Pill

Definition

Pill typically refers to a small, round solid dose of medication intended to be swallowed.

Parts of Speech

• Noun: pill (e.g., "He took a pill for his headache.")
• Verb: pill (e.g., "The sweater began to pill after a few washes.")

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /pɪl/
• Respelling: PIL (with "PIL" as in "will")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /pɪl/
• Respelling: PIL (similar to American English, with "PIL" as in "will")

In both dialects, "pill" is pronounced with a single, stressed syllable, "PIL." The pronunciation remains consistent across both American and British English, emphasizing the short "i" vowel sound.

Etymology

The term "pill" is derived from the Latin word "pilula," which means "little ball." This is due to the small, ball-like shape of many pills. Historically, medications were often rolled into small balls before being consumed, giving rise to the term.

Derivatives

• Pillbox
• Pillory
• Pillar
• Pillowy
• Pill-popper

Synonyms

• Tablet
• Capsule
• Dose

Antonyms

None.

Usage

"Pill" is frequently used to describe a form of medication that can be ingested orally. The term can also refer to any small, round object resembling a medication pill. When used as a verb, it describes the process of forming small balls or pills on the surface of fabrics due to wear or friction.

Related Terms

• Medication
• Prescription
• Dosage
• Over-the-counter
• Pharmaceutical

Detailed Definition

Noun

• A small, solid form of medication that is intended to be swallowed whole.
• Example: "The doctor prescribed a pill to alleviate her symptoms."

• Any object or item that is small and round.
• Example: "She found a small pill of lint on her sweater."

• A tiresome or unpleasant task or person.
• Example: "He's a tough pill to swallow, but he gets the job done."

Verb

• To form small balls on the surface of fabrics, especially as a result of wear or friction.
• Example: "The fabric starts to pill if you wash it too frequently."