4 VERB [usu passive] If a place or country is peopled by a particular group of people, that group of people live there. □ [be V -ed + by/with ] It was peopled by a fiercely independent race of peace-loving Buddhists. □ [V -ed] …a small town peopled by lay workers and families.
peo |ple car|ri|er (people carriers ) N‑COUNT A people carrier is a large family car which looks similar to a van and has three rows of seats for passengers.
peo |ple mov|er (people movers ) also people-mover N‑COUNT A people mover is the same as a people carrier .
pe o|ple skills N‑PLURAL People skills are the ability to deal with, influence, and communicate effectively with other people. [BUSINESS ] □ She has very good people skills and is able to manage a team.
peo |ple smu g|gling or people trafficking N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] People smuggling or people trafficking is the practice of bringing immigrants into a country illegally. □ …a people-smuggling operation.
pep /pe p/ (peps , pepping , pepped ) N‑UNCOUNT Pep is liveliness and energy. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ] □ Many say that, given a choice, they would opt for a holiday to put the pep back in their lives.
▸ pep up PHRASAL VERB If you try to pep something up , you try to make it more lively, more interesting, or stronger. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] The Prime Minister aired some ideas about pepping up trade in the region. □ [V P n] How about pepping up plain tiles with transfers? [Also V n P ]
pep|per ◆◇◇ /pe pə r / (peppers , peppering , peppered )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Pepper is a hot-tasting spice which is used to flavour food. □ Season with salt and pepper. □ …freshly ground black pepper.
2 N‑COUNT A pepper , or in American English a bell pepper , is a hollow green, red, or yellow vegetable with seeds inside it.
3 VERB [usu passive] If something is peppered with small objects, a lot of those objects hit it. □ [be V -ed + with ] He was wounded in both legs and severely peppered with shrapnel.
4 VERB If something is peppered with things, it has a lot of those things in it or on it. □ [be V -ed + with ] While her English was correct, it was peppered with French phrases. □ [V n] Yachts peppered the tranquil waters of Botafogo Bay.
pepper|corn /pe pə r kɔː r n/ (peppercorns ) N‑COUNT Peppercorns are the small berries which are dried and crushed to make pepper. They are sometimes used whole in cooking.
pe pper|corn re nt (peppercorn rents ) N‑COUNT A peppercorn rent is an extremely low rent. [BRIT ]
pe p|per mill (pepper mills ) also peppermill N‑COUNT A pepper mill is a container in which peppercorns are crushed to make pepper. You turn the top of the container and the pepper comes out of the bottom.
pepper|mint /pe pə r m I nt/ (peppermints )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Peppermint is a strong, sharp flavouring that is obtained from the peppermint plant or that is made artificially.
2 N‑COUNT A peppermint is a peppermint-flavoured sweet or piece of candy.
pep|pero|ni /pe pəroʊ ni/ N‑UNCOUNT Pepperoni is a kind of spicy sausage which is often sliced and put on pizzas.
pepper|pot /pe pə r pɒt/ (pepperpots ) also pepper pot N‑COUNT A pepperpot is a small container with holes in the top, used for shaking pepper onto food. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use pepper shaker
pe p|per shak|er (pepper shakers ) N‑COUNT A pepper shaker is the same as a pepperpot . [mainly AM ]
pe p|per spray (pepper sprays ) N‑VAR Pepper spray is a device that causes tears and sickness and is sometimes used against rioters and attackers. □ The officers blasted him with pepper spray.
pep|pery /pe pəri/ ADJ Food that is peppery has a strong, hot taste like pepper. □ …a crisp green salad with a few peppery radishes.
pep|py /pe pi/ ADJ Someone or something that is peppy is lively and full of energy. [INFORMAL ] □ At the end of every day, jot down a brief note on how peppy or tired you felt. □ …peppy dance-numbers.
pe p ral|ly (pep rallies ) N‑COUNT A pep rally at a school, college, or university is a gathering to support a football team or sports team. [AM ]
pe p talk (pep talks ) also pep-talk N‑COUNT A pep talk is a speech which is intended to encourage someone to make more effort or feel more confident. [INFORMAL ] □ Powell spent the day giving pep talks to the troops.
pep|tic ul|cer /pe pt I k ʌ lsə r / (peptic ulcers ) N‑COUNT A peptic ulcer is an ulcer that occurs in the digestive system.
per ◆◆◇ /pɜː r /
1 PREP You use per to express rates and ratios. For example, if something costs £50 per year, you must pay £50 each year for it. If a vehicle is travelling at 40 miles per hour, it travels 40 miles each hour. □ Social Security refused to pay her more than £17 per week. □ Buses and trains use much less fuel per person than cars.
2 per head → see head
3 PHRASE If something happens as per a particular plan or suggestion, it happens in the way planned or suggested. [FORMAL ] □ When they reach here they complain that they are not being paid as per the agreement.
per|am|bu|late /pəræ mbjʊle I t/ (perambulates , perambulating , perambulated ) VERB When someone perambulates , they walk about for pleasure. [OLD-FASHIONED ] ● per|am|bu|la|tion /pəræ mbjʊle I ʃ ə n/ (perambulations ) N‑COUNT □ [+ round ] It was time now to end our perambulation round Paris.