pun|net /pʌ n I t/ (punnets ) N‑COUNT A punnet is a small light box in which soft fruits such as strawberries or raspberries are often sold. You can also use punnet to refer to the amount of fruit that a punnet contains. [BRIT ] □ [+ of ] …a punnet of strawberries.
punt (punts ) Pronounced /pʌ nt/ for meaning 1 and /pʊ nt/ for meaning 3 . 1 N‑COUNT A punt is a long boat with a flat bottom. You move the boat along by standing at one end and pushing a long pole against the bottom of the river. [mainly BRIT ]
2 N‑COUNT [num N ] The punt was the unit of money used in the Irish Republic. In 2002 it was replaced by the euro. □ He bought a plot of land for 50 punts, the Irish currency back then. ● N‑SING The punt was also used to refer to the Irish currency system. □ …the cost of defending the punt against speculators.
punt|er /pʌ ntə r / (punters )
1 N‑COUNT A punter is a person who bets money, especially on horse races. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ Punters are expected to gamble £70m on the Grand National.
2 N‑COUNT People sometimes refer to their customers or clients as punters . [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ]
puny /pjuː ni/ (punier , puniest ) ADJ Someone or something that is puny is very small or weak. □ …a puny, bespectacled youth.
pup /pʌ p/ (pups )
1 N‑COUNT A pup is a young dog. □ I'll get you an Alsatian pup for Christmas.
2 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] The young of some other animals, for example seals, are called pups . □ Two thousand grey seal pups are born there every autumn.
pupa /pjuː pə/ (pupae /pjuː piː/) N‑COUNT A pupa is an insect that is in the stage of development between a larva and a fully grown adult. It has a protective covering and does not move. [TECHNICAL ] □ The pupae remain dormant in the soil until they emerge as adult moths in the winter.
pu|pil ◆◇◇ /pjuː p I l/ (pupils )
1 N‑COUNT The pupils of a school are the children who go to it. □ Many secondary schools in Wales have over 1,000 pupils.
2 N‑COUNT [with poss] A pupil of a painter, musician, or other expert is someone who studies under that expert and learns his or her skills. □ [+ of ] …the only drawing firmly attributed to Cesare Magni (1511-1534), a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci.
3 N‑COUNT The pupils of your eyes are the small, round, black holes in the centre of them. COLLOCATIONS pupil NOUN 1
adjective + pupil : able, bright, gifted; former, past, prospective; disruptive, unruly
verb + pupil : admit, exclude, expel, suspend; encourage, motivate, prepare, teach SYNONYMS pupil NOUN 1
student: Warren's eldest son is an art student, at St Martin's.
scholar: The library attracts thousands of scholars and researchers.
schoolchild: Last year I had an audience of schoolchildren and they laughed at everything.
learner: …a new aid for younger children or slow learners.
pup|pet /pʌ p I t/ (puppets )
1 N‑COUNT A puppet is a doll that you can move, either by pulling strings which are attached to it or by putting your hand inside its body and moving your fingers.
2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] You can refer to a person or country as a puppet when you mean that their actions are controlled by a more powerful person or government, even though they may appear to be independent. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] When the invasion occurred he ruled as a puppet of the occupiers.
pup|pet|eer /pʌ p I t I ə r / (puppeteers ) N‑COUNT A puppeteer is a person who gives shows using puppets.
pup|py /pʌ pi/ (puppies ) N‑COUNT A puppy is a young dog. □ One Sunday he began trying to teach the two puppies to walk on a leash.
pu p|py fat also puppy-fat N‑UNCOUNT Puppy fat is fat that some children have on their bodies when they are young but that disappears when they grow older and taller.
pur|chase ◆◆◇ /pɜː r tʃ I s/ (purchases , purchasing , purchased )
1 VERB When you purchase something, you buy it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He purchased a ticket and went up on the top deck. ● pur|chas|er (purchasers ) N‑COUNT □ The broker will get 5% if he finds a purchaser.
2 N‑UNCOUNT The purchase of something is the act of buying it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Some of the receipts had been for the purchase of cars.
3 → see also hire purchase
4 N‑COUNT A purchase is something that you buy. [FORMAL ] □ She opened the tie box and looked at her purchase. It was silk, with maroon stripes.
5 N‑VAR [oft a N ] If you get a purchase on something, you manage to get a firm grip on it. [FORMAL ] □ I got a purchase on the rope and pulled. □ I couldn't get any purchase with the screwdriver on the damn screws.
pu r|chas|ing po w|er
1 N‑UNCOUNT The purchasing power of a currency is the amount of goods or services that you can buy with it. [BUSINESS ] □ The real purchasing power of the rouble has plummeted.
2 N‑UNCOUNT The purchasing power of a person or group of people is the amount of goods or services that they can afford to buy. [BUSINESS ] □ …the purchasing power of their customers.
pur|dah /pɜː r də/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft in N ] Purdah is a custom practised in some Muslim and Hindu societies, in which women either remain in a special part of the house or cover their faces and bodies to avoid being seen by men who are not related to them. If a woman is in purdah , she lives according to this custom.