[pitch] n [ME pich, fr. OE pic, fr. L pic-, pix; akin to Gk pissa pitch, OCS picilu] (bef. 12c) 1: a black or dark viscous substance obtained as a residue in the distillation of organic materials and esp. 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
[2]pitch vt (bef. 12c): to cover, smear, or treat with or as if with pitch [3]pitch vb [ME pichen] vt (13c) 1: to erect and fix firmly in place "~ a tent"
2: to throw usu. with a particular objective or toward a particular point "~ 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 "~ pennies" c: to put aside or discard by or as if by throwing "~ed the trash into the bin" "decided to ~ the whole idea"
3: to present or advertise for sale esp. in a high-pressure way
4. a (1): to cause to be at a particular level or of a particular quality (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 ~ vi 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 "~ 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
6: to make a sales pitch syn see throw -- pitch into 1: attack, assail
2: to set to work on energetically [4]pitch n (1542) 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
2: the action or a manner of pitching; esp: an up-and-down movement--compare yaw 3 archaic: top, zenith
4. a: the relative level, intensity, or extent of some quality or state "tensions rose to a feverish ~" b (1): the property of a sound and esp. 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 steep place: declivity
6. chiefly Brit a: an outdoor site (as for camping or doing business) b: playing field 1 7: an all-fours game in which the first card led is a trump
8. a: an often high-pressure sales presentation b: advertisement
9. a: the delivery of a baseball by a pitcher to a batter b: a baseball so thrown c: pitchout
2. -- pitched adj