Por|tu|guese /pɔː r tʃʊgiː z/
1 ADJ Portuguese means belonging or relating to Portugal, or its people, language, or culture.
2 N‑PLURAL The Portuguese are the people of Portugal.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Portuguese is the language spoken in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, and Mozambique.
POS /piː oʊ e s/ The POS is the place in a shop where a product is passed from the seller to the customer. POS is an abbreviation for 'point of sale'. [BUSINESS ] □ …a POS system that doubles as a stock and sales control system.
pos. Pos. is the written abbreviation for positive .
pose ◆◇◇ /poʊ z/ (poses , posing , posed )
1 VERB If something poses a problem or a danger, it is the cause of that problem or danger. □ [V n] This could pose a threat to jobs in the coal industry. □ [V n] His ill health poses serious problems for the future.
2 VERB If you pose a question, you ask it. If you pose an issue that needs considering, you mention the issue. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] When I finally posed the question, 'Why?' he merely shrugged. □ [V -ed] …the moral issues posed by new technologies.
3 VERB If you pose as someone, you pretend to be that person in order to deceive people. □ [V + as ] Industrial spies posed as flight attendants.
4 VERB If you pose for a photograph or painting, you stay in a particular position so that someone can photograph you or paint you. □ [V + for ] Before going into their meeting the six foreign ministers posed for photographs.
5 VERB [usu cont] You can say that people are posing when you think that they are behaving in an insincere or exaggerated way because they want to make a particular impression on other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V ] He criticized them for dressing outrageously and posing pretentiously.
6 N‑COUNT A pose is a particular way that you stand, sit, or lie, for example when you are being photographed or painted. □ We have had several preliminary sittings in various poses.
pos|er /poʊ zə r / (posers )
1 N‑COUNT A poser is the same as a poseur . [DISAPPROVAL ]
2 N‑COUNT A poser is a difficult problem or puzzle. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ] □ Here is a little poser for you.
po|seur /poʊzɜː r / (poseurs ) N‑COUNT You can describe someone as a poseur when you think that they behave in an insincere or exaggerated way because they want to make a particular impression on other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I am sometimes accused of being an inveterate poseur.
posh /pɒ ʃ/ (posher , poshest )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as posh , you mean that it is smart, fashionable, and expensive. [INFORMAL ] □ Celebrating a promotion, I took her to a posh hotel for a cocktail. □ …a posh car.
2 ADJ If you describe a person as posh , you mean that they belong to or behave as if they belong to the upper classes. [INFORMAL ] □ I wouldn't have thought she had such posh friends.
pos|it /pɒ z I t/ (posits , positing , posited ) VERB If you posit something, you suggest or assume it as the basis for an argument or calculation. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Several writers have posited the idea of a universal consciousness. □ [V that] Callahan posits that chemical elements radiate electromagnetic signals.
po|si|tion ◆◆◆ /pəz I ʃ ə n/ (positions , positioning , positioned )
1 N‑COUNT The position of someone or something is the place where they are in relation to other things. □ The ship was identified, and its name and position were reported to the coastguard. □ This conservatory enjoys an enviable position overlooking a leafy expanse.
2 N‑COUNT When someone or something is in a particular position , they are sitting, lying, or arranged in that way. □ Hold the upper back and neck in an erect position to give support for the head. □ Ensure the patient is turned into the recovery position. □ Mr. Dambar had raised himself to a sitting position.
3 VERB If you position something somewhere, you put it there carefully, so that it is in the right place or position. □ [V n prep] Place the pastry circles on to a baking sheet and position one apple on each circle.
4 N‑COUNT Your position in society is the role and the importance that you have in it. □ [+ of ] …the position of older people in society.
5 N‑COUNT A position in a company or organization is a job. [FORMAL ] □ He left a career in teaching to take up a position with the Arts Council.
6 N‑COUNT Your position in a race or competition is how well you did in relation to the other competitors or how well you are doing. □ By the ninth hour the car was running in eighth position.
7 N‑COUNT [usu sing] You can describe your situation at a particular time by saying that you are in a particular position . □ He's going to be in a very difficult position indeed if things go badly for him. □ Companies should be made to reveal more about their financial position. □ It was not the only time he found himself in this position.
8 N‑COUNT Your position on a particular matter is your attitude towards it or your opinion of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ on ] He could be depended on to take a moderate position on most of the key issues.
9 N‑SING [N to-inf] If you are in a position to do something, you are able to do it. If you are in no position to do something, you are unable to do it. □ The U.N. system will be in a position to support the extensive relief efforts needed. □ I am not in a position to comment.