5 N‑COUNT A permanent is a treatment where a hair stylist curls your hair and treats it with a chemical so that it stays curly for several months. [AM ] in BRIT, use perm SYNONYMS permanent ADJ 1
lasting: We are well on our way to a lasting peace.
enduring: …the start of an enduring friendship.
eternaclass="underline" …the quest for eternal youth.
everlasting: …a message of peace and everlasting life.
pe r|ma|nent wa ve (permanent waves ) N‑COUNT A permanent wave is the same as a perm . [OLD-FASHIONED ]
per|me|able /pɜː r miəb ə l/ ADJ If a substance is permeable , something such as water or gas can pass through it or soak into it. □ [+ to ] A number of products have been developed which are permeable to air and water.
per|me|ate /pɜː r mie I t/ (permeates , permeating , permeated )
1 VERB If an idea, feeling, or attitude permeates a system or permeates society, it affects every part of it or is present throughout it. □ [V n] Bias against women permeates every level of the judicial system. □ [V + through ] An obvious change of attitude at the top will permeate through the system.
2 VERB If something permeates a place, it spreads throughout it. □ [V n] The smell of roast chicken permeated the air. □ [V + through ] Eventually, the water will permeate through the surrounding concrete.
per|mis|sible /pə r m I səb ə l/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something is permissible , it is considered to be acceptable because it does not break any laws or rules. □ Religious practices are permissible under the Constitution.
per|mis|sion ◆◇◇ /pə r m I ʃ ə n/ (permissions )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N to-inf] If someone who has authority over you gives you permission to do something, they say that they will allow you to do it. □ He asked permission to leave the room. □ [+ for ] Finally his mother relented and gave permission for her youngest son to marry. □ They cannot leave the country without permission.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A permission is a formal, written statement from an official group or place allowing you to do something. □ …oil exploration permissions.
3 → see also planning permission COLLOCATIONS permission NOUN 1
adjective + permission : express, prior, special; parental, written
verb + permission : give, grant, refuse; ask, need, obtain, seek
per|mis|sive /pə r m I s I v/ ADJ A permissive person, society, or way of behaving allows or tolerates things which other people disapprove of. □ …the permissive tolerance of the 1960s. ● per|mis|sive|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ Permissiveness and democracy go together.
per|mit ◆◇◇ (permits , permitting , permitted ) The verb is pronounced /pə r m I t/. The noun is pronounced /pɜː r m I t/. 1 VERB If someone permits something, they allow it to happen. If they permit you to do something, they allow you to do it. [FORMAL , WRITTEN , FORMAL ] □ [V n] He can let the court's decision stand and permit the execution. □ [be V -ed to-inf] Employees are permitted to use the golf course during their free hours. □ [be V -ed + into ] No outside journalists have been permitted into the country. □ [V n n] If they appear to be under 12, then the doorman is not allowed to permit them entry to the film.
2 N‑COUNT A permit is an official document which says that you may do something. For example you usually need a permit to work in a foreign country. □ The majority of foreign nationals working here have work permits.
3 VERB If a situation permits something, it makes it possible for that thing to exist, happen, or be done or it provides the opportunity for it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He sets about creating an environment that doesn't just permit experiment, it encourages it. □ [V ] Try to go out for a walk at lunchtime, if the weather permits. □ [V n to-inf] This method of cooking also permits heat to penetrate evenly from both sides. [Also V + of ]
4 VERB If you permit yourself something, you allow yourself to do something that you do not normally do or that you think you probably should not do. □ [V pron-refl n] Captain Bowen permitted himself one cigar a day. □ [V pron-refl to-inf] Only once in his life had Douglas permitted himself to lose control of his emotions.
5 PHRASE You can use permit me when you are about to say something or to make a suggestion. [FORMAL , POLITENESS ] □ Permit me to give you some advice.
per|mu|ta|tion /pɜː r mjuːte I ʃ ə n/ (permutations ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] A permutation is one of the ways in which a number of things can be ordered or arranged. □ [+ of ] Variation among humans is limited to the possible permutations of our genes.
per|ni|cious /pə r n I ʃəs/ ADJ If you describe something as pernicious , you mean that it is very harmful. [FORMAL ] □ I did what I could, but her mother's influence was pernicious.
per|ni |cious anae mia also pernicious anemia N‑UNCOUNT Pernicious anaemia is a very severe blood disease.
per|nick|ety /pə r n I k I ti/ ADJ If you describe someone as pernickety , you think that they pay too much attention to small, unimportant details. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ about ] Customs officials can get extremely pernickety about things like that. in AM, use persnickety