📖 P — The English dictionary · page 16

peckish — Everyday, meaning 1: (informal) A little bit hungry.↗ Example: I'm a bit peckish; can I have a biscuit?↗ · Are you peckish?↗ There's fruit in the bowl.↗ · By eleven o'clock I always feel peckish.↗ · The cat looks peckish.↗ · Grandad gets peckish before bed and eats toast.↗ · If you're peckish after school, have an apple.↗

pectin — Everyday, meaning 1: A natural substance in fruits, especially apples and lemons, that makes jam and jelly set (go thick and firm).↗ Example: Apples contain lots of pectin.↗ · Add pectin so the strawberry jam will set.↗ · Pectin makes jelly wobbly but firm.↗ · Lemon juice helps the pectin in jam to work.↗ · Pectin is found in the skins and cores of fruit.↗ · Gummy sweets can be made with pectin instead of gelatine.↗

pectoral — Everyday, meaning 1: adjective: Of or on the chest.↗ e.g. "pectoral muscles".↗ Everyday, meaning 2: noun.↗ e.g. The pectoral muscles of the chest, often called "pecs" (informal).↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (pectoral fin) One of the pair of fins on the sides of a fish, just behind the head.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (church) A pectoral cross is a cross worn on the chest by bishops.↗ Example: Push-ups build your pectoral muscles.↗ · The fish used its pectoral fins to turn.↗ · Sharks have big pectoral fins.↗ · The bishop wore a gold pectoral cross.↗ · "Look at my pecs!" joked my uncle at the beach.↗ · Swimming works the pectorals and the shoulders.↗

peculiar — Everyday, meaning 1: Peculiar means strange or unusual, sometimes in a slightly worrying way.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Peculiar to someone or something means belonging only to that person, place or thing.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (UK, informal) Feeling peculiar means feeling a bit ill or dizzy.↗ Example: There was a peculiar smell in the kitchen.↗ · The cat was acting in a peculiar way.↗ · Kangaroos are peculiar to Australia.↗ · What a peculiar hat!↗ · I feel a bit peculiar after that ride.↗ · The old house made peculiar noises at night.↗ · This custom is peculiar to our village.↗ · It's peculiar that the door was open.↗ · He had one very peculiar habit.↗ · However, this is grammatically peculiar, as immot is usually only the construct plural of אֵם em 'mother', whose absolute plural is rather אִמָּהוֹת immahot.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)↗

peculiarity — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A special feature that belongs to one thing or is strange about it.↗ Example: Attention must be called to the essential peculiarity of Hebrew doctrines, the inextricable and necessary associa- (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗

peculiarly — Everyday, meaning 1: In a strange or odd way.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Especially or particularly, as in «peculiarly difficult».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Belonging only to one group or place, as in «peculiarly British».↗ Example: The cat was behaving peculiarly before the storm.↗ · It was a peculiarly hot day for April.↗ · Alice thought the Duchess behaved most peculiarly.↗ · Queuing politely is said to be peculiarly British.↗ · He was peculiarly quiet at dinner.↗ · The milk smelled peculiarly sour.↗ · They divided the life of Man among them, and each endowed one part of it with the qualities which were peculiarly his own.↗

pecuniary — Everyday, meaning 1: (formal) Pecuniary means to do with money.↗ Example: He gained no pecuniary benefit from helping.↗ · The court looked at the pecuniary loss.↗ · She had no pecuniary interest in the shop.↗ · Volunteers work for no pecuniary reward.↗ · The trouble was pecuniary: they had no money.↗ · Pecuniary matters were handled by the treasurer.↗

pedal — Everyday, meaning 1: A part you push with your foot to make a bike move.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A part you press with your foot to control a machine, car or piano.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (verb) To push the pedals of a bike to make it go.↗ Example: Push down on the pedals to make the bike go.↗ · I pedalled up the hill.↗ · The car has a brake pedal and a gas pedal.↗ · Press the piano pedal to make the note last longer.↗ · She pedalled as fast as she could.↗ · Put the rubbish in the pedal bin.↗ · My foot slipped off the pedal.↗

pedestal — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A base on which a statue, column or vase stands.↗

pedestrian — Everyday, meaning 1: A pedestrian is a person who is walking, especially in a street, not riding or driving.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (adjective) For people who walk: a pedestrian crossing.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (adjective) Dull and ordinary, with nothing special.↗ Example: Pedestrians should use the crossing.↗ · Stop, look and listen before you cross as a pedestrian.↗ · The town centre is a pedestrian zone with no cars.↗ · The car stopped to let the pedestrians cross.↗ · Wear bright clothes at night so drivers can see pedestrians.↗ · The bridge is for pedestrians and bikes only.↗ · His story was rather pedestrian and a bit boring.↗ · On his way a chariot passed him, in which sat an old man with two servants, who rudely pushed the pedestrian out of the path.↗

pediatrician — Everyday, meaning 1: A doctor who specially looks after babies, children and teenagers.↗ Example: The pediatrician checked the baby's weight.↗ · My little brother sees a pediatrician every year.↗ · A pediatrician is a doctor for children.↗ · The paediatrician said I was growing well.↗ · The pediatrician listened to my chest with a stethoscope.↗ · She wants to be a paediatrician when she grows up.↗

pedigree — Everyday, meaning 1: The list of an animal's parents, grandparents and earlier ancestors, showing it is of one pure breed.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (adjective) A pedigree animal comes from parents of the same breed, with records.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A person's family background or ancestry.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: The past record of something, showing it is good: «the team's winning pedigree».↗ Example: Our dog is a pedigree Labrador.↗ · The breeder showed us the puppy's pedigree.↗ · Pedigree cats can be very expensive.↗ · The horse had a famous pedigree.↗ · We drew a pedigree chart of our family's eye colours.↗ · The coach has a strong pedigree in winning cups.↗ · Mixed-breed dogs are often healthier than some pedigrees.↗ · Be sure of your pedigree before you boast of it.↗

pee — Everyday, meaning 1: (informal) To pee is to let urine out of your body; to go to the toilet.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (noun) Pee is urine.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: The name of the letter P.↗ Example: I need a pee before the car trip.↗ · The puppy peed on the carpet.↗ · Go for a pee before bed.↗ · Pale pee means you are drinking enough water.↗ · The doctor asked for a sample of pee.↗ · The baby peed in his nappy.↗ · "Pee" is how you say the letter P.↗

peek — Everyday, meaning 1: To peek means to look at something quickly or secretly, often when you should not.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A peek is a quick, short look.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To peek out means to just show a little, like the sun peeking out from behind clouds.↗ Example: Close your eyes and no peeking!↗ · I took a peek at my birthday presents.↗ · The sun peeked out from behind the clouds.↗ · Don't peek at the answers at the back of the book.↗ · The baby laughed when we played peek-a-boo.↗ · The kitten peeked out from under the sofa.↗ · We got a sneak peek of the new playground.↗ · She peeked through the keyhole.↗

peekaboo — Everyday, meaning 1: Peekaboo is a game for babies where you hide your face and then show it, saying «Peekaboo!».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Peekaboo is what you say when you show your face in that game.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A peekaboo piece of clothing has a small gap or hole that lets something show.↗ Example: My baby sister laughs when I play peekaboo.↗ · «Peekaboo!» said Dad, peeping out from behind his hands.↗ · The puppy played peekaboo behind the sofa.↗ · Babies love peekaboo.↗ · The sun played peekaboo with the clouds.↗ · She wore a dress with a peekaboo back.↗ · Grandma hid behind the door: «Peekaboo, I see you!»↗ · We played peekaboo all afternoon.↗

peel — Everyday, meaning 1: To peel is to take the skin off fruit or vegetables.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The peel is the skin, like a banana peel or orange peel.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To peel can mean that a thin layer comes off by itself: paint peels, skin peels after sunburn.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To peel off a sticker is to pull it away.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: To peel can also mean to strip the bark off a tree or a stick.↗ Example: She peels 6 potatoes.↗ · He peels 3 apples a minute.↗ · The orange peel weighs 40 grams.↗ · How many potatoes are peeled in 5 minutes?↗ · Peel the banana before you eat it.↗ · The paint on the old fence is peeling.↗ · My nose peeled after the sunburn.↗ · Peel off the sticker carefully.↗ · Keep your eyes peeled for the bus.↗ · He grasped the hatchet quickly to peel off the bark and shape the wood.↗ · And Jacob took him rods of fresh poplar, and of the almond and of the plane-tree; and peeled white streaks in them, making the white appear which was in the rods.↗ (Torah GEN.30.37, JPS 1917)↗ · And he set the rods which he had peeled over against the flocks in the gutters in the watering-troughs where the flocks came to drink; and they conceived when they came to drink.↗ (Torah GEN.30.38, JPS 1917)↗

peeler — Everyday, meaning 1: A peeler is a kitchen tool with a blade for taking the skin off fruit and vegetables.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In old British slang, a peeler was a police officer.↗ Example: Use the peeler to peel the carrots.↗ · Always peel away from yourself with a peeler.↗ · The potato peeler is in the drawer.↗ · I cut my finger on the peeler.↗ · A peeler takes off only a thin layer of skin.↗ · In old stories, the peelers chased the thief.↗

peeling — Everyday, meaning 1: Peeling is the -ing form of «peel»: taking the skin off fruit or vegetables, or a covering coming off.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Peeling describes paint, wallpaper or skin that is coming off in thin strips or flakes.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Peelings are the bits of skin you have peeled off fruit or vegetables.↗ Example: I am peeling an orange for my lunch.↗ · The old house had peeling paint and a broken gate.↗ · After the sunburn my shoulders started peeling.↗ · Put the potato peelings in the compost bin.↗ · Peel away from your hand when you use a peeler.↗ · The sticker kept peeling off my water bottle.↗ · Mum and I were peeling carrots for the soup.↗ · Then the old man blew the ashes from a smoking yam, and proceeded to remove the peeling.↗

peen — Everyday, meaning 1: The rounded or wedge-shaped end of a hammer head, opposite the flat striking face (as in ball-peen hammer).↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (verb) To hit metal with a hammer to shape or harden it.↗ Example: A ball-peen hammer has a round end for shaping metal.↗ · Use the peen of the hammer to round off the rivet.↗ · The blacksmith peened the edge of the blade.↗ · Dad keeps a ball-peen hammer in his toolbox.↗ · In DT we watched a teacher peen a copper bowl.↗ · The peen is on the opposite side to the flat face.↗

peep — Everyday, meaning 1: To peep is to look quickly and secretly, often through a small hole or gap.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A peep is a quick look.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A peep is a short, high sound, like a baby bird makes.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: "Not a peep" means no sound or no complaint at all.↗ Example: She peeped through the curtains.↗ · No peeping while I hide!↗ · Take a peep inside the box.↗ · The chicks gave a little peep.↗ · I don't want to hear a peep out of you.↗ · The sun peeped out from behind the clouds.↗ · He peeped inside the closet--no one!↗

peer — Everyday, meaning 1: To peer means to look very carefully or with difficulty at something, often narrowing your eyes or leaning forward.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Your peers are people of the same age, class or level as you, such as your classmates.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (UK) A peer is a member of the nobility, such as a lord, who may sit in the House of Lords.↗ Example: She peered through the keyhole.↗ · Grandpa peered at the tiny writing on the box.↗ · We peered into the dark cave.↗ · Don't give in to peer pressure.↗ · Today we'll do peer marking: swap books with your partner.↗ · He was taller than most of his peers.↗ · A lord is a peer in the House of Lords.↗ · The owl peered down from the branch.↗ · The little Mole peered at it.↗ · Through the window she looked forth, and peered, the mother of Sisera, through the lattice: 'Why is his chariot so long in coming?↗ (Prophets JDG.5.28, JPS 1917)↗

peg — Everyday, meaning 1: A peg is a small hook or stick on a wall for hanging things, like coats.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A clothes peg is a small clip for hanging washing on a line.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A tent peg is a pointed stick pushed into the ground to hold a tent.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (verb) To peg is to fasten something with pegs.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: A peg can also be a wooden pin that you pull to open a latch or door.↗ Example: Hang your coat on your peg.↗ · Pass me the pegs so I can hang up the washing.↗ · We hammered the tent pegs into the ground.↗ · Mum pegged the sheets on the line.↗ · My peg has my name and a picture on it.↗ · The pirate had a wooden peg leg.↗ · Make a pattern on the pegboard with coloured pegs.↗ · Little Red Riding-Hood pulled the peg, and the door opened.↗ · And I will fasten him as a peg in a sure place; and he shall be for a throne of honour to his father's house.↗ (Prophets ISA.22.23, JPS 1917)↗