punc|tua|tion /pʌ ŋktʃue I ʃ ə n/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Punctuation is the use of symbols such as full stops or periods, commas, or question marks to divide written words into sentences and clauses. □ He was known for his poor grammar and punctuation.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Punctuation is the symbols that you use to divide written words into sentences and clauses. □ Jessica scanned the lines, none of which had any punctuation.
pu nc|tua |tion mark (punctuation marks ) N‑COUNT A punctuation mark is a symbol such as a full stop or period, comma, or question mark that you use to divide written words into sentences and clauses.
punc|ture /pʌ ŋktʃə r / (punctures , puncturing , punctured )
1 N‑COUNT A puncture is a small hole in a car tyre or bicycle tyre that has been made by a sharp object. □ Somebody helped me mend the puncture. □ …a tyre that has a slow puncture.
2 N‑COUNT A puncture is a small hole in someone's skin that has been made by or with a sharp object. □ [+ in ] An instrument called a trocar makes a puncture in the abdominal wall.
3 VERB If a sharp object punctures something, it makes a hole in it. □ [V n] The bullet punctured the skull.
4 VERB If a car tyre or bicycle tyre punctures or if something punctures it, a hole is made in the tyre. □ [V ] The tyre is guaranteed never to puncture or go flat. □ [V n] He punctured a tyre in the last lap.
5 VERB If someone's feelings or beliefs are punctured , their feelings or beliefs are made to seem wrong or foolish, especially when this makes the person feel disappointed or upset. □ [be V -ed] His enthusiasm for fishing had been punctured by the sight of what he might catch. [Also V n]
pun|dit /pʌ nd I t/ (pundits ) N‑COUNT A pundit is a person who knows a lot about a subject and is often asked to give information or opinions about it to the public. □ …a well-known political pundit.
pun|gent /pʌ ndʒ ə nt/
1 ADJ Something that is pungent has a strong, sharp smell or taste which is often so strong that it is unpleasant. □ The more herbs you use, the more pungent the sauce will be. □ …the pungent smell of burning rubber. ● pun|gen|cy N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] □ …the spices that give Jamaican food its pungency.
2 ADJ If you describe what someone has said or written as pungent , you approve of it because it has a direct and powerful effect and often criticizes something very cleverly. [FORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ He enjoyed the play's shrewd and pungent social analysis.
pun|ish /pʌ n I ʃ/ (punishes , punishing , punished )
1 VERB To punish someone means to make them suffer in some way because they have done something wrong. □ [V n] According to present law, the authorities can only punish smugglers with small fines. □ [V n + for ] Don't punish your child for being honest.
2 VERB To punish a crime means to punish anyone who commits that crime. □ [V n] The government voted to punish corruption in sport with up to four years in jail.
pun|ish|able /pʌ n I ʃəb ə l/ ADJ If a crime is punishable in a particular way, anyone who commits it is punished in that way. □ [+ by/with ] Treason in this country is still punishable by death.
pun|ish|ing /pʌ n I ʃ I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A punishing schedule, activity, or experience requires a lot of physical effort and makes you very tired or weak. □ It was a punishing schedule for any man, but Fox was now fifty-seven.
pun|ish|ment /pʌ n I ʃmənt/ (punishments )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Punishment is the act of punishing someone or of being punished. □ [+ of ] …a group which campaigns against the physical punishment of children. □ I have no doubt that the man is guilty and that he deserves punishment.
2 N‑VAR A punishment is a particular way of punishing someone. □ [+ for ] The government is proposing tougher punishments for officials convicted of corruption.
3 N‑UNCOUNT You can use punishment to refer to severe physical treatment of any kind. □ Don't expect these types of boot to take the punishment that gardening will give them.
4 → see also capital punishment , corporal punishment
pu|ni|tive /pjuː n I t I v/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Punitive actions are intended to punish people. [FORMAL ] □ Other economists say any punitive measures against foreign companies would hurt U.S. interests.
Pun|ja|bi /pʌndʒɑː bi/ (Punjabis )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Punjabi means belonging or relating to the Punjab region of India or Pakistan, its people, or its language.
2 N‑COUNT A Punjabi is a person who comes from the Punjab.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Punjabi is the language spoken in the Punjab.
punk /pʌ ŋk/ (punks )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Punk or punk rock is rock music that is played in a fast, loud, and aggressive way and is often a protest against conventional attitudes and behaviour. Punk rock was particularly popular in the late 1970s. □ I was never really into punk. □ …a punk rock band.
2 N‑COUNT A punk or a punk rocker is a young person who likes punk music and dresses in a very noticeable and unconventional way, for example by having brightly coloured hair and wearing metal chains.