phy si|cal the ra|py N‑UNCOUNT Physical therapy is the same as physiotherapy .
phy|si|cian /f I z I ʃ ə n/ (physicians ) N‑COUNT In formal American English or old-fashioned British English, a physician is a doctor.
physi|cist /f I z I s I st/ (physicists ) N‑COUNT A physicist is a person who does research connected with physics or who studies physics. □ …a nuclear physicist.
phys|ics /f I z I ks/ N‑UNCOUNT Physics is the scientific study of forces such as heat, light, sound, pressure, gravity, and electricity, and the way that they affect objects. □ …the laws of physics. □ …experiments in particle physics.
physio /f I zioʊ/ (physios )
1 N‑COUNT A physio is a physiotherapist . [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ The athlete is checked by their physio or doctor.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Physio is physiotherapy . [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ I have been for some physio.
physi|og|no|my /f I ziɒ nəmi/ (physiognomies ) N‑COUNT Your physiognomy is your face, especially when it is considered to show your real character. [FORMAL ] □ He was fascinated by her physiognomy–the prominent nose, brooding eyes and thick hair.
physi|ol|ogy /f I ziɒ lədʒi/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Physiology is the scientific study of how people's and animals' bodies function, and of how plants function. □ …the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology. ● physi|olo|gist (physiologists ) N‑COUNT □ … a retired plant physiologist.
2 N‑UNCOUNT The physiology of a human or animal's body or of a plant is the way that it functions. □ [+ of ] …the physiology of respiration. □ …insect physiology. ● physio|logi|cal /f I ziəlɒ dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ □ …the physiological effects of stress.
physio|thera|pist /f I zioʊθe rəp I st/ (physiotherapists ) N‑COUNT A physiotherapist is a person who treats people using physiotherapy.
physio|thera|py /f I zioʊθe rəpi/ N‑UNCOUNT Physiotherapy is medical treatment for problems of the joints, muscles, or nerves, which involves doing exercises or having part of your body massaged or warmed. □ He'll need intensive physiotherapy.
phy|sique /f I ziː k/ (physiques ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] Someone's physique is the shape and size of their body. □ [+ of ] He has the physique and energy of a man half his age. □ …men of powerful physique.
pi /pa I / NUM Pi is a number, approximately 3.142, which is equal to the distance round a circle divided by its width. It is usually represented by the Greek letter π.
pia|nis|si|mo /piæn I s I moʊ/ ADV [ADV after v] A piece of music that is played pianissimo is played very quietly. [TECHNICAL ]
pia|nist /piː ən I st, [AM ] piæ n-/ (pianists ) N‑COUNT A pianist is a person who plays the piano.
pi|ano (pianos ) Pronounced /piæ noʊ/ for meaning 1 , and /piɑː noʊ/ for meaning 3 . 1 N‑VAR A piano is a large musical instrument with a row of black and white keys. When you press these keys with your fingers, little hammers hit wire strings inside the piano which vibrate to produce musical notes. □ I taught myself how to play the piano. □ He started piano lessons at the age of 7. □ …sonatas for cello and piano.
2 → see also grand piano , upright piano
3 ADV [ADV after v] A piece of music that is played piano is played quietly. [TECHNICAL ]
pi|ano|for|te /piæ noʊfɔː r te I / (pianofortes ) N‑COUNT A pianoforte is a piano . [OLD-FASHIONED ]
pia|no|la /piː ænoʊ lə/ (pianolas ) N‑VAR A pianola is a type of mechanical piano. When you press the pedals, air is forced through holes in a roll of paper to press the keys and play a tune. [BRIT , TRADEMARK ] in AM, use player piano
pi|az|za /piæ tsə/ (piazzas ) N‑COUNT [oft in names] A piazza is a large open square in a town or city, especially in Italy. □ They were seated at a table outside a pub in a pleasant piazza close by St Paul's.
pic /p I k/ (pics )
1 N‑COUNT A pic is a cinema film. [INFORMAL ] □ 'Angels with Dirty Faces' is a Cagney gangster pic.
2 N‑COUNT A pic is a photograph. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Photographer Weegee shot to fame with his shocking pics of New York crime in the 30s.
pica|resque /p I kəre sk/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A picaresque story is one in which a dishonest but likeable person travels around and has lots of exciting experiences. [LITERARY ]
pic|co|lo /p I kəloʊ/ (piccolos ) N‑VAR A piccolo is a small musical instrument that is like a flute but produces higher notes. You play the piccolo by blowing into it.
pick ◆◆◇ /p I k/ (picks , picking , picked )
1 VERB If you pick a particular person or thing, you choose that one. □ [V n] Mr Nowell had picked ten people to interview for six sales jobs in London. □ [V n] I had deliberately picked a city with a tropical climate.
2 N‑SING You can refer to the best things or people in a particular group as the pick of that group. □ [+ of ] The boys here are the pick of the under-15 cricketers in the country.
3 VERB When you pick flowers, fruit, or leaves, you break them off the plant or tree and collect them. □ [V n] She used to pick flowers in the Cromwell Road.