2 N‑COUNT If you put someone on a pedestal , you admire them very much and think that they cannot be criticized. If someone is knocked off a pedestal they are no longer admired. □ Since childhood, I put my own parents on a pedestal. I felt they could do no wrong.
pe|des|trian /p I de striən/ (pedestrians )
1 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A pedestrian is a person who is walking, especially in a town or city, rather than travelling in a vehicle. □ In Los Angeles a pedestrian is a rare spectacle.
2 ADJ If you describe something as pedestrian , you mean that it is ordinary and not at all interesting. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ His style is so pedestrian that the book becomes a real bore.
pe|de s|trian cro ss|ing (pedestrian crossings ) N‑COUNT A pedestrian crossing is a place where pedestrians can cross a street and where motorists must stop to let them cross. [BRIT ] in AM, use crosswalk
pe|des|tri|an|ized /p I de striəna I zd/ in BRIT, also use pedestrianised ADJ [usu ADJ n] A pedestrianized area has been made into an area that is intended for pedestrians, not vehicles. □ …pedestrianized streets. □ There are plans to make the city centre pedestrianized.
pe|de s|trian ma ll (pedestrian malls ) N‑COUNT A pedestrian mall is the same as a pedestrian precinct . [AM ]
pe|de s|trian pre |cinct (pedestrian precincts ) N‑COUNT A pedestrian precinct is a street or part of a town where vehicles are not allowed. [BRIT ] in AM, usually use pedestrian mall
pe|dia|tri|cian /piː diətr I ʃ ə n/ → see paediatrician
pe|di|at|rics /piː diæ tr I ks/ → see paediatrics
pedi|cure /pe d I kjʊə r / (pedicures ) N‑COUNT If you have a pedicure , you have your toenails cut and the skin on your feet softened.
pedi|gree /pe d I griː/ (pedigrees )
1 N‑COUNT If a dog, cat, or other animal has a pedigree , its ancestors are known and recorded. An animal is considered to have a good pedigree when all its known ancestors are of the same type. □ 60 per cent of dogs and ten per cent of cats have pedigrees.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A pedigree animal is descended from animals which have all been of a particular type, and is therefore considered to be of good quality. □ …a pedigree dog.
3 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's pedigree is their background or their ancestors. □ Hammer's business pedigree almost guaranteed him the acquaintance of U.S. presidents.
pedi|ment /pe d I mənt/ (pediments ) N‑COUNT A pediment is a large triangular structure built over a door or window as a decoration.
ped|lar /pe dlə r / (pedlars ) → see peddler
pe|do|phile /piː dəfa I l/ (pedophiles ) → see paedophile
pe|do|philia /piː dəf I liə/ → see paedophilia
pee /piː / (pees , peeing , peed ) VERB When someone pees , they urinate. [INFORMAL ] □ [V ] He needed to pee. ● N‑SING Pee is also a noun. □ The driver was probably having a pee.
peek /piː k/ (peeks , peeking , peeked ) VERB If you peek at something or someone, you have a quick look at them, often secretly. □ [V + at ] On two occasions she had peeked at him through a crack in the wall. ● N‑COUNT Peek is also a noun. □ [+ at/into ] American firms have been paying outrageous fees for a peek at the technical data.
peeka|boo /piː kəbuː / also peek-a-boo N‑UNCOUNT ; EXCLAM Peekaboo is a game you play with babies in which you cover your face with your hands or hide behind something and then suddenly show your face, saying 'peekaboo!'
peel /piː l/ (peels , peeling , peeled )
1 N‑UNCOUNT The peel of a fruit such as a lemon or an apple is its skin. □ …grated lemon peel. ● N‑COUNT You can also refer to a peel . [AM ] □ …a banana peel.
2 VERB When you peel fruit or vegetables, you remove their skins. □ [V n] She sat down and began peeling potatoes.
3 VERB If you peel off something that has been sticking to a surface or if it peels off , it comes away from the surface. □ [V n + off/from ] One of the kids was peeling plaster off the wall. □ [V n with off/away ] It took me two days to peel off the labels. □ [V + off/from ] Paint was peeling off the walls. □ [V off/away ] The wallpaper was peeling away close to the ceiling. □ [V -ing] …an unrenovated bungalow with slightly peeling blue paint.
4 VERB [usu cont] If a surface is peeling , the paint on it is coming away. □ [V ] Its once-elegant white pillars are peeling.
5 VERB [usu cont] If you are peeling or if your skin is peeling , small pieces of skin are coming off, usually because you have been burned by the sun. □ [V ] His face was peeling from sunburn.
▸ peel off PHRASAL VERB If you peel off a tight piece of clothing, you take it off, especially by turning it inside out. □ [V P n] She peeled off her gloves. [Also V n P ]
peel|er /piː lə r / (peelers ) N‑COUNT A peeler is a special tool used for removing the skin from fruit and vegetables. □ …a potato peeler.
peel|ings /piː l I ŋz/ N‑PLURAL Peelings are pieces of skin removed from vegetables and fruit. □ …potato peelings.
peep /piː p/ (peeps , peeping , peeped )