penny
a copper and zinc U.S. coin, worth one 100th of the U.S. dollar; one cent. Previous compositions of U.S. pennies included certain percentages of nickel and steel.
a coin worth one 100th of the dollar of various other nations, although several of these nations, as Australia and New Zealand, no longer use pennies.
Also called new penny . a copper-plated steel, formerly bronze, coin of the United Kingdom, one 100th of a pound. Abbreviation: p
a former bronze coin and monetary unit of the United Kingdom and various other nations, one 12th of a shilling: use phased out in 1971. Abbreviation: d.
a sum of money: He spent every penny he ever earned.
the length of a nail in terms of certain standard designations, as eightpenny and sixtypenny.
Stock Exchange. of, relating to, or being penny stock: frenzied speculation in the penny market.
Idioms about penny
a bad penny, someone or something undesirable.
a pretty penny, Informal. a considerable sum of money: Their car must have cost them a pretty penny.
spend a penny, Chiefly British Slang. to urinate.
turn an honest penny, to earn one's living honestly; make money by fair means: He's never turned an honest penny in his life.
Origin of penny
1Other words from penny
- pen·nied, adjective
- un·pen·nied, adjective
Words that may be confused with penny
- penne, penny
Other definitions for Penny (2 of 2)
a female given name, form of Penelope.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for penny
/ (ˈpɛnɪ) /
Also called (formerly): new penny (in Britain) a bronze coin having a value equal to one hundredth of a pound: Symbol: p
(in Britain before 1971) a bronze or copper coin having a value equal to one twelfth of a shilling or one two-hundred-and-fortieth of a pound: Abbreviation: d
a former monetary unit of the Republic of Ireland worth one hundredth of a pound
plural pennies (in the US and Canada) a cent
a coin of similar value, as used in several other countries
(used with a negative) informal, mainly British the least amount of money: I don't have a penny
a bad penny informal, mainly British an objectionable person or thing (esp in the phrase turn up like a bad penny)
a pretty penny informal a considerable sum of money
spend a penny British informal to urinate
the penny dropped informal, mainly British the explanation of something was finally realized
two a penny plentiful but of little value
Origin of penny
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with penny
In addition to the idioms beginning with penny
- penny for your thoughts, a
- penny pincher
- penny saved is a penny earned, a
- penny wise and pound foolish
also see:
- in for a penny, in for a pound
- pinch pennies
- pretty penny
- turn up (like a bad penny)
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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