1099
private detective
printing 2 a machine for making copies, especially photographs 3 a machine which is connected to a computer and makes a printed record of computer information → compare PRINTING PRESS
print·ing /'prɪntɪŋ/ n 1 [U] the act or art of printing: The invention of printing made it possible for many more people to learn to read. | a printing error 2 [C] an act of printing a number of copies of a book; IMPRESSION: This is the third printing of the book. 3 [U] letters printed by hand
'printing ink also 'printer's ink n [U] a quick-drying ink used in printing books, newspapers etc → compare PRINTER
'printing press also press, 'printing ma,chine n a machine that prints books, newspapers etc
print·out /'prɪnt,aʊt/ n [C;U] a sheet or length of paper containing printed information produced by a computer
'print run n [C] the number of books or magazines that are printed at the same time
pri·or¹ /'praɪər/ adj [A] 1 coming or planned before: I was unable to attend the meeting because of a prior engagement. (=before I was asked to the meeting, I had arranged to do something else which would prevent me from going to the meeting) 2 more important; coming first in importance: I stopped playing football because my work had a prior claim on my time. 3 prior to fml before: All the arrangements should have been completed prior to our departure.
prior² n 1 also pri·or·ess /'praɪərəs/ fem. the head of a priory 2 the priest next in rank below the head of an ABBEY (=a large religious house)
pri·o·ri·tize also -tise BrE /praɪ'ɒrɪtaɪz||-'ɔːr-/ v [T] 1 to give (something) priority: The public wants to see the fight against crime prioritized. 2 to arrange (a number of things, problems etc) in the order in which they will be dealt with: We need to prioritize all these jobs before we can start working on them.
pri·or·i·ty /praɪ'ɒrɪtɪ||-'ɔːr-/ n 1 [U(over)] the state or right of coming before others in position or time: The badly wounded take/have priority for medical attention over those only slightly hurt. | We have a priority booking scheme for members of our supporters' club. (=they can get tickets before anyone else) 2 [C] something that needs attention, consideration, service etc, before others: The arranging of this business agreement is a top priority. | You must learn to get your priorities right. (=deal with the most important things first) 3 [U] the right of a vehicle to go forward while others must wait: Vehicles coming from the left have priority. → compare PRECEDENCE
pri·o·ry /'praɪərɪ/ n (often cap.) a Christian religious house or group of men (MONKS) or women (NUNS) living together, which is smaller and less important than an ABBEY → compare ABBEY
prize /praɪz/ v [T] especially BrE for PRIZE⁵
prism /'prɪzəm/ n 1 (in GEOMETRY) a solid figure with a flat base and parallel upright edges 2 a transparent three-sided block, usually made of glass, that breaks up white light into different colours
pris·mat·ic /prɪz'mætɪk/ adj 1 using a PRISM: a prismatic compass 2 (of a colour) very bright, clear, and varied
pris·on /'prɪzən/ n 1 [C;U] a large building (usually owned by the state) where people are kept as a punishment after being found guilty of a crime or while waiting to be tried: The thief was sent to prison for a year. 2 [U] the state or condition of being kept in such a place; imprisonment: Many people believe that prison isn't a cure for crime. 3 stone walls do not a prison make quote a phrase from a poem by Richard Lovelace, meaning that people can still feel free even if they are locked up
'prison camp n a guarded camp, usually surrounded by a wire fence, for prisoners of war
pris·on·er /'prɪzənər/ n 1 a person kept in a prison for a crime or while waiting to be tried: The prisoners are allowed an hour's exercise every day. | Prisoner at the bar (=on trial), how do you plead? 2 a person or animal (taken and) held with limited freedom of movement: He was captured and taken prisoner (=was made a prisoner) by enemy soldiers. | The guerillas held/kept her prisoner for three months. | (fig.) We are all prisoners of our past. 3 sb takes no prisoners
used in order to say that someone is determined to succeed, will not let anyone stop them, and will not be stopped by feelings of kindness or politeness: Humphreys is a first-rate attorney, he takes no prisoners. | Kevin Ward will be taking no prisoners against Wigan in the match on Sunday.
Prisoner, The a British television SERIES about a man who is made to live in a strange village. He is called 'number six' and says 'I am not a number. I am a free man'. The head man in the village is 'number two', and the relationship between them and the whole situation, are very mysterious. The Prisoner, made in 1967–68, is still popular, with the sign connected with the programme, an old-fashioned bicycle called a PENNY-FARTHING, still being recognized.
,prisoner of 'conscience n a person who is put in prison because people in power do not like their political ideas
,prisoner of 'war abbrev. POW infml — n a member of the armed forces caught by the enemy during a war and kept as a prisoner, usually until the war is over
Prisoner of Zen-da, The /prɪzənər əv 'zendə/ (1894) a novel by Anthony HOPE, which has been made into several films, about the adventures of an Englishman in the imaginary country of RURITANIA → see also RURITANIA
,prison 'visitor n (in Britain) a person who visits prisoners in order to help them with their difficulties or complaints, to keep them cheerful etc
pris·sy /'prɪsɪ/ adj infml annoyingly exact or proper in behaviour —sily adv —siness n [U]
pris·tine /'prɪstiːn/ adj fml or lit pure; undamaged; fresh and clean: an old book still in pristine condition | the pristine whiteness of newly-fallen snow
Pritch·ett, V. S. /'prɪtʃɪt/ (1900–97) a British writer known especially for his short stories
prith·ee /'prɪði/ interj old use please
Pritt Stick /prɪt stɪk/ trademark a type of ADHESIVE (=a substance for sticking things) sold in a tube. It is a hard, white substance and you use it directly from the tube for sticking paper or CARDBOARD.
priv·a·cy /'prɪvəsi, 'praɪ-||'praɪ-/ n [U] 1 the (desirable) state of being away from other people, so that they cannot see or hear what one is doing, interest themselves in one's affairs etc. In many western countries, this is usually given particular value and people expect to have their privacy respected by others: There's not much privacy in these flats because of the large windows and thin walls. 2 secrecy; avoidance of being noticed or talked about publicly
pri·vate¹ /'praɪvət/ adj 1 personal; secret; not (to be) shared with others: It's wrong to read people's private letters without permission. | Don't tell anyone else what I told you; it's private. 2 not intended for everyone, but for a particular person or chosen group; not public: A well-known singer gave a private performance at the party. | The directors have their own private plane. | private land 3 independent; not connected with government, public service etc: Treatment in government hospitals is free, but if you go to a private hospital you must pay. 4 unofficial; not connected with one's business or official position, or with one's public life: The president is paying a private visit to Europe. | I don't like the way newspapers snoop into people's private lives. 5 where other people are not present, or cannot see or hear one: Is there some private corner where we can sit and talk by ourselves? 6 (of a person) (liking to be) away from other people, on one's own: She's a very private person. → compare PUBLIC —ly adv: May I speak to you privately? (=with no one else present) | a privately printed book (=not produced by a PUBLISHER)
private² n 1 (written abbrev. Pte) also private soldier fml (often cap.) a soldier of the lowest rank 2 in private secretly; not in the presence of other people → opposite in public (PUBLIC²)
,private 'bill n a BILL that has an effect on a particular person or class, rather than the general public
,private de'tective also ,private 'eye infml ,private in'vestigator, gumshoe AmE slang— n a person, not a policeman, who can be hired to do certain sorts of police work, such as following people and reporting on their actions