pompon
pompon: n. (also pompom.
1 an ornamental ball or bobble made of wool, silk, or ribbons, usu. worn on women's or children's hats or clothing.
2 the round tuft on a soldier's cap, the front of a shako, etc.
3 (often attrib.) a dahlia or chrysanthemum with small tightly-clustered petals. [F, of unkn. orig.]

prank
prank: n. a practical joke; a piece of mischief. prankful adj. prankish adj. pranksome adj. [16th c.: orig. unkn.]

palette
palette: n.
1 a thin board or slab or other surface, usu. with a hole for the thumb, on which an artist lays and mixes colours.
2 the range of colours used by an artist. palette-knif.
1 a thin steel blade with a handle for mixing colours or applying or removing paint.
2 a kitchen knife with a long blunt round-ended flexible blade. [F, dimin. of pale shovel f. L pala spade]

punctuation
punctuation: n.
1 the system or arrangement of marks used to punctuate a written passage.
2 the practice or skill of punctuating. punctuation mark any of the marks (e.g. full stop and comma) used in writing to separate sentences and phrases etc. and to clarify meaning. [med.L punctuatio (as PUNCTUATE)]

people
people: n. & v. --n.
1 (usu. as pl.) a persons composing a community, tribe, race, nation, etc. (the English people; a warlike people; the peoples of the Commonwealth). b a group of persons of a usu. specified kind (the chosen people; these people here; right-thinking people).
2 (prec. by the; treated as pl.) a the mass of people in a country etc. not having special rank or position. b these considered as an electorate (the people will reject it).
3 parents or other relatives (my people are French).
4 a subjects, armed followers, a retinue, etc. b a congregation of a parish priest etc.
5 persons in general (people do not like rudeness). --v.tr. (usu. foll. by with.
1 fill with people, animals, etc.; populate.
2 (esp. as peopled adj.) inhabit; occupy; fill (thickly peopled). people's democracy a political system, esp. in E. Europe, with power regarded as invested in the people. [ME f. AF poeple, people, OF pople, peuple, f. L populus]

partition
partition: n. & v. --n.
1 division into parts, esp. Polit. of a country with separate areas of government.
2 a structure dividing a space into two parts, esp. a light interior wall. --v.tr.
1 divide into parts.
2 (foll. by off) separate (part of a room etc.) with a partition. partitioned adj. partitioner n. partitionist n. [ME f. OF f. L partitio -onis (as PARTITE)]

professional
professional: adj. & n. --adj.
1 of or belonging to or connected with a profession.
2 a having or showing the skill of a professional, competent. b worthy of a professional (professional conduct).
3 engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation (cf. AMATEUR) (a professional boxer).
4 derog. engaged in a specified activity regarded with disfavour (a professional agitator). --n. a professional person. professional foul a deliberate foul in football etc., esp. to prevent an opponent from scoring. professionally adv.

personification
personification: n.
1 the act of personifying.
2 (foll. by of) a person or thing viewed as a striking example of (a quality etc.) (the personification of ugliness).

puzzle
puzzle: n. & v. --n.
1 a difficult or confusing problem; an enigma.
2 a problem or toy designed to test knowledge or ingenuity. --v.
1 tr. confound or disconcert mentally.
2 intr. (usu. foll. by over etc.) be perplexed (about).
3 tr. (usu. as puzzling adj.) require much thought to comprehend (a puzzling situation).
4 tr. (foll. by out) solve or understand by hard thought. puzzlement n. puzzlingly adv. [16th c.: orig. unkn.]

pronoun
pronoun: n. a word used instead of and to indicate a noun already mentioned or known, esp. to avoid repetition (e.g. we, their, this, ourselves). [PRO-(1), + NOUN, after F pronom, L pronomen (as PRO-(1), nomen name)]

prohibition
prohibition: n.
1 the act or an instance of forbidding; a state of being forbidden.
2 Law a an edict or order that forbids. b a writ from a superior court forbidding an inferior court from proceeding in a suit deemed to be beyond its cognizance.
3 (usu. Prohibition) the prevention by law of the manufacture and sale of alcohol, esp. in the US (1920-33). prohibitionary adj. prohibitionist n. [ME f. OF prohibition or L prohibitio (as PROHIBIT)]

pleaderpolyphonic
polyphonic: adj.
1 Mus. (of vocal music etc.) in two or more relatively independent parts; contrapuntal.
2 Phonet. (of a letter etc.) representing more than one sound. polyphonically adv. [Gk poluphonos (as POLY-(1), phone voice, sound)]

peek
peek: v. & n. --v.intr. (usu. foll. by in, out, at) look quickly or slyly; peep. --n. a quick or sly look. [ME pike, pyke, of unkn. orig.]

position
position: n. & v. --n.
1 a place occupied by a person or thing.
2 the way in which a thing or its parts are placed or arranged (sitting in an uncomfortable position).
3 the proper place (in position).
4 the state of being advantageously placed (jockeying for position).
5 a person's mental attitude; a way of looking at a question (changed their position on nuclear disarmament).
6 a person's situation in relation to others (puts one in an awkward position).
7 rank or status; high social standing.
8 paid employment.
9 a place where troops etc. are posted for strategical purposes (the position was stormed). 10 the configuration of chessmen etc. during a game. 11 a specific pose in ballet etc. (hold first position). 12 Logic a a proposition. b a statement of proposition. --v.tr. place in position. in a position to enabled by circumstances, resources, information, etc. to (do, state, etc.). position paper orig. US (in business etc.) a written report of attitude or intentions. position vector Math. a vector which determines the position of a point. positional adj. positionally adv. positioner n. [ME f. OF position or L positio -onis (as POSIT)]

personal
personal: adj.
1 one's own; individual; private.
2 done or made in person (made a personal appearance; my personal attention).
3 directed to or concerning an individual (a personal letter).
4 referring (esp. in a hostile way) to an individual's private life or concerns (making personal remarks; no need to be personal).
5 of the body and clothing (personal hygiene; personal appearance).
6 existing as a person, not as an abstraction or thing (a personal God).
7 Gram. of or denoting one of the three persons (personal pronoun). personal column the part of a newspaper devoted to private advertisements or messages. personal computer a computer designed for use by a single individual, esp. in an office or business environment . personal equatio.
1 the allowance for an individual person's time of reaction in making observations, esp. in astronomy.
2 a bias or prejudice. personal equity plan a scheme for limited personal investment in shares, unit trusts, etc. personal identification number a number allocated to an individual, serving as a password esp. for a cash dispenser, computer, etc. personal pronoun a pronoun replacing the subject, object, etc., of a clause etc., e.g. I, we, you, them, us. personal property (or estate) Law all one's property except land and those interests in land that pass to one's heirs (cf. REAL(1) adj. 3). personal service individual service given to a customer. personal stereo a small portable audio cassette player, often with radio, or compact disc player, used with lightweight headphones. personal touch a way of treating a matter characteristic of or designed for an individual. [ME f. OF f. L personalis (as PERSON)]

plaint
plaint: n.
1 Brit. Law an accusation; a charge.
2 literary or archaic a complaint; a lamentation. [ME f. OF plainte fem. past part. of plaindre, and OF plaint f. L planctus (as PLAIN(2))]

progressive
progressive: adj. & n. --adj.
1 moving forward (progressive motion).
2 proceeding step by step; cumulative (progressive drug use).
3 a (of a political party, government, etc.) favouring or implementing rapid progress or social reform. b modern; efficient (this is a progressive company).
4 (of disease, violence, etc.) increasing in severity or extent.
5 (of taxation) at rates increasing with the sum taxed.
6 (of a card-game, dance, etc.) with periodic changes of partners.
7 Gram. (of an aspect) expressing an action in progress, e.g. am writing, was writing.
8 (of education) informal and without strict discipline, stressing individual needs. --n. (also Progressive) an advocate of progressive political policies. progressively adv. progressiveness n. progressivism n. progressivist n. & adj. [F progressif -ive or med.L progressivus (as PROGRESS)]

perception
perception: n.
1 a the faculty of perceiving. b an instance of this.
2 (often foll. by of) a the intuitive recognition of a truth, aesthetic quality, etc. b an instance of this (a sudden perception of the true position).
3 Philos. the ability of the mind to refer sensory information to an external object as its cause. perceptional adj. perceptual adj. perceptually adv. [ME f. L perceptio (as PERCEIVE)]

president
president: n.
1 the elected head of a republican State.
2 the head of a society or council etc.
3 the head of certain colleges.
4 US a the head of a university. b the head of a company, etc.
5 a person in charge of a meeting, council, etc. presidential adj. presidentially adv. presidentship n. [ME f. OF f. L (as PRESIDE)]

paly
paly: adj. Heraldry divided into equal vertical shapes. [OF pal f. pal PALE(2)]

poison
poison: n. & v. --n.
1 a substance that when introduced into or absorbed by a living organism causes death or injury, esp. one that kills by rapid action even in a small quantity.
2 colloq. a harmful influence or principle etc.
3 Physics & Chem. a substance that interferes with the normal progress of a nuclear reaction, chain reaction, catalytic reaction, etc. --v.tr.
1 administer poison to (a person or animal).
2 kill or injure or infect with poison.
3 infect (air, water, etc.) with poison.
4 (esp. as poisoned adj.) treat (a weapon) with poison.
5 corrupt or pervert (a person or mind).
6 spoil or destroy (a person's pleasure etc.).
7 render (land etc.) foul and unfit for its purpose by a noxious application etc. poison gas = GAS n. 4. poison ivy a N. American climbing plant, Rhus toxicodendron, secreting an irritant oil from its leaves. poison-pen letter an anonymous libellous or abusive letter. poisoner n. poisonous adj. poisonously adv. [ME f. OF poison, poisonner (as POTION)]

phoenix
phoenix: n.
1 a mythical bird, the only one of its kind, that after living for five or six centuries in the Arabian desert, burnt itself on a funeral pyre and rose from the ashes with renewed youth to live through another cycle.
2 a unique person or thing. [OE & OF fenix f. L phoenix f. Gk phoinix Phoenician, purple, phoenix]

passive
passive: adj.
1 suffering action; acted upon.
2 offering no opposition; submissive.
3 a not active; inert. b (of a metal) abnormally unreactive.
4 Gram. designating the voice in which the subject undergoes the action of the verb (e.g. in they were killed).
5 (of a debt) incurring no interest payment. passive obedienc.
1 surrender to another's will without cooperation.
2 compliance with commands irrespective of their nature. passive resistance a non-violent refusal to cooperate. passive smoking the involuntary inhaling, esp. by a non-smoker, of smoke from others' cigarettes etc. passively adv. passiveness n. passivity n. [ME f. OF passif -ive or L passivus (as PASSION)]

physical
physical: adj. & n. --adj.
1 of or concerning the body (physical exercise; physical education).
2 of matter; material (both mental and physical force).
3 a of, or according to, the laws of nature (a physical impossibility). b belonging to physics (physical science). --n. (in full physical examination) a medical examination to determine physical fitness. physical chemistry the application of physics to the study of chemical behaviour. physical geography geography dealing with natural features. physical jerks colloq. physical exercises. physical science the sciences used in the study of inanimate natural objects, e.g. physics, chemistry, astronomy, etc. physical training exercises promoting bodily fitness and strength. physicality n. physically adv. physicalness n. [ME f. med.L physicalis f. L physica (as PHYSIC)]

parallel
parallel: adj., n., & v. --adj.
1 a (of lines or planes) side by side and having the same distance continuously between them. b (foll. by to, with) (of a line or plane) having this relation (to another).
2 (of circumstances etc.) precisely similar, analogous, or corresponding.
3 a (of processes etc.) occurring or performed simultaneously. b Computing involving the simultaneous performance of operations. --n.
1 a person or thing precisely analogous or equal to another.
2 a comparison (drew a parallel between the two situations).
3 (in full parallel of latitude) Geog. a each of the imaginary parallel circles of constant latitude on the earth's surface. b a corresponding line on a map (the 49th parallel).
4 Printing two parallel lines (ll) as a reference mark. --v.tr. (paralleled, paralleling.
1 be parallel to; correspond to.
2 represent as similar; compare.
3 adduce as a parallel instance. in parallel (of electric circuits) arranged so as to join at common points at each end. parallel bars a pair of parallel rails on posts for gymnastics. parallelism n. [F parallle f. L parallelus f. Gk parallelos (as PARA-(1), allelos one another)]

political
political: adj.
1 a of or concerning the State or its government, or public affairs generally. b of, relating to, or engaged in politics. c belonging to or forming part of a civil administration.
2 having an organized form of society or government.
3 taking or belonging to a side in politics.
4 relating to or affecting interests of status or authority in an organization rather than matters of principle (a political decision). political asylum see ASYLUM . political economist a student of or expert in political economy. political economy the study of the economic aspects of government. political geography that dealing with boundaries and the possessions of States. political prisoner a person imprisoned for political beliefs or actions. political science the study of the State and systems of government. political scientist a specialist in political science. politically adv. [L politicus (as POLITIC)]

papaya
papaya: n. = PAWPAW 1. [earlier form of PAWPAW]

papyrus
papyrus: n. (pl. papyri.
1 an aquatic plant, Cyperus papyrus, with dark green stems topped with fluffy inflorescences.
2 a a writing-material prepared in ancient Egypt from the pithy stem of this. b a document written on this. [ME f. L papyrus f. Gk papuros]

puppet
puppet: n.
1 a small figure representing a human being or animal and moved by various means as entertainment.
2 a person whose actions are controlled by another. puppet State a country that is nominally independent but actually under the control of another power. puppetry n. [later form of POPPET]

pregnant
pregnant: adj.
1 (of a woman or female animal) having a child or young developing in the uterus.
2 full of meaning; significant or suggestive (a pregnant pause).
3 (esp. of a person's mind) imaginative, inventive.
4 (foll. by with) plentifully provided (pregnant with danger). pregnant construction Gram. one in which more is implied than the words express (e.g. not have a chance implying of success etc.). pregnantly adv. (in sense 2). [ME f. F prgnant or L praegnans -antis, earlier praegnas (prob. as PRAE-, (g)nasci be born)]

packaging
packaging: n.
1 a wrapping or container for goods.
2 the process of packing goods.

public
public: adj. & n. --adj.
1 of or concerning the people as a whole (a public holiday; the public interest).
2 open to or shared by all the people (public baths; public library; public meeting).
3 done or existing openly (made his views public; a public protest).
4 a (of a service, funds, etc.) provided by or concerning local or central government (public money; public records; public expenditure). b (of a person) in government (had a distinguished public career).
5 well-known; famous (a public institution).
6 Brit. of, for, or acting for, a university (public examination). --n.
1 (as sing. or pl.) the community in general, or members of the community.
2 a section of the community having a particular interest or in some special connection (the reading public; my public demands my loyalty).
3 Brit. colloq. a = public bar. b = public house. go public become a public company. in public openly, publicly. in the public domain belonging to the public as a whole, esp. not subject to copyright. in the public eye famous or notorious. public act an act of legislation affecting the public as a whole. public-address system loudspeakers, microphones, amplifiers, etc., used in addressing large audiences. public bar Brit. the least expensive bar in a public house. public bill a bill of legislation affecting the public as a whole. public company Brit. a company that sells shares to all buyers on the open market. public enemy a notorious wanted criminal. public figure a famous person. public health the provision of adequate sanitation, drainage, etc. by government. public hous.
1 Brit. an inn providing alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises.
2 an inn. public la.
1 the law of relations between individuals and the State.
2 = public act. public lending right the right of authors to payment when their books etc. are lent by public libraries. public libel a published libel. public nuisanc.
1 an illegal act against the public generally.
2 colloq. an obnoxious person. public opinion views, esp. moral, prevalent among the general public. public ownership the State ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. public prosecutor a law officer conducting criminal proceedings on behalf of the State or in the public interest. Public Record Office an institution keeping official archives, esp. birth, marriage, and death certificates, for public inspection. public relations the professional maintenance of a favourable public image, esp. by a company, famous person, etc. public relations officer a person employed by a company etc. to promote a favourable public image. public schoo.
1 Brit. a private fee-paying secondary school, esp. for boarders.
2 US, Austral., & Sc. etc. any non-fee-paying school. public sector that part of an economy, industry, etc., that is controlled by the State. public servant a State official. public spirit a willingness to engage in community action. public-spirited having a public spirit. public-spiritedly in a public-spirited manner. public-spiritedness the quality of being public-spirited. public transport buses, trains, etc., charging set fares and running on fixed routes, esp. when State-owned. public utility an organization supplying water, gas, etc. to the community. public works building operations etc. done by or for the State on behalf of the community. public wrong an offence against society as a whole. publicly adv. [ME f. OF public or L publicus f. pubes adult]

practise
practise: v. (US practice.
1 tr. perform habitually; carry out in action (practise the same method; practise what you preach).
2 tr. & (foll. by in, on) intr. do repeatedly as an exercise to improve a skill; exercise oneself in or on (an activity requiring skill) (had to practise in the art of speaking; practise your reading).
3 tr. (as practised adj.) experienced, expert (a practised liar; with a practised hand).
4 tr. a pursue or be engaged in (a profession, religion, etc.). b (as practising adj.) currently active or engaged in (a profession or activity) (a practising Christian; a practising lawyer).
5 intr. (foll. by on, upon) take advantage of; impose upon.
6 intr. archaic scheme, contrive (when first we practise to deceive). practiser n. [ME f. OF pra(c)tiser or med.L practizare alt. f. practicare (as PRACTICAL)]

petal
petal: n. each of the parts of the corolla of a flower. petaline adj. petalled adj. (also in comb.). petal-like adj. petaloid adj. [mod.L petalum, in LL metal plate f. Gk petalon leaf f. petalos outspread]

physics
physics: n. the science dealing with the properties and interactions of matter and energy. [pl. of physic physical (thing), after L physica, Gk phusika natural things f. phusis nature]

paranormal
paranormal: adj. beyond the scope of normal objective investigation or explanation. paranormally adv.

pocket
pocket: n. & v. --n.
1 a small bag sewn into or on clothing, for carrying small articles.
2 a pouchlike compartment in a suitcase, car door, etc.
3 one's financial resources (it is beyond my pocket).
4 an isolated group or area (a few pockets of resistance remain).
5 a a cavity in the earth containing ore, esp. gold. b a cavity in rock, esp. filled with foreign matter.
6 a pouch at the corner or on the side of a billiard- or snooker-table into which balls are driven.
7 = air pocket.
8 (attrib.) a of a suitable size and shape for carrying in a pocket. b smaller than the usual size. --v.tr. (pocketed, pocketing.
1 put into one's pocket.
2 appropriate, esp. dishonestly.
3 confine as in a pocket.
4 submit to (an injury or affront).
5 conceal or suppress (one's feelings).
6 Billiards etc. drive (a ball) into a pocket. in pocke.
1 having gained in a transaction.
2 (of money) available. in a person's pocke.
1 under a person's control.
2 close to or intimate with a person. out of pocket having lost in a transaction. out-of-pocket expenses the actual outlay of cash incurred. pocket battleship hist. a warship armoured and equipped like, but smaller than, a battleship. pocket borough Brit. hist. a borough in which the election of political representatives was controlled by one person or family. pocket gopher = GOPHER(1) 1. pocket knife a knife with a folding blade or blades, for carrying in the pocket. pocket mone.
1 money for minor expenses.
2 Brit. an allowance of money made to a child. put one's hand in one's pocket spend or provide money. pocketable adj. pocketless adj. pockety adj. (in sens.
5 of n.). [ME f. AF poket(e) dimin. of poke POKE(2)]

prioressposture
posture: n. & v. --n.
1 the relative position of parts, esp. of the body (in a reclining posture).
2 carriage or bearing (improved by good posture and balance).
3 a mental or spiritual attitude or condition.
4 the condition or state (of affairs etc.) (in more diplomatic postures). --v.
1 intr. assume a mental or physical attitude, esp. for effect (inclined to strut and posture).
2 tr. pose (a person). postural adj. posturer n. [F f. It. postura f. L positura f. ponere posit- place]

plural
plural: adj. & n. --adj.
1 more than one in number.
2 Gram. (of a word or form) denoting more than one, or (in languages with dual number) more than two. --n. Gram.
1 a plural word or form.
2 the plural number. plurally adv. [ME f. OF plurel f. L pluralis f. plus pluris more]

petterplan
plan: n. & v. --n.
1 a a formulated and esp. detailed method by which a thing is to be done; a design or scheme. b an intention or proposed proceeding (my plan was to distract them; plan of campaign).
2 a drawing or diagram made by projection on a horizontal plane, esp. showing a building or one floor of a building (cf. ELEVATION).
3 a large-scale detailed map of a town or district.
4 a a table etc. indicating times, places, etc. of intended proceedings. b a scheme or arrangement (prepared the seating plan).
5 an imaginary plane perpendicular to the line of vision and containing the objects shown in a picture. --v. (planned, planning.
1 tr. (often foll. by that + clause or to + infin.) arrange (a procedure etc.) beforehand; form a plan (planned to catch the evening ferry).
2 tr. a design (a building, new town, etc.). b make a plan of (an existing building, an area, etc.).
3 tr. (as planned adj.) in accordance with a plan (his planned arrival; planned parenthood).
4 intr. make plans. planning permission Brit. formal permission for building development etc., esp. from a local authority. plan on colloq. aim at doing; intend. planning n. [F f. earlier plant, f. It. pianta plan of building: cf. PLANT]

paraphrase
paraphrase: n. & v. --n. a free rendering or rewording of a passage. --v.tr. express the meaning of (a passage) in other words. paraphrastic adj. [F paraphrase or L paraphrasis f. Gk paraphrasis f. paraphrazo (as PARA-(1) phrazo tell)]

pele
pele: var. of PEEL(3).

patriot
patriot: n. a person who is devoted to and ready to support or defend his or her country. patriotic adj. patriotically adv. patriotism n. [F patriote f. LL patriota f. Gk patriotes f. patrios of one's fathers f. pater patros father]

protractor
protractor: n.
1 an instrument for measuring angles, usu. in the form of a graduated semicircle.
2 a muscle serving to extend a limb etc.

peart
peart: adj. US lively; cheerful. [var. of PERT]

preemptorypioneer
pioneer: n. & v. --n.
1 an initiator of a new enterprise, an inventor, etc.
2 an explorer or settler; a colonist.
3 Mil. a member of an infantry group preparing roads, terrain, etc. for the main body of troops. --v.
1 a tr. initiate or originate (an enterprise etc.). b intr. act or prepare the way as a pioneer.
2 tr. Mil. open up (a road etc.) as a pioneer.
3 tr. go before, lead, or conduct (another person or persons). [F pionnier foot-soldier, pioneer, OF paonier, peon(n)ier (as PEON)]

propel
propel: v.tr. (propelled, propelling.
1 drive or push forward.
2 urge on; encourage. propelling pencil a pencil with a replaceable lead moved upward by twisting the outer case. [ME, = expel, f. L propellere (as PRO-(1), pellere puls- drive)]

puppy
puppy: n. (pl. -ies.
1 a young dog.
2 a conceited or arrogant young man. puppy-fat temporary fatness of a child or adolescent. puppy love = calf-love (see CALF(1) )). puppyhood n. puppyish adj. [ME perh. f. OF po(u)pee doll, plaything, toy f. Rmc (as POPPET)]

pneumonia
pneumonia: n. a bacterial inflammation of one lung (single pneumonia) or both lungs (double pneumonia) causing the air sacs to fill with pus and become solid. pneumonic adj. [L f. Gk f. pneumon lung]

pacific
pacific: adj. & n. --adj.
1 characterized by or tending to peace; tranquil.
2 (Pacific) of or adjoining the Pacific. --n. (the Pacific) the generally placid expanse of ocean between America to the east and Asia to the west. Pacific Time the standard time used in the Pacific region of Canada and the US. pacifically adv. [F pacifique or L pacificus f. pax pacis peace]

pinnacle
pinnacle: n. & v. --n.
1 the culmination or climax (of endeavour, success, etc.).
2 a natural peak.
3 a small ornamental turret usu. ending in a pyramid or cone, crowning a buttress, roof, etc. --v.tr.
1 set on or as if on a pinnacle.
2 form the pinnacle of.
3 provide with pinnacles. [ME pinacle f. OF pin(n)acle f. LL pinnaculum f. pinna wing, point (as PIN, -CULE)]

pachisi
pachisi: n. a four-handed Indian board-game with six cowries used like dice. [Hindi, = of 25 (the highest throw)]

persuasive
persuasive: adj. able to persuade. persuasively adv. persuasiveness n. [F persuasif -ive or med.L persuasivus, (as PERSUADE)]

palliate
palliate: v.tr.
1 alleviate (disease) without curing it.
2 excuse, extenuate. palliation n. palliator n. [LL palliare to cloak f. pallium cloak]

phonetic
phonetic: adj.
1 representing vocal sounds.
2 (of a system of spelling etc.) having a direct correspondence between symbols and sounds.
3 of or relating to phonetics. phonetically adv. phoneticism n. phoneticist n. phoneticize v.tr. (also -ise). [mod.L phoneticus f. Gk phonetikos f. phoneo speak]

physiology
physiology: n.
1 the science of the functions of living organisms and their parts.
2 these functions. physiologist n. [F physiologie or L physiologia f. Gk phusiologia (as PHYSIO-, -LOGY)]

possibility
possibility: n. (pl. -ies.
1 the state or fact of being possible, or an occurrence of this (outside the range of possibility; saw no possibility of going away).
2 a thing that may exist or happen (there are three possibilities).
3 (usu. in pl.) the capability of being used, improved, etc.; the potential of an object or situation (esp. have possibilities). [ME f. OF possibilit or LL possibilitas -tatis (as POSSIBLE)]

phloem
phloem: n. Bot. the tissue conducting food material in plants (cf. XYLEM). [Gk phloos bark]

pluckerpredator
predator: n.
1 an animal naturally preying on others.
2 a person, State, etc., compared to this. [L praedator plunderer f. praedari seize as plunder f. praeda booty (as PREDACIOUS)]

pornography
pornography: n.
1 the explicit description or exhibition of sexual activity in literature, films, etc., intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings.
2 literature etc. characterized by this. pornographer n. pornographic adj. pornographically adv. [Gk pornographos writing of harlots f. porne prostitute + grapho write]

pallor
pallor: n. pallidness, paleness. [L f. pallere be pale]

population
population: n.
1 a the inhabitants of a place, country, etc. referred to collectively. b any specified group within this (the Irish population of Liverpool).
2 the total number of any of these (a population of eight million; the seal population).
3 the act or process of supplying with inhabitants (the population of forest areas).
4 Statistics any finite or infinite collection of items under consideration. population explosion a sudden large increase of population. [LL populatio (as PEOPLE)]

propellant
propellant: n.
1 a thing that propels.
2 an explosive that fires bullets etc. from a firearm.
3 a substance used as a reagent in a rocket engine etc. to provide thrust.

peacetime
peacetime: n. a period when a country is not at war.

pharmacy
pharmacy: n. (pl. -ies.
1 the preparation and the (esp. medicinal) dispensing of drugs.
2 a pharmacist's shop, a dispensary. [ME f. OF farmacie f. med.L pharmacia f. Gk pharmakeia practice of the druggist f. pharmakeus f. pharmakon drug]

password
password: n. a selected word or phrase securing recognition, admission, etc., when used by those to whom it is disclosed.

possible
possible: adj. & n. --adj.
1 capable of existing or happening; that may be managed, achieved, etc. (came as early as possible; did as much as possible).
2 that is likely to happen etc. (few thought their victory possible).
3 acceptable; potential (a possible way of doing it). --n.
1 a possible candidate, member of a team, etc.
2 (prec. by the) whatever is likely, manageable, etc.
3 the highest possible score, esp. in shooting etc. [ME f. OF possible or L possibilis f. posse be able]

patella
patella: n. (pl. patellae) the kneecap. patellar adj. patellate adj. [L, dimin. of patina: see PATEN]

prodigy
prodigy: n. (pl. -ies.
1 a person endowed with exceptional qualities or abilities, esp. a precocious child.
2 a marvellous thing, esp. one out of the ordinary course of nature.
3 (foll. by of) a wonderful example (of a quality). [L prodigium portent]

potassium
potassium: n. Chem. a soft silver-white metallic element occurring naturally in seawater and various minerals, an essential element for living organisms, and forming many useful compounds used industrially. Symb.: K. potassium chloride a white crystalline solid used as a fertilizer and in photographic processing. potassium cyanide a highly toxic solid that can be hydrolysed to give poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas: also called CYANIDE. potassium iodide a white crystalline solid used as an additive to table salt to prevent iodine deficiency. potassium permanganate a purple crystalline solid that is used in solution as an oxidizing agent and disinfectant. potassic adj. [POTASH + -IUM]

picnic
picnic: n. & v. --n.
1 an outing or excursion including a packed meal eaten out of doors.
2 any meal eaten out of doors or without preparation, tables, chairs, etc.
3 (usu. with neg.) colloq. something agreeable or easily accomplished etc. (it was no picnic organizing the meeting). --v.intr. (picnicked, picnicking) take part in a picnic. picnicker n. picnicky adj. colloq. [F pique-nique, of unkn. orig.]

pink
pink: (6) n. Brit.
1 a young salmon.
2 dial. a minnow. [15th c. penk, of unkn. orig.]

perchlorate
perchlorate: n. Chem. a salt or ester of perchloric acid.

preposition
preposition: n. Gram. a word governing (and usu. preceding) a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element, as in: 'the man on the platform', 'came after dinner', 'what did you do it for?'. prepositional adj. prepositionally adv. [ME f. L praepositio f. praeponere praeposit- (as PRAE-, ponere place)]

propulsion
propulsion: n.
1 the act or an instance of driving or pushing forward.
2 an impelling influence. propulsive adj. [med.L propulsio f. L propellere (as PROPEL)]

parakeet
parakeet: n. (US also parrakeet) any of various small usu. long-tailed parrots. [OF paroquet, It. parrocchetto, Sp. periquito, perh. ult. f. dimin. of Pierre etc. Peter: cf. PARROT]

piazza
piazza: n.
1 a public square or market-place esp. in an Italian town.
2 US the veranda of a house. [It., formed as PLACE]

ponder
ponder: v.
1 tr. weigh mentally; think over; consider.
2 intr. (usu. foll. by on, over) think; muse. [ME f. OF ponderer f. L ponderare f. pondus -eris weight]

permit
permit: v. & n. --v. (permitted, permitting.
1 tr. give permission or consent to; authorize (permit me to say).
2 a tr. allow; give an opportunity to (permit the traffic to flow again). b intr. give an opportunity (circumstances permitting).
3 intr. (foll. by of) admit; allow for. --n.
1 a a document giving permission to act in a specified way (was granted a work permit). b a document etc. which allows entry into a specified zone.
2 formal permission. permittee n. permitter n. [L permittere (as PER-, mittere miss- let go)]

pharmacist
pharmacist: n. a person qualified to prepare and dispense drugs.

preschool
preschool: adj. of or relating to the time before a child is old enough to go to school. preschooler n.

pregnancy
pregnancy: n. (pl. -ies) the condition or an instance of being pregnant.

presentation
presentation: n.
1 a the act or an instance of presenting; the process of being presented. b a thing presented.
2 the manner or quality of presenting.
3 a demonstration or display of materials, information, etc.; a lecture.
4 an exhibition or theatrical performance.
5 a formal introduction.
6 the position of the foetus in relation to the cervix at the time of delivery. presentational adj. presentationally adv. [ME f. OF f. LL praesentatio -onis (as PRESENT(2))]

polypropylene
polypropylene: n. Chem. any of various polymers of propylene including thermoplastic materials used for films, fibres, or moulding materials. Also called POLYPROPENE.

palatal
palatal: adj. & n. --adj.
1 of the palate.
2 (of a sound) made by placing the surface of the tongue against the hard palate (e.g. y in yes). --n. a palatal sound. palatalize v.tr. (also -ise). palatalization n. palatally adv. [F (as PALATE)]

penicillin
penicillin: n. any of various antibiotics produced naturally by moulds of the genus Penicillium, or synthetically, and able to prevent the growth of certain disease-causing bacteria. [mod.L Penicillium genus name f. L penicillum: see PENCIL]

personality
personality: n. (pl. -ies.
1 the distinctive character or qualities of a person, often as distinct from others (an attractive personality).
2 a famous person; a celebrity (a TV personality).
3 a person who stands out from others by virtue of his or her character (is a real personality).
4 personal existence or identity; the condition of being a person.
5 (usu. in pl.) personal remarks. have personality have a lively character or noteworthy qualities. personality cult the extreme adulation of an individual. [ME f. OF personalit f. LL personalitas -tatis (as PERSONAL)]

practice
practice: n. & v. --n.
1 habitual action or performance (the practice of teaching; makes a practice of saving).
2 a habit or custom (has been my regular practice).
3 a repeated exercise in an activity requiring the development of skill (to sing well needs much practice). b a session of this (time for target practice).
4 action or execution as opposed to theory.
5 the professional work or business of a doctor, lawyer, etc. (has a practice in town).
6 an established method of legal procedure.
7 procedure generally, esp. of a specified kind (bad practice). --v.tr. & intr. US var. of PRACTISE. in practic.
1 when actually applied; in reality.
2 skilful because of recent exercise in a particular pursuit. out of practice lacking a former skill from lack of recent practice. put into practice actually apply (an idea, method, etc.). [ME f. PRACTISE, after advice, device]

pray
pray: v. (often foll. by for or to + infin. or that + clause.
1 intr. (often foll. by to) say prayers (to God etc.); make devout supplication.
2 a tr. entreat, beseech. b tr. & intr. ask earnestly (prayed to be released).
3 tr. (as imper.) archaic & formal please (pray tell me). praying mantis see MANTIS . [ME f. OF preier f. LL precare f. L precari entreat]

procession
procession: n.
1 a number of people or vehicles etc. moving forward in orderly succession, esp. at a ceremony, demonstration, or festivity.
2 the movement of such a group (go in procession).
3 a race in which no competitor is able to overtake another.
4 Theol. the emanation of the Holy Spirit. processionist n. [ME f. OF f. L processio -onis (as PROCEED)]

phrase
phrase: n. & v. --n.
1 a group of words forming a conceptual unit, but not a sentence.
2 an idiomatic or short pithy expression.
3 a manner or mode of expression (a nice turn of phrase).
4 Mus. a group of notes forming a distinct unit within a larger piece. --v.tr.
1 express in words (phrased the reply badly).
2 (esp. when reading aloud or speaking) divide (sentences etc.) into units so as to convey the meaning of the whole.
3 Mus. divide (music) into phrases etc. in performance. phrase book a book for tourists etc. listing useful expressions with their equivalent in a foreign language. phrasing n. [earlier phrasis f. L f. Gk f. phrazo declare, tell]

psychology
psychology: n. (pl. -ies.
1 the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, esp. those affecting behaviour in a given context.
2 a treatise on or theory of this.
3 a the mental characteristics or attitude of a person or group. b the mental factors governing a situation or activity (the psychology of crime). psychologist n. psychologize v.tr. & intr. (also -ise). [mod.L psychologia (as PSYCHO-, -LOGY)]

prominence
prominence: n.
1 the state of being prominent.
2 a prominent thing, esp. a jutting outcrop, mountain, etc.
3 Astron. a stream of incandescent gas projecting above the sun's chromosphere. [obs.F f. L prominentia jutting out (as PROMINENT)]

protect
protect: v.tr.
1 (often foll. by from, against) keep (a person, thing, etc.) safe; defend; guard (goggles protected her eyes from dust; guards protected the queen).
2 Econ. shield (home industry) from competition by imposing import duties on foreign goods.
3 Brit. provide funds to meet (a bill, draft, etc.).
4 provide (machinery etc.) with appliances to prevent injury from it. [L protegere protect- (as PRO-(1), tegere cover)]

production
production: n.
1 the act or an instance of producing; the process of being produced.
2 the process of being manufactured, esp. in large quantities (go into production).
3 a total yield.
4 a thing produced, esp. a literary or artistic work, a film, play, etc. production line a systematized sequence of mechanical or manual operations involved in producing a commodity. productional n. [ME f. OF f. L productio -onis (as PRODUCT)]

paella
paella: n. a Spanish dish of rice, saffron, chicken, seafood, etc., cooked and served in a large shallow pan. [Catalan f. OF paele f. L patella pan]

psychiatricpenthouse
penthouse: n.
1 a house or flat on the roof or the top floor of a tall building.
2 a sloping roof, esp. of an outhouse built on to another building.
3 an awning, a canopy. [ME pentis f. OF apentis, -dis, f. med.L appendicium, in LL = appendage, f. L (as APPEND): infl. by HOUSE]

pseudo
pseudo: adj. & n. --adj.
1 sham; spurious.
2 insincere. --n. (pl. -os) a pretentious or insincere person. [see PSEUDO-]

porch
porch: n.
1 a covered shelter for the entrance of a building.
2 US a veranda.
3 (the Porch) = the Stoa (see STOA 2). porched adj. porchless adj. [ME f. OF porche f. L porticus (transl. Gk stoa) f. porta passage]

porcupine
porcupine: n.
1 any rodent of the family Hystricidae native to Africa, Asia, and SE Europe, or the family Erethizontidae native to America, having defensive spines or quills.
2 (attrib.) denoting any of various animals or other organisms with spines. porcupine fish a marine fish, Diodon hystrix, covered with sharp spines and often distending itself into a spherical shape. porcupinish adj. porcupiny adj. [ME f. OF porc espin f. Prov. porc espi(n) ult. f. L porcus pig + spina thorn]

pant
pant: v. & n. --v.
1 intr. breathe with short quick breaths.
2 tr. (often foll. by out) utter breathlessly.
3 intr. (often foll. by for) yearn or crave.
4 intr. (of the heart etc.) throb violently. --n.
1 a panting breath.
2 a throb. pantingly adv. [ME f. OF pantaisier ult. f. Gk phantasioo cause to imagine (as FANTASY)]

purser
purser: n. an officer on a ship who keeps the accounts, esp. the head steward in a passenger vessel. pursership n.

protean
protean: adj.
1 variable, taking many forms.
2 (of an artist, writer, etc.) versatile. [after Proteus: see PROTEUS]

probability
probability: n. (pl. -ies.
1 the state or condition of being probable.
2 the likelihood of something happening.
3 a probable or most probable event (the probability is that they will come).
4 Math. the extent to which an event is likely to occur, measured by the ratio of the favourable cases to the whole number of cases possible. in all probability most probably. [F probabilit or L probabilitas (as PROBABLE)]

phenomena
phenomena: pl. of PHENOMENON.

pleurisy
pleurisy: n. inflammation of the pleura, marked by pain in the chest or side, fever, etc. pleuritic adj. [ME f. OF pleurisie f. LL pleurisis alt. f. L pleuritis f. Gk (as PLEURA(1))]

partypalaver
palaver: n. & v. --n.
1 fuss and bother, esp. prolonged and tedious.
2 profuse or idle talk.
3 cajolery.
4 colloq. an affair or business.
5 esp. hist. a parley between African or other natives and traders. --v.
1 intr. talk profusely.
2 tr. flatter, wheedle. [Port. palavra word f. L (as PARABLE)]

palimpsest
palimpsest: n.
1 a piece of writing-material or manuscript on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for other writing.
2 a monumental brass turned and re-engraved on the reverse side. [L palimpsestus f. Gk palimpsestos f. palin again + psestos rubbed smooth]

picture
picture: n. & v. --n.
1 a (often attrib.) a painting, drawing, photograph, etc., esp. as a work of art (picture frame). b a portrait, esp. a photograph, of a person (does not like to have her picture taken). c a beautiful object (her hat is a picture).
2 a a total visual or mental impression produced; a scene (the picture looks bleak). b a written or spoken description (drew a vivid picture of moral decay).
3 a a film. b (in pl.) Brit. a showing of films at a cinema (went to the pictures). c (in pl.) films in general.
4 an image on a television screen.
5 colloq. a esp. iron. a person or thing exemplifying something (he was the picture of innocence). b a person or thing resembling another closely (the picture of her aunt). --v.tr.
1 represent in a picture.
2 (also refl.; often foll. by to) imagine, esp. visually or vividly (pictured it to herself).
3 describe graphically. get the picture colloq. grasp the tendency or drift of circumstances, information, etc. in the picture fully informed or noticed. out of the picture uninvolved, inactive; irrelevant. picture-book a book containing many illustrations. picture-card a court-card. picture-gallery a place containing an exhibition or collection of pictures. picture-goer a person who frequents the cinema. picture hat a woman's wide-brimmed highly decorated hat as in pictures by Reynolds and Gainsborough. picture-mouldin.
1 woodwork etc. used for framing pictures.
2 a rail on a wall used for hanging pictures from. picture-palace (or -theatre) Brit. archaic a cinema. picture postcard a postcard with a picture on one side. picture window a very large window consisting of one pane of glass. picture-writing a mode of recording events etc. by pictorial symbols as in early hieroglyphics etc. [ME f. L pictura f. pingere pict- paint]

palatial
palatial: adj. (of a building) like a palace, esp. spacious and splendid. palatially adv. [L (as PALACE)]