pitch
amount or degree of slope, especially of a roof 7 [C] infml for SALES PITCH ➔ see also queer someone's pitch (QUEER)
pitch³ n [U] a black substance that is melted into a sticky material used for making protective coverings or for filling cracks, especially in a ship, to stop water coming through: It's asblack as pitch (=very dark) in here; has anyone got a torch?
,pitch-and-'puttn [U] a game of GOLF on a special course where the holes (HOLE) are shorter than on a full-size golf course
,pitch-'black also ,pitch-'dark adj completely black or dark: a pitch-black moonless night➔ness n [U]
pitch-blende/'pit blend/n [U] a dark shiny substance dug from the earth, from which URANIUM and RADIUM are obtained
pitched/pitft/ adj (of a roof) sloping rather than flat ➔ see alsoHIGH-PITCHED, LOW-PITCHED
,pitched 'battlen 1 (in former times) a battle at a chosen place between armies with positions already prepared ➔ compare SKIRMISH 2 infml a fierce and usually long quarrel or argument: We had a pitched battle with the council before they'd agree to repair the road.
pitch-er¹//'pitfor/n 1 BrE a large container for holding and pouring liquids, usually made of clay and having two ear-shaped handles 2 AmE for JUG¹
pitcher n (in BASEBALL) a player who throws the ball towards the BATTER
pitch-fork //'pitfɔ:k||-fɔ:rk/n a long-handled farm tool with two long curved metal points, used especially for lifting and throwing HAY (=dried cut grass)
pitchfork² v [T] 1 to lift and throw (HAY) using a pitch- fork 2 [+obj+adv/prep] to put (a person) suddenly or unexpect- edly into a place or situation for which they are not properly prepared: He was pitchforked into the post of manager with- out any training.
pit-e-ous /'ptics/ adj especially lit expressing suffering in a sad way, so that one feels pity: the piteous cries of the starving children➔ly advness n
pit-fall /'pitfɔ:l/n an unexpected difficulty or danger; mis- take that can easily be made: English spelling presents many pitfalls for foreign students.
pith/p10/n [U] 1 a soft white SPONGE-like substance that fills the stems of certain plants 2 a white material just under the coloured outside skin of oranges and similar fruit 3 the central most important part of an argument, idea etc
pit-head/'pit-hed/n the entrance to a coal mine and the buildings around it: pithead baths
,pith 'helmet also topee n. a large light hat worn in the tropics, especially formerly, to protect the head from the sun
pith-y /'p101/ adj 1 (of something said or written) strongly and cleverly stated without wasting any words: pithy advice 2 of, like, or having a lot of pith➔ily adv➔iness n [U]
pit-i-a-ble/'piticebəl/adj rather frml pitiful ➔bly adv
pit-i-ful /'pitiful/ adj 1 causing or deserving pity: The sick animals were in a pitiful condition. 2 derog not deserving respect or serious consideration: You don't expect me to believe that pitiful excuse, do you?-ly adv: She had become pitifully thin. ➔ness n [U]
pit-i-less/'pitias/ adj showing no pity or MERCY; cruel and unforgiving: a pitiless tyrant | pitiless cruelty | (fig.) The pitiless (=unbearably severe) north wind blew for weeks on end. ➔ly advness n [U]
pit-man /'pitmæn/n pl. -men/men/ a coal miner
Pi-tot tube /'pistəu tju:b||-tu:b/ n an instrument used in measuring the speed of an aircraft
'pit, ponym a small horse used especially formerly for moving coal in a coal mine
'pit prop n a support for the roof of an underground passage in a coal mine
pits/pits/n [the P] 1 (in motor racing) a place beside a track where cars can come during a race to be quickly examined and repaired 2 infml derog the worst possible example of something: That new film is the pits!
'pit stop n the action of stopping in the pits during a car race
to get more petrol or have repairs done: (fig.) We'll make a pit stop in Butte to get something to eat and use the restrooms.
Pitt/pit/ an informal name for PITTSBURGH
Pitt, Brad /bræd/ (1963-) a US film actor, known for being sexually attractive, whose films include Thelma and Louise (1991), Seven (1993), and Fight Club
(1999). He married the actress Jennifer Aniston in
2000.
pit-ta bread BRE pita bread AmE
,/'pitə 'bredl 'pi:tə-/n [U] a type of bread, originally from the Middle East, which is flat and hollow: For a healthy lunch, fill a piece of pitta bread with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers,
and slices of avocado.
pit-tance /'pitəns/ n [C usually sing.] a very small ungenerous amount of pay or money: She gets paid a (mere) pittance in her present job.
pit-ted /'pited/ adj especially AmE for STONELESS: pitted dates
pit-ter-pat-ter/'pite, pætər ||'pitər-/ adj, adv, n PIT-A-PAT
Pitts-burgh /'pitsbə:gl-b3:r/ an industrial city in the US state of Pennsylvania, informally called Pitt and known especially for its former steel industry
pi-tu-i-ta-ry /ps'tju:tori, ps'tu:teri/. also 'pituitary gland n a small organ at the base of the brain which produces various HORMONES that influence the growth and development of the body
pit-y¹ /'piti/ n,.1 [U] sympathy and sorrow for someone's suffering or unhappiness: We had/took pity on (=felt sorry for and decided to help) the homeless family and took them into our house. 2 [S] a sad, unfortunate, or inconvenient state of affairs; SHAME: 'We've got to leave now.' 'What a pity!" [+(that)] It's a pity you can't come to the party. 'I can't afford to run this car.' '(It's a) pity you didn't think of that before you bought it.' (=you should have thought of it) 3 for pity's sake (used to add force to a request, especially showing impatience) please: For pity's sake be quiet and let me get on with my work. ➔ see SAKE (USAGE) 4 BRE more's the pity infml unfortunately: I won't be able to come this evening, more's the pity. ➔ see also SELF-PITY
pity² v [T] to feel pity for (and perhaps give help to): Pity us in our distress. I pity anyone who has to feed a family on such a low income.
piv-ot¹ /'pivat/ n a fixed central point or pin on which something turns: (fig.) Capturing the enemy-held towns is the pivot of our plans. (=our plans depend on this, and if we can't do it they won't work)
pivot v 1 [(on)] to turn round (as if) on a pivot: a pivoting gate 2 [T] to provide with or fix by means of a pivot pivot on sthg. phr v [T] to depend on
piv-ot-al /'pivətəl/ adj 1 of or being a pivot 2 of main importance and influence; CRUCIAL: a pivotal event in the country's struggle for independence
pix/piks/ n [P] slang pictures or photographs
pix-el /'piksəl/ n tech the smallest unit of an image on a computer SCREEN
pix-ie, pixy /'piksi/n a small FAIRY believed to enjoy playing tricks on people
Piz-ar-ro, Fran-cis-co /piza:rəu, fræn'siskəu/ (?1475- 1541) a Spanish EXPLORER and CONQUISTADOR, who went to South America in 1524. He defeated the INCAS, killed their king, and took control of Peru for Spain. He is known for his cruelty and his love of gold.
piz-za /'pi:tsə/ n [C,U] a plate-shaped piece of DOUGH or pastry baked with a mixture of cheese, TOMATOES etc, on top CULTURAL NOTE: Pizza is originally an Italian food but is now very popular in Britain and the US. Some restaurants specialize in pizzas and will deliver them hot to your door when you make your order by telephone.