pal

[ pal ]

/ pæl /

Informal.

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noun

a friend or close associate; chum; comrade.

an accomplice.

verb (used without object), palled, pal·ling.

to associate as comrades or chums: to pal around with the kid next door.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of pal

First recorded in 1675–85; English Romani: “brother, mate,” variant of continental Romani phral, ultimately from Sanskrit bhrātṛ “brother”; see brother

Other definitions for pal (2 of 5)

PAL¹

[ pal ]

/ pæl /

noun

a special air service offered by the U.S. Postal Service for sending parcels from 5 to 30 pounds (2.3 to 13.5 kilograms) to overseas members of the armed forces: only the regular parcel post rate to the U.S. port of shipment plus $1 is charged.

Compare SAM¹ (def. 2).

Origin of PAL

P(arcel) A(ir) L(ift)

Other definitions for pal (3 of 5)

PAL²

or P.A.L.

abbreviation

Police Athletic League.

Other definitions for pal (4 of 5)

pal.

abbreviation

paleography.

paleontology.

Other definitions for pal (5 of 5)

Pal.

abbreviation

Palestine.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pal in a sentence

And back in February, he lost a close pal in Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Coffee Talk with Ethan Hawke: On ‘Boyhood,’ Jennifer Lawrence, and Bill Clinton’s Urinal Exchange|Marlow Stern|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Grant's pal Howard Hughes offered to fly them back to Los Angeles in his private plane.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A few weeks later, Valentino and her pal, an aspiring actress named Meg Foster, met Cosby again at Café Figaro.
Bill Cosby’s Long List of Accusers (So Far): 18 Alleged Sexual Assault Victims Between 1965-2004|Marlow Stern|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And your pal Laura Dern recently said you were “cooking up” your next one.
David Lynch on Transcendental Meditation, ‘Twin Peaks,’ and Collaborating With Kanye West|Marlow Stern|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

You can up the ante even more by signing a contract agreeing to pay a pal $20 every time you skip Pilates.
4 Science-Backed Ways to Motivate Yourself to Work Out|DailyBurn|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With horror she had heard her brother addressed by a disreputable costermonger in a mangy fur cap, as "Old pal."
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
But she was an exquisitely pretty and engaging little thing, a grand little pal, and worth cultivating.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
If I felt that I could leave her in your charge, all on the square, as a real straight pal—I should go away happy.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
They must have found out their pal here was going to sing and figured he probably told us too much already.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
When Phil's pal left us he went wandering down the hillside, talking to himself.
Mrs. Falchion, Complete|Gilbert Parker

British Dictionary definitions for pal (1 of 3)

pal

/ (pæl) informal /

noun

a close friend; comrade

an accomplice

verb pals, palling or palled

(intr; usually foll by with or about) to associate as friends

Word Origin for pal

C17: from English Gypsy: brother, ultimately from Sanskrit bhrātar brother

British Dictionary definitions for pal (2 of 3)

PAL

/ (pæl) /

n acronym for

phase alternation line: a colour-television broadcasting system used generally in Europe

British Dictionary definitions for pal (3 of 3)

Pal.

abbreviation for

Palestine

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pal

Origin of pal

Other definitions for pal (2 of 5)

Origin of PAL

Other definitions for pal (3 of 5)

or P.A.L.

Other definitions for pal (4 of 5)

Other definitions for pal (5 of 5)

Words related to pal

How to use pal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pal (1 of 3)

Word Origin for pal

British Dictionary definitions for pal (2 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for pal (3 of 3)