--- title: P — The English dictionary with trees and pragmatics · page 53 description: The 1498 words of the English dictionary under P, every meaning for a pupil and every example with its dependency tree and pragmatics. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/P/page/53/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [English dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/) / P # P — The English dictionary · page 53 [A](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/A/) · [B](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/B/) · [C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/C/) · [D](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/D/) · [E](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/E/) · [F](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/F/) · [G](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/G/) · [H](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/H/) · [I](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/I/) · [J](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/J/) · [K](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/K/) · [L](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/L/) · [M](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/M/) · [N](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/N/) · [O](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/O/) · [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/P/) · [Q](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/Q/) · [R](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/R/) · [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/S/) · [T](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/T/) · [U](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/U/) · [V](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/V/) · [W](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/W/) · [X](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/X/) · [Y](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/Y/) · [Z](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/Z/) [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/P/) … [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/P/page/52/) **53** [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/P/page/54/) … [77](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/P/page/77/) **preferential** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Preferential means giving one person or group better treatment than others.[↗](../../preferential/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* The teacher's son should not get preferential treatment.[↗](../../preferential/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Members got preferential prices for tickets.[↗](../../preferential/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · It is unfair to give preferential treatment to friends.[↗](../../preferential/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Older people get preferential seats on the bus.[↗](../../preferential/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The club had preferential booking for families.[↗](../../preferential/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Should the captain get preferential treatment?[↗](../../preferential/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") No, everyone should be treated fairly.[↗](../../preferential/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **preferentially** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* (formal) In a way that gives one person or thing better treatment than others: «Members are served preferentially.».[↗](../../preferentially/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (science, formal) More often or more strongly than other choices: «Bees preferentially visit blue flowers.».[↗](../../preferentially/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Some shops treat loyal customers preferentially.[↗](../../preferentially/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The plant preferentially grows towards the light.[↗](../../preferentially/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Water preferentially flows down the steepest slope.[↗](../../preferentially/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · It is unfair if the teacher marks friends preferentially.[↗](../../preferentially/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Mosquitoes preferentially bite some people more than others.[↗](../../preferentially/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Older passengers are seated preferentially on this bus.[↗](../../preferentially/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **preferred** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Preferred means liked one thing more than another.[↗](../../preferred/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* As an adjective, preferred means the one that is chosen or liked best.[↗](../../preferred/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* (formal) In a job advert, «preferred» means wanted but not required.[↗](../../preferred/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* I preferred the book to the film.[↗](../../preferred/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Most pupils preferred pizza to pasta.[↗](../../preferred/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · She preferred to walk rather than take the bus.[↗](../../preferred/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · In the survey, 18 of 30 pupils preferred apples, so 12 preferred something else.[↗](../../preferred/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Write your preferred name on the form.[↗](../../preferred/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Cats are preferred as pets in our street.[↗](../../preferred/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Experience in sport is preferred but not required.[↗](../../preferred/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") (formal)[↗](../../preferred/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · We both loved the same Fairy, but she preferred me.[↗](../../preferred/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") · Certain translators have preferred to render otyot yesod as 'elemental letters' by analogy with the Greek term.[↗](../../preferred/#x9 "tree and pragmatics") (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)[↗](../../preferred/#x9 "tree and pragmatics") · My reading according to a manuscript of Rabbi Isaac Luria, which I have preferred to all others, is thus: (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)[↗](../../preferred/#x10 "tree and pragmatics") **prefix** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A prefix is a group of letters added to the start of a word to make a new word with a different meaning, like un- in «unhappy», re- in «redo» or pre- in «preview».[↗](../../prefix/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* To prefix something is to add a word, letters or numbers in front of it.[↗](../../prefix/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* In maths and science, prefixes on units show size: kilo- means a thousand (kilometre), centi- means a hundredth (centimetre), milli- means a thousandth (millimetre).[↗](../../prefix/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 4:* A phone prefix (dialling code) is the numbers you dial before a phone number.[↗](../../prefix/#m4 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 5:* To prefix a book or story can also mean to put an introduction or note at its very start.[↗](../../prefix/#m5 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Add the prefix un- to «tidy» to make «untidy».[↗](../../prefix/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The prefix re- means «again», as in «rewrite».[↗](../../prefix/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · «Impossible» uses the prefix im-.[↗](../../prefix/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Kilo- is a prefix meaning a thousand, so a kilogram is 1,000 grams.[↗](../../prefix/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The prefix sub- means under, like in «submarine».[↗](../../prefix/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Circle the prefix in «disappear».[↗](../../prefix/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Milli- means one thousandth, so there are 1,000 millimetres in a metre.[↗](../../prefix/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · To call another country, you prefix the number with its code.[↗](../../prefix/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") · This introduction is almost identical with that prefixed to the German story of "Allerleirauh,"\[195\] except in so far as the puppets are concerned.[↗](../../prefix/#x9 "tree and pragmatics") **preform** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* (technical) A preform is an object that has been partly shaped before its final shape, such as the small plastic tube that is blown up into a drinks bottle.[↗](../../preform/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (verb, rare) To preform is to shape something beforehand.[↗](../../preform/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Plastic bottles start as small preforms.[↗](../../preform/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The machine heats the preform and blows it into a bottle.[↗](../../preform/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · We looked at a preform in technology class.[↗](../../preform/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The preform looks like a thick test tube.[↗](../../preform/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Glass fibre is pulled from a preform.[↗](../../preform/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · A preform is heated until it is soft.[↗](../../preform/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **preggers** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* (slang, UK) pregnant.[↗](../../preggers/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Guess what — she's preggers\![↗](../../preggers/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · My sister's preggers with twins.[↗](../../preggers/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Is she preggers or has she just eaten a lot?[↗](../../preggers/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Auntie Jo is preggers again.[↗](../../preggers/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · «Preggers» is a jokey word, not for a doctor's letter.[↗](../../preggers/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The gossip at school was that the teacher was preggers.[↗](../../preggers/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **pregnancy** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* The time when a woman or a female animal has a baby growing inside her body.[↗](../../pregnancy/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* The state of being pregnant.[↗](../../pregnancy/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Mum was tired during her pregnancy.[↗](../../pregnancy/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · A human pregnancy lasts about nine months.[↗](../../pregnancy/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · An elephant's pregnancy lasts about 22 months.[↗](../../pregnancy/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Pregnant women go to the doctor for check-ups during pregnancy.[↗](../../pregnancy/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · My aunt announced her pregnancy at dinner.[↗](../../pregnancy/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Smoking is harmful during pregnancy.[↗](../../pregnancy/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **pregnant** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A woman or female animal is pregnant when a baby (or babies) is growing inside her body before it is born.[↗](../../pregnant/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* A pregnant pause is a silence full of meaning, when everyone waits for what comes next.[↗](../../pregnant/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* My aunt is pregnant, and the baby is due in spring.[↗](../../pregnant/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Please give your seat to the pregnant lady.[↗](../../pregnant/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Our cat is pregnant and will have kittens soon.[↗](../../pregnant/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · A human baby grows for about nine months while the mother is pregnant.[↗](../../pregnant/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Pregnant women should not lift very heavy things.[↗](../../pregnant/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · There was a pregnant pause before the teacher read out the winner.[↗](../../pregnant/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Elephants stay pregnant for almost two years.[↗](../../pregnant/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **prehensile** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* (science) Prehensile means able to grip, hold or wrap around things, used about a body part such as a tail, foot, trunk or lip.[↗](../../prehensile/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Spider monkeys have prehensile tails that can hold branches.[↗](../../prehensile/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · A seahorse wraps its prehensile tail around seaweed.[↗](../../prehensile/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · A chameleon uses its prehensile tail like an extra hand.[↗](../../prehensile/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · An elephant's trunk is prehensile; it can pick up a single peanut.[↗](../../prehensile/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The possum hung from the tree by its prehensile tail.[↗](../../prehensile/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · A giraffe's long prehensile tongue pulls leaves off branches.[↗](../../prehensile/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Our thumbs make our hands prehensile.[↗](../../prehensile/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **prehistoric** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Prehistoric means from the very long time before people wrote things down, so before written history began.[↗](../../prehistoric/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (informal, humorous) Prehistoric can also mean very old-fashioned or out of date.[↗](../../prehistoric/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Stonehenge was built in prehistoric times.[↗](../../prehistoric/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Prehistoric people painted animals on cave walls.[↗](../../prehistoric/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Dinosaurs were prehistoric reptiles.[↗](../../prehistoric/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · We found a prehistoric flint tool in the museum.[↗](../../prehistoric/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Woolly mammoths were prehistoric animals that lived in the Ice Age.[↗](../../prehistoric/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · (humorous) Dad's phone is prehistoric — it can't even take photos\![↗](../../prehistoric/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Archaeologists dig up prehistoric bones to learn how people lived.[↗](../../prehistoric/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **prehistory** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* The very long time in the past before people wrote things down, so we learn about it from things they left behind, like tools, bones and cave paintings.[↗](../../prehistory/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* The early beginnings of something: the prehistory of computers.[↗](../../prehistory/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Stonehenge was built in prehistory.[↗](../../prehistory/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · We are learning about British prehistory, from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.[↗](../../prehistory/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Archaeologists dig up tools to learn about prehistory.[↗](../../prehistory/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Cave paintings tell us about life in prehistory.[↗](../../prehistory/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Prehistory ended at different times in different places.[↗](../../prehistory/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The museum has a gallery on prehistory.[↗](../../prehistory/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **prejudice** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* An unfair opinion about a person or group, made before you know them, often because of their skin colour, religion, where they come from, or how they look.[↗](../../prejudice/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* To prejudice someone means to make them have an unfair opinion before they know the facts.[↗](../../prejudice/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Prejudice means judging people before you know them.[↗](../../prejudice/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · It is prejudice to think girls cannot play football.[↗](../../prejudice/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The book is about a boy who faces prejudice at his new school.[↗](../../prejudice/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · We talked about how to stand up to prejudice.[↗](../../prejudice/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · He was prejudiced against the new team because they came from another town.[↗](../../prejudice/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Getting to know people helps to break down prejudice.[↗](../../prejudice/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Martin Luther King Jr. worked to end prejudice against Black Americans.[↗](../../prejudice/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · Travel improves the mind wonderfully, and does away with all one’s prejudices.”[↗](../../prejudice/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") **preliminary** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Preliminary means coming before the main part and getting ready for it.[↗](../../preliminary/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* A preliminary is a first step or early round, such as a heat in a competition.[↗](../../preliminary/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* (formal) Preliminaries are things done before the main business, such as greetings.[↗](../../preliminary/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* We did a preliminary test before the real experiment.[↗](../../preliminary/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Our team won the preliminary round.[↗](../../preliminary/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The preliminary results look good.[↗](../../preliminary/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · After the preliminaries, the meeting began.[↗](../../preliminary/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · A preliminary drawing helps you plan a picture.[↗](../../preliminary/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · (formal) Preliminary findings indicate an increase in rainfall.[↗](../../preliminary/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · He skipped the preliminaries and got straight to the point.[↗](../../preliminary/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") · The preliminary heats are in the morning.[↗](../../preliminary/#x8 "tree and pragmatics") · Some stories start off without any preliminary formula, or with a simple "Well, there was once a ----".[↗](../../preliminary/#x9 "tree and pragmatics") **premature** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Happening or done too early, before the right time.[↗](../../premature/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (of a baby) Born too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.[↗](../../premature/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* My cousin was born premature and spent weeks in hospital.[↗](../../premature/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · It's premature to say who will win; the game isn't over.[↗](../../premature/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Premature babies are often very small.[↗](../../premature/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The celebration was premature; the other team scored.[↗](../../premature/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Smoking can cause premature ageing of the skin.[↗](../../premature/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The scientist warned against premature conclusions.[↗](../../premature/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · Phineus had been punished by the gods with premature old age and blindness for having abused the gift of prophecy.[↗](../../premature/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **prematurely** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Too early; before the usual or proper time: «The baby was born prematurely.».[↗](../../prematurely/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Before you have enough facts or before you are ready: «Don't celebrate prematurely.».[↗](../../prematurely/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* My cousin was born prematurely and spent weeks in hospital.[↗](../../prematurely/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · The match ended prematurely because of the storm.[↗](../../prematurely/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The striker celebrated prematurely and the goal was disallowed.[↗](../../prematurely/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · His hair went prematurely grey when he was thirty.[↗](../../prematurely/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The flowers opened prematurely in the warm February.[↗](../../prematurely/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Don't judge the book prematurely; read to the end.[↗](../../prematurely/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · The firework went off prematurely, so everyone stepped back.[↗](../../prematurely/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **premeditated** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Planned or thought about carefully beforehand, especially a crime or a bad act.[↗](../../premeditated/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* The judge said the attack was premeditated.[↗](../../premeditated/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · It wasn't an accident; it was premeditated.[↗](../../premeditated/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The burglary was premeditated; they had studied the house for weeks.[↗](../../premeditated/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · A premeditated lie is worse than a mistake.[↗](../../premeditated/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · In the detective story, the murder was carefully premeditated.[↗](../../premeditated/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The prank was premeditated, not spur-of-the-moment.[↗](../../premeditated/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **premier** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A premier is the leader of a government, especially a prime minister; in Canada and Australia, a premier leads a province or state government.[↗](../../premier/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Premier (adjective) means the best, the most important or the first: «a premier hotel», «the Premier League».[↗](../../premier/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* A premier league or division is the top level of a sport.[↗](../../premier/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* The Premier of Queensland spoke about the floods.[↗](../../premier/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Ontario's premier met the prime minister of Canada.[↗](../../premier/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Our team wants to play in the Premier League one day.[↗](../../premier/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · This is the premier event of the school year.[↗](../../premier/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The Chinese premier visited Europe.[↗](../../premier/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The premier division is the highest level of the league.[↗](../../premier/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **premise** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A premise is an idea or fact that an argument or plan is based on.[↗](../../premise/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* The premise of a story or film is its basic idea.[↗](../../premise/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* Premises (plural) means a building and the land around it, such as a shop or school.[↗](../../premise/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* The premise of the story is a boy who can fly.[↗](../../premise/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · No dogs are allowed on the premises.[↗](../../premise/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · If the premise is wrong, the conclusion may be wrong too.[↗](../../premise/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · The shop moved to new premises.[↗](../../premise/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · «All cats have tails» is a premise in the argument.[↗](../../premise/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Smoking is not allowed on school premises.[↗](../../premise/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **premises** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Premises are the buildings and land that a business, school or organisation uses.[↗](../../premises/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* «Premises» (plural of «premise») are ideas or statements that an argument is built on.[↗](../../premises/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* No dogs are allowed on the premises.[↗](../../premises/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Pupils must not leave the school premises at lunchtime.[↗](../../premises/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The shop moved to bigger premises.[↗](../../premises/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Smoking is not permitted on these premises.[↗](../../premises/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") (formal)[↗](../../premises/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The police searched the premises.[↗](../../premises/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · The café has a car park on the premises.[↗](../../premises/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **premium** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* (money) An amount paid regularly for insurance.[↗](../../premium/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* An extra amount paid on top of the usual price.[↗](../../premium/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 3:* adjective Of high quality and usually more expensive: «premium ice cream».[↗](../../premium/#m3 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 4:* at a premium Hard to find and so in great demand: «Space is at a premium in our flat.».[↗](../../premium/#m4 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 5:* put a premium on Treat something as very important.[↗](../../premium/#m5 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Mum pays an insurance premium every month for the car.[↗](../../premium/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Premium tickets cost more but you sit at the front.[↗](../../premium/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · We bought the premium ice cream for the party.[↗](../../premium/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Seats were at a premium at the school concert.[↗](../../premium/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Our coach puts a premium on teamwork.[↗](../../premium/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Dad filled up with premium petrol.[↗](../../premium/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") · You pay a premium for fruit that is out of season.[↗](../../premium/#x7 "tree and pragmatics") **premolar** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* One of the teeth between the pointed canine teeth and the big flat molars at the back of the mouth; premolars have two points and help crush food.[↗](../../premolar/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (adjective) To do with these teeth.[↗](../../premolar/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Premolars sit between your canines and your molars.[↗](../../premolar/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · An adult has eight premolars, two on each side of each jaw.[↗](../../premolar/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The dentist said my premolar needs a filling.[↗](../../premolar/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · Premolars help to crush food before you swallow.[↗](../../premolar/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Children's milk teeth include molars but no premolars.[↗](../../premolar/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · Sometimes premolars are taken out to make room before braces.[↗](../../premolar/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **preoccupation** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* A state of thinking about one thing so much that you hardly notice other things: «In his preoccupation, he missed the bus.».[↗](../../preoccupation/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* Something that fills your mind all the time, a worry or strong interest: «Football is his main preoccupation.».[↗](../../preoccupation/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Her preoccupation with the test made her forget her lunch.[↗](../../preoccupation/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · Winning the cup was the team's only preoccupation.[↗](../../preoccupation/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · Dad's main preoccupation is paying the bills.[↗](../../preoccupation/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · His preoccupation with his phone annoyed his gran.[↗](../../preoccupation/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · The writer's great preoccupation was the sea.[↗](../../preoccupation/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · In her preoccupation she walked straight past her friend.[↗](../../preoccupation/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") **preoccupied** — *Everyday, meaning 1:* Thinking so much about one thing, often a worry, that you do not notice what is around you: «She looked preoccupied.».[↗](../../preoccupied/#m1 "tree and pragmatics") *Everyday, meaning 2:* (verb, past) Filled someone's mind: «The problem preoccupied him all week.».[↗](../../preoccupied/#m2 "tree and pragmatics") *Example:* Mum seemed preoccupied and did not hear my question.[↗](../../preoccupied/#x1 "tree and pragmatics") · He was too preoccupied with his game to eat dinner.[↗](../../preoccupied/#x2 "tree and pragmatics") · The detective was preoccupied with the missing key.[↗](../../preoccupied/#x3 "tree and pragmatics") · She stared out of the window, preoccupied.[↗](../../preoccupied/#x4 "tree and pragmatics") · Money worries preoccupied the family all winter.[↗](../../preoccupied/#x5 "tree and pragmatics") · I was so preoccupied that I put the milk in the cupboard.[↗](../../preoccupied/#x6 "tree and pragmatics") 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