| petit four |
a small fancy teacake, usu. cut from spongecake, that is frosted on three sides and often decorated. |
| petition |
a formal request that is usu. written, often signed by many people, and addressed to an authority that is empowered to grant some right or benefit. [7 definitions] |
| petit jury |
a group of twelve citizens selected to witness a civil or criminal trial and empowered to decide, after discussing the evidence and issues presented, whether a defendant is guilty or not. (Cf. grand jury.) |
| petit larceny |
see "petty larceny." |
| petit mal |
a form of epilepsy characterized by unconsciousness for short periods of time, but usu. no convulsions. (Cf. grand mal.) |
| petit point |
embroidery done on a canvas backing and resembling woven tapestry. [2 definitions] |
| petnapping |
the stealing of pets in order to sell them, as for use in laboratory experiments. |
| Petrarch |
an Italian poet; Francesco Petrarca (1304-74). |
| Petrarchan sonnet |
an Italian sonnet form made popular by Petrarch, consisting of an octave and a sestet. (Cf. Shakespearean sonnet.) |
| petrel |
any of various related sea birds usu. found far from shore, esp. the storm petrel. |
| petri dish |
a shallow, round, transparent glass or plastic dish with an overlapping cover, used for culturing bacteria and other microorganisms. |
| petrify |
to turn (organic matter) into stone. [4 definitions] |
| petro- |
rock; stone. [2 definitions] |
| petrochemical |
a chemical derivative of petroleum or natural gas, such as gasoline. |
| petrodollar |
(usu. pl.) funds accumulated by an oil-exporting country as part of a surplus in its trade balance, esp. when they are then lent to or invested in other countries. |
| petroglyph |
a drawing or carving on rock, esp. from prehistoric times. |
| petrography |
the scientific description and classification of rocks. |
| petrol |
(chiefly British) a volatile, flammable liquid of hydrocarbons, derived from petroleum and used primarily as fuel for internal-combustion engines; gasoline. |
| petrolatum |
a colorless or yellowish, translucent, greasy, semisolid petroleum derivative used as a lubricant and in medical ointments; petroleum jelly. |
| petroleum |
a thick, flammable mineral oil obtained by drilling beneath the earth's surface and processed into various fuels and lubricants, naphtha, paraffin, and other products. |
| petroleum jelly |
petrolatum. |