1085
precentor
praise·wor·thy /'preɪzwɜːðɪ-3r-/ adj apprec deserving praise, especially even though not successful; COMMENDABLE: a praiseworthy attempt to simplify the complex laws in this area —thily adv —thiness n [U]
pra·line /'prɑːliːn/ n a sweet made of nuts cooked in boiling sugar, used especially as a filling for chocolates
pram /præm/ also perambulator old-fash or fml, especially BrE || baby buggy, baby carriage AmE — n a four-wheeled carriage, pushed by hand, in which a baby can sleep or be taken about -> compare PUSHCHAIR
prance /prɑːns||præns/ v [I+adv/prep] 1 (of an animal, especially a horse) to jump high or move quickly by raising the front legs and springing forwards on the back legs 2 sometimes derog to move quickly, happily, or proudly with a springing or dancing step: The children were prancing about with delight. | That cheeky new secretary just pranced up to me and asked if I worked here!
prank /præŋk/ n a playful but foolish trick, not intended to harm: Children like to play pranks on people. | a schoolboy prank -> compare PRACTICAL JOKE
prank·ster /'præŋkstər/ n infml a person who plays pranks
prat /præt/ n BrE derog slang a worthless stupid person
Pratch·ett, Ter·ry /'prætʃɛt, 'teri/ (1948-) a British writer, best known for his Discworld series of more than 30 COMIC FANTASY books. Discworld is a world shaped like a DISC, supported by four elephants who are standing on a very large TURTLE.
prate /preɪt/ v [I(ON, about)] old-fash derog to talk foolishly
prat·fall /'prætfɔːl/ n AmE infml a fall on one's BUTTOCKS, often on purpose to cause laughter: The comedian slipped on a banana skin and did a pratfall.
prat·tle¹ /'prætl/ v [I(ON, about)] infml, often derog to talk continually in a childish or foolish way about matters of no importance: The children prattled on about their presents.
—tler n
prattle² n [U] infml, often derog childish, unimportant, or meaningless talk
Prav·da /'prɑːvdə/ a Russian newspaper, which was formerly the official newspaper of the COMMUNIST PARTY of the SOVIET UNION
prawn /prɔːn/ BrE || shrimp AmE — n a small ten-legged sea animal used for food, like a SHRIMP but larger
prawn 'cocktail n a British dish served before the main course of a meal and consisting of prawns in MAYONNAISE on a bed of LETTUCE leaves
pray¹ /preɪ/ v 1 [I(for, to);T] to speak, often silently, to God or a god, privately or with others, to show love, give thanks, or ask for (something): They went to the mosque to pray. | I will pray to God for your safety. | We pray God's forgiveness. | [+to-v] Many times when he was in terrible pain he had prayed to be allowed to die. | [+(that)] They prayed that their enemies might be defeated. | (fig.) The school picnic is on Saturday, so we're praying (=hoping very strongly) for a fine day. | (fig.) I pray to God (=hope very strongly) nothing like that ever happens again. 2 [T] lit or old use to ask or beg seriously and with strong feeling: Take great care, I pray you!
pray² adv fml or lit (used for giving force to a request) please: Pray be seated!
prayer /preər/ n 1 [C] (a fixed form of words used in making) a solemn request to God or a god: a special prayer for Easter Sunday | He says his prayers every night before he goes to bed. | Her prayer was answered and her husband came home safely. 2 [U] the act or regular habit of praying to God or a god: The congregation knelt in prayer. 3 [U] (often cap.) a fixed form of church service including prayers: Evening Prayer -> see also PRAYERS
Prayer Book, the the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
prayer meeting n (in Protestant churches) a public meeting at which people offer personal prayers to God
prayer rug also 'prayer mat n a small mat knelt on by Muslims when they are praying
prayers /preəz||preərz/ n [P] a daily religious service among a group of people, mainly consisting of praying: school prayers | family prayers
'prayer wheel n a drum-shaped piece of wood or metal that turns round on a pole, and on which prayers are written, used by Buddhists in Tibet
praying 'mantis also mantis n a large insect that eats other insects and holds out its front legs pressed together -> see picture at INSECT
pre- -> see WORD FORMATION TABLE
preach /priːtʃ/ v 1 [I(to);T] to speak or say (a religious speech) in public: Christ preached to large crowds. | The priest preached a sermon on the need for charity. | [+that] Christ preached that we should love each other. 2 [T] often derog to advise or urge others to accept (something one believes in): These misguided people go around preaching revolution. 3 [I(at, to, about)] derog to offer unwanted advice on matters of right and wrong: My sister has been preaching at me again about my untidy habits. 4 preach to the converted to explain one's ideas or beliefs to people who already share them -—er n
Preak·ness, the /'priːknəs/ an important US horse race for three-year-old horses, held each year in Maryland. It is part of the Triple Crown. -> see also BELMONT STAKES, THE, KENTUCKY DERBY, THE
pre·am·ble /priː'æmbəl||'priːæmbəl/ n tech or derog 1 a statement at the beginning of a speech or piece of writing, giving its reason and purpose: a preamble to the treaty 2 usually cap, AmE the statements at the beginning of the American CONSTITUTION
pre·ar·range /priːə'reɪndʒ/ v [T] to arrange in advance: At a prearranged signal, everyone stood up. -—ment n [U]
preb·end /'prebend/ n tech a small regular payment made to a priest of quite high rank for services connected with a CATHEDRAL or special church
pre·but·tal /priː'bʌtl/ n a statement that a politician makes saying that a criticism of them is false or unfair, before the criticism has been made: Wiggins issued a prebuttal against his opponent's speech, even before the text was delivered to reporters.
pre·car·i·ous /pri'keəriəs/ adj unsafe; not firm or steady; full of danger: The climber had only a precarious hold on the slippery rock. | Our financial situation is still precarious. -—ly adv: She had a cup of tea balanced precariously on her knee. -—ness n [U]
pre·cast /priː'kɑːst ə ||-'kæst ə / adj (of CONCRETE) formed into blocks ready for use in building
pre·cau·tion /priː'kɔːʃən/ n [(against)] an action done to avoid possible danger, discomfort etc: Equipment is always carefully sterilized as a precaution against infection. | It would be a wise precaution to lock all the doors. -—ary adj: a precautionary X-ray
pre·cede /priːsiːd/ v [T] 1 fml to come, go, or happen (just) before: The flash of lightning preceded the sound of thunder by two seconds. | He came in, preceded by his wife. 2 [+obj+adv/ prep, especially with] to introduce (an activity) in the stated way; PREFACE: He preceded his speech with a few words of welcome to the special guests. -> compare PROCEED
pre·ce·dence /'presɪdəns/ n [U(over)] the right to be put or dealt with before others, especially because of greater importance: The hospital building programme will have to have/ take precedence over the road building programme. | In the dispute over custody of the child, the court decided to give precedence to the mother's claims. | Let's deal with the questions in order of precedence. (=the important ones first) -> compare PRIORITY
pre·ce·dent /'presɪdənt/ n 1 [U] use of former customs or decisions as a guide to present actions: The Queen has broken with precedent by sending her children to ordinary schools. 2 [C] a former action or case that may be used as an example or rule for present or future action: This intervention in another nation's affairs has set a precedent which we hope other countries will not follow. | This course of action is quite without precedent. (=has never happened before) -> see also UNPRECEDENTED
pre·ced·ing /priːsiːdɪŋ/ adj [A] fml coming just before in time or place: the preceding day
pre·cen·tor /pri'sentər/ n (in some English CATHEDRALS) an