Adjacent Words

P definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

P is the sixteenth letter of the English Alphabet, and a labial articulation formed by a close compression of the anterior part of the lips, as in ep. It is convertible into b and f, sometimes into v.
This letter is found int he oriental languages, from which it was received into the Greek and Latin; except however the Arabic, which has not this letter, and the Arabians cannot easily pronounce it. In some words which we have borrowed from the Greek, p is mute, as in psalm, ptisan; but is not silent in English words, unless it may be in receipt, and a few irregular words. P aspirated or followed by h, represents the Greek, which answers to the English f, as in philosophy.
As an abbreviation, P. stands for Publius, pondo, etc. P.A. DIG for patricia dignitas; P.C. for Patres Conscripti; P.F. for Publius Fabius; P.P. for propositum publice; P.R. for populus Romanus; P.R.S. for praetoris sententia; P.R.S.P. for praeses provinciae.
P.M. stands for post meridiem, afternoon.
As a numeral, P, like G, stands for one hundred, and with a dash over it, for four hundred thousand.
Among physicians, P. Stands for pugil, or the eighth part of a handful; P.AE. For partes aequales, equal parts of the ingredients; P.P. for pulvis patrum, or the Jesuits bark in powder; and ppt. For praeparatus, prepared.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms [syn: phosphorus, P, atomic number 15]
2: the 16th letter of the Roman alphabet [syn: P, p]

Merriam Webster's

I. abbreviation 1. pressure 2. [French poids] weight II. symbol phosphorus

Merriam Webster's

I. noun (plural p's or ps) Usage: often capitalized, often attributive Date: before 12th century 1. a. the 16th letter of the English alphabet b. a graphic representation of this letter c. a speech counterpart of orthographic p 2. a graphic device for reproducing the letter p 3. one designated p especially as the 16th in order or class 4. [abbreviation for pass] a. a grade rating a student's work as passing b. one graded or rated with a P 5. something shaped like the letter P II. abbreviation 1. page; pages 2. parental generation 3. part 4. participle 5. past 6. pater 7. pawn 8. pence; penny 9. per 10. peseta 11. peso 12. petite 13. piano 14. pico- 15. pint 16. pipe 17. pitch 18. pole 19. port 20. power 21. pro 22. proton 23. purl

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. (also p) (pl. Ps or P's) the sixteenth letter of the alphabet. 2. abbr. (also P.) 1 (on road signs) parking. 2 Chess pawn. 3 Physics poise (unit). 4 proprietary. 3. symb. Chem. the element phosphorus.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

abbr. (also p.) 1 Brit. penny, pence. 2 page. 3 pico-. 4 piano (softly).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Labial La"bi*al, n. 1. (Phonetics) A letter or character representing an articulation or sound formed or uttered chiefly with the lips, as b, p, w. 2. (Mus.) An organ pipe that is furnished with lips; a flue pipe. 3. (Zo["o]l.) One of the scales which border the mouth of a fish or reptile.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Mute Mute, n. 1. One who does not speak, whether from physical inability, unwillingness, or other cause. Specifically: (a) One who, from deafness, either congenital or from early life, is unable to use articulate language; a deaf-mute. (b) A person employed by undertakers at a funeral. (c) A person whose part in a play does not require him to speak. (d) Among the Turks, an officer or attendant who is selected for his place because he can not speak. 2. (Phon.) A letter which represents no sound; a silent letter; also, a close articulation; an element of speech formed by a position of the mouth organs which stops the passage of the breath; as, p, b, d, k, t. 3. (Mus.) A little utensil made of brass, ivory, or other material, so formed that it can be fixed in an erect position on the bridge of a violin, or similar instrument, in order to deaden or soften the tone.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

P P (p[=e]), the sixteenth letter of the English alphabet, is a nonvocal consonant whose form and value come from the Latin, into which language the letter was brought, through the ancient Greek, from the Ph[oe]nician, its probable origin being Egyptian. Etymologically P is most closely related to b, f, and v; as hobble, hopple; father, paternal; recipient, receive. See B, F, and M. See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 247, 248, and 184-195.