1 N‑PLURAL [oft N n] The personnel of an organization are the people who work for it. □ Since 1954 Japan has never dispatched military personnel abroad. □ There has been very little renewal of personnel in higher education.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Personnel is the department in a large company or organization that deals with employees, keeps their records, and helps with any problems they might have. [BUSINESS ] □ Her first job was in personnel.
pe rson-to-pe rson ADJ If you make a person-to-person call, you say that you want to talk to one person in particular. If that person cannot come to the phone, you do not have to pay for the call. [FORMAL ]
per|spec|tive ◆◇◇ /pə r spe kt I v/ (perspectives )
1 N‑COUNT A particular perspective is a particular way of thinking about something, especially one that is influenced by your beliefs or experiences. □ [+ on ] He says the death of his father 18 months ago has given him a new perspective on life. □ [+ of ] Most literature on the subject of immigrants in France has been written from the perspective of the French themselves. □ I would like to offer a historical perspective.
2 PHRASE If you get something in perspective or into perspective , you judge its real importance by considering it in relation to everything else. If you get something out of perspective , you fail to judge its real importance in relation to everything else. □ Remember to keep things in perspective. □ It helps to put their personal problems into perspective. □ I let things get out of perspective.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Perspective is the art of making some objects or people in a picture look further away than others. SYNONYMS perspective NOUN 1
outlook: The illness had a profound effect on his outlook.
attitude: …the general change in attitude towards people with disabilities.
angle: He was considering the idea from all angles.
per|spex /pɜː r speks/ also Perspex N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Perspex is a strong clear plastic which is sometimes used instead of glass. [BRIT , TRADEMARK ]
per|spi|ca|cious /pɜː r sp I ke I ʃəs/ ADJ Someone who is perspicacious notices, realizes, and understands things quickly. [FORMAL ] □ …one of the most perspicacious and perceptive historians of that period. ● per|spi|cac|ity /pɜː r sp I kæ s I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Channel 4's overseas buyers have foreseen the audience demand with their usual perspicacity.
per|spi|ra|tion /pɜː r sp I re I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Perspiration is the liquid which comes out on the surface of your skin when you are hot or frightened. [FORMAL ] □ His hands were wet with perspiration.
per|spire /pə r spa I ə r / (perspires , perspiring , perspired ) VERB When you perspire , a liquid comes out on the surface of your skin, because you are hot or frightened. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] He began to perspire heavily. □ [V -ing] …mopping their perspiring brows.
per|suade ◆◇◇ /pə r swe I d/ (persuades , persuading , persuaded )
1 VERB If you persuade someone to do something, you cause them to do it by giving them good reasons for doing it. □ [V n to-inf] My partner persuaded me to come. □ [V n to-inf, be V -ed] They were eventually persuaded by the police to give themselves up. [Also V n + into , V n] ● per|suad|er (persuaders ) N‑COUNT □ All great persuaders and salesmen are the same.
2 VERB If something persuades someone to take a particular course of action, it causes them to take that course of action because it is a good reason for doing so. □ [V n to-inf] The Conservative Party's victory in April's general election persuaded him to run for President again.
3 VERB If you persuade someone that something is true, you say things that eventually make them believe that it is true. □ [V n that] I've persuaded Mrs Tennant that it's time she retired. □ [V n + of ] Derek persuaded me of the feasibility of the idea. ● per|suad|ed ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ that] □ [+ of ] He is not persuaded of the need for electoral reform.
per|sua|sion /pə r swe I ʒ ə n/ (persuasions )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Persuasion is the act of persuading someone to do something or to believe that something is true. □ She was using all her powers of persuasion to induce the Griffins to remain in Rollway.
2 N‑COUNT If you are of a particular persuasion , you have a particular belief or set of beliefs. [FORMAL ] □ It is a national movement and has within it people of all political persuasions.
per|sua|sive /pə r swe I s I v/ ADJ Someone or something that is persuasive is likely to persuade a person to believe or do a particular thing. □ What do you think were some of the more persuasive arguments on the other side? □ I can be very persuasive when I want to be. ● per|sua|sive|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …a trained lawyer who can present arguments persuasively. ● per|sua|sive|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ He has the personality and the persuasiveness to make you change your mind.
pert /pɜː r t/
1 ADJ If someone describes a young woman as pert , they mean that they like her because she is lively and not afraid to say what she thinks. This use could cause offence. □ …a pert redhead in uniform. □ …pert replies by servant girls.
2 ADJ If you say that someone has, for example, a pert bottom or nose, you mean that it is quite small and neat, and you think it is attractive. [APPROVAL ]
per|tain /pə r te I n/ (pertains , pertaining , pertained ) VERB If one thing pertains to another, it relates, belongs, or applies to it. [FORMAL ] □ [V + to ] …matters pertaining to naval district defense. [Also V ]