Glossary · Nouns · P
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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Pluralismnouna social organization in which diversity of racial or religious or ethnic or cultural groups is toleratedverified
Pluralistnounsomeone who believes that distinct ethnic or cultural or religious groups can exist together in societyverified
Pluralitynoun(in an election with more than 2 options) the number of votes for the candidate or party receiving the greatest number (but less that half of the votes)verified
Plutonnounlarge mass of intrusive igneous rock believed to have solidified deep within the earthverified
Plutonic RocknounMWElarge mass of intrusive igneous rock believed to have solidified deep within the earthverified
Plutoniumnouna solid silvery grey radioactive transuranic element whose atoms can be split when bombarded with neutronsverified
Plutonium 239nounMWEa highly fissionable isotope of plutonium that is used in atomic weapons and as a reactor fuelverified
Plutonium BombnounMWEa nuclear weapon in which enormous energy is released by nuclear fission (splitting the nuclei of a heavy element like uranium 235 or plutonium 239)verified
Plutonium PitnounMWEa steel or beryllium sphere containing plutonium 239 that triggers nuclear fission when compressed by explosivesverified
Plutonium TriggernounMWEa steel or beryllium sphere containing plutonium 239 that triggers nuclear fission when compressed by explosivesverified
Pneumatophorenounan air-filled root (submerged or exposed) that can function as a respiratory organ of a marsh or swamp plantverified
Pneumococcal VaccinenounMWEvaccine effective against the 23 most common strains of pneumococcus, also called Pneumovaxverified
Pneumoconiosisnouna chronic respiratory disease caused by inhaling metallic or mineral particlesverified
Pneumocystis Carinii PneumonianounMWEpneumonia occurring in infants or in persons with impaired immune systems (as AIDS victims)verified
Pneumocystis PneumonianounMWEpneumonia occurring in infants or in persons with impaired immune systems (as AIDS victims)verified
Pneumocytosisnouna type of pneumonia occurring in infants or in persons with impaired immune systemsverified
Pneumoencephalogramnounan X ray of the brain made by replacing spinal fluid with a gas, usually oxygen to improve contrastverified
Pneumogastric NervenounMWEa mixed nerve that supplies the pharynx and larynx and lungs and heart and esophagus and stomach and most of the abdominal visceraverified
Pneumonianounrespiratory disease characterized by inflammation of the lung parenchyma (excluding the bronchi) with congestion caused by viruses or bacteria or irritantsverified
Pneumonic PlaguenounMWEa rapidly progressive and frequently fatal form of the plague that can spread through the air from person to personverified
Pneumonoconiosisnounchronic respiratory disease caused by inhaling metallic or mineral particlesverified
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosisnouna lung disease caused by inhaling particles of fine ash and sand dust; silicosisverified
Pneumothoraxnounabnormal presence of air in the pleural cavity resulting in the collapse of the lungverified
Pocket BattleshipnounMWEa small battleship built to conform with treaty limitations on tonnage and armament (from 1925 to 1930)verified
Pocket BoroughnounMWEa sparsely populated borough in which all or most of the land is owned by a single familyverified
Pocket MousenounMWEany of various small nocturnal burrowing desert rodents with cheek pouches and long hind legs and tailverified
Pocketbooknouna container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)verified
Podiumnouna platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on itverified
Podocarpnounany evergreen in the southern hemisphere of the genus Podocarpus having a pulpy fruit with one hard seedverified
Podsolnouna soil that develops in temperate to cold moist climates under coniferous or heath vegetationverified
Podsol SoilnounMWEa soil that develops in temperate to cold moist climates under coniferous or heath vegetationverified
Podsolic SoilnounMWEa soil that develops in temperate to cold moist climates under coniferous or heath vegetationverified
Podzolnouna soil that develops in temperate to cold moist climates under coniferous or heath vegetationverified
Podzol SoilnounMWEa soil that develops in temperate to cold moist climates under coniferous or heath vegetationverified
Poeciliid FishnounMWEsmall usually brightly-colored viviparous surface-feeding fishes of fresh or brackish warm watersverified
Poenologynounthe branch of criminology concerned with prison management and prisoner rehabilitationverified
Poet LaureatenounMWEa poet who is unofficially regarded as holding an honorary position in a particular group or regionverified
Poetic LicensenounMWElicense used by a writer or artist to heighten the effect of their workverified