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Have a look at our Collins dictionary online. Here you can see for yourself every word in our database, and whether it’s available to adopt. You’ll soon feel inspired.
p
the 16th letter and 12th consonant of the modern English alphabet
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p-
short for para-
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p-i-n
p-type, intrinsic, n-type: a form of construction of semiconductor devices
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p-type
(of a semiconductor) having a density of mobile holes in excess of that of conduction electrons
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p.
page
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p.a.
per annum
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p.m.
(indicating the time period from midday to midnight) post meridiem
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P/C
petty cash
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P2P
peer-to-peer
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P45
a severance form issued by the Inland Revenue via an employer to a person leaving employment
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P
a town in central Poland, on the River Vistula: several Polish kings are buried in the cathedral: oil refining, petrochemical works. Pop: 130 000 (2005 est)
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pa
an informal word for father
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pa'anga
the standard monetary unit of Tonga, divided into 100 seniti
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PA's
a type of rock boot
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Pa.
Pennsylvania
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paal
a stake driven into the ground
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PABA
para-aminobenzoic acid
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Pablum
a cereal food for infants, developed in Canada
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pabulum
food
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PABX
private automatic branch exchange
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PAC
Pan-Africanist Congress
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Pac.
Pacific
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paca
a large burrowing hystricomorph rodent, Cuniculus paca, of Central and South America, having white-spotted brown fur and a large head: family Dasyproctidae
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pace
a single step in walking
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pacemaker
a person, horse, vehicle, etc, used in a race or speed trial to set the pace
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pacer
a horse trained to move at a special gait, esp for racing
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pacesetter
another word for pacemaker
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paceway
a racecourse for trotting and pacing
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pacey
fast-moving, quick, lively
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pacha
a variant spelling of pasha
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pachalic
a variant spelling of pashalik
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pachinko
a Japanese game similar to pinball
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pachisi
an Indian game somewhat resembling backgammon, played on a cruciform board using six cowries as dice
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pachouli
a variant spelling of patchouli
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Pachuca
a city in central Mexico, capital of Hidalgo state, in the Sierra Madre Oriental: silver mines; university (1961). Pop: 333 000 (2005 est)
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Pachuco
a young Mexican living in the US, esp one of low social status who belongs to a street gang
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pachyderm
any very large thick-skinned mammal, such as an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus
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pachymeningitis
inflammation of the dura mater of the brain and spinal cord
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pachytene
the third stage of the prophase of meiosis during which the chromosomes become shorter and thicker and divide into chromatids
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pacific
tending or conducive to peace; conciliatory
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pacification
the act, process, or policy of pacifying
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pacifier
a person or thing that pacifies
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pacifism
the belief that violence of any kind is unjustifiable and that one should not participate in war
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pacifist
a person who supports pacifism
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pacify
to calm the anger or agitation of; mollify
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pack
a bundle or load, esp one carried on the back
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package
any wrapped or boxed object or group of objects
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packager
an independent firm specializing in design and production, as of illustrated books or television programmes which are sold to publishers or television companies as finished products
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packaging
the box or wrapping in which a product is offered for sale
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packed
completely filled; full
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packer
a person or company whose business is to pack goods, esp food
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packet
a small or medium-sized container of cardboard, paper, etc, often together with its contents
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packframe
a light metal frame with shoulder straps, used for carrying heavy or awkward loads
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packhorse
a horse used to transport goods, equipment, etc
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packing
material used to cushion packed goods
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packsack
a bag carried strapped on the back or shoulder
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packsaddle
a saddle hung with packs, equipment, etc, used on a pack animal
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packthread
a strong twine for sewing or tying up packages
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pact
an agreement or compact between two or more parties, nations, etc, for mutual advantage
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pacy
a variant spelling of pacey
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pad
a thick piece of soft material used to make something comfortable, give it shape, or protect it
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padang
(in Malaysia) a playing field
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padauk
any of various tropical African or Asian leguminous trees of the genus Pterocarpus that have reddish wood
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padding
any soft material used to pad clothes, furniture, etc
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paddle
a short light oar with a flat blade at one or both ends, used without a rowlock to propel a canoe or small boat
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paddleboard
a long narrow surfboard
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paddlefish
a primitive bony fish, Polyodon spathula, of the Mississippi River, having a long paddle-like projection to the snout: family Polyodontidae
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paddock
a small enclosed field, often for grazing or training horses, usually near a house or stable
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paddock-basher
a vehicle suited to driving on rough terrain
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paddy
a field planted with rice
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paddy-last
the last person in a race or competition
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paddymelon
a South African cucurbitaceous vine, Cucumis myriocarpus, widely naturalized in Australia
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paddywhack
a spanking or smack
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pademelon
a small wallaby of the genus Thylogale, of coastal scrubby regions of Australia
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Paderborn
a market town in NW Germany, in North Rhine-Westphalia: scene of the meeting between Charlemagne and Pope Leo III (799 ad) that led to the foundation of the Holy Roman Empire. Pop: 141 800 (2003 est)
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Padishah
a title of the shah of Iran
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padkos
snacks and provisions for a journey
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padlock
a detachable lock having a hinged or sliding shackle, which can be used to secure a door, lid, etc, by passing the shackle through rings or staples
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padouk
a variant spelling of padauk
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Padova
the Italian name for Padua
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padre
father: used to address or refer to a clergyman, esp a priest
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padrone
the owner or proprietor of an inn, esp in Italy
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padsaw
a small narrow saw used for cutting curves
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Padua
a city in NE Italy, in Veneto: important in Roman and Renaissance times; university (1222); botanical garden (1545). Pop: 204 870 (2001)
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paduasoy
a rich strong silk fabric used for hangings, vestments, etc
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Padus
the Latin name for the Po
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paean
a hymn sung in ancient Greece in invocation of or thanksgiving to a deity
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paederast
a less common spelling of pederast
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paederastic
A derivative of paederast
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paediatrician
a medical practitioner who specializes in paediatrics
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Nadine Short
Reason for adoption: A perfect word for the very best in his profession!
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paediatrics
the branch of medical science concerned with children and their diseases
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paedo-
indicating a child or children
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paedogenesis
sexual reproduction in an animal that retains its larval features
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paedology
the study of the character, growth, and development of children
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paedomorphosis
the resemblance of adult animals to the young of their ancestors: seen in the evolution of modern man, who shows resemblances to the young stages of australopithecines
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paella
a Spanish dish made from rice, shellfish, chicken, and vegetables
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paeon
a metrical foot of four syllables, with one long one and three short ones in any order
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paeony
a variant spelling of peony
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Paestum
an ancient Greek colony on the coast of Lucania in S Italy
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PAGAD
People Against Gangsterism and Drugs, a vigilante organization formed in the Western Cape around 1995 and subsequently associated with Islamic fundamentalism
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pagan
a member of a group professing a polytheistic religion or any religion other than Christianity, Judaism, or Islam
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paganize
to become pagan, render pagan, or convert to paganism
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page
one side of one of the leaves of a book, newspaper, letter, etc or the written or printed matter it bears
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page-turner
an exciting novel, such as a thriller, with a fast-moving story
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pageant
an elaborate colourful parade or display portraying scenes from history, esp one involving rich costume
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pageantry
spectacular display or ceremony
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pageboy
a smooth medium-length hairstyle with the ends of the hair curled under and a long fringe falling onto the forehead from the crown
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pager
a small electronic device, capable of receiving short messages; usually carried by people who need to be contacted urgently (e.g. doctors)
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pageview
an electronic page of information displayed in response to a user's request, such as one page of a website
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paginal
page-for-page
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paginate
to number the pages of (a book, manuscript, etc) in sequence
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pagoda
an Indian or Far Eastern temple, esp a tower, usually pyramidal and having many storeys
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pagurian
any decapod crustacean of the family Paguridae, which includes the hermit crabs
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pah
an exclamation of disgust, disbelief, etc
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs AJ de Montjoie Rudolf
Reason for adoption: One of our most commonly used words ...
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Pahang
a state of Peninsular Malaysia, on the South China Sea: the largest Malayan state; mountainous and heavily forested. Capital: Kuantan. Pop: 1 288 376 (2000). Area: 35 964 sq km (13 886 sq miles)
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Pahari
a group of Indo-European languages spoken in the Himalayas, divided into Eastern Pahari (Nepali) and Western Pahari (consisting of many dialects)
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pahautea
another name for kaikawaka
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Pahlavi
the Middle Persian language, esp as used in classical Zoroastrian and Manichean literature
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Pahsien
another name for Chongqing
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paid
to end or destroy
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paid-up
having paid the due, full, or required fee to be a member of an organization, club, political party, etc
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paigle
another name for cowslip
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Paignton
a town and resort in SW England, in Devon: administratively part of Torbay since 1968
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pail
a bucket, esp one made of wood or metal
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paillasse
a variant spelling (esp US) of palliasse
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paillette
a sequin or spangle sewn onto a costume
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pain
the sensation of acute physical hurt or discomfort caused by injury, illness, etc
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pained
having or expressing pain or distress, esp mental or emotional distress
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painful
causing pain; distressing
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painkiller
an analgesic drug or agent
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painless
not causing pain or distress
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pains
care, trouble, or effort (esp in the phrases take pains, be at pains to)
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painstaking
extremely careful, esp as to fine detail
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paint
a substance used for decorating or protecting a surface, esp a mixture consisting of a solid pigment suspended in a liquid, that when applied to a surface dries to form a hard coating
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paint-by-numbers
formulaic; showing no original thought or creativity
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paintbox
a box containing a tray of dry watercolour paints
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paintbrush
a brush used to apply paint
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painter
a person who paints surfaces as a trade
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painterly
having qualities peculiar to painting, esp the depiction of shapes by means of solid masses of colour, rather than by lines
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painting
the art or process of applying paints to a surface such as canvas, to make a picture or other artistic composition
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paintwork
a surface, such as wood or a car body, that is painted
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pair
two identical or similar things matched for use together
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pair-oar
a racing shell in which two oarsmen sit one behind the other and pull one oar each
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pairs
another name for Pelmanism
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paisa
a monetary unit of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan worth one hundredth of a rupee
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paisano
a friend; pal
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paisley
a pattern of small curving shapes with intricate detailing, usually printed in bright colours
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paitrick
a Scot word for partridge
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Paiute
a member of either of two North American Indian peoples (Northern Paiute and Southern Paiute) of the Southwestern US, related to the Aztecs
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pajamas
the US spelling of pyjamas
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Pak
Pakistan
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pakahi
acid land that is unsuitable for cultivation
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pakapoo
a Chinese lottery with betting slips marked with Chinese characters
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Pakeha
(in New Zealand) a person who is not of Maori ancestry, esp a White person
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Paki-bashing
the activity of making vicious and unprovoked physical assaults upon Pakistani immigrants or people of Pakistani descent
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pakihi
an area of swampy infertile land
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pakirikiri
another name for blue cod
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Pakistan
a republic in S Asia, on the Arabian Sea: the Union of Pakistan, formed in 1947, comprised West and East Pakistan; East Pakistan gained independence as Bangladesh in 1971 and West Pakistan became Pakistan; a member of the Commonwealth from 1947, it withdrew from 1972 until 1989; contains the fertile plains of the Indus valley rising to mountains in the north and west Official language: Urdu. Official religion: Muslim. Currency: rupee. Capital: Islamabad. Pop: 157 315 000 (2004 est). Area: 801 508 sq km (309 463 sq miles)
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Pakistani
a native or inhabitant of Pakistan
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pakoko
another name for bully
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pakora
an Indian dish consisting of pieces of vegetable, chicken, etc, dipped in a spiced batter and deep-fried: served with a piquant sauce
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pakthong
another name for nickel silver
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pal
a close friend; comrade
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr nick jolly
Reason for adoption: she is exactly that!
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Pal.
Palestine
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palace
the official residence of a reigning monarch or member of a royal family
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Richard Bushell
Reason for adoption: C'mon
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paladin
one of the legendary twelve peers of Charlemagne's court
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palaeanthropic
relating to or denoting the earliest variety of man
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Palaearctic
of or denoting a zoogeographical region consisting of Europe, Africa north of the Sahara, and most of Asia north of the Himalayas
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palaeethnology
the study of prehistoric man
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palaeo-
old, ancient, or prehistoric
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palaeoanthropology
the branch of anthropology concerned with primitive man
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palaeobotany
the study of fossil plants
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Palaeocene
of, denoting, or formed in the first epoch of the Tertiary period, which lasted for 10 million years
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palaeoclimatology
the study of climates of the geological past
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palaeocurrent
an ancient current, esp of water, evidence of which has been preserved in sedimentary rocks as fossilized ripple marks, etc
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palaeoecology
the study of fossil animals and plants in order to deduce their ecology and the environmental conditions in which they lived
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palaeoethnobotany
the study of fossil seeds and grains to further archaeological knowledge, esp of the domestication of cereals
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Palaeogene
of or formed in the Palaeocene, Eocene, and Oligocene epochs
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palaeogeography
the study of geographical features of the geological past
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palaeography
the study of the handwritings of the past, and often the manuscripts as well, so that they may be dated, read, etc, and may serve as historical and literary sources
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palaeolith
a stone tool dating to the Palaeolithic
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Palaeolithic
the period of the emergence of primitive man and the manufacture of unpolished chipped stone tools, about 2.5 million to 3 million years ago until about 12 000 bc.
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palaeomagnetism
the study of the fossil magnetism in rocks, used to determine the past configurations of the continents and to investigate the past shape and magnitude of the earth's magnetic field
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palaeontography
the branch of palaeontology concerned with the description of fossils
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palaeontol.
palaeontology
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palaeontology
the study of fossils to determine the structure and evolution of extinct animals and plants and the age and conditions of deposition of the rock strata in which they are found
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palaeopathology
the study of diseases of ancient man and fossil animals
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Palaeozoic
of, denoting, or relating to an era of geological time that began 600 million years ago with the Cambrian period and lasted about 375 million years until the end of the Permian period
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palaeozoology
the study of fossil animals
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palaestra
(in ancient Greece or Rome) a public place devoted to the training of athletes
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Palagi
a Samoan name for European
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palanquin
a covered litter, formerly used in the Orient, carried on the shoulders of four men
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palatable
pleasant to taste
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palatal
of or relating to the palate
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palatalize
to pronounce (a speech sound) with the blade of the tongue touching the palate
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palate
the roof of the mouth, separating the oral and nasal cavities
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palatial
of, resembling, or suitable for a palace; sumptuous
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palatinate
a territory ruled by a palatine prince or noble or count palatine
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palatine
(of an individual) possessing royal prerogatives in a territory
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Palau
a republic comprising a group of islands in the W Pacific, in the W Caroline Islands; administratively part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 1947--87; entered into an agreement of free association with the US (1980); became fully independent in 1994. Chief island: Babelthuap. Capital: Koror; new capital under construction on Babelthuap. Pop: 20 000 (2003 est). Area: 476 sq km (184 sq miles)
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palaver
tedious or time-consuming business, esp when of a formal nature
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Palawan
an island of the SW Philippines between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea: the westernmost island in the country; mountainous and forested. Capital: Puerto Princesa. Pop: 311 550 (latest est). Area: 11 785 sq km (4550 sq miles)
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pale
lacking brightness of colour; whitish
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palea
the inner of two bracts surrounding each floret in a grass spikelet
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paleface
a derogatory term for a White person, said to have been used by North American Indians
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Palembang
a port in W Indonesia, in S Sumatra; oil refineries; university (1955). Pop: 1 451 419 (2000)
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Palencia
a city in N central Spain: earliest university in Spain (1208); seat of Castilian kings (12th--13th centuries); communications centre. Pop: 81 378 (2003 est)
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Palenque
the site of an ancient Mayan city in S Mexico famous for its architectural ruins
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paleo-
variants (esp US) of palaeo-
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Palermo
the capital of Sicily, on the NW coast: founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century bc Pop: 686 722 (2001)
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Palestine
the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea in which most of the biblical narrative is located
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Palestinian
of or relating to Palestine
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palestra
the usual US spelling of palaestra
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paletot
a loose outer garment
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palette
a flat piece of wood, plastic, etc, used by artists as a surface on which to mix their paints
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palfrey
a light saddle horse, esp ridden by women
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Pali
an ancient language of India derived from Sanskrit; the language of the Buddhist scriptures
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palikar
a Greek soldier in the war of independence against Turkey (1821--28)
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palilalia
a speech disorder in which a word or phrase is rapidly repeated
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palimony
alimony awarded to a nonmarried partner after the break-up of a long-term relationship
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palimpsest
a manuscript on which two or more successive texts have been written, each one being erased to make room for the next
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Elizabeth Aston
Reason for adoption: It is a rarely used word that could be a metaphor in many situations.
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palindrome
a word or phrase the letters of which, when taken in reverse order, give the same word or phrase, such as able was I ere I saw Elba
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paling
a fence made of pales
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palingenesis
spiritual rebirth through metempsychosis of Christian baptism
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palinka
a type of apricot brandy, originating in Central and Eastern Europe
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palinode
a poem in which the poet recants something he has said in a former poem
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palinopsia
a visual disorder in which the patient perceives a prolonged afterimage
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palisade
a strong fence made of stakes driven into the ground, esp for defence
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palisades
high cliffs in a line, often along a river, resembling a palisade
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palish
rather pale
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pall
a cloth covering, usually black, spread over a coffin or tomb
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pall-mall
a game in which a ball is driven by a mallet along an alley and through an iron ring
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Palladian
denoting, relating to, or having the neoclassical style of architecture created by Palladio
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palladic
of or containing palladium in the trivalent or tetravalent state
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palladium
a ductile malleable silvery-white element of the platinum metal group occurring principally in nickel-bearing ores: used as a hydrogenation catalyst and, alloyed with gold, in jewellery. Symbol: Pd; atomic no: 46; atomic wt: 106.42; valency: 2, 3, or 4; relative density: 1202; melting pt: 1555°C; boiling pt: 2964°C
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palladous
of or containing palladium in the divalent state
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Pallas
the second largest asteroid (diameter 520 km), revolving around the sun in a period of 4.62 years
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pallbearer
a person who carries or escorts the coffin at a funeral
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pallescent
becoming paler in colour with increasing age
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pallet
a straw-filled mattress or bed
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palletize
to stack or transport on a pallet or pallets
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palliasse
a straw-filled mattress; pallet
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palliate
to lessen the severity of (pain, disease, etc) without curing or removing; alleviate; mitigate
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palliative
serving to palliate; relieving without curing
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pallid
lacking colour or brightness; wan
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pallium
a garment worn by men in ancient Greece or Rome, made by draping a large rectangular cloth about the body
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pallor
a pale condition, esp when unnatural
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pally
on friendly or familiar terms
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palm
the inner part of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
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Palma
the capital of the Balearic Islands, on the SW coast of Majorca: a tourist centre. Pop: 367 277 (2003 est)
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palmaceous
of, relating to, or belonging to the palm family, Arecaceae (formerly Palmae or Palmaceae)
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palmar
of or relating to the palm of the hand
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palmary
worthy of praise
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Palmas
a city in N Brazil, capital of Tocantins state. Pop: 391 000 (2005 est)
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palmate
shaped like an open hand
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palmation
the state of being palmate
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palmcorder
a small camcorder which can be held in the palm of the hand
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palmer
(in Medieval Europe) a pilgrim bearing a palm branch as a sign of his visit to the Holy Land
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Palmerston
the former name (1869--1911) of Darwin
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palmette
an ornament or design resembling the palm leaf
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palmetto
any of several small chiefly tropical fan palms, esp any of the genus Sabal, of the southeastern US
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Palmira
a city in W Colombia: agricultural trading centre. Pop: 253 000 (2005 est)
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palmistry
the process or art of interpreting character, telling fortunes, etc, by the configuration of lines, marks, and bumps on a person's hand
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palmitate
any salt or ester of palmitic acid
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palmitin
the colourless glyceride of palmitic acid, occurring in many natural oils and fats. Formula: (C15H31COO)3C3H5
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palmy
prosperous, flourishing, or luxurious
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palmyra
a tall tropical Asian palm, Borassus flabellifer, with large fan-shaped leaves used for thatching and weaving; grown also for its edible seedlings
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Palomar
a mountain in S California, northeast of San Diego: site of Mount Palomar Observatory, which has a large (200-inch) reflecting telescope. Height: 1871 m (6140 ft)
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palomino
a golden horse with a cream or white mane and tail
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palooka
a stupid or clumsy boxer or other person
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Palos
a village and former port in SW Spain: starting point of Columbus' voyage of discovery to America (1492)
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palp
either of a pair of sensory appendages that arise from the mouthparts of crustaceans and insects
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palpable
easily perceived by the senses or the mind; obvious
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palpate
to examine (an area of the body) by the sense of touch and pressure
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palpebral
of or relating to the eyelid
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palpebrate
having eyelids
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palpitate
(of the heart) to beat with abnormal rapidity
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palsgrave
a German count palatine
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palstave
a kind of celt, usually of bronze, made to fit into a split wooden handle rather than having a socket for the handle
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palsy
paralysis, esp of a specified type
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palsy-walsy
excessively friendly
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palter
to act or talk insincerely
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paltry
insignificant; meagre
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paludal
of, relating to, or produced by marshes
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paludism
a rare word for malaria
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Paludrine
proguanil hydrochloride, a synthetic antimalarial drug first produced in 1944
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paly
vertically striped
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palynology
the study of living and fossil pollen grains and plant spores
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Pama-Nyungan
of or relating to the largest superfamily of languages within the phylum of languages spoken by the native Australians
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Pamirs
a mountainous area of central Asia, mainly in Tajikistan and partly in Kyrgyzstan, extending into China and Afghanistan: consists of a complex of high ranges, from which the Tian Shan projects to the north, the Kunlun and Karakoram to the east, and the Hindu Kush to the west; Kommunizma Peak is situated in the Tajik Pamirs. Highest peak: Kongur Shan, 7719 m (25 326 ft)
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pampas
the extensive grassy plains of temperate South America, esp in Argentina
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Pampeluna
the former name of Pamplona
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pamper
to treat with affectionate and usually excessive indulgence; coddle; spoil
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pampero
a dry cold wind in South America blowing across the pampas from the south or southwest
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pamphlet
a brief publication generally having a paper cover; booklet
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pamphleteer
a person who writes or issues pamphlets, esp of a controversial nature
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pamphrey
a cabbage
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Pamphylia
an area on the S coast of ancient Asia Minor
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Pamplona
a city in N Spain in the foothills of the Pyrenees: capital of the kingdom of Navarre from the 11th century until 1841. Pop: 190 937 (2003 est)
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pampoen
a pumpkin
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pampootie
a rawhide slipper worn by men in the Aran Islands
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pan
a wide metal vessel used in cooking
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pan-
all or every
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Pan-African
of or relating to all African countries or the advocacy of political unity among African countries
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Pan-American
of, relating to, or concerning North, South, and Central America collectively or the advocacy of political or economic unity among American countries
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Pan-Arabism
the principle of, support for, or the movement towards Arab political union or cooperation
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Pan-European
of or relating to all European countries or the advocacy of political or economic unity among European countries
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Pan-Germanism
(esp in the 19th century) the movement for the unification of Germany
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Pan-Slavism
(esp in the 19th century) the movement for the union of the Slavic peoples, esp under the hegemony of tsarist Russia
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Pan-Teutonism
another name for Pan-Germanism
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Pan.
Panama
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panacea
a remedy for all diseases or ills
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panache
a dashing manner; style; swagger
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panada
a mixture of flour, water, etc, or of breadcrumbs soaked in milk, used as a thickening
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Panaji
a variant of Panjim
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Panama
a republic in Central America, occupying the Isthmus of Panama: gained independence from Spain in 1821 and joined Greater Colombia; became independent in 1903, with the immediate area around the canal forming the Canal Zone under US jurisdiction; Panama assumed sovereignty over the Canal Zone in 1979 and full control in 1999. Official language: Spanish; English is also widely spoken. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: balboa. Capital: Panama City. Pop: 3 178 000 (2004 est). Area: 75 650 sq km (29 201 sq miles)
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Panamanian
of or relating to Panama or its inhabitants
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panatella
a long slender cigar
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Panathenaea
(in ancient Athens) a summer festival on the traditional birthday of Athena
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Panay
an island in the central Philippines, the westernmost of the Visayan Islands. Pop: 2 595 315 (latest est). Area: 12 300 sq km (4750 sq miles)
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pancake
a thin flat cake made from batter and fried on both sides, often served rolled and filled with a sweet or savoury mixture
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Nick Taynton
Reason for adoption: Maya's favourite food!
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pancetta
a lightly spiced cured bacon from Italy
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panchax
any of several brightly coloured tropical Asian cyprinodont fishes of the genus Aplocheilus, such as A. panchax (blue panchax)
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Panchayat
a village council in India
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panchromatic
(of an emulsion or film) made sensitive to all colours by the addition of suitable dyes to the emulsion
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pancosmism
the philosophical doctrine that the material universe is all that exists
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pancratium
(in ancient Greece) a wrestling and boxing contest
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pancreas
a large elongated glandular organ, situated behind the stomach, that secretes insulin and pancreatic juice
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pancreatin
the powdered extract of the pancreas of certain animals, such as the pig, used in medicine as an aid to digestion by virtue of the enzymes it contains
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pancreatitis
inflammation of the pancreas
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pancreozymin
another name for cholecystokinin
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panda
a large black-and-white herbivorous bearlike mammal, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, related to the raccoons and inhabiting the high mountain bamboo forests of China: family Procyonidae
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Damien Tanner
Reason for adoption: We bloomin' love the fury beasts.
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pandanaceous
of, relating to, or belonging to the Pandanaceae, an Old World tropical family of monocotyledonous plants including the screw pines
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pandanus
any of various Old World tropical palmlike plants of the genus Pandanus, having large aerial prop roots and leaves that yield a fibre used for making mats, etc: family Pandanaceae
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Pandarus
the leader of the Lycians, allies of the Trojans in their war with the Greeks. He broke the truce by shooting Menelaus with an arrow and was killed in the ensuing battle by Diomedes
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Pandean
of or relating to the god Pan
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pandect
a treatise covering all aspects of a particular subject
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pandemic
(of a disease) affecting persons over a wide geographical area; extensively epidemic
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pandemonium
wild confusion; uproar
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Kim Myatt
Reason for adoption: Because it is one of the most beautiful words I know.
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pander
to give gratification (to weaknesses or desires)
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pandiculation
the act of stretching and yawning, esp on waking
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pandit
a variant of pundit
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pandora
a handsome red sea bream, Pagellus erythrinus, of European coastal waters, caught for food in the Mediterranean
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Laura Peirce
Reason for adoption: Special memories
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pandore
another word for bandore
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pandour
one of an 18th-century force of Croatian soldiers in the Austrian service, notorious for their brutality
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pandowdy
a deep-dish pie made from fruit, esp apples, with a cake topping
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pandurate
(of plant leaves) shaped like the body of a fiddle
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pandy
(in schools) a stroke on the hand with a strap as a punishment
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pane
a sheet of glass in a window or door
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paneer
a soft white cheese, used in Indian cookery
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panegyric
a formal public commendation; eulogy
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panegyrize
to make a eulogy or eulogies (about)
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panel
a flat section of a wall, door, etc
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panelling
panels collectively, as on a wall or ceiling
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panellist
a member of a panel, esp on a radio or television programme
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panettone
a kind of Italian spiced brioche containing sultanas: traditionally eaten at Christmas in Italy
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pang
a sudden brief sharp feeling, as of loneliness, physical pain, or hunger
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Pang-fou
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Bengbu
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panga
a broad heavy knife of E Africa, used as a tool or weapon
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Pangaea
the ancient supercontinent, comprising all the present continents joined together, which began to break up about 200 million years ago
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pangenesis
a former theory of heredity, that each body cell produces hereditary particles that circulate in the blood before collecting in the reproductive cells
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Pangloss
a person who views a situation with unwarranted optimism
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pangolin
any mammal of the order Pholidota found in tropical Africa, S Asia, and Indonesia, having a body covered with overlapping horny scales and a long snout specialized for feeding on ants and termites
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pangram
a sentence incorporating all the letters of the alphabet, such as the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
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panhandle
(in the US) a narrow strip of land that projects from one state into another
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Panhellenic
of or relating to all the Greeks, all Greece, or Panhellenism
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Panhellenism
the principle of or support for the union of all Greeks or all Greece
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panic
a sudden overwhelming feeling of terror or anxiety, esp one affecting a whole group of people
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panic-stricken
affected by panic
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panicle
a compound raceme, occurring esp in grasses
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panicmonger
a person who spreads panic
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paniculate
growing or arranged in panicles
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panidiomorphic
(of igneous rocks) having well-developed crystals
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panini
a type of Italian bread, usually served grilled with a variety of fillings
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Panjabi
a variant spelling of Punjabi
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panjandrum
a pompous self-important official or person of rank
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Gary Roy
Reason for adoption: Let the gods declaim
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Panjim
the capital of the Indian state of Goa (formerly capital of the union territory of Goa, Daman, and Diu until 1987): a port on the Arabian Sea on the coast of Goa. Pop: 58 785 (2001)
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panmixia
(in population genetics) random mating within an interbreeding population
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Panmunjom
a village in the demilitarized zone of Korea: site of truce talks leading to the end of the Korean War (1950--53)
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pannage
pasturage for pigs, esp in a forest
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panne
a lightweight velvet fabric
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pannier
a large basket, esp one of a pair slung over a beast of burden
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pannikin
a small metal cup or pan
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Pannonia
a region of the ancient world south and west of the Danube: made a Roman province in 6 a.d
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pannus
an inflammatory fleshy lesion on the surface of the eye
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panocha
a coarse grade of sugar made in Mexico
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panoply
a complete or magnificent array
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panoptic
taking in all parts, aspects, etc, in a single view; all-embracing
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panorama
an extensive unbroken view, as of a landscape, in all directions
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panpipes
a number of reeds or whistles of graduated lengths bound together to form a musical wind instrument
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panradiometer
an instrument used for measuring radiant heat independently of wavelength
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pansophy
universal knowledge
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pansy
any violaceous garden plant that is a variety of Viola tricolor, having flowers with rounded velvety petals, white, yellow, or purple in colour
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pant
to breathe with noisy deep gasps, as when out of breath from exertion or excitement
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Pantagruel
a gigantic prince, noted for his ironical buffoonery, in the satire Gargantua and Pantagruel (1534) by the French writer François Rabelais (?1494--1553)
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pantalets
long drawers, usually trimmed with ruffles, extending below the skirts: worn during the early and mid 19th century
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pantaloon
(in pantomime) an absurd old man, the butt of the clown's tricks
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pantaloons
men's tight-fitting trousers, esp those fastening under the instep worn in the late 18th and early 19th centuries
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pantechnicon
a large van, esp one used for furniture removals
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Pantelleria
an Italian island in the Mediterranean, between Sicily and Tunisia: of volcanic origin; used by the Romans as a place of banishment. Pop: 7316 (1991 est). Area: 83 sq km (32 sq miles)
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Panth
the Sikh community
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pantheism
the doctrine that God is the transcendent reality of which man, nature, and the material universe are manifestations
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pantheon
(esp in ancient Greece or Rome) a temple to all the gods
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panther
another name for the leopard, esp the black variety, which is known as the black panther
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panties
a pair of women's or children's underpants
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pantihose
a variant spelling of pantyhose
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pantile
a roofing tile, with an S-shaped cross section, laid so that the downward curve of one tile overlaps the upward curve of the adjoining tile
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pantisocracy
a community, social group, etc, in which all have rule and everyone is equal
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panto
short for pantomime
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panto-
all
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pantofle
a kind of slipper
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pantograph
an instrument consisting of pivoted levers for copying drawings, maps, etc, to any desired scale
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pantomime
a kind of play performed at Christmas time characterized by farce, music, lavish sets, stock roles, and topical jokes
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pantoum
a verse form consisting of a series of quatrains in which the second and fourth lines of each verse are repeated as the first and third lines of the next
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pantry
a small room or cupboard in which provisions, cooking utensils, etc, are kept; larder
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pants
an undergarment reaching from the waist to the thighs or knees
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs M Vincent
Reason for adoption: Because it is the best expletive I have ever found.
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pantsuit
a woman's suit of a jacket or top and trousers
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pantyhose
a one-piece clinging garment covering the body from the waist to the feet, worn by women in place of stockings
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pantywaist
a child's undergarment consisting of a shirt and pants buttoned together at the waist
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panzer
of, relating to, or characteristic of the fast mechanized armoured units employed by the German army in World War II
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panzootic
a disease that affects all the animals in a geographical area
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Paoting
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Baoding
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Paotow
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Baotou
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pap
any soft or semiliquid food, such as bread softened with milk, esp for babies or invalids; mash
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papa
an informal word for father
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papacy
the office or term of office of a pope
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papain
a proteolytic enzyme occurring in the unripe fruit of the papaya tree, Carica papaya: used as a meat tenderizer and in medicine as an aid to protein digestion
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papal
of or relating to the pope or the papacy
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paparazzo
a freelance photographer who specializes in candid camera shots of famous people and often invades their privacy to obtain such photographs
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papauma
another name for broadleaf
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papaveraceous
of, relating to, or belonging to the Papaveraceae, a family of plants having large showy flowers and a cylindrical seed capsule with pores beneath the lid: includes the poppies and greater celandine
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papaverine
a white crystalline almost insoluble alkaloid found in opium and used as an antispasmodic to treat coronary spasms and certain types of colic. Formula: C20H21NO4
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papaw
a bush or small tree, Asimina triloba, of central North America, having small fleshy edible fruit: family Annonaceae
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papaya
a Caribbean evergreen tree, Carica papaya, with a crown of large dissected leaves and large green hanging fruit: family Caricaceae
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Papeete
the capital of French Polynesia, on the NW coast of Tahiti: one of the largest towns in the S Pacific. Pop: 130 000 (2005 est)
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paper
a substance made from cellulose fibres derived from rags, wood, etc, often with other additives, and formed into flat thin sheets suitable for writing on, decorating walls, wrapping, etc
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Henry Carroll
Reason for adoption: Because Anna loves paper
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paper-cutter
a machine for cutting paper, usually a blade mounted over a table on which paper can be aligned
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paperback
a book or edition with covers made of flexible card, sold relatively cheaply
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Victoria Lennon
Reason for adoption: I love reading these.
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paperbark
any of several Australian myrtaceous trees of the genus Melaleuca, esp M. quinquenervia, of swampy regions, having spear-shaped leaves and papery bark that can be peeled off in thin layers
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paperboard
a thick cardboard made of compressed layers of paper pulp; pasteboard
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paperboy
a boy employed to deliver newspapers, magazines, etc
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paperclip
a clip for holding sheets of paper together, esp one made of bent wire
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paperhanger
a person who hangs wallpaper as an occupation
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paperknife
a knife with a comparatively blunt blade, esp one of wood, bone, etc, for opening sealed envelopes
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paperless
of, relating to, or denoting a means of communication, record keeping, etc, esp electronic, that does not use paper
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paperweight
a small heavy object placed on loose papers to prevent them from scattering
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paperwork
clerical work, such as the completion of forms or the writing of reports or letters
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papery
like paper, esp in thinness, flimsiness, or dryness
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papeterie
a box or case for papers and other writing materials
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Paphian
of or relating to Paphos
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Paphlagonia
an ancient country and Roman province in N Asia Minor, on the Black Sea
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Paphos
a village in SW Cyprus, near the sites of two ancient cities: famous as the centre of Aphrodite worship and traditionally the place at which she landed after her birth among the waves. Pop: 32 575 (1992 est)
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Papiamento
a creolized Spanish spoken in the Netherlands Antilles
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papier-mâché
a hard strong substance suitable for painting on, made of paper pulp or layers of paper mixed with paste, size, etc, and moulded when moist
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papilla
the small projection of tissue at the base of a hair, tooth, or feather
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papilloma
a benign tumour derived from epithelial tissue and forming a rounded or lobulated mass
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papillon
a breed of toy spaniel with large ears
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papillote
a paper frill around cutlets, etc
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papist
another term for Roman Catholic
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papistic
A derivative of papist
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papistical
A derivative of papist
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papoose
an American Indian baby or child
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pappus
a ring of fine feathery hairs surrounding the fruit in composite plants, such as the thistle; aids dispersal of the fruits by the wind
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pappy
resembling pap; mushy
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paprika
a mild powdered seasoning made from a sweet variety of red pepper
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Papua
a former territory of Australia, consisting of SE New Guinea and adjacent islands: now part of Papua New Guinea
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Papuan
of or relating to Papua or any of the languages spoken there
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papule
a small solid usually round elevation of the skin
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papyraceous
of, relating to, made of, or resembling paper
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papyrology
the study of ancient papyri
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papyrus
a tall aquatic cyperaceous plant, Cyperus papyrus, of S Europe and N and central Africa with small green-stalked flowers arranged like umbrella spokes around the stem top
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par
an accepted level or standard, such as an average (esp in the phrase up to par)
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par-
a variant of para-
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par.
paragraph
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para
a monetary unit of Serbia worth one hundredth of a dinar; formerly a monetary unit of Yugoslavia
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para-
beside; near
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parabasis
(in classical Greek comedy) an address from the chorus to the audience
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paraben
any ester of parahydroxybenzoic acid, some of which are used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals and have been found in breast cancer tumours
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parabiosis
the natural union of two individuals, such as Siamese twins, so that they share a common circulation of the blood
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parablast
the yolk of an egg, such as a hen's egg, that undergoes meroblastic cleavage
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parable
a short story that uses familiar events to illustrate a religious or ethical point
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parabola
a conic section formed by the intersection of a cone by a plane parallel to its side. Standard equation: y2 = 4ax, where 2a is the distance between focus and directrix
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parabolic
of, relating to, or shaped like a parabola
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parabolize
to explain by a parable
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paraboloid
a geometric surface whose sections parallel to two coordinate planes are parabolic and whose sections parallel to the third plane are either elliptical or hyperbolic. Equations x2/a2 ± y2/b2 = 2cz
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parabrake
another name for brake parachute
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paracasein
another name for casein
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paracentesis
the surgical puncture of a body cavity in order to draw off excess fluid
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paracetamol
a mild analgesic and antipyretic drug used as an alternative to aspirin
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parachronism
an error in dating, esp by giving too late a date
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parachute
a device used to retard the fall of a man or package from an aircraft, consisting of a large fabric canopy connected to a harness
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paraclete
a mediator or advocate
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parade
an ordered, esp ceremonial, march, assembly, or procession, as of troops being reviewed
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paradiddle
a group of four drum beats produced by using alternate sticks in the pattern right-left-right-right or left-right-left-left
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Simon Lewin
Reason for adoption: Because I drum
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paradigm
the set of all the inflected forms of a word or a systematic arrangement displaying these forms
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Peter Butler
Reason for adoption: It was used so much at university I just couldn't resist.
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paradisal
of, relating to, or resembling paradise
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paradise
heaven as the ultimate abode or state of the righteous
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parador
a state-run hotel in Spain
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parados
a bank behind a trench or other fortification, giving protection from being fired on from the rear
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paradox
a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement that is or may be true
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paradrop
the delivery of personnel or equipment from an aircraft by parachute
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paraesthesia
an abnormal or inappropriate sensation in an organ, part, or area of the skin, as of burning, prickling, tingling, etc
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paraffin
a liquid mixture consisting mainly of alkane hydrocarbons with boiling points in the range 150°--300°C, used as an aircraft fuel, in domestic heaters, and as a solvent
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parafoil
a nonrigid aerofoil inflated by the wind, used in kites and paragliders [para( chute) + ( aero) foil]
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paraformaldehyde
a white amorphous solid polymeric form of formaldehyde: used as a convenient source of formaldehyde and as a fumigant. Formula: (CH2O)n, where n lies between 6 and 50
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paragenesis
a characteristic association of minerals in a particular type of rock or ore deposit
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paragliding
the sport of cross-country gliding using a specially designed parachute shaped like flexible wings.
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paragnathous
(of certain vertebrates) having the upper and lower jaws of equal length
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paragoge
the addition of a sound or a syllable to the end of a word, such as st in amongst
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paragon
a model of excellence; pattern
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paragraph
(in a piece of writing) one of a series of subsections each usually devoted to one idea and each usually marked by the beginning of a new line, indentation, increased interlinear space, etc
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paragraphia
the habitual writing of a different word or letter from the one intended, often the result of a mental disorder or brain injury
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Paraguay
an inland republic in South America: colonized by the Spanish from 1537, gaining independence in 1811; lost 142 500 sq km (55 000 sq miles) of territory and over half its population after its defeat in the war against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay (1865--70). It is divided by the Paraguay River into a sparsely inhabited semiarid region (Chaco) in the west, and a central region of wooded hills, tropical forests, and rich grasslands, rising to the Paraná plateau in the east. Official languages: Spanish and Guarani. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: guarani. Capital: Asunción. Pop: 6 018 000 (2004 est). Area: 406 750 sq km (157 047 sq miles)
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Paraguayan
of or relating to Paraguay or its inhabitants
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parahydrogen
the form of molecular hydrogen (constituting about 25 per cent of the total at normal temperatures) in which the nuclei of the two atoms in each molecule spin in opposite directions
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Paraíba
a state of NE Brazil, on the Atlantic: consists of a coastal strip, with hills and plains inland; irrigated agriculture. Capital: João Pessoa. Pop: 3 494 893 (2002). Area: 56 371 sq km (21 765 sq miles)
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parakeet
any of numerous small usually brightly coloured long-tailed parrots, such as Psittacula krameri (ring-necked parakeet), of Africa
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parakelia
a succulent herb of the genus Calandrinia, with purple flowers, that thrives in inland Australia
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paralalia
any of various speech disorders, esp the production of a sound different from that intended
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paralanguage
nonverbal elements in speech, such as intonation, that may affect the meaning of an utterance
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paraldehyde
a colourless liquid substance that is a cyclic trimer of acetaldehyde: used in making dyestuffs and as a hypnotic and anticonvulsant drug. Formula: (C2H4O)3
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paralegal
a person trained to undertake legal work but not qualified as a professional solicitor or barrister
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paralexia
a disorder of the ability to read in which words and syllables are meaninglessly transposed
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paralimnion
the region of a lake floor between the shoreline or water's edge and the zone of rooted vegetation
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paralinguistics
the study of paralanguage
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paralipomena
things added in a supplement to a work
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paralipsis
a rhetorical device in which an idea is emphasized by the pretence that it is too obvious to discuss, as in there are many drawbacks to your plan, not to mention the cost
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parallax
an apparent change in the position of an object resulting from a change in position of the observer
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parallel
separated by an equal distance at every point; never touching or intersecting
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parallelepiped
a geometric solid whose six faces are parallelograms
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paralleling
a form of trading in which companies buy highly priced goods in a market in which the prices are low in order to be able to sell them in a market in which the prices are higher
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parallelism
the state of being parallel
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parallelogram
a quadrilateral whose opposite sides are parallel and equal in length
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paralogism
an argument that is unintentionally invalid
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Paralympian
a competitor in the Paralympics
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Paralympic
of or relating to the Paralympics
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Paralympics
a sporting event, modelled on the Olympic Games, held solely for disabled competitors
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paralyse
to affect with paralysis
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paralysis
impairment or loss of voluntary muscle function or of sensation (sensory paralysis) in a part or area of the body, usually caused by a lesion or disorder of the muscles or the nerves supplying them
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paralytic
of, relating to, or of the nature of paralysis
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paramagnetism
the phenomenon exhibited by substances that have a relative permeability slightly greater than unity and a positive susceptibility. The effect is due to the alignment of unpaired spins of electrons in atoms of the material
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Paramaribo
the capital and chief port of Surinam, 27 km (17 miles) from the Atlantic on the Surinam River: the only large town in the country. Pop: 261 000 (2005 est)
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paramatta
a lightweight twill-weave fabric of wool formerly with silk or cotton, used for dresses, etc, now used esp for rubber-proofed garments
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paramecium
any freshwater protozoan of the genus Paramecium, having an oval body covered with cilia and a ventral ciliated groove for feeding: phylum Ciliophora (ciliates)
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paramedic
a person, such as a laboratory technician, who supplements the work of the medical profession
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Richard Pilbery
Reason for adoption: It's what I am!
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parament
an ecclesiastical vestment or decorative hanging
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parameter
one of a number of auxiliary variables in terms of which all the variables in an implicit functional relationship can be explicitly expressed
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paramilitary
denoting or relating to a group of personnel with military structure functioning either as a civil force or in support of military forces
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paramnesia
a disorder of the memory or the faculty of recognition in which dreams may be confused with reality
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paramo
a high plateau in the Andes between the tree line and the permanent snow line
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paramorph
a mineral that has undergone paramorphism
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paramorphine
another name for thebaine
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paramorphism
a process by which the crystalline structure of a mineral alters without any change in its chemical composition
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paramount
of the greatest importance or significance; pre-eminent
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paramour
a lover, esp an adulterous woman
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Paraná
a state of S Brazil, on the Atlantic: consists of a coastal plain and a large rolling plateau with extensive forests. Capital: Curitiba. Pop: 9 798 006 (2002). Area: 199 555 sq km (77 048 sq miles)
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parang
a short stout straight-edged knife used by the Dyaks of Borneo
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paranoia
a form of schizophrenia characterized by a slowly progressive deterioration of the personality, involving delusions and often hallucinations
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paranoid
of, characterized by, or resembling paranoia
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paranormal
beyond normal explanation
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paranymph
a bridesmaid or best man
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parapara
a small New Zealand tree, Pisonia brunoniana, with sticky fruit and leaves which can trap small birds
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paraparesis
muscle weakness, esp of the legs, allowing limited movement; partial paralysis
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parapente
the form of parachute used in this sport
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parapet
a low wall or railing along the edge of a balcony, roof, etc
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paraph
a flourish after a signature, originally to prevent forgery
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paraphasia
a defect of speech in which the normal flow of words is interrupted by inappropriate words and phrases
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paraphernalia
miscellaneous articles or equipment
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paraphimosis
inability to retract the penis into the prepuce as a result of narrowing of the prepuce
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paraphrase
an expression of a statement or text in other words, esp in order to clarify
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paraphysis
any of numerous sterile cells occurring between the sex organs of mosses and algae and between the spore-producing bodies of basidiomycetous and ascomycetous fungi
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paraplanner
a person who assists a financial planner, especially in compiling reports and conducting research
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paraplegia
paralysis of the lower half of the body, usually as the result of disease or injury of the spine
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paraplegic
of, relating to, or afflicted with paraplegia
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parapodium
any of the paired unjointed lateral appendages of polychaete worms, used in locomotion, respiration, etc
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parapraxis
a minor error in action, such as slips of the tongue, supposedly the result of repressed impulses
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parapsychology
the study of mental phenomena, such as telepathy, which are beyond the scope of normal physical explanation
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Paraquat
a yellow extremely poisonous soluble solid used in solution as a weedkiller
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parasailing
a sport in which a water-skier wearing a parachute is towed by a speedboat, becomes airborne, and sails along in the air
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parasang
a Persian unit of distance equal to about 5.5 km or 3.4 miles
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parascending
a sport in which a participant wears a parachute and becomes airborne by being towed by a vehicle into the wind and then descends by parachute
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parascience
the study of subjects that are outside the scope of traditional science because they cannot be explained by accepted scientific theory or tested by conventional scientific methods
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paraselene
a bright image of the moon on a lunar halo
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Parashah
any of the sections of the Torah read in the synagogue
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parasite
an animal or plant that lives in or on another (the host) from which it obtains nourishment. The host does not benefit from the association and is often harmed by it
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parasiticide
any substance capable of destroying parasites
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parasitism
the relationship between a parasite and its host
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parasitize
to infest or infect with parasites
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parasitoid
an animal, esp an insect, that is parasitic during the larval stage of its life cycle but becomes free-living when adult
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parasitology
the branch of biology that is concerned with the study of parasites
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paraskiing
the sport of jumping off high mountains wearing skis and a light parachute composed of inflatable fabric tubes that form a semirigid wing
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parasol
an umbrella used for protection against the sun; sunshade
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parastatal
a state-owned organization, esp in Africa
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parastichy
a hypothetical spiral line connecting the bases of a series of leaves on a stem
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parasuicide
the deliberate infliction of injury on oneself or the taking of a drug overdose as an attempt at suicide which may not be intended to be successful
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parasymbiosis
the symbiotic relationship that occurs between certain species of fungi and lichens (which are themselves symbiotic associations between a fungus and an alga)
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parasympathetic
of or relating to the division of the autonomic nervous system that acts in opposition to the sympathetic system by slowing the heartbeat, constricting the bronchi of the lungs, stimulating the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, etc
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parasynapsis
another name for synapsis
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parasynaptic
A derivative of parasynapsis
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parasynthesis
formation of words by means of compounding a phrase and adding an affix, as for example light-headed, which is light + head with the affix -ed
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parasyntheton
a word formed by parasynthesis; for example, kind-hearted
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parataniwha
a New Zealand plant, Elatostema rugosa, with pink and red serrated leaves
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parataxis
the juxtaposition of clauses in a sentence without the use of a conjunction, as for example None of my friends stayed they all left early
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paratha
(in Indian cookery) a flat unleavened bread, resembling a small nan bread, that is fried on a griddle
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parathion
a slightly water-soluble toxic oil, odourless and colourless when pure, used as an insecticide. Formula: C10H14NO5PS
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parathyroid
situated near the thyroid gland
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paratonic
(of a plant movement) occurring in response to an external stimulus
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paratroops
troops trained and equipped to be dropped by parachute into a battle area
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paratyphoid
resembling typhoid fever or its causative agent
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paravane
a torpedo-shaped device towed from the bow of a vessel so that the cables will cut the anchors of any moored mines
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paraxial
(of a light ray) parallel to the axis of an optical system
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parazoan
any multicellular invertebrate of the group Parazoa, which consists of the sponges (phylum Porifera)
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parboil
to boil until partially cooked, often before further cooking
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parbuckle
a rope sling for lifting or lowering a heavy cylindrical object, such as a cask or tree trunk
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Parcae
the Roman goddesses of fate
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parcel
something wrapped up; package
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parcel-gilt
partly gilded, esp (of an item of silverware) having the inner surface gilded
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parcenary
joint heirship
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parcener
a person who takes an equal share with another or others; coheir
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parch
to deprive or be deprived of water; dry up
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Parcheesi
a modern board game derived from the ancient game of pachisi
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parchment
the skin of certain animals, such as sheep, treated to form a durable material, as for bookbinding, or (esp formerly) manuscripts
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parclose
a screen or railing in a church separating off an altar, chapel, etc
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pard
short for pardner
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pardalote
any of various small Australian songbirds of the genus Pardalotus, esp the diamond bird
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pardner
friend or partner: used as a term of address
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pardon
to excuse or forgive (a person) for (an offence, mistake, etc)
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pardoner
(before the Reformation) a person licensed to sell ecclesiastical indulgences
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Pardubice
a city in the central Czech Republic, on the Elbe River: 13th-century cathedral; oil refinery. Pop: 163 000 (1993)
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pare
to peel or cut (the outer layer) from (something)
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paregoric
a medicine containing opium, benzoic acid, camphor (English paregoric) or ammonia (Scottish paregoric), and anise oil, formerly widely used to relieve diarrhoea and coughing in children
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pareidolia
the imagined perception of a pattern or meaning where it does not actually exist, as in considering the moon to have human features
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pareira
the root of a South American menispermaceous climbing plant, Chondrodendron tomentosum, used as a diuretic, tonic, and as a source of curare
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paren.
parenthesis
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parenchyma
unspecialized plant tissue consisting of simple thin-walled cells with intervening air spaces: constitutes the greater part of fruits, stems, roots, etc
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parent
a father or mother
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parentage
ancestry
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parental
of or relating to a parent or parenthood
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parenteral
(esp of the route by which a drug is administered) by means other than through the digestive tract, esp by injection
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parenthesis
a phrase, often explanatory or qualifying, inserted into a passage with which it is not grammatically connected, and marked off by brackets, dashes, etc
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parenthesize
to place in parentheses
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parenting
the care and upbringing of a child
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parentless
having no living parents; orphaned
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parera
a New Zeland duck, Anas superciliosa, with grey-edged brown feathers
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parergon
work that is not one's main employment
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paresis
incomplete or slight paralysis of motor functions
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paresthesia
the usual US spelling of paraesthesia
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paresthetic
A derivative of paresthesia
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Pareto
denoting a law, mathematical formula, etc, originally used by Vilfredo Pareto (1848--1923), Italian sociologist and economist, to express the frequency distribution of incomes in a society
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pareu
a rectangle of fabric worn by Polynesians as a skirt or loincloth
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parev
containing neither meat nor milk products and so fit for use with either meat or milk dishes
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parfait
a rich frozen dessert made from eggs and cream with ice cream, fruit, etc
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parfleche
a sheet of rawhide that has been dried after soaking in lye and water to remove the hair
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parget
plaster, mortar, etc, used to line chimney flues or cover walls
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parhelion
one of several bright spots on the parhelic circle or solar halo, caused by the diffraction of light by ice crystals in the atmosphere, esp around sunset
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pari-
equal or equally; even (in number)
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pari-mutuel
a system of betting in which those who have bet on the winners of a race share in the total amount wagered less a percentage for the management
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pariah
a social outcast
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Parian
denoting or relating to a fine white marble mined in classical times in Paros
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Paricutín
a volcano in W central Mexico, in Michoacán state, formed in 1943 after a week of earth tremors; grew to a height of 2500 m (8200 ft) in a year and buried the village of Paricutín
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paries
the wall of an organ or bodily cavity
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parietal
of, relating to, or forming the walls or part of the walls of a bodily cavity or similar structure
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paring
something pared or cut off
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paripinnate
(of pinnate leaves) having an even number of leaflets and no terminal leaflet
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Paris
the capital of France, in the north on the River Seine: constitutes a department; dates from the 3rd century bc, becoming capital of France in 987; centre of the French Revolution; centres around its original site on an island in the Seine, the Île de la Cité, containing Notre Dame; university (1150). Pop: 2 125 246 (1999)
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parish
a subdivision of a diocese, having its own church and a clergyman
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Parishad
(in India) an assembly
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parishioner
a member of a particular parish
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Parisian
of or relating to Paris or its inhabitants
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parison
an unshaped mass of glass before it is moulded into its final form
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parisyllabic
(of a noun or verb, in inflected languages) containing the same number of syllables in all or almost all inflected forms
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parity
equality of rank, pay, etc
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park
a large area of land preserved in a natural state for recreational use by the public
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parka
a warm hip-length weatherproof coat with a hood, originally worn by the Inuit
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parkade
a building used as a car park
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parkette
a small public park
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parkie
a park keeper
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parkin
(in Britain and New Zealand) a moist spicy ginger cake usually containing oatmeal
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parkland
grassland with scattered trees
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parkour
the sport or activity of running through urban areas while performing various gymnastic manoeuvres over or on man-made obstacles such as walls and buildings
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parkway
(in the US and Canada) a wide road planted with trees, turf, etc
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parky
(of the weather) chilly; cold
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parlance
a particular manner of speaking, esp when specialized; idiom
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parlando
to be performed as though speaking
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parlay
to stake (winnings from one bet) on a subsequent wager
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parley
a discussion, esp between enemies under a truce to decide terms of surrender, etc
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parleyvoo
to speak French
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parliament
an assembly of the representatives of a political nation or people, often the supreme legislative authority
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parliamentarian
an expert in parliamentary procedures, etc
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parliamentarianism
the system of parliamentary government
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parliamentary
of or characteristic of a parliament or Parliament
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parlour
a living room, esp one kept tidy for the reception of visitors
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parlous
dangerous or difficult
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Parma
a city in N Italy, in Emilia-Romagna: capital of the duchy of Parma and Piacenza from 1545 until it became part of Italy in 1860; important food industry (esp Parmesan cheese). Pop: 163 457 (2001)
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Parmentier
(of soups, etc) containing or garnished with potatoes
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Parmesan
of or relating to Parma or its inhabitants
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Parnaíba
a river in NE Brazil, rising in the Serra das Mangabeiras and flowing generally northeast, to the Atlantic. Length: about 1450 km (900 miles)
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Parnassian
of or relating to Mount Parnassus or poetry
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Parnassus
a mountain in central Greece, in NW Boeotia: in ancient times sacred to Dionysus, Apollo, and the Muses, with the Castalian Spring and Delphi on its slopes. Height: 2457 m (8061 ft)
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Parnellite
a follower or admirer of Charles Stewart Parnell, the Irish nationalist (1846--91)
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parochial
narrow in outlook or scope; provincial
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parody
a musical, literary, or other composition that mimics the style of another composer, author, etc, in a humorous or satirical way
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paroecious
(of mosses and related plants) having the male and female reproductive organs at different levels on the same stem
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parol
(formerly) the pleadings in an action when presented by word of mouth
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parole
the freeing of a prisoner before his sentence has expired, on the condition that he is of good behaviour
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paronomasia
a play on words, esp a pun
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Angus Young
Reason for adoption: because I love her
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paronym
a cognate word
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parore
a dark brownish-green fish, Girella tricuspidata of coastal and esturine waters in New Zealand's North Island and Australia
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Páros
a Greek island in the S Aegean Sea, in the Cyclades: site of the discovery (1627) of the Parian Chronicle, a marble tablet outlining Greek history from before 1000 bc to about 354 bc (now at Oxford University). Pop: 12 853 (2001). Area: 166 sq km (64 sq miles)
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parosmia
any disorder of the sense of smell
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parotic
situated near the ear
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parotid
relating to or situated near the parotid gland
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parotitis
inflammation of the parotid gland
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parotoid
any of various warty poison glands on the head and back of certain toads and salamanders
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parousia
another term for the Second Coming
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paroxetine
an antidepressant drug that acts by preventing the re-uptake after release of serotonin in the brain, thereby prolonging its action: used for treating depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and panic disorder. Formula: C19H20FNO3
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paroxysm
an uncontrollable outburst
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paroxytone
(in the classical Greek language) of, relating to, or denoting words having an acute accent on the next to last syllable
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parpend
other names for perpend
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parquet
a floor covering of pieces of hardwood fitted in a decorative pattern; parquetry
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parquetry
a geometric pattern of inlaid pieces of wood, often of different kinds, esp as used to cover a floor or to ornament furniture
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parr
a salmon up to two years of age, with dark spots and transverse bands
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parra
a tourist or non-resident on a beach
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parrakeet
a variant spelling of parakeet
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parramatta
a variant spelling of paramatta
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parrel
a ring that holds the jaws of a boom to the mast but lets it slide up and down
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parricide
the act of killing either of one's parents
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parritch
a Scot word for porridge
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parrot
any bird of the tropical and subtropical order Psittaciformes, having a short hooked bill, compact body, bright plumage, and an ability to mimic sounds
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parrot-fashion
without regard for meaning; by rote
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parrotfish
any brightly coloured tropical marine percoid fish of the family Scaridae, having parrot-like jaws
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parry
to ward off (an attack) by blocking or deflecting, as in fencing
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parse
to assign constituent structure to (a sentence or the words in a sentence)
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parsec
a unit of astronomical distance equal to the distance from earth at which stellar parallax would be 1 second of arc; equivalent to 3.0857 1016 m or 3.262 light years
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Parsee
an adherent of a monotheistic religion of Zoroastrian origin, the practitioners of which were driven out of Persia by the Muslims in the eighth century ad. It is now found chiefly in western India
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parser
a program or part of a program that interprets input to a computer by recognizing key words or analysing sentence structure
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Parsha
the Yiddish word for Parashah
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Parsifal
the hero of a medieval cycle of legends about the Holy Grail
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parsimony
extreme care or reluctance in spending; frugality; niggardliness
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parsley
a S European umbelliferous plant, Petroselinum crispum, widely cultivated for its curled aromatic leaves, which are used in cooking
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parsnip
a strong-scented umbelliferous plant, Pastinaca sativa, cultivated for its long whitish root
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parson
a parish priest in the Church of England, formerly applied only to those who held ecclesiastical benefices
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parsonage
the residence of a parson who is not a rector or vicar, as provided by the parish
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part
a piece or portion of a whole
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part-off
a screen used to divide off part of a room, such as the eating place of a parlour
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part-time
for less than the entire time appropriate to an activity
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part-writing
the aspect of composition concerned with the writing of parts, esp counterpoint
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part.
participle
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partake
to have a share; participate
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partan
a Scot word for crab
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parted
divided almost to the base
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parterre
a formally patterned flower garden
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parthenocarpy
the development of fruit without fertilization or formation of seeds
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parthenogenesis
a type of reproduction, occurring in some insects and flowers, in which the unfertilized ovum develops directly into a new individual
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Parthenon
the temple on the Acropolis in Athens built in the 5th century bc and regarded as the finest example of the Greek Doric order
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Parthenopaeus
one of the Seven against Thebes, son of Atalanta
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Parthenope
a siren, who drowned herself when Odysseus evaded the lure of the sirens' singing. Her body was said to have been cast ashore at what became Naples
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Parthenos
an epithet meaning ``Virgin'', applied by the Greeks to several goddesses, esp Athena
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parthenospore
another name for azygospore
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Parthia
a country in ancient Asia, southeast of the Caspian Sea, that expanded into a great empire dominating SW Asia in the 2nd century bc It was destroyed by the Sassanids in the 3rd century a.d
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Parthian
of or relating to Parthia, a country in ancient Asia, or its inhabitants
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parti-coloured
having different colours in different parts; variegated
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partial
relating to only a part; not general or complete
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partiality
favourable prejudice or bias
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partible
(esp of property or an inheritance) divisible; separable
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Participaction
(in Canada) a non-profit-making organization set up to promote physical fitness
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participate
to take part, be or become actively involved, or share (in)
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participle
a nonfinite form of verbs, in English and other languages, used adjectivally and in the formation of certain compound tenses
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particle
an extremely small piece of matter; speck
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particular
of or belonging to a single or specific person, thing, category, etc; specific; special
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particularism
exclusive attachment to the interests of one group, class, sect, etc, esp at the expense of the community as a whole
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particularity
a specific circumstance
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particularize
to treat in detail; give details (about)
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particularly
very much; exceptionally
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particulate
a substance consisting of separate particles
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parting
the line of scalp showing when sections of hair are combed in opposite directions
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partisan
an adherent or devotee of a cause, party, etc
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partita
a type of suite
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partite
composed of or divided into a specified number of parts
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partition
a division into parts; separation
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partitive
indicating that a noun involved in a construction refers only to a part or fraction of what it otherwise refers to. The phrase some of the butter is a partitive construction; in some inflected languages it would be translated by the genitive case of the noun
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partlet
a woman's garment covering the neck and shoulders, worn esp during the 16th century
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partly
to some extent; not completely
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partner
an ally or companion
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms maggie shiels
Reason for adoption: You are my one true partner in this amazing journey. Awww
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partners
a wooden construction around an opening in a deck, as to support a mast
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partnership
a contractual relationship between two or more persons carrying on a joint business venture with a view to profit, each incurring liability for losses and the right to share in the profits
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parton
a hypothetical elementary particle postulated as a constituent of neutrons and protons
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partook
the past tense of partake
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partridge
any of various small Old World gallinaceous game birds of the genera Perdix, Alectoris, etc, esp P. perdix (common or European partridge): family Phasianidae (pheasants)
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partridge-wood
the dark striped wood of the tropical American leguminous tree, Andira inermis, used for cabinetwork
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partridgeberry
a creeping woody rubiaceous plant, Mitchella repens, of E North America with small white fragrant flowers and scarlet berries
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parts
personal abilities or talents
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parturient
of or relating to childbirth
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parturifacient
a medical word for oxytocic
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parturition
the act or process of giving birth
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partway
some of the way; partly
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party
a social gathering for pleasure, often held as a celebration
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Gavin Nolan
Reason for adoption: cause I like to....
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parulis
another name for gumboil
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parure
a set of jewels or other ornaments
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Parvati
goddess consort of the god Siva, associated with mountains
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parve
a variant of parev
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parvenu
a person, esp a man, who, having risen socially or economically, is considered to be an upstart or to lack the appropriate refinement for his or her new position
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parvenue
a woman who, having risen socially or economically, is considered to be an upstart or to lack the appropriate refinement for her new position
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parvifoliate
(of plants) having small leaves in comparison with the size of the stem
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parvis
a court or portico in front of a building, esp a church
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parvovirus
any of a group of viruses characterized by their very small size, each of which is specific to a particular species, as for example canine parvovirus
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Parzival
a variant of Parsifal
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pas
a dance step or movement, esp in ballet
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Pas-de-Calais
a department of N France, in Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, on the Straits of Dover (the Pas de Calais): the part of France closest to the British Isles. Capital: Arras. Pop: 1 451 307 (2003 est). Area: 6752 sq km (2633 sq miles)
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Pasadena
a city in SW California, east of Los Angeles. Pop: 144 413 (2003 est)
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Pasargadae
an ancient city in Persia, northeast of Persepolis in present-day Iran: built by Cyrus the Great
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Pasay
a city in the Philippines, on central Luzon just south of Manila, on Manila Bay. Pop: 364 000 (2005 est)
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pascal
the derived SI unit of pressure; the pressure exerted on an area of 1 square metre by a force of 1 newton; equivalent to 10 dynes per square centimetre or 1.45 10--4 pound per square inch
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Pasch
an archaic name for Passover
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paschal
of or relating to Passover
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pase
a movement of the cape or muleta by a matador to attract the bull's attention and guide its attack
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pash
infatuation
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pasha
(formerly) a provincial governor or other high official of the Ottoman Empire or the modern Egyptian kingdom: placed after a name when used as a title
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pashalik
the province or jurisdiction of a pasha
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pashka
a rich Russian dessert made of cottage cheese, cream, almonds, currants, etc, set in a special wooden mould and traditionally eaten at Easter
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pashm
the underfur of various Tibetan animals, esp goats, used for cashmere shawls
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pashmina
a scarf or shawl made of pashm
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Pashto
a language of Afghanistan and NW Pakistan, belonging to the East Iranian branch of the Indo-European family: since 1936 the official language of Afghanistan
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Pasiphaë
the wife of Minos and mother (by a bull) of the Minotaur
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PASOK
Panhellenic Socialist Movement
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paspalum
any of various grasses of the genus Paspalum of Australia and New Zealand having wide leaves
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pasqueflower
a purple-flowered herbaceous ranunculaceous plant, Anemone pulsatilla (or Pulsatilla vulgaris), of N and Central Europe and W Asia
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pasquinade
an abusive lampoon or satire, esp one posted in a public place
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pass
to go onwards or move by or past (a person, thing, etc)
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pass.
passive
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passable
adequate, fair, or acceptable
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passably
fairly; somewhat
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passacaglia
an old Spanish dance in slow triple time
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passade
the act of moving back and forth in the same place
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passage
a channel, opening, etc, through or by which a person or thing may pass
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passageway
a way, esp one in or between buildings; passage
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passant
(of a beast) walking, with the right foreleg raised
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passata
a sauce made from sieved tomatoes, often used in Italian cookery
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passbook
a book for keeping a record of withdrawals from and payments into a building society
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Passchendaele
a village in NW Belgium, in West Flanders province: the scene of heavy fighting during the third battle of Ypres in World War I during which 245 000 British troops were lost
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passé
out-of-date
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passe-partout
a mounting for a picture in which strips of strong gummed paper are used to bind together the glass, picture, and backing
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passel
a group or quantity of no fixed number
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passementerie
a decorative trimming of gimp, cord, beads, braid, etc
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passenger
a person travelling in a car, train, boat, etc, not driven by him
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passepied
a lively minuet of Breton origin, in triple time, popular in the 17th century
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passer-by
a person that is passing or going by, esp on foot
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passerine
of, relating to, or belonging to the Passeriformes, an order of birds characterized by the perching habit: includes the larks, finches, crows, thrushes, starlings, etc
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passible
susceptible to emotion or suffering; able to feel
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passifloraceous
of, relating to, or belonging to the Passifloraceae, a tropical and subtropical family of climbing plants including the passionflowers: the flowers have five petals and threadlike parts forming a dense mass (corona) around the central disc
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passing
transitory or momentary
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passion
ardent love or affection
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Sarah Andrews
Reason for adoption: Because it's love with power to change the world
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passional
of, relating to, or due to passion or the passions
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passionate
manifesting or exhibiting intense sexual feeling or desire
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Rod Webb
Reason for adoption: The team have all chosen a word that they think sums up our business.
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passionflower
any passifloraceous plant of the tropical American genus Passiflora, cultivated for their red, yellow, greenish, or purple showy flowers: some species have edible fruit
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passionless
empty of emotion or feeling
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Passiontide
the last two weeks of Lent, extending from Passion Sunday to Holy Saturday
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passivate
to render (a metal) less susceptible to corrosion by coating the surface with a substance, such as an oxide
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passive
not active or not participating perceptibly in an activity, organization, etc
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passive-aggressive
of or relating to a personality that harbours aggressive emotions while behaving in a calm or detached manner
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passivism
the theory, belief, or practice of passive resistance
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passkey
any of various keys, esp a latchkey
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Passover
an eight-day Jewish festival beginning on Nisan 15 and celebrated in commemoration of the passing over or sparing of the Israelites in Egypt, when God smote the firstborn of the Egyptians (Exodus 12)
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passport
an official document issued by a government, identifying an individual, granting him permission to travel abroad, and requesting the protection of other governments for him
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passus
(esp in medieval literature) a division or section of a poem, story, etc
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password
a secret word, phrase, etc, that ensures admission or acceptance by proving identity, membership, etc
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past
completed, finished, and no longer in existence
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pasta
any of several variously shaped edible preparations made from a flour and water dough, such as spaghetti
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paste
a mixture or material of a soft or malleable consistency, such as toothpaste
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paste-up
an assembly of typeset matter, illustrations, etc, pasted on a sheet of paper or board and used as a guide or layout in the production of a publication
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pasteboard
a stiff board formed from layers of paper or pulp pasted together, esp as used in bookbinding
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pastel
a substance made of ground pigment bound with gum, used for making sticks for drawing
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pastern
the part of a horse's foot between the fetlock and the hoof
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pasteurism
a method of securing immunity from rabies in a person who has been bitten by a rabid animal, by daily injections of progressively more virulent suspensions of the infected spinal cord of a rabbit that died of rabies
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pasteurization
the process of heating beverages, such as milk, beer, wine, or cider, or solid foods, such as cheese or crab meat, to destroy harmful or undesirable microorganisms or to limit the rate of fermentation by the application of controlled heat
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pasteurize
to subject (milk, beer, etc) to pasteurization
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pasteurizer
an apparatus for pasteurizing substances (esp milk)
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pastiche
a work of art that mixes styles, materials, etc
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pasticheur
a person who creates or performs pastiches
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pastille
a small flavoured or medicated lozenge for chewing
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pastime
an activity or entertainment which makes time pass pleasantly
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pasting
a thrashing; heavy defeat
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pastis
an anise-flavoured alcoholic drink
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pastitsio
a Greek dish consisting of minced meat and macaroni topped with béchamel sauce
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Pasto
a city in SE Colombia, at an altitude of 2590 m (8500 ft). Pop: 404 000 (2005 est)
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pastor
a clergyman or priest in charge of a congregation
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pastoral
of, characterized by, or depicting rural life, scenery, etc
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pastorale
a composition evocative of rural life, characterized by moderate compound duple or quadruple time and sometimes a droning accompaniment
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pastoralist
a grazier or land-holder raising sheep, cattle, etc, on a large scale
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pastorate
the office or term of office of a pastor
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pastrami
highly seasoned smoked beef, esp prepared from a shoulder cut
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pastry
a dough of flour, water, shortening, and sometimes other ingredients
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pasturage
the right to graze or the business of grazing cattle
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pasture
land covered with grass or herbage and grazed by or suitable for grazing by livestock
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pasty
of or like the colour, texture, etc, of paste
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pat
to hit (something) lightly with the palm of the hand or some other flat surface
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patagium
a web of skin between the neck, limbs, and tail in bats and gliding mammals that functions as a wing
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Patagonia
the southernmost region of South America, in Argentina and Chile extending from the Andes to the Atlantic. Area: about 777 000 sq km (300 000 sq miles)
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Patagonian
of or relating to Patagonia or its inhabitants
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pataka
a building on stilts, used for storing provisions
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patch
a piece of material used to mend a garment or to make patchwork, a sewn-on pocket, etc
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Gary Pearce
Reason for adoption: My Pet Dog's name is Patch!
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patchouli
any of several Asiatic trees of the genus Pogostemon, the leaves of which yield a heavy fragrant oil: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
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patchwork
needlework done by sewing pieces of different materials together
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patchy
irregular in quality, occurrence, intensity, etc
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patd
patented
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pate
the head, esp with reference to baldness or (in facetious use) intelligence
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patella
a small flat triangular bone in front of and protecting the knee joint
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patellate
having the shape of a patella
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paten
a plate, usually made of silver or gold, esp the plate on which the bread is placed in the Eucharist
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patency
the condition of being obvious
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patent
a government grant to an inventor assuring him the sole right to make, use, and sell his invention for a limited period
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patentee
a person, group, company, etc, that has been granted a patent
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patently
obviously
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patentor
a person who or official body that grants a patent or patents
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pater
a public school slang word for father
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Julia McCarron
Reason for adoption: It is a word we have jokingly used for years when refering to my Dad.
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paterfamilias
the male head of a household
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paternal
relating to or characteristic of a father, esp in showing affection, encouragement, etc; fatherly
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paternalism
the attitude or policy of a government or other authority that manages the affairs of a country, company, community, etc, in the manner of a father, esp in usurping individual responsibility and the liberty of choice
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paternity
the fact or state of being a father
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paternoster
the beads at the ends of each decade of the rosary marking the points at which the Paternoster is recited
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Paterson
a city in NE New Jersey: settled by the Dutch in the late 17th century. Pop: 150 782 (2003 est)
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path
a road or way, esp a narrow trodden track
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path.
pathological
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Pathan
a member of the Pashto-speaking people of Afghanistan, NW Pakistan, and elsewhere, most of whom are Muslim in religion
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pathetic
evoking or expressing pity, sympathy, etc
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pathfinder
a person who makes or finds a way, esp through unexplored areas or fields of knowledge
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pathic
a catamite
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pathname
the name of a file or directory together with its position in relation to other directories traced back in a line to the root; the names of the file and each of the parent directories are separated from one another by slashes
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patho-
disease
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pathogen
any agent that can cause disease
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pathogenesis
the origin, development, and resultant effects of a disease
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pathogenic
able to cause or produce disease
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pathognomonic
characteristic or indicative of a particular disease
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pathognomy
study or knowledge of the passions or emotions or their manifestations
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pathological
of or relating to pathology
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pathologize
to represent (something) as a disease
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pathology
the branch of medicine concerned with the cause, origin, and nature of disease, including the changes occurring as a result of disease
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pathos
the quality or power, esp in literature or speech, of arousing feelings of pity, sorrow, etc
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pathway
a route to or way of access to; way of reaching or achieving something
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Patiala
a city in N India, in E Punjab: seat of the Punjabi University (1962). Pop: 302 870 (2001)
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patience
tolerant and even-tempered perseverance
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Nicola Smith
Reason for adoption: Colin is granddad to 3 autistic boys & therefore has to have patience! :o)
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patient
enduring trying circumstances with even temper
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patiki
another name for dab
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patin
variants of paten
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patina
a film of oxide formed on the surface of a metal, esp the green oxidation of bronze or copper
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patio
an open inner courtyard, esp one in a Spanish or Spanish-American house
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patisserie
a shop where fancy pastries are sold
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Patmos
a Greek island in the Aegean, in the NW Dodecanese: St John's place of exile (about 95 ad), where he wrote the Apocalypse. Pop: 2984 (2001). Area: 34 sq km (13 sq miles)
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Patna
a city in NE India, capital of Bihar state, on the River Ganges: founded in the 5th century bc; university (1917); centre of a rice-growing region. Pop: 1 376 950 (2001)
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patois
an unwritten regional dialect of a language, esp of French, usually considered substandard
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Patras
a port in W Greece, in the NW Peloponnese on the Gulf of Patras (an inlet of the Ionian Sea): one of the richest cities in Greece until the 3rd century bc; under Turkish rule from 1458 to 1687 and from 1715 until the War of Greek Independence, which began here in 1821. Pop: 193 000 (2005 est)
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patri-
father
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patrial
(in Britain formerly) a person having by statute the right of abode in the United Kingdom, and so not subject to immigration control
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patriarch
the male head of a tribe or family
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Russell Pickford
Reason for adoption: Because of it's revalence
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patriarchate
the office, jurisdiction, province, or residence of a patriarch
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patriarchy
a form of social organization in which a male is the head of the family and descent, kinship, and title are traced through the male line
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patriate
to bring under the authority of an autonomous country, for example as in the transfer of the Canadian constitution from UK to Canadian responsibility
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patrician
a member of the hereditary aristocracy of ancient Rome. In the early republic the patricians held almost all the higher offices
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patriciate
the dignity, position, or rank of a patrician
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patricide
the act of killing one's father
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patriclinous
(of animals and plants) showing the characters of the male parent
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patrilineal
tracing descent, kinship, or title through the male line
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patrilocal
having or relating to a marriage pattern in which the couple lives with the husband's family
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patrimony
an inheritance from one's father or other ancestor
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patriot
a person who vigorously supports his country and its way of life
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patriotism
devotion to one's own country and concern for its defence
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patristic
of or relating to the Fathers of the Church, their writings, or the study of these
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Patroclus
a friend of Achilles, killed in the Trojan War by Hector. His death made Achilles return to the fight after his quarrel with Agamemnon
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patrol
the action of going through or around a town, neighbourhood, etc, at regular intervals for purposes of security or observation
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patrolman
a man, esp a policeman, who patrols a certain area
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patrology
the study of the writings of the Fathers of the Church
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patron
a person, esp a man, who sponsors or aids artists, charities, etc; protector or benefactor
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patronage
the support given or custom brought by a patron or patroness
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patroness
a woman who sponsors or aids artists, charities, etc; protector or benefactor
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patronize
to behave or treat in a condescending way
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patronizing
having a superior manner; condescending
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patronymic
(of a name) derived from the name of its bearer's father or ancestor. In Western cultures, many surnames are patronymic in origin, as for example Irish names beginning with O' and English names ending with -son; in other cultures, such as Russian, a special patronymic name is used in addition to the surname
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patroon
(in the US) a Dutch land-holder in New Netherland and New York with manorial rights in the colonial era
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patsy
a person who is easily cheated, victimized, etc
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pattée
(of a cross) having triangular arms widening outwards
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patten
a wooden clog or sandal on a raised wooden platform or metal ring
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patter
to walk or move with quick soft steps
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pattern
an arrangement of repeated or corresponding parts, decorative motifs, etc
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patty
a small flattened cake of minced food
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patu
a short Maori club, now used ceremonially
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patulous
spreading widely or expanded
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patutuki
another name for blue cod
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Pau
a city in SW France: residence of the French kings of Navarre; tourist centre for the Pyrenees. Pop: 78 732 (1999)
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paua
an edible abalone, Haliotis iris, of New Zealand, having an iridescent shell used esp for jewellery
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paucal
a grammatical number occurring in some languages for words in contexts where a few of their referents are described or referred to
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paucity
smallness of quantity; insufficiency; dearth
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pauldron
either of two metal plates worn with armour to protect the shoulders
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Pauline
relating to Saint Paul (died ?67 ad), the Christian missionary, martyr, and writer of many of the epistles in the New Testament, or to his doctrines
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paulownia
any scrophulariaceous tree of the Japanese genus Paulownia, esp P. tomentosa, having large heart-shaped leaves and clusters of purplish or white flowers
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paunch
the belly or abdomen, esp when protruding
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paunchy
having a protruding belly or abdomen
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pauper
a person who is extremely poor
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pauperize
to make a pauper of; impoverish
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pauropod
a member of the Pauropoda, a class of minute myriapods less than 2 mm (1/20 in.) in size, having 8 to 10 pairs of legs and branched antennae
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pause
to cease an action temporarily; stop
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pav
short for pavlova
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pavage
a tax towards paving streets, or the right to levy such a tax
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pavane
a slow and stately dance of the 16th and 17th centuries
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pave
to cover (a road, path, etc) with a firm surface suitable for travel, as with paving stones or concrete
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pavement
a hard-surfaced path for pedestrians alongside and a little higher than a road
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Pavia
a town in N Italy, in Lombardy: noted for its Roman and medieval remains, including the tomb of St Augustine. Pop: 71 214 (2001)
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pavid
fearful; timid
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pavilion
a building at a sports ground, esp a cricket pitch, in which players change
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paving
a paved surface; pavement
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paviour
a person who lays paving
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pavis
a large square shield, developed in the 15th century, at first portable but later heavy and set up in a permanent position
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Pavlodar
a port in NE Kazakhstan on the Irtysh River: major industrial centre with an oil refinery. Pop: 303 000 (2005 est)
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pavlova
a meringue cake topped with whipped cream and fruit
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Pavlovian
of or relating to the work of Ivan Pavlov (1849--1936), the Russian physiologist
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Pavo
a small constellation near the South Pole lying between Tucana and Ara
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pavonine
of or resembling a peacock or the colours, design, or iridescence of a peacock's tail
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paw
any of the feet of a four-legged mammal, bearing claws or nails
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Rebecca Evans
Reason for adoption: Because Paws belong to Tigers and KittyCats. :)
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pawky
having or characterized by a dry wit
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pawl
a pivoted lever shaped to engage with a ratchet wheel to prevent motion in a particular direction
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pawn
to deposit (an article) as security for the repayment of a loan, esp from a pawnbroker
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pawnbroker
a dealer licensed to lend money at a specified rate of interest on the security of movable personal property, which can be sold if the loan is not repaid within a specified period
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Pawnee
a member of a confederacy of related North American Indian peoples, formerly living in Nebraska and Kansas, now chiefly in Oklahoma
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pawnshop
the premises of a pawnbroker
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pawpaw
a variant of papaw
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pax
a greeting signifying Christian love transmitted from one to another of those assisting at the Eucharist; kiss of peace
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paxwax
a strong ligament in the neck of many mammals, which supports the head
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pay
to discharge (a debt, obligation, etc) by giving or doing something
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pay back
to retaliate against
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pay off
to pay all that is due in wages, etc, and discharge from employment
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pay-and-display
denoting a car-parking system in which a motorist buys a permit to park for a specified period from a coin-operated machine and displays the permit on or near the windscreen of his or her car so that it can be seen by a parking attendant
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pay-per-click
a system of payment used on the internet in which an advertiser on a website pays the website owner according to the number of people who visit the advertiser's website via the hyperlinked advert on the owner's website
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pay-per-view
a system of television broadcasting by which subscribers pay for each programme they wish to receive
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payable
to be paid
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payday
the day on which wages or salaries are paid
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PAYE
pay as you earn; a system by which income tax levied on wage and salary earners is paid by employers directly to the government
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payee
the person to whom a cheque, money order, etc, is made out
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payer
a person who pays
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payload
that part of a cargo earning revenue
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paymaster
an official of a government, business, etc, responsible for the payment of wages and salaries
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payment
the act of paying
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paynim
a heathen or pagan
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payola
a bribe given to secure special treatment, esp to a disc jockey to promote a commercial product
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payphone
a public telephone operated by coins or a phonecard
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payroll
a list of employees, specifying the salary or wage of each
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Paysandú
a port in W Uruguay, on the Uruguay River: the third largest city in the country. Pop: 74 568 (1996 est)
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payt
payment
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pazzazz
variants of pizzazz
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Pb
lead
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PBX
private branch exchange; a telephone system that handles the internal and external calls of a building, firm, etc
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pc
per cent
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Stephanie Croxton
Reason for adoption: Personal reasons
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PCB
polychlorinated biphenyl
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PCC
Press Complaints Commission
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pcm
pulse code modulation
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PCOS
polycystic ovary syndrome
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PCP
phenylcyclohexylpiperidine (phencyclidine); a depressant drug used illegally as a hallucinogen
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PCR
polymerase chain reaction: a technique for rapidly producing many copies of a fragment of DNA for diagnostic or research purposes
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PCSO
Police Community Support Officer
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pct
per cent
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PCV
passenger carrying vehicle
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pd
paid
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PDA
personal digital assistant
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portable document format: a format in which documents may be viewed
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pdl
poundal
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pdq
pretty damn quick
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PDR
price-dividend ratio
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PDSA
People's Dispensary for Sick Animals
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pe
the 17th letter in the Hebrew alphabet ( or, at the end of a word, ) transliterated as p or, when final, ph
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pea
an annual climbing leguminous plant, Pisum sativum, with small white flowers and long green pods containing edible green seeds: cultivated in temperate regions
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Matt Barnes
Reason for adoption: Because this is thier nickname and has a lot of fond memories
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pea-brain
a foolish or unintelligent person
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peace
the state existing during the absence of war
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Christina Swaine
Reason for adoption: Can there be a better word?
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peaceable
inclined towards peace
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peaceful
not in a state of war or disagreement
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Kerith Bruce
Reason for adoption: it's what I would like to be every so often
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peacekeeping
the maintenance of peace, esp the prevention of further fighting between hostile forces in an area
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peacemaker
a person who establishes peace, esp between others
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peacetime
a period without war; time of peace
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peach
a small rosaceous tree, Prunus persica, with pink flowers and rounded edible fruit: cultivated in temperate regions
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peach-blow
a delicate purplish-pink colour
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peachy
of or like a peach, esp in colour or texture
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peacock
a male peafowl, having a crested head and a very large fanlike tail marked with blue and green eyelike spots
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peafowl
either of two large pheasants, Pavo cristatus (blue peafowl) of India and Ceylon and P. muticus (green peafowl) of SE Asia. The males (peacocks) have a characteristic bright plumage
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peag
less common words for wampum
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peak
a pointed end, edge, or projection
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peaked
having a peak; pointed
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peaky
wan, emaciated, or sickly
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peal
a loud prolonged usually reverberating sound, as of bells, thunder, or laughter
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pean
a less common US spelling of paean
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peanut
a leguminous plant, Arachis hypogaea, of tropical America: widely cultivated for its edible seeds. The seed pods are forced underground where they ripen
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Emma Bulley
Reason for adoption: was my son's favourite word, at a stage when he was unable to say much else.
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peanuts
a trifling amount of money
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Matthew Lovering
Reason for adoption: The best thing in the world
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pear
a widely cultivated rosaceous tree, Pyrus communis, having white flowers and edible fruits
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pearl
a hard smooth lustrous typically rounded structure occurring on the inner surface of the shell of a clam or oyster: consists of calcium carbonate secreted in layers around an invading particle such as a sand grain; much valued as a gem
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Richard Harrison
Reason for adoption: Maisie is a Scottish endearment for Margaret, from Latin and Greek for pearl
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pearler
a person who dives for or trades in pearls
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pearlite
the lamellar structure in carbon steels and some cast irons that consists of alternate plates of pure iron and iron carbide
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pearlized
having or given a pearly lustre
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pearlwort
any caryophyllaceous plant of the genus Sagina, having small white flowers that are spherical in bud
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pearly
resembling a pearl, esp in lustre
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pearmain
any of several varieties of apple having a red skin
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peart
lively; spirited; brisk
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peasant
a member of a class of low social status that depends on either cottage industry or agricultural labour as a means of subsistence
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peasantry
peasants as a class
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peasanty
having qualities ascribed to traditional country life or people; simple or unsophisticated
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pease
an archaic or dialect word for pea
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pease-brose
brose made from a meal of dried peas
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peasecod
the pod of a pea plant
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peashooter
a tube through which pellets such as dried peas are blown, used as a toy weapon
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peasouper
dense dirty yellowish fog
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peat
a compact brownish deposit of partially decomposed vegetable matter saturated with water: found in uplands and bogs in temperate and cold regions and used as a fuel (when dried) and as a fertilizer
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peatland
an area of land consisting of peat bogs, usually containing many species of flora and fauna
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peavey
a wooden lever with a metal pointed end and a hinged hook, used for handling logs
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pebble
a small smooth rounded stone, esp one worn by the action of water
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Annette Woolman
Reason for adoption: Pebbles was our pet name for Jolie before she was born
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pebbling
the act of spraying the rink with drops of hot water to slow down the stone
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pebi-
denoting 250
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pec
short for pectoral muscle
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pecan
a hickory tree, Carya pecan (or C. illinoensis), of the southern US, having deeply furrowed bark and edible nuts
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peccable
liable to sin; susceptible to temptation
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peccadillo
a petty sin or trifling fault
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peccant
guilty of an offence; corrupt
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peccary
either of two piglike artiodactyl mammals, Tayassu tajacu (collared peccary) or T. albirostris (white-lipped peccary) of forests of southern North America, Central and South America: family Tayassuidae
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peccavi
a confession of guilt
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pech
a Scot word for pant
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Pechenga
a region of NW Russia, a former territory of N Finland, ceded by Soviet Russia to Finland in 1920 and taken back in 1944
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Pechora
a river in N Russia, rising in the Ural Mountains and flowing north in a great arc to the Pechora Sea (the SE part of the Barents Sea). Length: 1814 km (1127 miles)
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peck
a unit of dry measure equal to 8 quarts or one quarter of a bushel
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peckish
feeling slightly hungry; having an appetite
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Pecksniffian
affecting benevolence or high moral principles
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pecorino
an Italian cheese made from ewes' milk
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Pecos
a river in the southwestern US, rising in N central New Mexico and flowing southeast to the Rio Grande. Length: about 1180 km (735 miles)
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Pécs
an industrial city in SW Hungary: university (1367). Pop: 158 942 (2003 est)
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pectase
an enzyme occurring in certain ripening fruits: involved in transforming pectin into a soluble form
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pectate
a salt or ester of pectic acid
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pecten
a comblike structure in the eye of birds and reptiles, consisting of a network of blood vessels projecting inwards from the retina, which it is thought to supply with oxygen
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pectin
any of the acidic hemicelluloses that occur in ripe fruit and vegetables: used in the manufacture of jams because of their ability to solidify to a gel when heated in a sugar solution (may be referred to on food labels as E440(a))
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pectinate
shaped like a comb
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pectize
to change into a jelly; gel
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pectoral
of or relating to the chest, breast, or thorax
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pectose
an insoluble carbohydrate found in the cell walls of unripe fruit that is converted to pectin by enzymic processes
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peculate
to appropriate or embezzle (public money)
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peculiar
strange or unusual; odd
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peculiarity
a strange or unusual habit or characteristic
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peculium
property that a father or master allowed his child or slave to hold as his own
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pecuniary
consisting of or relating to money
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ped-
a variant (esp US) of paedo-
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pedagogics
another word for pedagogy
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pedagogue
a teacher or educator
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pedagogy
the principles, practice, or profession of teaching
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pedal
any foot-operated lever or other device, esp one of the two levers that drive the chain wheel of a bicycle, the foot brake, clutch control, or accelerator of a car, one of the levers on an organ controlling deep bass notes, or one of the levers on a piano used to create a muted effect or sustain tone
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Elizabeth Daniels
Reason for adoption: It's not about the bike, it's all about the pedalling
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pedalfer
a type of zonal soil deficient in lime but containing deposits of aluminium and iron, found in wet areas, esp those with high temperatures
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pedalo
a pleasure craft driven by pedal-operated paddle wheels
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pedant
a person who relies too much on academic learning or who is concerned chiefly with insignificant detail
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Gary Stanley
Reason for adoption: I am one.
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pedantic
of, relating to, or characterized by pedantry
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Frances Goodhart
Reason for adoption: It describes him
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pedantry
the habit or an instance of being a pedant, esp in the display of useless knowledge or minute observance of petty rules or details
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pedate
(of a plant leaf) divided into several lobes arising at a common point, the lobes often being stalked and the lateral lobes sometimes divided into smaller lobes
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pedatifid
(of a plant leaf) pedately divided, with the divisions less deep than in a pedate leaf
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peddle
to go from place to place selling (goods, esp small articles)
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peddler
a person who sells illegal drugs, esp narcotics
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pederast
a man who practises pederasty
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pederasty
homosexual relations between men and boys
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pedes
the plural of pes
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pedestal
a base that supports a column, statue, etc, as used in classical architecture
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pedestrian
a person travelling on foot; walker
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Barb Little
Reason for adoption: I want to give my sister her favourite word as a birthday present.
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pedestrianize
to convert (a street) into an area for the use of pedestrians only, by excluding all motor vehicles
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Pedi
a member of a subgroup of the Sotho people resident in the Transvaal
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pedi-
indicating the foot
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pediatrician
the US spelling of paediatrician
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pediatrics
the US spelling of paediatrics
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pedicab
a pedal-operated tricycle, available for hire, with an attached seat for one or two passengers
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pedicel
the stalk bearing a single flower of an inflorescence
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pedicle
any small stalk; pedicel; peduncle
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pedicular
relating to, infested with, or caused by lice
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pediculate
of, relating to, or belonging to the Pediculati, a large order of teleost fishes containing the anglers
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pediculosis
the state of being infested with lice
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pedicure
professional treatment of the feet, either by a medical expert or a cosmetician
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pediform
shaped like a foot
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pedigree
the line of descent of a purebred animal
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pediment
a low-pitched gable, esp one that is triangular, as used in classical architecture
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pedipalp
either member of the second pair of head appendages of arachnids: specialized for feeding, locomotion, etc
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pedlar
a person who peddles; hawker
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pedo-
variants (esp US) of paedo-
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pedocal
a type of zonal soil that is rich in lime and characteristic of relatively dry areas
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pedology
a US spelling of paedology
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pedometer
a device containing a pivoted weight that records the number of steps taken in walking and hence the distance travelled
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peduncle
the stalk of a plant bearing an inflorescence or solitary flower
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pedunculate
having, supported on, or growing from a peduncle
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pee
to urinate
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Peebles
a town in SE Scotland, in Scottish Borders. Pop: 8065 (2001)
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Peeblesshire
(until 1975) a county of SE Scotland, now part of Scottish Borders
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peek
to glance quickly or furtively; peep
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peekaboo
a game for young children, in which one person hides his face and suddenly reveals it and cries ``peekaboo.''
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peel
to remove (the skin, rind, outer covering, etc) of (a fruit, egg, etc)
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peeler
a special knife or mechanical device for peeling vegetables, fruit, etc
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peeling
a strip of skin, rind, bark, etc, that has been peeled off
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Peelite
a follower or admirer of Sir Robert Peel, the British Conservative statesman (1788--1850)
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peely-wally
off colour; pale and ill-looking
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peen
the end of a hammer head opposite the striking face, often rounded or wedge-shaped
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Peenemünde
a village in N Germany, in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania on the Baltic coast: site of a German rocket-development centre in World War II
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peep
to look furtively or secretly, as through a small aperture or from a hidden place
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peeper
a person who peeps
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peephole
a small aperture, such as one in the door of a flat for observing callers before opening
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peepshow
a small box with a peephole through which a series of pictures, esp of erotic poses, can be seen
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peepul
an Indian moraceous tree, Ficus religiosa, resembling the banyan: regarded as sacred by Buddhists
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peer
a member of a nobility; nobleman
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peer-to-peer
(of a computer network) designed so that computers can send information directly to one another without passing through a centralized server
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peerage
the whole body of peers; aristocracy
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peeress
the wife or widow of a peer
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peerie
a spinning top
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peerless
having no equals; matchless
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr matt arwynck
Reason for adoption: what a chubbawoki is to a lummox
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peetweet
another name for the spotted sandpiper
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peeve
to irritate; vex; annoy
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peevers
hopscotch
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peevish
fretful or irritable
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peewee
an age level of 12 to 13 in amateur sport, esp ice hockey
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peewit
another name for lapwing
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peg
a small cylindrical pin or dowel, sometimes slightly tapered, used to join two parts together
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peg-top
(of skirts, trousers, etc) wide at the hips then tapering off towards the ankle
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Pegasus
an immortal winged horse, which sprang from the blood of the slain Medusa and enabled Bellerophon to achieve many great deeds as his rider
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pegboard
a board having a pattern of holes into which small pegs can be fitted, used for playing certain games or keeping a score
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pegging
another name for aid climbing
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pegmatite
any of a class of exceptionally coarse-grained intrusive igneous rocks consisting chiefly of quartz and feldspar: often occurring as dykes among igneous rocks of finer grain
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Pegu
a city in S Myanmar: capital of a united Burma (16th century). Pop: 307 000 (2005 est)
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Pehlevi
a variant of Pahlavi
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PEI
Prince Edward Island
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peignoir
a woman's dressing gown or negligee
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Peipus
a lake in W Russia, on the boundary with Estonia: drains into the Gulf of Finland. Area: 3512 sq km (1356 sq miles)
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Peiraeus
a variant spelling of Piraeus
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pejoration
semantic change whereby a word acquires unfavourable connotations
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pejorative
(of words, expressions, etc) having an unpleasant or disparaging connotation
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pekan
another name for fisher
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peke
a Pekingese dog
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Pekin
a breed of white or cream duck with a bright orange bill
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Peking
the former English name of Beijing
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Pekingese
a small breed of pet dog with a profuse straight coat, curled plumed tail, and short wrinkled muzzle
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pekoe
a high-quality tea made from the downy tips of the young buds of the tea plant
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pelage
the coat of a mammal, consisting of hair, wool, fur, etc
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pelagian
of or inhabiting the open sea
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Pelagianism
a heretical doctrine, first formulated by the British monk Pelagius (?360--?420 ad), that rejected the concept of original sin and maintained that the individual takes the initial steps towards salvation by his own efforts and not by the help of divine grace
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pelagic
of or relating to the open sea
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pelargonium
any plant of the chiefly southern African geraniaceous genus Pelargonium, having circular or lobed leaves and red, pink, or white aromatic flowers: includes many cultivated geraniums
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Pelasgian
a member of any of the pre-Hellenic peoples (the Pelasgi) who inhabited Greece and the islands and coasts of the Aegean Sea before the arrival of the Bronze Age Greeks
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pelecypod
another word for bivalve
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Pelée
a volcano in the Caribbean, in N Martinique: erupted in 1902, killing every person but one in the town of Saint-Pierre. Height: 1463 m (4800 ft)
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pelerine
a woman's narrow cape with long pointed ends in front
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Peleus
a king of the Myrmidons; father of Achilles
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pelf
money or wealth, esp if dishonestly acquired; lucre
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pelham
a horse's bit for a double bridle, less severe than a curb but more severe than a snaffle
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Pelias
a son of Poseidon and Tyro. He feared his nephew Jason and sent him to recover the Golden Fleece, hoping he would not return
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pelican
any aquatic bird of the tropical and warm water family Pelecanidae, such as P. onocrotalus (white pelican): order Pelecaniformes. They have a long straight flattened bill, with a distensible pouch for engulfing fish
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Helen Chapman
Reason for adoption: I love Pelicans and my business is called Pelican Coaching & Development.
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Pelion
a mountain in NE Greece, in E Thessaly. In Greek mythology it was the home of the centaurs. Height: 1548 m (5079 ft)
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pelisse
a fur-trimmed cloak
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pelite
any argillaceous rock such as shale
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pell-mell
in a confused headlong rush
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Pella
an ancient city in N Greece: the capital of Macedonia under Philip II
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pellagra
a disease caused by a dietary deficiency of nicotinic acid, characterized by burning or itching often followed by scaling of the skin, inflammation of the mouth, diarrhoea, mental impairment, etc
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