pi ['pī] -n
- the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet
- the symbol denoting the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter
- the ratio itself : a transcendental number having a value rounded to eight decimal places of 3.14159265
- type that is spilled or mixed
- a pi character or matrix
- to spill or throw (type or type matter) into disorder
- to become pied
- not intended to appear in final printing
- capable of being inserted only by hand
PI -abbr
- Philippine Islands
- private investigator
- programmed instruction
pi·al ['pī-əl, 'pē-] -adj
- of or relating to the pia mater
pia ma·ter ['pī-ə-,mā-tər, 'pē-ə-,mä-] -n
- the thin vascular membrane that invests the brain and spinal cord internal to the arachnoid and dura mater
pi·a·nism ['pē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n
- the art or technique of piano playing
- the composition or adaptation of music for the piano
pi·a·nis·si·mo [,pē-ə-'ni-sə-,mō] -adv or adj
- very softly used as a direction in music
pianissimo [-(,)mē] -n
- a passage played, sung, or spoken very softly
pi·a·nist [pē-'a-nist, 'pē-ə-] -n
- a person who plays the piano
- a skilled or professional performer on the piano
pi·a·nis·tic [,pē-ə-'nis-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the piano
- skilled in or well adapted to piano playing
pi·a·no [pē-'ä-(,)nō] -adv or adj
- at a soft volume : soft used as a direction in music
pi·ano [pē-'a-(,)nō also -'ä-] -n
- a musical instrument having steel wire strings that sound when struck by felt-covered hammers operated from a keyboard
piano accordion -n
- an accordion with a keyboard for the right hand resembling and corresponding to the middle register of a piano keyboard
pi·ano·forte [pē-'a-nə-,fȯrt, -'ä-, -,fȯr-tē; -,a-nə-'fȯr-tē, -,ä-] -n
- fortepiano
- piano
piano hinge -n
- a hinge that has a thin pin joint and extends along the full length of the part to be moved
pi·as·sa·va [,pē-ə-'sä-və] -n
- any of several stiff coarse fibers obtained from palms and used esp. in cordage or brushes
- a palm yielding piassava
- either of two Brazilian palms ( Attalea funiferaand Leopoldinia piassaba)
pi·as·tre [pē-'as-tər, -'äs-] -n
- piece of eight
- see pound at
pi·az·za [pē-'a-zə, -'ä-, 1 is usu -'at-sə, -'ät-] -n
- an open square esp. in an Italian town
- an arcaded and roofed gallery
- veranda, porch
pi·broch ['pē-,bräk, -,bräk̲] -n
- a set of martial or mournful variations for the Scottish Highland bagpipe
pic ['pik] -n
- photograph
- motion picture
- the picador's lance
pi·ca ['pī-kə] -n
- an abnormal desire to eat substances (as chalk or ashes) not normally eaten
pica -n
- 12-point type
- a unit of about inch used in measuring typographic material
- a typewriter type providing 10 characters to the linear inch and six lines to the vertical inch
pic·a·dor ['pi-kə-,dȯr, ,pi-kə-'] -n
- a horseman in a bullfight who jabs the bull with a lance to weaken its neck and shoulder muscles
pi·ca·resque [,pi-kə-'resk, ,pē-] -adj
- of or relating to rogues or rascals
- of, relating to, suggesting, or being a type of fiction dealing with the episodic adventures of a usu. roguish protagonist
picaresque -n
- one that is picaresque
pi·ca·ro ['pē-kä-,rō] -n
- rogue, bohemian
pic·a·roon [,pi-kə-'rün] -n
- pirate
- picaro
picaroon -vi
- to act as a pirate
pic·a·yune [,pi-kē-'yün] -n
- a Spanish half real piece formerly current in the South
- half dime
- something trivial
picayune [-'yü-nish] -adj
- of little value : paltry
- petty, small-minded
pic·ca·lil·li [,pi-kə-'li-lē] -n
- a relish of chopped vegetables and spices
pic·co·lo ['pi-kə-,lō] -adj
- smaller than ordinary size
piccolo [-,lō-ist] -n
- a small shrill flute whose range is an octave higher than that of an ordinary flute
pice ['pīs] -n
- paisa
pi·ce·ous ['pī-sē-əs] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling pitch
- glossy brownish black in color
- an insect with a piceous abdomen
pi·cho·line [,pē-shō-'lēn] -n
- a medium-sized brine-cured green olive of French origin
pick ['pik] -vb
- to pierce, penetrate, or break up with a pointed instrument
- to remove bit by bit
- to remove covering or adhering matter from
- to gather by plucking
- choose, select
- tried to pick the shortest route
- to make (one's way) slowly and carefully
- pick ed his way through the rubble
- pilfer, rob
- to obtain useful information from by questioning used in such phrases as pick the brains of
- provoke
- to dig into : probe
- to pluck (as a guitar) with a pick or with the fingers
- to loosen or pull apart with a sharp point
- to unlock with a device (as a wire) other than the key
- to use or work with a pick
- to gather or harvest something by plucking
- pilfer used in the phrase picking and stealing
- to eat sparingly or mincingly
- pick ing listlessly at his dinner
- a blow or stroke with a pointed instrument
- the act or privilege of choosing or selecting : choice
- the best or choicest one
- one that is picked
- his pick for vice president
- the portion of a crop gathered at one time
- the first pick of peaches
- a screen in basketball
- a heavy wooden-handled iron or steel tool pointed at one or both ends
- toothpick
- picklock
- a small thin piece (as of plastic or metal) used to pluck the strings of a stringed instrument
- one of the points on the forepart of the blade of a skate used in figure skating
- a comb with long widely spaced teeth used to give height to a hairstyle
- to throw or thrust with effort : hurl
- to throw (a shuttle) across the loom
- the act of pitching or throwing
- something thrown
- a throw of the shuttle
- a filling thread
pickaback ['pi-gē-,bak] -adv
(variant of piggyback)
- up on the back and shoulders
- on or as if on the back of another
- on a railroad flatcar
pickandroll ['pik-ən(d)-'rōl] -n
- a basketball play in which a player sets a screen and then cuts toward the basket for a pass
pickandshovel -adj
- done with or as if with a pick and shovel : laborious
pick·a·nin·ny ['pi-kə-,ni-nē, ,pi-kə-'] -n
- a black child
pick·ax ['pik-,aks] -n
- pick
pick·ed ['pi-kəd] -adj
- pointed, peaked
picked ['pikt] -adj
- choice, prime
pick·eer [pi-'kir] -vi
- to skirmish in advance of an army
- scout, reconnoiter
pick·er ['pi-kər] -n
- : one that picks: as
- a worker who picks something (as crops)
- a tool, implement, or machine used in picking something
- a musician who picks a stringed instrument (as a banjo)
pick·er·el ['pi-k(ə-)rəl] -n
- a young or small pike
- : either of two fishes resembling but smaller than the related northern pike:
- chain pickerel
- one ( Esox americanus) of eastern No. America having green or red fins and a black bar below and slanting away from the eye
- walleye
pick·er·el·weed [-,wēd] -n
- a shallow-water monocotyledonous perennial plant ( Pontederia cordata) chiefly of the eastern U.S. and Canada with large leaves and a spike of purplish-blue flowers
pick·et ['pi-kət] -n
- a pointed or sharpened stake, post, or pale
- a detached body of soldiers serving to guard an army from surprise
- a detachment kept ready in camp for such duty
- sentry
- a person posted by a labor organization at a place of work affected by a strike
- a person posted for a demonstration or protest
picket -vt, n
- to enclose, fence, or fortify with pickets
- to guard with a picket
- to post as a picket
- tether
- to post pickets at
- to walk or stand in front of as a picket
- to serve as a picket
pick·et·boat ['pi-kət-,bōt] -n
- a craft used (as by the coast guard) for harbor patrol
picket line -n
- a position held by a line of military pickets
- a line of people picketing a business, organization, or institution
pick·ings ['pi-kiŋz, -kənz] -n pl
- : something that is picked or picked up: as
- gleanable or eatable fragments : scraps
- yield or return for effort expended
pick·le ['pi-kəl] -n
- : a solution or bath for preserving or cleaning: as
- a brine or vinegar solution in which foods are preserved
- any of various baths used in industrial cleaning or processing
- a difficult situation : plight
- could see no way out of the pickle I was in -- R. L. Stevenson
- an article of food that has been preserved in brine or in vinegar
- a cucumber that has been so preserved
pickle [-k(ə-)liŋ] -vt
- to treat, preserve, or clean in or with a pickle
- to give a light finish to (as furniture) by bleaching or painting and wiping
- grain, kernel
- a small quantity
pickled -adj
- preserved in or cured with pickle
- drunk
- gets thoroughly pickled before dinner -- New Yorker
pick·le·weed ['pi-kəl-,wēd] -n
- : any of several succulent plants having leaves often reduced to scales or sheaths: as
- glasswort
- a shrub ( Allenrolfea occidentalis)of the goosefoot family growing in moist saline soils of the southwestern U.S.
- saltwort
pick·lock ['pik-,läk] -n
- burglar
- a tool for picking locks
pickmeup ['pik-mē-,əp] -n
- something that stimulates or restores : tonic, bracer
- my usual morning pickmeup
pick·off ['pik-,ȯf] -n
- a baseball play in which a base runner is picked off
pick off -vt
- to shoot or bring down esp. one by one
- to put out (a base runner who is off base) with a quick throw (as from the pitcher or catcher)
- intercept
pick out -vt
- discern, make out
- to play the notes of by ear or one by one
- picking out tunes on the piano
pick over -vt
- to examine in order to select the best or remove the unwanted
pick·pock·et ['pik-,pä-kət] -n
- a thief who picks pockets
pick·proof [-,prüf] -adj
- designed to prevent picking
pick·thank [-,thaŋk] -n
- sycophant
pick·up ['pik-,əp] -n
- : one that is picked up: as
- a hitchhiker who is given a ride
- a temporary chance acquaintance
- a player acquired from another team
- : the act or process of picking up: as
- a revival of business activity
- acceleration
- the act or technique of making the acquaintance of a previously unknown person esp. for amorous purposes
- the conversion of mechanical movements into electrical impulses in the reproduction of sound
- a device (as on a phonograph) for making such conversion
- the reception of sound or an image into a radio or television transmitting apparatus for conversion into electrical signals
- a device (as a microphone or a television camera) for converting sound or the image of a scene into electrical signals
- a light truck having an enclosed cab and an open body with low sides and tailgate called also pickup truck
- a pickup game
pickup -adj
- utilizing or comprising local or available personnel esp. without formal organization
pick up -vt
- to take hold of and lift up
- to gather together : collect
- to clean up : tidy
- to take (passengers or freight) into a vehicle
- to acquire casually or by chance
- picked up a valuable antique at an auction
- to acquire by study or experience : learn
- picking up a great deal of knowledge in the process -- Robert Schleicher
- to obtain esp. by payment : buy
- to acquire (a player) esp. from another team through a trade or by financial recompense
- to accept for the purpose of paying
- offered to pick up the tab
- to come down with : catch
- gain, earn
- picked up a few yards on the last play
- picked up her first victory
- to enter informally into conversation or companionship with (a previously unknown person)
- had a brief affair with a girl he picked up in a bar
- to take into custody
- the police picked up the fugitive
- to catch sight of : perceive
- picked up the harbor lights
- to come to and follow
- picked up the outlaw's trail
- to bring within range of sight or hearing
- pick up distant radio signals
- understand, catch
- revive
- increase
- to resume after a break : continue
- pick up the discussion tomorrow
- to assume responsibility for guarding (an opponent) in an athletic contest
- to recover or increase speed, vigor, or activity : improve
- after the strike, business picked up
- the wind began to pick up
- to put things in order
- was always picking up after her
- to pack up one's belongings
- couldn't just pick up and leave
Pick·wick·ian [(,)pik-'wi-kē-ən] -adj
- marked by simplicity and generosity
- intended or taken in a sense other than the obvious or literal one
picky ['pi-kē] -adj
- fussy, choosy
pi·clo·ram ['pi-klə-,ram, 'pī-] -n
- a systemic herbicide C 6H 3Cl 3N 2O 2that is persistent in the soil
pic·nic ['pik-(,)nik] -n, adj
- an excursion or outing with food usu. provided by members of the group and eaten in the open
- the food provided for a picnic
- a pleasant or amusingly carefree experience
- I don't expect being married to be a picnic -- Josephine Pinckney
- an easy task or feat
- a shoulder of pork with much of the butt removed
picnic -vi, n
- to go on a picnic : eat in picnic fashion
pico- -comb form
- one trillionth (10 12) part of
- very small
pi·co·gram ['pē-kō-,gram, -kə-] -n
- one trillionth of a gram
pic·o·line ['pi-kə-,lēn, 'pī-] -n
- any of the three liquid isomeric pyridine derivatives C 6H 7N used chiefly as solvents and in organic synthesis
pi·co·mole ['pē-kō-,mōl, -kə-] -n
- one trillionth of a mole
pi·cor·na·vi·rus [(,)pē-,kȯr-nə-'vī-rəs] -n
- any of a family ( Picornaviridae) of small single-stranded RNA viruses that include the causative agents of encephalomyocarditis, hepatitis A, poliomyelitis, foot-and-mouth disease, and hand, foot and mouth disease
pi·co·sec·ond [,pē-kō-'se-kənd, -kənt] -n
- one trillionth of a second
pi·cot ['pē-(,)kō, pē-'] -n
- one of a series of small ornamental loops forming an edging on ribbon or lace
pic·o·tee [,pi-kə-'tē] -n
- a flower (as some carnations or tulips) having one basic color with a margin of another color
picr- -comb form
- bitter
pic·ric acid ['pi-krik-] -n
- a toxic yellow crystalline phenol derivative C 6H 3N 3O 7structurally similar to TNT and used esp. as a high explosive and as a dye or mordant
pic·ro·tox·in [,pi-krō-'täk-sən] -n
- a poisonous bitter crystalline stimulant and convulsive substance C 30H 34O 13obtained from the berry of a southeast Asian vine ( Anamirta cocculus)and used intravenously as an antidote for barbiturate poisoning
Pict ['pikt] -n, adj or n
- a member of a people of the north of Scotland who are first noted in historical records in the late third century and who became amalgamated with the Scots in the mid-eighth century
pic·to·gram ['pik-tə-,gram] -n
- pictograph
pic·to·graph [-,graf] -n, adj
- an ancient or prehistoric drawing or painting on a rock wall
- one of the symbols belonging to a pictorial graphic system
- a diagram representing statistical data by pictorial forms
pic·tog·ra·phy [pik-'tä-grə-fē] -n
- use of pictographs : picture writing
pic·to·ri·al [pik-'tȯr-ē-əl] -adj, adv, n
- of or relating to a painter, a painting, or the painting or drawing of pictures
- of, relating to, or consisting of pictures
- illustrated by pictures
- consisting of or displaying the characteristics of pictographs
- suggesting or conveying visual images
pictorial -n
- a periodical having much pictorial matter
pic·to·ri·al·ism [-ē-ə-,li-zəm] -n, adj or n
- the use or creation of pictures or visual images
- a movement or technique in photography emphasizing artificial often romanticized pictorial qualities
pic·to·ri·al·ize [pik-'tȯr-ē-ə-,līz] -vt, n
- to represent by a picture or illustrate with pictures
pic·ture ['pik-chər] -n
- a design or representation made by various means (as painting, drawing, or photography)
- a description so vivid or graphic as to suggest a mental image or give an accurate idea of something
- the book gives a detailed picture of what is happening
- a mental image
- image, copy
- he was the picture of his father
- she was the very picture of health
- a transitory visible image or reproduction
- motion picture
- movies
- tableau
- situation
- took a hard look at his financial picture
picture ['pik-chə-riŋ, 'pik-shriŋ] -vt
- to paint or draw a representation, image, or visual conception of : depict
- illustrate
- to describe graphically in words
- to form a mental image of : imagine
picturebook -adj
- : suitable for or suggestive of a picture book: as
- picturesque
- picture-perfect
picture book -n
- a book that consists wholly or chiefly of pictures
picture hat -n
- a woman's dressy hat with a broad brim
pictureperfect -adj
- completely flawless : perfect
- made a pictureperfect landing
pic·ture·phone ['pik-chər-,fōn] -n
- videophone
picturepostcard -adj
- picturesque
- a picturepostcard village
picture puzzle -n
- jigsaw puzzle
pic·tur·esque [,pik-chə-'resk] -adj, adv, n
- resembling a picture : suggesting a painted scene
- charming or quaint in appearance
- evoking mental images : vivid
picture tube -n
- a cathode-ray tube on which the picture appears in a television
picture window -n
- an outsize usu. single-paned window designed to frame an exterior view
picture writing -n
- the recording of events or expression of messages by pictures representing actions or facts
- the record or message represented by picture writing
pic·tur·ize ['pik-chə-,rīz] -vt, n
- to make a picture of : present in pictures
- to make into a motion picture
PID -abbr
- pelvic inflammatory disease
pid·dle ['pi-dᵊl] -vi
- dawdle, putter
- urinate
pid·dling ['pid-lən, -liŋ; 'pi-dᵊl-ən, -iŋ] -adj
- trivial, paltry
pid·dly ['pid-lē] -adj
- trivial, piddling
pid·dock ['pi-dək, -dik] -n
- a bivalve mollusk (family Pholadidae, esp. genera Pholasand Barnea) that bores holes in wood, clay, and rocks
pid·gin ['pi-jən] -n, vt
- a simplified speech used for communication between people with different languages
pidgin English -n
- an English-based pidgin
- one orig. used in parts of east Asia
pie ['pī] -n
- magpie
- a meat dish baked with biscuit or pastry crust
- a dessert consisting of a filling (as of fruit or custard) in a pastry shell or topped with pastry or both
- affair, business
- she wanted her finger...in every possible social pie -- Mary Deasy
- a whole regarded as divisible into shares
- giving the less fortunate...a larger share of the economic pie -- R. M. Hutchins
pie ['pī] -n
(variant of pi)
- the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet
- the symbol denoting the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter
- the ratio itself : a transcendental number having a value rounded to eight decimal places of 3.14159265
- type that is spilled or mixed
- a pi character or matrix
- to spill or throw (type or type matter) into disorder
- to become pied
- not intended to appear in final printing
- capable of being inserted only by hand
pie·bald ['pī-,bȯld] -adj
- composed of incongruous parts
- of different colors
- spotted or blotched with black and white
piebald -n
- a piebald animal (as a horse)
piece ['pēs] -n
- : a part of a whole: as
- fragment
- any of the individual members comprising a unit often used in combination
- portion, allocation
- an object or individual regarded as a unit of a kind or class
- a usu. unspecified distance
- a standard quantity (as of length, weight, or size) in which something is made or sold
- a literary, journalistic, artistic, dramatic, or musical composition
- firearm
- coin
- token
- a movable object used in playing a board game
- a chessman other than a pawn
- opinion, view
- an act of copulation
- the female partner in sexual intercourse
- instance, example
- to repair, renew, or complete by adding pieces : patch
- to join into a whole often used with together
- his new book...has been pieced together from talks -- Merle Miller
piece by piece -adv
- by degrees : piecemeal
piece de re·sis·tance [pē-,es-də-rə-,zē-'stän(t)s, -rā-, -'stäⁿs] -n
- the chief dish of a meal
- an outstanding item or event : showpiece
piecedye ['pēs-,dī] -vt
- to dye after weaving or knitting
piece goods -n pl
- cloth fabrics sold from the bolt at retail in lengths specified by the customer called also yard goods
piece·meal ['pēs-,mēl, -'mēl] -adv
- one piece at a time : gradually
- in pieces or fragments : apart
piecemeal -adj
- done, made, or accomplished piece by piece or in a fragmentary way
- piecemeal reforms in the system
piece of cake
- something easily done : cinch, breeze
piece of eight
- an old Spanish peso of eight reals
piece of work
- a complicated, difficult, or eccentric person
piece·wise ['pēs-,wīz] -adv
- with respect to a number of discrete intervals, sets, or pieces
- piecewise continuous functions
piece·work [-,wərk] -n
- work done by the piece and paid for at a set rate per unit
pie chart -n
- a circular chart cut by radii into segments illustrating relative magnitudes or frequencies called also circle graph
pie·crust ['pī-,krəst] -n
- the pastry shell of a pie
pied ['pīd] -adj
- of two or more colors in blotches
- wearing or having a parti-colored coat
pied ['pī] -n
(variant of pi)
- the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet
- the symbol denoting the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter
- the ratio itself : a transcendental number having a value rounded to eight decimal places of 3.14159265
- type that is spilled or mixed
- a pi character or matrix
- to spill or throw (type or type matter) into disorder
- to become pied
- not intended to appear in final printing
- capable of being inserted only by hand
piedaterre [pē-,ā-də-'ter, -,ā-dä-; ,pyā-dä-] -n
- a temporary or second lodging
pied·mont ['pēd-,mänt] -adj, n
- lying or formed at the base of mountains
pied piper -n
- one that offers strong but delusive enticement
- a leader who makes irresponsible promises
- a charismatic person who attracts followers
pieeyed ['pī-,īd] -adj
- intoxicated
piefaced [-,fāst] -adj
- having a round, smooth, or blank face
pie·hole ['pī-,hōl] -n
- mouth
pieing ['pī] -n
(variant of pi)
- the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet
- the symbol denoting the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter
- the ratio itself : a transcendental number having a value rounded to eight decimal places of 3.14159265
- type that is spilled or mixed
- a pi character or matrix
- to spill or throw (type or type matter) into disorder
- to become pied
- not intended to appear in final printing
- capable of being inserted only by hand
pie in the sky -adj
- an unrealistic enterprise or prospect of prosperity
pie·plant ['pī-,plant] -n
- garden rhubarb
pier ['pir] -n
- an intermediate support for the adjacent ends of two bridge spans
- a structure (as a breakwater) extending into navigable water for use as a landing place or promenade or to protect or form a harbor
- : a vertical structural support: as
- the wall between two openings
- pillar, pilaster
- a vertical member that supports the end of an arch or lintel
- an auxiliary mass of masonry used to stiffen a wall
- a structural mount (as for a telescope) usu. of stonework, concrete, or steel
pierce ['pirs] -vb, n
- to run into or through as a pointed weapon does : stab
- to enter or thrust into sharply or painfully
- to make a hole through : perforate
- to force or make a way into or through
- to penetrate with the eye or mind : discern
- to penetrate so as to move or touch the emotions of
- to force a way into or through something
pierced -adj
- having holes
- decorated with perforations
- having the flesh punctured for the attachment of a piece of jewelry
- designed for pierced ears
piercing ['pir-siŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- : penetrating: as
- loud, shrill
- perceptive
- penetratingly cold : biting
- cutting, incisive
- a piece of jewelry (as a ring or stud) that is attached to pierced flesh
pier glass -n
- a large high mirror
- one designed to occupy the wall space between windows called also pier mirror
Pi·eri·an [pī-'ir-ē-ən, -'er-] -adj
- of or relating to the region of Pieria in ancient Macedonia or to the Muses who were once worshipped there
- of or relating to learning or poetry
pie·ro·gi [pə-'rō-gē, pi-] -n
- a case of dough filled with a savory filling (as of meat, cheese, or vegetables) and cooked by boiling and then panfrying
Pier·rot ['pē-ə-,rō] -n
- a stock comic character of old French pantomime usu. having a whitened face and wearing loose white clothes
pier table -n
- a table to be placed under a pier glass
pies ['pī] -n
(variant of pi)
- the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet
- the symbol denoting the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter
- the ratio itself : a transcendental number having a value rounded to eight decimal places of 3.14159265
- type that is spilled or mixed
- a pi character or matrix
- to spill or throw (type or type matter) into disorder
- to become pied
- not intended to appear in final printing
- capable of being inserted only by hand
pie safe -n
- a cupboard whose doors have decoratively pierced tin panels for ventilation
pie·ta [,pē-(,)ā-'tä, pyā-] -n
- a representation of the Virgin Mary mourning over the dead body of Christ
pi·e·tism ['pī-ə-,ti-zəm] -n, adj or n
- a 17th century religious movement originating in Germany in reaction to formalism and intellectualism and stressing Bible study and personal religious experience
- emphasis on devotional experience and practices
- affectation of devotion
pi·e·tis·tic [,pī-ə-'tis-tik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to Pietism
- of or relating to religious devotion or devout persons
- marked by overly sentimental or emotional devotion to religion : religiose
pi·e·ty ['pī-ə-tē] -n
- : the quality or state of being pious: as
- fidelity to natural obligations (as to parents)
- dutifulness in religion : devoutness
- an act inspired by piety
- a conventional belief or standard : orthodoxy
piezo- -comb form
- pressure
pi·e·zo·elec·tric [pē-,ā-(,)zō-ə-'lek-trik, pē-,āt-(,)sō-] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, marked by, or functioning by means of piezoelectricity
pi·e·zo·elec·tric·i·ty [-,lek-'tri-s(ə-)tē] -n
- electricity or electric polarity due to pressure esp. in a crystalline substance (as quartz)
pi·e·zom·e·ter [,pē-ə-'zä-mə-tər, pē-,āt-'sä-] -n, adj
- an instrument for measuring pressure or compressibility
- one for measuring the change of pressure of a material subjected to hydrostatic pressure
pif·fle ['pi-fəl] -vi
- to talk or act in a trivial, inept, or ineffective way
piffle -n
- trivial nonsense
pif·fling ['pi-flən, -f(ə-)liŋ] -adj
- of little worth or importance : trivial
pig ['pig] -n, adj
- a young domesticated swine not yet sexually mature
- a wild or domestic swine
- an animal related to or resembling the pig
- pork
- the dressed carcass of a young swine weighing less than 130 pounds (60 kilograms)
- pigskin
- a dirty, gluttonous, or repulsive person
- a crude casting of metal (as iron)
- an immoral woman
- police officer
- farrow
- to live like a pig
- farrow
pig·boat ['pig-,bōt] -n
- submarine
pi·geon ['pi-jən] -n
- any of a widely distributed family (Columbidae, order Columbiformes) of birds with a stout body, rather short legs, and smooth and compact plumage
- a member of any of numerous varieties of the rock dove that exist in domestication and in the feral state in cities and towns throughout most of the world
- a young woman
- an easy mark : dupe
- clay pigeon
pigeon -n
- an object of special concern : accepted business or interest
- tennis was not his pigeon
pigeon breast -n
- a deformity of the chest marked by sharp projection of the sternum
pigeon hawk -n
- merlin used for one of No. America
pi·geon·hole ['pi-jən-,hōl] -n
- a hole or small recess for pigeons to nest
- a small open compartment (as in a desk or cabinet) for keeping letters or documents
- a neat category which usu. fails to reflect actual complexities
pigeonhole [-,hō-lər] -vt, n
- to place in or as if in the pigeonhole of a desk
- to lay aside : shelve
- his reports continued to be pigeonholed and his advice not taken -- Walter Mills
- to assign to an often restrictive category : classify
pi·geon·ite ['pi-jə-,nīt] -n
- a monoclinic mineral of the pyroxene group
pi·geonliv·ered ['pi-jən-,li-vərd] -adj
- gentle, mild
pigeon pea -n
- a leguminous shrubby herb ( Cajanus cajan) with trifoliate leaves, yellow flowers, and flattened pods that is much cultivated esp. in the tropics
- its small highly nutritious seed
pi·geontoed ['pi-jən-,tōd] -adj
- having the toes and forefoot turned inward
pi·geon·wing [-,wiŋ] -n
- a fancy dance step executed by jumping and striking the legs together
pig·fish ['pig-,fish] -n
- a saltwater grunt ( Orthopristis chrysoptera) that is a food fish found from Long Island, N.Y., southward
pig·gery ['pi-gə-rē] -n
- a place where swine are kept
- swinish behavior
pig·gin ['pi-gən] -n
- a small wooden pail with one stave extended upward as a handle
pig·gish ['pi-gish] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or suggestive of a pig
- having qualities associated with a pig
pig·gy ['pi-gē] -adj
- piggish
pig·gy·back ['pi-gē-,bak] -adv
- up on the back and shoulders
- on or as if on the back of another
- on a railroad flatcar
piggyback -n
- the act of carrying piggyback
- the movement of loaded truck trailers on railroad flatcars
- marked by being up on the shoulders and back
- a child needs hugging, tussling, and piggyback rides -- Benjamin Spock
- : carried or transported piggyback: as
- of or relating to the hauling of truck trailers on railroad flatcars
- being or relating to something carried into space as an extra load by a vehicle (as a spacecraft)
- to carry up on the shoulders and back
- to haul (as a truck trailer) by railroad car
- to set up or cause to function in conjunction with something larger, more important, or already in existence or operation
- to function or be carried on or as if on the back of another
piggy bank -n
- a coin bank often in the shape of a pig
pig·head·ed ['pig-,he-dəd] -adj, adv, n
- willfully or perversely unyielding : obstinate
pig in a blanket -n
- a frankfurter served in a wrapper of baked dough
pig in a poke
- something offered in such a way as to obscure its real nature or worth
- unwilling to buy a pig in a poke
pig iron -n
- crude iron that is the direct product of the blast furnace and is refined to produce steel, wrought iron, or ingot iron
pig latin -n
- a jargon that is made by systematic alteration of English (as ipskay the ointjayfor skip the joint)
pig·let ['pi-glət] -n
- a small usu. young swine
pig·ment ['pig-mənt] -n, adj
- a substance that imparts black or white or a color to other materials
- a powdered substance that is mixed with a liquid in which it is relatively insoluble and used esp. to impart color to coating materials (as paints) or to inks, plastics, and rubber
- a coloring matter in animals and plants esp. in a cell or tissue
- any of various related colorless substances
- to color with or as if with pigment
pig·men·ta·tion [,pig-mən-'tā-shən, -,men-] -n
- coloration with or deposition of pigment
- an excessive deposition of bodily pigment
pigmy ['pig-mē] -n, adj
(variant of pygmy)
- any of a race of dwarfs described by ancient Greek authors
- any of a small people of equatorial Africa ranging under five feet (1.5 meters) in height
- an unusually small person
- an insignificant or unimpressive person
- something very small of its kind
pi·gno·li [pēn-'yō-lē] -n
- pine nut
pig·nut ['pig-,nət] -n
- any of several bitter-flavored hickory nuts
- a hickory (as Carya glabraand C. cordiformis) bearing pignuts
pig out ['pig-,au̇t] -vi, n
- to eat greedily : gorge
pig·pen [-,pen] -n
- a pen for pigs
- a dirty slovenly place
pig·skin [-,skin] -n
- the skin of a swine or leather made of it
- a jockey's saddle
- football
pig·stick [-,stik] -vi, n
- to hunt the wild boar on horseback with a spear
pig·sty ['pig-,stī] -n
- pigpen
pig·tail [-,tāl] -n
- tobacco in small twisted strands or rolls
- a tight braid of hair
pig·tailed [-,tāld] -adj
- wearing a pigtail
pig·weed [-,wēd] -n
- any of various vigorous weedy plants esp. of the goosefoot or amaranth families
piing ['pī] -n
(variant of pi)
- the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet
- the symbol denoting the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter
- the ratio itself : a transcendental number having a value rounded to eight decimal places of 3.14159265
- type that is spilled or mixed
- a pi character or matrix
- to spill or throw (type or type matter) into disorder
- to become pied
- not intended to appear in final printing
- capable of being inserted only by hand
PIK -abbr
- payment in kind
pi·ka ['pē-kə, 'pī-] -n
- any of various short-eared small lagomorph mammals (family Ochotonidae) of rocky uplands of Asia and western No. America with relatively short hind legs called also coney rock rabbit
pi·ka·ke ['pē-kä-,kā] -n
- an evergreen climbing jasmine ( Jasminum sambac) of Asia long cultivated for its profuse fragrant white flowers
pike ['pīk] -n, adj
- pikestaff
- a sharp point or spike
- the tip of a spear
- a mountain or hill having a peaked summit used esp. in place names
- a large elongate long-snouted freshwater bony fish ( Esox lucius) valued for food and sport and widely distributed in cooler parts of the northern hemisphere called also northern northern pike
- : any of various fishes (family Esocidae) related to the pike: as
- muskellunge
- pickerel
- any of various fishes resembling the pike in appearance or habits
- a heavy spear with a very long shaft used by infantry esp. in Europe from the Middle Ages to the 18th century
- to pierce, kill, or wound with a pike
- to leave abruptly
- get lonely and sore, and pike out -- Sinclair Lewis
- to make one's way
- turnpike
- a railroad or railroad line or system
- a body position (as in diving) in which the hips are bent, the knees are straight, and the hands touch the toes or clasp the legs behind or just above the knees
pike·man ['pīk-mən] -n
- a soldier armed with a pike
pike·min·now ['pīk-,mi-(,)nō] -n
- squawfish
pike perch -n
- a fish (as the walleye) of the perch family that resembles the pike
pik·er ['pī-kər] -n
- one who gambles or speculates with small amounts of money
- one who does things in a small way
- tightwad, cheapskate
pike·staff ['pīk-,staf] -n
- a spiked staff for use on slippery ground
- the staff of a foot soldier's pike
pi·ki ['pē-kē] -n
- bread made esp. from blue cornmeal and baked in thin sheets by the Indians of the southwestern U.S.
pi·laf [pi-'läf, -'lȯf; 'pē-,] -n
- a dish made of seasoned rice and often meat
pi·las·ter [pi-'las-tər, 'pī-,las-] -n
- an upright architectural member that is rectangular in plan and is structurally a pier but architecturally treated as a column and that usu. projects a third of its width or less from the wall
Pi·la·tes [pə-'lä-tēz] -n
- an exercise regimen typically performed with the use of specialized apparatus
pil·chard ['pil-chərd] -n
- a fish ( Sardina pilchardus) of the herring family that occurs in great schools along the coasts of Europe
- any of several sardines related to the European pilchard
pile ['pī(-ə)l] -n
- a long slender column usu. of timber, steel, or reinforced concrete driven into the ground to carry a vertical load
- a wedge-shaped heraldic charge usu. placed vertically with the broad end up
- a target-shooting arrowhead without cutting edges
- an ancient Roman foot soldier's heavy javelin
- to drive piles into
- to lay or place in a pile : stack
- to heap in abundance : load
- piled potatoes on his plate
- to collect little by little into a mass usu. used with up
- to form a pile or accumulation usu. used with up
- to move or press forward in or as if in a mass : crowd
- a quantity of things heaped together
- a heap of wood for burning a corpse or a sacrifice
- any great number or quantity : lot
- a large building or group of buildings
- a great amount of money : fortune
- reactor
- a coat or surface of usu. short close fine furry hairs
- a velvety surface produced by an extra set of filling yarns that form raised loops which are cut and sheared
- a single hemorrhoid
- hemorrhoids
pi·le·at·ed ['pī-lē-,ā-təd, 'pi-] -adj
- having a crest covering the pileum
pileated woodpecker -n
- a large red-crested No. American woodpecker ( Dryocopus pileatus) that is black with white on the face, neck, and undersides of the wings
piled -adj
- having a pile
pile driver -n
- a machine for driving down piles with a drop hammer or a steam or air hammer
pi·le·um ['pī-lē-əm] -n
- the top of the head of a bird from the bill to the nape
pile·up ['pī(-ə)l-,əp] -n
- a collision involving usu. several motor vehicles
- a jammed tangled mass or pile (as of motor vehicles or people) resulting from collision or accumulation
- accumulation
pi·le·us ['pī-lē-əs] -n
- a pointed or close-fitting cap worn by ancient Romans
- the convex, concave, or flattened spore-bearing structure of some basidiomycetes that is attached superiorly to the stem and typically is expanded with gills or pores on the underside called also cap
pile·wort ['pī(-ə)l-,wərt, -,wȯrt] -n
- lesser celandine
pil·fer ['pil-fər] -vb, adj, n
- steal
- to steal stealthily in small amounts and often again and again
- steal
- to steal in small quantities
pil·gar·lic [pil-'gär-lik] -n
- a bald head
- a bald-headed man
- a man looked upon with humorous contempt or mock pity
pil·grim ['pil-grəm] -n
- one who journeys in foreign lands : wayfarer
- one who travels to a shrine or holy place as a devotee
- one of the English colonists settling at Plymouth in 1620
pil·grim·age ['pil-grə-mij] -n
- a journey of a pilgrim
- one to a shrine or a sacred place
- the course of life on earth
pilgrimage -vi
- to go on a pilgrimage
pilgrim bottle -n
- costrel
piling -n
- a structure of piles
- pile
Pi·li·pi·no [,pi-lə-'pē-(,)nō, ,pē-] -n
- Filipino
pill ['pil] -vb
- to come off in flakes or scales : peel
- to subject to depredation or extortion
- to peel or strip off
- a usu. medicinal or dietary preparation in a small rounded mass to be swallowed whole
- birth control pill usu. used with the
- something repugnant or unpleasant that must be accepted or endured
- something resembling a pill in size or shape
- a disagreeable or tiresome person
- to dose with pills
- blackball
- to become rough with or mat into little balls
- brushed woolens often pill
pil·lage ['pi-lij] -n
- the act of looting or plundering esp. in war
- something taken as booty
pillage -vb, n
- to plunder ruthlessly : loot
- to take booty
pil·lar ['pi-lər] -n, adj
- a firm upright support for a superstructure : post
- a usu. ornamental column or shaft
- one standing alone for a monument
- a supporting, integral, or upstanding member or part
- a fundamental precept
- the five pillar s of Islam
- a solid mass of coal, rock, or ore left standing to support a mine roof
- a body part that resembles a column
pillar -vt
- to provide or strengthen with or as if with pillars
pil·larbox ['pi-lər-,bäks] -n
- a pillar-shaped mailbox
pill·box ['pil-,bäks] -n
- a box for pills
- a shallow round box of pasteboard
- a small low concrete emplacement for machine guns and antitank weapons
- a small round hat without a brim
- a woman's shallow hat with a flat crown and straight sides
pill bug -n
- wood louse
- a wood louse capable of curling itself into a ball
pil·lion ['pil-yən] -n
- a light saddle for women consisting chiefly of a cushion
- a pad or cushion put on behind a man's saddle chiefly for a woman to ride on
- a motorcycle or bicycle saddle for a passenger
pillion -adv
- on or as if on a pillion
pil·lo·ry ['pi-lə-rē, 'pil-rē] -n
- a device formerly used for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the head and hands can be locked
- a means for exposing one to public scorn or ridicule
pillory -vt
- to set in a pillory as punishment
- to expose to public contempt, ridicule, or scorn
pil·low ['pi-(,)lō] -n, adj
- a support for the head of a reclining person
- one consisting of a cloth bag filled with feathers, down, sponge rubber, or plastic fiber
- something resembling a pillow esp. in form
- a cushion or pad tightly stuffed and used as a support for the design and tools in making lace with a bobbin
pillow -vt
- to rest or lay on or as if on a pillow
- to serve as a pillow for
- to lay or rest one's head on or as if on a pillow
pillow block -n
- a block or standard to support a journal (as of a shaft) : bearing
pil·low·case ['pi-lə-,kās, -lō-] -n
- a removable covering for a pillow
pillow lace -n
- lace made with a bobbin
pillow slip -n
- pillowcase
pillow talk -n
- intimate conversation between lovers in bed
pi·lo·car·pine [,pī-lə-'kär-,pēn] -n
- a miotic alkaloid C 11H 16N 2O 2obtained from jaborandi that is used chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride or nitrate esp. in the treatment of glaucoma
pi·lo·ni·dal [,pī-lə-'nī-dᵊl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a hair-containing cyst of the skin in the lower-back region near the upper crease of the buttocks
pi·lose ['pī-,lōs] -adj, n
- covered with usu. soft hair
pi·lot ['pī-lət] -n, adj
- one employed to steer a ship : helmsman
- a person who is qualified and usu. licensed to conduct a ship into and out of a port or in specified waters
- a person who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft
- guide, leader
- cowcatcher
- a piece that guides a tool or machine part
- a television show produced and filmed or taped as a sample of a proposed series
- pilot light
pilot -vt
- to act as a guide to : lead or conduct over a usu. difficult course
- to set and conn the course of
- to act as pilot of
- serving as a guiding or tracing device, an activating or auxiliary unit, or a trial apparatus or operation
pi·lot·age ['pī-lə-tij] -n
- the action or business of piloting
- the compensation paid to a licensed ship's pilot
pilot biscuit -n
- hardtack called also pilot bread
pilot engine -n
- a locomotive going in advance of a train to make sure that the way is clear
pilot fish -n
- a pelagic carangid fish ( Naucrates ductor) that has dark stripes and often swims in company with a shark
pi·lot·house ['pī-lət-,hau̇s] -n
- a deckhouse for a ship's helmsman containing the steering wheel, compass, and navigating equipment
pilot light -n
- an indicator light showing where a switch or circuit breaker is located or whether a motor is in operation or power is on called also pilot lamp
- a small permanent flame used to ignite gas at a burner
pilot officer -n
- a commissioned officer in the British air force who ranks with a second lieutenant in the army
pilot whale -n
- either of two chiefly black medium-sized toothed whales ( Globicephala melaenasyn. G. melasand G. macrorhynchus) called also blackfish
pil·sner ['pils-nər, 'pilz-, 'pil-zə-] -n
- a light beer with a strong flavor of hops
- a tall slender footed glass for beer
Pilt·down man ['pilt-,dau̇n-] -n
- a supposedly very early hominid erroneously reconstructed from a combination of human and animal skeletal remains the latter of which were later found to have been planted by a hoaxer
pil·u·lar ['pil-yə-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling a pill
pil·ule ['pil-(,)yül] -n
- a little pill
pi·lus ['pī-ləs] -n
- a hair or a structure (as on the surface of a bacterial cell) resembling a hair
Pi·ma ['pē-mə] -n, adj
- a member of an American Indian people of southern Arizona and northern Mexico
- o'odham
pi·ma cotton ['pē-mə-, 'pi-] -n
- a cotton that produces fiber of exceptional strength and firmness and that was developed in the southwestern U.S. by selection and breeding of Egyptian cottons
pi·men·to [pə-'men-(,)tō] -n
- allspice
- pimiento
pimento cheese -n
- a Neufchatel, process, cream, or occas. cheddar cheese to which ground pimientos have been added
pime·son ['pī-'me-,zän, -'mā-, -'mē-, -,sän] -n
- pion
pi·mien·to [pə-'men-(,)tō, pəm-'yen-] -n
- any of various bluntly conical thick-fleshed sweet peppers of European origin that have a distinctive mild sweet flavor and are used esp. as a garnish, as a stuffing for olives, and as a source of paprika
- a plant that bears pimientos
pimp ['pimp] -n
- a man who solicits clients for a prostitute
- to work as a pimp
- to make use of often dishonorably for one's own gain or benefit
pim·per·nel ['pim-pər-,nel, -pər-nəl] -n
- any of a genus ( Anagallis) of herbs of the primrose family
- scarlet pimpernel
pimp·ing ['pim-pən, -piŋ] -adj
- petty, insignificant
- puny, sickly
pim·ple ['pim-pəl] -n, adj
- a small inflamed elevation of the skin : papule
- pustule
- a swelling or protuberance like a pimple
pimp·mo·bile ['pimp-mō-,bēl, -mə-] -n
- an ostentatious luxury car of a kind characteristically used by a pimp
pin ['pin] -n
- a piece of solid material (as wood or metal) used esp. for fastening things together or as a support by which one thing may be suspended from another
- the center peg of a target
- the center itself
- something that resembles a pin esp. in slender elongated form
- an electrical connector pin
- one of the pieces constituting the target in various games (as bowling)
- the peg at which a quoit is pitched
- the staff of the flag marking a hole on a golf course
- a peg for regulating the tension of the strings of a musical instrument
- the part of a key stem that enters a lock
- a belaying pin
- a very thin small pointed metal pin with a head used esp. for fastening cloth
- little, trifle
- bother them all! I don't care a pin about them -- Bram Stoker
- an ornament or emblem fastened to clothing with a pin
- bobby pin
- hairpin
- safety pin
- leg usu. used in pl.
- a fall in wrestling
- to fasten, join, or secure with a pin
- to hold fast or immobile
- to present (a young woman) with a fraternity pin as a pledge of affection
- fasten
- pinned his hopes on a miracle
- pin the blame on someone else
- to assign the blame or responsibility for
- pin the robbery on a night watchman
- to define or determine clearly or precisely usu. used with down
- it is hard to pin down exactly when things changed -- Katharine Whittemore
- to make (a chess opponent's piece) unable to move without exposing the king to check or a valuable piece to capture
- to secure a fall over (an opponent)
- of or relating to a pin
- having a grain suggesting the heads of pins
PIN -abbr
- personal identification number
pi·a cloth ['pēn-yə-] -n
- a lustrous transparent cloth of Philippine origin that is woven of silky pineapple fibers
pi·a co·la·da ['pēn-yə-kō-'lä-də, 'pē-nə-] -n
- a tall drink made of rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice mixed with ice
pin·a·fore ['pi-nə-,fȯr] -n, adj
- a sleeveless usu. low-necked garment fastened in the back and worn as an apron or dress
pi·a·ta [pēn-'yä-tə] -n
- a decorated vessel (as of papier-mache) filled with candies, fruits, and gifts and hung up to be broken with sticks by blindfolded persons as part of esp. Latin-American festivities (as at Christmas or for a birthday party)
pin·ball ['pin-,bȯl] -vi
- to move abruptly from one place to another
pinball machine -n
- an amusement device in which a ball propelled by a plunger scores points as it rolls down a slanting surface among pins and targets called also pinball game
pin·bone ['pin-,bōn] -n
- the hipbone esp. of a quadruped
pincenez [paⁿs-'nā, pan(t)s-] -n
- eyeglasses clipped to the nose by a spring
pin·cer ['pin(t)-sər, esp for 1 US often 'pin-chər] -n, adj
- an instrument having two short handles and two grasping jaws working on a pivot and used for gripping things
- a claw (as of a lobster) resembling a pair of pincers : chela
- pincer movement
pincer movement -n
- a military attack by two coordinated forces that close in on an enemy position from different directions
- a combination of two forces acting against an opposing force
pinch ['pinch] -vb
- to squeeze between the finger and thumb or between the jaws of an instrument
- to prune the tip of (a plant or shoot) usu. to induce branching
- to squeeze or compress painfully
- to cause physical or mental pain to
- to cause to appear thin, haggard, or shrunken
- to cause to shrivel or wither
- to subject to strict economy or want : straiten
- to restrain or limit narrowly : constrict
- steal
- arrest
- to sail too close to the wind
- compress, squeeze
- to be miserly or closefisted
- to press painfully
- narrow, taper
- the road pinch ed down to a trail -- Cecelia Holland
- a critical juncture : emergency
- pressure, stress
- hardship, privation
- deficit
- an act of pinching : squeeze
- as much as may be taken between the finger and thumb
- a very small amount
- a marked thinning of a vein or bed
- theft
- a police raid
- arrest
- substitute
- hit by a pinch hitter
pinch bar -n
- a bar similar in form and use to a crowbar and sometimes having an end adapted for pulling spikes or inserting under a heavy wheel that is to be rolled
pinch·beck ['pinch-,bek] -n, adj
- an alloy of copper and zinc used esp. to imitate gold in jewelry
- something counterfeit or spurious
pinch·er ['pin-chər] -n
- one that pinches
- pincers
pinchhit ['pinch-'hit, ,pinch-] -vi
- to act or serve in place of another
- to bat in the place of another player esp. when a hit is particularly needed
pinch hit -n
- a hit made by a pinch hitter
pinch hitter -n
- one that pinch-hits
pinch·pen·ny ['pinch-,pe-nē] -adj
- stingy, niggardly
pin curl -n
- a curl made usu. by dampening a strand of hair with water or lotion, coiling it, and securing it by a hairpin or clip
pin·cush·ion ['pin-,ku̇-shən] -n
- a small cushion in which pins may be stuck ready for use
pincushion flower -n
- any of several scabiouses (esp. Scabiosa atropurpurea, S. caucasica,or S. columbaria)
Pin·dar·ic [pin-'da-rik] -adj
- of or relating to the poet Pindar
- written in the manner or style characteristic of Pindar
Pindaric -n
- a Pindaric ode
- loose irregular verses similar to those used in Pindaric odes
pine ['pīn] -n, adj
- any of a genus ( Pinusof the family Pinaceae, the pine family) of coniferous evergreen trees that have slender elongated needles and include some valuable timber trees and ornamentals
- the straight-grained white or yellow usu. durable and resinous wood of a pine varying from extreme softness in the white pine to hardness in the longleaf pine
- any of various Australian coniferous trees (as of the genera Callitrisor Araucaria)
- pineapple
- bench
- to lose vigor, health, or flesh (as through grief) : languish
- to yearn intensely and persistently esp. for something unattainable
- they still pined for their lost wealth
pi·ne·al ['pī-nē-əl, pī-'] -adj
- of, relating to, or secreted by the pineal gland
- the pineal hormone melatonin
pi·ne·al·ec·to·my [,pī-nē-ə-'lek-tə-mē, pī-,nē-] -n, vt
- surgical removal of the pineal gland
pineal gland -n
- a small usu. conical appendage of the brain of all craniate vertebrates that functions primarily as an endocrine gland secreting melatonin and that in a few reptiles has the essential structure of an eye called also pineal pineal body pineal organ
pine·ap·ple ['pī-,na-pəl] -n
- a tropical monocotyledonous plant ( Ananas comosusof the family Bromeliaceae, the pineapple family) that has rigid spiny-margined recurved leaves and a short stalk with a dense oblong head of small abortive flowers
- the large edible multiple fruit of the pineapple that consists of the sweet succulent fleshy inflorescence
- a hand grenade
pineapple guava -n
- feijoa
pineapple sage -n
- a Mexican salvia ( Salvia eleganssyn. S. rutilans) having a scent of pineapple that is cultivated as an annual
pine·cone ['pīn-,kōn] -n
- a cone of a pine tree
pine·drops ['pīn-,dräps] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a purplish-brown leafless saprophytic plant ( Pterospora andromedea) of the wintergreen family with racemose drooping white flowers
- beechdrops
pine·land ['pīn-,land, -lənd] -n
- land naturally dominated by pine forests
pine marten -n
- an American marten ( Martes americana) found mainly in coniferous forests
- a Eurasian marten ( Martes martes)
pi·nene ['pī-,nēn] -n
- either of two liquid isomeric unsaturated bicyclic terpene hydrocarbons C 10H 16of which one is a major constituent of wood turpentine
pine nut -n
- the edible seed of any of several pines
pin·ery ['pī-nə-rē, 'pīn-rē] -n
- a hothouse or area where pineapples are grown
- a grove or forest of pine
pine·sap ['pīn-,sap] -n
- any of several yellowish or reddish parasitic or saprophytic herbs (genus Monotropa) of the wintergreen family resembling the Indian pipe
pine siskin -n
- a No. American finch ( Carduelis pinusof the family Fringillidae) with streaked plumage
pine snake -n
- a large constricting colubrid snake ( Pituophis melanoleucus) that is typically white and black and occurs esp. in coastal regions of eastern No. America from New Jersey southward into Mexico
pine tar -n
- tar obtained by destructive distillation of pinewood and used esp. in roofing and soaps and in the treatment of skin diseases
pi·ne·tum [pī-'nē-təm] -n
- a plantation of pine trees
- a scientific collection of living coniferous trees
pine·wood ['pīn-,wu̇d] -n
- the wood of the pine tree
- a wood of pines often used in pl. but sing. or pl. in constr.
piney woods -n pl
- woodland of the southern U.S. in which pines are the dominant tree
pin·feath·er ['pin-,fe-thər] -n
- a feather not fully developed
- a feather just emerging through the skin
pin·fish [-,fish] -n
- a small compressed dark green grunt ( Lagodon rhomboides) that has sharp dorsal spines and occurs along the Atlantic coast
pin·fold [-,fōld] -n
- pound
- a place of restraint
ping ['piŋ] -n
- a sharp sound like that of a striking bullet
- knock
- to make a ping
- to ricochet with a ping
- gravel ping ing off...the car -- Margaret Atwood
- to cause to ping
ping·er ['piŋ-ər] -n
- a device for producing pulses of sound (as for marking an underwater site or detecting an underwater object)
pin·go ['piŋ-(,)gō] -n
- a low hill or mound forced up by hydrostatic pressure in an area underlain by permafrost
pingpong ['piŋ-,päŋ, -,pȯŋ] -vb
- shift, bounce
- something resembling a game of table tennis
- a series of usu. verbal exchanges between two parties
- a pingpong of absurdist dialogue -- Lawrence O'Toole
PingPong ['piŋ-,päŋ, -,pȯŋ] -trademark
- used for table tennis
pin·head ['pin-,hed] -n
- the head of a pin
- something very small or insignificant
- a very dull or stupid person : fool
pin·head·ed [-,he-dəd] -adj, n
- dull, stupid
pin·hole [-,hōl] -n
- a small hole made by, for, or as if by a pin
pin·ion ['pin-yən] -n, adj
- the terminal section of a bird's wing including the carpus, metacarpus, and phalanges
- wing
- feather, quill
- flight feathers
pinion -vt
- to disable or restrain by binding the arms
- to bind fast : shackle
- to restrain (a bird) from flight esp. by cutting off the pinion of one wing
- a gear with a small number of teeth designed to mesh with a larger wheel or rack
- the smaller of a pair or the smallest of a train of gear wheels
pink ['piŋk] -n
- a ship with a narrow overhanging stern called also pinkie
- any of a genus ( Dianthusof the family Caryophyllaceae, the pink family) of chiefly Eurasian herbs having usu. pink, red, or white flowers
- the very embodiment : paragon
- one dressed in the height of fashion
- elite
- highest degree possible : height
- keep their house in the pink of repair -- Rebecca West
- any of a group of colors bluish red to red in hue, of medium to high lightness, and of low to moderate saturation
- the scarlet color of a fox hunter's coat
- a fox hunter's coat of this color
- pink-colored clothing
- light-colored trousers formerly worn by army officers
- pinko
- of the color pink
- holding moderately radical and usu. socialistic political or economic views
- emotionally moved : excited often used as an intensive
- to perforate in an ornamental pattern
- to cut a saw-toothed edge on
- pierce, stab
- to wound by irony, criticism, or ridicule
pink bollworm -n
- a small dark brown moth ( Pectinophora gossypiella) whose pinkish larva bores into the flowers and bolls of cotton and is a destructive pest in most cotton-growing regions
pinkcollar -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting a class of employees in occupations (as nursing and clerical jobs) traditionally held by women
pink elephants -n pl
- hallucinations arising esp. from heavy drinking or use of narcotics
- began to see pink elephants
pink·eye ['piŋk-,ī] -n
- an acute highly contagious conjunctivitis of humans and various domestic animals
pin·kie ['piŋ-kē] -n
- pink
pinkie ['piŋ-kē] -n
- little finger
pinking shears -n pl
- shears with a saw-toothed inner edge on the blades for making a zigzag cut
pink·ish ['piŋ-kish] -adj, n
- somewhat pink
- tending to be pink in politics
pink lady -n
- a cocktail consisting of gin, brandy, lemon juice, grenadine, and white of egg shaken with ice and strained
pink·ly ['piŋ-klē] -adv
- in a pink manner : with a pink hue
pink noise -n
- a mixture of sound waves with an intensity that diminishes proportionally with frequency to yield approximately equal energy per octave
pinko ['piŋ-(,)kō] -n
- a person who holds advanced liberal or moderately radical political or economic views
pink·root ['piŋk-,rüt, -,ru̇t] -n
- any of several American plants (genus Spigelia) related to the nux vomica and used as anthelmintics
- a U.S. woodland herb ( S. marilandica) sometimes cultivated for its showy red and yellow flowers
pink salmon -n
- a small spotted Pacific salmon ( Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) native to the northern Pacific Ocean and adjacent rivers
pink sheet -n
- a daily listing of over-the-counter stocks and their prices
- any of a group of lightly traded over-the-counter stocks
pink slip -n, vt
- a notice from an employer that a recipient's employment is being terminated
pin money -n
- money given by a man to his wife for her own use
- money set aside for the purchase of incidentals
- a trivial amount of money
pin·na ['pi-nə] -n
- a projecting body part (as a feather, wing, or fin)
- the largely cartilaginous projecting portion of the external ear
- a leaflet or primary division of a pinnate leaf or frond
pin·nace ['pi-nəs] -n
- a light sailing ship
- one used as a tender
- any of various ship's boats
pin·na·cle ['pi-ni-kəl] -n
- an upright architectural member generally ending in a small spire and used esp. in Gothic construction to give weight esp. to a buttress
- a structure or formation suggesting a pinnacle
- a lofty peak
- the highest point of development or achievement : acme
pinnacle [-k(ə-)liŋ] -vt
- to surmount with a pinnacle
- to raise or rear on a pinnacle
pin·nate ['pi-,nāt] -adj, adv
- resembling a feather esp. in having similar parts arranged on opposite sides of an axis like the barbs on the rachis of a feather
pin·nat·i·fid [pə-'na-tə-fəd, -,fid] -adj
- cleft in a pinnate manner
pin·ner ['pi-nər] -n
- a woman's cap with long lappets worn in the 17th and 18th centuries
- one that pins
pin·ni·ped ['pi-nə-,ped] -n, adj
- any of an order or suborder (Pinnipedia) of aquatic carnivorous mammals (as a seal or walrus) with all four limbs modified into flippers
pin·nule ['pin-(,)yül] -n
- any of the secondary branches of a plumose organ esp. of a crinoid
- one of the ultimate divisions of a twice pinnate leaf
pin·ny ['pi-nē] -n
- pinafore
pin oak -n
- a pyramidally crowned deciduous oak ( Quercus palustris) esp. of wet regions of the eastern U.S. that has deeply cleft toothed leaves and rather small nearly hemispherical acorns
pi·noch·le ['pē-,nə-kəl] -n
- a card game played with a 48-card pack containing two each of A, K, Q, J, 10, 9 in each suit with the object to score points by melding certain combinations of cards or by winning tricks that contain scoring cards
- the meld of queen of spades and jack of diamonds scoring 40 points in this game
pi·no·cy·to·sis [,pi-nə-sə-'tō-səs, ,pī-, -,sī-] -n, adj, adv
- the uptake of fluid and dissolved substances by a cell by invagination and pinching off of the cell membrane
pi·no·le [pi-'nō-lē] -n
- a finely ground flour made from parched corn
- any of various flours resembling pinole and ground from the seeds of other plants
pi·on ['pin-,yōn, -,yän, -yən; pin-'yōn] -n
- any of various small pines (as Pinus quadrifolia, P. cembroides, P. edulis,and P. monophylla) of western No. America with edible seeds
- the edible seed of a pion
pi·not blanc ['pē-(,)nō-'bläⁿ, pē-'nō-] -n
- a dry white wine similar to chardonnay
pinot gri·gio [-'grē-j(ē-)ō, -zh(ē-)ō] -n
- a dry white wine that is produced in Italy
pinot noir [-'nwär] -n
- a dry red wine produced from the same grape as French burgundy
pin·point ['pin-,pȯint] -n
- something that is extremely small or insignificant
- the point of a pin
- an extremely small or sharp point
pinpoint -adj
- extremely fine or precise
- located, fixed, or directed with extreme precision
- small as a pinpoint
- to locate or aim with great precision or accuracy
- to fix, determine, or identify with precision
- to cause to stand out conspicuously : highlight
pin·prick ['pin-,prik] -n
- a small puncture made by or as if by a pin
- a petty irritation or annoyance
pinprick -vt
- to administer pinpricks to
- to administer pinpricks
PINS -abbr
- persons in need of supervision
pins and needles -n pl
- a pricking tingling sensation in a limb growing numb or recovering from numbness
pin·set·ter ['pin-,se-tər] -n
- an employee or a mechanical device that spots pins in a bowling alley
pin·spot·ter [-,spä-tər] -n
- pinsetter
pin·stripe [-,strīp] -n, adj
- a very thin stripe esp. on a fabric
- a suit with such stripes often used in pl.
pint ['pīnt] -n
- a pint pot or vessel
pin·ta ['pin-tə, -,tä] -n
- a chronic skin disease that is endemic in tropical America, that occurs successively as an initial papule, a generalized eruption, and a patchy loss of pigment, and that is caused by a treponemal spirochete ( Treponema careteum) morphologically indistinguishable from the causative agent of syphilis
pinta ['pīn-tə] -n
- a pint of milk
pinta·ble ['pin-,tā-bəl] -n
- pinball machine
pin·tail ['pin-,tāl] -n
- a bird having elongated central tail feathers
- a slender duck ( Anas acuta) of the northern hemisphere with the male having a brown head, a white breast with a white line continuing up the side of the neck, and chiefly gray upperparts
pin·tle ['pin-tᵊl] -n
- a usu. upright pivot pin on which another part turns
pin·to ['pin-(,)tō] -n
- a horse or pony of various breeding that is marked with patches of white and another color
pinto -adj
- pied, mottled
pinto bean -n
- a mottled kidney bean that is grown for food and for stock feed
pintsize ['pīnt-,sīz] -adj
- small
pin·up ['pin-,əp] -n
- : something fastened to a wall: as
- a photograph or poster of a person considered to have glamorous qualities
- something (as a lamp) designed for wall attachment
pinup -adj
- of or relating to pinups
- designed for hanging on a wall
pinup girl -n
- a girl or woman whose glamorous qualities make her a suitable subject for a pinup
pin·wale ['pin-,wāl] -adj
- made with narrow wales
pin·weed [-,wēd] -n
- any of a genus ( Lechea) of herbs of the rockrose family with slender stems, many small leaves, and tiny flowers
pin·wheel [-,hwēl, -,wēl] -n
- a fireworks device in the form of a revolving wheel of colored fire
- a toy consisting of lightweight vanes that revolve at the end of a stick
- something (as a galaxy) shaped like a pinwheel
pinwheel -vi
- to move like a pinwheel
pin·worm [-,wərm] -n
- any of numerous small nematode worms (family Oxyuridae) that infest the intestines and esp. the cecum of various vertebrates
- a worm ( Enterobius vermicularis) parasitic in humans
- any of several rather slender insect larvae that burrow in plant tissue
pinx -abbr
- he painted it; she painted it
pinx·ter flower ['piŋ(k)-stər-] -n
- a deciduous pink-flowered azalea ( Rhododendron periclymenoidessyn. R. nudiflorum) native to rich moist woodlands of eastern No. America
pin·yin ['pin-'yin] -n
- a system for romanizing Chinese ideograms in which tones are indicated by diacritics and unaspirated consonants are transcribed as voiced
pinyon ['pin-,yōn, -,yän, -yən; pin-'yōn] -n
(variant of pion)
- any of various small pines (as Pinus quadrifolia, P. cembroides, P. edulis,and P. monophylla) of western No. America with edible seeds
- the edible seed of a pion
pi·on ['pī-,än] -n, adj
- a meson that is a combination of up and down quarks and antiquarks, that may be positive, negative, or neutral, and that has a mass about 270 times that of the electron
pi·o·neer [,pī-ə-'nir] -n
- a member of a military unit usu. of construction engineers
- a person or group that originates or helps open up a new line of thought or activity or a new method or technical development
- one of the first to settle in a territory
- a plant or animal capable of establishing itself in a bare, barren, or open area and initiating an ecological cycle
pioneer -vi
- to act as a pioneer
- pioneer ed in the development of airplanes
- to open or prepare for others to follow
- settle
- to originate or take part in the development of
- original, earliest
- relating to or being a pioneer
- of, relating to, or characteristic of early settlers or their time
pi·ous ['pī-əs] -adj, adv, n
- marked by or showing reverence for deity and devotion to divine worship
- marked by conspicuous religiosity
- a hypocrite-a thing all pious words and uncharitable deeds -- Charles Reade
- sacred or devotional as distinct from the profane or secular : religious
- showing loyal reverence for a person or thing : dutiful
- marked by sham or hypocrisy
- marked by self-conscious virtue : virtuous
- deserving commendation : worthy
pip ['pip] -n
- a disorder of a bird marked by formation of a scale or crust on the tongue
- the scale or crust of this disorder
- any of various human ailments
- a slight nonspecific disorder
- a feeling of irritation or annoyance
- peep
- to break through the shell of the egg
- to break open (the shell of an egg) in hatching
- one of the dots used on dice and dominoes to indicate numerical value
- spot
- spot, speck
- spike
- blip
- an individual rootstock of the lily of the valley
- a diamond-shaped insignia of rank worn by a second lieutenant, lieutenant, or captain in the British army
- a small fruit seed
- one of a several-seeded fleshy fruit
- one extraordinary of its kind
- to beat by a narrow margin
- a short high-pitched tone
pip·age ['pī-pij] -n
- transportation by means of pipes
- the charge for such transportation
- material for pipelines : piping
pi·pal ['pē-(,)pəl] -n
- a large long-lived fig ( Ficus religiosa) of India
pipe ['pīp] -n, adj
- a tubular wind instrument
- a small fipple flute held in and played by the left hand
- : one of the tubes of a pipe organ:
- flue pipe
- reed pipe
- bagpipe usu. used in pl.
- voice, vocal cord usu. used in pl.
- piping
- a long tube or hollow body for conducting a liquid, gas, or finely divided solid or for structural purposes
- a means of transmission (as of television signals or computer data)
- a broadband fiber-optic pipe
- a tubular or cylindrical object, part, or passage
- a roughly cylindrical and vertical geological formation
- the eruptive channel opening into the crater of a volcano
- a large cask of varying capacity used esp. for wine and oil
- any of various units of liquid capacity based on the size of a pipe
- a unit equal to two hogsheads
- a device for smoking usu. consisting of a tube having a bowl at one end and a mouthpiece at the other
- snap , cinch
- to play on a pipe
- to convey orders by signals on a boatswain's pipe
- to speak in a high or shrill voice
- to emit a shrill sound
- to play (a tune) on a pipe
- to utter in the shrill tone of a pipe
- to lead or cause to go with pipe music
- to call or direct by the boatswain's pipe
- to receive aboard or attend the departure of by sounding a boatswain's pipe
- to trim with piping
- to furnish or equip with pipes
- to convey by or as if by pipes
- to transmit by wire or coaxial cable
- notice
pipe clay -n
- highly plastic grayish-white clay used esp. in making tobacco pipes and for whitening leather
pipe cleaner -n
- something used to clean the inside of a pipe
- a piece of flexible wire in which tufted fabric is twisted and which is used to clean the stem of a tobacco pipe
pipe down -vi
- to stop talking or making noise
pipe dream -n
- an illusory or fantastic plan, hope, or story
pipe·fish ['pīp-,fish] -n
- any of various fishes (family Syngnathidae) that are related to the sea horses and have a tube-shaped snout and a long slender body covered with bony plates
pipe fitter -n
- a worker who installs and repairs piping
pipe fitting -n
- a piece (as a coupling or elbow) used to connect pipes or as accessory to a pipe
- the work of a pipe fitter
pipe·line ['pīp-,līn] -n
- a line of pipe with pumps, valves, and control devices for conveying liquids, gases, or finely divided solids
- pipe
- a direct channel for information
- a process or channel of supply
- a state of development, preparation, or production
- several projects in the pipeline
- the system for such processes
- a strong product pipeline
- a course of individual advancement or development esp. to fill organizational needs
pipe organ -n
- organ
pip·er ['pī-pər] -n
- one that plays on a pipe
pi·per·a·zine [pi-'per-ə-,zēn, pī-] -n
- a crystalline heterocyclic base C 4H 10N 2used esp. as an anthelmintic
pi·per·i·dine [pi-'per-ə-,dēn, pī-] -n
- a toxic liquid heterocyclic base C 5H 11N that has a peppery ammoniacal odor and is obtained usu. by hydrolysis of piperine
pip·er·ine ['pi-pə-,rēn] -n
- a white crystalline alkaloid C 17H 19NO 3that is the chief active constituent of pepper
pi·per·o·nal [pī-'per-ə-,nal] -n
- a crystalline aldehyde C 8H 6O 3with an odor of heliotrope
pi·per·o·nyl bu·tox·ide [pī-'per-ə-,nil-byu̇-'täk-,sīd, -nᵊl-] -n
- an insecticide C 19H 30O 5
- an oily liquid containing this compound that is used chiefly as a synergist (as for pyrethrin insecticides)
pipe·stone ['pīp-,stōn] -n
- a pink or mottled pink-and-white argillaceous stone used esp. by American Indians to make carved objects (as tobacco pipes)
pipe stop -n
- an organ stop composed of flue pipes
pi·pette [pī-'pet] -n, vb
- a small piece of apparatus which typically consists of a narrow tube into which fluid is drawn by suction (as for dispensing or measurement) and retained by closing the upper end
pipe up -vi
- speak up
pipe wrench -n
- a wrench for gripping and turning a cylindrical object (as a pipe) usu. by use of two serrated jaws so designed as to grip the pipe when turning in one direction only
piping -n
- a sound, note, or call like that of a pipe
- the music of a pipe
- a quantity or system of pipes
- trimming stitched in seams or along edges (as of clothing, slipcovers, or curtains)
- shrill
- tranquil
- piping times of peace -- Shak.
piping hot -adj
- very hot
piping plover -n
- a small pale plover ( Charadrius melodus) chiefly of eastern No. America
pip·is·trelle [,pi-pə-'strel] -n
- any of a genus ( Pipistrellusof the family Vespertilionidae) of bats typically appearing in early evening and exhibiting erratic flight
- one ( P. pipistrellus) of Eurasia and northern Africa
pip·it ['pi-pət] -n
- any of various small songbirds (family Motacillidae and esp. genus Anthus) resembling the lark
pip·kin ['pip-kən] -n
- a small earthenware or metal pot usu. with a horizontal handle
pip·pin ['pi-pən] -n
- a crisp tart apple having usu. yellow or greenish-yellow skin strongly flushed with red and used esp. for cooking
- a highly admired or very admirable person or thing
pippip [,pi(p)-'pip] -interj
- used to express farewell
pip·sis·se·wa [pip-'si-sə-,wȯ] -n
- any of a genus ( Chimaphila,esp. C. umbellata) of evergreen herbs of the wintergreen family with astringent leaves used as a tonic and diuretic
pipsqueak ['pip-,skwēk] -n
- one that is small or insignificant
pi·quan·cy ['pē-kən(t)-sē, 'pi-kwən(t)-] -n
- the quality or state of being piquant
pi·quant ['pē-kənt, -,känt; 'pi-kwənt] -adj, adv, n
- agreeably stimulating to the palate
- spicy
- engagingly provocative
- having a lively arch charm
pique ['pēk] -n
- a transient feeling of wounded vanity : resentment
- to arouse anger or resentment in : irritate
- what pique s linguistic conservatives -- T. H. Middleton
- to excite or arouse esp. by a provocation, challenge, or rebuff
- sly remarks to pique their curiosity
- pride
- he pique s himself on his skill as a cook
pi·que [pi-'kā, 'pē-,] -n
- a durable ribbed clothing fabric of cotton, rayon, or silk
- decoration of a tortoiseshell or ivory object with inlaid fragments of gold or silver
pi·quet [pi-'kā, -'ket] -n
- a two-handed card game played with 32 cards
pir·ac·e·tam [,pī(-ə)r-'a-sə-,tam] -n
- an amine C 6H 10N 2O 2that has been used as a nootropic
pi·ra·cy ['pī-rə-sē] -n
- an act of robbery on the high seas
- an act resembling such robbery
- robbery on the high seas
- the unauthorized use of another's production, invention, or conception esp. in infringement of a copyright
- the illicit accessing of broadcast signals
pi·ra·gua [pə-'rä-gwə, -'ra-] -n
- dugout
- a 2-masted flat-bottomed boat
pi·ra·nha [pə-'rä-nə; -'rän-yə, -'ran-] -n
- any of various usu. small So. American characin fishes (genera Serrasalmusand Pygocentrus) that have very sharp teeth, often appear in schools, and include some that may attack and inflict dangerous wounds upon humans and large animals called also caribe
pi·ra·ru·cu [pi-,rär-ə-'kü] -n
- a very large edible bony fish ( Arapaima gigasof the family Osteoglossidae) of the rivers of northern So. America
pi·rate ['pī-rət] -n, adj, adv
- one who commits or practices piracy
pirate -vb
- to commit piracy on
- : to take or appropriate by piracy: as
- to reproduce without authorization esp. in infringement of copyright
- to lure away from another employer by offers of betterment
- to commit or practice piracy
PIRG -abbr
- Public Interest Research Group
pirn ['pərn, 2 is also 'pirn] -n
- quill
- a device resembling a reel
pirogi [pə-'rō-gē, pi-] -n
(variant of pierogi)
- a case of dough filled with a savory filling (as of meat, cheese, or vegetables) and cooked by boiling and then panfrying
pi·rogue ['pē-,rōg] -n
- dugout
- a boat like a canoe
piro·plasm ['pir-ə-,pla-zəm] -n
- babesia
pi·rosh·ki [pi-'rōsh-kē, ,pir-əsh-'kē] -n pl
- small pastries with meat, cheese, or vegetable filling
pir·ou·ette [,pir-ə-'wet] -n, vi
- a rapid whirling about of the body
- a full turn on the toe or ball of one foot in ballet
pis ['pī] -n
(variant of pi)
- the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet
- the symbol denoting the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter
- the ratio itself : a transcendental number having a value rounded to eight decimal places of 3.14159265
- type that is spilled or mixed
- a pi character or matrix
- to spill or throw (type or type matter) into disorder
- to become pied
- not intended to appear in final printing
- capable of being inserted only by hand
pis al·ler [,pē-za-'lā] -n
- a last resource or device
pis·ca·to·ri·al [,pis-kə-'tȯr-ē-əl] -adj
- piscatory
pis·ca·to·ry ['pis-kə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- of, relating to, or dependent on fish or fishing
Pi·sce·an ['pī-sē-ən, 'pi-sē-, 'pis-kē-] -n
- pisces
Pi·sces ['pī-(,)sēz also 'pi-,sēz or 'pis-,kās] -n pl but sing in constr
- a zodiacal constellation directly south of Andromeda
- the 12th sign of the zodiac in astrology
- one born under this sign
pi·sci·cul·ture ['pī-sə-,kəl-chər, 'pi-sə-, 'pis-kə-] -n
- the cultivation of fish
pi·sci·na [pə-'sē-nə, -'sī-] -n
- a basin with a drain near the altar of a church for disposing of water from liturgical ablutions
pi·scine ['pī-,sēn, 'pi-,sīn, 'pis-,kīn] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of fish
pi·sci·vore ['pī-sə-,vȯr, 'pi-] -n
- a fish-eating animal
pi·sciv·o·rous [pə-'si-və-rəs, pī-] -adj
- feeding on fishes
pish ['pish] -interj
- used to express disdain or contempt
pi·si·form ['pī-sə-,fȯrm] -adj
- resembling a pea in size or shape
pisiform -n
- a bone on the ulnar side of the carpus in most mammals
pis·mire ['pis-,mī(-ə)r, 'piz-] -n
- ant
pis·mo clam ['piz-(,)mō-] -n
- a thick-shelled clam ( Tivela stultorum) of the southwest coast of No. America used extensively for food
pi·so ['pē-(,)sō] -n
- the peso of the Philippines
pi·so·lite ['pī-sə-,līt] -n, adj
- a limestone composed of pisiform concretions
piss ['pis] -vb
- urinate
- to urinate in or on
- urine
- an act of urinating often used with take
piss and vinegar -n
- vim, spunk
piss·ant ['pis-,ant] -n
- one that is insignificant used as a generalized term of abuse
piss away -vt
- to fritter away : squander
pissed ['pist] -adj
- drunk
- angry, irritated often used with off
pissing contest -n
- a competition between rivals to determine superiority, predominance, or leadership called also pissing match
piss off -vt
- anger, irritate
- to leave immediately : scram usu. used as a command
pisspoor ['pis-,pu̇r, -,pȯr] -adj
- very bad : extremely poor
pis·soir [pi-'swär] -n
- a public urinal usu. located on the street in some European countries
pis·ta·chio [pə-'sta-sh(ē-,)ō, -'stä-] -n
- a small Asian tree ( Pistacia vera) of the cashew family whose drupaceous fruit contains a greenish edible seed
- its seed
pis·ta·reen [,pis-tə-'rēn] -n
- an old Spanish silver piece circulating at a debased rate
piste ['pēst] -n
- trail
- a downhill ski trail
pis·til ['pis-tᵊl] -n
- a single carpel or group of fused carpels usu. differentiated into an ovary, style, and stigma
pis·til·late ['pis-tə-,lāt] -adj
- having pistils
- having pistils but no stamens
pis·tol ['pis-tᵊl] -n, vt
- a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel
- handgun
- a notably sharp, spirited, or energetic person
pis·tole [pis-'tōl] -n
- an old gold 2-escudo piece of Spain
- any of several old gold coins of Europe of approximately the same value
pis·tol·eer [,pis-tə-'lir] -n
- one who is armed with a pistol
pis·to·le·ro [,pis-tə-'ler-ō] -n
- gunman
pistol grip -n
- a grip of a shotgun or rifle shaped like a pistol stock
- a handle shaped like a pistol stock
pistolwhip -vt
- to beat with a pistol
pis·ton ['pis-tən] -n
- a sliding piece moved by or moving against fluid pressure which usu. consists of a short cylindrical body fitting within a cylindrical chamber or vessel along which it moves back and forth
- a sliding valve moving in a cylinder in a brass instrument which when depressed by a finger knob serves to lower the instrument's pitch
piston pin -n
- wrist pin
piston ring -n
- a springy split metal ring for sealing the gap between a piston and the cylinder wall
piston rod -n
- connecting rod
pit ['pit] -n
- a hole, shaft, or cavity in the ground
- mine
- a scooped-out place used for burning something (as charcoal)
- : an area often sunken or depressed below the adjacent floor area: as
- an enclosure in which animals are made to fight each other
- a space at the front of a theater for the orchestra
- an area in a securities or commodities exchange in which members trade (as stocks)
- hell used with the
- a place or situation of futility, misery, or degradation
- worst
- : a hollow or indentation esp. in the surface of an organism: as
- a natural hollow in the surface of the body
- one of the indented scars left in the skin by a pustular disease : pockmark
- a minute depression in the secondary wall of a plant cell functioning in the intercellular movement of water and dissolved material
- any of the areas alongside an auto racecourse used for refueling and repairing the cars during a race often used in pl. with the
- to place, cast, bury, or store in a pit
- to make pits in
- to scar or mark with pits
- to set (as gamecocks) into or as if into a pit to fight
- to set into opposition or rivalry usu. used with against
- to become marked with pits
- to preserve for a time an indentation made by pressure
- to make a pit stop
- the stone of a drupaceous fruit
- to remove the pit from (a fruit)
pi·ta ['pē-tə] -n
- any of several fiber-yielding plants (as an agave)
- the fiber of a pita
- any of several fibers from other sources
pita -n
- a thin flat bread that can be separated easily into two layers to form a pocket called also pita bread
pitapat [,pit-i-'pat] -n, adv or adj, vi
- pitter-patter
pit boss -n
- a person who supervises the gaming tables in a casino
pit bull -n
- a dog (as an American Staffordshire terrier) of any of several breeds or a real or apparent hybrid with one or more of these breeds that was developed and is now often trained for fighting and is noted for strength and stamina
- an aggressive and tenacious person
pit bull terrier -n
- pit bull
- american pit bull terrier
pitch ['pich] -n
- a black or dark viscous substance obtained as a residue in the distillation of organic materials and esp. tars
- any of various bituminous substances
- resin obtained from various conifers and often used medicinally
- any of various artificial mixtures resembling resinous or bituminous pitches
- to cover, smear, or treat with or as if with pitch
- to erect and fix firmly in place
- : to throw usu. with a particular objective or toward a particular point: as
- to throw (a baseball) to a batter
- to toss (as coins) so as to fall at or near a mark
- to put aside or discard by or as if by throwing
- pitch ed the trash into the bin
- to present or advertise esp. in a high-pressure way : plug, promote
- to attempt to persuade esp. with a sales pitch
- to present (a movie or program idea) for consideration (as by a TV producer)
- to cause to be at a particular level or of a particular quality
- a test pitch ed at a 5th-grade reading level
- to set in a particular musical key
- to cause to be set at a particular angle : slope
- to utter glibly and insincerely
- to use as a starting pitcher
- to play as pitcher
- to hit (a golf ball) in a high arc with backspin so that it rolls very little after striking the green
- throw
- to fall precipitately or headlong
- to have the bow alternately plunge precipitately and rise abruptly
- to turn about a lateral axis so that the forward end rises or falls in relation to the after end
- buck
- encamp
- to hit upon or happen upon something
- pitch upon the perfect gift
- to incline downward : slope
- to throw a ball to a batter
- to play ball as a pitcher
- to pitch a golf ball
- to make a sales pitch
- slope
- degree of slope : rake
- : the distance between any of various things: as
- distance between one point on a gear tooth and the corresponding point on the next tooth
- distance from any point on the thread of a screw to the corresponding point on an adjacent thread measured parallel to the axis
- the theoretical distance a propeller would advance longitudinally in one revolution
- the number of teeth or of threads per inch
- a unit of width of type based on the number of times a letter can be set in a linear inch
- the action or a manner of pitching
- an up-and-down movement
- top, zenith
- the relative level, intensity, or extent of some quality or state
- tensions rose to a feverish pitch
- the property of a sound and esp. a musical tone that is determined by the frequency of the waves producing it : highness or lowness of sound
- a standard frequency for tuning instruments
- the difference in the relative vibration frequency of the human voice that contributes to the total meaning of speech
- a definite relative pitch that is a significant phenomenon in speech
- a steep place : declivity
- the portion of a route (as in mountain climbing or caving) between belay points
- an outdoor site (as for camping or doing business)
- playing field
- an all-fours game in which the first card led is a trump
- an often high-pressure sales presentation
- advertisement
- recommendation, plug
- made a pitch for tax cuts
- the delivery of a baseball by a pitcher to a batter
- a baseball so thrown
- pitchout
pitchblack ['pich-'blak] -adj
- extremely dark or black
pitch·blende ['pich-,blend] -n
- a brown to black mineral that consists of massive uraninite, has a distinctive luster, contains radium, and is the chief ore-mineral source of uranium
pitchdark ['pich-'därk] -adj
- extremely dark : pitch-black
pitched battle -n
- an intensely fought battle in which the opposing forces are locked in close combat
pitch·er ['pi-chər] -n
- a container for holding and pouring liquids that usu. has a lip or spout and a handle
- a modified leaf of a pitcher plant in which the hollowed petiole and base of the blade form an elongated receptacle
pitcher -n
- one that pitches
- the player who pitches in a game of baseball
pitcher plant -n
- a plant (esp. family Sarraceniaceae, the pitcher-plant family) with leaves modified into pitchers in which insects are trapped and digested by means of liquids secreted by the leaves
pitch·fork ['pich-,fȯrk] -n, vt
- a long-handled fork that has two or three long somewhat curved prongs and is used esp. in pitching hay
pitch in -vi
- to begin to work
- to contribute to a common endeavor
pitch·man ['pich-mən] -n
- : a man who makes a sales pitch: as
- one who sells merchandise on the streets or from a concession
- one who does radio or TV commercials
pitch·out ['pich-,au̇t] -n, vi
- a pitch in baseball deliberately out of reach of the batter to enable the catcher to put out a base runner esp. with a throw
- a lateral pass in football between two backs behind the line of scrimmage
pitchper·fect ['pich-'pər-fikt] -adj
- sensitive to or having exactly the right tone or style
- a pitchperfect translation
pitch pine -n
- any of several pines that yield pitch
- a 3-leaved pine ( Pinus rigida) of eastern No. America
- the wood of a pitch pine
pitch pipe -n
- a small reed pipe or flue pipe producing one or more tones to establish the pitch in singing or in tuning an instrument
pitch·pole ['pich-,pōl] -vb
- to turn end over end
- to cause to turn end over end
pitch·wom·an [-,wu̇-mən] -n
- a woman who makes a sales pitch
pitchy ['pi-chē] -adj
- full of pitch : tarry
- of, relating to, or having the qualities of pitch
- pitch-black
pit·e·ous ['pi-tē-əs] -adj, adv, n
- of a kind to move to pity or compassion
pit·fall ['pit-,fȯl] -n
- trap, snare
- a pit flimsily covered or camouflaged and used to capture and hold animals or men
- a hidden or not easily recognized danger or difficulty
pith ['pith] -n
- a usu. continuous central strand of spongy tissue in the stems of most vascular plants that prob. functions chiefly in storage
- any of various loose spongy plant tissues that resemble true pith
- the soft or spongy interior of a part of the body
- the essential part : core
- substantial quality (as of meaning)
- importance
- to kill (as cattle) by piercing or severing the spinal cord
- to destroy the spinal cord or central nervous system of (as a frog) usu. by passing a wire or needle up and down the vertebral canal
- to remove the pith from (a plant stem)
pit·head ['pit-,hed] -n
- the top of a mining pit or coal shaft
- the immediately adjacent ground and buildings
pith helmet -n
- topee
pith ray -n
- medullary ray
pithy ['pi-thē] -adj, adv, n
- consisting of or abounding in pith
- having substance and point : tersely cogent
piti·able ['pi-tē-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- deserving or exciting pity : lamentable
- of a kind to evoke mingled pity and contempt esp. because of inadequacy
piti·er ['pi-tē-ər] -n
- one that pities
piti·ful ['pi-ti-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- full of pity : compassionate
- deserving or arousing pity or commiseration
- exciting pitying contempt (as by meanness or inadequacy)
piti·less ['pi-ti-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- devoid of pity : harsh, cruel
pit·man ['pit-mən] -n
- : a man who works in or near a pit: as
- miner
- a sawyer who stands below the timber
- connecting rod
pi·ton ['pē-,tän] -n
- a spike, wedge, or peg that is driven into a rock or ice surface as a support (as for a mountain climber)
pi·totstat·ic tube [,pē-,tō-'sta-tik-] -n
- a device that consists of a pitot tube and a static tube and that measures pressures in such a way that the relative speed of a fluid can be determined
pi·tot tube ['pē-,tō-] -n
- a device that consists of a tube having a short right-angled bend which is placed vertically in a moving body of fluid (as air) with the mouth of the bent part directed upstream and that is used with a manometer to measure the velocity of fluid flow
- pitot-static tube
pit saw -n
- a handsaw worked by two persons one of whom stands on or above the log being sawed into planks and the other below it usu. in a pit
pit stop -n
- a stop at the pits during an automobile race
- a stop (as during a trip) for fuel, food, or rest or for use of a restroom
- a temporary deviation from a direct or usual course
- a career pit stop ...where he worked temporarily in between TV jobs -- Mark Lorando
- a place where a pit stop is or can be made
- an establishment providing food or drink
pit·tance ['pi-tᵊn(t)s] -n
- a small portion, amount, or allowance
- a meager wage or remuneration
pitted -adj
- marked with pits
pit·terpat·ter ['pi-tər-,pa-tər, 'pi-tē-,] -n, adv or adj, vi
- a rapid succession of light sounds or beats : patter
pitting -n
- an arrangement of pits
- the action or process of forming pits
- the bringing of gamecocks together to fight
pit·tos·po·rum [pə-'täs-pə-rəm] -n
- any of various Old World shrubs or trees (genus Pittosporumof the family Pittosporaceae) planted esp. as ornamentals in warm regions
pi·tu·i·tary [pə-'tü-ə-,ter-ē, -'tyü-] -adj
- of or relating to the pituitary gland
- caused or characterized by secretory disturbances of the pituitary gland
pituitary -n
- pituitary gland
pituitary gland -n
- a small oval endocrine organ that is attached to the infundibulum of the brain, consists of an epithelial anterior lobe joined by an intermediate part to a posterior lobe of nervous origin, and produces various internal secretions directly or indirectly impinging on most basic body functions called also hypophysis pituitary body
pit viper -n
- any of various mostly New World vipers (subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae) with a sensory pit on each side of the head and hollow perforated retractable fangs
pity ['pi-tē] -n
- sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy
- capacity to feel pity
- something to be regretted
- to feel pity for
- to feel pity
pitying [-iŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- expressing or feeling pity
pit·y·ri·a·sis [,pi-ti-'rī-ə-səs] -n
- any of various skin conditions of humans or domestic animals marked by dry scaling patches of skin
pi ['pyü, pē-'ü] -adv
- more used to qualify an adverb or adjective used as a direction in music
piv·ot ['pi-vət] -n
- a shaft or pin on which something turns
- a person, thing, or factor having a major or central role, function, or effect
- a key player or position
- an offensive position of a basketball player standing usu. with back to the basket to relay passes, shoot, or provide a screen for teammates
- the action of pivoting
- the action in basketball of stepping with one foot while keeping the other foot at its point of contact with the floor
pivot -adj
- turning on or as if on a pivot
- pivotal
- to turn on or as if on a pivot
- to provide with, mount on, or attach by a pivot
- to cause to pivot
piv·ot·al ['pi-və-tᵊl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or constituting a pivot
- vitally important : critical
piv·ot·man ['pi-vət-,man] -n
- one who plays the pivot
- a center on a basketball team
pivot tooth -n
- an artificial crown attached to the root of a tooth by a usu. metallic pin called also pivot crown
pix ['pik] -n
(variant of pic)
- photograph
- motion picture
- the picador's lance
pix·el ['pik-səl, -,sel] -n
- any of the small discrete elements that together constitute an image (as on a television or computer screen)
- any of the detecting elements of a charge-coupled device used as an optical sensor
pix·ie ['pik-sē] -n, adj
- fairy
- a cheerful mischievous sprite
- a usu. petite vivacious woman or girl
pixie -adj, n
- playfully mischievous
pix·i·lat·ed ['pik-sə-,lā-təd] -adj, n
- somewhat unbalanced mentally
- bemused
- whimsical
pizz -abbr
- pizzicato
piz·za ['pēt-sə] -n, adj
- a dish made typically of flattened bread dough spread with a savory mixture usu. including tomatoes and cheese and often other toppings and baked called also pizza pie
piz·zazz [pə-'zaz] -n, adj
- : the quality of being exciting or attractive: as
- glamour
- vitality
piz·ze·ria [,pēt-sə-'rē-ə] -n
- an establishment where pizzas are made or sold
piz·zi·ca·to [,pit-si-'kä-(,)tō] -n
- a note or passage played by plucking strings
pizzicato -adv or adj
- by means of plucking instead of bowing used as a direction in music
piz·zle ['pi-zəl] -n
- the penis of an animal
- a whip made of a bull's pizzle