postprandial
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post·pran·di·al /ˌpstˈprændiəl/ adj humor or pomp happening just after dinner: Grandfather was indulging in a postprandial snooze.
post·script /ˈpəʊsˌskrɪpt/ abbrev. PS n a short addition to a letter, below the place where one has signed one's name: (fig.) He added a brief postscript to his speech, giving the latest figures.
post·sea·son /ˈpəʊstˌsiːzən/ adj [A] AmE relating to the time after the usual sports season is over: a postseason game → opposite PRESEASON —postseason n [S]
,post·trau·matic 'stress dis,order n [U] a PSYCHOLOGICAL illness which somebody suffers as a result of a terrible experience such as a plane crash
pos·tu·lant /ˈpstjʊlənt||ˈpɑːstʃə-/ n tech a person who is preparing to enter a religious ORDER
pos·tu·late¹ /ˈpɒstjʊleɪt||ˈpɑːstʃə-/ v [T] fml to suggest (something) as being likely or as a base for further reasoning, even though it has not been proved: Scientists have postulated a missing link to account for the development of human beings from apes. | [+that] Even if we postulate that she had a motive for the murder, that still doesn't mean that she did it.
pos·tu·late² /ˈpɒstjʊlət||ˈpɑːstʃə-/ n especially tech something supposed or known (but not proved) to be true, on which an argument or piece of scientific reasoning is based
pos·ture¹ /ˈpɒstʃər||ˈpɑːs-/ n 1 [S;U] the general way of holding the body, especially the back, shoulders, and head, when standing, walking, and sitting: Humans have a naturally erect posture. | good/bad posture 2 [C] a particular bodily position; POSE: I had to bend over in a rather uncomfortable/embarrassing posture. 3 [(on) usually sing.] a way of behaving or thinking on a particular occasion; ATTITUDE: The government's posture on this new trade agreement seems very unhelpful. → compare STANCE
posture² v [I] often derog to talk or behave unnaturally or insincerely, especially in order to attract attention or admiration → compare POSE —ing [C;U] Despite their posturings, the politicians still haven't solved the problem.
,post-ˌviral 'syndrome n [U] BrE → see ME
post-war /ˌpəstˈwɔːr/ adj, adv (happening or existing) after a war, especially the First or Second World War → compare PRE-WAR
po·sy /ˈpəʊzi/ n especially lit a small bunch of flowers
posy¹ adj infml POSEY
pot¹ /pɒt||pɑːt/ n 1 [C] a round container made of metal, baked clay, glass etc, with or without a handle or cover, made to contain liquids or solids, especially for cooking: a pot of jam | a plant pot | a coffeepot | Will you help me wash up all these pots and pans? (=cooking containers) 2 [C(of)] also pot·ful /-fʊl/ — the amount that a pot will hold: A pot of tea for two, please. 3 [C] infml a dish, bowl, or other container made by hand out of clay: learning to make/throw pots → see also POTTER, POTTERY 4 [C] a POTTY 5 [C(of)] also pots pl. — infml a large amount (of money): They're very rich, they've got pots of money. 6 [(the) S] all the money risked on one card game, especially POKER and taken by the winner 7 [C] BrE a hit which sends the ball into any of the six small bags at the edge of the table in BILLIARDS or SNOOKER 8 [U] slang for MARIJUANA 9 [C] usually derog or humor POTBELLY 10 [C(at)] infml a POTSHOT 11 go to pot infml to become ruined or worthless, especially from lack of care 12 the pot calling the kettle black infml a person who is criticizing another person for faults that they also have themselves
pot² v -tt- 1 [I(at);T] to shoot and (try to) kill, especially for food or sport: potting (at) rabbits in the field 2 [T(up)] to put (a young plant) in a pot filled with earth → see also POTTED 3 [T] BrE to hit (a ball) into any of the six bags at the edge of a billiard table (BILLIARDS)
po·ta·ble /ˈpəʊtəbəl/ adj fml or humor (of a liquid, especially water) suitable for drinking; drinkable
pot·ash /ˈpɒtæʃ||ˈpɑː-/ n [U] a sort of potassium used especially in farming to make the soil produce better crops, and in making soap, strong glass, and various chemical compounds
po·tas·si·um /pəˈtæsiəm/ n [U] a silver-white soft easily melted metal that is a simple substance (ELEMENT). It is found in nature in large quantities, but only in combination with other substances, such as in plants and rocks, and is necessary to the existence of all living things.
po·ta·tion /pəʊˈteɪʃən/ n rare pomp or humor 1 [usually pl.] an act of drinking a lot, especially of alcoholic drink 2 an (alcoholic) drink
po·ta·to /pəˈteɪtə/ n pl. -toes 1 [C;U] a roundish root vegetable with a thin brown or yellowish skin, that is cooked and served in many different ways: Would you like some more roast potatoes/mashed potato? → see also CHIP 2 [C] a plant which has potatoes growing on its roots: a field of potatoes → see also HOT POTATO, SWEET POTATO and see picture at VEGETABLE
po'tato ,beetle n a COLORADO BEETLE
po'tato chip n 1 BrE for CHIP 2 also chip AmE & Austr E for CRISP
po,tato 'crisp n a CRISP
Po'tato ,Famine, the a FAMINE in Ireland in 1845–46, caused when the failure of the potato crop led to a serious lack of food all over the country. As a result, many people died of hunger and many others left Ireland to go to live in the US. The British government, which at that time ruled Ireland, did very little to help people who were suffering, and some Irish people still feel upset and angry about this.
po'tato ,peeler n a special piece of equipment, usually similar to a knife, used for removing the skin of potatoes
,potbellied 'stove n AmE a small round metal STOVE that you burn wood or coal in for heating or cooking, used especially in the past
pot·bel·ly /ˈpɒtˌbeli||ˈpɑːt-/ also pot n usually derog or humor a large rounded noticeable stomach. In Britain and the US, a potbelly is not considered to be attractive. —lied adj
pot·boil·er /ˈpɒtˌbɔɪlər||pɑːrt-/ n derog a book, article, painting etc of low quality produced quickly in order to get money
pot·bound /ˈpɒtbaʊnd||ˈpɑːrt-/ usually rootbound AmE — adj (of a plant growing in a pot) having roots that have grown to fill the pot, and therefore are unable to grow any further
po·teen, po·theen /pəˈtiːn, -ˈtiːn/ n [U] Irish WHISKEY made secretly and illegally to avoid paying government tax
po·ten·cy /ˈpəʊtənsi/ n [U] 1 the quality of being potent; power: Alcohol increases the drug's potency. 2 the ability of a man to have sex → see also IMPOTENCE
po·tent /ˈpəʊtənt/ adj 1 (of a medicine, drug, drink etc) having a strong and/or quick effect on the body or mind 2 fml (of arguments, reasoning etc) very effective; causing one to agree; CONVINCING 3 lit or fml having great power: a potent new weapons system → see also IMPOTENT —ly adv
po·ten·tate /ˈpəʊtənteɪt/ n someone with very great or unlimited power, especially, in former times, a ruler with direct power over his or her people, not limited by a law-making body: the despotic rule of Eastern potentates
po·ten·tial¹ /pəˈtenʃəl/ adj [no comp.] that may happen or become so, although not actually existing at present: a potential danger | weighing up the potential benefits and disadvantages of investing in new industries —ly adv: She is potentially our best tennis player, but she needs to practise much harder.
potential² n [S;U] 1 [(for)] (the degree of) possibility for developing or being favourably developed: This new invention has (an) enormous sales potential. (=could be sold in very large quantities) | a young player with great potential | the potential for expansion 2 the degree of electricity or electrical force, usually measured in VOLTS
po·ten·ti·al·i·ty /pəˌtenʃiˈælɪti/ n [(for)] 1 [C usually pl.] fml hidden unused power of mind or character: potentialities for either good or evil 2 [U] POTENTIAL
pot·ful /ˈpɒtfʊl||ˈpɑːt-/ n a POT
pot·head /ˈpɒthed||ˈpɑːrt-/ n AmE slang derog a person who smokes MARIJUANA
po·theen /pəˈtiːn, -ˈtiːn/ n [U] POTEEN
pot·hold·er /ˈpɒtˌhəldər||ˈpɑːrt-/ n AmE a piece of padded (PAD) material used to hold hot cooking pans
pot·hole /ˈpɒthəʊl||ˈpɑːrt-/ n 1 a large hole which goes deep