▸ pull together
1 PHRASAL VERB If people pull together , they help each other or work together in order to deal with a difficult situation. □ [V P ] The nation was urged to pull together to avoid a slide into complete chaos.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you are upset or depressed and someone tells you to pull yourself together , they are telling you to control your feelings and behave calmly again. □ Pull yourself together, you stupid woman!
3 PHRASAL VERB If you pull together different facts or ideas, you link them to form a single theory, argument, or story. □ [V P n] Let me now pull together the threads of my argument. □ [V P ] Data exists but it needs pulling together. [Also V n P ]
▸ pull up
1 PHRASAL VERB When a vehicle or driver pulls up , the vehicle slows down and stops. □ [V P ] The cab pulled up and the driver jumped out.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you pull up a chair, you move it closer to something or someone and sit on it. □ [V P n] He pulled up a chair behind her and put his chin on her shoulder. [Also V n P ] SYNONYMS pull VERB 1
hauclass="underline" A crane was used to haul the car out of the stream.
drag: He got up and dragged his chair towards the table.
tow: He had been using the vehicle to tow his work trailer.
tug: A little boy came running up and tugged at his sleeve excitedly.
pu ll|ed po rk N‑UNCOUNT Pulled pork is pork meat that has been cooked for a long time until it is very soft, then torn into small strips.
pul|ley /pʊ li/ (pulleys ) N‑COUNT A pulley is a device consisting of a wheel over which a rope or chain is pulled in order to lift heavy objects.
Pull|man /pʊ lmən/ (Pullmans )
1 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A Pullman is a type of train or railway carriage which is extremely comfortable and luxurious. You can also refer to a Pullman train or a Pullman carriage . [BRIT ]
2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A Pullman or a Pullman car on a train is a railway car that provides beds for passengers to sleep in. [AM ] in BRIT, use sleeping car
pu ll-out (pull-outs )
1 N‑COUNT [usu N n] In a newspaper or magazine, a pull-out is a section which you can remove easily and keep. □ …an eight-page pull-out supplement.
2 N‑SING When there is a pull-out of armed forces from a place, troops which have occupied an area of land withdraw from it. □ [+ from/of ] …a pull-out from the occupied territories.
pull|over /pʊ loʊvə r / (pullovers ) N‑COUNT A pullover is a piece of woollen clothing that covers the upper part of your body and your arms. You put it on by pulling it over your head.
pul|mo|nary /pʌ lmənəri, [AM ] -neri/ ADJ [ADJ n] Pulmonary means relating to your lungs. [MEDICAL ] □ …respiratory and pulmonary disease.
pulp /pʌ lp/ (pulps , pulping , pulped )
1 N‑SING If an object is pressed into a pulp , it is crushed or beaten until it is soft, smooth, and wet. □ The olives are crushed to a pulp by stone rollers.
2 N‑SING In fruit or vegetables, the pulp is the soft part inside the skin. □ Make maximum use of the whole fruit, including the pulp which is high in fibre.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Wood pulp is material made from crushed wood. It is used to make paper.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] People refer to stories or novels as pulp fiction when they consider them to be of poor quality and intentionally shocking or sensational. □ …lurid '50s pulp novels.
5 VERB [usu passive] If paper, vegetables, or fruit are pulped , they are crushed into a smooth, wet paste. □ [be V -ed] Onions can be boiled and pulped to a puree. □ [V -ed] …creamed or pulped tomatoes.
6 VERB [usu passive] If money or documents are pulped , they are destroyed. This is done to stop the money being used or to stop the documents being seen by the public. □ [be V -ed] Millions of five pound notes have been pulped because the designers made a mistake.
7 PHRASE If someone is beaten to a pulp or beaten to pulp , they are hit repeatedly until they are very badly injured.
pul|pit /pʊ lp I t/ (pulpits ) N‑COUNT A pulpit is a small raised platform with a rail or barrier around it in a church, where a member of the clergy stands to speak.
pulpy /pʌ lpi/ ADJ Something that is pulpy is soft, smooth, and wet, often because it has been crushed or beaten. □ The chutney should be a thick, pulpy consistency.
pul|sar /pʌ lsɑː r / (pulsars ) N‑COUNT A pulsar is a star that spins very fast and cannot be seen but produces regular radio signals.
pul|sate /pʌlse I t, [AM ] pʌ lse I t/ (pulsates , pulsating , pulsated ) VERB If something pulsates , it beats, moves in and out, or shakes with strong, regular movements. □ [V ] …a star that pulsates. □ [V -ing] …a pulsating blood vessel. ● pul|sa|tion /pʌlse I ʃ ə n/ (pulsations ) N‑VAR □ Several astronomers noted that the star's pulsations seemed less pronounced.
pulse /pʌ ls/ (pulses , pulsing , pulsed )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] Your pulse is the regular beating of blood through your body, which you can feel when you touch particular parts of your body, especially your wrist. □ Mahoney's pulse was racing, and he felt confused.
2 N‑COUNT In music, a pulse is a regular beat, which is often produced by a drum. □ [+ of ] …the repetitive pulse of the music.