home/glossary/Nouns · P

Glossary · Nouns · P

L1 — paginated flat list. Pick a POS, pick a letter.

TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Psychrometernouna hygrometer consisting of a dry-bulb thermometer and a wet-bulb thermometerverifiedMay 18, 2026
Psyllanounsmall active cicada-like insect with hind legs adapted for leapingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Psyllidnounsmall active cicada-like insect with hind legs adapted for leapingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Psylliumnounplantain of Mediterranean regions whose seeds swell and become gelatinous when moist and are used as a mild laxativeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Psyopnounmilitary actions designed to influence the perceptions and attitudes of individuals, groups, and foreign governmentsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ptarmigannounlarge Arctic and subarctic grouse with feathered feet and usually white winter plumageverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pteridologistnounan expert in the study of fernsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pteridologynounthe branch of botany that studies fernsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pteridophytenounplants having vascular tissue and reproducing by sporesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pterionnounthe craniometric point in the region of the sphenoid fontanelleverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pterodactylnounextinct flying reptileverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pteropogonnounsouthern Australian plant having feathery hairs surrounding the fruitverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pterosaurnounan extinct reptile of the Jurassic and Cretaceous having a bird-like beak and membranous wings supported by the very long fourth digit of each forelimbverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pteroylglutamic AcidnounMWEa B vitamin that is essential for cell growth and reproductionverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pteroylmonoglutamic AcidnounMWEa B vitamin that is essential for cell growth and reproductionverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pterygiumnouneither of two thickened triangular layers of conjunctiva extending from the nasal edge of the eye to the corneaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pterygoid MusclenounMWEmuscle descending from the sphenoid bone to the lower jawverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pterygoid PlexusnounMWEa plexus of veins draining the region of the pterygoid muscles and draining into the internal maxillary and anterior facial veinsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pterygoid ProcessnounMWEtwo bony processes descending from the body of the sphenoid boneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ptomainnounany of various amines (such as putrescine or cadaverine) formed by the action of putrefactive bacteriaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ptomainenounany of various amines (such as putrescine or cadaverine) formed by the action of putrefactive bacteriaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ptomaine PoisoningnounMWEa term for food poisoning that is no longer in scientific useverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ptosisnoundrooping of the upper eyelid caused by muscle paralysis and weaknessverifiedMay 18, 2026
PTSDnounan anxiety disorder associated with serious traumatic events and characterized by such symptoms as survivor guilt, reliving the trauma in dreams, numbness and lack of involvement with reality, or recurrent thoughts and imagesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ptyalinnounan amylase secreted in salivaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ptyalismnounexcessive flow of salivaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ptyalithnouncalculus in a salivary glandverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pubnountavern consisting of a building with a bar and public roomsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pub CrawlnounMWEa tour of bars or public houses (usually taking one drink at each stop)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Pubertynounthe time of life when sex glands become functionalverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pubesnounthe lower part of the abdomen just above the external genital organsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pubescencenounthe time of life when sex glands become functionalverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pubic BonenounMWEone of the three sections of the hipboneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pubic HairnounMWEhair growing in the pubic areaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pubic LousenounMWEa louse that infests the pubic region of the human bodyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pubic RegionnounMWEthe lower part of the abdomen just above the external genital organsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Pubisnounone of the three sections of the hipboneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public Address SystemnounMWEan electronic amplification system used as a communication system in public areasverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public AssistancenounMWEgovernmental provision of economic assistance to persons in needverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public CharitynounMWEa charity that is deemed to receive the major part of its support from the public (rather than from a small group of individuals)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Public ConveniencenounMWEa toilet that is available to the publicverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public DebatenounMWEthe formal presentation of a stated proposition and the opposition to it, usually followed by a voteverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public DebtnounMWEthe total of the nation's debts: debts of local and state and national governmentsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public DefendernounMWEa lawyer who represents indigent defendants at public expenseverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public DiscussionnounMWEfree and open discussion of (or debate on) some question of public interestverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public DomainnounMWEproperty rights that are held by the public at largeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public Domain SoftwarenounMWESoftware not protected by copyright laws of any nation that may be freely used without permission of, or payment to, the creator, and that carries no warranties from, or liabilities to the creator.DataPublicPublicInfoMay 9, 2026
Public EasementnounMWEany easement enjoyed by the public in general (as the public's right to use public streets)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Public ExecutionernounMWEan official who inflicts capital punishment in pursuit of a warrantverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public ExposurenounMWEthe opening of a subject to widespread discussion and debateverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public EyenounMWEa focus of public attentionverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public FigurenounMWEa well-known or notable personverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public HolidaynounMWEauthorized by law and limiting work or official businessverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public HousenounMWEtavern consisting of a building with a bar and public roomsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public HousingnounMWEa housing development that is publicly funded and administered for low-income familiesverifiedMay 18, 2026
public keynounMWEA cryptographic key, used with a public key cryptographic algorithm, that is uniquely associated with an entity and may be made public. In an asymmetric (public) cryptosystem, the public key is associated with a private key. The public key may be known by anyone and, depending on the algorithm, may be used, for example, to: 1) Verify a digital signature that is signed by the corresponding private key, 2) Encrypt keys that can be decrypted by the corresponding private key, or 3) Compute a shared secret during a key-agreement transaction.CredentialMay 9, 2026
Public Key Asymmetric Cryptographic AlgorithmnounMWEA cryptographic algorithm that uses two related keys, a public key and a private key. The two keys have the property that deriving the private key from the public key is computationally infeasible.CredentialMay 9, 2026
Public Key CertificatenounMWEA digital document issued and digitally signed by the private key of a Certificate authority that binds the name of a Subscriber to a public key. The certificate indicates that the Subscriber identified in the certificate has sole control and access to the private key.CredentialMay 9, 2026
public key cryptographynounMWEEncryption system that uses a public-private key pair for encryption and/or digital signature.CredentialMay 9, 2026
Public Key EnablingnounMWEThe incorporation of the use of certificates for security services such as authentication, confidentiality, data integrity, and non-repudiation.CredentialMay 9, 2026
Public key encryptionnounMWEA cryptographic system that uses two keys: one is a public key, which is known to everyone, and the second is a private or secret key, which is only known to the recipient of the message See also Asymmetric Key.CredentialMay 9, 2026
Public key infrastructurenounMWEThe framework and services that provide for the generation, production, distribution, control, accounting, and destruction of public key certificates. Components include the personnel, policies, processes, server platforms, software, and workstations used for the purpose of administering certificates and public-private key pairs, including the ability to issue, maintain, recover, and revoke public key certificates.CredentialMay 9, 2026
Public KnowledgenounMWEknowledge that is available to anyoneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public LavatorynounMWEa toilet that is available to the publicverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public LawnounMWEa law affecting the public at largeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public LecturenounMWEa speech that is open to the publicverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public LibrarynounMWEa nonprofit library maintained for public useverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public MovernounMWEa company that moves the possessions of a family or business from one site to anotherverifiedMay 18, 2026
public networknounMWEA network established and operated by a third party telecommunications provider for specific purpose of providing data transmission services for the public. Data over public networks can be intercepted, modified, and/or diverted while in transit. Examples of public networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, wireless, and mobile technologies.NetworkPublicMay 12, 2026
Public NuditynounMWEvulgar and offensive nakedness in a public placeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public NuisancenounMWEa nuisance that unreasonably interferes with a right that is common to the general publicverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public OfficenounMWEa position concerning the people as a wholeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public OpinionnounMWEa belief or sentiment shared by most peopleverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public Opinion PollnounMWEan inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of peopleverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public PresentationnounMWEa dramatic or musical entertainmentverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public PressnounMWEthe print media responsible for gathering and publishing news in the form of newspapers or magazinesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public PropertynounMWEproperty owned by a governmentverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public ProsecutornounMWEa government official who conducts criminal prosecutions on behalf of the stateverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public RelationsnounMWEThe professional maintenance of a favorable public image by a company or other organization or a famous person.OrganizationMay 9, 2026
Public Relations MannounMWEsomeone employed to arrange publicity (for a firm or a public figure)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Public Relations PersonnounMWEa person employed to establish and promote a favorable relationship with the publicverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public SchoolnounMWEa tuition free school in the United States supported by taxes and controlled by a school boardverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public SecuritynounMWEthe general security of public placesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public SeednounMWEA starting value for a pseudorandom number generator. The value produced by the random number generator may be made public. The public seed is often called a “salt.”DataPublicMay 9, 2026
Public ServantnounMWEsomeone who holds a government position (either by election or appointment)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Public ServicenounMWEa service that is performed for the benefit of the public or its institutionsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public SpeakernounMWEa person who delivers a speech or orationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public SpeakingnounMWEdelivering an address to a public audienceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public SquarenounMWEa place of assembly for the people in ancient GreeceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public switched telephone networknounMWEA communications system that sets up a dedicated channel (or circuit) between two points for the duration of the transmission.NetworkMay 9, 2026
Public ToiletnounMWEa toilet that is available to the publicverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public TransitnounMWEa public transportation system for moving passengersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public TransportnounMWEconveyance for passengers or mail or freightverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public TreasurynounMWEa treasury for government fundsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public TrustnounMWEa trust created for charitable or religious or educational or scientific purposesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public UtilitynounMWEa company that performs a public serviceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public Utility CompanynounMWEa company that performs a public serviceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public ViolencenounMWEa public act of violence by an unruly mobverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public WorksnounMWEstructures (such as highways or schools or bridges or docks) constructed at government expense for public useverifiedMay 18, 2026
Public-Key Forward SecrecynounMWEFor a key agreement protocol based on asymmetric cryptography, the property that ensures that a session key derived from a set of long-term public and private keys will not be compromised if one of the private keys is compromised in the future.ControlMay 12, 2026