pum|per|nick|el /pʌ mpə r n I k ə l/ N‑UNCOUNT Pumpernickel is a dark brown, heavy bread, which is eaten especially in Germany.
pump|kin /pʌ mpk I n/ (pumpkins ) N‑VAR A pumpkin is a large, round, orange vegetable with a thick skin. □ Quarter the pumpkin and remove the seeds. □ …pumpkin pie.
pun /pʌ n/ (puns ) N‑COUNT A pun is a clever and amusing use of a word or phrase with two meanings, or of words with the same sound but different meanings. For example, if someone says 'The peasants are revolting', this is a pun because it can be interpreted as meaning either that the peasants are fighting against authority, or that they are disgusting.
punch ◆◇◇ /pʌ ntʃ/ (punches , punching , punched )
1 VERB If you punch someone or something, you hit them hard with your fist. □ [V n] After punching him on the chin she wound up hitting him over the head. ● PHRASAL VERB In American English, punch out means the same as punch . □ [V P n] 'I almost lost my job today.'—'What happened?'—'Oh, I punched out this guy.'. □ [V n P ] In the past, many kids would settle disputes by punching each other out. ● N‑COUNT Punch is also a noun. □ He was hurting Johansson with body punches in the fourth round. ● punch|er (punchers ) N‑COUNT □ …the awesome range of blows which have confirmed him as boxing's hardest puncher.
2 VERB If you punch the air , you put one or both of your fists forcefully above your shoulders as a gesture of delight or victory. □ [V n] At the end, Graf punched the air in delight, a huge grin on her face.
3 VERB If you punch something such as the buttons on a keyboard, you touch them in order to store information on a machine such as a computer or to give the machine a command to do something. □ [V n] Mrs. Baylor strode to the elevator and punched the button.
4 VERB If you punch holes in something, you make holes in it by pushing or pressing it with something sharp. □ [V n + in ] I took a ballpoint pen and punched a hole in the carton.
5 N‑COUNT A punch is a tool that you use for making holes in something. □ Make two holes with a hole punch.
6 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that something has punch , you mean that it has force or effectiveness. □ My nervousness made me deliver the vital points of my address without sufficient punch.
7 N‑VAR Punch is a drink made from wine or spirits mixed with things such as sugar, lemons, and spices.
8 PHRASE If you say that someone does not pull their punches when they are criticizing a person or thing, you mean that they say exactly what they think, even though this might upset or offend people. □ She has a reputation for getting at the guts of a subject and never pulling her punches.
▸ punch in PHRASAL VERB If you punch in a number on a machine or punch numbers into it, you push the machine's buttons or keys in order to give it a command to do something. □ [V P n] You can bank by phone in the U.S.A., punching in account numbers on the phone. □ [V n P ] Punch your credit card number into the keypad.
Punch and Judy show /pʌ ntʃ ən dʒuː di ʃoʊ/ (Punch and Judy shows ) N‑COUNT A Punch and Judy show is a puppet show for children, often performed at fairs or at the seaside. Punch and Judy, the two main characters, are always fighting.
punch|bag /pʌ ntʃbæg/ (punchbags ) also punch bag N‑COUNT A punchbag is a heavy leather bag, filled with a firm material, that hangs on a rope. Punchbags are used by boxers and other sportsmen for exercise and training. [BRIT ] in AM, use punching bag
pu nch bowl (punch bowls ) N‑COUNT A punch bowl is a large bowl in which drinks, especially punch, are mixed and served.
pu nch-drunk also punch drunk
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A punch-drunk boxer shows signs of brain damage, for example by being unsteady and unable to think clearly, after being hit too often on the head.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone is punch-drunk , you mean that they are very tired or confused, for example because they have been working too hard. □ He was punch-drunk with fatigue and depressed by the rain.
pu nch|ing bag (punching bags ) N‑COUNT A punching bag is the same as a punchbag . [AM ]
punch|line /pʌ ntʃla I n/ (punchlines ) also punch line , punch-line N‑COUNT The punchline of a joke or funny story is its last sentence or phrase, which gives it its humour.
pu nch-up (punch-ups ) N‑COUNT A punch-up is a fight in which people hit each other. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ He was involved in a punch-up with Sarah's former lover.
punchy /pʌ ntʃi/ (punchier , punchiest ) ADJ If you describe something as punchy , you mean that it expresses its meaning in a forceful or effective way. □ A good way to sound confident is to use short punchy sentences.
punc|tili|ous /pʌŋkt I liəs/ ADJ Someone who is punctilious is very careful to behave correctly. [FORMAL ] □ He was punctilious about being ready and waiting in the entrance hall exactly on time. □ He was a punctilious young man. ● punc|tili|ous|ly ADV □ Given the circumstances, his behaviour to Laura had been punctiliously correct.
punc|tu|al /pʌ ŋktʃuəl/ ADJ If you are punctual , you do something or arrive somewhere at the right time and are not late. □ He's always very punctual. I'll see if he's here yet. ● punc|tu|al|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ My guest arrived punctually. ● punc|tu|al|ity /pʌ ŋktʃuæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ I'll have to have a word with them about punctuality.
punc|tu|ate /pʌ ŋktʃue I t/ (punctuates , punctuating , punctuated ) VERB [usu passive] If an activity or situation is punctuated by particular things, it is interrupted by them at intervals. [WRITTEN ] □ [be V -ed + by/with ] The silence of the night was punctuated by the distant rumble of traffic.