pill ◆◇◇ /p I l/ (pills )
1 N‑COUNT Pills are small solid round masses of medicine or vitamins that you swallow without chewing. □ Why do I have to take all these pills? □ …sleeping pills.
2 N‑SING If a woman is on the pill , she takes a special pill that prevents her from becoming pregnant. □ She had been on the pill for three years.
3 PHRASE If a person or group has to accept a failure or an unpleasant piece of news, you can say that it was a bitter pill or a bitter pill to swallow . □ You're too old to be given a job. That's a bitter pill to swallow.
4 PHRASE If someone does something to sweeten the pill or sugar the pill , they do it to make some unpleasant news or an unpleasant measure more acceptable. □ He sweetened the pill by increasing wages, although by slightly less than he raised prices.
pil|lage /p I l I dʒ/ (pillages , pillaging , pillaged ) VERB If a group of people pillage a place, they steal property from it using violent methods. □ [V n] Soldiers went on a rampage, pillaging stores and shooting. □ [V ] …the boldness to pillage and rape. ● N‑UNCOUNT Pillage is also a noun. □ There were no signs of violence or pillage. ● pil|lag|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …pillaging by people looking for something to eat.
pil|lar /p I lə r / (pillars )
1 N‑COUNT A pillar is a tall solid structure, which is usually used to support part of a building. □ …the pillars supporting the roof.
2 N‑COUNT If something is the pillar of a system or agreement, it is the most important part of it or what makes it strong and successful. □ [+ of ] The pillar of her economic policy was keeping tight control over money supply.
3 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a pillar of society or as a pillar of the community, you approve of them because they play an important and active part in society or in the community. [APPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] My father had been a pillar of the community.
pi l|lar box (pillar boxes ) also pillar-box N‑COUNT In Britain, a pillar box is a tall red box in the street in which you put letters that you are sending by post. [BRIT ] in AM, use mailbox
pil|lared /p I lə r d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A pillared building is a building that is supported by pillars.
pill|box /p I lbɒks/ (pillboxes ) also pill box
1 N‑COUNT A pillbox is a small tin or box in which you can keep pills.
2 N‑COUNT A pillbox is a small building made of concrete and is used to defend a place.
3 N‑COUNT A pillbox or a pillbox hat is a small round hat for a woman.
pil|lion /p I liən/ (pillions )
1 ADV [ADV after v] If someone rides pillion on a motorcycle or bicycle, they sit behind the person who is controlling it. □ She rode pillion on her son's motorbike.
2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] On a motorcycle, the pillion is the seat or part behind the rider. □ As a learner rider you must not carry a pillion passenger.
pil|lock /p I lək/ (pillocks ) N‑COUNT If you call someone a pillock , you are showing that you think they are very stupid. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ The guy you put in charge is a complete pillock.
pil|lo|ry /p I ləri/ (pillories , pillorying , pilloried ) VERB [usu passive] If someone is pilloried , a lot of people, especially journalists, criticize them and make them look stupid. □ [be V -ed] A man has been forced to resign as a result of being pilloried by some of the press.
pil|low /p I loʊ/ (pillows ) N‑COUNT A pillow is a rectangular cushion which you rest your head on when you are in bed.
pillow|case /p I loʊke I s/ (pillowcases ) also pillow case N‑COUNT A pillowcase is a cover for a pillow, which can be removed and washed.
pi l|low slip (pillow slips ) N‑COUNT A pillow slip is the same as a pillowcase .
pi l|low talk N‑UNCOUNT Conversations that people have when they are in bed together can be referred to as pillow talk , especially when they are about secret or private subjects.
pi|lot ◆◇◇ /pa I lət/ (pilots , piloting , piloted )
1 N‑COUNT A pilot is a person who is trained to fly an aircraft. □ He spent seventeen years as an airline pilot. □ …fighter pilots of the British Royal Air Force.
2 N‑COUNT A pilot is a person who steers a ship through a difficult stretch of water, for example the entrance to a harbour.
3 VERB If someone pilots an aircraft or ship, they act as its pilot. □ [V n] He piloted his own plane part of the way to Washington.
4 N‑COUNT [usu N n] A pilot scheme or a pilot project is one which is used to test an idea before deciding whether to introduce it on a larger scale. □ The service is being expanded following the success of a pilot scheme.
5 VERB If a government or organization pilots a programme or a scheme, they test it, before deciding whether to introduce it on a larger scale. □ [V n] The trust is looking for 50 schools to pilot a programme aimed at teenage pupils.
6 VERB If a government minister pilots a new law or bill through parliament, he or she makes sure that it is introduced successfully. □ [V n + through ] His achievement in piloting the Bill through a querulous House of Commons was an outstanding parliamentary feat. [Also V n]
7 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A pilot or a pilot episode is a single television programme that is shown in order to find out whether a particular series of programmes is likely to be popular. □ A pilot episode has been shot and a full series has been ordered.