First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1pitch
noun \ˈpich\
Definition of PITCH
1
: a black or dark viscous substance obtained as a residue in the distillation of organic materials and especially tars
2
: any of various bituminous substances
3
: resin obtained from various conifers and often used medicinally
4
: any of various artificial mixtures resembling resinous or bituminous pitches
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Origin of PITCH
Middle English pich, from Old English pic, from Latin pic-, pix; akin to Greek pissa pitch, Old Church Slavic pĭcĭlŭ
Other Chemical Engineering Terms
2pitch
verb
Definition of PITCH
transitive verb
: to cover, smear, or treat with or as if with pitch
First Known Use of PITCH
before 12th century
3pitch
verb
Definition of PITCH
transitive verb
1
: to erect and fix firmly in place <pitch a tent>
2
: to throw usually with a particular objective or toward a particular point <pitch hay onto a wagon>: as a : to throw (a baseball) to a batter b : to toss (as coins) so as to fall at or near a mark <pitch pennies> c : to put aside or discard by or as if by throwing <pitched the trash into the bin>
3
4
a (1) : to cause to be at a particular level or of a particular quality <a test pitched at a 5th-grade reading level> (2) : to set in a particular musical key b : to cause to be set at a particular angle : slope
5
: to utter glibly and insincerely
6
a : to use as a starting pitcher b : to play as pitcher
7
: to hit (a golf ball) in a high arc with backspin so that it rolls very little after striking the green
8
: throw 14 <pitch a fit>
intransitive verb
1
a : to fall precipitately or headlong b (1) of a ship : to have the bow alternately plunge precipitately and rise abruptly (2) of an aircraft, missile, or spacecraft : to turn about a lateral axis so that the forward end rises or falls in relation to the after end c : buck 1
2
: encamp
3
: to hit upon or happen upon something <pitch upon the perfect gift>
4
: to incline downward : slope
5
a : to throw a ball to a batter b : to play ball as a pitcher c : to pitch a golf ball
Origin of PITCH
Middle English pichen to thrust, drive, fix firmly, probably from Old English *piccan, from Vulgar Latin *piccare — more at pike
First Known Use: 13th century
Synonym Discussion of PITCH
throw, cast, toss, fling, hurl, pitch, sling mean to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force. throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm <can throw a fastball and a curve>. cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering <cast it to the winds>. toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion <tossed the coat on the bed>. fling stresses a violent throwing <flung the ring back in his face>. hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight <hurled himself at the intruder>. pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target <pitch horseshoes>. sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim <slung the bag over his shoulder>.
4pitch
noun
Definition of PITCH
1
a : slope; also : degree of slope : rake b : the distance between any of various things: as (1) : distance between one point on a gear tooth and the corresponding point on the next tooth (2) : distance from any point on the thread of a screw to the corresponding point on an adjacent thread measured parallel to the axis c : the theoretical distance a propeller would advance longitudinally in one revolution d : the number of teeth or of threads per inch e : a unit of width of type based on the number of times a letter can be set in a linear inch
4
a : the relative level, intensity, or extent of some quality or state <tensions rose to a feverish pitch> b (1) : the property of a sound and especially a musical tone that is determined by the frequency of the waves producing it : highness or lowness of sound (2) : a standard frequency for tuning instruments c (1) : the difference in the relative vibration frequency of the human voice that contributes to the total meaning of speech (2) : a definite relative pitch that is a significant phenomenon in speech
5
a : a steep place : declivity b : the portion of a route (as in mountain climbing or caving) between belay points
6
7
: an all-fours game in which the first card led is a trump
8
a : an often high-pressure sales presentation b : advertisement c : recommendation, plug <made a pitch for tax cuts>
9
— pitched \ˈpicht\ adjective
First Known Use of PITCH
1542
PITCH[4] Defined for Kids
1pitch
verb \ˈpich\
pitchedpitch·ing
Definition of PITCH for Kids
1
: to set up and fix firmly in place <We pitched a tent.>
2
: to throw usually toward a certain point <I pitched hay onto a wagon.>
3
: to throw a baseball or softball to a batter
4
: to plunge or fall forward
6
: to fix or set at a certain highness or lowness <… he pitched the call high enough to make it sound like a young turkey gobbling. — Virginia Hamilton, M. C. Higgins>
7
: to move in such a way that one end falls while the other end rises <The ship pitched in a rough sea.>
— pitch in
: to contribute to a common task or goal <We all pitched in to clean the mess.>
2pitch
noun
Definition of PITCH for Kids
1
: highness or lowness of sound
2
: amount of slope <The roof has a steep pitch.>
3
: an up-and-down movement <the pitch of a ship>
4
: the throw of a baseball or softball to a batter
5
: the amount or level of something (as a feeling) <Excitement reached a high pitch.>
— pitched \ˈpicht\ adjective <a high-pitched voice>
3pitch
noun
Definition of PITCH for Kids
1
: a dark sticky substance left over from distilling tar and used in making roofing paper, in waterproofing seams, and in paving
2
: resin from various evergreen trees (as the pine)
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