pa|ro|chi|al|ism /pəroʊ kiəl I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Parochialism is the quality of being parochial in your attitude. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ We have been guilty of parochialism, of resistance to change.
paro|dy /pæ rədi/ (parodies , parodying , parodied )
1 N‑VAR A parody is a humorous piece of writing, drama, or music which imitates the style of a well-known person or represents a familiar situation in an exaggerated way. □ [+ of ] 'The Scarlet Capsule' was a parody of the popular 1959 TV series 'The Quatermass Experiment'.
2 VERB When someone parodies a particular work, thing, or person, they imitate it in an amusing or exaggerated way. □ [V n] …a sketch parodying the British class system.
3 N‑COUNT When you say that something is a parody of a particular thing, you are criticizing it because you think it is a very poor example or bad imitation of that thing. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] The first trial was a parody of justice.
pa|role /pəroʊ l/ (paroles , paroling , paroled )
1 N‑UNCOUNT If a prisoner is given parole , he or she is released before the official end of their prison sentence and has to promise to behave well. □ Although sentenced to life, he will become eligible for parole after serving 10 years. ● PHRASE If a prisoner is on parole , he or she is released before the official end of their prison sentence and will not be sent back to prison if their behaviour is good. □ If released, he will continue to be on parole for eight more years.
2 VERB [usu passive] If a prisoner is paroled , he or she is given parole. □ [be V -ed] He faces at most 12 years in prison and could be paroled after eight years.
par|ox|ysm /pæ rəks I zəm/ (paroxysms )
1 N‑COUNT A paroxysm of emotion is a sudden, very strong occurrence of it. □ [+ of ] He exploded in a paroxysm of rage.
2 N‑COUNT A paroxysm is a series of sudden, violent, uncontrollable movements that your body makes because you are coughing, laughing, or in great pain. □ [+ of ] He broke into a paroxysm of coughing.
par|quet /pɑː r ke I , [AM ] -ke I / N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Parquet is a floor covering made of small rectangular blocks of wood fitted together in a pattern. □ …the polished parquet floors.
par|ra|keet → see parakeet
par|rot /pæ rət/ (parrots , parroting , parroted )
1 N‑COUNT A parrot is a tropical bird with a curved beak and brightly-coloured or grey feathers. Parrots can be kept as pets. Some parrots are able to copy what people say.
2 VERB If you disapprove of the fact that someone is just repeating what someone else has said, often without really understanding it, you can say that they are parroting it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] Generations of students have learnt to parrot the standard explanations.
pa rrot-fashion also parrot fashion ADV [ADV after v] If you learn or repeat something parrot-fashion , you do it accurately but without really understanding what it means. [BRIT ] □ Pupils often had to stand to attention and repeat lessons parrot fashion.
par|ry /pæ ri/ (parries , parrying , parried )
1 VERB If you parry a question or argument, you cleverly avoid answering it or dealing with it. □ [V n] In an awkward press conference, Mr King parried questions on the allegations.
2 VERB If you parry a blow from someone who is attacking you, you push aside their arm or weapon so that you are not hurt. □ [V n] I did not want to wound him, but to restrict myself to defence, to parry his attacks. □ [V ] I parried, and that's when my sword broke.
parse /pɑː r z/ (parses , parsing , parsed ) VERB In grammar, if you parse a sentence, you examine each word and clause in order to work out what grammatical type each one is. [TECHNICAL ]
par|si|mo|ni|ous /pɑː r s I moʊ niəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone who is parsimonious is very unwilling to spend money. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
par|si|mo|ny /pɑː r s I məni, [AM ] -moʊ ni/ N‑UNCOUNT Parsimony is extreme unwillingness to spend money. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Due to official parsimony, only the one machine was built.
pars|ley /pɑː r sli, [AM ] -zli/ N‑UNCOUNT Parsley is a small plant with flat or curly leaves that are used for flavouring or decorating savoury food. □ …parsley sauce.
pars|nip /pɑː r sn I p/ (parsnips ) N‑COUNT A parsnip is a long cream-coloured root vegetable.
par|son /pɑː r s ə n/ (parsons ) N‑COUNT A parson is a priest in the Church of England with responsibility for a small local area. Parson can also be used to refer to any clergyman in some other churches. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
par|son|age /pɑː r sən I dʒ/ (parsonages ) N‑COUNT A parsonage is the house where a parson lives. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
part
➊ NOUN USES, QUANTIFIER USES, AND PHRASES
➋ VERB USES
➊ part ◆◆◆ /pɑː r t/ (parts )
→ Please look at category 19 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 N‑COUNT A part of something is one of the pieces, sections, or elements that it consists of. □ [+ of ] I like that part of Cape Town. □ [+ of ] Respect is a very important part of any relationship.
2 N‑COUNT A part for a machine or vehicle is one of the smaller pieces that is used to make it. □ [+ for ] …spare parts for military equipment.
3 QUANT Part of something is some of it. □ [+ of ] It was a very severe accident and he lost part of his foot. □ [+ of ] Mum and he were able to walk part of the way together.