English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
the business or activity of preparing and issuing books, journals, or other material for sale
"He works in the publishing industry as an editor."
to tighten or contract into small folds or wrinkles
"She puckered her lips before kissing the child."
playfully mischievous
"The child gave a puckish grin before hiding the toy."
a sweet or savory dish, often soft and creamy, eaten as dessert
"She made chocolate pudding for dessert."
slightly fat or chubby in a way that is often cute
"The baby had pudgy cheeks that everyone adored."
childishly silly or immature
"His puerile jokes annoyed the audience."
The practice or sport of boxing.
"He studied the art of pugilism in his youth."
A professional or skilled boxer.
"The pugilist entered the ring with confidence."
Having a quarrelsome or combative nature; eager to fight.
"His pugnacious attitude often got him into trouble."
A natural disposition to be combative or aggressive.
"The coach admired the player's pugnacity on the field."
Great power, strength, or influence.
"The empire showed its puissance through vast armies."
having great power or influence; mighty
"The king was a puissant ruler whose word was law."
physical beauty
"The actress was admired for her pulchritude as well as her talent."
to exert force on something in order to move it toward oneself
"She pulled the door open with all her strength."
a knitted garment worn on the upper body, typically pulled on over the head
"She wore a warm pullover during the cold winter evening."
relating to the lungs
"The patient suffered from a serious pulmonary infection."
a raised platform in a church from which the preacher delivers a sermon
"The pastor stood at the pulpit to address the congregation."
to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb or beat
"The neon lights pulsated with a steady rhythm."
A rhythmic beat or vibration, especially the heartbeat; to throb or move with a rhythm.
"The doctor checked her pulse after the long run."
To crush or grind something into a fine powder; to completely defeat or destroy.
"The machine can pulverize stones into dust."
To strike repeatedly with the fists; to beat or hit forcefully.
"The boxer pummeled his opponent in the final round."
to force liquid or gas to move in a particular direction using a device
"They pumped water from the well into the tank."
a large round orange fruit with thick skin and edible flesh
"We carved a jack-o'-lantern from a big pumpkin."
A humorous use of words that suggests different meanings or words that sound alike.
"He made a clever pun about the bakery's bread rising."
to hit someone or something hard with your fist
"He punched the wall in frustration."
The final part of a joke or story that makes it funny.
"Everyone laughed loudly at the punch line of his joke."
Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.
"She was punctilious in her attention to etiquette."
Happening or doing something at the agreed or proper time; on time.
"He is always punctual for meetings."
The quality or habit of being on time; arriving or occurring at the scheduled time.
"His punctuality at work is commendable."
at the exact time arranged; on time; not late
"She always arrives punctually for meetings."
a small hole in a tire that causes air to escape
"I had to fix a puncture in my bicycle tire this morning."
An expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called upon to give opinions to the public.
"Political pundits debated the election results on television."
The quality of having a strong, sharp taste or smell.
"The pungency of garlic filled the kitchen."
Having a sharply strong taste or smell.
"The pungent aroma of spices made the dish irresistible."
to make someone suffer for a crime or bad behavior
"The teacher punished the students for cheating on the exam."
the infliction of a penalty as retribution for an offense or wrongdoing
"The criminal received a harsh punishment for his crime."
Inflicting or intended as punishment.
"The company faced punitive measures for violating the law."
a traditional long shirt worn in South Asia, typically loose-fitting
"He wore a white punjabi for the festival celebration."
a type of popular music, or the culture associated with it, characterized by loud, fast rhythms and rebellious attitudes
"He’s always been into punk music and fashion."
a game, toy, or problem designed to test ingenuity; to cause someone to be confused
"The crossword puzzle kept her busy for hours."
A victory won at such a great cost that it is almost equivalent to defeat.
"The general declared the battle a pyrrhic victory due to heavy losses."
Relating to fireworks or spectacular displays involving fire.
"The city celebrated with a grand pyrotechnic display on New Year's Eve."
A person with an uncontrollable desire to set things on fire.
"The pyromaniac was arrested for setting several buildings ablaze."
An uncontrollable desire to set things on fire.
"The suspect was diagnosed with pyromania after repeated incidents of arson."
A heap of combustible material, especially one used for burning a corpse as part of a funeral ceremony.
"The villagers built a pyre to honor the deceased."
confusing; perplexing;
"The scientist found the results puzzling."
to place something in a particular position
"She put the book on the shelf."
commonly accepted or supposed; generally regarded as such
"He is the putative father of the child."
to decay or rot, producing a foul smell
"The meat began to putrefy in the heat."
showing a lack of courage or determination; timid
"The pusillanimous leader avoided making tough decisions."