- pi
-
I. noun
(plural pis)
Etymology: Middle Greek, from Greek pei, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew pē pe
Date: 1638
1. the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet — see alphabet table
2.
a. the symbol π denoting the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter
b. the ratio itself ; a transcendental number having a value rounded to eight decimal places of 3.14159265
II. noun
also pie
(plural pies)
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: circa 1659
1. type that is spilled or mixed
2. a pi character or matrix
III. verb
also pie
(pied; piing or pieing)
Date: 1889
transitive verb
to spill or throw (type or type matter) into disorder
intransitive verb
to become pied
IV. adjective
also pie
Date: circa 1940
1. not intended to appear in final printing <pi lines> 2. capable of being inserted only by hand <pi characters>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.