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Pitch

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pitch

1  [pich]
Use Pitch in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to erect or set up (a tent, camp, or the like).
2. to put, set, or plant in a fixed or definite place or position.
3. to throw, fling, hurl, or toss.
4. Baseball.
a. to deliver or serve (the ball) to the batter.
b. to fill the position of pitcher in (a game): He pitched a no-hitter. He pitched a good game.
c. to choose or assign as a pitcher for a game: The manager pitched Greene the next night.
5. to set at a certain point, degree, level, etc.: He pitched his hopes too high.
6. Music. to set at a particular pitch, or determine the key or keynote of (a melody).
7. Cards.
a. to lead (a card of a particular suit), thereby fixing that suit as trump.
b. to determine (the trump) in this manner.
8. to pave or revet with small stones.
9. Masonry.
a. to square (a stone), cutting the arrises true with a chisel.
b. to cut with a chisel.
10. Informal. to attempt to sell or win approval for; promote; advertise: to pitch breakfast foods at a sales convention.
11. Informal. to approach or court (as a person, company, or the public) in hope of a sale, approval, or interest; make an appeal to.
12. to cause to pitch.
13. Obsolete. to set in order; to arrange, as a field of battle.
14. Obsolete. to fix firmly as in the ground; embed.
–verb (used without object)
15. to plunge or fall forward or headlong.
16. to lurch.
17. to throw or toss.
18. Baseball.
a. to deliver or serve the ball to the batter.
b. to fill the position of pitcher: He pitched for the Mets last year.
19. to slope downward; dip.
20. to plunge with alternate fall and rise of bow and stern, as a ship (opposed to roll ).
21. (of a rocket or guided missile) to deviate from a stable flight attitude by oscillations of the longitudinal axis in a vertical plane about the center of gravity.
22. to fix a tent or temporary habitation; encamp: They pitched by a mountain stream.
23. Golf. to play a pitch shot.
24. Informal. to attempt to sell or win approval for something or someone by advertising, promotion, etc.: politicians pitching on TV.
25. Rare. to become established; settle down.
–noun
26. relative point, position, or degree: a high pitch of excitement.
27. the degree of inclination or slope; angle: the pitch of an arch; the pitch of a stair.
28. the highest point or greatest height: enjoying the pitch of success.
29. (in music, speech, etc.) the degree of height or depth of a tone or of sound, depending upon the relative rapidity of the vibrations by which it is produced.
30. Music. the particular tonal standard with which given tones may be compared in respect to their relative level.
31. Acoustics. the apparent predominant frequency sounded by an acoustical source.
32. act or manner of pitching.
33. a throw or toss.
34. Baseball. the serving of the ball to the batter by the pitcher, usually preceded by a windup or stretch.
35. a pitching movement or forward plunge, as of a ship.
36. upward or downward inclination or slope: a road descending at a steep pitch.
37. a sloping part or place: to build on the pitch of a hill.
38. a quantity of something pitched or placed somewhere.
39. Cricket. the central part of the field; the area between the wickets.
40. Informal.
a. a high-pressure sales talk: The salesman made his pitch for the new line of dresses.
b. a specific plan of action; angle: to tackle a problem again, using a new pitch.
41. the specific location in which a person or object is placed or stationed; allotted or assigned place.
42. Chiefly British. the established location, often a street corner, of a beggar, street peddler, newspaper vendor, etc.
43. Aeronautics.
a. the nosing of an airplane or spacecraft up or down about a transverse axis.
b. the distance that a given propeller would advance in one revolution.
44. (of a rocket or guided missile)
a. the motion due to pitching.
b. the extent of the rotation of the longitudinal axis involved in pitching.
45. Also called plunge. Geology. the inclination of a linear feature, as the axis of a fold or an oreshoot, from the horizontal.
46. Machinery.
a. the distance between the corresponding surfaces of two adjacent gear teeth measured either along the pitch circle (circular pitch) or between perpendiculars to the root surfaces (normal pitch).
b. the ratio of the number of teeth in a gear or splined shaft to the pitch circle diameter, expressed in inches.
c. the distance between any two adjacent things in a series, as screw threads, rivets, etc.
47. (in carpet weaving) the weftwise number of warp ends, usually determined in relation to 27 inches (68.6 cm).
48. Cards.
a. all fours (def. 2).
b. auction pitch.
49. Masonry. a true or even surface on a stone.
50. (of typewriter type) a unit of measurement indicating the number of characters to a horizontal inch: Pica is a 10-pitch type.
—Verb phrases
51. pitch in, Informal.
a. to begin to work in earnest and vigorously: If I really pitch in, I may be able to finish the paper before the deadline.
b. to contribute to a common cause; join in: When they took up a collection for the annual dinner, he promised to pitch in.
52. pitch into, Informal.
a. to attack verbally or physically: He apologized for pitching into me yesterday.
b. to begin to work on vigorously.
53. pitch on or upon, to choose, esp. casually or without forethought; decide on: We pitched on a day for our picnic.
Origin:
1175–1225; (v.) ME picchen to thrust, pierce, set, set up (a tent, etc.), array, throw; perh. akin to pick 1 ; (n.) deriv. of the v.

Related forms:
pitch⋅a⋅ble, adjective

Synonyms:
3. See throw.
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pitch

2  [pich]
–noun
1. any of various dark, tenacious, and viscous substances for caulking and paving, consisting of the residue of the distillation of coal tar or wood tar.
2. any of certain bitumens, as asphalt: mineral pitch.
3. any of various resins.
4. the sap or crude turpentine that exudes from the bark of pines.
–verb (used with object)
5. to smear or cover with pitch.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME pich, OE pic < L pic- (s. of pix), whence also D pek, G Pech; akin to Gk píssa pitch

Related forms:
pitchlike, adjective

all fours

 
–noun
1. all four limbs or extremities; the four legs or feet of an animal or both arms and both legs or both hands and both feet of a person: The cat rolled off the ledge but landed on all fours.
2. (used with a singular verb) Also called high-low-jack, old sledge, pitch, seven-up. Cards. a game for two or three players or two partnerships in which a 52-card pack is used, the object being to win special scoring values for the highest trump, the lowest trump, the jack, the ace, the ten, and the face cards.
—Idiom
3. on all fours,
a. in conformity with; corresponding exactly with.
b. (of a person) on the hands and feet, or the hands and knees: I had to go on all fours to squeeze through the low opening.
Origin:
1555–65
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Pitch
pitch 1   (pĭch)   
n.  

  1. Any of various thick, dark, sticky substances obtained from the distillation residue of coal tar, wood tar, or petroleum and used for waterproofing, roofing, caulking, and paving.

  2. Any of various natural bitumens, such as mineral pitch or asphalt.

  3. A resin derived from the sap of various coniferous trees, as the pines.

tr.v.   pitched, pitch·ing, pitch·es
To smear or cover with or as if with pitch.

[Middle English pich, from Old English pic and from Anglo-Norman piche, both from Latin pix, pic-.]
pitch 2   (pĭch)   
v.   pitched, pitch·ing, pitch·es

v.   tr.

    1. To throw, usually with careful aim. See Synonyms at throw.

    2. To discard by throwing: pitched the can out the window.

    3. To throw (the ball) from the mound to the batter.

    4. To play (a game) as pitcher.

    5. To assign as pitcher.

    6. To set at a particular level, degree, or quality: pitched her expectations too high.

    7. Music To set the pitch or key of.

    8. To adapt so as to be applicable; direct: pitched his speech to the teenagers in the audience.

    9. To lead (a card), thus establishing the trump suit.

    10. To discard (a card other than a trump and different in suit from the card led).

  2. Baseball

    1. To throw (the ball) from the mound to the batter.

    2. To play (a game) as pitcher.

    3. To assign as pitcher.

    4. To set at a particular level, degree, or quality: pitched her expectations too high.

    5. Music To set the pitch or key of.

    6. To adapt so as to be applicable; direct: pitched his speech to the teenagers in the audience.

    7. To lead (a card), thus establishing the trump suit.

    8. To discard (a card other than a trump and different in suit from the card led).

  3. To erect or establish; set up: pitched a tent; pitch camp.

  4. To set firmly; implant; embed: pitched stakes in the ground.

  5. To set at a specified downward slant: pitched the roof at a steep angle.

    1. To set at a particular level, degree, or quality: pitched her expectations too high.

    2. Music To set the pitch or key of.

    3. To adapt so as to be applicable; direct: pitched his speech to the teenagers in the audience.

    4. To lead (a card), thus establishing the trump suit.

    5. To discard (a card other than a trump and different in suit from the card led).

  7. Informal To attempt to promote or sell, often in a high-pressure manner: "showed up on local TV to pitch their views" (Business Week).

  8. Sports To hit (a golf ball) in a high arc with backspin so that it does not roll very far after striking the ground.

  9. Games

    1. To lead (a card), thus establishing the trump suit.

    2. To discard (a card other than a trump and different in suit from the card led).

v.   intr.

  1. To throw or toss something, such as a ball, horseshoe, or bale.

  2. Baseball To play in the position of pitcher.

  3. To plunge headlong: He pitched over the railing.

    1. To stumble around; lurch.

    2. To buck, as a horse.

    3. Nautical To dip bow and stern alternately.

    4. To oscillate about a lateral axis so that the nose lifts or descends in relation to the tail. Used of an aircraft.

    5. To oscillate about a lateral axis that is both perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and horizontal to the earth. Used of a missile or spacecraft.

    1. Nautical To dip bow and stern alternately.

    2. To oscillate about a lateral axis so that the nose lifts or descends in relation to the tail. Used of an aircraft.

    3. To oscillate about a lateral axis that is both perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and horizontal to the earth. Used of a missile or spacecraft.

  6. To slope downward: The hill pitches steeply.

  7. To set up living quarters; encamp; settle.

  8. Sports To hit a golf ball in a high arc with backspin so that it does not roll very far after striking the ground.

n.  

  1. The act or an instance of pitching.

  2. Baseball

    1. A throw of the ball by the pitcher to the batter.

    2. A ball so thrown.

    3. Nautical The alternate dip and rise of the bow and stern of a ship.

    4. The alternate lift and descent of the nose and tail of an airplane.

    5. A steep downward slope.

    6. The degree of such a slope.

    7. The angle of a roof.

    8. The highest point of a structure: the pitch of an arch.

    9. Acoustics The distinctive quality of a sound, dependent primarily on the frequency of the sound waves produced by its source.

    10. Music The relative position of a tone within a range of musical sounds, as determined by this quality.

    11. Music Any of various standards for this quality associating each tone with a particular frequency.

    12. The distance traveled by a machine screw in a single revolution.

    13. The distance between two corresponding points on adjacent screw threads or gear teeth.

    14. The distance between two corresponding points on a helix.

    15. A line of talk designed to persuade: "[his] pious pitch for . . . austerity" (Boston Globe).

    16. An advertisement.

  3. Chiefly British A playing field. Also called wicket.

    1. Nautical The alternate dip and rise of the bow and stern of a ship.

    2. The alternate lift and descent of the nose and tail of an airplane.

    3. A steep downward slope.

    4. The degree of such a slope.

    5. The angle of a roof.

    6. The highest point of a structure: the pitch of an arch.

    7. Acoustics The distinctive quality of a sound, dependent primarily on the frequency of the sound waves produced by its source.

    8. Music The relative position of a tone within a range of musical sounds, as determined by this quality.

    9. Music Any of various standards for this quality associating each tone with a particular frequency.

    10. The distance traveled by a machine screw in a single revolution.

    11. The distance between two corresponding points on adjacent screw threads or gear teeth.

    12. The distance between two corresponding points on a helix.

    13. A line of talk designed to persuade: "[his] pious pitch for . . . austerity" (Boston Globe).

    14. An advertisement.

    1. A steep downward slope.

    2. The degree of such a slope.

    3. The angle of a roof.

    4. The highest point of a structure: the pitch of an arch.

    5. Acoustics The distinctive quality of a sound, dependent primarily on the frequency of the sound waves produced by its source.

    6. Music The relative position of a tone within a range of musical sounds, as determined by this quality.

    7. Music Any of various standards for this quality associating each tone with a particular frequency.

    8. The distance traveled by a machine screw in a single revolution.

    9. The distance between two corresponding points on adjacent screw threads or gear teeth.

    10. The distance between two corresponding points on a helix.

    11. A line of talk designed to persuade: "[his] pious pitch for . . . austerity" (Boston Globe).

    12. An advertisement.

  6. Architecture

    1. The angle of a roof.

    2. The highest point of a structure: the pitch of an arch.

    3. Acoustics The distinctive quality of a sound, dependent primarily on the frequency of the sound waves produced by its source.

    4. Music The relative position of a tone within a range of musical sounds, as determined by this quality.

    5. Music Any of various standards for this quality associating each tone with a particular frequency.

    6. The distance traveled by a machine screw in a single revolution.

    7. The distance between two corresponding points on adjacent screw threads or gear teeth.

    8. The distance between two corresponding points on a helix.

    9. A line of talk designed to persuade: "[his] pious pitch for . . . austerity" (Boston Globe).

    10. An advertisement.

  7. A level or degree, as of intensity: worked at a feverish pitch to meet the deadline.

    1. Acoustics The distinctive quality of a sound, dependent primarily on the frequency of the sound waves produced by its source.

    2. Music The relative position of a tone within a range of musical sounds, as determined by this quality.

    3. Music Any of various standards for this quality associating each tone with a particular frequency.

    4. The distance traveled by a machine screw in a single revolution.

    5. The distance between two corresponding points on adjacent screw threads or gear teeth.

    6. The distance between two corresponding points on a helix.

    7. A line of talk designed to persuade: "[his] pious pitch for . . . austerity" (Boston Globe).

    8. An advertisement.

    1. The distance traveled by a machine screw in a single revolution.

    2. The distance between two corresponding points on adjacent screw threads or gear teeth.

    3. The distance between two corresponding points on a helix.

    4. A line of talk designed to persuade: "[his] pious pitch for . . . austerity" (Boston Globe).

    5. An advertisement.

  10. The distance that a propeller would travel in an ideal medium during one complete revolution, measured parallel to the shaft of the propeller.

  11. Informal

    1. A line of talk designed to persuade: "[his] pious pitch for . . . austerity" (Boston Globe).

    2. An advertisement.

  12. Chiefly British The stand of a vendor or hawker.

  13. Games See seven-up.

  14. Printing The density of characters in a printed line, usually expressed as characters per inch.

Phrasal Verb(s):
pitch in Informal

  1. To set to work vigorously.

  2. To join forces with others; help or cooperate.

pitch into Informal To attack verbally or physically; assault.
pitch on/upon Informal To succeed in choosing or achieving, usually quickly: pitched on the ideal solution.

[Middle English pichen, probably from Old English *piccean, causative of *pīcian, to prick.]
sev·en-up   (sěv'ən-ŭp')
n.  A card game requiring seven points to win. Also called pitch2.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

pitch  (n.)
"tar," O.E. pic, from L. pix (gen. picis) "pitch," from PIE base *pi- "sap, juice" (cf. Gk. pissa, Lith. pikis, O.C.S. piklu "pitch," related to L. pinus; see pine (n.)).

pitch  (v.)
c.1205, "to thrust in, fasten, settle," probably from an unrecorded O.E. *piccean, related to the root of the verb prick. The original past tense was pight. Sense in pitch a tent (1297) is from notion of "driving in" the pegs; meaning "throw a ball" evolved c.1386 from that of "hit the mark." Noun meaning "act of throwing" is recorded from 1833. The noun meaning "act of plunging headfirst" is from 1762; sense of "slope, degree, inclination" is from 1542; musical sense is from 1597; but the connection of these is obscure. Sales pitch is attested from 1876, probably extended from meaning "stall pitched as a sales booth" (1811). Pitch-pipe is attested from 1711. Pitcher "one who pitches" is recorded from 1722, originally hay into a wagon, etc.; baseball sense first recorded 1845.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1pitch
Pronunciation: 'pich
Function: noun
1 : a black or dark viscous substance obtained as a residue in the distillation oforganic materials and especially tars
2 : resin obtained from various conifers and often used medicinally

Main Entry: 2pitch
Function: noun
: the property of a sound and especially a musical tone that is determined by the frequency of the waves producing it : highness or lowness of sound
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Bible Dictionary

Pitch

(Gen. 6:14), asphalt or bitumen in its soft state, called "slime" (Gen. 11:3; 14:10; Ex. 2:3), found in pits near the Dead Sea (q.v.). It was used for various purposes, as the coating of the outside of vessels and in building. Allusion is made in Isa. 34:9 to its inflammable character. (See SLIME.)

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Idioms & Phrases

pitch

In addition to the idioms beginning with pitch, also see black as night (pitch); in there pitching; make a pitch for; sales pitch; wild pitch.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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