pseudo|nym /sjuː dən I m, [AM ] suː -/ (pseudonyms ) N‑COUNT A pseudonym is a name which someone, usually a writer, uses instead of his or her real name. □ [+ of/for ] Both plays were published under the pseudonym of Philip Dayre.
pso|ria|sis /səra I əs I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Psoriasis is a disease that causes dry red patches on the skin.
psst /psst/ Psst is a sound that someone makes when they want to attract another person's attention secretly or quietly. □ 'Psst! Come over here!' one youth hissed furtively.
psych /sa I k/ (psychs , psyching , psyched ) also psyche
▸ psych out PHRASAL VERB If you psych out your opponent in a contest, you try to make them feel less confident by behaving in a very confident or aggressive way. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n P ] They are like heavyweight boxers, trying to psych each other out and build themselves up. [Also V P n]
▸ psych up PHRASAL VERB If you psych yourself up before a contest or a difficult task, you prepare yourself for it mentally, especially by telling yourself that you can win or succeed. [INFORMAL ] □ [V pron-refl P ] After work, it is hard to psych yourself up for an hour at the gym. □ [get V -ed P ] Before the game everyone gets psyched up and starts shouting.
psy|che /sa I ki/ (psyches ) N‑COUNT In psychology, your psyche is your mind and your deepest feelings and attitudes. [TECHNICAL ] □ His exploration of the myth brings insight into the American psyche.
psychedelia /sa I kədiː liə/ N‑UNCOUNT Psychedelia refers to psychedelic objects, clothes, and music.
psychedel|ic /sa I kəde l I k/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Psychedelic means relating to drugs such as LSD which have a strong effect on your mind, often making you see things that are not there. □ …his first real, full-blown psychedelic experience.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Psychedelic art has bright colours and strange patterns. □ …psychedelic patterns.
psy|chi|at|ric /sa I kiæ tr I k/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Psychiatric means relating to psychiatry. □ We finally insisted that he seek psychiatric help.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Psychiatric means involving mental illness. □ About 4% of the prison population have chronic psychiatric illnesses.
psy|chia|trist /sa I ka I ətr I st, [AM ] s I -/ (psychiatrists ) N‑COUNT A psychiatrist is a doctor who treats people suffering from mental illness.
psy|chia|try /sa I ka I ətri, [AM ] s I -/ N‑UNCOUNT Psychiatry is the branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of mental illness.
psy|chic /sa I k I k/ (psychics )
1 ADJ If you believe that someone is psychic or has psychic powers, you believe that they have strange mental powers, such as being able to read the minds of other people or to see into the future. □ Trevor helped police by using his psychic powers. ● N‑COUNT A psychic is someone who seems to be psychic.
2 ADJ Psychic means relating to ghosts and the spirits of the dead. □ He declared his total disbelief in psychic phenomena.
psy|chi|cal /sa I k I k ə l/ ADJ Psychical means relating to ghosts and the spirits of the dead. [FORMAL ]
psy|cho /sa I koʊ/ (psychos ) N‑COUNT A psycho is someone who has serious mental problems and who may act in a violent way without feeling sorry for what they have done. [INFORMAL ] □ Some psycho picked her up, and killed her.
PREFIX psycho-
is added to words in order to form other words that describe or refer to things connected with the mind or with mental processes. For example, a psychoanalyst is someone whose job is to talk to people in order to help them to understand their behaviour or mental problems.
psycho|ac|tive /sa I koʊæ kt I v/ ADJ Psychoactive drugs are drugs that affect your mind.
psycho|ana|lyse /sa I koʊæ nəla I z/ (psychoanalyses , psychoanalysing , psychoanalysed ) in AM, use psychoanalyze VERB When a psychotherapist or psychiatrist psychoanalyses someone who has mental problems, he or she examines or treats them using psychoanalysis. □ [V n] The movie sees Burton psychoanalysing Firth to cure him of his depression.
psycho|analy|sis /sa I koʊənæ l I s I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Psychoanalysis is the treatment of someone who has mental problems by asking them about their feelings and their past in order to try to discover what may be causing their condition.
psycho|ana|lyst /sa I koʊæ nəl I st/ (psychoanalysts ) N‑COUNT A psychoanalyst is someone who treats people who have mental problems using psychoanalysis.
psycho|ana|lyt|ic /sa I koʊænəl I t I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Psychoanalytic means relating to psychoanalysis. □ …psychoanalytic therapy.
psycho|ana|lyze /sa I koʊæ nəla I z/ → see psychoanalyse
psycho|bab|ble /sa I koʊbæb ə l/ N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to language about people's feelings or behaviour as psychobabble , you mean that it is very complicated and perhaps meaningless. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Beneath the sentimental psychobabble, there's a likeable movie trying to get out.
psycho|dra|ma /sa I koʊdrɑːmə/ (psychodramas ) N‑VAR Psychodrama is a type of psychotherapy in which people express their problems by acting them out in front of other people.
psycho|ki|nesis /sa I koʊk I niː s I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Psychokinesis is the ability, which some people believe exists, to move objects using the power of your mind.
psycho|logi|cal ◆◇◇ /sa I kəlɒ dʒ I k ə l/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Psychological means concerned with a person's mind and thoughts. □ John received constant physical and psychological abuse from his father. □ Robyn's loss of memory is a psychological problem, rather than a physical one. ● psycho|logi|cal|ly /sa I kəlɒ dʒ I kli/ ADV [ADV adj/adv] □ It was very important psychologically for us to succeed.