ed
  17. to undergo an inspection, test, or course of study successfully
  18. to serve as a medium of exchange
  19. to be accepted or regarded
    • drivel that pass es for literature
  20. to identify oneself or be identified as something one is not
    • tried to pass as an adult
    • Mom could pass as my sister
  21. to make a pass in fencing
  22. to throw or hit a ball or puck to a teammate often used with off
  23. to decline to bid, double, or redouble in a card game
  24. to withdraw from the current poker pot
  25. to let something go by without accepting or taking advantage of it often used with on
    • pass ed on the cheesecake
    • thanks for the offer, but I'll pass
  26. : to go beyond: as
  27. surpass, exceed
    • pass es all expectations
  28. to advance or develop beyond
  29. to go past (one moving in the same direction)
  30. to go by : proceed or extend beyond
    • pass the school on their way to work
  31. neglect, omit
  32. to omit a regularly scheduled declaration and payment of (a dividend)
  33. to go across, over, or through : cross
  34. to live through (as an experience or peril) : undergo
  35. to go through (as a test) successfully
  36. to secure the approval of
    • the bill pass ed the Senate
  37. to cause or permit to win approval or legal or official sanction
    • pass a law
  38. to give approval or a passing grade to
    • pass the students
  39. to let (as time or a period of time) go by esp. while involved in a leisure activity
    • I'll read to pass the time
  40. to let go unnoticed : overlook, disregard
  41. pledge
  42. to transfer the right to or property in
    • pass title to a house
  43. to put in circulation
    • pass bad checks
  44. to transfer or transmit from one to another
    • pass the salt
    • pass ing the savings on to customers
  45. to relay or communicate (as information) to another
  46. to cause or enable to go : transport
  47. to throw or hit (a ball or puck) esp. to a teammate
  48. to pronounce (as a sentence or opinion) esp. judicially
  49. utter
    • pass ed a cutting remark
  50. to cause or permit to go past or through a barrier
  51. to move or cause to move in a particular manner or direction
    • pass ed my hand over my face
    • pass the rope through the loop
  52. to cause to march or go by in order
    • pass the troops in review
  53. to emit or discharge from a bodily part and esp. the bowels
  54. to give a base on balls to
  55. to hit a ball past (an opponent) in a game (as tennis)
  56. a means (as an opening, road, or channel) by which a barrier may be passed or access to a place may be gained
  57. a low place in a mountain range
  58. a position to be held usu. against odds
  59. realization
    • brought his dream to pass
  60. the act or an instance of passing : passage
  61. a usu. distressing or bad state of affairs
    • what has brought you to such a pass?
  62. a written permission to move about freely in a place or to leave or enter it
  63. a written leave of absence from a military post or station for a brief period
  64. a permit or ticket allowing free transportation or free admission
  65. a thrust or lunge in fencing
  66. a transference of objects by sleight of hand or other deceptive means
  67. a moving of the hands over or along something
  68. an ingenious sally (as of wit)
  69. the passing of an examination or course of study
  70. the mark or certification of such passing
  71. a single complete mechanical operation
  72. a single complete cycle of operations (as for processing, manufacturing, or printing)
  73. a transfer of a ball or a puck from one player to another on the same team
  74. a ball or puck so transferred
  75. passing shot
  76. base on balls
  77. an election not to bid, bet, or draw an additional card in a card game
  78. a throw of dice in the game of craps that wins the bet for the shooter
  79. a single passage or movement (as of an airplane) over a place or toward a target
  80. effort, try
  81. a sexually inviting gesture or approach
  82. pase
  83. passenger

pass·able ['pa-sə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. capable of being passed, crossed, or traveled on
    • passable roads
  2. capable of being freely circulated
  3. good enough : adequate

pas·sa·ca·glia [,pä-sə-'käl-yə, ,pa-sə-'kal-yə] -n

  1. an old Italian or Spanish dance tune
  2. an instrumental musical composition consisting of variations usu. on a ground bass in moderately slow triple time
  3. an old dance performed to a passacaglia

pas·sa·do [pə-'sä-(,)dō] -n

  1. a thrust in fencing with one foot advanced

pas·sage ['pa-sij] -n

  1. a way of exit or entrance : a road, path, channel, or course by which something passes
  2. a corridor or lobby giving access to the different rooms or parts of a building or apartment
  3. the action or process of passing from one place, condition, or stage to another
  4. death
  5. a continuous movement or flow
    • the passage of time
  6. a specific act of traveling or passing esp. by sea or air
  7. a privilege of conveyance as a passenger : accommodations
  8. the passing of a legislative measure or law : enactment
  9. a right, liberty, or permission to pass
  10. something that happens or is done : incident
  11. something that takes place between two persons mutually
  12. a usu. brief portion of a written work or speech that is relevant to a point under discussion or noteworthy for content or style
  13. a phrase or short section of a musical composition
  14. a detail of a work of art (as a painting)
  15. the act or action of passing something or undergoing a passing
  16. incubation of a pathogen (as a virus) in culture, a living organism, or a developing egg

passage -vb

  1. to go past or across : cross
  2. to subject to passage
    • passaged a virus

pas·sage·way [-,wā] -n

  1. a way that allows passage

pas·sage·work [-,wərk] -n

  1. a section of a musical composition characteristically unimportant thematically and consisting esp. of ornamental figures

pas·sant ['pa-sᵊnt] -adj

  1. walking with the farther forepaw raised used of a heraldic animal

pass away -vi

  1. to go out of existence
  2. die

pass·band ['pas-,band] -n

  1. a band of frequencies (as in a radio circuit or a light filter) that is transmitted with maximum efficiency

pass·book [-,bu̇k] -n

  1. bankbook

pass degree -n

  1. a bachelor's degree without honors that is taken at a British university

pas·se [pa-'sā] -adj

  1. past one's prime
  2. outmoded
  3. behind the times

passed ball -n

  1. a baseball pitch not hit by the batter that passes the catcher when it should have been caught and allows a base runner to advance

passed pawn -n

  1. a chess pawn that has no enemy pawn in front of it on its own or an adjacent file

pas·sel ['pa-səl] -n

  1. a large number or amount

passe·men·terie [pas-'men-t(ə-)rē] -n

  1. an ornamental edging or trimming (as tassels) made of braid, cord, gimp, beading, or metallic thread

pas·sen·ger ['pa-sᵊn-jər] -n

  1. wayfarer
  2. a traveler in a public or private conveyance

passenger pigeon -n

  1. an extinct but formerly abundant No. American migratory pigeon ( Ectopistes migratorius)

passepar·tout [,pas-pər-'tü, -,pär-] -n

  1. master key
  2. mat
  3. a method of framing in which a picture, a mat, a glass, and a back (as of cardboard) are held together by strips of paper or cloth pasted over the edges
  4. a strong paper gummed on one side and used esp. for mounting pictures

pass·er·by [,pa-sər-'bī, 'pa-sər-,] -n

  1. one who passes by

pas·ser·ine ['pa-sə-,rīn] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to the largest order (Passeriformes) of birds which includes over half of all living birds and consists chiefly of altricial songbirds of perching habits

pas seul [,pä-'səl, -'sər(-ə)l] -n

  1. a solo dance or dance figure

passfail ['pas-'fāl] -adj, n

  1. being a system of grading whereby the grades pass and fail replace the traditional letter grades

pas·si·ble ['pa-sə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of feeling or suffering

pas·sim ['pa-səm; 'pa-,sim, 'pä-] -adv

  1. here and there

pass·ing ['pa-siŋ] -n

  1. the act of one that passes or causes to pass
  2. death

passing -adj

  1. going by or past
    • a passing pedestrian
  2. having a brief duration
    • a passing whim
  3. surpassing
  4. superficial
    • a passing acquaintance
    • a passing resemblance
  5. of, relating to, or used in or for the act or process of passing
    • passing lanes
  6. given on satisfactory completion of an examination or course of study
    • a passing grade
  7. to a surpassing degree : exceedingly
    • passing strange

passing note -n

  1. a nonharmonic tone interposed between essential harmonic tones of adjacent chords called also passing tone

passing shot -n

  1. a stroke (as in tennis) that drives the ball to one side and beyond the reach of an opponent

pas·sion ['pa-shən] -n, adj

  1. the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death
  2. an oratorio based on a gospel narrative of the Passion
  3. suffering
  4. the state or capacity of being acted on by external agents or forces
  5. emotion
    • his ruling passion is greed
  6. the emotions as distinguished from reason
  7. intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction
  8. an outbreak of anger
  9. ardent affection : love
  10. a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept
  11. sexual desire
  12. an object of desire or deep interest

pas·sion·al ['pa-shə-nᵊl, 'pash-nəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or marked by passion

pas·sion·ate ['pa-sh(ə-)nət] -adj, adv, n

  1. easily aroused to anger
  2. filled with anger : angry
  3. capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feeling
  4. enthusiastic, ardent
  5. swayed by or affected with sexual desire

pas·sion·flow·er ['pa-shən-,flau̇(-ə)r] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Passifloraof the family Passifloraceae, the passionflower family) of chiefly tropical woody tendriled climbing vines or erect herbs with usu. showy flowers and pulpy often edible berries

passion fruit -n

  1. the edible fruit of a passionflower
  2. the small roundish purple or yellow fruit of a Brazilian passionflower ( Passiflora edulis) grown commercially in warmer parts of the U.S.

Pas·sion·ist ['pa-sh(ə-)nist] -n

  1. a member of a Roman Catholic mendicant order founded by St. Paul of the Cross in Italy in 1720 and devoted chiefly to missionary work and retreats

passion play -n

  1. a dramatic representation of the scenes connected with the passion and crucifixion of Jesus

Passion Sunday -n

  1. the fifth Sunday in Lent

Pas·sion·tide ['pa-shən-,tīd] -n

  1. the last two weeks of Lent

Passion Week -n

  1. holy week
  2. the week between Passion Sunday and Palm Sunday

pas·siv·ate ['pa-si-,vāt] -vt, n

  1. to make inactive or less reactive
    • passivate the surface of steel by chemical treatment
  2. to protect (as a solid-state device) against contamination by coating or surface treatment

pas·sive ['pa-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. acted upon by an external agency
  2. receptive to outside impressions or influences
  3. asserting that the grammatical subject of a verb is subjected to or affected by the action represented by that verb
    • the passive voice
  4. containing or yielding a passive verb form
  5. lacking in energy or will : lethargic
  6. tending not to take an active or dominant part
  7. induced by an outside agency
    • passive exercise of a paralyzed leg
  8. not active or operating : inert
  9. of, relating to, or making direct use of the sun's heat usu. without the intervention of mechanical devices
    • a passive solar house
  10. latent
  11. of, relating to, or characterized by a state of chemical inactivity
  12. resistant to corrosion
  13. not involving expenditure of chemical energy
    • passive transport across a cell membrane
  14. exhibiting no gain or control
  15. relating to the detection of an object through its emission of energy or sound
    • passive sonar
  16. receiving or enduring without resistance : submissive
  17. existing or occurring without being active, open, or direct
    • passive support
  18. of, relating to, or being business activity in which the investor does not actively participate in the generation of income

passive -n

  1. a passive verb form
  2. the passive voice of a language

passiveaggressive -adj, n

  1. being, marked by, or displaying behavior characterized by the expression of negative feelings, resentment, and aggression in an unassertive passive way (as through procrastination and stubbornness)

passive immunity -n

  1. immunity acquired by transfer of antibodies (as by injection of serum from an individual with active immunity)

pas·sivema·trix ['pa-siv-'mā-triks] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being an LCD in which the pixels are controlled in groups

passive resistance -n

  1. resistance esp. to a government or an occupying power characterized mainly by noncooperation

passive restraint -n

  1. a restraint (as a self-locking seat belt) that acts automatically to protect an automobile rider during a crash

passive smoking -n

  1. the involuntary inhalation of tobacco smoke (as from another's cigarette) esp. by a nonsmoker

passive transfer -n

  1. a local transfer of skin sensitivity from an allergic to a normal person by injection of serum from the former that is used esp. for identifying specific allergens when a high degree of allergic sensitivity is suspected

pas·siv·ism ['pa-si-,vi-zəm] -n

  1. a passive attitude, behavior, or way of life

pass·key ['pas-,kē] -n

  1. master key
  2. skeleton key

pass off -vt

  1. to make public or offer for sale with intent to deceive
  2. to give a false identity or character to

pass out -vi

  1. die
  2. to lose consciousness
  3. to reject (a deal in bridge) as unplayable because everyone has passed on the first round of bidding

Pass·over ['pas-,ō-vər] -n

  1. a Jewish holiday beginning on the 14th of Nisan and commemorating the Hebrews' liberation from slavery in Egypt

pass over -vt

  1. to ignore in passing
  2. to pay no attention to the claims of : disregard

pass·port ['pas-,pȯrt] -n

  1. a formal document issued by an authorized official of a country to one of its citizens that is usu. necessary for exit from and reentry into the country, that allows the citizen to travel in a foreign country in accordance with visa requirements, and that requests protection for the citizen while abroad
  2. a license issued by a country permitting a foreign citizen to pass or take goods through its territory : safe-conduct
  3. a document of identification required by law to be carried by persons residing or traveling within a country
  4. a permission or authorization to go somewhere
  5. something that secures admission, acceptance, or attainment
    • education as a passport to success

passthrough -n

  1. the act, action, or process of offsetting increased costs by raising prices
  2. an opening in a wall between two rooms through which something (as dishes) may be passed

pass up -vt

  1. to let go by without accepting or taking advantage of
    • pass up a chance for promotion
  2. decline, reject

pass·word ['pas-,wərd] -n

  1. : something that enables one to pass or gain admission: as
  2. a spoken word or phrase required to pass by a guard
  3. a sequence of characters required for access to a computer system
  4. watchword

past ['past] -adj

  1. ago
    • 12 years past
  2. just gone or elapsed
    • for the past few months
  3. having existed or taken place in a period before the present : bygone
  4. of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of elapsed time and that in English is usu. formed by internal vowel change (as in sang) or by the addition of a suffix (as in laughed)
  5. having served as a specified officer in an organization
    • past president
  6. beyond the age for or of
    • past playing with dolls
  7. after
    • half past two
  8. at the farther side of : beyond
  9. in a course or direction going close to and then beyond
    • drove past the house
  10. more than
  11. beyond the capacity, range, or sphere of
    • past belief
  12. time gone by
  13. something that happened or was done in the past
    • regret the past
  14. the past tense of a language
  15. a verb form in the past tense
  16. a past life, history, or course of action
  17. one that is kept secret
  18. so as to reach and go beyond a point near at hand
    • drove past

pas·ta ['päs-tə also 'pas-] -n

  1. paste in processed form (as macaroni) or in the form of fresh dough (as ravioli)
  2. a dish of cooked pasta

paste ['pāst] -n

  1. a dough that contains a considerable proportion of fat and is used for pastry crust or fancy rolls
  2. a confection made by evaporating fruit with sugar or by flavoring a gelatin, starch, or gum arabic preparation
  3. a smooth food product made by evaporation or grinding
    • tomato paste
    • almond paste
  4. a shaped dough (as spaghetti or ravioli) prepared from semolina, farina, or wheat flour
  5. : a soft plastic mixture or composition: as
  6. a preparation usu. of flour or starch and water used as an adhesive or a vehicle for mordant or color
  7. clay or a clay mixture used in making pottery or porcelain
  8. a brilliant glass of high lead content used for the manufacture of artificial gems
  9. to cause to adhere by or as if by paste : stick
  10. to cover with something pasted on
  11. to strike hard at
  12. to beat or defeat soundly
    • pasted their opponents 420

paste·board ['pās(t)-,bȯrd] -n

  1. a solid cardboard with a paper facing
  2. cardboard
  3. ticket

pasteboard -adj

  1. made of pasteboard
  2. sham, unsubstantial
    • prefabricated plots and pasteboard heroes -- Peter Andrews

paste·down [-,dau̇n] -n

  1. the outer leaf of an endpaper that is pasted down to the inside of the front or back cover of a book

pas·tel [pas-'tel] -n

  1. a paste made of powdered pigment ranging from pale to deep colors and used for making crayons
  2. a crayon made of such paste
  3. a drawing in pastel
  4. the process or art of drawing with pastels
  5. a light literary sketch
  6. any of various pale or light colors

pastel -adj

  1. of or relating to a pastel
  2. made with pastels
  3. pale and light in color
  4. lacking in body or vigor

pas·tel·ist [-'te-list] -n

  1. an artist who works with pastels

pas·tern ['pas-tərn] -n

  1. a part of the foot of an equine extending from the fetlock to the top of the hoof
  2. a part of the leg of an animal other than an equine that corresponds to the pastern

paste·up ['pāst-,əp] -n

  1. mechanical
  2. the process of making mechanicals

pas·teur·ise ['pas-chə-,rīz, 'pas-tyə-, -tə-] -vt, n

(variant of pasteurize)

  1. to subject to pasteurization

pas·teur·i·za·tion [,pas-chə-rə-'zā-shən, ,pas-tyə-, -tə-] -n

  1. partial sterilization of a substance and esp. a liquid (as milk) at a temperature and for a period of exposure that destroys objectionable organisms without major chemical alteration of the substance
  2. irradiation of food products

pas·teur·ize ['pas-chə-,rīz, 'pas-tyə-, -tə-] -vt, n

  1. to subject to pasteurization

pas·tic·cio [pas-'tē-ch(ē-,)ō, pä-] -n

  1. pastiche

pas·tiche [pas-'tēsh, päs-] -n

  1. a literary, artistic, musical, or architectural work that imitates the style of previous work
  2. such stylistic imitation
  3. a musical, literary, or artistic composition made up of selections from different works : potpourri
  4. hodgepodge

past·ies ['pās-tēz] -n pl

  1. small round coverings for a woman's nipples worn esp. by a stripteaser

pas·tille [pas-'tēl] -n

  1. a small mass of aromatic paste for fumigating or scenting the air of a room
  2. lozenge

pas·time ['pas-,tīm] -n

  1. something that amuses and serves to make time pass agreeably : diversion

pas·ti·na ['päs-tē-nə] -n

  1. very small bits of pasta used in soup or broth

pas·tis [päs-'tēs] -n

  1. a French liqueur flavored with aniseed

pas·ti·tsio [päs-'tēt-sē-(,)ō] -n

  1. a Greek baked dish made of ground meat layered with pasta and usu. topped with white sauce and cheese

past master -n

  1. one who has held the office of worshipful master in a lodge of Freemasons or of master in a guild, club, or society
  2. one who is expert : adept

past·ness ['pas(t)-nəs] -n

  1. the quality or state of being past
  2. the subjective quality of something being remembered rather than immediately experienced
    • almost any popular record...is apt to be tinged with pastness -- Roy McMullen

pas·tor ['pas-tər] -n

  1. a spiritual overseer
  2. a clergyman serving a local church or parish

pastor [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vt

  1. to serve as pastor of (as a church)

pas·tor [päs-'tȯr] -n

  1. herdsman

pas·to·ral ['pas-t(ə-)rəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or composed of shepherds or herdsmen
  2. devoted to or based on livestock raising
  3. of or relating to the countryside : not urban
    • a pastoral setting
  4. portraying or expressive of the life of shepherds or country people esp. in an idealized and conventionalized manner
    • pastoral poetry
  5. pleasingly peaceful and innocent : idyllic
  6. of or relating to spiritual care or guidance esp. of a congregation
  7. of or relating to the pastor of a church

pastoral ['pas-t(ə-)rəl; 1d is often ,pas-tə-'räl, -'ral] -n

  1. a literary work (as a poem or play) dealing with shepherds or rural life in a usu. artificial manner and typically drawing a contrast between the innocence and serenity of the simple life and the misery and corruption of city and esp. court life
  2. pastoral poetry or drama
  3. a rural picture or scene
  4. pastorale
  5. crosier
  6. : a letter of a pastor to his charge: as
  7. a letter addressed by a bishop to his diocese
  8. a letter of the house of bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church to be read in each parish

pas·to·rale [,pas-tə-'räl, -'ral also -'rä-lē] -n

  1. an instrumental or vocal composition having a pastoral theme
  2. an opera of the 16th or 17th centuries having a pastoral plot
  3. pastoral

Pastoral Epistle -n

  1. one of three New Testament letters including two addressed to Timothy and one to Titus that give advice on matters of church government and discipline

pas·to·ral·ism ['pas-t(ə-)rə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. the quality or style characteristic of pastoral writing
  2. livestock raising
  3. social organization based on livestock raising as the primary economic activity

pas·tor·ate ['pas-t(ə-)rət] -n

  1. the office, state, jurisdiction, or tenure of office of a pastor
  2. a body of pastors

past participle -n

  1. a participle that typically expresses completed action, that is traditionally one of the principal parts of the verb, and that is traditionally used in English in the formation of perfect tenses in the active voice and of all tenses in the passive voice

past perfect -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is traditionally formed in English with hadand denotes an action or state as completed at or before a past time spoken of

pas·tra·mi [pə-'strä-mē] -n

  1. a highly seasoned smoked beef prepared esp. from shoulder cuts

pas·try ['pās-trē] -n

  1. paste
  2. sweet baked goods made of dough having a high fat content
  3. a piece of pastry

past tense -n

  1. : a verb tense expressing action or state in or as if in the past:
  2. a verb tense expressive of elapsed time (as wrotein on arriving I wrote a letter)
  3. a verb tense expressing action or state in progress or continuance or habitually done or customarily occurring at a past time (as was writingin I was writing while he dictated or lovedin their sons loved fishing)

pas·tur·age ['pas-chə-rij] -n

  1. pasture

pas·ture ['pas-chər] -n

  1. plants (as grass) grown for the feeding esp. of grazing animals
  2. land or a plot of land used for grazing
  3. the feeding of livestock : grazing

pasture -vb

  1. graze, browse
  2. to feed (as cattle) on pasture
  3. to use as pasture

pas·ture·land ['pas-chər-,land] -n

  1. pasture

pas·ty ['pas-tē] -n

  1. a meat pie
  2. turnover

pasty ['pās-tē] -adj, n

  1. resembling paste
  2. pallid and unhealthy in appearance

PA system [,pē-'ā-] -n

  1. public-address system

pat ['pat] -n

  1. a light blow esp. with the hand or a flat instrument
  2. a light tapping often rhythmical sound
  3. something (as butter) shaped into a small flat usu. square individual portion
  4. in a pat manner : aptly, perfectly
    • has her part down pat
  5. to strike lightly with a flat instrument
  6. to flatten, smooth, or put into place or shape with light blows
  7. to tap or stroke gently with the hand to soothe, caress, or show approval
  8. to strike or beat gently
  9. exactly suited to the purpose or occasion : apt
  10. suspiciously appropriate : contrived
    • a pat ending
  11. learned, mastered, or memorized exactly
  12. firm, unyielding
  13. reduced to a simple or mechanical form : standard, trite
    • pat answers
  14. patent

PAT -abbr

  1. point after touchdown

pa·ta·gi·um [pə-'tā-jē-əm] -n

  1. the fold of skin connecting the forelimbs and hind limbs of some tetrapods (as flying squirrels)
  2. the fold of skin in front of the main segments of a bird's wing

patch ['pach] -n

  1. a piece of material used to mend or cover a hole or a weak spot
  2. a tiny piece of black silk or court plaster worn on the face or neck esp. by women to hide a blemish or to heighten beauty
  3. a piece of material (as adhesive plaster) used medically usu. to cover a wound
  4. a usu. disk-shaped piece of material that is worn on the skin and contains a substance (as a drug) that is absorbed at a constant rate through the skin into the bloodstream
    • a nicotine patch
  5. a shield worn over the socket of an injured or missing eye
  6. a small piece : scrap
  7. a part or area distinct from that about it
    • cabbage patch
  8. a period of time : spell
    • was going through a rough patch
  9. someone or something equal or comparable usu. used in negative constructions
    • the new chairman isn't a patch on his predecessor
  10. a piece of cloth sewed on a garment as an ornament or insignia
  11. shoulder patch
  12. a temporary connection in a communication system (as a telephone hookup)
  13. a minor correction or modification in a computer program
  14. to mend, cover, or fill up a hole or weak spot in
  15. to provide with a patch
  16. to make of patches or fragments
  17. to mend or put together esp. in hasty or shabby fashion usu. used with up
  18. to apply a patch to (a computer program)
  19. to connect (as circuits) by a patch cord
  20. to connect (as a person or message) to a communication system esp. temporarily
    • they patch ed him into the conference call
  21. fool, dolt

patch·board ['pach-,bȯrd] -n

  1. a switchboard in which circuits are interconnected by patch cords

patch cord -n

  1. a wire with a plug at each end that is used to connect electrical devices

patch·ou·li ['pa-chə-lē, pə-'chü-lē] -n

  1. a heavy perfume made from the fragrant essential oil of a southeast Asian mint ( Pogostemon cablin)
  2. the plant itself

patch pocket -n

  1. a flat pocket applied to the outside of a garment

patch test -n

  1. a test for determining allergic sensitivity that is made by applying to the unbroken skin small pads soaked with the allergen to be tested

patch·work ['pach-,wərk] -n

  1. something composed of miscellaneous or incongruous parts : hodgepodge
  2. pieces of cloth of various colors and shapes sewn together to form a covering
  3. something resembling such a covering
    • a patchwork of fields

patchwork quilt -n

  1. a quilt made of patchwork
  2. patchwork

patchy ['pa-chē] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by, consisting of, or diversified with patches
  2. irregular in appearance, makeup, or quality

pat down -vt

  1. frisk

pate ['pāt] -n, adj

  1. head
  2. the crown of the head
  3. brain
  4. paste

pa·te [pä-'tā, pa-] -n

  1. a meat or fish pie or patty
  2. a spread of finely chopped or pureed seasoned meat
    • chicken liver pate

pa·te de foie gras [(,)pä-,tā-də-,fwä-'grä, (,)pa-,tā-] -n

  1. a pate of fat goose liver and usu. truffles sometimes with added fat pork

pa·tel·la [pə-'te-lə] -n, adj

  1. a thick flat triangular movable bone that forms the anterior point of the knee and protects the front of the joint called also kneecap

pat·en ['pa-tᵊn] -n

  1. a plate usu. made of precious metal and used to carry the bread at the Eucharist
  2. plate
  3. something (as a metal disk) resembling a plate

pa·ten·cy ['pa-tᵊn(t)-sē, 'pā-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being patent

pat·ent [1–3 are 'pa-tᵊnt, chiefly Brit 'pā-; 4 'pā-; 5 'pā-, 'pa-; 6–7 'pa-, 'pā-, Brit usu 'pā-] -adj, adv

  1. open to public inspection used chiefly in the phrase letters patent
  2. secured by letters patent or by a patent to the exclusive control and possession of a particular individual or party
  3. protected by a patent : made under a patent
    • patent locks
  4. protected by a trademark or a brand name so as to establish proprietary rights analogous to those conveyed by letters patent or a patent : proprietary
    • patent drugs
  5. of, relating to, or concerned with the granting of patents esp. for inventions
    • a patent lawyer
  6. making exclusive or proprietary claims or pretensions
  7. affording free passage : unobstructed
    • a patent opening
  8. patulous, spreading
    • a patent calyx
  9. accessible, exposed
  10. readily visible or intelligible : obvious
  11. an official document conferring a right or privilege : letters patent
  12. a writing securing for a term of years the exclusive right to make, use, or sell an invention
  13. the monopoly or right so granted
  14. a patented invention
  15. privilege, license
  16. an instrument making a conveyance of public lands
  17. the land so conveyed
  18. patent leather
  19. to obtain or grant a patent right to
  20. to grant a privilege, right, or license to by patent
  21. to obtain or secure by patent
  22. to secure by letters patent exclusive right to make, use, or sell

pat·ent·ed ['pa-tᵊn-təd, Brit also 'pā-] -adj

  1. originated by or peculiar to one person or group : individualized

pat·en·tee [,pa-tᵊn-'tē, Brit also ,pā-] -n

  1. one to whom a grant is made or a privilege secured by patent

pat·ent flour ['pa-tᵊn(t)-, Brit also 'pā-] -n

  1. a high-grade wheat flour that consists solely of endosperm

pat·ent leather ['pa-tᵊn(t)-, Brit usu 'pā-] -n

  1. a leather with a hard smooth glossy surface

patent medicine -n

  1. a packaged nonprescription drug which is protected by a trademark and whose contents are incompletely disclosed
  2. any drug that is a proprietary

patent office -n

  1. a government office for examining claims to patents and granting patents

pat·en·tor ['pa-tᵊn-tər, ,pa-tᵊn-'tȯr, Brit also 'pā-, ,pā-] -n

  1. one that grants a patent

patent right -n

  1. a right granted by letters patent
  2. the exclusive right to an invention

pa·ter -n

  1. paternoster
  2. father

pa·ter·fa·mil·i·as [,pa-tər-fə-'mi-lē-əs, ,pä-, ,pā-] -n

  1. the male head of a household
  2. the father of a family
  3. a man who originates or is a leading figure in something (as a movement, discipline, or enterprise)

pa·ter·nal [pə-'tər-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a father
  2. like that of a father
    • paternal benevolence
  3. received or inherited from one's male parent
  4. related through one's father
    • paternal grandfather

pa·ter·nal·ism [pə-'tər-nə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj, adv

  1. a system under which an authority undertakes to supply needs or regulate conduct of those under its control in matters affecting them as individuals as well as in their relations to authority and to each other
  2. a policy or practice based on or characteristic of paternalism

pa·ter·ni·ty [pə-'tər-nə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being a father
  2. origin or descent from a father

paternity -adj

  1. granted to a father
    • paternity leave
    • paternity rights
  2. of or relating to the determination of paternity
    • a paternity suit

paternity test -n

  1. a test esp. of DNA or genetic traits to determine whether a given man could be the biological father of a given child

pa·ter·nos·ter [,pä-tər-'näs-tər, 'pa-tər-,, 'pä-,ter-', -'näs-,ter] -n

  1. lord's prayer
  2. a word formula repeated as a prayer or magical charm

path ['path, 'päth] -n

  1. a trodden way
  2. a track specially constructed for a particular use
  3. course, route
  4. a way of life, conduct, or thought
  5. the continuous series of positions or configurations that can be assumed in any motion or process of change by a moving or varying system
  6. a sequence of arcs in a network that can be traced continuously without retracing any arc
  7. pathway
  8. pathological; pathology

path- -comb form

  1. pathological state : disease
    • patho gen

Pa·than [pə-'tän, ,pä-] -n

  1. pashtun

path·break·ing ['path-,brā-kiŋ] -adj

  1. trailblazing

pa·thet·ic [pə-'the-tik] -adj, adv

  1. having a capacity to move one to either compassionate or contemptuous pity
  2. marked by sorrow or melancholy : sad
  3. pitifully inferior or inadequate
    • the restaurant's pathetic service
  4. absurd, laughable
    • a pathetic costume

pathetic fallacy -n

  1. the ascription of human traits or feelings to inanimate nature (as in cruel sea)

path·find·er ['path-,fīn-dər, 'päth-] -n, n or adj

  1. one that discovers a way
  2. one that explores untraversed regions to mark out a new route

path·less [-ləs] -adj, n

  1. untrodden, trackless

patho·bi·ol·o·gy [,pa-thō-bī-'ä-lə-jē] -n

  1. pathology

path·o·gen ['pa-thə-jən] -n

  1. a specific causative agent (as a bacterium or virus) of disease

path·o·gen·e·sis [,pa-thə-'je-nə-səs] -n

  1. the origination and development of a disease

path·o·ge·net·ic [-jə-'ne-tik] -adj

  1. of or relating to pathogenesis
  2. pathogenic

path·o·gen·ic [-'je-nik] -adj, n

  1. pathogenetic
  2. causing or capable of causing disease

pa·tho·gno·mon·ic [,pa-thə(g)-nō-'mä-nik] -adj

  1. distinctively characteristic of a particular disease

pa·thog·ra·phy [pə-'thä-grə-fē] -n

  1. biography that focuses on a person's illnesses, misfortunes, or failures
  2. sensational or morbid biography

path·o·log·i·cal [,pa-thə-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to pathology
  2. altered or caused by disease
  3. indicative of disease
  4. being such to a degree that is extreme, excessive, or markedly abnormal
    • a pathological liar
    • pathological fear

pa·thol·o·gist [pə-'thä-lə-jist, pa-] -n

  1. a specialist in pathology
  2. one who interprets and diagnoses the changes caused by disease in tissues and body fluids

pa·thol·o·gize [pə-'thä-lə-,jīz] -vt

  1. to view or characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal
    • natural hormonal shifts have been pathologized -- Joyce C. Mills

pa·thol·o·gy [-jē] -n

  1. the study of the essential nature of diseases and esp. of the structural and functional changes produced by them
  2. : something abnormal:
  3. the structural and functional deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease
  4. deviation from propriety or from an assumed normal state of something nonliving or nonmaterial
  5. deviation giving rise to social ills
    • connections between these pathologies ...and crime -- Wendy Kaminer

path·o·phys·i·ol·o·gy [,pa-thō-,fi-zē-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. the physiology of abnormal states
  2. the functional changes that accompany a particular syndrome or disease

pa·thos ['pā-,thäs, -,thȯs, -,thōs also 'pa-] -n

  1. an element in experience or in artistic representation evoking pity or compassion
  2. an emotion of sympathetic pity

path·way ['path-,wā, 'päth-] -n

  1. path, course
  2. a line of communication over interconnecting neurons extending from one organ or center to another
  3. a network of interconnecting neurons along which a nerve impulse travels
  4. the sequence of usu. enzyme-catalyzed reactions by which one substance is converted into another
    • metabolic pathway s

pa·tience ['pā-shən(t)s] -n

  1. the capacity, habit, or fact of being patient
  2. solitaire

pa·tient ['pā-shənt] -adj, adv

  1. bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
  2. manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
  3. not hasty or impetuous
  4. steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
  5. able or willing to bear used with of
  6. susceptible, admitting
    • patient of one interpretation

patient -n

  1. an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment
  2. the recipient of any of various personal services
  3. one that is acted upon

patient dumping -n

  1. dumping

pa·ti·na [pə-'tē-nə, 'pa-tə-nə] -n

  1. a usu. green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color
  2. a surface appearance of something grown beautiful esp. with age or use
  3. an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character
  4. a superficial covering or exterior

pat·i·nate ['pa-tə-,nāt] -vb, n

  1. to give a patina to
  2. to take on a patina usu. used in the past participle
    • patinated bronze

pa·tine [pa-'tēn] -n

  1. patina

patine -vt

  1. to cover with a patina

pa·tio ['pa-tē-,ō also 'pä-] -n

  1. courtyard
  2. an inner court open to the sky
  3. a recreation area that adjoins a dwelling, is often paved, and is adapted esp. to outdoor dining

pa·tis·se·rie [pə-'ti-sə-rē, pä-] -n

  1. pastry
  2. a pastry shop

pa·tis·sier [pä-tis-'yā] -n

  1. a pastry chef

pa·tois ['pa-,twä, 'pä-] -n

  1. a dialect other than the standard or literary dialect
  2. uneducated or provincial speech
  3. the characteristic special language of an occupational or social group : jargon

patr- -comb form

  1. father
    • patr istic

pa·tri·arch ['pā-trē-,ärk] -n

  1. one of the scriptural fathers of the human race or of the Hebrew people
  2. a man who is father or founder
  3. the oldest member or representative of a group
  4. a venerable old man
  5. a man who is head of a patriarchy
  6. any of the bishops of the ancient or Eastern Orthodox sees of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem or the ancient and Western see of Rome with authority over other bishops
  7. the head of any of various Eastern churches
  8. a Roman Catholic bishop next in rank to the pope with purely titular or with metropolitan jurisdiction
  9. a Mormon of the Melchizedek priesthood empowered to perform the ordinances of the church and pronounce blessings within a stake or prescribed jurisdiction

pa·tri·ar·chal [,pā-trē-'är-kəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a patriarch or patriarchy

patriarchal cross -n

  1. a chiefly heraldic cross denoting a cardinal's or archbishop's rank and having two crossbars of which the lower is the longer and intersects the upright above or at its center called also cross of Lorraine

pa·tri·arch·ate ['pā-trē-,är-kət, -,kāt] -n

  1. the office, jurisdiction, or time in office of a patriarch
  2. the residence or headquarters of a patriarch
  3. patriarchy

pa·tri·ar·chy [-,är-kē] -n

  1. social organization marked by the supremacy of the father in the clan or family, the legal dependence of wives and children, and the reckoning of descent and inheritance in the male line
  2. control by men of a disproportionately large share of power
  3. a society or institution organized according to the principles or practices of patriarchy

pa·tri·cian [pə-'tri-shən] -n, adj

  1. a member of one of the original citizen families of ancient Rome
  2. a person of high birth : aristocrat
  3. a person of breeding and cultivation

pa·tri·ci·ate [-'tri-shē-ət, -,āt] -n

  1. the position or dignity of a patrician
  2. a patrician class

pat·ri·cide ['pa-trə-,sīd] -n, adj

  1. one who murders his or her own father
  2. the murder of one's own father

pat·ri·lin·eal [,pa-trə-'li-nē-əl] -adj

  1. relating to, based on, or tracing descent through the paternal line
    • a patrilineal society

pat·ri·mo·ny ['pa-trə-,mō-nē] -n, adj

  1. an estate inherited from one's father or ancestor
  2. anything derived from one's father or ancestors : heritage
  3. an estate or endowment belonging by ancient right to a church

pa·tri·ot ['pā-trē-ət, -,ät, chiefly Brit 'pa-trē-ət] -n

  1. one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests

pa·tri·ot·ic [,pā-trē-'ä-tik, chiefly Brit ,pa-] -adj, adv

  1. inspired by patriotism
  2. befitting or characteristic of a patriot

pa·tri·ot·ism ['pā-trē-ə-,ti-zəm, chiefly Brit 'pa-] -n

  1. love for or devotion to one's country

Patriots' Day -n

  1. the third Monday in April observed as a legal holiday in Maine and Massachusetts in commemoration of the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775

pa·tris·tic [pə-'tris-tik] -adj

  1. of or relating to the church fathers or their writings

pa·tris·tics [-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. the study of the writings and background of the church fathers

Pa·tro·clus [pə-'trō-kləs, -'trä-] -n

  1. a Greek hero and friend of Achilles slain by Hector at Troy

pa·trol [pə-'trōl] -n

  1. the action of traversing a district or beat or of going the rounds along a chain of guards for observation or the maintenance of security
  2. the person performing such an action
  3. a unit of persons or vehicles employed for reconnaissance, security, or combat
  4. a subdivision of a Boy Scout troop or Girl Scout troop

patrol -vb, n

  1. to carry out a patrol
  2. to carry out a patrol of

pa·trol·man [pə-'trōl-mən] -n

  1. one who patrols
  2. a police officer assigned to a beat

patrol wagon -n

  1. paddy wagon

pa·tron ['pā-trən, for 6 also pa-'trōⁿ] -n, adj

  1. a person chosen, named, or honored as a special guardian, protector, or supporter
  2. a wealthy or influential supporter of an artist or writer
  3. a social or financial sponsor of a social function (as a ball or concert)
  4. one that uses wealth or influence to help an individual, an institution, or a cause
  5. one who buys the goods or uses the services offered esp. by an establishment
  6. the holder of the right of presentation to an English ecclesiastical benefice
  7. a master in ancient times who freed his slave but retained some rights over him
  8. the proprietor of an establishment (as an inn) esp. in France
  9. the chief male officer in some fraternal lodges having both men and women members

pa·tron·age ['pa-trə-nij, 'pā-] -n

  1. advowson
  2. the support or influence of a patron
  3. kindness done with an air of superiority
  4. business or activity provided by patrons
    • the new branch library is expected to have a heavy patronage
  5. the power to make appointments to government jobs esp. for political advantage
  6. the distribution of jobs on the basis of patronage
  7. jobs distributed by patronage

pa·tron·ess ['pā-trə-nəs] -n

  1. a woman who is a patron

pa·tron·ise ['pā-trə-,nīz, 'pa-] -vt, n, adv

(variant of patronize)

  1. to act as patron of : provide aid or support for
  2. to adopt an air of condescension toward : treat haughtily or coolly
  3. to be a frequent or regular customer or client of

pa·tron·ize ['pā-trə-,nīz, 'pa-] -vt, n, adv

  1. to act as patron of : provide aid or support for
  2. to adopt an air of condescension toward : treat haughtily or coolly
  3. to be a frequent or regular customer or client of

patron saint -n

  1. a saint to whose protection and intercession a person, a society, a church, or a place is dedicated
  2. an original leader or prime exemplar

pat·ro·nym·ic [,pa-trə-'ni-mik] -n, adj

  1. a name derived from that of the father or a paternal ancestor usu. by the addition of an affix

pa·troon [pə-'trün] -n

  1. the captain or officer commanding a ship
  2. the proprietor of a manorial estate esp. in New York orig. granted under Dutch rule but in some cases existing until the mid-19th century

pat·sy ['pat-sē] -n

  1. a person who is easily manipulated or victimized : pushover

pat·ten ['pa-tᵊn] -n

  1. a clog, sandal, or overshoe often with a wooden sole or metal device to elevate the foot and increase the wearer's height or aid in walking in mud

pat·ter ['pa-tər] -vb, n

  1. to say or speak in a rapid or mechanical manner
  2. to recite prayers (as paternosters) rapidly or mechanically
  3. to talk glibly and volubly
  4. to speak or sing rapid-fire words in a theatrical performance

patter -n

  1. a specialized lingo : cant
  2. the jargon of criminals (as thieves)
  3. the spiel of a street hawker or of a circus barker
  4. empty chattering talk
  5. the rapid-fire talk of a comedian
  6. the talk with which an entertainer accompanies a routine
  7. the words of a comic song or of a rapidly spoken usu. humorous monologue introduced into such a song
  8. to strike or pat rapidly and repeatedly
  9. to run with quick light-sounding steps
  10. to cause to patter
  11. a quick succession of light sounds or pats

pat·tern ['pa-tərn] -n, adj

  1. a form or model proposed for imitation : exemplar
  2. something designed or used as a model for making things
    • a dressmaker's pattern
  3. an artistic, musical, literary, or mechanical design or form
  4. a natural or chance configuration
    • frost pattern s
    • the pattern of events
  5. a length of fabric sufficient for an article (as of clothing)
  6. the distribution of shrapnel, bombs on a target, or shot from a shotgun
  7. the grouping made on a target by bullets
  8. a reliable sample of traits, acts, tendencies, or other observable characteristics of a person, group, or institution
    • a behavior pattern
    • spending pattern s
  9. the flight path prescribed for an airplane that is coming in for a landing
  10. a prescribed route to be followed by a pass receiver in football
  11. test pattern
  12. a discernible coherent system based on the intended interrelationship of component parts
    • foreign policy pattern s
  13. frequent or widespread incidence
    • a pattern of dissent
    • a pattern of violence

pattern -vt

  1. match
  2. imitate
  3. to make, adapt, or fashion according to a pattern
  4. to furnish, adorn, or mark with a design
  5. to form a pattern

pat·tern·ing ['pa-tər-niŋ] -n

  1. decoration, composition, or configuration according to a pattern
  2. physical therapy esp. for neurological impairment based on a theory holding that repeated manipulation of body parts to simulate normal motor developmental activity (as crawling or walking) promotes neurological development or repair

pat·ty ['pa-tē] -n

  1. a little pie
  2. a small flat cake of chopped food
    • a hamburger patty
  3. a small flat candy
    • a peppermint patty
  4. patty shell

pat·tycake ['pa-tē-,kāk] -n

  1. a game in which two participants (as mother and child) clap their hands together to the rhythm of an accompanying nursery rhyme

pat·ty·pan ['pa-tē-,pan] -n

  1. a roundish summer squash having a scalloped edge called also cymling

patty shell -n

  1. a shell of puff pastry made to hold a creamed meat, fish, or vegetable filling

pat·u·lous ['pa-chə-ləs] -adj

  1. spreading widely from a center
    • a tree with patulous branches

pat·zer ['pät-sər, 'pat-] -n

  1. an inept chess player

pau·ci·ty ['pȯ-sə-tē] -n

  1. smallness of number : fewness
  2. smallness of quantity : dearth

Paul ['pȯl] -n

  1. an early Christian apostle and missionary and author of several New Testament epistles

Paul Bun·yan [-'bən-yən] -n

  1. a giant lumberjack of American folklore

Pau·li exclusion principle ['pau̇-lē-] -n

  1. exclusion principle called also Pauli principle

Pau·line ['pȯ-,līn] -adj

  1. of or relating to the apostle Paul, his epistles, or the doctrine or theology implicit in his epistles

Paul·ist ['pȯ-list] -n

  1. a member of the Roman Catholic Congregation of the Missionary Priests of St. Paul the Apostle founded by I. T. Hecker in the U.S. in 1858

pau·low·nia [pȯ-'lō-nē-ə] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Paulownia) of Chinese trees of the snapdragon family
  2. one ( P. tomentosa) widely cultivated for its panicles of fragrant violet flowers

paunch ['pȯnch, 'pänch] -n

  1. the belly and its contents
  2. potbelly
  3. rumen

paunchy ['pȯn-chē, 'pän-] -adj, n

  1. having a potbelly

pau·per ['pȯ-pər] -n

  1. a person destitute of means except such as are derived from charity
  2. one who receives aid from funds designated for the poor
  3. a very poor person

pau·per·ize ['pȯ-pə-,rīz] -vt, n

  1. to reduce to poverty

pau·piette [pō-'pyet] -n

  1. a thin slice of meat or fish wrapped around a forcemeat filling

pause ['pȯz] -n

  1. a temporary stop
  2. a break in a verse
  3. a brief suspension of the voice to indicate the limits and relations of sentences and their parts
  4. temporary inaction esp. as caused by uncertainty : hesitation
  5. the sign denoting a fermata
  6. a mark (as a period or comma) used in writing or printing to indicate or correspond to a pause of voice
  7. a reason or cause for pausing (as to reconsider)
    • a thought that should give one pause
  8. a function of an electronic device that pauses a recording
  9. to stop temporarily
  10. to linger for a time
  11. to cause to pause : stop

pa·vane [pə-'vän, -'van] -n

  1. a stately court dance by couples that was introduced from southern Europe into England in the 16th century
  2. music for the pavane
  3. music having the slow duple rhythm of a pavane

pave ['pāv] -vt

  1. to lay or cover with material (as asphalt or concrete) that forms a firm level surface for travel
  2. to cover firmly and solidly as if with paving material
  3. to serve as a covering or pavement of

pa·ve [pa-'vā] -adj

  1. set as close together as possible to conceal a metal base

pave·ment ['pāv-mənt] -n

  1. : a paved surface: as
  2. the artificially covered surface of a public thoroughfare
  3. sidewalk
  4. the material with which something is paved
  5. something that suggests a pavement (as in flatness, hardness, and extent of surface)

pav·er ['pā-vər] -n

  1. one that paves
  2. pavement

pa·vil·ion [pə-'vil-yən] -n

  1. a large often sumptuous tent
  2. something resembling a canopy or tent
    • tree ferns spread their delicate pavilion s -- Blanche E. Baughan
  3. a part of a building projecting from the rest
  4. one of several detached or semidetached units into which a building is sometimes divided
  5. a usu. open sometimes ornamental structure in a garden, park, or place of recreation that is used for entertainment or shelter
  6. a temporary structure erected at an exposition by an individual exhibitor
  7. the lower faceted part of a brilliant below the girdle

pavilion -vt

  1. to furnish or cover with or put in a pavilion

paving -n

  1. pavement

pav·ior ['pāv-yər] -n

  1. paver

pav·lo·va ['pav-lə-və, pav-'lō-] -n

  1. a dessert of Australian and New Zealand origin consisting of a meringue shell topped with whipped cream and usu. fruit

Pav·lov·i·an [pav-'lȯ-vē-ən, -'lō-; -'lȯ-fē-] -adj

  1. of or relating to Ivan Pavlov or to his work and theories
    • Pavlovian conditioning
  2. being or expressing a conditioned or predictable reaction : automatic
    • the candidates gave Pavlovian answers

paw ['pȯ] -n

  1. the foot of a quadruped (as a lion or dog) that has claws
  2. the foot of an animal
  3. a human hand esp. when large or clumsy
  4. to touch or strike at with a paw
  5. to feel or touch clumsily, rudely, or sexually
  6. to scrape or beat with or as if with a hoof
  7. to flail at or grab for wildly
  8. to beat or scrape something with or as if with a hoof
  9. to touch or strike with a paw
  10. to feel or touch someone or something clumsily, rudely, or sexually
  11. to flail or grab wildly
  12. to search esp. carelessly or roughly
    • paw ed through the box of discount items

paw·ky ['pȯ-kē] -adj

  1. artfully shrewd : canny

pawl ['pȯl] -n

  1. a pivoted tongue or sliding bolt on one part of a machine that is adapted to fall into notches or interdental spaces on another part so as to permit motion in only one direction

pawn ['pȯn, 'pän] -n

  1. one of the chessmen of least value having the power to move only forward ordinarily one square at a time, to capture only diagonally forward, and to be promoted to any piece except a king upon reaching the eighth rank
  2. one that can be used to further the purposes of another
  3. something delivered to or deposited with another as security for a loan
  4. hostage
  5. the state of being pledged
  6. something used as a pledge : guaranty
  7. the act of pawning
  8. to deposit in pledge or as security esp. in exchange for money

pawn·bro·ker ['pȯn-,brō-kər, 'pän-] -n

  1. one who lends money on the security of personal property pledged in his keeping

Paw·nee [pȯ-'nē, pä-] -n

  1. a member of an American Indian people orig. of Kansas and Nebraska

pawn off -vt

  1. to get rid of or pass off usu. by deception : palm off

pawn·shop ['pȯn-,shäp, 'pän-] -n

  1. a pawnbroker's shop

paw·paw -n

  1. papaya
  2. a No. American tree ( Asimina triloba) of the custard-apple family with purple flowers and an edible green-skinned fruit
  3. its fruit

pax ['paks, 'päks] -n

  1. a tablet decorated with a sacred figure (as of Christ) and sometimes ceremonially kissed by participants at mass
  2. the kiss of peace in the Mass
  3. peace
  4. a period of general stability in international affairs under the influence of dominant military power usu. used in combination with a latinized name
    • Pax Americana

pay ['pā] -vb

  1. to make due return to for services rendered or property delivered
  2. to engage for money : hire
    • you couldn't pay me to do that
  3. to give in return for goods or service
    • pay wages
  4. to discharge indebtedness for : settle
    • pay a bill
  5. to make a disposal or transfer of (money)
  6. to give or forfeit in expiation or retribution
    • pay the penalty
  7. to make compensation for
  8. to requite according to what is deserved
    • pay them back
  9. to give, offer, or make freely or as fitting
    • pay attention
    • pay your respects
  10. to return value or profit to
    • it pay s you to stay open
  11. to bring in as a return
    • an investment pay ing five percent
  12. to slacken (as a rope) and allow to run out used with out
  13. to discharge a debt or obligation
  14. to be worth the expense or effort
    • crime doesn't pay
  15. to suffer the consequences of an act
  16. something paid for a purpose and esp. as a salary or wage : remuneration
  17. the act or fact of paying or being paid
  18. the status of being paid by an employer : employ
  19. a person viewed with respect to reliability or promptness in paying debts or bills
  20. ore or a natural deposit that yields metal and esp. gold in profitable amounts
  21. an oil-yielding stratum or zone
  22. containing or leading to something precious or valuable
  23. equipped with a coin slot for receiving a fee for use
    • a pay telephone
  24. requiring payment
  25. to coat with a waterproof composition

pay·able ['pā-ə-bəl] -adj

  1. that may, can, or must be paid
  2. profitable

payasyougo -adj

  1. of or relating to a system or policy of paying bills when due or of paying for goods and services when purchased

pay·back ['pā-,bak] -n

  1. a return on an investment equal to the original capital outlay
  2. the period of time elapsed before an investment is recouped
  3. requital

paycable -n

  1. pay-TV utilizing a cable television system

pay·check ['pā-,chek] -n

  1. a check in payment of wages or salary
  2. wages, salary

pay·day [-,dā] -n

  1. a regular day on which wages are paid

pay dirt -n

  1. earth or ore that yields a profit to a miner
  2. a useful or remunerative discovery or object

pay down -vt

  1. to reduce (a debt) by repaying in part

PAYE -abbr

  1. pay as you earn

pay·ee [(,)pā-'ē] -n

  1. one to whom money is or is to be paid

pay envelope -n

  1. an envelope containing one's wages
  2. wages

pay·er ['pā-ər] -n

  1. one that pays
  2. the person by whom a bill or note has been or should be paid

pay·load ['pā-,lōd] -n

  1. the load carried by a vehicle exclusive of what is necessary for its operation
  2. the load carried by an aircraft or spacecraft consisting of things (as passengers or instruments) necessary to the purpose of the flight
  3. the weight of a payload

pay·mas·ter [-,mas-tər] -n

  1. an officer or agent whose duty it is to pay salaries or wages

pay·ment ['pā-mənt] -n

  1. the act of paying
  2. something that is paid : pay
  3. requital

pay·nim ['pā-nəm] -n

  1. pagan
  2. muslim

pay·off ['pā-,ȯf] -n

  1. profit, reward
  2. retribution
  3. the act or occasion of receiving money or material gain esp. as compensation or as a bribe
  4. the climax of an incident or enterprise
  5. the denouement of a narrative
  6. a decisive fact or factor resolving a situation or bringing about a definitive conclusion

payoff -adj

  1. yielding results in the final test : decisive

pay off -vt

  1. to give all due wages to
  2. to pay in full and discharge (an employee)
  3. to pay (a debt or a creditor) in full
  4. bribe
  5. to inflict retribution on
  6. to allow (a thread or rope) to run off a spool or drum
  7. to yield returns

pay·o·la [pā-'ō-lə] -n

  1. undercover or indirect payment (as to a disc jockey) for a commercial favor (as for promoting a particular recording)

pay·out ['pā-,au̇t] -n

  1. the act of paying out : payoff

payperview -n

  1. a cable television service by which customers can order access to a particular broadcast for a fee

pay phone -n

  1. a usu. coin-operated public telephone

pay·roll ['pā-,rōl] -n

  1. a paymaster's or employer's list of those entitled to pay and of the amounts due to each
  2. the sum necessary for distribution to those on a payroll
  3. the money to be distributed

pay station -n

  1. pay phone

payt -abbr

  1. payment

payTV -n

  1. a service providing noncommercial television programming (as recent movies and entertainment specials) by means of a scrambled signal to subscribers who are provided with a decoder called also pay television

pay up -vi

  1. to pay what is due
  2. to pay in full