noun

1. 1. a pungent condiment obtained from the small, dried fruits of an East Indian vine (Piper nigrum) of the pepper family
   2. this smooth, soft-stemmed vine
2. any of various aromatic or pungent plants of several families, as the myrtle or ginger family, used in flavoring foods
3. capsicum
4. ☆ Baseball a warm-up or practice session in which the ball is repeatedly thrown to a batter close by, who bunts it back to be fielded
   in full pepper game

Etymology: ME peper < OE pipor < WGmc borrowing < L piper < Gr peperi, via Pers < Sans pippali, peppercorn

adjective

transitive verb

1. to sprinkle or flavor with ground pepper
2. to sprinkle freely or thickly
3. to shower or pelt with many small objects a roof peppered with hailstones
4. to beat or hit with short, quick jabs