<B>pyknic, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Anthropology.) <DD><I>adj. </I> characterized by rounded contours and a stocky form; plump and squat. <BR> <I>Ex. His pyknic Priestleyan features puckered in concentration (Sunday Times).</I> <DD><I>noun </I> a person of this type. <BR> <I>Ex. When they go insane, pyknics are more likely to be manic-depressives (Alfred L. Kroeber).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="pyknosis">
<B>pyknosis, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ses.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a condition in which the nucleus of a cell stains more deeply than usual in microscopic study. This condition is thought to be a precursor of necrosis. <DD><B> 2. </B>the thickening of a fluid or semisolid substance. </DL>
<A NAME="pyknotic">
<B>pyknotic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having to do with or characterized by pyknosis. <BR> <I>Ex. pyknotic cells.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="pykrete">
<B>pykrete, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a frozen slurry of water and wood pulp for use as building material in arctic regions. </DL>
<A NAME="pylon">
<B>pylon, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a post or tower for guiding aviators, especially as a marker for the course to be flown in an air race. <DD><B> 2. </B>a tall steel framework used to carry high-tension wires across country. <BR> <I>Ex. The caption ... implies that overhead lines in Borrowdale are to be erected on lattice towers--commonly referred to as "pylons" (London Times).</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>one of a pair of high supporting structures of masonry marking an entrance at either side of a bridge. <DD><B> 4. </B>a gateway, particularly of an Egyptian temple, usually consisting of two huge towers. <DD><B> 5. </B>a vertical structure attached to an aircraft's wing, fuselage, or other surface to support an engine, fuel tank, etc.. <BR> <I>Ex. These devices, known as pylons, are part of the underbelly of F-84 Thunderjets (Science News Letter).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="pylorectomy">
<B>pylorectomy, </B>noun, pl. <B>-mies.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the surgical removal of the pylorus. <DD><B> 2. </B>the surgical removal of part of the stomach. </DL>
<A NAME="pyloric">
<B>pyloric, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with the pylorus. <BR> <I>Ex. pyloric glands, pyloric sphincter.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="pylorospasm">
<B>pylorospasm, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a closing of the pylorus; spasm of the pylorus or of the part of the stomach close to the pylorus. <BR> <I>Ex. Heavy drinking may also produce in some people the condition called pylorospasm (Scientific American).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="pylorus">
<B>pylorus, </B>noun, pl. <B>-lori.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the opening that leads from the stomach into the intestine. </DL>
<A NAME="pyo">
<B>pyo-,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (combining form.) pus. <BR> <I>Ex. Pyogenesis = the formation of pus.</I> <DL COMPACT><DD> Also, <B>py-</B> before vowels. </DL>
</DL>
<A NAME="pyoderma">
<B>pyoderma, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> any disease of the skin characterized by the formation of pus. </DL>
<A NAME="pyodermia">
<B>pyodermia, </B>noun. <B>=pyoderma.</B></DL>
<A NAME="pyogenesis">
<B>pyogenesis, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the formation of pus; suppuration. </DL>
<A NAME="pyogenic">
<B>pyogenic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> producing or generating pus; attended with or having to do with the formation of pus. </DL>
<B>pyoid, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of the nature of or resembling pus; purulent. </DL>
<A NAME="pyonephritis">
<B>pyonephritis, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> suppurative inflammation of a kidney. </DL>
<A NAME="pyopericardium">
<B>pyopericardium, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the presence, or a collection, of pus in the pericardium. </DL>
<A NAME="pyophthalmia">
<B>pyophthalmia, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an inflammation of the eye that causes pus to form. </DL>
<A NAME="pyopneumothorax">
<B>pyopneumothorax, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the presence of pus and air in the pleural cavities. </DL>
<A NAME="pyorrhea">
<B>pyorrhea</B> or <B>pyorrhoea, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a disease of the gums in which pockets of pus form about the teeth, the gums shrink, and the teeth become loose. <BR> <I>Ex. The quantities of the two vitamins in body fluids of people with parodontal lesions, or pyorrhea, [are] lower than normal (Science News Letter).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="pyorrheal">
<B>pyorrheal</B> or <B>pyorrhoeal, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with pyorrhea. </DL>
<A NAME="pyosis">
<B>pyosis, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the formation of pus; suppuration. </DL>
<A NAME="pyothorax">
<B>pyothorax, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the collection of pus in the pleural cavities. </DL>
<A NAME="pyoureter">
<B>pyoureter, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the collection of pus in a ureter. </DL>
<A NAME="pyr">
<B>pyr-,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the form of <B>pyro-</B> that appears before <I>h,</I> and sometimes before vowels, as in <BR> <I>Ex. pyrene, pyrheliometer.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="pyracantha">
<B>pyracantha, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> any one of a group of thorny, evergreen shrubs; firethorn. <BR> <I>Ex. Pyracantha in the North has long since been denuded of its berries (New York Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="pyralid">
<B>pyralid, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> any plain-colored moth of a large family with slender bodies, such as the meal moth. <DD><I>adj. </I> belonging to or having to do with this family. </DL>
<B>Pyralin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Trademark.) a substance composed essentially of pyroxylin and camphor, variously colored to imitate ivory, amber, tortoise shell, and ebony, and used in the manufacture of many products, as combs and other toilet articles, knife handles, and trays. </DL>
<A NAME="pyramid">
<B>pyramid, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a solid having triangular sides meeting in a point. The base of a pyramid is a polygon. <DD><B> 2. </B>anything having the form of a pyramid. <BR> <I>Ex. a pyramid of stones, a pyramid of cannonballs.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>a crystal each of whose faces intersects the vertical axis and one or two of the lateral axes. <DD><B> 4a. </B>a very large structure built of stone or the like, with sloping sides meeting at a point and, usually, with a square base. <BR> <I>Ex. ... the great pyramid of Cholula, the largest and most sacred temple in Mexico (Joseph Gwilt).</I> <DD><B> b. </B>Usually, <B>the Pyramids.</B> any one of the huge, massive stone pyramids, serving as royal tombs, built by the ancient Egyptians. <BR> <I>Ex. The largest of the Pyramids is the Great Pyramid at Giza, on the west bank of the Nile.</I> <DD><B> 5. </B>(Anatomy.) a part or structure of more or less pyramidal form: <DD><B> a. </B>a mass of longitudinal nerve fibers on each side of the medulla oblongata. <DD><B> b. </B>one of theconical-shaped masses making up the medullary substance of the kidney. <DD><B> 6. </B>(Figurative.) a pyramidal structure; an organization or hierarchy having the form of a pyramid. <BR> <I>Ex. a pyramid of power, a corporate pyramid. The traditional pyramid, with a small upper class at the top, a somewhat larger middle class immediately below, and a much larger working class at the bottom ... (New Scientist).</I> <DD><B> 7. </B>an investment scheme in which each investor buys a position on a pyramid-shaped chart for a sum divided between the investor who preceded him and the one on top of the pyramid. <BR> <I>Ex. More like floating crap games than clubs, pyramids are illegal in most states (Money).</I> <DD><I>v.i. </I> <B>1. </B>to form a pyramid. <BR> <I>Ex. The acrobats pyramided skillfully, one on top of the other.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to rise to the top or highest point. <BR> <I>Ex. Consumer lending had pyramided since the war (Canada Month).</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>to be arranged in pyramidal form. <BR> <I>Ex. High scorers pyramid to the top, and highest scorer at the end of the final round is declared the winner (New York Times).</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>(Finance.) to pyramid one's holdings in stocks. <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to put in the form of a pyramid. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to raise or increase (as costs or wages) gradually. <BR> <I>Ex. They are pyramiding their costs in their pricing, just as steel is doing (Wall Street Journal).</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) to increase (as one's operations or holdings) in buying or selling stock on margin by using the profits to buy or sell more. <BR> <I>Ex. He pyramided his winnings and piled gold on gold ... and finally saw himself a millionaire three times over (Percy Marks).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="pyramidal">
<B>pyramidal, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>shaped like a pyramid. <BR> <I>Ex. the pyramidal structures of ancient Egypt (William H. Prescott).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) colossal; huge; extraordinarily great (a French use). <BR> <I>Ex. a pyramidal success.</I> adv. <B>pyramidally.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="pyramidic">
<B>pyramidic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> pyramidal. <BR> <I>Ex. The enormous gate which rose O'er them in almost pyramidic pride (Byron).</I> </DL>
<B>pyramidion, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ions,</B> <B>-ia.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a small pyramid forming the apex of an obelisk. <DD><B> 2. </B>any small pyramid. </DL>
<A NAME="pyramus">
<B>Pyramus, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Greek Legend.) a young Babylonian who loved Thisbe and killed himself because he thought that she had been devoured by a lion. </DL>
<A NAME="pyran">
<B>pyran, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> one of two isomeric compounds, each having a ring of five carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. </DL>
<A NAME="pyrargyrite">
<B>pyrargyrite, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a dark-colored mineral consisting of a sulfide of silver and antimony, and showing, when transparent, a deep ruby-red color by transmitted light; dark ruby silver. </DL>
<B>pyrazinamide, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a drug sometimes used in the treatment of tuberculosis, especially in conjunction with isoniazid or streptomycin, in persons who are resistant to or sensitive to other drugs. </DL>
