past participle
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,past 'participle also perfect participle n tech (in grammar) a PARTICIPLE that can be used in compound forms of the verb to show the PASSIVE or the PERFECT tenses (such as broken in The cup was broken by John or I have broken the cup) or sometimes as an adjective (such as broken in a broken cup)
,past 'perfect, the also pluperfect n tech (in grammar) the form of a verb that shows that the action described by the verb was completed before a particular time in the past (stated or understood), formed in English with had and a past participle —past perfect adj
pas-tra-mi /pə'strɑ:mi/ n [U] (especially in the US) very strong-tasting BEEF dried in smoke
pas-try /'peistri/ n 1 [U] a mixture of flour, fat, milk or water, and sometimes sugar, eaten when baked, used especially to enclose other foods: The pie crust is made of pastry. 2 [C] an article of food, especially a small sweet cake, made wholly or partly of this → see also DANISH PASTRY
pas-tur-age /'pɑ:stʃərɪdʒ||'pæs-/ n [U] 1 the right to use land for feeding one's cattle, horses etc 2 also pas-ture-land /'pɑ:stʃələnd||'pæstʃər-/ (natural) grassland suitable for feeding cattle on
pas-ture¹ /'pɑ:stʃər||'pæs-/ also pas-ture-land /'pɑ:stʃələnd||'pæstʃər-/ n [C,U] 1 (a piece of) grassy land where farm animals feed: the rolling pastures of southern England | We're putting our cattle out to pasture. (=to feed on grass) | (fig.) It's about time this old sewing machine was put out to pasture. (=got rid of) → compare ARABLE 2 fresh fields and pastures new quote a slightly changed phrase from a poem by John Milton, used when saying that someone is moving on to a new place or a new activity. The actual words he wrote are: 'Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new'.
pasture² v 1 [T] to put (farm animals) in a pasture to feed: He's pasturing his cattle on the top meadow. 2 [(on)] (of cattle, sheep etc) to feed on an area of growing grass; GRAZE
pas-ty¹ /'pæsti/ n BrE a small case of pastry, filled usually with meat → see also CORNISH PASTY
past-y² /'pæsti/ adj (of the face) white and unhealthy in appearance
pasty-faced /'pæsti feist/ adj usually derog having a white and unhealthy-looking face
pat¹ /pæt/ n 1 [C] a light stroke with the flat hand, usually showing friendliness and not intended to hurt: He gave the dog a pat as he walked past. 2 [S] a sound made by hitting something lightly with a flat object 3 [C(of)] a small shaped mass, especially of butter 4 a pat on the back infml an expression of praise or satisfaction for something done: We don't want a pat on the back from the management – we want more money!
pat² v -tt- [T] 1 to touch or strike gently and repeatedly with the flat hand or a flat object, often to show friendliness, sympathy etc: He patted the dog. | She patted her hair to make sure it was tidy. 2 pat someone/oneself on the back infml to praise someone/oneself for doing something well
pat³ adv often derog 1 without delay, as if already prepared: The answer came pat. 2 have/know something (off) pat BrE || have something down pat AmE — to know something thoroughly and have it ready in one's mind so that one can say it or write it immediately and without having to think
pat⁴ adj often derog (especially of words) coming (too) easily or readily, as if already prepared: His explanation was too pat to be convincing.
Pat-a-go-ni-a /ˌpætə'gəʊniə/ a large area in southern Argentina, which has a small population and many sheep farms —Patagonian adj: the Patagonian plains
patch¹ /pætʃ/ n 1 an often irregularly shaped part of a surface or space that is different, especially in colour, from the surface or space round it: The dog's coat is white with black patches. | wet patches on the wall | Patches of mist can be expected at dawn. 2 a usually small piece of material used to cover a hole or a damaged place: He had a patch on the elbow of his jacket. 3 a usually small piece of ground, especially as used for growing vegetables: a potato patch 4 a period of experience of the stated kind, especially a time of trouble or misfortune: Art in Britain is going through a bad patch at the moment. | Their marriage seems to have hit a difficult patch. 5 also eyepatch — a protective piece of material worn over an eye that has been hurt 6 BrE infml a usually small area in which someone, especially a policeman, always works and which he/she knows very well 7 also beauty patch, beauty spot — (in the 17th and 18th centuries) a small round usually black piece of silk or other material worn on the face, to show up the beauty of the skin 8 AmE a small piece of cloth with words or a picture on it: a windbreaker with patches on it from all the places they had visited 9 in patches in parts; not completely: This film was good in patches, but I didn't like all of it. → see also PATCHY 10 not a patch on BrE infml not nearly as good as: This Algerian wine isn't a patch on the French.
patch² v [T] to put a PATCH on (a hole, worn place etc), especially in (a garment): patched trousers
patch sbdy./sthg. ↔ up phr v [T] 1 to settle (a quarrel or disagreement): We managed to patch up our quarrel. 2 to mend or repair quickly or roughly, especially with a PATCH: patched-up jeans | (fig.) The doctors patched up the wounded soldiers and sent them back to the front again.
patch-ou-li, patchouly /'pætʃu:li, pə'tʃu:li/ n [U] the ESSENTIAL OIL from an E Indian heavy-smelling plant
,patch 'pocket n a pocket made by sewing a square piece of material onto the outside of a garment
patch-work /'pætʃwɜ:k||-wɜ:rk/ n [C,U] (a piece of) sewn work made by joining together a number of pieces of cloth of different colours, patterns, and shapes: a patchwork quilt/blanket | (fig.) From the aircraft we could see a patchwork of fields of different shapes and colours.
patch-y /'pætʃi/ adj 1 made up of or appearing in patches (PATCH): The sun has faded the curtains so the colours are rather patchy. | There will be patchy fog at dawn. 2 usually derog a) incomplete: My knowledge of science is patchy. b) only good in parts: The concert was patchy. —ily adv —iness n [U]
pate /peit/ n old use or humor the top of the head: his bald pate
pât-é /'pæteɪ||pɑ:'teɪ, pæ-/ n [U] a food made by crushing solid foods, especially LIVER into a smooth soft mass → compare PASTE
pâté de foie gras /ˌpæteɪ də ˌfwɑ: 'grɑ:||pɑ:,teɪ-, pæ-/ also foie gras infml —n [U] Fr pâté made from the LIVER of a GOOSE which has been fed a lot to make it fat. The best types are expensive and it is considered a LUXURY food.
pa-tel-la /pə'telə/ n med for KNEECAP
pa-tent¹ /'peɪtnt, 'pæ-||'pæ-/ adj 1 fml (especially of feelings or qualities) easy and plain to see; OBVIOUS: his patent lack of honesty 2 [A] protected, by a PATENT² from being copied or sold by those who do not have a right to do so: a patent lock 3 [A] infml (of some act or skill invented by a particular person) cleverly made or done: his patent way of making mayonnaise
patent² n 1 a paper from the Patent Office of a government giving someone the right to make or sell a new invention for a certain number of years: This new machine is protected by patent; the inventor has taken out a patent on it. 2 the right given in such a paper: The patent runs out in two years time.
patent³ v [T] to obtain a PATENT for: If you don't patent your invention, someone might steal the idea.
,Patent and 'Trademark ,Office, the the US government department that decides which new inventions can be given a patent (=the right to make and sell a new invention) There is a similar department in the UK called the Patent Office.
pa-tent-ee /ˌpeɪn'ti:||ˌpæ-/ n especially law a person to whom a PATENT is given
patent leath-er /ˌpeɪtnt 'leðər ||ˌpæ-/ n [U] fine thin very shiny leather, usually black: patent-leather shoes
pa-tent-ly /'peɪtntli||'pæ-/ adv fml (of something bad) clearly and plainly: He was patently lying. | It was patently obvious that he was lying. | a patently false statement
,patent 'medicine n a medicine which can be bought without a PRESCRIPTION (=a written order from a doctor saying that a person needs a particular medicine)
'Patent ,Office, the the British government department that decides which new inventions can be given a PATENT