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• pitcher
  pitcher

  noun

  a container, usually with a handle and spout or lip, for holding and pouring liquids.
• Pitcher
  Pitcher

  noun

  Molly Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley, 1754–1832, American Revolutionary heroine.

pitcher

¹ American  

[pich-er] / ˈpɪtʃ ər /

noun

1. a container, usually with a handle and spout or lip, for holding and pouring liquids.

2. Botany.

   1. a pitcherlike modification of the leaf of certain plants.

   2. an ascidium.

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pitcher ² American  

[pich-er] / ˈpɪtʃ ər /

noun

1. a person who pitches.

2. Baseball. the player who throws the ball to the opposing batter.

3. Also called number seven iron.  Golf. a club with an iron head the face of which has more slope than a mashie but less slope than a pitching niblick.

4. sett.

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Pitcher ³ American  

[pich-er] / ˈpɪtʃ ər /

noun

1. Molly Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley, 1754–1832, American Revolutionary heroine.

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pitcher ¹ British  

/ ˈpɪtʃə /

noun

1. a large jug, usually rounded with a narrow neck and often of earthenware, used mainly for holding water

2. botany any of the urn-shaped leaves of the pitcher plant

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pitcher ² British  

/ ˈpɪtʃə /

noun

1. baseball the player on the fielding team who pitches the ball to the batter

2. a granite stone or sett used in paving

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pitcher Idioms  

1. see little pitchers have big ears.

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Other Word Forms

• pitcherlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pitcher¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English picher, from Old French pichier, from Medieval Latin picārium, variant of bicārium beaker

Origin of pitcher²

First recorded in 1700–10; pitch ¹ + -er ¹

Explanation

In baseball or softball, the pitcher is the player who throws the ball to the catcher in an attempt to strike out the batter. Another kind of pitcher is one that holds a liquid, like a pitcher of lemonade. The pitcher is one of the most important players on a team, aiming the pitch so that it stays inside a certain "strike zone," but in a way that entices the batter to swing and miss or not to swing at all. The batter, on the other hand, tries to hit the ball that the pitcher throws, and maybe even to hit a home run. The 18th-century meaning of pitcher was "one who pitches hay into a wagon."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pitcher Pitcher

If Skubal can fight to get up off this floor — if that is what this is, the low point for both the pitcher and his new club — L.A. will love him for it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tarik Skubal underwent the procedure as a college freshman and Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet had it in 2022.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

From his highly anticipated debut at age 21, it only took him two months to be the All-Star Game’s starting pitcher.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

A similar debut patch rookie card featuring Major League Baseball pitcher Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates sold for $1.1 million last year.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

I stare at the imaginary pitcher and announce the play-by-play.

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner

Det Ch Insp Al Pitcher, who is leading the investigation, also said "all our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved".

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

Det Ch Insp Al Pitcher, of Essex Police, previously said the Rahmans were "trying to help" Musa after he "got into difficulties" in the water.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Pitcher, Liliana Escobar, JSerra, Sr.: The Florida commit helped lead the Lions to their first Southern Section Division 1 title with a 1.25 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 146 innings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026

Pitcher Violet Ascencio struck out 13 to lead Venice High to a 7-2 win over Eagle Rock in the City Section Division I softball championship game on Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2026

Ma fixed pots and scythes and rakes and picks for eggs or some such, took what we needed, then traded the rest to Ralph Pitcher for store credit at the mercantile.

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye

Related Words

• ace
• baseball player
• reliever