pensionable /'penʃənәbel/ adj giving one the right to receive a pension: She is of pensionable age. | a pensionable job
'pension book n (in Britain) a book of forms which a person signs each week when they go to collect their OLD AGE PENSION
pen·sion·er /'penʃənər/ BrE ‖ senior citizen AmE — n a person who is receiving a pension, especially an OLD AGE PENSION: an old age pensioner → see also CHELSEA PENSIONER, OAP
'pension fund n a FUND (=a sum of money for a special purpose) which is invested (INVEST). The money which is gained from the investment is used to pay pensions to people who have paid money, usually a fixed amount each month, into the fund.
'pension plan also retirement plan AmE — n a system by which a person who will not get a pension from an employer pays money, usually a fixed amount each month, to an insurance company which INVESTs the money to provide the person with a pension
'pension ,scheme also retirement plan BrE  $ \rightarrow $ n a system in many companies in which both the company and the workers pay money into a pension fund for the workers
'Pension, Service, the a British government organization which gives money to people who are old
pen·sive /'pensiv/ adj deeply or sadly thoughtful: a pensive smile | You're looking very pensive - is anything wrong? —~ly adv —~ness n [U]
pen·ta·gon /'pentəgnəl-gən/ n a flat shape with five especially equal sides and five angles —-al /pen'tægənəl/ adj
Pentagon, the the building in Washington DC from which the army, navy etc of the US are controlled, or the military officers who work in this building. It is called the Pentagon because it has a five-sided shape. On 11 September 2001 it was attacked by TERRORISTS who flew a plane filled with passengers into it. 189 people were killed, including the 64 people who were on the plane. → see colour photo on page A35
'Pentagon Papers, the secret government documents that discussed the US's military involvement in VIETNAM during the 1960s. These papers were taken from the PENTAGON and printed in the NEW YORK TIMES in 1971. President NIXON tried to prevent the papers being printed, but the US Supreme Court said that the newspaper had a right to print them, because of the FIRST AMENDMENT. The court case examined the government's right to keep important information secret, and showed that the public has the right to know what its government is doing.
pen·ta·gram /'pentəgrəm/ n a five-pointed star, used as a magic sign
pen·tam·eter /pen'tæmʌtər/ n a line of poetry with five main beats
Pen·ta·teuch, the /'pentətjuːkll-tuːk/ the Christian name for the first five books of the OLD TESTAMENT of the Bible, which are traditionally said to have been written by Moses, and which Jewish people call the 'Torah'
pen·tath·lon /pen'tæθən/ n a sports event in which those taking part have to compete against each other in five different sports: running, swimming, riding, shooting, and FENCING → compare DECATHLON
Pen·tax /'pentæks/ trademark a BRAND (=type) of camera made by the Japanese company Pentax
Pen·te·cost /'pentikost‖-ko:st, -ka:st/ 1 a Jewish religious holiday 50 days after Passover, which celebrates the time when Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai. It is also called Shavuot, Shabuoth, and the Feast of Weeks. 2 a Christian religious holiday on the seventh Sunday after Easter, which celebrates the time when the Holy Spirit came from heaven to Jesus's followers; WHITSUN
Pen·te·cos·tal /,pentr'kostəl·ʌl-'kɔːs-, -'kɑːs-/ adj a Pentecostal church is a type of Christian church whose members believe especially in the power of the Holy Spirit and the ability to 'speak in tongues' (see SPEAK). They also have very strict attitudes towards moral behaviour.
Pen·te·cos·ta·list /,pentr'kostəl-ʌst·ʌl-'kɔːs-, -'kɑːs-/ n a member of a Pentecostal group ︷~ism n [U]
pent·house /'penthaus/ n pl. -houses /,hauːʒz/ a small house or set of rooms built on top of a tall building, often considered very desirable to live in; the film star's luxury penthouse | the hotel's penthouse suite
Penthouse trademark a magazine for men which is known for its pictures of young women wearing very few clothes and its articles about sex
Pen·ti·um /'pentiem/ trademark a type of PROCESSOR (=the central part of a computer that processes information and controls its operations) made by the US company INTEL. Pentium processors are used in most of the world's personal computers, and there are several different types, which are described according to how fast they operate: a PC with a Pentium II processor
Pen·ton·ville /'pentənvil/ also ,Pentonville 'prison a large prison for men, in north London
,pent 'up adj shut up within narrow limits; not allowed to be free or freely expressed: I don't like being pent up in the house all the time. | A good argument allows you to release your pent-up emotions.
penul-ti-mate /pi'naltəmət/ adj [A] next to the last
penum·bra /pɪˈnʌmbra/ n tech a slightly dark area between full shadow or darkness and full light
penu·ri·ous /pr'njuəriəs/ adj fml very poor —ly adv
pen·u·ry /'penjri/ n [U] fml the state of being very pc
POVERTY: living in utter penury
pe·on /'piːən/ n AmE 1 a person who works at a boring or physically hard job for low pay: I worked and saved to go back to college and escape the peon job market. 2 (in Mexico and South America) a person who works as a kind of slave to pay his debts
pe-o-ny /'piːnɪ/ n a garden plant with large round white, pink, or especially dark red flowers
people¹ /'piːpəl/ n 1 [P] persons; human beings: Were there many people at the meeting? | buses crammed with people | Most people seem to like her. | People in the south of England speak in a different way from people in the north. | I like theatre people. (=people connected with the theatre) 2 [P] persons in general; persons other than oneself: If you do that, people will start to talk. (=about your behaviour) | People enjoy reading about the rich and famous. 3 [(the) P] all the ordinary members of a state; all those persons in a society who do not have special rank or position: Abraham Lincoln spoke of 'government of the people, by the people, for the people'. | The Prime Minister claimed he had a mandate from the people. | Like many politicians, he likes to be thought of as a man of the (common) people. 4 [C+sing./pl. v] a race; nation: The Chinese are a hard-working people. | the people of Africa 5 [P] a) the persons from whom one is descended and/or to whom one is related: Her people have lived in this valley for over 200 years. b) old-fashioned one's close relatives, especially parents: One day I'll take you home to meet my people. 6 of all people a) especially; more than anyone else: You of all people ought to have been able to understand what he was saying. b) surprisingly, out of all those who might be expected to be present, to take action etc: For her, of all people, to complain about you being late for work! (=she is often late herself) → see also LITTLE PEOPLE; see FOLK (USAGE), MAN (USAGE), PERSON (USAGE)
people² v [T usually pass.] 1 to live in (a place); INHABIT: a desert peopled only by wandering tribes 2 [(with)] usually derog to fill or supply with people of the stated type: This office is peopled with petty-minded bureaucrats.
People also 'People Magazine //'.../ trademark a US magazine that contains short articles and pictures of famous people, especially people who appear on television and in films
People, The trademark a British TABLOID newspaper sold every Sunday, which is known for printing shocking articles about famous people, especially about their relationships and their sexual experiences
'people, carrier also 'people, mover n a large car with about eight seats, used especially by people with families
People's 'Daily, The the official daily newspaper of China