pellet
1 of 2noun
pel·let ˈpe-lət 
1
a
: a usually small rounded, spherical, or cylindrical body (as of food or medicine)
b
: a wad of indigestible material (as of bones and fur) regurgitated by a bird of prey
2
: any of various projectiles fired from a weapon (such as an air rifle)
pelletal
ˈpe-lə-tᵊl
adjective pellet
2 of 2verb
pelleted; pelleting; pellets
transitive verb
1
: pelletize
2
: to strike with pellets
Synonyms
Noun
- ball
- bullet
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun the tightly packed pellets of a shotgun cartridge
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Hurtes, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Enviva is building several new pellet plants in the Southern Pine Belt with the aim of doubling production capacity over the next five years. Ryan Dezember, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2022 Many pellet smokers get hot enough to grill, but not over a flame. Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 7 June 2022 Both juvenile and adult Kunpengopterus were eating the same type of fish, though, based on the scales in each pellet, of considerably different sizes. Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 6 June 2022 Now there are some outdoor cookers that have digital controls, the new pellet smokers. Kristine M. Kierzek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 June 2022 Officers checked on a report of several youths shooting one another with pellet guns July 28, but did not locate any activity. cleveland, 8 Aug. 2022 The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have spent decades testing the best outdoor living and cooking gadgets, including pellet grills and smokers, gas grills and so much more. Dan Diclerico, Good Housekeeping, 12 July 2022 Founded in 1990, the company is based in Cache Valley, Utah, nestled in the Bear River Mountains, and is perhaps best-known for its line of pellet grills and smokers. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 10 July 2022 Jo Yurcaba, Woman's Day, 23 Oct. 2019 Fill them with the tiny wood smoker pellets that look like rabbit feed to add a lengthy, thick smoke boost whenever it is needed. Chuck Blount, ExpressNews.com, 5 Aug. 2019 Spread a light layer of compost or pelleted seed establishment mulch over the new seed to help keep it moist. Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 10 July 2018 Snow pellets form when supercooled water droplets are collected and freeze on falling snowflakes. Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 21 Dec. 2017 See More
Noun
Its pellet bags are labeled as coming exclusively from sawdust and wood chips. Sarah Hurtes, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Enviva is building several new pellet plants in the Southern Pine Belt with the aim of doubling production capacity over the next five years. Ryan Dezember, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2022 Many pellet smokers get hot enough to grill, but not over a flame. Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 7 June 2022 Both juvenile and adult Kunpengopterus were eating the same type of fish, though, based on the scales in each pellet, of considerably different sizes. Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 6 June 2022 Now there are some outdoor cookers that have digital controls, the new pellet smokers. Kristine M. Kierzek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 June 2022 Officers checked on a report of several youths shooting one another with pellet guns July 28, but did not locate any activity. cleveland, 8 Aug. 2022 The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have spent decades testing the best outdoor living and cooking gadgets, including pellet grills and smokers, gas grills and so much more. Dan Diclerico, Good Housekeeping, 12 July 2022 Founded in 1990, the company is based in Cache Valley, Utah, nestled in the Bear River Mountains, and is perhaps best-known for its line of pellet grills and smokers. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 10 July 2022 Verb
NC State Veterinary Hospital recommends pelleted feed formulated specifically for chinchillas. Jo Yurcaba, Woman's Day, 23 Oct. 2019 Fill them with the tiny wood smoker pellets that look like rabbit feed to add a lengthy, thick smoke boost whenever it is needed. Chuck Blount, ExpressNews.com, 5 Aug. 2019 Spread a light layer of compost or pelleted seed establishment mulch over the new seed to help keep it moist. Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 10 July 2018 Snow pellets form when supercooled water droplets are collected and freeze on falling snowflakes. Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 21 Dec. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English pelote, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *pilota, diminutive of Latin pila ball
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing pellet
Kids Definition
pellet
noun
pel·let ˈpe-lət
1
: a little ball (as of food or medicine)
2
: a piece of small shot
3
: a wad of material (as bones and fur) that cannot be digested and has been thrown up by a bird of prey (as an owl)
Medical Definition
pellet
noun
pel·let ˈpel-ət
: a usually small rounded or spherical body
specifically : a small cylindrical or ovoid compressed mass (as of a hormone) that is implanted subcutaneously for slow absorption into bodily tissues
pelleting
verb
as in pelletizing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pelletizing
- beading
- clumping
- pearling
- bunching
- lumping
- agglomerating
- balling
- wadding
- sphering
- rounding
- rolling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- opening
- flattening
- spreading
- unrolling
- smoothing
- unfolding