| pteridophyte |
in some systems of classification, a division of plants that have true vascular roots, stems, and leaves and that reproduce by means of spores, such as ferns, club mosses, or horsetails. |
| ptero- |
feather; wing. |
| pterodactyl |
any of various extinct flying reptiles. |
| -pterous |
having (such or so many) wings. |
| Ptolemaic |
of or pertaining to Ptolemy or the system of astronomy he developed. |
| Ptolemaic system |
the cosmographic theory, systematized by the Hellenistic astronomer Ptolemy, according to which all heavenly bodies revolve around the earth, which is fixed at the center of the universe. |
| Ptolemy |
an Alexandrian mathematician, astronomer, and geographer (second century A.D.). [2 definitions] |
| ptomaine |
any of a variety of basic nitrogenous substances, some poisonous, that are produced by the decay of protein. |
| ptomaine poisoning |
poisoning caused by ingestion of a ptomaine, or food poisoning erroneously ascribed to this cause. |
| ptyalin |
an enzyme found in human and some animal saliva that converts starch into maltose and various dextrins. |
| Pu |
symbol of the chemical element plutonium. |
| pub |
(informal) a bar or tavern. |
| puberty |
the stage or age at which a person experiences the maturation of the reproductive system. |
| pubes1 |
that hair that appears as a secondary sex characteristic at puberty, esp. the hair surrounding the genitals. [2 definitions] |
| pubes2 |
pl. of pubis. |
| pubescent |
reaching or having already reached puberty. [2 definitions] |
| pubic |
of, pertaining to, or located in the area of the lower abdomen that includes the front portion of the pelvis. |
| pubis |
the section of either hipbone that, together with the same section of the other hipbone, forms the front part of the pelvis. |
| public |
of, for, or pertaining to all members of a community; not private. [7 definitions] |
| public-address system |
a system of electronic amplifiers used to make sounds easily heard by a large audience, as in a theater or auditorium, or outdoors. |
| publican |
the proprietor of a pub (public house), who holds the license to sell alcoholic beverages. [2 definitions] |