pi

¹

[pahy]

noun

plural

pis 

1. the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet (Π, π).

2. the consonant sound represented by this letter.

3. Mathematics.

   1. the letter π, used as the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.

   2. the ratio itself: 3.141592+.

pi

²

Or pie

[pahy]

noun

plural

pies 

1. printing types mixed together indiscriminately.

2. any confused mixture; jumble.

verb (used with object)

pied, piing 

1. to reduce (printing types) to a state of confusion.

2. to jumble.

PI

³

1. Law.,  personal injury.

2. principal investigator.

3. Also P.I., p.i. private investigator.

Pi.

⁴

Or pi.

abbreviation

1. piaster.

P.I.

⁵

abbreviation

1. Philippine Islands.

2. Also PI, p.i. private investigator.

pi

¹

/ paɪ /

noun

1. the 16th letter in the Greek alphabet (Π, π), a consonant, transliterated as p

2. maths a transcendental number, fundamental to mathematics, that is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Approximate value: 3.141 592…; symbol: π

pi

²

/ paɪ /

noun

1. a jumbled pile of printer's type

2. a jumbled mixture

verb

1. to spill and mix (set type) indiscriminately

2. to mix up

pi

³

/ paɪ /

adjective

1. slang,  short for pious pious

PI

⁴

abbreviation

1. Philippine Islands

2. private investigator

pi

1. An irrational number that has a numerical value of 3.14159265358979… and is represented by the symbol π. It expresses the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle and appears in many mathematical expressions.

pi

1. The irrational number obtained by dividing the length of the diameter of a circle into its circumference. Pi is approximately 3.1416. The sign for pi is π.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pi¹

First recorded in 1835–45; from Greek pî, peî, used in mathematics to represent Greek periphérion periphery ( def. )

Origin of pi²

First recorded in 1650–60; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of pi¹

C18 (mathematical use): representing the first letter of Greek periphereia _periphery

Origin of pi²

C17: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Lacking big themes, it’s not so much meat-and-potatoes television as fish and corn grilled over a camp fire, and on the prestige scale it sits somewhere between “Magnum P.I.” and “True Detective,” leaning toward the former.

From Los Angeles Times

He started his career in the mailroom at Universal and became a writer and producer for television shows like “Rockford Files” and “Magnum P.I.”

From Los Angeles Times

Even Charles’ goofier moments gleam with a satin elegance that scrapes against the no-nonsense manner of Estrada’s P.I.

From Salon

“That’s an unusual way to start,” the “Magnum, P.I.” and “Blue Bloods” star admits in an interview.

From Seattle Times

Famously, his shooting schedule for “Magnum, P.I.” forced him to decline an offer to play Indiana Jones in “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” a part which went to Harrison Ford.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• inquiry agent www.thesaurus.com
• private detective 
• private dick www.thesaurus.com
• private eye 
• private investigator 
• sleuth