pin|cer /p I nsə r / (pincers )
1 N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Pincers consist of two pieces of metal that are hinged in the middle. They are used as a tool for gripping things or for pulling things out. □ His surgical instruments were a knife and a pair of pincers.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The pincers of an animal such as a crab or a lobster are its front claws.
pi n|cer move|ment (pincer movements ) N‑COUNT A pincer movement is an attack by an army or other group in which they attack their enemies in two places at once with the aim of surrounding them. □ They are moving in a pincer movement to cut the republic in two.
pinch /p I ntʃ/ (pinches , pinching , pinched )
1 VERB If you pinch a part of someone's body, you take a piece of their skin between your thumb and first finger and give it a short squeeze. □ [V n] She pinched his arm as hard as she could. □ [V pron-refl] We both kept pinching ourselves to prove that it wasn't all a dream. ● N‑COUNT Pinch is also a noun. □ She gave him a little pinch.
2 N‑COUNT A pinch of an ingredient such as salt is the amount of it that you can hold between your thumb and your first finger. □ [+ of ] Put all the ingredients, including a pinch of salt, into a food processor.
3 to take something with a pinch of salt → see salt
4 VERB To pinch something, especially something of little value, means to steal it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] …pickpockets who pinched his wallet.
5 PHRASE If you say that something is possible at a pinch , or in American English if you say that something is possible in a pinch , you mean that it would be possible if it was necessary, but it might not be very comfortable or convenient. □ Six people, and more at a pinch, could be seated comfortably at the table.
6 PHRASE If a person or company is feeling the pinch , they do not have as much money as they used to, and so they cannot buy the things they would like to buy. □ Consumers are spending less and traders are feeling the pinch.
pinched /p I ntʃt/ ADJ If someone's face is pinched , it looks thin and pale, usually because they are ill or old. □ Her face was pinched and drawn.
pi nch-hit (pinch-hits , pinch-hitting , pinch-hit ) also pinch hit
1 VERB If you pinch-hit for someone, you do something for them because they are unexpectedly unable to do it. [AM ] □ [V + for ] The staff here can pinch hit for each other when the hotel is busy.
2 VERB In a game of baseball, if you pinch-hit for another player, you hit the ball instead of them. [AM ] □ [V ] Davalillo goes up to pinch-hit. ● pinch-hitter (pinch-hitters ) N‑COUNT □ The pinch-hitter lashed a single to left field.
pin|cushion /p I nkʊʃ ə n/ (pincushions ) also pin-cushion N‑COUNT A pincushion is a very small cushion that you stick pins and needles into so that you can get them easily when you need them.
pine /pa I n/ (pines , pining , pined )
1 N‑VAR A pine tree or a pine is a tall tree which has very thin, sharp leaves and a fresh smell. Pine trees have leaves all year round. □ …high mountains covered in pine trees. ● N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Pine is the wood of this tree. □ …a big pine table.
2 VERB If you pine for someone who has died or gone away, you want them to be with you very much and feel sad because they are not there. □ [V + for ] When the family moved away, Polly pined for them. □ [V ] Make sure your pet won't pine while you're away.
3 VERB If you pine for something, you want it very much, especially when it is unlikely that you will be able to have it. □ [V + for ] I pine for the countryside.
pine|apple /pa I næp ə l/ (pineapples ) N‑VAR A pineapple is a large oval fruit that grows in hot countries. It is sweet, juicy, and yellow inside, and it has a thick brownish skin.
pi ne cone (pine cones ) N‑COUNT A pine cone is one of the brown oval seed cases produced by a pine tree.
pi ne nee|dle (pine needles ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Pine needles are very thin, sharp leaves that grow on pine trees.
pi ne nut (pine nuts ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Pine nuts are small cream-coloured seeds that grow on pine trees. They can be used in salads and other dishes.
pine|wood /pa I nwʊd/ (pinewoods ) The spelling pine wood is also used for meaning 1 . 1 N‑COUNT A pinewood is a wood which consists mainly of pine trees. □ …the hilly pinewoods of northeast Georgia.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Pinewood is wood that has come from a pine tree. □ …Italian pinewood furniture.
ping /p I ŋ/ (pings , pinging , pinged ) VERB If a bell or a piece of metal pings , it makes a short, high-pitched noise. □ [V ] The lift bell pinged at the fourth floor. ● N‑COUNT Ping is also a noun. □ …a metallic ping.
pi ng-pong N‑UNCOUNT Ping-pong is the game of table tennis . [INFORMAL ]
pin|head /p I nhed/ (pinheads ) N‑COUNT A pinhead is the small metal or plastic part on the top of a pin. □ It may even be possible to make computers the size of a pinhead one day.
pin|hole /p I nhoʊl/ (pinholes ) N‑COUNT A pinhole is a tiny hole.
pin|ion /p I njən/ (pinions , pinioning , pinioned ) VERB If you are pinioned , someone prevents you from moving or escaping, especially by holding or tying your arms. □ [be V -ed] At nine the next morning Bentley was pinioned, hooded and hanged. [Also V n]