Penny Definition

pĕnē
pence, pennies
noun
pennies
In the United States and Canada, the coin that is worth one cent.
American Heritage
A U.S. or Canadian cent.
Webster's New World
A coin used in Great Britain since 1971, worth1100 of a pound.
American Heritage
In the United Kingdom and certain other countries,
Webster's New World
A coin formerly used in Great Britain, worth112 of a shilling or1240 of a pound.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
affix
Costing a (specified) number of pennies.
Webster's New World
Having a size designated as (a specified number)
A sixpenny nail is larger than a fourpenny nail, but the numbers in their designations do not specify units of length, weight, etc.
Webster's New World
verb

(slang) To jam a door shut by inserting pennies between the doorframe and the door.

Zach and Ben had only been at college for a week when their door was pennied by the girls down the hall.
Wiktionary

(electronics) To circumvent the tripping of an electrical circuit breaker by the dangerous practice of inserting a coin in place of a fuse in a fuse socket.

Wiktionary
pronoun

A diminutive of the female given name Penelope.

Wiktionary
idiom
pretty penny
  • A considerable sum of money:

    I paid a pretty penny for that ring.

American Heritage
a pretty penny
  • a large sum of money
Webster's New World
turn an honest penny
  • to earn money fairly and honestly
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Penny

Noun

Singular:
penny
Plural:
pennies

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Penny

Origin of Penny

  • From Old English penning, penniġ, from Proto-Germanic *panningaz, of uncertain origin.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English an English coin from Old English penig

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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