Plaintive (adj): pleyn-tiv
A plaintive sound or voice sounds sad = mournful, sad
Plangent (adj): plan-juhnt
A plangent sound is a deep, loud sound which may be sad = plaintive, resounding sadly
Platonic (adj): pluh-ton-ik
Platonic relationships or feelings of affection do not involve sex = purely spiritual
Plauditory (adj)
Praising
Plausible (adj): plaw-zuh-buhl (905)
An explanation or statement that is plausible seems likely to be true or valid = reasonable
Plebeian (adj): pli-bee-uhn
A person, especially one from an earlier period of history, who is plebeian, comes from a low social class = common
Plenary (adj): plee-nuh-ree
1 A plenary session or plenary meeting is one that is attended by everyone who has the right to attend 2 full, complete
Plenipotentiary (adj): plen-uh-puh-ten-shee-er-ee
A plenipotentiary is a person who has full power to make decisions or take action on behalf of their government, especially in a foreign country
Plumb (adj): pluhm
If you plumb something mysterious or difficult to understand, you succeed in understanding it
Pliable (adj): plahy-uh-buhl (910)
If something is pliable, you can bend it easily without cracking or breaking it = flexible
Poignant (adj): poin-yuhnt
Something that is poignant affects you deeply and makes you feel sadness or regret = keen, piercing, severe
Politic (adj): pol-i-tik
If it seems politic to do a particular thing, that seems to be the most sensible thing to do in the circumstances = expedient, prudent, well devised
Polyglot (adj): pol-ee-glot
Polyglot is used to describe something such as a book or society in which several different languages are used = multilingual
Ponderous (adj): pon-der-uhs
1 Ponderous writing or speech is very serious, uses more words than necessary, and is rather dull
2 A movement or action that is ponderous is very slow or clumsy
Portentous (adj): pawr-ten-tuhs (915)
If someone's way of speaking, writing, or behaving is portentous, they speak, write, or behave more seriously than necessary because they want to impress other people = pompous, ominous; serious
Portly (adj): pawrt-lee
A portly person, especially a man, is rather fat = stout, stately
Posthumous (adj): pos-chuh-muhs
Posthumous is used to describe something that happens after a person's death but relates to something they did before they died = after death
Postprandial (adj): plaw-zuh-buhl
You use post-prandial to refer to things you do or have after a meal = after dinner
Potable (adj): poh-tuh-buhl
Potable water is clean and safe for drinking = drinkable
Potential (adj): puh-ten-shuhl (920)
You use potential to say that someone or something is capable of developing into the particular kind of person or thing mentioned = possible, latent
Practicable (adj): prak-ti-kuh-buhl
If a task, plan, or idea is practicable, people are able to carry it out = feasible
Practical (adj): prak-ti-kuhl
The practical aspects of something involve real situations and events, rather than just ideas and theories = theoretical, based on experience, useful
Pragmatic (adj): prag-mat-ik
A pragmatic way of dealing with something is based on practical considerations, rather than theoretical ones A pragmatic person deals with things in a practical way = realistic, practical
Pracarious (adj): pri-kair-ee-uhs
If your situation is precarious, you are not in complete control of events and might fail in what you are doing at any moment = uncertain
Precedent (adj): pres-i-duhnt (925)
If there is a precedent for an action or event, it has happened before, and this can be regarded as an argument for doing it again = preceding in time, rank, etc
Precipitate (adj): pri-sip-i-teyt
If something precipitates an event or situation, usually a bad one, it causes it to happen suddenly or sooner than normal = quick, hasty
Precipitous (adj): pri-sip-i-tuhs
A precipitous slope or drop is very steep and often dangerous = steep
Precocious (adj): pri-koh-shuhs
A precocious child is very clever, mature, or good at something, often in a way that you usually only expect to find in an adult = gifted, talented
Predatory (adj): pred-uh-tawr-ee
Predatory animals live by killing other animals for food = plundering
Preeminent (adj): pree-em-uh-nuhnt (930)
If someone or something is pre-eminent in a group, they are more important, powerful, or capable than other people or things in the group = outstanding, superior
Prefatory (adj): pref-uh-tawr-ee
Prefatory comments or remarks are introductory
Prehensile (adj): pri-hen-sil
capable of grasping or holding
Premonitory (adj): pri-mon-i-tawr-ee
serving to warn
Preposterous (adj): pri-pos-ter-uhs
If you describe something as preposterous, you mean that it is extremely unreasonable and foolish = ridiculous
Presumptuous (adj): pri-zuhmp-choo-uhs (935)
If you describe someone or their behaviour as presumptuous, you disapprove of them because they are doing something that they have no right or authority to do = arrogant, conceited
Pretentious (adj): pri-ten-shuhs
If you say that someone or something is pretentious, you mean that they try to seem important or significant, but you do not think that they are = insincere, artificial
Prim (adj): prim
If you describe someone as prim, you disapprove of them because they behave too correctly and are too easily shocked by anything rude = exceedingly proper
Primeval (adj): prahy-mee-vuhl
You use primeval to describe things that belong to a very early period in the history of the world = primordial
Primordial (adj): prahy-mawr-dee-uhl
You use primordial to describe things that belong to a very early time in the history of the world = primeval
Pristine (adj): pris-teen (940)
Pristine things are extremely clean or new = immaculate
Privy (adj): priv-ee
If you are privy to something secret, you have been allowed to know about it = congnizant of, known
Problematic (adj): prob-luh-mat-ik
Something that is problematic involves problems and difficulties = troublesome
Prodigal (adj): prod-i-guhl
You can describe someone as a prodigal son or daughter if they leave their family or friends, often after a period of behaving badly, and then return at a later time as a better person = wasteful
Prodigious (adj): pruh-dij-uhs
Something that is prodigious is very large or impressive = substantial, massive, remarkable
Profane (adj): pruh-feyn (945)
Profane behaviour shows disrespect for a religion or religious things = blasphemous, impious
Profligate (adj): prof-li-git
Someone who is profligate spends too much money or uses too much of something = extremely wasteful
Prognathous (adj): prog-nuh-thuhs
having projecting jaws
Prolific (adj): pruh-lif-ik
A prolific writer, artist, or composer produces a large number of works = plentiful, copious
Prolix (adj): proh-liks
verbose; drawn out
Prophylactic (adj): proh-fuh-lak-tik (950)
Prophylactic means concerned with preventing disease = preventive, precautionary
A plaintive sound or voice sounds sad = mournful, sad
The plantive cry was heard by all
Plangent (adj): plan-juhnt
A plangent sound is a deep, loud sound which may be sad = plaintive, resounding sadly
Then came the quiet plangent sound of the harpsichord
Platonic (adj): pluh-ton-ik
Platonic relationships or feelings of affection do not involve sex = purely spiritual
The professor maintained platonic relationship with his female students
Plauditory (adj)
Praising
Plausible (adj): plaw-zuh-buhl (905)
An explanation or statement that is plausible seems likely to be true or valid = reasonable
His explanation sounds fairly plausible to me
Plebeian (adj): pli-bee-uhn
A person, especially one from an earlier period of history, who is plebeian, comes from a low social class = common
He has been discarded by his groupfor being a man of plebeian tastes
Plenary (adj): plee-nuh-ree
1 A plenary session or plenary meeting is one that is attended by everyone who has the right to attend 2 full, complete
The programme was approved at a plenary session of the Central Committee last week
Plenipotentiary (adj): plen-uh-puh-ten-shee-er-ee
A plenipotentiary is a person who has full power to make decisions or take action on behalf of their government, especially in a foreign country
In India, foreign ambassadors and plenipotentiaries present their credentials to the president
Plumb (adj): pluhm
If you plumb something mysterious or difficult to understand, you succeed in understanding it
Psychologists try to plumb the deepest mysteries of the human psyche
Pliable (adj): plahy-uh-buhl (910)
If something is pliable, you can bend it easily without cracking or breaking it = flexible
As babies grow bigger, their bones become less pliable
Something that is poignant affects you deeply and makes you feel sadness or regret = keen, piercing, severe
Amar Jawan Jyoti is a poignant reminder of our nation’s great sacrifices
Politic (adj): pol-i-tik
If it seems politic to do a particular thing, that seems to be the most sensible thing to do in the circumstances = expedient, prudent, well devised
Many towns often found it politic to change their allegiance
Polyglot (adj): pol-ee-glot
Polyglot is used to describe something such as a book or society in which several different languages are used = multilingual
New York is a typical polyglot city because of the millions of immigrants who settle there
1 Ponderous writing or speech is very serious, uses more words than necessary, and is rather dull
2 A movement or action that is ponderous is very slow or clumsy
He spoke in a slow ponderous voice
After five drinks his steps were heavy and ponderous
Portentous (adj): pawr-ten-tuhs (915)
If someone's way of speaking, writing, or behaving is portentous, they speak, write, or behave more seriously than necessary because they want to impress other people = pompous, ominous; serious
There was nothing portentous or solemn about him He was bubbling with humour
Portly (adj): pawrt-lee
A portly person, especially a man, is rather fat = stout, stately
My boss is a portly middle-aged man
Posthumous (adj): pos-chuh-muhs
Posthumous is used to describe something that happens after a person's death but relates to something they did before they died = after death
Many great persons have been awarded Bharat Ratna award posthumously
Postprandial (adj): plaw-zuh-buhl
You use post-prandial to refer to things you do or have after a meal = after dinner
We had a post-prandial cigar
Potable (adj): poh-tuh-buhl
Potable water is clean and safe for drinking = drinkable
There is an acute shortage of potable water in the capital
Potential (adj): puh-ten-shuhl (920)
You use potential to say that someone or something is capable of developing into the particular kind of person or thing mentioned = possible, latent
The potential side effects of the drug are unknown
Practicable (adj): prak-ti-kuh-buhl
If a task, plan, or idea is practicable, people are able to carry it out = feasible
The only practicable course of action is to sell the company
Practical (adj): prak-ti-kuhl
The practical aspects of something involve real situations and events, rather than just ideas and theories = theoretical, based on experience, useful
We can offer you practical suggestions on how to increase the fibre in your daily diet
Pragmatic (adj): prag-mat-ik
A pragmatic way of dealing with something is based on practical considerations, rather than theoretical ones A pragmatic person deals with things in a practical way = realistic, practical
The company took a pragmatic decision based on local conditions
Pracarious (adj): pri-kair-ee-uhs
If your situation is precarious, you are not in complete control of events and might fail in what you are doing at any moment = uncertain
The world is a precariuous and an unstable place
Precedent (adj): pres-i-duhnt (925)
If there is a precedent for an action or event, it has happened before, and this can be regarded as an argument for doing it again = preceding in time, rank, etc
The involvement of the US in our country’s affairs would set a dangerous precedent
Precipitate (adj): pri-sip-i-teyt
If something precipitates an event or situation, usually a bad one, it causes it to happen suddenly or sooner than normal = quick, hasty
Do not be precipitate in this matter; investigate further
Precipitous (adj): pri-sip-i-tuhs
A precipitous slope or drop is very steep and often dangerous = steep
The town is perched on the edge of a steep, precipitous cliff
A precocious child is very clever, mature, or good at something, often in a way that you usually only expect to find in an adult = gifted, talented
She came on to the world tennis scene as a precocious 14 year old
Predatory (adj): pred-uh-tawr-ee
Predatory animals live by killing other animals for food = plundering
This behaviour is typical of many predatory mammals - and indeed birds
Preeminent (adj): pree-em-uh-nuhnt (930)
If someone or something is pre-eminent in a group, they are more important, powerful, or capable than other people or things in the group = outstanding, superior
The millionaire flew to London as he wanted the pre-eminent surgeon in the field to perform the operation
Prefatory (adj): pref-uh-tawr-ee
Prefatory comments or remarks are introductory
The chairman made a few prefatory remards before calling upon the first speaker
Prehensile (adj): pri-hen-sil
capable of grasping or holding
Monkeys use not only their hands and feet, but also their prehensile tails in jumping through the trees
Premonitory (adj): pri-mon-i-tawr-ee
serving to warn
Preposterous (adj): pri-pos-ter-uhs
If you describe something as preposterous, you mean that it is extremely unreasonable and foolish = ridiculous
The whole idea was preposterous
Presumptuous (adj): pri-zuhmp-choo-uhs (935)
If you describe someone or their behaviour as presumptuous, you disapprove of them because they are doing something that they have no right or authority to do = arrogant, conceited
I think it would be presumptuous of me to comment on this matter
Pretentious (adj): pri-ten-shuhs
If you say that someone or something is pretentious, you mean that they try to seem important or significant, but you do not think that they are = insincere, artificial
It’s so pretentious of her to greet everyone in French
Prim (adj): prim
If you describe someone as prim, you disapprove of them because they behave too correctly and are too easily shocked by anything rude = exceedingly proper
We tend to imagine that the Victorians were very prim and proper
Primeval (adj): prahy-mee-vuhl
You use primeval to describe things that belong to a very early period in the history of the world = primordial
There were unaccountable species of wildlife in the primeval swamp
Primordial (adj): prahy-mawr-dee-uhl
You use primordial to describe things that belong to a very early time in the history of the world = primeval
Twenty million years ago, Idaho was populated by dense primordial forest
Pristine (adj): pris-teen (940)
Pristine things are extremely clean or new = immaculate
The bike was in pristine condition
Privy (adj): priv-ee
If you are privy to something secret, you have been allowed to know about it = congnizant of, known
Only three people, including to policeman, will be privy to the facts
Problematic (adj): prob-luh-mat-ik
Something that is problematic involves problems and difficulties = troublesome
The little girl is increasingly becoming problematic day by day
Prodigal (adj): prod-i-guhl
You can describe someone as a prodigal son or daughter if they leave their family or friends, often after a period of behaving badly, and then return at a later time as a better person = wasteful
They criticized the administration for its prodigal ways
Prodigious (adj): pruh-dij-uhs
Something that is prodigious is very large or impressive = substantial, massive, remarkable
He impressed all who met him with his prodigious memory
Profane (adj): pruh-feyn (945)
Profane behaviour shows disrespect for a religion or religious things = blasphemous, impious
His profane language clearly hurted the religious leaders present
Profligate (adj): prof-li-git
Someone who is profligate spends too much money or uses too much of something = extremely wasteful
He is well-known for his profligate spending habits
having projecting jaws
Prolific (adj): pruh-lif-ik
A prolific writer, artist, or composer produces a large number of works = plentiful, copious
She is a prolific writer of novels and short stories
Prolix (adj): proh-liks
verbose; drawn out
The readers found the book too prolix to their liking
Prophylactic (adj): proh-fuh-lak-tik (950)
Prophylactic means concerned with preventing disease = preventive, precautionary
Vacaination and other prophylactic measures should be carried out on children
