• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

prat·fall noun 1 : a fall on the buttocks

2 : a humiliating blunder

1prattle verb prat·tled; prat·tling 1 : to talk long and idly : PRATE, BABBLE

2 : to utter or make meaningless sounds suggestive of the chatter of children

Synonyms

babble, chatter, drivel, gabble, gibber, jabber, sputter—more at BABBLE

2prattle noun : trifling or childish talk

Synonyms

babble, gabble, gibberish, gobbledygook, nonsense, piffle, rot—more at GIBBERISH

prawn noun : any of various edible shrimplike crustaceans; also : SHRIMP 1

pray verb 1 : to make a request to (someone) in an earnest manner : ENTREAT, IMPLORE

2 : to ask earnestly for something

3 : to address God or a god esp. with supplication

Synonyms

appeal, beg, beseech, entreat, implore, importune, petition, plead, solicit, supplicate—more at BEG

prayer noun 1 : a supplication or expression addressed to God or a god; also : a set order of words used in praying

2 : an earnest request or wish

3 : the act or practice of praying to God or a god

4 : a religious service consisting chiefly of prayers — often used in pl.

5 : something prayed for

6 : a slight chance

Synonyms

appeal, cry, entreaty, petition, plea, solicitation, suit, supplication—more at PLEA

prayer book noun : a book containing prayers and often directions for worship

prayer·ful adjective 1 : DEVOUT

2 : characterized by or proceeding from an intense and serious state of mind : EARNEST

— prayer·ful·ly adverb

praying mantis noun : MANTIS

PRC abbreviation People's Republic of China

preach verb 1 : to deliver a sermon

2 : to set forth in a sermon

3 : to advocate earnestly

— preach·ment noun

preach·er noun : one that preaches

Synonyms

clergyman, divine, ecclesiastic, father, minister, priest, reverend—more at CLERGYMAN

pre·ad·o·les·cence noun : the period of human development just preceding adolescence

— pre·ad·o·les·cent adjective or noun

pre·am·ble noun [ORIGIN: ME, fr. MF preambule, fr. ML preambulum, fr. LL, neut. of praeambulus walking in front of, fr. L prae in front of + ambulare to walk]

: an introductory part

Synonyms

foreword, introduction, preface, prologue—more at INTRODUCTION

pre·ar·range verb : to arrange beforehand

— pre·ar·range·ment noun

pre·as·sign verb : to assign beforehand

prec abbreviation preceding

Pre·cam·bri·an adjective : of, relating to, or being the era that is earliest in geologic history and is characterized esp. by the appearance of single-celled organisms

— Precambrian noun

pre·can·cel verb : to cancel (a postage stamp) in advance of use

— precancel noun

— pre·can·cel·la·tion noun

pre·can·cer·ous adjective : likely to become cancerous

pre·car·i·ous adjective : dependent on uncertain conditions : dangerously insecure : UNSTABLE <~ prosperity>

— pre·car·i·ous·ly adverb

pre·car·i·ous·ness noun : the quality or state of being precarious

Synonyms

insecurity, instability, shakiness, unsteadiness—more at INSTABILITY

pre·cau·tion noun : a measure taken beforehand to prevent harm or secure good

— pre·cau·tion·ary adjective

pre·cede verb pre·ced·ed; pre·ced·ing : to be, go, or come ahead or in front of (as in rank or time)

Synonyms

antedate, forego

Antonyms

follow, succeed

pre·ce·dence noun 1 : the act or fact of preceding

2 : consideration based on order of importance : PRIORITY

1precedent adjective : prior in time, order, or significance

2precedent noun : something said or done that may serve to authorize or justify further words or acts of the same or a similar kind

pre·ced·ing adjective : that precedes

Synonyms

antecedent, anterior, foregoing, previous, prior—more at PREVIOUS

pre·cen·tor noun : a leader of the singing of a choir or congregation

pre·cept noun : a command or principle intended as a general rule of action or conduct

pre·cep·tor noun : a person charged with the instruction and