Words that start with P

A pacifier, also called a binky, dummy or soother, is something you give to babies to suck to calm them down. Modern pacifiers have a nipple-shaped part that goes into the baby's mouth, a shield to keep it in place and a handle to hold onto.

A group of dogs is called a pack.

Packing is also a word for filling something with something else.

You pack a suitcase when you go away on vacation. Packing something means putting things inside it until it is full. You can pack a suitcase, boxes or even pack a wardrobe full of things.

A paddle is a hand-held device that you push backwards through the water to make a boat or canoe move forward.

A paddle steamer, or paddle wheeler, is a type of boat that is driven forward by a large wheel. Usually the wheel is at the back of the paddle steamer (stern-wheeler), but there can also be a wheel on either side (side-wheeler).

Paddle steamers are usually found on still, calm water like rivers. The paddle wheel can be driven by either a steam engine or a more modern electric or diesel engine.

A paddock is a large open space, surrounded by a fence, that is used for keeping animals such as horses, cows and sheep in.

A padlock is a type of lock that is designed to go through two loops, like the two parts of a gate latch or two links of a chain. Padlocks are small and portable and are commonly used to lock sheds or lock up bicycles.

A pagoda is a style of building typically seen as a temple in countries like Japan or China. Pagodas often have many layers of decorative roof, with upturned edges.

Pail is another word for a bucket, particularly an old-fashioned wooden bucket.

Paint is a liquid you can buy that you can use to change the colour of something. Paint goes on when it is wet, so you need to wait for it to dry. Some paints come in small, dry blocks and you need to wet them with water to be able to use them. You use a paintbrush to paint with.