1033
periphery
per·fo·ra·tion /ˌpɜːfəˈreɪʃn||ˌpɜːr-/ n 1 [C often pl.] a small hole or line of holes made by perforating something: the perforations in a sheet of stamps 2 [U] the act of perforating or state of being perforated
per·force /pəˈfɔːs||pərˈfɔːrs/ adv old use or lit because it is necessary
per·form /pəˈfɔːm||pərˈfɔːrm/ v 1 [T] to do; carry out (a piece of work, duty, ceremony etc), especially according to a usual or established method: The surgeon has performed the operation. | to perform a miracle 2 [(on, at); T] to give, act, or show (a play, a part in a play, a piece of music, tricks etc), especially in the presence of the public: I've never seen 'Othello' performed so brilliantly. | The magician performed some astonishing tricks. | He will be performing on the clarinet/at the piano. | a performing bear 3 [I] a) (of a machine) to work (in the proper or intended way): This car performs well on hills. b) infml (of a person) to carry out a particular activity, especially well and with great skill: Our team performed very well in the match yesterday.
per·form·ance /pəˈfɔːməns||pərˈfɔːr-/ n 1 [C] the action or an act of performing a (character in a) play, a piece of music, tricks etc, especially in the presence of the public: His performance of/as Othello was very good. | The orchestra will give two more performances before leaving Britain. | tickets for the evening performance | the band's first public performance 2 [U] the action or manner of carrying out an activity, piece of work etc: Her performance in the exams was rather disappointing. | (fml) the performance of one's official duties 3 [U] the ability of a person or machine to do something well: The car's performance on corners needs to be improved. 4 [S] infml, especially BrE a) something that needs a lot of work, effort, or preparation: I enjoy this dish, but it's too much of a performance to cook it often. b) derog an example of bad and socially unacceptable behaviour (especially in the phrase What a performance!)
per'formance ,art n [U] art having some theatre and something to see and/or hear e.g. a SCULPTURE of which the artist forms a part—performance artist n
per'formance-en,hancing adj performance-enhancing drug/product/supplement etc a drug or product that is used illegally by people competing in sports events to improve their performance
per'formance ,pay n [U] additional payment given by an employer to a worker, where the amount given depends on how successful the worker has been
per'formance-re,lated adj (of wages etc) depending on how successfully work is done: The salary is performance-related. (=the greater the success, the more money will be paid) | a performance-related amount
per·form·er /pəˈfɔːmə ||pərˈfɔːr-/ n a person who performs, especially an actor, musician etc: The audience booed some of the performers. | He's their star performer.
per,forming 'arts n [the+ P] the arts, e.g. dance, DRAMA, and music, which are usually performed in front of a group of people listening or watching
per·fume¹ /ˈpɜːfjuːm||ˈpɜːr-/ also scent BrE — n [C;U] 1 a sweet or pleasant smell: the roses' heady perfume 2 a sweet-smelling liquid, often made from flowers, for use especially on a woman's face, wrists, and body
per·fume² /ˈpɜːfjum||pərˈfjuːm/ v [T(with)] 1 fml or poet to fill with a sweet or pleasant smell: a garden perfumed with flowers 2 to put a sweet-smelling liquid on: a perfumed handkerchief
per·fum·er·y /pəˈfjuːməri||pər-/ n [U] (the process of making) sweet-smelling liquids: a shop's perfumery counter
per·func·to·ry /pəˈfʌŋktəri||pər-/ adj fml 1 (of an action) done hastily and without thought, interest, or care: a perfunctory kiss/wave/glance 2 (of a person) acting in this manner—rily adv —riness n [U]
per·go·la /ˈpɜːɡələ||ˈpɜːr-/ n an arrangement of posts built for climbing plants to grow over in a garden
per·haps /pəˈhæps, præps||pər-, præps/ adv 1 possibly; MAYBE: Perhaps she's in the other office. | This is perhaps his finest novel yet. | 'Do you think it'll rain?' 'Perhaps.' | 'Will he come with us?' 'Perhaps not.' 2 (used in making polite requests): Perhaps you would be (=Would you be) good enough to explain this for me?
USAGE 1 Perhaps is similar to maybe but maybe is more informal. 2 Perhaps can be used to make suggestions or requests or to give orders in a polite manner: Perhaps you would like to join us for lunch. | Perhaps you could bring me the report tomorrow. | You'd better go now, perhaps. → see also MAYBE (USAGE)
per·i·gee /ˈperɪdʒiː/ n tech the point where the path of an object through space is closest to the Earth → compare APOGEE
per·i·he·li·on /ˌperɪˈhiːliən/ n tech the point where the path of an object through space is closest to the sun
per·il /ˈperɪl/ n especially lit 1 [U] (great) danger, especially of being harmed or killed: a prayer for those in peril on the sea 2 [C] something that causes danger: the perils of motor racing 3 at one's peril (used when advising someone not to do something) with the near certainty of meeting great danger: You ignore this warning at your peril.
per·il·ous /ˈperɪləs/ adj especially lit very dangerous; risky: a perilous journey —→ly adv —→ness n [U]
pe·rim·e·ter /pəˈrɪmɪtər/ n 1 the border round any enclosed flat space or special area of ground, especially a camp or airfield: The perimeter of the airfield is protected by guard-dogs. | a perimeter fence 2 the length of this border: What is the perimeter of this circle/square? → compare CIRCUMFERENCE
pe·ri·na·tal /ˌperɪˈneɪtl/ adj med (happening) at about the time of birth: a high rate of perinatal mortality
pe·ri·od /ˈpɪəriəd/ n 1 a stretch of time with a beginning and an end, but not always of measured length: There were long periods when we had no news of him. | Tomorrow's weather will be dry with sunny periods. | a period of international tension | She was taken on for a three-month trial period before being accepted as a permanent member of staff. 2 a particular stretch of time during the development of a person, a civilization, the Earth, an illness etc: His teenage son is going through a difficult period at the moment. | 'Which period (of history) are you studying?' 'The Romans.' | They put on a play about the French Revolution, with all the actors wearing period costume. (=the clothes of that period) 3 a division of a school day; lesson: three periods of chemistry a week | a double period 4 also menstrual period fml — a monthly flow of blood from the body of a woman: a heavy period | period pains 5 especially AmE a) FULL STOP b) (used at the end of a sentence to express completeness, or firmness of decision): I'm not going, period!
pe·ri·od·ic /ˌpɪəriˈɒdɪk||ˌpɪrɪˈɑː-/ also periodical adj happening repeatedly, usually at regular times: periodic bouts of fever/fits of coughing → compare SPASMODIC —→ally /kli/ adv: She looked in on the baby periodically to check that he was all right.
pe·ri·od·i·cal /ˌpɪərɪˈɒdɪkl||ˌpɪrɪˈɑː-/ n a magazine, especially one of a serious kind, that comes out at regular times, such as every month
,periodic 'table n a list of simple chemical substances (ELEMENTS) arranged according to their atomic weights
per·i·o·don·tal /ˌperiəˈdɒntl||ˈdɑːn-/ adj tech relating to the part of the mouth at the base of the teeth: periodontal disease
'period ,piece n 1 a fine example of a piece of furniture, work of art etc, of a certain period in history 2 infml, especially humor something very old-fashioned
per·i·pa·tet·ic /ˌperɪpəˈtetɪk/ adj fml travelling about; going from place to place, especially to work: a peripatetic music teacher who works at several schools—→ally /kli/ adv
pe·riph·er·al¹ /pəˈrɪfərəl/ adj rather fml 1 [(to)] of slight importance by comparison; not central or closely related: matters of peripheral interest | peripheral to the main argument 2 of or in a periphery: peripheral areas | peripheral nerves (=outside the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM) → compare OUTSKIRTS —→rally adv
peripheral² n a piece of equipment, such as a VDU or printer, which is connected to a computer to help in using the computer → compare ADD-ON
pe·riph·er·y /pəˈrɪfəri/ n 1 [(of) usually sing.] a line or area that surrounds or encloses something; outside edge: a factory