pas|tille /pæ st ə l, [AM ] pæstiː l/ (pastilles ) N‑COUNT A pastille is a small, round sweet or piece of candy that has a fruit flavour. Some pastilles contain medicine and you can suck them if you have a sore throat or a cough.
pas|time /pɑː sta I m, pæ s-/ (pastimes ) N‑COUNT A pastime is something that you do in your spare time because you enjoy it or are interested in it. □ His favourite pastime is golf.
past|ing /pe I st I ŋ/
1 N‑SING If something or someone takes a pasting , they are severely criticized. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ She got a pasting from show bosses after swearing during Monday night's live show. □ …the critical pasting that the film received.
2 N‑SING If a sports team or political party is given a pasting , they are heavily defeated. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ]
pa st ma s|ter (past masters ) N‑COUNT If you are a past master at something, you are very skilful at it because you have had a lot of experience doing it. □ [+ at ] He was a past master at manipulating the media for his own ends. □ [+ of ] She is an adept rock-climber and a past master of the assault course. [Also + in ]
pas|tor /pɑː stə r , pæ stə r / (pastors ) N‑COUNT A pastor is a member of the Christian clergy in some Protestant churches.
pas|to|ral /pɑː stərəl, pæ st-/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] The pastoral duties of a priest or other religious leader involve looking after the people he or she has responsibility for, especially by helping them with their personal problems. □ Many churches provide excellent pastoral counselling.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If a school offers pastoral care, it is concerned with the personal needs and problems of its pupils, not just with their schoolwork. [mainly BRIT ] □ A few schools now offer counselling sessions; all have some system of pastoral care.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] A pastoral place, atmosphere, or idea is characteristic of peaceful country life and scenery. □ …a tranquil pastoral scene.
pa st pa r|ti|ci|ple (past participles ) N‑COUNT In grammar, the past participle of a verb is a form that is usually the same as the past form and so ends in '-ed'. A number of verbs have irregular past participles, for example 'break' (past participle 'broken'), and 'come' (past participle 'come'). Past participles are used to form perfect tenses and the passive voice, and many of them can be used like an adjective in front of a noun.
pa st per|fect ADJ [ADJ n] In grammar, the past perfect tenses of a verb are the ones used to talk about things that happened before a specific time. The simple past perfect tense uses 'had' and the past participle of the verb, as in 'She had seen him before'. It is sometimes called the pluperfect .
pas|tra|mi /pæstrɑː mi/ N‑UNCOUNT Pastrami is strongly seasoned smoked beef.
pas|try /pe I stri/ (pastries )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Pastry is a food made from flour, fat, and water that is mixed together, rolled flat, and baked in the oven. It is used, for example, for making pies.
2 N‑COUNT A pastry is a small cake made with sweet pastry.
pas|ture /pɑː stʃə r , pæ s-/ (pastures )
1 N‑VAR Pasture is land with grass growing on it for farm animals to eat. □ The cows are out now, grazing in the pasture.
2 PHRASE If someone leaves for greener pastures , or in British English pastures new , they leave their job, their home, or the situation they are in for something they think will be much better. □ Michael decided he wanted to move on to pastures new for financial reasons.
3 PHRASE If you put animals out to pasture , you move them out into the fields so they can eat the grass.
pasty (pasties , pastier , pastiest ) The adjective is pronounced /pe I sti/. The noun is pronounced /pæ sti/. 1 ADJ If you are pasty or if you have a pasty face, you look pale and unhealthy. □ My complexion remained pale and pasty.
2 N‑COUNT In Britain, a pasty is a small pie which consists of pastry folded around meat, vegetables, or cheese.
3 → see also Cornish pasty
pat /pæ t/ (pats , patting , patted )
1 VERB If you pat something or someone, you tap them lightly, usually with your hand held flat. □ [V n + on ] 'Don't you worry about any of this,' she said patting me on the knee. □ [V n] The landlady patted her hair nervously. □ [V n adj] Wash the lettuce and pat it dry. ● N‑COUNT Pat is also a noun. □ [+ on ] He gave her an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
2 N‑COUNT A pat of butter or something else that is soft is a small lump of it.
3 ADJ If you say that an answer or explanation is pat , you disapprove of it because it is too simple and sounds as if it has been prepared in advance. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ There's no pat answer to that.
4 PHRASE If you give someone a pat on the back or if you pat them on the back , you show them that you think they have done well and deserve to be praised. [APPROVAL ] □ The players deserve a pat on the back.
5 PHRASE If you have an answer or explanation down pat or off pat , you have prepared and learned it so you are ready to say it at any time. □ I have my story down pat.
patch /pæ tʃ/ (patches , patching , patched )
1 N‑COUNT A patch on a surface is a part of it which is different in appearance from the area around it. □ [+ on ] …the bald patch on the top of his head. □ [+ of ] There was a small patch of blue in the grey clouds.