COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Collins Cobuild)

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you offer profuse apologies or thanks, you apologize or thank someone a lot. □ Then the police officer recognised me, breaking into profuse apologies. ● pro|fuse|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ They were very grateful to be put right and thanked me profusely.

pro|fu|sion /prəfjuː ʒ ^ə n/ N‑SING [with sing or pl verb, oft in N ] If there is a profusion of something or if it occurs in profusion , there is a very large quantity or variety of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] The Dart is a delightful river with a profusion of wild flowers along its banks.

pro|geni|tor /proʊdʒe n I tə ^r / (progenitors )

1 N‑COUNT [usu with poss] A progenitor of someone is a direct ancestor of theirs. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] He was also a progenitor of seven presidents of Nicaragua.

2 N‑COUNT [usu with poss] The progenitor of an idea or invention is the person who first thought of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the progenitor of the C5 electric car.

prog|eny /prɒ dʒəni/ N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] You can refer to a person's children or to an animal's young as their progeny . [FORMAL ] □ Davis was never loquacious on the subject of his progeny.

pro|ges|ter|one /proʊdʒe stəroʊn/ N‑UNCOUNT Progesterone is a hormone that is produced in the ovaries of women and female animals and helps prepare the body for pregnancy. □ If the egg is not fertilised oestrogen and progesterone decrease.

prog|no|sis /prɒgnoʊ s I s/ (prognoses /prɒgnoʊ siːz/) N‑COUNT A prognosis is an estimate of the future of someone or something, especially about whether a patient will recover from an illness. [FORMAL ] □ If the cancer is caught early the prognosis is excellent.

prog|nos|ti|ca|tion /prɒgnɒ st I ke I ʃ ^ə n/ (prognostications ) N‑VAR A prognostication is a statement about what you think will happen in the future. [FORMAL ] □ [+ about ] The country is currently obsessed with gloomy prognostications about its future.

pro|gram ◆◆◇ /proʊ græm/ (programs , programming , programmed )

1 N‑COUNT A program is a set of instructions that a computer follows in order to perform a particular task. [COMPUTING ] □ The chances of an error occurring in a computer program increase with the size of the program.

2 VERB When you program a computer, you give it a set of instructions to make it able to perform a particular task. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n to-inf] He programmed his computer to compare all the possible combinations. □ [V n] …45 million people, about half of whom can program their own computers. □ [V -ed] …a computer programmed to translate a story given to it in Chinese. ● pro|gram|ming N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] □ …programming skills. □ …the concepts of programming.

3 → see also programme

pro|gram|ma|ble /proʊ græməb ^ə l/ ADJ A programmable machine can be programmed, so that for example it will switch on and off automatically or do things in a particular order. □ The heating system has a fully programmable touchscreen remote control.

pro|gram|mat|ic /proʊ grəmæ t I k/ ADJ Programmatic ideas or policies follow a particular programme. □ He gave up on programmatic politics and turned his back on public life.

pro|gramme ◆◆◆ /proʊ græm/ (programmes , programming , programmed ) in AM, use program 1 N‑COUNT A programme of actions or events is a series of actions or events that are planned to be done. □ The general argued that the nuclear programme should still continue.

2 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A television or radio programme is something that is broadcast on television or radio. □ …a series of TV programmes on global environment. □ …local news programmes.

3 N‑COUNT A theatre or concert programme is a small book or sheet of paper which gives information about the play or concert you are attending.

4 VERB When you programme a machine or system, you set its controls so that it will work in a particular way. □ [V n to-inf] Parents can programme the machine not to turn on at certain times. [Also V n]

5 VERB [usu passive] If a living creature is programmed to behave in a particular way, they are likely to behave in that way because of social or biological factors that they cannot control. □ [be V -ed to-inf] We are all genetically programmed to develop certain illnesses. [Also be V -ed]

pro |gramme note (programme notes ) in AM, use program note N‑COUNT A programme note is an article written in a programme for a play or concert, which gives information about the performance or production.

pro|gram|mer /proʊ græmə ^r / (programmers ) N‑COUNT A computer programmer is a person whose job involves writing programs for computers. [COMPUTING ]

pro|gress ◆◆◇ (progresses , progressing , progressed ) The noun is pronounced /proʊ gres, [AM ] prɑː -/. The verb is pronounced /prəgre s/. 1 N‑UNCOUNT Progress is the process of gradually improving or getting nearer to achieving or completing something. □ The medical community continues to make progress in the fight against cancer. □ The two sides made little if any progress towards agreement.

2 N‑SING The progress of a situation or action is the way in which it develops. □ [+ of ] The CEO is reported to have been delighted with the progress of the first day's talks.

3 VERB To progress means to move over a period of time to a stronger, more advanced, or more desirable state. □ [V ] He will visit once a fortnight to see how his new staff are progressing. □ [V + to ] He started with sketching and then progressed to painting.

4 VERB If events progress , they continue to happen gradually over a period of time. □ [V ] As the evening progressed, sadness turned to rage.

5 VERB If you progress something, you cause it to develop. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Very little was done to progress the case in the first 10 or so months after K was charged.

6 PHRASE If something is in progress , it has started and is still continuing. □ The game was already in progress when we took our seats. COLLOCATIONS progress NOUN

1

adjective + progress : good, real, significant, steady; rapid, slow, swift; technological

verb + progress : achieve, make

2

verb + progress : assess, follow, monitor, review VERB 4

noun + progress : day, evening, game, season; game, season, war, work

pro|gres|sion /prəgre ʃ ^ə n/ (progressions )

1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A progression is a gradual development from one state to another. □ [+ of ] Both drugs slow the progression of HIV, but neither cures the disease.

2 N‑COUNT A progression of things is a number of things which come one after the other. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …a progression of habitats from dry meadows through marshes to open water.

pro|gres|sive /prəgre s I v/ (progressives )

1 ADJ Someone who is progressive or has progressive ideas has modern ideas about how things should be done, rather than traditional ones. □ …a progressive businessman who had voted for Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936. □ The children go to a progressive school. ● N‑COUNT A progressive is someone who is progressive. □ The Republicans were deeply split between progressives and conservatives.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A progressive change happens gradually over a period of time. □ One prominent symptom of the disease is progressive loss of memory. ● pro|gres|sive|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Her symptoms became progressively worse. □ The amount of grant the council received was progressively reduced.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] In grammar, progressive means the same as continuous .

pro|hib|it /prəh I b I t, [AM ] proʊ-/ (prohibits , prohibiting , prohibited ) VERB If a law or someone in authority prohibits something, they forbid it or make it illegal. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …a law that prohibits tobacco advertising in newspapers and magazines. □ [V n] Fishing is prohibited. □ [V n + from ] Federal law prohibits foreign airlines from owning more than 25% of any U.S. airline. ● pro|hi|bi|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the prohibition of women on air combat missions.

pro|hi|bi|tion /proʊ I b I ʃ ^ə n/ (prohibitions )

1 N‑COUNT A prohibition is a law or rule forbidding something. □ [+ on ] …a prohibition on discrimination. □ [+ against ] …prohibitions against feeding birds at the airport.

2 → see also prohibit

Pro|hi|bi|tion N‑UNCOUNT In the United States, Prohibition was the law that prevented the manufacture, sale, and transporting of alcoholic drinks between 1919 and 1933. Prohibition also refers to the period when this law existed.

pro|hibi|tive /prəh I b I t I v, [AM ] proʊ-/ ADJ If the cost of something is prohibitive , it is so high that many people cannot afford it. [FORMAL ] □ The cost of private treatment can be prohibitive. ● pro|hibi|tive|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ Meat and butter were prohibitively expensive.

proj|ect ◆◆◇ (projects , projecting , projected ) The noun is pronounced /prɒ dʒekt/. The verb is pronounced /prədʒe kt/ and is hyphenated pro|ject. 1 N‑COUNT A project is a task that requires a lot of time and effort. □ Money will also go into local development projects in Vietnam. □ Besides film and record projects, I have continued to work in the theater.

2 N‑COUNT A project is a detailed study of a subject by a pupil or student. □ Students complete projects for a personal tutor, working at home at their own pace.

3 VERB If something is projected , it is planned or expected. □ [be V -ed to-inf] This sector is projected to double in size over the next 12 months. □ [V n] The government had been projecting a 5% consumer price increase for the entire year. □ [V -ed] …a projected deficit of $1.5 million.

4 VERB If you project someone or something in a particular way, you try to make people see them in that way. If you project a particular feeling or quality, you show it in your behaviour. □ [V n] Bradley projects a natural warmth and sincerity. □ [V pron-refl + as ] He just hasn't been able to project himself as the strong leader. □ [V n + as ] His first job will be to project Glasgow as a friendly city. □ [V -ed] The initial image projected was of a caring, effective president.

5 VERB If you project feelings or ideas on to other people, you imagine that they have the same ideas or feelings as you. □ [V n + on/onto/upon ] He projects his own thoughts and ideas onto her.

6 VERB If you project a film or picture onto a screen or wall, you make it appear there. □ [V n] The team tried projecting the maps with two different projectors onto the same screen.

7 VERB If something projects , it sticks out above or beyond a surface or edge. [FORMAL ] □ [V prep/adv] …the remains of a war-time defence which projected out from the shore. □ [V -ing] …a piece of projecting metal.

8 → see also housing project SYNONYMS project NOUN 1

task: She used the day to catch up with administrative tasks.

scheme: …schemes to help combat unemployment.

plan: …a detailed plan of action for restructuring the group.

venture: …his latest writing venture.

pro|jec|tile /prədʒe kta I l, [AM ] -t ^ə l/ (projectiles ) N‑COUNT A projectile is an object that is fired from a gun or other weapon. [FORMAL ]

pro|jec|tion /prədʒe kʃ ^ə n/ (projections )

1 N‑COUNT A projection is an estimate of a future amount. □ [+ of ] …the company's projection of 11 million visitors for the first year. □ …sales projections.

2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] The projection of a film or picture is the act of projecting it onto a screen or wall.

pro|jec|tion|ist /prədʒe kʃən I st/ (projectionists ) N‑COUNT A projectionist is someone whose job is to work a projector at a cinema.

pro j|ect ma n|ag|er (project managers ) N‑COUNT A project manager is someone who plans a project and organizes the work of all the people involved in it. □ She works as a project manager for an insurance company.

pro|jec|tor /prədʒe ktə ^r / (projectors )

1 N‑COUNT A projector is a machine that projects images onto a screen or wall. □ The chain is introducing digital projectors and broadcasts of live sports.

2 → see also overhead projector

pro|lapse /proʊ læps, [AM ] proʊlæ ps/ (prolapses , prolapsing , prolapsed ) The verb is also pronounced /prəlæ ps/. 1 N‑VAR A prolapse is when one of the organs in the body moves down from its normal position. [MEDICAL ]

2 VERB If an organ in someone's body prolapses , it moves down from its normal position. [MEDICAL ] □ [V ] Sometimes the original abortion was done so badly that the uterus prolapsed.

prole /proʊ l/ (proles ) N‑COUNT A prole is someone in a low social class. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ We had proles working alongside university types as equals.

pro|letar|ian /proʊ l I teə riən/ (proletarians )

1 ADJ Proletarian means relating to the proletariat. □ …a proletarian revolution.

2 N‑COUNT A proletarian is a member of the proletariat.

pro|letari|at /proʊ l I teə riæt/ N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] The proletariat is a term used to refer to workers without high status, especially industrial workers. □ …a struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

pro -li fe ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone who is pro-life thinks that women do not have a right to choose whether or not to give birth to a child they have conceived, and that abortion is wrong in most or all circumstances. □ …the pro-life movement.

pro|lif|er|ate /prəl I fəre I t/ (proliferates , proliferating , proliferated ) VERB If things proliferate , they increase in number very quickly. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] Computerized data bases are proliferating fast. ● pro|lif|era|tion /prəl I fəre I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT [n N ] □ [+ of ] …the proliferation of nuclear weapons. □ Smoking triggers off cell proliferation.

pro|lif|ic /prəl I f I k/

1 ADJ A prolific writer, artist, or composer produces a large number of works. □ She is a prolific writer of novels and short stories.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A prolific sports player scores a lot of goals or wins a lot of matches or races. □ Another prolific scorer was Dean Saunders.

3 ADJ An animal, person, or plant that is prolific produces a large number of babies, young plants, or fruit. □ They are prolific breeders, with many hens laying up to six eggs.

pro|logue /proʊ lɒg, [AM ] -lɔːg/ (prologues )

1 N‑COUNT A prologue is a speech or section of text that introduces a play or book. □ The prologue to the novel is written in the form of a newspaper account.

2 N‑COUNT If one event is a prologue to another event, it leads to it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] This was a prologue to today's bloodless revolution.

pro|long /prəlɒ ŋ, [AM ] -lɔːŋ/ (prolongs , prolonging , prolonged ) VERB To prolong something means to make it last longer. □ [V n] Mr Chesler said foreign military aid was prolonging the war. ● pro|lon|ga|tion /proʊ lɒŋge I ʃ ^ə n, [AM ] -lɔːŋ-/ (prolongations ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] …the prolongation of productive human life.

pro|longed /prəlɒ ŋd, [AM ] -lɔːŋd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A prolonged event or situation continues for a long time, or for longer than expected. □ …a prolonged period of low interest rates.

prom /prɒ m/ (proms ) The spelling Prom is usually used for meaning 3 . 1 N‑COUNT A prom is a formal dance at a school or college which is usually held at the end of the academic year. [AM ] □ I didn't want to go to the prom with Craig.

2 N‑SING The prom is the road by the sea where people go for a walk. [BRIT ]

3 N‑PLURAL The Proms are a series of concerts of mainly classical music that are held each year in London and some other cities. There is usually an area at these concerts where people stand, as well as seats. [mainly BRIT ]

prom|enade /prɒ mənɑː d, [AM ] -ne I d/ (promenades , promenading , promenaded )

1 N‑COUNT In a seaside town, the promenade is the road by the sea where people go for a walk.

2 N‑COUNT A promenade is an area that is used for walking, for example a wide road or a deck on a ship. [mainly AM ]

3 N‑COUNT A promenade is a formal dance at a school or college which is usually held at the end of the academic year. [AM ]

promi|nence /prɒ m I nəns/ N‑UNCOUNT If someone or something is in a position of prominence , they are well-known and important. □ He came to prominence during the last World Cup. □ Crime prevention had to be given more prominence.

promi|nent ◆◇◇ /prɒ m I nənt/

1 ADJ Someone who is prominent is important. □ …a prominent member of the Law Society.

2 ADJ Something that is prominent is very noticeable or is an important part of something else. □ Here the window plays a prominent part in the design. ● promi|nent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Trade will figure prominently in the second day of talks in Washington. SYNONYMS prominent ADJ 1

famous: …England's most famous landscape artist, John Constable.

leading: …a leading member of Bristol's Sikh community.

top: So you want to be a top model.

pro|mis|cu|ous /prəm I skjuəs/ ADJ Someone who is promiscuous has sex with many different people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ She is perceived as vain, spoilt and promiscuous. ● promis|cu|ity /prɒ m I skjuː I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ He has recently urged more tolerance of sexual promiscuity.

prom|ise ◆◆◇ /prɒ m I s/ (promises , promising , promised )

1 VERB If you promise that you will do something, you say to someone that you will definitely do it. □ [V to-inf] The post office has promised to resume first class mail delivery to the area on Friday. □ [V that] He had promised that the rich and privileged would no longer get preferential treatment. □ [V n that] Promise me you will not waste your time. □ [V with quote] 'We'll be back next year,' he promised. □ [V ] 'You promise?'—'All right, I promise.' [Also V n]

2 VERB If you promise someone something, you tell them that you will definitely give it to them or make sure that they have it. □ [V n n] In 1920 the great powers promised them an independent state. □ [V n] The officers promise a return to multiparty rule.

3 N‑COUNT [oft N to-inf, N that] A promise is a statement which you make to a person in which you say that you will definitely do something or give them something. □ If you make a promise, you should keep it.

4 VERB If a situation or event promises to have a particular quality or to be a particular thing, it shows signs that it will have that quality or be that thing. □ [V to-inf] While it will be fun, the seminar also promises to be most instructive.

5 N‑UNCOUNT If someone or something shows promise , they seem likely to be very good or successful. □ The boy first showed promise as an athlete in grade school. COLLOCATIONS promise NOUN

3

noun + promise : campaign, election, manifesto

adjective + promise : broken, empty, false, vague

verb + promise : fulfil, honour, keep; break

5

adjective + promise : early, great

verb + promise : show VERB 2

promise + noun : aid, help, support; action, change; investigation, review

pro m|ised la nd (promised lands ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you refer to a place or a state as a promised land , you mean that people desire it and expect to find happiness or success there. □ …the promised land of near-zero inflation.

prom|is|ing /prɒ m I s I ŋ/ ADJ Someone or something that is promising seems likely to be very good or successful. □ A school has honoured one of its brightest and most promising former pupils.

prom|is|ing|ly /prɒ m I s I ŋli/ ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] If something or someone starts promisingly , they begin well but often fail in the end. □ It all started so promisingly when we scored a tremendous first goal.

prom|is|sory note /prɒ m I səri noʊt, [AM ] -sɔːri/ (promissory notes ) N‑COUNT A promissory note is a written promise to pay a specific sum of money to a particular person. [mainly AM , BUSINESS ] □ …a $36.4 million, five-year promissory note.

pro|mo /proʊ moʊ/ (promos ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A promo is something such as a short video film which is used to promote a product. [JOURNALISM , INFORMAL ] □ He races his cars, and hires them out for film, TV and promo videos.

prom|on|tory /prɒ məntri, [AM ] -tɔːri/ (promontories ) N‑COUNT A promontory is a cliff that stretches out into the sea.

pro|mote ◆◆◇ /prəmoʊ t/ (promotes , promoting , promoted )

1 VERB If people promote something, they help or encourage it to happen, increase, or spread. □ [V n] You don't have to sacrifice environmental protection to promote economic growth. ● pro|mo|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] The government has pledged to give the promotion of democracy higher priority.

2 VERB If a firm promotes a product, it tries to increase the sales or popularity of that product. □ [V n] The singer has announced a full British tour to promote his second solo album. □ [be V -ed + as ] …a special St Lucia week where the island could be promoted as a tourist destination.

3 VERB [usu passive] If someone is promoted , they are given a more important job or rank in the organization that they work for. □ [be V -ed + from/to ] I was promoted to editor and then editorial director. □ [be V -ed] In fact, those people have been promoted.

4 VERB [usu passive] If a team that competes in a league is promoted , it starts competing in a higher division in the next season because it was one of the most successful teams in the lower division. [BRIT ] □ [be V -ed + to ] They won the Second Division title and were promoted to the First Division. [Also be V -ed] ● pro|mo|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ to ] Fans have been celebrating their team's promotion to the First Division. SYNONYMS promote VERB

1

encourage: Slow music encourages supermarket-shoppers to browse longer but spend more.

support: He pressed the party to support a total ban on imported coal.

back: The Prime Minister is backed by the civic movement, Public Against Violence.

2

advertise: The players can advertise baked beans, but not rugby boots.

publicize: The author appeared on television to publicize her latest book.

push: Ministers will push the case for opening the plant.

pro|mot|er /prəmoʊ tə ^r / (promoters )

1 N‑COUNT A promoter is a person who helps organize and finance an event, especially a sports event. □ …one of the top boxing promoters in Britain.

2 N‑COUNT The promoter of a cause or idea tries to make it become popular. □ [+ of ] He was an energetic promoter of American music.

pro|mo|tion ◆◇◇ /prəmoʊ ʃ ^ə n/ (promotions )

1 N‑VAR If you are given promotion or a promotion in your job, you are given a more important job or rank in the organization that you work for. □ Consider changing jobs or trying for promotion. □ [+ to ] …rewarding outstanding employees with promotions to higher-paid posts.

2 N‑VAR A promotion is an attempt to make a product or event popular or successful, especially by advertising. [BUSINESS ] □ During 1984, Remington spent a lot of money on advertising and promotion.

3 → see also promote

pro|mo|tion|al /prəmoʊ ʃən ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Promotional material, events, or ideas are designed to increase the sales of a product or service. □ You can use the logo in all your promotional material.

prompt ◆◇◇ /prɒ mpt/ (prompts , prompting , prompted )

1 VERB To prompt someone to do something means to make them decide to do it. □ [V n to-inf] Japan's recession has prompted consumers to cut back on buying cars. □ [V n] The need for villagers to control their own destinies has prompted a new plan.

2 VERB If you prompt someone when they stop speaking, you encourage or help them to continue. If you prompt an actor, you tell them what their next line is when they have forgotten what comes next. □ [V with quote] 'Go on,' the therapist prompted him. □ [V n] How exactly did he prompt her, Mr Markham?

3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A prompt action is done without any delay. □ It is not too late, but prompt action is needed.

4 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are prompt to do something, you do it without delay or you are not late. □ You have been so prompt in carrying out all these commissions. SYNONYMS prompt VERB 1

inspire: These herbs will inspire you to try out all sorts of exotic-flavoured dishes!

stimulate: I was stimulated to examine my deepest thoughts.

spur: His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part.

provoke: His election success has provoked a shocked reaction. ADJ 3

immediate: These tragic incidents have had an immediate effect.

quick: Officials played down any hope for a quick end to the bloodshed.

rapid: This signals a rapid change of mind by the government.

swift: The police were swift to act.

prompt|ing /prɒ mpt I ŋ/ (promptings ) N‑VAR If you respond to prompting , you do what someone encourages or reminds you to do. □ …the promptings of your subconscious.

prompt|ly /prɒ mptli/

1 ADV [ADV with v] If you do something promptly , you do it immediately. □ Sister Francesca entered the chapel, took her seat, and promptly fell asleep.

2 ADV [ADV with v] If you do something promptly at a particular time, you do it at exactly that time. □ [+ at/on ] Promptly at a quarter past seven, we left the hotel.

prom|ul|gate /prɒ m ^ə lge I t/ (promulgates , promulgating , promulgated )

1 VERB If people promulgate a new law or a new idea, they make it widely known. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The shipping industry promulgated a voluntary code.

2 VERB [usu passive] If a new law is promulgated by a government or national leader, it is publicly approved or made official. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] A new constitution was promulgated last month. ● prom|ul|ga|tion /prɒ m ^ə lge I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the promulgation of the constitution.

prone /proʊ n/

1 ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ to-inf] To be prone to something, usually something bad, means to have a tendency to be affected by it or to do it. □ [+ to ] For all her experience, she was still prone to nerves. □ [+ to ] People with fair skin who sunburn easily are very prone to skin cancer. ● COMB -prone combines with nouns to make adjectives that describe people who are frequently affected by something bad. □ …the most injury-prone rider on the circuit.

2 → see also accident prone

3 ADJ [ADJ after v, ADJ n] If you are lying prone , you are lying on your front. [FORMAL ] □ Bob slid from his chair and lay prone on the floor.

prong /prɒ ŋ, [AM ] prɔː ŋ/ (prongs )

1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The prongs of something such as a fork are the long, thin pointed parts.

2 N‑COUNT The prongs of something such as a policy or plan are the separate parts of it. □ The shareholder rights movement has two prongs. □ [+ of ] The second prong of the strategy is the provision of basic social services for the poor.

-pronged /-prɒŋd, [AM ] -prɔːŋd/ COMB [ADJ n] A two -pronged or three -pronged attack, plan, or approach has two or three parts. □ …a two-pronged attack on the recession.

pro|nomi|nal /proʊnɒ m I n ^ə l/ ADJ Pronominal means relating to pronouns or like a pronoun. [TECHNICAL ] □ …a pronominal use.

pro|noun /proʊ naʊn/ (pronouns )

1 N‑COUNT A pronoun is a word that you use to refer to someone or something when you do not need to use a noun, often because the person or thing has been mentioned earlier. Examples are 'it', 'she', 'something', and 'myself'.

2 → see also indefinite pronoun , personal pronoun , reflexive pronoun , relative pronoun

pro|nounce /prənaʊ ns/ (pronounces , pronouncing , pronounced )

1 VERB To pronounce a word means to say it using particular sounds. □ [V n] Have I pronounced your name correctly? □ [V n n] He pronounced it Per-sha, the way the English do.

2 VERB If you pronounce something to be true, you state that it is the case. [FORMAL ] □ [V n adj] A specialist has now pronounced him fully fit. □ [V n n] I now pronounce you husband and wife.

pro|nounced /prənaʊ nst/ ADJ Something that is pronounced is very noticeable. □ Most of the art exhibitions have a pronounced Scottish theme.

pro|nounce|ment /prənaʊ nsmənt/ (pronouncements ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Pronouncements are public or official statements on an important subject. □ …the prime minister's latest pronouncements about the protection of minorities.

pron|to /prɒ ntoʊ/ ADV [ADV after v] If you say that something must be done pronto , you mean that it must be done quickly and at once. [INFORMAL ] □ Get down to the post office pronto!

pro|nun|cia|tion /prənʌ nsie I ʃ ^ə n/ (pronunciations ) N‑VAR The pronunciation of a word or language is the way in which it is pronounced. □ She gave the word its French pronunciation. □ You're going to have to forgive my pronunciation.

proof ◆◇◇ /pruː f/ (proofs )

1 N‑VAR [N that] Proof is a fact, argument, or piece of evidence which shows that something is definitely true or definitely exists. □ [+ of ] I would need to bring in something with my French address on it as proof of residence. □ This is not necessarily proof that he is wrong.

2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] In publishing, the proofs of a book, magazine, or article are a first copy of it that is printed so that mistakes can be corrected before more copies are printed and published. □ [+ of ] I'm correcting the proofs of the Spanish edition right now. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Proof is also an adjective. □ …an uncorrected proof copy of the book.

3 ADJ Proof is used after a number of degrees or a percentage, when indicating the strength of a strong alcoholic drink such as whisky. □ …a glass of Wild Turkey bourbon: 101 degrees proof.

4 the proof of the pudding is in the eating → see pudding

-proof /-pruːf/ (-proofs , -proofing , -proofed )

1 COMB -proof combines with nouns and verbs to form adjectives which indicate that something cannot be damaged or badly affected by the thing or action mentioned. □ …a bomb-proof aircraft. □ In a large microwave-proof dish, melt butter for 20 seconds.

2 COMB -proof combines with nouns to form verbs which refer to protecting something against being damaged or badly affected by the thing mentioned. □ [V n] …home energy efficiency grants towards the cost of draught-proofing your home. □ [V -ed] …inflation-proofed pensions.

3 → see also bullet-proof , childproof , damp-proof course , fireproof , ovenproof , soundproof , waterproof , weatherproof

proof|read /pruː friːd/ (proofreads , proofreading ) also proof-read VERB When someone proofreads something such as a book or an article, they read it before it is published in order to find and mark mistakes that need to be corrected. □ [V n] I didn't even have the chance to proofread my own report. [Also V ]

prop /prɒ p/ (props , propping , propped )

1 VERB If you prop an object on or against something, you support it by putting something underneath it or by resting it somewhere. □ [V n + on/against ] He rocked back in the chair and propped his feet on the desk. [Also V n adv/prep] ● PHRASAL VERB Prop up means the same as prop . □ [V n P prep] Sam slouched back and propped his elbows up on the bench behind him. □ [V P n prep] If you have difficulty sitting like this, prop up your back against a wall.

2 N‑COUNT A prop is a stick or other object that you use to support something.

3 N‑COUNT To be a prop for a system, institution, or person means to be the main thing that keeps them strong or helps them survive. □ The army is one of the main props of the government.

4 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The props in a play or film are all the objects or pieces of furniture that are used in it. □ …the backdrop and props for a stage show.

▸ prop up

1 PHRASAL VERB To prop up something means to support it or help it to survive. □ [V P n] Investments in the U.S. money market have propped up the American dollar. □ [V n P ] On the Stock Exchange, aggressive buying propped the market up.

2 → see prop 1

propa|gan|da /prɒ pəgæ ndə/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Propaganda is information, often inaccurate information, which a political organization publishes or broadcasts in order to influence people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The party adopted an aggressive propaganda campaign against its rivals.

propa|gan|dist /prɒ pəgæ nd I st/ (propagandists ) N‑COUNT A propagandist is a person who tries to persuade people to support a particular idea or group, often by giving inaccurate information. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ for ] He was also a brilliant propagandist for free trade.

propa|gan|dize /prɒ pəgæ nda I z/ (propagandizes , propagandizing , propagandized ) in BRIT, also use propagandise VERB If you say that a group of people propagandize , you think that they are dishonestly trying to persuade other people to share their views. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V ] You can propagandize just by calling attention to something. □ [V n] This government shouldn't propagandize its own people.

propa|gate /prɒ pəge I t/ (propagates , propagating , propagated )

1 VERB If people propagate an idea or piece of information, they spread it and try to make people believe it or support it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] They propagated political doctrines which promised to tear apart the fabric of our society. ● propa|ga|tion /prɒ pəge I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the propagation of true Buddhism.

2 VERB If you propagate plants, you grow more of them from the original ones. [TECHNICAL ] □ [V n] The easiest way to propagate a vine is to take hardwood cuttings. □ [be V -ed + from ] The pasque flower can be propagated from seed. [Also V n + from ] ● propa|ga|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the successful propagation of a batch of plants.

pro|pane /proʊ pe I n/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Propane is a gas that is used for cooking and heating. □ …a propane gas cylinder.

pro|pel /prəpe l/ (propels , propelling , propelled )

1 VERB To propel something in a particular direction means to cause it to move in that direction. □ [V n prep] Floor the accelerator pedal and you are propelled forward in a wave of power. ● COMB -propelled combines with nouns to form adjectives which indicate how something, especially a weapon, is propelled. □ …rocket-propelled grenades.

2 VERB If something propels you into a particular activity, it causes you to do it. □ [V n prep] It was a shooting star that propelled me into astronomy in the first place. □ [be V -ed] He is propelled by both guilt and the need to avenge his father.

pro|pel|lant /prəpe lənt/ (propellants )

1 N‑VAR Propellant is a substance that causes something to move forwards. □ …a propellant for nuclear rockets.

2 N‑VAR Propellant is a gas that is used in spray cans to force the contents out of the can when you press the button. □ By 1978, in the U.S.A., the use of CFCs in aerosol propellants was banned.

pro|pel|ler /prəpe lə ^r / (propellers ) N‑COUNT A propeller is a device with blades which is attached to a boat or aircraft. The engine makes the propeller spin round and causes the boat or aircraft to move. □ …a fixed three-bladed propeller.

pro|pen|sity /prəpe ns I ti/ (propensities ) N‑COUNT [oft N to-inf] A propensity to do something or a propensity for something is a natural tendency that you have to behave in a particular way. [FORMAL ] □ [+ for ] Mr Bint has a propensity to put off decisions to the last minute.

prop|er ◆◇◇ /prɒ pə ^r /

1 ADJ [ADJ n] You use proper to describe things that you consider to be real and satisfactory rather than inadequate in some way. □ Two out of five people lack a proper job. □ I always cook a proper evening meal.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] The proper thing is the one that is correct or most suitable. □ The Supreme Court will ensure that the proper procedures have been followed. □ He helped to put things in their proper place.

3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that a way of behaving is proper , you mean that it is considered socially acceptable and right. □ In those days it was not thought entirely proper for a woman to be on the stage.

4 ADJ [n ADJ ] You can add proper after a word to indicate that you are referring to the central and most important part of a place, event, or object and want to distinguish it from other things which are not regarded as being important or central to it. □ A distinction must be made between archaeology proper and science-based archaeology.

prop|er|ly ◆◇◇ /prɒ pə ^r li/

1 ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] If something is done properly , it is done in a correct and satisfactory way. □ You're too thin. You're not eating properly. □ There needs to be a properly informed public debate.

2 ADV [ADV after v] If someone behaves properly , they behave in a way that is considered acceptable and not rude. □ He's a spoilt brat and it's about time he learnt to behave properly.

pro p|er nou n (proper nouns ) also proper name N‑COUNT A proper noun is the name of a particular person, place, organization, or thing. Proper nouns begin with a capital letter. Examples are 'Margaret', 'London', and 'the United Nations'. Compare common noun .

prop|er|tied /prɒ pə ^r tid/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Propertied people own land or property. [FORMAL ] □ …the propertied classes.

prop|er|ty ◆◆◇ /prɒ pə ^r ti/ (properties )

1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] Someone's property is all the things that belong to them or something that belongs to them. [FORMAL ] □ Richard could easily destroy her personal property to punish her for walking out on him. □ Security forces searched thousands of homes, confiscating weapons and stolen property.

2 N‑VAR A property is a building and the land belonging to it. [FORMAL ] □ This vehicle has been parked on private property.

3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The properties of a substance or object are the ways in which it behaves in particular conditions. □ A radio signal has both electrical and magnetic properties. SYNONYMS property NOUN 1

possessions: She had tidied away her possessions.

assets: By the end of 1989 the group had assets of 3.5 billion francs.

belongings: I collected my belongings and left.

proph|ecy /prɒ f I si/ (prophecies ) N‑VAR A prophecy is a statement in which someone says they strongly believe that a particular thing will happen. □ …Biblical prophecy.

proph|esy /prɒ f I sa I / (prophesies , prophesying , prophesied ) VERB If you prophesy that something will happen, you say that you strongly believe that it will happen. □ [V that] He prophesied that within five years his opponent would either be dead or in prison. □ [V n] She prophesied a bad ending for the expedition. [Also V ]

proph|et /prɒ f I t/ (prophets )

1 N‑COUNT A prophet is a person who is believed to be chosen by God to say the things that God wants to tell people. □ …the sacred name of the Holy Prophet of Islam.

2 N‑COUNT A prophet is someone who predicts that something will happen in the future. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] I promised myself I'd defy all the prophets of doom and battle back to fitness.

pro|phet|ic /prəfe t I k/ ADJ If something was prophetic , it described or suggested something that did actually happen later. □ This ominous warning soon proved prophetic.

prophy|lac|tic /prɒ f I læ kt I k/ (prophylactics )

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Prophylactic means concerned with preventing disease. [MEDICAL ] □ Vaccination and other prophylactic measures can be carried out.

2 N‑COUNT A prophylactic is a substance or device used for preventing disease. [MEDICAL ] □ The region began to use quinine successfully as a prophylactic.

3 N‑COUNT A prophylactic is a condom. [FORMAL ]

pro|pi|ti|ate /prəp I ʃie I t/ (propitiates , propitiating , propitiated ) VERB If you propitiate someone, you stop them being angry or impatient by doing something to please them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] I've never gone out of my way to propitiate people. □ [V n] These ancient ceremonies propitiate the spirits of the waters.

pro|pi|tious /prəp I ʃəs/ ADJ If something is propitious , it is likely to lead to success. [FORMAL ] □ They should wait for the most propitious moment between now and the next election. □ The omens for the game are still not propitious.

pro|po|nent /prəpoʊ nənt/ (proponents ) N‑COUNT [with poss] If you are a proponent of a particular idea or course of action, you actively support it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Halsey was identified as a leading proponent of the values of progressive education.

pro|por|tion ◆◇◇ /prəpɔː ^r ʃ ^ə n/ (proportions )

1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A proportion of a group or an amount is a part of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] A large proportion of the dolphins in that area will eventually die. □ [+ of ] A proportion of the rent is met by the city council.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The proportion of one kind of person or thing in a group is the number of people or things of that kind compared to the total number of people or things in the group. □ [+ of ] The proportion of women in the profession had risen to 17.3%.

3 N‑COUNT The proportion of one amount to another is the relationship between the two amounts in terms of how much there is of each thing. □ [+ to ] Women's bodies tend to have a higher proportion of fat to water.

4 N‑PLURAL If you refer to the proportions of something, you are referring to its size, usually when this is extremely large. [WRITTEN ] □ In the tropics plants grow to huge proportions.

5 PHRASE If one thing increases or decreases in proportion to another thing, it increases or decreases to the same degree as that thing. □ The pressure in the cylinders would go up in proportion to the boiler pressure.

6 PHRASE If something is small or large in proportion to something else, it is small or large when compared with that thing. □ Children have relatively larger heads than adults in proportion to the rest of their body.

7 PHRASE If you say that something is out of all proportion to something else, you think that it is far greater or more serious than it should be. □ The punishment was out of all proportion to the crime.

8 PHRASE If you get something out of proportion , you think it is more important or worrying than it really is. If you keep something in proportion , you have a realistic view of how important it is. □ Everything just got blown out of proportion. □ We've got to keep this in proportion. SYNONYMS proportion NOUN 1

part: Mum and Rob were able to walk part of the way together.

share: Sara also pays a share of the gas, electricity and phone bills.

segment: …the third segment of his journey.

pro|por|tion|al /prəpɔː ^r ʃən ^ə l/ ADJ If one amount is proportional to another, the two amounts increase and decrease at the same rate so there is always the same relationship between them. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] Loss of weight is directly proportional to the rate at which the disease is progressing. ● pro|por|tion|al|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ You have proportionally more fat on your thighs and hips than anywhere else on your body.

pro|por|tion|al|ity /prəpɔː ^r ʃənæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT The principle of proportionality is the idea that an action should not be more severe than is necessary, especially in a war or when punishing someone for a crime. [FORMAL ] □ Nuclear weapons seem to violate the just war principle of proportionality. □ He said there was a need for proportionality in sentencing.

pro|po r|tion|al rep|re|sen|ta |tion N‑UNCOUNT Proportional representation is a system of voting in which each political party is represented in a parliament or legislature in proportion to the number of people who vote for it in an election.

pro|por|tion|ate /prəpɔː ^r ʃənət/ ADJ Proportionate means the same as proportional . □ [+ to ] Republics will have voting rights proportionate to the size of their economies. ● pro|por|tion|ate|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Direct cost tends to vary proportionately with the level of output.

-proportioned /-prəpɔː ^r ʃ ^ə nd/ COMB -proportioned is added to adverbs to form adjectives that indicate that the size and shape of the different parts of something or someone are pleasing or useful. □ The flat has high ceilings and well-proportioned rooms.

pro|po|sal ◆◆◇ /prəpoʊ z ^ə l/ (proposals )

1 N‑COUNT [N to-inf] A proposal is a plan or an idea, often a formal or written one, which is suggested for people to think about and decide upon. □ [+ for ] The President is to put forward new proposals for resolving the country's constitutional crisis. □ The Security Council has rejected the latest peace proposal.

2 N‑COUNT A proposal is the act of asking someone to marry you. □ [+ of ] After a three-weekend courtship, Pamela accepted Randolph's proposal of marriage. COLLOCATIONS proposal NOUN 1

verb + proposal : accept, approve, reject; put forward, submit; consider

adjective + proposal : controversial; concrete, detailed; formal

noun + proposal : draft; reform SYNONYMS proposal NOUN 1

suggestion: I have lots of suggestions for the park's future.

plan: The three leaders had worked out a peace plan.

scheme: …schemes to help combat unemployment.

proposition: I want to make you a proposition.

pro|pose ◆◆◇ /prəpoʊ z/ (proposes , proposing , proposed )

1 VERB If you propose something such as a plan or an idea, you suggest it for people to think about and decide upon. □ [V n/v-ing] Britain is about to propose changes to some institutions. □ [V that] It was George who first proposed that we dry clothes in that locker.

2 VERB If you propose to do something, you intend to do it. □ [V to-inf] It's still far from clear what action the government proposes to take over the affair. □ [V v-ing] And where do you propose building such a huge thing? [Also V n]

3 VERB If you propose a theory or an explanation, you state that it is possibly or probably true, because it fits in with the evidence that you have considered. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] This highlights a problem faced by people proposing theories of ball lightning. □ [V that] Newton proposed that heavenly and terrestrial motion could be unified with the idea of gravity.

4 VERB If you propose a motion for debate, or a candidate for election, you begin the debate or the election procedure by formally stating your support for that motion or candidate. □ [V n] She was a pioneer in proposing that women should be able to control their own fertility. [Also V that] ● pro|pos|er (proposers ) N‑COUNT □ …Mr Ian Murch, the proposer of the motion.

5 VERB If you propose a toast to someone or something, you ask people to drink a toast to them. □ [V n] Usually the bride's father proposes a toast to the health of the bride and groom.

6 VERB If you propose to someone, or propose marriage to them, you ask them to marry you. □ [V + to ] He had proposed to Isabel the day after taking his seat in Parliament. [Also V , V n, V n + to ]

propo|si|tion /prɒ pəz I ʃ ^ə n/ (propositions , propositioning , propositioned )

1 N‑COUNT [usu sing, adj N ] If you describe something such as a task or an activity as, for example, a difficult proposition or an attractive proposition , you mean that it is difficult or pleasant to do. □ Making easy money has always been an attractive proposition. □ Even among seasoned mountaineers this peak is considered quite a tough proposition.

2 N‑COUNT [oft N that] A proposition is a statement or an idea which people can consider or discuss to decide whether it is true. [FORMAL ] □ The proposition that democracies do not fight each other is based on a tiny historical sample.

3 N‑COUNT In the United States, a proposition is a question or statement about an issue of public policy which appears on a voting paper so that people can vote for or against it. □ I voted 'yes' on proposition 136, but 'no' on propositions 129, 133 and 134.

4 N‑COUNT A proposition is an offer or a suggestion that someone makes to you, usually concerning some work or business that you might be able to do together. □ You came to see me at my office the other day with a business proposition.

5 VERB If someone who you do not know very well propositions you, they suggest that you have sex with them. □ [V n] He had allegedly tried to proposition a colleague. ● N‑COUNT Proposition is also a noun. □ …unwanted sexual propositions.

pro|pound /prəpaʊ nd/ (propounds , propounding , propounded ) VERB If someone propounds an idea or point of view they have, they suggest it for people to consider. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] This zoologist has propounded a general theory of the vocal sounds that animals make.

pro|pri|etary /prəpra I ətri, [AM ] -teri/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Proprietary substances or products are sold under a trade name. [FORMAL ] □ …some proprietary brands of dog food. □ We had to take action to protect the proprietary technology.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone has a proprietary attitude towards something, they act as though they own it. [FORMAL ] □ Directors weren't allowed any proprietary airs about the product they made.

pro|pri|eties /prəpra I I tiz/ N‑PLURAL The proprieties are the standards of social behaviour which most people consider socially or morally acceptable. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ …respectable couples who observe the proprieties but loathe each other.

pro|pri|etor /prəpra I ətə ^r / (proprietors ) N‑COUNT The proprietor of a hotel, shop, newspaper, or other business is the person who owns it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the proprietor of a local restaurant.

pro|pri|etorial /prəpra I ətɔː riəl/ ADJ If your behaviour is proprietorial , you are behaving in a proud way because you are, or feel like you are, the owner of something. [FORMAL ] □ The longer I live alone the more proprietorial I become about my home.

pro|pri|etress /prəpra I ətr I s/ (proprietresses ) N‑COUNT The proprietress of a hotel, shop, or business is the woman who owns it. [FORMAL ] □ The proprietress was alone in the bar.

pro|pri|ety /prəpra I I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Propriety is the quality of being socially or morally acceptable. [FORMAL ] □ Their sense of social propriety is eroded.

pro|pul|sion /prəpʌ lʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft n N , N n] Propulsion is the power that moves something, especially a vehicle, in a forward direction. [FORMAL ] □ Turbofans are the pinnacle of efficient jet propulsion.

pro ra|ta /proʊ rɑː tə, [AM ] - re I tə/ also pro-rata ADV [ADV after v] If something is distributed pro rata , it is distributed in proportion to the amount or size of something. [FORMAL ] □ All part-timers should be paid the same, pro rata, as full-timers doing the same job. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Pro rata is also an adjective. □ They are paid their salaries and are entitled to fringe benefits on a pro-rata basis.

pro|sa|ic /proʊze I I k/ ADJ Something that is prosaic is dull and uninteresting. [FORMAL ] □ His instructor offered a more prosaic explanation for the surge in interest. ● pro|sai|cal|ly /proʊze I I kli/ ADV [ADV with v] □ Arabian jam is also known as angels' hair preserve, or more prosaically as carrot jam.

pro|scenium /proʊsiː niəm/ (prosceniums ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A proscenium or a proscenium arch is an arch in a theatre which separates the stage from the audience.

pro|scribe /proʊskra I b/ (proscribes , proscribing , proscribed ) VERB [usu passive] If something is proscribed by people in authority, the existence or the use of that thing is forbidden. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] In some cultures surgery is proscribed. □ [be V -ed + from ] They are proscribed by federal law from owning guns.

pro|scrip|tion /proʊskr I pʃ ^ə n/ (proscriptions ) N‑VAR The proscription of something is the official forbidding of its existence or use. [FORMAL ] □ …the proscription against any religious service. □ [+ of ] …the proscription of his records.

prose /proʊ z/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N , in N ] Prose is ordinary written language, in contrast to poetry. □ Shute's prose is stark and chillingly unsentimental.

pros|ecute /prɒ s I kjuːt/ (prosecutes , prosecuting , prosecuted )

1 VERB If the authorities prosecute someone, they charge them with a crime and put them on trial. □ [V ] The police have decided not to prosecute because the evidence is not strong enough. □ [V n + for ] Photographs taken by roadside cameras will soon be enough to prosecute drivers for speeding. □ [V n + for ] He is being prosecuted for two criminal offences. [Also V n]

2 VERB When a lawyer prosecutes a case, he or she tries to prove that the person who is on trial is guilty. □ [V n] The attorney who will prosecute the case says he cannot reveal how much money is involved. □ [V -ing] …the prosecuting attorney.

pros|ecu|tion ◆◇◇ /prɒ s I kjuː ʃ ^ə n/ (prosecutions )

1 N‑VAR Prosecution is the action of charging someone with a crime and putting them on trial. □ [+ of ] Harding pleaded guilty to a charge of hindering the prosecution of the suspects.

2 N‑SING The lawyers who try to prove that a person on trial is guilty are called the prosecution . □ In all these cases the prosecution was successful.

pros|ecu|tor /prɒ s I kjuːtə ^r / (prosecutors ) N‑COUNT In some countries, a prosecutor is a lawyer or official who brings charges against someone or tries to prove in a trial that they are guilty.

pros|elyt|ize /prɒ s I l I ta I z/ (proselytizes , proselytizing , proselytized ) in BRIT, also use proselytise VERB If you proselytize , you try to persuade someone to share your beliefs, especially religious or political beliefs. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] I assured him we didn't come here to proselytize. □ [V n] Christians were arrested for trying to convert people, to proselytise them.

pros|pect ◆◆◇ (prospects , prospecting , prospected ) The noun is pronounced /prɒ spekt, [AM ] prɑː -/. The verb is pronounced /prəspe kt, [AM ] prɑː spekt/ and is hyphenated pro|spect. 1 N‑VAR If there is some prospect of something happening, there is a possibility that it will happen. □ [+ of ] Unfortunately, there is little prospect of seeing these big questions answered. □ [+ for ] The prospects for peace in the country's eight-year civil war are becoming brighter. □ There is a real prospect that the bill will be defeated in parliament.

2 N‑SING A particular prospect is something that you expect or know is going to happen. □ [+ of ] They now face the prospect of having to wear a cycling helmet by law.

3 N‑PLURAL Someone's prospects are their chances of being successful, especially in their career. □ I chose to work abroad to improve my career prospects.

4 VERB When people prospect for oil, gold, or some other valuable substance, they look for it in the ground or under the sea. □ [V + for ] He had prospected for minerals everywhere from the Gobi Desert to the Transvaal. □ [V ] In fact, the oil companies are already prospecting not far from here. ● pro|spect|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ He was involved in oil, zinc and lead prospecting. ● pro|spec|tor (prospectors ) N‑COUNT □ The discovery of gold brought a flood of prospectors into the Territories.

pro|spec|tive /prəspe kt I v, [AM ] prɑː-/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] You use prospective to describe someone who wants to be the thing mentioned or who is likely to be the thing mentioned. □ The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers. □ When his prospective employers heard his history, they said they wouldn't hire him.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use prospective to describe something that is likely to happen soon. □ …the terms of the prospective deal.

pro|spec|tus /prəspe ktəs, [AM ] prɑː-/ (prospectuses ) N‑COUNT A prospectus is a detailed document produced by a college, school, or company, which gives details about it.

pros|per /prɒ spə ^r / (prospers , prospering , prospered ) VERB If people or businesses prosper , they are successful and do well. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] The high street banks continue to prosper. □ [V ] His teams have always prospered in cup competitions.

pros|per|ity /prɒspe r I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Prosperity is a condition in which a person or community is doing well financially. □ …a new era of peace and prosperity.

pros|per|ous /prɒ spərəs/ ADJ Prosperous people, places, and economies are rich and successful. [FORMAL ] □ …the youngest son of a relatively prosperous British family.

pros|tate /prɒ ste I t/ (prostates ) N‑COUNT The prostate or the prostate gland is an organ in the body of male mammals which is situated at the neck of the bladder and produces a liquid which forms part of semen.

pros|the|sis /prɒsθiː s I s/ (prostheses ) N‑COUNT A prosthesis is an artificial body part that is used to replace a natural part. [MEDICAL ]

pros|thet|ic /prɒsθe t I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Prosthetic parts of the body are artificial ones used to replace natural ones. [MEDICAL ]

pros|ti|tute /prɒ st I tjuːt, [AM ] -tuːt/ (prostitutes ) N‑COUNT A prostitute is a person, usually a woman, who has sex with men in exchange for money. □ He admitted last week he paid for sex with a prostitute.

pros|ti|tu|tion /prɒ st I tjuː ʃ ^ə n, [AM ] -tuː -/ N‑UNCOUNT Prostitution means having sex with people in exchange for money. □ She eventually drifts into prostitution.

pros|trate (prostrates , prostrating , prostrated ) The verb is pronounced /prɒstre I t, [AM ] prɑː stre I t/. The adjective is pronounced /prɒ stre I t/. 1 VERB If you prostrate yourself , you lie down flat on the ground, on your front, usually to show respect for God or a person in authority. □ [V pron-refl] They prostrated themselves before their king.

2 ADJ [ADJ after v] If you are lying prostrate , you are lying flat on the ground, on your front. □ Percy was lying prostrate, his arms outstretched and his eyes closed.

3 ADJ If someone is prostrate , they are so distressed or affected by a very bad experience that they are unable to do anything at all. [FORMAL ] □ I was prostrate with grief.

pro|tago|nist /prətæ gən I st, [AM ] proʊ-/ (protagonists )

1 N‑COUNT Someone who is a protagonist of an idea or movement is a supporter of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the main protagonists of their countries' integration into the world market.

2 N‑COUNT A protagonist in a play, novel, or real event is one of the main people in it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the protagonist of J. D. Salinger's novel 'The Catcher in the Rye'.

pro|tean /proʊ tiən/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone or something as protean , you mean that they have the ability to continually change their nature, appearance, or behaviour. [FORMAL ] □ He is a protean stylist who can move from blues to ballads and grand symphony.

pro|tect ◆◆◇ /prəte kt/ (protects , protecting , protected )

1 VERB To protect someone or something means to prevent them from being harmed or damaged. □ [V n + from/against ] So, what can women do to protect themselves from heart disease? □ [V n] The government is committed to protecting the interests of tenants.

2 VERB If an insurance policy protects you against an event such as death, injury, fire, or theft, the insurance company will give you or your family money if that event happens. □ [V n + against ] Many manufacturers have policies to protect themselves against blackmailers. [Also V + against ] SYNONYMS protect VERB 1

defend: They would have killed him if he had not defended himself.

shield: He shielded his head from the sun with an old sack.

shelter: …a wooden house, sheltered by a low pointed roof.

safeguard: They will press for international action to safeguard the ozone layer.

pro|tect|ed /prəte kt I d/ ADJ Protected is used to describe animals, plants, and areas of land which the law does not allow to be destroyed, harmed, or damaged. □ In England, thrushes are a protected species so you will not find them on any menu.

pro|tec|tion ◆◆◇ /prəte kʃ ^ə n/ (protections )

1 N‑VAR To give or be protection against something unpleasant means to prevent people or things from being harmed or damaged by it. □ [+ against ] Such a diet is widely believed to offer protection against a number of cancers. □ It is clear that the primary duty of parents is to provide protection for our children.

2 N‑UNCOUNT If an insurance policy gives you protection against an event such as death, injury, fire, or theft, the insurance company will give you or your family money if that event happens. □ [+ against ] The new policy is believed to be the first scheme to offer protection against an illness.

3 N‑UNCOUNT If a government has a policy of protection , it helps its own industries by putting a tax on imported goods or by restricting imports in some other way. [BUSINESS ] □ Over the same period trade protection has increased in the rich countries. COLLOCATIONS protection NOUN

1

noun + protection : consumer, data, payment; fire, sun; child, protection

adjective + protection : environmental, legal; adequate, effective; coastal

verb + protection : afford, give, offer, provide; need, seek; enjoy

2

noun + protection : bankruptcy, income SYNONYMS protection NOUN 1

defence: The immune system is our main defence against disease.

safeguard: Many people took second jobs as a safeguard against unemployment.

security: Strict security measures are in force in the capital.

shield: He used his left hand as a shield against the reflecting sunlight.

pro|tec|tion|ism /prəte kʃən I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Protectionism is the policy some countries have of helping their own industries by putting a large tax on imported goods or by restricting imports in some other way. [BUSINESS ] □ …talks to promote free trade and avert increasing protectionism.

pro|tec|tion|ist /prəte kʃən I st/ (protectionists )

1 N‑COUNT A protectionist is someone who agrees with and supports protectionism. [BUSINESS ] □ Trade frictions between the two countries had been caused by trade protectionists.

2 ADJ Protectionist policies, measures, and laws are meant to stop or reduce imports. [BUSINESS ]

pro|tec|tive /prəte kt I v/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Protective means designed or intended to protect something or someone from harm. □ Protective gloves reduce the absorption of chemicals through the skin. □ Protective measures are necessary if the city's monuments are to be preserved.

2 ADJ If someone is protective towards you, they look after you and show a strong desire to keep you safe. □ [+ towards/of ] He is very protective towards his mother. ● pro|tec|tive|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Simon drove me to the airport and protectively told me to look after myself. ● pro|tec|tive|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ towards ] What she felt now was protectiveness towards her brothers, her sister and her new baby.

pro|te c|tive cu s|to|dy N‑UNCOUNT If a witness in a court case is being held in protective custody , they are being kept in prison in order to prevent them from being harmed. □ They might be doing me a good turn if they took me into protective custody.

pro|tec|tor /prəte ktə ^r / (protectors )

1 N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as your protector , you mean that they protect you from being harmed. □ Many mothers see their son as a potential protector and provider.

2 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A protector is a device that protects someone or something from physical harm. □ He was the only National League umpire to wear an outside chest protector.

pro|tec|tor|ate /prəte ktərət/ (protectorates ) N‑COUNT A protectorate is a country that is controlled and protected by a more powerful country. □ In 1914 the country became a British protectorate.

pro|té|gé /prɒ t I ʒe I , [AM ] proʊ t-/ (protégés ) The spelling protégée is often used when referring to a woman. N‑COUNT The protégé of an older and more experienced person is a young person who is helped and guided by them over a period of time. □ He had been a protégé of Captain James.

pro|tein ◆◇◇ /proʊ tiːn/ (proteins ) N‑VAR Protein is a substance found in food and drink such as meat, eggs, and milk. You need protein in order to grow and be healthy. □ Fish was a major source of protein for the working man. □ …a high protein diet.

pro tem /proʊ te m/ ADV [n ADV ] If someone has a particular position or job pro tem , they have it temporarily. [FORMAL ] □ …the president pro tem of the California State Senate.

pro|test ◆◆◇ (protests , protesting , protested ) The verb is pronounced /prəte st/. The noun is pronounced /proʊ test/. 1 VERB If you protest against something or about something, you say or show publicly that you object to it. In American English, you usually say that you protest it. □ [V + about/against/at ] Groups of women took to the streets to protest against the arrests. □ [V + about/against/at ] The students were protesting at overcrowding in the university hostels. □ [V n] They were protesting soaring prices. □ [V ] He picked up the cat before Rosa could protest.

2 N‑VAR A protest is the act of saying or showing publicly that you object to something. □ [+ against ] The opposition now seems too weak to stage any serious protests against the government. □ [+ at ] The unions called a two-hour strike in protest at the railway authority's announcement. □ …a protest march. [Also + about ]

3 VERB If you protest that something is the case, you insist that it is the case, when other people think that it may not be. □ [V that] When we tried to protest that Mo was beaten up they didn't believe us. □ [V with quote] 'I never said any of that to her,' he protested. □ [V n] He has always protested his innocence. SYNONYMS protest VERB 1

object: 'Hey, I don't know what you're talking about,' Russo objected.

demonstrate: 30,000 angry farmers demonstrated against possible cuts in subsidies.

complain: 'I do everything you ask of me,' he complained. NOUN 2

complaint: People have been reluctant to make formal complaints to the police.

demonstration: Riot police broke up a demonstration by students.

outcry: The killing caused an international outcry.

Prot|es|tant /prɒ t I stənt/ (Protestants )

1 N‑COUNT A Protestant is a Christian who belongs to the branch of the Christian church which separated from the Catholic church in the sixteenth century.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Protestant means relating to Protestants or their churches. □ Many Protestant churches have women ministers.

Prot|es|tant|ism /prɒ t I stənt I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Protestantism is the set of Christian beliefs that are held by Protestants. □ …the spread of Protestantism.

pro|tes|ta|tion /prɒ t I ste I ʃ ^ə n/ (protestations ) N‑COUNT A protestation is a strong declaration that something is true or not true. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Despite his constant protestations of devotion and love, her doubts persisted.

pro|test|er /prəte stə ^r / (protesters ) also protestor N‑COUNT Protesters are people who protest publicly about an issue. □ The protesters say the government is corrupt and inefficient.

pro |test vote (protest votes ) N‑COUNT In an election, a protest vote is a vote against the party you usually support in order to show disapproval of something they are doing or planning to do.

PREFIX proto-

is used to form adjectives and nouns that indicate that something is in the early stages of its development. For example, Proto-Germanic was the language that came before all Germanic languages.

proto|col /proʊ təkɒl, [AM ] -kɔːl/ (protocols )

1 N‑VAR Protocol is a system of rules about the correct way to act in formal situations. □ He has become something of a stickler for the finer observances of royal protocol. □ …minor breaches of protocol.

2 N‑COUNT A protocol is a set of rules for exchanging information between computers. [COMPUTING ]

3 N‑COUNT A protocol is a written record of a treaty or agreement that has been made by two or more countries. [FORMAL ] □ It is diplomatic protocol that a foreign minister often accompanies the head of state on certain journeys.

4 N‑COUNT A protocol is a plan for a course of medical treatment, or a plan for a scientific experiment. [AM , FORMAL ] □ …the detoxification protocol.

pro|ton /proʊ tɒn/ (protons ) N‑COUNT A proton is an atomic particle that has a positive electrical charge. [TECHNICAL ]

proto|type /proʊ təta I p/ (prototypes )

1 N‑COUNT [N n] A prototype is a new type of machine or device which is not yet ready to be made in large numbers and sold. □ [+ of ] He built a prototype of a machine called the wave rotor.

2 N‑COUNT If you say that someone or something is a prototype of a type of person or thing, you mean that they are the first or most typical one of that type. □ [+ of ] He was the prototype of the elder statesman.

proto|typi|cal /proʊ tət I p I k ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Prototypical is used to indicate that someone or something is a very typical example of a type of person or thing. [FORMAL ] □ Park Ridge is the prototypical American suburb. □ …a prototypical socialist.

proto|zoan /proʊ təzoʊ ən/ (protozoa or protozoans ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Protozoa are very small organisms which often live inside larger animals. [TECHNICAL ]

pro|tract|ed /prətræ kt I d, [AM ] proʊ-/ ADJ Something, usually something unpleasant, that is protracted lasts a long time, especially longer than usual or longer than you hoped. [FORMAL ] □ After protracted negotiations, Ogden got the deal he wanted. □ The struggle would be bitter and protracted.

pro|trac|tor /prətræ ktə ^r , [AM ] proʊ-/ (protractors ) N‑COUNT A protractor is a flat, semi-circular piece of plastic or metal which is used for measuring angles.

pro|trude /prətruː d, [AM ] proʊ-/ (protrudes , protruding , protruded ) VERB If something protrudes from somewhere, it sticks out. [FORMAL ] □ [V prep] …a huge round mass of smooth rock protruding from the water. □ [V ] The tip of her tongue was protruding slightly. ● pro|trud|ing ADJ □ …protruding ears.

pro|tru|sion /prətruː ʒ ^ə n, [AM ] proʊ-/ (protrusions ) N‑COUNT A protrusion is something that sticks out from something. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] He grabbed at a protrusion of rock with his right hand.

pro|tu|ber|ance /prətjuː bərəns, [AM ] proʊtuː b-/ (protuberances ) N‑COUNT A protuberance is a rounded part that sticks out from the surface of something. [FORMAL ] □ …a protuberance on the upper jawbone.

pro|tu|ber|ant /prətjuː bərənt, [AM ] proʊtuː b-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Protuberant eyes, lips, noses, or teeth stick out more than usual from the face. [FORMAL ]

proud ◆◇◇ /praʊ d/ (prouder , proudest )

1 ADJ [ADJ that/to-inf] If you feel proud , you feel pleased about something good that you possess or have done, or about something good that a person close to you has done. □ [+ of ] I felt proud of his efforts. □ They are proud that she is doing well at school. □ I am proud to be a Canadian. □ Derek is now the proud father of a bouncing baby girl. ● proud|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'That's the first part finished,' he said proudly.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Your proudest moments or achievements are the ones that you are most proud of. □ This must have been one of the proudest moments of his busy and hard working life.

3 ADJ Someone who is proud has respect for themselves and does not want to lose the respect that other people have for them. □ He was too proud to ask his family for help and support.

4 ADJ Someone who is proud feels that they are better or more important than other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ She was said to be proud and arrogant.

prove ◆◆◇ /pruː v/ (proves , proving , proved , proved or proven )

1 V‑LINK If something proves to be true or to have a particular quality, it becomes clear after a period of time that it is true or has that quality. □ [V to-inf] None of the rumours has ever been proved to be true. □ [V adj] In the past this process of transition has often proven difficult. □ [V n] …an experiment which was to prove a source of inspiration for many years to come.

2 VERB If you prove that something is true, you show by means of argument or evidence that it is definitely true. □ [V n] You brought this charge. You prove it! □ [V that] The results prove that regulation of the salmon farming industry is inadequate. □ [V wh] …trying to prove how groups of animals have evolved. □ [V n adj] That made me hopping mad and determined to prove him wrong. □ [V n to-inf] History will prove him to have been right all along. □ [V -ed] …a proven cause of cancer.

3 VERB If you prove yourself to have a certain good quality, you show by your actions that you have it. □ [V pron-refl to-inf] Margaret proved herself to be a good mother. □ [V pron-refl adj] As a composer he proved himself adept at large dramatic forms. □ [V pron-refl] A man needs time to prove himself. □ [V -ed] Few would argue that this team has experience and proven ability. [V that]

4 PHRASE If you prove a point , you show other people that you know something or can do something, although your action may have no other purpose. □ They made a 3,000 mile detour simply to prove a point.

prov|en /pruː v ^ə n, proʊ v ^ə n/ Proven is a past participle of prove . Proven is the usual form of the past participle when you are using it as an adjective.

prov|enance /prɒ v I nəns/ (provenances ) N‑VAR [usu with poss] The provenance of something is the place that it comes from or that it originally came from. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Kato was fully aware of the provenance of these treasures.

prov|erb /prɒ vɜː ^r b/ (proverbs ) N‑COUNT A proverb is a short sentence that people often quote, which gives advice or tells you something about life. □ An old Arab proverb says, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'.

pro|ver|bial /prəvɜː ^r biəl/ ADJ [ADJ n] You use proverbial to show that you know the way you are describing something is one that is often used or is part of a popular saying. □ My audience certainly isn't the proverbial man in the street.

pro|vide ◆◆◆ /prəva I d/ (provides , providing , provided )

1 VERB If you provide something that someone needs or wants, or if you provide them with it, you give it to them or make it available to them. □ [V n] I'll be glad to provide a copy of this. □ [V n] They would not provide any details. □ [V n + with ] The government was not in a position to provide them with food. ● pro|vid|er (providers ) N‑COUNT □ [+ of ] They remain the main providers of sports facilities.

2 VERB If a law or agreement provides that something will happen, it states that it will happen. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] The treaty provides that, by the end of the century, the United States must have removed its bases.

3 → see also provided , providing

▸ provide for

1 PHRASAL VERB If you provide for someone, you support them financially and make sure that they have the things that they need. □ [V P n] Elaine wouldn't let him provide for her. □ [be adv V -ed for ] Her father always ensured she was well provided for.

2 PHRASAL VERB If you provide for something that might happen or that might need to be done, you make arrangements to deal with it. □ [V P n] James had provided for just such an emergency.

3 PHRASAL VERB If a law or agreement provides for something, it makes it possible. [FORMAL ] □ [V P n] The bill provides for the automatic review of all death sentences.

pro|vid|ed /prəva I d I d/ CONJ If you say that something will happen provided or provided that something else happens, you mean that the first thing will happen only if the second thing also happens. □ It should all work nicely, provided that nobody loses faith in the idea. □ Provided they are fit I see no reason why they shouldn't go on playing.

provi|dence /prɒ v I dəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Providence is God, or a force which is believed by some people to arrange the things that happen to us. [LITERARY ] □ These women regard his death as an act of providence.

provi|den|tial /prɒ v I de nʃ ^ə l/ ADJ A providential event is lucky because it happens at exactly the right time. [FORMAL ] □ He explained the yellow fever epidemic as a providential act to discourage urban growth. □ The pistols were loaded so our escape is indeed providential. ● provi|den|tial|ly ADV □ Just weeks before taking office, he had providentially taken out a life insurance policy.

pro|vid|ing /prəva I d I ŋ/ CONJ If you say that something will happen providing or providing that something else happens, you mean that the first thing will happen only if the second thing also happens. □ You can wear cut-off denim shorts, providing they are not too tight.

prov|ince ◆◇◇ /prɒ v I ns/ (provinces )

1 N‑COUNT A province is a large section of a country which has its own administration. □ …the Algarve, Portugal's southernmost province.

2 N‑PLURAL The provinces are all the parts of a country except the part where the capital is situated. □ The government plans to transfer some 30,000 government jobs from the capital to the provinces.

3 N‑SING [with poss] If you say that a subject or activity is a particular person's province , you mean that this person has a special interest in it, a special knowledge of it, or a special responsibility for it. □ Industrial research is the province of the Department of Trade and Industry.

pro|vin|cial /prəv I nʃ ^ə l/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Provincial means connected with the parts of a country away from the capital city. □ Jeremy Styles, 34, was the house manager for a provincial theatre for ten years.

2 ADJ If you describe someone or something as provincial , you disapprove of them because you think that they are old-fashioned and boring. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He decided to revamp the company's provincial image.

pro|vin|cial|ism /prəv I nʃəl I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Provincialism is the holding of old-fashioned attitudes and opinions, which some people think is typical of people in areas away from the capital city of a country. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the stifling bourgeois provincialism of Buxton.

pro v|ing ground (proving grounds ) N‑COUNT If you describe a place as a proving ground , you mean that new things or ideas are tried out or tested there. □ New York is a proving ground today for the Democratic presidential candidates.

pro|vi|sion ◆◇◇ /prəv I ʒ ^ə n/ (provisions )

1 N‑UNCOUNT The provision of something is the act of giving it or making it available to people who need or want it. □ [+ of ] The department is responsible for the provision of residential care services. □ …nursery provision for children with special needs.

2 N‑VAR If you make provision for something that might happen or that might need to be done, you make arrangements to deal with it. □ [+ for ] Mr King asked if it had ever occurred to her to make provision for her own pension.

3 N‑UNCOUNT If you make provision for someone, you support them financially and make sure that they have the things that they need. □ [+ for ] Special provision should be made for children.

4 N‑COUNT A provision in a law or an agreement is an arrangement which is included in it. □ There was a provision in his contract that would return him two-thirds of his deposit.

5 N‑PLURAL Provisions are supplies of food. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ On board were enough provisions for two weeks.

pro|vi|sion|al /prəv I ʒən ^ə l/ ADJ You use provisional to describe something that has been arranged or appointed for the present, but may be changed in the future. □ …the possibility of setting up a provisional coalition government. □ It was announced that the times were provisional and subject to confirmation. ● pro|vi|sion|al|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The seven republics had provisionally agreed to the new relationship on November 14th.

pro|vi|so /prəva I zoʊ/ (provisos ) N‑COUNT [oft N that] A proviso is a condition in an agreement. You agree to do something if this condition is fulfilled. □ I told Norman I would invest in his venture as long as he agreed to one proviso.

pro|vo|ca|teur /proʊvɒ kətɜː ^r / (provocateurs ) → see agent provocateur

provo|ca|tion /prɒ vəke I ʃ ^ə n/ (provocations ) N‑VAR If you describe a person's action as provocation or a provocation , you mean that it is a reason for someone else to react angrily, violently, or emotionally. □ He denies murder on the grounds of provocation. □ The soldiers fired without provocation.

pro|voca|tive /prəvɒ kət I v/

1 ADJ If you describe something as provocative , you mean that it is intended to make people react angrily or argue against it. □ He has made a string of outspoken and sometimes provocative speeches in recent years. □ His behavior was called provocative and antisocial. ● pro|voca|tive|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ The soldiers fired into the air when the demonstrators behaved provocatively.

2 ADJ If you describe someone's clothing or behaviour as provocative , you mean that it is intended to make someone feel sexual desire. □ Some adolescents might be more sexually mature and provocative than others. ● pro|voca|tive|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ She smiled provocatively.

pro|voke ◆◇◇ /prəvoʊ k/ (provokes , provoking , provoked )

1 VERB If you provoke someone, you deliberately annoy them and try to make them behave aggressively. □ [V n] He started beating me when I was about fifteen but I didn't do anything to provoke him. □ [V n + into ] I provoked him into doing something really stupid.

2 VERB If something provokes a reaction, it causes it. □ [V n] His election success has provoked a shocked reaction. COLLOCATIONS provoke VERB 2

provoke + noun : controversy, debate, reaction, response; backlash, outcry, protest; anger, fury, outrage SYNONYMS provoke VERB

1

anger: The decision to allow more offshore oil drilling angered some Californians.

annoy: Try making a note of the things which annoy you.

irritate: Perhaps they were irritated by the sound of crying.

infuriate: Jimmy's presence had infuriated Hugh.

2

rouse: He did more to rouse the crowd there than anybody else.

cause: This was a genuine mistake, but it did cause me some worry.

incite: They pleaded guilty to possessing material likely to incite racial hatred.

prov|ost /prɒ vəst, [AM ] proʊ voʊst/ (provosts )

1 N‑COUNT In some university colleges in Britain, the provost is the head.

2 N‑COUNT In some colleges and universities in the United States, a provost is an official who deals with matters such as the teaching staff and the courses of study.

3 N‑COUNT A provost is the chief magistrate of a Scottish administrative area.

4 N‑COUNT In the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches, a provost is the person who is in charge of the administration of a cathedral.

prow /praʊ / (prows ) N‑COUNT The prow of a ship or boat is the front part of it.

prow|ess /praʊ I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Someone's prowess is their great skill at doing something. [FORMAL ] □ He's always bragging about his prowess as a cricketer.

prowl /praʊ l/ (prowls , prowling , prowled )

1 VERB If an animal or a person prowls around , they move around quietly, for example when they are hunting. □ [V prep/adv] Police officers prowled around the building. [Also V , V n]

2 PHRASE If an animal is on the prowl , it is hunting. If a person is on the prowl , they are hunting for something such as a sexual partner or a business deal. □ Their fellow travellers are a mix of single girls on the prowl and elderly couples. □ [+ for ] The new administration are on the prowl for ways to reduce spending.

prowl|er /praʊ lə ^r / (prowlers ) N‑COUNT A prowler is someone who secretly follows people or hides near their houses, especially at night, in order to steal something, frighten them, or perhaps harm them.

prox|im|ity /prɒks I m I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft in N ] Proximity to a place or person is nearness to that place or person. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] Part of the attraction is Darwin's proximity to Asia. □ [+ to ] Families are no longer in close proximity to each other. [Also + of ]

proxy /prɒ ksi/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu by N ] If you do something by proxy , you arrange for someone else to do it for you. □ Those not attending the meeting may vote by proxy.

Pro|zac /proʊ zæk/ N‑UNCOUNT Prozac is a drug that is used to treat people who are suffering from depression. [TRADEMARK ]

prude /pruː d/ (prudes ) N‑COUNT If you call someone a prude , you mean that they are too easily shocked by things relating to sex. [DISAPPROVAL ]

pru|dence /pruː d ^ə ns/ N‑UNCOUNT Prudence is care and good sense that someone shows when making a decision or taking action. [FORMAL ] □ A lack of prudence may lead to financial problems.

pru|dent /pruː d ^ə nt/ ADJ Someone who is prudent is sensible and careful. □ It is always prudent to start any exercise programme gradually at first. □ Being a prudent and cautious person, you realise that the problem must be resolved. ● pru|dent|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ Prudently, Joanna spoke none of this aloud.

prud|ery /pruː dəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Prudery is prudish behaviour or attitudes. [DISAPPROVAL ]

prud|ish /pruː d I ʃ/ ADJ If you describe someone as prudish , you mean that they are too easily shocked by things relating to sex. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I'm not prudish but I think these photographs are obscene. ● prud|ish|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ Older people will have grown up in a time of greater sexual prudishness.

prune /pruː n/ (prunes , pruning , pruned )

1 N‑COUNT A prune is a dried plum.

2 VERB When you prune a tree or bush, you cut off some of the branches so that it will grow better the next year. □ [V n] You have to prune a bush if you want fruit. □ [V ] There is no best way to prune. ● PHRASAL VERB Prune back means the same as prune . □ [be V -ed P ] Apples, pears and cherries can be pruned back when they've lost their leaves. [Also V n P ]

3 VERB If you prune something, you cut out all the parts that you do not need. □ [V n] Firms are cutting investment and pruning their product ranges. ● PHRASAL VERB Prune back means the same as prune . □ [V P n] The company has pruned back its workforce by 20,000 since 1989.

▸ prune back → see prune 2 , prune 3

pru|ri|ence /prʊə riəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Prurience is a strong interest that someone shows in sexual matters. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Nobody ever lost money by overestimating the public's prurience.

pru|ri|ent /prʊə riənt/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as prurient , you mean that they show too much interest in sexual matters. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ We read the gossip written about them with prurient interest.

pry /pra I / (pries , prying , pried )

1 VERB If someone pries , they try to find out about someone else's private affairs, or look at their personal possessions. □ [V + into ] We do not want people prying into our affairs. □ [V ] Imelda might think she was prying. □ [V -ing] She thought she was safe from prying eyes and could do as she wished.

2 VERB If you pry something open or pry it away from a surface, you force it open or away from a surface. □ [V n with adj] They pried open a sticky can of blue paint. □ [V n prep] I pried the top off a can of chilli. □ [V n with adv] Prying off the plastic lid, she took out a small scoop.

3 VERB If you pry something such as information out of someone, you persuade them to tell you although they may be very unwilling to. [mainly AM ] □ [V n + from/out of ] They impersonated reporters to pry personal records from phone companies. in BRIT, usually use prize

PS /piː e s/ also P.S. You write PS to introduce something that you add at the end of a letter after you have signed it. □ PS. Please show your friends this letter and the enclosed leaflet.

psalm /sɑː m/ (psalms ) N‑COUNT The Psalms are the 150 songs, poems, and prayers which together form the Book of Psalms in the Bible. □ He recited a verse of the twenty-third psalm.

pse|pholo|gist /s I fɒ lədʒ I st, [AM ] siː-/ (psephologists ) N‑COUNT A psephologist studies how people vote in elections.

pseud /sjuː d/ (pseuds ) N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a pseud , you mean that they are trying to appear very intellectual but you think that they appear silly. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]

PREFIX pseudo-

forms nouns and adjectives that refer to something that is not really what it seems or claims to be. For example, a pseudo-science is something that claims to be a science, but is not.

pseudo|nym /sjuː dən I m, [AM ] suː -/ (pseudonyms ) N‑COUNT A pseudonym is a name which someone, usually a writer, uses instead of his or her real name. □ [+ of/for ] Both plays were published under the pseudonym of Philip Dayre.

pso|ria|sis /səra I əs I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Psoriasis is a disease that causes dry red patches on the skin.

psst /psst/ Psst is a sound that someone makes when they want to attract another person's attention secretly or quietly. □ 'Psst! Come over here!' one youth hissed furtively.

psych /sa I k/ (psychs , psyching , psyched ) also psyche

▸ psych out PHRASAL VERB If you psych out your opponent in a contest, you try to make them feel less confident by behaving in a very confident or aggressive way. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n P ] They are like heavyweight boxers, trying to psych each other out and build themselves up. [Also V P n]

▸ psych up PHRASAL VERB If you psych yourself up before a contest or a difficult task, you prepare yourself for it mentally, especially by telling yourself that you can win or succeed. [INFORMAL ] □ [V pron-refl P ] After work, it is hard to psych yourself up for an hour at the gym. □ [get V -ed P ] Before the game everyone gets psyched up and starts shouting.

psy|che /sa I ki/ (psyches ) N‑COUNT In psychology, your psyche is your mind and your deepest feelings and attitudes. [TECHNICAL ] □ His exploration of the myth brings insight into the American psyche.

psychedelia /sa I kədiː liə/ N‑UNCOUNT Psychedelia refers to psychedelic objects, clothes, and music.

psychedel|ic /sa I kəde l I k/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Psychedelic means relating to drugs such as LSD which have a strong effect on your mind, often making you see things that are not there. □ …his first real, full-blown psychedelic experience.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Psychedelic art has bright colours and strange patterns. □ …psychedelic patterns.

psy|chi|at|ric /sa I kiæ tr I k/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Psychiatric means relating to psychiatry. □ We finally insisted that he seek psychiatric help.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Psychiatric means involving mental illness. □ About 4% of the prison population have chronic psychiatric illnesses.

psy|chia|trist /sa I ka I ətr I st, [AM ] s I -/ (psychiatrists ) N‑COUNT A psychiatrist is a doctor who treats people suffering from mental illness.

psy|chia|try /sa I ka I ətri, [AM ] s I -/ N‑UNCOUNT Psychiatry is the branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of mental illness.

psy|chic /sa I k I k/ (psychics )

1 ADJ If you believe that someone is psychic or has psychic powers, you believe that they have strange mental powers, such as being able to read the minds of other people or to see into the future. □ Trevor helped police by using his psychic powers. ● N‑COUNT A psychic is someone who seems to be psychic.

2 ADJ Psychic means relating to ghosts and the spirits of the dead. □ He declared his total disbelief in psychic phenomena.

psy|chi|cal /sa I k I k ^ə l/ ADJ Psychical means relating to ghosts and the spirits of the dead. [FORMAL ]

psy|cho /sa I koʊ/ (psychos ) N‑COUNT A psycho is someone who has serious mental problems and who may act in a violent way without feeling sorry for what they have done. [INFORMAL ] □ Some psycho picked her up, and killed her.

PREFIX psycho-

is added to words in order to form other words that describe or refer to things connected with the mind or with mental processes. For example, a psychoanalyst is someone whose job is to talk to people in order to help them to understand their behaviour or mental problems.

psycho|ac|tive /sa I koʊæ kt I v/ ADJ Psychoactive drugs are drugs that affect your mind.

psycho|ana|lyse /sa I koʊæ nəla I z/ (psychoanalyses , psychoanalysing , psychoanalysed ) in AM, use psychoanalyze VERB When a psychotherapist or psychiatrist psychoanalyses someone who has mental problems, he or she examines or treats them using psychoanalysis. □ [V n] The movie sees Burton psychoanalysing Firth to cure him of his depression.

psycho|analy|sis /sa I koʊənæ l I s I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Psychoanalysis is the treatment of someone who has mental problems by asking them about their feelings and their past in order to try to discover what may be causing their condition.

psycho|ana|lyst /sa I koʊæ nəl I st/ (psychoanalysts ) N‑COUNT A psychoanalyst is someone who treats people who have mental problems using psychoanalysis.

psycho|ana|lyt|ic /sa I koʊænəl I t I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Psychoanalytic means relating to psychoanalysis. □ …psychoanalytic therapy.

psycho|ana|lyze /sa I koʊæ nəla I z/ → see psychoanalyse

psycho|bab|ble /sa I koʊbæb ^ə l/ N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to language about people's feelings or behaviour as psychobabble , you mean that it is very complicated and perhaps meaningless. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Beneath the sentimental psychobabble, there's a likeable movie trying to get out.

psycho|dra|ma /sa I koʊdrɑːmə/ (psychodramas ) N‑VAR Psychodrama is a type of psychotherapy in which people express their problems by acting them out in front of other people.

psycho|ki|nesis /sa I koʊk I niː s I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Psychokinesis is the ability, which some people believe exists, to move objects using the power of your mind.

psycho|logi|cal ◆◇◇ /sa I kəlɒ dʒ I k ^ə l/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Psychological means concerned with a person's mind and thoughts. □ John received constant physical and psychological abuse from his father. □ Robyn's loss of memory is a psychological problem, rather than a physical one. ● psycho|logi|cal|ly /sa I kəlɒ dʒ I kli/ ADV [ADV adj/adv] □ It was very important psychologically for us to succeed.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Psychological means relating to psychology. □ …psychological testing. SYNONYMS psychological ADJ 1

mental: …the mental development of children.

emotional: Victims are left with emotional problems that can last for life.

imaginary: He seems to suffer from imaginary illnesses.

psy cho|logi|cal wa r|fare N‑UNCOUNT Psychological warfare consists of attempts to make your enemy lose confidence, give up hope, or feel afraid, so that you can win.

psy|cholo|gist /sa I kɒ ləldʒ I st/ (psychologists ) N‑COUNT A psychologist is a person who studies the human mind and tries to explain why people behave in the way that they do.

psy|chol|ogy /sa I kɒ lədʒi/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and the reasons for people's behaviour. □ …Professor of Psychology at Bedford College.

2 N‑UNCOUNT The psychology of a person is the kind of mind that they have, which makes them think or behave in the way that they do. □ [+ of ] …a fascination with the psychology of murderers.

psycho|met|ric /sa I kəme tr I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Psychometric tests are designed to test a person's mental state, personality, and thought processes.

psycho|path /sa I koʊpæθ/ (psychopaths ) N‑COUNT A psychopath is someone who has serious mental problems and who may act in a violent way without feeling sorry for what they have done. □ She was abducted by a dangerous psychopath.

psycho|path|ic /sa I koʊpæ θ I k/ ADJ Someone who is psychopathic is a psychopath. □ …a report labelling him psychopathic. □ …a psychopathic killer.

psy|cho|sis /sa I koʊ s I s/ (psychoses ) N‑VAR Psychosis is mental illness of a severe kind which can make people lose contact with reality. [MEDICAL ] □ He may have some kind of neurosis or psychosis later in life.

psycho|so|mat|ic /sa I koʊsoʊmæ t I k/ ADJ If someone has a psychosomatic illness, their symptoms are caused by worry or unhappiness rather than by a physical problem. □ Doctors refused to treat her, claiming that her problems were all psychosomatic.

psycho|thera|pist /sa I koʊθe rəp I st/ (psychotherapists ) N‑COUNT A psychotherapist is a person who treats people who are mentally ill using psychotherapy.

psycho|thera|py /sa I koʊθe rəpi/ N‑UNCOUNT Psychotherapy is the use of psychological methods in treating people who are mentally ill, rather than using physical methods such as drugs or surgery. □ For milder depressions, certain forms of psychotherapy do work well.

psy|chot|ic /sa I kɒ t I k/ (psychotics ) ADJ Someone who is psychotic has a type of severe mental illness. [MEDICAL ] ● N‑COUNT Psychotic is also a noun. □ A religious psychotic in Las Vegas has killed four people.

psycho|trop|ic /sa I koʊtrɒ p I k/ ADJ Psychotropic drugs are drugs that affect your mind.

pt (pts ) also pt. The plural in meaning 1 is either pt or pts . 1 pt is a written abbreviation for pint . □ …1 pt single cream.

2 pt is the written abbreviation for point . □ Here's how it works–3 pts for a correct result, 1 pt for the correct winning team.

PTA /piː tiː e I / (PTAs ) N‑COUNT A PTA is a school association run by some of the parents and teachers to discuss matters that affect the children and to organize events to raise money. PTA is an abbreviation for 'parent-teacher association'.

Pte N‑TITLE Pte is used before a person's name as a written abbreviation for the military title private . [BRIT ] □ …Pte Owen Butler. in AM, use Pvt.

PTO /piː tiː oʊ / also P.T.O. PTO is a written abbreviation for 'please turn over'. You write it at the bottom of a page to indicate that there is more writing on the other side.

PTSD /piː tiː es diː / N‑UNCOUNT PTSD is an abbreviation for post-traumatic stress disorder .

pub ◆◇◇ /pʌ b/ (pubs ) N‑COUNT A pub is a building where people can have drinks, especially alcoholic drinks, and talk to their friends. Many pubs also serve food. [mainly BRIT ] □ He was in the pub until closing time. □ Richard used to run a pub.

pu b crawl (pub crawls ) N‑COUNT If people go on a pub crawl , they go from one pub to another having drinks in each one. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]

pu|ber|ty /pjuː bə ^r ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Puberty is the stage in someone's life when their body starts to become physically mature. □ Margaret had reached the age of puberty.

pu|bes|cent /pjuːbe s ^ə nt/ ADJ A pubescent girl or boy has reached the stage in their life when their body is becoming physically like an adult's. [FORMAL ]

pu|bic /pjuː b I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Pubic means relating to the area just above a person's genitals. □ …pubic hair.

pub|lic ◆◆◆ /pʌ bl I k/

1 N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] You can refer to people in general, or to all the people in a particular country or community, as the public . □ Lauderdale House is now open to the public. □ Tickets go on sale to the general public on July 1st. □ Trade unions are regarding the poll as a test of the public's confidence in the government.

2 N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] You can refer to a set of people in a country who share a common interest, activity, or characteristic as a particular kind of public . □ Market research showed that 93% of the viewing public wanted a hit film channel.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] Public means relating to all the people in a country or community. □ The President is attempting to drum up public support for his economic program.

4 ADJ [ADJ n] Public means relating to the government or state, or things that are done for the people by the state. □ The social services account for a substantial part of public spending. ● pub|lic|ly ADV [ADV -ed] □ …publicly funded legal services.

5 ADJ [ADJ n] Public buildings and services are provided for everyone to use. □ The new museum must be accessible by public transport. □ …a public health service available to all.

6 ADJ A public place is one where people can go about freely and where you can easily be seen and heard. □ …the heavily congested public areas of international airports. □ I avoid working in places which are too public.

7 ADJ [ADJ n] If someone is a public figure or in public life , many people know who they are because they are often mentioned in newspapers and on television. □ I'd like to see more women in public life, especially Parliament.

8 ADJ [ADJ n] Public is used to describe statements, actions, and events that are made or done in such a way that any member of the public can see them or be aware of them. □ The National Heritage Committee has conducted a public inquiry to find the answer. □ The comments were the ministry's first detailed public statement on the subject. ● pub|lic|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ He never spoke publicly about the affair.

9 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a fact is made public or becomes public , it becomes known to everyone rather than being kept secret. □ His will, made public yesterday, showed that he had amassed an estate with a net worth of £1,980,133.

10 PHRASE If someone is in the public eye , many people know who they are, because they are famous or because they are often mentioned on television or in the newspapers. □ One expects people in the public eye to conduct their personal lives with a certain decorum.

11 PHRASE If a company goes public , it starts selling its shares on the stock exchange. [BUSINESS ] □ The company went public, having achieved an average annual profit of more than £50,000.

12 PHRASE If you say or do something in public , you say or do it when a group of people are present. □ Many people are nervous about speaking in public.

13 to wash your dirty linen in public → see dirty COLLOCATIONS public NOUN 1

adjective + public : general, wider; gullible, sceptical

verb + public : convince, reassure, urge, warn; educate, entertain, inform, mislead; protect, serve SYNONYMS public NOUN 1

people: Millions of people have lost their homes.

society: This reflects attitudes and values prevailing in society.

population: Bangladesh now has a population of about 110 million.

pu b|lic ad|dre ss sys|tem (public address systems ) N‑COUNT A public address system is a set of electrical equipment which allows someone's voice, or music, to be heard throughout a large building or area. The abbreviation PA is also used.

pub|li|can /pʌ bl I kən/ (publicans ) N‑COUNT A publican is a person who owns or manages a pub. [BRIT , FORMAL ]

pub|li|ca|tion ◆◇◇ /pʌ bl I ke I ʃ ^ə n/ (publications )

1 N‑UNCOUNT The publication of a book or magazine is the act of printing it and sending it to shops to be sold. □ The guide is being translated into several languages for publication at the end of the year. □ [+ of ] The publication of his collected poems was approaching the status of an event.

2 N‑COUNT A publication is a book or magazine that has been published. □ They have started legal proceedings against two publications which spoke of an affair.

3 N‑UNCOUNT The publication of something such as information is the act of making it known to the public, for example by informing journalists or by publishing a government document. □ [+ of ] A spokesman said: 'We have no comment regarding the publication of these photographs.'

pu b|lic ba r (public bars ) N‑COUNT In a British pub, a public bar is a room where the furniture is plain and the drinks are cheaper than in the pub's other bars.

pu b|lic co m|pa|ny (public companies ) N‑COUNT A public company is a company whose shares can be bought by the general public. [BUSINESS ]

pu b|lic con|ve ni|ence (public conveniences ) N‑COUNT A public convenience is a toilet in a public place for everyone to use. [BRIT , FORMAL ]

pu b|lic de|fe nd|er (public defenders ) N‑COUNT A public defender is a lawyer who is employed by a city or county to represent people who are accused of crimes but cannot afford to pay for a lawyer themselves. [AM ]

pu b|lic do|mai n N‑SING If information is in the public domain , it is not secret and can be used or discussed by anyone. □ It is outrageous that the figures are not in the public domain.

pu b|lic hou se (public houses ) N‑COUNT A public house is the same as a pub . [BRIT , FORMAL ]

pub|li|cise /pʌ bl I sa I z/ → see publicize

pub|li|cist /pʌ bl I s I st/ (publicists ) N‑COUNT A publicist is a person whose job involves getting publicity for people, events, or things such as films or books.

pub|lic|ity ◆◇◇ /pʌbl I s I ti/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Publicity is information or actions that are intended to attract the public's attention to someone or something. □ Much advance publicity was given to the talks. □ It was all a publicity stunt.

2 N‑UNCOUNT When the news media and the public show a lot of interest in something, you can say that it is receiving publicity . □ The case has generated enormous publicity in Brazil. □ …the renewed publicity over the Casey affair.

pub|li c|ity agent (publicity agents ) N‑COUNT A publicity agent is a person whose job is to make sure that a large number of people know about a person, show, or event so that they are successful.

pub|li|cize /pʌ bl I sa I z/ (publicizes , publicizing , publicized ) in BRIT, also use publicise VERB If you publicize a fact or event, you make it widely known to the public. □ [V n] The author appeared on television to publicize her latest book. □ [V n] He never publicized his plans. □ [V -ed] …his highly publicized trial this summer.

pu b|lic lim|it|ed co m|pa|ny (public limited companies ) N‑COUNT A public limited company is the same as a public company . The abbreviation plc is used after such companies' names. [BUSINESS ]

pu b|lic nui |sance (public nuisances ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If something or someone is, or causes, a public nuisance , they break the law by harming or annoying members of the public. [LEGAL ] □ …the 45-day jail sentence he received for causing a public nuisance. □ He said the protesters were a public nuisance.

pu b|lic opi n|ion N‑UNCOUNT Public opinion is the opinion or attitude of the public regarding a particular matter. □ [+ against ] He mobilized public opinion all over the world against hydrogen-bomb tests.

pu b|lic pro p|er|ty

1 N‑UNCOUNT Public property is land and other assets that belong to the general public and not to a private owner. □ …vandals who wrecked public property.

2 N‑UNCOUNT If you describe a person or thing as public property , you mean that information about them is known and discussed by everyone. □ She complained that intimate aspects of her personal life had been made public property.

pu b|lic pro s|ecu|tor (public prosecutors ) N‑COUNT A public prosecutor is an official who puts people on trial on behalf of the government and people of a particular country.

pu b|lic re|la |tions

1 N‑UNCOUNT Public relations is the part of an organization's work that is concerned with obtaining the public's approval for what it does. The abbreviation PR is often used. [BUSINESS ] □ The move was good public relations. □ George is a public relations officer for The John Bennett Trust.

2 N‑PLURAL You can refer to the opinion that the public has of an organization as public relations . □ Limiting casualties is important for public relations.

pu b|lic schoo l (public schools )

1 N‑VAR In Britain, a public school is a private school that provides secondary education which parents have to pay for. The pupils often live at the school during the school term. □ He was headmaster of a public school in the West of England.

2 N‑VAR In the United States, Australia, and many other countries, a public school is a school that is supported financially by the government and usually provides free education. □ …Milwaukee's public school system.

pu b|lic se c|tor N‑SING The public sector is the part of a country's economy which is controlled or supported financially by the government. [BUSINESS ] □ To keep economic reform on track, 60,000 public-sector jobs must be cut.

pu b|lic se rv|ant (public servants ) N‑COUNT A public servant is a person who is appointed or elected to a public office, for example working for a local or state government.

pu b|lic se r|vice (public services )

1 N‑COUNT A public service is something such as health care, transport, or the removal of waste which is organized by the government or an official body in order to benefit all the people in a particular society or community. □ The money is used by local authorities to pay for public services.

2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] You use public service to refer to activities and jobs which are provided or paid for by a government, especially through the civil service. □ …a distinguished career in public service.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] Public service broadcasting consists of television and radio programmes supplied by an official or government organization, rather than by a commercial company. Such programmes often provide information or education, as well as entertainment.

4 N‑UNCOUNT Public service activities and types of work are concerned with helping people and providing them with what they need, rather than making a profit. □ …an egalitarian society based on cooperation and public service.

pu blic-spi rited ADJ A public-spirited person tries to help the community that they belong to. □ Thanks to a group of public-spirited citizens, the Krippendorf garden has been preserved.

pu b|lic uti l|ity (public utilities ) N‑COUNT Public utilities are services provided by the government or state, such as the supply of electricity and gas, or the train network. □ Water supplies and other public utilities were badly affected.

pu b|lic wo rks N‑PLURAL Public works are buildings, roads, and other projects that are built by the government or state for the public.

pub|lish ◆◆◇ /pʌ bl I ʃ/ (publishes , publishing , published )

1 VERB When a company publishes a book or magazine, it prints copies of it, which are sent to shops to be sold. □ [V n] They publish reference books. □ [V n] His latest book of poetry will be published by Faber in May.

2 VERB When the people in charge of a newspaper or magazine publish a piece of writing or a photograph, they print it in their newspaper or magazine. □ [V n] The ban was imposed after the magazine published an article satirising the government. □ [V ] I don't encourage people to take photographs like this without permission, but by law we can publish.

3 VERB If someone publishes a book or an article that they have written, they arrange to have it published. □ [V n] The singer found time to publish two books of his humorous prose.

4 VERB If you publish information or an opinion, you make it known to the public by having it printed in a newspaper, magazine, or official document. □ [V n] The demonstrators called on the government to publish a list of registered voters.

pub|lish|er ◆◇◇ /pʌ bl I ʃə ^r / (publishers ) N‑COUNT A publisher is a person or a company that publishes books, newspapers, or magazines. □ The publishers planned to produce the journal on a weekly basis.

pub|lish|ing ◆◇◇ /pʌ bl I ʃ I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Publishing is the profession of publishing books. □ I had a very high-powered job in publishing.

pu b|lish|ing house (publishing houses ) N‑COUNT A publishing house is a company which publishes books.

puce /pjuː s/ COLOUR Something that is puce is a dark purple colour.

puck /pʌ k/ (pucks ) N‑COUNT In the game of ice hockey, the puck is the small rubber disc that is used instead of a ball.

puck|er /pʌ kə ^r / (puckers , puckering , puckered ) VERB When a part of your face puckers or when you pucker it, it becomes tight or stretched, often because you are trying not to cry or are going to kiss someone. □ [V ] Toby's face puckered. □ [V n] She puckered her lips into a rosebud and kissed him on the nose. ● puck|ered ADJ □ …puckered lips. □ …a long puckered scar.

puck|ish /pʌ k I ʃ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as puckish , you mean that they play tricks on people or tease them. [OLD-FASHIONED , WRITTEN ] □ He had a puckish sense of humour.

pud /pʊ d/ (puds ) N‑VAR Pud is the same as pudding . [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …rice pud.

pud|ding /pʊ d I ŋ/ (puddings )

1 N‑VAR A pudding is a cooked sweet food made with flour, fat, and eggs, and usually served hot. □ …a cherry sponge pudding with warm custard.

2 N‑VAR Some people refer to the sweet course of a meal as the pudding . [BRIT ] □ …a menu featuring canapes, a starter, a main course and a pudding.

3 → see also Yorkshire pudding

4 PHRASE If you say the proof of the pudding or the proof of the pudding is in the eating , you mean that something new can only be judged to be good or bad after it has been tried or used.

pu d|ding ba|sin (pudding basins ) N‑COUNT A pudding basin is a deep round bowl that is used in the kitchen, especially for mixing or for cooking puddings. [BRIT ]

pud|dle /pʌ d ^ə l/ (puddles ) N‑COUNT A puddle is a small, shallow pool of liquid that has spread on the ground. □ The road was shiny with puddles, but the rain was at an end. □ [+ of ] …puddles of oil.

pudgy /pʌ dʒi/ ADJ If you describe someone as pudgy , you mean that they are rather fat in an unattractive way. [AM ] □ He put a pudgy arm around Harry's shoulder.

pu|er|ile /pjʊə ra I l, [AM ] -r ^ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as puerile , you mean that they are silly and childish. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Concert organisers branded the group's actions as puerile. □ …puerile, schoolboy humour.

puff /pʌ f/ (puffs , puffing , puffed )

1 VERB If someone puffs at a cigarette, cigar, or pipe, they smoke it. □ [V + at/on ] He lit a cigar and puffed at it twice. [Also V n, V ] ● N‑COUNT Puff is also a noun. □ She was taking quick puffs at her cigarette.

2 VERB If you puff smoke or moisture from your mouth or if it puffs from your mouth, you breathe it out. □ [V n] Richard puffed smoke towards the ceiling. □ [V prep] The weather was dry and cold; wisps of steam puffed from their lips. ● PHRASAL VERB Puff out means the same as puff . □ [V P n] He puffed out a cloud of smoke. [Also V n P ]

3 VERB If an engine, chimney, or boiler puffs smoke or steam, clouds of smoke or steam come out of it. □ [V n] As I completed my 26th lap the Porsche puffed blue smoke.

4 N‑COUNT A puff of something such as air or smoke is a small amount of it that is blown out from somewhere. □ [+ of ] Wind caught the sudden puff of dust and blew it inland.

5 VERB [usu cont] If you are puffing , you are breathing loudly and quickly with your mouth open because you are out of breath after a lot of physical effort. □ [V ] I know nothing about boxing, but I could see he was unfit, because he was puffing.

6 → see also puffed

▸ puff out

1 PHRASAL VERB If you puff out your cheeks, you make them larger and rounder by filling them with air. □ [V P n] He puffed out his fat cheeks and let out a lungful of steamy breath. [Also V n P ]

2 → see also puff 2

▸ puff up

1 PHRASAL VERB If part of your body puffs up as a result of an injury or illness, it becomes swollen. □ [V P ] Her body bloated and puffed up till pain seemed to burst out through her skin.

2 → see also puffed up

puff|ball /pʌ fbɔːl/ (puffballs ) also puff-ball N‑COUNT A puffball is a round fungus which bursts when it is ripe and sends a cloud of seeds into the air.

puffed /pʌ ft/

1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a part of your body is puffed or puffed up , it is swollen because of an injury or because you are unwell. □ His face was a little puffed.

2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are puffed or puffed out , you are breathing with difficulty because you have been using a lot of energy. [INFORMAL ] □ Do you get puffed out running up and down the stairs?

pu ffed u p

1 ADJ If you describe someone as puffed up , you disapprove of them because they are very proud of themselves and think that they are very important. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ with ] …an insufferable woman so puffed up with her own importance.

2 → see also puffed

puf|fin /pʌ f I n/ (puffins ) N‑COUNT A puffin is a black and white seabird with a large, brightly-coloured beak.

pu ff pa s|try N‑UNCOUNT Puff pastry is a type of pastry which is very light and consists of a lot of thin layers.

puffy /pʌ fi/ (puffier , puffiest ) ADJ If a part of someone's body, especially their face, is puffy , it has a round, swollen appearance. □ Her cheeks were puffy with crying. □ …dark-ringed puffy eyes. ● puffi|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ He noticed some slight puffiness beneath her eyes.

pug /pʌ g/ (pugs ) N‑COUNT A pug is a small, fat, short-haired dog with a flat face.

pu|gi|list /pjuː dʒ I l I st/ (pugilists ) N‑COUNT A pugilist is a boxer. [OLD-FASHIONED ]

pug|na|cious /pʌgne I ʃəs/ ADJ Someone who is pugnacious is always ready to quarrel or start a fight. [FORMAL ] □ …the pugnacious little Scouse striker who terrorised defences across the North West in a prolific playing career.

pug|nac|ity /pʌgnæ s I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Pugnacity is the quality of being pugnacious. [FORMAL ] □ He is legendary for his fearlessness and pugnacity.

puke /pjuː k/ (pukes , puking , puked )

1 VERB When someone pukes , they vomit. [INFORMAL ] □ [V ] They got drunk and puked out the window. ● PHRASAL VERB Puke up means the same as puke . □ [V P ] He peered at me like I'd just puked up on his jeans. □ [V n P ] I figured, why eat when I was going to puke it up again?

2 N‑UNCOUNT Puke is the same as vomit . [INFORMAL ] □ He was fully clothed and covered in puke and piss.

puk|ka /pʌ kə/ ADJ If you describe something or someone as pukka , you mean that they are real or genuine, and of good quality. [BRIT , OLD-FASHIONED ] □ …a pukka English gentleman.

pull ◆◆◇ /pʊ l/ (pulls , pulling , pulled )

1 VERB When you pull something, you hold it firmly and use force in order to move it towards you or away from its previous position. □ [V n with adv] They have pulled out patients' teeth unnecessarily. □ [V prep] Erica was solemn, pulling at her blonde curls. □ [V n prep] I helped pull him out of the water. □ [V n] Someone pulled her hair. □ [V n] He knew he should pull the trigger, but he was suddenly paralysed by fear. □ [V ] Pull as hard as you can. □ [V n adj] I let myself out into the street and pulled the door shut. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Pull is also a noun. □ The feather must be removed with a straight, firm pull.

2 VERB When you pull an object from a bag, pocket, or cupboard, you put your hand in and bring the object out. □ [V n prep] Jack pulled the slip of paper from his shirt pocket. □ [V n with adv] Katie reached into her shopping bag and pulled out a loaf of bread.

3 VERB When a vehicle, animal, or person pulls a cart or piece of machinery, they are attached to it or hold it, so that it moves along behind them when they move forward. □ [V n] This is early-20th-century rural Sussex, when horses still pulled the plough.

4 VERB If you pull yourself or pull a part of your body in a particular direction, you move your body or a part of your body with effort or force. □ [V pron-refl prep/adv] Hughes pulled himself slowly to his feet. □ [V n prep/adv] He pulled his arms out of the sleeves. □ [V n adj] She tried to pull her hand free. □ [V adv] Lillian brushed his cheek with her fingertips. He pulled away and said, 'Don't!'

5 VERB When a driver or vehicle pulls to a stop or a halt, the vehicle stops. □ [V prep] He pulled to a stop behind a pickup truck.

6 VERB In a race or contest, if you pull ahead of or pull away from an opponent, you gradually increase the amount by which you are ahead of them. □ [V adv] He pulled away, extending his lead to 15 seconds.

7 VERB If you pull something apart , you break or divide it into small pieces, often in order to put them back together again in a different way. □ [V n with adv] If I wanted to improve the car significantly I would have to pull it apart and start again.

8 VERB If someone pulls a gun or a knife on someone else, they take out a gun or knife and threaten the other person with it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n + on ] They had a fight. One of them pulled a gun on the other. □ [V n] I pulled a knife and threatened her.

9 VERB To pull crowds, viewers, or voters means to attract them. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] The organisers have to employ performers to pull a crowd. ● PHRASAL VERB Pull in means the same as pull . □ [V P n] They provided a far better news service and pulled in many more viewers. □ [V n P ] She is still beautiful, and still pulling them in at sixty.

10 N‑COUNT A pull is a strong physical force which causes things to move in a particular direction. □ [+ of ] …the pull of gravity.

11 VERB If you pull a muscle, you injure it by straining it. □ [V n] Dave pulled a back muscle and could barely kick the ball. □ [V -ed] He suffered a pulled calf muscle.

12 VERB To pull a stunt or a trick on someone means to do something dramatic or silly in order to get their attention or trick them. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n + on ] Everyone saw the stunt you pulled on me. [Also V n]

13 VERB If someone pulls someone else, they succeed in attracting them sexually and in spending the rest of the evening or night with them. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]

14 to pull oneself up by one's bootstraps → see bootstrap

15 to pull a face → see face ➊

16 to pull someone's leg → see leg

17 to pull your punches → see punch

18 to pull rank → see rank

19 to pull out all the stops → see stop

20 to pull strings → see string

21 to pull your weight → see weight

22 to pull the wool over someone's eyes → see wool

▸ pull away

1 PHRASAL VERB When a vehicle or driver pulls away , the vehicle starts moving forward. □ [V P ] I stood in the driveway and watched him back out and pull away.

2 PHRASAL VERB If you pull away from someone that you have had close links with, you deliberately become less close to them. □ [V P ] Other daughters, faced with their mother's emotional hunger, pull away. □ [V P + from ] He'd pulled away from her as if she had leprosy.

▸ pull back

1 PHRASAL VERB If someone pulls back from an action, they decide not to do it or continue with it, because it could have bad consequences. □ [V P + from ] They will plead with him to pull back from confrontation. □ [V P ] The government threatened to make public its disquiet but then pulled back.

2 PHRASAL VERB If troops pull back or if their leader pulls them back , they go some or all of the way back to their own territory. □ [V P ] They were asked to pull back from their artillery positions around the city. □ [V P n] They were not ready to begin pulling back tanks, artillery and rocket launchers from the front line. [Also V n P ]

▸ pull down PHRASAL VERB To pull down a building or statue means to deliberately destroy it. □ [V n P ] They'd pulled the registry office down which then left an open space. □ [V P n] A small crowd attempted to pull down a statue.

▸ pull in

1 PHRASAL VERB When a vehicle or driver pulls in somewhere, the vehicle stops there. □ [V P prep/adv] He pulled in at the side of the road. □ [V P ] The van pulled in and waited.

2 → see pull 9

▸ pull into PHRASAL VERB When a vehicle or driver pulls into a place, the vehicle moves into the place and stops there. □ [V P n] He pulled into the driveway in front of her garage. □ [V n P n] She pulled the car into a tight parking space on a side street.

▸ pull off

1 PHRASAL VERB If you pull off something very difficult, you succeed in achieving it. □ [V P n] The National League for Democracy pulled off a landslide victory. □ [V n P ] It will be a very, very fine piece of mountaineering if they pull it off.

2 PHRASAL VERB If a vehicle or driver pulls off the road, the vehicle stops by the side of the road. □ [V P n] I pulled off the road at a small village pub. □ [V n P n] One evening, crossing a small creek, he pulled the car off the road.

▸ pull out

1 PHRASAL VERB When a vehicle or driver pulls out , the vehicle moves out into the road or nearer the centre of the road. □ [V P prep] She pulled out into the street. □ [V P ] He was about to pull out to overtake the guy in front of him.

2 PHRASAL VERB If you pull out of an agreement, a contest, or an organization, you withdraw from it. □ [V P + of ] The World Bank should pull out of the project. □ [V P ] Murray was forced to pull out on the eve of the tournament due to a wrist injury.

3 PHRASAL VERB If troops pull out of a place or if their leader pulls them out , they leave it. □ [V P + of ] The troops prepared to pull out of a country in terrible disrepair but hopeful for the future. □ [V P ] Economic sanctions will be lifted once two-thirds of their forces have pulled out. □ [V n P + of ] The regime would defy a call from the United Nations to pull its troops out of the cities it had occupied. [Also V n P , V P n (not pron)]

4 PHRASAL VERB If a country pulls out of recession or if someone pulls it out , it begins to recover from it. □ [V P + of ] Sterling has been hit by the economy's failure to pull out of recession. □ [V n P + of ] What we want to see today are policies to pull us out of this recession. [Also V P ]

5 → see also pull-out

▸ pull over

1 PHRASAL VERB When a vehicle or driver pulls over , the vehicle moves closer to the side of the road and stops there. □ [V P ] He noticed a man behind him in a blue Ford gesticulating to pull over.

2 PHRASAL VERB If the police pull over a driver or vehicle, they make the driver stop at the side of the road, usually because the driver has been driving dangerously. □ [V n P ] The officers pulled him over after a high-speed chase. □ [V P n] Police pulled over his Mercedes near Dieppe.

3 → see also pullover

▸ pull through PHRASAL VERB If someone with a serious illness or someone in a very difficult situation pulls through , they recover. □ [V P ] Everyone was very concerned whether he would pull through or not. □ [V n P ] It is only our determination to fight that has pulled us through. □ [V P n] …ways of helping Russia pull through its upheavals.

▸ pull together

1 PHRASAL VERB If people pull together , they help each other or work together in order to deal with a difficult situation. □ [V P ] The nation was urged to pull together to avoid a slide into complete chaos.

2 PHRASAL VERB If you are upset or depressed and someone tells you to pull yourself together , they are telling you to control your feelings and behave calmly again. □ Pull yourself together, you stupid woman!

3 PHRASAL VERB If you pull together different facts or ideas, you link them to form a single theory, argument, or story. □ [V P n] Let me now pull together the threads of my argument. □ [V P ] Data exists but it needs pulling together. [Also V n P ]

▸ pull up

1 PHRASAL VERB When a vehicle or driver pulls up , the vehicle slows down and stops. □ [V P ] The cab pulled up and the driver jumped out.

2 PHRASAL VERB If you pull up a chair, you move it closer to something or someone and sit on it. □ [V P n] He pulled up a chair behind her and put his chin on her shoulder. [Also V n P ] SYNONYMS pull VERB 1

haul: A crane was used to haul the car out of the stream.

drag: He got up and dragged his chair towards the table.

tow: He had been using the vehicle to tow his work trailer.

tug: A little boy came running up and tugged at his sleeve excitedly.

pu ll|ed po rk N‑UNCOUNT Pulled pork is pork meat that has been cooked for a long time until it is very soft, then torn into small strips.

pul|ley /pʊ li/ (pulleys ) N‑COUNT A pulley is a device consisting of a wheel over which a rope or chain is pulled in order to lift heavy objects.

Pull|man /pʊ lmən/ (Pullmans )

1 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A Pullman is a type of train or railway carriage which is extremely comfortable and luxurious. You can also refer to a Pullman train or a Pullman carriage . [BRIT ]

2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A Pullman or a Pullman car on a train is a railway car that provides beds for passengers to sleep in. [AM ] in BRIT, use sleeping car

pu ll-out (pull-outs )

1 N‑COUNT [usu N n] In a newspaper or magazine, a pull-out is a section which you can remove easily and keep. □ …an eight-page pull-out supplement.

2 N‑SING When there is a pull-out of armed forces from a place, troops which have occupied an area of land withdraw from it. □ [+ from/of ] …a pull-out from the occupied territories.

pull|over /pʊ loʊvə ^r / (pullovers ) N‑COUNT A pullover is a piece of woollen clothing that covers the upper part of your body and your arms. You put it on by pulling it over your head.

pul|mo|nary /pʌ lmənəri, [AM ] -neri/ ADJ [ADJ n] Pulmonary means relating to your lungs. [MEDICAL ] □ …respiratory and pulmonary disease.

pulp /pʌ lp/ (pulps , pulping , pulped )

1 N‑SING If an object is pressed into a pulp , it is crushed or beaten until it is soft, smooth, and wet. □ The olives are crushed to a pulp by stone rollers.

2 N‑SING In fruit or vegetables, the pulp is the soft part inside the skin. □ Make maximum use of the whole fruit, including the pulp which is high in fibre.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Wood pulp is material made from crushed wood. It is used to make paper.

4 ADJ [ADJ n] People refer to stories or novels as pulp fiction when they consider them to be of poor quality and intentionally shocking or sensational. □ …lurid '50s pulp novels.

5 VERB [usu passive] If paper, vegetables, or fruit are pulped , they are crushed into a smooth, wet paste. □ [be V -ed] Onions can be boiled and pulped to a puree. □ [V -ed] …creamed or pulped tomatoes.

6 VERB [usu passive] If money or documents are pulped , they are destroyed. This is done to stop the money being used or to stop the documents being seen by the public. □ [be V -ed] Millions of five pound notes have been pulped because the designers made a mistake.

7 PHRASE If someone is beaten to a pulp or beaten to pulp , they are hit repeatedly until they are very badly injured.

pul|pit /pʊ lp I t/ (pulpits ) N‑COUNT A pulpit is a small raised platform with a rail or barrier around it in a church, where a member of the clergy stands to speak.

pulpy /pʌ lpi/ ADJ Something that is pulpy is soft, smooth, and wet, often because it has been crushed or beaten. □ The chutney should be a thick, pulpy consistency.

pul|sar /pʌ lsɑː ^r / (pulsars ) N‑COUNT A pulsar is a star that spins very fast and cannot be seen but produces regular radio signals.

pul|sate /pʌlse I t, [AM ] pʌ lse I t/ (pulsates , pulsating , pulsated ) VERB If something pulsates , it beats, moves in and out, or shakes with strong, regular movements. □ [V ] …a star that pulsates. □ [V -ing] …a pulsating blood vessel. ● pul|sa|tion /pʌlse I ʃ ^ə n/ (pulsations ) N‑VAR □ Several astronomers noted that the star's pulsations seemed less pronounced.

pulse /pʌ ls/ (pulses , pulsing , pulsed )

1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] Your pulse is the regular beating of blood through your body, which you can feel when you touch particular parts of your body, especially your wrist. □ Mahoney's pulse was racing, and he felt confused.

2 N‑COUNT In music, a pulse is a regular beat, which is often produced by a drum. □ [+ of ] …the repetitive pulse of the music.

3 N‑COUNT A pulse of electrical current, light, or sound is a temporary increase in its level. □ [+ of ] The switch works by passing a pulse of current between the tip and the surface.

4 N‑SING If you refer to the pulse of a group in society, you mean the ideas, opinions, or feelings they have at a particular time. □ [+ of ] I love the way he is so absolutely in tune with the pulse of his audience.

5 VERB If something pulses , it moves, appears, or makes a sound with a strong regular rhythm. □ [V ] His temples pulsed a little, threatening a headache. □ [V -ing] It was a slow, pulsing rhythm that seemed to sway languidly in the air.

6 N‑PLURAL Some seeds which can be cooked and eaten are called pulses , for example peas, beans, and lentils.

7 PHRASE If you have your finger on the pulse of something, you know all the latest opinions or developments concerning it. □ He claims to have his finger on the pulse of the industry. □ It's important to keep your finger on the pulse by reading all the right magazines.

8 PHRASE When someone takes your pulse or feels your pulse , they find out how quickly your heart is beating by feeling the pulse in your wrist.

pul|ver|ize /pʌ lvəra I z/ (pulverizes , pulverizing , pulverized ) in BRIT, also use pulverise 1 VERB To pulverize something means to do great damage to it or to destroy it completely. □ [V n] …the economic policies which pulverised the economy during the 1980s.

2 VERB If someone pulverizes an opponent in an election or competition, they thoroughly defeat them. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] He is set to pulverise his two opponents in the race for the presidency.

3 VERB If you pulverize something, you make it into a powder by crushing it. □ [V n] Using a pestle and mortar, pulverise the bran to a coarse powder. □ [V -ed] The fries are made from pellets of pulverised potato.

puma /pjuː mə/ (pumas ) N‑COUNT A puma is a wild animal that is a member of the cat family. Pumas have brownish-grey fur and live in mountain regions of North and South America. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use mountain lion , cougar

pum|ice /pʌ m I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Pumice is a kind of grey stone from a volcano and is very light in weight. It can be rubbed over surfaces, especially your skin, that you want to clean or make smoother.

pu m|ice stone (pumice stones )

1 N‑COUNT A pumice stone is a piece of pumice that you rub over your skin in order to clean the skin or make it smoother.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Pumice stone is the same as pumice .

pum|mel /pʌ m ^ə l/ (pummels , pummelling , pummelled ) in AM, use pummeling , pummeled VERB If you pummel someone or something, you hit them many times using your fists. □ [V n] He trapped Conn in a corner and pummeled him ferociously for thirty seconds.

pump ◆◇◇ /pʌ mp/ (pumps , pumping , pumped )

1 N‑COUNT A pump is a machine or device that is used to force a liquid or gas to flow in a particular direction. □ …pumps that circulate the fuel around in the engine. □ You'll need a bicycle pump to keep the tyres topped up with air.

2 VERB To pump a liquid or gas in a particular direction means to force it to flow in that direction using a pump. □ [V n with adv] It's not enough to get rid of raw sewage by pumping it out to sea. □ [V n prep] The money raised will be used to dig bore holes to pump water into the dried-up lake. □ [V n] …drill rigs that are busy pumping natural gas. □ [V ] Age diminishes the heart's ability to pump harder and faster under exertion.

3 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A petrol or gas pump is a machine with a tube attached to it that you use to fill a car with petrol. □ There are already long queues of vehicles at petrol pumps.

4 VERB [usu passive] If someone has their stomach pumped , doctors remove the contents of their stomach, for example because they have swallowed poison or drugs. □ [have n V -ed] She was released from hospital yesterday after having her stomach pumped. [Also be V -ed]

5 VERB If you pump money or other resources into something such as a project or an industry, you invest a lot of money or resources in it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n + into ] The Government needs to pump more money into community care.

6 VERB If you pump someone about something, you keep asking them questions in order to get information. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n + about/for ] He ran in every five minutes to pump me about the case. □ [V n + out of/from ] Stop trying to pump information out of me.

7 N‑COUNT Pumps are canvas shoes with flat rubber soles which people wear for sports and leisure. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use trainers 8 N‑COUNT Pumps are women's shoes that do not cover the top part of the foot and are usually made of plain leather. [AM ] in BRIT, use court shoes

9 PHRASE To prime the pump means to do something to encourage the success or growth of something, especially the economy. [mainly AM ] □ [+ of ] …the use of tax money to prime the pump of the state's economy.

▸ pump out

1 PHRASAL VERB To pump out something means to produce or supply it continually and in large amounts. □ [V P n] Japanese companies have been pumping out plenty of innovative products. [Also V n P ]

2 PHRASAL VERB If pop music pumps out , it plays very loudly. □ [V P ] Teenage disco music pumped out at every station.

▸ pump up PHRASAL VERB If you pump up something such as a tyre, you fill it with air using a pump. □ [V P n] I tried to pump up my back tyre. [Also V n P ]

pum|per|nick|el /pʌ mpə ^r n I k ^ə l/ N‑UNCOUNT Pumpernickel is a dark brown, heavy bread, which is eaten especially in Germany.

pump|kin /pʌ mpk I n/ (pumpkins ) N‑VAR A pumpkin is a large, round, orange vegetable with a thick skin. □ Quarter the pumpkin and remove the seeds. □ …pumpkin pie.

pun /pʌ n/ (puns ) N‑COUNT A pun is a clever and amusing use of a word or phrase with two meanings, or of words with the same sound but different meanings. For example, if someone says 'The peasants are revolting', this is a pun because it can be interpreted as meaning either that the peasants are fighting against authority, or that they are disgusting.

punch ◆◇◇ /pʌ ntʃ/ (punches , punching , punched )

1 VERB If you punch someone or something, you hit them hard with your fist. □ [V n] After punching him on the chin she wound up hitting him over the head. ● PHRASAL VERB In American English, punch out means the same as punch . □ [V P n] 'I almost lost my job today.'—'What happened?'—'Oh, I punched out this guy.'. □ [V n P ] In the past, many kids would settle disputes by punching each other out. ● N‑COUNT Punch is also a noun. □ He was hurting Johansson with body punches in the fourth round. ● punch|er (punchers ) N‑COUNT □ …the awesome range of blows which have confirmed him as boxing's hardest puncher.

2 VERB If you punch the air , you put one or both of your fists forcefully above your shoulders as a gesture of delight or victory. □ [V n] At the end, Graf punched the air in delight, a huge grin on her face.

3 VERB If you punch something such as the buttons on a keyboard, you touch them in order to store information on a machine such as a computer or to give the machine a command to do something. □ [V n] Mrs. Baylor strode to the elevator and punched the button.

4 VERB If you punch holes in something, you make holes in it by pushing or pressing it with something sharp. □ [V n + in ] I took a ballpoint pen and punched a hole in the carton.

5 N‑COUNT A punch is a tool that you use for making holes in something. □ Make two holes with a hole punch.

6 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that something has punch , you mean that it has force or effectiveness. □ My nervousness made me deliver the vital points of my address without sufficient punch.

7 N‑VAR Punch is a drink made from wine or spirits mixed with things such as sugar, lemons, and spices.

8 PHRASE If you say that someone does not pull their punches when they are criticizing a person or thing, you mean that they say exactly what they think, even though this might upset or offend people. □ She has a reputation for getting at the guts of a subject and never pulling her punches.

▸ punch in PHRASAL VERB If you punch in a number on a machine or punch numbers into it, you push the machine's buttons or keys in order to give it a command to do something. □ [V P n] You can bank by phone in the U.S.A., punching in account numbers on the phone. □ [V n P ] Punch your credit card number into the keypad.

Punch and Judy show /pʌ ntʃ ən dʒuː di ʃoʊ/ (Punch and Judy shows ) N‑COUNT A Punch and Judy show is a puppet show for children, often performed at fairs or at the seaside. Punch and Judy, the two main characters, are always fighting.

punch|bag /pʌ ntʃbæg/ (punchbags ) also punch bag N‑COUNT A punchbag is a heavy leather bag, filled with a firm material, that hangs on a rope. Punchbags are used by boxers and other sportsmen for exercise and training. [BRIT ] in AM, use punching bag

pu nch bowl (punch bowls ) N‑COUNT A punch bowl is a large bowl in which drinks, especially punch, are mixed and served.

pu nch-drunk also punch drunk

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A punch-drunk boxer shows signs of brain damage, for example by being unsteady and unable to think clearly, after being hit too often on the head.

2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone is punch-drunk , you mean that they are very tired or confused, for example because they have been working too hard. □ He was punch-drunk with fatigue and depressed by the rain.

pu nch|ing bag (punching bags ) N‑COUNT A punching bag is the same as a punchbag . [AM ]

punch|line /pʌ ntʃla I n/ (punchlines ) also punch line , punch-line N‑COUNT The punchline of a joke or funny story is its last sentence or phrase, which gives it its humour.

pu nch-up (punch-ups ) N‑COUNT A punch-up is a fight in which people hit each other. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ He was involved in a punch-up with Sarah's former lover.

punchy /pʌ ntʃi/ (punchier , punchiest ) ADJ If you describe something as punchy , you mean that it expresses its meaning in a forceful or effective way. □ A good way to sound confident is to use short punchy sentences.

punc|tili|ous /pʌŋkt I liəs/ ADJ Someone who is punctilious is very careful to behave correctly. [FORMAL ] □ He was punctilious about being ready and waiting in the entrance hall exactly on time. □ He was a punctilious young man. ● punc|tili|ous|ly ADV □ Given the circumstances, his behaviour to Laura had been punctiliously correct.

punc|tu|al /pʌ ŋktʃuəl/ ADJ If you are punctual , you do something or arrive somewhere at the right time and are not late. □ He's always very punctual. I'll see if he's here yet. ● punc|tu|al|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ My guest arrived punctually. ● punc|tu|al|ity /pʌ ŋktʃuæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ I'll have to have a word with them about punctuality.

punc|tu|ate /pʌ ŋktʃue I t/ (punctuates , punctuating , punctuated ) VERB [usu passive] If an activity or situation is punctuated by particular things, it is interrupted by them at intervals. [WRITTEN ] □ [be V -ed + by/with ] The silence of the night was punctuated by the distant rumble of traffic.

punc|tua|tion /pʌ ŋktʃue I ʃ ^ə n/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Punctuation is the use of symbols such as full stops or periods, commas, or question marks to divide written words into sentences and clauses. □ He was known for his poor grammar and punctuation.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Punctuation is the symbols that you use to divide written words into sentences and clauses. □ Jessica scanned the lines, none of which had any punctuation.

pu nc|tua |tion mark (punctuation marks ) N‑COUNT A punctuation mark is a symbol such as a full stop or period, comma, or question mark that you use to divide written words into sentences and clauses.

punc|ture /pʌ ŋktʃə ^r / (punctures , puncturing , punctured )

1 N‑COUNT A puncture is a small hole in a car tyre or bicycle tyre that has been made by a sharp object. □ Somebody helped me mend the puncture. □ …a tyre that has a slow puncture.

2 N‑COUNT A puncture is a small hole in someone's skin that has been made by or with a sharp object. □ [+ in ] An instrument called a trocar makes a puncture in the abdominal wall.

3 VERB If a sharp object punctures something, it makes a hole in it. □ [V n] The bullet punctured the skull.

4 VERB If a car tyre or bicycle tyre punctures or if something punctures it, a hole is made in the tyre. □ [V ] The tyre is guaranteed never to puncture or go flat. □ [V n] He punctured a tyre in the last lap.

5 VERB If someone's feelings or beliefs are punctured , their feelings or beliefs are made to seem wrong or foolish, especially when this makes the person feel disappointed or upset. □ [be V -ed] His enthusiasm for fishing had been punctured by the sight of what he might catch. [Also V n]

pun|dit /pʌ nd I t/ (pundits ) N‑COUNT A pundit is a person who knows a lot about a subject and is often asked to give information or opinions about it to the public. □ …a well-known political pundit.

pun|gent /pʌ ndʒ ^ə nt/

1 ADJ Something that is pungent has a strong, sharp smell or taste which is often so strong that it is unpleasant. □ The more herbs you use, the more pungent the sauce will be. □ …the pungent smell of burning rubber. ● pun|gen|cy N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] □ …the spices that give Jamaican food its pungency.

2 ADJ If you describe what someone has said or written as pungent , you approve of it because it has a direct and powerful effect and often criticizes something very cleverly. [FORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ He enjoyed the play's shrewd and pungent social analysis.

pun|ish /pʌ n I ʃ/ (punishes , punishing , punished )

1 VERB To punish someone means to make them suffer in some way because they have done something wrong. □ [V n] According to present law, the authorities can only punish smugglers with small fines. □ [V n + for ] Don't punish your child for being honest.

2 VERB To punish a crime means to punish anyone who commits that crime. □ [V n] The government voted to punish corruption in sport with up to four years in jail.

pun|ish|able /pʌ n I ʃəb ^ə l/ ADJ If a crime is punishable in a particular way, anyone who commits it is punished in that way. □ [+ by/with ] Treason in this country is still punishable by death.

pun|ish|ing /pʌ n I ʃ I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A punishing schedule, activity, or experience requires a lot of physical effort and makes you very tired or weak. □ It was a punishing schedule for any man, but Fox was now fifty-seven.

pun|ish|ment /pʌ n I ʃmənt/ (punishments )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Punishment is the act of punishing someone or of being punished. □ [+ of ] …a group which campaigns against the physical punishment of children. □ I have no doubt that the man is guilty and that he deserves punishment.

2 N‑VAR A punishment is a particular way of punishing someone. □ [+ for ] The government is proposing tougher punishments for officials convicted of corruption.

3 N‑UNCOUNT You can use punishment to refer to severe physical treatment of any kind. □ Don't expect these types of boot to take the punishment that gardening will give them.

4 → see also capital punishment , corporal punishment

pu|ni|tive /pjuː n I t I v/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Punitive actions are intended to punish people. [FORMAL ] □ Other economists say any punitive measures against foreign companies would hurt U.S. interests.

Pun|ja|bi /pʌndʒɑː bi/ (Punjabis )

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Punjabi means belonging or relating to the Punjab region of India or Pakistan, its people, or its language.

2 N‑COUNT A Punjabi is a person who comes from the Punjab.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Punjabi is the language spoken in the Punjab.

punk /pʌ ŋk/ (punks )

1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Punk or punk rock is rock music that is played in a fast, loud, and aggressive way and is often a protest against conventional attitudes and behaviour. Punk rock was particularly popular in the late 1970s. □ I was never really into punk. □ …a punk rock band.

2 N‑COUNT A punk or a punk rocker is a young person who likes punk music and dresses in a very noticeable and unconventional way, for example by having brightly coloured hair and wearing metal chains.

pun|net /pʌ n I t/ (punnets ) N‑COUNT A punnet is a small light box in which soft fruits such as strawberries or raspberries are often sold. You can also use punnet to refer to the amount of fruit that a punnet contains. [BRIT ] □ [+ of ] …a punnet of strawberries.

punt (punts ) Pronounced /pʌ nt/ for meaning 1 and /pʊ nt/ for meaning 3 . 1 N‑COUNT A punt is a long boat with a flat bottom. You move the boat along by standing at one end and pushing a long pole against the bottom of the river. [mainly BRIT ]

2 N‑COUNT [num N ] The punt was the unit of money used in the Irish Republic. In 2002 it was replaced by the euro. □ He bought a plot of land for 50 punts, the Irish currency back then. ● N‑SING The punt was also used to refer to the Irish currency system. □ …the cost of defending the punt against speculators.

punt|er /pʌ ntə ^r / (punters )

1 N‑COUNT A punter is a person who bets money, especially on horse races. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ Punters are expected to gamble £70m on the Grand National.

2 N‑COUNT People sometimes refer to their customers or clients as punters . [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ]

puny /pjuː ni/ (punier , puniest ) ADJ Someone or something that is puny is very small or weak. □ …a puny, bespectacled youth.

pup /pʌ p/ (pups )

1 N‑COUNT A pup is a young dog. □ I'll get you an Alsatian pup for Christmas.

2 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] The young of some other animals, for example seals, are called pups . □ Two thousand grey seal pups are born there every autumn.

pupa /pjuː pə/ (pupae /pjuː piː/) N‑COUNT A pupa is an insect that is in the stage of development between a larva and a fully grown adult. It has a protective covering and does not move. [TECHNICAL ] □ The pupae remain dormant in the soil until they emerge as adult moths in the winter.

pu|pil ◆◇◇ /pjuː p I l/ (pupils )

1 N‑COUNT The pupils of a school are the children who go to it. □ Many secondary schools in Wales have over 1,000 pupils.

2 N‑COUNT [with poss] A pupil of a painter, musician, or other expert is someone who studies under that expert and learns his or her skills. □ [+ of ] …the only drawing firmly attributed to Cesare Magni (1511-1534), a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci.

3 N‑COUNT The pupils of your eyes are the small, round, black holes in the centre of them. COLLOCATIONS pupil NOUN 1

adjective + pupil : able, bright, gifted; former, past, prospective; disruptive, unruly

verb + pupil : admit, exclude, expel, suspend; encourage, motivate, prepare, teach SYNONYMS pupil NOUN 1

student: Warren's eldest son is an art student, at St Martin's.

scholar: The library attracts thousands of scholars and researchers.

schoolchild: Last year I had an audience of schoolchildren and they laughed at everything.

learner: …a new aid for younger children or slow learners.

pup|pet /pʌ p I t/ (puppets )

1 N‑COUNT A puppet is a doll that you can move, either by pulling strings which are attached to it or by putting your hand inside its body and moving your fingers.

2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] You can refer to a person or country as a puppet when you mean that their actions are controlled by a more powerful person or government, even though they may appear to be independent. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] When the invasion occurred he ruled as a puppet of the occupiers.

pup|pet|eer /pʌ p I t I ə ^r / (puppeteers ) N‑COUNT A puppeteer is a person who gives shows using puppets.

pup|py /pʌ pi/ (puppies ) N‑COUNT A puppy is a young dog. □ One Sunday he began trying to teach the two puppies to walk on a leash.

pu p|py fat also puppy-fat N‑UNCOUNT Puppy fat is fat that some children have on their bodies when they are young but that disappears when they grow older and taller.

pur|chase ◆◆◇ /pɜː ^r tʃ I s/ (purchases , purchasing , purchased )

1 VERB When you purchase something, you buy it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He purchased a ticket and went up on the top deck. ● pur|chas|er (purchasers ) N‑COUNT □ The broker will get 5% if he finds a purchaser.

2 N‑UNCOUNT The purchase of something is the act of buying it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Some of the receipts had been for the purchase of cars.

3 → see also hire purchase

4 N‑COUNT A purchase is something that you buy. [FORMAL ] □ She opened the tie box and looked at her purchase. It was silk, with maroon stripes.

5 N‑VAR [oft a N ] If you get a purchase on something, you manage to get a firm grip on it. [FORMAL ] □ I got a purchase on the rope and pulled. □ I couldn't get any purchase with the screwdriver on the damn screws.

pu r|chas|ing po w|er

1 N‑UNCOUNT The purchasing power of a currency is the amount of goods or services that you can buy with it. [BUSINESS ] □ The real purchasing power of the rouble has plummeted.

2 N‑UNCOUNT The purchasing power of a person or group of people is the amount of goods or services that they can afford to buy. [BUSINESS ] □ …the purchasing power of their customers.

pur|dah /pɜː ^r də/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft in N ] Purdah is a custom practised in some Muslim and Hindu societies, in which women either remain in a special part of the house or cover their faces and bodies to avoid being seen by men who are not related to them. If a woman is in purdah , she lives according to this custom.

pure ◆◇◇ /pjʊə ^r / (purer , purest )

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A pure substance is not mixed with anything else. □ …a carton of pure orange juice.

2 ADJ Something that is pure is clean and does not contain any harmful substances. □ In remote regions, the air is pure and the crops are free of poisonous insecticides. □ …demands for purer and cleaner river water. ● pu|rity N‑UNCOUNT [with poss] □ [+ of ] They worried about the purity of tap water.

3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something such as a colour, a sound, or a type of light as pure , you mean that it is very clear and represents a perfect example of its type. □ …flowers in a whole range of blues with the occasional pure white. ● pu|rity N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the soaring purity of her voice.

4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a form of art or a philosophy as pure , you mean that it is produced or practised according to a standard or form that is expected of it. [FORMAL ] □ Nicholson never swerved from his aim of making pure and simple art. ● pu|rity N‑UNCOUNT □ …verse of great purity, sonority of rhythm, and symphonic form.

5 ADJ [ADJ n] Pure science or pure research is concerned only with theory and not with how this theory can be used in practical ways. □ Physics isn't just about pure science with no immediate applications.

6 ADJ Pure means complete and total. [EMPHASIS ] □ The old man turned to give her a look of pure surprise.

pu re-bred also purebred ADJ [ADJ n] A pure-bred animal is one whose parents and ancestors all belong to the same breed. □ …pure-bred Arab horses.

pu|ree /pjʊə re I , [AM ] pjʊre I / (purees , pureeing , pureed ) also purée

1 N‑VAR Puree is food which has been crushed or beaten so that it forms a thick, smooth liquid. □ …a can of tomato puree.