petu|lant /pe tʃʊlənt/ ADJ Someone who is petulant is unreasonably angry and upset in a childish way. □ His critics say he's just being silly and petulant. ● petu|lant|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'I don't need help,' he said petulantly.
pe|tu|nia /p I tjuː niə, [AM ] -tuː-/ (petunias ) N‑COUNT A petunia is a type of garden plant with pink, white, or purple flowers shaped like short, wide cones.
pew /pjuː / (pews ) N‑COUNT A pew is a long wooden seat with a back, which people sit on in church. □ Claire sat in the front pew.
pew|ter /pjuː tə r / N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Pewter is a grey metal which is made by mixing tin and lead. Pewter was often used in former times to make ornaments or containers for eating and drinking. □ …pewter plates. □ …the best 18th-century pewter.
PG /piː dʒiː / In Britain, films that are labelled PG are not considered suitable for younger children to see without an adult being with them. PG is an abbreviation for 'parental guidance'.
PG-13 /piː dʒiː θɜː r tiː n/ In the United States, films that are labelled PG-13 are not considered suitable for children under the age of thirteen, but parents can decide whether or not to allow their children to see the films. PG is an abbreviation for 'parental guidance'.
PGCE /piː dʒiː siː iː / (PGCEs ) N‑COUNT In Britain, a PGCE is a teaching qualification that qualifies someone with a degree to teach in a state school. PGCE is an abbreviation for 'Postgraduate Certificate of Education'. Compare BEd .
pH /piː e I tʃ/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] The pH of a solution indicates how acid or alkaline the solution is. A pH of less than 7 indicates that it is an acid, and a pH of more than 7 indicates that it is an alkali. □ [+ of ] …the pH of sea water. □ [+ of ] Skin is naturally slightly acidic and has a pH of 5.5.
phal|anx /fæ læŋks/ (phalanxes or phalanges /fəlæ ndʒiːz/)
1 N‑COUNT A phalanx is a group of soldiers or police who are standing or marching close together ready to fight. [FORMAL ]
2 N‑COUNT A phalanx of people is a large group who are brought together for a particular purpose. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …a phalanx of waiters.
phal|lic /fæ l I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is phallic is shaped like an erect penis. It can also relate to male sexual powers. □ …a phallic symbol.
phal|lus /fæ ləs/ (phalluses or phalli /fæ la I /)
1 N‑COUNT A phallus is a model of an erect penis, especially one used as a symbol in ancient religions.
2 N‑COUNT A phallus is a penis. [TECHNICAL ]
phan|tas|ma|go|ri|cal /fæ ntæzməgɒ r I k ə l, [AM ] -gɔː r-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Phantasmagorical means very strange, like something in a dream. [LITERARY ]
phan|ta|sy /fæ ntəzi/ (phantasies ) → see fantasy
phan|tom /fæ ntəm/ (phantoms )
1 N‑COUNT A phantom is a ghost. [mainly LITERARY ] □ They vanished down the stairs like two phantoms.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use phantom to describe something which you think you experience but which is not real. □ She was always taking days off for what her colleagues considered phantom illnesses. □ …a phantom pregnancy.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Phantom can refer to something that is done by an unknown person, especially something criminal. □ …victims of alleged 'phantom' withdrawals from high-street cash machines.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] Phantom is used to describe business organizations, agreements, or goods which do not really exist, but which someone pretends do exist in order to cheat people. □ …a phantom trading scheme at a Wall Street investment bank.
phar|aoh /feə roʊ/ (pharaohs ) N‑COUNT ; N‑PROPER A pharaoh was a king of ancient Egypt. □ …Rameses II, Pharaoh of All Egypt.
Phari|see /fæ r I siː/ (Pharisees ) N‑PROPER‑PLURAL The Pharisees were a group of Jews, mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, who believed in strictly obeying the laws of Judaism.
phar|ma|ceu|ti|cal /fɑː r məsuː t I k ə l/ (pharmaceuticals )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Pharmaceutical means connected with the industrial production of medicine. □ …a Swiss pharmaceutical company.
2 N‑PLURAL Pharmaceuticals are medicines. □ Antibiotics were of no use; neither were other pharmaceuticals.
phar|ma|cist /fɑː r məs I st/ (pharmacists )
1 N‑COUNT A pharmacist is a person who is qualified to prepare and sell medicines.
2 N‑COUNT A pharmacist or a pharmacist's is a shop in which drugs and medicines are sold by a pharmacist. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use pharmacy
phar|ma|col|ogy /fɑː r məkɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Pharmacology is the branch of science relating to drugs and medicines. ● phar|ma|co|logi|cal /fɑː r məkəlɒ dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] □ As little as 50mg of caffeine can produce pharmacological effects. ● phar|ma|colo|gist (pharmacologists ) N‑COUNT □ …a pharmacologist from the University of California.
phar|ma|co|poeia /fɑː r məkoʊpiː ə/ (pharmacopoeias ) also pharmacopeia N‑COUNT A pharmacopoeia is an official book that lists all the drugs that can be used to treat people in a particular country, and describes how to use them.
phar|ma|cy /fɑː r məsi/ (pharmacies )
1 N‑COUNT A pharmacy is a shop or a department in a shop where medicines are sold or given out. □ …the pharmacy section of the drugstore.