1025
pedigree
pea soup·er /ˌpiː ˈsuːpər/ n infml old-fash a thick heavy yellow
FOG often thought to be typical of London in the 19th and
early 20th century
peat /piːt/ BrE || also peat 'moss AmE — n 1 [U] partly
decayed vegetable matter which takes the place of ordinary
soil in certain areas (peat bogs), and is used for burning
instead of coal or for making plants grow well 2 [C] a piece
of this cut out to be used for making fires —peaty adj
peb·ble /ˈpebəl/ n 1 a small roundish smooth stone found
especially on the seashore or on a riverbed 2 not the only
pebble on the beach not the only person who has to be
considered; only one out of many others who deserve
attention —bly adj: a pebbly beach
Pebble 'Beach a famous GOLF COURSE in California
peb·ble·dash /ˈpebldæʃ/ n [U] BrE CEMENT with lots of
small pebbles set in it, used for covering the outside walls of
a house
pe·can /ˈpiːkæn, prˈkæn|pɪˈkɑːn, prˈkæn/ n a nut with a long
thin reddish shell. Pecan pie is a favourite sweet dish in the
US.
pec·ca·dil·lo /ˌpekəˈdɪləʊ/ n pl. -llos or -los a small unim-
portant fault or bad action: His wife seems willing to overlook
his little peccadilloes with other women.
pec·ca·ry /ˈpekəri/ n pl. peccaries or peccary a wild hairy
piglike animal found especially in Central and South
America
peck¹ /pek/ v 1 [(at);T] (of a bird) to strike with the beak:
Don't get too near that bird; it might peck you. | The hens were
pecking at the corn. (=picking it up with their beaks) | It had
pecked a hole in the bottom of its cage. (=made a hole by
pecking) | (fig.) She seemed upset, and just pecked at her food.
(=ate it in small bites, without interest) 2 [T(on)] infml to kiss
quickly, lightly, and without much feeling: He pecked her on
the cheek. → see also HENPECKED
peck² n 1 a stroke or mark made by pecking 2 [(on)] infml a
hurried kiss
peck³ n a measure of amount for dry substances such as fruit
and grain
Peck, Greg·o·ry /ˈɡreɡəri/ (1916–2003) a US film actor
known for being tall and good-looking, and for appearing as
characters who were honest and had strong moral beliefs.
He appeared as the character 'Atticus Finch' in the film To
Kill a Mockingbird, for which he won an Oscar in 1962. His
other films include Cape Fear, Roman Holiday, and The Omen.
He was known for his LIBERAL views and for being active in
politics.
peck·er /ˈpekər/ n 1 AmE slang for PENIS 2 keep one's pecker
up BrE infml to remain cheerful even when it is difficult to do
so
pecking order n often humor the social order of a particular
group of people or animals, by means of which the members
of the group know who is more important and who is less
important than themselves
Peck-in-pah, Sam /ˈpekɪnpɑː, s æm/ (1925–84) a US film
director known for making very violent films, such as The
Wild Bunch (1969) and Straw Dogs (1971)
peck·ish /ˈpekɪʃ/ adj [F] infml, especially BrE slightly hungry
Peck·sniff, Mr /ˈpeksnɪf/ a character in the book Martin
Chuzzlewit (1843–44) by Charles DICKENS. He is a HYPOCRITE
(=someone who pretends to be morally good but is not), and
pretends to like people who have power or money in order to
get an advantage.
pec·tic /ˈpektɪk/ adj [A] tech of or from pectin
pec·tin /ˈpektɪn/ n [U] tech a sugar-like chemical substance
found in certain fruits, which is important in making JAMS
and jellies
pec·to·ral /ˈpektərəl/ adj tech of the chest: pectoral muscles
pe·cu·li·ar /prˈkjuliər/ adj 1 strange or unusual, especially
in a troubling or displeasing way: What a peculiar thing to
say. | This meat tastes peculiar; I hope it's all right. | It's rather
peculiar that we were not given this information until
now. 2 [F+to] belonging only (to a particular person, place,
time etc); EXCLUSIVE: This style of cooking is peculiar to the
south-west of the country. | a plant species peculiar to the
Scilly Islands 3 euph rather mad; ECCENTRIC 4 [F] infml rather
ill: I'm feeling a bit peculiar – I think I'll go and lie down. →
see also PECULIARLY
pe·cu·li·ar·i·ty /prˌkjuːliˈærəti/ n 1 [U] the quality of being
peculiar 2 [C] something which is PECULIAR to a particular
person, place, time etc: The lack of a written constitution is a
peculiarity of the British political system. 3 [C] a strange or
unusual habit, quality etc
pe·cu·li·ar·ly /prˈkjuːliəliəl||-ər-/ adv 1 especially: a pecu-
liarly difficult question. 2 strangely: He's been behaving most
peculiarly. 3 in a way that is PECULIAR to a particular person,
place, time etc: a peculiarly British phenomenon (=found
only in Britain)
pe·cu·ni·ary /prˈkjuːniəri||-niəri/ adj fml or pomp connected
with or consisting of money: pecuniary gain/motives
ped·a·gogue /ˈpedəɡɒɡ||-ɡɑːɡ/ n 1 derog a teacher who is
too concerned with rules 2 old use or humor a teacher
ped·a·go·gy /ˈpedəɡɒdʒi||-ɡɑː-/ n [U] tech the practice of
teaching or the study of teaching methods —gic
/pedəˈɡɒdʒk ||-ˈɡɑː-, -ˈɡə-/ —gical adj —gically /kli/
adv
ped·al¹ /ˈpedl/ n a barlike part of a machine which can be
pressed with the foot in order to control the working of the
machine or to drive it: One of the pedals has come off my
bicycle. | the accelerator pedal on a car | an organ pedal | a
pedal boat (=worked by pedals) → see picture at BICYCLE
pedal² v [I;T] -ll- BrE || -l- AmE 1 to work the pedals of (a
machine): I pedalled like mad but nothing hap-
pened. 2 [(+obj)+adv/prep] to ride (a bicycle): He pedalled the
bicycle up the hill. | I was just pedalling along. → see also
SOFT-PEDAL
'pedal bin n a container for waste, especially in a kitchen,
which stands on the floor and has a lid which is opened by
pressing a pedal with your foot
pedal steel gui'tar n → see STEEL GUITAR
ped·ant /ˈpednt/ n derog a person who pays too much
attention to small details and unimportant rules —ic
/prˈdæntɪk/ adj: a pedantic teacher —ically /kli/ adv
ped·ant·ry /ˈpedntri/ n derog 1 [U] the quality of being a
pedant 2 [C usually pl.] a pedantic expression or action
ped·dle /ˈpedl/ v [T] usually derog 1 to try to sell by going from
place to place: She was sent to prison for peddling drugs. 2 to
try to spread (opinions, false information etc): I don't know
who's been peddling these nasty rumours about me.
ped·dler /ˈpedlər/ n 1 old-fash a person who peddles danger-
ous or illegal drugs 2 AmE for PEDLAR
ped·e·rast /ˈpedərst/ n AmE for PAEDERAST
ped·es·tal /ˈpedstəl/ n 1 the base on which a PILLAR or
STATUE stands 2 a position of (too) great respect: However
much you admire her, you shouldn't try and put her on a
pedestal. (=treat her as if she is perfect or better than
anyone else)
pe·des·tri·an¹ /pəˈdestriən/ n a person travelling on foot,
especially in a street or other place used by cars → compare
MOTORIST
pedestrian² adj 1 derog lacking in imagination or any spe-
cial qualities; dull: a rather pedestrian student | a pedestrian
performance 2 [A] of or for pedestrians: a pedestrian precinct
pe·des·tri·an 'crossing BrE || crosswalk AmE — n a special
place for pedestrians to cross the road → see also PELICAN
CROSSING, ZEBRA CROSSING
pe·des·tri·a·nize also -nise BrE /pəˈdestriənaɪz/ v [T] to
change a street or shopping area into a place where vehicles
are not allowed —pedestrianization /ˌpədestriənaɪzeɪʃən
|| -nə-/ n [U]
pe·di·a·tri·cian /ˌpiːdiəˈtrɪʃən/ n AmE for PAEDIATRICIAN
pe·di·at·rics /ˌpiːdiˈætrɪks/ n [U] AmE for PAEDIATRICS
ped·i·cure /ˈpedɪkjʊər/ n [C;U] (a) treatment of the feet and
toenails, to make them more comfortable or more beautiful
→ compare MANICURE —curist n
ped·i·gree¹ /ˈpedɪɡriː/ n [C;U] (an official description of) the
set of people or animals from whom a person or animal is
descended; ANCESTRY: Examine its pedigree carefully before