📖 P — The English dictionary · page 24

pest — Everyday, meaning 1: A pest is an insect or animal that harms crops, food, gardens or homes, such as rats, mice, cockroaches or greenfly.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A pest is also an annoying person, especially a child who keeps bothering you.↗ Example: Rabbits are a big pest for farmers in Australia.↗ · Slugs are pests that eat lettuces.↗ · Ladybirds eat aphids, which are garden pests.↗ · We called pest control to get rid of the mice.↗ · My little sister is being a pest again!↗ · Keep food covered so pests don't get in.↗ · Stop being a pest and let me finish my homework.↗ · The Pest Maiden arrives, and thrusts her arm in at his window.↗

pesticide — Everyday, meaning 1: A pesticide is a chemical used to kill pests — insects, weeds, fungi or small animals that damage crops or gardens.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Pesticides include insecticides (for insects), herbicides (for weeds) and fungicides (for moulds and fungi).↗ Example: The farmer sprayed pesticide on the potatoes.↗ · Some pesticides can harm bees.↗ · Organic farms use fewer chemical pesticides.↗ · Wash fruit before you eat it to remove pesticide.↗ · Ladybirds are a natural way to control aphids without pesticides.↗ · Keep pesticides locked away from children and pets.↗ · The pesticide washed into the river and harmed the fish.↗

pestilence — Everyday, meaning 1: (old or formal) A deadly disease that spreads quickly through many people, such as the plague.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (Bible) One of the disasters sent as punishment or warning, as in the plagues of Egypt; the rider "Pestilence" of the Book of Revelation.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Something that is very harmful or annoying (old use).↗ Early Modern English, meaning 1: A deadly disease that spreads quickly among many people, such as the plague.↗ Example: The pestilence swept through the town in 1665.↗ · In the Bible, pestilence and famine are warnings.↗ · The Black Death was a terrible pestilence.↗ · People fled the city to escape the pestilence.↗ · Rats and fleas helped spread the pestilence.↗ · Old prayers asked God to keep people safe from pestilence.↗ · But at last the gods afflicted the country with a grievous pestilence, which made terrible havoc among the people.↗ · I will smite them with the pestilence, and destroy them, and will make of thee a nation greater and mightier than they.'↗ (Torah NUM.14.12, JPS 1917)↗ · Surely now I had put forth My hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou hadst been cut off from the earth.↗ (Torah EXO.9.15, JPS 1917)↗ · The LORD will make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until He have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest in to possess it.↗ (Torah DEU.28.21, JPS 1917)↗ · Before him goeth the pestilence, and fiery bolts go forth at His feet.↗ (Prophets HAB.3.5, JPS 1917)↗ · Of the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor of the destruction that wasteth at noonday.↗ (Writings PSA.91.6, JPS 1917)↗ · So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel; and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.↗ (Writings 1CH.21.14, JPS 1917)↗ · I will smite them with the pestilence, and destroy them, and will make of thee a nation greater and mightier than they.'↗ (Torah NUM.14.12, JPS 1917) · We fly to warm countries, and cool the sultry air that destroys mankind with the pestilence.↗ (Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen) · Surely now I had put forth My hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou hadst been cut off from the earth.↗ (Torah EXO.9.15, JPS 1917)

pestilent — Everyday, meaning 1: Causing disease or illness, carrying plague.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Very annoying or troublesome.↗ Example: The pestilent air made the people sick.↗ · That pestilent fly kept buzzing round my head.↗

pestle — Everyday, meaning 1: A heavy stick with a rounded end, used for crushing and grinding things in a mortar.↗ Example: Grind the herbs with the pestle.↗ · The witch pushed her mortar along with the pestle.↗ · Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among groats, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.↗ (Writings PRO.27.22, JPS 1917)↗

pet — Everyday, meaning 1: A pet is an animal that lives with people at home and is cared for, like a cat, dog, rabbit, fish or hamster.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To pet an animal is to stroke it gently.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A teacher's pet is a pupil the teacher seems to like best.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A pet hate or pet name is your own special one.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: Pet can also be a loving name for someone you care about, like "my pet".↗ Example: Ann has 2 cats and 3 fish.↗ How many pets does she have?↗ · 15 pupils have a pet.↗ · A pet shop sold 8 puppies.↗ · Each pet eats 100 g of food a day.↗ · Our class pet is a guinea pig.↗ · Always ask before you pet someone's dog.↗ · Pets need fresh water every day.↗ · She takes her pet rabbit to the vet.↗ · Wash your hands after you hold a pet.↗ · “But who is he, my pet?”↗

petal — Everyday, meaning 1: A petal is one of the thin, often brightly coloured parts that make up the outer ring of a flower.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Petal is also a friendly name some people (especially in the north of England) call someone they love, like «love» or «pet».↗ Example: A daisy has lots of thin white petals.↗ · Bees are drawn to the bright petals.↗ · Rose petals fell onto the path.↗ · We counted five petals on the buttercup.↗ · The petals dropped off as the flower died.↗ · Label the petal on your flower diagram.↗ · The flower girl threw petals at the wedding.↗ · Some petals are soft as velvet.↗ · At sunset it folded its petals, and fell asleep, and dreamt all night of the sun and the little bird.↗

petite — Everyday, meaning 1: (of a girl or woman) Small, short and slim in a pretty way.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Used for clothing sizes for shorter women.↗ Example: My aunt is petite and wears small shoes.↗ · The shop has a petite section.↗ · The petite dancer leapt across the stage.↗ · She looked petite next to her tall brother.↗ · These jeans come in petite and tall.↗ · A petite girl in a red coat waved at us.↗

petition — Everyday, meaning 1: A petition is a written request, signed by many people, asking someone in power to do or change something.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To petition someone is to make a formal request to them, often with a petition.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (law) A formal written request to a court.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (church) A prayer that asks God for something.↗ Example: We started a petition for a new zebra crossing.↗ · Over five hundred people signed our petition.↗ · The children petitioned the head teacher for a longer break.↗ · The petition was handed to the mayor.↗ · In church we prayed petitions for the sick.↗ · Mum signed an online petition to save the library.↗ · The court received a petition from the family.↗ · So they sent a petition to Jupiter asking for a king.↗ · Then answered Esther, and said: 'My petition and my request is — (Writings EST.5.7, JPS 1917)↗ · Then these men came tumultuously, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.↗ (Writings DAN.6.12, JPS 1917)↗ · For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath granted me my petition which I asked of Him; (Prophets 1SA.1.27, JPS 1917)↗

petitionary — Everyday, meaning 1: (church, formal) Petitionary means asking for something; petitionary prayer is prayer that asks God for help or for something needed, for yourself or for others.↗ Example: Petitionary prayer asks God for help.↗ · «Please make Grandma better» is a petitionary prayer.↗ · We learnt about thanksgiving and petitionary prayers.↗ · The Lord's Prayer includes petitionary lines like «Give us this day our daily bread».↗ · The king received a petitionary letter from the villagers.↗ · Some petitionary prayers are for other people.↗

petrifaction — Everyday, meaning 1: The turning of something into stone.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal) A state of being so frightened that you cannot move.↗ Example: The gorgon's method of petrifaction is strange.↗ · Fear caused his petrifaction in the doorway.↗

petrification — Everyday, meaning 1: (science) The process by which a dead plant or animal slowly turns into stone over a very long time, as minerals replace it: petrified wood.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Being so frightened that you cannot move (usually "petrified").↗ Example: Petrification turned the ancient tree into stone.↗ · The fossil shows petrification of the bones.↗ · Petrification takes millions of years.↗ · In the myth, Medusa's stare caused petrification.↗ · We saw petrified wood that looked like a log but was stone.↗ · Minerals in water cause petrification.↗

petrifying — Everyday, meaning 1: To petrify is to turn something into stone.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To petrify is to frighten someone so badly they cannot move.↗ Example: The sight of the dragon was petrifying.↗ · A petrifying gaze turned the knight to stone.↗

petrol — Everyday, meaning 1: Petrol is a liquid fuel made from oil that is put into cars and other engines to make them go.↗ Example: Dad put petrol in the car.↗ · We stopped at the petrol station.↗ · Petrol is made from oil.↗ · Petrol catches fire very easily, so never play with it.↗ · Electric cars do not need petrol.↗ · The price of petrol went up.↗ · The lawnmower runs on petrol.↗

petroleum — Everyday, meaning 1: Petroleum is crude oil: a thick, dark liquid found deep underground that is used to make petrol, diesel, plastics and many other things.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Petroleum jelly is a soft greasy substance made from oil, used on dry skin.↗ Example: Petroleum is pumped from under the ground.↗ · Petrol and diesel are made from petroleum.↗ · Many plastics come from petroleum.↗ · Petroleum is a fossil fuel.↗ · Some countries earn lots of money from petroleum.↗ · Petroleum jelly helps chapped lips.↗ · Oil spills of petroleum harm sea birds.↗ · Petroleum will run out one day because it is non-renewable.↗ · A fine magnificence, truly! all made up of gas and petroleum!↗

petticoat — Everyday, meaning 1: A skirt worn under a dress, long ago.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old use, in fairy tales) A magic garment that does odd things in a tale.↗ Example: She wore a white petticoat under her blue dress.↗ · The magic petticoat turned into drink.↗

pettifog — Everyday, meaning 1: (old) To argue about small, unimportant details in a fussy way.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old) To act as a petty, tricky lawyer who works on small, mean cases.↗ Example: Stop pettifogging about the rules and let's play!↗ · The pettifogging clerk counted every penny.↗ · He was called a pettifogger by the angry judge.↗ · The old lawyer would pettifog for hours over a comma.↗ · Don't pettifog — the main idea is right.↗

petting — Everyday, meaning 1: Stroking an animal gently and kindly.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (as in «petting zoo») A place where children can touch and stroke farm animals.↗ Example: I love petting my cat.↗ · Always ask the owner before petting a dog.↗ · We went to a petting zoo and stroked the goats.↗ · Wash your hands after petting the animals.↗ · The dog rolled over for more petting.↗ · Stop petting if the animal walks away.↗

pettishly — Everyday, meaning 1: In a cross, sulky, childish way, as when someone is easily annoyed about small things.↗ Example: «I won't!» said the little boy pettishly.↗ · The Duchess answered pettishly.↗ · She tossed her head pettishly.↗ · Toad kicked the stone pettishly.↗ · «Oh, leave me alone,» he said pettishly.↗ · The spoiled prince waved the servant away pettishly.↗

petty — Everyday, meaning 1: Small and unimportant: petty problems.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Caring too much about small things in a mean way: «Don't be so petty!».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Minor, less serious: petty crime, petty theft.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Small, for daily use: petty cash.↗ Example: Don't be petty — share the crayons.↗ · They had a petty argument about who sat where.↗ · Shoplifting a sweet is still petty theft.↗ · The office keeps petty cash in a tin.↗ · Toad thought rules were petty.↗ · It's petty to stay cross about a game.↗

pew — Everyday, meaning 1: (church) A long wooden bench with a back, where people sit in a church.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal, UK) A seat: «Take a pew» means «sit down».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (interjection, informal) A sound people make about a bad smell: «Pew!↗ What stinks?».↗ Example: We sat in the front pew at the wedding.↗ · The old church pews are hard to sit on.↗ · «Come in and take a pew,» said Grandad.↗ · Hymn books are kept in a shelf on the back of each pew.↗ · «Pew!↗ Who left their socks here?»↗ · The family filled three pews at the christening.↗ · The clear sunshine streamed so warmly through the window into the pew where Karen sat!↗

pewter — Everyday, meaning 1: A soft grey metal, a mix of tin with lead or other metals, used for plates, cups and toy soldiers.↗ Example: The pewter soldier stood on the shelf.↗ · The cup was made of pewter.↗ · The old plate was dull grey pewter.↗

ph — Everyday, meaning 1: pH is a number that shows how acidic or alkaline a liquid is, on a scale from 0 to 14.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The letters «ph» together usually make an /f/ sound, as in phone and elephant.↗ Example: Lemon juice has a low pH because it is acidic.↗ · Pure water has a pH of 7.↗ · The indicator turned purple, so the pH was high.↗ · «Ph» in «photo» sounds like f.↗ · We tested the pH of the pond water.↗ · Soap has a pH above 7.↗

phage — Everyday, meaning 1: (science) A tiny virus that attacks and kills bacteria, not people.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (fragment) A word ending meaning "eater", as in "macrophage" (a white blood cell that eats germs).↗ Example: A phage is a virus that infects bacteria.↗ · Phages look like tiny moon landers.↗ · Scientists use phages to fight resistant bacteria.↗ · Phages are harmless to human cells.↗ · A macrophage is a white blood cell that eats germs.↗ · There are more phages on Earth than stars in the sky, scientists estimate.↗

phantom — Everyday, meaning 1: A ghost or spirit that seems to appear and then vanish.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Something that seems to be there but is not real.↗ Example: A phantom rode across the marsh.↗ · The prince chased a phantom all day.↗ · The phantom vanished at dawn.↗ · On another, it refers to something less tangible, approaching the kind of phantom essence implied by the English term ‘soul’.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)↗ · Perhaps capturing an intermediary concept between the immaterial divine imminence and the material wind is ‘wisp’, meaning both a small breeze and a phantom presence, but ‘Holy Wisp’ is a rather underwhelming expression.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)↗