1075 portentous
pop-u-la-tion /ˌpɒpjuˈleɪʃən Il ˌpɑː-/ n [usu sing.] 1 the number of people living in a particular area, country etc: What was the population of Europe in 1900? | There's been a real population explosion here over the last decade. (=the population has become very much larger) | a city with a population of almost two million 2 [+sing./pl. v.] the people living in an area: Half the world's population doesn't get enough to eat. 3 [+sing./pl. v.] a particular group or type of people or animals living in a particular place: He has a lot of support among the country's white population. | the elephant population of Kenya
pop-u-list /ˈpɒpjuːlɪst Il ˈpɑː-/ n 1 often derog a person who claims to believe in the wisdom and judgment of ordinary people, especially in political matters 2 (often cap.) (especially in the US) a member of a political party that claims to represent ordinary people —lism n [U]
pop-u-lous /ˈpɒpjuːləs Il ˈpɑ-/ adj (of a place) having a large population, especially when compared with size: London is the most populous area of Britain. —ness n [U]
ˈpop-up 1 adj [A] 1 made in such a way that what is inside can spring up or out: a pop-up toaster | a pop-up book 2 describing information which only appears on a computer screen when you CLICK on a particular area: a pop-up menu
pop-up 2 n a WINDOW, often one containing an advertisement, that suddenly appears on a computer screen, especially when you are looking at a website
ˌPop ˈWarner a US organization that teaches children to play American football in teams. It was named after Pop WARNER, a famous football COACH.
porce-lain /ˈpɔːsəlɪn Il ˈpɔːrsəlɪn/ also china n [U] (articles made of) a hard white substance made by baking a special sort of fine clay at a high temperature: a porcelain figure → compare EARTHENWARE
porch /pɔːtʃ Il pɔːrtʃ/ n 1 a roofed entrance built out from a house or church 2 AmE for VERANDA
ˈporch swing n a seat for two people, which hangs on chains from the roof of a PORCH. Porch swings are common in the US, and people often use them during the summer because it is a relaxing place to sit in hot weather.
por-cine /ˈpɔːsaɪn Il ˈpɔːr-/ adj tech or derog of or like a pig
por-cu-pine
/ˈpɔːkjuːpaɪn Il ˈpɔːr-/ n a short-legged animal that has long sharp QUILLS all over its back and sides → compare HEDGEHOG
pore 1 /pɔːr Il pɔːr/ n a very small opening, especially in the skin, through which liquids, especially SWEAT, can pass
pore 2 v
pore over sthg. phr v [T] to study or give close attention to (usually something written or printed): many hours spent in the library poring over musty documents
pork /pɔːk Il pɔːrk/ n [U] meat from pigs: a pork chop → compare BACON, HAM; see MEAT (USAGE)
ˈpork barrel n AmE slang a government plan to spend a lot of money in an area in order to gain political advantage: The party won a great increase in votes as a result of its pork-barrel politics.
pork-er /ˈpɔːkər Il ˈpɔːr-/ n 1 a young pig, made specially fat before being killed for food 2 humor a pig
ˌpork ˈpie n 1 [C,U] (especially in Britain) a small usually round baked pastry case containing small pieces of cooked pork 2 [C] BrE infml humor a lie: He told quite a few pork pies at that interview!
pork-pie hat /ˌpɔːkpaɪ ˈhæt Il ˌpɔːrk-/ n BrE a hat shaped like a pork pie, popular with followers of SKA music
pork rinds n [P] AmE for SCRATCHINGS
pork-y /ˈpɔːki Il ˈpɔːrki/ adj infml (especially of a person) fat
porn /pɔːn Il pɔːrn/ n [U] infml pornography —porn, por-no
/ˈpɔːnə Il ˈpɔːr-/ adj: a porno movie | the porn king/queen of Soho (=the most important man or woman in the pornography business in Soho)
por-nog-ra-phy /pɔːˈnɒgrəfi Il pɔːrˈnɑː-/ n [U] 1 derog the treatment of sexual subjects in pictures, writing or film in a way that is meant to cause sexual excitement 2 books, photographs, films etc, containing this: Police have seized several consignments of pornography. —pher n —phic /pɔːnəˈgræfɪk Il ˌpɔːr-/ adj —phically /kli/ adv
po-rous /ˈpɔːrəs/ adj allowing liquid to pass slowly through: porous soil | This clay pot is porous. —ness, -rosity /pɔːrɒsti Il -ˈrɑː-, pə-/ tech n [U]
por-poise /ˈpɔːpəs Il ˈpɔːr-/ n a fishlike sea animal rather like a DOLPHIN that swims about in groups
por-ridge /ˈpɒrɪdʒ Il ˈpɔːr-, ˈpɑ-/ BrE || oatmeal AmE — n [U] 1 a soft breakfast food made by boiling OATMEAL (=crushed grain) in milk or water. Porridge used to be typical of Scotland but is now eaten everywhere in Britain and the US. 2 BrE slang a period of time spent in prison: 'Where's Mick got to?' 'He's doing porridge.'
Porsche /pɒʃ, ˈpɔːʃə Il ˈpɔːr-/ trademark a MAKE (=type) of fast, expensive German SPORTS CAR
port 1 /pɔːt Il pɔːrt/ n 1 [C,U] a place where ships can load and unload people or goods; HARBOUR: The main problem is getting the food from the ports to the interior of the country. | ships coming into/leaving port 2 [C] (sometimes cap. as part of a name) a town with a HARBOUR or DOCKS on a sea coast or on a river: London used to be Britain's largest port. | Port Said 3 any port in a storm any means of escape from trouble must be accepted, even if it has some disadvantages → see also AIRPORT, FREE PORT, PORT OF CALL, PORT OF ENTRY
port 2 n [U] the left side of a ship or aircraft as one faces forward: The damaged ship was leaning over to port. | on the port side → compare STARBOARD
port 3 n [U] strong usually sweet dark Portuguese wine, usually drunk after a meal. In Britain in the past, after formal dinner parties, the men would stay behind to have a glass of port while the women went into another room.
port 4 v port arms (usually imperative) (of a soldier) to hold a RIFLE in a sloping position across the body, so that it can be examined by an officer
port 5 n tech an opening on a computer by which connections can be made with other pieces of equipment such as printers or DISK DRIVES
por-ta-ble 1 /ˈpɔːtəbəl Il ˈpɔːr-/ adj that can be (easily) carried or moved; quite small and light: a portable television/typewriter | (fig.) a portable pension (=that can be moved from one job to another) —bility /ˌpɔːtəbɪləti Il ˌpɔːr-/ n [U]
portable 2 n a piece of electronic equipment that can be easily carried or moved: Get a portable, not a big TV.
Por-ta-crib, portacrib /ˈpɔːtəkrɪb Il ˈpɔːr-/ AmE trademark a CARRYCOT → see picture at BED
Por-ta-kab-in /ˈpɔːtəkəbɪn Il ˈpɔːr-/ trademark a small hut that can be used as a temporary office, classroom etc, and can be moved by TRUCK
por-tals /ˈpɔːtlz Il ˈpɔːrtlz/ n [P(of)] fml or pomp 1 a very large and important-looking entrance to a building, especially considered as representing the organization, company etc, that uses that building: the carved gothic portals of the college 2 a beginning; THRESHOLD: standing at the portals of happiness
port-cul-lis /pɔːtˈkʌlɪs Il pɔːrt-/ n (in old castles, forts etc) a strong gatelike structure of bars with points at the bottom, hung above an entrance and lowered as a protection against attack → see picture at CASTLE
por-tend /pɔːtend Il pɔr-/ v [T] fml or lit to be a sign or warning of (a future unpleasant event): What do these strange events portend?
por-tent /ˈpɔːtənt Il ˈpɔːr-/ n fml or lit [(of)] a clear sign or warning, especially of something strange or unpleasant; OMEN: Dark clouds are gathering, portents of war.
por-ten-tous /pɔːˈtentəs Il pɔːr-/ adj especially lit 1 fml derog solemnly self-important; POMPOUS: portentous events that boded ill 2 that warns or tells of future unpleasant events; threatening —ly adv