pi
1 of 5noun (1)
ˈpī 
plural pis ˈpīz
1
: the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet see Alphabet Table
2
a
: the symbol π denoting the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter
b
: the ratio itself : a transcendental number having a value rounded to eight decimal places of 3.14159265
pi
2 of 5noun (2)
ˈpī
variants or less commonly pie
plural pies
1
: type that is spilled or mixed
2
: a pi character or matrix
pi
3 of 5verb
variants or less commonly pie
pied; piing or pieing
transitive verb
: to spill or throw (type or type matter) into disorder
intransitive verb
: to become pied
pi
4 of 5adjective
variants or less commonly pie
1
: not intended to appear in final printing
pi lines
2
: capable of being inserted only by hand
pi characters
PI
5 of 5abbreviation
1
Philippine Islands
2
private investigator
3
programmed instruction
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle Greek, from Greek pei, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew pē pe
Noun (2)
origin unknown
First Known Use
Noun (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
circa 1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1889, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Adjective
circa 1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing pi
Kids Definition
pi
noun
ˈpī
plural pis
ˈpīz
1
: the symbol π representing the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter
2
: the ratio itself having a value of about 3.1416
Legal Definition
P&I 1 of 2
abbreviation
principal and interest
PI
2 of 2abbreviation
private investigator
piers
noun
1
as in docks
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers tied the boat up at the pier Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- docks
- wharves
- wharfs
- quays
- jetties
- landings
- levees
- floats
- quais
- marinas
- moorings
- shipyards
- berths
- dockyards
- slips
- embarcaderos
- wharfages
- quayages
2
as in pilasters
an upright shaft that supports an overhead structure a bridge pier Synonyms & Similar Words
- pilasters
- pillars
- columns
- stanchions
- pilings
- posts
- caryatids
- pedestals
- obelisks
- buttresses
- caryatides
- piles
- flying buttresses
- needles