punch
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punch² n 1 [C[in, on]) a quick strong blow made with the FIST (closed hand): I'd like to give that man a punch on the nose. | a straight punch to the jaw -> see also pack a punch (PACK) 2 [S;U] apprec forcefulness; effective power: His speech lacked punch. -> see also PUNCHY 3 pull one's punches to express one's bad opinion more gently than is deserved
punch³ n a metal tool for cutting holes: a ticket punch
punch⁴ n [C usually sing.;U] (often in comb.) a drink made from fruit juice, sugar, water etc, and usually wine or other alcohol: a bowl of rum punch
Punch¹ 1, Mr Punch the main character in a PUNCH AND JUDY SHOW 2 as pleased as Punch old-fash very happy: He's as pleased as Punch about the baby.
Punch² trademark a British weekly magazine which was started in 1841 and continued to be published until 2002. It is known especially for its humorous articles and CARTOONS.
Punch and Ju·dy show /ˌpʌntʃ ən ˈdʒuːdi ʃəʊ/ n a traditional PUPPET show for children, especially in the UK, in which the main character, Mr Punch, fights with his wife Judy in a way that is intended to be humorous. Punch is an ugly character with a long HOOKED nose and a strange high voice, who enjoys hitting people, especially Judy and their baby, with his stick. Other traditional characters in the show are a policeman and a CROCODILE. Punch and Judy shows are traditionally performed on beaches in summer.
'punch ball also punch·bag /'pʌntʃbæg/ also 'punching bag AmE— n a large leather ball or bag, fixed on a spring or hung from a rope, which is punched (PUNCH) for exercise
'punch bowl n a large bowl in which PUNCH is served
'punch-drunk adj 1 (of a professional fighter) suffering brain damage from repeated blows on the head in BOXING 2 infml very confused, especially by continual misfortune or bad treatment
,punched 'card also 'punch card n a card with a pattern of holes in it for putting into a computer, each of which carries a particular piece of information to the computer
'punch line n the last few words of a joke or story, that give meaning to the whole and cause amusement or surprise
'punch-up n BrE infml a fight -> see also PUNCH UP
punch·y /'pʌntʃi/ adj slang having a forceful, effective quality; INCISIVE —iness n [U]
punc·til·i·o /pʌŋkˈtɪliə/ n pl. -os [C;U] fml (an example of) careful attention paid to every small exact detail of ceremonial behaviour, performance of duties etc
punc·til·i·ous /pʌŋkˈtɪliəs/ adj fml, usually apprec (of a person or behaviour) very exact and particular about details of behaviour or duty —ly adv —ness n [U]
punc·tu·al /'pʌŋktʃuəl/ adj not late; happening, doing something etc, at the exact time; PROMPT: She's never punctual for appointments so you can expect to be kept waiting. | The cat makes a punctual appearance at mealtimes. —ly adv: Be there punctually at ten o'clock. —ity /ˌpʌŋktʃuˈæləti/ n [U]
punc·tu·ate /'pʌŋktʃueɪt/ v [T] 1 to divide (written matter) into sentences, phrases etc, with PUNCTUATION MARKS 2 [(with) usually pass.] to break the flow of, repeatedly: The tense silence was punctuated by bursts of gunfire. | He punctuated his solemn remarks with a few well-chosen jokes.
punc·tu·a·tion /ˌpʌŋktʃuˈeɪʃən/ n [U] the marks used in punctuating a piece of writing: A piece of writing without any punctuation is difficult to understand.
,punctu'a-tion mark n a sign used in punctuating, e.g. a COMMA, a QUESTION MARK, or a HYPHEN: Make sure you put the proper punctuation marks in your essay.
punc·ture¹ /'pʌŋktʃə/ n a small hole made with a sharp point through a soft surface, especially in a tyre: I'm sorry I'm late; my car/I had a puncture. | to mend a puncture
USAGE In the US, most people would use FLAT (4) to mean a puncture as well as not having enough air in the tyre: She ran over some glass on her bicycle and got a flat.
puncture² v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) get a puncture: A nail on the road punctured the tyre. | Her rubber ball punctured when it fell on a prickly bush. | He's in hospital with a punctured lung. 2 [T] to destroy as if by bursting: His unexpected failure punctured his self-importance.
pun·dit /'pʌndɪt/ n sometimes humor a person who knows a great deal about a particular subject, especially one whose opinion is asked for by others: political pundits
pun·gent /'pʌndʒənt/ adj 1 (of a taste or smell) strong, sharp, and stinging: the pungent aroma of garlic 2 (of speech or writing) producing a sharp direct effect: pungent remarks about my lateness —ly adv —gency n [U]
pun·ish /'pʌnɪʃ/ v [T] 1. a) [(for)] to cause (someone who has broken the law or done something wrong) to suffer, e.g. by sending them to prison or making them do something that they do not want to do: Motorists should be severely punished for dangerous driving. | Their mother punished them for their rudeness. | It wasn't your fault; stop punishing yourself! (=stop blaming yourself) b) to cause someone to suffer for (a crime or fault): Dangerous driving should be severely punished. 2 to deal roughly with: to punish one's opponent at golf | to punish an engine
pun·ish·able /'pʌnɪʃəbəl/ adj [(by)] that may be punished by law: a punishable offence | Murder is punishable by death in some countries.
pun·ish·ing¹ /'pʌnɪʃŋ/ adj infml that makes one thoroughly tired and weak: a long, punishing climb | a punishing work-load —ly adv
punishing² n [S] infml a case of rough or damaging treatment: Your car seems to have taken a punishing.
pun·ish·ment /'pʌnɪʃmənt/ n 1 [U] the act of punishing or process of being punished: We are determined that the terrorists will not escape punishment. | capital punishment (=punishment by being officially killed) 2 [C(for)] a way in which a person is punished: She sent her son to bed early as a punishment (for breaking the window). | He took his punishment like a man. (=bravely) | to mete out punishments | a harsh/severe/unjust punishment 3 [U] infml rough treatment; damage: With five active children in the house, the furniture had taken a lot of punishment. 4 Let the punishment fit the crime quote a phrase from the OPERA Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan, often used when saying that a person should be punished very severely for a serious crime -> compare PENALTY
pu·ni·tive /'pjuːnɪtɪv/ adj 1 intended as punishment: to take punitive action against offenders 2 very severe; causing hardship: punitive taxation —ly adv
Pun·jab, the /'pʌndʒɑːb/ a large area in eastern Pakistan and northwestern India. The Punjab was a single PROVINCE in the period of British rule, but it is now two states: one in Pakistan, which contains the city of Lahore, and one in India, which contains the city of AMRITSAR, a holy place for followers of the SIKH religion. Many of the people who live in the Indian Punjab are Sikhs, and some of them would like to become independent from India.
Pun·ja·bi, Punjabi /pʌn'dʒɑːbi/ n 1 [C] a person from the main group of people living in the Punjab in India 2 [U] their language —Punjabi, Panjabi adj
punk¹ /pʌŋk/ adj 1 [A] of a movement among certain young people in the 1970s and 1980s who were opposed to the values of money-based society and who expressed this especially in loud violent music (punk rock), strange clothing and hair of unusual colours -> see Feature on page A8 2 AmE rare slang in poor health
punk² n 1 also ,punk 'rocker — someone who follows punk styles in music, dress etc 2 AmE derog slang an especially young man or boy, especially one who fights and breaks the law (often in the phrase young/little punk) 3 AmE a substance that will burn without a flame, used to light FIREWORKS etc
,punk 'rock n [U] a style of ROCK music played very fast and loud with often violent and offensive words, made popular in the 1970s by groups such as the Sex Pistols
pun·net /'pʌnɪt/ n especially BrE (the amount contained in) a small square basket in which soft fruits are sold: a punnet of strawberries
pun·ster /'pʌnstə/ n a person who makes PUNS
punt¹ /pʌnt/ n 1 a long narrow flat-bottomed river boat with square ends, moved by someone standing on it and pushing a long pole against the bottom of the river 2 (in FOOTBALL a kick in which the ball is kicked after being dropped from the hands: a punt which went wide of the goalposts
punt² v 1 [I;T] to go or take by punt: to punt up the river 2 [T] to move (a boat) by pushing a pole against th