I. ˈpī noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle Greek, from Greek pei, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew pē
1. : the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet — symbol Π or π; 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 to eight decimal places of 3.14159265
II. noun
also pie “
( plural pies )
Etymology: origin unknown
1.
a. : type or type matter that is spilled, mixed, or incorrectly distributed
when … a disaster occurs and the type falls or collapses, the resulting disordered heap is the famous printer's pi — Seán Jennett
b. : the condition of pi
a great deal of what he has set up is often thrown into pi — John Southward
2. : a pi character or matrix
Synonyms: see confusion
III. adjective
1. : not intended to appear in final printing because improperly set or containing a temporary instruction to the printer — used of a line of type or print
2. : not carried in a keyboard-controlled channel and therefore insertable only by hand — used of a typesetting-machine matrix
IV. verb
also pie “
( pied ; pied ; piing or pieing ; pies )
transitive verb
: to spill or throw (type or type matter) into disorder
pi a case
pi a form
pi a galley
intransitive verb
: to become pied
some display matter pies easily
V. adverb
Etymology: pi (III)
: as a pi character
border matrices always run pi but can have special combinations cut to run in magazine — Intertype Faces
VI. adjective
Etymology: short for pious
Britain : moralizing , preachy , goody-goody
VII. abbreviation
piaster