pill

views updated Jun 08 2018

pill¹ / pil/ • n. a small round mass of solid medicine to be swallowed whole. ∎ (the pill or the Pill) a contraceptive pill: she is on the pill. ∎ inf. a tedious or unpleasant person. ∎ inf. (in some sports) a humorous term for a ball.PHRASES: a bitter pill (to swallow) an unpleasant or painful necessity (to accept).DERIVATIVES: pil·u·lar / ˈpilyələr/ adj.pill² • v. [intr.] (of knitted fabric) form small balls of fluff on its surface.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

pill

views updated Jun 08 2018

pill small ball of medicinal substance to be swallowed XV; transf. pellet, ball XVI. — MLG., MDu. pille, Du. pil, presumably — reduced form of L. pilula PILULE.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

pill

views updated May 23 2018

pill (pil) n.
1. a small ball of variable size, shape, and colour, sometimes coated with sugar, that contains one or more medicinal substances in solid form. It is taken by mouth.

2. the Pill see oral contraceptive.

A Dictionary of Nursing

PILL

views updated May 23 2018

PILL (pɪl) Computing programmed instruction language learning

The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH