plus ◆◆◇ /plʌ s/ (pluses or plusses )
1 CONJ You say plus to show that one number or quantity is being added to another. □ Send a cheque for £18.99 plus £2 for postage and packing. □ They will pay about $673 million plus interest.
2 ADJ Plus before a number or quantity means that the number or quantity is greater than zero. □ The aircraft was subjected to temperatures of minus 65 degrees and plus 120 degrees.
3 plus or minus → see minus
4 CONJ You can use plus when mentioning an additional item or fact. [INFORMAL ] □ There's easily enough room for two adults and three children, plus a dog in the boot.
5 ADJ You use plus after a number or quantity to indicate that the actual number or quantity is greater than the one mentioned. □ There are only 35 staff to serve 30,000-plus customers.
6 Teachers use plus in grading work in schools and colleges. 'B plus' is a better grade than 'B', but it is not as good as 'A'.
7 N‑COUNT A plus is an advantage or benefit. [INFORMAL ] □ Experience of any career in sales is a big plus.
plu s-fou rs also plus fours N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Plus-fours are short wide trousers fastened below the knees which people used to wear when hunting or playing golf. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
plush /plʌ ʃ/ (plusher , plushest )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as plush , you mean that it is very smart, comfortable, or expensive. □ …a plush, four-storey, Georgian house in Mayfair.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Plush is a thick soft material like velvet, used especially for carpets and to cover furniture. □ All the seats were in red plush.
plu s sign (plus signs ) N‑COUNT A plus sign is the sign + which is put between two numbers in order to show that the second number is being added to the first. It can also be put before a number to show that the number is greater than zero (+3), and after a number to indicate a number that is more than a minimum number or amount (18+).
plu|toc|ra|cy /pluːtɒ krəsi/ (plutocracies ) N‑COUNT A plutocracy is a country which is ruled by its wealthiest people, or a class of wealthy people who rule a country. [FORMAL ]
plu|to|crat /pluː təkræt/ (plutocrats ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a plutocrat , you disapprove of them because you believe they are powerful only because they are rich. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
plu|to|nium /pluːtoʊ niəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Plutonium is a radioactive element used especially in nuclear weapons and as a fuel in nuclear power stations.
ply /pla I / (plies , plying , plied )
1 VERB If you ply someone with food or drink, you keep giving them more of it. □ [V n + with ] Elsie, who had been told that Maria wasn't well, plied her with food.
2 VERB If you ply someone with questions, you keep asking them questions. □ [V n + with ] Giovanni plied him with questions with the intention of prolonging his stay.
3 VERB If you ply a trade, you do a particular kind of work regularly as your job, especially a kind of work that involves trying to sell goods or services to people outdoors. □ [V n] …the market traders noisily plying their wares. □ [V + for ] It's illegal for unmarked mini-cabs to ply for hire.
-ply /-pla I / COMB [ADJ n] You use -ply after a number to indicate how many pieces are twisted together to make a type of wool, thread, or rope. □ You need 3 balls of any 4-ply knitting wool.
ply|wood /pla I wʊd/ N‑UNCOUNT Plywood is wood that consists of thin layers of wood stuck together. □ …a sheet of plywood.
PM ◆◇◇ /piː e m/ (PMs )
1 N‑COUNT The PM is an abbreviation for the Prime Minister . [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ The PM pledged to make life better for the poorest families.
2 N‑COUNT A PM is a project manager . [BUSINESS ]
p.m. /piː e m/ also pm ADV p.m. is used after a number to show that you are referring to a particular time between 12 noon and 12 midnight. Compare a.m. □ The spa closes at 9:00 pm.
PMS /piː em e s/ N‑UNCOUNT PMS is an abbreviation for premenstrual syndrome .
PMT /piː em tiː / N‑UNCOUNT PMT is an abbreviation for premenstrual tension . [BRIT ]
pneu|mat|ic /njuːmæ t I k/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A pneumatic drill is operated by air under pressure and is very powerful. Pneumatic drills are often used for digging up roads. □ …the sound of a pneumatic drill hammering away.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Pneumatic means filled with air. □ …pneumatic tyres.
pneu|mo|nia /njuːmoʊ niə/ N‑UNCOUNT Pneumonia is a serious disease which affects your lungs and makes it difficult for you to breathe. □ She nearly died of pneumonia.
PO /piː oʊ / also P.O. PO is an abbreviation for post office or postal order .
poach /poʊ tʃ/ (poaches , poaching , poached )
1 VERB If someone poaches fish, animals, or birds, they illegally catch them on someone else's property. □ [V n] Many wildlife parks are regularly invaded by people poaching game. [Also V ] ● poach|er (poachers ) N‑COUNT □ Security cameras have been installed to guard against poachers. ● poach|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …the poaching of elephants for their tusks.
2 VERB If an organization poaches members or customers from another organization, they secretly or dishonestly persuade them to join them or become their customers. □ [V n] The company authorised its staff to poach customers from the opposition. □ [V n + from ] …allegations that it had poached members from other unions. ● poach|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ The union was accused of poaching.