pio|neer|ing /pa I ən I ə r I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Pioneering work or a pioneering individual does something that has not been done before, for example by developing or using new methods or techniques. □ The school has won awards for its pioneering work with the community.
pi|ous /pa I əs/
1 ADJ Someone who is pious is very religious and moral. □ He was brought up by pious female relatives. □ …pious acts of charity. ● pi|ous|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Conti kneeled and crossed himself piously.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe someone's words as pious , you think that their words are full of good intentions but do not lead to anything useful being done. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ What we need is not manifestos of pious intentions, but real action. ● pi|ous|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The groups at the conference spoke piously of their fondness for democracy.
pip /p I p/ (pips , pipping , pipped )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Pips are the small hard seeds in a fruit such as an apple, orange, or pear.
2 VERB If someone is pipped to something such as a prize or an award, they are defeated by only a small amount. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [be V -ed prep] O'Sullivan's team were pipped by France, who scored in injury time. □ [V n prep] She pipped Jennifer Lawrence to the part.
3 PHRASE If someone is pipped at the post or pipped to the post they are just beaten in a competition or in a race to achieve something. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ I didn't want us to be pipped to the post.
pipe ◆◇◇ /pa I p/ (pipes , piping , piped )
1 N‑COUNT A pipe is a long, round, hollow object, usually made of metal or plastic, through which a liquid or gas can flow. □ They had accidentally damaged a gas pipe while drilling.
2 N‑COUNT A pipe is an object which is used for smoking tobacco. You put the tobacco into the cup-shaped part at the end of the pipe, light it, and breathe in the smoke through a narrow tube.
3 N‑COUNT A pipe is a simple musical instrument in the shape of a tube with holes in it. You play a pipe by blowing into it while covering and uncovering the holes with your fingers.
4 N‑COUNT An organ pipe is one of the long hollow tubes in which air vibrates and produces a musical note.
5 VERB If liquid or gas is piped somewhere, it is transferred from one place to another through a pipe. □ [be V -ed prep] The heated gas is piped through a coil surrounded by water. □ [V n with adv] The villagers piped in drinking water from the reservoir. □ [V -ed] Most of the houses in the capital don't have piped water.
6 → see also piping , piping hot COLLOCATIONS pipe NOUN 1
noun + pipe : drainage, exhaust, overflow, sewage; gas, water; concrete, copper, lead, metal
adjective + pipe : burst, leaking
verb + pipe : lay, repair, replace
pi pe bomb (pipe bombs ) N‑COUNT A pipe bomb is a small bomb in a narrow tube made by someone such as a terrorist.
pi pe clean|er (pipe cleaners ) N‑COUNT A pipe cleaner is a piece of wire covered with a soft substance which is used to clean a tobacco pipe.
pi ped mu |sic N‑UNCOUNT Piped music is recorded music which is played in some supermarkets, restaurants, and other public places. [BRIT ] in AM, use Muzak
pi pe dream (pipe dreams ) also pipe-dream N‑COUNT A pipe dream is a hope or plan that you have which you know will never really happen. □ You could waste your whole life on a pipe-dream.
pipe|line /pa I pla I n/ (pipelines )
1 N‑COUNT A pipeline is a large pipe which is used for carrying oil or gas over a long distance, often underground. □ Two natural gas pipelines have been laid to replace coal-burning plants.
2 PHRASE If something is in the pipeline , it has already been planned or begun. □ Already in the pipeline is a 2.9 per cent pay increase for teachers.
pip|er /pa I pə r / (pipers )
1 N‑COUNT A piper is a musician who plays the bagpipes.
2 PHRASE If you say ' He who pays the piper ' or ' He who pays the piper calls the tune ', you mean that the person who provides the money for something decides what will be done, or has a right to decide what will be done.
pipe|work /pa I pwɜː r k/ N‑UNCOUNT Pipework consists of the pipes that are part of a machine, building, or structure. □ The stainless steel pipework has been constructed, tested and inspected to very high standards.
pip|ing /pa I p I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Piping is metal, plastic, or another substance made in the shape of a pipe or tube. □ …rolls of bright yellow plastic piping.
pi p|ing ho t also piping-hot ADJ Food or water that is piping hot is very hot. □ …large cups of piping-hot coffee.
pi|quant /piː kənt, -kɑːnt/
1 ADJ Food that is piquant has a pleasantly spicy taste. [WRITTEN ] □ …a crisp mixed salad with an unusually piquant dressing. ● pi|quan|cy /piː kənsi/ N‑UNCOUNT □ A little mustard is served on the side to add further piquancy.
2 ADJ Something that is piquant is interesting and exciting. [WRITTEN ] □ There may well have been a piquant novelty about her books when they came out. ● pi|quan|cy N‑UNCOUNT □ Piquancy was added to the situation because Dr Porter was then on the point of marrying Hugh Miller.
pique /piː k/ (piques , piquing , piqued )