peck|ish /pe k I ʃ/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that you are feeling peckish , you mean that you are slightly hungry. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
pecs /pe ks/ N‑PLURAL Pecs are the same as pectorals . [INFORMAL ]
pec|tin /pe kt I n/ (pectins ) N‑VAR Pectin is a substance that is found in fruit. It is used when making jam to help it become firm.
pec|to|ral /pe ktərəl/ (pectorals ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Your pectorals are the large chest muscles that help you to move your shoulders and your arms.
pe|cu|liar /p I kjuː liə r /
1 ADJ If you describe someone or something as peculiar , you think that they are strange or unusual, sometimes in an unpleasant way. □ Mr Kennet has a rather peculiar sense of humour. □ Rachel thought it tasted peculiar. ● pe|cu|liar|ly ADV □ His face had become peculiarly expressionless.
2 ADJ If something is peculiar to a particular thing, person, or situation, it belongs or relates only to that thing, person, or situation. □ [+ to ] The problem is by no means peculiar to America. ● pe|cu|liar|ly ADV □ Cricket is so peculiarly English.
pe|cu|li|ar|ity /p I kjuː liæ r I ti/ (peculiarities )
1 N‑COUNT A peculiarity that someone or something has is a strange or unusual characteristic or habit. □ Joe's other peculiarity was that he was constantly munching hard candy. [Also + of ]
2 N‑COUNT A peculiarity is a characteristic or quality which belongs or relates only to one person or thing. □ [+ of ] …a strange peculiarity of the tax system.
pe|cu|ni|ary /p I kjuː niəri, [AM ] -eri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Pecuniary means concerning or involving money. [FORMAL ] □ She denies obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception.
peda|gog|ic /pe dəgɒ dʒ I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Pedagogic means the same as pedagogical .
peda|gogi|cal /pe dəgɒ dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Pedagogical means concerning the methods and theory of teaching. [FORMAL ] □ …the pedagogical methods used in the classroom.
peda|gogue /pe dəgɒg/ (pedagogues ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a pedagogue , you mean that they like to teach people things in a firm way as if they know more than anyone else. [FORMAL ] □ De Gaulle was a born pedagogue who used the public platform and the television screen to great effect.
peda|go|gy /pe dəgɒdʒi, [AM ] -goʊdʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Pedagogy is the study and theory of the methods and principles of teaching. [FORMAL ]
ped|al /pe d ə l/ (pedals , pedalling , pedalled ) in AM, use pedaling , pedaled 1 N‑COUNT The pedals on a bicycle are the two parts that you push with your feet in order to make the bicycle move.
2 VERB When you pedal a bicycle, you push the pedals around with your feet to make it move. □ [V n] She climbed on her bike with a feeling of pride and pedalled the five miles home. □ [V adv/prep] She was too tired to pedal back.
3 → see also back-pedal , soft-pedal
4 N‑COUNT A pedal in a car or on a machine is a lever that you press with your foot in order to control the car or machine. □ …the brake or accelerator pedals.
pe d|al bin (pedal bins ) N‑COUNT A pedal bin is a container for waste, usually in a kitchen or bathroom. It has a lid which is controlled by a pedal that you press with your foot. [BRIT ]
ped|ant /pe d ə nt/ (pedants ) N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a pedant , you mean that they are too concerned with unimportant details or traditional rules, especially in connection with academic subjects. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I am no pedant and avoid being dogmatic concerning English grammar and expression.
pe|dan|tic /p I dæ nt I k/ ADJ If you think someone is pedantic , you mean that they are too concerned with unimportant details or traditional rules, especially in connection with academic subjects. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ His lecture was so pedantic and uninteresting.
ped|ant|ry /pe d ə ntri/ N‑UNCOUNT If you accuse someone of pedantry , you mean that you disapprove of them because they pay excessive attention to unimportant details or traditional rules, especially in connection with academic subjects. [DISAPPROVAL ]
ped|dle /pe d ə l/ (peddles , peddling , peddled )
1 VERB Someone who peddles things goes from place to place trying to sell them. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ [V n] His attempts to peddle his paintings around London's tiny gallery scene proved unsuccessful.
2 VERB Someone who peddles drugs sells illegal drugs. □ [V n] He offered the youngster $100 to peddle drugs. ● ped|dling N‑UNCOUNT □ The war against drug peddling is all about cash.
3 VERB If someone peddles an idea or a piece of information, they try very hard to get people to accept it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] They even set up their own news agency to peddle anti-isolationist propaganda.
ped|dler /pe dlə r / (peddlers ) The spelling pedlar is also used in British English for meanings 1 and 3 . 1 N‑COUNT A peddler is someone who goes from place to place in order to sell something. [AM , also BRIT , OLD-FASHIONED ]
2 N‑COUNT A drug peddler is a person who sells illegal drugs.
3 N‑COUNT A peddler of information or ideas is someone who frequently expresses such ideas to other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] …the peddlers of fear.
ped|es|tal /pe d I st ə l/ (pedestals )
1 N‑COUNT A pedestal is the base on which something such as a statue stands. □ …a larger-than-life-sized bronze statue on a granite pedestal.