- Sir! Did you have a good holiday? Did you go away?
- Yes, I went to France, to Paris.
- Did you have much trouble with your French when you were there?
- No, I didn"t - but the Parisians did.
—n. - a loud ringing of a bell or bells, esp. A series of changes. B set of bells.
- loud repeated sound, esp. Of thunder, laughter, etc. —v. - (cause to) sound in a peal.
- utter sonorously. [from *appeal]
PEAN
n. (brit. Paean) song of praise or triumph. [latin from greek]
PEAR
n. - yellowish or greenish fleshy fruit, tapering towards the stalk.
- tree bearing this. [latin pirum]
PEAT
n. - partly carbonized vegetable matter used for fuel, in horticulture, etc.
- cut piece of this. peaty adj. [perhaps celtic: related to *piece]
PECK
—v. - strike or bite with a beak.
- kiss hastily or perfunctorily.
- a make (a hole) by pecking. B (foll. By out, off) remove or pluck out by pecking.
- (also absol.) Colloq. Eat listlessly; nibble at. —n. - stroke, mark, or bite made by a beak.
- hasty or perfunctory kiss. peck at 1 eat (food) listlessly; nibble.
- carp at; nag.
- strike repeatedly with a beak. [probably low german]
- n. Measure of capacity for dry goods, equal to 2 gallons or 8 quarts. a peck of large number or amount of. [anglo-french]
PEDO
us var. Of *paedo-.
PEEK
—v. (usu. Foll. By in, out, at) peep slyly, glance. —n. Quick or sly look. [origin unknown]
PEEL
—v. - a strip the skin, rind, wrapping, etc. From. B (usu. Foll. By off) strip (skin, peel, wrapping, etc.).
- a become bare of skin, paint, etc. B (often foll. By off) (of skin, paint, etc.) Flake off.
- (often foll. By off) colloq. (of a person) strip ready for exercise etc. —n. Outer covering of a fruit, vegetable, etc.; rind. peel off veer away and detach oneself from a group etc. peeler n. [old english from latin pilo strip of hair]
PEEN
n. Wedge-shaped or thin or curved end of a hammer-head. [latin pinna point]
PEEP
—v. - (usu. Foll. By at, in, out, into) look through a narrow opening; look furtively.
- (usu. Foll. By out) come slowly into view; emerge. —n. - furtive or peering glance.
- first appearance (peep of day). [origin unknown]
- —v. Make a shrill feeble sound as of young birds, mice, etc. —n. - such a sound.
- slight sound, utterance, or complaint (not a peep out of them). [imitative]
To add to the dictionary krossvordista new word or its definition to an existing word, click on the "Add a word or definition of" fill opened form and click "to send".