pe n pal (pen pals ) also pen-pal N‑COUNT A pen pal is someone you write friendly letters to and receive letters from, although the two of you may never have met.
pe n-pusher (pen-pushers ) also penpusher N‑COUNT If you call someone a pen-pusher , you mean that their work consists of writing or dealing with documents, and does not seem very useful or important. [BRIT , DISAPPROVAL ] □ As a result, industry was overmanned and pen-pushers were everywhere. in AM, use pencil pusher
pen|sion ◆◇◇ /pe nʃ ə n/ (pensions , pensioning , pensioned ) N‑COUNT Someone who has a pension receives a regular sum of money from the state or from a former employer because they have retired or because they are widowed or have a disability. □ …struggling by on a pension. □ …a company pension scheme.
▸ pension off PHRASAL VERB If someone is pensioned off , they are made to retire from work and are given a pension. □ [be V -ed P ] Many successful women do not want to be pensioned off at 60. □ [V n P ] When his employees were no longer of use to him, he pensioned them off. [Also V P n] SYNONYMS pension NOUN 1
allowance: He lives on a single parent's allowance of £70 a week.
benefit: In order to get benefit payments I had to answer some questions.
annuity: Their annuity provides most of their income.
pen|sion|able /pe nʃənəb ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Pensionable means relating to someone's right to receive a pension. □ …civil servants who were nearing pensionable age.
pe n|sion book (pension books ) N‑COUNT In Britain, a pension book is a small book which is given to pensioners by the government. Each week, one page can be exchanged for money at a Post Office.
pen|sion|er /pe nʃənə r / (pensioners ) N‑COUNT A pensioner is someone who receives a pension, especially a pension paid by the state to retired people.
pe n|sion plan (pension plans ) N‑COUNT A pension plan is an arrangement to receive a pension from an organization such as an insurance company or a former employer in return for making regular payments to them over a number of years. [BUSINESS ] □ I would have been much wiser to start my own pension plan when I was younger.
pe n|sion scheme (pension schemes ) N‑COUNT A pension scheme is the same as a pension plan . [mainly BRIT , BUSINESS ] □ His company has the best pension scheme in the industry.
pen|sive /pe ns I v/ ADJ If you are pensive , you are thinking deeply about something, especially something that worries you slightly. □ He looked suddenly sombre, pensive. ● pen|sive|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Angela stared pensively out of the window.
pen|ta|gon /pe ntəgən, [AM ] -gɑːn/ (pentagons ) N‑COUNT A pentagon is a shape with five sides.
Pen|ta|gon N‑PROPER [N n] The Pentagon is the main building of the US Defense Department, in Washington. The US Defense Department is often referred to as the Pentagon . □ …a news conference at the Pentagon.
pen|tam|eter /pentæ m I tə r / (pentameters ) N‑COUNT In literary criticism, a pentameter is a line of poetry that has five strong beats in it. [TECHNICAL ]
pen|tath|lon /pentæ θlɒn/ (pentathlons ) N‑COUNT A pentathlon is an athletics competition in which each person must compete in five different events.
Pen|tecost /pe nt I kɒst, [AM ] -kɔːst/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Pentecost is a Christian festival that takes place on the seventh Sunday after Easter and celebrates the sending of the Holy Spirit to the first followers of Christ.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Pentecost is a Jewish festival that takes place 50 days after Passover and celebrates the harvest.
Pen|tecos|tal /pe nt I kɒ st ə l, [AM ] -kɔː st-/ ADJ [ADJ n] Pentecostal churches are Christian churches that emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit and the exact truth of the Bible.
pent|house /pe nthaʊs/ (penthouses ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A penthouse or a penthouse apartment or suite is a luxurious flat or set of rooms at the top of a tall building. □ …her swish Manhattan penthouse.
pent-up /pe nt ʌ p/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Pent-up emotions, energies, or forces have been held back and not expressed, used, or released. □ He still had a lot of pent-up anger to release.
pe|nul|ti|mate /penʌ lt I mət/ ADJ The penultimate thing in a series of things is the last but one. [FORMAL ] □ …on the penultimate day of the Asian Games. □ …in the penultimate chapter.
pe|num|bra /pe nʌ mbrə/ (penumbras ) N‑COUNT A penumbra is an area of light shadow. [FORMAL ]
penu|ry /pe njʊri/ N‑UNCOUNT Penury is the state of being extremely poor. [FORMAL ] □ He was brought up in penury, without education.
peo|ny /piː əni/ (peonies ) also paeony N‑COUNT A peony is a medium-sized garden plant which has large round flowers, usually pink, red, or white.
peo|ple ◆◆◆ /piː p ə l/ (peoples , peopling , peopled )
1 N‑PLURAL People are men, women, and children. People is normally used as the plural of person , instead of 'persons'. □ Millions of people have lost their homes. □ [+ of ] …the people of Angola. □ …homeless young people. □ I don't think people should make promises they don't mean to keep.
2 N‑PLURAL The people is sometimes used to refer to ordinary men and women, in contrast to the government or the upper classes. □ …the will of the people.
3 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A people is all the men, women, and children of a particular country or race. □ [+ of ] …the native peoples of Central and South America.