Words that start with P

Pis forPoinsettia

Scientific name: euphorbia pulcherrima

leaves, the real flowers are the tiny yellow part in the centre.

Pointing is a motion you can make with your hand to indicate the presence of something. Most people point using one outstretched finger, typically their index finger, which is also called the 'pointer finger.'

List of action and motion words, Verbs

Photographic Dictionary / Generated illustration

Pis forPointless

Something is pointless if there is no reason for it to exist. A task is pointless if there is no reason to complete it. The gate in the picture is pointless because you can just walk around it.

Adjectives

Anthony Easton / CC BY-SA

Pis forPointy

Something is pointy if one or more parts of it has an outwards-facing part with a sharp or acute angle. The shoes in the photo are very pointy.

Adjectives

Andrew Kuznetsov / CC BY-SA

Pis forPoison

Poisons are something that, when it gets into the system of a living organism, has a bad effect. If a creature comes into contact with enough poison, they will die. Poisons are distinguished from venom and toxins in the way they are produced. A toxin is a poison produced by a natural process, and venom is a poison that is injected by a bite or sting.

Substances

Pawpaw67 / CC BY-SA

Pis forPoison ivy

Scientific name: toxicodendron radicans

Poison ivy is a vine that grows throughout North America. It is not a true ivy. Poison ivy contains urushiol, a type of oil that causes an itchy rash in most people.

Plants

Susanne Nilsson / CC BY-SA

Pis forPoisonous

Something is poisonous if it contains poison. Poison can make you very sick, or kill you. Poison needs to get inside you somehow to be dangerous. Poisonous mushrooms and berries are usually eaten, and poisonous insects and snakes inject poison when they bite you. The frog in the picture will poison anything that eats it, and people use the poison from the frog to put on arrows and darts to help them hunt.

Adjectives

Beatrice Murch / CC BY-SA

Pis forPoke

You poke something by taking something pointy and pushing it into something else, but not so hard it does any damage. You can poke people with your finger to get their attention, or poke something with a stick to see how hard or soft it is.

Verbs

David / CC BY-SA

Pis forPolar bear

Scientific name: ursus maritimus

Polar bears live in the cold areas in the northern part of the world. They are white to camouflage with the snow. They have very thick fur and a thick layer of fat to keep them warm. They are excellent swimmers, and eat mainly fish and seals.

Mammals

Matt Newman / CC BY-SA

Pis forPole

A pole is a very tall post. Poles are often used to hold something up, like a tent or power lines. A Pole is also someone from Poland.

List of structures