p

1 of 5

noun

ˈpē 

plural p's or ps ˈpēz 

often capitalized, often attributive

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

p

2 of 5

abbreviation (1)

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

progressive

23

proton

24

purl

P

3 of 5

abbreviation (2)

1

pressure

2

[French poids] weight

P

4 of 5

symbol

phosphorus

p-

5 of 5

abbreviation (3)

para-

Examples of p in a Sentence

Noun

a word that starts with a p

a word that starts with p

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Crossley says police estimate Perez disappeared between 6 p.m. and 7 p..m. local time on Sunday, and her husband reportedly came home around 20 minutes after her disappearance. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024

Despite the similarity in structure, p-synephrine acts differently from ephedra.44 Weight loss supplements can have side effects and interact with prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and other dietary supplements. —Trang Tran, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 18 Oct. 2024

After a day of boating, a man drove his truck and trailer to the water at Lake Sonoma to recover his boat at about 10:40 p..m., the CHP said in a July 5 news release. —Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 8 July 2024

Researchers measured the level of plasma phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217), a type of protein that builds up and impairs the brain in Alzheimer’s patients, and amyloid beta, another protein that is considered a biomarker of Alzheimer’s. —Lauryn Higgins, Health, 3 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing p

• mind one's p's and q's
• p's and q's
• p-type
• watch one's p's and q's

Kids Definition

p

noun

ˈpē

often capitalized

: the 16th letter of the English alphabet

Medical Definition

P

1 of 3 abbreviation

1

parental

2

part

3

percentile

4

pharmacopoeia

5

pint

6

pole

7

population

8

position

9

positive

10

posterior

11

pressure

12

pulse

13

pupil

P

2 of 3 symbol

phosphorus

p-

3 of 3 abbreviation

para-

p-dichlorobenzene