peeler
A plant which impoverishes the soil by demanding high value nutrients and so requires the use of fertilizers.
Entries starting with P
582 entries.
pellicle
A thin plastic membrane used as a beam splitter or protective cover (for example, to protect a photomask).
peloid
An allochem composed of micrite.
PEM
Initialism of polymer electrolyte membrane.
PEMS
nounAutomotive
Initialism of portable emissions measurement system.
pencil
An aggregate or collection of rays of light, especially when diverging from, or converging to, a point.
pendant
A short rope hanging down, used to attach hooks for tackles; a pennant.
pendulum
A body suspended from a fixed support so that it swings freely back and forth under the influence of gravity, commonly used to regulate various devices such as clocks.
penny
To circumvent the tripping of an electrical circuit breaker by the dangerous practice of inserting a coin in place of a fuse in a fuse socket.
penstaff
nounManufacturing
An upright plug for the drain of a mash tun.
pent roof
nounAutomotive
A penta engine, also known as a pent-roof combustion chamber.
pentice
An unexcavated portion of a shaftway, intended to afford protection from falling debris to workers at the bottom of the shaft during certain stages of mining.
percale
A fine, closely woven fabric, made from cotton, polyester or a mix of these, and used for sheets and clothing.
perch
nounManufacturing
A frame used to examine cloth.
percher
nounManufacturing
An inspector of cloth before finishing.
perching
nounManufacturing
Inspection of cloth before finishing.
perennialization
The conversion of a plant from an annual to a perennial
perfecting
The process of printing on both sides of the printed-on material during its single pass through the printing press.
perfecting press
A press in which the printing on both sides of the paper is completed in one passage through the machine.
peripheral device
An electronic device that is outside the computer's system unit (external to the computer's enclosing case), but used by the computer to which it is connected, such as a printer or a scanner.
peritrochium
The wheel which, together with the axle, forms the axis in peritrochio.
permaculture
Any system of sustainable agriculture that renews natural resources and enriches local ecosystems.
permanent way
nounRail equipment
The track and ballast (bed) of a railway.
permissible
Any tool or device permitted for use in potentially explosive mine environments.
permissive working
nounRail equipment
A system allowing more than one train at a time to be on the same line in a block section, a signal section, or a dead-end platform line.
permittance
The power of a dielectric to permit or enhance induction.
permutator
A special form of rotary converter with stationary commutator and rotating brushes, in which the exciting field is induced by the alternating current in a short-circuited magnetic core instead of being produced by an external magnet.
Pernot furnace
nounMetallurgy
A reverberatory furnace with a circular revolving hearth, used in making steel.
perpendicular recording
A technique of creating magnetic data storage using vertical as opposed to longitudinal magnetization.
person-to-person
adjectiveElectrical engineering
Of a telephone call, such that the caller is only connected and charged if the person he specified is available to speak.
persuader
One who, or that which, persuades, literally or figuratively.
PES
Initialism of IEEE Power Engineering Society.
petabecquerel
An SI unit of radioactivity equal to 10¹⁵ becquerels. Symbol: P
petagram
An SI unit of mass equal to 10¹⁵ grams. Symbol: Pg Sometimes used in Carbon Dioxide numbers, it is equivalent to Metric Gigatons (Giga) 10⁹ x (Ton) 10³ x (kg) 10³ = 10¹⁵
petahertz
An SI unit of frequency equal to 10¹⁵ hertz.
petajoule
An SI unit of energy equal to 10¹⁵ joules. Symbol: PJ
petakelvin
An SI unit of temperature equal to 10¹⁵ kelvins. Symbol: PK
petametre
An SI unit of length equal to 10¹⁵ metres. Symbol: Pm
petanque
Any of various ores, including forms of silver sulfide (such as stephanite) and the copper ore tetrahedrite.
petasecond
An SI unit of time equal to 10¹⁵ seconds. Symbol: Ps. (= 31 709 800 years)
petawatt
An SI unit of power equal to 10¹⁵ watts. Symbol: PW. An amount of power much larger than all the power generated by all power stations on Earth. (Consuming 1 petawatt during a duration of 1 hour would consume 1 petawatt-hour of energy.)
Peter Pan collar
A flat collar with rounded ends, cut to fit around the curve of the neckline, usually white or pale-coloured.
petite
adjectiveManufacturing
Of small size; intended for small-framed adult women.
petrochemical
Any chemical derived from petroleum.
petrography
The branch of petrology that deals with the scientific description and classification of rocks.
petrol cap
nounAutomotive
The cap that closes a petrol tank and may be opened to refill it.
petrol engine
An internal combustion engine designed to run on petrol (gasoline).
petroliferous
adjectiveMining and extraction
Containing or yielding petroleum.
petticoat pipe
nounRail equipment
A short, flaring pipe surrounding the blast nozzle in the smokebox of a locomotive, to equalize the draft.
pfb
verbManufacturing
To purl into front and back of same stitch.
PFC
Initialism of power factor correction.
PFD
adjectiveTextile production
Initialism of prepared for dyeing.
PFI
nounAutomotive
Initialism of port fuel injection.
pfleiderer
A toothed machine for shredding cellulose in the manufacture of synthetic materials.
PFS
Initialism of Planetary Fourier Spectrometer.
PGA
Initialism of pin grid array, a type of integrated circuit package, describing the electrical connections to circuit boards on which such a package is mounted.
phaeton
nounAutomotive
a large open touring motorcar with a folding top
phanerite
An igneous rock composed of macroscopic mineral crystals (coarse grains large enough to be visible to the naked eye).
phaneritic
adjectiveMining and extraction
Pertaining to phanerites, igneous rocks composed of macroscopic mineral crystals (coarse grains large enough to be visible to the naked eye).
phantom jam
nounAutomotive
A slowdown in traffic that occurs without an apparent reason.