📖 P — The English dictionary · page 74

punchayet — Everyday, meaning 1: (India) A village council, traditionally of five elders, that settles disputes and runs local affairs.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (Kipling, Just So Stories) A meeting or council of animals to decide a matter.↗ Example: The punchayet met under the big tree to decide.↗ · The village panchayat settled the quarrel over water.↗ · In the story, the animals held a punchayet.↗ · The elders of the punchayet listened to both sides.↗ · Today India has thousands of elected panchayats.↗ · Kipling uses old Indian words like «punchayet».↗

punchline — Everyday, meaning 1: The last line or words of a joke, which make it funny: «Wait for the punchline!».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The surprising or important ending of a story, speech or advert.↗ Example: He forgot the punchline, so nobody laughed.↗ · The punchline of the joke is «Lettuce in, it's cold out here!»↗ · Wait for it, the punchline is coming.↗ · She delivered the punchline perfectly and the whole class laughed.↗ · I didn't get the punchline until my sister explained it.↗ · The story's punchline was that the ghost was the dog all along.↗

punctual — Everyday, meaning 1: Arriving or doing something at the agreed time, not late.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Happening exactly on time: «a punctual train».↗ Example: Please be punctual for the school trip.↗ · Our teacher is always punctual.↗ · The bus was punctual this morning for once.↗ · Being punctual shows respect for others.↗ · He's never punctual, he's always five minutes late.↗ · My report said I was polite and punctual.↗ · ‘You are punctual,’ said the old man, ‘but we need not start just yet.↗

punctuality — Everyday, meaning 1: Punctuality is being on time, not late.↗ Example: Punctuality is important at school.↗ · The report praised her punctuality.↗ · The bus company is known for punctuality.↗ · Good punctuality means you arrive by 8:45.↗ · Dad values punctuality and is never late.↗ · Punctuality shows respect for others.↗ · The class won a prize for punctuality.↗ · (formal) Pupils are expected to observe strict punctuality.↗

punctually — Everyday, meaning 1: At exactly the right time, not late: «The train left punctually at nine.».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Regularly on time, every time: «She pays her bills punctually.».↗ Example: Lessons start punctually at nine o'clock.↗ · The bus arrived punctually, so we were not late.↗ · Please hand in your homework punctually.↗ · Grandad always arrives punctually for Sunday lunch.↗ · The concert began punctually at seven.↗ · Swiss trains are famous for running punctually.↗ · Punctually at eight o'clock my performance closed, for children must go early to bed, and a manager must also consult the convenience of the public.↗

punctuate — Everyday, meaning 1: To punctuate writing is to put in punctuation marks, like full stops, commas, question marks and speech marks.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To punctuate something also means to interrupt it again and again: the speech was punctuated by cheers.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To punctuate can mean to stress a point: he punctuated his words by banging the table.↗ Example: Punctuate this sentence: where are you going asked tom↗ · Remember to punctuate your story with full stops and capital letters.↗ · She punctuated the dialogue with speech marks.↗ · The quiet night was punctuated by an owl's hoot.↗ · His talk was punctuated with jokes.↗ · The teacher punctuated each rule by tapping the board.↗ · Can you punctuate the list with commas?↗

punctuation — Everyday, meaning 1: Punctuation is the set of marks we use in writing, such as full stops, commas, question marks and apostrophes, to make the meaning clear and show where to pause.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Punctuation is also the way you use these marks: «Check your punctuation».↗ Example: Remember your punctuation: capital letter at the start, full stop at the end.↗ · A question mark is a punctuation mark.↗ · Commas save lives: «Let's eat, Grandma!»↗ · My teacher said my punctuation in speech was excellent.↗ · Use speech marks around the words a character says.↗ · The test had ten punctuation questions.↗ · Without punctuation, the sentence was hard to read.↗ · Americans call a full stop a «period».↗

puncture — Everyday, meaning 1: A puncture is a small hole made by something sharp, especially in a tyre so that the air comes out.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To puncture something is to make a small hole in it.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A puncture wound is a deep, small wound made by something pointed, like a nail.↗ Example: I got a puncture on my bike on the way to school.↗ · Dad showed me how to mend a puncture.↗ · A nail punctured the car tyre.↗ · Be careful: the pin could puncture the balloon.↗ · A puncture wound from a rusty nail needs a doctor's check.↗ · We carry a puncture repair kit on long rides.↗ · And the Seven Gates in the person: two eyes, two ears, two punctures of the nose, and the mouth.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)↗

pundit — Everyday, meaning 1: A pundit is an expert who often gives opinions on TV, radio or in newspapers, for example about football or politics.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (Hinduism) A pundit (pandit) is a learned teacher or priest.↗ Example: The football pundit said the referee was wrong.↗ · Pundits argued about who would win the election.↗ · My uncle shouts at TV pundits.↗ · A pundit's opinion is not always a fact.↗ · The cricket pundit explained the rules.↗ · The pundit predicted the wrong winner.↗

punish — Everyday, meaning 1: To make someone suffer or lose something because they did something wrong, so they learn not to do it again.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To treat something roughly: «the hot sun punished the plants».↗ Example: The teacher punished us for being rude.↗ · He was punished for cheating in the test.↗ · My parents don't punish me if I tell the truth.↗ · The thief was punished by the court.↗ · In the story, the cruel king was punished.↗ · It's not fair to punish the whole class for one person.↗ · I could punish you now, but I’ll wait!↗ · Now will He remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.↗ (Prophets HOS.8.13, JPS 1917)↗ · To punish also the righteous is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.↗ (Writings PRO.17.26, JPS 1917)↗ · Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them that are circumcised in their uncircumcision: (Prophets JER.9.24, JPS 1917)↗

punishable — Everyday, meaning 1: That can be punished by law or by rules: «Stealing is a punishable offence.».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (law) That carries a particular punishment: «punishable by a fine».↗ Example: Dropping litter here is punishable by a £100 fine.↗ · Cheating in the exam is punishable by disqualification.↗ · Bullying is punishable under school rules.↗ · In some countries, chewing gum on the train is punishable.↗ · Pulling the emergency cord without reason is punishable by law.↗ · Hacking into someone's account is a punishable crime.↗

punished — Everyday, meaning 1: Punished means made to suffer something unpleasant because you did something wrong or broke a rule.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: As an adjective, punished describes someone who has received a punishment.↗ Example: He was punished for breaking the window.↗ · The wicked queen was punished at the end of the story.↗ · She felt punished, even though it wasn't her fault.↗ · The whole class was punished because of one person's joke.↗ · You won't be punished for telling the truth.↗ · Cheaters should be punished.↗ · In the old days, thieves were punished harshly.↗ · The crime went unpunished.↗ · "You are being punished, king's son."↗ · Notwithstanding if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his money.↗ (Torah EXO.21.21, JPS 1917)↗ · And if a man smite his bondman, or his bondwoman, with a rod, and he die under his hand, he shall surely be punished.↗ (Torah EXO.21.20, JPS 1917)↗ · And now, is it for nought that He punished in His anger?↗ (Writings JOB.35.15, JPS 1917)↗ · For that were a heinous crime; yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges.↗ (Writings JOB.31.11, JPS 1917)↗ · A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.↗ (Writings PRO.22.3, JPS 1917)↗

punishment — Everyday, meaning 1: A punishment is something unpleasant done to someone because they did something wrong, like losing playtime or paying a fine.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Punishment is the act of punishing.↗ Example: As a punishment, he had no TV for a week.↗ · Detention is a common punishment at school.↗ · Is it fair to give the whole class a punishment for one person's mistake?↗ · The thief got a punishment from the judge.↗ · In the fairy tale, the wicked queen got her punishment.↗ · A good punishment should help you learn, not just hurt.↗ · Ingratitude sometimes brings its own punishment.↗ · And Cain said unto the LORD: 'My punishment is greater than I can bear.↗ (Torah GEN.4.13, JPS 1917)↗ · I also will walk contrary unto them, and bring them into the land of their enemies; if then perchance their uncircumcised heart be humbled, and they then be paid the punishment of their iniquity; (Torah LEV.26.41, JPS 1917)↗ · A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment; for if thou interpose, thou wilt add thereto.↗ (Writings PRO.19.19, JPS 1917)↗ · The haters of the LORD should dwindle away before Him; and their punishment should endure for ever.↗ (Writings PSA.81.16, JPS 1917)↗ · Be ye afraid of the sword; for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.↗ (Writings JOB.19.29, JPS 1917)↗

punjabi — Everyday, meaning 1: A language spoken in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, and by many people in the UK, Canada and elsewhere.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A person from the Punjab region.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: adjective Connected with the Punjab, its people, food or culture.↗ Example: My friend Harpreet speaks Punjabi at home.↗ · We learned to count to ten in Punjabi.↗ · Punjabi is written in two different scripts.↗ · The restaurant serves Punjabi food.↗ · Her grandparents are Punjabi.↗ · Bhangra is lively Punjabi dance music.↗

punnet — Everyday, meaning 1: A punnet is a small square basket or box, often of plastic or cardboard, in which soft fruit such as strawberries or raspberries is sold.↗ Example: We bought two punnets of strawberries.↗ · A punnet of raspberries costs £2.↗ · The punnet was full of juicy blueberries.↗ · Each punnet holds 15 cherry tomatoes.↗ · Gran picked a punnet of berries from the garden.↗ · Don't squash the punnet in the shopping bag.↗

punt — Everyday, meaning 1: A long, flat-bottomed boat with square ends, pushed along a river with a long pole.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (verb) To travel in a punt by pushing a pole against the river bed.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (sport) A kick in which the ball is dropped from the hands and kicked before it hits the ground, used in rugby, American football and Australian rules.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (informal, UK, Ireland, Australia) A bet or a guess: «take a punt on it».↗ Everyday, meaning 5: (history, Ireland) The Irish pound, Ireland's money before the euro in 2002.↗ Example: We went punting on the river in Cambridge.↗ · Push the pole down to the river bed to punt.↗ · The kicker punted the ball down the field.↗ · I don't know the answer, but I'll take a punt: is it twelve?↗ · Grandad still talks about prices in punts.↗ · The punt drifted slowly under the bridge.↗

puny — Everyday, meaning 1: Puny means small and weak, not strong or big.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Puny can mean small and of little importance.↗ Example: A puny lion would not frighten anyone.↗ · The puny puppy could not lift the stick.↗ · Tom felt puny after his long illness.↗ · Dad said the puny plant needed more sun.↗

pup — Everyday, meaning 1: A pup is a young dog; a puppy.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A pup is also the baby of some other animals, such as seals, otters, wolves, foxes, rats and bats.↗ Example: Our new pup chewed my shoe.↗ · The seal pup has white fluffy fur.↗ · The mother wolf fed her pups in the den.↗ · A litter of six pups was born last night.↗ · Leave a seal pup alone on the beach — its mother is nearby.↗ · Otter pups learn to swim from their mothers.↗

pupa — Everyday, meaning 1: The stage in the life of some insects between the larva (like a caterpillar) and the adult (like a butterfly), when the insect rests and changes inside a case.↗ Example: The caterpillar turned into a pupa.↗ · A butterfly pupa is called a chrysalis.↗ · Inside the pupa, the insect changes its whole body.↗ · After two weeks a butterfly came out of the pupa.↗ · We drew the four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult.↗ · Bees and beetles also have a pupa stage.↗ · Do not touch the pupa, or you might hurt it.↗

pupal — Everyday, meaning 1: (science) To do with a pupa, the resting stage in an insect's life between larva and adult, when it changes shape inside a case or cocoon: «the pupal stage».↗ Example: The caterpillar entered its pupal stage and hung still for two weeks.↗ · A butterfly's pupal case is called a chrysalis.↗ · The beetle came out of its pupal skin.↗ · During the pupal stage the insect's body completely changes.↗ · We kept the pupal cases in a jar to watch them hatch.↗ · Mosquitoes have a pupal stage in water.↗

pupil — Everyday, meaning 1: A pupil is a child who goes to school and learns from a teacher.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A pupil is anyone who learns from a teacher, like a piano pupil.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: The pupil of the eye is the black circle in the middle that lets light in.↗ Example: There are 28 pupils in the class.↗ · Each pupil gets 3 pencils.↗ · The school has 4 classes with 25 pupils in each.↗ · 6 pupils were absent, how many came?↗ · The pupils lined up for assembly.↗ · The piano teacher has ten pupils.↗ · Your pupils get smaller in bright light.↗ · Shine a torch near your eye and watch the pupil shrink.↗ · Every pupil wears a school uniform.↗ · But the King's son said, "Master first, and pupil after."↗ · Ginsburg asserts that the system of vowel polluting was invented by a Rabbi Mocha in Palestine about a.d.↗ 570, who designed it to assist his pupils.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗