📖 P — The English dictionary · page 39

plumage — Everyday, meaning 1: Plumage is all the feathers of a bird, their colours and patterns.↗ Example: The peacock showed off its colourful plumage.↗ · The male mallard has bright green plumage on its head.↗ · In winter the ptarmigan's plumage turns white.↗ · The parrot's plumage was red, blue and yellow.↗ · Young gulls have brown plumage.↗ · Birds clean their plumage with their beaks.↗ · He sat quiet and unconscious of his gay plumage.↗

plumb — Everyday, meaning 1: (verb) To fit water pipes in a building: «plumb in a washing machine».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (noun) A weight on a string (a plumb line or plumb bob) used to check that something is exactly vertical or to measure depth.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (adjective) Exactly vertical, perfectly upright.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (verb) To measure the depth of water; «plumb the depths» means reach the deepest or worst point.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: (informal, adverb, mainly US) Completely or exactly: «plumb crazy», «plumb in the middle».↗ Example: The builder used a plumb line to check the wall.↗ · The wall is not plumb; it leans.↗ · Dad plumbed in the new dishwasher.↗ · Sailors plumbed the depth of the river.↗ · Gravity pulls the plumb bob straight down.↗ · «You're plumb crazy!» said the cowboy.↗ · The ball landed plumb in the middle of the target.↗

plumber — Everyday, meaning 1: A plumber is a person whose job is to fit and repair water pipes, taps, toilets, sinks and heating systems.↗ Example: We called a plumber because the kitchen tap was leaking.↗ · The plumber fixed our blocked toilet.↗ · The plumber charges £50 to come plus £30 an hour; 2 hours cost £110.↗ · The plumber put in a new boiler.↗ · Dad tried to fix the pipe himself, then called a plumber.↗ · A plumber needs a van full of tools and pipes.↗

plumbing — Everyday, meaning 1: Plumbing is the system of pipes, taps, toilets and drains that bring clean water into a building and take dirty water away.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Plumbing is the job of putting in and fixing these pipes, done by a plumber.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal, joking) Someone's plumbing can mean the inside of their body, especially the bladder or bowels.↗ Example: The old cottage had no indoor plumbing, so they used a well.↗ · Water was dripping because the plumbing leaked.↗ · My uncle does plumbing and fixes boilers.↗ · Don't flush wipes; they block the plumbing.↗ · Roman towns had surprisingly good plumbing.↗ · Plumbing helped stop diseases like cholera spreading in cities.↗ · When the plumbing froze in winter, we had no water.↗

plume — Everyday, meaning 1: A large, soft, beautiful feather, or a bunch of feathers worn as decoration.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A long cloud of smoke, steam, dust or water that rises and spreads out.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: verb (rare).↗ e.g. To rise in a plume, or for a bird to tidy its feathers.↗ Example: A plume of smoke rose from the chimney.↗ · The volcano sent a huge plume of ash into the sky.↗ · The knight wore a red plume on his helmet.↗ · The peacock shook its plumes.↗ · The whale blew a plume of spray.↗ · Planes could not fly through the ash plume.↗ · So he picked up some castoff feathers of the Peacocks and stuck them among his own black plumes.↗

plummet — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A weight on a string used to check that a wall is straight.↗ Example: And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.↗ (Prophets ISA.28.17, JPS 1917)↗ · But the pelican and the bittern shall possess it, and the owl and the raven shall dwell therein; and He shall stretch over it the line of confusion, and the plummet of emptiness.↗ (Prophets ISA.34.11, JPS 1917)↗ · And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.↗ (Prophets 2KI.21.13, JPS 1917)↗

plump — Everyday, meaning 1: Plump means a little fat and round in a pleasant way.↗ e.g. "a plump baby", "plump cheeks".↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Plump food is full and juicy.↗ e.g. "plump strawberries".↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (verb) To plump up a cushion or pillow means to shake it so it gets round and soft.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (verb, informal) To plump for something means to choose it after thinking.↗ e.g. "I'll plump for the chocolate cake".↗ Everyday, meaning 5: (verb, informal) To plump down means to sit or drop down heavily.↗ Example: The baby has plump rosy cheeks.↗ · We picked plump, juicy blackberries.↗ · The robin looked plump in the cold.↗ · Mum plumped up the cushions on the sofa.↗ · I can't decide...↗ I'll plump for the pizza.↗ · He plumped down on the sofa, tired out.↗ · The raisins plumped up in the warm water.↗

plunder — Everyday, meaning 1: To plunder is to take goods from a place by force, as robbers or invaders do.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Plunder is the goods taken in this way.↗ Example: I must go and conquer them and bring back all the plunder of which they have robbed this land.↗ · The robbers plundered the village and rode away with the gold.↗ · The pirates hid their plunder in a cave.↗ · Because ye are glad, because ye rejoice, O ye that plunder My heritage, because ye gambol as a heifer at grass, and neigh as strong horses; (Prophets JER.50.11, JPS 1917)↗

plundered — Everyday, meaning 1: Plundered is the past form of plunder: it means that goods were taken by force from a place.↗ Example: There it stands, unsheltered, plundered, and broken.↗ · I have not robbed, nor plundered, nor killed anyone.↗ · The soldiers plundered all the farms in the valley.↗

plunge — Everyday, meaning 1: To plunge is to jump or fall suddenly and steeply, especially into water.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To plunge something into something is to push it in quickly and hard.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To plunge (of prices, temperatures or numbers) is to fall suddenly by a lot.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To plunge into an activity is to start it eagerly and with energy.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: (noun) A plunge is a sudden jump or fall, or a quick swim.↗ Everyday, meaning 6: To be plunged into darkness is to lose all light suddenly.↗ Example: The diver plunged into the deep pool.↗ · The lights went out and we were plunged into darkness.↗ · Temperatures plunged to minus ten overnight.↗ · She plunged her hands into the warm soapy water.↗ · After weeks of thinking, Dad took the plunge and bought a dog.↗ · The class plunged into the art project.↗ · The price of the toy plunged after Christmas.↗ · The graph shows a sharp plunge in sales in March.↗ · Once again the road was plunged in darkness.↗ · Yet wilt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.↗ (Writings JOB.9.31, JPS 1917)↗

plunger — Everyday, meaning 1: A plunger is a tool with a rubber cup on a stick, used to clear a blocked sink or toilet by pushing and pulling.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A plunger is a part that slides in and out of a tube, like in a syringe, a cafetière (French press) or a pump.↗ Example: Dad used a plunger to unblock the sink.↗ · Push the plunger slowly to squeeze out the water.↗ · The nurse pressed the syringe plunger.↗ · Press the plunger on the cafetière to make the coffee.↗ · The plunger made a loud sucking sound.↗ · Pull back the plunger to fill the syringe with air.↗

plural — Everyday, meaning 1: Plural means more than one: «cats» is the plural of «cat».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The plural of a word is the form it takes when it means more than one.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (formal) Plural can also mean having many kinds or groups living together, as in «a plural society».↗ Example: «Cats» is the plural of «cat».↗ · What is the plural of «mouse»?↗ It is «mice».↗ · «Sheep» is the same in the singular and the plural.↗ · Add «-es» to make the plural of «box».↗ · «We» and «they» are plural pronouns.↗ · The plural of «baby» is «babies».↗ · Use a plural verb with a plural subject: «The dogs bark».↗ · The word «scissors» is always plural.↗ · [The word terem (plural terema) which occurs twice in this story (rendered the second time by "chamber") deserves a special notice.↗ · Chiim, is the plural of Chi — living, or life.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · Frey in his dictionary gives ChHM as the plural word, lives, or vitae.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · The word sefirot by itself is the plural action noun of סָפַר safar 'to count', thus meaning literally 'countings'.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)↗

plurality — Everyday, meaning 1: (voting) More votes than any other single person or party, but not more than half of all votes.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A large number or variety of things.↗ e.g. "a plurality of opinions".↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (grammar) The state of being plural, more than one.↗ Example: She won with a plurality, but not a majority.↗ · A plurality of the class voted for pizza.↗ · The town has a plurality of languages and cultures.↗ · In first past the post, a plurality is enough to win.↗ · The plurality of nouns is shown by adding -s.↗ · Democracy needs a plurality of voices.↗

plus — Everyday, meaning 1: Plus means add.↗ 3 plus 4 is 7.↗ The sign for plus is +.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Plus means and also: «It is cheap, plus it is fun».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A plus is a good thing, an advantage.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Plus after a number means more than: «ages 8 plus», «A plus» (A+) is a top mark.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: In French, plus means "no more" or "not any more.".↗ Example: What is 6 plus 5?↗ · 10 plus 8 equals 18.↗ · It costs 20 dollars plus 2 dollars tax.↗ · Seven plus three is ten.↗ · The game is for ages 8 plus.↗ · She got an A plus on her test.↗ · The house is near the beach, plus it has a garden.↗ · Being near school is a big plus.↗ · The battery has a plus end and a minus end.↗ · Nous n’irons plus au bois, Les lauriers sont coupés,↗ · Soul; the word is NPSh, which is commonly translated soul, meaning the living personality of man, animal or existing thing : it corresponds almost to the Theosophic Prana plus the stimulus of Kama.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · 7) Like Pythagoras, who taught that the digits inclusive number ten which are typified in Tetraktys, (Τετρακτὺς) namely: 1 plus 2 plus 3 plus 4 equal 10, and which comprise the whole arithmetical system of nature, etc. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗

plush — Everyday, meaning 1: adjective: Rich, comfortable and expensive-looking.↗ e.g. "a plush hotel".↗ Everyday, meaning 2: noun.↗ e.g. A soft fabric with a thick, furry surface, used for soft toys, cushions and seats.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (plush toy) A soft cuddly toy.↗ Example: The hotel had plush red carpets.↗ · My teddy is made of soft plush.↗ · We sat on plush seats at the theatre.↗ · She won a plush toy at the fair.↗ · The rich family lived in a plush house.↗ · The cinema has new plush recliners.↗ · It was a splendid bunny, all white plush with real glass eyes, but the Boy was too excited to care very much about it.↗

plushy — Everyday, meaning 1: adjective (informal).↗ e.g. Rich and comfortable-looking, like plush; luxurious.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: noun (informal).↗ e.g. A soft, cuddly toy, usually spelled "plushie".↗ Example: She has a shelf full of plushies.↗ · The waiting room was plushy and quiet.↗ · I won a unicorn plushy at the fair.↗ · The plushy cushions were very soft.↗ · My little brother sleeps with his dinosaur plushy.↗ · The hotel lobby was a bit too plushy for us.↗

ply — Everyday, meaning 1: To ply someone with something is to keep giving them food or drink, often more than they want.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old use) To ply a trade or tool is to work at it steadily.↗ Example: The merchant seated him at table and began plying him with brandy.↗ · He kept plying the guest with cakes and tea.↗ · The old sailor plied his trade by the harbour for forty years.↗

plywood — Everyday, meaning 1: Plywood is a strong board made of thin layers of wood glued together, with the grain of each layer going a different way.↗ Example: A sheet of plywood is 2 metres long and 1 metre wide.↗ · He cut the plywood into 4 equal pieces.↗ · Each shelf needs 1 sheet of plywood.↗ · How many sheets of plywood are needed for 6 shelves?↗ · Dad built the tree house floor from plywood.↗ · The workers nailed plywood over the broken windows before the storm.↗ · In technology class we cut shapes from thin plywood.↗ · Plywood is made of layers of wood glued together.↗

pm — Everyday, meaning 1: «pm» (from Latin post meridiem, "after midday") means the hours after 12 noon and before midnight: 3 pm is in the afternoon.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: «PM» (UK, Australia, Canada, etc.) stands for Prime Minister, the leader of the government.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal, online) «PM» means a private message.↗ e.g. "PM me".↗ Example: School finishes at 3 pm.↗ · The film starts at 7:30 pm.↗ · From 11 am to 2 pm is 3 hours.↗ · 4 pm on the 24-hour clock is 16:00.↗ · The PM visited our town today.↗ · Lunch is at 12 pm, which means noon.↗ · Can you PM me the homework?↗ · The shop is open 9 am – 5 pm.↗

pneumatophore — Everyday, meaning 1: A pneumatophore is a special root of a mangrove tree that sticks up out of the mud or water like a pencil, so the tree can take in air.↗ Example: Pneumatophores poke up from the mud like pencils.↗ · Mangrove trees breathe through their pneumatophores.↗ · At low tide we saw hundreds of pneumatophores.↗ · Pneumatophores are an adaptation to wet, salty mud.↗ · Crabs hid among the pneumatophores.↗ · Without pneumatophores, mangrove roots could not get air in the mud.↗

pneumonia — Everyday, meaning 1: Pneumonia is a serious illness in which the lungs become swollen and fill with fluid, often caused by germs, making it hard to breathe.↗ Example: Grandad was in hospital with pneumonia.↗ · Pneumonia makes it hard to breathe.↗ · The doctor said she had pneumonia and gave her medicine.↗ · Some vaccines help protect against pneumonia.↗ · Pneumonia can follow a bad cold or flu.↗ · He coughed a lot when he had pneumonia.↗