n. - a structure built out into the sea, a lake, etc., as a promenade and landing-stage. B breakwater.

- a support of an arch or of the span of a bridge; pillar. B solid masonry between windows etc. [latin pera]

n. (pl. Same or -s) 1 large voracious freshwater fish with a long narrow snout.

- hist. Weapon with a pointed metal head on a long wooden shaft. [old english]

—n. - heap of things laid upon one another.

- large imposing building.

- colloq. A large quantity. B large amount of money.

- a series of plates of dissimilar metals laid one on another alternately to produce an electric current. B = *nuclear reactor.

- funeral pyre. —v. (-ling) 1 a (often foll. By up, on) heap up. B (foll. By with) load.

- (usu. Foll. By in, into, on, out of, etc.) Crowd hurriedly or tightly. pile it on colloq. Exaggerate. Pile up 1 accumulate; heap up.

- colloq. Cause (a vehicle etc.) To crash. [latin pila]

- n. - heavy beam driven vertically into the ground to support a bridge, the foundations of a house, etc.

- pointed stake or post. [latin pilum javelin]

- n. Soft projecting surface on a carpet, velvet, etc. [latin pilus hair]

n. - a ball or flat disc of solid medicine for swallowing whole. B (usu. Prec. By the) colloq. Contraceptive pill.

- unpleasant or painful necessity. [latin pila ball]

—n. Man who lives off the earnings of a prostitute or a brothel. —v. Act as a pimp. [origin unknown]

colada n. Cocktail of pineapple juice, rum, and coconut. [spanish]

cone n. Fruit of the pine.

- nut n. Edible seed of various pines.

- n. - evergreen coniferous tree with needle-shaped leaves growing in clusters.

- its wood.

- (attrib.) Made of pine. [latin pinus]

- v. (-ning) 1 (often foll. By away) decline or waste away from grief etc.

- long eagerly. [old english]

—n. Single short high ringing sound. —v. (cause to) make a ping. [imitative]

gin n. Gin flavoured with angostura bitters.

- —n. - pale red colour.

- cultivated plant with fragrant flowers.

- (prec. By the) the most perfect condition, the peak (the pink of health).

- person with socialist tendencies. —adj. - of a pale red colour.

- tending to socialism. in the pink colloq. In very good health. pinkish adj. Pinkness n. Pinky adj. [origin unknown]

- v. - pierce slightly.

- cut a scalloped or zigzag edge on. [perhaps from low german or dutch]

- v. (of a vehicle engine) emit high-pitched explosive sounds caused by faulty combustion. [imitative]

and needles n.pl. Tingling sensation in a limb recovering from numbness.