2 → see also pants
pan|ta|loons /pæ ntəluː nz/ N‑PLURAL Pantaloons are long trousers with very wide legs, gathered at the ankle.
pan|theism /pæ nθi I zəm/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Pantheism is the religious belief that God is in everything in nature and the universe.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Pantheism is a willingness to worship and believe in all gods.
pan|theis|tic /pæ nθi I st I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Pantheistic religions involve believing that God is in everything in nature and the universe.
pan|the|on /pæ nθiɒn/ (pantheons ) N‑COUNT You can refer to a group of gods or a group of important people as a pantheon . [WRITTEN ] □ [+ of ] …the birthplace of Krishna, another god of the Hindu pantheon.
pan|ther /pæ nθə r / (panthers ) N‑COUNT A panther is a large wild animal that belongs to the cat family. Panthers are usually black.
panties /pæ ntiz/ N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Panties are short, close-fitting underpants worn by women or girls. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use knickers , pants
pan|to /pæ ntoʊ/ (pantos ) N‑VAR A panto is the same as a pantomime . [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …a Christmas panto.
pan|to|mime /pæ ntəma I m/ (pantomimes )
1 N‑COUNT A pantomime is a funny musical play for children. Pantomimes are usually based on fairy stories and are performed at Christmas. [BRIT ]
2 N‑SING If you say that a situation or a person's behaviour is a pantomime , you mean that it is silly or exaggerated and that there is something false about it. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ of ] They were made welcome with the usual pantomime of exaggerated smiles and gestures.
pan|try /pæ ntri/ (pantries ) N‑COUNT A pantry is a small room or large cupboard in a house, usually near the kitchen, where food is kept.
pants /pæ nts/
1 N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Pants are a piece of underwear which have two holes to put your legs through and elastic around the top to hold them up round your waist or hips. [BRIT ] □ I put on my bra and pants. in AM, usually use underpants 2 N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Pants are a piece of clothing that covers the lower part of your body and each leg. [AM ] □ He wore brown corduroy pants and a white cotton shirt. in BRIT, use trousers 3 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that something is pants , you mean that it is very poor in quality. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ The place is pants, yet so popular.
4 PHRASE If someone bores, charms, or scares the pants off you, for example, they bore, charm, or scare you a lot. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ You'll bore the pants off your grandchildren.
5 PHRASE If you fly by the seat of your pants or do something by the seat of your pants , you use your instincts to tell you what to do in a new or difficult situation rather than following a plan or relying on equipment.
6 to wear the pants → see wear USAGE pants
Don’t say ‘
pan|ty|hose /pæ ntihoʊz/ also panty hose N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Pantyhose are nylon tights worn by women. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use tights
pap /pæ p/ N‑UNCOUNT If you describe something such as information, writing, or entertainment as pap , you mean that you consider it to be of no worth, value, or serious interest. [DISAPPROVAL ]
papa /pəpɑː , [AM ] pɑː pə/ (papas ) N‑COUNT Some people refer to or address their father as papa . [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ He was so much older than me, older even than my papa.
pa|pa|cy /pe I pəsi/ also Papacy N‑SING The papacy is the position, power, and authority of the Pope, including the period of time that a particular person holds this position. □ Throughout his papacy, John Paul has called for a second evangelization of Europe.
pa|pal /pe I p ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Papal is used to describe things relating to the Pope. □ …the doctrine of papal infallibility.
pa|pa|raz|zo /pæ pəræ tsoʊ/ (paparazzi /pæ pəræ tsi/) N‑COUNT [usu pl] The paparazzi are photographers who follow famous people around, hoping to take interesting or shocking photographs of them that they can sell to a newspaper. □ The paparazzi pursue Armani wherever he travels.
pa|pa|ya /pəpa I ə/ (papayas ) N‑COUNT A papaya is a fruit with a green skin, sweet yellow flesh, and small black seeds. Papayas grow on trees in hot countries such as the West Indies.
pa|per ◆◆◆ /pe I pə r / (papers , papering , papered )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Paper is a material that you write on or wrap things with. The pages of this book are made of paper. □ He wrote his name down on a piece of paper for me. □ She sat at the table with pen and paper. □ …a sheet of pretty wrapping paper. □ …a paper bag.
2 N‑COUNT A paper is a newspaper. □ I'll cook and you read the paper.
3 N‑COUNT You can refer to newspapers in general as the paper or the papers . □ You can't believe everything you read in the paper.
4 N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] Your papers are sheets of paper with writing or information on them, which you might keep in a safe place at home. □ Her papers included unpublished articles and correspondence.
5 N‑PLURAL [usu poss N ] Your papers are official documents, for example your passport or identity card, which prove who you are or which give you official permission to do something. □ They have arrested four people who were trying to leave the country with forged papers.