pill Meaning & Definition
What Does Pill Mean?
Pill is used as a noun meaning A small, usually round or cylindrical object designed for easy swallowing, usually containing some sort of medication. It is also used to mean Such an object that is of solid constitution (usually of compressed, bonded powder) rather than a capsule (with a shell containing loose powder or liquid). As a verb, it means Of a woven fabric surface, to form small matted balls of fiber. As a verb, it means To peel; to remove the outer layer of hair, skin, or bark.
Quick Facts About Pill
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //pɪl// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | lozenge, tablet and oral contraceptive |
| Plural | pills |
| Verb forms | pills, pilling, pilled |
Pill Definition (Noun)
- A small, usually round or cylindrical object designed for easy swallowing, usually containing some sort of medication.
- Such an object that is of solid constitution (usually of compressed, bonded powder) rather than a capsule (with a shell containing loose powder or liquid).
- Contraceptive medication, usually in the form of a pill to be taken by a woman; an oral contraceptive pill.
Jane went on the pill when she left for college.
- Something offensive, unpleasant or nauseous which must be accepted or endured.
- A contemptible, annoying, or unpleasant person.
- A comical or entertaining person.
- A small piece of any substance, for example a ball of fibers formed on the surface of a textile fabric by rubbing.
- A baseball.
- A bullet (projectile).
- A rounded rectangle containing a brief text caption indicating the tag or category that an item belongs to.
Pill as a Verb
- Of a woven fabric surface, to form small matted balls of fiber.
This sweater is already pilled: it fuzzed after the very first wash.
- To form into the shape of a pill.
Pilling is a skill rarely used by modern pharmacists.
- To medicate with pills; to administer pills to.
She pills herself with all sorts of herbal medicines.
- To take recreational drugs in pill form.
- To persuade or convince someone of something.
- To blackball (a potential club member).
Verb
- To peel; to remove the outer layer of hair, skin, or bark.
- To peel; to make by removing the skin.
- To be peeled; to peel off in flakes.
- To pillage; to despoil or impoverish.
Noun
- The peel or skin.
Noun
- An inlet on the coast; a small tidal pool or bay. Pill can occur in the name of such an inlet.
Noun
- (definite, i.e. used with "the") Contraceptive medication, usually in the form of a pill to be taken by a woman; an oral contraceptive pill.
Jane went on the pill when she left for college.
- A small piece of any substance, for example a ball of fibres formed on the surface of a textile by rubbing.
- A rounded rectangle indicating the tag or category that an item belongs to.
Verb
- To medicate with pills.
She pills herself with all sorts of herbal medicines.
Noun
- An inlet on the coast; a small tidal pool or bay.
Synonyms of Pill
Antonyms of Pill
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Pill in a Sentence
Jane went on the pill when she left for college.
She got pregnant one month after going off the pill.
This sweater is already pilled: it fuzzed after the very first wash.
Pilling is a skill rarely used by modern pharmacists.
She pills herself with all sorts of herbal medicines.
Pilling the cat is such a nightmare.
Word Forms & Grammar
pill (plural pills)
pill (third-person singular simple present pills, present participle pilling, simple past and past participle pilled)
Words That Rhyme With Pill
Origin of Pill
Origin 1: From Middle English pille (also pillem), a borrowing from Middle Low German pille or Middle Dutch pille (whence Dutch pil), probably from Latin pila, pilula.
Origin 2: From Middle English pillen, pilen, from Old English pilian (“to peel”), from Latin pilō (“depilate”), from pilus (“hair”). Doublet of peel.
Origin 3: From Middle English *pill, *pyll, from Old English pyll (“a pool, pill”), from Proto-Germanic *pullijaz (“small pool, ditch, creek”), diminutive of Proto-Germanic *pullaz (“pool, stream”), from Proto-Indo-European *bl̥nos (“bog, marsh”). Cognate with Old English pull (“pool, creek”), Scots poll (“slow moving stream, creek, inlet”), Icelandic pollur (“pond, pool, puddle”). More at pool.
How to Pronounce Pill
Pill is pronounced //pɪl// and has 1 syllable.
Quick Answers About Pill
Is pill a noun or a verb?
Pill is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for pill?
You can replace pill with words such as lozenge, tablet and oral contraceptive. See the full list of pill synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of pill?
The plural of pill is pills.
What is the past tense of pill?
The past tense of pill is pilled. The present participle is pilling.