pussy
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pussy² n taboo slang 1 the female sex organs 2 AmE SISSY
pus·sy·foot /'pʊsɪfʊt/ v [I (ABOUT, AROUND)] infml derog to be too careful and frightened to express one's opinions, take strong action etc: It's no good pussyfooting around - they should just lock these people up!
'pussy ,willow n [C;U] (a tree with) bunches of small soft furry white or greyish flowers on stems, often used for decoration
pus·tule /'pɑːstjuːl||-'tʃuːl/ n med a small raised spot on the skin containing poisonous matter
put¹ /pʊt/ v put, present participle putting [T] 1 [+obj+adv/prep] to move, set, place, lay, or fix in, on, or to a stated place: Put the box on the table. | Put the chair nearer the fire. | You put too much salt in this soup. | Put the toy back in its box. | Put your hand over your mouth when you cough. | Put that newspaper down while I'm talking to you. | They were put on a plane and sent back to their own country. | He put the children to bed. | He put a match to his cigarette. (=lit it) | She put her head round the door (=looked into the room) and asked if we were coming. | (fig.) The prisoner was put on trial/put to death. (=killed) | (fig.) Whatever put that idea into your head? | (fig.) Their generosity put us to shame. (=made us feel ashamed) | I know it was a dishonest thing to do, but put yourself in my place/position. (=imagine being me) What would you have done? 2 [+obj+adv/prep] to cause to be in the stated condition: He put his books in order. | 'You've made a mistake.' 'I'll put it right at once.' | She's put her knowledge of French to good use. | His boring lessons always put me to sleep. | The unexpected delay put me in a bad mood. 3 [+obj+adv/prep] to cause (something) to have an effect or influence; APPLY: They are intending to put pressure on the government to change its mind. | Don't try to put the blame on me - it wasn't my fault. | It's time we put an end/a stop to these ridiculous rumours. | I'm sure you'll be able to do it if you put your mind to it. | They ought to put more money into the business/more effort into their work. 4 [+obj+adv/prep] to express something in words: She is - how shall I put it? - not exactly fat, but rather well-built. | His ideas were cleverly put. | She was trying to put her feelings into words. | There is - as today's papers put it - no satisfactory explanation for his outrageous comments. | It's a dangerous job, to put it mildly. (=it is extremely dangerous) 5 [to, before)] to express officially for judgment or decision: The lawyer put several questions to the witness. | I'll put your suggestion before the management committee. 6 [+obj+adv/prep] to write down; make (a written mark of some kind): Put a cross opposite each mistake. | 'What shall I put at the end of the sentence?' 'Put a question mark.' 7 [+obj+adv/prep] to make busy; set to regular work: Put all the boys to work. | We're putting extra staff on the job to make sure it gets finished. 8 [+obj+adv/prep] tech to guide or direct (a boat or horse) in a stated direction: The captain put the ship into port for repairs. 9 to throw a heavy metal ball (SHOT) as a form of sports competition 10 Put it there infml (used especially in coming to an agreement) Please shake hands with me 11 put paid to BrE to ruin; finish completely: The accident has put paid to his chances of taking part in the race. → see also keep/put something on ice (ICE), stay put (STAY)
put about phr v 1 [T[put sthg. ⇔ about]] BrE infml to spread (bad or false news); CIRCULATE: They've been putting rumours about. | It's being put about that she was secretly married. 2 [I;T(= put sthg. about)] tech a) (of a ship) to change direction b) to cause (a ship) to change direction 3 put oneself about BrE infml to be very active, especially sexually
put sthg. ⇔ across/over phr v [T] to cause (one's ideas, feelings etc) to be understood, especially by listeners; COMMUNICATE: an inexperienced teacher who doesn't put his ideas/himself across very well
put sthg. across sbdy. phr v [T] infml, especially BrE to deceive into believing or accepting (something): You can't put that old excuse across your boss. (=make him/her believe it)
put sthg. ⇔ aside phr v [T] 1 [(for)] to save (especially money), for later use or a special purpose: We have some money put aside for a holiday. 2 to pay no attention to; DISREGARD: They have agreed to put aside their differences in the interests of winning the election.
put sthg. at sthg. phr v [T] to guess to be (a certain number or amount): I'd put her age at 33. | Official estimates put the damage done by the storm at over $10 million.
put sbdy./sthg. ⇔ away phr v [T] 1 to remove (something) to the place where it is usually kept: Put the books away in the cupboard. 2 to save (money) for later use; PUT by 3 infml to eat (a lot of food) 4 euph to place (someone) in prison or in a hospital for mad people: People like that ought to be put away! 5 bibl to end one's marriage to (one's wife) by law
put back phr v 1 [T[put sthg. ⇔ back]) to delay: The fire in the factory has put back production. | The meeting has been put back (=its date has been moved) to next week. → compare PUT FORWARD 2 [T[put sthg. ⇔ back]) to cause (a clock or watch) to show an earlier time → compare PUT FORWARD 3 [I;T (= put sthg. ⇔ back)] tech a) (of a ship) to return: The ship put back to port. b) to cause (a ship) to return
put sthg. ⇔ by phr v [T] to save (money) for later use: Try to put a little bit by each week.
put down phr v 1 [T[put sthg. ⇔ down]] to bring to an end or bring under control; QUELL: The army put down all opposition. | to put down a riot 2 [T[put sbdy. ⇔ down]] infml to make (someone) feel unimportant; HUMILIATE → see also PUT-DOWN 3 [T[put sthg. ⇔ down]] euph to kill (an animal), especially because it is old or ill 4 [T[put sthg. ⇔ down]] to record in writing: Let me put down your telephone number. 5 [T[put sbdy. ⇔ down]] BrE to allow to leave a vehicle: You needn't drive the car up to the house; just put me down here/at the gate. 6 [T[put sthg. ⇔ down]] to pay (an amount) as part of the cost of something, with a promise to pay the rest later → see also DOWN PAYMENT 7 [I;T (= put sthg. ⇔ down)] a) (of an aircraft) to land b) to land (an aircraft): The engine failed and the pilot had to put (the plane) down in the sea.
put sbdy. down as sthg. phr v [T] to guess (someone) to be or do (something): I'd put him down as an ex-army man.
put sbdy. down for sthg. phr v [T] to put (someone's name) on a list of people who a) want to join (a competition, school etc): She put her name down for the 100 metres race. or b) will give (money): Put me down for £5.
put sthg. down to sthg. phr v [T] to state or think that (something) is caused or explained by (something else): I put his bad temper down to his recent illness.
put sthg. ⇔ forth phr v [T] fml or lit 1 to produce and send out: In spring the bush put forth new leaves. 2 to PUT forward (1)
put sbdy./sthg. ⇔ forward phr v [T] 1 to offer for consideration; suggest: They have put forward a plan for reducing the level of traffic. | May I put your name forward as a possible chairman of the committee? 2 to move to an earlier date or time; advance: The warm weather has put the harvest forward. | The meeting has been put forward to this week. → compare PUT BACK 3 to cause (a clock or watch) to show a later time: The plane will soon be landing in Bombay - please remember to put your watches forward by five hours. → compare PUT BACK 4 to bring (someone) to public attention
put in phr v 1 [(at)] (of a ship) to enter a port: The ship puts in at Singapore and remains there for a day. 2 [T[put sthg. ⇔ in]) to make or send (a request or claim); SUBMIT: If the goods were damaged in the post, you can put in a claim to the post office. | to put in an application 3 [T[put sthg. ⇔ in]) to do (work) or spend (time), especially for a purpose: She put in an hour's work on her project. 4 [T[put sthg. ⇔ in]) to interrupt by saying: 'Don't forget us,' she put in. 5 [T[put sbdy. ⇔ in]) to elect (a government) → see also INPUT
put in for sthg. phr v [T] to make a formal request for; APPLY for: They've put in for a pay rise/a government grant.
put into sthg. phr v [T] (of a ship) to enter (a port): The boat put into Sydney for supplies.
put off phr v [T] 1 [(put sthg./sbdy. ⇔ off)] to move to a later date; delay: [+obj+ving] I'll have to put off my visit/put off going until next month. | We've invited them to dinner, but we'll have to put them off because the baby's sick. 2 [(put sbdy. ⇔ off)] to make excuses to (someone) in order to avoid a duty: I put him off with a promise to pay him next week. → see also PUT-OFF 3 [(put sbdy. off (sthg.))] to discourage (someone) (from something): She was trying to make a serious point, but people kept putting her off (her speech) by shouting. | Don't talk, it puts her off her game. | Their interruptions put him off his stride/stroke. (=upset him, so that he stopped what he was doing or did it wrong) | [+ving] The smell put me off eating for a week! 4 [(put sbdy. off (sthg./sbdy.))] to cause (someone) to dislike (someone or something); REPEL: His bad manners/bad breath put me right off (him). → see also OFF-PUTTING 5 [(put sbdy. ⇔ off)] to stop and allow (someone) to leave a vehicle or boat