Pleura, plōō′ra, n. a delicate serous membrane which covers the lungs and lines the cavity of the chest:—pl. Pleu′ræ.—adj. Pleu′ral.—ns. Pleurapoph′ysis, a lateral process of a vertebra, with the morphological character of a rib:—pl. Pleurapoph′yses; Pleurench′yma (bot.), the woody tissue of plants; Pleu′risy, inflammation of the pleura, the investing membrane of the lung; Pleu′risy-root, a plant common in the United States, of which the root has medicinal repute, the infusion being used as a diaphoretic and expectorant.—adjs. Pleurit′ic, -al, pertaining to, or affected with, pleurisy: causing pleurisy.—ns. Pleurī′tis, pleurisy; Pleurodyn′ia, neuralgia of the chest-wall, which may simulate closely the pain of pleurisy; Pleu′ro-pneumō′nia, inflammation of the pleura and lungs, a contagious disease peculiar to cattle. [Gr., a rib.]
Pleuronectidæ, plōō-ro-nek′ti-dē, n.pl. a family of flat-fishes, the flounders. [Gr. pleura, the side, nēktēs, a swimmer.]
Pleximeter, pleks-im′e-tėr, n. a small plate of something hard and elastic, placed on the body, to receive the tap of the fingers or of the hammer in examination by percussion—also Plexom′eter.—adj. Pleximet′ric. [Gr. plēxis, a striking—plēssein, to strike, metron, a measure.]
Plexure, pleks′ūr, n. the act or process of weaving together: that which is woven together.—adj. Plex′iform, in the form of network: formed into a plexus.—n. Plex′us, a number of things, as veins, nerves, &c., woven together: a network: (anat.) an interlacing of nerves, vessels, or fibres. [L. plexus, a twining—plectĕre, plexum, to twine.]
Pliable, plī′a-bl, adj. easily bent or folded: supple: easily persuaded: yielding to influence.—ns. Pliabil′ity, Plī′ableness, quality of being pliable or flexible.—adv. Plī′ably, in a pliable manner.—ns. Plī′ancy, Plī′antness, the state of being pliant: readiness to be influenced.—adj. Plī′ant, bending easily: flexible: tractable: easily influenced.—adv. Plī′antly. [Fr. pliable—L. plicāre, to fold.]
Plica, plī′ka, n. in the phrase Plica Polonica, a disease of the scalp, in which the hairs become matted together by an adhesive and often fetid secretion, occurring in several countries, but esp. in Poland. [L. plicāre, to fold.]
Plicate, -d, plī′kāt, -ed, adj. folded like a fan, as a leaf: plaited.—adv. Plī′cātely.—ns. Plicā′tion, Plic′ature, act or process of folding: state of being folded: a fold. [L. plicatus—plicāre, to fold.]
Pliers, plī′ėrz, n.pl. small pincers for bending.
Plight, plīt, n. something exposed to risk: security: pledge: engagement: promise.—v.t. to pledge: to promise solemnly: to give as security.—n. Plight′er, one who, or that which, plights. [A.S. pliht, risk, danger—plión, to imperil; cog. with Dut. pligt, Ger. pflicht, an obligation.]
Plight, plīt, n. condition: state (either good or bad). [O. Fr. plite—L. plicitus, plicāre, to fold.]