■ noun
1》 a small round mass of solid medicine for swallowing whole.
↘( the Pill ) a contraceptive ~.
2》 informal, dated a ball.
3》 informal, dated a tedious or unpleasant person.
■ verb (of knitted fabric) form small balls of fluff on its surface.
Phrases
a bitter ~ an unpleasant or painful necessity.
sugar (or sweeten ) the ~ make an unpleasant or painful necessity more palatable.
Origin
ME: ult. from L. pilula 'little ball', dimin. of pila .