perceptive
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per·cep·tive /pəˈseptɪv‖pər-/ adj apprec showing an unusually good ability to notice and understand: a perceptive woman | perceptive comments → compare SENSITIVE —→ly adv
perch¹ /pɜːtʃ‖pɜːrtʃ/ n 1 a branch, rod etc, where a bird rests, often specially provided for the purpose 2 inl a high position in which a person or building is placed: From our perch up there on top of the cliff we can see the whole town. | (fig.) I'm glad to see someone has knocked him off his perch at last. (=shown that he is not as important, clever etc, as he thought himself to be)
perch² v [especially on, upon] 1 [+adv/prep] (of a bird) to come to rest, especially on a thin, raised object such as a branch: The birds perched on the telephone wires. 2 [+adv/prep;T+obj+adv/prep] inl to (cause to) go into or be in the stated position, especially unsafely or on something narrow or high: She perched (herself) on a tall stool. | a house perched on a cliff
perch³ n pl. perch or perches a popular food fish with prickly FINS that lives in lakes and rivers
per·chance /pəˈtʃɑːns‖pərˈtʃæns/ adv old use or lit 1 perhaps 2 (after if or lest) by chance
per·cip·i·ent /pəˈsɪpiənt‖pər-/ adj fml quick to notice and understand; PERCEPTIVE —ence n [U]
per·co·late /ˈpɜːkəleɪt‖ˈpɜːr-/ v 1 [+adv/prep] to pass slowly through a material that has small holes in it: The water gradually percolated down through the rock. | (fig.) News from the war eventually percolated through to us. 2 [I,T] also perk inl a) (of coffee) to be made in a special pot by the passing of hot water through crushed coffee beans b) to make (coffee) by this method —lation /ˌpɜːkəˈleɪʃən‖ˌpɜːr-/ n [C;U]
per·co·la·tor /ˈpɜːkəleɪtər ‖ˈpɜːr-/ n a pot in which coffee is percolated
bongos
gong
drum
percussion
cymbals
per·cus·sion /pəˈkʌʃən‖pər-/ n 1 [the S+sing./pl. v] musical instruments that are played by being struck by the hand or by an object such as a stick or hammer, especially as a division (percussion section) of a band: The drum is a percussion instrument. | The percussion is too loud. 2 [U] tech (the effect or sound produced by) the forceful striking together of two hard objects —sive /pəˈkʌsɪv‖pər-/ adj
per'cussion cap n 1 a small container holding an explosive, used formerly in firing guns 2 fml for CAP
per·cus·sion·ist /pəˈkʌʃənɪst‖pər-/ n a person who plays percussion instruments
per di·em¹ /pə ˈdiːəm‖pər-/ n especially AmE money paid by an employer to EMPLOYEES travelling on business, based on what it is thought they need for one day: What's the per diem rate?
per diem² adv every day or by the day: We are paid per diem.
per·di·tion /pəˈdɪʃən‖pər-/ n [U] fml 1 punishment that goes on forever 2 complete destruction
per·e·gri·na·tion /ˌperɪɡrˈneɪən/ also peregrinations pl. — n lit or humor a long and wandering journey, especially in foreign countries
per·e·grine fal·con /ˌperəɡrɪn ˈfɔːlkən-ˈfɔl-, -ˈfal-/ also peregrine n a hunting bird with a black and white spotted front
pe·remp·to·ry /pəˈremptəri/ adj fml 1 derog (of a person, their manner etc) showing an expectation of being obeyed at once and without question; impolitely quick and unfriendly: in a peremptory tone of voice 2 (of a command) that must be obeyed —rily adv
pe·ren·ni·al¹ /pəˈreniəl/ adj 1 lasting forever or for a long time; CONSTANT: a perennial problem/worry. 2 [no comp.] (of a plant) that lives for more than two years —→ly adv
perennial² n a perennial plant: hardy perennials | (fig.) That joke is a hardy perennial! (=keeps being told)
Per·es, Shi·mon /ˈperes, ʃiˈmoʊn‖-ˈməʊn/ (1923–) an Israeli Socialist politician, Prime Minister from 1984 to 1986 and from 1995–96. In 1994 he won the Nobel peace prize with Itzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat for the peace agreement they signed in 1993.
per·es·troi·ka /ˌperɪsˈtrɔɪkə/ n [U] a Russian word meaning rebuilding; the term used to describe the economic, political, and social changes started by Mikhail Gorbachev in the USSR, including reduction of state controls on trading and making politicians more responsible for their actions → compare GLASNOST
per·fect¹ /ˈpɜːfɪktˈpɜːr-/ adj 1 of the very best possible kind, degree, or standard: The weather was absolutely perfect. | a perfect wife | a perfect crime (=one in which the criminal is never discovered) 2 agreeing in every way with an example accepted as correct: His technique is almost perfect. | Yes, Pedro's English is excellent, but I think it's almost too perfect. (=not showing the natural freedom shown by someone using their first language) 3 [(for)] suitable; having everything that is needed in every way: This big house is perfect for our large family. 4 complete and without fault; with nothing missing, spoilt etc: She still has a perfect set of teeth. 5 [A] complete; thorough; UTTER: a perfect stranger | perfect nonsense 6 [A] tech being the form of a verb that shows a period of time up to and including the present (present perfect), past (past perfect), or future (future perfect) (as in 'He has gone', 'He had gone', 'He will have gone') → see also IMPERFECT, PERFECTLY
per·fect² /pəˈfektpər-/ v [T] to make perfect: He practised hard to perfect his technique.
per·fect³ /ˈpɜːfɪkt‖ˈpɜːr-/ also perfect 'tense, present perfect n [the S] tech (in grammar) the form of a verb that shows a period of time up to and including the present, and in English is usually formed with have and a past participle → see also PAST PERFECT
per·fec·ti·ble /pəˈfektɪbəl‖pər-/ adj that can be improved or made perfect —bility /pəˌfektɪˈbɪlɪti‖pər-/ n [U]
per·fec·tion /pəˈfekʃən‖pər-/ n [U] 1 the state of being perfect: The meat was cooked to perfection. (=perfectly) 2 [(of)] the process of making something perfect: He worked hard at the perfection of his technique. (=worked hard to make it perfect) 3 the perfect example: His performance was sheer perfection. (=could not have been better)
per·fec·tion·ist /pəˈfekʃənɪst‖pər-/ n sometimes derog someone who is not satisfied with anything that is not completely perfect: It takes him hours to cook a simple meal because he's such a perfectionist. —perfectionist adj —ism n [U]
per·fect·ly /ˈpɜːfɪktliˈpɜːr-/ adv 1 in a perfect way: She speaks French perfectly. | The colours match perfectly. 2 very completely (especially in expressions of annoyance or disapproval): What a perfectly ridiculous thing to say. | I'm perfectly capable of running my own life, thank you! (=don't tell me how to behave)
perfect 'participle n PAST PARTICIPLE
perfect 'pitch n [U] the ability to sing or play a note at exactly the right level when it is heard, or named by someone
per·fid·i·ous /pəˈfɪdiəs‖pər-/ adj fml, especially lit disloyal; TREACHEROUS —ly adv —ness n [U]
per·fi·dy /ˈpɜːfɪdi‖ˈpɜːr-/ n [C;U] fml, especially lit (an example of) disloyalty; TREACHERY
per·fo·rate /ˈpɜːfəreɪt‖ˈpɜːr-/ v [T] 1 to make a hole or holes through (something): They sent the dog in a perforated box so that it could breathe. | Her broken ribs had perforated her lung. 2 to make a line of small holes in (paper), so that part may be torn off: This machine perforates the sheets of stamps. | perforated edges