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pit
pit1 / pit/ • n. 1. a large hole in the ground. ∎ a large deep hole from which stones or minerals are dug. ∎ a coal mine. ∎ a sunken enclosure in which certain animals are kept in captivity. ∎ short for orchestra pit (see orchestra). ∎ a sunken area in a workshop floor allowing access to a car's underside. ∎ fig. a low or wretched psychological state: spiraling downward into the pit of despair. ∎ (the pit) poetic/lit. hell. 2. an area reserved or enclosed for a specific activity, in particular: ∎ (usu. pits) an area at the side of a track where race cars are serviced and refueled. ∎ a part of the floor of an exchange in which a particular stock or commodity is traded, typically by open outcry. ∎ chiefly hist. an enclosure in which animals are made to fight. 3. a hollow or indentation in a surface. ∎ a small indentation left on the skin after smallpox, acne, or other diseases; a pockmark. • v. (pit·ted , pit·ting ) [tr.] 1. (pit someone/something against) set someone or something in conflict or competition with: a chance to pit herself against him. ∎ hist. set an animal to fight against (another animal) for sport. 2. make a hollow or indentation in the surface of: rain poured down, pitting the bare earth. ∎ [intr.] sink in or contract so as to form a pit or hollow. 3. [intr.] drive a race car into the pits for fuel or maintenance. PHRASES: be the pits inf. be extremely bad or the worst of its kind. the pit of one's (or the) stomach an ill-defined region of the lower abdomen regarded as the seat of strong feelings, esp. anxiety. pit2 • n. the stone of a fruit. • v. (pit·ted , pit·ting ) [tr.] remove the pit from (fruit). |
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"pit." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pit." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-pit.html "pit." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-pit.html |
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Pit
PITPIT, the popular name for trading floors of commodity exchanges, is most often applied to that of the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, the largest exchange in the United States. The Pit records world opinion on the price of key commodities and promotes a liquid market by providing opportunities to make contracts for future delivery ("futures") and to protect buyers against price changes ("hedges"). Founded on 3 April 1848, the Board of Trade was organized in 1850 under a general statute and incorporated by a special legislative act on 18 February 1859. The Board of Trade is governed by a board of directors; an appointed professional serves as president. BIBLIOGRAPHYCowing, Cedric B. Populists, Plungers, and Progressives: A Social History of Stock and Commodity Speculation: 1890–1936. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1965. Benjamin F.Shambaugh/c. w. See alsoCommodity Exchanges ; Exchanges . |
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"Pit." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Pit." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401803277.html "Pit." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401803277.html |
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Pit
Pit, name formerly given to the ground floor of the theatre auditorium, generally excavated below ground level. In the early playhouses the stage and lower boxes were approximately at ground level, and the whole space sunk between these was called the pit, from the Elizabethan cockpit used for cock-fighting. In the early 19th century the lower boxes were replaced by a raised circle, with the pit extending underneath. Shortly after, the old rows of pit seats near the orchestra were replaced by the higher-priced stalls, and the name ‘pit’ was applied only to the more distant rows, now called the rear stalls. Modern theatres have no pit.
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PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Pit." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Pit." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-Pit.html PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Pit." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-Pit.html |
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pit
pit
1. A depression or cavity in the secondary wall of a plant cell that facilitates the movement of substances between adjacent cells. The equivalent structures in primary cell walls are called primary pit fields, areas where plasmodesmata are concentrated and pit development usually occurs. A pit comprises a pit membrane, consisting of the middle lamella plus the primary wall; and a pit cavity, the depression in the secondary wall. Pits usually occur in pairs (called pit pairs) on either side of the middle lamella between two adjacent cells. 2. (coated pit) See endosome. |
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"pit." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pit." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-pit.html "pit." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-pit.html |
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pit
pit A region in a cell wall where the primary wall is not overlaid by secondary thickening, through which substances can be exchanged between adjacent cells. The pit consists of a cavity, which is the area of thinning in the secondary wall, and a pit membrane, which is the primary cell wall covering the cavity. Pits usually occur in pairs. See BORDERED PIT, PRIMARY PIT, and SECONDARY PIT; See also PLASMODESMATA.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "pit." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "pit." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-pit.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "pit." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-pit.html |
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pit
pit hole in the ground OE.; hell; hollow in a surface XIII. OE. pytt = OFris. pett, OS. putti (MDu. putte, Du. put), OHG. pfuzzi (G. pfütze pool, puddle):- WGmc. *putti, puttja — L. puteus well, pit, shaft.
Hence pit vb. put in a pit; make pits in XV; set (opponents) together in a (cock)pit; match, oppose XVIII. pitfall XIV. |
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T. F. HOAD. "pit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "pit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pit.html T. F. HOAD. "pit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pit.html |
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pit
pit Wide-ranging term covering holes for burials (2 Sam. 18: 17) and traps (Ps. 7: 15), as well as the abode both of the dead (Job 33: 18) and of the devil (Rev. 9: 1, 20: 3). The owner of a pit who failed to cover it would be liable to pay compensation (Exod. 21: 33–4) in the event of an accident.
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "pit." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "pit." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-pit.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "pit." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-pit.html |
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pit
pit dig a pit for try to trap; a common biblical metaphor, as in Jeremiah 18:20.
the pit of one's stomach the lower abdomen regarded as the seat of strong feelings, especially anxiety. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "pit." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "pit." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-pit.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "pit." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-pit.html |
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pit
pit (pit) n. (in anatomy) a hollow or depression.
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"pit." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pit." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-pit.html "pit." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-pit.html |
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pit
pit •acquit, admit, backlit, bedsit, befit, bit, Brit, Britt, chit, commit, demit, dit, emit, fit, flit, frit, git, grit, hit, intermit, it, kit, knit, legit, lickety-split, lit, manumit, mishit, mitt, nit, omit, outsit, outwit, permit, pit, Pitt, pretermit, quit, remit, retrofit, shit, sit, skit, slit, snit, spit, split, sprit, squit, submit, tit, transmit, twit, whit, wit, writ, zit
•albeit, howbeit
•poet
•bluet, cruet, intuit, suet, Yuit
•Inuit • floruit • Jesuit
•Babbitt, cohabit, habit, rabbet, rabbit
•ambit, gambit
•jackrabbit • barbet • Nesbit • rarebit
•adhibit, exhibit, gibbet, inhibit, prohibit
•titbit (US tidbit) • flibbertigibbet
•Cobbett, gobbet, hobbit, obit, probit
•orbit • Tobit
•cubit, two-bit
•hatchet, latchet, ratchet
•Pritchett
•crotchet, rochet
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"pit." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pit." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-pit.html "pit." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-pit.html |
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