| Words | Parts of Speech | Meaning/Definition/Similar Words |
|---|---|---|
| placard | noun | A public proclamation; a manifesto or edict issued by authority., Permission given by authority; a license; as, to give a placard to do something., A written or printed paper, as an advertisement or a declaration, posted, or to be posted, in a public place; a poster., An extra plate on the lower part of the breastplate or backplate., A kind of stomacher, often adorned with jewels, worn in the fifteenth century and later., To post placards upon or within; as, to placard a wall, to placard the city., To announce by placards; as, to placard a sale. |
| placate | noun | Same as Placard, 4 & 5., To appease; to pacify; to concilate. |
| placing | present participle & vb. noun | of Place |
| placebo | noun | The first antiphon of the vespers for the dead., A prescription intended to humor or satisfy. |
| placita | plural | of Placitum |
| placket | noun | A petticoat, esp. an under petticoat; hence, a cant term for a woman., The opening or slit left in a petticoat or skirt for convenience in putting it on; — called also placket hole., A woman’s pocket. |
| placoid | adjective | Platelike; having irregular, platelike, bony scales, often bearing spines; pertaining to the placoids., Any fish having placoid scales, as the sharks., One of the Placoides. |
| plagate | adjective | Having plagae, or irregular enlongated color spots. |
| plagium | noun | Manstealing; kidnaping. |
| plagose | adjective | Fond of flogging; as, a plagose master. |
| plagued | imp. & past participle | of Plague |
| plaguer | noun | One who plagues or annoys. |
| plaided | adjective | Of the material of which plaids are made; tartan., Wearing a plaid. |
| plained | imp. & past participle | of Plain |
| plainly | adverb | In a plain manner; clearly. |
| plaited | imp. & past participle | of Plait, Folded; doubled over; braided; figuratively, involved; intricate; artful. |
| plaiter | noun | One who, or that which, plaits. |
| planned | imp. & past participle | of Plan |
| planary | adjective | Of or pertaining to a plane. |
| planing | present participle & vb. noun | of Plane, a. & vb. n. fr. Plane, v. t. |
| planish | verb | To make smooth or plane, as a metallic surface; to condense, toughen, and polish by light blows with a hammer. |
| planked | imp. & past participle | of Plank |
| planner | noun | One who plans; a projector. |
| planted | imp. & past participle | of Plant, Fixed in place, as a projecting member wrought on a separate piece of stuff; as, a planted molding. |
| plantal | adjective | Belonging to plants; as, plantal life. |
| plantar | adjective | Of or pertaining to the sole of the foot; as, the plantar arteries. |
| planter | noun | One who, or that which, plants or sows; as, a planterof corn; a machine planter., One who owns or cultivates a plantation; as, a sugar planter; a coffee planter., A colonist in a new or uncultivated territory; as, the first planters in Virginia. |
| planula | noun | In embryonic development, a vesicle filled with fluid, formed from the morula by the divergence of its cells in such a manner as to give rise to a central space, around which the cells arrange themselves as an envelope; an embryonic form intermediate between the morula and gastrula. Sometimes used as synonymous with gastrula., The very young, free-swimming larva of the coelenterates. It usually has a flattened oval or oblong form, and is entirely covered with cilia. |
| planxty | noun | An Irish or Welsh melody for the harp, sometimes of a mournful character. |
| plashed | imp. & past participle | of Plash, of Plash |
| plashet | noun | A small pond or pool; a puddle. |
| plasmic | adjective | Of, pertaining to, or connected with, plasma; plasmatic. |
| plasmid | noun | A piece of DNA, usually circular, functioning as part of the genetic material of a cell, not integrated with the chromosome and replicating independently of the chromosome, but transferred, like the chromosome, to subsequent generations. In bacteria, plasmids often carry the genes for antibiotic resistance; they are exploited in genetic engineering as the vehicles for introduction of extraneous DNA into cells, to alter the genetic makeup of the cell. The cells thus altered may produce desirable proteins which are extracted and used; in the case of genetically altered plant cells, the altered cells may grow into complete plants with changed properties, as for example, increased resistance to disease. |
| plasmin | noun | A proteid body, separated by some physiologists from blood plasma. It is probably identical with fibrinogen. |
| plasson | noun | The albuminous material composing the body of a cytode. |
| plaster | noun | An external application of a consistency harder than ointment, prepared for use by spreading it on linen, leather, silk, or other material. It is adhesive at the ordinary temperature of the body, and is used, according to its composition, to produce a medicinal effect, to bind parts together, etc.; as, a porous plaster; sticking plaster., A composition of lime, water, and sand, with or without hair as a bond, for coating walls, ceilings, and partitions of houses. See Mortar., Calcined gypsum, or plaster of Paris, especially when ground, as used for making ornaments, figures, moldings, etc.; or calcined gypsum used as a fertilizer., To cover with a plaster, as a wound or sore., To overlay or cover with plaster, as the ceilings and walls of a house., Fig.: To smooth over; to cover or conceal the defects of; to hide, as with a covering of plaster. |
| plastic | adjective | Having the power to give form or fashion to a mass of matter; as, the plastic hand of the Creator., Capable of being molded, formed, or modeled, as clay or plaster; — used also figuratively; as, the plastic mind of a child., Pertaining or appropriate to, or characteristic of, molding or modeling; produced by, or appearing as if produced by, molding or modeling; — said of sculpture and the kindred arts, in distinction from painting and the graphic arts., a substance composed predominantly of a synthetic organic high polymer capable of being cast or molded; many varieties of plastic are used to produce articles of commerce (after 1900). [MW10 gives origin of word as 1905] |
| plastid | noun | Alt. of Plastide |
| plastin | noun | A substance associated with nuclein in cell nuclei, and by some considered as the fundamental substance of the nucleus. |
| platted | imp. & past participle | of Plat |
| plating | present participle & vb. noun | of Plate, The art or process of covering anything with a plate or plates, or with metal, particularly of overlaying a base or dull metal with a thin plate of precious or bright metal, as by mechanical means or by electro-magnetic deposition., A thin coating of metal laid upon another metal., A coating or defensive armor of metal (usually steel) plates. |
| plateau | noun | A flat surface; especially, a broad, level, elevated area of land; a table-land., An ornamental dish for the table; a tray or salver. |
| platina | noun | Platinum. |
| platoon | noun | Formerly, a body of men who fired together; also, a small square body of soldiers to strengthen the angles of a hollow square., Now, in the United States service, half of a company. |
| platten | adjective | To flatten and make into sheets or plates; as, to platten cylinder glass. |
| platter | noun | One who plats or braids., A large plate or shallow dish on which meat or other food is brought to the table. |
| plaudit | noun | A mark or expression of applause; praise bestowed. |
| playing | present participle & vb. noun | of Play, a. & vb. n. of Play. |
| playday | noun | A day given to play or diversion; a holiday. |
| playful | adjective | Sportive; gamboling; frolicsome; indulging a sportive fancy; humorous; merry; as, a playful child; a playful writer. |
| pleaded | imp. & past participle | of Plead |
| pleader | noun | One who pleads; one who argues for or against; an advotate., One who draws up or forms pleas; the draughtsman of pleas or pleadings in the widest sense; as, a special pleader. |
| pleased | imp. & past participle | of Please, Experiencing pleasure. |
| pleaser | noun | One who pleases or gratifies. |
| plectra | plural | of Plectrum |
| pledged | imp. & past participle | of Pledge |
| pledgee | noun | The one to whom a pledge is given, or to whom property pledged is delivered. |
| pledgor | noun | One who pledges, or delivers anything in pledge; a pledger; — opposed to pledgee. |
| pledger | noun | One who pledges. |
| pledget | noun | A small plug., A string of oakum used in calking., A compress, or small flat tent of lint, laid over a wound, ulcer, or the like, to exclude air, retain dressings, or absorb the matter discharged. |
| plenary | adjective | Full; entire; complete; absolute; as, a plenary license; plenary authority., Decisive procedure. |
| plenish | verb t. | To replenish., To furnish; to stock, as a house or farm. |
| plenist | noun | One who holds that all space is full of matter. |
| pleopod | noun | One of the abdominal legs of a crustacean. See Illust. under Crustacea. |
| plerome | noun | The central column of parenchyma in a growing stem or root. |
| plethra | plural | of Plethrum |
| pleurae | plural | of Pleura |
| pleuras | plural | of Pleura |
| pleural | adjective | Of or pertaining to the pleura or pleurae, or to the sides of the thorax. |
| pleuric | adjective | Pleural. |
| pleuro- | A combining form denoting relation to a side; specif., connection with, or situation in or near, the pleura; as, pleuroperitoneum. | |
| pleuron | noun | One of the sides of an animal., One of the lateral pieces of a somite of an insect., One of lateral processes of a somite of a crustacean. |
| plexure | noun | The act or process of weaving together, or interweaving; that which is woven together. |
| pliable | verb | Capable of being plied, turned, or bent; easy to be bent; flexible; pliant; supple; limber; yielding; as, willow is a pliable plant., Flexible in disposition; readily yielding to influence, arguments, persuasion, or discipline; easy to be persuaded; — sometimes in a bad sense; as, a pliable youth. |
| pliancy | noun | The quality or state of being pliant in sense; as, the pliancy of a rod. |
| plicate | adjective | Alt. of Plicated |
| pliform | adjective | In the form of a ply, fold, or doubling. |
| plodded | imp. & past participle | of Plod |
| plodder | noun | One who plods; a drudge. |
| plongee | noun | A slope or sloping toward the front; as, the plongee of a parapet; the plongee of a shell in its course. |
| plotted | imp. & past participle | of Plot |
| plotful | adjective | Abounding with plots. |
| plotter | noun | One who plots or schemes; a contriver; a conspirator; a schemer. |
| plowing | present participle & vb. noun | of Plough |
| plowboy | noun | Alt. of Ploughboy |
| plowman | noun | Alt. of Ploughman |
| plucked | imp. & past participle | of Pluck, Having courage and spirit. |
| plucker | noun | One who, or that which, plucks., A machine for straightening and cleaning wool. |
| plugged | imp. & past participle | of Plug |
| plugger | noun | One who, or that which, plugs. |
| plumage | noun | The entire clothing of a bird. |
| plumbed | imp. & past participle | of Plumb |
| plumber | noun | One who works in lead; esp., one who furnishes, fits, and repairs lead, iron, or glass pipes, and other apparatus for the conveyance of water, gas, or drainage in buildings. |
| plumbic | adjective | Of, pertaining to, resembling, or containing, lead; — used specifically to designate those compounds in which it has a higher valence as contrasted with plumbous compounds; as, plumbic oxide. |
| plumbum | noun | The technical name of lead. See Lead. |
| pluming | present participle & vb. noun | of Plume |
| plumery | noun | Plumes, collectively or in general; plumage. |
| plummet | noun | A piece of lead attached to a line, used in sounding the depth of water., A plumb bob or a plumb line. See under Plumb, n., Hence, any weight., A piece of lead formerly used by school children to rule paper for writing. |
| plumose | adjective | Alt. of Plumous |
| plumous | adjective | Having feathers or plumes., Having hairs, or other parts, arranged along an axis like a feather; feathery; plumelike; as, a plumose leaf; plumose tentacles. |
| plumped | imp. & past participle | of Plump |
| plumper | noun | One who, or that which, plumps or swells out something else; hence, something carried in the mouth to distend the cheeks., A vote given to one candidate only, when two or more are to be elected, thus giving him the advantage over the others. A person who gives his vote thus is said to plump, or to plump his vote., A voter who plumps his vote., A downright, unqualified lie. |
| plumply | adverb | Fully; roundly; plainly; without reserve. |
| plumule | plural | of Plumula, The first bud, or gemmule, of a young plant; the bud, or growing point, of the embryo, above the cotyledons. See Illust. of Radicle., A down feather., The aftershaft of a feather. See Illust. under Feather., One of the featherlike scales of certain male butterflies. |
| plumula | noun | A plumule., A down feather. |
| plunder | verb t. | To take the goods of by force, or without right; to pillage; to spoil; to sack; to strip; to rob; as, to plunder travelers., To take by pillage; to appropriate forcibly; as, the enemy plundered all the goods they found., The act of plundering or pillaging; robbery. See Syn. of Pillage., That which is taken by open force from an enemy; pillage; spoil; booty; also, that which is taken by theft or fraud., Personal property and effects; baggage or luggage. |
| plunged | imp. & past participle | of Plunge |
| plunger | noun | One who, or that which, plunges; a diver., A long solid cylinder, used, instead of a piston or bucket, as a forcer in pumps., One who bets heavily and recklessly on a race; a reckless speculator., A boiler in which clay is beaten by a wheel to a creamy consistence., The firing pin of a breechloader. |
| plunket | noun | A kind of blue color; also, anciently, a kind of cloth, generally blue. |
| pluries | noun | A writ issued in the third place, after two former writs have been disregarded. |
| plurisy | noun | Superabundance; excess; plethora. |
| pluteal | adjective | Of or pertaining to a pluteus. |
| pluteus | noun | The free-swimming larva of sea urchins and ophiurans, having several long stiff processes inclosing calcareous rods. |
| pluvial | adjective | Of or pertaining to rain; rainy., Produced by the action of rain., A priest’s cope. |
| pluvian | noun | The crocodile bird. |