plume
1064
plume² v [T] (of a bird) to clean or make smooth (its feathers)
plumed /pluːmd/ adj [A] having or decorated with plumes: a plumed hat
plum·met /ˈplmɪt/ v [I] to fall steeply or suddenly: The damaged aircraft plummeted towards the earth. | Prices have plummeted. → compare PLUNGE
plum·my /ˈplmi/ adj BrE 1 usually derog having or being an (unattractively) full-sounding and rich voice, of a type considered typical of the upper class 2 desirable; very good: a plummy part in the play
plump¹ /plʌmp/ adj usually apprec or euph pleasantly fat; nicely rounded: a baby with plump little arms and legs | a nice plump chicken in the butcher's window | I'm too plump to wear this dress. → see FAT (USAGE) —ness n [U]
plump² v
plump (sthg./sbdy. ⇔) down phr v [I;T(in, on)] infml to (cause to) fall suddenly, heavily, or carelessly: She plumped (herself) down in a chair.
plump for sthg. phr v [T] BrE infml to decide in favour of; choose: We finally plumped for the red car rather than the black one.
plump sthg. ⇔ up phr v [T] to make (especially bed coverings) rounded and soft by shaking: He plumped up the pillows.
plum pudding n [C;U] BrE old-fash for CHRISTMAS PUDDING
plun·der¹ /ˈplʌndər/ v [I(from);T] (especially of an army etc) to take (things) by force and usually violently from (a place) especially in time of war or disorder: They plundered the captured town/plundered all the valuable things they could find. —er n
plunder² n [U] 1 (things taken in the course of) plundering 2 stolen goods; LOOT: The thieves hid their plunder in the cave.
plunge¹ /plʌndʒ/ v 1 [I+adv/prep;T+obj+adv/prep] to (cause to) move or be thrown suddenly forwards and/or downwards: The car suddenly stopped and he plunged forward/through the windscreen. | She fell from the cliff and plunged to her death. | We ran to the edge of the lake and plunged in. | He snatched off the lid and plunged his hand in. | (fig.) The price of oil has plunged to a new low. → compare PRECIPITATE¹ 2 [I] (of a ship) to move with the forward end going violently up and down: The ship plunged dangerously in the rough sea. 3 [I] (of the neck of a woman's garment) to have a low curve or V-shape that shows a quite large area of the chest: a plunging neckline
plunge into phr v [T] 1 [(plunge (sthg.) into sbdy./sthg.)] to push, jump, or rush suddenly or violently all the way into (something deep, thick etc): He plunged into the water. | Firemen plunged into the burning building to rescue the child. | She plunged the knife into his back. 2 [(plunge sbdy./sthg. into sthg.)] to bring or force suddenly into (the stated especially unpleasant condition): The room was plunged into darkness. | These dangerous policies could plunge Europe into a new war/plunge the country into chaos. 3 [(plunge into sthg.)] to begin suddenly or hastily: She plunged into a description of her latest illness.
plunge² n [S] 1 an act of plunging, especially head first into water 2 take the plunge to decide on and do something determinedly, after having delayed through uncertainty or nervousness: After going out together for two years, they decided to take the plunge and get married.
plung·er /ˈplʌndʒər/ n 1 a rubber cup on the end of a handle, used for unblocking kitchen or bathroom pipes by means of SUCTION 2 a part of a machine that moves up and down
plunk /plʌŋk/ v [T +obj+adv/prep] AmE infml 1 to put or place something somewhere, especially in a noisy, sudden, or careless way plans to plunk a theme park on the island 2 plunk (yourself) down to sit down suddenly or heavily and then relax Why don't you plunk yourself down with a good book?
plunk sth ⇔ down phr v to spend an amount of money on something: She plunked down $250 for a silver necklace.
plu·per·fect /pluːˈpːfɪkt-ɜːr-/ adj, n [the S] PAST PERFECT
plu·ral /ˈplʊərəl/ n, adj (a word or form) that expresses more than one: 'Dogs' is a plural noun. | 'Dogs' is the plural of 'dog' and 'mice' is the plural of 'mouse'. | The third person plural, present tense, of the verb 'have' is 'they have'. → compare SINGULAR
plu·ral·ism /ˈplʊərəlɪzəm/ n [U] 1 usually apprec the principle that people of different races, religions, and political beliefs can live together peacefully in the same society 2 usually derog the holding of more than one job at a time, especially in the Church —ist n, adj —istic /ˌplʊərəˈlɪstɪk/ adj
plu·ral·i·ty /plʊəˈrælɪti/ n 1 [U] fml (in grammar) the state of being plural 2 [S(of)] tech, especially AmE the largest number of votes in an election, especially when less than a MAJORITY
plus¹ /plʌs/ prep 1 made more by (the stated quantity); with the addition of: 3 plus 5 is 9. (3+5=9) | The cost is a pound plus 50 pence for postage. → opposite MINUS 2 infml and also: This work needs experience plus care.
plus² n 1 also plus sign — a sign (+) showing that two or more numbers are to be added together, or that a number is greater than zero 2 infml a welcome or favourable addition; advantage: Knowledge of French or Spanish could be a plus in this job. → opposite MINUS
plus³ adj 1 [A] (of a number or quantity) greater than zero 2 [A] infml additional and desirable: Her previous experience in social work is a plus factor. 3 [after n] and above (a stated number or mark): All the children here are twelve plus. (=are 12 or more years old) | She earns $20,000 a year plus. | a B plus for my homework → opposite MINUS
plus⁴ conj in addition to this: I've got to finish reading this book by Friday, plus I've got two essays to write!
plus fours n [P] trousers with loose wide legs drawn in to fit closely just below the knee, used especially in former times in playing GOLF → see PAIR (USAGE)
plush¹ /plʌʃ/ also plush·y /ˈplʌʃi/ adj infml, usually apprec seeming expensive, comfortable, and of good quality: a plush hotel
plush² n [U] silk or cotton cloth with a surface like short fur
'plus sign n → see PLUS²
Plu·tarch /ˈpluːtɑːk‖-ɑrk/ (?46-?120 AD) an ancient Greek HISTORIAN who wrote about famous Greek and Roman politicians and military leaders in a book known as Plutarch's Lives. Plays by William SHAKESPEARE that are set in ancient times, such as Julius Caesar, are based on Plutarch's writings.
Plu·to /ˈpluːtəʊ/ n [singular] 1 the most distant PLANET, ninth in order from the Sun. Pluto was first discovered in 1930. 2 in Greek MYTHOLOGY, another name for Hades, the god of the UNDERWORLD (=the place under the ground where dead people live) 3 a dog in CARTOON films made by Walt Disney. Pluto appeared in many of the early Disney films.
plu·toc·ra·cy /pluːˈtɒkrəsi‖-ˈtɑːk-/ n a ruling class of wealthy people
plu·to·crat /ˈplutəkræt/ n 1 someone who has power because of their wealth 2 infml, often derog a very rich person —ic /pluːtəˈkrætɪk/ adj
plu·to·ni·um /pluːˈtəʊniəm/ n [U] a simple substance (ELEMENT) that is used especially in the production of atomic power
ply¹ /plaɪ/ n [U(usually in comb.)] 1 a measure of the thickness of woollen thread, rope etc, according to the number of single threads or lengths of material it is made from: four-ply wool 2 a measure of the thickness of plywood, according to the number of single thin sheets of wood it is made from: three-ply wood
ply² v 1 [I+adv/prep] especially BrE (especially of a taxi driver) to drive around or wait at a particular place looking for passengers: You won't find many taxis plying for hire at this time of night. 2 [I+adv/prep, especially between;T] (of a taxi, bus, or especially boat) to travel regularly (in or on): This ship plies between London and Australia. | schooners plying the old trade routes 3 [T] lit or old use a) to work at (one's trade), especially regularly: the streets where flower-sellers once plied their trade b) to use or work steadily with (a tool): She sat plying her needle. (=sewing)
ply sbdy. with sthg. phr v [T] to keep supplying (someone) with (especially food, drink, or questions): They plied their guests with wine and snacks. | The children plied the teacher with questions.