17 → see also sales pitch
▸ pitch for PHRASAL VERB [usu cont] If someone is pitching for something, they are trying to persuade other people to give it to them. □ [V P n] …laws prohibiting the state's accountants from pitching for business.
▸ pitch in PHRASAL VERB If you pitch in , you join in and help with an activity. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P ] The agency says international relief agencies also have pitched in. □ [V P to-inf] The entire company pitched in to help. SYNONYMS pitch NOUN 1
ground: …the city's football ground.
arena: …the largest indoor sports arena in the world.
field: …a football field.
stadium: …a baseball stadium.
pi tch-bla ck ADJ If a place or the night is pitch-black , it is completely dark. □ …a cold pitch-black winter morning.
pi tch-da rk also pitch dark ADJ Pitch-dark means the same as pitch-black . □ It was pitch-dark in the room and I couldn't see a thing.
pitched /p I tʃt/
1 ADJ A pitched roof is one that slopes as opposed to one that is flat. □ …a rather quaint lodge with a steeply pitched roof.
2 → see also high-pitched , low-pitched
pi tched ba t|tle (pitched battles ) N‑COUNT A pitched battle is a very fierce and violent fight involving a large number of people. □ Pitched battles were fought with the police.
pitch|er /p I tʃə r / (pitchers )
1 N‑COUNT A pitcher is a jug. [mainly AM ] □ [+ of ] …a pitcher of iced water.
2 N‑COUNT A pitcher is a large container made of clay. Pitchers are usually round in shape and have a narrow neck and two handles shaped like ears.
3 N‑COUNT In baseball, the pitcher is the person who throws the ball to the batter, who tries to hit it.
pitch|fork /p I tʃfɔː r k/ (pitchforks ) N‑COUNT A pitchfork is a tool with a long handle and two pointed parts that is used on a farm for lifting hay or cut grass.
pi tch in|va|sion (pitch invasions ) N‑COUNT If there is a pitch invasion during or after a football, rugby, or cricket match, fans run on to the pitch. [BRIT ]
pit|eous /p I tiəs/ ADJ Something that is piteous is so sad that you feel great pity for the person involved. [WRITTEN ] □ As they pass by, a piteous wailing is heard.
pit|fall /p I tfɔːl/ (pitfalls ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] The pitfalls involved in a particular activity or situation are the things that may go wrong or may cause problems. □ [+ of ] The pitfalls of working abroad are numerous.
pith /p I θ/ N‑UNCOUNT The pith of an orange, lemon, or similar fruit is the white substance between the skin and the inside of the fruit.
pit|head /p I thed/ (pitheads ) N‑COUNT The pithead at a coal mine is all the buildings and machinery which are above ground. □ Across the river the railway track ran up to the pithead.
pithy /p I θi/ (pithier , pithiest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] A pithy comment or piece of writing is short, direct, and full of meaning. [WRITTEN ] □ His pithy advice to young painters was, 'Above all, keep your colours fresh.' □ Many of them made a point of praising the film's pithy dialogue. ● pithi|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Emily Bronte said it best when she wrote pithily: 'Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.'
piti|able /p I tiəb ə l/ ADJ Someone who is pitiable is in such a sad or weak state that you feel pity for them. [WRITTEN ] □ Her grandmother seemed to her a pitiable figure. ● piti|ably /p I tiəbli/ ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Their main grievance was that they had not received their pitiably low pay. □ She found Frances lying on the bed crying pitiably.
piti|ful /p I t I fʊl/
1 ADJ Someone or something that is pitiful is so sad, weak, or small that you feel pity for them. □ It was the most pitiful sight I had ever seen. ● piti|ful|ly ADV □ His legs were pitifully thin compared to the rest of his bulk.
2 ADJ If you describe something as pitiful , you mean that it is completely inadequate. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The choice is pitiful and the quality of some of the products is very low. ● piti|ful|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ Clearly that constitutes a pitifully inadequate return on my investment.
piti|less /p I tiləs/ ADJ Someone or something that is pitiless shows no pity or kindness. [LITERARY ] □ He saw the pitiless eyes of his enemy. ● piti|less|ly ADV □ She had scorned him pitilessly.
pit|man /p I tmən/ (pitmen ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Pitmen are coal miners . [AM , also BRIT , JOURNALISM ] □ Many of the older pitmen may never work again.
pi t stop (pit stops ) N‑COUNT In motor racing, if a driver makes a pit stop , he or she stops in a special place at the side of the track to get more fuel and to make repairs. □ He had to make four pit stops during the race.
pit|ta /p I tə/ (pittas ) The spelling pita is used in American English, pronounced /pi tə/. N‑VAR Pitta or pitta bread is a type of bread in the shape of a flat oval. It can be split open and filled with food such as meat and salad.
pit|tance /p I t ə ns/ (pittances ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you say that you receive a pittance , you are emphasizing that you get only a very small amount of money, probably not as much as you think you deserve. [EMPHASIS ] □ Her secretaries work tirelessly for a pittance.